What Is Normal in Our Society?

For you, what is normal? After browsing lousily in the blog topics given and after three garbage drafts of different topics, at last, I found the one topic I really get to put my mind on. Actually, it interested me to write about this topic because this is one topic which a friend and I debated about. At that time, we had different views on how we say that a certain person is normal. I think  everyone is just too normal and ordinary that everyone does different things to stand out. Because of this cause, everyone seems to be the same.This tends the idea for the contented people to look as if they are abnormal. People who don't tend to be â€Å"normal† are the ones who makes no effort to be different. Most of the people in our surroundings wants to prove themselves to other people (say, parents, boss and even a loved one) for reasons beyond our understanding. Because of this purpose, it becomes a trend for people that when a next person who announces his rebellion to be diffe rent is just normal. I know it's kind of confusing but my main point is, everything is normal. Examples? Fine, I'll give them. Change is normal.Absurdity is normal. Imagination is normal. Twisted minds are normal. Even abnormality is normal. Sometimes, those people who spend tremendous energy to be the same as everyone else are the ones who stand out and the ones who uses up gargantuan power to be different are often neglected because of its normality. People who uses queer routines would at first be queer but as time passes by, it would be normal in their aspect. The future tendency of that person is to make another show to stand out because that habit would not have lasting appreciation of the listener's.Being normal means to do things that are exceptionally dominant in a common society. When in a casual walk we suddenly see a beggar in America, we would think it is not normal. Why? Because in our knowledge, it has been put in our heads by our parents that America is a great count ry not liable of poverty. This is true. Back to the beggar stuff, well, who knows, maybe he is a broken down man who gave up hope in his life. If this is the situation, it would be normal. If he is a man who came from a wealthy and loving family and he is ust like that because he is needed to accomplish a prearranged marriage, that is normal too, however queer it might just be. To be normal is to be queer. Sometimes, it crosses my mind that normality is queerness all the same. What I literally mean is that when people try to be normal, it sounds so queer. How can a person not possibly be normal, right? While when a person tries to be queer, it looks so normal. I mean, it is just so common that people are just used to it. I JUST LOVE THE IRONY!

Ansar Burney

Ansar Burney born 14 August 1956 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan is a leading Pakistani human rights and civil rights activist. He is a graduate of Masters and Law from Karachi University and honorary recipient of a PhD. in Philosophy. In 1980, Ansar Burney began the â€Å"Ansar Burney Welfare Trust†, â€Å"Prisoners Aid Society†, and â€Å"Bureau of Missing and Kidnapped Persons† in Karachi, Pakistan.Ansar Burney is accredited as being the first man to introduce the concept of human rights in Pakistan nearly 30 years ago. He and his organisation (the Ansar Burney Trust) are also accredited for securing the release of around 700,000 innocent prisoners from countries all around the world. One such famous case was that of Mr. Muhammad Akhtar, in which Akhtar's mother was raped before his birth in prison. After Akhtar's birth no one wanted to accept him and he spent 40 years in prison before his release.Because of his outstanding achievements in the field of human and c ivil rights, Ansar Burney was the first man to receive the Pakistani National Civil Award Sitara-i-Imtiaz on 23 March 2002. And due to his two decade long international campaign to end child slavery in the Middle East in the form of child camel jockeys, Ansar Burney was declared an ‘Anti-Human Trafficking Hero' in the 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report by the US State Department.On 16 November 2007, Ansar Burney was sworn in as Pakistan's caretaker Federal Minister for Human Rights. He will be the first man to head the newly established Human Rights ministry of Pakistan. On 27 March 2008, he was elected for a term of three years as one of the 18 members of the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee and due to â€Å"his recognized experience in the field of human rights and acknowledged competence and impartiality, Burney received wide support from all regional groups of the Council†. 6] In 2008 he was listed in a poll by The Financial Daily as a favorite personality. Ansar Burney also played an instrumental role in getting the crew of MV Suez free from the captivity of Somali pirates in 2011. Anti-corruption movement On Aug 22, 2011, Ansar Buney announced that following the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations at the end of Ramadan, he would initiate an anti-corruption movement in Pakistan based on the popular movement of Anna Hazare in India. It takes grit, commitment and perseverance to be a man of integrity. To be uman and to act human, to be a person who is able to contribute his share for the cause of humanity and human dignity in letter and spirit, to be a kind soul who feels the pain and unbearably enough to lose control, to be able to help others without any need of worldly glory, to be a person like Ansar Burney. Everything in this universe is for others: the trees, the rivers and all other beauties of seasons and nature. The trees do not eat up their own fruit, the rivers do not drink their own water; and in the same way ‘selfl ess people’ like Ansar Burney live for others.Be it the grave issue of ‘underage child camel jockeys’, the ordeal of ‘Zafran Bibi’ who was involved in a case of rape and sentenced to death by stoning, Murder of Pakistanis in Macedonia — in the name of war against terror, human trafficking of young girls for prostitution, slavery or the illegal confinements at Guantanamo Bay; Ansar Burney has always stood as an icon of human rights. International Ambassador for Peace and Human Rights, Mr Ansar Burney, born on August 14th in Karachi, he is son of late Syed Mukhtar Ahmed Burney, and he was the first man to introduce true human rights in Pakistan a couple of decades ago.A graduate of Masters and Law from Karachi University and honorary recipient of a PhD in Philosophy from Sri Lanka, Mr Ansar Burney, Advocate started his noble mission in 1980 by setting up the â€Å"Ansar Burney Trust†, â€Å"Prisoners Aid Society† and â€Å"Bureau of Missing and Kidnapped Children/Persons† in Karachi, Pakistan. During his education he was a very prominent student leader, and as such, always raised his voice for justice, human dignity and civil rights.This landed him in a lot of trouble on several occasions with the military government of the time. In 1977, Ansar Burney, then aged 20, was arrested on charges of delivering speeches against martial law and favour of democracy and sentenced for 8 months rigorous imprisonment by the Martial Law Court. Upon release in 1978, the Martial Law Authorities once again arrested him and sent him to Karachi Prison for 2 more months’ detention. In 1979 he was again arrested for the third time and detained for a month.During these periods of detention in different Pakistani prisons, Mr Ansar Burney witnessed the miserable conditions of prisons and their prisoners. He met many people who were locked up for years and years without ever having committed a crime; forced into detentio n with false criminal charges. That was the time that he decided to help those in need and in 1980-81 after completing his law degree, Mr Ansar Burney, Advocate, started working on human rights issues such as to bring reforms in prisons and get the release of innocent and illegally confined prisoners.He also started working against slavery and against human trafficking. The Ansar Burney Trust International was set up as a non-governmental, non-political and non-profitable human and civil rights organisation. Its main objective was to struggle for the release of innocent persons who were kept in prisons or in mental asylums illegally or without any justification, and for justice, peace, anti-human trafficking and to create awareness against human trafficking and HIV.As a result of his continued and selfless efforts for the past so many years, Mr Ansar Burney has so far been able to secure release of more than 900,000 (Nine hundred thousand) innocent prisoners who were illegally impri soned in Pakistan and abroad; some released after as much as 50 to 55 years of illegal confinement. Some were even born in prisons and mental asylums where they grew up and lived as prisoners or patients for 35 to 40 long years of their lives; only released and rehabilitated with their families and society because of the hectic efforts of Mr Ansar Burney and the Ansar Burney Trust.Mr Ansar Burney also met AIDS affected prisoners and noticed homosexuality that was very common in prisons and Mental Assylums for that reason he also started creating awareness against HIV positive (AIDS). He started visiting prisons, Madrasas (Muslims Religious Schools) and prostitutes and started giving them education/lectures and also started working practically to create awareness and also providing them safety/protection against HIV. The Ansar Burney Trust also providing medical help to AIDS prisoners and HIV positive people in Pakistan.Mr Ansar Burney is also working against female circumcision in A frican, some Arab and Asian countries and raising his voice to create awareness against female circumcision as its a worst kind of human rights violation against female. The â€Å"Ansar Burney Trust† has also arranged release of around almost 20,000 (twenty thousand) persons from mental asylums and mental wards of prisons. These were not mental cases but were kept in these asylums in inhumane conditions by influential persons due to their own vested interests.Mr Burney has also been successful in tracing out around 300,000 (Three hundred thousand) children through his Bureau of Missing Persons who were safely delivered to their families. These include children who were set free from bounded labour camps, underage child camel jockeys and young girls who had been sold away or trafficked for prostitution. Once established, the Mr Ansar Burney Trust also started their struggle to fight against the inhumane and degrading treatment of women in Pakistan and abroad.With a purpose to bring those who abused women to justice, Ansar Burney has fought several cases for the cause of women’s rights and one of the success stories has been the closure of several women â€Å"mandis† (like animal markets for the sale of girls) in Pakistan. The Ansar Burney Trust’s continued efforts became fruitful when Ansar Burney once again succeeded in getting the release of thousands of slaved underage children from ‘Modern day Slavery’. These children were from the ages of 3 years to 10 years old only.These underage children as ‘Child Camel Jockeys’ were on slavery in the Middle Eastern countries almost 16 to 17 hours a day and were living in private prisons. During their slavery these underage children were getting just two biscuits a day as food so that they should not gain weight. After the release of these children Mr Ansar Burney sent them back to their respective countries for their rehabilitation. In 2005 The State Department of t he United States of America declared and awarded an award of ‘International Human Rights Hero’ to Mr Ansar Burney that was presented to Mr Ansar Burney by the Secretary of State.Ansar Burney Trust also able to get released trafficked young girls from prostitution in Middle Eastern and European countries. Mr Burney has also sent/taken humanitarian aid to different parts of Pakistan as well abroad. During the drought in Pakistan, Mr Burney personally visited several affected areas and supervised the humanitarian aid operation to the region by the ABT. Mr Ansar Burney stumbled upon the use of Hindu â€Å"Haris† (Bonded Labourers) as slaves in the interior Sindh Province of Pakistan.After some hectic efforts and persistence, the Trust was successful in freeing around 7,000 â€Å"Haris†; a 160 of who in danger of being attacked by their previous owners were taken in by the Trust and relocated to a more secure location. Currently, Mr Ansar Burney and the Ansar B urney Trust have been working round the clock to put a stop to the smuggling and trafficking of children and young girls and their use as camel jockeys and prostitution in the Middle East, to date, a 1100 children some as young as 3 years to 12 years of age have been released from camps in the UAE alone.In 1984, the Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan, General Mohammad Ziaul Haque, twice offered Mr Burney the position of Federal Minister of Pakistan; an offer Mr Burney refused in order to stay impartial and unaffiliated and to continue his human rights work without any political reservations or activities. Since then he has on several occasions been offered ministerial and political positions but he has refused, re-emphasising the Trust’s nature as a truly independent and non-political organisation.However, he took charge as Federal Minister for Human Rights in the non-political interim set-up in 2007. On November 16, 2007, Ansar Burney was sworn in as Pakistani Feder al Minister for Human Rights — to head the newly established Human Rights Ministry of Pakistan, first such ministry in the history of Pakistan. He managed the Human Rights Ministry with a sense of duty and great passion. However, positive attention is not all Mr Burney has received. His work has resulted in the making of many enemies.He has been attacked several times and continually receives death threats. His name is on the â€Å"Terrorist Hit List† which was leaked into newspapers from Pakistani Intelligence Agencies. Ansar Burney Trust offices have been attacked and employees killed. Members of the Burney family have also been attacked and severely injured. Ambulances of the Trust have been fired upon, burnt and stoned by persons against whom Mr Burney has fought human rights cases. The attacks continue to this day.In relation to his human and civil rights work, Mr Ansar Burney, has attended hundreds of National and International conferences, groups and forums. In recognition of his great human and civil rights work, he has received well over 200 awards and medals from home as well as from abroad. On 23rd March 2002, he was conferred with Pakistan’s National Civil Award â€Å"Sitar-i-Imtiaz†, the first national award in the history of Pakistan in the field of human rights. Mr Ansar Burney was declared an ‘Anti-Human Trafficking Hero’ in 2005 â€Å" by the United States, State Department.Ansar Burney, in March 2008, elected as Expert Adviser on Human Rights in the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee at Geneva, one out of 18 elected from throughout the world. Whenever a natural calamity such as earthquake or flood hits Pakistan, ‘Ansar Burney Trust’ is there to lend a helping hand. Mr Ansar Burney and his wife Shaheen Burney take pride in helping others. They derive pleasure by sharing smiles and restoring honour and dignity to downtrodden people. Mr Ansar Burney, Advocate got married with Shaheen on May 28, 1981 and they have three children Fahad Burney, Raheel Burney and daughter Sana Burney.Trust: Established in 1980 by Ansar Burney, Advocate in the Pakistani port city of Karachi; the Ansar Burney Trust was the first organization to introduce true human rights in Pakistan. With a mission to work as a non-political, non-governmental and non-profitable organization, we started our fight against all forms of injustices, cruel inhuman and degrading treatment, child abuse, cruelty to women and other more subtle forms of human and civil rights violations without any discrimination or affiliation. The Ansar Burney Trust headed by Mr.Ansar Burney is a network of human rights organisations working for the deliverance of justice, better treatment of human beings and for the rights and freedoms of civil liberties. Our work is to raise awareness, provide free legal advice and services and humanitarian assistance where needed. Our mission began with the establishment of th e â€Å"Prisoners Aid Society† in 1980. Since then we have been involved in bringing reforms in Police Stations, Prisons and Mental Institutions; and work for the aid, advice, release, rehabilitation and welfare of the illegally and unlawfully detained prisoners and mental patients.We also work for the rehabilitation and welfare of the families of these unfortunate human beings purely on humanitarian grounds in the greater interest of justice and humanity without any affiliation or consideration for any political party, group or activities. Since its inception in 1980, the Ansar Burney Trust has shown a marked and steady progress in achieving the vowed objectives and has started a number of centers for various projects in Pakistan and abroad.The Trust also publishes newsletters and human rights reports with the purpose of spreading awareness of issues and to try and get more and more people involved. Campaigns: Prisoners released: The Ansar Burney Trust has been working for t he cause of justice for the past 25 years and in this time has been successful in getting the release of around 700,000 confined persons from various sites around the world. These have included persons locked up for up to 37 years on fake charges or those confined in mental institutions to rot their entire lives away even though they are perfectly sane.Our work started in 1980 with this cause of persons confined in prison and mental institutions in Pakistan – a country which since independence in 1947 has yet to have a legal system where justice is delivered to the common man. The courts and police are used as a tool by the influential individuals to remove and put away opponents Torture in custody is extremely common and innocent persons are forced to admit to crimes they never committed. Persons arrested on suspicion of crimes are forgotten in police lock-ups or sent to prison without charge or court hearings for entire lifetimes.Innocent people are arrested and locked away by the police in order to fulfill their orders of connecting a crime to an individual; in some cases without their families even being informed of their arrest or imprisonment. No legal advice or service is ever provided. Prisons are filthy and hugely over populated. Prisoners are beaten and tortured regularly. There are never enough courts, resulting in waiting times for a hearing taking upwards of several years. Justice in Pakistan is a privilege for the rich.The situation is even more horrific in Mental Institutions – where just as in prisons – many sane innocent persons are confined and declared insane to keep them quite or lock them away due to enmity with powerful individuals. Mental Patients have never been thought of as human beings by either the government or the people in charge of the institutions. They were often beaten and made to sleep on the ground under the open sky without any clothes or blankets. They were tied to trees or posts so they are unable to run away. They were barely fed, sometimes being forced to feed and live in their own feces.Women patients were raped on a regular bases, many times giving birth inside the institution to children who were then also raised their; growing up to be mentally instable themselves. Other times – mental patients were tied to poles, trees or posts near religious shrines in the hope they would heal themselves. If they had no where to go, they were stoned to death by mobs unable to understand their condition. There has never been any justice for these people from the courts, which have always worked under the influence and pressure of the governments and the police.Human Rights were totally unheard of, until 1980, when Ansar Burney founded the Ansar Burney Trust. Having been locked away in prison himself, Ansar Burney witnessed the miserable conditions in which prisoners were living and set about immediately to help them. He began by visiting the many prisons and mental institutions in Pakistan to find persons confined on fake charges, locked away without charge or persons who had been framed. He also began to raise his voice for reforms in Prisons and Mental Institutions. In the past 25 years, the Ansar Burney Trust has made great achievements for this cause.Through surprise inspections and representatives in prisons and mental institutions, ABT monitors that no prisoner or patient is abused. We have successfully lobbied for better living conditions and food, separate prisons for men and women, education and training for prisoners, put a stop of tying of mental patients and children in chains and have successfully managed to remove place of birth as prison for children born in prisons. Entertainment and a better atmosphere is created at various sites around the country when ABT arranges parties and entertainment for prisoners and patients.Due to our lobbying and donations, better medical equipment and staff are now working in prisons and institutions – of fering better medical service to prisoners and especially patients. Mental patients locked in prison due of lack of space in hospital were sent back for better care. Women prisoners and patients who would before have given birth in confinement with only each other to help are now under the supervision of women nurses – after Ansar Burney presented this matter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.Staff of the Ansar Burney Trust visited and met female prisoners and patients to investigate charges of sexual abuse – drastically leading to a reduction of rapes in prisons. We successfully lobbied to ban female prisoners being dealt with by male staff. Non Muslim prisoners unable to perform their religious duties are now provided what they need in order to perform their religious commitments. In the month of Ramadan, non-Muslim prisoners are now arranged food for by ABT so they were not forced to fast.The Ansar Burney Trust has appointed 84 people in various jails and mental asy lums to take care of mental patients and prisoners. One of our achievements over the years has been the collection of data we have gathered on Pakistani prisoners confined in different Jails around the world due to various misunderstandings. The Trust provides legal advice and services to many such persons and arranges for their repatriation when released. Similarly the Trust has also been able to get release of a number of foreign nationals from Pakistani Jails and sent them to their respective home countries on Trust's expenses.Since we began our mission in 1980, the Ansar Burney Trust has been involved in bringing reforms in Police Stations, Prisons and Mental Institutions; and work for the aid, advice, release, rehabilitation and welfare of the illegally and unlawfully detained prisoners and mental patients. We have also worked for the rehabilitation and welfare of the families of these unfortunate human beings purely on humanitarian grounds in the greater interest of justice an d humanity without any affiliation or consideration for any political party, group or activities. For hose with no where left to go or those not yet ready, the Trust has established a center where they receive accommodation, food, medical attention and freedom. Children Rights: When a people lack commitment, drive and zeal to better the condition of our fellow human beings, the over riding emotion is that of apathy particularly towards the under privileged. But our ever-enterprising statesmen have found a way: down the line they express â€Å"profound grief† and â€Å"deep sorrow† alongside heartfelt platitudes for the grieved family. No matter what the tragedy the attitude is that of indifference; even if the subjects are innocent children.Looking at the statistics, Pakistan has one of the largest populations of the young in the world – with nearly 45 percent of its one hundred and fifty million people being under the age of 15. But it has no policy for childre n. Hundreds of thousands of infants under four years of age die each year mostly from readily preventative diseases. Amongst the fortunate few who are spared the tragedy, many waste their lives in the throes of extreme poverty. Still worse, an increasing number of children get lost or are abducted; and then there are those whose ntire future is blighted because they are imprisoned, or born in jails and mental asylums and have to spend a considerable time of their lives there. Many a times, this is not due to any fault of their own but because their mothers are patients, are serving a sentence or awaiting trial. Thousands are lost or kidnapped each year, with many finding themselves bought, abused and used in bonded labor camps all over the country. Hundreds are trafficked to foreign destinations for the purposes of drugs smuggling and to be used as camel jockeys.Many more are forced into beggary, trained and used in criminal activities and some are even killed – for their bod y organs fetch a high price in Pakistan and abroad. Hundreds of young girls are also abducted, bought and sold all over Pakistan. They are locked away in private prisons, forced into prostitution and trafficked abroad for use in drugs smuggling and for the thriving sex trade (particularly in the Middle East). The Ansar Burney Trust has been working for the protection of these children for over 25 years under our â€Å"Bureau of Missing and Kidnapped Children†.In this time, we have managed to locate and rehabilitate around 100,000 children. These included children who were set free from labor camps, those released from prisons, children who had been lost, child camel jockeys and young girls who had been sold away for prostitution. We have brought reforms in prisons, prosecuted those who abused children and recently – the Ansar Burney Trust has also successfully been able to convince the governments of the UAE and Qatar to ban the use of children as camel jockeys. Human trafficking: Human Trafficking is a horrendous crime that has destroyed the lives of millions of people around the world.It has involved the abduction, cruel and inhumane treatment, humiliation, serious injury and even death of innocent men, women and children. It is a big â€Å"business† in many parts of the world, especially South Asia, from where thousands of people are either smuggled or trafficked each year – for purposes of drugs smuggling, to be used for slave labor and young girls and women forced into prostitution. Many are lured with the false promises of a better life, a better future – never expecting what they will actually be put through.Those unwilling are abducted, young children bought from their parents and young girls bought and sold in markets. The Ansar Burney Trust began its struggle for the release and welfare of many such victims 16 years ago; starting with the plight of women and children used for the purpose of drugs smuggling. Drug Smu ggling: Every year, hundreds of women and children are forcibly used for the purpose of drugs smuggling to various destinations around the world. In many of the instances, they are forced to carry the drugs in capsules inside of their bodies.Abducted or bought from open markets, these women and children are threatened, beaten, starved and even warned with the death of family members if they hesitate in any way. In some instances, young children of the women involved are kept behind with the smugglers to insure full cooperation. The women, along with the kids, are then given new identity cards where they are shown as a family and given bags full of drugs to be transported to various sites across the country. At other times, the women are paired with men and shown in new passports as a married couple and the children are shown as their kids.They are then forced to swallow and place capsules full of drugs inside their bodies for transportation to foreign countries; where even after ful l cooperation and delivery of drugs, they are likely to be sold for prostitution and slave labor. Or if caught, they then face prison and even the death sentence. On several occasions, the Ansar Burney Trust has fought for the welfare of such persons; some of whom were released from Middle Eastern countries where they had been sentenced to death for crimes they were forced to commit.One such case involved children as young as five years old, who were arrested along with some women carrying capsules filled with drugs inside their bodies – all were sentenced to death – finally released after an investigation by the Ansar Burney Trust and appeals to the Saudi leadership. In this regard, members and volunteers of the Ansar Burney Trust visit various prisons and review case details of many South Asian prisoners in Middle Eastern Countries.In Pakistan, we work to locate and prosecute the men responsible Humanitarian aid and relief activities: Relief Activity Earth Quake in N . Pakistan: During the recent earth quake disaster in Northern Pakistan, the Ansar Burney Trust provided aid worth over $1 million (USD) to the effected people, in the form of warm tents, warm clothes and blankets, food rations and clean drinking water, tools used for digging, medicines, crockery, gas and oil cookers, cash and products for women's personal hygiene.The Trust is currently working on the construction of homes, mosques and schools for villagers on high mountains Free legal advice: The Ansar Burney Trust since 1980 has been offering free legal advice and services to all those who need it. We have a team of lawyers, including women, who are available 7 days a week to help those in need. It is through our legal team, that the Trust has been able to secure the release of hundreds of thousands of people around the world and to fight for justice for men, women and children

Modern and Postmodern Ideas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Modern and Postmodern Ideas - Essay Example The essay "Modern and Postmodern Ideas" investigates the artists of the modern and postmodern era. Modern and postmodern artists have worked to depict the range of human emotions. There are a lot of artists such as Picasso that focuses on the emotions themselves. Picasso’s works, characteristic of the modern abstractionists, focused on presenting graphic images of emotions without relying on true representations of objects. In his paintings â€Å"Figures on Beach†, â€Å"Weeping Woman† and â€Å"Girl Before a Mirror†, Picasso presents each figure as an abstract collection of geometrical shapes arranged in such a way as to denote the specific emotions and feelings his figures are experiencing. His use of color goes a long way toward conveying the emotions he wished to express just as the relative hardness or softness of his lines worked to establish the relative sharp or dull nature of the feelings. Another aspect of his art that infuses all three of these paintings is the concept of portraying motion or action through the representation of more than one viewpoint at a time. In â€Å"Figures on Beach†, this concept of movement is shown in the various placements of the eyes and nostrils of the figures and the seemingly random placement of the woman’s breasts. The confusion of straight body parts that allows arms and legs to almost become interchangeable also reflects the idea that these people are not remaining in stationary positions but are instead allowing their arms and legs to become tangled as part of their embrace.

Art in Iraqi secondary schools Literature review

Art in Iraqi secondary schools - Literature review Example Along with learning arts, they also use arts to strengthen the understanding of other subjects. The advantage of this integration is that children will not have to join extra classes and give additional fees to accomplish their passion. However, many children do not even get the opportunity to learn what interest them because their parents do not have resources to get them into arts classes. Despite the huge importance and recognition of arts globally, there exist many countries, which do not want the teaching of this subject in their secondary schools (Alias, Gray & Black, 2002, pp. 165-175). Neither have they wanted the children to learn in interdisciplinary ways. Iraq is one of those countries, which in spite of knowing the value of this subject, has removed the subject of arts from its schools. The schools in developing countries, mostly of Asia, even if have arts as subject, they are not able to deliver the true essence of arts to the students. The primary reasons behind this sc enario is that teachers give arts education in theory in the primary classes and in secondary classes this education is given through elective subjects. Teachers in many schools of developing countries do not have enough knowledge of what they are teaching, if a person does not have enough knowledge, one cannot expect him to teach that subject in different ways. This happens in the schools, which do not have enough funds to hire well-educated and skilled teachers. With the limited amount of money, they can only hire teachers who have a little knowledge about the subject. This might be one of the reasons that Iraqi schools do not have arts as essential model. Lack of resources is one of the important issues that hinder the provision of arts education in developing countries. Nevertheless, this is not the only reason, mostly in Asian countries, schools use western modules of arts however, western and eastern cultures are greatly different from each other (Cacchione, Mohring & Bertin, 2012, pp.1-10). An art is something that one learns from everyday life environment. Therefore, every country should design arts module according to its own culture so that children can easily observe, express and envisage the concepts that they learn. In many countries like New Zealand, arts in the curriculum carry the equal credit as other subjects like mathematics and science. Schools implement this to meet the needs of students, as students of this era do not want to limit their learning to the theory however; they want practical examples of everything they learn. Arts enable them to practically examine every phenomenon. There are mainly four key learning areas of arts i.e. creative, perceptual and cognitive skills; Aesthetic skills; communication and expression skills; and lastly understanding of one’s culture and values. For provision of quality arts education, schools should indulge few factors in the module of arts. Firstly, relevance between subject material and oneâ €™s environment and cultural background is important for the children. As discussed above, today children need practical examples to learn in a better way (Carroll, 2011, pp. 9-25). If teachers educate students about something that they can never encounter, the learning of that subject would not be fruitful for the students. Integration of arts in the module would induce teachers to design the

Status of Women in Islam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Status of Women in Islam - Essay Example In India the widow was consigned to flames at the funeral pyre of her dead husband. The religious faiths given to asceticism regarded her as the source of sin, the door leading to transgression and contact with her was considered an impediment in spiritual development and salvation. In most civilizations of the world she enjoyed no place in society. [1] She was contemptible and despised in their estimate. She had no social and political rights. She could not exercise her own free will in any financial deal. She was under the tutelage of her father, later under the oppressive rule of the tyrant of a husband and lastly under the patronizing care of the male offspring. She was not permitted by long standing conventions to challenge their authority and she had no course of justice to appeal to by way of escape from tyranny and excesses--not even a breath of complaint. Undoubtedly she has at times been in the seat of authority in some parts of the world. And it is also on record in the world history that empires and governments have danced to her tune, even tantrums, and it has been a common occurrence that she has had ascendancy in familial, tribal and monarchial activities. In some uncivilized tribes she had enjoyed superiority and rule and there are remnants of it still to be seen. [2] Yet as female of the human species, there was little change in her status and she suffered in silence through the course of history and remained deprived of her due rights as usual. Role of Women in Religion Muslims seek guidance from Allah through His book, the Qur'an, and His messenger Mohammed. Muslims believe that the word of Allah is supreme and takes precedence over all traditions cultures. Muslim women were expected to participate in the prayer sessions as the Mosque along with that of the men. Not only were women granted equality like the men, the women were given the same spiritual status as men. "Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, Verily, to him will We give new Life, and life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions." (Koran, Sura 16, Verse 97) [3]. As the Islamic state and religion expanded, interpretations of the gender roles laid out in the Quran varied with different cultures. [4] In modern contemporary times, some Muslim women, as well as men, have rejected the limitations put on them and have begun to re-interpret the Qur'an. "I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in My way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other (3:195)" [5] "Spiritual equality, responsibility and accountability for both men and women is a well developed theme in the Quran. Understanding the spiritual equality of women in Islam is to understand that equality between men and women in the sight of God is not limited to purely spiritual, religious issues, but is the basis for equality in all temporal aspects of human life." [6] Independence and Freedom of Choice As for what Muslim feminists argue women should wear to conform to Islamic ideals: unlike Islamists, who maintain that the hijab stands as the very symbol of Muslim piety; the most important element for Muslim feminists appears to be the element of freedom of choice in interpreting the Islamic dress code. Mai

Cyberharassment Laws Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cyberharassment Laws - Thesis Example the most imperative issues with the manner these laws have been implemented is the fact that each state has a certain level of uniqueness in relation to the manner these laws have been implemented or applied for instance: In the United States, the penal code in relation to cyber-harassment in Alabama is quite different with cyber-harassment penal code in Alaska. This simply means that these laws differ on their efficacy as well as challenges (Sternberg, 2014). Apart from the United States, other countries that have also implemented cyber-harassment laws, identifying it as a criminal offense is the Republic of Philippines, Canada as well as Australia. It is quite an important issue to investigate in the contemporary society with a purpose of eliminating possible flaws that may be associated with these laws, taking into consideration that communication technologies are replacing traditional modes of communication at an increasing rate (Sternberg, 2014). The concept of cyber-harassment has been described has an act of repeated electronic contacts, driven by the purposes of creating distress on the targeted recipient (Easttom & Taylor, 2011). However, in order to clarify such acts as harassments, most law-makers claim that a reasonable person, possessing similar information, must consider it sufficient to create distress on their targeted recipients. There are certain considerations that have been given a high sense of priority in relation to cyber-harassment. To begin with, targeted victims of cyber-harassment may not even be in a position to determine that they are being subjected under harassment. Additionally, cyber-harassment is usually accomplished through the use of communication technology, mostly through social-communication technologies; this may be undertaken by a group of individuals or in some cases just an individual (Easttom & Taylor, 2011). Sociologists have claimed that actions considered cyber-harassment are inclusi ve of; destruction of data,

Poster Series Design Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Poster Series Design - Research Paper Example Posters are used as a form of communication medium due to their ability to pass massive information on a small sheet space (Poulin, 2012). The work of a poster designer is to transform written information into visual form. In other cases, designers might compelled to using typography only in order to demonstrate uniqueness as well as their skills in poster design art. Unity is the first step towards achieving a poster series. This aspect promotes order in composition thus reducing confusion when faced with a pile of work. In this section, a designer ought to assemble the headlines, photographs as well as the logos to be used in the poster series design. Unity is achieved through the employment of four major principles. This include; proximity, repetition, continuation and underlying colour. Proximity is based on the natural concept of arrangement that perpetuates, â€Å"things that belong to the same group go together in pattern formation.† Proximity helps the designer to group texts, objects or people in order to enhance clarity in the message (Poulin, 2012). When items from the same group for instance interlinked collection of watches are arranged in a close proximity, the viewers’ eyes can shift smoothly form one item to the next. As a result, the items create a visual unity thus communicating a similar message to the viewers. Th e arranging of items in a specific group is essential in poster series design as it draws the attention of viewers. Repetition is another method of creating unity in a poster series design. The viewers’ eyes are lured into following a repeated sequence of shapes, values and colours. In this case, the eyes are able to link the images irrespective of the group arrangement. A designer ought to create a series of repeated patterns in form of shapes at the poster’s background to create a tilling effect. Tilling effect creates a visual structure and interest thus tying together the elements in the foreground (Graphic Design

Building team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Building team - Essay Example ems begin to develop when the group or team members do not understand their own and others’ responsibilities, or develop unnecessary expectations from others. So, those work teams are more successful that implement a more formal structure within the groups, and ensure that formal procedures and policies are followed throughout the projects assigned, so that problems occurring due to misunderstandings can be deterred. Those workgroups are more effective which offer a collaborative platform to its members, so that a shared communicative environment is made possible where all members can interact with each other without hesitation (Bass, 2012). The members should be able to share their problems with each other and with the supervisors, so that they feel empowered and valued. This motivates them to make a collaborative effort toward the productivity. The leader makes a workgroup more effective when he creates a role-balance between the members (Chong, 2007). In short, those work t eams and work groups tend to be more effective for the businesses in the long run which are managed properly, in terms of communication, collaboration, and role-balance. Chong, E. (2007). Role balance and team development: A study of team role characteristics underlying high and low performing teams. Institute of Behavioral and Applied Management. Retrieved November 25, 2012, from

Unmet needs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Unmet needs - Essay Example HSV-2 has a higher bracket since it incorporates those between 20% and 80%. HSV-2 is common between women than in men. In the USA, the HSV-2 viruses are prevalent among black people than the whites and the Latinos. This virus only affects the humans. This is through close personal contact. The infections occur through inoculation of the virus into susceptible mucosal surfaces. This will cause the viruses to thrive under room temperatures thereby causing drying. The unmet need associated with the disease is that the medical practitioners have not been able to identify a cure and a permanent way to eradicate the disease. This has caused continued suffering from infected people. In this disease state presentation, I have an idea that can help the society eradicate the disease completely. The idea is to encourage the society to use the product that we are going to develop. This is the mass production of latex condoms. Latex condoms have been proven scientifically to minimize the exposure of the genital organs during sexual activities. Sexual activities are the main cause of herpes. Secondly, I have devised a specific glove, the latex glove. This will be used when inserting the hand in an oral cavity. Thirdly, I have developed another idea of anti-viral therapy that is going to be used to reduce episodes of asymptomatic viral shedding (Leslie and Robbins 8). The second disease state that am going to look at is arthritis. This is a disease state with minimal disease action during ant rheumatic treatment or a disease state with tenacious nonappearance of medical and radiological ciphers of disease activity deprived of being pickled for a precise time. The causative agent for second factor is the absence of autoantibodies. The factors that cause this disease are many. They include heredity. Arthritis is a disease that is normally inherited from

Licensure and Certification Requirements in the State of Florida Essay Example for Free

Licensure and Certification Requirements in the State of Florida Essay [emailprotected]: Dr. Darlene DanekerAbstract This paper will discuss the licensure and certification requirements for the state of Florida for mental health counselors. It will discuss whether a mental health counselor needs to; hold a license, credential, certification, or some other designation to practice independently as a professional counselor, it will define the laws that regulate and impact the credentialing, certification, and/or licensing of counseling professionals working within mental health counseling, and it will discuss three key content areas that are included in your state laws as they relate to professionals in mental health counseling. Licensure and Certification Requirements in the State of Florida for Mental Health Counselors This paper will discuss the licensure and certification requirements for the state of Florida for mental health counselors. It will discuss whether a mental health counselor needs to; hold a license, credential, certification, or some other designation to practice independently as a professional counselor, it will define the laws that regulate and impact the credentialing, certification, and/or licensing of counseling professionals working within mental health counseling and it will discuss key content areas of; educational requirements, fieldwork and supervision requirements, licensure requirements, specific required examination requirements, and continuing education that are included in Florida state laws as they relate to professionals in mental health counseling. In order to practice mental health counseling in the state of Florida it is a requirement to hold a license for mental health counseling In order to receive such license one must have completed the application for mental health counselor, taken, and passed the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination. However, before endeavoring  on the path of licensure one must also have taken required courses within their graduate program which include (1) Counseling Theories and Practice, (2) Human Growth and Development, (3) Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology, (4) Human Sexuality, (5) Group Theories and Practice, (6) Individual Evaluation and Assessment, (7) Career and Lifestyle Assessment, (8) Research and Program Evaluation, (9) Social and Cultural Foundations, (10) Counseling in Community Settings, (11) Substance Abuse, and (12) Legal, Ethical, and Professional Standards Issues. In addition, the graduate program for which one hales from must be accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); carrying a minimum of sixty semester hours in the areas listed above or a minimum of eighty quarter hours of clinical and didactic instruction, including a course in human sexuality and substance abuse CITATION Flo131 \l 1033 (Department, 2013). Fieldwork and supervision are also a requirement of the laws in order to be licensed in Florida; one must have the â€Å"equivalent of at least 1,000 hours of university-sponsored supervised clinical practicum, internship, or field experience as required in the standards for CACREP accredited mental health counseling programs† CITATION Flo131 \l 1033 (Department, 2013). The state of Florida strictly follows the CACREP accreditation practices for licensure acceptance. In addition, the requirement for two years of post-master’s supervised experienced under the supervision of a licensed mental health counselor or equivalent who is deemed qualified by the Florida Board of Professional Regulations and the â€Å"supervision experience must have consisted of at least 1,500 hours providing psychotherapy face-to-face with clients for the profession for which licensure is sought† CITATION Flo131 \l 1033 (Department, 2013). Finally, the applicant must pass the national clinical mental health counseling examination (NCMHCE) developed by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), and complete an eight-hour laws and rules course from an approved provider, complete a two-hour prevention of medical errors course from an approved provider, complete a three-hour course on human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome within six months of licensure, and complete a two hour domestic violence course from a board approved provider within six months of licensure. The state of  Florida requires its licensed Mental Health Counselors to continue their education on a bi-yearly basis. In order to follow this guideline one must; Licensees must complete 30 hours of approved continuing education (CE) within the two year licensure period (biennium) to include the following: a two hour course relating to prevention of medical errors, a three hour course in ethics and boundary issues, a two h ours of CE on domestic violence must be completed every third biennial licensure renewal period. These two hours shall be part of the 30 hours otherwise required for each biennial licensure renewal, and may be taken at any time during the six years preceding the renewal for the biennial in which the credit is due CITATION Flo132 \l 1033 (Statue, 2013). In order to remain current in all aspects of licensure requirements one must know their renewal date, know their biennial date and the clear and precise steps to timely complete the process in which one is expected. Florida offers a concierge system to track continuing education mandated courses. Utilizing this and an organizational calendar will allow one to keep up with their requirements. Staying apprised of legislation through the state of Florida medical quality assurance website will allow one to be updated as well as sign up for emails that will trigger one to review new laws and legislation regarding their licensure. References BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 Department, F. H. (2013, August 24). To be licensed as a Mental Health Counselor in Florida. Tallahassee, Florida, United States. Florida, C. (2013, July 20). Clinical Social Work, Marriage Family Therapy Mental Health Counseling Statutes and Rules. Retrieved from Florida Department of Health: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/491/soc_statutes.html Statue, F. (2013, August 24). Continuing Education. Tallahassee, Florida, United States http://doh.state.fl.us/mqa/continuingeducation/ce_licenseeinfo.html.

Ethics And Social Responsibility In Strategic Planning

Ethics And Social Responsibility In Strategic Planning Ethics and social responsibility occupy an important place in our personal value system. Customer confidence in how business operates has been severely shaken by recent corporate scandals and collapses, such as Enron and bank failures. Hence it is important for companies to consider incorporating ethics and social responsibility into their strategic planning. This applies whether a company is involved with customers one-on-one, such as a Taco Bell or Dell, Inc., or their involvement is indirect, through their relationship with their clients, such as newspaper distributor Pogo Distribution Company, or wholesale food seller, Del Monte. This paper analyzes what are ethics and social responsibility, how each applies to a companys strategic planning, and the overall impact on stakeholders when ethics and social responsibility is considered in strategic planning. The paper will conclude with how my ethical perspective has evolved throughout the program. The Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Strategic Planning To be their most successful, companies must consider ethics and social responsibility as critical parts, inherent components of strategic plan. Ethical and social responsibility criteria must be included as part of the strategic process in before-profit decisions rather than after-profit decisions in order to receive the maximum benefit, i.e. corporate profits. The Role of Ethics in Strategic Planning Reflecting critically and actively on ethical issues is an obligation of every professional. Reflecting such ethical content or implications in ones decisions and actions must be salient in every aspect of how companies operate. Ethics ensure that a company achieves its mission, vision, goals, and objectives in such a manner that they give a company a sense of direction and framework. Ethics ensure guidelines are created that bind the entire organization into one common thread, govern the action of the organizational employees, and avoid deviation from the desired strategic path. Ethics ensure that strategic plan is prepared as per the best interest of all a companys stakeholders, whether employees, vendors, customers or even the society in which the organization operates. What is ethics? According to authors Andre and Velasquez, ethics has two parts. First, it refers to well based standards of right and wrong behavior. What individuals ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, and benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Second, it refers to continually examining our moral beliefs and moral conduct, and striving to live up to these well based standards (Andre, C, Velesquez, M., 1987). Recent corporate scandals such as Enron (Business Wire, 2002), and the collapse of a major Wall Street banking house, Lehman Bros. (Jaffe, 2009), have scarred the business industry. Everyday poor customer service, such as from Dell, Inc. has brought high levels of frustration to customers (Gizmodo, 2010). All have left customers with levels of distrust in our businesses, resulting in more scrutiny from regulatory authorities, government and the public. Adhering to the highest possible ethical standards, and integrating these ethics into their strategic planning, can build a good corporate image in front of all the stakeholders of the organization. Integrating and planning must go beyond compliance issues and reactive disciplinary policies to actually manage integrity. Five ways a company can ensure ethics is included in their strategic planning are: Establish explicit ethical goals and criteria, Demonstrate commitment to ethical goals and criteria, Communicate ethical expectations and train workforce to enact ethical goals and criteria, Assess and monitor employee behavior and decisions, and Maintain on-going proactive integrity continuity management (Valentino, 2007) Such a strong focus on ethics will ensure that each set of stakeholders will be happy and assured that strategic plan will address their needs and wants and the organization will act in the best interest of each stakeholder. The Role of Social Responsibility in Strategic Planning Another major element of todays strategic planning is corporate social responsibility (CSR) where managers face a varied and increasing demand from stakeholders (McWilliams and Siegel, 2001). This demand has been marked by numerous claims linking corporate social responsibility to a firms profits, particularly in professional publications (Kanter, 1999), in the media, and by emerging international CSR organizations such as the United Nations Global Compact. The motivation is laudable: if a positive CSR financial performance relationship can be demonstrated, and then firms will be motivated to increase spending on CSR activities. However, academic research to date has been inconclusive, finding positive, negative and curvilinear relationships between CSR and financial performance (McWilliam and Siegel; Margolis and Walsh, 2001). Nevertheless, for those companies who include social responsibility as one of their criteria, companies are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that they co ntribute to the improvement and well being of the society, while minimizing any negative impact of their operations on the society. Thus CSR focuses on two areas: Internal behaviors, which refers to the way a corporation conducts the day-to-day operations of its core business functions, and External behaviors, which refers to a corporations engagement outside of its direct business interest (Jones, 2004). It goes beyond good public relations tactics or being nice to have. (Valentino, 2007). Internal behavior planning generally starts in the Human Resource Department. It can be an aid to recruitment and retention. (Lingham, 2009). Examples are going green, matching employee charitable contributions; creating help the community programs, and sponsoring community events. While external behaviors can include the latter three internal behaviors, they differ from internal CSR because management and public relations will consider the financial impact of their decisions because of their stakeholders, such as owners and shareholders. Business exists for many reasons but survival ultimately depends on profits. My Ethical Perspective My ethical perspective has broadened via this program as I have understood the linkage between ethics and its implications on the organization from strategic perspective. I have understood the strategic importance of ethics in terms of benefiting all the stakeholders of an organization and its importance in the organizations day to day operations. The program has taught me the relationship between ethics and the different components of the strategic plan of the organization. The future of our organizations, the people they represent, and the wider community can only be strengthened by embedding ethics into the strategic planning process. Ethics should be central, not peripheral, to the overall management of the firm.

Ethics and Law in Dental Hygiene: Case Studies 16 and 17 Essay

Case 16 This case presents a very delicate situation that presents many legal and ethical questions. Do you tell your brother his partner has HIV? I would tell my brother, but the how and when, may vary based on circumstance. From a professional ethical standpoint, it would be unethical to disclose the patient’s HIV status without consent. It would violate the patient’s right to confidentiality, as it is the patient’s choice whom information may be shared with (Beemsterboer, 2010, p. 50). It could also be argued that it is a violation of the principle of nonmaleficence. By providing the patient’s HIV status to people unbound by HIPAA, you are putting the patient at risk of discrimination. This could cause mental anguish or psychological issues, therefore, in essence, inflicting harm on the patient. The most valued application of nonmaleficence is, â€Å"One ought to not inflict harm† (Beemsterboer, 2010, p. 42). This would outweigh the ethical argument th at you are also preventing harm to your brother, another less important application of nonmaleficence (Beemsterboer, 2010, p. 42). There is one professional ethical principle that I would argue was being applied. This being the principle of paternalism, stating that healthcare providers should do what they deem best for the patient according to their ability and judgment (Beemsterboer, 2010, p. 47). If the patient had a sexual encounter with the brother, and did not inform him of her HIV status, she may be arrested for reckless endangerment according to Pennsylvania law. A case where an HIV-positive person did not disclose their status to their sexual partner was brought before the Pennsylvania Superior Court. According to Pennsylvania law, â€Å"Disclosure of HIV status is a defense ag... ...w in Dental Hygiene (pp. 39-53). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry. (2012, September). Section 4.1 Reason for Refusal, Revocation, or Suspension of License or Certificate. In The Dental Law Act of May 1, 1993, P.L. 216, No. 76 Cl. 63. Harrisburg, PA, USA: Pennsylvania Department of State. Hanson, J. R. (n.d.). Fraud or confusion? RDH Magazine, 19(4). Retrieved 3 15, 2014, from http://www.rdhmag.com/articles/print/volume-19/issue-4/feature/fraud-or-confusion.html Smith, A. (2013). How NOT to commit dental insurance fraud! Retrieved from Amy Smith Consulting LL.: http://www.amysmith.biz/tip-of-the-month/2013/6/25/how-not-to-commit-dental-insurance-fraud.html Violations of Public Policy. (2007). Retrieved from Wrongful Termination: http://www.wrongfultermination.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66

The Essence of Pip Essay -- Literature Charles Dickens Papers

The Essence of Pip The forms that stand in closest competition with those undergoing modification and improvement will naturally suffer most. --Darwin, The Origin of the Species (1859) Christopher Ricks poses the question, in his essay on Dickens' Great Expectations, "How does Pip [the novel's fictional narrator] keep our sympathy?" (Ricks 202). The first of his answers to this central inquiry are: the fact that Pip is "ill-treated by his sister Joe and by all the visitors to the house" and that Pip "catches" his unrequited lover, Estella's, "infectious contempt for his commonness" (Ricks 202). In answering like this, Ricks immediately assumes a dichotomous contrast between the natural human and the taught (acted-upon) human. Ricks is saying that the natural Pip is good and therefore holds the reader's sympathy while the manipulated Pip is bad and behaves in ways with which the reader cannot sympathize, and wants to condemn. The reader sides with the basic Pip and blames not him, but his circumstances and others, for his problematic conduct. The abbreviated childhood narratives that many of the novel's characters provide support this loaded nature / nurture division, in which nature is the base and nurture is the skewed corruption of that base. The reader sympathizes with and is intrigued by the stories the characters tell of their childhoods because the stories easily explain why these people act as they do, and render excuses for them when they act maliciously. Children act according to the way they are raised so as to remedy and balance out the past, and their basic good nature only re-emerges after that task has been completed. Miss Havisham, the novel's schadenfreud terrorist, "was a spoilt child. Her mother ... ...gled with their circumstances as to incorporate their selves into them, the novel becomes simply a series of events. Miss Havisham asks Estella "Are you tired of me?" and Estella replies, "Only a little tired of myself" (Dickens 279). Estella has no self and so all the intrigue of personal dilemma and development disappears. Even Miss Havisham is not a self, but is only the blunt response to rejection. This extreme example is representative of all the characters in Great Expectations. They are not subjects; they are objects in a world of pure, artless evolution. Bibliography Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. London: Penguin, 1994. Ricks, Christopher, "Great Expectations," from Dickens and the Twentieth Century. Ed. John Gross and G. Pearson, 1966. pp. 199-211. Schad, John. The Reader in the Dickensian Mirrors. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992.

Mermaid Swims In Essays -- Personal Narrative Aquariums Papers

Mermaid Swims In I am new to the hobby of keeping and maintaining an aquarium. My boyfriend, Andrew, gave me an aquarium for my birthday two months ago. I was very excited. When I was little, my family had two goldfish in a small, round bowl. Watching my mother clean out the tank was the extent to which I knew how to care for fish. The aquarium that Andrew gave me is an Eclipse 6; a six-gallon aquarium equipped with a bio-wheel filtration system. The bio-wheel system is a three-step filtration system: the water is sucked out of the aquarium into a tube, passed along a carbon filter, and then into a chamber that houses a bio-wheel-a small rotating filter that absorbs impurities from the water. Finally, the water is dropped back into the aquarium via waterfall. Eclipse aquariums have wonderful reputations; I am confident in saying that it is one of the best if not the best aquarium on the market. As you can imagine, maintaining this aquarium is a lot different from caring for the small fishbowl that I grew up with. At first, I knew not how involved the process was and decided to start stocking my aquarium. I purchased four plants (all plastic) because I was told that beginners should not start with live plants, which can alter the chemical levels in the water. My final purchase was the gravel and I quickly assumed I was ready to get started. Was I ever wrong. Keeping a healthy aquarium turned out to be much more work than I had ever imagined. However, I did not find this out until I failed several times. After killing five fish I was afraid to try again. I was overwhelmed with how much there was to learn. I wondered if I would ever be able to learn all I needed to be able to keep a healthy aquarium. Thus... ... is that they seem to "suck you in". I found myself happily chatting to people for what seemed like minutes and later realize I had been sitting in front of the computer for countless hours. It is somewhat worse than watching television because it completely draws you in. There are no commercial breaks where you can dart to the bathroom before the show starts. This is the downside of the Internet for me. I feel guilty when I am stuck in my house on the computer and it is a beautiful day outside. The time I spend on the Internet also seems to cut into the time I am supposed to be doing schoolwork or cleaning my house. Oh well! It is fun! WORKS CITED Aquaria Central. http://www.aquariacentral.com/. (01 May 99) Fish Link Central. http://www.fishlinkcentral.com/. (01 May 99) The Aquaria. http://www.actwin.com/fish/index.cgi. (01 May 99) Mermaid Swims In Essays -- Personal Narrative Aquariums Papers Mermaid Swims In I am new to the hobby of keeping and maintaining an aquarium. My boyfriend, Andrew, gave me an aquarium for my birthday two months ago. I was very excited. When I was little, my family had two goldfish in a small, round bowl. Watching my mother clean out the tank was the extent to which I knew how to care for fish. The aquarium that Andrew gave me is an Eclipse 6; a six-gallon aquarium equipped with a bio-wheel filtration system. The bio-wheel system is a three-step filtration system: the water is sucked out of the aquarium into a tube, passed along a carbon filter, and then into a chamber that houses a bio-wheel-a small rotating filter that absorbs impurities from the water. Finally, the water is dropped back into the aquarium via waterfall. Eclipse aquariums have wonderful reputations; I am confident in saying that it is one of the best if not the best aquarium on the market. As you can imagine, maintaining this aquarium is a lot different from caring for the small fishbowl that I grew up with. At first, I knew not how involved the process was and decided to start stocking my aquarium. I purchased four plants (all plastic) because I was told that beginners should not start with live plants, which can alter the chemical levels in the water. My final purchase was the gravel and I quickly assumed I was ready to get started. Was I ever wrong. Keeping a healthy aquarium turned out to be much more work than I had ever imagined. However, I did not find this out until I failed several times. After killing five fish I was afraid to try again. I was overwhelmed with how much there was to learn. I wondered if I would ever be able to learn all I needed to be able to keep a healthy aquarium. Thus... ... is that they seem to "suck you in". I found myself happily chatting to people for what seemed like minutes and later realize I had been sitting in front of the computer for countless hours. It is somewhat worse than watching television because it completely draws you in. There are no commercial breaks where you can dart to the bathroom before the show starts. This is the downside of the Internet for me. I feel guilty when I am stuck in my house on the computer and it is a beautiful day outside. The time I spend on the Internet also seems to cut into the time I am supposed to be doing schoolwork or cleaning my house. Oh well! It is fun! WORKS CITED Aquaria Central. http://www.aquariacentral.com/. (01 May 99) Fish Link Central. http://www.fishlinkcentral.com/. (01 May 99) The Aquaria. http://www.actwin.com/fish/index.cgi. (01 May 99)

Manners Makes Man

A man is known to be good or bad according to the way he behaves towards others and under some circumstances. When his habits and manners are good, he is known to be a gentleman. A man with proper manners attracts the attention and admiration of everyone, whereas the man with ill-manners draws himself the ridicule and contempt of others. Cultivation of good manners should be started from the childhood and it is done so, it would become an asset in life. An accident was witnessed many years ago could be cited in support of such training being given early in life.A man is known to be good or bad according to the way he behaves towards others and under some circumstances. When his habits and manners are good, he is known to be a gentleman. A man with proper manners attracts the attention and admiration of everyone, whereas the man with ill-manners draws himself the ridicule and contempt of others. Cultivation of good manners should be started from the childhood and it is done so, it wou ld become an asset in life. An accident was witnessed many years ago could be cited in support of such training being given early in life.A well dressed and educated couple who appeared to belong to the higher levels of society were traveling in a first class compartment of an express train and with them was their girl child of about 3 years old. There were only three or four other passengers in the compartment. A few minutes after the train steamed out of the station, the child asked for a biscuit and it was given by her mother. When the girl was about to eat that, the mother snatched it away from her hands. A few minutes later this â€Å"drama† was enacted three times, the biscuit being snatched away when it was about to put to the lips.This attracted the attention of other passengers. The fourth time girl asked for the biscuit and when it was given, she said â€Å"Thank you Mummy†, and she was permitted to eat the biscuit. This was a training in good manners, traini ng in courtesy, not given with scolding and rebukes and reminders from the mother, but one of a lesson in self-realisation. This child was made to think and act; It was made to think and understand about the apparently meaningless and seemingly cruel act of the mother. If such training is given to every child the world would be a better place to live in.A man may be wealthy; he may be handsome; or he may, in addition have the advantage of enjoying power and position. But if he does not possess good manners, it would be useless to have such advantages. All these assets would be poor compensation for the lack of good manners. There are many who would put up with even in insults from others, but would not tolerate bad manners. Good manners are invaluable to people everywhere, in every walk of life. The executive in an industrial concern would be honoured and respected more if his manners are such as to be courteous and polite to the subordinates.If a businessman forgets manners and is impolite, if not positively rude to his customers and employees, he will lose his customers and consequently have a loss in business financially too. The same principle applies to the principal or professor in a college or university, to a lawyer or doctor. Good manners as exemplified in courtesy in speech and action are indispensable to traveling medical representatives or salesman, for their success depends upon the possession of this quality.They can be sure of good clientele only if they eschew rudeness or incivility or ill temper Good manners are, therefore, manifestation of good breeding and are indispensable to everyone. The personality of a man is well brought out by his behaviour and speech and these are reflections of good manners. Even a man of ordinary looks or appearance, or a man who is not handsome may make a deep impression on others and give pleasures to others in his company if he possesses good manners.Similarly, an unscrupulous man may also succeed in his ways an d hide his real nature if he develops his manners and passes for a gentleman. His courteous and polite actions or speech may succeed in deceiving others as to his real intention and nature. Such is the effect of manners. A man is known by the dress he wears it is said. He will be better known to others if he possesses fine manners. Notoriety may also result from outward manners. Whether a man is good or bad, popular or unpopular, famous or notorious will depend upon his manners.His company would be welcomed or hated according to the manner in which he behaves with others. Hence, if one trains one?s children is in the development of courteous speech and action and polite behaviour one can be proud of giving to the nation worthy citizens. If you have good behaviour, You can conquer herats. If not, know how to attract others http://expertscolumn. com/content/how-attract-others-and-how-increase-your-personality-want-become-star Know how to become smart from today http://expertscolumn. c om/content/be-smart-today

Espresso Essay

Coffee had been a part of the life of many people. From pure coffee to coffee blends, it has reached its way to the hearts of coffee lovers. According to the article of the International Coffee Organization entitled â€Å"The Coffee Story†, coffee begins with a goatherd named Kaldi. However, according to recent studies coffee was born on the plateaus of Central Ethiopia and brought for development to Yemen. In Cairo and Mecca, the beginning of coffee houses was first established. Since then, coffee became fervor rather than just refreshment. Many coffee brewing methods are developed to enjoy the real magic taste of coffee. These methods are: the use of percolator, auto-drip, French press, Moka Italian stove top and espresso. Among these methods, the espresso is the most popular and widely used method by many of the coffee brewers and coffee houses in the world. Espresso or cafe espresso is a variation of product of coffee. The term â€Å"espresso† came from the word â€Å"for express† which means that it is immediately served or made for customers. It is a concentrated coffee beverage that is brewed under very hot water using a coffee that is between tremendously fine and powder. In the early 20th century, it is developed in Milan, Italy which uses steam pressure up until the 1940’s. Spring piston lever machine is one of the inventions that made espresso a better one. According to â€Å"Espresso Coffee† of the Coffee Research Organization, espresso can attain its true and perfect taste through the perfect combination of four factors: the correct grinding of a coffee blend (Macinazione), the coffee blend or Miscela, the espresso machine (Macchina), and the skilled hand of the barista (Mano). With the proper combination of these factors, the best espresso may attain which is described as extraordinarily sweet with the real aroma of fresh ground coffee. A good coffee blend is one of the main priorities of various espresso makers to attain its perfect taste. The difference of espresso to other brewing process is the formation of the crema. Crema is the layer of bubbles that trap the aromatic compounds produced over brewing. To enjoy the aromatic taste of coffee it is essential to have an outstanding preparation of espresso blend. Many countries all over the world contribute to the perfect combination of espresso. Among those countries are Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru and Panama. Coffees from these countries are used as base of coffees that gives the espresso its undeniably taste of sweetness. Certain countries like Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopian Harrar, and Zimbabwe also contributes to the variation of taste to add acidity, flavor, complexity and brightness. To add richness and body when blending, coffees from places of Asia like Java, Sumatra and New Guinea are considered. Roasting of coffee is definitely an important part of creating a well-tasted espresso. In this chemical process, the aroma, acids and other flavor components is being changed to enhance the acidity, flavor and aftertaste of the coffee. Minimizing the bitter taste and acidity of the coffee is the focus of many coffee-based manufacturing factories today. They replaced the sweetness lost in the process of roasting by alternatives like add up of milk or other flavors that will make an espresso based drink more delectable. This is the reason why espresso based drink is more popular that straight or solely espresso. Also in this process, it is important to observe the sweetness by minimizing the carmelization of sucrose but not overlooking the roasting which degrade the bitter taste of the coffee. A good espresso grinding can be attained through the use of an espresso burr grinder and to grind it per order. Conical burr grinder is the most advantageous burr coffee grinder that is widely-used due to its product. It produces an increase in the surface area of each particle and augments the richness of the flavor. In coffee grinding it is important to tamp or fill the espresso as fast as possible. Allotted time of activation of 15-20 seconds of the coffee grinder is required to maintain the freshly ground coffee to be used. An extraction time of 23-28 seconds is most possible to produce a ground size of a standard espresso coffee. In addition, humidity also takes part on the extraction time. The presence of moisture from the air can lengthen the extraction time. In espresso preparation, espresso tamping is frequently ignored. It is a process where a pellet of coffee is formed through the use espresso tamper and penetration of hot water uniformly. Proper espresso tamping is an important key to attain a great espresso. But aside from this, the use of a correct espresso tamper is an evident one. The correct espresso tamper should be made of aluminum or any equivalent light metal that have a diameter that will tightly fit the basket. Among the stores that have the proper product of espresso tampers is Vivace’s. They also put on the market different sizes of pistons. Recently, Vivace’s suggested the use a round bottom coffee tamper rather than the conventional traditional coffee tamping machines. The stability of temperature of the water inside the espresso machine is a relevant factor in attaining a good espresso coffee. Today, almost all of the commercial espresso machines have a proper temperature stability set-up. Use of an espresso with a large boiler tanks for brewing and steaming is an answer to the temperature stability area. However, many espresso makers believe temperature stabilizing can be practiced. Temperature stabilizing means that water inside the espresso machine is maintained at a constant temperature. Overheated water or too much water inside the boiler is the point of adjustment an espresso tamping machine should gauge. Regular running water is the key to maintain the proper temperature stability. With this temperature stability, excellent product of brew of an espresso could be achieved. Crema’s intensification in an espresso is brought about by the water pressure which is between 9 and 10 atm. Boiler pressure gauge on the other hand is the one responsible for checking the amount of water that should be integrated to the steam. Without the presence of this espresso pressure gauge, it will be impossible to attain the aromatic and well sweetness of crema. Aside from this pressure gauge, other parts of the espresso machine play a vital role in forming a well taste coffee espresso. These parts are the portafilter, steam wand, keypad, tray, and sight glass. The portafilter which is made up of metal is the overall assembly of the spouts, handle and basket. The responsible for the ejection of milk froth lies on the capacity of the steam wand. The water content that is forced through the steam is observed in the boiler sight glass. Maintaining the cleanliness of the coffee machine is a great task any espresso maker is emphasizing but is forgetting in the process of making. It is equivalently important as the other factors in espresso making like blending and grinding. Assuring that the machine is well cleaned will probably increase the quantity of espresso based drinks customers. This will also make the machine more efficient in terms of product proficiency. Moreover, the burr blades of the espresso grinder should be regularly cleaned. Yearly replacement of the burrs must be observed to assured the quality of the coffee granules that will be produced. Another factor to be considered in serving an espresso is its espresso cup. It must be pre-heated using other source aside from the espresso machine itself. If the cup is not pre-heated then the temperature of the water will be lowered thus uneven extraction of espresso might takes place. A magic hand of the barista and the passionate love in making espresso are the ones that make a good espresso coffee. The barista is the one that operates with the espresso coffee machine. It is considered as the most fundamental factor in espresso coffee making. A good barista should possess both passion and logical scientific character. If the barista loves doing the work or the job then he will probably make sure that he makes one of the best espresso coffees. In Italy and other parts of Europe, barista is considered as a profession. It is often associated with the skills and knowledge that were passed through ages. In contrast with what is the tradition in European countries, American based barista is just an employment for young people and not really a career position. The proper stiffness of the grind, exact roasting to attain the extraordinary sweetness, correct water temperature and pressure, appropriate tamping and favorable environmental factors like humidity are perfect combination of a good espresso coffee. If the barista recognized and possess all of these then a well-done espresso will be attain. With all the proper blending, roasting, grinding, quantifying and tamping the coffee, it will be more effectively extracted to attain a great espresso. Nonetheless, espresso making thus not end there. The barista is still the core of making a good and well-done espresso coffee. It is up to the barista to have a good combination of the ingredients and proper methods. However, there is still no perfect espresso. A well-done espresso making is a passion and not just a work to be able to earn money. It is for the love of coffee that man will experience to taste the perfect espresso.

Individual Reflection : Handling Difficult Conversation

This paper is my individual reflection on how to handle difficult conversations. We are faced with difficulty to transfer the message we want the other to understand and comply or support. Because of this complexity of communication barrier we end up in a conflict or a confrontation. When this happens we let go of the problem – forget it , avoid it, avoid being involved or ignore it. Learning two way conversation and certain strategies to handle a difficult conversation, is a step to better yourself in the way you voice out without any personal intent.In our everyday lives whether professional or personal we always encounter a difficult conversation – conflict on one and confrontation on the other. Most in some cases goes for the best of intentions for the benefit or interest of the person or the company. But what makes it a difficult conversation is how you relay the message on board, how one decides to handle it, how you understand it, how your message is being unders tood by the other and whether to comply or give support.My individual reflection for this is an incident that has occurred between two directors of the company whom are also the proprietors of the company – my mother and I. As much as my mother and I are the sole owners of the company, my late father left behind, I would like to use it in relation to this topic of difficult conversations in a professional setting. My mother and I have different ways of doing things and have different ideals when it comes to running a business. She is my superior as the Managing director of the company.She is old fashioned in her approach to things and also does not read or write and I am kind of what I’ll like to describe as transforming. There was a situation that occurred when some of our clients were complaining about the quality of the TV sets in their rooms and how they didn’t like the idea of them having to pay that much money for a night in the hotel and have to watch a b oxed TV instead of the new flat screen TV that were in vogue. I decided to have a meeting with my mother on this matter to explain the importance of upping our standards in terms of quality.My mum found this statement from me demeaning and queried me that it’s not in my place to talk to her about such matters. I on hearing those exact words flamed up and attacked saying I had as much rights and power as her when it meant running of the company and as such my opinions as well as decisions matters whenever I decide to put them forth. Next thing I noticed was that our conversation became so heated and filled with argument that we weren't even talking about the success of the business anymore but moved from away from its professional discussion to that of a personal confrontation.I decided to stop talking about this because I noticed my mother wasn't being receptive to anything I was saying at that moment, so I let the topic drop for that moment but went on to contact my aunt and explained to her my views on the issue and how difficult it was for my mother to see my view on the issue. This turned out to be a good idea as my aunt was able to relay my opinion concerning the company and its improvements and she helped to straightening out a lot of things also.Using my aunt as an intermediary between my mother and I was effective as it was able to quell the discord we were having as well as relay my opinions on the pressing issue at hand at that moment in time. But as time goes by I sat and thought over things that I cannot be using my aunt as an intermediary all the time my mother and I are having an argument. I had to think of a more approachable way to rely my messages across to my mother without creating any misunderstanding. I realized that I needed to deliver the message towards thinking of it as a two-way learning conversation.  (Christensen, 2011).When I thought over our argument I realized I involved too much emotions and forgot about the companyâ₠¬â„¢s interest. In that I noticed how money, as well as emotions are factors that lead to difficult conversations as Christensen. K (2011). Moreover I also didn’t take into consideration the age difference, refinement of etiquette, difference of seeing things and also literateness.I sat with my mother on a normal day and asked her â€Å"Mom, how did you understand when I told you we had to upgrade the quality of services we offer in the hotel?†, she said â€Å"Mariah, I am not stupid you know, I do not know how to read and write and that is not my fault because my parents couldn’t send me to school but I give you the opportunity and you benefitted to where you are today, and when you want to say something, talk to me in a manner you don’t have to be sarcastic. † It took me a while to understand what she meant by me being sarcastic. I wondered whether my being straightforward telling her the truth was unacceptable or was it the way I said it.As acco rding to Amy & Diana I realized I had a personal motive conflict between my mother and I when there are better ways to voice it out calmly without involving any personal interest or have any personal intention whatsoever Moreover I remembered what my father told me once that in business don’t argue to win or to imply who is right or wrong. A problem or an unpleasant event has happened instead of sitting there and complaining and arguing what should and should not be done, take the professional actions to solve the problem if it benefits the company and everybody at the end. No loss occurred and incurred.Well, if I had listened to my father I do not think I would end up having an argument with my mother and wasting time to solve the problem. Nevertheless, from this course I have learned from Amy & Diana to practice self – management â€Å"the ability to examine and transform the thoughts and feelings that hijack one’s ability to reason cally when conflicts heat up†, reflecting on spontaneous reactions – â€Å"once a conflict triggers an emotional reaction, reflecting can cool one’s own emotion down by turning the automatic â€Å"go† response into a more deliberate â€Å"know† response†, reframing and manage conversations.Moreoevr according to Engels, he stated that when you deliver difficult messages you should avoid ordering/directing, warning/threatening, preaching/moralizing, advising/giving solutions, evaluating/blaming and interpreting/diagnosing. In which I realized I was having a rather ordering tone with my mother. Being that I am able to admit where I am having a problem with delivering my messages, from what I have learned I would be well prepared to most especially listen before I react and plan for a better conversation and find a more comfortable way in relaying my messages across.

Managing a Multigenerational Workforce

Managing a Multigenerational Workforce Monash University Jason Cheah Introduction A multigenerational workforce can present many challenges for organizations of today and are fast becoming a prominent issue for Australian HR managers. An ageing workforce and continual technological innovation are the main reasons attributing to the issues associated with a multigenerational workforce. To remain competitive organizations will need to utilize such a workforce to their advantage and this can be achieved through effective human resource development. The differences between generations are known to occur due to major influences in the environment in which early human socialization occurs (Macky, Gardner & Forsyth, 2008). These influences can impact on a range of factors of an individual including personality, values and beliefs, which will generally remain stable throughout adulthood (Westerman & Yamamura, 2007). The changing nature of the socio-cultural environment will also influence generational differences as individuals of different generations will have been exposed to different events and experiences during their developmental years (Beaver & Hutchings, 2005). A multigenerational workforce is an issue that cannot be ignored and the challenge then for organizations is to be able to manage, develop and maintain an effective multigenerational workforce. HR departments will need to recognize the demographics of their workplace and to implement an organizational culture that values and rewards diversity (Holland & De Cieri, 2006). This article will aim to address the issue of a multigenerational workforce and its impacts on Australian organizations and HRD. Using the case study of Mixed Ages Technology Corporation (MATC), the challenges and issues presented by managing and developing older and younger employees will be discussed. Then a brief summary of the case study will be followed by a discussion of strategies best suited for MATC to improve the morale of multigenerational workforces and HR’s role in improving efficiency between the Baby Boomers and the Generation Y workforce Issues and Challenges of Baby Boomers The global trend of an ageing workforce and government policy directions towards reversing early retirement trends raises the issue of the costs to employers with an ageing workforce (Brooke, 2003). Recently Australian government policies are being directed towards retaining older workers and reducing costs of pensions, health costs of retirees and superannuation payments; which are estimated to cost the country $46 billion between 2000 and 2031 (Brooke, 2003). This is having a direct impact on Australian organizations as an increase in age of their workforces creates an increase of the human resource costs associated with older workers, consequently making older workers more expensive to employ (Patrickson & Hartmann, 1995). However another worrying factor of a mature age workforce force is that with the impending retirement of the baby boomers; organizations will lose a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills that will be extremely hard to replace (Jorgensen, 2005). Difficulty in replacing such skill and experience can be attributed to Australia’s low fertility rate, and therefore a reduced supply of younger workers joining the workforce and the increasing skill shortages (Anonymous, 2006). This will lead to an increase of competition for talent and Jorgensen (2005) believes that organizations must look at new ways of retaining older workers and to make better use of their skills and experiences. Organizations will have an increased need to retain older workers by creating career paths to help older workers to break out of career plateaus, and to retrain those whose skills have become outdated (Holland & De Cieri, 2006). Organizations that fail to address the ageing workforce issue risk future staff and skill shortages. The key to managing ageing workers is to actively identify strategies to retain, retrain and integrate older workers into their workplace and to capitalize on their skills, knowledge and experiences (Holland & De Cieri, 2006). Managing and Retaining Baby Boomers Organizations need to be wary of losing a wealth of skills and knowledge that older workers possess through poor management (Beaver & Hutchings, 2005). As employees mature they are more likely to experience disengagement with the workplace and career plateauing, which can lead to an increased intention to leave. HR managers will need to work with both the employee and the organization’s goals to eliminate these barriers. There are various options available to organizations faced with the problem of retaining older workers. Providing phased retirement plans, moving older workers to part time work and creating more flexible working conditions can save organizations the costs involved with hiring new employees while maintaining older workers technical knowledge. Additionally it is important for organizations to recognize older workers personal commitments and their need for work life balance (Hutchings & Beaver, 2005). Contrary to the view of a career plateau, Armstrong-Stassen (2008) argues that majority of older workers want to continue learning and developing their skills and also desire a job that is challenging and meaningful. There will also be an increased attractiveness for organizations to hire mature age workers, even if it is on a part time basis, as older workers are readily available sources in terms of expertise that can impact the future success of the organization (Miller & Siggins, 2003). In turn HR managers will have a responsibility to have policies in place to encourage lifelong learning and knowledge management. However older workers can be a popular target during downsizing, and many experience hidden and open pressures to retire early. Addressing these issues through frequent training and feedback programs will assist older employees to feel valued by their organization. (Cadrain, 2007) believes that the costs associated with recruiting and training staff pays off over time, as the longer you retain staff the greater the return is on your investment. Therefore it is vital for organizations to retain and retrain not only the older workers but younger workers as well as generation Y workers present a different challenge for HR managers altogether. Issues and Challenges of Generation Y In a tight labour market the need for organizations to effectively manage younger workers, such as generation X and generation Y have become crucial. During the current skills shortage organizations will need to put new strategies in place to support proactive recruitment and HR policies. The high mobility of generation Y can be attributed to technological advances whereupon there is instant connectivity and experience sharing with others, leading to more information and inevitably more choice (Macky, et al. , 2008). Younger workers relish employment opportunities that allow them to learn new things, meet new people, to work in new ways and to take calculated risks (Schulman, 2007). Therefore organizations will need to include values such as flexibility, creativity and personal development when dealing with the management of younger employees. Due to the high mobility of Generation Y, organizations will need to focus on engagement of their younger employees. Younger employees are eager to showcase their talents when joining an organization, as they have not been tainted by bad working habits and are generally excited to take on new and challenging responsibilities (Fallon, 2009). Although this may be seen as a positive, keeping them happy and motivated requires different strategies than those that have been used with the baby boomers. It is widely accepted that younger workers care about much more than money; Holland & De Ceiri (2006) believe that work life balance is critical to Generation Y employees, while Fallon (2009) states that younger employees aim for a holistic fulfillment through work including feeling good about their job and a healthy balance with their social lives. This view is consistent in that younger generations need to have a perception of meaningfulness associated with their role. A lack of engagement from the employer can produce disillusionment, a lack of creativity and a lack of investment (Shulman, 20007). Organizations will therefore need to have HR strategies in place to retain younger employees and to keep them motivated and productive. Managing and Developing Generation Y There are many strategies that organizations can utilize in order to attract, train and retain the best young talent in the market. As generation Y have incredibly high expectations about the work environment, growth opportunities and rate of advancement (Downs, 2009) it is imperative for HR managers to consider the career plans of younger employees. Generation Y’s are entering the workforce in large volumes, and organizations that are unable to harness this growing resource will find themselves at a distinct disadvantage (Anonymous, 2006). Management of younger workers is crucial in times of financial hardship. Contrary to the view of (Miller & Siggins, 2003), who argues that older workers can assist organizations through financial as they are readily available sources, Anonymous (2009) states that organizations need to consider the long term prospects of generation Y’s. In order to keep generation Y’s challenged, HR managers may consider restructuring certain entry level positions so that the duties of the role vary. Additionally HR managers should discuss various career paths with younger employees and the possible steps in reaching such goals (Downs, 2009). Research shows that communication between managers and younger employees is becoming increasingly crucial (Fallon, 2009). As younger employees are used to direct, ongoing feedback in their developmental years they expect the same type of treatment from their managers. Especially as they have not yet experienced a recession, Generation Y’s will need constant feedback to remain motivated and productive. They will feel more valued and loyal to the company if managers are able to show that they care about the growth and progress of the employee. This will in turn have long term benefits and save the organization costs from a reduced turnover (Fallon, 2009). How organizations manage the generation gap is determined by the demographics of the workplace and strategies available to them. This article will now link effective HR strategies to Mixed Ages Technology Corporations organization culture and goals. Feeling Valued by the Organization There are several generational issues that confront MATC’s newly appointed HR director Tom Fletcher. Employee morale and productivity has dropped due to the rising tension between the baby boomers and the generation Y workers. The baby boomers of the company are unsatisfied with the amount of respect shown to them by the younger workers and are quite resistant to any change in the promotions system, which is based on seniority. On the other hand the generation y workers believe that there is a lack of opportunity for individual growth and oppose the current promotion system; they also believe that the older workers are outdated when it comes to modern technology. To enable both younger and older workers to feel valued by each other and by MATC, the HR team will need to address these two underlying issues. Initially the HR team needs to assess the generation gap by recognizing and openly discussing generational differences with the employees. McGuire, By & Hutchings (2007) believe that effective managers will help employees feel valued by the organization; therefore HR should be proactive in helping managers succeed in this area. As managers nowadays have to deliver in a shorter time frame and with limited resources (Aker, 2009), HR can provide coaching and mentoring programs and develop learning solutions and performance management tools to educate managers on generational differences and the best strategies available to manage a multigenerational workforce. However (Anonymous, 2009) argues that it is up to the employees to adapt to generational differences and that an assessment should be made to identify improvement opportunities within MATC’s organizational culture. The company’s current culture is one of continuous change and adaptation; hence HR needs to remind employees of this culture while adding a culture of embracing and encouraging workforce diversity (Aker, 2009). A diverse workforce is richer because there are many different perspectives, different learning styles and different attitudes towards work. Through effective human resource development, MATC will have the ability to harness this diversity into an organizational strength and investment for the future. Feedback Programs One of the biggest causes of generational tension is insecurity about jobs (Crumpacker & Crumpacker, 2007). Older workers may be involved in a transactional psychological contract and will therefore be reluctant to share information and resources will the younger employees. Additionally younger employees may worry that older employees will resent their attempts to climb the corporate ladder (Downs, 2009). HR needs to encourage an intergenerational learning environment and an environment of continuous learning and a continuous transfer of knowledge by addressing anxiety and tensions through positive reinforcement. HR also needs to reassure all employees that their contributions are valued and may even consider rewarding behaviours displaying knowledge sharing and acceptance of diversity. These types of career management strategies will help employees to feel greater job security and in turn less threatened by other generations. A commonly used strategy to instill confidence in employees and to make them feel valued is to provide frequent and timely positive feedback and offering public praise from management and peers (Cadrain, 2007). However HR needs to understand that feedback programs need to differ according to generational characteristics. It is not uncommon for HR to bring in change and communication consultants to train managers in areas of communication, feedback and negotiation to help managers understand such differences (Crumpacker & Crumpacker, 2007). As baby boomers are facing a growing pressure from a young demographic of workers, they will need to be reassured about that value they add to the organization. However baby boomers can be overly sensitive to feedback and can usually spot transparent feedback (Cadrain, 2007). In contrast generation Y employees rely of feedback from authority figures to assess whether they are on the right track and consequently they can struggle with the processing of feedback (Fallon, 2009). Therefore it is imperative to reassure younger workers that the feedback is designed to support their career progression, which is a major driving factor for generation Y’s. In the same article (Fallon, 2009) it states that it will be worthwhile for HR managers to organize more frequent gatherings among the staff and to explore programs that encourage greater collaboration. Improving Productivity through Mentoring Programs For a multigenerational workforce to function cohesively, MATC needs to build a culture based on open communication and mutual respect. A popular method for achieving such as goal is to encourage frequent group collaborations and teamwork. (Carnevale, 2005) found that brownbag training sessions, special projects and committee work can assist to reduce friction and in turn build camaraderie among employees. Another effective strategy to lower tensions is to assign the older workers as mentors to younger employees. Despite the stereotype of Generation Y’s to be impatient, Downs (2009) states that they keenly understand the value of experience and that they excel at working in teams. By pairing them with older and more experienced workers, this will assist the older workers to feel valued and respected and in turn facilitate the transfer of knowledge between generations, it will also fulfill younger employee’s desires to rocket up the learning curve and improve their chances of promotion. Further to this Caudron (2002) states the importance of dual mentoring relationship. There is a distinct advantage of this method in that two professionals may possess vastly different skill sets, and pairing them will eliminate shortcomings and maximize strengths. However (McGuire, et al. 2007) argues that organizations need to be wary that generational differences in judgments or a destructive tone of relationship such as jealousy or prejudice may have a negative impact on mentoring program and therefore need to link a culture of embracing generational diversity with such HR strategies. This view is supported by Jorgensen (2005) who argues that older employees who are no longer competing for promotion could move into a mentor or coach role to enable effective knowledge transfer to younger employees, while still contributing their skills and experiences directly to specific projects. By engaging all employees, the organization will inevitably improve long term benefits. Engagement of the Workforce Given current economic challenges MATC need to put a premium on fully engaged employees. Promoting employee engagement is one indicator of the effectiveness of HR approaches to talent management, due to the fact that enhancing employee engagement benefits both employees and employers (Downs, 2009). There are a range of benefits resulting from effective engagement including higher productivity, higher job satisfaction, less sick days taken and a longer tenure with the organization. Managing a multigenerational workforce has forced organizations to consider many alternative strategies for engagement. Past research has found varying factors effect the level of engagement; gender, caring responsibilities, physical health, core self evaluation and most importantly, age (Tsai, 2008). MATC needs to identify options for different approaches to enhancing employee engagement. The HR team may want to get suggestions employees about supports that they can rovide for them that would simultaneously support positive work life balance and also enhance engagement. It terms of baby boomers, child care facilities or carers leave may be beneficial. While for generation Y’s past research has shown that work life balance is a priority (Shulman, 2007), therefore an increase in flexible hours may lead to higher levels of engagement. MATC can also put HR strategies in place that directly affect some of the individual characteristics noted above. For example, the offer of wellness initiatives and programs can improve or maintain the health of older workers which can in turn affect their engagement level. While having social gatherings and events may help younger employees have a greater sense of inclusion in the organization. Conversely Gebauer (2006) believes that it is an interaction of an employee’s characteristics and experiences at work that affect their level of engagement. The workplace culture regulates an individual’s experiences at work. Providing employee specific opportunities for training and development, a culture of flexibility, organizational support and perceptions of inclusion and job security are all important in maintaining productive employees. Conclusion Every individual possesses biases that can often prevent them from recognizing the valuable contributions that others can offer; the generational stereotypes that exist in the workplace are usually derived from generational differences in personality and motivational drivers (Brooke, 2003). Tensions arise if these differences are not addressed and can lead to a low morale of the workforce. HR managers need to eliminate generational barriers between older and younger workers and this can be done by imposing an organizational culture that accepts generational differences while promoting the fact that there are consistent drivers across generations (Macky, et al. , 2008). Organizations nowadays can have up to four generations working for them and it is their ability to address generational gaps and manage these differences that is imperative to remaining competitive and having a motivated and productive workforce. As workforce demographics are shifting dramatically, HR managers should aim to provide an effective mix of compensation, benefits, flexible work arrangements and opportunities for growth and development for every individual. Traditional approaches designed to meet the needs of baby boomers are no longer effective and therefore new strategies need to be tailored to a more diverse workforce. Each generation requires a unique set of factors to motivate them at work and human resources plays an important strategic role in enabling diverse talent to thrive (Tsai, 2008). HR strategies should be free of bias from the recruitment, training and development and promotional processes of the organization. Organizations will need to shift away from a mindset that tolerates diversity to one where diversity is valued, harnessed and leveraged to achieve greater business success. 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