Anything Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Anything - Essay Example The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) design leads to harsh debate concerning key principles of economic freedom between Republican and Democrat Senators as well as their representatives. Once Congress passed PPACA Republican, affiliated groups filed a suit with the Supreme Court that criticized the constitutionality of the law since it considers a universal mandatory health insurance. The group argues that the act contravenes the principles of American constitution that enshrines the preservation of freedom. Influential opinion in the political world has significant levels of political and economic and political consensus in the principles highlighted under the act. Prior to the deliberation of the Act, United States health care lacks obligatory insurance. The situation creates significant number of people that have never had an insurance contact. Impoverished people lack the funds to pay for their health bills. Now that the country adopts the Act, the burden of health bill lies with the state health system. Those that oppose the bill cite that the system as a whole is more expensive to manage compared to any other developed country. With the new system, America is likely to spend more than $7000 per capita on health care and that is double the expense in United Kingdom and Japan. Clinton administration is unable to convince Congress to pass that bid. The benefit of PPACA includes (1) significant reforms that include the removal of preexisting condition clauses for all the health insurance plans. (2) The new health insurance covers immunizations and preventive care. (3) The plan will serve to reduce the long-term cost in health since preventiv e treatments imply low costs.(4) The plan will cover unmarried children under their parents cover until they are over 26 years. The conflicting issue is that it is mandatory to contract a health insurance for all employees. The only exception is the poverty level that becomes part of the Medicaid

Hymn to Labor Essay Example for Free

Hymn to Labor Essay Assessment process of setting a value on real or personal property, usually for the purpose of taxation. It is carried out either by central government agencies or by local officials. Property may be assessed on the basis of its annual rental value, as in Britain, or its capital value, as in the U.S. Various methods are used to determine capital value, including analysis of market data to estimate the propertys current market price, estimation of the cost of reproducing the property minus accrued depreciation, and capitalization of the propertys earnings. Because educators have used the word â€Å"assessment† in a variety of ways, it’s important to understand its specific definition in education today. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), has identified five fundamental questions for institutions to use in discussing and defining assessment: 1. How are your stated student learning outcomes appropriate to your mission, programs, and degrees? 2. What evidence do you have that students achieve your stated learning outcomes? 3. In what ways do you analyze and use evidence of student learning? 4. How do you ensure shared responsibility for assessment of student learning? 5. How do you evaluate and improve the effectiveness of your efforts to assess and improve student learning? The HLC’s complete statement on assessment can be found at: www.ncahlc.org/download/AssessStuLrngApril.pdf Using these questions as a guide, OCC has developed its own definition of assessment, which is broadly published in various college documents including the College Catalog (p. 43), Student Handbook, Schedule of Classes, and the assessment website: Assessment is an on-going process aimed at understanding and improving student learning. It involves making our expectations clear to students and setting appropriate outcomes for learning. It helps determine how well student performance matches those outcomes. It uses the resulting information to improve student learning. The assessment process helps to support OCC’s shared academic culture dedicated to assuring and improving student learning. Assessment of student learning occurs at various academic levels. The goals at each level are different. Classroom Assessment The goal of classroom assessment is to enhance student learning. Instructors use a variety of methods in the classroom to get feedback about student learning in terms of course objectives. Program Assessment Every degree, diploma, and certificate program has a statement of purpose and learning outcomes. Each learning outcome is measured by the faculty in the program through a variety of assignments, tests, practicum’s, projects, and licensing examinations. Also, in some cases program graduates are surveyed to get feedback about how well the program prepared them for their jobs. The goal of program assessment is to revise and improve the curriculum of the program and to insure student success. General Education Assessment Students come to college for a variety of reasons. Regardless of the reason, it is the goal of the college to give its students an education including general skills and knowledge critical for success in life. Therefore, the OCC faculty have identified ten General Education Outcomes and have incorporated them into the general education requirements of the college. These outcomes are assessed in the same way as course learning objectives in the classroom. Additionally, Student Assessment of General Education (SAGE) occurs college-wide each year.

Major League Baseball Salaries and the Economic Effect Competition and

Major League Baseball Salaries and the Economic Effect Competition and the Consumer As long has there has been business, Management and Labor have warred against each other for a bigger piece of the pie. Major League Baseball is no different. In the early years of professional baseball the owners controlled the salaries of the players and decided where they could play and what they would be paid. The players were bound to their team by the Reserve Clause that stated, the services of a player will be reserved exclusively for that team for the next season. This resulted in keeping the player’s salaries artificially low because the players were not allowed to offer their services to any other team. The Reserve Clause was in effect for more than One Hundred years of baseball history. It was challenged several times but the owners had won every time, until in 1970 when the St. Louis Cardinals traded outfielder Curt Flood to the Philadelphia Phillies. Flood refused to play for the Phillies and sued to become a free-agent. Flood’s case was in court for severa l years going all the way to the Supreme Court. He was never able to play in the Major League again. While he did not win his case, he laid the groundwork for a later case that involved two pitchers, Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally who filed a grievance against the league contending that, because they didn't sign contracts with their previous teams they were free agents. The owners and the Players Association agreed to submit to binding, impartial, arbitration in order to settle this case. On December 23, 1975 the arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled in favor of the players and the Reserve Clause was broken, and the era of free agency began in the Major Leagues. In 1976 when free agency began the average player salary was only $52 thousand dollars, but it has increased steadily ever since. By 1990 the average salary for a Major League Baseball player had risen to $589 thousand dollars. This Year baseball will start the 2001 season with an average player salary of more than $2 million, abo ut 40 times higher than the typical wage in 1976 when free agency began. Average Major League Player Salaries 1976-2000 Year Average Increase/decrease Median1976 $52,300 --- *1977 74,000 41.49% ... ... _ap/ 19. 2000 Major League Baseball Salaries: USA Today. May 1, 2000. Arlington, VA. 20. 1999-2000 Major League Baseball Team and Player Salaries: About.com. Aug 31, 2000. Chicago, IL. http://sportsbusiness.about.com/sports/sportsbusiness/library/salary/mlb/9900/ bl_teams_9900.htm 21. Final 2000 Payroll Figures: CNNSI.com. Nov 21, 2000. Atlanta, GA. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/11/21/2000_payrolls/ 22. History of Highest Paid Players: ESPN.com. Jan 15, 1999. Bristol, CT. http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/mlbsalary.html 23. Highest Salaries: CNNSI.com. Dec 11, 2000. Atlanta, GA. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/10/20/highest_salaries _ap/ 24. Franchise Values: The Hartford Courant. May 29, 2000. Hartford, CT. 25. 2000 MLB Team Payrolls: About.com. Aug 31, 2000. Chicago, IL.http://baseball.about.com/sports/baseball/library/weekly/blteamsalaries.htm 26. MLB Player Extend Collective Bargaining Agreement: About.com. Aug 29, 2000. Chicago IL. http://sportsbusiness.about.com/sports/sportsbusiness/library/n†¦/bl082900news.htm

Biodiversity Notes

Segmented bodies 2. Jointed exoskeletons 3. Hemlock – body cavity 4. Hemolytic – blood 5. Reduced ocelot 6. Paired, Jointed appendages 7. Distinct head and trunk datagram Lineages Moorlands Insects Collateral Crustaceans Millipedes centipedes Insects Spider, horse shoe crabs, ticks, mites Lobster, shrimp, crabs Decision, short segments, separate sexes, internal fertilization, female eggs Cent': 1 pair legs per segment, anterior most appendages for biting, carnivores use poison, Mill: 2 pair per segment, detersives, 1. datagram: head, thorax, abdomen 2. 3 pairs walking legs on ventral thorax 3. 1 or 2 pairs wings on dorsal thorax 4 sets of mouthpart: labium, mandible, maxilla, labium Decision, separate sexes Anterior/posterior regions, lack antennae but eyes and 6 pairs of appendages, childcare – appendages – near mouth, no metamorphosis Segmented body divided Into exploratory, carapace – plantlike section that covers & protects exploratory, branched appendages, 2 pair of teenage Insect Ecosystem Services: 1. Eat other Insects . Pollinate plants 3. Recycle nutrients 4.Form the heterocyclic base of many food chains Dermatomes Echinoderms: Calcium Carbonate Tube feet with podia Podia Roles in Eating: pry apart bivalve shells, secrete mucus, and flick food to cilia Lineages: Crinoline Feather stars sea lilies Sessile suspension feeders by arms, attached to substrate by a stalk, feather use arms to crawl, mouth directed upward with arms circling Aphrodite Brittle stars basket stars 5 or more long flexible arms in tiny disk, all types of feeding, tube feet lack suckers, eve by lashing arm serpent like Holidaymaker Sea cucumbers Sausage-shaped, suspension or deposit feeding using tentacles- modified tube feet around mouth, lack spines and reduced endorsement, 5 rows of tube feet Asteroid Sea stars 5 or more arms surrounding central mouth, stomach, anus; predators or scavengers; crawl with tube feet Oceanside Sea urchins sand dollars Urchins: globe-shaped, long spine, crawl along substrate, herbivores Dollars: flattened disk shaped, short spine, burrow, suspension feed Contraindicated: Sea Daisies 0 2 species are known, disk-shaped body, armless, tiny, absorb nutrients through the membrane surrounding their body Chordate: 4 morphological features: 1. Pharyngeal gill slits – openings in the throat 2.Nerve cord – runs length of body comprised of projections from neurons 3. Notched – supportive flexible rod that run length of body 4. Post-anal tail – muscular Cheeseboard's Orchestrate Lancelot or impious Denunciates: sea squirts or slaps Small, mobile suspension feeders, resemble fish, notched functions as knotholes in adults and aids in movement, characteristics intermediate between invertebrate and verve, sex reproduce and external fertilization Gill slits in larva and adult; notched, nerve cord, and tail only in larvae; exoskeleton-like coat of polysaccharide called a tunic; U-shaped gut; two siphon; suspension feeders; larva Vertebrates: 2 Seismographs: 1 .Vertebrae – column of cartilaginous or bony structures – which form a column along dorsal sides, protecting spinal cord 2. Cranium (skull) – bony, cartilaginous, or fibrous case that encloses and protects the brain 3 Regions of Brain: 1 . Foreordain – sense of smell; elaborated into cerebrum 2. Mandarin – vision 3. Handrail – balance and hearing; Jawed vertebrates – anemometers cerebellum and medulla obbligato 5 Innovations of Vertebrates: 1 . Bony endorsement 2. Bony exoskeleton 3. Amniotic egg 4. Jaws 5. Limbs capable of moving on land Vertebrate – Eccentricities (SHARKS) Sharks, rays, skates Distinguishing features: cartilaginous skeleton, paired fins, Jaws Sharks fertilization and fertilized eggs or viviparous – consists of – internal

Making Scotch

Scotch whiskey is traditionally made with just barley and water.   Also referred to as malt whiskey, Scotch, in the beginning of the production process, requires barley grains to be steeped in water until they sprout.   The germinating barley is generally spread on the floor of a malting house where it continues to develop over the course of a week or two. The grains are turned over regularly during this malting period, using a â€Å"paddle† to allow air to get at them and to encourage even development.   The starch in the barley turns to sugar, and germination is stopped at the optimum time by placing the barley in an oven or kiln.   Traditionally, Scotch makers used peat fired ovens to give the Scotch its peaty, smoky taste.   Some distilleries continue to retain the peaty flavor of Scotch today by burning peat and blowing the smoke over the grain. Once the barley is dry, it is milled to produce a floury substance called â€Å"grist.†Ã‚   This substance is rich in sugar, and mixed with hot water to create a â€Å"mash.†Ã‚   The mash is placed in a large cylindrical metal vessel or container called a â€Å"mash tun.†Ã‚   In order to release the sugars, the contents of the mash tun are stirred regularly.   At the conclusion of this process, a liquid known as â€Å"wort† is produced.   This hot, sweet, non-alcoholic liquid is transferred to a large wooden â€Å"washback,† which is similar to a giant wooden pail that is commonly made from Oregon pine or Cypress, both of which are highly resistant to fungi. The yeast is added in the washback to begin the fermentation process.   During this process, the sugar in the wort is turned into alcohol as the solution bubbles and foams furiously before gradually slowing down.   The sugar is converted over a period of two to four days.   At the end of  this process, the alcohol content of the product is no more than approximately 8-9%.   The Scotch is not ready, and so the liquid wash must be distilled down to the required alcohol content. Distillation is the next major step in Scotch making.   This process takes place in copper pot stills that have a distinctive, swan-neck shape.   The shape of the stills and the length of the neck determine the character of the final product. Typically, there are two kinds of stills involved in the distillation process: the wash still and the spirit still.   The first is used to produce the first distillation, referred to as â€Å"low wines.†Ã‚   This product is distilled for the second time in the spirit still before it is collected as the strong distilled spirit.   This spirit is not useable, however.   Hence, it is diverted into a receiving tank.   The final product of the second distillation is not useable either.   But it is saved to be added to the next batch of low wines. The glass-fronted â€Å"spirit safe† is where the spirit is tested with a hydrometer as it leaves the pot stills.   In Scotland, this safe is heavily padlocked by the Customs & Excise to prevent any possibility of the distillery siphoning off the spirit in order to avoid the payment of legal duty on it. Following this formality, the final spirit is collected in the receiving tank.   It is now prepared to go into barrels for the next stage of the Scotch making process – maturation.   Scotch whiskey is normally stored in barrels that have been previously used.   It takes around three years at least to call it Scotch, however.   Maturation may take anything from three years to twenty years.   Before it is matured, the Scotch is simply referred to as spirit. During the process of maturation, around 2% of the spirit is lost each year due to evaporation.   Once the malt whiskey has been matured for the required time, it can be bottled and labeled.   However, if it is to be used as part of a blended whiskey, the master blender would â€Å"nose† each  whiskey to determine its characteristics and to ensure that the consistency of the specific blend is maintained. Blenders may include in the final blend as many as thirty or forty different malt and grain whiskeys.   The blender is also responsible for ensuring that a particular blend retains its consistency over a number of years.   For this reason, the blender’s nose must be skilled. Coloring is added at this point to the Scotch, and the drink is chill-filtered so as to remove the oils that cause cloudiness when ice is added.   The prepared whiskey, whether blended or not, is then transferred to the bottling plant where it is bottled using automated methods.   It is also noteworthy that some of the processes mentioned in the making of Scotch are now automated.   As an example, barley may be turned or â€Å"ploughed† with automatic paddles as opposed to manually during the grain germination process.   The chief fermentation and distillation processes, however, have largely remained unchanged in the last couple of hundred years. Bibliography 1.   Distillery Journey: Making Scotch Whiskey. (1998). Cocktail Times. Retrieved from http://www.cocktailtimes.com/distillery/making_scotch.shtml. (15 March 2007). 2. Making Scotch Whiskey: A Brief Explanation of the Traditional Method. (2005). Loch Lomond Distillers. Retrieved from http://www.lochlomonddistillery.com/making-scotch.htm. (15 March 2007).   

Fashion for Ideal People and How They are Defined essays

Fashion for Ideal People and How They are Defined essays The ideal person in contemporary American society is generally defined as thin, fashionable, sexy and wealthy. This includes a myriad of people capitalized on by the media, from Julia Roberts to Donald Trump. In American society, celebrities are the ideal people, whether television stars, sport pros or corporate moguls. To be an ideal person in American society means a status second only to royalty. He or she is literally known by everyone from the janitor at a rural school to the President of the United States. And the perks that come with this status are infinite. Everything from free designer clothes, shoes, and accessories to complementary hotel suites and tables at the trendiest clubs and restaurants. Moreover, the media is forever watching, ready to capture an exclusive picture and story for their latest edition of the evening news or supermarket tabloids. And fortunately or unfortunately, ideal people become role models for Americans, whether housewives, sales clerks, businessmen-women, construction workers, doctors, lawyers, children or teenagers. Ideal people become a part of American lives and culture. The public welcomes them into their homes via television, videos, radio, CDs, magazines, or paper publications. Moreover, the public funds and supports the ideal people by buying the movie tickets, CDs and videos, magazines and papers. Ideal people are subjects of water-cooler conversations, playground chit-chat, laundromat gossip, and dinner dates. The public wants to know what celebrities are doing, where they're doing it, and with whom they're doing it. Americans are obsessed with top ten' lists. There seems to be a top ten list for everyone and everything, from the best dressed, the worst dressed, the wealthiest, the sexiest men alive, the top grossing actors, top grossing actresses, movies, music, books, the list is endless. Americans ...

Disjunctive reaction time as it relates to complexity level essays

Disjunctive reaction time as it relates to complexity level essays The reaction time for subject with increase complexity is the focus of this study. The ten respondents were randomly selected on the campus of University Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Ten subjects reaction time was evaluated with a computer simulation program using one, two, or four choice trails, which lasted forty to sixty minutes. The data were analyzed using t test and ANOVA. The t test showed no significance as far as practice effects were concerned, but inferences can be made. Also the ANOVA showed a significant difference with reaction time as it relates to complexity. I found that as the level of complexity increase so does the reaction time. Disjunctive Reaction Time Measure as it relates to Complexity of Task This study was conducted to prove that reaction time increases as the level of complexity increases. Disjunctive reaction time was measured to eliminate subject reacting too early to the stimulus. Also make the tack more complicated and for subject to uses discrimination before responding to stimulus. Postman and Egan (1949) defines disjunctive reaction time as two or more different stimuli are presented in random order...the subject is instructed to react to one but not to the other stimuli(p 240). Rikli and Busch (1986) defined reaction time as the latency from the onset of the visual stimulus to the depression of the microswitch(p 646). Although a joystick was used to respond to the visual stimulus the same principle applies. For the purposes of this study both definition of reaction time were incorporated to facilitate proper measurement. Baron and Journey (1989) tried to prove that with increase age so did the reaction time. Also within the study they also found that as the level of complexity increased so did the reaction time for the young group 18 to 26 and the old group 62 to 75. For their study the stimulus was a pair of asterisks presented in a square, where one the four ...

Element Abundance of the Universe

Element Abundance of the Universe The element composition of the universe is calculated by analyzing the light that is emitted and absorbed from stars, interstellar clouds, quasars,  and other objects. The Hubble telescope greatly expanded our understanding of the composition of galaxies and gas in the intergalactic space between them. About 75% of the universe is believed to consist of dark energy and dark matter, which are different from the atoms and molecules that make up the everyday world around us. Thus, the composition of most of the universe is far from understood. However, spectral measurements of stars, dust clouds, and galaxies tell us the elemental composition of the portion that consists of normal matter. Most Abundant Elements in the Milky Way Galaxy This is a table of elements in the Milky Way, which is similar in composition to other galaxies in the universe. Keep in mind, elements represent matter as we understand it. Much more of the galaxy consists of something else! Element Element Number Mass Fraction (ppm) hydrogen 1 739,000 helium 2 240,000 oxygen 8 10,400 carbon 6 4,600 neon 10 1,340 iron 26 1,090 nitrogen 7 960 silicon 14 650 magnesium 12 580 sulfur 16 440    Most Abundant Element in the Universe Right now, the most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen. In stars, hydrogen fuses into helium. Eventually, massive stars (around 8 times more massive than our Sun) run through their supply of hydrogen. Then, the core of helium contracts, supplying enough pressure to fuse two helium nuclei into carbon. Carbon fuses into oxygen, which fuses into silicon and sulfur. Silicon fuses into iron. The star runs out of fuel and goes supernova, releasing these elements back into space. So, if helium fuses into carbon you may be wondering why oxygen is the third most abundant element and not carbon. The answer is because the stars in the universe today are not first generation stars! When newer stars form, they already contain more than just hydrogen. This time around, stars fuse hydrogen according to whats known as the C-N-O cycle (where C is carbon, N is nitrogen, and O is oxygen). A carbon and helium can fuse together to form oxygen. This happens not just in massive stars, but also in stars like the Sun once it enters its red giant phase. Carbon really comes out behind when a type II supernova occurs, because these stars undergo carbon fusion into oxygen with almost perfect completion! How Element Abundance Will Change in the Universe We wont be around to see it, but when the universe is thousands or millions times older than it is now, helium may overtake hydrogen as the most abundant element (or not, if enough hydrogen remains out in space to far from other atoms to fuse). After a much longer time, its possible oxygen and carbon may become the first and second most abundant elements! Composition of the Universe So, if ordinary elemental matter doesnt account for most of the universe, what does its composition look like? Scientists debate this subject and revise percentages when new data becomes available. For now, the matter and energy composition is believed to be: 73% Dark Energy: Most of universe seems to consist of something we know next to nothing about. Dark energy probably doesnt have mass, yet matter and energy are related.22% Dark Matter: Dark matter is stuff that doesnt emit radiation in any wavelength of the spectrum. Scientists are unsure what, exactly, dark matter is. It has not be observed or created in a lab. Right now, the best bet is that its cold dark matter, a substance consisting of particles comparable to neutrinos, yet much more massive.4% Gas: Most of the gas in the universe is hydrogen and helium, found between stars (interstellar gas). Ordinary gas does not emit light, although it does scatter it. Ionized gases glow, but not brightly enough to compete with the light of stars. Astronomers use infrared, x-ray, and radio telescopes to image this matter.0.04% Stars: To human eyes, it appears the universe is full of stars. Its amazing to realize they account for such a small percentage of our reality.0.3% Neutrinos: Neutrinos are tiny, electrically neutral particles that travel at near light speed. 0.03% Heavy Elements: Only a tiny fraction of the universe consists of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. Over time this percentage will grow.

Electronic marketing essay about How can the Internet and related

Electronic marketing about How can the Internet and related technologies assist organisations with creating customer value through personalisation and mass customisation - Essay Example Trial and error design is also a new tool in this case to check the user adaptability into a certain new product before getting it into the market in a fully fledged style. Normally the outcome is a perfectly designed product that gets appreciation from the users & consumers. The whole concept of mass customisation is that the users customise these products in their own ways. However; it is evident from this approach that if the user is not interested in the customisation of the certain product, then there is no need of customising it and pursuing through it. This essay will explain the relationship between the mass customisation strategies and the personalisation techniques which make up the basis for a customer to analyse the products in their own style and then help the companies make decisions regarding the empowerments and the use of technology. This actually empowers the customers to choose among different products by looking through them and feeling them in a way themselves, and making a selection through this process that leads to a successful product development in the market. This in turn influences the customers’ thinking patterns in terms of the product selection and then the right kind of product / item is chosen which brings along greater satisfaction and greater amount of self-motivation for the customers. And, also this way the customer take charge of what they are using by selection process. Personalisation concept was not implemented when it was first proposed almost thirty years back; however it is being applied now after so many years after the advent of IT and internet. Since the companies are using the internet more and more for their betterment and empowering the customers to make partial decisions on their behalves. Personalisation has recently become totally a part of ebusiness, as this concept indicates many things that the theorists and the practitioners would love to know about in

Perfect Competition and the Supply Curve & Monopoly Essay

Perfect Competition and the Supply Curve & Monopoly - Essay Example For the electricity industry, increase in business can greatly reduce unit/average costs and that is why natural monopoly is popular in this industry. In most cases, government might want to regulate natural monopolies such as this one. The regulations to be employed are direct legislation and administrative regulations of prices and entry into the industry (Joskow & Rose, 1989). Several reasons exist on why the government might do this. The two major ones are to prevent consumer exploitation and increase in the unit/average cost of production. Since, in natural monopoly there is absolutely no competition, the monopoly can sell its products at any price. This could result to consumer exploitation hence attracting the interest of the government to regulate monopoly. Moreover, since such industries have no competition, other investors might venture into it to break the monopoly. By doing this, they would increase the cost per unit hence rendering production uneconomical. The government will therefore step in to regulate their operations with an interest of saving the

Microeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Microeconomics - Essay Example Another major barrier blocking a firm’s entry into a new market is the raising of sufficient capital to buy necessary products or technology. While this barrier is clearly industry specific, it can surface in terms of financing to buy the business itself, or in start-up costs that are necessary to purchase machines, technology, or patents that will permit full organizational operation. Another barrier is the nature of predatory pricing. This functions when the established firm is able to sell products for prices wherein they take a loss for a period of time as a means of putting the competing firm out of business. Another major barrier for entry in a market is the nature of exclusive relationships with suppliers. In these instance, the established firm is able to sign deals wherein the supplier is only able to sell products to the established firm; in-effect making it impossible for new firms to enter the market 2. The demand curve for a purely monopolistic firm differs from t he demand curve for competitive firm in significant ways (Krugman 2005). One of the important concepts to recognize in these regards is the nature of market power. Market power is understood as the ability of a business or firm to raise prices above the marginal cost level and still retain customers. In firms experiencing a purely competitive market environment, the market power is non-existent. In these situations, then, the demand curve for purely competitive firms is a horizontal line. This reflects the nature of market prices as static due to market conditions of pure competition that ensure the market prices don’t rise about the level of marginal costs. Conversely, the demand curve for a firm in a market experiencing pure monopoly is entirely different. In a purely monopolistic market the firm experiences no competition from outside firms. In these regards, the nature of the market is not based on supply and demand, but is constituted by the monopoly itself. In these sit uations, the firm has close to complete power; yet, the firm is still bounded by the price consumers are willing to pay for the product. In pure monopolistic situations, the demand curve is the exact equivalent of the price the firm establishes. This is because consumer demand will decrease with the increased price, yet it is entirely determined by this element, as there are no outside competitive factors. 3. When considering the nature of productive efficiencies and allocative efficiencies, it’s clear that there are a number of notable differences (‘Productive vs Allocative Efficiency’). In firms or markets that promote productive efficiency measures, the major goal is to produce goods or services for the lowest cost that is possible. In achieving optimal productive efficiency the firm is implementing all of its inputs and workforce to ultimate efficiency measures as a means of driving down product prices to the lowest possible level. Productive efficiency is di fferentiated from allocative efficiency. Allocative efficiency is concerned with the allocation of resources throughout society. Allocative efficiency recognizes that not all goods that are produced can be utilized by society, so that in overproducing goods can negatively affect efficiency levels. The primary difference between these types of efficiency then is the nature of the end goal; with

Strategic Plan of my current employer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Strategic Plan of my current employer - Essay Example Internal environmental factors affecting an organization’s performance include strengths and weaknesses. Externally, opportunities and threats influence an organizations’ performance among industry competitors. Inefficiency in the planning process is dangerous to the survival of an organization. Mistakes by the management while lying down the strategic plan management consequentially lead to failure and loss of business to competitors. In the extreme, an organization faces liquidation (Bo?hm, 2009). To achieve is purpose of â€Å"to develop a self-actualized scholar, who possesses a knowledgeable and discerning mind, thrives in service to others, and is prepared for college,† Paulo Freire Charter School must effectively manage its internal and external environments effectively and efficiently. Internal factors adequately affect the strengths and weaknesses of an organization. The management of any organization needs to plan for the purpose of hedging against any form of internal problems. Resources and human capital are essential elements in the internal factors management. Availability of raw materials, financial capital for investment and labour to work in the various departments are the internal factors affecting the performance of an organization. To achieve organizational goals, adequacy of resources is essential. Internal factors make both the organizational strengths and weaknesses. ... Long-term finances are essential in financing long-term operations of the school. Inadequate finances for an organization are its weakness, while adequate finances are its strength. Purchase of machinery, hiring of workers, and expansion of a classes and addition of courses offered by the school are the major uses of long-term funds in the school. Strategic budgeting process by an organization ensures proper allocation of resources according to the requirements of the organization. Poor budgeting of organizational funds potentially leads to financial problems to the school. Prioritizing needs with reference to the organizational needs and requirements will help the organization from getting into financial problems. Bo?hm (2009) points out that as strength, adequate finances greases the various wheels used by the management to achieve the school’s purpose. However, this could also form part of its weaknesses. Inadequate funds, misappropriation of the school’s income and poor liquidity position are a weakness that can lead to poor results, and thus the school losses business to its competitors. Human capital is responsible for the achievement of organizational goals and objectives (Bruce, 2006). To achieve its goal the school needs human resources, and these need care and profession in their handling. Investing in human resources of the organization increases the organization quality of services. At the same time, the organization achieves its goals, reaches its vision and lives up to its mission statement. Proper motivational strategies to the teachers increase their output. According to Frey (2002), there is more to motivation than offering good salaries to the employees. Although

Gendered-Language Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Gendered-Language Journal - Essay Example Sociolinguistics is the study of society and language. Sociolinguistics attempts to analyze the social factors which leading to the diversity of human languages, whereas many linguists concentrate on exploring unity under the diversity of human languages. In a nut shell, sociolinguists focus on the differences in languages and variation within a particular society language. As stated earlier, this paper will focus on the aspects of sociolinguistic variations in terms of gender based conversations. For example, television interviews, conversations in professional meetings, and daily readings. Language is particularly a form of social behavior and societies tend to split into groups displaying behavior differences. People react and behave variedly when giving information or involved in a particular conversation especially where a common gender is involved. This is generally due to the fact that language defines group identity because of its deep social function. People of same gender in a particular social group speak like one another. This strengthens the bonds and at the same time divides people from those in other groups speaking differently. This is a result of dialect. Dialect signals there individuals come from. This may be regional dialect and has significant applications to the social background of individuals. In a conversation within a common group of people or gender, they appear distinguished from other groups in their linguistic structure and features such as grammar, accent, pronunciation, and vocabulary. Most often than not, people of different dialects hav e varied accents, however, speakers of a common dialect may show different accents as well. This has resulted into Standard English; however, people speak differently and uniquely due to their education, life experience, aspiration, and age. This is what is observed in gendered language (Aitchison, 1978). In any particular gender conversation, for

Strategic Plan of my current employer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Strategic Plan of my current employer - Essay Example Internal environmental factors affecting an organization’s performance include strengths and weaknesses. Externally, opportunities and threats influence an organizations’ performance among industry competitors. Inefficiency in the planning process is dangerous to the survival of an organization. Mistakes by the management while lying down the strategic plan management consequentially lead to failure and loss of business to competitors. In the extreme, an organization faces liquidation (Bo?hm, 2009). To achieve is purpose of â€Å"to develop a self-actualized scholar, who possesses a knowledgeable and discerning mind, thrives in service to others, and is prepared for college,† Paulo Freire Charter School must effectively manage its internal and external environments effectively and efficiently. Internal factors adequately affect the strengths and weaknesses of an organization. The management of any organization needs to plan for the purpose of hedging against any form of internal problems. Resources and human capital are essential elements in the internal factors management. Availability of raw materials, financial capital for investment and labour to work in the various departments are the internal factors affecting the performance of an organization. To achieve organizational goals, adequacy of resources is essential. Internal factors make both the organizational strengths and weaknesses. ... Long-term finances are essential in financing long-term operations of the school. Inadequate finances for an organization are its weakness, while adequate finances are its strength. Purchase of machinery, hiring of workers, and expansion of a classes and addition of courses offered by the school are the major uses of long-term funds in the school. Strategic budgeting process by an organization ensures proper allocation of resources according to the requirements of the organization. Poor budgeting of organizational funds potentially leads to financial problems to the school. Prioritizing needs with reference to the organizational needs and requirements will help the organization from getting into financial problems. Bo?hm (2009) points out that as strength, adequate finances greases the various wheels used by the management to achieve the school’s purpose. However, this could also form part of its weaknesses. Inadequate funds, misappropriation of the school’s income and poor liquidity position are a weakness that can lead to poor results, and thus the school losses business to its competitors. Human capital is responsible for the achievement of organizational goals and objectives (Bruce, 2006). To achieve its goal the school needs human resources, and these need care and profession in their handling. Investing in human resources of the organization increases the organization quality of services. At the same time, the organization achieves its goals, reaches its vision and lives up to its mission statement. Proper motivational strategies to the teachers increase their output. According to Frey (2002), there is more to motivation than offering good salaries to the employees. Although

Giving economic circumstances over the last five years of how Tesco, Essay - 1

Giving economic circumstances over the last five years of how Tesco, Sainsbury and Morrisons have coped - Essay Example Falling house prices which were caused by shortage of mortgages made the economy to worsen and investor fell short of repaying their loans. This act made lending institutions to halt their loaning as they feared that their customers were unable to repay. Another cause for recession in United Kingdom was cost push inflation which made civil servants to squeeze their incomes and lower their disposal earnings. Citizen more so civil servants were very careful on every penny they spent for the cost of living had skyrocketed making them to evade any impulse buying. Lack of confidence with financial sector reduced confidence in real economy thus perpetuating low trading and therefore less revenue. Consequently, the retail sector which hugely depends on the buying behaviour of the customers was financially affected. The economic turmoil affected the overall retail sector worldwide to a large extent, top retail giants including Tesco, and Sainsbury also faced decline in their share prices due to a major brunt of the financial crisis (Hotten, 2008). Many retail sectors like the financial and other retail sectors did job cutting in order to combat the financial turmoil. Though the groceries giants like Tesco, Sainsbury and Morrison aimed at in creasing the jobs but due to the closure of some of the grocery depots like Tesco who closed its Daventry’s depot of Fast way distribution has resulted some job loss (The Telegraph, 2008). However, in the last five years except 2008 and 2009 UK witnessed a positive GDP growth rate (BBC News, 2011). At the end of 2009 UK recovered from the global recession which was caused due to the ripple effects of the failure of subprime loans and bankruptcy of the big financial institutions but can be hugely affected due to the predicted recession of 2012 which may happen mainly due to the debt crisis of the European countries (The Economic Times, 2011). The graph below shows how recession took place and the way

The attitudes of Christianity Essay Example for Free

The attitudes of Christianity Essay Islam and Christianity share a lot of similarities and differences. One of the most important similarities that they share is that they are both universal religions. Both Islam and Christianity are monotheistic religions, believing in only one god, which is also believed by some religions researchers to be the same god, but referred with different nominatives. In the Christian religion it is referred to as Christ and in the Islam religion it is referred to as Allah. They do not only share these little similarities, but much more: like the beginning of the religions. In both holy books: the Bible for Christians and the Quran for Muslims, it is described the creation of the earth in the very firsts chapters. The Bible, as the Quran states that Christ created the world in six days; in the other hand the Quran states the same thing, but using the nominative of Allah instead than Christ. As time advanced many differences born between Christianity and Islam. Christianity and Islam looked at merchants and trade form different points of views. With the years, the views of both religions of trade and merchants have altered in positive and negative ways. During the early years of Christianity, trade was not viewed in a positive way, but it was more considered like an obstacle that would stand and block the bridge linking a person to heaven. In fact as we can see Document 1 states that being wealthy would place you further away from God and consequently, further away from Gods kingdom. a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Being wealthy was thought of negatively by the New Testament, possibly meaning that earning a lower income would draw you nearer to God. In Christianity trade was seen depending on how the merchant was going to use the profit, because there are two prospective to see trade. The negative way; which is the one stated in Document1 is when someone trades with the purpose not to benefits other people, but to benefit himself with the profit. The other way, which is different is the positive way, is much  different because is the one where a merchant trades not only for benefit himself, but also to benefit others; donating part of the profit. Only in this way trade wouldnt be an obstacle in the bridge linking the person to heaven; but instead it would be a sort of shortcut. In fact Document 3, which describes the life of a twelfth-century British wealthy merchant named St. Godric, shows that there is a positive and negative way in which Christ looks at trade. Godric, after named St. Godric, was one of the firsts to understand the ways in which Christ looks at trade because even know that the Bible, or the word of Christ, stated that a wealthy man would hardly go to heaven, St. Godric proceeded trading. But he devoted himself to God, during his reteriment, using his wealth in charities, and aiding the poor people. He sold all his possessions and distributed them among the poor. For above all things he coveted the life of a hermit. This example shows that trade is not done only for personal benefits but that it is also done for the benefits of others, such as the poor and the sick people. During the seventh century Islam viewed merchants and trade in a positive way in fact many Muslims were traders or merchants traveling around the known world selling or trading their home goods, and so spreading the Islam culture and religion. Islam supports trade, but until a certain level. In fact Document 2, which is a part of the Muslims holy book, the Quran, instructs merchants how to trade lawfully and truthfully. If the two parties speak the truth and make it manifest, their transaction shall be blessed, and if they conceal and tell a lie, the blessing of their transaction shall be obliterated. On the day of judgment, the honest, truthful Muslim merchant will take rank with the martyrs of the faith This quote shows that merchants and traders were supported by the Quran, and so by the Islam religion, as long as they traded honestly between each other. In conclusion the Islam religion supported the Muslims merchants and allowed them to trade as long as they did not steal from each other and were honest. Christianity has changed over the centuries. The radical changed is that Christians now accept trade in a positive way, but must be done accordingly.  In Document 4, Thomas Aquinas, a leading Scholastic theologian of 1273, almost 1100 years after Document 1 was written, describes how to trade in the way that Christ will accept it. As we have seen in Document 1, Matthew states that a merchant should not sell something to another man for more than it is worth. All thingswhatsoever you would that men should do to you do you also to them. In the opposite hand, Thomas Aquinas is tring to interpret that message by saying that trade is allowed as long as the merchant doesnt cheat its costumer or sells things that are not of his property. During that period people started thinking differently because at the early years of Christianity people so trade in a negative way; while during the thirteenth century people started thinking that Christ influenced people to trade and that with his presence their trading will go well; and so we can conclude that a new similarity between Islam and Christianity born, because according to Document 2 Muslims could trade as long as they were honest between each other. Also Document 6 supports the fact that a radical changed occurred because, one of the merchants states in a letter: With God always before us, we will carry out your bidding. Christianitys views on trade and merchants have changed from being condemned, to being used for daily life. Also Islams views about trade and merchants got better with the years, because the Muslims like the Christians made it a daily occupation; and infact in document 5 Ibn Khaldun mainly writes about the importance of trade and making profit. This is a sign of change because in Document 2 it states that you shouldnt sell something for more than it is worth. Islam, as Christianity, has not followed the writings of the Quran. This is another similarity between the two universal religions that shows that the two religions are very alike. Document 7, which describes a problem that had occurred during a trade transaction, shows that a negative change occurred in Muslims merchants: they started to think to much about the profit that hey were going to make, and so forgot the writings in the Quran. Both Christianity and Islam have changed over time, due to scholars who thought openly to the New Testament and the Quran. Since trade in both of  the religions had started off at different paces and different starting points, their views on trade and merchants turned out different. Overall, Christianitys development was more righteous and more realistic than the development of Islam. Christianity and Islam have altered because of different perspectives of scholars of their religions and due to the requirement and changes of the market. To better understand the development of trade according to Christianity, I would need an additional document that describes if the Christians merchants took advantage of the situations to cheat on their costumers or if they respected the new developments: trade was allowed as long as the merchants were honest between each other. If I would have the opportunity to have that document I could make a final affirmation about the developments of Christianity from the early years until 1500 C.E.

Overview Of Musical Intelligence English Language Essay

Overview Of Musical Intelligence English Language Essay The third grade student Johnny who seems to involve skill appreciation and composition of the melodic pattern in his performance clearly displays more characteristics on the musical intelligence than linguistic and interpersonal intelligence. Why musical intelligence Since he also vocalizes a variety of sounds during playtime and he can reproduce birdcalls and songs. He has the capability of recognizing and composing musical rhythms pitches and tones. Johnny also has some characteristics of the linguistic intelligence since he has the sensitivity to rhythms and sounds as well as the various language functions. He also has some aspects of the interpersonal intelligence since he is able to sense the feelings of his classmates and respond empathetically to their emotional state thus being able to relate with them very well. On the other hand, his openness and honesty when he expresses himself is also a characteristic of the interpersonal intelligence and his tolerance of his classmates actions and opinions characterizes him as a person who understands the relations between people. The musical intelligence capabilities displayed by Johnny indicate that he appreciates the various forms of music expressed in different moods pitches and rhythms. Teaching and assessment strategies For Johnny who mainly possesses musical intelligence abilities and skills, several teaching and assessment strategies can be employed during his learning processes. When using the multimodal curricular design model the teacher should put a lot of emphasis on Johnnies musical intelligence and see it like a point of entry into the learning content. On the other hand, the single grade and the multi grade classrooms would be the best instructional strategies to adapt. Secondly, on the developmentally based curricular design model the teachers emphasis should be on using Johnnies musical intelligence ability as a tool of instruction in the direction of development and profound knowledge. The instructional strategies for Johnnie based on this model would be based on his choice as a student such that he makes choices in his learning activity. The second strategy that could be used includes, cooperative learning where he learns together with the other students jointly as they all participate in the learning processes since this would also make it easy for the group processing. Another strategy that could be used in his learning is on the development of his life skills. The teacher could also give Johnny less information and allow him to do more application during his learning process. For example, he should be given various sounds, which he should identify, by the tone and rhythm. In this case, this is done in helping memorize more on a taught concept that is presented on a more musical oriented angle. In the assessments, Johnnies teacher should use the skills checklists, portifolis, the S-U lettering grades, as well as the hyperactive card piles. Similarly the teacher could also use both non-graded and the graded music lessons following up with the checklists and the progress charts which highlight the areas of Johnnies achievement and the areas which he needs improvement. Linguistic intelligence For the seventh grade student ,Susie, the most clearly displayed multiple intelligence is the linguistic intelligence since her most preferred learning hints are language and words. She also possesses some characteristics of bodily kinesthetic intelligence since she often uses her hand gestures to express herself and come up with great routines and through this, she conveys her messages very effectively as the junior varsity cheerleader. Why linguistic intelligence The linguistic intelligence for Susie makes her very sensitive to any written or spoken language, which she uses as a way of remembering information. Teaching and assessment strategies The teacher should consider using support materials while teaching Susie to provide some tangibility of the items related to the content for her to examine because of her linguistic nature. The teacher should also review the use of some examples related to sports such as throwing a ball to Susie so that she can answer a question. On the other hand, the teacher should verbally present her content and loudly as Susie questions and look for her feedback. The teacher could also interview Susie, as she should also allow her to make a presentation of her assignments or group work. Susie could also be allowed to prepare class and group presentations as she reads the content aloud as well as be allowed to debate over certain issues in her learning environment. Susie should create chart and graphs which will help her in explaining her written information. In assessing Susie, the teacher should grade her verbal and presentation skills as well as use the hyperactive card files, which would help Susie remember the memorized content. She would also be taught on how to present her work, which would most likely bend on made up stories that she is told to present to other students. Since she is more on linguistic intelligence, it would be of importance that she learns new words and tested on the latter to improve in her work. This should be of great importance both to her and to the assessor. Role-playing could also be a very effective assessment strategy as this can be done through dancing, acting narrating as well as crafts and athletics and this could be done through charts and graphs. This would enable the teacher to follow up with the checklists and the progress charts, which highlight the areas of Susie achievement and the areas, which she needs improvement. Logical-mathematical intelligence Tommy, who is a particular and diligent student, questions events and situations by looking for hidden rationales or reasons has the characteristics of a logical-mathematical intelligent student. His development of a shorthand system for effective note taking, where he always use a prewriting strategy for his major papers and projects make him have traits of the logical-mathematical intelligence. On the other hand, Tommy has introspective intelligence traits, which are highly reflected in his ability to be very single-minded focusing all of his energy and attention to tasks. His preference to work independently and be self-directed makes him an introspective intelligent student and his ability to see his assignments in terms of his own life experiences as well as paying close attention to the events that have correlative importance to his schoolwork. Teaching and assessment strategies Since Tommy possesses both logical-mathematical intelligence and retrospective intelligence, which involves numbers abstractions logic and reasoning. It is assumed that he is naturally intelligent. The teacher should involve him more in activities that are numerical and that require more reasoning and scientific thinking. He should be involved in exercises that involve number sense and numeration too as the assessor by now knows that he is rich in analytical and statistical problem solving. It should be noted that Tommys abilities to evaluate and utilize spatial and quantitative information in solving problems boost his personal self-confidence even when dealing with other life issues.

Pride And Prejudice :: essays research papers

Pride and Prejudice: Is it possible?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The novel â€Å"Pride and Prejudice,† written by Jane Austen during the nineteenth century, describes the trials and tribulations of five sisters of marrying age. The story is based in England around the turn of the century, and upon careful review, we find that many of the events do not reflect the time period. The relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy, and the Lydia-Wickham affair, are not realistic. Despite the fact that the novel is fiction, it is questionable that such events could take place.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Darcy first lays eyes on Elizabeth after she is pointed out to him by Bingley, his statement is not that of love, nor of fondness, rather it is one of complete disgust. â€Å"She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies slighted by other men.† From Darcy’s reaction, we can only imagine what he really thinks of Elizabeth, but we are given a very good idea. This is not love at first sight, there is no attraction between the two, there is nothing at all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elizabeth has an equal reaction to Darcy. When she overhears the comments he has made about her, she is anything but drawn to the man. â€Å"Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him.(pg.12)† The two seem destined to become worst enemies, in fact they seem to become anything but a couple in love, which is exactly what they end up to be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Soon after their original meeting at the ball, Elizabeth and Darcy’s paths cross again. This time it is at the home of the Bingleys where Darcy is staying, and where Elizabeth comes to visit Jane, her ill sister. When Darcy see her this time, his reaction to her is quite different: â€Å"he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness.(pg.22)† I find it hard to believe that his impression of Elizabeth could change so drastically within a matter of days. Elizabeth, on the other hand, has a more reasonable reaction. She made no notice of Darcy’s reaction. â€Å"perfectly unaware; to her he was only the man who had made himself agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.

In-N-Out Burguer Essay

Describe In-N-Out in terms of the value it provides for customers. Throughout the years, the restaurant chain In-N-Out has accomplished excellent customer service and satisfaction. Moreover, their customer service is now classified among the top rated when compared to other fast food restaurants that are within In-N-Out’s range of service. Presently, the profit they are making is comparable to, if not higher than Burger King and McDonald’s. Many experts reviews have favored In-N-Out because they are known for giving customers secret menu items, which overall helps increase customer value. In other words, the famous â€Å"secret menu† strategy is bringing back not only its original customers but also their family and friends. Evaluate In-N-Out’s performance relative to customer expectations. What is the outcome of this process? In-N-Out has performed well when it comes to filling customers’ expectations. Thanks to the great performance offered by the restaurant; they have positive advertisement by their own clients. In other words, their own customers promote the food and service of the restaurant; saving the chain millions of dollars in TV advertisement. They are now famous for providing â€Å"Quality you can taste† as well as an original formula that remains unchanged. Another fact to their success is that, they have never changed their menu or freshness of the products. Millions of people talk about the freshness and tastefulness of the food and are always planning to return within days. Do you think In-N-Out should adopt a high growth strategy? Why or why not? I believe In-N-Out should remain with their slow growth strategy. This particular chain of restaurants has definitely gone beyond expectations. The truth of the matter is, a regular business with such strategy would have failed within the first three years. However, In-N-Out has exceptional in accomplishing what seems impossible to other fast foods such as McDonalds. The chain of restaurants it is not found in every state, so when a traveler is near one there is a high chance they will try it. With so many customers drawn into In-N-Out’s â€Å"no change† philosophy, why don’t more burger chains follow suit? Each burger chain has its rules and strategies, for them to ado pt the â€Å"no change† rule means many of their owners would have to agree. Since such philosophy is not the most common successful one the likelihood of them converting is not high.

Baseball Culture

Baseball is a game played everywhere: in parks, playgrounds, in back alleys and farmers’ fields, by small children and old men, raw amateurs and millionaire professionals, and also all over the world. It is a leisurely game that demands blinding speed. It is the only game in which the defense has the ball. Americans have played baseball for more than 200 years, and is still one the most popular sports in the whole world. Baseball hasn’t always been the loving sport it is today before 1947 there were two separate leagues because there was a color barrier. The first person to break this barrier was Jackie Robinson an African American baseball player who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from April 15, 1947- October 10, 1956. This was the beginning of a new era and with this it created a whole new view on the game itself. Baseball is a game where people can come together as one unit but be complete strangers, where people can go to just hangout, and also where you can enjoy some of the best yet expensive food. At a baseball game it is considered good to yell out bad things at the away team, you usually do this with other fans which you most of the time do not know, you also scream with fellow fans when your team does a good thing, whether they score or someone just made a spectacular web gem. All of this is in good fun and the fact that you are able to share all this with random strangers is amazing, because a lot of times people do not like to step out of their comfort zone and talk to new people, but at a ball game you are able to do that no matter what kind of person you are. Through the game people are able to step out of their comfort zone and meet new people and interact with people they have never met before. Although if your team is the away team be careful because some fans really hate the other team and sometimes do crazy things. Since the beginning going to a ball game was always a way for people to get out and enjoy a thrilling game. It allows people to hang out with friends or ven go on a date, it lets people go out and see their favorite player and scream their name and try to get their autograph or if they are lucky even a picture. Going to a baseball stadium is just a great way for people to enjoy the sport they love and hangout. Going to a baseball game is probably one of the best times a person could ever have, because you never know whether or not the game could end up going into extra innings or it being a blowout victory for the home team. That is the fun in going to a game the excitement of anything can happen, imagine being a young boy or girl and catching a ball that catch would be with you for the rest of your life. Being at a game is a great experience and is one of the best events a person can go to because it allows you to be who you are just enjoy life because for those 3 hours you are at that game nothing else is on your mind except the game. While at a baseball game most people get hungry luckily baseball stadiums have some of the best food known to man. But that food comes at a price like a price of you are not paying for anything for less than $5. But although these prices are high it is just a must to at least get a hot dog at a baseball game. It’s just part of the baseball culture to eat something at a game. Although now it is not very unnatural for a person to only buy a drink because of how high the prices are at the stadiums now a days. Hopefully one day we can get to the days where a hot dog max only cost $1. 0 and a slice of pizza for the same price. Hopefully with less people buying, those prices will actually be seen and put into action. But the world may never know. All in all Baseball is a game, from when it first started to present day, where people from all around the world can come together and have one common love†¦ the love of the game baseball. Baseball is just one of those sports where no matter what kind of a person you are you will always be accepted by the people around you.

Consumerism in Today’s Society Essay

To analyze and explain the significance of something, you must first define it. Consumerism is â€Å"advocacy of a high rate of consumption and spending as a basis for a sound economy†. Consumerism plays an enormous role in Brave New World. It gives us a small view of what a different type of economy we might have. People are solely dependent on the things that the world state provides for them. There is much significance to consumerism in BNW, and through an analytical view of it, we find many similarities between consumerism in BNW and in our world today. In this novel the use of consumerism is prominent. Every person is provided for so that they do not have to worry about anything. In the US we constantly use our available resources even when it is not truly needed. A simple example would be, buying too much food at the grocery store, and most of it going to waste in about a weeks time. All the branches of society in BNW indulge in overconsumption just as we do, but it the Alpha group that really shows us this. Alphas show us this in many ways, often through the use of a drug. The best item in this society to get your hands on is soma. It is the most widely used and distributed item, it is used to keep individuals happy. From an example in the book, many of the castes are paid for their work with soma. Soma keeps the population under control, they take it when they do not feel â€Å"normal†, the drug keeps them from thinking unusually, thinking as an individual. The general public in BNW is encouraged to use public transportation, often to entertain themselves, to visit one of the reservations, or to play a game, such as Obstacle Golf, another example of consumerism in BNW, because it costs money to play. Or even to spectate, the population would still have to pay for transportation to watch. In our world today we also use public transportation, but it is not the only means of transportation. The public consumerism regarding entertainment in the form of games, such as golf, not a cheap sport but one we indulge ourselves in for amusement. Another example of how consumerism in BNW relates to us, is how the population in BNW are raised to use products provided by the World State, and dispose of them and continue to get more, and provide more money to the economy, therefore keeping the world at a constant steady state. This may sound very familiar, where products in our society become faulty overtime, some may say it is planned obsolescence, where maybe it isn’t completely broken and you cant fix it, maybe it is just so outdated it cannot keep up anymore. So we as individuals are forced to toss the product and purchase a new one. Our society has many examples of consumerism. Individuals with more money to spend often overindulge or spend it on unneeded things for our pleasure. We buy televisions, video games, extra clothing, more than one of a similar item, like a person having three different iPods. Sporting events have a huge impact on our economy as well. Millions of people in the US turn out to attend or watch on TV football during the regular season and the post season. We spend a lot of money of medicine and drugs. If one were to look into a persons medicine cabinet at home, it would be likely to find lots of pills and drugs for different uses that are defiantly not cheap, that are rarely used. Also a small minority of Americans in relation to the whole country, spend money on illegal drugs. Alcohol is also another product many Americans spend their money on that is an example of consumerism. Most individuals in our world today have given in to some form of consumerism. Unfortunately the peoples in BNW are trained and pretty much forced to give into consumerism. And if our world continues to overindulge we soon could also turn into a milder form of the society in this novel. But first we have to realize and start to conserve our valuable resources, so that we don’t have to depend upon our government for necessities.

Book Review, King Leopold's Ghost Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Book Review, King Leopold's Ghost - Essay Example King Leopold’s Ghost reminds us how man’s greed, power and desire to conquer and exploit far away lands far outweighs his compassion for humanity. The story begins with an informative history about the colonization of the Congo by explorer Henry Morton Stanley. The reader is offered a glimpse of Stanley’s lust for power and disrespect of humanity through his cunning plan to use Belgium’s King Leopold in a quest to exploit Africa as a goldmine. Leopold proves to be a suitable partner for Stanley, happy masking his true desires for power and money under the guise of philanthropy. He deceives the world with a false agenda, one which holds the best interest of the Congo locals at heart. Together, Leopold and Hochschild take steps which eventually leave the Congo in the hands of King Leopold. Thereafter, the locals are exposed to a dictatorship which enslaves them not only physically but also mentally, stripping their country of wealth. Leopold and Stanley’s titles of good king and adventuresome explorer are ripped away by Hochschild who is not afraid to use facts to paint a less flattering picture of the pair. Leopold was eager to cash in on the worlds growing demand for natural resources such as ivory and rubber which Africa was rich of and was not afraid to go to extreme lengths to achieve his goals. Punishment was measured out in whippings and included men, women and children. Hochschild uses Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad to illustrate the brutality inflicted by Leopold. Murder, decorating gardens with skull and rubbing salt into wounds were common occurrences that were openly accepted as common practice by the white Force Publique. It is estimated that the population of the Congo was reduced by half over a forty year period. Although Leopold’s exploits were well hidden, he was not free from opposition who was determined to expose his cruelty and true intentions to the rest of the world. Hochschild introduces us to

Keeping Music in the Classrooms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Keeping Music in the Classrooms - Essay Example Children don't have to memorize a lot of material or remember complicated formulas, but are exposed to another kind of lesson. This is why children are more willing to learn it and its also a part of the reason why they enjoy it. It is simple and children can understand it and participate in it (Bryan, 2005). Second, music arouses childrens imagination and takes them to worlds of fantasy and magic. It carries them to different imaginary places. It is, in a way, magical, and allows children to have a break from their hard day of studying, while still teaching them something else (Bryan, 2005). Third, music has no barriers of race, ethnicity, color and others. Through the experience of music, children can empathize with the feelings and aspirations of their counterparts worldwide. In a way, it unites them all, making them one group, instead of individuals separated or divided by their differences (Bryan, 2005). Fourth, music can be integrated in the learning process of other subjects, such as math, history and other subjects. For instance, in order to help children memorize facts, formulas or other material- songs can be used. It is known that it is easier for the brain to remember words or facts if they are rhythmic. If music is incorporated in the studies of other subject, it may very well improve students achievements in those subjects (Bryan, 2005). Fifth, it is known for quite some time that music has the ability to calm people, make them more relaxed and reduce tensions and stress. This obviously improves their daily functioning, and may assist them in their learning and could even reduce their levels of violence.

Critical Thinking English- A New Earth Chapters One to Ten Essay

Critical Thinking English- A New Earth Chapters One to Ten - Essay Example These emotions are therefore borne out of our reaction to things, and thus, these emotions can be evil. Nevertheless, from Tolle’s book and from this class, one learns that nonreaction is the more spiritual way and that it can be learned only through the view that change is inevitable. From Chapter 3, I particularly like: â€Å"Nonreaction is not weakness but strength. Another word for nonreaction is forgiveness. To forgive is to overlook, or rather to look through†¦the ego to the sanity that is in every human being as his or her essence† (Tolle 41). Oftentimes, when I react to my boyfriend’s comments or to how he behaves, I would normally react with tantrums. However, after that, I somehow realize that I have acted in a stupid way or that something was not right and that no matter how valid the emotion was, it did not seem to be helping the relationship. Afterwards, I would also feel selfish and thus apologize to my boyfriend for my reaction no matter how m uch I did not want to apologize. Before I became a part of this class and before I read Tolle, I thought long and hard about how to appropriately react to the many different hurts that I expect I would get from my boyfriend or from the relationship itself. Little did I know that the flaw was not in the method of reacting to the hurt or to the situation but it is in the whole concept of reaction itself. I believe people, especially I, would normally react to situations because they do not understand the spiritual principle about nonreaction. True strength, according to Tolle, is not reaction but nonreaction. Moreover, nonreaction happens in us when we see only the ego of another person and not his essence. When we begin to see the essence, we forgive almost automatically and we lose the natural tendency to react. In my case, I particularly like the quote from Tolle not because I follow it but because this is something I still have to go through. Ever since we were young, we were alwa ys told to react, and everything that we have learned is based on the idea of human emotion – that certain things can trigger specific emotions in a human being. Somehow, this concept indirectly also teaches us that we are at the mercy of our emotions, and that we cannot do anything except react. Our society has also taught us to react to political matters as well as anything else that happens in the world of fashion, in the news, and even in science and technology, where our emotions do not actually matter or where our emotions would somehow make us feel justified, recognized and vindicated. Our religions have also taught us the same feeling of being vindicated when we have proven others wrong and ourselves morally right and upright. This is true in my case. I feel the vindication whenever I shout at my boyfriend after he does something I did not particularly like. It is the time that I feel I am right, and I feel I am superior and lofty, and most of all – right. Neve rtheless, as long as we rely on our emotions to vindicate us, we will forever react to things around us and we will forever be subject to sorrow and suffering. The key therefore is change. If we are to experience strength from nonreaction, then we have to free ourselves from our emotions, and therefore we have to change. From Chapter 8, the line that appeals to me is: â€Å"Once you see and accept the transience of all things and the inevitability of change, you can enjoy the

Assesment paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assesment paper - Essay Example They are supposed to uphold the ethics and principles of good governance. In principle, the politicians, being public figures, are supposed to lead exemplary lives, without being influenced by any vested interests. The corporate houses too are required to operate their businesses in such a way that the no harm is done to the society, to the environment and the polity of the nation/s. With the emergence of globalisation, the concepts like 'corporate governance' have emerged for managing the businesses more effectively. Media in general and electronics media in particular, too plays a very important role in telling the people about the values, ideas, opinions and culture of any political party and organisation. Therefore, now there is an exponential increase in the reliance on the broadcast media for political campaigns. This has proved to have a powerful role in making or breaking the chances of any political party. Opinion builders are entrusted with the task of spreading good words about the candidate (often this is termed as planting stories). In addition, candidates take up extensive tours to meet as many people as possible. All such exercises require good amount of money and hence the need for arranging funds. While it is true that businesses are supposed to work within the framework of rules and guidelines formulated by the political bosses, it is now an accepted fact that politics too cannot survive without a 'big' helping hand from businesses. But companies are placed in an unenviable position of being labeled as sympathizer to one particulars party or candidate if they support one at the cost of the other. Just in case the results are different, then there's a threat of retaliation. During earlier times, politicians used to get finances from some big companies, in a hush-hush manner so that their political affiliations are not divulged. This trend continued for quite a while, but gradually started resulted in arm-twisting tactics on the part of both politicians as well as corporate houses. This led to the debate of bringing in more transparency in matters relating to political campaign finances. Such reforms are being supported by political parties as well as business houses. Some bus iness houses are not very happy with the unreasonable demands from some political quarters, while the behavior of some politicians and political parties under the influence of money-power has also brought down the image of governments. There are some differences in the manner and extent of implementation though. Such attempts to regulate campaign finances are being supported by people at large and if theirs is any opposition, it comes from within the political establishment. In USA the common term for such political efforts is campaign finance reform (Chapman, 1999). In US campaign funds are generated by the politicians and the political parties' mainly using four sources (Cantor, 2007); i. Own funds of political leaders, their family and friends ii. By soliciting contributions from individual citizens iii. Using the party funds (which too require to be replenished from time to time) iv. Different interest groups (comprised business etc) generally with the formation of political action committees (PAC) on political, social or economic issues. v. Public funds (available only for some elections like Presidential elections) A first timer to

Financial report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Financial report - Essay Example The process of determining the viable option entailed the application of mathematical techniques and models such as the regression analysis, the LM test and the decision rule to arrive at the most promising and viable investment option. Therefore, 50 countries were used to apply these tests, while using variables such as the GDP per capita, the inflation rates, the consumer price index and the secondary schools to modify the mathematical models and reach at a conclusive decision on the most promising investment opportunity that could be adopted. After the application of the mathematical models and the modification of these models with the above mentioned variable, a decision was reached that investing the 2 billion in secondary school education was more promising than investing the same in the banking sector, where the money could have been used to bail out the banks. Financial decisions are among the most difficult decisions to reach. This because, while making a financial decision, varied considerations should d be made, which call for a greater level of accuracy and precise estimations (Ingersoll, 1987 p47). Additionally, financial decisions are not hundred percent dependable, owing to the large number of factors that affect financial investments and savings. Most significant is the fact that the complexity of making financial decisions is added to, by the nature of the risks involved in the financial sector, where a slight mistake either in prediction or estimation could mean the success or failure of the investments made (Batyrshin, 2007 p23). Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure that financial decisions are reached with the highest degree of precision possible, while at the same time putting into consideration all the factors that determine the viability of the decisions. This financial report presents the considerations that were

China and Europe during the Middle Ages Essay Example for Free

China and Europe during the Middle Ages Essay Globalisation is not new, though. For thousands of years, people and, later, corporations have been buying from and selling to each other in lands at great distances, such as through the famed Silk Road across Central Asia that connected China and Europe during the Middle Ages. Likewise, for centuries, People and corporations have invested in enterprises in other countries. In fact, many of the features of the current wave of globalisation are similar to those prevailing before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. But policy and technological developments of the past few decades have spurred increases in cross-border trade, investment, and migration so large that many observers believe the world has entered a qualitatively new phase in its economic development. Since 1950, for example, the volume of world trade has increased by twenty times, and from just 1997 to 1999 flows of foreign investment nearly doubled, from $468 billion to $827 billion. Distinguishing this current wave of globalisation from earlier ones, author Thomas Friedman has said that today globalisation is further, faster, cheaper, and deeper. The current wave of globalisation has been driven by policies that have opened economies domestically and internationally. In the years since the Second World War, and especially during the past two decades, many governments have adopted free-market economic systems, vastly increasing their own productive potential and creating myriad new opportunities for international trade and investment. Governments have also negotiated dramatic reductions in barriers to commerce and have established international agreements to promote trade in goods, services, and investment. Taking advantage of new opportunities in foreign markets, corporations have built foreign factories and established production and marketing arrangements with foreign partners. A defining feature of globalisation, therefore, is an international industrial and financial business structure. Technology has been the other principal driver of globalisation. Advances in information technology, in particular, have dramatically transformed economic life. Information technologies have given all sorts of individual economic actors consumers, investors, businesses valuable new tools for identifying and pursuing economic opportunities, including faster and more informed analysis of economic trends around the world, easy transfers of assets, and collaboration with far-flung partners. Globalisation is deeply controversial, however. Proponents of globalisation argue that it allows poor countries and their citizens to develop economically and raise their standards of living; while opponents of globalisation claim that the creation of an unfettered international free market has benefited multinational corporations in the Western world at the expense of local enterprises, local cultures, and common people. Resistance to globalisation has therefore taken shape both at a popular and at a governmental level as people and governments try to manage the flow of capital, labour, goods, and ideas that constitute the current wave of globalisation. COCULSION: In sum, most distinctive conception sees globalisation as a fundamental transformation of human geography on the eve of the twenty-first century; world affairs have acquired a rapidly growing global dimension alongside the territorial framework of old. Of course and this point cannot be stressed too much it is not that territorial space has become wholly irrelevant in contemporary history. We live in a globalising rather than a completely globalised condition. Global spaces of the kind formed through telecommunications, transworld finance, and the like interrelate with territorial spaces, where locality, distance and borders still matter very much. Thus, for example, people have not while acquiring a global imagination discarded their affinities for particular territorial places. Similarly, global marketers have found on countless occasions that they need to tailor their products and promotions to local sensibilities. Globalisation is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and the governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well being in societies around the world. BIBLIOGRAPHY: www.globalisationguide.org

The financing of the UK healthcare system

The financing of the UK healthcare system Since the recession, the UK debt and deficit has been at an all time high, where by the end of 2009 UK debt was reported to be  £950.4 billion, equivalent 68.1 gross domestic product (GDP) and the deficit was  £159.2 billion, which equated to 11.4% GDP (Figure 1).1 With that in mind it is a fact that all public sectors will be facing spending cuts to reduce the governments debt and deficit. Since the NHS receives its funding from the government, it is logical that it will face spending cuts too. Therefore, it is significantly important to use economics as one of the determinants in the allocation of already limited healthcare resources. Figure 1. Shows the UK government debt and deficit as percentage of GDP, from 2006 until the end of 2009.1 Economics is concerned with efficiently allocating the limited available resources, between alternative uses, to achieve maximum effectiveness.2 There is an ever increasing number of different technologies and medical interventions that cannot all be used to treat illnesses. The limited resources in the healthcare services, means decisions on resource allocation have to be made carefully so that maximum effectiveness can be achieved. In order to efficiently allocate resources, one has to consider the economic evaluation of the different alternatives before implementing the one that is the most effective and cost-effective.3 Health economics is used to improve peoples health, which is how it differs from normal economics, in that it is not about analysing consumers demand and supply, but analysing benefits of medical interventions in relation to their costs. In health economics it is also more difficult to measure health outcomes in comparison to financial outcomes in financial economics. Outcomes of healthcare interventions are usually measured in quality adjusted life years (QALY).3 Patterns of financing healthcare There are two methods of financing healthcare, which are public financing and private financing.4 Public financing of healthcare raises capital through taxation of the public (Table 1). The NHS is funded mainly through public financing. Private healthcare is where the capital is raised through the patients using the health services. The patients either pay themselves or are usually insured, so the insurance company pays their healthcare bills (Table 2). The healthcare system in the USA raises capital through private financing.5 Table 1. Describes the different methods and sources of public financing in healthcare Sources of Public Financing Description of Financing General Tax Revenues e.g. UK, Italy, New Zealand Finance is raised by taxation the cost of raising funds is low General taxation pays all the bills so patients do not Low cost per capita Two types of general taxation Regressive Falling more on the poor than rich people Includes tax on items such as tobacco, alcohol and recreational events etc. Progressive Falling more on the rich than poor people Includes tax on luxury products purchased by the rich Deficit Financing Raised by, issuing bonds with long term low interest repayments and bilateral or multilateral aid loans Borrowing and spending funds that are repaid over a period of time Deficit financing supplements general tax revenue It is used on the development and expansion in healthcare infrastructure Earmarked Taxes Tax on a particular product such as lottery and gambling for particular services such as healthcare Social Insurance e.g. France, Germany and Austria The state acts as insurer Financed by employer and employee payroll deduction Social insurance is based upon collective risk of insurance group Government might also contribute to social insurance Public Healthcare Insurance e.g. Canada, Taiwan and South Korea Uses private sector providers but payment made by government run insurance programmes. Capital expenditure are financed from tax revenues It is cheaper and much simpler to administrate than the American for-profit insurance. Wealth is transferred only from low to high risk groups, not from those with high income to low incomes Table 2. Describes the different methods and sources of private financing in healthcare Sources of Private Financing Description Private Health Insurance Social device in which a group of individuals transfer risk to another party in order to combine loss experienceby : Risk Pooling Risk Funding System of third party payments has the effect of: increasing demand Increasing of prices Inefficient allocation of resources Employer Financed Schemes Employers directly finance healthcare for their employees focusing on accident prevention and occupational health. They pay for private sector health services Employ medical personnel directly Provide necessary facilities and equipment Employees families are also covered. Community Financing It is voluntary in its nature Payment for healthcare is made by members of the community Resources are controlled directly by the community Direct Household Expenditure Health expenditure constitutes a large share of GDP through People buying more health services People buying higher quality health services Government services charge fees from users Raises household costs causing inequity A study produced by the world health organisation concluded that in healthcare services that were publicly funded, the expenditure was lower. This was as a percentage of GDP and per capita. It also concluded that the population as a whole gained better health outcomes, universal standards were in place and costs of treating illnesses were reduced by increase emphasis on preventative primary care.6 Healthcare systems in UK and USA In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) was developed in 1948, where for the whole population healthcare was free and it is paid for by taxation, which means people would pay for it according to their means, not their needs.7 The NHS is wholly funded by the government, through various methods such as taxation and national health insurance (Table 1). Only 1.3% of the total NHS expenditure is provided through charging patients, the other 98.7% is funded by the government, where 90.3% of that comes from taxation and 8.4% comes from national insurance.8 In the UK, only 11.5% of the population purchase supplementary private health insurance, whereas in the USA over 67% of the population have health insurance.9 10 In the USA the healthcare system is not funded by the government but rather by public and private health insurances. Private insurance which is mostly employment based, funds 67.5% of the healthcare budget and the rest is funded by public health insurance. The healthcare system in the USA is funded by the demand for good health, whereas the NHS is funded by the supply of healthcare. There are various programmes of public health insurance that are used to fund healthcare in the USA. These programmes include medicaid which helps the poor, medicare which helps the elderly and the disabled, state children health insurance plan which aims to help poor children and finally other plans such as those that are offered to the military. Although these public health insurances are in place to provide help to the poor, elderly and disabled, 45.7% of Americans do not have health insurance.10 The differences between the healthcare systems in the USA and the UK also differ in terms of health outcomes, availability and costs. In 2009 the total health expenditure in the USA was 15.7% of GDP in comparison to only 8.4% of GDP in the UK. Tables 3, 4 and 5 are demonstrate the differences between the two healthcare systems.11 Also, even though the USA has much higher health expenditure than the UK it still has a lower life expectancy at birth (78.8 years) compared to the UK (79.5). Table 3. Compares the healthcare expenditure of the USA and the UK healthcare systems in 2007.11 Indicators UK USA Total expenditure on health, % GDP 8.4 16 Total expenditure on health, Per capita US$ PPP 2992 7290 Public expenditure on health, % total expenditure on health 81.7 45.4 Public health expenditure per capita, US$ PPP 2446 3307 Out-of-pocket expenditure on health, % of total expenditure on health 11.4 12.2 Out-of-pocket expenditure on health, US$ PPP 343 890 Table 4. Compares the healthcare resources of the UK and USA healthcare systems.11 Indicators Year UK USA Practising physicians, density per 1,000 population 2007 2.5 2.4 Practising nurses, density per 1,000 population 2007 10 10.6 Medical graduates, density per 1 000 practising physicians 2006 37.7 26 Hospital beds, density per 1,000 population 2007 3.4 3.1 Acute care beds, density per 1,000 population 2006 2.8 2.7 Psychiatric care beds, density per 1,000 population 2006 0.7 0.3 MRI units per million population 2007 (e)  8.2 25.9 CT Scanners per million population 2006 (e) 7.6 32 Table 5. Compare health and disease in between the UK and the USA. Indicators of Health UK USA Life Expectancy at Birth (years) 79.5 78.8 Mortality Rate Under 5 (per 1000) 5.7 7.8 Maternal Mortality (per 1000) 8 11 Disease Diabetes Hospital Discharges per 100,000 72 197.9 Cancer Hospital Discharges per 100,000 994 563 Acute Myocardial Hospital Discharges per 100,000 153 277 The comparisons above show that increasing funding does not mean that the quality of health would improve. The USA spends much more capital on healthcare than the UK, but they still have a higher mortality rate for children under the age of 5. The table above demonstrate the fact that in NHS, the funds received are spent much more effectively than the healthcare system in the USA, showing that more effective resource allocation decisions are made and hence better health outcomes are achieved. Also due to the lack of health coverage in the USA, around 45,000 people are killed every year.12 Such figures do not exist in the NHS as healthcare services in the UK are free for everyone. Other means of showing how the NHS is better than the health service in the USA, is that in the UK, patients are treated in accordance to their illnesses regardless of their social class, whereas in the USA more income means better treatment, which of course only benefits the rich. Also administration charges in health services in the USA which are publicly funded such as medicare and madicaid cost much more than the services in the NHS making it less readily available to all the poor, elderly or disabled. The importance of application of economic evaluation in the NHS, to provide decision makers with robust information to guide resource allocation decisions. The definition of economic evaluation is that it is a comparative analysis of two or more courses of action in terms of both their costs and consequences.13 Hence in healthcare it can be thought of as a framework to assess the benefits and costs of each alternative method of healthcare intervention. The limited resources such as people, equipment and facilities in the healthcare, provide a helpful framework where alternative uses of the available resources can be compared. Economic evaluation in healthcare aims to maximise the outcomes from available resources through aiding resource allocation.13 There are three types of economic evaluations. These include cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), cost-utility analysis (CUA) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Although these terms characterise different types of analysis, they do share some similar components, which include a stated perspective, a comparison group, and evidence of effectiveness, evidence of costs and a method of combining both costs and effects collectively. The differences in the analyses are the ways used to measure and value health outcomes. When the health outcomes of comparative interventions are established to be the same, then a cost-minimisation analysis (CMA), which is a sub-component of CEA is used, and only considers the inputs. This analysis aims to decide which intervention is the cheapest method of attaining the same outcome.13 Resource allocation decisions in the NHS are very important because demand for healthcare exceeds the recourses that are available, which gives health authorities many challenges to face. Due to the acknowledged resource constrains in the NHS, economic evaluations have become a recognised part of policy making.14 In England, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is in charge of providing the national guidance for promoting good health and the treatment and prevention of ill health and provides clinical guidance to improve the quality of healthcare.15 In order to do that, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of comparative healthcare interventions are required to be considered. There is a large increase in procedures and technologies for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Therefore, there are many alternatives of treatments and prevention of illnesses with variations in efficiencies and quality of care. Rational priorities in healthcare cannot be set for current and new resources. Hence, NICE would consider whether the resources available are being used in the best way possible to maximise efficiency. Technology appraisals are recommendation by NICE on the use of existing and new treatments and medicines within the NHS, such as surgical procedures, medical devices etc. which the NHS is legally obliged to fund. These very important recommendations, are based on evidence of how well the treatments and medicines work (clinical evidence) and how well they work in relation to their cost (economic evidence), (i.e. does it represent value for money?).16 Discuss the principles and an appropriate method for conducting an economic evaluation of breast cancer screening The breast cancer screening programme aims at detecting breast cancer at an early stage in women between the ages of 50-64, who are at a significantly increased risk of developing the neoplasm. An economic evaluation of the breast cancer screening program would need to compare to cost-effectiveness of the programme and of the treatment that would follow, with the cost-effectiveness of symptomatic detection of breast cancer and the appropriate treatment that would also follow. One would have to calculate the QALY of both the screening program and symptomatic detection, in order to achieve a quantitative measure of the benefits of the two interventions. In order to calculate QALY one would need to work out the quality of life during the disease stage and multiply it by the duration of the disease stage. This would provide a quantitative measure so that two interventions aimed at the same disease can be compared. Then one would need to calculate the costs of each intervention. Both of these would provide the cost effectiveness of each intervention and would show which is more cost-effective.3 Evaluate the rationale of the screening programme targeted to women aged between 50 and 64 in the UK. It is established now that breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, where 45,700 women and 277 men were diagnosed with it in 2007. Over the last 25 years, the incidence of incidence of female breast cancer rose by 50%. It is much more common in women over the age of 50 were 8 out of 10 women diagnosed fall in that age group.17 16,000 cases of breast cancer were detected in 2007/2008 through the NHS breast screening programme, and it is estimated that 1,400 lives are saved every year because of this programme. Approximately 2 out of 3 women with breast cancer survive more than 20 years with the disease. Where before 5 out of 10 women survived beyond 5 years now it is 8 out of 10 women. The graph (Figure 2) below illustrates the decreasing mortality of women diagnosed with breast cancer in comparison to the past. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed the increased chance of survival. Approximately 9 out of 10 women diagnosed with stage I breast cancer survive longer than 5 years, whereas only 1 out of 10 women diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer survive beyond 5 years. Although so many lives are saved each year due to the screening programme, there were still 12,116 deaths from breast cancer in 2008 and 99% of these were in women. Therefore, it is crucial to detect breast cancer as early as possible to increase the chances of survival and the quality of life. In addition, detecting breast cancer at an early stage and treating it would be more cost less than the long term treatment of women diagnosed with later stages breast cancer.18 The reason the screening program is for women between the ages of 50-64 is that this age group have a much higher incidence of breast cancer in comparison to younger age groups. The average age of menopause is 50 and this is the when the breast become less dense and cancer can be detected much easier. The compliance in the age group of women over 64 years old is low; therefore it would increase costs and decrease the benefit of the screening program making it less cost effective. Figure 2. Demonstrates the age-standardised (European) mortality rates of breast cancer patients in the UK from 1971 until 2007. Conclusion In conclusion this report has discussed the different patterns of financing healthcare (Table 1 2). The health system in the USA was compared with the NHS in terms of financing, availability and cost. It was determined that the NHS has a lower health expenditure as percentage of GDP than the USAs health expenditure. However, the effective use of these recourses through guidance provided by NICE after taking into account economic evaluation of the different available resources makes the NHS a better healthcare provider than the USAs healthcare system. The importance of economic evaluations that are used to provide robust information to the NICE committee to aid in policy making decisions that are concerned with the allocation of the scarce resources of the NHS have been discussed. Also the principles and an appropriate method for conducting an economic evaluation of breast cancer screening was illustrated in this report. Finally, the importance of the breast cancer screening programme for women aged between 50-64 years was examined and the report demonstrates why the screening programme is so important and why this age group has been chosen for screening.