Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Work placement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Work placement - Essay Example Second, I wanted to gain adequate knowledge about the actual responsibilities of a production engineer, which is what I am destined to be. Lastly, I intended to network so that I could have links when I finally graduate and launch job hunt. I reviewed my objectives to help me determine if my learning was on course. Even though my work was challenging, I managed to achieve most of my objectives. I now know what responsibility I will be charged with in the future, have vast knowledge and practical skills about production and also established a good network with various production engineers and other important people in the field of engineering. I also learnt how organizations operate and the challenges they face as well as some of the strategies they use to overcome production problems. However, I realized that it needs a longer duration to effectively learn how companies operate and overcome their problems. Additionally, I learnt about effective management skills, especially participative leadership, which includes all employees and ensure efficiency in the production process. I also learnt how the organization operates, their challenges and how they go about

Monday, October 28, 2019

Route 66 and of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Route 66 and of Mice and Men Essay John Steinbeck wrote many novels, including Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath. In the book, Of Mice and Men, he mentions the historic Route 66. A short summary of â€Å"Of Mice and Men,† background information, and the correlation of Route 66 and The Grapes of Wrath will describe how the two are related. First, in the book Of Mice and Men, Lennie and George travel from ranch to ranch looking for jobs as ranch hands. There is a problem with Lennie and a woman at the ranch of Weed, so he and George go to a new ranch. When they arrive, they meet Curley, Slim, Crooks, Curley’s Wife, and others. They help out around the ranch while getting paid. Lennie and George do not spend their money because they have a dream house they are saving up for. Lennie always talks about â€Å"Tending the rabbits† and the great times they will have when they get the house. The other ranch hands hear about this plan and want in. Unfortunately, Curley’s wife was a whore and tried to get on Lennie, even after he killed his puppy, thinking that it would bounce off the ground. Lennie likes soft things, like mice and soft fabrics, so when Curley’s wife offered for Lennie to touch her hair, he grabbed on and didn’t let go. She started screaming so Lennie choked her. After George found out that Lennie killed her, he realized that he would have to go to an asylum where he would be probed and tested because of the mental disabilities he had. George had to shoot him and go on his way. Next, the Historic Route 66 played a great role in American history, especially during the Great Depression. This route was made of dirt and rocks, and stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles. It crossed a lot of the Midwest, Great Plains, and the Southwest. Historic Route 66 does not exist anymore, but highways and other paths can be taken to get a feel of the distance and scenery. Following, John Steinbeck, in his 1940 novel Grapes of Wrath, chronicled the migration along Route 66 of thousands of farmers leaving the Dust Bowl of Kansas and Oklahoma during the Great Depression, trying to reach a better land in California. Steinbeck posited the road as an almost hostile force, draining money, energy, and enthusiasm from the optimistic Okies. In Of Mice and Men, the highway that George walks to after Lennie is dead is the famous Historic Route 66. In conclusion, Route 66 was a major part of both John Steinbeck’s novels and the American history of the Great Depression. It helped many migrant farmers get to a better life in California and shaped our nation for years to come.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Cell Phones :: essays research papers

Cell Phones!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What Causes Mobile Phone Radiation and How Does it Effect Your Body? Why is it so popular with young teenagers today? What problems do Mobile phones cause? Walking around in school to walking around at the shopping centre with your mobile phone may seem fashionable and trendy, but did you know that it might be causing you to get a cancer and brain damage threw lost of memory? . Many mobile phone holders do not realize it and it should be something everyone should be aware of. It may seem a bit unusually how a Mobile phone can cause a child or an adult to get cancer, but it is true. New evidence is growing fast about health risks from mobile phones – electromagnetic radiation. These devices can be used to make telephone calls from almost any country in the world to another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are a growing number of unconfirmed reports of individuals whose health has been affected after chronic, frequent use of mobile phones, presumably from radiation effects on brain cells. There are two types of phones, one has the antenna mounted on the handset and the other has the antenna mounted on a separate transmitter or, if the telephone is installed in a vehicle, mounted on the roof or rear window. Communication between a mobile telephone and the nearest base station is achieved by the microwave emissions from the antenna. Concerns have been raised about the type of mobile telephone that has the antenna in the handset. In this case, the antenna is very close to the user's head during normal use of the telephone and there is concern about the level of microwave emissions to which the brain is being exposed. Media reports have claimed that up to 2/3 of the microwave emissions from hand- held mobile telephones may be absorbed in the user's head. Those telephones that have th e antenna mounted elsewhere are of no concern, since exposure levels decrease rapidly with increasing distance from the antenna also Cordless telephones, which need to be operated within about 20 meters of a base unit that is connected directly to the telephone system do not have any health concerns associated with their use because exposure levels are very low. There is no clear evidence in the existing scientific literature that the use of digital or analogue mobile telephones poses a long-term public health hazard.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Blind Children :: essays research papers

Blind children, if given a chance, can play and learn right alongside their sighted peers. An open mind, a positive attitude, and a little creativity are usually all it takes to integrate blind students into regular preschool programs. The blind child can learn the same concepts that are taught the other children. The only difference is the method of learning. The blind child must make more use of the other senses. They also need parents and teachers who will allow lots of hands-on experiences. Blind children can learn the same concepts as other children. They may just need to learn it in a different method such as hands-on. Concepts such as big and little, same and different, prepositions (over, under, in, out, behind), shapes, number concepts, and others are easily taught with concrete objects as an alternative to pictures on paper. Parents of blind children are used to helping their children get accustomed to new places and will guide you in doing so. Usually, one or two visits to the classroom when the other children are not present will be enough to orient the child. Children will use many things to find their way around. The sound of the wall clock or heater may be a way for them to locate themselves. They quickly learn that the story time area is carpeted and that the dress-up area is next to the windows where they can feel the sun or hear the rain. Blindness does not mean that the child is totally without usable vision. Most of blind children have varying amounts of vision, which can be quite helpful. â€Å"Legal blindness† is a term you may hear. It means that a child has 10% or less of normal vision. Teachers need to know that many factors affect what, and how much, a child may see at any particular time. Type of eye condition, fatigue, lighting, excitement, etc. all affect a partially sighted child’s vision. There is little need to worry about the comfort the blind child will have with its peers in the classroom.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Return: Midnight Chapter 39

Elena clutched the child to her. Damon had understood, even in his dazed and confused state. Everyone was connected. No one was alone. â€Å"And he asked something else. He asked if you would hold me, just like this – if I got sleepy.†Velvety dark eyes searched Elena's face. â€Å"Would you do that?† Elena tried to keep steady. â€Å"I'l hold you,†she promised. â€Å"And you won't let go ever?† â€Å"And I won't let go ever,†Elena told him, because he was a child, and there was no point in frightening him if he had no fear. And because maybe this part of Damon – this smal , innocent part – would have some kind of â€Å"forever.†She had heard that vampires didn't come back, didn't reincarnate the way humans did. The vampires in the top Dark Dimension were Still†alive† – adventurers or fortune-seekers, or condemned there as a prison by the Celestial Court. â€Å"I'l hold you,†Elena promised again. â€Å"Forever and ever.† Just then his smal body went into another spasm, and she saw tears on his dark eyelashes, and blood on his lip. But before she could say a word, he added, â€Å"I have more messages. I know them by heart. But† – his eyes begged her forgiveness – â€Å"I have to give them to the others.† What others? Elena thought at first, bewildered. Then she remembered. Stefan and Bonnie. There were other loved ones. â€Å"I can†¦tel them for you,†she said hesitantly, and he gave a tiny smile, his first, just the corner of one lip up. â€Å"He left me a little telepathy, too,†he said. â€Å"I kept it in case I had to cal to you.† Stillfiercely independent, Elena thought. Al she said was, â€Å"You go ahead, then.† â€Å"The first one is for my brother, Stefan.† â€Å"You can tel him in just a moment,†Elena said. She held on to the smal boy in Damon's soul, knowing that this was the last thing she had left to give him. She could sacrifice a few priceless seconds, so that Stefan and Bonnie could say their own good-byes. She made some sort of enormous adjustment to her real body – her body outside Damon's mind, and found herself opening her eyes, blinking and trying to focus. She saw Stefan's face, white and stricken. â€Å"Is he – ?† â€Å"No. But soon. He can hear telepathy, if you think clearly, as if you were speaking. He asked to talk to you.† â€Å"To me?†Stefan bent down slowly and put his cheek against his brother's. Elena shut her eyes again, guiding him down through the darkness to where one smal light was Stillshining. She felt Stefan's wonder as he saw her there, Stillholding the little dark-haired boy in her arms. Elena hadn't realized that through her link to the child, she would be able to hear every word spoken. Or that Damon's messages would come in the words of a child. The little boy said, â€Å"I guess you think I'm pretty stupid.† Stefan started. He'd never seen or heard the child-Damon before. â€Å"I could never think that,†he said slowly, marveling. â€Å"But it wasn't much like†¦ him, you know. Like†¦ me.† â€Å"I think,†Stefan said unsteadily, â€Å"that it's terribly sad – that I never real y knew either of you very well .† â€Å"Please don't be sad. That's what he told me to say. That you shouldn't be sad†¦or afraid. He said it's a little bit like going to sleep, and a little bit like flying.† â€Å"I'l †¦remember that. And – thank you – big brother.† â€Å"I think that's al . You know to watch over our girls†¦.†There was another of the terrible spasms that left the child breathless. Stefan spoke quickly. â€Å"Of course. I'l take care of everything. You fly.† Elena could feel the grief slash at Stefan's heart, but his voice was calm. â€Å"Fly away now, my brother. Fly away.† Elena felt something through the link – Bonnie touching Stefan's shoulder. He quickly got up so that she could lie down. Bonnie was almost hysterical with sobbing, but she had done a good thing, Elena saw. While Elena had been in her own little world with Damon, Bonnie had taken a dagger and cut off a long lock of Elena's hair. Then she had cut one of her own strawberry curls, and placed the locks – one wavy and golden, one curling and red-blond – on Damon's chest. It was al they could do on this flowerless world to honor him, to be with him forever. Elena could hear Bonnie, too, through her link with Damon, but at first al Bonnie could do was sob, â€Å"Damon, please! Oh, please! I didn't know – I never thought – that anyone would get hurt! You saved my life! And now – oh, please! I can't say good-bye!† She didn't understand, Elena thought, that she was talking to a very young child. But Damon had sent the child a message to repeat. â€Å"I'm supposed to tel you good-bye, though.†For the first time the child looked uneasy. â€Å"And – and I'm supposed to tel you ‘I'm sorry,'too. He thought you'd know what that meant and you'd forgive me. But†¦if you don't†¦I don't know what wil happen – oh!† Another of the hateful spasms went through the child. Elena held on to him hard, biting her own lip until the blood came; at the same time trying to shield the little boy completely from her own feelings. And deep in Damon's mind, she saw Bonnie's expression change, from tearful penance to astonished fear to careful control. As if Bonnie had grown up al in an instant. â€Å"Of course – of course I understand! And I forgive you – but you haven't done anything wrong. I'm such a sil y girl – I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"We don't think you're a sil y girl,†the child said, looking vastly relieved. â€Å"But thank you for forgiving me. There's a special name I'm supposed to cal you, too – but I†¦Ã¢â‚¬ He sank back against Elena. â€Å"I guess – I'm†¦getting sleepy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Was it ‘redbird'?†Bonnie asked careful y, and the little boy's pale face lit up. â€Å"That was it. You knew already. You're al †¦so nice and so smart. Thank you†¦for making it easy†¦But can I say one more thing?† Elena was about to answer, when abruptly she was jarred completely out of Damon's mind and back into reality. The Tree had slammed down another spider's leg set of branches, trapping them and Damon's body between two circles of wooden bars. Elena had no plans. No idea how to get to the star bal that Damon had died for. Either the Tree was intel igent, or it was wired to have such efficient defenses that it might as well have been. They were lying on the evidence that many, many people had tried for that star bal – and left behind their bones ground to sand. Come to that, she thought, I wonder why it hasn't gone for us, too – especial y for Bonnie. She's been in, and then out, and back in again, which I should never have let her do except that we were al thinking about Damon. Why didn't it go for her again? Stefan was trying to be strong, trying to organize something out of this disaster that was so stunning that Elena herself simply sat. Bonnie was sobbing again, making heart-wrenching sounds. Between both circular sets of bars a wooden network was spreading – too close-knit for even Bonnie to squeeze through. Elena's group was efficiently separated from anything outside the sand pit, and just as efficiently separated from the star bal . â€Å"The axe!†Stefan cal ed to her. â€Å"Throw me – â€Å" But there was no time. A rootlet had curled around it and was swiftly dragging it into the upper branches. â€Å"Stefan, I'm sorry! I was too slow!† â€Å"It was too fast!†Stefan corrected. Elena held her breath, waiting for the last crash from above, the one that would kil them al . When it didn't come, she realized something. The Tree was not only intel igent, but sadistic. They were to be trapped here, away from their supplies, to die slowly of thirst and starvation, or to go mad watching the others die. The best that they could hope for was that Stefan would kil both Bonnie and her – but even he would never get out. These wooden branches would come crashing down again and again, as often as the Tree felt necessary, until Stefan's crushed bones joined the others that had been mil ed to fine sand. That was what did it, the thought of al of them, trapped with Damon, making a mockery of his death. The thing that had been swelling inside Elena for weeks now, at hearing the stories about children who ate their pets, at creatures who delighted in pain, had, with Damon's sacrifice, final y gotten so big that she could no longer contain it. â€Å"Stefan, Bonnie – don't touch the branches,†she gasped. â€Å"Make sure you're not touching any part of the branches.† â€Å"I'm not, love, and Bonnie isn't either. But why?† â€Å"I can't keep it in anymore! I have to stand like this – â€Å" â€Å"Elena, no! That spel – â€Å" Elena could no longer think. The hateful demi-light was driving her mad, reminding her of the pinpoint of green in Damon's pupils, the horrible green light of the Tree. She understood exactly about the Tree's sadism to her friends†¦and in the corner of her eye she could see a bit of black†¦like a rag dol . Except that it was no dol ; it was Damon. Damon with al of his wild and witty spirit broken. Damon†¦who must be gone from this and al worlds by now. His face was covered with her blood. There was nothing peaceful or dignified about him. There was nothing the Tree had not taken from him. Elena lost her mind. With a scream that peeled raw and bleeding from her backbone and came hoarsely out of her throat, Elena grabbed a branch of the Tree that had kil ed Damon, that had murdered her beloved, and that would murder her and these two others she loved as well. She had no thoughts. She wasn't capable of thinking. But instinctively she held a high bough of the Tree's cage and let the fury explode out of her, the fury of murdered love. Wings of Destruction. She felt the Wings arch behind her, like ebony lace and black pearls, and for a moment she felt like a deadly goddess, knowing that this planet would never harbor any life ever again. When the attack flared out, it turned the twilight al around her to matte black. What a fitting color. Damon wil like this, she thought in confusion, and then she remembered again, and it slammed blistering out of her again, the Power to destroy the Tree al over this smal world. It shattered her from the inside but she let it keep coming. No physical pain could compare with what was in her heart, with the pain of losing what she had lost. No physical pain could express how she felt. The huge roots in the ground underneath them were bucking as if there was an earthquake, and then – There was a deafening sound as the trunk of the Great Tree exploded straight upward like a rocket, disintegrating to fine ash as it went. The spider's-leg bars around them simply disappeared along with the canopy above. Something in Elena's mind noted that very far away the same destruction was going on, racing to turn branches and leaves into infinitesimal bits of matter that hung in the air like haze. â€Å"The star bal !†Bonnie cried in the eerie silence, anguished. â€Å"Vaporized!†Stefan caught Elena as she sank to her knees, her ethereal black wings fading. â€Å"But we'd never have gotten it anyway. That Tree had been protecting it for thousands of years! Al we'd have gotten would have been a slow death.† Elena had turned back to Damon. She had not been touching the stake that ran through him – in seconds it would be the only remnant of the Tree on this world. She could hardly dare hope that there was a spark of life left in him now, but the child had wanted to speak with her and she would make that possible or die trying. She scarcely felt Stefan's arms around her. Once again, she plunged into the very depths of Damon's mind. This time she knew exactly where to go. And there, by a miracle, he was, although obviously in hideous pain. Tears were rol ing down his cheeks and he was trying not to sob. His lips were bitten raw. Her Wings had not been able to destroy the wood inside him – it had already done its poisonous damage – and there was no way to reverse that. â€Å"Oh, no, oh God!†Elena caught the child in her arms. A teardrop fel on her hand. She rocked him, scarcely knowing what she was saying. â€Å"What can I do to help?† â€Å"You're here again,†he said, and in his voice, she heard the answer. This was al that he wanted. He was a very simple child. â€Å"I'l be here – always. Always. I'm never letting go.† This didn't have the effect that she wanted. The boy gasped, trying to smile, but was torn with a horrible spasm that almost arched his body out of her arms. And Elena realized that she was turning the inevitable into slow, excruciating torture. â€Å"I'l hold you,†she modified her words for him, â€Å"until you want me to let go. All right?† He nodded. His very voice was breathless with pain. â€Å"Could you – could you let me shut my eyes? Just†¦just for a moment?† Elena knew, as perhaps this child did not, what would happen if she stopped badgering him and let him sleep. But she couldn't stand to see him suffering any longer, and nothing was real again, and there was no one else in the world for her, and she didn't even care if doing it this way meant she would fol ow him into death. Careful y steadying her voice, she said, â€Å"Maybe†¦we can both shut our eyes. Not for a long time – no! But†¦just for a moment.† She kept rocking the smal body in her arms. She could Stillfeel a faint pulse of life†¦not a heartbeat, but Still, a pulsing. She knew that he hadn't shut his eyes yet; that he was Stillfighting the torture. For her. Not for anything else. For her sake only. Putting her lips close to his ear, she whispered, â€Å"Let's close our eyes together, All right? Let's close them†¦at the count of three. Is that All right?† There was such relief in his voice and such love. â€Å"Yes. Together. I'm ready. You can count now.† â€Å"One.†Nothing mattered except holding him and keeping herself steady. â€Å"Two. And†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Elena?† She was startled. Had the child ever said her name before? â€Å"Yes, sweetheart?† â€Å"Elena†¦I†¦love you. Not just because of him. I love you too.† Elena had to hide her face in his hair. â€Å"I love you, too, little one. You've always known that, haven't you?† â€Å"Yes – always.† â€Å"Yes. You've always known that. And now†¦we'l close our eyes – for a moment. Three. â€Å" She waited until the last faint movement stopped, and his head fel back, and his eyes were shut and the shadow of suffering was gone. He looked, not peaceful, but simply gentle – and kind, and Elena could see in his face what an adult with Damon's features and that expression would look like. But now even the smal body was evaporating right out of Elena's arms. Oh, she was stupid. She'd forgotten to close her eyes with him. She was so dizzy, even though Stefan had stopped the bleeding from her neck. Closing her eyes†¦ maybe she would look as he had. Elena was so glad that he'd gone gently at the end. Maybe the darkness would be kind to her, too. Everything was quiet now. Time to put away her toys and draw the curtains. Time now to get in bed. One last embrace†¦and now her arms were empty. Nothing left to do, nothing left to fight. She'd done her best. And, at least, the child had not been frightened. Time to turn off the light now. Time to shut her own eyes. The darkness was very kind to her, and she went into it gently.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Theoretical Perspectives Essays

Theoretical Perspectives Essays Theoretical Perspectives Paper Theoretical Perspectives Paper Theoretical Perspectives The three main theoretical perspectives in sociologystructural-functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionismoffer insights into the nature, causes, and consequences of poverty and economic inequality. Structural-Functionalist Perspective According to the structural-functionalist perspective, poverty and economic inequality serve a number of positive functions for society. Decades ago, Davis and Moore (1945) argued that because the various occupational roles in society require different levels of ability, expertise, and knowledge, an unequal economic reward system helps to assure that the person who performs a particular role is the most qualified. As people acquire certain levels of expertise (e. g. , B. A. , M. A. , Ph. D. , M. D. ), they are progressively rewarded. Such a system, argued Davis and Moore (1945), motivates people to achieve by offering higher rewards for higher achievements. If physicians were not offered high salaries, for example, who would want to endure the arduous years of medical training and long, stressful hours at a hospital? The structural-functionalist view of poverty suggest that a certain amount of poverty has positive functions for society. Although poor people are often viewed as a burden to society, having a pool of low-paid, impoverished workers ensures that there will be people willing to do dirty, dangerous, and difficult work that others refuse to do. Poverty also provides employment for those who work in the poverty industry (such as welfare workers) and supplies a market for inferior goods such as older, dilapidated homes and automobiles (Gans, 1972). The structural-functionalist view of poverty and economic inequality has received a great deal of criticism from contemporary sociologists, who point out that many important occupational roles (such as child care workers) are poorly paid, whereas many individuals in nonessential roles (such as professional sports stars and entertainers) earn astronomical sums of money. Functionalism also accepts poverty as a necessary evil and ignores the roles of inheritance in the distribution of rewards. Conflict Perspective Conflict theorists regard economic inequality as resulting from the domination of the bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) over the proletariat (workers). The bourgeoisie accumulate wealth as they profit from the labor of the proletariat, who earn wages far below the earnings of the bourgeoisie. The U. S. ducational institution further the ideals of capitalism by perpetuating the belief in equal opportunity, the American Dream, and the value of the work ethic. The proletariat, dependent on the capitalistic system, continue to be exploited by the wealthy and accept the belief that poverty is a consequence of personal failure rather than a flawed economic structure. Conflict theorists pay attention to how laws and policies benefit the wealthy and contribute to the gap between the have and the have not. Laws and policies that favor the richsometimes referred to as wealthfare or corporate welfareinclude low-interest government loans to failing businesses, special subsidies and tax breaks to corporations, and other laws and policies can deduct up to $1 million in mortgage interest. Lowering this ceiling to $250,000 would affect the wealthiest 5 percent of Americans, but would save taxpayers $10 billion a year (reported in Albelda Tilly, 1997). A 1998 Time magazine series of special reports on corporate welfare programs gave national visibility on the issue. In one report, Time revealed that between 1990 and 1997, Seaboard Corporation, an agribusiness corporate giant, received at least $150 million in economic incentives from federal, state, and local governments to build and staff poultry- and hog-processing plants in the United States, support its operations in foreign countries, and sell its products (Barlett Steele, 1998). Taxpayers picked up the tab not just for the corporate welfare, but also for the costs of new classrooms and teachers (for schooling the children of Seaboards employees, many of whom are immigrants), homelessness (due to the inability of Seaboards low-paid employees to afford housing), and dwindling property values resulting from smells of hog waste and rotting hog carcasses in areas surrounding Seaboards hog plants. Meanwhile, wealthy investors in Seaboard have earned millions in increased stock values. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Symbolic interactionism focuses on how meanings, labels, and definitions affect and are affected by social life. This view calls attention to ways in which wealth and poverty are defined and the consequences of being labeled as poor. Individuals who are viewed as poorespecially those receiving public assistance (i. e. , welfare)are often stigmatized as lazy; irresponsible; and lacking in abilities, motivation, and moral values. Wealthy individuals, on the other hand, tend to be viewed as capable, motivated, hard-working, and deserving of their wealth. Definitions of wealth and poverty vary across societies and across time. For example, the Dinka are the largest ethnic group in the sub-Sahara African country of Sudan. By global standards, the Dinka are among the poorest of the poor, being among the least modernized people of the world. In the Dinka culture, wealth is measured in large part according to how many cattle a person owns. But, to the Dinka, cattle have a social, mortal, and spiritual value as an an economic value. In Dinka culture, a man pays an average bridewealth of 50 cows to the family of his bride. Thus, men use cattle to obtain a wife to beget children, especially sons, to ensure continuity of their ancestral lineage and, according to Dinka religious beliefs, their linkage with God. Although modernized populations might label the Dinka as poor, the Dinka view themselves as wealthy. As one Dinka elder explained, It is for cattle that we are admired, we, the Dinka All over the world, people look to us because of cattle ecause of our great wealth; and our wealth is cattle (Deng, 1998, p. 107). Deng (1998) notes that many African people who are poor by U. S. standards resist being labeld as poor. The symbolic interactionist perspective emphasizes that norms, values, and beliefs are learned through social interaction. Social interaction also influences the development of ones self-concept. Lewis (1966) argued that, over time, the poor develop norms, values, and beliefs and self-concepts that contribute to their own plight. According to Lewis, the culture of poverty is characterized by female-centered households, an emphasis on gratification in the present rather than in the future, and a relative lack of participation in societys major institutions. The people of the culture of poverty have a strong feeling of marginality, of helplessness, of dependency, of not belonging Along with this feeling of powerlessness is a widespread feeling of inferiority, of personal unworthiness (Lewis, 1998, p. ). Early sexual activity, early marriage, and unmarried parenthood are considered normal and acceptable among individuals living in a culture of poverty. Certain groups, according to this view, remain poor over time as the culture of poverty is transmitted from one generation to the next. Critics of the culture of poverty approach argue that it blames the victim rather than the structure of society for poverty, justifies the status quo, and perpetuates inequality (Ryan, 19

Monday, October 21, 2019

The Road to a Mans Heart is Through His Stomach Essays

The Road to a Mans Heart is Through His Stomach Essays The Road to a Mans Heart is Through His Stomach Essay The Road to a Mans Heart is Through His Stomach Essay Essay Topic: The Road The way to every mans heart is through his stomach Ever since I was 13 years old, I have always wanted to be a chef. I have loved food with a passion, not Just food but also cooking It. My mother would teach me the basics when was young and I used to love to help her. She would tell me neat little tricks and I would listen very Intently. For years, my mother and I would serve dinner to our whole family and as the years progressed got better and better at cooking. My love also grew much stronger. Now I am a 30 year old professional chef working at one of the best hotels In the world. Pole would wonder how I became such a good chef Just from my mother teaching me the basics. The answer would be cooking classes. I always had a burning hunger to learn more and more. The only way I could become a great cook was by taking cooking classes. Being taught by people who have mastered the profession was just a great experience. There were so many little and big things tha t I learn. Certain tips and tricks no one can teach you except in proper cooking classes. The reason why I am where I am today is because of these classes. If you are looking to be a professional chef and serving world class food or Just want to learn cooking, I highly advise you to take these classes wherever you are in the world. Certain things can only be taught here and you can get hands on experience of everything. They definitely changed my life, and I am sure they will change yours too. If you are looking for cooking classes San Francisco, there are some really great options. Some of them are Hands on Gourmet located on 2325 3rd Street 330, is a cooking school and has restaurants. Here aspiring chefs can learn so much and learn more by looking at how professional chefs work at the restaurant. Another great option would be Lee Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts which serves the whole San Francisco area. This Is one of the most reputed culinary schools to work at and Is hands down a great learning experience. Kitchen Affairs located on 550 S Van News Avenue Is also a great option for cooking classes San Francisco. Lastly Baking Arts located on 542 Brannon Street Is a great cooking class. Now If you live In the Seattle area, you do not eave to worry as there are some great cooking classes Seattle. Some of them are Blue Ribbon Cooking located on 2501 Falterer Avenue Is a great option. Also Deans Market Kitchen located on 1101 Post Avenue is a great place for also a great place with a nice environment for students to learn. These were some of the cooking classes Seattle. If you are aspiring to be a chef or Just want to learn cooking, taking a cooking class would be the best option for you.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

What Is the PSAT Test Everything You Need to Know

What Is the PSAT Test Everything You Need to Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Most students know what the SAT is,but what is the PSAT? Sure, it's got"SAT" in its name, but is the PSAT actually connected to the SAT? More importantly, how does the PSAT test work and what is its purpose? In this article,we’ll answer your most pressingquestion: what is thePSAT test?We'll start by explaining the meaning of PSAT and whystudents typically elect to take it. We'll then go over the logistics of the test and how PSAT scoring works. Finally, we'll finish with a brief discussion about how important PSAT scores actually are for students. What Is the PSAT? How Is It Connected to the SAT? To start, what is the PSAT test? Cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT)- often shortened to PSAT- is a standardized testtargeting 10th and 11th graders in the US. Every year, approximately3.5 million students take the PSAT test at various high schools. But why take it at all? As it stands, the PSAT is heavily connected to the SAT.One of the test's primary purposes is to act as a precursor to the SAT- as the name suggests, as an SAT practice test. Thus, thePSAT and SAT heavilymirror each other in regard tocontent, structure, and even scoring. But the two tests aren't identical. Here are some majordifferences between the PSAT and SAT: The SAT hasan optional Essay section, whereas the PSAT does not The PSAT is slightly easier than the SAT There are fewer questions on the PSAT than there are on the SAT Now, let's jump back to the"NMSQT" part of the full PSAT name. In addition to being a preparatory test for the SAT, the PSAT is a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. In other words, PSAT scores determine students' eligibility for National Merit scholarships.Each year the top 1% of 11th-grade PSAT takers becomeSemifinalists. Of these, about 7,500 go on to win scholarship money. Finally, what about the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9? The main purpose of these two tests is to prepare students for the PSAT/NMSQT and eventually the SAT. Nearly identical to the PSAT/NMSQT, the PSAT 10 is only offered in the spring and is specifically geared toward 10th graders. As a result,the PSAT 10 is slightly easier than the PSAT/NMSQT. Additionally, because only 10th graders can take the PSAT 10, this test cannotqualify you for National Merit. The PSAT 8/9, on the other hand, targets even younger folks- you guessed it: 8th and 9th graders- and is administeredin the fall and spring. Unlike both the PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT, the PSAT 8/9 uses a different scoring scale and is both shorter and easier than the PSAT 10. Why Do Students Take the PSAT? 10th and 11th graders take the PSAT primarily forthe following three reasons: To practice for the SAT:One of the most common reasons students, especially juniors, take the PSAT is to get familiar with the layout and content of the SAT, which is often required for college admission. The PSAT provides students with the opportunity to get a feel for the SAT, and helps them identify potential strengths and weaknesses. To secure a National Merit distinction or scholarship:The other major reason students take the PSAT is to try to win a National Merit scholarship. Each year about 1.6 million juniors enter the National Merit competition viathe PSAT. Of these test takers 16,000 will become Semifinalists, and of these Semifinalists 15,000 will become Finalists. In the end,7,500 entrants will each win a $2,500 scholarship along with the (extremely prestigious) distinction of National Merit Scholar. To prepare for a second attempt at the PSAT (if taking it as a sophomore): The final reason students take the PSAT is to practice for the PSAT as sophomores before taking it again as juniors. Although sophomores aren’t eligible for National Merit,taking the PSAT earlycanincrease your shot at getting a high PSAT score- and a coveted National Merit scholarship- later on. One thing should be noted, though: at some high schools, the PSAT is mandatory for certain grade levels or groups of students. This means that some studentswill take the PSAT simply because they have to. Even if the test is required by your school, your PSAT score will never affect your GPA or your chance of getting into college. Bonus: Aiming for a National Merit Scholarship? If you're not sure you can self-study your way to a qualifying PSAT score, you'll love our PSAT prep program, PrepScholar. We designed our program to learn your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics and customize your prep to be as effective as possible for you. When you start with PrepScholar, you’ll take a diagnostic that will determine your weaknesses in over forty PSAT skills. PrepScholar then creates a study program specifically customized for you. To improve each skill, you’ll take focused lessons dedicated to each skill, with over 20 practice questions per skill. This will train you for your specific area weaknesses, so your time is always spent most effectively to raise your score. We also force you to focus on understanding your mistakes and learning from them. If you make the same mistake over and over again, we'll call you out on it. There’s no other prep system out there that does it this way, which is why we get better score results than any other program on the market. Check it out today with a 5-day free trial: Where and When Is the PSAT? Unlike the SAT, you do notget to choose your test center; rather, you register for and take the PSAT test at your own high school (or a nearbyschool, should your school not offer it). If you’re uncertain whether your school will be administering the PSAT, or if you'd like to look for a list of schools in your area that will be administering it, use the College Board’s school search tool. Sowhen can you take the PSAT? The PSAT is administered every autumn, usually starting in early or mid-October, on three dates: A primary date A Saturday date An alternate date Again, you donot get to choose when you take the test. Instead, your school will decide on which date it will administer the PSAT. By far the vast majority of schools hold the PSATon the primary date. To confirmyour school's PSAT test date, consult your counselor. Here is the anticipated 2019 official PSAT testing schedule: Primary Date Saturday Date Alternate Date Wednesday, October 16, 2019 Saturday, October 19, 2019 Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Source: The College Board How Much Does the PSAT Cost? The PSAT costs $16, butthis price varies depending on the school. Some schools might cover all or part of this fee, making the test free for students, whereas others might require students to pay more so asto compensate for the hiring of test proctors. Your school (or the school at which you're taking the PSAT test) should give youinstructions on how to pay for the testand by when you'll need to submit your payment. Most schools request PSAT payments from students by around September. Note that you will neverneed to pay the College Board directly (that’s theschool’s job!). If you can’t afford the test fee, you might be eligible for a PSAT fee waiver. Feewaivers are typically available to low-income 11th graders only. To see whether you qualify for a waiver, consult your counselor. Only schools- not students- can request fee waivers from the College Board. What Does the PSAT Cover? The PSAT, which underwent a redesign in 2015 to accompany the 2016 SAT redesign, is extremely similar to the SAT in bothform and content. There are three sections on the PSAT: Reading, Writing and Language (hereafter "Writing"), and Math. (AsI mentioned, there's no optional Essay section on the PSAT.)Each section appears only once on the PSAT in a predetermined order: (1) Reading, (2) Writing, and (3) Math. Similar to theSAT, the PSAT Math section consists of two subsections: a No Calculator subsection on which you may not use a calculator, and a Calculator subsection on which you may use a (pre-approved) calculator. Most questions on the PSAT are multiple choice. The only exceptions are the Math section's grid-in questions. For these questions, you must come up with and write in your own answers. According to the College Board, 17% of PSAT Math, oreight questions, are grid-ins. Belowis the general breakdown of the PSAT. You can see when eachsection appears on the test, how much time you’ll havefor each section, and how many questions there are.Foran even better idea of what’ll be on the PSAT, I suggest looking atanofficial PSAT practice test. PSAT Section Order on Test Time Allotted # of Questions Reading 1 60 mins 47 Writing and Language 2 35 mins 44 Math No Calculator 3 25 mins 17 Math Calculator 4 45 mins 31 How Is the PSAT Scored? The total PSAT score range is 320-1520 in 10-point increments.This score consists of your Math score and your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score, both of which are scored on a scale of160-760.(EBRW is a combination of the Reading and Writing sections.) These two section scores are actually your scaled, or equated, scores.Buthow do you getthese scores? On the PSAT, you start off with three raw scores, one each for Reading, Writing, and Math.A raw score is equal tothe number of questions you answered correctly. You do not lose any points for incorrect answers! Your raw scores for each section are then converted into test scores on a scale of 8-38through a special equating process described in our guide to PSAT scoring. It should also be noted here that thesetest scores, when combined and multiplied by 2, give you yourSelection Index score, which the NMSC uses to determine eligibility for the National Merit competition. Your Math test score is multiplied by 20 to give you a scaled Math score out of 760. Similarly, your Reading and Writing scores are combined and multiplied by 10 to give you a single scaled EBRW score (also out of 760). In addition to section scores, you’ll be givensubscores and cross-test scores. These scores are the same as those on the SAT and indicate your mastery of specific skills. Subscores have a score range of1-15,whereas cross-test scores have a score range of8-38. Here is a list of the sevensubscores on the PSAT test: EBRW Command of Evidence Words in Context Expression of Ideas Standard English Conventions Math Heart of Algebra Problem Solving and Data Analysis Passport to Advanced Math And here are the twocross-test scores on the PSAT: Analysis in History/Social Studies Analysis in Science At present,the average PSAT score is 1014 for 11th graders and 934 for 10th graders. A good PSAT score for you, though, will depend on what your PSAT goals are. If youhope to qualify for National Merit, you’ll need a score thatplaces you in the top 1% of test takers foryour state. A good PSAT score could also be any score in the75th percentile or higher, or simply any score similartowhat you'll need on the SAT to get into the colleges you're planning on applying to. But in the end, does your PSAT score really mean anything? Does Your PSAT Score Actually Matter? The truth is that your PSAT score is far less important than your SAT (or ACT) score is. This is mainly because the PSAT isn't used for college admissions. Moreover, your PSAT score has no effect on your GPA, so if you really don’t want to take the test, you don't actually need to (unless it’s mandatory at your school). The only major function of PSAT scores is to win scholarship money and the honor of National Merit Scholar. But unless you’re actively aiming for National Merit status, your PSAT score isn't actually that important. Nevertheless, if you’re hoping to eventually secure a high SAT score, approaching the PSAT with diligence will be critical for your success. Why? You see, PSAT scores directly translate into SAT scores.So a 1400 on the PSAT equals a 1400 on the SAT, a 900 equals a 900, and so on. In short, your PSAT score acts as a predictor of your SAT score. Of course, your PSAT score doesn’t take into account any additional time you’ll spend studying for the SAT, so it's not likely going to be 100% accurate. But whatyour PSAT score does offer is a clear idea as towhere you’re currently scoring and how much of an improvement you’ll need to make in order to hityour SAT goal score. Simply put,you can use yourPSAT score as your baseline SAT score,making it a fairly useful (and thusimportant) score to know. Summary: What Is the PSAT? Is It Important? The PSAT/NMSQT, or PSAT, is a practice test for the SAT that's offered every fall for10th and 11th graders. Italso serves as a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which awards $2,500 scholarships annually to high-scoring 11th graders. You must register for thePSAT test at your own school (or a nearby school) and take it on the test date chosenby your school. The testfee is $16, but this cost varies depending on the school. Fee waivers are usuallyavailable to low-income juniors. The overall structure and content of the PSAT is similar to that of the SAT.There are three sections (Reading, Writing, and Math) that combine to give you a score between 320 and 1520. PSAT scores directly correspond toSAT scores,meaning a score on the PSAT will always equalthe same score on the SAT. Ultimately, how important your PSAT score is depends on what you planto do with it.If you want toqualify for National Meritor eventually get a high SAT score, it's critical that you get a good PSAT score. But if not, your PSAT score won't hold much significance for you or anyone else. In any case,your PSAT score will always be far less important than your SAT (or ACT) score will be! What’s Next? Want to learn more about thePSAT?Check out our expert guide to the PSATfor an extensive overview of everything you'll need to know about the test and what's on it. Confused about PSAT scores?Our in-depth analysis of the PSAT score rangetakes aclose look athow the PSAT is scored andexplains howyou can usethis knowledge to your advantage. Readyto register for the PSAT?Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how the PSAT registration process works as well as how it differs from theSAT registrationprocess. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Saturday, October 19, 2019

HSBC Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

HSBC - Outline Example The aims and purpose of the paper in addition to the thesis statement will be presented within the introduction. The background of the company will be presented in this section. This includes the services it offers, corporate strategy, goals, objective, vision and mission of the company. In addition, an internal environment analysis of the company will be given in this section of the paper through a SWOT analysis approach. The role of globalization in the contemporary banking and financial services industry will be discussed in this section of the paper in relation to the internationalization processes of companies. The impact of globalization in the company’s corporate strategies such as human resource management and management of a global value chain through technology will also be discussed. The strategies used by the company in entering new markets in a foreign country will be discussed in this part of the paper. The entry strategies into the Chinese banking and finance market will be specifically discussed. Justifications for each of the foreign market entry strategies will also be given with an analysis and discussion of pitfalls of these strategies. The following strategies will be discussed The external business environment will be analyzed and discussed in this part of the paper. This will involve a critical analysis of the political, economic, legal, social cultural, ecological and technological environment within the Chinese banking and finance industry and how it affects the operations of HSBC. This analysis represents the application of the PESTLE analysis model for a specific market or industry. The business strategies used by HSBC in achieving competitive advantage within the Chinese banking and finance market will be given here. This includes a discussion of international business strategies of the company such as marketing, human

Friday, October 18, 2019

The rehabilitation act of 1973 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The rehabilitation act of 1973 - Research Paper Example It is one of a number of United States laws concerned with discrimination such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, (1990), the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, ( 1997) and the Fair Housing Act ( 1968). The act has been amended twice – in 1993 and then once more in 1998, perhaps reflecting changes in public perceptions. The legislation has its own administrators - the Rehabilitation Services Administration. The aim is to prevent any discrimination, intentional or unintentional, which has its basis in a person's disability. Under Section 501 there is a requirement for affirmative action and an absence of discrimination in employment. Section 503 is concerned with contractors and sub-contractors. The next section, 504 allows for what are described as ‘reasonable accommodation. It provides for the provision to be incorporated into new constructions. Each of the federal agencies have their own version of the sections 504 regulations, for which the individual agency is responsible for regulating. Although these rules do vary, they have a common core which includes making accommodation for their disabled employees, making programs accessible and ensuring effective communication, especially with those people who have hearing or sight difficulties. The regulations allow funding for the provision of accessible new constructions as well as for making alterations to existing establishments. Section 508 includes a requirement for Federal electronic and information technology to be made accessible to those with disabilities. This means that such information must be available in a number of formats so that it can be used by those without disabilities as well as those with sight or hearing problems. This includes state employees, but also for members of the public who need information provided by such agencies. This begs the questions of definitions, of what is a disability and what can be considered to be ‘reasonable’. The research article in Appendix 1, Diabetes and the Rehabilitation Rights Act, ( 2007) gives the example of someone with a facial deformity which does not prevent them carrying out a particular job without any specific accommodation and is therefore not considered to be a disability. In the case of those with diabetes, under this legislation, students with diabetes have the right to ask for an Individualized Education Plan. However diabetes, like a lot of other such conditions, is a very variable problem, even within one person. There will therefore be times when the condition is well controlled and all that is required is somewhere private where medication can be taken. This should not mean having to do the necessary injections in a toilet cubicle, with all the possible risks of infection involved, even if care is taken. It would be reasonable to require the provision of a safe and private place for medication to be administered. If the condition is proving harder to control then the student m ay require more support such as staff who know what to do in an emergency if he collapses or shows signs of doing so. There needs to be an action plan in place. The bill is concerned with protecting the person from the ignorance of others - this can be merely to do with ignorance of the condition, but also includes such things as feeling that diabetes are somehow

Radio Broadcast and the FM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Radio Broadcast and the FM - Essay Example The information was now made available at distances ranging from hundreds of kilometers without the transfer of any physical thing and also the same data was available to a large population at the same time. This technology also paved a whole new way of entertainment and music and the business associated to these industries. The technology associated to the radio was initially developed for the purpose of transmitting messages in coded format and the same can be termed as wireless telegraphy and found its usage in maritime and sea navigation and for defense purpose with messages being sent in Morse code format. Later it was found that the technology could also transmit human voice. With the discovery of modulation technology, the terms like AM and SW started making rounds and the whole new world of electronic media came into existence. A very simple step that began on December 16, 1907 with the broadcasting of a song by singer Eugenia H. Farrar from the Brooklyn Navy Yard has been the reason behind the very success of today's electronic media. It was Lee De Forest who had facilitated the broadcasting of song on a radio (FCC, 2005). ... The College radio became very popular among audiences in San Jose. In 1917, with the beginning of World War I with all resources being used for public broadcasting were diverted for defense use and public broadcasting saw a long halt. The radio transmission came under the purview of Navy and the two way telephony was given the importance. But things are actually going to begin rather than facing an abrupt end. The licensed radio broadcasting came into existence with Frank Conrad's company Westinghouse obtained the first commercial radio license and launched KDKA in November, 1920 (Adams, 2003). KDKA broadcasted the election results and the sold radios to the home users. Peace time usage of the broadcasting technology had arrived to make its first broad presence. The success of KDKA The KDKA era led to something which can be termed as the golden period of Radio based broadcasting services. May be for the first time in the history, the public was showing more interest to the product than the producers and this public sentiment gets visible with the unprecedented growth in the demand of radio receiving equipments and at the same time the Westinghouse Organization had to work for opening up other broadcasting stations. The company installed the most powerful broadcasting transmitter known as WSJ on the roof of its plant at Newark, N. J. and the same building roofed the studio (White, 2007). The studio was designed in such a way that it was sound proof equipped with several musical instruments. The studio was meant for artists basically single and players and speakers and news readers. The WSJ used to serve a region within a radius of

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17

Case Study Example After a period of two weeks, Carnack sold the house and lot to Balkan at a cost of $105,000. Willard wanted Carnack to refund him the deposit that he made to him, but Carnack said that Willard breached the contract, and the deposit was entitled to him as required by the contract. According to the law, in an event that the contract is breached, regardless of the form that it takes, the innocent party is always entitled to take a step for the damages. In the case study, the innocent party is Carnack, and by law he is within his legal right to terminate the contract that he made with Willard and retain the deposit as liquidated damages as noted by Koffman & McDonald (2007). The contract that Willard and Carnack entered had a provision for liquidated damages clause in it. That provision made it clear that should Willard breach the agreement that he signed with Carnack, then the 10% deposit would be considered as liquidated damages. According to Burling (2011) that clause, therefore, made it clear that Carnack was entitled to the deposit after Willard breached the contract. Generally in most cases, the court always maintains that the clause with the liquidated damages has to be adhered to. The clause has to be respected even if it implies that the affected individual gets less than his or her real damages resulting from the breach. Therefore, Carnack is right in taking the 10% deposit made to him by Willard as part of the down payment since Willard breached the contract. According to Wilmott et al. (2009), it can be argued that Carnack terminated the contract that he had with Willard based on the following principles of the law. First Willard committed an anticipatory breach. Anticipatory breach is a situation where the buyer states in the form of writing that s/he will not honor the agreement or will do it on terms that were not initially agreed upon. In the case of

Creative Writing Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Creative Writing - Personal Statement Example They pay fees for us to produce results, and it would make no sense if we they do not full results from us. I do believe that I deserve the A grade. First, I have been an active participant in class activities. The professor always received my assignment on time. He always left a positive remark on every assignment that I submitted to him. From this, I do am partially convinced that an â€Å"A† grade is indeed the most appropriate grade for me. Our professor normally set for us exams from what we had learned in class and given as assignment. Remember the proverb, â€Å"where there is smoke, there is always fire† and â€Å"the presence of clouds is a symbol of rain.† How should one know whether a student is speaking the truth or not? (Nosich 28)Whereas others may argue or ask for the evidence concerning my performance, all I can say is that a performing student always stands out from other students. Professors and tutors rarely need evidence to know how a performing or bright student actually look like or behave. Performance always goes hand in hand with character of a person. However, I do not dispute or refuse any suggestions to hand over my assignment books for evaluation or verification of the truth. Some people say, â€Å"valid evidence is the only convincing way or method to truth claims.† I am ready to bring any evidence in support of my claim. In addition to that, I have always been an active participant of our class activities such as writing of successful projects related to CRTW. I believe activeness in any activity outside the class equips an individual with the necessary skills for the practical application of what he or she learnt at class. Using the above method or principle to evaluation, other students and I will undoubtedly provide a leeway for knowing each student personally. I believe it will be the best and most appropriate method for evaluating us. Interpretation of my performance in the past assignments and their analyses will lead

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17

Case Study Example After a period of two weeks, Carnack sold the house and lot to Balkan at a cost of $105,000. Willard wanted Carnack to refund him the deposit that he made to him, but Carnack said that Willard breached the contract, and the deposit was entitled to him as required by the contract. According to the law, in an event that the contract is breached, regardless of the form that it takes, the innocent party is always entitled to take a step for the damages. In the case study, the innocent party is Carnack, and by law he is within his legal right to terminate the contract that he made with Willard and retain the deposit as liquidated damages as noted by Koffman & McDonald (2007). The contract that Willard and Carnack entered had a provision for liquidated damages clause in it. That provision made it clear that should Willard breach the agreement that he signed with Carnack, then the 10% deposit would be considered as liquidated damages. According to Burling (2011) that clause, therefore, made it clear that Carnack was entitled to the deposit after Willard breached the contract. Generally in most cases, the court always maintains that the clause with the liquidated damages has to be adhered to. The clause has to be respected even if it implies that the affected individual gets less than his or her real damages resulting from the breach. Therefore, Carnack is right in taking the 10% deposit made to him by Willard as part of the down payment since Willard breached the contract. According to Wilmott et al. (2009), it can be argued that Carnack terminated the contract that he had with Willard based on the following principles of the law. First Willard committed an anticipatory breach. Anticipatory breach is a situation where the buyer states in the form of writing that s/he will not honor the agreement or will do it on terms that were not initially agreed upon. In the case of

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Managerial AccountinG Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Managerial AccountinG - Assignment Example As an accountant I do not need to take action myself and confront my friend, thus I will leave it to the management to deal with its employee and resolve the issue. However, as loyalty note on my part I will disclose all the information to the higher management even thou this is done by my dear friend because it is all about being ethical in the business. Managerial versus Financial Accounting My friend who is nowadays interested in finance and accounting came to me to understand the difference between financial and managerial accounting. I started off by giving out the definitions to my friend. Managerial accounting, also known as cost accounting, deals with the internal reporting in an organization. It involves reports on daily or weekly basis that helps managers to make financial decisions. It is the identifying, interpreting and then exhibiting information to the managers. There is no legal binding for producing internal reports but firms do this in order to show a numeric pictur e of goals and objectives. â€Å"The focus of managerial accounting is on the needs of managers within the organization.† (Hilton et al 2008) These reports are a futuristic look and include budgets and forecasting analysis. On the other hand, financial accounting is the collection of financial data to formulate financial statements.

Free

Free essay Essay ‘It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.’ C. S. Lewis. Lewis’s hypothetical situation raises questions on how a person, the bird he is metaphorically referring to, must undergo a change to be able to advance through life. The characters in Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet must too experience this change in order to heal wounds and rekindle old relationships. The ways in which stability and change are explored by Winton in the novel that I will be discussing in my essay are, Cloudstreet represents both stability and change in the novel through the house being personified, tension and change are revealed through juxtaposition and resolution between Dolly and Rose, and the relationship between Oriel and Fish explores tension through the innate nature of each character. Before I begin my deconstruction of Cloudstreet I would like to explicitly address the aspects of context, reception, and values behind Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet. Cloudstreet was written while Winton was travelling through Europe away from his home in Perth, and so the novel develops a sense of reminiscence or ‘nostalgia’, as referred to by Michael McGirr, towards Winton’s romanticized home. Cloudstreet was writte n economic hardship and recession as well as a time around Aboriginal rights changing. The context in which the novel was written is important as it is reflected throughout the novel by a nostalgic tone and themes of reconciliation and hardship. Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet was the recipient of the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award in 1992, and since has become a well studied Australian novel by schools and scholars such as Michael McGirr and Yvonne Miels. The values explored in Cloudstreet allow the novel to be well received by a wide audience.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Objectives And Techniques Of Fiscal Policy Economics Essay

Objectives And Techniques Of Fiscal Policy Economics Essay Fiscal Policys first word Fiscal is taken from  French  word Fisc which means treasure of Govt. Fiscal policy concerns itself with the aggregate effect of government expenditure and taxation on income, employment and production. It refers to the instruments by which a government tries to regulate or modify the economic affairs of the economy keeping in view certain objectives. Thus, fiscal policy is a package of economic measures of government regarding its public expenditure, public revenue and public debt .Fiscal Policy is the most important part of Economic Policy .So ,we can define fiscal policy as the revenue and expenditure policy of Govt. of India .It becomes the prime duty of Government to frame fiscal policy . By making this policy , Govt. collects money from his different resources and utilize it in different expenditure . Thus fiscal policy is related to development policy. Through this paper the objectives , techniques, stances and limitations of a fiscal policy are b eing discussed .An attempt is also been made to highlight the achievements and progress of the fiscal policy of India. Introduction The term fiscal has been derived from the greek word fisc, meaning a basket to symbolize the public purse.. Fiscal policy thus means the policy related to the treasury of the government. Fiscal policy is a part of general economic policy of the government which is primarily concerned with the budget receipts and expenditures of the government. All welfare projects are completed under this policy .It also suggests measures to control economic fluctuations which may become violent and create great upheavals in the socio-economic structure of the economy. It also outlines the influence of resource utilization on the level of aggregate demand through affecting the level of aggregate consumption and investment expenditure. Definitions According to U. Hicks Fiscal policy is concerned with the manner in which all the different elements of public finance , while still primarily concerned with carrying out their own duties, may collectively be geared to forward the aims of economic policy. According to Arthur Smithies Fiscal policy is a policy under which the government uses its expenditure and revenue programmes to produce desirable effects and avoid undesirable effects on the national income ,production and employment. Objectives of Fiscal Policy There are following objectives of fiscal policy :- 1.  Development of Country :- Every country has to make fiscal policy for development of Country . With this policy , all work like govt. planning and proper use of funds for development functions is done . If govt. does not make fiscal policy , then it can happen that revenues are misused  without  targeted  expenditure of Government. 2. Employment :- Getting the full employment is also the objective of fiscal policy . Govt. can take many actions for increasing employment. Government can fix certain amount which can be  utilized  for creation of new employment opportunities for unemployed people . 3. Inequality :- In developing country like India , we can see the difference one basis of earning . 10% of people are earning more than Rs. 100000 per day and other are earning less than Rs . 100 per day . By making a good fiscal policy , govt. can reduce this difference if govt makes it as its target . 4. Fixation of Govt. Responsibility:- It is the duty of Govt. to effective use of resources and by making of fiscal policy different ministers accountability can be checked . I was seeing the Episode of Chanakya on  YouTube  in which I found that in old time fiscal policy was made and treasury officer and even prime minister are also responsible for any shortage of govt .fund Techniques of Fiscal Policy   1. Taxation Policy   It is one of the powerful instruments of fiscal policy in the hands of public authorities which greatly affects changes in disposable income ,consumption and investment. Taxation policy is relates to new amendments in direct tax and indirect tax . Every year Govt. of India passes the finance bill . In this policy govt. determines the rate of taxes . Govt. can increase or decrease these tax rates and amend previous rules of taxation .Govt.s earnings main source is taxation . But more tax on public will adverse effect on the development of economy. à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ If Govt. will increase taxes , more burden will be on the public and it will reduce production and purchasing power of public . à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ If Govt. will decrease taxes , then publics purchasing power will increase and it will increase the inflation. Govt. analyzes   both the situation and will make his taxation policy more progressive . 2. Govt. Expenditure Policy   There are large number of public expenditure like opening of govt schools , colleges and universities , making of bridges , roads and new railway tracks . For the above projects govt has paid large amount for purchasing   and paying wages and salaries ,however ,all these expenditures are paid after making govt. expenditure policy . Govt. can increase or decrease the amount of public expenditure by changing govt. budget . So , govt. expenditure is technique of fiscal policy by using this , govt. use his fund   first on very necessary sector and other will be done after this . 3. Deficit Financing Policy   If Govt.s expenditures are more than his revenue , then govt. should have to collect this amount . This amount is deficit and it can be fulfilled by issuing new currency by central bank of country . But , it will reduce the purchasing power of currency . More new currency will increase inflation and after inflation value of currency will   decrease . So, deficit financing is very serious issue in the front of govt. Govt. should use it , if there is no other source of govt. earning . 4. Public Debt Policy If Govt. thinks that deficit financing is not sufficient for fulfilling the public expenditure or if govt. does not resort to deficit financing , then govt. can take loan from   world bank , or take loan from public by the way of issuing govt. securities and bonds . But it will also increase the cost of debt in the form of interest which govt. has to pay on   the amount of loan . So, govt. has to necessarily make solid budget for this and after taking into consideration the amount which is taken as debt. This policy   can also use as the technique of fiscal policy for increase the treasure of govt. Internal sources of debt include market loans, compensation bonds,15 years annuity certificates ,small private savings through various saving schemes. External sources includes in borrowing from the external market ,from international institutions such as the World bank, IMF IDA etc and the governments of other countries. 5.Budget .Fiscal policy operates through the budget .Thus it is also called budgetary policy. The term budget is derived from a French word Bougette which means a leather bag or a wallet used to carry financial papers. The budget of a nation is a useful instrument to assess the fluctuations in an economy. Different budgetary principles have been formulated by the economists ,prominently known as the annual budget ,cyclical balanced budget and full y managed compensatory budget. Fiscal Consolidation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ With recovery taking root, there is a need to review public spending, mobilise resources and gear them towards building the productivity of the economy. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Fiscal policy shaped with reference to the recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission, which has recommended a calibrated exit strategy from the expansionary fiscal stance of last two years. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ It would be for the first time that the Government would target an explicit reduction in its domestic public debt-GDP ratio. Stances of fiscal policy The three possible stances of fiscal policy are neutral, expansionary and contractionary. The simplest definitions of these stances are as follows: A neutral stance of fiscal policy implies a balanced economy. This results in a large tax revenue. Government spending is fully funded by tax revenue and overall the budget outcome has a neutral effect on the level of economic activity. An expansionary stance of fiscal policy involves government spending exceeding tax revenue. A contractionary fiscal policy occurs when government spending is lower than tax revenue. However, these definitions can be misleading because, even with no changes in spending or tax laws at all, cyclical fluctuations of the economy cause cyclical fluctuations of tax revenues and of some types of government spending, altering the deficit situation; these are not considered to be policy changes. . Thus, for example, a government budget that is balanced over the course of the business cycle is considered to represent a neutral fiscal policy stance. Methods of funding Governments spend money on a wide variety of things, from the military and police to services like education and healthcare, as well as transfer payments such as welfare benefits. This expenditure can be funded in a number of different ways: Taxation Seigniorage, the benefit from printing money Borrowing money from the population or from abroad Consumption of fiscal reserves. Sale of fixed assets (e.g., land). All of these except taxation are forms of deficit financing. Some facts about fiscal policy à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Government revenues and expenditures dont need to balance every year but over one business cycle à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Functional finance is the principle that government budgets should be geared to the yearly needs of the economy à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Defenders of functional finance are those who believe fiscal policy is a powerful stabilization tool. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢The choice of fiscal policy guideline depends on the governments belief in fiscal policy as an effective tool for stabilizing the economy . à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢In 1970s and 1980s Canada believed in functional finance but recently has made unsuccessful attempts to move toward cyclically balanced budgets. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Government deficits were highest during recessions during the early 1980s and early 1990s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Tax revenues fell with slumping incomes during that time as a result of the automatic stabilizers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Discretionary expansionary policy also contributed since federal government increased purchases of goods and services to counteract the effects of sagging outputs and incomes. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢1990s downturn caused a concern over increased public debt and lowered confidence in discretionary fiscal policies to counteract a recession. Achievements of fiscal policy in India The fiscal policy has played an important role in the following fields. Mobilization of resources To finance the development need of India ,the government has extensively used the fiscal policy. The policy of public borrowing and deficit financing has enable the government to raise huge amounts of resources for development. Increasing tax GDP ratio is a good indication of the increasing mobilization of resources. The tax GDP ratio was only 6.7 percent in 1950-51 but it has reached to 17.3 % in 2006-07. Increase in savings The fiscal policy has been successful in raising the rate of savings in the household sector, corporate sector and public sector. To encourage savings, prize based schemes to encourage savings, expansion of the network of savings bank, post office schemes. Increase in capital formation Capital formation involves three stages-incentive to save, mobilization of savings and investment of savings .The fiscal policy has tried to influence all the three stages .A well spread network of postal banks ,savings bank, commercial banks, financial institutions and money market is there to collect peoples savings .The government has also been successful in using the savings of the public of the public sector for development. Incentives to investment The government has exclusively used it to influence the government decisions of the private sector. Various tax concessions ,tax rebates, subsidies and fiscal incentives are given to investors. Cottage and small scale industries have survived due to the support of the fiscal policy. The government is mobilizing increased amounts of resources through public borrowings and deficit financing to push up the level of investment in infrastructure ,social sectors, exploration and development of natural resources. Reduction in Income and wealth Inequalities To create equitable conditions in the society ,a progressive tax system has been adopted in the realm of direct taxes. The rate of taxes on income goes on increasing with the increase in income .Direct and indirect taxes are used to mop up more resources from the richer sections of the society. Luxuries are heavily taxed. The government has also launched several poverty eradication programmes to directly benefit the poor people. The poor sections of the society are provided with subsidized grains and other essential items of consumption. Reduction in inter regional variations The states like Bihar, U.P. ,Rajasthan ,Madhya Pradesh, Orissa etc. are given preference while transferring resources from the center to the states .Both statutory and non statutory channels of resource transfer are being used for the purpose. The government of India also gives discretionary grants to economically poor states. In addition to this special incentives, subsidies and concessions are given for locating industrial units in backward regions. Limitations of Fiscal Policy   1.Inadequate resource mobilization The fiscal policy has achieved a mixed success in mobilization of resources. The defective tax system ,limited base of direct taxes ,exemption of agriculture from direct taxation ,evasion of taxes ,inefficient and corrupt tax collection machinery are some of the causes of poor tax collection in the country. Another cause of poor resource mobilization is the low share of non-tax revenue in the total revenue receipts. 2. Inflation of India is increasing rapidly after issuing new notes for payment of govt. of expenses and in this inflation, prices of necessary goods are increasing very fastly. Living of poor people has become difficult due to this . So , these signs show the failure of Indian fiscal policy. 3. Govt. fiscal policy has failed to reduce the black money . Even large amount of   past minister is in the form of black money which is deposited in Swiss Bank. 4. After taking loan from world bank under the fiscal policys debt technique , govt. has to follow the rules and regulations framed by world bank and IMF . These rules are more harmful for developing small domestic business of India. These organizations are inter related with WTO and they intend to stop Indian domestic Industry. 5.  After expending large amount for generating new employment under fiscal policy , rate of unemployment is increasing fastly and big lines on govt. employment exchange can be seen generally in working days . Database of employment exchanges are full from educated unemployed candidates . 6. Fiscal policy and inflation The direct taxes are the main instruments of the fiscal policy. The rise in the rates of direct taxes result in the reduction of the disposable income of the people .The indirect taxes contribute more than four-fifths of the tax revenue .Taxes on commodities, sales taxes ,excise duties, customs etc .add to the prices of commodities .Increase in the rates of sales taxes and excise duties immediately cause a rise in the price level. Conclusion Thus, the fiscal policy encompasses two separate but related decisions; public expenditures and the level and structure of taxes. It occupies the central place for maintaining full employment without inflationary forces in the economy. With its various instruments it influences the economic stability of an economy. The fiscal policy of the Indian government has been very successful in several fields such as mobilization of resources for economic development, increasing rate of savings and capital formation, developing cottage and small scale industries ,reducing the incidence of poverty etc. Despite a few drawbacks of this policy, India has truly achieved a considerable level of fiscal maturity.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Essays --

International business it is combination business across national boundaries which has different region of export, licensing, franchise and foreign direct investment (FDI). FDI is an investment to acquire international business ventures and it’s also requiring a lot of commitment in term of sources that could bring socio economic growth to that country. Furthermore, FDI flows facilitate the acquirement of intangible assets and valuable tangible, in which FDI brings a positive value toward assets transfer, improve productivity and merchandise quality. This entry could bring positive factor to economic growth when the basic factors are been fulfilled such as competent human resource exists. In the recent studies shows that FDI inflow and economic growth has a positive correlation in shorter view. In to that extent, the acknowledgement of the FDI could influence several of channel such capital and overcome liquidity and have even largest channel in long term view however it can’t be undetermined if it’s will have positive correlation for long term situation. The intervention of Multi-National Corporation (MNCs) will be great sources for foreign direct investment which could predict the increases of the FDI flows in future. The Combination MNCs and FDI channels in the market could lead in accumulated sources and just MNCs itself enough could give high impact on operational structural to the country. The positive impacts cause for the both combination it is capital accumulation, balance of payment, international network, human capital, financial system boost and supply technology, knowledge and capital. On part capital accumulation, when the host country has the low saving rate but it will sufficient for them as long that it investment... ...atistical Institute on electronic data distribution system of the central bank of the republic of turkey. The resulted from the studies shows the Granger causality analysis state there is no causal relation between an increase in FDI and increase in the GDP in the short run. Accord to the OLS result there is possible result FDI inflow have positive impact to GDP growth. But the positive effect was shown aren’t has no significance to its. Further on, FDI in Turkey does not lead any growth in the GDP volume. FDI enter as privatization processes not as a substantial source of economic growth. Beside that there is also no correlation between FDI and GDP neither in short run or in long run. Moreover, this aim cannot achievable as with the old dated application and also Turkey hasn’t able to gains any positive inflows from the FDI to its economical potential and growth.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Essays --

In my thesis, I would like to analyse the representation of football stars in two iconic British magazines. My aim is to show how two distinct magazines contribute to the ongoing narratives of football players and managers. The first is one of the most famous football magazines around the globe, the authoritative FFT and the second is the original lad’s magazine, Loaded. Naturally, the proper investigation of this complex topic requires knowledge from various fields of cultural studies. In the following, I will introduce the theories and ideas related to my study. First of all, the term ‘football star’ should be examined closely. Although stars permeate the media, the meaning of sport star is not necessarily self-evident. Everyone has a rough idea about stars and stardom, but as I concentrate strictly on football stars in my study, a precise definition cannot be omitted. The main reason for this is that sport news is not only about sport stars but also players and managers who are not part of the star system. Smart states that the foundation of becoming a sport star is a unique sporting moment which shows the player’s exceptional talent. In order to keep this status, the player has to demonstrate his special skills repeatedly under pressure, against opponents in a highly competitive field (Smart 2005, 156). In addition, he has to grab the audience’s attention through media coverage and promotion. Cultural intermediaries and the audience together elevate the player to the star level. When this happens, exceptional qualities and original characteristics are being attached to the player’s name (Smart 2005, 156-157). Smart points out that appearance strongly increases media attention. He supports this point by claiming that David Be... ...hat Europe is a collection of individual nations. Even when discussing teams and fans of other nations, national reference points are frequently used. Pan-European identity almost exclusively appears in conjunction with references to the nation. Typically, Europe is only imagined as ‘self’ when it is dominated by English culture and fits into the framework of the English nation, otherwise it is considered to be ‘other’. The author concludes that the nation is essential to the sports media industries, as football basically relies on the idea of national ‘us’ and ‘them’. Moreover, the concept of nation is at the centre of fan cultures and popular culture surrounding football. In football culture, national stereotypes are a key source of humour. While all Europeans seem to celebrate football similarly, they are divided into national collectives (Inthorn 2010, 791-798).

Friday, October 11, 2019

Poverty in India Essay

Poverty is the deprivation of food, shelter, money and clothing that occurs when people cannot satisfy their basic needs. Poverty can be understood simply as a lack of money, or more broadly in terms of barriers to everyday life. It refers to a situation where a person is unable meet the basic necessities of life. Absolute poverty or destitution refers to the state of severe deprivation of basic human needs, which commonly includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care, education and information. The amount of income a person or family needs to purchase an absolute amount of the basic necessities of life. These basic necessities are identified in terms of calories of food, BTUs of energy, square feet of living space, etc. The problem with the absolute poverty level is that there really are no absolutes when in comes to consuming goods. Relative poverty views poverty as socially defined and dependent on social context, hence relative poverty is a measure of income inequality. Usually, relative poverty is measured as the percentage of population with income less than some fixed proportion of median income. There are several other different income inequality metrics, for example the Gini coefficient or the Theil Index. Relative poverty measures are used as official poverty rates in several developed countries. As such these poverty statistics measure inequality rather than material deprivation or hardship. The measurements are usually based on a person’s yearly income and frequently take no account of total wealth. Definitions United Nations: Fundamentally, poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to food and clothing a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living in marginal or fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation. World Bank: Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low  levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one’s life. Copenhagen Declaration: Absolute poverty is a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to social services. The term ‘absolute poverty’ is sometimes synonymously referred to as ‘extreme poverty.’ World Health Organisation: Poverty is associated with the undermining of a range of key human attributes, including health. The poor are exposed to greater personal and environmental health risks, are less well nourished, have less information and are less able to access health care; they thus have a higher risk of illness and disability. Conversely, illness can reduce household savings, lower learning ability, reduce productivity, and lead to a diminished quality of life, thereby perpetuating or even increasing poverty. Poverty line is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a given country. In practice, like the definition of poverty, the official or common understanding of the poverty line is significantly higher in developed countries than in developing countries. The common international poverty line has in the past been roughly $1 a day. In 2008, the World Bank came out with a revised figure of $1.25 at 2005 purchasing-power parity (PPP). Determining the poverty line is usually done by finding the total cost of all the essential resources that an average human adult consumes in one year. Individual factors are often used to account for various circumstances, such as whether one is a parent, elderly, a child, married, etc. The poverty threshold may be adjusted annually. Below Poverty Line is an economic benchmark and poverty threshold used by the government of India to indicate economic disadvantage and to identify individuals and households in need of government assistance and aid. It is determined using various parameters which vary from state to state and within states. The present criteria are based on a survey conducted in 2002. Going into a survey due for a decade, India’s central government is undecided on criteria to identify families below poverty line. Poverty in India The problem of poverty and unemployment is considered as the biggest  challenge to development planning in India. High poverty levels are synonymous with poor quality of life, deprivation, malnutrition, illiteracy and low human resource development. The slogan of poverty eradication has been adopted by all political parties in one form or another and there is a national agreement for the goal of poverty alleviation. The national consensus on poverty alleviation provided the necessary condition for launching various schemes and programmes aimed at achieving this objective. But the persistence of poverty during all these years suggests that the national consensus on objectives did not and could not provide sufficient conditions for poverty alleviation. The starting point for estimating the number of households below the poverty line is a nutritional requirement per person per day at some base point. There is a debate on the minimum calorie requirement, and whether it should be the same for all parts of the country. Most acceptable figures are 2,400 calories per person per day in rural areas, and 2,200 calories per person per day in urban areas. The next step is to translate the nutrient requirement into monetary terms. The expenditure level of households which are able to spend the requisite amount to obtain the desired calories serves as the cut-off point, or the poverty line. To adjust the poverty line over a period of time, price variations have to be considered and an appropriate price deflator has to be selected. The problem arises in deciding upon such a deflator. Thus, the following elements mainly affect the magnitude of the poverty ratio: (i) the nutrition norm (translated into monetary terms); (ii) price deflator used to update the poverty line; and (iii) pro rata adjustment in the number of households in different expenditure classes to determine the number of households below and above the poverty line. Different assumptions and methods are used for these three purposes, which accounts for the different estimates provided by scholars. The Planning Commission has been estimating the incidence of poverty at the national and state level using the methodology contained in the report of the Expert Group on Estimation of Proportion and Number of Poor (Lakdawala Committee) and applying it to consumption expenditure data from the large sample surveys on consumer expenditure conducted by the NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation) at an interval of approximately five years. Estimates of Poverty (Per cent) Year All India Rural Urban All India Poverty Ratio Rural Poverty Ratio Urban Poverty Ratio Number (per cent) Number (per cent) Number (per cent) (Million) (Million) (Million) 1973-74 321 54.9 261 56.4 60 49.0 1977-78 329 51.3 264 53.1 65 45.2 1983 323 44.5 252 45.7 71 40.8 1987-88 307 38.9 232 39.1 75 38.2 1993-94 320 36.0 244 37.3 76 32.4 1999-2000 260 26.1 193 27.1 67 23.6 2004-05 239 21.8 170 21.8 68 21.7 Problems caused due to poverty Human poverty measures suggest even worse outcomes than for income poverty in India. India has never been a good performer in human development terms, despite the much better indicators in some states, particularly Kerala. Overall, both health and education indicators have lagged well below those in other countries at similar levels of development and with similar per capita income. But food poverty has been of particular concern. Recent studies have shown alarming levels of hunger, especially in certain states of India. Studies by IFPRI and ISHI quoted in Banerjee (2008) suggest that most states in India rank somewhere among the poor Sub-Saharan countries:  Punjab, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Assam have a „serious‟ level of hunger; Madhya Pradesh fares worst in the „extremely alarming‟ cohort of hunger. All the other states record an „alarming‟ level of hunger, which is also the general ranking for the whole country. More appallingly, the situation appears to have worsened in the recent period of rapid economic growth. National Sample Surveys shows declining per capita calorie consumption, not only among the entire population, but also among the bottom quartiles, for which consumption was already very inadequate by international standards. Other indicators of both nutrition and health are also extreme. The latest National Family Health Survey for 2005–06 shows that the proportion of underweight children below the age of five years was 45.6 per cent in rural India and 32.7 per cent in urban India, indicating hardly any change from the previous survey undertaken eight years previously. More than one-third of the rural population was also underweight. Anaemia often a good indicator of nutritional deprivation was also widespread: 79.2 per cent of children aged 12–23 months and 56.2 per cent of ever-married women between 15 and 59 years were found to be anaemic. Conclusion Poverty Alleviation Programmes The poverty alleviation programme have been broadly classified into self-employment programmes, wage employment programmes, food safety programme and social security programmes. The focus is on the central government schemes only. It is not possible to map the special programmes of all the states. It must be noted here that some of the progressive states have added additional components or given further subsidy to enhance the benefits of the central schemes. For example, in the highly subsidized public distribution system of Andhra Pradesh, the BPL card holders were provided rice at Rs. 2 per kg. Self-employment programmes: This programme was started in 1970s in rural areas of the country in the name of Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) to increase the source of income of small farmers and landless labourers. The beneficiaries were given subsidized credit, training, and infrastructure, so that they could find new sources of  earning. In this scheme, agricultural labourers and small farmers received new skills to involve in vocations other than cultivating land. They included fishery, animal husbandry, and forestry. In the 1980s, this scheme was extended to schedule castes and tribes, women and rural artisans. Wage employment programmes: The main purpose of the wage employment programmes is to provide a livelihood during the lean agricultural season as well as during drought and floods. Under these programmes, villagers worked to improve the village infrastructure such as deepening the village ponds, constructing village schools and improving the rural roads. Thus the programmes not only provided employment to the villagers but also improved village infrastructure and created village public assets. A positive fall out of this programme is that it created higher demand for village labour, thereby pushing up the wage of the labourer in the villages. Food security programmes: Meeting the very basic need of access to food is a major challenge to the government in the post-economic reform era. Those who are below poverty line are faced with the problem of meeting this very basic need. Starvation and hunger have been reported in different parts of the country, even in economically advanced states like Maharashtra. There is malnutrition in all age groups, especially among children. Problem of low birth weight due to under nutrition of mother during pregnancy and underweight of children are rampant in the country. The purchasing power of certain section of the society is so low that they cannot access food at the market price. They need the safety net of food subsidy. In this context, public distribution system or PDS assumes importance. Social security programmes: Social security programmes are meant for those who are at the bottom of the BPL facing destitution and desertion. The central government has launched the National Social Assistance Programme or NSAP in August 1995. Under NSAP, there are three schemes. The first one is the National Old Age Pension Scheme or NOAPS. A pension amount of Rs. 75 per month is given to those who are above the age of 65 years and are destitute without any regular source of income or support from any family members or relatives. Though it is a very useful scheme for the elderly destitute, the coverage of the programme was not satisfactory. In the year 1999-2000, 8.71 million eligible elderly were identified, but the scheme could reach out to only 5 million beneficiaries. It was found that the benefits really reached the  poor and the leakage rate was found to be low.