SIS 5 Essays (322 words) - Music, Electronic Dance Music

Siddarth Luthra SIS 5 Character Count:1,644 As of now I have one and only one goal following high school. I want to combine my passions into something I can make a living off of. I am a fan of music, being a DJ, and I love anything STEM related. I have been "DJing" for two years, I play the piano, trombone, drum set. I also build PC's, 3D printers, code, and I am part of a competition called Technology Student Association (TSA). While building machines and robots, I learned how to troubleshoot and fix problems and improved schematics given to build the machine. In TSA I have been part of a group and showed leadership giving tasks and making sure everyone in my grop is doing what they are supposed to. My role model is a man that goes by the alias DJ Enferno. DJ Enferno does what I want to do, he uses his STEM knowledge to build DJ controllers, mixers, and turntables to use for himself. He makes his own software, and uses others to make music. He programs MIDI controllers and uses it all to DJ and makes a living off of it. My motivation is seeing DJ Enferno perform, touring with celebrities and much more. I want to use my passion of music and technology to make music and technology that produces music. I feel like a STEM school would definitely benefit me because the STEM oriented community of learners will help me reach my goal by teaching me how to do what I want to do with my life. A STEM oriented community will set me on the path that I want to be and will help me learn how to create proficient software, build machines that produce music like DJ mixers and launchpads, and set me on a path that will take me to the places I want to go in this "path called life"

Coastal County clerk problem solution

Coastal County clerk problem solution Free Online Research Papers Problem Solution: Coastal County Clerk of Court Coastal Countys Clerk of Court has long provided traditional county clerical and administrative services to a community that was bypassed during much of Floridas growth. In addition to these services, the Clerk also acts as the countys Constitutionally-chartered Chief Financial Officer. For many years, the Court Clerk was Art Brewer, who easily won re-election every four years not just because he was familiar with the county and its residents, but because he maintained low operating costs. One reason for Arts low operating costs was his failure to incorporate technology throughout the 1990s; Coastal County only used computer systems when absolutely required to do so by the State of Florida. Art did not encourage use of the Internet or external sourcing as ways to provide cost-effective county services; he did not even use the state-sponsored mail-in vehicle license program until the State mandated it. In Arts mind, Coastal County was sparsely populated, and it was just as easy for residents to conduct such business at the courthouse. By 1998, development began catching up with Coastal County when Northern Florida retirees began flocking to the sleepy little village of Amber Beach. As newcomers caused the county population to surge, the Office of Clerk of Court found itself facing more citizens, more property development, and a growing attitude that Art Brewer and the Clerks office needed to enter the tech era, whether they wanted to or not (Clerk of Court Scenario, 2009). Describe the Situation Issue and Opportunity Identification The Clerk of courts faces serious issues that are having a negative impact in the organization. The first issue is the lack of new technology. Even though the former Clerk of Courts was praised for keeping an excellent budget, he should have invested in updating technology within the organization. The population was growing an increase in property development called for the use of new technology which was unavailable. The court was criticized for not having a website. In today’s advance technological era not having a website was very archaic. Another issue that The Clerk of Courts faced was with was the inability to implement a â€Å"conflict prevention† measure within the organization. (Dana, chp 1, 2001) Munger, Bodkin and Accord had competing interests and their inability to address their interests properly resulted in a breakdown of trust. Munger was dealing with hostility that had been accumulated over many years and manifested itself when Accord took office and implemented the employee accountability rule. Bodkin was concerned about his personal health and his ability to perform his job under a new leader and the special consideration that he has received over the years. Accord had a negative view of the organizational structure that the Clerk of Courts had established over the years and wanted to implement immediate changes. There was nothing in place to proactively diffuse and resolve the differences between the employees and Munger before it escalated to the magnitude that it did. Stakeholder Perspectives/Ethical Dilemmas The stakeholders for the Coastal County Clerk of Court are the employees, the employees’ families, the community of Amber Beach, and the Florida Human Rights Commission (FHRC), which is an EEOC intake agency. All the stakeholders attempt to provide the cause of their interest and values in the hope that it will persuade the organizations decision making. The opportunity to develop a stronger facility is readily available to the court and investing in new technology and developing a conflict prevention plan will provide the opportunity to lower the risk that will come with balancing a technologically advanced facility and new business perspectives within the organization. Wilmot and Hocker say, â€Å"Because a clear linkage does not exist, the organizational environment becomes dysfunctional, confused, and ripe for ineffective implementation of organizational strategy and of the organizational projects (Wilmot Hocker, 2009).† Frame the â€Å"Right† Problem Coastal County Clerk of Court must acclimate itself to the new technology. Another important step is for the Court to establish a way to deal with employee conflict because a great deal of this exists within the organization. Another opportunity is available for the Court, to examine the resources and create an effective and efficient operation for the citizens of Amber Beach. A training program that focuses on technology and the new polices that Accord wants to implement should be developed for the employees. Describe the â€Å"End-State† Vision Coastal County Clerk of Court has the opportunity to become the local leader in customer satisfaction due to its continued efforts to introduce any new technology when it comes available; because of this the customer satisfaction rating should increase dramatically. The Court can also establish itself as a leader in employee satisfaction with the ability to defuse any conflict as it arises because they will develop a proactive approach to problem solving within the organization by implementing appropriate job training when new ideas and services are introduced. Identify the Alternatives and Benchmarking Validation The Court can achieve their goals through any number of methods or a combination of those methods. The first of the methods would be to introduce the technology one piece at a time; develop a training program that will ensure that the internal staff understands how it works and can assist the community in using the new technology. They can put the technology out there to test the users and see how they like it, if it seems to be user friendly and meets the needs of the citizens. Another possible alternative would be to develop a conflict resolution plan that they can implement whenever internal conflict exists. Someone has to step in to help with the elder employee’s situation if not the special interest groups will have a field day with the Court. The Court could truly take something from Coca Cola, who has an excellent conflict resolution program in place and is said to be one of the best places to work for employee overall satisfaction. Another company that I researched is Home Depot, who is very good at keeping up and sometimes ahead of technology, if Coastal County Clerk of Courts were to take a little from each of those companies they would be a huge success. Evaluate the Alternatives These alternatives are largely risk free, the goal to increase the use of technology and using computers more to do the work and develop a website so that people can do what they need to do in their own homes, is a very realistic goal and can be easily achieved. The only real risk is the cost but it will eventually pay off. The second alternative, the developing of a conflict resolution plan is basically risk free unless it does not work then they would have the time and the money invested into a new program, but the court must have one. The third alternative solution is implementing a program that address the needs of all employees not just a select few that are vocal about their personal needs outside of the workplace. Although these issues are not job related, they can have an impact on employee performance in the long run. By putting a solid plan in place that addresses all employee needs, the elderly sector’s special needs can fall under that plan and the courts will b e less likely accused of discrimination practices. The court could be predisposed to litigation from several sources if a plan is not in place. Narrowed List of Alternatives The best alternative is to develop a training program for the employees to learn how to use the new technology and introduce it to the citizens slowly so that they do not become overwhelmed. The second best alternative is to develop a conflict resolution plan that will be known and adopted by all employees. Currently there is no policy in place and the court needs such a policy. The third best solution is to create an employee program that addresses the needs of all employees . Identify and Asses Risks For the first alternative of implementing a training program to get the Court into the technology of today includes a small amount of risk. It will be time consuming and has the potential risk of being somewhat costly, but is the best solution and be beneficial to the court in the future. The next is to implement the technology in phases and this has again the risk of being time consuming and could run into a situation where it becomes costly. The third alternative with a risk involved is to establish a conflict resolution plan and introduce it into policy. This will hold the risk of also being somewhat time consuming and also could be ineffective. Make the Decision Managers recognize that time, the cost, and the subsequent resource estimates must be accurate if the project planning, the scheduling, and the controlling are to be effective. The optimal solution for Coastal County Clerk of Court would be to design a training program for the employees. The program should be gradual but approached with consistency so that the employees are not overwhelmed. This solution is also time consuming but is the best way because the Court is considerably behind in technology and they must get the programs in place as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Develop and Implement the Solution For Coastal County Clerk of Court to meet the deadline of introducing the new technology and the implementation of the new tech package it will develop a time-constrained project schedule; a time-constrained project is a project that must be completed by an imposed date; therefore, an important step is to have the resources identified in order to prevent any delays. Because the Court is so far behind technology wise they will have 10 days to develop a training plan for employees and to implement the first phase of the new project. Stan Accord will be sure that the phases are implemented on schedule that is one month after the previous phase. Stan will also have two weeks to develop and make policy the conflict resolution plan. If the Court is able to stay on schedule with this solution they will be a brand new technologically advanced organization. Evaluate the Results When a new strategy or plan is put into place, that change must be evaluated on its effectiveness and this itself is a task that must be carried out repeatedly to ensure the changes success. Coastal County Clerk of Court must evaluate the success of its new project; this can be done by looking at the effectiveness of the package, its customer satisfaction, and the employee satisfaction and productivity. The Court will see an increase in its efficiency and effectiveness after six months and it will see a definite rise in their customer and employee satisfaction numbers after the half year point. Following the evaluation after the six-month point the court will be able to evaluate the current changes and can set new goals and expectations and adjust their strategy if the court does not like where it is heading. Conclusion The benchmarking research conducted for Coastal County Clerk of Court provides a beginning foundation for the implementation of the courts strategy to provide an idea and a plan. When Coastal County Clerk of Court begins to move forward it should re-evaluate the courts mission to fully understand the courts current position and where the court wants to be. The Coastal County Clerk of Court needs to fully understand all the risks involved with any solution that is tried that could detour from the intended goal. Coastal County Clerk of Court can develop a strategy that will allow it to evaluate the technology used and the customer satisfaction and to develop a strategy that will meet the needs of the current and future citizens. If the court is able to implement the new technology it will allow Coastal County Clerk of Court to remain effective, efficient and a productive government office in Amber Beach, FL. References Coca Cola, (2008), TheCocaColaCompany.com, sustainability Retrieved November 23, 2009, from thecoca- colacompany.com/citizenship/diversity.html Gray, C., and Larson, E. (2006). Project Management: The Managerial Process, Chapter 2: Organization Strategy and Project Selection. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Retrieved November 22,2009 from University of Phoenix, eBook Collection https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary/content/eReader.h Home Depot, (2008) The HomeDepot.com, leadership and values Retrieved, November 17, 2009. From http://www6.homedepot.com/ecooptions/index.html University of Phoenix (2009). Week One Coastal County Clerk of Court Scenario. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from University of Phoenix week one eResource https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/gbam/coastalcountyclerkofcourt/File1.asp Table 1 Issues and Opportunities Identification Issues Opportunities Reference to Specific Course Concept The Clerk of Court is so far behind when it comes to technology To improve effectiveness and performance by using the technology available. The use of technology is discussed in Dana, Chapter three â€Å"how to resolve conflict† and in Dana, chapter eight â€Å"strategic management of organizational conflict† page 138 The newly elected Clerk is facing serious legal issues that have resulted from him letting the ‘older’ employees go. I cannot see where any real good can come from this, legal issues are never good for an organization and this may turn out to be the end of the new Clerk. The legal issues are discussed in Dana, chapter two â€Å"conflict resolution: mediation for everyday work life† and in Dana, chapter three â€Å"conflict resolution: mediation for everyday work life† Good chance to hire good employees employees to take some of the workload off of the Clerk. Employee selection and training is discussed in Noe, Hollinbeck, Gerhert, Wright â€Å"Planning and recruiting Human Resources† chapter five and chapter six. Table 2 Stakeholder Perspectives and Ethical Dilemmas Stakeholder Perspectives and Ethical Dilemmas Stakeholder Groups with Competing Values List: Group X versus Group Y The Interests, Rights, and Values of Each Group The Ethical Dilemma Based on the Competing Values The employees of the Clerk of Court versus the families of those employees. The employees have the right to be treated fair by the employer. The families of the employees have the right to be taken care of by the employees, their family that is employed by the Clerk of courts. There is a huge ethical dilemma that exists because the employees have a responsibility to take care of their loved ones but at the same time they do not want to lose their job by leaving to take care of their loved ones. The citizens of Amber Beach versus the employees The citizens of Amber Beach have an interest in the Court making sure their needs are met and they have the right to be taken care of effectively and efficiently. The employee has the values to make sure that the citizens are well taken care of but may not have the means to do so. The employees know that it is unethical to not take the absolute best care possible of their customers but the ethical dilemma is that they may not be equipped to do such a thing. Stan Accord versus the agencies that is in a legal battle with the Court. Stan Accord has the interest of the organization in mind and the right to do what he believes is best for it. The agencies have the interests of the employees in mind and what is best for them. Stan has a monstrous ethical dilemma, he has fired the older employees because he thought it was right and just now he is learning the hard way that those actions were unethical in the eyes of many agencies that support those employees. Table 3 Analysis of Alternative Solutions [Click Twice on Table to Change, see instructions on next page] Table 4 Risk Assessment and Mitigation Risk Assessment and Mitigation Alternative Risks and Probability Consequence and Severity Mitigation Techniques and Strategies Develop training plan for new technology to be implemented Time consuming Costly High Risk Employee support is needed to make the new technology work. Make the training a requirement. Make sure that each employee signs off as to being properly trained. Bring in a support staff just for new technology Time consuming Costly High Risk Still be stuck in the dark ages, not efficient or effective. Have a test group of citizens that try out the new technology Make sure that each phase is perfect before going on. Introduce the new technology one piece at a time. Develop a conflict resolution plan for the organization Low Risk Not being able to deal with conflict Make the plan part of the policy Be sure to get everyone’s signature to show they are aware of it. Table 5 Pros and Cons of Alternative Solutions Alternative Pros Cons Develop a training program for employees to learn how to use technology. The Court will be more efficient and effective after the training is complete. The customers will be much happier with the new technologies effectiveness. Will be costly. Will be time consuming. May not work effectively Implement the new technology in phases. The Court will be more efficient and effective after the new technology is completed. The employees and the customers will not be overwhelmed with it all at once Can be costly. Will be time consuming. Customers may not like. Develop a conflict resolution plan and introduce as policy. Be run more like a business. There will be no questions because everyone will sign off on the policy Will have a framework for dealing with conflict. May be time consuming. May not be effective in dealing with all conflicts The plan may alienate individuals. Table 6 Optimal Solution Implementation Plan Action Item Deliverable Timeline Who is Responsible Implement first phase of new technology Within 10 days Stan Accord or someone appointed to handle the new technology. Implement the second phase One month after first phase is introduced Stan Accord or someone appointed to handle the new technology. Implement third phase One month after second phase. One month after second phase Stan Accord or someone appointed to handle the new technology. Establish a conflict resolution plan Two weeks Stan Accord Develop an employee training plan for technology. 10 days Stan Accord Table 7 Evaluation of Results End-State Goals Metrics Target To be technologically advanced Will this increase effectiveness and efficiency? indeed this will create effectiveness and efficiency for the court. Resolve conflict between employees Will this increase the productivity of employees this will increase the productivity the employee will have no conflict Properly train employees on the use of new technology. Will this increase effectiveness and efficiency of the employee? Yes, indeed this will create effectiveness and efficiency for the employee. Resolve employment disputes in a manner that encourages positive communication between parties Does the selected process encourage positive communication between the parties at the outset of the resolution process? Yes, positive communication is encouraged by the process. Research Papers on Coastal County clerk problem solutionRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanPETSTEL analysis of IndiaQuebec and CanadaThe Project Managment Office SystemMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesDefinition of Export Quotas

Anticipated Challenges and Planned Responses

This is also a serious matter of all food industries because its good name is at stake. Orion Foods Inc. being a competitive newcomer, will go through big paces to earn the market’s trust, which is too costly. We have to respond to regulatory authorities which provide the compulsory national framework for food or meat hygiene programmes through laws and regulations. Response Hygienic measures are to be taken during the various processing steps in the manufacture of meat products – the Meat Processing Hygiene. This is part of a firm’s Quality Management (QM) based on the following three principles crucial for meat processing operations: * Prevent microbial contamination of raw materials, intermediate (semi-manufactured)goods and final products during meat product manufacture through absolute cleanliness of tools, working tables, machines as well as hands and outfits of personnel. * Minimize microbial growth in raw materials, semi-manufactured goods and final products by storing them at a low temperature. Reduce or eliminate microbial contamination by applying heat treatment at the final processing stage for extension of shelf life of products Fig. *** Microbiological contamination in the meat processing chain Figure *** shows the extent of contamination among meat processing operations, and the possible remedies, if any. If these processes were relinquished, it would highly contaminate meat which is unsuitable for further processing. Final products could be unattractive, tasteless o r shorter in shelf life. In light of this issue, Quality Management schemes are needed. Such schemes have technical and hygienic components. The former encompasses product composition, processing technologies, packaging, storage and distribution. The hygienic aspect, related to meat processes, focuses not only for the final product, but also for the raw materials in various processes. It has two useful schemes: * Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) It follows general hygienic rules and applies recognized hygienic principles as well as laws and regulations issued by the competent authorities, referring to meat and meat products, equipment, Premises and personnel. GHP schemes are not factory specific, they apply to all types of meat plants. They are intended to establish and maintain acceptable hygienic standards in relevant meat operations. * Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) HACCP are factory and product specific strictly sanitary control schemes that shall prevent, detect, control and/or reduce to save levels accidentally occurring hazards to consumers’ health. Despite GHP in place, accidental hazards cannot be ruled out and may occur at any processing step of the individual meat product. Specifically for meat processing plants, such hazards may be provoked by failures such as: * batches of incoming raw meat materials with abnormal tissues or * heavy contamination, * breakdowns in refrigeration, * failure in cooking/sterilization operations, * abnormal pH or a * in raw or finished products, * errors in levels of application of * curing salts and other additives, * technical problems in sealing of * vacuum packages or cans with * the risk of recontamination. Anticipated Challenges and Planned Responses This is also a serious matter of all food industries because its good name is at stake. Orion Foods Inc. being a competitive newcomer, will go through big paces to earn the market’s trust, which is too costly. We have to respond to regulatory authorities which provide the compulsory national framework for food or meat hygiene programmes through laws and regulations. Response Hygienic measures are to be taken during the various processing steps in the manufacture of meat products – the Meat Processing Hygiene. This is part of a firm’s Quality Management (QM) based on the following three principles crucial for meat processing operations: * Prevent microbial contamination of raw materials, intermediate (semi-manufactured)goods and final products during meat product manufacture through absolute cleanliness of tools, working tables, machines as well as hands and outfits of personnel. * Minimize microbial growth in raw materials, semi-manufactured goods and final products by storing them at a low temperature. Reduce or eliminate microbial contamination by applying heat treatment at the final processing stage for extension of shelf life of products Fig. *** Microbiological contamination in the meat processing chain Figure *** shows the extent of contamination among meat processing operations, and the possible remedies, if any. If these processes were relinquished, it would highly contaminate meat which is unsuitable for further processing. Final products could be unattractive, tasteless o r shorter in shelf life. In light of this issue, Quality Management schemes are needed. Such schemes have technical and hygienic components. The former encompasses product composition, processing technologies, packaging, storage and distribution. The hygienic aspect, related to meat processes, focuses not only for the final product, but also for the raw materials in various processes. It has two useful schemes: * Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) It follows general hygienic rules and applies recognized hygienic principles as well as laws and regulations issued by the competent authorities, referring to meat and meat products, equipment, Premises and personnel. GHP schemes are not factory specific, they apply to all types of meat plants. They are intended to establish and maintain acceptable hygienic standards in relevant meat operations. * Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) HACCP are factory and product specific strictly sanitary control schemes that shall prevent, detect, control and/or reduce to save levels accidentally occurring hazards to consumers’ health. Despite GHP in place, accidental hazards cannot be ruled out and may occur at any processing step of the individual meat product. Specifically for meat processing plants, such hazards may be provoked by failures such as: * batches of incoming raw meat materials with abnormal tissues or * heavy contamination, * breakdowns in refrigeration, * failure in cooking/sterilization operations, * abnormal pH or a * in raw or finished products, * errors in levels of application of * curing salts and other additives, * technical problems in sealing of * vacuum packages or cans with * the risk of recontamination.

The Effect of Media Violence On Youths Research Proposal

The Effect of Media Violence On Youths - Research Proposal Example In the year 1998, one of the faculty members of Simon Fraser University carried out a study on the teens that were interested in watching violent media. (Bryant, pp. 23-25) The results of that study showed that such media made twenty-five percent of teens addicted to it. In addition, all those teens showed great changes in their behavior, which was not in a positive manner. Furthermore, a number of studies have shown that worse academic results are shown by the youth that watch violent media according to the National Institute on Media and Family. (Gentile, pp. 39-41) It is indicated by the researches that violent media is preferred by more than seventy-five percent of teens in the United States that are interested in watching television and other available mediums. One of the schools in Texas carried out a study of adolescents that watch violent media, and it found out that teachers complained of frequent arguments from such students. In some cases, these adolescents were even involved in physical fights with their teachers and classmates that is a major concern of the schools, as well as, the parents. In specific, studies have shown that gender does not play a major role in the behavioral changes after watching violent media, which is another major topic related to the effects of violent media on youth that is not discussed in this paper. In another study, it was observed that eighty percent of adolescent girls that were involved in watching violent media argued with their teachers and classmates, as compared with the eighty-three percent of boys in the same category. Thus, it shows that gender does not play any role in such case. (Krug, pp. 45-46) The advent of violent media has prompted the researchers to go into the details of this medium of entertainment. In popular media, the topic of violence is quite controversial, as different people have provided different interpretations regarding

The state of the real estate market in UK Essay

The state of the real estate market in UK - Essay Example This essay discusses that in the UK, the cost of paying rent went high. With this, demand for rental houses also escalated. A great percentage of investors joined in the real estate business with the expectation that they will amass a lot of profits from the business. The amount of rent went high at an alarming rate with the number of investors increasing. Baum & Hartzell indicate that the amount of supply for real estate as at 2010 was very low. On the other hand, CML indicates that in the year 2010, the real estate business was booming and was very profitable at that time of the season. According to business analysts, this kind of scenario is referred to as a profitable mix, an inclusion of both demand and niche in the supply. In relation to the failure of the real estate business, this concept has a great correlation with the increase in the need to create a supply chain for the increase in demand by the tenants. With the rent yielding a lot of profits, the market experienced an i nflux of entrepreneurs in the business of real estate markets. With time, the real estate became flooded with a lot of people claiming a piece of the market. At one point in the businesses, a good number of entrepreneurs were wiped out of business. This led to a decrease in the number of investors in the business due to the tough competition. At the end of 2010, the business faced a lot of challenges and was not considered profitable at all. This is a major indicator of the reasons the real business declined. 2.2. High building rates Despite the increase in population in UK and the number of willing investors in the real estate business, the building rates still remain high. The international standards, according to FSA (2009), did not meet the booming prices in the period of 2010, since the building regulations were extremely high. On the other hand, the population in UK was rising at a high rate; thus, alteration in the household sizes. Just like indicated earlier, it is the need to fulfill the demands of the market that led to an increase in the supply of the real estates. However, in the period of 2010, less people invested in the business during the economic recess. The returns from the business were extremely high to an extent, that the government recorded a deficit in the number of houses; thus, researchers and made a recommendation through the Town Planning Council that over 200,000 houses must be built so as to cover the increase in population. Donald & Mc Millen (2010) indicate that by the end of 2010, the real estate had recorded a deficit of around one million houses, a clear indication of the fact that investors had backed out for a more profitable business. On another angle, the amount of credit offered to the real estate businesses decreased to a great extent, rendering many businessmen with no other option but to get out of the market. With this in mind, Great Britain: H.M. Treasury (2010)

Psych Unit IV Article Review Essay Example for Free

Psych Unit IV Article Review Essay There are so many different theories out there that try to explain why we act the way we act. How do we explain evil or hateful behavior? I just finished reading the article ‘’Prison Violence: Does brutality come with a badge?’’, written by: Bruce Gross. This article talks about being a prison guard, and how some people act when they enter this career. Would you act differently if you went from the role of the prisoner to the role of the prison guard? There have been many reports of ‘’cruel and unusual’’ punishment that is being administered by prison guards to inmates in prisons. Not only are inmates reporting this abuse, but federal authorities are also recognizing there is a problem. In 2005, the commission on Safety and Abuse in Prisons said there were 16,000 allegations of sexual and physical assault that were reported. There are also reports of abuse happening in County jails as well as in prisons. ‘’Inmates have reported being choked, kicked, punched, and hit with objects by single or multiple guards’’, (Gross, 2008). If you look back at our history, it is full of ordinary people who commit terrible acts of violence. Some people have done studies and are trying to understand why people commit these ‘’evil crimes’’. Stanley Milgram is one of those people. He was a Yale University professor, who conducted an experiment in 1961. In this experiment there were ‘’teachers’’ and there were ‘’learners. The teachers were given the power to administer a shock to the learners if they answered a question wrong. It was surprising how much the ‘’teachers’’ in the experiment would shock the ‘’learners’’ and the amount of volts that they would use without protest. Another experiment that was done to test these violent behaviors was known as the Stanford Prison Experiment. In August of 1971, this experiment was started by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo. He put an ad in the paper and found volunteers to play role of ‘’prisoner’’ and the role of ‘’guard’’. He created a prison-like environment in the basement of the psychology building on the Stanford Campus. There was some definite brutality that started to show in the guards during this experiment. Some showed more than others. After only 6 days, the experiment was shut down. One third (1/3) of these ‘’guards’’ showed sadistic behavior. There was a similar study done that was called the BBC Prison Study. This study was also shut down early. ‘’Both of these prison studies demonstrated that under some circumstances, some individuals resist going-with-the flow of group associated brutality’’, (Gross, 2008). Sometimes an individual will behave differently if they know they’re being watched. In the SPE experiment, the participants knew they were being watched by ‘’supervisors’’, and on the BBC experiment, they knew they were being watched by an audience (including family and friends). These factors may have affected the way that either group acted throughout the experiment. I know I would act differently if I knew that my mother was watching me. Some people think it’s the environment that people are in that brings out violence. Well of course it is! If you treat someone like a caged animal, eventually they will start acting like one. If a guard is told to dehumanize a prisoner, then you will probably see violence out of the guards, as well as out of the prisoners. ‘’Violence and extreme behaviors by guards against inmates have many sources’’, (Gross, 2008). In the prison studies that were covered in this article, it didn’t surprise the experimenters that ‘’good people’’ were committing evil acts when they played the role of the guards. They were more surprised and shocked that more people didn’t stand up for what was right. Even if they didn’t agree with what was happening, they just kept their mouth shut, and went with the flow. At the end of the article, Gross says, ‘’Perhaps the adage is true, that real evil exists and flourishe s when good people do nothing’’.

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of High School When I think of my past four years of school, I have a lot of memories, more good than bad. I've been trying to think of what I have learned in high school and what has meant the most to me. A lot of people that I have met along the way have left me with pieces of wisdom. I am guilty of having a one-track mind, and sometimes that has hindered me from fully benefiting from all the wisdom I have been given. But, I try my best to see other's reasoning for things and their point of view, though at times I find it very difficult. I am young, and sometimes claim to know it all, but at least I'm honest, right? So, back to what I have learned and tried to apply to my daily life. The Importance of Setting Goals Taking Responsibility for Your Actions Using Mistakes to Build a Bright Future Finding Inspiration in the World Around You Never Giving Up On a Dream The Golden Rule (Do Unto Others ... ) Never Forgetting Your Morals and Beliefs Focussing on the Important Things in Life I know all too well how important it is to set goals. I feel so overwhelmed sometimes when I set goals, but when I have accomplished them, it is such a rewarding feeling, that I strive to set more and always want to beat out my last accomplishment. I love to work hard, because I feel like I am doing everything in my power to be the best I can be. Taking responsibility for your actions can be such a tough thing to do, and pride and lack of energy can sometimes get in the way. Whether it was the time I needed to "fess" up to breaking our TV or paying for my mom's car to get fixed, when I kind of crashed it into another car when I was parking. It sucked to be as ... ... your character, who you are, if you are true to yourself, you will always be respected and looked up to. I have learned that it is really important to make priorities, not others opinions of what is important, but what is important to you. When my grandma and my aunt died within six months of each other I learned that not having the coolest hair, or the nicest clothes didn't really matter, because life's too short to worry about "things." Even though, I like my "things" they aren't that important to me and I would rather have friends or family around than my things, they're not that cool or at least I haven't found anything that is cooler! And if I could leave anyone here with one thing it would be, be true to yourself, and live life to its fullest, have fun, explore new things, and last but not least ... " Do unto others what you would want done unto you."

Nicholas Lezard’s Quote on Atonement Essay

â€Å"†¦the novel is itself the act of atonement that Briony Tallis needs to perform; yet we are very much in the land of the unreliable narrator, where evasion and mendacity both shadow and undermine the story that is told† (Nicholas Lezard). Discuss this criticism of Atonement. When one reaches atonement, it means that they feel forgiven, regardless whether they are actually absolved for an offence or not. In Atonement, a novel of drama, war and romance, the author Ian McEwan characterizes the main character, Briony, as a very self-centered person. McEwan’s novel is self-referential when it is implied that the novel is one Briony wrote in order to reach atonement. Nicholas Lezard, critic for the Guardian, says that Briony’s atonement and ‘the truth’ of her story is weakened by Ian McEwan’s characterization of her as an unreliable person. However, some may argue that the novel Briony wrote was a good way to atone for her crime. In the end of the McEwan’s novel, Briony shows that she believes she had done the best she could have to reach atonement. When talking about the final draft of her novel she says â€Å"I’ve regarded it as my duty to disguise nothing – the names, the places, the exact circumstances – I put it all there as a matter of a historical record† (McEwan 349). This makes the reader believe she is being entirely honest. In addition to this, Briony, being a well-known published writer at the age of 77, decides to use her passion, her talent, to become part of her atonement. Although Briony can’t publish her novel until after the death of Lola and Paul Marshall because of her fear of litigation as well as the power and wealth the couple have and will use to protect their names. â€Å"The Marshalls have been active about the courts since the late forties, defending their good names with a most expensive ferocity† (McEwan 349). Her inability to do anything more at this stage of her life makes readers feel sympathy for Briony and want to believe everything that she claims to be true. For these reasons many readers may well believe that Briony had done respectably the best she could have to reach atonement. On the other hand many may agree with Lezard and feel that Briony’s fictional happy ending to her story is a final attempt to evade the guilt she feels. Briony’s medical condition and the fact that she is dying, as a result draws attention away from her desperation to relieve her guilt. â€Å"It is only in this last version that my lovers end well, standing side by side on a South London pavement as I walk away. All the preceding drafts were pitiless† (McEwan 350). This makes the reader question how much more of what actually happened was changed in Briony’s story. Briony even calls herself an â€Å"unreliable witness† (McEwan 338) of the events that occurred which she then wrote about. This also puts the reader in a position to not want to trust anything Briony says. She also says that she likes to think that Robbie and Cecilia’s happy ending wasn’t â€Å"weakness or evasion, but a final act of kindness† (McEwan 351), which contradicts to her claim of having the novel published as a historical record, enforcing to the reader her untrustworthiness. These are a few of the reasons for which Briony can be seen as an unreliable person. Aside from her desperation and lies as a result of her coming closer to death, there are other ways in which McEwan characterizes Briony to be unreliable and wanting to partially avoid blame for her committed crime. Briony, the protagonist, wrote her entire novel with an omniscient 3rd person narrator, which as a result distances Briony from the reader and draws some attention away from her offence. Another effect that this has is that it suggests to the reader that the events that occurred happened exactly as they are described, when that is not the case. Should the novel have been written in 1st person from Briony’s point of view, the reader would have seen Briony as an arrogant and not believed her story so easily. Briony on page 350 then clearly states that she made of part of her story when she says â€Å"When I am dead, and the Marshalls are dead, and the novel is finally published, we will only exist through my inventions† (McEwan). McEwan’s characterization of her as a self-centered and unreliable person is consistent from when Briony is 13 years old up to when she is 77. On page 336, Briony says â€Å"However withered, I still feel myself to be exactly the same person I’ve always been† (McEwan), which to the reader signifies that Briony has not matured as a person and still may think like she did when she was a child, making the same mistakes without realizing them. A clear example of the same mistakes Briony makes as an adult, is how she is jealous of her older cousin at the age of 77, the same feeling she had as a child. On page 341, Briony also says, â€Å"I’ve always been good at not thinking about the things that are really troubling me† (McEwan), which has the same effect of characterizing her as unreliable. Briony tries to do good by trying to atone with the novel she wrote, although on page 340, she says, â€Å"If I really cared so much about the facts, I should have written a different kind of book. But my work was done. There would be no further drafts† (McEwan 340), which then makes it very clear to the reader that Briony’s story cannot be trusted. The entire novel is damaged and cannot be believed as a result of Briony’s unreliability. Although Briony’s attempt to atone may seem justifiable to some, it is more reasonable to say that McEwan’s novel of Atonement is reduced from the story of a girl committing a crime and separating two lovers, down to the fantasy world of Briony Tallis blended in with some facts of events she witnessed. The novel being self-referential when it is revealed that Briony wrote it in order to reach atonement, leaves the reader with a very strong impression of Briony as a very unreliable, self-centered person, which then undermines the entire story.

Why Is Testing Stage of Sdlc so Important?

Why is the testing stage of systems development so important? November 2012 Introduction †¢ Systems Development Lifecycle †¢ Types of SDLC †¢ Stages of SDLC †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Waterfall method Testing Programme Testing Acceptance Testing Limitations of Testing Case Study 1: University of Salford Case Study 2: Knight Capital Group Summary Conclusion References Systems Development Lifecycle †¢ Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is the process of developing information systems through various stages from identifying initial requirements through analysis, design, testing, mplementation and maintenance. †¢ Many different models but each generally consists of a series of defined steps or stages. Laudon & Laudon (2006) Types of SDLC †¢ Waterfall †¢ Fountain †¢ Spiral †¢ Rapid prototyping †¢ Incremental Bocij et al (2006) Waterfall †¢ One of the oldest, best known †¢ Li near sequential set of phases †¢ Review at end of each phase before moving on to the next †¢ Logical chain of events, e. g. programming cannot begin until specification completed †¢ Many different versions †¢ Many critics – does not work? Laplante & Neill (2004) Dennis et al (2008) Stages of SDLCVary according to the methodology used but usually some variation of the waterfall method which has Galin (2004) served as a framework for others. †¢ Systems analysis – identify problems & establish requirements †¢ Systems Design – create design specifications †¢ Programming – translate design specification into code †¢ Testing †¢ Conversion – plan conversion, train users †¢ Production & Maintenance – operate, evaluate and modify the system Laudon & Laudon (2006) Testing Why test? System should be tested to ensure that it meets the requirements laid out at the start of the process. Develop a test plan †¢ Involve users as well as developers †¢ Simulate data and test system processes e. g. entering a new record, inserting incorrect data Laudon & Laudon (2006) Test Plan Test Number Purpose of Test Test Data Expected Result Actual Result 1 Test the validation rule on the â€Å"Date of Birth† field to ensure that valid dates of birth can be entered. 15/02/1988 Accepted Accepted 2 Test the validation rule on the Date of Birth field to ensure that a date in the future cannot be entered. 14/10/2013 Rejected Accepted Adapted from: Laudon & Laudon (2006) Testing 2 basic phases of testing: programme testing – ensures that the programmes work as expected in controlled environment †¢ acceptance testing – ensures users are able to use the system and that it operates as expected when in use. Laudon & Laudon (2006) Programme Testing 3 phases †¢ unit testing – individual modules of the system are tested for any potential errors in the code. †¢ integration testing – to check the modules work together as expected †¢ complete system testing – see how all the components will work under various conditions Bocij et al (2006) Acceptance Testing User Acceptance Testing (UAT) by actual end users of the ystem to determine how well it meets their expectations and requirements. †¢ alpha testing – using simulated data †¢ beta testing – using actual data – final stage before implementation Bocij et al (2006) Acceptance Testing †¢ Security testing – whether security policies have been implemented as intended †¢ Recovery testing – how the system reacts when it has been forced to fail †¢ Performance testing – in different environments †¢ Stress testing – attempts to â€Å"break† the system by not following guidelines. Looks at how the system performs under heavy demand. Bocij et al (2006) Limitations of Testing Impossible to guarantee that once a system is tested it will work exactly as expected †¢ Too many factors to carry out exhaustive testing †¢ It is often given insufficient importance and other stages overrun at the expense of testing †¢ Cannot rule out unforeseen problems further down the line BUT: Gives a good idea, identifies major errors Morris (2005), Bocij et al (2006) Case Study 1 – Careers Service †¢ New system to manage Careers Service appointments, workshops and events †¢ Alpha testing revealed few errors which were resolved †¢ Beta testing revealed significant issues re: student status, ducation details, appointment booking abilities †¢ Issues were resolved and pilot system launched †¢ Phased implementation. Testing continues†¦ Case Study 2 – Knight Capital Group †¢ Trading US equities electronically (high frequency trading) †¢ Dormant software from a legacy system inadvertently reactivated †¢ Multiplied stock trades by 10 00 †¢ 45 minute delay in shutting down the system †¢ Proper testing and â€Å"appropriate market simulations† †¢ Estimated $440M loss Detterman (2012), Ruhle, Harper and Mehta (2012) Summary †¢ Defined SDLC †¢ Types & Stages of SDLC †¢ Types of Testing †¢ Limitations of Testing Case studies demonstrate importance of thorough testing Conclusion †¢ Testing reveals any errors and incompatibilities †¢ Essential to ensure they can be corrected before implementation †¢ Testing is a continual process. There needs to be a cut off point before implementation but it can (and should) continue †¢ Testing is critical because it is the only way to determine whether the system operates to requirements and actually works! Laudon & Laudon (2006), Cervone (2007) References Cervone, H. F. (2007),†The system development life cycle and digital library development†, O CLC Systems & Services, Vol. 3 Iss: 4 pp. 348–352 [online ]. Available from: [Accessed 12 November 2012] Dennis, A. , Wixom, B. H. & Roth, R. M. (2008) Systems Analysis and Design, 4th Edn, Oxford: Wiley Detterman, E. (2012) â€Å"Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Case Study – Result = $440m Loss. † Solid Logic Technology. 12 August 2012 [online]. Available from: [Accessed 11 November 2012] Galin, D. (2004) Software Quality Assurance: from theory to implementation. Harlow: Pearson Education Laplante, P. A. & Neill, C. J. (2004), â€Å"The Demise of the Waterfall Model Is Imminent† and Other Urban Myths†, ACM Queue, Vol 1, No. 10 [onliine].Available from: [Accessed 12 November 2012] Laudon, K. C. and Laudon, J. P. (2006) Essentials of Management Information Systems: Organization and Technology in the Networked Enterprise, ninth ed. , New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Morris, S. , (2005) â€Å"Software Development Cycle†, Tessella Support Services plc, available at < http://www. tessella. com/wp-content/uploads /2008/05/softwaredevelopmentcycle. p df> [accessed 12 November 2012] Ruhle, S. Harper, C. & Mehta, N. (2012) Knight Trading Loss Said to Be Linked to Dormant Software. Bloomberg. 14 August 2012. [online] Available from: {Accessed 01-11-2012]

Ploace Of Peace Essays - Fruit Of The Holy Spirit, Nonviolence

Ploace Of Peace Essays - Fruit Of The Holy Spirit, Nonviolence Ploace Of Peace Beyond the trees, far from the sky Is a place where life goes by, Without a sniffle,tear,or lie. A place of ease, a place of peace. Where love is great and care is strong. While spending all day in a beautiful song. Someday I hope I go there, Where everthing is so alive. And I shall have no worries About someone having to die. This is my place of peace in my mind.

The Procrastination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Procrastination - Essay Example I pulled myself together, stopped crying, and asked my counselor what it was that I could do. She told me that this late in the school year, it was almost impossible to do anything to earn that extra credit and that I must come during the summer and do an elective of some sort. Upon hearing this, I felt a couple of things simultaneously; anger, I was angry at my counselor for giving me this news so late in the school year, I mean, I had already bought my graduation dress. Furthermore, I felt frustrated and helpless that I would be spending the summer in school while my friends traveled and visited their universities and had final parties and farewells, this thought depressed me immensely. Just as I was about to get up and leave, I remembered my second cousin who had a similar dilemma before her graduation, 3 years ago. I immediately talked it out with my counselor and we decided that I would stay after school for some History classes and teach my peers who needed help. I happily taug ht my friends Ashley and Chelsea for the next 4 weeks and redeemed my counselor’s confidence and that one stubborn credit. Right now, when I look back at that time, I realize that it has made me who I am today. It influenced me in ways I did not understand them. Today, as the owner of a successful company, I still carry that lesson with me to this day. In addition, every time I get complacent or am tempted to procrastinate some work, I remind myself that this same procrastination almost cost me my education and career.

Sustainability Written Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sustainability Written Report - Essay Example Originally, geothermal energy was used in hot springs as early as Paleolithic times according to a study made by Cataldi (1993) about the history of hot springs before the Modern Period. Technically, the first geothermal energy harnessed lighted a few light bulbs. The following accounts relate how the world recognized geothermal energy: On July 4, 1904, Prince Piero Ginori Conti tested the world’s first geothermal generator at the Larderello dry steam field in Italy. Merely a couple of years later, this invention was deployed commercially and used to operate drilling equipment. Soon the small town of Larderello was using geothermal power for all its electricity requirements. (History of Geothermal Energy, http://www.economywatch.com) Because of the said event, it is no wonder that Italy maintained the position as being a top producer of geothermal energy for many decades. New Zealand followed suit only fifty-years later. The United States took the risk and invested in the Geys ers Geothermal Field in California which is currently the largest producer of geothermal energy in the world. This location has five power plants and Chevron Corporation spearheads in providing geothermal energy to millions of American homes. Uses of Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy has many useful purposes, with electricity generation as its most widely-known use. Bioeconomicfuel.com cites the 5 different uses of geothermal energy (Stern, 2009): 1. Industrial and Agricultural Uses A good example of which is the role of geothermal energy in drying up timber. In New Zealand, the â€Å"Tasman Pulp and Paper Mill uses geothermal steam in heat exchangers to heat kiln air to 140?C for timber drying†( Stewart, 2009). Aside from timber, crops can also be dehydrated using geothermal energy which makes this type of energy very useful for agriculture. 2. Food Processing The food processing industry can harness the heat from geothermal energy for sterilization process as well as dryi ng. In India, Chandrasekharam (2001) published a paper that advocated the use of geothermal energy in food processing since India’s topography is viable for this type of food processing. However, the United States had already applied that concept way back in 1978 when it opened the geothermal food processing plant in Brady Hot Springs, Nevada. In fact, â€Å"More than 25 million pounds of dehydrated onion and garlic are now being processed annually in Nevada â€Å"(nrel.gov, Oct 2001). This fact just attests to the huge capacity of geothermal energy in providing clean energy at a lesser cost. 3. Electricity Generation The Geothermal Energy Market Report shows that in 2005 alone, the top ten countries used 97% of geothermal energy for electricity generation purpose (refer to Appendix A). According to the International Energy Agency, â€Å"geothermal energy currently supplies less than 1% of the world's total energy demand†. Nevertheless, it has an enormous potential t o mitigate climate changes by reducing the use of carbon fossil fuels. It is a considerable source of renewable energy. In the case of Philippines, (which is second to the United States in using geothermal energy), it has a potential to become one of the world’s largest producer of geothermal energy. Currently, geothermal energy supplies 27% of the country’s electricity (www.philippines. hvu.nl). During the World Geothermal Congress in 2000, it was declared that the â€Å"