Online Alternative Dispute Resolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Online Alternative Dispute Resolution - Essay Example Dispute resolution is the process of resolving disputes between parties, and there are various methods of dispute resolution, which includes such things as: lawsuits (litigation), arbitration, mediation, conciliation, as well as many types of negotiation. Dispute resolution processes fall into two major types: adjudicative processes, such as litigation or arbitration, in which a judge, jury or arbitrator determines the outcome; and consensual processes, such as mediation, conciliation, or negotiation, in which the parties attempt to reach agreement. Some use the term dispute resolution to refer only to alternative dispute resolution (ADR); of which generally depends on agreement by the parties to use ADR processes, either before or after a dispute has arisen. However, dispute resolution can also take place online by using technology in certain cases. Online Dispute Resolution, a growing field of dispute resolution, uses new technologies to solve disputes. It also involves the applica tion of traditional dispute resolution methods to disputes which arise online.1 There are a vast array of factors, elements, and subordinated issues in this subject matter, and in order to come to a clearer and more knowledgeable understanding on this issue, the following questions must be addressed: 1. What is the definition and scope of application in regards to Online Dispute Resolution 2. What is the importance of the rise of Online Dispute Resolution 3. What are the similarities and differences between Online Dispute Resolution and Alternative Dispute Resolution 4. What are some problems affecting efficiency in regards to Online Dispute Resolution in the shadow of the law 5. What are some problems affecting efficiency in regards to the trust mechanism in the online environment By thoroughly discussing these five questions, we can come to a more intellectual and critical point of view on the subject matter at hand. The aim of this paper is to discuss all of this, as well as any and all key elements and factors in relation to this. This is what will be dissertated in the following. What is the Definition and Scope of Application in Regards to Online Dispute Resolution Online Dispute Resolution is a branch of dispute resolution which uses specific technology in order to facilitate the resolution of disputes between parties. It primarily involves negotiation, mediation or arbitration, or a combination of all three. In this respect it is often seen as being the online equivalent of Alternative dispute resolution (ADR). However, ODR can also augment these traditional means of resolving disputes by applying innovative techniques and online technologies to the process.2 Online Dispute Resolution can take place either entirely or simply partly online and primarily concerns two types of disputes: those that arise in cyberspace and those that arise offline. As Internet usage continues to expand, it has become increasingly necessary to design efficient mechanisms for resolving Internet disputes because traditional mechanisms, such as

[Paul's case] Essay with little research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

[Paul's case] with little research - Essay Example 14). The name "Faust" comes from a charlatan alchemist (some claim astrologer and necromancer) whose pride and vanity lead to his doom. (elconnery.blogspot.com, also, en.Wikipedia.org) In the past, it was assumed that the comic scenes were additions by other writers. However, most scholars today consider the comedy an integral part of the play, as its tone shows the change in Faust’s ambitions. (Anon) With greater recognition, Faust became a Grand Opera, ending tragically in death. Paul’s death in Cather’s short story, prompting the comparison, transmogrifies a youth’s confused vision of Utopia into a destination attainable only after renouncing life. The story is one extensive allusion, interspersed with multiple cross references to images or symbols, some of which are complex and require background knowledge of literature from Shakespeare’s era. Faust or Faustus, is noted for his pact with the devil, in the form of Mephistopheles, a servant of Lucifer, the Devil incarnate. He also finds place in other works dealing with the netherworld. (Soldati, 1980 also Leslie Kay Swigart, 2004). Kennedy’s Faust (p 537) curses life –â€Å"would that I were never born† he says. The similarity to Paul’s bent of mind is striking. Cordelia was one of three daughters of King Lear, from Shakespeare’s play of the same name. The only unmarried Princess, she fell out of favor with her father and was disowned by him, ultimately dying a horrific death. (JSTOR) The loss of paternal love affected her in its own way, as it did with Paul. Cordelia is, therefore, an allusion. There is a dichotomy here, because if she was a person who Paul identified himself with, in the story she symbolizes all that he had grown to despise. This symbol was the embodiment of a dreary street, stretching monotonously with identical houses lining it on both sides. It

The Great Depression In Canada During 1920s History Essay

The Great Depression In Canada During 1920s History Essay A recession is when a neighbour has to tighten his belt. A depression is when you have to tighten your own belt. And a panic is when you have no belt to tighten and your pants fall down. Politician an activist, Tommy Douglas. During the 1920s, Canadas economy has boomed majorly after WW1. Many great inventions were made, the role of women has changed, and businesses as well as industries, over expanded. However, the prosperity of the 1920s came to a halt on 29 of October, 1929. The major causes of this horrendous time period was the over-production/over-expansion, dependence on staple products, and primarily; the stock market crash. It was a relentless worldwide economic crisis in the decade preceding World War II. In the decade of the 20s, many industries were expanding. As a result of theses expansions, supplies such as food, minerals, and cars stayed piled. Workers as well as their families had less money to spend. Consequently, sales deliberated even more. Canadas economy (mainly the west) depended majorly on staple products. This led them to be the hardest hit regions because they did not have other things to sell. A major problem Canada had suffered so greatly was because Canadas economy was closely connected to the U.S. As a result, Americans were not in need of Canadas resources. Therefore, Canada stumbled greatly because they were not dependent enough on their own. . Throughout the 1920s, credit buying and buying on margin became more and more popular as new inventions were being made. With added interest payments many families got themselves hopelessly into debt.  Many families got themselves desperately in debt without realizing how much they spent. This became a major problem because if the employee or wage owner became sick or was laid off, it would be impossible to pay back the loan. Additionally, ambling on the stock market became very popular and common, it was not limited just to those who owned businesses and possessions. As well as average citizens who wanted to get rich fast. The scheme was that as soon as the stocks went up in value, they could sell them and pay back the broker and keep the profits. Unfortunately, not all stocks went up, and this lead to the atrocious stock market crash. The 20s was certainly a decade of freedom for most, and in addition, many incredible products were invented and improved upon. However, a phenomenal depression struck at the end of the 1920s, leaving Canada, and many other countries in great despair. When the Depression hit, all parts of Canada suffered. However, the hardest hit region was the West. The financial crisis joined with the forces of nature that created dreadful times for prairie farmers. Alberta and Saskatchewan had experienced severe droughts, and without rain, the crops died. This led to serious low percentages of staple products such as, wheat being sold. In addition, provincial income dropped immensely as well. Topsoil was flounced away, and dry wind storms drifted away for hundreds of kilometres. As if this was enough destitution for the West, adding to the devastation were plagues of grasshoppers that infested the crops and a pandemic of wheat rust that demolished the wheat fields. The dirty thirties (an acronym used to describe the harsh times of the 30s) brought major ecological problems mainly to the West. The major adversity was the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl was an ecological phenomenon and disaster caused by the misuse of land that affected both, Canada and the United States. The loss of valuable farmland during the time period led many farmers and their families to migrate to other areas that were not as hard hit; like Southern parts of Canada, as well as the Atlantic. In 1935, this ecological crisis led to the creation of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) that coordinated strategies for reducing soil erosion. In the present day, PFRA works with prairie farmers to maintain the agricultural industry and to expand strategies for sharing Canadian knowledge and technologies with the international community. Companies that were producing farming supplies had to cut back production. In turn, this led to layoffs amongst the employees. Additionally, as unemployment rose, fewer people had the luxury to buy other goods such as cars and appliances. Therefore, production in those sectors fell as well. Furthermore, more workers lost their jobs, it was a brutal cycle. Even though the prairies experienced the most hardship of the Depression, other parts of Canada suffered as well. For British Columbia, fish, lumber, as well as fruit markets were considerably low. Workers in this particular industry experienced the full effects of the economic downturn as the global demand for resources dried up. Newfoundland was hit hard too. In 1934, Newfoundland had to submit its government to ask for financial aid from Britain. The industrial heartland of southern Ontario and Quebec experienced unemployment, as mining and forest incomes from exports had dropped. Luckily, their domestic market was protected because of tariffs. Although the 30s brought great grief to many people, not all suffered the same as others. A few wealthy Canadians benefited from the Depression. Everything was low in value, they were able to but farms, lands, and homes at cheap rates and sell it later on for a higher percentage. As well, many big companies as well as corporations became profitable because they did not have to give it out as many wages, as more and more people were laid off. For most of Canadians, however, minimum wage was the only wage if they had any at all. The daily struggle to maintain the necessities of the family was a huge problem many families faced. Finding a decent job was even worse. Many men sacrificed their lives to support their family, and keep their dignity. The lack of jobs forcefully made many men to leave their families in search of work. As a result, many rode the rails on top of boxcars or on the rods beneath the cars. When a child turned 16, the familys relief was cut. Consecutively, young men left home to reduce the burden on their families. Thousands travelled west for work. When they recognized that there were no opportunities there, they continued on to British Columbia. In Vancouver, they besieged charities, relief unions, along with churches. The conservative party of Bennett set up relief camps to avoid the roaming mass of young unemployed workers. These work and or, relief camps were located in remote areas such as northern Ontario and central British Columbia. Over 200 000 single men 18 years and older lived in these camps. Life in these camps was strict and misery. There were regulations for many things. Men worked hard, long hours doing different tasks: cutting trees, moving rocks, and building roads, forcefully all for just 20 cents. Many men slept in crowded auditoriums and ate disgusting, greasy soups and water stews. Many felt that these camps were like living in prison. An 18-year old relief camp worker expressed his melancholy, stating It was jail, you know. What else would you call it? If you thought the army was bad, then you dont know about one of those camps They treated us like dirt. And we werent. We were up against it, broke, tired, hungry Although the terms of the relief camps were unbearable, the young men were still motivated to keep on pushing through to make a living in any way possible. However, the austere life of the camps left many men angry and frustrated. Many workers began to listen to demands for fundamental, social, and economic change articulated by groups like the Communist Party of Canada. During the spring of 1935, thousands of camp workers in British Columbia formed the Relief Camp Workers Union (RCWU). Men went on strike demanding higher wages, better food, clothing, and shelter. In both April and May, the strikers went on to Vancouver. Soon enough, they had launched On-to-Ottawa trek 3 June, 1935. Over 1600 men boarded freight trains to Ottawa to conference with Prime Minister, R.B Bennett. In Ottawa, Bennett was determined to stop these protestors. On 14 June, Bennett commanded police to stop the progress of the trains at Regina. His tactic was to invite Trek leaders to Ottawa, hoping that their absence in Regina would end the protest peacefully. However, his plan was wrecked because the men found out. Unwillingly, many workers returned back to the camps. To Bennett, it was a triumph but almost lost his reputation in doing so. With so much economic pressure, citizens turned to politics to solve the global crisis. Canada voted Bennett against former P.M, King. They brought in conservative lawyer, Richard Bennett, hoping that he change the economy for the better. Although he set aside millions of dollars for emergency and amplified tariffs on imported products, they did little to overturn the countrys economic losses. Bennetts other plans was to confidently, oppose a new policy that aimed at providing relief and economic recovery. On January 1935, P.M Bennett proclaimed his new deal. Bennett made new promises including, including unemployment insurance and a minimum wage. Nonetheless, many Canadians believed it was too late. They slowly started to campaign for the Liberals. Voters chose King back to power with 173 seats against the Conservatives with 40 seats. When King returned to power, he found the countrys economy to be very dismal. He did very little trying to undertake unemployment and other dilemmas. Ultimately, the Second World War enhanced the Canadas economy, as well as other countries around the world. In conclusion, the decade of the 1930s brought cruel and rigid times to many Canadians, as well as other nations. This time period was the most difficult time Canada had gone through in history. Many people were unemployed, and had very little to eat; if no food at all. These truly were gruesome times for most of Canadian citizens. Works Cited Page On-to-Ottawa Trek and the Regina Riot. Ww.uregina.ca. Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina, Sept. 2006. Web. 6 May 2010. . The Depression. Www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. 4 Oct. 2002. Web. 6 May 2010.

City Slicker Meets Milking Cow :: essays research papers fc

So, Mr. City Slicker, this is the first time milking a cow! Heck, it just might be the first time touching one, unless college days involved cow tipping. If it helps the awkwardness, introduce yourself to her, and become acquainted before proceeding. And just a suggestion: Lose the tie! It won’t do much good drowning in a bucket of milk. Gather the materials, follow these instructions precisely, and in approximately twenty minutes, you will have successfully milked a cow. Elvin Brandt, a farmer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has been milking cows for half a century. (24 September 1998). Before beginning, a cow must be present, or it’s fruitless to read on. Milk is made and stored in the cow’s udder. The udder is a large predominantly round sack under the cow toward the back between the two back legs. It is â€Å"divided into four separate quarters, each having its own milk supply† (Dairy Farm: Where Does Milk Come From?). At the bottom of each quarter is a teat (Ibid.). Milk shoots out of the teat when you simultaneously pull down and squeeze the teat (Brandt). Next, gather materials needed to milk the cow: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The milking bucket will be needed to collect the milk as the udder is emptied. It must be sterile and stainless steel. Brandt stresses that it’s imperative that these buckets not rust, and cleanliness is very important when dealing with any food. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The straining bucket is used to strain particles out of the milk. It is rather unusual looking as it is shaped like a â€Å"V†. Like the milking bucket, the straining bucket must be sterile and stainless steel. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An antiseptic solution of iodine and a clean cloth is used to wash the udder before milking to control disease. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A three-legged stool is absolutely necessary to milk a cow. The three legs allow for balance plus you can tip towards the cow if needed. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A straining cloth will also be needed to strain the milk after it is collected. It will be placed over the opening to the straining bucket and the milk will be passed through the cloth. Complete cooperation is necessary from the cow. â€Å"Treat the cow properly not only during the milking process, but also from the time the cow is moved to the milking area† (Milking). 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To prevent disease, the teats must be clean and disinfected. An Internet resource mysteriously named just â€Å"Rachel† states that â€Å"each of the four teat’s on each cow’s udder must be wiped, dipped with an iodine solution to clean them, then dried to prevent dirt and manure from getting into the milk.

My Ideal Business Essay

In order to open a business there are many details that need to be determined to protect the owner before opening. The parts of the business that need to be determined are: the legal form of entity, control of the business, taxation, and financing. The business I want to open is a full service Italian restaurant. The name of the restaurant will be Tony’s Italian Restaurant. In this paper I will explain the details of my business and discuss the Construction Scenario. Tony’s Italian Restaurant My brother and I have always dreamed of owning a restaurant. Throughout the years I have thought about this business and am excited to open this restaurant soon. The business will be two restaurants in one building. On one side there is a full service restaurant with a bar and on the opposite side there will be a pizzeria. The pizzeria will be a delivery and pick-up service only. Legal Entity Tony’s Italian Restaurant will be a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Forming our restaurant as an LLC will enable both my brother and I to operate, manage, and control the business. This way we can each manage different aspects of the company. We will also be able to have an equal share of the business. Financing of the business will be owner invested and different small business loans available through the government and small business association of our town. The owners of the restaurant will each invest equal amounts of capital into the company in order to keep everything uniform. For tax purposes, an LLC works out the best for my brother and I. We will be able to file taxes as a partnership and meaning the income or losses from the company will be split between us and filed on our personal taxes. This ensures us that we are not taxed twice. The most important advantage to forming an LLC is the liability issue. With the business as an LLC, we are not personally liable for any debts, obligations, or torts that come from the business. In order to register our business in the state, we must submit an article of organization to the secretary of the state of Virginia. Laws and Regulations The business being a restaurant will have to follow many different laws and regulations. Regulations concerning the serving of alcohol, serving food, labor laws, paying taxes are all included in this business. The regulations regarding the serving of alcohol include: obtaining the proper license, the proper identification procedures of customers, serving hours, and ages of servers. Of course in a restaurant you have many laws and regulations concerning food preparation and serving. The local health department will make frequent visits to make sure the restaurant is up to par regarding the food. The business will need many employees to make the restaurant successful. The labor laws are very important to follow. From pay rates to overtime, as well as laws for minors and proper identification for hiring, the laws are necessary to follow. There are also state and local taxes that need to be paid on a regular basis. Any violations of these laws and regulations could cause the business to be shut down. Risks of Operating a Restaurant As with any business, there are many risks when operating a restaurant. The biggest risk is food poisoning. Being experienced in food service, I will be able to put safeguards in place to eliminate the risk of food poisoning. Other risks include injuries to customers, unhappy customers, and lack of business. I believe that most of the risks involved in operating a restaurant are controllable. There will much attention to detail when it comes to this topic. Conclusion With the information I learned from the Business Law class, I believe I am one step closer to fulfilling my dream and opening my own restaurant. Choosing the proper entity, abiding by the laws and regulations, and eliminating the risks are great steps to opening a business. Construction Scenario In the construction scenario, the most important aspect is to adhere to the job requirements. The posted requirements are having jackhammer experience and a high school diploma. Michelle has jackhammer operator experience and a high school diploma. She is a perfect candidate for the job. The fact that she is pregnant should have no affect on the hiring decision unless the use of the jackhammer will have a negative effect on the pregnancy. Eric has jackhammer experience but no high school diploma. Since the requirements list a high school diploma, he is eliminated from the position. Felipe also has no high school diploma but has jackhammer experience. His is eliminated because of the lack of the high school diploma. Nick is a college graduate but no jackhammer experience. Without jackhammer experience he is also eliminated from the position. The best person for the job is Michelle. If there are no medical risks involved with a pregnant person operating a jackhammer, Title VII protects pregnant people from being discriminated.

Adolescents as a Vulnerable Population for Obesity Essay

The adolescent, aged 12 to 18 years, is in the stage of identity versus role confusion. Life for teens is complex and the transition from the previous stage is tremendous. Teens are expected, and desire, to commence taking charge of their lives and their futures. They make decisions about who they are and how they will fit into the world. Knowledge and experience as these are related to education, health, politics, sex, environment, culture, family, and social relationships, all shape the teen’s identity. If adolescents do not successfully navigate this stage, they experience role confusion (Pantea, 2011). During the stage of adolescence, children attempt to self-identify or gain a sense of who they are and their role in life, while facing the challenges of peer pressure and other environmental factors. It is important to educate adolescence on the importance of maintaining self-strength to avoid the influence of the society around them. For us, as educators, this may be one o f the greatest challenges because we must try to relate to an adolescent in reference to their age, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. There are many theories that describe the changes an adolescent may go through; a popular theorists, Sigmund Freud describes both psychosexual as well as personality development throughout childhood. Adolescence is a very important time for teaching maintenance of healthy habits. The goal being, to carry these healthy habits into adulthood. Some factors which influence adolescent obesity are, limited access to healthy and affordable foods, environment, food insecurity related to lack of money, poor eating habits, an increase in â€Å"screen time† such as television, computers and video games causing a decrease in activity, and food marketing targeting children and adolescents. Adolescents eat more  food prepared away from home than in the past. Eating away from home increases calorie consumption, and many of the calories come in the form of saturated fats. Bottom line, kids are eating more unhealthy foods and they are a lot less active. â€Å"In 2009, less than 20 percent of high school students engaged in the recommended amount of physical activity of 60 minutes every day and over 20 percent did not get exercise on any day, though rates vary by gender and race† ( Schwartz & Peterson, 2010). In 1992 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) created the food guide pyramid. This basic drawing explained the pieces of a healthy diet. The pyramid was widely used in schools, on food labels, in print media and medical brochures. However this was not based on much scientific evidence and did not do much to encourage healthy eating. In 2011 the USDA replaced the pyramid with â€Å"My Plate†. This new image is a simple way to remind people to think about food choices when eating a meal. The www.choosemyplate.gov website is designed to help people of all ages and backgrounds incorporate better eating habits. This site offers meal planning, education, games for children, and also links to other sites that can enhance your knowledge on nutrition (USDA, 2014). â€Å"Epidemiology is the science and practice which describes and explains disease patterns in populations and puts this knowledge to use to improve health† (Bhopal, nd), or the science or study of epidemic. It is the scientific study of disease exploration. According to the CDC the ten steps used in investigating an outbreak of a disease are: 1) Prepare for field work, 2)Establish the existence of an outbreak, 3)Verify the diagnosis, 4)Define and identify cases, 5)Describe and orient the data in terms of time, place, and person, 6)Develop hypotheses, 7)Evaluate hypotheses, 8)Refine hypotheses and carry out additional studies, 9) Implement control and prevention measures, 10) Communicate findings. (Centers for Disease Control, 2004). The epidemiologic triangle is a model that scientist have established for studying health problems. The triangle has three corners called vertices. The three vertices of the triangle are the agent, host, and environment. In relationship to adolescent obesity, the primary agent influencing adolescent obesity is high caloric food and its availability, the host is the teenager being physically inactive and/or over eating, and  the environment is the absence of accessibility to nutritious healthy foods, education resources and support Epidemiologists prefer two types of studies for searching out risk factors for disease, case-control studies and cohort studies. A cohort study would be most suitable for the research of adolescent obesity since it would provide a much better opportunity to establish a cause-effect relationship as it begins with the exposure, high calorie food and moves forward in time to the disease, adolescent obesity, which could be stretched further into adulthood obesity and the diseases related to it. The three levels of epidemiological disease prevention are, primary, secondary and tertiary. The primary level focuses on prevention methods before the person gets the disease. So in the case in adolescent obesity the primary level of prevention would be to develop a plan that is effective both at home and in school for preventing weight gain by promoting healthy eating and exercise habits. Schools possess the opportunity to give students the tools and strategies for them to adopt and continue healthy lifestyles even after they graduate or leave. Assuring there are strategies in place at schools to promote healthy activities is also crucial to reshaping student’s habits for the better. First, they must build the foundation for healthy activity and eating. Schools need to have a coordinated school health program in place as a guideline. CSHPs provide a systematic approach to promoting Student health and learning. The model promoted by CDC consists of eight components that can strongly influence student health and learning including health education, physical education, and school meals, which are present in most schools (CDC, 2013). â€Å"Active coordination is needed to engage school staff,   implement district/school priority actions assess programs   and policies; create a plan based on data, sound science, and analysis of gaps and redundancies in school health programming; establish goals, and evaluate efforts. A well-coordinated school health program results in an organized set of courses, services, policies and interventions that meet the health and safety needs of all students† (CDC, 2013, pg.3). So primary prevention reduces both the incidence and prevalence of a disease. The secondary level focuses on after the disease has occurred but before the person realizes anything is wrong. The goal of secondary prevention is to find and treat disease early. So, say for instance, the adolescent is â€Å"a little overweight† or â€Å"thick but not fat†, by the time the teenager is recognizing and using these terms, they are most likely well on their way to being classified as obese. Finally the tertiary level is aimed at those people who already have symptoms of the disease. The goal of tertiary care is to prevent the disease from causing any further health related complications and to perhaps slow down the disease process. There is also a goal of providing better care to the patient and maybe even doing it well enough that the disease can be reversed and the patient can be healthy again. So an obese adolescent who has been diagnosed as obese and is aware they are obese would fall into this category. In conclusion, epidemiologists study the adolescents and their health problem of obesity and from these studies they try to find the contributing factors to the problem of adolescent obesity. Then the epidemiologist look for a solution to the problem, by perhaps researching ways to eliminate the contributing factors, in hopes of preventing the disease of adolescent obesity before it starts. References Bhopal R nd What is epidemiologyBhopal, R. (nd). What is epidemiology? Retrieved from http://www.pitt.edu/super7/18011 20140413220211460672974 Center for Disease Control 2004 Steps for an Outbreak InvestigationCenter for Disease Control (2004, November 17). Steps for an Outbreak Investigation. Retrieved from http://cdc.gov/excite/classroom/outbreak/steps.htm. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2013) Adolescent and School Health. Retrieved 04/12/14 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth Pantea, M. (2011). Adolescence. In M. Stange, C. Oyster, & J. Sloan (Eds.), Encyclopedia of women in today’s world. (1st ed., pp. 26-28). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/10.413 5/97814129vcvvvvcffffddfdfr 95962.n11 20140413222409263847828 Schwartz S Peterson J 2010 Adolescent Obesity in the Unted StatesSchwartz, S., & Peterson, J. (2010, November). Adolescent Obesity in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_977.html United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Choose my plate. Retrieved from http://choosemyplate.gov/ 20140413214914517867326

How to Overcome Writers Block (20 Tips That ACTUALLY Work)

How to Overcome Writers Block (20 Tips That ACTUALLY Work) How to Overcome Writer's Block Charles Bukowski once wrote, â€Å"Writing about a writer's block is better than not writing at all.† Some folks would rather not mention writer's block at all, as if thinking about how to overcome it will somehow exacerbate the condition - like scratching away at a rash.Unfortunately, writer’s block is a gremlin that rarely goes away by itself, at least not in a timely manner. But by arming yourself with knowledge of what causes this creative quagmire - and how to climb out of it - you’ll be much better equipped to deal with it in the future! To start, let’s answer the question...What is writer’s block?Writer’s block is the condition of being unable to proceed with writing or the inability to start writing something new. But of course, we all know that much! What often stumps us where this frustrating predicament comes from, and how to solve it. Make your creative process more visualWhen your words are failing you, throw out the dictionary and get visual. The Inkflow app works like a visual word processor, so you can get your ideas on the page and then move them around (or doodle all over them) as you wish. If you’re the kind of person who likes to outline by placing sticky notes on the wall - but aren’t ready to ditch the technology and go totally old-school - then this app might be your new best writing friend.17) Look for the root of the blockAs psychologists Singer and Barrios pointed out, writer’s block often comes from a problem deeper than simple â€Å"lack of inspiration.† That’s what Unstuck can help you with! It can help you identify the root of your block, and provide a range of solutions to get your pen moving again. In other words, it’s a true friend in time of writer’s need!18) Go cold turkey and turn off the InternetIt’s a small miracle that people are able to get any writing done on a machine that offers access to a whole Internet’s worth of distraction. If willpower isn’t your strongest suit and your biggest challenge right now is staying away from distraction, Cold Turkey might be the app for you. It turns your computer into a typewriter until you reach your writing goal. In it’s own words, it’s â€Å"probably the most stubborn text editor ever made.†19) When you can't find the words... let the words find youThis is essentially the point of this â€Å"fridge poetry-esque† app, Word Palette. Featuring a keyboard of random words, simply click your way to your next potential masterpiece. Or at least, a bizarre poem that gets the fire started.20) Find your inner HemingwayIf your biggest block is your own self-doubt, Hemingway may help curb that anxiety by offering suggestions to improve your writer as you go. Advice includes things like: â€Å"too verbose,† â€Å"use a forceful verb ,† and â€Å"use active voice instead of passive.† This app is so sharp, it even provides editorial feedback to the writing of its namesake: Ernest Hemingway. (Try pasting the line: â€Å"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self† into the app.) These 5 apps will get your pen-and-paper mojo back #writersblock There might not be a magic trick or formula when it comes to inspiration. But add these 20 tips to your creative arsenal, and you’ll be on your way to kicking writer’s block to the curb. And remember: if you're still stuck, you always have these writer's block memes to keep you company!Did you try any of our tips? Did they work for you? Do you have your own tried-and-true methods for eliminating writer's block? Leave any thoughts or questions in the comments below!

The Experts Guide to the AP Human Geography Exam

The Expert's Guide to the AP Human Geography Exam SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips AP Human Geography is an investigation of how the human species has populated the earth and developed different cultures, political systems, and means of production. This is a subject that can be a little hard to pin down because it represents an intersection of lots of different types of information. How does the College Board test such a wide range of topics? Continue reading to gain a better understanding of the lay of the land (so to speak) on the AP Human Geography exam! How Is the AP Human Geography Exam Structured? There are two sections of the AP Human Geography test: multiple choice and free response. The multiple-choice section is: 75 questions One hour long Scored based on the number of questions you answer correctly (no points deducted for incorrect answers) On this section, you’ll be expected to: Consider maps and spatial data Show a strong understanding of how the world looks from a spatial perspective Interpret patterns and processes at different scales Understand different regions Characterize and analyze changing interactions among different places The free-response section is: Three questions One hour 15 minutes long On this section, you’ll be expected to: Interrelate different topic areas and to analyze and evaluate geographical concepts. Answer questions based on stimulus material such as verbal descriptions, maps, graphs, photographs, and diagrams Demonstrate both analytical and organizational skills in your writing The AP Human Geography test is two hours and 15 minutes long in total, and this year it’s offered on Tuesday, May 5th at 12 PM. It will be a spoooooky scaaaary AP test. AP Human Geography Topics AP Human Geography covers the following seven topic areas, which you’re expected to be able to link together conceptually on the test.These topics are connected to subtopics that the College Board labels â€Å"Enduring Understandings† (listed below each main heading) that you’re expected to master by the time you take the exam. Topic #1: Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives Geography looks at the world from a spatial perspective. Geography offers a set of concepts, skills, and tools that facilitate critical thinking and problem solving. Geographical skills provide a foundation for analyzing world patterns and practices. Geospatial technologies increase the capability for gathering and analyzing geographic information with applications to everyday life. Field experiences are important ways of gathering geographic information. Topic #2: Population Knowledge of the geographic patterns and characteristics of human populations facilitates understanding of cultural, political, economic, and urban systems. Populations grow and decline over time and space. Causes and consequences of migration are influenced by cultural, demographic, economic, environmental, and political factors. Topic #3: Cultural Patterns and Processes Concepts of culture frame the shared behaviors of a society. Culture varies by region. Topic #4: Political Organization of Space The contemporary political map has been shaped by events of the past. Spatial political patterns reflect ideas of territoriality and power at a variety of scales. The forces of globalization challenge contemporary political-territorial arrangements. Topic #5: Agricultural and Rural Land Use The development of agriculture led to widespread alteration of the natural environment. Major agricultural regions reflect physical geography and economic forces. Settlement patterns and rural land use are reflected in the cultural landscape. Changes in food production and consumption present challenges and opportunities. Topic #6: Industrialization and Economic Development The diffusion of the Industrial Revolution facilitated improvements in standards of living. Measures of development are used to understand patterns of social and economic differences at a variety of scales. Development is a process that varies across space and time. Sustainable development is a strategy to address resource depletion and environmental degradation. Topic #7: Cities and Urban Land Use The form, function, and size of urban settlements are constantly changing. Models help us to understand the distribution and size of cities. Models of internal city structure and urban development provide a framework for urban analysis. Built landscapes and social space reflect the attitudes and values of a population. Urban areas face economic, social, political, cultural, and environmental challenges. Overall, the course revolves around a thematic understanding of the human cultural landscape and patterns of global development.It deals with how human interactions and demographics are shaped by location and environment. Learning objectives you’re expected to master before the exam include: Read sophisticated texts and academic writings. Write well-constructed essays and research papers. Think critically by synthesizing a variety of perspectives and information from different sources. Discuss controversial issues effectively. Analyze geospatial data. Present fieldwork and research in visual and oral formats. Work with other students to analyze real-world issues. For more details on the curriculum, take a look at the full course description. World Regions for AP Human Geography Here are maps of world regions that you’ll be examining across all the topic areas in the course. These maps are important because you need to know exactly where different cultural, political, and demographic developments have occurred. Understanding the relative locations of different regions can help you to grasp their places in the grand scheme of the human geographic landscape. The first map is a broad survey of all the world regions, while the second gets into more specific labels: AP Human Geography Sample Exam Questions This section will give an example of a real AP question from each section of the test. I'll go over explanations of the correct answers and the ways in which points were awarded. Multiple Choice For this question, we have to figure out which of the choices is impacted by an intersection of all three factors.Which aspects of human society are strongly connected to environmental laws, labor availability, and access to markets? It appears that this must be something related to the production of goods because both labor availability and access to markets are important for that, and environmental laws have an impact as well. Choice A can be eliminated because these factors together don’t point to an impact on political affiliation. Political affiliation isn’t directly related to industrial opportunities. Choice B is more ambiguous. It’s directly related to the economy which is what the three factors would potentially impact.However, all the factors are happening on the ground level, not in direct relation to a country’s GDP. This answer doesn’t quite fit. Choice C is definitely incorrect. It seems like an irrelevant answer because property tax rates aren’t necessarily directly affected by any of these factors. Choice D looks promising.Companies choose manufacturing locations based on lack of environmental restrictions on production, labor availability, and ability to easily transport products to markets. Choice E isn’t right because transportation costs are not necessarily impacted by these factors, especially not as directly as manufacturing locations. The correct answer is D! This question could be answered through logical thinking and a basic understanding of the reasons for economic developments.You might know that many US businesses have moved manufacturing plants overseas in recent years because of the cheapness/availability of labor, lack of strict environmental laws, and increased ability to transport goods cheaply across long distances to their largest markets.Other multiple-choice questions on this exam may ask you to identify an example of a concept or read data expressed by maps or geographic models.They also ask about particular locations, so you should know the characteristics of global regions regarding population density, economic climate, and cultural landscape. Free Response This question is from the 2015 exam and was worth eight points total. For part A, you just need to define a term.This is the suggested definition provided by the scoring guidelines: A person who flees, is displaced, or is forced to leave his or her home country. If you said something along those lines, you would get the first point. For part B, you could earn up to three points, one for each description of a valid reason for refugees to leave their countries of origin. Example of a political reason: They were forcibly evicted by the government or the military in their home country. Example of a social reason: Their rights or opportunities were denied based on gender or sexuality. Example of an environmental reason: Their home country was experiencing food insecurity or famine. For part C, you could earn two points, one for the identification of a reason why refugees left one of the countries in the chart, and one for an explanation of that reason.If you chose Somalia, for example, you could say a reason for refugees leaving the country was widespread religious, ethnic, and gender persecution.The explanation behind this would be that Militant Wahhabis persecuted other Sunnis, Animists, and Christians; there were major conflicts based on tribal differences; and rights and opportunities were denied to many people based on their genders or sexualities. For the final two points on part D, you're asked to provide explanations of the economic impact of refugees on a receiving country.These could be positive or negative. Examples include: Additions to the low-wage labor pool Increased demand for goods and services that could result in price increases Refugees may provide added skills and knowledge to the receiving country For more information on the scoring of this question, see this document. Haven't these poor people been through enough? How Is the AP Human Geography Exam Scored? You'll get one point for each multiple choice question you answer correctly. There are no point deductionsfor incorrect answers, so fill in every bubble! Onfree-response questions, points are allotted for answering each part of the question thoroughly.The number of points possible for each question varies slightly from year to year.Maximum scores on free-response questions range from 6 to 10 points.Each free-response question will have an equal bearing on your score regardless of how many points it is worth. Multiple choice and free response are each worth 50 percent of your score.Your free-response score is scaled in accordance with this and added to your multiple-choice score to arrive at a scaled score that is then converted to a score on the 1-5 AP scale.Here’s a link to the score distributions for 2015. Study Tips for the AP Human Geography Test As you get started preparing for this exam, here are a few pointers to keep in mind! Tip #1: Make Flashcards Much of the AP Human Geography exam deals with key terms covered by the course.Two out of the three free-response questions in 2015 asked students to define a term to earn the first point in part A, and the subsequent parts of those questions were dependent on a strong understanding of that term and its implications. Multiple-choice also includes many questions that ask you to identify an example of a certain concept defined by a phrase unique to the field of human geography.Your score is dependent on your knowledge of this field-specific terminology, so you should make a set of flashcards of the terms you learned over the course of the year.Go over them until you feel confident that you understand all the definitions well enough to think of real world examples.If it helps, you can include a couple of examples on the back of each flashcard along with the definition! Tip #2: Know Geographic Models (and Practice Reading Them) There are several geographic models that are important to understand if you hope to successfully interpret data in human geography.Make sure you're familiar with all of them and can read them easily. Sometimes, the test will present you with questions about identifying different types of models or ask you to comment on data sets. Tip #3: Take Official Practice Exams There’s no better form of practice than official AP test questions which is why you shouldtake a practice exam to start off your studying. This will allow you to predict your scores on the real test and make an informed decision about how much more you need to study to reach your goals.You might find you have trouble on certain types of questions that you didn’t expect to be a problem. A careful analysis of yourmistakes on practice tests will help to ensure that you only revisit content that has the potential to trip you up on the exam (rather than trying to reread your entire textbook). Tip #4: Review Regions (and Connect Them to Key Terms) A problem that some students have on this AP exam is citing incorrect geographic regions in their responses.It’s important to know the names of the different regions of the world and the economic, political, and cultural climates that have evolved over time.Be able to identify the regions on the maps included earlier in this article, and think about their individual statuses in connection to each of the main topics of the course. Keep a map of the world's regions in your metaphorical back pocket. Emphasis on metaphorical. Conclusion The AP Human Geography exam is structured in a similar way to other AP tests. It's on the shorter side, coming in at just two hours and 15 minutes, but it has both multiple-choice and free-response sections, and its questions require a wide range of skills and content knowledge. The seven major topic areas you'll encounter on the test are: Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives Population Cultural Patterns and Processes Political Organization of Space Agricultural and Rural Land Use Industrialization and Economic Development Cities and Urban Land Use Some study tips to remember for this examinclude: Make Flashcards Know the Geographic Models Take Official Practice Exams Review Regions Make sure you block out enough study time before the exam to take practice tests, review all of your mistakes thoroughly, and revisit key concepts! What's Next? Should you include AP Human Geography in your schedule? What about other AP classes? Read this expert guide to find out which AP classes you should take in high school. Everyone wants to get 5s on their AP exams, but how important is that perfect score in the long run? Learn more about what it means to earn a 5 on an AP exam and whether this is a smart goal for you. If you're applying to super competitive colleges, you might plan on taking SAT Subject Tests. Check out this article for information on the differences between Subject Tests and AP tests. 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:

Assignment Report On Eight Domains Of The Nmc Framework

Assignment Report On Eight Domains Of The Nmc Framework The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate my clinical and educational practice, especially in mentoring pre-registration nursing students, newly qualified nurses and internationally-educated nurses. All registered nurses have a professional duty to become mentors and play an important role in facilitating students to build their competency. I will aim to reflect on practice relative to the Eight Domains of the NMC framework and give an accurate analysis on how this can impact a student’s experiences and learning opportunities. Papp (2002) stated that, â€Å"student nurses highly value clinical practice and the possibilities it offers in the process of growing to become a nurse and a professional†. It is essential to create a positive learning environment that allows students to build confidence and therefore, bridge the gap between theory and practice. This promotes students’ interests in learning and encourages them to participate more. NMC Domains Establishing effective working relationships I was expecting a second-year student starting on the ward, therefore a students’ welcome pack was prepared and a discussion took place over the phone a few days prior the start day. The student had a few questions about shift times and was excited but worried to start, due to having no neurosurgical experience. I assured them that most of the other students were in that situation and that the team was looking forward to meeting and working with her. On the morning she arrived, I, as the nurse in charge, had allocated some of my morning duties to other members of staff so I could have an initial conversation with the student. In addition, I introduced her to the rest of the team, orientated her within the unit, and explained my role in the ward and the type of patients and how we distributed them. We discussed the student’s goals for this placement, the action plans to achieve them and further beneficial learning opportunities, for example: theatre time, bed meetings, shadowing specialist nurses, etc. I believe this initial meeting is an essential factor in building a mutual trust and working relation. Dunn and Hansford (1997) highlighted the importance of staff and student relationship informing initial perceptions of their learning environment as well as feeling part of an established nursing team. Facilitating Learning Within the initial conversation with the student I was working with, we discussed the learners’ objectives for this placement. I asked her what she felt she wanted from me as a mentor, what style of learning she preferred and what she felt assisted her to gain confidence with clinical skills. I discovered this made the student feel at ease in the learning environment. Furthermore, the student was reluctant and anxious to a verbal handover on the phone and we identified that as a goal to achieve in this placement. On the following days, I took the student and sat her next to me in three different occasions when I had to handover a patient to a local hospital. After she observed how I conduct myself, I asked her to go away and list the important clinical aspects she would need to inform the other hospital when doing a handover. A few days later, she had the occasion to handover a patient independently with me sitting next to her for support and with the list she made as a guide. She started very nervously but gained confidence towards the end of the call. She was very proud of what she had achieved and the approach allowed the student and myself to develop a learning plan based on the student’s needs. Research shows that clinical learning environments are considered as an anxiety and stress-provoking factor for pre-registration nursing students which can be barriers to learning. Effective and supportive mentorship help reduce anxiety and stress and could enhance students’ learning and performance. Assessment and Accountability Pellatt (2006) explains the importance of the nurses’ accountability when working with the students. As the nurse is accountable for the tasks they may delegate to the student, but insuring the student is competent in these tasks it will allow for safe practice. It is important to find out whether students have the traits to practice safely and effectively without any direct supervision on their own to be competent. A third-year student was allocated by myself the task of checking the vital signs of four patients. Even though the student was the one performing the task I, as the registered nurse, had the responsibility to check the observations were recorder and documented. When checking the patients’ observations charts, I realized that although they were filled out, one patient who should have been scoring on the Early Warning Score (EWS) system had not been identified and had been scored at 0. The EWS is a guide used to quickly determine the degree of illness of a patient. It has a policy to escalate and act quickly to prevent further deterioration (. As this student has been placed in the hospital for other clinical placements, I had expectations that he would have fully understood the EWS. We must work within our limits and if we do not know something, we must ‘ask’ in order to provide safe care. Moreover, I asked the student to evaluate his performance by asking him how well he thought he did. I listened to his side of the story and provide constructive feedback to identify his strengths as well as areas he has to work on. Giving constructive feedback is an important role of a mentor in student assessment. From this discussion, we put into place an action plan that allowed him to practice more on patients observations and study the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. I gave him a list of articles about EWS and asked him to read and interpret them. I also directed him to a microteaching session of EWS system. Once he felt confident and comfortable with his skills, the sign-off mentor and myself allocated him with four patients and evaluated him at the end of the shift. By the end of the day, the student was competent and self-assured in carrying out vital sign observations and mapping them on EWS. Mentoring gives an opportunity to reflect on our own actions and beliefs and helps us change our practices. Upon reflection, I have acknowledged my own strengths and weaknesses as a mentor, and become more aware of my role as an assessor. Thus, sometimes, nurses fail to fail students because they are not adequately prepared for the role. However, when a student does fail to meet the necessary foundation competence required by the NMC, then the only option would be to fail the student based on these ground rules. I believe that it takes a skilled mentor to quickly identify when a student requires more support and guide them through their learning with all available resources. Evaluation of learning In mentoring a student nurse it is essential to continuously evaluate and reflect on practice. Vuorinen et al (2001) found that evaluation is an important aspect of professional development. Therefore, ensuring adequate evaluation techniques are being used is imperative to a student nurses progression. As a mentor I encourage and welcome feedback from students with regards to my mentoring techniques and the environment in which they are learning. There is a difference in being a teacher or evaluator compared to being an assessor, an important role aspect of being mentors (Webb Shakespeare 2008). Being a mentor is challenging, especially when there is a shortage of staff as it reduces the amount of time that mentors could allocate to student assessment. Not only is this important for the progression but also my reflection on a personal practice. Clynes and Raffery (2014) highlight that effective feedback should not only explore areas or current practice, but should empower the studen t to proceed with excellent practical skills. Create an environment for learning When we share feedback on the learning environment, it allows my colleagues and I to ensure the ward is deemed appropriate by students’. Saarikoski Leino-kilpi (2002) emphasizes the need for a positive ward environment and a good leadership structure within the ward in order to maximize learning potential. Midgley (2006) identifies the importance of learning in clinical practice and the balance of theoretical and practical work by student nurses. Working with a first-year student on her first placement, we identified her objective e of learning about basic nursing care and how to ensure patients met their Activities of Daily Living (ADLS) (Roper, Logan and Tierney 2000). In order to facilitate her objective, every morning we highlighted the patients with dependency scores that indicated they would need more nursing care that someone who was completely independent with their ADLs. We carried out the basic nursing care together until the student felt comfortable doing this by herself when appropriate. Every morning, she would highlight the patients’ needs and use this to plan the care she would provide. The student excelled in the care given to these patients and updated care plans as and when was necessary. Context of practice When I became ward manager that I currently work on, I realized that the handover was not as efficient as required. It was an area in which I felt we, as nurses, could develop our ward handover procedure. In addition, I felt important information was left out which will potentially improve our clinical care for the patients. Sexton et al (2003) discussed the use of good communication tools for nursing handovers in order to provide continuity of care. I decided to use Safety Briefing forms to emphasize the patients who needed more attention (e.g. risk of falls, step down from ICU, etc.) so that the whole team was aware of particular patients’ needs. The students and members of the team seemed to appreciate the simple tool which allowed them to discuss patients’ care, due to the structure they were provided with. I feel that introducing this tool to the team I work with has changed communication and in turn patients care for the better. Not only has it benefitted the current staff but it gives students the opportunity to practice and gain confidence in what can sometimes be challenging communication situations. Evidence based practice Brown et al (2008) recognized the importance of evidence based practice to ensure patients’ safety at all times. However, there are barriers which are identified including time and resources. The importance of applying theory to practice was highlighted by Upton. D (1999) therefore it is essential that a good mentor facilitates this. While working with a second-year student, we allocated him with a patient who had contracted Clostridium Difficile. The patient was nursed in a side room with isolation protocols in place following Infection control policy. The student working with me at the time discarded the apron and gloves inside the side room as per indicated. Nevertheless, he forgot to wash his hands to decontaminate them. Gerding et al (2014) provide evidence to show that C.Difficile spores will survive in the hands, therefore the evidence states that we must only use soap and water in these instances and ensure that patients and visitors use the same approach. I sat with t he student and showed him the evidence articles, asking him to read through them. In response, he acknowledged that he needs to improve his nursing care and took it upon himself to remind visitors before and after entering a room that washing hands with soap and water is a must. Leadership Bally J. (2007) recognizes the importance of leadership in ensuring effective nursing standards. Not only is it important for nurses to have good leadership support from their seniors, but it is also essential that all nurses are themselves good leaders. Latham et al (2008) states the importance of nurses supporting team members is imperative to good patient care and career progression. Consequently, it is evident that a mentor should have good leadership skills in order to be an advocate for their student nurse and support them though their training. Wilkes Z (2006) describes the mentors role a one of support but also objective and analytical. When working with a student it is always essential that the student’s objectives and aims are met though planning and regular discussions of feedback and encouragement. I met a student at her first neurosurgical placement. She developed a strong interest in our area and discussed her eagerness of seeing more aspects of neurosurgery, particularly brain tumors. I promoted her spending time with theatre cases of oncology, followed by shadowing oncology nurses and their discussions at the Multidisciplinary Team Meeting every week. She was also present at family meetings where the results were discussed with the patient and the treatment to follow explained to the family. The student enjoyed her time and felt that she engaged well with members of the medical team. We set up objectives for her to achieve and had different meetings afterwards to see if the objectives where achieved. She found ‘difficult and painful’ to break up sad news to patients and found that this area of neurosurgery was very challenging and complex but one she would love to dedicate to in the future. We went thought some literature together and shared experiences with he r so she could understand that feeling pain and sadness thrt4ough our nursing career when facing extreme upset situations were common to most of us and nothing to feel ashamed of.

Identify and briefly explain the possible configurations of joint Essay

Identify and briefly explain the possible configurations of joint venture. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the join - Essay Example Countries like China, which opposed globalization once, became strong supporters of globalization at present. No country can develop properly with the help of domestic resources alone. The above truth was realised by the countries only after the entry of globalization. Today, countries are competing in attracting foreign direct investments. It is easy for the organizations to enter a foreign soil at present. Merger, acquisition, strategic alliances, Joint venture etc are some of the major mode of entry adopted by organizations. Joint venture is â€Å"a contractual agreement joining together two or more parties for the purpose of executing a particular business undertaking. All parties agree to share in the profits and losses of the enterprise† (Joint Venture, n. d). Joint venture is an alliance of two or more companies or individuals. The parties involved in joint venture will utilize their skills, expertise, resources etc to carry out the objectives, visions and missions of t he enterprise they formed under the label of joint venture. In joint venture agreements both the parties exercise control over the enterprise and all the assets, revenues and expenses. This paper analyses the structure of joint venture alliances and the advantages and disadvantages of joint venture as a mode of entry. ... The legal status of a corporation is clear, and its ability to own assets, incur liabilities and enter into legally binding contracts is obvious to third parties. The liability of shareholders for the corporation’s debts and obligations is limited to their capital investment in the corporation, something that is not always the case with other entities (Vaughan, 2010) Corporations operate strictly in accordance with the corporate law. The corporate laws can be different in different countries. The joint venture corporations should obey the corporate laws of the country in which the corporation is registered. For example, Dubai Internet City and Kerala (one of the Indian states) recently formed a corporation called smart city in order to do IT business in Kochi. There were lots of controversies before the formation of this corporation. Dubai Internet City insisted some demands about the ownership of the land provided to them by the Kerala government. They asked for total control (Including selling right) over some portions of the land allocated to them by the Kerala government. â€Å"The main barrier that caused postponement of the smart city Kochi project was the conflicts about the free hold rights for 12 percent land of 30 acres which demanded by Dubai based promoters†(Kochi smart city new agreement details, 2011). However, the Kerala government insisted that it is impossible to give outright ownership of the land as per the existing laws in India. Finally, Dubai Internet City forced to give up their arguments. General partnership is another structure of joint venture mode of entry. In this case all the members in the partnership agreement may have personal liability for all the obligations performances of the enterprise

C5 - Managerial Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

C5 - Managerial Economics - Essay Example The objective of the paper is to provide advice to a large travel agency of Hong Kong from an economic point of view in order to reassess the company’s business strategies. Relevant official data available in the government sites, the local airlines, and travel agencies will also be collected to facilitate the analysis in this study. Our prime focus will be to provide an in-depth analysis of the pricing strategies adopted by the local airline industry by using the concepts of market structure, cost and revenue structure and price discrimination. With this purpose, an in-depth analysis will be conducted through literature review describing the current business environment of Hong Kong airline industry. 2 Background 2.1 Theoretical Background Evidences have revealed that economic factors have a significant influence on the business environment of any and every region (The Times 100, 2008; Kitching & Et. Al., 2009; Floyd & Wooldridge, 1997). Based on this concept, experts have fi rmly stated that macro and micro economic factors, both play a crucial role in influencing the pricing strategies of an industry. Besides, the macroeconomic environment which may greatly affect the demand side of the market, the micro economic factors can be witnessed in terms of the market structure of the industry, the price discrimination taking place in the market scenario, its cost and revenue structure as well as the demand elasticity observed in the industry (Nadar & Vijayan, 2009). Musonera & Ndagijimana (2001) stated that the pricing strategies of an organisation depend largely on the political, economical, technological and social factors. For instance, when the economic factors tend to be highly fluctuating, the pricing strategies of organisations are developed to be flexible which can effectively deal with the economic variations. It is in this context that the aforementioned factors create a string impact on the market structure of firms in an industry which in turn inf luences its pricing structure (Mazzucato, 2000). Hong Kong airline industry is scrutiny by various regulatory bodies, such as Civil Aviation Department, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airport Authority Hong Kong and others. These regulatory bodies deliver the industry with a strong and well-organised structure (Information Services Department, 2010). The initial factor that will be considered in this study is the influence of market structure on the pricing strategies of the airline industry. Market structure relates to various elements existing in the business environment such as product differentiation, market concentration, economies of scale, vertical integration of the competitors in the market and other similar aspects that in turn define the market structure of an industry. Therefore, market structure can be defined as â€Å"the organisational characteristics of a market that largely determine where it fails on competitive spectrum between monopoly and compe tition†

The contemporary issues in India Research Paper - 1

The contemporary issues in India - Research Paper Example The country is suffering from the problem of corruption and this is restricting the human development efforts in the country. Human trafficking is also an issue that is tarnishing the reputation of the country and many people are being trafficked from India into other countries. The increasing population of India is also a major problem the country is facing. All these issues will be discussed in great detail in the essay. Corruption, human trafficking, and increasing population are the three issues that will be discussed in the essay. Corruption is one of the most major issues India is facing today. Many institutions of the country like politics, bureaucracy, and law enforcement institutions all are suffering from the deadly disease of corruption (Express India, p.1). India became an independent state in 1947, before then it was a British colony. In more than half of a century the institutions of the country have not developed enough and this is why the problem of corruption exists in the country. The lack of infrastructure in the country may also be responsible for corruption because people working for the civil services know that they will not be caught while taking bribes. This lack of fear of conviction is one of the major reasons of growth of corruption in India. India is facing corruption problems at the grass root level. It is not just the institutional level of corruption that is haunting India. Lower level civil employees have developed a habit of taking bribes from the ordinary citizens. It is common for very small restaurant owners to pay bribes even to stay open for longer hours (Burke, p.1). This level of prevalence of corruption is extremely dangerous because eradicating it becomes impossible. Top level corruption can be controlled by changing the management of the country through effective leadership but lower level of corruption means that the

Public and Private Goods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Public and Private Goods - Essay Example Examples of public goods include street lighting, roads, television broadcasts, fresh air and clean water. Street lighting is referred to as a public good. This is because the there is a unison demand of the product. The demand and supply of the good is the same to all consumers. The service s offered by street lights cannot be depleted by one individual. Additionally, the ownership of street lights cannot be dictated one person. The elasticity of the good cannot change any form since the demand does not change. Television broadcast as a good is public good. Broadcasting has indirect demand thus the elasticity of its price does not change. It is categorized as public good since there are no rights for ownership for individuals. The demand of another person does not affect the supply of another (Guess, 2003). Roads are the most common public goods. They are used by every individual regardless of the use. They cannot be owned by an individual and the price elasticity of roads cannot change since its maintenance funds do not affect the consumers directly. Fresh air and clean water are the most available public goods (Meyer, 2010). They occur naturally hence cannot be owned by an individual. There is equal demand on the commodity and the supply to an individual does not affect the supply to another person. These are goods that have financial benefits to individuals (Guess, 2003). They are excludable and the owners can exercise the right to ownership. They are scarce and have competition. They have a varying elasticity of demand depending on the demand and quality. They include food, clothing, electronics, cars and furniture. Food as a private good has competition. The demand of food is usually much higher than the supply of food. There is competition for the commodity. Owners of the good have the right to own the goods and dictate the pricing of the

Cuban Legal System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cuban Legal System - Essay Example military occupation. Cuba’s long and often strained association with the U.S. and a series of U.S. backed governments would lead to the 1959 Cuban Revolution and the current 50-year reign of dictator, Fidel Castro. The web article, Crime and Society: A Comparative Criminology Tour of the World summarizes the Cuban legal system as a composite of the three major stages of the country’s history, ending in what we know today as a socialist legal state. In 1973, the government promulgated the Law of Judicial Organization, establishing a hierarchical and more formal court system, replacing private law practice with law collectives-- strengthening emphasis on "socialist legality. Cuba’s civil law emphasizes written codes rather than precedent as the source of law. It utilizes an inquisitorial system of criminal procedure similar to that of Spain and France, with a smattering of Anglo American law including habeas corpus and a separation of courts and prosecutors quite uncharacteristic of Marxist-Leninist states. The article also sites key elements of Cubas "socialist legality" as an emphasis on substantive rather than juridical measures of justice; the use of law as a pro-active tool fo r socialist development; limited use of formal legal mechanisms for the resolution of private disputes; the use of informal "social courts" to resolve conflicts such as housing and labor disputes; direct citizen involvement in the judicial and crime control, and a system of state-organized law collectives to provide low-cost legal services nationwide. Regarding the latter, Raymond J. Michalowski writes of the non-adversarial system,â€Å"These attorneys, as intermediaries between citizens and the state, often found ways to utilize the formal framework of substantive and procedural laws to represent clients interests despite an official ideology that emphasized non-adversarial lawyering.† (Raymond J.

The contemporary issues in India Research Paper - 1

The contemporary issues in India - Research Paper Example The country is suffering from the problem of corruption and this is restricting the human development efforts in the country. Human trafficking is also an issue that is tarnishing the reputation of the country and many people are being trafficked from India into other countries. The increasing population of India is also a major problem the country is facing. All these issues will be discussed in great detail in the essay. Corruption, human trafficking, and increasing population are the three issues that will be discussed in the essay. Corruption is one of the most major issues India is facing today. Many institutions of the country like politics, bureaucracy, and law enforcement institutions all are suffering from the deadly disease of corruption (Express India, p.1). India became an independent state in 1947, before then it was a British colony. In more than half of a century the institutions of the country have not developed enough and this is why the problem of corruption exists in the country. The lack of infrastructure in the country may also be responsible for corruption because people working for the civil services know that they will not be caught while taking bribes. This lack of fear of conviction is one of the major reasons of growth of corruption in India. India is facing corruption problems at the grass root level. It is not just the institutional level of corruption that is haunting India. Lower level civil employees have developed a habit of taking bribes from the ordinary citizens. It is common for very small restaurant owners to pay bribes even to stay open for longer hours (Burke, p.1). This level of prevalence of corruption is extremely dangerous because eradicating it becomes impossible. Top level corruption can be controlled by changing the management of the country through effective leadership but lower level of corruption means that the

Cuban Legal System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cuban Legal System - Essay Example military occupation. Cuba’s long and often strained association with the U.S. and a series of U.S. backed governments would lead to the 1959 Cuban Revolution and the current 50-year reign of dictator, Fidel Castro. The web article, Crime and Society: A Comparative Criminology Tour of the World summarizes the Cuban legal system as a composite of the three major stages of the country’s history, ending in what we know today as a socialist legal state. In 1973, the government promulgated the Law of Judicial Organization, establishing a hierarchical and more formal court system, replacing private law practice with law collectives-- strengthening emphasis on "socialist legality. Cuba’s civil law emphasizes written codes rather than precedent as the source of law. It utilizes an inquisitorial system of criminal procedure similar to that of Spain and France, with a smattering of Anglo American law including habeas corpus and a separation of courts and prosecutors quite uncharacteristic of Marxist-Leninist states. The article also sites key elements of Cubas "socialist legality" as an emphasis on substantive rather than juridical measures of justice; the use of law as a pro-active tool fo r socialist development; limited use of formal legal mechanisms for the resolution of private disputes; the use of informal "social courts" to resolve conflicts such as housing and labor disputes; direct citizen involvement in the judicial and crime control, and a system of state-organized law collectives to provide low-cost legal services nationwide. Regarding the latter, Raymond J. Michalowski writes of the non-adversarial system,â€Å"These attorneys, as intermediaries between citizens and the state, often found ways to utilize the formal framework of substantive and procedural laws to represent clients interests despite an official ideology that emphasized non-adversarial lawyering.† (Raymond J.

Mercury Athletic Footwear Essay Example for Free

Mercury Athletic Footwear Essay John Liedtke head of Active Gear, Inc. (AGI) is contemplating whether to invest in Mercury Athletic a subsidiary of West Coast Fashions (WCF). Mercury was purchased by WCF in hopes to increase business revenue however this was not the case. Business did not do as expected, WCF was then eager to abandon its apparel. John Liedtke saw this as an opportunity to take over Mercury and as result increase its business revenue. In order to determine whether this is an essential business opportunity John needs to complete preliminary financial valuations to make a solid decision. Active Gear’s current income statements and balance sheets have made it evident that the firm has a lot of potential for growth when acquiring an additional company. After maintaining simple production and supply chains AGI avoided the worst of industry write-downs and missed profit opportunities (Luehrman, Helprin (2009). In comparison to other larger industry’s AGI has a strong operating margin. Even though AGI is a profitable firm it has a downfall that it is much smaller than many of its competitors and is slowly becoming a disadvantage. In order to foresee future growth AGI should take the necessary measures to incorporate Mercury Athletic Footwear. Similar to AGI, Mercury has potential room for growth despite its former acquisition with West Coast Fashions. In order to determine Mercury’s future financial growth John should use financial forecasting. This is essential for budgeting as well as planning purposes. The most obvious involves using cash flow forecasts (Formula shown on Exhibit 1). Cash flow forecasts are used to predict account balances several years into the future and indicates what is expected to exist during a forecast period (Gabehart Valuation Services. (2003). In conducting a 5 year projection from 2006 to 2011 in both the income statement and balance sheets John can identify Mercury’s net worth and highlight what its financial revenue maybe (Formula shown on Exhibit 1). These forecasts results are based on historic facts and can be adjusted. In doing this John can clearly see whether processes are in control or out of control for example how inventory changes affect finance costs and whether the investment is worth making. This also makes it clear what financing options are more suitable in the long term and which ones would cause problems, as a result avoid any surprises (Olley (2006). The discount rate of acquiring Mercury is also essential to know. Since discount cash flow is a valuation method used to estimate investment opportunities. Its purpose is to estimate money received from an investment and adjust for time value money (Harman (2011). In this case a 12% forecast was estimated and reflected a positive factor toward PV and NPV. There are however, some circumstances where discount cash flow can be a challenge for example, the most prevailing is when cash flow projections increase for each year in the forecast. It is then assumed that a company will mature in such a way that their maintainable growth rates will lean toward long-term rate of economic growth in the long run (Harman (2011). This intern becomes a challenge for the company against unexpected risks. In consideration to Mercury’s financial history and projections it would be in the best interest for AGI to move forward and invest in Mercury. This would increase revenue for AGI and bring in a new customer market. Prior to doing so John will need to perform a financial forecast as previously discussed. The review of general factors and considerations related to the preparation of forecasts needs to be in order as well. To begin John will need to compare each given year’s net worth on the balance sheet to the next. Assuming the cash flow is increasing and positive figures are shown it can be determine that revenue is coming in. However, most importantly if the Net Present Value (NPV) reflects a negative number or is smaller than zero then the investment should be rejected. In this case NPV is positive therefore John should accept the investment. Using this determination John will be able to make a confidant decision. The use of predicting income figures is important as it recognizes a company’s future benefits and is highly stressed in a company especially when determining an investment opportunity.

History Of Aviation Terrorism History Essay

History Of Aviation Terrorism History Essay The act of terrorism is not a new concept. The use of this type of asymmetrical warfare has been used since the beginning of recorded time. The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological. Just as terrorism itself is not a new concept, using aviation as a tool of terrorism is not new either. The use of aviation as this tool began in 1931, when Peruvian Revolutionaries tried to force a pilot to fly where he was ordered. This event happened 17 years after the first commercial flight. There have been hundreds of these types of acts since and to this day aviation is being used as a tool of terror. Searching through the annals of the history of aviation terrorism history there were three major events where terrorist groups tried to pursue their poli tical, religious, and ideological goals against the citizens of the United States. On June 14, 1985, two well dressed Shiite Muslims boarded TWA flight 847 in Athens, Greece, en route to Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Rome. Unbeknownst to security and the aircraft crew the two passengers smuggled two hand grenades and a 9-mm handgun onto the aircraft. Flight 847 hand 153 passengers and crew on board, out of which, 120 were American. Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the two terrorists rose from the rear of the aircraft and ran down the aisle screaming their demands. At the top of the list, was diverting the aircraft to Beirut, Lebanon. With a gun in the face of the pilot he complied and the plane was diverted. They then moved all of the male passengers to the window seats where they were threatened and beaten upon. Passengers were forced to keep their heads between their knees and ordered not to look at the terrorists. After the terrorists had taken control of the situation they ordered ex-German national to collect passports and identification from all of the passengers. While sorting through the passengers identification one of the terrorists noticed two US Navy military identification cards. After being denied landing in Beirut, twice, the terrorists saw the Navy personnel as a way to convince the ground tower to change their minds. The terrorists brought one of the military members into the first class section of the aircraft and began beating him with an armrest taken from one of the seats. Given the situation onboard flight 847 ground authorities finally gave the pilot permission to land. While on the ground the terrorists negotiated an exchange of passengers for fuel. A total of 17 women and two children were allowed to leave the aircraft in the exchange. To avoid the build-up of US military forces the aircraft was flown back and forth from Beirut to Algiers. In exchange for each landing the terrorists would allow hostages to be released from the aircraft. During the second stop in Beirut, the terrorist wanted to show how serious they were. They opened the door of the aircraft, put a gun to the head of Robert Stetham, the US Navy diver pulled the trigger, and pushed his lifeless body onto the tarmac. Later that night the terrorists demanded that the airport lights to be turned off. During this time, several more terrorists boarded the aircraft. They took all of the people with Jewish sounding names and drove them to a different location where they were held hostage. Finally, on June 30, 1985 day 17 of the hostage crisis, the remaining hostages were released. In exchange for the release of the release of the hostages, the terrorists demanded the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, the release of Lebanese Shiites from Israeli prisons, and the condemnation of the actions of the US and Israeli forces in the Middle East. The Jewish passengers that were taken off the aircraft and held by Islamic Jihad were rescued by Delta Forces. After several threats, the hijackers freed the remaining hostages, blew up the aircraft and fled into the Shiite neighborhoods (AVSTOP, 2010). TWA flight 847 is a textbook example of the use of aviation as a terrorist tool. This type of asymmetrical warfare pitted this small group against larger entities such as the United States and Israel. A TWA aircraft was picked because it was successful American air carrier. For 17 days this group had media outlets from all over the world at their fingertips. Politically the terrorists achieved their goals. Israel released Lebanese prisoners. They later stated that the release of the prisoners was unrelated to the terrorist activities. PAN AM FLIGHT 103 OVER LOCKERBIE SCOTLAND Four days before Christmas in 1988, 258 passengers boarded Pan Am Flight 103 in London, England headed for New York City. After only 38 minutes of flight time the aircraft exploded over the skies of Lockerbie, Scotland. When the aircraft exploded it left a debris field of over 2,000 square kilometers and killed 11 people on the ground. Initially investigators thought the crash was due to structural failure. Three days after the crash on Christmas Eve, while looking at pieces of the wreckage noticed that the seat rails had signs of explosive residue on them. Now the investigation could turn from accidental causes to a terrorist plot. The Lockerbie investigation was the largest murder inquiry in British history, involving local police, Scotland Yard, the FBI and a host of other agencies from around the world (National Geographic, 2008, para. 8). Shortly after finding the seat rails they found the suitcase which housed the explosive device. This was a huge turn in the investigation. This type of Samsonite luggage was only sold in the Middle East. In the suit case were a few articles of clothing that were only sold in a small retail store in Malta Spain. The Federal Bureau of Investigators interviewed the shop owner and found out that it was a Libyan man who had bought the clothing. With these clues and a few other tip s investigators were able to pinpoint Abdel Baset Ali Mohamed al-Megrahi and Al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah as being the terrorist who checked a bag on Pan Am Flight 103 and walked away. In the year 2000, the trial of Abdel Baset Ali Mohamed al-Megrahi and Al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah took place in the Netherlands. In total there were 230 witnesses and 85 days of evidence covering 10,000 pages of transcript (National Geographic, 2008, para 12). In January 2001 a decision was reached under Scottish Law: Abdel baset ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was jailed for life in January 2001, while his alleged accomplice, Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, was found not guilty (National Geographic, 2008, para 12). At the time of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, this was the most significant aviation terrorist attack committed against the United States. Out of the 259 people onboard the aircraft 179 were American. This attack showed that Americans were vulnerable anytime and anywhere. Abdel baset ali Mohmed al-Megrahi used this form of asymmetrical warfare to bring down Pan Am, a huge symbol of the American capitalist society. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 To date the events of September 11, 2001 were the deadliest attacks ever committed by a foreign enemy on American soil. 19 Al Qaeda terrorists accomplished more death and destruction than the Japanese Navy during their attacks on Pearl Harbor. More than 2,600 people died at the World Trade Center; 125 died at the Pentagon; 256 died on the four planes (9/11 Commission Report, 2004, p.1). This coordinated attack by 19 terrorists targeted major landmarks on American soil. Their objective was not only to kill innocent people it was also put in place to hinder the economy, impair the federal government and strike fear with the American public. On that day two planes brought down the World Trade Centers, one crashed into the Pentagon, and one attack was foiled before the aircraft could reach the Capital building. WORLD TRADE CENTER When the World Trade Center was completed in 1971, they were the two tallest buildings in the world, both standing 110 stories high above the New York skyline. Nearly a quarter of a million people passed through the doors of the two buildings every day. These buildings were a symbol of the great American economy and that is why they were chosen by the Al Qaeda terrorist group FLIGHTS 11 and 175 On the morning of September 11, 2001 Mohamed Atta, a US trained pilot, and four other accomplices boarded American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles. Fifteen minutes into the flight the five men overpowered the crew and breached the flight deck of the aircraft. The trained pilot, Mohamed Atta, took controls of the aircraft and turned off the transponder so it would be difficult for air traffic controllers to spot the aircraft. He also directed the passengers that the aircraft was returning the aircraft to the airport and to stay calm. He then redirected the aircraft south and headed for New York City. During this time Betty Ong, an American Airlines flight attendant, called American Airlines headquarters to tell them the flight had been hijacked. At 8:46 am Atta, deliberately flew the American Airlines 767 aircraft into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The aircraft traveling at over 450 miles per hour and carrying more than 10,000 gallons of fuel penetrated the building between the 93rd and 99th floors trapping everyone above those levels. This was only the first level of the this collaborated attack on the United States United Airlines Flight 175 had many of the same characteristics as American Airlines Flight 11. They both departed Boston headed for Los Angeles. Both flights had five Al Qaeda associated terrorists aboard. Most of all, they had the same destructive plans. They wanted to bring Jihad to the Americans. At 9:03 am nearly twenty minutes after the first tower was struck tower two of the World Trade Center was struck between the 77th and the 85th floor. The Boeing 767 was traveling at over 500 miles per hour and carrying over 10,000 pounds of fuel. Most of the people above the 77th floor were trapped. Tower two was the first of the two to collapse. It fell 56 minutes after the initial impact of flight 175. PENTAGON AND AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 77 The Pentagon is a one of a kind building that symbolizes the strength of the United States Military. Situated in Arlington Virginia, this building houses the department heads of all of each military department. Al Qaeda terrorists damaged one of the worlds most secure buildings through the use of asymmetrical warfare. On this day Al Qaeda proved to the world that they could brutally wound the worlds strongest military. American Airlines flight 77 from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles was taken over in the same manner as the previous two that crashed into the World Trade Center buildings. Just as the other two, five men boarded the flight and overpowered the crew with box knifes and small pocket knives. One trained pilot entered the flight deck turned off the transponder and redirected the aircraft to their intended target. At 9:37 am the American Airlines 757 loaded to fuel capacity slammed into the west side of the Pentagon building, killing 125 on the ground and 59 people on the aircraft, excluding the terrorists. UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 93 United Flight 93 took off from New Jersey headed for San Francisco. The crew members or the thirty-two passengers on board had not heard that any commercial aircraft had been hijacked earlier in the morning. The flight was taken over just as the other three about 40 minutes after takeoff. As the terrorists redirected the plane the passengers made phone calls from cell and passenger phones. The passengers found out that three other times the same type of hijacking had happened and concluded that the hijackers of their plane had similar intentions. Some of the passengers decided that they would not allow this to happen. They waited until the aircraft was over a rural area and stormed the flight deck and overpowered the terrorists. Shortly afterwards, the airliner crashed into an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania killing all on board. The passengers of United Flight 93 sacrificed their lives but saved the lives of many through their heroic actions. CONCLUSION The hijacking of TWA Flight 847, the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, and the events of September 11, 2001 are three great examples of terrorist groups using aviation as a tool of terrorism. These terror groups fully accomplished their political, religious, and ideological goals through this type of asymmetrical warfare. Not only were their goals accomplished the lives of the United States citizen has forever changed. Until the past couple of decades we as citizens have been shielded from acts of terrorism. Now with the use of aviation as tool of terrorism, the American public can be touched at anytime and anyplace in the world. The United States is forced to become more proactive instead of reactive to the threat of terror. The government can no longer sit back and implement rules after an event of terrorism takes place.

Children and Gangs Essay -- Gang Essays

The problem of gangs is growing, and not only in major city centers. The Justice Department says there are now 30,000 gangs with more than 800,000 members. The National Youth Gang Centre (NYGC), which conducts an annual survey that is funded by the Justice Department, concedes that every town of 250,000 people now has a gang problem. Many young adults who join gangs may do it for the following reasons: - Gangs may offer kids a powerful group identity and a kind of recognition they cannot get at home or elsewhere. - Protection - If there are many gangs in an area, joining one of them may offer protection from rival gangs. - Feeling of Belonging - Gang activity may offer a feeling of being a part of a "family" that is missing in the child's home. The child becomes loyal to the gang's values, rather than those of the home. - Intimidation - Threats and violent beatings may be used to force youths to join. - Excitement - Gang activity may seem attractive to kids who are bored, lack interests and direction, or do not feel good about themselves. The media has glamorized gangs in music, movies, and video games. This adds to the excitement associated with them. - Peer Pressure - Kids are pressured to join gangs if others around them are gang members. - Financial Benefit - Kids see being in a gang as an easy way to gain money and new possessions. - Lack of Knowledge - Kids, especially young ones, do not realize the true dangers of being in a gang. So how d...