Paleolithic Age

The Stone Age Social Studies Mrs. Perez By: Alexander Colon 6th grade The Stone Age Now I think we can all admit that The Stone Age was not a good time to be living in the glory and all that. But I bet we would all be having some pretty good times with the things that you were able to do back then. So, let me explain some to you. During the Paleolithic age nomads grouped together into small societies called bands. They also subsisted by gathering plants, hunting, or scavenging wild animals. They did this by using wood or bones carved to use as weapons. They started to use stones in the Neolithic so I will get to that later.Other organic commodities were adapted for use as tools also like leather or vegetable fibers. Although the Paleolithic age is part of the Stone Age nomads did not use stones until the Neolithic age; I’ll get to that now. The beginning of the Neolithic culture is co0nsidered to be in the Levant about 10200-8800 BCE. It formed directly from the Epipaleolithic Nafutian culture in the region, whose people pioneered the use of wild cereals, which evolved into real farming. The Nafutian period was 12000-10200 BCE, and the so-called â€Å"proto-Neolithic â€Å"is now included in the PPNA between 10200-8800 BCE.As the Nafutians had become dependent on wild cereal in their diet and a sedentary way of life had begun among them, the climatic changes and associated with the younger dryas are thought to have forced people to have develop farming. There also were weapons made by stones, flint, and other materials. I did not include this in the intro, but the Mesolithic actually falls between the Neolithic and Paleolithic age. Did you know that in the Stone Age you did not have to have a license for anything? If you wanted to go kill a horse, slap somebody, or even throw a rock at somebody you can do it without anybody telling you so.The term Mesolithic was first used to post-Holocene, but pre-agricultural material in Norwest Europe about 10000-50 00 BCE. It is also an applied material in Levant. As you can see the Stone Age had some pretty fun things to do. You can grab a bow and arrow and hunt down a random animal; you can even go horse-back riding, or even play with fire, nobody cared what you did. There were no laws. Why heck you could have gotten married at the age of five. I guess I just explained to you that we all can have a good time in the Stone Age even if there was no television.

Should College Education be free in America

All three of the research topics that I chose are very important to me. However the one topic that really stands out in my mind is, â€Å"should college education be free in the United States? † One reason this topic stands out to me, I believe America spends too much money importing goods. Especially goods that require some form of technology such as cell phones and gaming systems. The list goes on. I feel that if we train Americans to build these technologies, it will create more jobs, henceforth, reducing unemployment.This brings me to the second most important reason why I feel that college education should be free in the United States. Educated people build a strong economy. Our great nation will benefit by making college education free in the U. S. , to citizens and anyone who’s rightfully living in our country. Not all who graduate from high school are gifted enough to receive a scholarship to attend college, or are fortunate to have parents afford to pay for the ir college education. This can be discouraging for young men or women who want to be successful, however don’t have the means.What about the working adult that wants to complete their degree so that they can be a role model to their children? Unfortunately, they don’t have the finances to go back school. It becomes a double jeopardy life sentence for that high school graduate with no means of furthering their education or that parent that wants to go back to school. Not able to pursue a college degree and most likely earning less money than a college graduate. Consequently, men and women with none too little college education tend to earn less money throughout their lifetime than men or women who have a degree.According to howtoedu. org, (first line of second paragraph) â€Å"over the course or working 40 years, someone with a high school diploma will make $1,116,600 while someone with a bachelor’s degree will make $2,048,204†. According to an article wri tten by the American Public Media titled â€Å"The Value of a College Degree† (second paragraph), â€Å"People who don't get some kind of post-secondary education are quickly falling out of the American middle class†. I feel that our government spends more money in other areas that are unnecessary such as war. The money that the U. S.  government spends on war should be allocated to more important areas such as education.There are different deterring factors that prevent people from pursuing a higher education or completing their degree. The most important is the cost. According to the consumer financial protection bureau, the standard repayment schedule for a college education is 120 months (10 years). By making college education free, the American people will be more qualified for good paying jobs. This will also help in creating new jobs. The money that would be spent on paying back school loans, could be used to purchase homes.This is a perfect example for buildi ng a stronger economy. The method of research that I plan to use to support my thesis are, online articles via credible websites. These resources will reveal the relevance of making college education free in America. My resources will declare that free education will help create more jobs, therefore reducing unemployment; and it will benefit in giving qualified people work with higher compensation. Finally, these resources will bring to light, that more jobs with higher paying compensation builds a stronger economy. All do to making college education free in America.

Environment and Economic Geography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Environment and Economic Geography - Essay Example In the twenty first-century most of the national and international issues are governed by environmental challenges which require thorough understanding of the economics of environment. This century will be an era of many losses, remarkable changes and cosmologic differences, but it is conceivable that societies will successfully make the transition from goals of economic growth, as already experienced in the twentieth century, to the goals of maintaining and increasing suitable well being. The influence of the environment on economic geography was found neglected and remained untouched until Paul Krugman re-established the field by publishing his short monograph " Geography and Trade" in 1991. He showed how mathematical tools known from modern models of international trade theory can be used to explain the distribution of economic activity in geographical space. Aspects of environment on which we depend (most often soil, water and atmosphere) become damaged, polluted (poisoned) and depleted. Modern intensive agriculture changes the composition and ecology of soil and water systems, as well as affecting nitrogen and carbon cycle in the environment. The changing environmental phenomenon creates new vistas for developmental and constructive mechanisms on one side and restricts the human economic activity on another. Thereby the environmental carrying capacity is being influenced. The changes in the environmental parameters may be either beneficial or detrimental to the present and future ecological world and economic scenario, which can very well be categorized in two distinct forms. The planet earth which is unique for presence of life in our solar system is directly and indirectly getting influenced by the supremacy of the most evolutionary-creature called "Man" i.e. Homo sapiens and the equlibria that had existed since inception, are now getting imbalanced due to exploitative activities of human beings. Unrestricted use of fossil fuels, injudicious application of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, rampant deforestation, rapid industrialization, ever growing global population and radioactive warfare have many reasons for changing the wave length of this living earth from green to red in the visual spectrum. a) Carbon Dioxide Concentration and Global worming: The concentration of carbon dioxide is increasing at geometric progression primarily because of the dependency on the non-renewable form of bio-fuels as more than 80 percent of the global energy demand is met from this source and secondarily due to the exhalation of the animal kingdom. The effect of which is remarkable from the increase in the mean global temperature, which we designated as global worming. The increase in carbon dioxide concentration in one hand will definitely help in better photosynthesis resulting in increased assimilation but in other hand, increased concentration leads to acid rains, which restrict crop growth and severely affect the final yield. Instances of total extinction of established forests have also been observed due to acid rain. The emission of sulphur dioxide has also increased alarmingly in industrialized nations and particularly in North America and Europe. The result of which

Assignment One Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assignment One - Essay Example The lives of Giovanni and Lusanna further portray the differing social statuses of women as well as the role they play in the revitalization. On the other hand, the lives of Martin and Bertrande show the arising events throughout the lives of this couple. However, all these events come back to a common ground, which is love. Love then grows and ends with marriage, and at this point, its relationship with law starts to develop2. These two stories about lives of two different couples are similar in a number of ways. To begin with, both stories reveal a lot of love between the couples, which in turn leads to marriage. According to the story about Giovanni and Lusanna, for instance, the theme of love proves to prevail on their day of marriage. The author states that their lives together proved that marriages actually happened out of love, not arrangements by parents. This means that two people had to come together and have a relationship before getting married to each other. Consequently , it served to enhance how much they knew each other and gave time for the two families to familiarize with each other. Similarly, the lives of Martin and Bertrande develop the aspect of marriage. Their story begins with the two getting married. Although their first appearance in the story is when they are teenagers, the author straight away drives us to the wedding ceremony. The usual procession then takes place after paying the bride’s dowry, and the wedding ceremony is over. However, with them it occurs in a much-unexpected manner. This renders marriage as a tremendously significant aspect in the story since it introduces it. In addition, the couples in each story go through a marriage ceremony perhaps with the intent of sealing their relationship and making it public. Furthermore, both stories incorporated the facet of law in them. In the life of Giovanni and Lusanna, her representation by her brother in the archbishop’s court incorporates the aspect of law. As men tioned in the Florence law, women could not represent themselves, but instead their legal guardians presented their cases. The author also explains the use of law to fight for the rights of women. Nevertheless, in the life story of Martin and Bertrande, law was a pivotal aspect in resolving disputes. The characteristic of law developed when Martin came back to their home and out of nowhere claimed himself as the rightful heir to the family’s wealth. Martin demanded that he get his portion of the inheritance despite his disappearance. He made it worse by threatening his uncle, who now headed the family, that if he did not give him his inheritance, he would take the disagreement to court. This tells the reader that people in the story recognized the presence of the courts, and they were subject to its ruling. Conversely, both stories had disagreeing aspects, for instance, the social interactions. In the lives of Giovanni and Lusanna, there is a clear background of social intera ctions, as opposed to the story about Martin and Bertrande. Additionally, in Giovanni’s and Lusanna’s lives, the entire process diffuses into the story in a progressive manner, perhaps in the effort to explain their background. Although support of premarital relationships was minimal in their times, people still engaged themselves in premarital intercourse. This explains the realities of

The Advent Of Globalization And Business Cultures Essay

The Advent Of Globalization And Business Cultures - Essay Example Power Distance: This deals with acceptance of the less powerful sections of an organization pertaining to the uneven distribution of power therein. Britain is a country that ranks low in PDI, indicating that it is a society that believes in minimising the inequalities among people. However, China is a top scorer in PDI, which implies that inequality in the distribution of power is acceptable in there and that power abuse is prevalent. Individualism: The issue addressed by this dimension is related to ways in which the society portrays itself, implying whether it is an inter-dependent society or an individual one. The UK is a country with a high individualistic approach, where children are taught to think and fend for themselves from a young age (Tanielian 90-96). Hence, personal fulfillment is a topmost priority in such societies. China appears to have a rather collectivistic approach, where people strive as a team and perform tasks that cater to the interest of a group or an organiz ation. Masculinity: This dimension explains dominant values of the society. A masculine or high-score on this dimension would indicate towards a society that is driven by achievement and success. A low-score (feminine) on this dimension would mean that the society is more inclined towards living a quality life and caring for others. Both China and the UK are strongly masculine societies, where people are ready to sacrifice family life in order to achieve success in the professional life. Leisure takes a backseat in such societies.  

Issue and Interdependence Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Issue and Interdependence - Research Paper Example It had been known to have started during the rise of industrialization. The need to quantify and analyze the level of industrial technology in a nation led to the stratification of the nations on the basis of their development in the discipline which is influential to every aspect of the society specifically economy. Upon the realization of the said need, countries considered as industrial leaders became the standards and models (Escobar 1995). Nations in the North America and Europe were considered as the model nations and were referred to as the First World nations because of being industrialized. The notion of the stratified world is the main principle that affected and is continuously dominating the modern era, specifically the post-World War II period in terms of the social, economic, cultural, and political aspects (Escobar 1995). The views on the different aspects of the society in the nations classified as Third World are the main targets of the discussion. The classification of the nations on the basis of the concept of the three worlds is often criticized due to prejudice. Some refer to the term as mythical and unreal while others contest that each of the different levels for example the Third World is a mental region which is considered ‘intellectual, metaphysical, and experiential’ in nature as desert is a climatic region, the exact location can only be determined by the types of organisms inhabiting the area (Norwine 1988). The Third World then can also be determined by the quality of like and the type of people and technology which can be found in the particular nation. To be able to present the objective of the paper, the different aspects and issues related to the society will be presented. The Aspects and Issues in the Third World There are important issues and aspects of life in the Third World. This includes social, political, economic, and cultural issues. But due to the interdependence and interconnectedness of the different fa ctors, one issue can simultaneously affect two or more aspects of life in the underdeveloped nations. Political Aspect Politics is one of the significant aspects that provides clue to the life in the Third World. Basically, one of the basic characteristics of leadership and government in nations belonging to the Third World is being a young. As compared to nations which had been stable for a long time, the nations in the Third World experienced political renewal, unrest, colonization, coups d’etat, change in the type of government, military leadership and dictatorship, or even war. This is the reason why these countries at the moment are still considered as developing and trying to catch up to the established, stable and developed countries of the First World (Lowder 1986). Based on the references, political struggle for stability is common in the Third World due to the effects of different issues specifically the need for survival since economy and source of livelihood is st ill a problem. Due to the tendency of the government to be unstable as a result of the multitude of problems needed to be dealt with, the concentration of power in a central government is the usual set-up. This is be able

PTSD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

PTSD - Essay Example People believe that soldiers had gone through a lot of trainings - too much training that taking lives is just a usual thing to do. But what people do not know is that war leaves a mark not only to the soldiers’ body but also to their sanity. Soldiers may be trained to be killing machines but the violent experiences that they encounter during the war can have detrimental effects on them which include post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. According to Oak, whenever soldiers are at war, they have to hurt or kill their opponents. Their duty forces them to destroy their enemy’s forces and end lives. However, enemies or allies, they are all human beings after all. This is why â€Å"they have to bear the grief of the suffering and deaths of their fellow mates as well.† (Oak). These situations affect the soldiers emotionally and often results to depression and deprivation of peace of mind among soldiers. The soldiers who experience this go through emotional struggle that often results to severe mental stress. They will also experience different kinds of emotions which will result in great mental strain. â€Å"Their homesickness can lead to intense feelings of solitude. Their trauma brings them mental insecurity. The violence, the injuries and the heavy destructions result in distress.† (Oak) Peter Kilner, a major from the Army, contributed an important essay to the journal Military Review. According to Kilner’s essay, as cited by Adam Weinstein in his article in Mother Jones magazine, medical consultants of the army gave an estimation of 20 percent of soldiers who fought in Iraq had shown symptoms of mental problems. The study also showed that suicide in the military has doubled since 2001. There was even an investigation by the National Public Radio that soldiers with PTSD were punished and kicked out of the army (Weinstein). When a person encounters a traumatic experience that might have harmed the individual physically and/or emotionally, the person is

Population Health in South Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Population Health in South Africa - Essay Example Any crucial health promotion effort, would therefore need a thorough knowledge of the epidemiologic factors and their distributions (Ugen, Bendinelli, and Friedman, 2002, 1-24). HIV transmission is known to occur by both homosexual and heterosexual contacts; by blood and blood products; and by infected mothers to infants either intrapartum, perinatally, or via breast milk. It has been intensely investigated since its discovery, but till date there is no evidence that HIV is transmitted by casual contact or that the virus can be spread by insects, which are commonly people's perceptions. HIV infection/AIDS is a global pandemic; every country has its share of this burden. It has been currently estimated that the number of cases of HIV infection among adults is 37 million worldwide. Unfortunately, two-thirds of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa, and about 50% of these cases are women. In addition, an estimated 2.5 million younger than age 15 children are living with HIV/AIDS. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) undertook study in 2003, and they declared there were an estimated 5 million new cases of infection worldwide. Calculating on a daily basi s, more than 14,000 new infections occur each day which ultimately lead to 3 million deaths. In this way, AIDS becomes the fourth leading cause of mortality throughout the world. The cumulative number of deaths out of AIDS and from conditions related to AIDS exceeded 20 million in the year 2003. The epidemiologic patterns of HIV occurrence in the world is in the forms of "waves", with each wave demonstrating little difference in characteristics which are determined by the demographics of a specific country or a region. It is also determined by the time when the HIV was introduced into the population. This indicates, in different regions of the world, different types of virus may be prevalent (UNAIDS/WHO, 2006, Chapter 4). Demographically and statistically, HIV/AIDS in different regions of the world provide evidence that although the epidemic was first recognized in the United States and thereafter in Western Europe, it most likely indexed in sub-Saharan Africa. The major mode of transmission of HIV worldwide is heterosexual sex unquestionably; since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in developing countries, where the numbers of infected men and women are approximately equal, the same pattern had been particularly prevalent. Knight has computed the South African data in relation to population and HIV/AIDS in 2006. This comprehensive document highlights many interesting facts in relation to the disease burden of South Africa. These data are important since it is a fact that AIDS epidemic has had a devastating impact on Africa, particularly in South Africa. A mid 2007 data indicate the population in South Africa of 47.9 million with 51% women. Approximately 32% of this population is children of age 0 to 14 years, 5% are older, and 63% belong to age group 15-64, who are working. The burden of the disease becomes more conspicuous

Religion and Homophobia in Trinidad and Tobago Essay Example for Free

Religion and Homophobia in Trinidad and Tobago Essay As previously demonstrated, the data collected was graphically represented in order to highlight trends or anomalies. Figure 1 (Fig. 1) begins by showing that 36% of our sample supported same sex marriage, whilst 64% did not. Since non-support of same-sex marriage is used as our indicator of homophobia, approximately two-thirds (( 2)? (3 )) of our sample is considered homophobic. Whilst this suggests that a substantial proportion of our population is supportive of homosexuality, the majority is apparently homophobic. Thus, a standard was found, against which individual elements of the population can then be manipulated and analysed in a positivistic approach. Figure 2 shows that the gender of the non-supportive population was almost equally distributed, which suggests that perspective is gender neutral. This is surprising considering that gender commonly indicates differing perspectives, but may perhaps be attributed to the existence of homosexuality in both genders. Additionally, this is reflected in Fig 3. where the male only school, Naparima College is proportionately equal to the female only schools, Naparima Girls’ High School (NGHS), ASJA Girls’ College (ASJA) and St. Joseph’s Convent (SJC). Furthermore, Figure 4 shows that the average CSEC grades (which we will use as an indicator of education level) of the supporters approximately equalled that of the non-supporters. Therefore, neither gender, education level school has significant effect on our candidates’ perception of same-sex marriage. Continuing the search for factors that may affect the development of homophobia, Fig 5 outlines four further dimensions of social life, showing that, support of the legalisation of marijuana, alcohol consumption habits, history of altercations with the law, and family structure all had negligible effects because the proportions only slightly deviated from the norm. It is only when the dynamic of religion is introduced that anomalies become apparent. As illustrated in Figure 6, there is little variance between the individual religions, with Islam being marginally more homophobic, but, when religion is removed, as in the case of our secular candidates, the proportions are reversed and approximately two-thirds (( 2)? (3 )) of the secular candidates were supportive. Additionally, it was observed that, whilst Muslim candidates had the highest correlation to homophobia within our sample, the candidates from the Islamic school, ASJA Girls’ College –who would have been exposed to the institution for at least five years, a substantial portion of their lives-, had the lowest correlation to homophobia; the difference being approximately 10%. This is pertinent because it is also indicative of secularisation by differentiation wherein the non-religious sphere of life, education is separated from religion (Jose Casanova, 1994). In both instances of secularisation, homophobia was reduced. Building on the investigation of the influence of religion, religiosity was then compared to opinion using three common measures of religiosity. Figure 7 shows the relationship between frequency of visitation of place of worship and non-support, Figure 8 shows the frequency of private worship against non-support and Figure 8 shows the frequency of private study of religious texts versus non-support. All graphs yielded a positive gradient, began well below the average and ended well above it. This indicates, that as religiosity increases, so too does homophobia. This contrasts our previous observation that there were no trends amongst the various religions but verifies the implication that secularisation decreases homophobia. Careful consideration of the qualitative data compounds these assertions because, not only is religion openly and usually used as justification of homophobia, the candidates who were most fervently religious and enmeshed with their congregation were often most blatantly homophobic. Additionally, if the view of the religious leaders is to be taken as the consensus of the congregation, it would appear that most justify discrimination. However, there were cases in which the fervently religious advocated positively for same-sex marriages. The phenomena observed can be explained using a functionalist perspective in which religion serves as a method of maintaining social order through increasing solidarity within a mostly heterosexual population by segregating the homosexual, thereby providing a common ‘enemy,’ and instilling a set of values and norms in society. Also, religion may be viewed as encouraging more â€Å"productive† marriages in which childbirth is possible, thereby helping to sustain the birth-rate, working to aid the system of the family. When candidates are separated from the functions of religion, they are more likely to maintain a different set or norms, wherein homosexuals are equal to heterosexuals. Contrastingly, a Conflict perspective may be used in hich religion serves to justify the construction of a class society in which the heterosexuals are the ‘bourgeoisie’ and the homosexuals are the ‘proletariat. ’ By masking the foundation of power and exploitation in divine ruling, the heterosexuals are allowed to legitimize their position of superiority. When this illusion is removed and class consciousness attained, as in the case of secular candidates and candidates with little religiosity, the bourgeoisie can no longer legitimize their position, and so homophobia is reduced. Alternatively, if one is to utilize Weber’s theory of Rational Choice, one might suggest, that, perhaps candidates decided to follow the homophobic direction of their religious leaders, rationalizing that earning the support of the entire congregation was worth discriminating against a minority. This theory also serves to explain why candidates supported same-sex marriage, because the prevailing justification was a rationalisation that their (homosexuals) private life did not affect me (the candidate) negatively and was therefore not a problem. This also explains the anomaly of the few candidates who were enmeshed in non-supportive congregations but still supported same-sex marriages. Continuing the interpretivistic trend, Mead’s theory of Symbolic Interactionism may be applied in which the ascribed meanings of symbols encourage homophobia. For example, candidates who studied their holy texts daily were most likely to be non-supportive. They may ascribe that the text determines their values and that the text does not support homosexuality, therefore, they, identified as a follower of the text, does not support homosexuality. Another example may be the use of song references in their justification, wherein, candidates interpret the music to disapprove of homophobia and therefore, as listeners, they should also disapprove. Lastly, the use of homophobic slurs such as ‘fag’ in the language of the non-supporters suggests that homosexuality is unwanted, and communicates this to others who may interpret it as such, and develop the same opinion. Discussion of Findings In, Invitation to the sociology of religion, Zuckerman presents a functionalist approach in which we see how religion may affect social hange. He demonstrates a correlation between a decline in the influence of religion and an increase in the acceptance of homosexual relations suggesting that religion does indeed influence homophobia as determined from my research. Furthermore, he considered another form of discrimination, that is, racism in which again, religion resulted in the segregation of a minority, but also, where religion provided a powerful community through which resistance could grow. The strength and influence of these churches echoes the observation that the more enmeshed our subjects were in their religious congregations, the more homophobic they tended to be. Building on the methods by which religion could affect social life, the article, â€Å"Gays bash government on same-sex marriage,† presents a scenario in which religion has clearly moulded the opinion of a prominent member of our government to the point that it over-rode proper conduct. This crass act seems less surprising when it is observed that some candidates also paraphrased or quoted biblical passages in lieu of an explanation. The research paper, †Religion and public opinion of same-sex marriage,† also adds validation to our research because their results were strikingly similar to our own. They discovered, as I did, that a persons’ religiosity and not their specific religion was the prominent factor in influencing their view of same-sex marriage. Additionally, the article entitled, â€Å"J-FLAG Issues Statement on International Day Against Homophobia,† also verifies this conclusion by using statistics which showed that 56% believed homosexuality and Christianity were incompatible and that 82% believed that it was immoral. This, second study was conducted in Jamacia and as such, it is also more relevant to our research based in Trinidad; it should come as no surprise that their sample yielded a homophobic rate only marginally lower than our own at 59% as opposed to 64%. Finally, in relation to our final aim, the research paper, †Religion and public opinion of same-sex marriage,† also proves handy because they validate that no other standard demographic holds significant influence on a candidate’s opinion of same-sex marriage besides religiosity. Considering these observations, my main finding appears to be that religion does, in fact, play a significant role in developing homophobia within the Lower Six population of San Fernando. Additionally, three main inferences can be made: Firstly, that religion may develop homophobia by presenting a community in which homophobia may be justified and advertised as the norm, through interaction with the institution of government, or through symbolic interaction wherein the religious texts are interpreted as encouraging homophobia. Secondly, that religiosity is a much more significant factor than religious affiliation in developing homophobia, with religious affiliation being almost powerless in our study. Thirdly, we may infer that, whilst exposure to the media did have some effect on the development of homophobia as reflected in our qualitative data, by and large, religion is the major influence with no significant alternative factors appearing in our study. ? Limitations Whilst conducting my study, certain limitations were confronted. Chief amongst these was the cost effectiveness of conducting such a relatively large-scale survey consisting of over two hundred subjects. Adding to this difficulty was the statistical analysis in which a spreadsheet was necessary. Additionally, in order to balance the ratio of male to female respondents, the strata of Naparima College was over-represented since that was the school in which the most co-operation was met. However, since Naparima College proved to be a typical institution, for the purposes of our study, I believe that the integrity of the data was no compromised. Difficulty was also met in collecting and analysing secondary data sources as inquisitions at our public libraries proved fruitless and many of the recent, relevant research papers published were either costly, or restricted to members of certain institutions. Lastly, there may have been some, inherent instrument bias in my analysis of the qualitative data. Recommendations On completion of my research, certain recommendations have become apparent. The first being that a complete separation of the church and state must be accomplished in order to provide the allocation of same-sex marriages, and the second being that the institution of religion should be removed from society as it, in its many forms may a dangerous tool for inspiring discrimination. Conclusion Although it has been a lengthy road, it was a straight one, and, in summation, we can determine that there is indeed a clear relationship between religion and homophobia in which religion inspires the other through various ways. Furthermore, a person’s religiosity was shown to be the determining factor in influencing homophobia with no other influence being significant. ?

Early Childhood Education Essay Example for Free

Early Childhood Education Essay After obtaining a bachelors degree in marketing five years ago I never imagined myself going back to school and trying to pursue a masters degree in early childhood education. Every since I can think back to my childhood I have had so many great teachers. I have always value them not only as an educator but as a strong and compassionate individual. My interest in education began with my daughter, and spending a great amount of time as a parent volunteer in her classroom. In the classroom is where I developed a passion for working with kids, and helping them learn in a creative manner. I feel that children bring out the best in me. As a parent and educator I find myself not just a person who nurtures and cares for children, but someone who is excited to see children learn. I have taught my children how to be someone with good morals and ethics. I have helped them view education in most positive way. I strong believe that the early years of a childs life are crucial when it comes to education, and this is a time at which information can most effectively be absorbed. In order to ensure that our children the future of our society get the best education possible, it is vital that appropriately qualified, skilled, and knowledgeable educators are available to provide this knowledge and development. Two factors have contributed to my decision to pursue my education at the graduate level. First, by attending graduate school, I would have the opportunity pursue a position as director or admistative coordinator at a preschool. In addition, I seek further education in order to refine and improve my level of knowledge and skills educating young children. I feel that graduate school will enable me to discuss and research contemporary issues that are of chief importance to an educator practicing in todays society. 2. How do you perceive the process of graduate study in early childhood education helping you attain your personal and professional goals? The process of graduate study in early childhood education will strengthen my ability to lead as a director in quality programs in early childhood education. It will provide me with the tools and skills need to provide leadership and manage the day-to-day activities in schools, preschools, day care centers. Secondly, the process of graduate study will help me understand and perseve the importance of theories used in early childhood education. It will give me a chance to explore and apply those theories and practices used in a classroom setting. Third, the process of graduate study will help me gain knowledge so I can effectively conduct research studies pertaining to young children. Some studies which I am egger to conducted are studies concerning the long term benefits of children who attend preschool, how preschool can help in the development of children, and how teaching children though play can help children enjoy learnering. My personal benefits that I will gain from graduate study in early childhood education are, it will help me be able to understand and perceive social and cognitive development of my own children. It strengthen my relationship with my children and with children in general and, make it easier to perceive there way of thinking. 3. In what ways do you plan to make a contribution to the profession of early childhood education? As a profession of early childhood education a plan to make a difference though committing to enhancing the education, development, and well-being of young children. I will educate others about the importance of well-rounded preschool and the long term benefits it can have on a child. I plan to use what I have learned though graduate program and apply into the preschool environment. After completing graduate studies I plan to continue researching how we can continue to improve our early childhood education programs for the future generations. 4. What are your expectations from the Masters program in Early Childhood Education at California State University, Long Beach? First of all I think it would be not only an honor but a privilege for me to attend a graduate school that is so highly recognized professionally. My expectations from the Masters program in Early Childhood Education at CSULB are it will give me an opportunity to effectively communicate about theories and practices I have learned though out the program. It will give me a chance to conduct research and implement my research and incorporate that research into a preschool setting. It will broaden my understanding about the importance of cultural diversity in a classroom setting. It will give me a chance to further explore other areas which I can possible specialize in. The masters program will give me a chance to be a well recognized individual among peers and colleagues within my profession. Thinking back to my childhood, I have had many great teachers. I have always valued them not only as educators but as strong and compassionate individuals. I have helped them view education in the most positive way. I strongly believe that the early years of a childs life are crucial when it comes to education, and this is a time at which information can most effectively be absorbed. In order to ensure that our children, the future of our society, get the best education possible, it is vital that appropriately qualified, skilled, and knowledgeable educators are available to provide this knowledge and development. First, by attending graduate school, I would have the opportunity pursue a position as director or administrative coordinator at a preschool. It will provide me with the tools and skills needed to provide leadership and manage the day-to-day activities in schools, preschools, and day care centers. Secondly, the process of graduate study will help me understand and perceive the importance of theories used in early childhood education. Some studies which I am eager to conduct are studies concerning the long term benefits of children who attend preschool, how preschool can help in the development of children, and how teaching children through play can help them enjoy learning. The personal benefits that I will gain from graduate study in early childhood education include understanding and perceiving social and cognitive development in my own children, strengthening my relationship with my children and with children in general and, making it easier to perceive their way of thinking. This sounds rather repetitive; you are overusing perceive and being a little too general here. As a professional in early childhood education, I plan to make a difference though committing to enhancing the education, development, and well-being of young children. I will educate others about the importance of well-rounded preschool and the long term benefits it can have on a child. I plan to use what I have learned through my graduate program and apply it to the preschool environment. After completing graduate studies I plan to continue researching how we can continue to improve our early childhood education programs for the future generations. Again, this is rather vague. First of all, I think it would be not only an honor but a privilege for me to attend a graduate school that is so highly recognized professionally. My expectations from the Masters program in Early Childhood Education at CSULB are that it will give me an opportunity to effectively communicate about theories and practices I have learned throughout the program. It will give me a chance to conduct research and implement my research and incorporate it into a preschool setting. It will give me a chance to further explore other areas in which I can specialize. The masters program will give me the chance to be a well recognized individual among peers and colleagues within my profession. Try to come up with some more specific goals. When you are vague, it makes it sound as if you really dont know much about the field you want to specialize in. You might want to read some articles about issues in early childhood education what is controversial in the field? what is cutting edge? and include some information you have gained from your reading, to show that you are well-versed in this area.

The operations and business model of McDonalds

The operations and business model of McDonalds Mission McDonalds brand mission is to be our customers favorite place and way to eat. Our worldwide operations have been aligned around a global strategy called the Plan to Win centering on the five basics of an exceptional customer experience People, Products, Place, Price and Promotion. We are committed to improving our operations and enhancing our customers experience. This is from http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcd_faq/student_research.html?DCSext.destination=http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcd_faq/student_research.html#13 Vision We envision a supply chain that profitably yields high-quality, safe products without supply interruption while leveraging our leadership position to create a net benefit by improving ethical, environmental and economic outcomes. Ethical We envision purchasing from suppliers who follow practices that ensure the health and safety of their employees and the welfare and humane treatment of animals in our supply chain. Environmental We envision influencing the sourcing of our materials and ensuring the design of our products, their manufacture, distribution and use minimize lifecycle impacts on the environment. Economic We envision delivering affordable food, engaging in equitable trade practices, limiting the spread of agricultural diseases, and positively impacting the communities where our suppliers operate. We view this vision and its responsibilities holistically. As sourcing decisions are made, we consider our priorities for food safety, quality and costs, as well as our ethical , environmental and economic responsibilities. Our progress on beef and coffee sustainability illustrate how we are working to bring this approach to life. This is from http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/csr/report/sustainable_supply_chain/our_approach.html?DCSext.destination=http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/csr/report/sustainable_supply_chain/our_approach.html Evaluation Blah,. Blah, blahà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Operations and Business Model McDonalds is the worlds largest foodservice retailing chain. It operates approximately 32,000 restaurants in over 100 countries and is one of the worlds largest food service retailing chain, preparing, and serving a range of food products and beverages. All restaurants are operated either by the company or by franchisees, including conventional franchisees under franchise arrangements, and foreign affiliated markets and developmental licensees under license agreements. The companys business is divided into four geographic segments: Europe, the US, APMEA (Asia, Pacific, Middle East and Africa), and other countries and corporate. Other countries and corporate includes Canada and Latin America, as well as corporate activities and certain investments. McDonalds restaurants offer a standardized menu, although there may be geographic variations. McDonalds makes their revenues in three ways; Retail sales, Franchise fees and lease agreements for property they own (leasing the property back to the franchisee) I DONT KNOW WHERE THIS CAME FROMà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..(I have this one Clint) This came from DataMonitor Company Profile retrieved 6/3/10 saved in the M Drive as McDonalds Company Profile Evaluation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The Ford paper was about this short with no moreà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Financial and Performance Evaluation Outperforms the industry in revenue and net income growth Higher profit margins than the industry and the SP. Liquidity within range of competitors Less levered than the rest of the industry Highly efficient in turning inventory Financials have been generally trending upward http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/results/compare.asp?Symbol=US%3aMCD Evaluation The combination of high margins and efficient inventory turnover has allowed McDonalds to outperform the rest of the industry by almost all accounts. The low debt and high interest coverage indicates that the company should not have difficulty in meeting its obligations. As a result, McDonalds was issued a credit rating of AA- by Moodys, the highest credit rating ever given to a fast food restaurant (http://quicktake.morningstar.com/stocknet/san.aspx?id=325610). Same store revenues have been increasing quarter over quarter and year over year, assisted by strong sales in countries other than the US. Despite the recent recession, McDonalds has performed well and seems poised to capitalize on the opportunity. Macro Environment Key Trends Economy Global economic issues from the US stock market, to Greece, to Chinas economic slowdown Potential weak dollar/poor exchange rates Varied market conditions per country Technology Different cultures want different foods/ menus than U.S so must invest in RD Political/Legal Ever changing climates with 100 governments to deal with Varied laws (trade, finance, safety, labor, etc.) Socio-Cultural The rest of the world wants what the U.S. has and food is one of the items Pressures to have healthier foods Demographics More baby boomers Recent higher unemployment New demographics to deal with (Brazil, Russia, India, China) Globalization People say they want to loose weight, but most people are gaining it Natural Environment Pressures to go green (packaging, reduced carbon footprint, etc.) Threats Continued competition Impression they only sell unhealthy foods Poor economic conditions and global unrest Opportunities Expand in the coffee (McCafe) market Continue with healthier foods and lifestyles Partner with retail chains (i.e. like Starbucks has done with grocery stores and Target) These are our thoughts, so no reference, agree!! Evaluation Industry Analysis McDonalds is in the quick service restaurant segment and its defined as the sale of food and drink for immediate consumption either on the premises or in designated eating areas shared with other foodservice operators, or for consumption elsewhere. Their main competitors are Burger King and Wendys/Arbys. The global fast food market generated total revenues of $154.7B in 2008, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% for the period spanning 2004-2008. The performance of the market is forecast to decelerate, with an anticipated CAGR of 5.3% for the five-year period of 2008-2013. Reference is the Datamonitor paper Five Forces Substitutes (Moderate) Home cooking Convenience stores Grocery Stores (i.e. salad bar, pre-cooked diners, etc) Suppliers Power (Low) No uniqueness to products Raw materials readily available Switching costs are low Buyer Power (High) Buyer Independence Low switching costs Tendency to switch New Entrants (Low) Local franchise may be impacted by competition, but not nationally/globally Too much capital needed to compete with McDonalds Hard to match branding power Rivalries (High) Little product differentiation Little price differentiation Many competitors These are our thoughts, so no reference, agree!! I agree, unless you want to reference Grant textbook. Market segment Strategic Groups / Competitors by Market (DM) Consumer Packages Good Industry Food (Cargill, Inc., Nestle SA, The Proctor Gamble Company, Japan Tobacco, Inc., Unilever) Leisure and Arts Industry Hotels and Restaurants (TUI AG, Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited, Compass Group PLC, Sodexo S.A,., Burger King Corporation) Food Service (Compass Group PLC, Sodexo S.A., Loews Corporation, ARAMARK Corporation) Fast Food Restaurants (Yum! Brands, Inc., Autogrill S.p.A., Chick-fail-A, Inc., Jack in the Box Inc., Wendys/Arbys Group) Kristie found thisà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..I found this at Datamart retrieved 7/10/10 Competitor Analysis McDonalds Burger King Wendy/Arbys Strategy Cost leadership (low cost, industry wide) strategy Strategy is to offer menu variety at affordable prices such as Happy Meals, budget-minded Value Menu, espresso coffee drinks, fruit smoothies, premium chicken sandwiches and salads, our premium sandwiches that come with chicken, or grilled chicken as a choice in terms of managing calories Restaurant development strategy is to pick locations within the marketplace to expand its target customers such as restaurants in local neighborhoods as well as at airports, malls, toll ways, and colleges. (DM) Large scale of operation and ability to customize menu provides the ability to penetrate upcoming markets with minimal effort and enhances its revenue generation capacity (DM) De-emphasize Partner Brands concepts in order to focus on the McDonalds brand (SP) Cost leadership (low cost, industry wide) strategy Strategy is to focus its product development and marketing to customers in the 18- to 34-year-old male demographic. It has added a number of premium-priced items to its menu, including the Steakhouse Burger made with Angus beef. (Hoovers) Uses a number of online marketing techniques, including viral videos, to reach its target audience (Hoovers) Cost leadership (low cost, industry wide) strategy (WA, DM) Improving several core products such as sandwich buns, French fries and bacon by differentiating in quality in the QSR hamburger segment. (WA, DM) Focus on our fresh, never frozen beef and premium chicken. (WA, DM) Install a disciplined product development and testing process (WA, DM) Objectives Compete in the global fast food industry continue its Plan to Win corporate strategy that it commenced in 2003 (SP) Fixing operating inefficiencies in existing restaurants; taking a more integrated while focusing on growth, with an emphasis on increasing sales, margins and returns in existing restaurants; and ensuring the right operating structure and resources are aligned with priorities that create benefits for customers and restaurants. (SP) Customize product to suit tastes and preference of consumers in local markets (DM) Well-positioned to expand global footprint, invest in reimaging program and deliver operations excellence every day. Marketing campaigns and menu options will focus on the brand equities that provide a distinct competitive advantage flame-broiled taste, quality and size at affordable prices. (DM Wendy) Long-term strategies remain on course and committed to respond to an ever-changing consumer dynamic. Same-store sales growth by increasing transactions and average check. Margin expansion through advanced operational execution and control of costs. Begin a rollout of a Breakfast menu to attract market share in day segment. New restaurant development with an emphasis on franchise growth. Expand internationally in markets such as Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia- Pacific. Assumptions International segment has supplied much of its earnings growth over the past two decades (SP) Diversified geographic presence provides opportunity to gain from economic growth in emerging markets (DM) Restaurants sub-industry is negative and will continue as high jobless ratios and an ongoing troubled housing market (SP) The full-service restaurant segment will be negative specifically for the restaurant locations in states where the housing markets prices are weak and unemployment is above the national average causing continued pressure on sales and customer preference for less expensive menu choices. (SP) Challenging consumer environment will continue due to high unemployment levels resulting in a reduction in out-of-home eating expenditures. Resources 385,000 Employees (SP) Cash 1,796 Million (SP) 41,320 Employees (SP) Cash 122 Million (SP) 67,500 Employees (SP) Cash 592 Milliom (SP) Kristie found thisà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..everything in the boxes above I saved the Company profiles on the M drive. I used the company profiles from Datamonitor (DM) for McDonalds, Wendys/Arbys Group, Inc, and Burger King Corporation retrieved 7/3/10. Hoovers: Burger King Holdings, Inc. (15 July). Hoovers Company Records,54531. Retrieved July 3, 2010, from Hoovers Company Records. (Document ID: 168241971). SP: McDonalds Corp. (20 July). Standard and Poors NetAdvantage Company Profile. Retrieved July 3, 2010, from Standard and Poors NetAdvantage Company Profile. Burger King Holdings, Inc. (20 July). Standard and Poors NetAdvantage Company Profile. Retrieved July 3, 2010, from Standard and Poors NetAdvantage Company Profile. Wendys/Arbys Group. (20 July). Standard and Poors NetAdvantage Company Profile. Retrieved July 3, 2010, from Standard and Poors NetAdvantage Company Profile. Evaluation Company/Division Analysis WE PROBABLY NEED TO CHANGE THIS/MAKE IT OURS, NOT SO MUCH FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT. Key Resources Tangible Financial (cash securities, borrowing capability) Revenues exceed $22,700 million 2009 comparable sales increase marked the sixth consecutive year of positive sales in every geographic segment of our business. Physical (plant, equipment, land) Operated in over 100 countries; 32,478 McDonalds restaurants 80% of McDonalds restaurants worldwide owned and operated by independent local men and woman Natural Resource Has some agriculture operations in Russia Intangible Technology (software, patent, copyright, trade secrets, data) Product/Menu Innovation customizes its product to suit tastes and preference of consumers in local markets companys product line in India comprise of non-beef based burgers Developmental license Local entrepreneur owns the business, including control of the real estate, and uses their capital and local knowledge to build the McDonalds Brand and optimize long-term sales and profitability. The company collects a royalty, which varies by market, based on a percentage of sales Reputation (brands, relationships) Well-established brand that appeals to all customers of all age groups and nationalities 1 Provides acceptability in new markets 1 2009 6th place in the top 100 global brands Predictable value, family fun and familiar taste Culture Leadership culture that embraces change and rejects complacency Continually focused on what is working and then leveraging our scale around the world for the overall good of their customers and their System. Human Resources Skill / know-how / Training at McDonalds University Relationship Strength of the alignment between the Company, its franchisees and suppliers (collectively referred to as the System) has been key to McDonalds success over the years. This business model enables McDonalds to consistently deliver locally-relevant restaurant experiences to customers and be an integral part of the communities we serve. In addition, it facilitates their ability to identify, implement, and scale innovative ideas that meet customers changing needs and preferences. Motivation McDonalds customer-focused Plan to Win-which is centered around being better, not just bigger-provides a common framework for our global business yet allows for local adaptation. Through the execution of multiple initiatives surrounding the five Key drivers of exceptional customer experiences-People, Products, Place, Price and Promotion-they have enhanced the restaurant experience for customers worldwide and grown sales and customer visits in each of the last six years. This Plan, coupled with financial discipline, has delivered strong results for shareholders. Capacity for communication and collaboration Cross-fertilization of ideas and innovations, our leaders are better able to assume new challenges and responsibilities on behalf of the Company. Kristie found this aboveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Found this on McDonalds Annual Report 2009 Retrieved 6/4 Saved the file in the M Drive as McD_2009_AR_Final_032910.. Capabilities/Value Chain Primary Inbound Logistics No difference from competition Operations (Competitive Qualifier) Makes food as fast as competition Outbound Logistics (Competitive Qualifier) Located in Metro areas, easy to drive into/out of, one on every corner (per se) Marketing/Sales (Value Add) Gives customers more options (hamburgers, salads, coffee, deserts, etc.) along with free Wi-Fi, and is more recognizable than competition Secondary Infrastructure Did not find and advantage or disadvantage Human Resource Management (Value Add) Has McDonalds University for Management, others do not Technology (Value Add) Come out with new products first. I.e. Big Mac, Breakfast foods, coffee, now smoothies Procurement (Competitive Qualifier) Owns/grows little to none, buy and assembles everything Customer Service They have Customer Service like the competition Our thoughtsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Core Competencies The bundle of resources and capabilities that add value to a customer and may serve as a source of sustainable competitive advantage. It is answered by the follow Established Yes. McDonalds is a global company that started over 70 years ago and is still growing. Tremendous branding. Sustainable Yes. They actually grew and made profits during the recession of 2008 and continue to outpace the competition by nearly 8 fold over Wendys/Arbys and 10 fold over Burger King REFERENCE http://www.dailyfinance.com/quotes/mcdonald-s-corporation/mcd/nys Inimitable the products, yes, the experience no. They have come out with new products first (i.e. competitive coffee, healthier foods, etc.) and have the branding that the competitors cant touch. Ronald McDonald is second to Santa Claus in recognition. Our thoughtsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..(one reference above) Evaluation VII. Corporate Social Audità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..This was less than a page for FORDà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦that is because they know what they are doing and I dont  Ã…   lol. THINK WE NEED TO SCALE THIS DOWN, APPLY TO CONCEPTS IN THE BOOK. MAKE IT NOT FROM MCDONALDS VIEW, BUT OUR VIEW. sustainability project to improve conditions for farm workers in the Florida tomato industry in 2007, which in turn promotes good environmental practices in its land-based agricultural supply chain and makes the farm a sustainable business. Although McDonalds purchases only 1.5% of Floridas tomatoes annually, McDonalds and its suppliers instituted industry-leading grower standards that improved working conditions in these farms and made the farm a sustainable business. http://social-corporate-responsibility.suite101.com/article.cfm/corporate-social-responsibility-at-mcdonalds Flagship Farms Initiative (FAI) in Europe. The program showcases seven progressive farms employing innovative farming practices across Europe and carries out research into how ethical farming practices can be incorporated into commercial farming systems. http://social-corporate-responsibility.suite101.com/article.cfm/corporate-social-responsibility-at-mcdonalds Sustainable Fisheries program which is in collaboration with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. This program defines sustainability standards that guide all of McDonaldss purchases worldwide for wild-caught fish that goes into making those Fillet-o-Fish and make the relevant fishery a more sustainable business. http://social-corporate-responsibility.suite101.com/article.cfm/corporate-social-responsibility-at-mcdonalds In 2005, the Center launched a new unique educational opportunity, in partnership with fast food giant McDonalds, giving Haas MBA students first-hand exposure to the myriad CSR challenges businesses face on a daily basis. The program is known as the McDonalds Research Fellows in Corporate Responsibility (CSR) Program. Through research, stakeholder engagement and intensive field experiences, a globally diverse team of second-year Haas MBA students conduct a deep stakeholder engagement study on McDonalds CSR activities giving the company a fresh perspective and new insights into its business. As part of McDonalds Open Doors program, the main goal of the CSR Fellows program is to expose the students to McDonalds business and create opportunities for the company to engage and interact with various stakeholders. The corporate-sponsored program provides research fellowships to each student. Recipients are known as McDonalds Fellows. The fellows work closely with a faculty director on the study and produce several key deliverables that may be used broadly and at the discretion of McDonalds (web, companys corporate responsible reports, etc.). http://responsiblebusiness.haas.berkeley.edu/McDonaldsCSRFellowsProgram.html Educate and communicate with our supply system about sustainability: Through the use of targeted communication tools, an internal website, and training opportunities, we have achieved a greater understanding of, and alignment around, sustainability, including how it drives our business. Continue to integrate environmental considerations into our packaging design through rollout of our global packaging scorecard into our nine largest markets: The Eco-Filter 2.0 (our packaging scorecard) has been implemented in each area of the world. Packaging designers have been trained in its use. The scorecard is being used to incorporate environmental considerations, in addition to other business criteria. Increase the number of Hamburger University certified restaurant managers: We continue to focus our efforts on increasing the numbers of restaurant managers who are HU graduates with positive success. The percentage of restaurants in our top nine markets with managers who were graduates of HU in 2008 was 93.3%. Develop a comprehensive global forestry policy that will apply to all products we purchase: We developed a global Sustainable Land Management Commitment (SLMC), using a rigorous process that included global internal, supplier, and NGO input. Initial communications efforts are focused internally and with our supplier community. Measure environmental impacts in our supply chain : By the concluon of 2009, the Environmental Scorecard (ES) should be completely rolled out to all of our direct suppliers of beef, poultry, pork, potatoes and buns in McDonalds top nine markets. The ES measures water, energy, waste and air emissions metrics and promotes continuous improvement. In addition, an initial estimate of our supply chain carbon footprint is underway and will be completed in early 2010. Further rollout of our global forestry standards for consumer packaging, expanding into other Areas of the World, specifically the U.S. and Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA). : The APMEA market has partially implemented our forestry standards for consumer packaging, with full adoption planned by the end of 2009. As of the end of 2008, the North America market had completely rolled out the standards. Taken from McDonalds Corporate Responsibility Online Report, PAGE 2 I saved a hard copy of the report on the M Drive. Retrieved 7/1/10 http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/csr/report/overview.-RightParaContentTout-43872-ReportsLinkList-44436-File1.tmp/McDonalds%202009%20Global%20CR%20Report%20Overview.pdf Innovative menu In many markets, customers can mix and match main course, side beverage and dessert choices to create custom-tailored Happy Meals. Yogurt desserts with fruit are also available in most of the major markets, as are sugar-free soft drinks. 100% fruit juice is also on a number of menus worldwide. Market-level offerings include: McDonalds France offers a choice of entrà ©es, three side dishes, fruit bags, nine beverages and four desserts. Sides include cherry tomatoes and two types of potato offerings. Beverages include bottled water, two juice options with no added sugar, and two soft drinks with no sugar. For dessert, customers may choose a drinkable applesauce, a yogurt drink or sliced fruit. Happy Meal choices in the UK include carrot sticks, bottled water, juice, a soft drink with no sugar added, along with a fruit bag side/dessert and semi-skimmed, organic milk. In Hong Kong, Happy Meal choices include whole grain corn as side and for beverages, juice, low- fat milk, or soy milk. In the U.S., Happy Meals can be ordered with Apple Dippers and 100% apple juice or 1% low-fat milk as a beverage. McDonalds Australia Happy Meal offerings include the Seared Chicken Snack Wrap, Apple Slices, Apple Juice, Low Fat Calcium Enriched Chocolate Milk and a Sparkling Fruit Juice Drink (Apple Blackcurrant). Taken from McDonalds Corporate Responsibility Online Report, PAGE 11 I saved a hard copy of the report on the M Drive. Retrieved 7/1/10 Our Global Advisory Council (GAC) is an international team of independent experts assembled by McDonalds to provide us with professional guidance in the areas of nutrition and childrens well- being. The GAC plays a pivotal role in helping us to continuously evolve our thinking and approach in these areas. GAC members provide us with valuable insights, direction and recommendations about how to continue delivering a more beneficial and valuable experience to children and families. Adam Drewnowski PhD, MA; Prevention Treatment of Obesity, University of Washington at Seattle, WA Paul Gately McDonalds makes charitable contributions through the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) which aims to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. According to Clara Carrier of Ronald McDonald House Charities, in particular, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile attempts to ensure that children in vulnerable communities can receive state-of-the-art medical and dental treatment to improve their health and strengthen the whole family. This health care on wheels program attempts to change childrens lives and improve communities along the way. http://social-corporate-responsibility.suite101.com/article.cfm/corporate-social-responsibility-at-mcdonalds Accelerate and expand food and beverage choices for kids: We remain committed to working with our suppliers and partners to test and introduce new food and beverage items for kids on a market-by-market basis. In Spain and Australia this year we expanded the choice of Happy Meal entrà ©e items with the introduction of a new kids sized grilled chicken snack wrap, while in Portugal we launched carrot veggie rolls. On the beverage front, we introduced new fruit beverages across Latin America and in Australia and continue to look for other refreshing options appropriate for kids. Continue to enhance childrens well-being through programs and initiatives that provide fun with a Purpose: We have leveraged the characters from our Happy Meal promotions to encourage fruit, vegetable and dairy purchases and to inspire kids to be active and creative and will continue to do so in the coming years. In 2008, many McDonalds markets, including Australia, Brazil, China and Japan, created robust opportunities for kids to experience the Beijing Olympics, whether it was as an athlete escort at the Games or sponsoring local athletic initiatives. Along with continuing to support local grassroots efforts, we use Ronald McDonald at restaurants to encourage kids to participate in activities that activate their body, mind and spirit. Continue to provide useful nutrition information in ways most relevant to todays consumers: In many markets around the world, we have enhanced our merchandising efforts to make it easier for parents to make balanced food choices for themselves and their kids. In all of our top nine markets, we continue to invest in making nutritional information available in the store, as well as online. Taken from McDonalds Corporate Responsibility Online Report, PAGE 12 I saved a hard copy of the report on the M Drive. Retrieved 7/1/10 VIII. Competitive Positionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.this is the box (low cost, differentiator, etc.) Low Cost Differentiator Broad Focused I now think they are in this box. They are definitely focused of just fast food, yet they are not always the lowest. They want people to visit them because the have the best fries, the best coffee, wi-fi, etc. I sent Bryant a message on thisà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. These are our thoughtsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. IX. Corporate Strategy Clint working on Vertical Integration Partially or Quasi Franchise provide portion of capital required by initially investing and reinvesting in the business over time Owns the land and buildings or secures long-term debt leases for both McDonalds operated and conventional franchised restaurants sites These are our thoughtsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Geography/International Strategy Clint working on Lines of Business Extent of diversification None What kind of diversification None How do they do it None Experience (good/bad) None Future (when/where) NA These are our thoughtsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Evaluation Structure Org structureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. REFERENEC found in the 2009 annual Reportà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/etc/medialib/aboutMcDonalds/investor_relations0.Par.6540.File.dat/McD_2009_AR_Final_032910.pdf Evaluation XI. Strategic Recommendations Will be our thoughtsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.

Harmful Affects of Marijuana :: Marijuana Should NOT Be Legal

Marijuana or cannabis is one of the most commonly abused drugs. Marijuana consists of the dried and crushed leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the cannabis sativa plant. Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, also know as THC, is the primary psychoactive, mind-altering ingredient in marijuana that produces the feeling of being â€Å"high.† In this paper I will discuss some of the uses of marijuana, the effects of marijuana, its history, and some of the treatment methods for marijuana. Cannabis is one of the oldest known agricultural plants. Therefore it has a large presence in the history of the world. Woven fabrics have been discovered that are believed to be hemp fibers from 8000 to 7000 B.C. The first know use of hemp comes from China in about 4500 B.C. Which was used for rope, net making, and cloth weaving. Also, China was the first to use the plant for psychoactive purposes. India has documented the use of marijuana, or â€Å"bhang,† in the group of religious books known as the four â€Å"Vedas,† in about 1400 and 1000 B.C. These books refer to marijuana as one of the â€Å"five kingdoms of herbs†¦ which release us from anxiety.† Scientists believe that cannabis was introduced to the Middle East and Europe via India. Evidence has shown the use of cannabis in Norway and Germany in 400 B.C. In America, most believe that the Native Americans were aware of this plant, but most likely introduced by the Spaniards. The Spaniards brought the cannabis seed to Chile around 1545. In America, the plant was first grown in Virginia and Massachusetts in the sixteen hundreds. This plant was considered legal from the 1600’s until the 19th century. There is little evidence that shows marijuana being used for recreationally use in the U.S. during the 17th and 18th centuries. The drug became popular in the mid-19th century and was in most drugstores in though the beginning of the 20th century. Around the same time the recreational use for marijuana was first discovered. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 put a heavy tax on manufactures, importers, dealers, pharmacists, and medical practitioners. This tax outlawed the substance for recreational use. There was a very negative attitude toward marijuana during the 1940’s and 1950’s, although there was a resurgence of this drug during the 1960’s. Though this resurgence marijuana is still used for recreational use today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marijuana has many harmful effects on the human body.

The Ineptitude Of The United S :: essays research papers

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Those are the opening lines to the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. Yet, slavery continued in the United States for nearly ninety years after this document declared that "all men where created equal," and those "unalienable rights" are still not shared by everyone in the United States. The U.S. has been lacking in its responsibility to its citizens. The state responsibility for human and civil rights must be expanded in the United States. In December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The thirty articles of the UDHR were developed to provide a clear definition of human rights. It then became the responsibility of the states of the United Nations to protect those rights. This is where the United States is lacking. The U.S. is one of the founding nations of the United Nations and one of the most influential, yet it has failed to take adequate state responsibility for human rights. Before the ineptitude of the United States can be discussed, the concept of state responsibility for human and civil rights must be clearly defined. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines state as "a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory," and responsibility as "moral, legal, or mental accountability." These definitions of state and responsibility can be interpreted and combined to provide a literal definition of state responsibility. The definition of state responsibility could then be seen as "the moral and legal accountability of a government." A concise notion of state responsibility for human and civil rights would then be congruent to "the moral and legal accountability of government for life, liberty, security, and any other finite right of a person." With the concept of state responsibility for human and civil rights having been defined, the extent of state responsibility in the United States can be discussed. Rhonda Copelon once noted, "†¦the most limited conception of state responsibility [in the United States] has been essentially dismantled." Copelon also made a statement to the effect that rights in the U.S. are limited to constraints on government and that they do not reach private conduct or include the most basic social and economic needs.

The Moment That Changed My Life

This essay is based on an event that changed my life forever. It is a passage that is mixed with feelings and emotions. This experience gave my life a purpose and a sense of direction. It allowed me to grow from a boy to a man in just one day. It was a cold, rainy winter morning in Liverpool. I had gone about my morning no different than any other working day. By 6:30AM I was showered, dressed, and full from my huge bowl of cereal. This gave me fifteen minutes to watch the latest news before I left to arrive at work for 7AM. It was 9. 5AM when my cell phone began to ring; it was a call from my mother.I could tell by the quick, anxious, but bold and loud tone her voice that this was not going to be a pleasurable conversation. â€Å"Come and get me, get me now! Hurry up, it’s your dad, I will explain when you get here! † Without thinking or giving any explanation to my manager, I left and headed home. The journey home was an adventure in its self, not a care for anyone or anything around me, except my father. The dangerous speed and my total lack of concentration, as my brain flooded with thoughts of my dad’s well-being, were a recipe for disaster.When I arrived home my mother was waiting in the garden. I knew it was a matter of urgency by looking at how she was dressed. She was wearing her long, black coat and underneath she was wearing her P. Js. She jumped into my car, slammed the door and before I could ask where we were going, she had already yelled â€Å"the hospital! † This demanding order left very little to my imagination and I knew something was seriously wrong. We arrived at the hospital. I stopped the car and my mother jumped out, darting off into a sprint to seek my father’s ward.The corridors were long and narrow. The sounds of rushing heels echoed all around me. I was like a mouse in a huge maze, with no sense of direction. After ten minutes of searching, we finally found the ward that held my father’s fate . I paused and took a huge breath, grasping all the air my lungs could hold, preparing myself for the worst. I opened the old squeaky doors and headed towards my father’s bed. He was surrounded by doctors and nurses, and reality began to take its toll. The closer I got, the slower I moved forward, scared of taking the next step.I was eventually pulled to a stop by the nurse and was escorted to the waiting room. I asked question after question, each answer had the same reply â€Å"the doctor will be in to explain shortly. † The waiting room was cold and lifeless. The walls were littered with thank you cards and letters of praise from past patience. This gave me some hope that my father was in good hands. Minutes seemed like hours until the doctor entered. Before he had both feet in the room, my mother began to scream for explanations. â€Å"Take a seat† Then every sentence that a son and wife fears to hear. Your father is in critical condition, he has no longer t han a couple of hours to live. † A cold chill of death sent shivers down my spine. Keeping myself from exploding into tears, I began ensuring my mother and younger brother that everything would be fine, by far the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. The time came when the doctors called us to see him; with no hesitation I jumped up and charged to his bed. There he was, lying helplessly. I reached for his hand and grabbed it, letting him know he wasn’t alone.I begged him to fight for his life; I knew he could hear me as he acknowledged my voice with a small nod. If there was one thing I learned from my father, it was to never give up. From this moment on, I never left his side. Through the fight and determination to live, my father is alive today. I’m living in my hero’s shadow. How do I fill the boots of a man that everybody loved? It was then I decided to make something of my life, to make him proud. This is why I’m here today. This is why yo u have this essay in front of you, to better myself.For the hope that one day, I can provide for my family and give them the future that my father gave to me. I do not like to praise only one of my role models, as I have two amazing parents. Watching a women nearly lose somebody she has loved for over thirty years was very difficult. My mother has shown loyalty and never ending lover for her family. I truly believe, it was this love my father was fighting for. I must thank my mother a great deal for this. I can only pray to be half as happy as both of them in my future,

Compare and Contrast about the Village Life and City Life Essay

Sometimes, I think about where my own future house should be; in a city or in a village. I like to live in the two areas because they have many different interesting aspects. Therefore, I can’t make up my mind. After I compare the air, the technology and the schools of the two areas, I finally make a decision to live in a city. The first thing I considered was the air. Both people from rural villages and city dwellers breathe the same air. But that is where the similarities end. The air in the village is purer and more serene then the air in the city because the village has a lot of plants and a few vehicles. Although the city which has a lot of business centers or factories would help to improve the standard of living, it also causes air pollution. Other reasons which cause air pollution are that the city usually has a lot of vehicles and people in the city cut a lot of plants to make way for commercial, industrial and residential buildings. see more:living in the countryside Then, I pay a lot of attention to the technology. The technology of the village is similar to the technology of the city. People who live in the two areas might have and use many different kinds of technology such as smart phones, Iphones, computers, laptops, etc. However, people who live in the city can have more opportunities to access to new technologies than people who live in the village. For instance, the new products are often sold in large stores of the city first so people in the city may have and use the new products earlier than people in the village. The schools in the two areas have the most influence on my decision. Both the schools in the city and the schools in the village have similar standards of education and have many good teachers. However, the city has many schools which have excellent academic reputation, but it is less common in the village. In addition, the schools in the city have big libraries and a lot of pieces of equipment such as many computers, projectors, chemical laboratory equipment, etc. In contrast, the schools in the village usually have small libraries and might not have enough equipment. In a nutshell, after taking everything into consideration, I think I made the right decision. My decision is that my future house will be in a city because I need to have a good and convenient location for my studies; in addition, I like to see or buy new products of technology as soon as they are released. Therefore, I believe that I will probably be happier if I live in a city.

A Narrow Escape Essay

This is a true story. It is the story of our narrow escape from sudden death. My brother who is handicapped & myself went to Dadar in Mumbai to visit an Aunt. She lived very near the beach. I was just 15 then & my brother 5. We loved going to the beach but normally always went with our mother or elder sister. On our way back, temptation got the better of us & we came up with the great idea of walking along the beach instead of taking the taxi back home. If we walked along the beach we could get onto the road at the Mahim Fort some distance away from Dadar, from where we could take a taxi to our home. All this seemed fun. We were very excited. My brother totally agreed with my idea. However, we did not tell our aunt about all this, as she might refuse. She thought we were going to take a taxi back home. So off we ran to the beach, once our aunt closed the door. On the beach, we got playing on the sand, making little sand castles, collecting sea shells of all shapes & sizes & time & again dipped our legs in the water enjoying the waves that lashed against the shore. We wrote our names on the sand only to be erased by the coming waves. The tide was coming in but we were blissfully unaware of anything. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We had a great time. We drank coconut water, ate bhel puri & leisurely walked along in the sand. My brother has a paralyzed right hand & walks with a limp. But nothing came in the way of his enjoyment on the beach that day. We splashed water on each other’s faces. I ran and he tried to catch me. We had so much fun. Time passes so quickly when one is happy. Our games continued. We never knew when afternoon turned to evening. It was beginning to get dark now and it was then that we decided to move on. Engrossed in play we had forgotten to look around. We moved ahead slowly, not noticing the tide. We walked on crossing the rocks and boulders. As we moved ahead, at one point, we were shocked to see that we could not go any further as the waters had covered the place ahead. The tide had come suddenly. Gripped with fear we turned back. But to our astonishment the waters behind us had also touched the shore. Now we were left on a small dry patch of land & were surrounded by water on all sides. We could not move forward, nor go back. There was nowhere to go. Now we realized that we had landed ourselves in a great danger. We could see the Mahim Fort some distance away; the waves lashing against it. That was the place from where we had planned to exit. We stood there confused, afraid and shocked. Alas, we found there was no way out. It seemed our mind has stopped working. We were terrified. In desperation we looked around for some way out. Our only hope was a tall wall that was before us & there were huge boulders near the wall. But how could we climb the wall ? It was dark & no one in sight. The water level was increasing and threatening to cover this place too. Everything was happening so fast. We had very little time left with us. My younger brother was frightened and started crying. I tried to console him, but I myself was also much terrified. What next ? It seemed like an impossible situation. Escape seemed more & more difficult. Only God could save us. So we began praying desperately for God to work a miracle & send His angels to save us. I started cursing myself for not being careful. Due to my folly, we had landed in such a terrible situation. We called for help with the hope that someone would be around that high wall. The water came & brushed our feet pulling us backward into the sea. Would we have a watery grave ? The sea which looked so pleasant and beautiful in the day now looked wild and dangerous, eager to devour us. I thought, what will happen to my parents and sister? They will be devastated. Probably, nobody would know about us or find us. But I restrained my thoughts and decided that I must do something. With great effort, I managed to get my brother onto a huge boulder. He was safe, at least for the time being. The water was now rising. It had reached a little above my knees & I clung onto a boulder for dear life. We were shivering with fear, but we did not give up. We shouted for help, but it appeared there was no one to help us. I decided to get my brother across the wall by myself. I picked him up and made a desperate attempt to get him across the wall, but in the process we slipped and he barely managed to prevent the fall from the boulder into the surging water. His legs got a bit hurt and he cried in agony and pain and fear. I realized that on our own, we can never cross that big wall. Now only help from outside could save us, and there seemed to be none. The ever rising water level was making us frightened more and more. In our desperation, we shouted in a chorus for help. Then miracle happened. Suddenly, we saw two men looking from over the wall. They seemed very scary, rugged, rough & tough guys. But I knew that this was help sent from God in answer to our desperate prayers. They were also shocked to see us in that condition. I pleaded with them for help & they were astonished to see us out there almost drowning. At first, they stood there hesitated. They knew that it was dangerous and they had to risk their own lives to help us. But then they decided to come to our aid. It was not an easy task. Time was running out for us. We were drowning but God was with us. The men came down the wall slowly and carefully & along the boulders. One mis-step and they would fall into the water. But, they moved very carefully and finally succeeded in getting hold of my brother & carried him to safety over the wall. I felt a sense of relief & gratitude. I felt tremendous joy to see that my brother was safe and across that wall. For a moment, I forgot that my own life was still in danger. Now I made every conscious effort to climb the boulders. The men were strong and they pulled me up. With their help, I got over the wall. I got some bruises in my hands and legs, but who cares, since we were alive and safe. Once up, they screamed at us for being so careless & warned us never to do this again. We had learnt our lesson. Overwhelmed with gratitude we thanked the men for their timely help & also tried to give them some money. But they refused to accept that. They too were happy that they were able to save us. They had taken a risk to come down the high wall & walk over those boulders which could have given way & caused some more trouble. Those two men, appeared to be rough guys, but for us, they were like angels, who came as if from nowhere, and saved us from a certain death. They were kind and risked their own lives to save us. The men then stopped a taxi for us. We thanked them once again and hoped to meet them sometimes. We got into the taxi and reached home. Scared & terrified by what we had just experienced we looked like old turkey buzzards. We were wet and bruised, and heaved sigh of relief that we had reached home safely. We narrated all the events to our parents. They were speechless and could not believe what we said. At first they were angry & upset and scolded us for our carelessness, but also happy to see us safe. My mother cried and hugged us and made us promise never to repeat this mistake ever again. We praised & thanked God together for saving our lives. It felt so nice to be back to safety in our home with our parents. All this seemed like a miracle. We could not believe that we had been through a near catastrophe. It was indeed a very narrow escape. This is a lesson for all children who venture on the beach to be alert & watch the tide coming in & come back to safety in good time. Luck may not always be on our side. Rather one should be careful and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Life is precious and one should not waste it by sheer negligence. We got our lesson that day. A Narrow Escape Essay I wake up from my sleep in the class and made a loud screeching sound with my chair. Everyone attention is now at me. I go out of the class since my History teacher was absence today. I climb the stairs heading to the rooftop. I sit at a corner and thinking about the same nightmare that I kept dreaming these days. One day, I went out of the house to hang out with my best friend, Nuha. I waited her at a cafà © where we usually talked nonsense. I started to get bored so I fished out my phone and played games. After 30 minutes waiting, there still no presence of her. I quickly got out of the cafà © and decided to go back home. I messaged her that I left the cafà © and going back home. While I was walking down the street, I felt a presence of someone behind me. The street was empty except me and that person. I quickened my pace as negative thoughts were getting in my mind. I turned to face the person. He wore a black scarf covered half of his face. I felt really scared and I ran anywhere as I could. I only wished one thing that I’ll find a crowded place later. As I reached a busy road, I can still feel that person is trailing behind me. I ran towards the road without thinking of anything. Suddenly, there was a horn and screeching sound from every direction. I stopped at the middle of the road and covered my ear. I opened my eyes and I saw a blue van coming towards my direction. I just thought that my life will be ended anytime by now. A few moments later, I didn’t feel anything. Slowly I opened my eyes and saw a blue van was just right in front of me. It really was a narrow escape. Then, I can’t think anything and everything went black.

Critical Thinking in 21st Century America Essay

The intellectual roots of critical thinking date back to the teachings of Socrates, who discovered a method of analytical questioning; known today as â€Å"Socratic questioning,† establishing that one could not rationally justify their assured claims to knowledge. Socrates established that people cannot depend upon those in â€Å"authority† to have sound knowledge and insight. He demonstrated that individuals may have power and high position and yet be deeply confused and irrational. He established the importance of asking questions and thinking deeply before we accept an idea as worthy of belief. Socrates stressed the significance of seeking evidence, closely examining reasoning and assumptions, analyzing basic concepts, and tracing out implications not only of what is said but of what is done. This, I believe, is essential to living a successful and knowledgeable life; question everything and everyone. I strongly agree with Socrates’ idea that we cannot depend upon an individual of higher power to have all-encompassing knowledge and insight solely based on their status. The use of certain words, in just the right way, is enough to make some individuals believe just about anything; most successful lawyers have built their entire careers simply by knowing what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. Although I feel that critical thinking is a necessity throughout life, along with analyzing and questioning everything; I also feel that it is not something that is simply learned. Today, in our contemporary 21st century American society, we are certainly allowed to be and/or trained to be critical thinkers, but it is only certain individuals who will use critical thought to its highest ability to expand their knowledge and open up the mind. These individuals, sometimes rare, have the ability to reflectively question common beliefs and justifications, and use this to carefully distinguish those beliefs that are reasonable and logical from those which lack acceptable evidence or rational foundation to justify a certain belief. Socrates’ practice was followed by many great critical thinkers, such as Plato, Aristotle, and the Greek skeptics, all of whom emphasized that things are often very different from what they appear to be and that only the trained mind is prepared to see through the way things look to us on the surface, misleading appearances, to the way they really are beneath the surface, the deeper realities of life. Critical thinking, amongst many other definitions, is the ability to understand and apply, to infer and to meaningfully investigate given information; the skills needed to see equivalents, comprehend connections, identify problems, and develop justifiable explanations. It identifies bias, and a bias is not necessarily bad; it is simply a preferred way of looking at things. However, critical thinking does not necessarily benefit everyone; it can alter relationships, change attitudes, and cause family and friends to part ways. In light of our readings, many of the individuals we have discussed stress the need for a critical society, but additionally stress that it is not always beneficial, especially for those susceptible to nonsense. John Stuart Mill feared conformism among society as a whole, he saw this as a uniformity which enforced narrow-minded views and illogical rules on those individuals more open-minded and educated. A few years back while researching religion for a paper, I came across Mill’s idea of â€Å"hell belief,† where he argues that the belief in hell is made inconsistently both strong and weak by a total system failure in critical thinking; that hell belief is incompatible with the belief that God is good. He explains that the same mind set that enables them to accept a theory involving these contradictions prevents them from seeing the logical consequences of the theory. Mill’s ideas of â€Å"hell belief† are very similar to those of my own. Many, if not most, people are introduced and expected to abide by a certain religion by the time they speak their first words. Naturally, more often than not, religion and religious values are the first thing that many are taught; however religion allows little, or no room, for critical thinking. Many people carry their religious beliefs and values throughout life, where critical thinkers challenge and question it; they find the stuff that doesn’t quite make sense and demand to know where the logic lies and why exactly they’re supposed to life by these ideas. In Mill’s ideas, people come to believe in it and manage to stay sane about it for the same reason, a lack of critical thinking. In our readings, we see that Bertrand Russell emphasizes the importance of open and free analysis, and the critical need to create education systems that raise open-minded pursuit of knowledge and cautions the dangers inherent in rigid ideologies. I agree with Russell and believe that children should be taught to think critically as soon as they start their education because as adults it is almost impossible to learn, it is not simply a skill you can up and decide you want to possess. If more schools implemented a system that encourages children to keep an open mind and consistently put certain ideas and theories to the test, they would be better prepared for future education, encouraged to socialize with their peers even if they’re not from the same religious or ethnic background, and overall be well prepared for life itself; the habit of questioning everything leads to the development of well-rounded knowledge. When referencing the answers that many of us strive for, Russell explains that if philosophy cannot answer all of our questions, it at least holds the power of asking questions which increase the interest of the world, and show the strangeness and phenomenon lying just below the surface even in the simplest things of everyday life. He identifies a need for a theory of knowledge that will merge what appears to be from what really is, as well as the importance to practice knowledge responsibly. Russell explains to us that in order to make statements or hold beliefs about knowledge, we must be able to substantiate that our knowledge is accurate to reality. Although uncertainty and doubt are Descartes’ enemy, he wanted to use doubt as a tool or weapon to combat uncertainty. What, if anything, could not be doubted after subjecting all of his knowledge to the acid wash of doubt. The one thing that Descartes concluded could not be doubted was that he was doubting. There has to be an â€Å"I† who is thinking. Descartes’ famous dictum, Cogito Ergo Sum, means â€Å"I think therefore I am†.