Scenario planning for Globilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scenario planning for Globilization - Essay Example This reduction was first attributed to the growing number of mountain bark beetles by a forest ecologist, Scott Green from the University of Northern British Columbia. In the past, the pine forest used to recede in summer but would regain its density in the winter. But over the past 20 years or more, the mountain bark beetles have reproduced in such large numbers, that winters have hardly done any job to reduce their number, and the extinction of the pine forests have sustained equally through winter as they did in the summer. Recent research has shown the influence of rise in temperature upon the tendency of the mountain bark beetles to breed. With an overall rise of 2?C in the global temperature since 2010, the mountain bark beetles have increased in number by millions. Forest ecologists are of the view that if the present rate of greenhouse gas emission sustains for another decade, the mountain bark beetles would become the biggest threat to forests all over the world. Story 2: Ov er the last two decades, droughts and floods have frequently been occurring as a consequence of the 2?C rise in the global temperature since 2010. The biggest sufferings have been noticed in the Arctic. For the last twenty years or more, the temperature of air in the Arctic has increased at a speed twice as much as that for the other parts of the world. Accordingly, an overall increase of 4?C has been noticed in the Arctic. More than half of the total volume of summer sea ice in the Arctic has liquefied and flowed into the water over the last twenty years. This has majorly happened as a result of insufficient temperature controlling measures taken since 2010, since the scientists then expected this volume to recede not before 2100. The reality squeezed that period of ninety years into twenty years and the precautionary measures that were designed according to a ninety year period have proved just too insufficient. As a result of the massive loss of ice in the Arctic, polar bears hav e become extinct for the last five years. They are nowhere to be seen but the intensive care units designed by the WWF for the preservation of extinguishing animal species. The veterans are proposing new medications and techniques to increase the breeding rate of polar bears, but many are skeptical about the usability of these techniques since the polar bears can not be provided with natural habitat in ice after birth. Once released, many would die because of the loss of habitat like their ancestors. Story 3: The ice sheets have melted away with an enormous speed since 2010. The drought and spread of epidemics noticed in the last five years is fundamentally attributed to the rise of sea levels. The number and enormity of tropical cyclones has been greatly affected by the heat developing in the seas. Number of storms has generally remained the same as they were five decades ago, though typhoons and hurricanes have dangerously increased both in number and intensity. In the US, parts o f Gulf Coast and East Coast have been hit hard by the typhoons, while coastal flooding has become a routine in New York. In the two consecutive years; 2028 and 2029, Queens and Brooklyn have seen some of the worst natural disasters of the past 100 years. The two foot rise of the sea level has also generated many hurricanes in Shanghai, Bangkok, London, Venice and Cairo since 2025. People have

Development of English Lit During Any One Period Essay Example for Free

Development of English Lit During Any One Period Essay Trace the development of English lit during any one periodAs part of your discussion highlight how significant events in the influence the writingAdditionally show how characteristics of the genre the writer uses reflects the period in which it was written. James Arthur Baldwin once stated that: know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go. This quotation may apply to the span of the Anglo-Saxon period because of the coherent linkage to the origination of the English dialect and the modernization of English Literature. Over the years English literature has evolved greatly. There have been diverse changes to the structure and development of English language since the advent of Old English dialect during the Anglo-Saxon period to what we now speak and consider to be English language. â€Å"Old English is not uniform. It consists of various dialects, but literature needs to treat it as a language† (Michael Delahoyde.) Research has proven that around the world there are over one hundred (100) variants of English, from different American-English dialects, to those of Asia, Africa and Oceana. It is important for one to know both the origin of this powerful masterpiece known as the English Language and the importance of this literary period to the development of English literature. In attempting to do the aforementioned, the focus will be on the Anglo-Saxon people, their society, culture, and literary work with a view towards highlighting the impact on the development of the English language and English literature. The Anglo-Saxon or Old English period goes from the invasion of Celtic England in the first half of the fifth century (AD 700) up till the conquest in 1066 by William of Normandy. The Anglo-Saxons consisted of diverse ethnicity that forms one nation. There were three main ethnic groups that formed the Anglo-Saxon. These are: Angles from Angel in South-West Denmark, Saxon from North-West Ger many, and Jute from Jutland in Central Denmark. These three main ethnic groups have made up most of the Anglo-Saxon society. However; smaller group of people from Germanic ethnic group were also associated with the Anglo-Saxons. These people shared the same language but were each ruled by different strong warriors who invaded and conquered Britain while the Romans were still in control. The Angles and the Saxon tribe being the largest of the groups when attacking other ethnic groups were often called the Anglo-Saxons. England which means the Land of the Angles was a name given after the Anglo-Saxon. A writer describes them as: â€Å"A warrior society that put swords and shields before fancy artifacts. Helmets were placed before gold and death before dishonour.† The Anglo-Saxon was a pagan society and the people were initially free; however, life for even the richest of the social groups was very hard. The Anglo-Saxon society had three social classes. There was an upper-class, middle class and a lower class. The Anglo-Saxon upper class was the Thanes. They would give gifts like weapons to their followers and they enjoyed hunting and feasting. The churls were the middle class in the Anglo-Saxon Society. Some churls were wealthy people while some were very poor. The lower class was slaves called Thralls. The churls and the Thanes were owners of Land. However, some churls had to rent land from a Thane. They would then work the Thane land for part of the week and give him part of their crops in exchange for rent. â€Å"The basis of society was the free peasant. However in time Anglo-Saxon churls began to lose their freedom. They became increasingly dependent on their Lords and under their control (Tim Lambert.) Researches have indicated that most Anglo-Saxons were primitive subsistence farmers. It has also being proven that some of the men were craftsmen. The farmers grew wheat, barley, peas, cabbage, carrots, rye and parsnip. They reared animals such as pigs, cattle and flocks of sheep. The craftsmen were blacksmith, bronze smith, jewelers and potters. Their homes were made with wood and have thatched roofs. Anglo-Saxon society was decidedly patriarchal, but women were in some ways better off than they would be in later times. â€Å"A woman could own property in her own right. She could and did rule a kingdom if her husband died. She could not be married without her consent and any personal goods, including lands that she brought into a marriage remained her own property. If she were injured or abused in her marriage her relatives were expected to look after her interests† (David Ross.) The women were responsible for grounding of grains, baking of bread, brewing of beer, making of butter and cheese. During this era it was dangerous to travel; thus, most people would travel only if it was unavoidable. If possible they would travel by water along the coast or along the river. During the early Anglo-Saxon period England was a very different place from what it is today. The human population was very small. They grew their own food and made their own clothes†¦ The lord and kin had the strongest ties in the Anglo-Saxon society. The ties of loyalty were to the person of a lord. There was no real concept of patriotism or loyalty to a cause. â€Å"Kings could not, except in exceptional circumstances, make new laws. Their role instead was to uphold and clarify previous custom. The first act of a conquering king was often to assure his subjects that he would uphold their ancient privileges, laws, and customs† (David Ross.) One of the most famous kings during the Anglo-Saxon period was Ethelberht, king of Kent (reigned c.560-616). He married Bertha, the Christian daughter of the king of Paris, and who became the first English king to be converted to Christianity. â€Å"Ethelberhts law code was the first to be written in any Germanic language and included 90 laws. His influence extended both north and south of the river Humber: his nephew became king of the East Saxons.† (The Royal Household) Kinship was very important in the Anglo-Saxon society. If you were killed your relatives would avenge you. If one of your relatives were killed you were expected to avenge them. However the law did offer an alternative. If you killed or injured somebody you could pay them or their family compensation. This led to bloody and extensive feuds. The money paid was called wergild and it set a monetary value on each persons life according to their wealth and social status. The wergild for killing a thane was much more than that for killing a churl. Thralls or slaves had no wergild. If the wergild was not paid the relatives were entitled to seek revenge. The wergild value could also be used to set the fine payable if a person was injured or offended against. Robbing a thane called for a higher penalty than robbing a churl. On the other hand, a thane who thieves could pay a higher fine than a churl who did likewise. The Anglo-Saxons enjoyed storytelling, riddles and games. Most Anglo-Saxon poetry emerges from an oral tradition and was meant for entertainment. These works include genres such as epic poetry, hagiography, sermons, Bible translations, legal works, chroni cles, riddles, and others. Poets were known as Scops and harpists Gleemen. They would sing or recite and were the only historians of the time. The poetic structure was based on accent and alliteration (not rhyme and meter). The minstrels and gleemen would entertain the lord and his men by singing and playing the harp. Michael Delahoyde from Washington State University stated in an argument that â€Å"We get our syntax from the Anglo-Saxons, our preference for and greater ease with nouns, the tendencies to simplify grammar and shorten words, and the law of recessive accent the tendency to place the accent on the first syllable and to slur over subsequent syllables. The poem Beowulf, which has achieved national epic status in England and Judith, are among the most important works of this period. Other writings such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle are significant to the study of the era, as it provides preserving chronology of early English history, while the poem Cà ¦dmons Hymn to date survives as the oldest ext ant work of literature in English. Researchers have suggested that there are twelve known medieval poets as most Old English poets are anonymous. Only four of those are known by their vernacular works to us today with any certainty: Caedmon, Bede, Alfred the Great, and Cynewulf. Of these, only Caedmon, Bede, and Alfred the Great have known biographies. The epic Beowulf reflects the era that it was written in greatly as it speaks immensely about pagan deities, a Christian tradition and about a warrior society. A writer describes it as â€Å"the symbol of the antiquity and continuity of English poetry.† â€Å"Several features of Beowulf folktale and the sense of sorrow for the passing of worldly things mark it as elegiac†¦The Germanic tribal society is indeed central to Beowulf. The tribal lord was to ideals of extraordinary martial valor†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (David Damrosch, pg 27). The poet careful use of varied themes and techniques such as alliterations â€Å"as a structural principle† (pg27), litotes, compound words, repetitions, nobility, heroic glory and distribution of gifts highlighted the way and life of t he people of that era. Beowulf highlighted the Christian traditional beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons people by pin pointing the beliefs that God is the creator of all things and the ruler of the heavens. Throughout Beowulf, whenever any great men manage to achieve heroic feats, the narrator will be careful to attribute their prowess to Gods favor and divine plan. â€Å"He knew what they had toiled, the long times and troubles theyd come through without a leader; so the Lord of Life, the glorious Almighty, made this man renowned.† (Beowulf 12-17) Beowulf complex religious background reflected the era of the Anglo-Saxon people. The description of the creation shows an unusual mishmash with the pagan imagery of the demonic beast â€Å"Grendel† and the Christian imagery of a caring God that creates all things. â€Å"Then a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark, nursed a hard grievance. It harrowed him to hear the din of the loud banquet every day in the hall, the harp being struck and the clear song of a skilled poet telling with mastery of mans beginnings, how the Almighty had made the earth a gleaming plain girdled with waters; in His splendour He set the sun and th e moon to be earths lamplight, lanterns for men, and filled the broad lap of the world with branches and leaves; and quickened life in every other thing that moved.† (86-98). Beowulf invokes the values of the warrior society of the Anglo- Saxon period in several ways. During the Anglo-Saxon period the relationship between the warrior and his lord consisted of mutual trust; loyalty, and respect. There was a symbolic importance of spiritual materials which entails giving of honour/worth, and the value of ultimate achievements which was a visible proof that all parties are realizing themselves to the fullest in a spiritual sense. These values are all highlighted in the epic Beowulf. Beowulf also reflected the value of kinsmen to exact wergild (man-price) or to take vengeance for their kinsmens death. The need to take vengeance created never-ending feuds, bloodshed, a vast web of reprisals and counter-reprisals (a strong sense of doom). These aspects of the Anglo-Saxon warrior society was highlighted in a fatal evil aspect one of such was Grendel and the dragon in undertaking to slay Grendel, and later Grendels mother, Beowulf is testing his relationship with unknowable destiny. Whether he lives or dies, he will have done all that any warrior would do during that period. The oldest surviving vernacular text in English is called Hymn and was written by Caedmon who is best-known and considered the father of Old English poetry. This poem is an example of pagan and Christian fusion in order to promote Christian themes in a pagan society. Caedmon’s hymn is recorded in Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica, and marks the beginning of tremendous developments within textual transmission and the heroic genre itself. â€Å"Caedmon’s Hymn may be regarded as an early forerunner of the dream vision narrative. This style of poetry is formulated by an individual who has experienced a dreamlike revelation within which they are guided by an authoritative figure; in Caedmon’s case this figure being God. The â€Å"hero† discussed within the poem is perhaps unconventional in modern terms, but just as the Gods of classical literature were seen as heroes within their cultural context, so too does the Christian God in Caedmon’s Hymn represent a hero to the people of Caedmon’s culture. The poem features heavy use of stylistic features archetypal of Anglo-Saxon poetry.† (Tiarnan O Sullivan.) Caedmon had lived at the abbey of Whitby in Northumbria in the 7th century. Only a single nine-line poem remains. â€Å"Now let us praise the Guardian of the Kingdom of Heaven Works Cited The Anglo-Saxon Kings. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensofEngland/TheAnglo-Saxonkings/Overview.aspx. Anglo-Saxon Poetry. New World Encyclopedia. N.p., 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Anglo-Saxon_Poetry. Baldwin, James A. à ¢Ã‚€Å“Know from Whence You Came. If You Know Whence You Came, There Are Absolutely No Limitations to Where You Can Go.à ¢Ã‚€Â . Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/14373-know-from-whence-you-came-if-you-know-whence-you. Beowulf. Beowulf. Georgetown University, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. http://www.eng.fju.edu.tw/iacd_99F/medieval_lit/data/Beowulf.htm. Damrosch, David. Beowulf. The Longman Anthology of British Literature.

Last hurrah-Character :: essays research papers

Edwin O'Connor's novel The Last Hurrah presents a view of the difficult and hard life of the Irish-American community in Boston of the 1950's. The author uses a number of characterizations to produce themes that relate to the political and social considerations of this era. With a narrative style that holds the reader's interest, O'Connor leads you through the streets and alleys of the old city, giving you a brief look at old-time city politics. He does this through Frank Skeffington who is the main character. One of the characters O’Connor used to make his point is John Gorman. John Gorman is quiet and somber. Gorman's dedication to social structures and concern for religion and the family differ from the ideas represented by the candidate and the corrupt political leader. When talking with Gorman at a party, Molly Riordan presents her view of Frank Skeffington, and is met with Gorman's skeptical response. Molly says, â€Å"He's the best of them all, John, God love him. There's not a night goes by I don't say a little prayer for him.†(O’Connor 85). Gorman's response is a simple non-committal comment about the party and skeptically attempts to avoid demonstrating any commitment to Molly's remarks.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Gorman and Skeffington have a close association, there is no determination of any loyalty that exists from Gorman's view. He is not dedicated to the cause of Skeffington's election, although that is a primary aspect of many of his interactions. Gorman's odd sense of humor also adds to his presentation of disbelief in regard s to Skeffington. When discussing the topic of campaign issues that came up between Skeffington and his nephew, the nephew acknowledges that the topic did come up whenever they were together. Gorham's response, intended to bring up religious symbolism as well as humor, which was, â€Å" Ah well, that's natural enough, If you met the Pope, you'd talk about religion. (O’ Connor 192). O'Connor's book is powerful because of its complexity of levels. There is a defined consideration for the plot and characterizations, but O'Connor does not stop at this.

Christmas in Mexico Essay

Introduction Thesis (Purpose Statement): The purpose of this paper is to define what Christmas is, explain how it is celebrated in some parts of Mexico, and describe some typical Christmas foods associated with it. Body Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence: Studying the definition of the word â€Å"Christmas† can help us understand the background behind this holiday. Supporting Sentences Christmas, coming from Old English Cristes maesse or â€Å"Christ’s mass,† is a celebration of the nativity of Jesus Christ. Celebrations of the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere have been a time of rejoicing among many ancient cultures. The reason for celebrating Christmas on December 25th is still unclear. Paragraph 2 Topic Sentence: Cultural traditions have had an influence on the Christmas celebrations of today in Mexico. Supporting Sentences The celebration of the winter solstice in Mexico even proceeded the arrival of the Spanish who brought Christianity with them. One of the oldest traditional events in Mexico, Las Posadas (meaning â€Å"lodgings†). Other non-religious activities are also held during that season including parades and pià ±atas. Paragraph 3 Topic Sentence: In addition to Christmas activities, many food dishes are served during this period. Supporting Sentences Perhaps the most popular of all Christmas foods in Mexico are tamales. Other pastries are also eaten as well. Conclusion As you can see from my paper, Christmas is an important in the lives of the Mexican people. References California Mall. (1999). MEXICO â€Å"Feliz Navidad†. [Online]. Available: http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-mexico.htm (2000, April 16). The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. (2001). Available: http://www.bartleby.com/65/ch/Christms.html (2001, March 29) Collins, C. (1999). An introduction to â€Å"A Christmas kitchen in Mexico†. [Online]. Available: http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/recipes/christmasintro.html (1999, November 1). Devlin, W. (1999). History of the pià ±ata. [Online]. Available: http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/travel/wdevlin/wdpinatahistory.html (2000, April 16). Gonzales, Juanita (juanita@compuserve.com.mx). (1998, November 30). Games at Christmas. E-mail to Masako Arai (arai@hotmail.com). Klebanow, B., & Fischer, S. (1986). American holidays. Brattleboro, VT: Pro Lingua Associates. Marshall, A. (1999). Christmas In Mexico. [Online]. Available: http://www.nacnet.org/assunta/nacimnto.htm (2000, April 15). Jasmine, J. (1994). Multicultural holidays. Huntington Beach, CA: Teacher Created Materials. Palfrey, D. H. (1996). Feliz Navidad – Making merry in Mexico. [Online]. Available: http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/christmas.html (1999, November 3). Perez, Jose (perez@mexl.com). (1998, December 17). Christmas in my city. E-mail to Masako Arai (arai@hotmail.com). Perton, Marvin. (1998). Celebrating Christmas in Mexico. [Online]. http://www.mexonline.com/xmas.htm (December 15, 1998). The Presidency of Mexico (2000). Christmas in Mexico. [Online]. Available: http://world.presidencia.gob.mx/pages/culture/note_christmas.html (2000, April 16).

Building &HR managers

Being one of the HR managers assigned to building a global-based team for the international sales division, the cultures of different members who can possibly be part of the team need to be researched. In a team composed of members with different nationalities, each one’s cultural background needs to be taken into consideration so all their actions, gestures and attitude towards work will be better understood. The differences in cultural background matter when the employees are evaluated for their performance. The approach to coaching and mentoring the members will also be different from each other.Among the four regions, the two countries I chose to make a brief research on are Brazil from the Latin American region and China from Asia. Coming from separate geographical regions, these two countries have major differences when it comes to their way of living, classes in the society, and even their business culture. CHINA China is one of the largest countries in the world. It ha s also become the second largest economic entity in the world (â€Å"Doing Business in China,† 2004) after 20 years of hard work and continuous efforts of its entire population.Chinese people are known to be hardworking and are really good in their own respective fields. If Chinese individuals would be part of the international sales team, their culture should be studied and understood so we can know how to properly deal with Chinese people and allow for a better working relationship with other team members. Some of the things that should be remembered are as follows: †¢ Guanxi, synonymous to relationship, is important to Chinese people especially when working or doing business with them.It simply means Chinese value friendship at work or business. It is important for them to be friends with their co-workers and peers. †¢ Chinese people value saving more than others. Most of them put almost 40% of their income in savings. But despite this, they can also be generous when it comes to inviting peers and business partners to dinners. When it comes to the role of women in Chinese society, China is not different from most of its neighboring countries. Chinese women are known to have very low status in the society.In the early days, women only stay in homes to take care of the family and not allowed to join the work force. But as time passes, more and more Chinese women have become well-educated and are now able to get the jobs that they want. Still, they still keep the responsibility of maintaining their homes and taking care of the kids and husband. Chinese women are also commonly the ones taking control of the finances of their family. BRAZIL Brazil is one of the most successful countries in Latin America when it comes to economy.Brazilians are known to always get things done easily or otherwise. Their key to this ability is â€Å"jeito. † According to â€Å"Doing Business in Brazil† (2004), â€Å"jeito can help conquer seemingly in surmountable tasks, rally the team, or get you out of messes. [†¦] It can also help your company gets its foot in the door for submitting a proposal for a project when a deadline has already passed. † This trait is worth knowing when considering Brazilians to be part of the international sales team. They have the ability to think out-of-the-box.They can be very creative in their own ways which can lead to the success of a business. They are known to think better and are more comfortable when working in groups. Brazil doesn’t have much difference with China when it comes to the roles women play in their society. Brazilians, just like other Latinos, have a high respect to the family. Women are known to only stay at home and be responsible for the well-being of the children and their own husbands. But recently, women are breaking into the work force and contributing to the family, as well, in terms of financial matters.Brazilian women can now take jobs that are usuall y only done by men. More of them are also known to pursue advanced degrees to improve their skills and capabilities. References Doing Business in Brazil. (2004). In globalEDGE Online Course Modules. Retrieved July 31, 2006 from http://globaledge. msu. edu/academy/courses. asp Doing Business in China. (2004). In globalEDGE Online Course Modules. Retrieved July 31, 2006 from http://globaledge. msu. edu/academy/courses. asp

An Analysis of The Forces That Turned Baba Around Essays

An Analysis of The Forces That Turned Baba Around Essays An Analysis of The Forces That Turned Baba Around Essay An Analysis of The Forces That Turned Baba Around Essay In the article we hear about a 16-year- old boy with the name Battened Liked. A Brief look at Saba: He sees himself as a Bad boy, when he was 12 he had been suspended from school 5 times. He says Being suspended Just felt like a holiday and this is not the only thing. He says that he always Is In trouble, but then he says It does not bother me. The problem Is, that he gives a picture of that there is nothing that means anything to him. According to Baby Is his family the mall problem. He does not say It directly, but he mentions It In context which gives us the Impression that the family Is the problem. My dad left when I was very young, so mum was on her own with my two younger brothers and younger sister to look after, so she didnt have time to worry about me. This sentence says a lot. His dad leaved him/his family, so Baby has not had a role model in his life to look up to. On the same time he has 3 younger siblings which mean that his mother was all alone to provide the children . And because he was the oldest one, the siblings got more attention than he got. All these things made him act badly, robbery because he wanted attention somehow. This remains me of a documentary I saw on canal 4 with children which parents Is divorced. In an interview with these kids we got an Impression of that they were a victim for their parents divorce. When they were young they was very close, when they went older they became more aggressive. A girl said l dont care about anything. Why should l? It Just makes you crazy to think about every little detail. I only live once, and I dont want to waste my time in school. This attitude remains me of Baby. The Skill Force mad a program for children like Baby. It is a program which will teach this children/teenager to be more confident. Sarah Ferguson is a Skill Force instructor. She means that bad behavior is covering up the insecurity and that school does not have anything to offer these children. Bad behavior Is often a way of covering up Insecurities. Many of them lack confidence or feel that school has nothing to offer them. And she Is probably right. When a child Is close and struggle with a problem Inside him, what can school then do for him? There are not many children who can handle personal problems Ana problems In cocoons at teen same tale. Re aggressive and that is a indirect scream for help. I nee well Just Decode The program the Skill Force made contains activities which are fun but also challenging. Here they learn to go through the challenge to the end. And Sarah Ferguson says to this: The lesson is that you dont get anywhere in life if you dont work hard and stick at things. They do not only learn to see positive on the school but they also learns discipline. They also learn the principle: One in, all in. So if one fails the other fails too, they have to help each other which mean that there is no sore. This will help them out of the insecurity and after that they do not have to live with this bad behavior, but they can actually try to change their behavior. The On in, all in principle, do we see a lot in military. The soldiers are willing to die for their group which shows us how important it is to be there for each other and help each other. The text is based on 2 interviews. The one with Battened Aligned, and the other one with Sarah Ferguson. The text is filled with facts and to confirm the facts the writer have these two interviewers. Example: Unsurprisingly, neither the other boy nor his teachers saw the funny side. By the time he was 12, Baby had been suspended from school five times. l was always in trouble, he says. But it didnt bother me. Being suspended Just felt like a holiday. The language and the details with numbers and years confirm that this is a news article. And the interviews make the news article more realistic and reliable. It gives the reader an impression that it is a positive thing and that we can consider this possibility if there come a time when our children maybe could need this kind of caching. This article is especially for teachers who know that a child have problems in school. The teacher could tell the parents about their childs behavior and tell them which alternative there is for the child. This article is also for other teenager who has the same problem as Baby, but in their case they know that they have to change their lifestyle if they want to have a great future. I think that the goal is to make everyone understand that these children are not bad people. And for the children who have it like Baby, they have a chance to change it like Baby if they want o. The Skill Force is only trying to help the children. And like Sara Ferguson said: They come in as sullen teenagers and leave as confident young people. Who does not want to be confident? Who does not want to start over again and experience something new in a new environment where you can experience something fun beside something challenging? Personally I think that this whole idea with the program is great. People are different from each other. Some people think it is easy to take an education while other thinks it is unnecessary. But children/ manager does not know the reality yet, because they still lives with their parents. They do not know the worth of an education; they do not know how much it will help them to come through the life with an education in their baggage. If the teacher tanks Tanat It Is good Tort a canal a to try something else Tort teen nest, teen teachers should tell the parents about Skill Force. The Skill Force is a way to make these people understand the worth of an education. They teach them discipline like One in, all in so they cannot humiliate one another but they have to help each other. [ 1 The forces that turned Baby around. S. 1.

Groundwater Pollution in Bangladesh Essays

Groundwater Pollution in Bangladesh Essays Groundwater Pollution in Bangladesh Paper Groundwater Pollution in Bangladesh Paper 900 parcels of land each year. Contamination can occur from improper land-disposal techniques. Storage and Handling of Materials and Wastes Groundwater contamination as the result of storage and handling of materials includes leaks from both above-ground and underground storage tanks, as well as unintentional spills or poor housekeeping practices in the handling and transferring of materials on industrial and commercial sites. Aging underground Storage Tanks Possibly as many as 7 million steel tanks are used to store petroleum products, acids, chemicals, industrial solvents and other types of waste underground. The potential of these tanks to leak increases with age. About 20 percent of existing steel tanks are more than 16 years old, and estimates f the total number that presently leak petroleum products range from 25 to 30 percent. Underground storage tanks appear to be a leading source of benzene, toluene and Selene contami nants, all of which are organic compounds in diesel and gasoline fuels. Transporting and Stockpiling Many materials and wastes are transported and then temporarily stored in stockpiles before being used or shipped elsewhere. Precipitation can lea potential contaminants from such stockpile; storage containers can eroded and leak; and accidental spills mean occur as many as 10,000 to 16,000 per year, according to EPA estimates. Mining Practices Mining of coal, uranium and other substances and the related mine spoil can lead to groundwater contamination in several ways: * Shafts and tunnels can intersect aquifers. * Exposing coal to oxygen can form sulfuric acid, which can degrade water * Contaminants from tailings can leach into groundwater. Oil-Well quality. Bribes Since the asses, hundreds of thousands of exploratory and production wells have been drilled for oil and gas in the United States. During production, Oil wells produce bribes that are separated from the oil and stored in surface impoundments. EPA estimates that 1 25, 100 brine-disposal impoundments exist that might affect local groundwater supplies. Agricultural Activities Agriculture is one of the most widespread human activities that affects the quality of groundwater. In 1987, about 330 million acres were used for growing crops in the united States, of which 45 million acres were irrigated. Fertilizers During the 1 9605 and asses, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer use steadily increased to a peak of 23 million tons in 1981. By 1987, however, fertilizer use had declined to 19. Million tons, reflecting the large number of acres withdrawn from production as part of the Conservation Reserve Program and other government programs. If nitrogen supply exceeds nitrogen uptake by crops, excess nitrogen mean be leached to groundwater. In such areas, local nitrate-nitrogen concentrations may exceed the federa l drinking water standard of 10 MGM/L Pesticides Pesticides have been used since the asses to combat a variety of agricultural pests. Between 1 964 and 1 982, the amount of active ingredients applied to croplands increased 1 70 percent. Herbicide usage peaked in 1982, and since then has declined from about 500 million pounds of active ingredients per year to about 430 million pounds in 1987. In addition to crop applications, infiltration of spilled pesticides can cause contamination in locations where pesticides are stored, and where sprayers and other equipment used to apply pesticides are loaded and washed. Pesticides most frequently detected in groundwater are the fumigants ethylene debrief (DB) and 1 disproportional; the insecticides Aldrich, carbons and chlordane; and the herbicides alcohol and trainee. Feedlots Feedlots confine livestock and poultry and create problems of animal-waste disposal. Feedlot wastes often are collected in impoundments from which they might infiltrate to groundwater and raise nitrate concentrations. Runoff room farmyards may also directly enter an aquifer along the outside of a poorly sealed well easing. Irrigation Percolation of irrigation water into soils dissolves soil salts and transports them downward. Photoengravings of applied water from the root zone concentrates salts in the soil and increases the salt load to the groundwater. Checkmating, the practice of mixing and distributing pesticides and fertilizers with irrigation water, may cause contamination if more chemicals are applied than crops can use. It may also cause local contamination if chemicals back- siphon from the holding tank directly into the aquifer through an irrigation ell. Saline Water Intrusion The encroachment of saline water into the freshwater part of an aquifer is an ever-present threat when water supplies are developed from the highly productive coastal plain aquifers of the United States, or from aquifers underlain by saline water in the interior of the country. Local incidents Of saline water intrusion have occurred on all coasts of the United States. How Extensive is Groundwater Contamination Assessment of the extent of groundwater contamination is difficult, due to such factors as limited and inconsistent access to the water (usually pendent on wells and springs); the potential for bias in existing data (if originally collected to explore a particular water quality problem); incomplete information about the well (did the well draw from more than one aquifer? ; and inconsistent methods of sampling and analysis. It is also important to keep in mind that the trend of increasing reports of detections of contaminants in groundwater is largely due to the intensive search for contaminants now under way by many state agencies, as well as continued improvements in the sensitivity of analytical methods used to measure the concentration Of contaminants. The volume Of groundwater within 2500 feet of the surface has been estimated at 100 quadrillion gallons, or about 16 times the volume of the Great Lakes. Of this amount, at least half is too saline from natural causes to use for drinking water, although some of it may be suitable for other uses. The total amount of the remaining groundwater that is contaminated is unknown, although EPA estimates the amount contaminated by point sources to be 2-3 percent. Recent U. S. Geological Sunny studies have made the following assessments: * The United States has large amounts of potable water available for use. Locally, however, high concentrations of a variety of toxic metals, organic chemicals and petroleum products form plumes around such point sources as leaking underground storage tanks, waste disposal sites and chemical or waste handling areas. These types of problems generally occur in urban or industrialized areas, although they are found occasionally in rural areas. Large regions have been identified in which contaminants, derived from Nippon sources and often at minimum detectable levels, are present in many shallow wells throughout a given area. In a small percentage of wells, such contaminants as titrate may exceed drinking water standards or health advisories. Generally, s uch Nippon source contamination is associated with densely populated urban areas, agricultural land uses and concentrations of septic systems. Furthermore, such contamination commonly affects only the shallowest aquifers. * 20 percent of 124,000 wells sampled over the past 25 years contained a maximum nitrate-nitrogen concentration greater than 3 MGM/L, suggesting the effects of human activities. 6 percent of the samples exceeded the federal drinking water standard for nitrate-nitrogen of 10 MGM/L. Although 44 state summaries in the U. S. Geological Surreys 1 986 National Water Summary on groundwater quality mention detection of pesticides in groundwater, data are insufficient to draw conclusions about the extent of contamination. The state summaries do, however, express widespread concern that the frequency of detections and the concentrations of pesticides will increase over time. The U. S. EPA has compiled reports on the occurrence of 46 pesticides in groundwater. In 26 states, o ne or more pesticides have been tweeted in groundwater that mean be attributed to normal agricultural use. The most commonly detected pesticides are trainee and Aldrich. EPA currently is conducting its National Pesticide Survey to provide a nationwide estimate of the occurrence of pesticides in drinking water wells. The survey includes the collection of water samples from a statistically representative sample of community water system wells (600) and private wells (750). Interim results show that 6 of 180 community well samples collected thus far and 9 of 115 private well samples had detectable pesticide residues. Of the 15 wells that had detectable levels of pesticides,3 had concentrations that exceeded lifetime health advisory levels established by EPA. Of 295 wells ample thus far, samples from 8 wells had nitrate-nitrogen concentrations that exceeded the 10 MGM/L drinking water standard. All 8 samples were from private wells. Statistically reliable estimates of the percentage of wells contaminated will be available when the survey results are released in late 1990. Summary: How Contaminated is Groundwater? Although little systematic information exists on the extent and severity of groundwater contamination, available evidence suggests that * The shallowest aquifers generally are at greatest risk of contamination, especially those where the overlying unsaturated zone is thin and permeable. Contamination of shallow aquifers by nitrates and synthetic organic chemicals is widespread in many areas; * Shallow groundwater contamination can be related to land use. * As yet, deeper as fifers, which commonly are used for public drinking water supplies, are relatively free from contamination. Additional reports of groundwater contamination may be expected in the coming years, as federal, state and local agencies expand their groundwater quality monitoring programs using sophisticated analytical methods that can measure very small concentrations of contaminants. Groundwater moves very slowly, and it may be years after remedial actions re taken before improvements in water quality are obsessed. For this reason, the enhancement of the quality of the nation s groundwater requires a long- term commitment. More definitive assessments of groundwater quality will have to await the expansion of data-collection programs, the use of standard sampling and analytical procedures, research on the health risks associated with long-term exposure to very small concentrations of contaminants, and improvements in the computer models used to predict contaminant behavior.

Hyperlocal Journalism Definition and Impact

Hyperlocal Journalism Definition and Impact Hyperlocal journalism, sometimes called microlocal journalism, refers to coverage of events and topics on an extremely small, local scale. An example might be a website that covers a specific neighborhood or even a particular section or block of a neighborhood. Hyperlocal journalism focuses on news that would usually not be covered by larger mainstream media outlets, which tend to follow stories of interest to a citywide, statewide or regional audience. For instance, a hyperlocal journalism site might include an article about the local Little League baseball team, an interview with a World War II vet who lives in the neighborhood, or the sale of a home down the street. Hyperlocal news sites have much in common with weekly community newspapers, though hyperlocal sites tend to focus on even smaller geographic areas. And while weeklies are usually printed, most hyperlocal journalism tends to be online, thus avoiding the costs associated with a printed paper. In this sense, hyperlocal journalism also has much in common with citizen journalism. Hyperlocal news sites tend to emphasize reader input and interaction more than a typical mainstream news site. Many feature blogs and online videos created by readers. Some tap into databases from local governments to provide information on things like crime and area road construction. Who Are Hyperlocal Journalists? Hyperlocal journalists tend to be citizen journalists and are often, though not always, unpaid volunteers. Some hyperlocal news sites, such as The Local, a site started by The New York Times, have experienced journalists supervise and edit work done by journalism students or local freelance writers. In a similar vein, The Times recently announced a partnership with NYUs journalism program to create a news site covering New Yorks East Village. Varying Degrees of Success Early on, hyperlocal journalism was hailed as an innovative way of bringing information to communities often ignored by local newspapers, especially at a time when many news outlets were laying off journalists and reducing coverage. Even some large media companies decided to catch the hyperlocal wave. In 2009 MSNBC.com acquired the hyperlocal startup EveryBlock, and AOL bought two sites, Patch and Going. But the long-term impact of hyperlocal journalism remains to be seen. Most hyperlocal sites operate on shoestring budgets and make little money, with most revenue coming from sales of ads to local businesses that cant afford to advertise with larger mainstream news outlets. And there have been some conspicuous failures, most notably LoudounExtra.com, started by The Washington Post in 2007 to cover Loudoun County, Va. The site, which was staffed by full-time journalists, folded just two years later. â€Å"We found that our experiment with LoudounExtra.com as a separate site was not a sustainable model,† said Kris Coratti, a spokeswoman for the Washington Post Co. Critics, meanwhile, complain that sites like EveryBlock, which employ few staffers and rely heavily on content from bloggers and automated data feeds, provide only bare-bones information with little context or detail. All anyone can say for sure is that hyperlocal journalism is still a work in progress.

CRJ 422 Week 2 assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CRJ 422 Week 2 assignment - Essay Example The theory provides logical arguments that are systematic and provides specific, important causes of delinquency. The delinquency theories in the article are composed of propositions and concepts. The article further explores the use of research coupled with theories to unveil the causes and of delinquency. This provides a solid background in understanding juvenile delinquencies, which has been a problem in the society (Smith, 2008). In any contemporary jurisdiction, the best solution and preventions of social problems are significantly easy to find when the causes of such a problem are established. This article is anchored in such a philosophy, and has come up with several factors that influence the criminality among the juvenile delinquency. Such factors include drug influence, broken homes and low education among others. The articles describe how the factors that influence juvenile delinquency can be controlled and prevented. It delineates several critical and youthful measures that can be employed to achieve better results. Such include; wealth creation, enhancing parental responsibilities, education and training of the youths among others (John et al., 2013) . This article describes a significant transformation of juvenile delinquency in the courts of law. To promote a better understanding of handling the minor when they commit a crime, there should be juvenile courts instituted. The article describes the process of trying a minor in such court of law, how they get a competent attorney, and how they are helped through probation or per role basis. To promote all these, there should be enough staff from in the juvenile judicial system. The staff shall assist in maintaining the criminal justice as well as social justice in the community to avert juvenile delinquency. In USA, majority of young people agree to engage in some sorts of delinquent

Female and Male Political Elites in the U.S Essay

Female and Male Political Elites in the U.S - Essay Example Although great achievements have been made with regards women's rights, equality and representation in the past decades, the number of legislators and women in the cabinet still comprise of a few female elites. Only sixteen percent of women hold seats in the Congress and five females serve in President Bush's cabinet (Wolbrecht 1-10). In recent years, two women served as Secretary of State and another one will be serving with the President-elect once he assumes office. Another great stride for women is when Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House just recently. However, during the last election, the number of women seeking office for state legislatures faced a decline as compared to the previous elections and membership of women in national groups that could enhance their political influence also dropped in number.1 This is interesting to note as research have shown that the lower level of nominations and elections in the past contributed to the dearth of women in politics. How ever, this does not mean that women are disadvantaged in experience or sources of fund (Gaddie and Bullock, 761). On the contrary, women who sought office fared equally well with males in terms of financial ability. Gaddie and Bullock also asserts that the decline in the number of seats in crucial and elite positions in politics can be attributed to the dismal percentage of nominees among republicans (761). What is striking is that women who held more experience have a high probability of getting elected whereas voters pick men who are less experienced than women with less experience (Gaddie and Bullock 97). Nevertheless, women are still hesitant to run for office (Dolan in Wolbrecht 1-10). This only illustrates, that for women to achieve equal representation in the elite political circles, more women should run for office and gain further experience. In addition, there are factors that hinder women from achieving equal power and representation in contemporary political life. Although politics held a significance place for women before their enfranchisement, the realization of women's suffrage came after nearly a century of struggle. Yet this lengthy struggle only brought forth gender equality and equal citizenship but not equal representation and power in politics. (Wolbrecht, 6). Moreover, although women serve in different areas of politics, especially in legislature where their chances of increasing influence is considerable, this service is not matched by an increase in authority and power as they are thwarted by party affiliations, committees and caucuses (Reingold 33). Even Hillary Clinton, the most elite of the female politicians and a former first lady, is considered a mere 'junior senator' whose tenure in office is relatively short in the standard of a male elite politician. This is worsened by the perceived disparity of political focus that exists between male and female politicians. The notion that women enter politics on gender basis and considerations is asserted in the work of Kirkpatrick (242). Scholars observe that politics are different when women are involved (Wolbrecht, 5) and contend that activism plays a major role for decision and policy-making of a female politician. Naples, for instance, purports that the path that most female politician tread is one that center on progressive and

Procter nd Gmble nd 'Orgnistion 2005' Case Study

Procter nd Gmble nd 'Orgnistion 2005' - Case Study Example HÐ °lf the brÐ °nds were mÐ °rked with potentiÐ °l the growth while the rest were frozen. In Ð ° retÐ °il business more Ð °nd more occupied by privÐ °tely owned lÐ °bel goods, P&G’s top products were hÐ °ving difficulty competing. More Ð °gile competitors were left P&G behind the mÐ °rket by lÐ °unching products, executing mÐ °rketing plÐ °ns better Ð °nd finÐ °lly by fÐ °ster product innovÐ °tion. It wÐ °s Ð °lso thought thÐ °t P&G’s profitÐ °bility wÐ °s being slowed down due to increÐ °sing dominÐ °nce of retÐ °ilers like WÐ °l-MÐ °rt, who controlled the point-of-sÐ °le.In Ð °n Ð °ttempt to reinforce the growth, P&G Ð °nnounced Ð ° corporÐ °te restructuring progrÐ °m, cÐ °lled OrgÐ °nizÐ °tion 2005, in September 1998. The objective of the progrÐ °m wÐ °s to improve P&G’s competitive position Ð °nd generÐ °te operÐ °ting competences through more Ð °mbitious goÐ °ls, enhÐ °ncing greÐ °ter innovÐ °tions Ð °nd dimi nishing time-to-mÐ °rket. This wÐ °s to be reÐ °ched by considerÐ °ble redesign of compÐ °ny’s orgÐ °nizÐ °tionÐ °l structure, work processes, culture Ð °nd pÐ °y structures. OrgÐ °nizÐ °tion 2005 design Ð s it wÐ °s Ð °lreÐ °dy mentioned, OrgÐ °nizÐ °tion 2005 is the lÐ °test initiÐ °tive by Procter & GÐ °mble (P&G) worldwide Ð °nd the one thÐ °t defined the next phÐ °se of orgÐ °nizÐ °tionÐ °l development Ð °nd growth. ... 2) Plcing Compny's Globl Business Services to stndrdize systems, reduce internl opertions nd better serve customers worldwide; 3) Simplifying Compny's orgniztionl structure to reduce hierrchy nd hurry up decision mking. From the words of P&G Chief Executive Durk I. Jger, the compny ws ment to redesign orgniztionl structure completely, struggle for constnt innovtions through work process, substntil finncil benefits, fster speed of mrket nd greter growth. Under Orgniztion 2005, P&G is chnging from four business units bsed on territoril regions to seven Globl Business Units (GBU) bsed on product lines. This chnge is designed to drive greter innovtion nd speed by emphsizing strtegy nd profit responsibility globlly on mrkets, rther thn territories. P&G lso estblished eight Mrket Development Orgniztions (MDO), the regions whose objective ws to tilor globl mrketing progrms to locl mrkets nd develop mrket strtegies to build compny's entire business on superior consumer nd customer knowledge. Within Orgniztion 2005, P&G lso lunched Globl Business Services (GBS). Its overhed functions such s humn resources, ccounting, order mngement, nd informtion technology were consolidted from seprte geogrphic regions to one corporte orgniztion tht would serve ll GBUs. Finlly, P&G redefined the role of Corporte Functions. Most of the corporte stff were trnsferred to one of the new business units, with the remining stff refocused on developing cutting-edge new knowledge nd serving corporte needs. Costs of the Progrm Orgniztion 2005 involved substntil costs. Of the pproximtely $1.9 billion in costs, $400 million were plnned for 1999, $1 billion over the next two fiscl yers,

Tesco Supermarket Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tesco Supermarket - Case Study Example Organizational culture is the highly important aspect of today's corporate life. Culture is defined as a set of assumptions, beliefs, customs, traditions and other personal, social and organizational methods that are owned and practiced by a group of life (Teegarden et al., 2011). This definition clearly mentions two important aspects: beliefs and group. For a culture to exist and perform the function, it is highly essential that it must have both these elements without their existence, a culture will not exist and nor will be able to perform. Based on this definition, organizational culture can be defined as â€Å"the way things are done in an organization† (Karwowski, 2006.p. 2204; Cameron and Quinn, 2006). In simple words, organizational culture reflects that how employees think, carry out their actions and make decisions within an organization (Karwowski, 2006). In this regard, it is also important to highlight that every organization has its different culture which is alw ays unique and because of this uniqueness, each organization is culturally different and unique as well (Karwowski, 2006). On the other hand, organizational culture has also been identified as diverse and complex because numerous and range of behaviors, attitudes, and activities are being carried out simultaneously (Vavrusa, 2008).Before going to highlight Tesco supermarket’s organizational culture, it is highly essential to mention that organizational culture has different dimensions for Tesco customers and Tesco employees.

Technical Review 2 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Technical Review 2 - Research Paper Example This paper is a technical analysis of a new technology referred as Bitcoin. The paper seeks to discern how Bitcoin can support cyber security challenges already in place. At the very end, the paper will analyze potential loopholes for exploitation and misuse and give a way forward. Of late there has been a lot of buzz concerning electronic currencies and other virtual monies. According to (Kregel, 2010) there is great potential in shifting towards electronic funds or web cash. The web cash system is at the inception stage and given the level of activity accompanying it, it is expected to reach the maturity phase in a couple of years. JPMorgan has already submitted a patent which seems to set new stage for competition among the already well known players such as Bitcoin (Reardon, 2012). The patented technology referred as JPMorgan Chase, is a new paradigm that facilitate the creation of a new virtual cash accounts with real time digital exchange value. It works by exchanging real time digital exchange information without the involvement of third parties such as banks. The structural components of the system include a Payment Portal Processor or a digital wallet, an Internet Pay Anyone IPA account, a virtual private Lockbox, EFT network, a cash card and an Accou nt Reporter (Reid, 2013). It works by exchanging digital information in a real time basis with capabilities to archive all the transactions in a personal digital wallet. With advanced built in security features involving crypto-currency models, transactions are safeguarded against vulnerabilities and attacks (Verme, 2013). According to the International Journal of Community Currency and Research, other electronic digital monies and crypto-currencies have emerged over time since the turn of the decade (Ryan, 2012). Infinitecoin hit the market in 2013 and though it offers an easy adjustment rate, it offers a broad spectrum. Quark coin launched almost the same time and

Tesco Supermarket Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tesco Supermarket - Case Study Example Organizational culture is the highly important aspect of today's corporate life. Culture is defined as a set of assumptions, beliefs, customs, traditions and other personal, social and organizational methods that are owned and practiced by a group of life (Teegarden et al., 2011). This definition clearly mentions two important aspects: beliefs and group. For a culture to exist and perform the function, it is highly essential that it must have both these elements without their existence, a culture will not exist and nor will be able to perform. Based on this definition, organizational culture can be defined as â€Å"the way things are done in an organization† (Karwowski, 2006.p. 2204; Cameron and Quinn, 2006). In simple words, organizational culture reflects that how employees think, carry out their actions and make decisions within an organization (Karwowski, 2006). In this regard, it is also important to highlight that every organization has its different culture which is alw ays unique and because of this uniqueness, each organization is culturally different and unique as well (Karwowski, 2006). On the other hand, organizational culture has also been identified as diverse and complex because numerous and range of behaviors, attitudes, and activities are being carried out simultaneously (Vavrusa, 2008).Before going to highlight Tesco supermarket’s organizational culture, it is highly essential to mention that organizational culture has different dimensions for Tesco customers and Tesco employees.

Discuss the use of Lasers in Compact Disk Players for audio (CD) and Essay

Discuss the use of Lasers in Compact Disk Players for audio (CD) and computer applications (DVD) - Essay Example Ways of storing data is not the only thing that has improved over the years but also means of ensuring that information reaches the destination safely has improved from data taking days to be delivered to today where it can only take seconds to send and receive the same. Various digital methods have been improved with earliest development of laser optical being seen in the 70’s where they used light to capture any activity that took place on the surfaces of the compact disks. The laser could only capture the audio parts, but with various improvements, the compact discs can clearly capture the video segment and duplicate them in various copies. Technology is still expanding and being developed and so are the compact disks that it will come a time that most of the things we are using right will all be operating on digital basis. Principles of Operation of These Systems The laser light has the ability to be pure and coherent which makes it well suited for complicated applications for devices such as compact disc (CD) players (Rafiquzzaman, 2005). The light is focused with tremendous accuracy, which allows it to perceive the infinitesimal pits that appear at the surface of a music CD. Then there are the electronic circuits that single out the torrent of dark and bright patterns that the light identifies then decodes them into high quality music. CDs and DVDs are optical are visual storage mediums that have digital data recorded on top of them (Rushbrook & Roderick, 2002). These two devices uses compact disc player devises that are capable of reading the recorded data using optical beams, which accurately duplicates the original data such as pictures and music. There is a detector that is also referred to photodiode that receives rapid light waves being reflected on top of the CD. The photodiode is very sensitive to the laser light which makes it extremely significant in altering it to electric signals and other important signals used by digital devices. The compact disc player is created in a way that it reads the information by optical means making the tearing and wearing of the discs almost impossible. The technology that has been used for decades with CDs and DVDs is practically the same with only very minimal changes being made to the same (Clements, 1994). Whether the discs have been designed for video, audio or computer applications the basic operations are essentially the same. The laser operations work the same with all the compact devises that are required to store digital information for a period of time. Compared to the light from the bulbs, the laser lights contained a single pure color and all the lights effects are in sync which allows it to move in precise beams that do not extend out. These properties have been important for compact discs since the music information is divided into tracks of about one thousandth of a millimeter thick. This requires lens that focuses the laser light to a miniature spot that can locate th ese tracks (Rushbrook & Roderick, 2002). Their Historical Development The first video disc player to be made was manufactured in 1970 which actually used laser to pick information. The disc worked like today CDs by picking encoded information on the surface of a revolving optical disc and turning it into important information such as music (Clements, 1994). There were two main gases that were very important for laser disc player, this includes neon and

Obesity in the UK Essay Example for Free

Obesity in the UK Essay Obesity levels in the Untied Kingdom have reached an all time high with one in every four adults suffering from obesity. Childhood obesity has also drastically increased with 25 percent of boys and 33 percent of girls aged between two and 19 years being overweight or obese. There is little sign of this upward trend in obesity stopping, and it will have a significant impact on the state of the country. It will negatively affect the UKs economy and more importantly negatively affect the health of the UKs 63 million people. With obesity becoming this prevalent in our society is it not time we address this issue? I think it is, and one of the best ways in my opinion is to introduce a tax on fizzy drinks and fast food. This may sounds rather drastic when first heard but consider the  £5.1billion spent every year by the NHS to treat those with obesity related medical conditions. Now consider the 2535 branches of Burger King, McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut located all around Scotland and England, consider the number of products those branches sell and the amount of money that could be raised through taxes upon those products. That money could be spent on our NHS which is being crippled under the weight of budget cuts and the cost obesity is having certainly isnt helping the load. These taxes could also deter many from the promise of quick, cheap food from these outlets and could send them in the direction of healthier options. The recommendations in favour of taxing these food are quite reasonable, such as recommendation of taxes of twenty percent on sugary drinks for at least a year being put forth. Other initiatives are already in place to help tackle the UKs weight problem such as the Change 4 Life initiative run by the NHS which offers free nutritional advice to those who want it. The problem is though, that as much good as these schemes are doing they aren’t working well enough. The obesity levels in this country are still rising and we need more action to stop it. We need to have more healthy eating schemes in place around the country in places such as schools, at the work place and even at hospitals. People need to understand the risks of junk food and the major health effects it can have causing obesity, and with obesity comes a vast array of other negative  health effects which include heart disease, certain cancers, high blood pressure, joint problems, psychological difficulties and diabetes. There have been other recommendations on ways to tackle obesity with ideas like banning the advertising of foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt before 9pm, this can help with the problems of childhood obesity as children would be less likely to have seen these advertisements meaning they were less likely to be influenced by them. Another change that could drastically tip the scales towards healthier eating is giving local councils the power to limit the number of fast food outlets near schools and leisure centres limiting the availability of these types of food to young children. There are also plans for the government to spend  £300 million on weight management programmes, that may sound like a large amount but it is far less than the cost obesity is having on the pockets of the NHS. Taxation on tobacco products has already been proven to help reduce the number of smoking related deaths and the amount of money collected in taxes from tobacco products in 2012 ( £12.1bn) far outweighs the cost smoking related illnesses have on the NHS annually ( £5bn) so surely the idea of taxing fatty and sugary foods is not too drastic. Especially when there are around 35,000 obesity related deaths each year. Other ways to tackle obesity have to do with activities rather than food. Along with the increase in junk food intake by people in the UK there has also been a large lack of exercise or sporting activity. Most people nowadays have jobs that involve sitting at a desk for long periods of the day, this combined with the fact that most people commute to work by car or bus rather than walking equals to a lot of sitting down during the day. After work most people just want to relax and so often sit down on the sofa with a cup of tea and watch television rather than do something active. This problem is hard to tackle but if initiatives at the work place are introduced which include things like sporting clubs offered free by the workplace or other incentives to walk to work rather than drive this can serious help with the daily inactivity. The workplace can also help by removing vending machines that give out junk food and replace them with one  that give out a healthy snack. Finally one more thing the government can do to help with this problem is to subsidise the cost of healthy foods in shops. This will be useful as one of the main reasons people eat unhealthy food is because it is often cheaper than most healthier products. If the healthier products are cheaper than other choices then people are more likely to eat healthily. Or instead of subsidising the food the government could give out food vouchers to those struggling for money to give them discounts on the healthier products in shops. This combined with taxation on the fattier foods can completely change the perception of healthy food in this country and we can begin on the road to eradicating the problem of obesity in the UK. By Rajan Gill 11E

Relationship importance and Factors of Marital Adjustment

Relationship importance and Factors of Marital Adjustment Over the course of life, people learn to establish different relationships, with different values, expectations and commitments. One of those relationships is the marital relationship. For A good marital relationship marital adjustment is essential. Sinha Mukerjee (1990) defines marital adjustment as The state in which there is an overall feeling in husband and wife of happiness and satisfaction with their marriage and with each other. Locke Wallace (1959) defines marital adjustment as: accommodation of husband and wife to each other at a given time According to Spanier and Cole (1976), marital adjustment is a process, the outcome of which is determined by the degree of: a) troublesome marital differences, b) interpersonal tensions and personal anxiety, c) marital satisfaction d) dyadic cohesion, e) consensus on matters of importance to marital functioning. There are a number of factors that define a healthy marital adjustment. Some of these factors are Factors involved in Marital Adjustment: Wife employment and Marital Adjustment: Blumstein and Schwartz (1983) had earlier found that individuals, particularly wives, reported increased levels of self-esteem, self-concept, and self-worth were positively correlated with employment. Previous research on the relationship be- tween wife employment and marital adjust- ment has produced conflicting results: some investigations report a positive relationship between wife employment and marital adjust- ment (Burke Weir, 1976; Hartley, 1978); others suggest a negative relationship (Bean, Curtis, Marcum, 1977; Gover, 1963); other studies show no relationship (Bahr Day, 1978; Blood Wolfe, 1960). Nathawat and Mathur (1993) did a study in India about marital adjustment and subjective well-being in Indian-educated housewives and working women. Their results indicated that working women had better marital adjustment and subjective well-being. Working women reported high scores on general health, life satisfaction and self-esteem measures lower scores on hopelessness, insecurity and anxiety whereas the housewives had lower scores on negative affect than the working women. Trust and marital adjustment: Relationships are composed of trust, and sharing of intimate thoughts and feelings. They are built upon trust and sharing and they get stronger from these things (Finkenauer, Kerkhof, Righetti, Branje, 2009). According to Regan, Kocan, and Whitlock (1998) Trust is one of the most important component of a loving relationship. Also international studies have found trust to be a critical factor in the success of long-term marriages (Roizblatt et al. 1999; Sharlin 1996). In a longitudinal study, Kristina Moeller and Hakan Stattin (2001) report that adolescents with trustful parental relationships experienced greater satisfaction with their partner relationships in midlife. Quality of life and marital adjustment Psychological Factors: Depression stress (psychological well being) Lower psychological well-being is a major risk factor for relationship distress. Higher rates of relationship problems have been consistently linked to persons suffering from severe psychiatric disorders, including depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders (Bradbury, 1998). Many studies link marital conflict to depression (Beach, Arias, OLeary, 1987; OLeary and Beach, 1990). Although the authors propose a bidirectional causal relationship between marital conflict and depression, they suggest that marital conflict is typically a more powerful contributing factor to depression. Marital satisfaction appears to be an important factor of psychological well being. Marital distress has been linked with many psychological difficulties especially depression. (KAUSAR ANSARI.. thesis) . Belongingness and Marital Adjustment: According to Baumeister Leary (1995) Belongingness might have multiple and strong effects on emotional patterns and on cognitive processes. Lack of belongingness or attachments is linked to a variety of ill effects on health, adjustment, and well-being. In a close relationship there is a need to belong and if that need isnt fulfilled then problems may occur. One of the universal institutions is marriage which is accepted to satisfy the need for belongingness. Economics and Marital Adjustment Education and income have also been linked to marital satisfaction and marital conflict, with greater levels of education and income predicting greater marital satisfaction and less conflict. Economic stress has a negative effect on marital satisfaction and a positive influence on relationship dissolution (Johnson Booth, 1990). Economic strain is directly linked to increased couple disagreements and has direct impact on marital adjustment (Kinnunen and Feldt, 2004). Many researches haves been conducted on economic factor in relation to marital adjustment e.g Zedlewski (2002) studied economic factor in relation to family well-being , he found that low family income and limited benefits have negative influences on child and family well-being. Voyandoff (1990) studied economic distress and family relations.   Ross Mirowsky (1992) and Yadollahi (2009) studied that employment of spouses  and the sense of control in various types of stressors of marital life. Diener and Diener (2001) investigated that wealth is related to many positive outcomes in life. Gudmunson, Beutler, Israelsen, McCoy Hill (2007) found that financial problems significantly contributed to lower reported marital satisfaction among married couples. In a study in Finland conducted by Kinnunen and Feldt (2004) concluded that husbands unempl oyment is strongly associated with his marital adjustment. Couples with better economic resources are martially adjusted as compared to those who have limited economic resources. Economic hard times increased rate of martial distress.   (Blekesaunes   2008)   Personality and Marital Adjustment In a study by Bouchard, Sabourin, Lussier, Y. (1999) the relationship of various personality traits with marital adjustment was studied. Personality traits studied were neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness. The scale used to measure marital adjustment was dyadic adjustment scale. The results showed that women high in agreeableness and openness were more adjusted. Also males that were high on openness and agreeableness were more martially adjusted. Husbands openness was positively related to their wives marital adjustment. Open individuals may tolerate and respect differences in behavior and thought of partner which would reduce the number of conflicts and increase the consensus between spouses. Kim, Martin, and Martin (1989) and Levine and Henessy (1990) found that personality factors differentiated stable from unstable marriages. Stable marriages were more similar in intelligence, protension, radicalism, tender-mindedness, mutual trust, acceptance, enthusiasm, and genuineness. Personality factors that reduce the likelihood of stability and satisfaction have included the lack of warmth and extraversion (Levine Henessy); passive-aggression (Slavik, Carlson, Sperry, 1998); borderline pathologies (Paris Braverman, 1995); bipolar disorders (Peven Schulman, 1998); feelings of insecurity, unfairness, depreciation, and powerlessness (Begin, Sabourin, Lussier, Wright, 1997); disagreeableness, emotional instability, inconsiderateness, and physical abuse (Botwin et al., 1997; Kosek, 1996; Shackelford Buss, 1997); depression (Cohan Bradbury, 1997; Davila Bradbury, 1997; Fals-Stewart, Birchler, Schafer, Lucente, 1994); neuroticism (Karney Bradbury, 1997; Russell Wells, 1994a ; Russell Wells, 1994b); tension, anxiety, worry, and suspicion (Craig Olson, 1995); hostility, defensiveness, and aggression (Heyman, OLeary, Jouriles, 1995; OLeary, Malone, Tyree, 1994; Newton, Kiecolt-Glaser, Glaser, Malarkey, 1995); and negative affectivity leading to negative attributions (Huston Vangelistic, 1991; Karney, Bradbury, Fincham, OSullivan, 1994). Individual personality traits have also been linked to couples relationship functioning for both men and women. Personality traits of neuroticism, anxiety, and emotional instability have been shown to impair relationship functioning and reduce relationship satisfaction (Watson Clark, 1984). Additionally, personality characteristics of agreeableness and expressiveness have been referred to as individual protective factors, which may enhance marital satisfaction (Bradbury, Campbell, Fincham, 1995). Communication and Marital Adjustment: Communication is necessary for human growth and development also it serves as the essential foundation for marital success and is the facilitating process for an enduring marriage that is satisfying (Robinson Blanton, 1993). Communication within relationships is an important factor, if there isnt communication the relationship suffers. The relationship between marital communication and adjustment is a strong one (Murphy Mendelson 2004). Gottman (1995) in his book indicated that communication could be both productive and destructive to relationships as unhappy couples tend to criticize, disagree, complain, put down, and use excuses and sarcasm. Unrewarding communication patterns lead to the development of relationship distress (Markman, 1979). In contrast, happy couples with marital stability and satisfaction are more likely to use active listening skills, agree, approve, assent, use laughter and humor (Fisher, Giblin, Hoopes, 1982) and possess character virtues of self-restraint, courage, and friendship (Fowers Olson, 1986). Gottman (1995) has suggested that satisfied couples maintain a five-to-one ratio of positive to negative exchanges in interactions Gender also plays an important role in couple communication as there are gender differences in verbal and nonverbal communication with men tending to be more dominant in their interactions and women being more submissive (Tannen, 1990). Emmers-Sommer (2004) studied the effect of communication quality and quantity indicators on satisfaction in relationships. A key term in the study was quality time; this refers to focused, uninterrupted time spent with children, partners, friends, and significant others. Another key term used in the study was quantity time; this refers to frequency of communication or contact. For individuals to reach relationship satisfaction they have to examine the quantity and quality of their disclosures with their partners. Emmers-Sommer (2004) found that quality of communication predicts both relationship satisfaction and intimacy. The quantity of communication, however, was not a predictor for relationship satisfaction. Concealment/Non- disclosure and marital adjustment: Disclosure  as a phenomenon was first investigated by Sidney Jourard (1971). The process was originally defined as telling others about the self. Rosenfeld (1979) explained self-disclosure as the personal information of self that is only available from himself and is not available from other sources. Jorgensen Gaudy (1980) defines self disclosure as: A process by which a marriage partner ex- presses feelings, perceptions, fears, and doubts of the inner self to the other partner, allowing relatively private and personal information to surface in the relationship that normally would not be revealed in the course of day-to-day interaction. The word conceal has been originated from the Latin work Concelare , celare means to hide. Merriam Webster defines concealment as  to prevent disclosure or recognition. Concealment is the activity of hiding information and keeping secrets from other people. Larson and Chastain (1990) explained self concealed personal information as firstly, a subset of private personal information, secondly, it is accessible only to the individual and thirdly it is actively kept from the awareness of others. Thus, self-concealment involves the conscious concealment of private information like feelings, thoughts, actions or events that one perceives as highly intimate, distressing or negative. Even though concealment and disclosure seem the same, there is some difference between self-disclosure and self-concealment. According to Larson and Chastain 1990 the act of revealing personal information is self- disclosure whereas the act of concealing personal information is self-concealment. They argued that self-concealment and self-disclosure are two separate and distinct constructs even though they are related. Effects of concealment/non-disclosure on marital adjustment Feelings of Exclusion People usually resent it when they perceive that another person is keeping secrets from them. The general reaction towards concealment is that of exclusion since in that persons view his right to know is being violated. This level or degree of exclusion felt by a person is higher when these persons are in a close and intimate relationship (Finkenauer, Kerkhof, Righetti, Branje, 2009). Marital relationships are composed of trust, and sharing of intimate thoughts and feelings. They are built upon trust and sharing and they get stronger from these things. Therefore the quality of relationship is influenced adversely when there is a perception of concealment from partner. The perception of concealment effects on relationship quality, the person feels rejected or excluded (Finkenauer, Kerkhof, Righetti, Branje, 2009). The exclusion that is communicated by concealment can be assumed to violate almost all features and values commonly associated with close relationships, including trust, caring, honesty, friendship, companionship, unconditional acceptance, and respect (Finkenauer, Kerkhof, Righetti, Branje, 2009). Psychological effects To keep secrets or deliberately conceal information from others seems to be part of normal development. Even though every person has secrets they can sometimes be a burden. There are different types of secrets people keep like having cheated on an exam, having a disease, sexual orientation or having been sexually molested as a child. Most of these secrets involve stigmatizing or negative information that usually involves the secret keepers themselves. People who conceal negative or distressing information of self from others as compared to the ones who do not, are more depressed, anxious, shy and have low self-esteem.(Kelly, Klusas, Weiss Kenny, 2001) Effects of Disclosure on marital adjustment Self-disclosure and liking The earliest work done on the relationship between disclosure and liking was by Jourard (1959) who found a positive association between liking the other person and disclosing to that person in a sample of nursing students and faculty. A number of studies have been done on this relationship and confirmed that we disclose more to people whom we like. (e.g., Certner,1973, Fitzgerald, 1963; Worthy, Gary, Kahn, 1969) and also we tend to like the people who disclose personal information to us (e.g., Archer, Berg, Runge, 1980; Daher Banikiotes, 1976;Taylor, Gould, Brounstein, 1981). Self-Disclosure and psychological well-being Most of the studies done on the relationship between concealment and psychological well-being have shown the same results which are that higher levels of disclosure are associated with psychological wellbeing and lower levels of disclosure are associated with poorer mental health. Disclosing distressing information helps with the psychological well-being and not disclosing leads to poorer mental health. It is thought that disclosing distressing information helps psychological well-being by reducing the stress of keeping the information to oneself (Ichiyama et al 1993; Cramer, 1999; Barry and Mizrahi, 2005; Hook and Andrews, 2005; Kahn et al 2002). Gender differences and concealment: Concealment is behavior that is more common in males. On the other hand previous studies indicate that females are usually more willing to disclose distressing or personal information. Traditionally, discussing personal problems is a behavior that is considered more appropriate for females than for males (Kahn and Hessling, 2001). Among men, asking for help when faced with psychological problems is often perceived as a weakness (Jourard and Lasakow, 1958; West, 1970; Jourard, 1971; Cozby, 1973; Kelly and Achter, 1995; Kahn and Hessling, 2001). Moreover, traditional sex-role stereotypes suggest that females are more skillful in communicating and also are more concerned with issues of intimacy than are men. So an intimate disclosure by a man may be seen as less appropriate than a similar disclosure by a woman (Collins Miller 1994). All in all men who disclose are generally viewed as maladjusted whereas women who do not disclose may be viewed as maladjusted. (Collins Miller 1994). Age and tendencies towards disclosure/ non-concealment and in terms of age it has been found that young people are more likely to disclose than older people. (Jourard, 1971; Hook and Andrews, 2005). Literature Review: Labels such as satisfaction, adjustment, success, happiness, and quality have all been used in describing the quality of marriage (Fincham, Beach, Kemp-Fincham, 1997) Theories on marital adjustment and disclosure Social penetration theory: Many studies have dealt with self disclosure. One main theory that was a framework for the study is Social Penetration Theory (Altman Taylor, 1987). This theory was a model for the study because it looks at self disclosure as both the depth and the breadth. In this study the depth of self disclosure is an important factor when reaching satisfaction in relationships. Altman and Taylor use an onion as a metaphor for relationship development. They suggest that the onion represents the breadth and depth of self disclosures. On the outer layer of the onion individuals have the breadth of disclosures: a broad aspect of a person such as their tastes, worldview, and studies. As individuals go deeper into the onion, they get to the depth of disclosures meaning they get more detail on aspects of an individual. This represents the degree of a persons disclosure. The main route to deep social penetration is through individuals disclosures. The depth of penetration would represent the degree of personal disclosure. Altman and Taylor (1987) suggest the depth of penetration into the onion model is the degree of intimacy. This study examines the depth of penetration, breadth is equally important in relationships. This theory supports the idea that people who have a high level of depth in their disclosure will be more satisfied in romantic relationships. This theory does not examine the amount of self disclosure as it does the depth of self disclosure. Three competing models of marital disclosure and satisfaction Jorgensen Gaudy (1980) gave models for marital disclosure and satisfaction and according to Spanier (1976) marital satisfaction is a sub category of marital adjustment. According to the linear model of marital relationship, there exists a positive, linear relationship between marital disclosure and marital satisfaction. Marital relationship is characterized by factors like intimacy, trust and caring. Marital disclosure positively impacts these factors and therefore presence of these factors in a marital relationship systematically increase the level of marital satisfaction. Therefore, this model suggests that higher the level of marital disclosure greater will be the marital satisfaction and vice versa. The curvilinear model as opposed to the linear model suggests that a satisfying marital relationship exists only with medium levels of self disclosure. When self disclosure falls on the high or low end of the continuum of self disclosure, marital satisfaction will decrease. This means that too lack of self disclosure is not the only factor that results in low marital satisfaction. Extensive self disclosure might be perceived as nagging or too much complaining which might raise negative feelings of hostility in the spouse which in turn will decrease the marital satisfaction. Hence, according to this model moderate levels of self disclosure are characterized as a key factor in achieving high marital satisfaction. John Gottmans (1999) scientifically validated theory of marriage, based on 25 years of longitudinal research, is one of the leading theories in the study of marital satisfaction. Gottmans theory (1999) states that positive interaction and friendship is the key to marital satisfaction and the prediction of marital stability over time. According to Gottman (1999), a ratio of 5:1 positive to negative interactions is necessary for marital stability. Gottman defines marital stability as a satisfying marital relationship that is not disrupted by separation or divorce. He states, The most important finding was that more positive affect was the only variable that predicted both marital stability and happiness (p. 21). In Gottmans theory (1999), there is a process of what he calls sentiment override in couples. He states, Sentiment override can be either positive or negative. Negative sentiment override means that people have a chip on their shoulder. These types of partners are hypervigilant, looking for slights or attacks by their partner. Positive sentiment override means that even negativity by the partner is interpreted as informative rather than as a personal attack (p. 164). Positive sentiment override creates a milieu in which the partners are more tolerant and accepting of each other, while negative sentiment override creates a set of expectations that ones spouse will behave negatively. Similarly, OLeary and Smith (1991) refer to this phenomenon as cognitive attributional correlates of marital satisfaction. These authors state that distressed couples are less likely to objectively interpret positive behaviors from their spouses as positive and more likely to interpret the intent of their spouses statements more negatively than they were meant to be. Compared to non-distressed couples, dissatisfied spouses make attributions that cast their partners behavior in a negative light and these attributions in turn negatively influence marital satisfaction (Bradbury Fincham, 1990). In summary, according to Gottman (1999) as well as OLeary and Smith (1991) it is not what happens in the marriage, but how the partners perceive and define what has happened that is critical. Gottman posits that 69% of couples problems will be what he calls, perpetual problems, meaning largely unresolvable. He has found that in the case of the perpetual problems, it is important for couples to establish a dialogue, as opposed to a solution in these instances. When couples cannot dialogue about these issues, they often become gridlocked, where each partner becomes frustrated and eventually emotionally disengaged. The role of communication therefore plays an important role in marital satisfaction. Studies examining marital satisfaction vary in design, measurement, and outcomes, leading to a number of explanations accounting for marital satisfaction (Gottman, 1999). Perception of concealment has an adverse effect on marital relationships. Some researches have been carried out related to this issue. In a longitudinal study it was studied how perceiving concealment in close relationships influences marital well-being. The research showed that people in marital relationships who perceive their partner to be concealing information from them had poor relationships, mistrust and conflict between them. In the study it was also discussed that people who conceal information also perceive that the other person is concealing information from them. Perceiving concealment may give the other partner the impression that he/she is not desirable or cannot be trusted; it gives the other person the feelings of being excluded. And the feeling of exclusion may result in feelings of separation or estrangement which may result in marital conflict (Finkenauer et al., 2009). Another study conducted in Belgium has investigated disclosure and secrecy in close, long-term relationships. It showed in the study that secrecy contributed a lot to marital dissatisfaction. The study explains how a person who has a secret avoids a difficult topic rather than facing it to avoid conflict, while the other partner perceives the secrecy as a sign of suspicion, which contributes negatively to marital satisfaction. Another point in the study was that people trying to hide something on the way feel that they have to put on a mask for the other person so he/she doesnt get to know their secret; they have to pretend which may lead to less intimacy and closeness. People who felt comfortable with sharing their emotions and were able to talk about matters were more satisfied with their relationship. One of the questionnaires used to test their study was the Larson and Chastains (1990) Self- Concealment Scale (Finkenauer Hazam, 2000). Low expressiveness leads to dissatisfaction in a marital relationship. Miller et al. (2003) argued that expressive people are less likely to suffer decline in marital satisfaction. They found that spouses expressiveness was positively related to their own and partners affectionate behaviors and this affectionate behavior was in turn related with marital satisfaction. Expressiveness is positively associated with peoples perception of their partners responsiveness. Davidson, Balswick Halverson (1983) did a study on the Affective Self-Disclosure and Marital Adjustment. It was based upon 162 married couples. The study explains that the greater is the discrepancy in partners affective self-disclosure, the lesser is the individuals marital adjustment. READ WHOLE PAPER AND WRITE. Sprecher and Hendrick (2004) examined the relationship between self-disclosure and relationship quality and found a positive relationship between disclosure and relationship quality. Self-disclosure is an indicator of satisfaction in romantic relationships. Levesque, Steciuk, and Ledley (2002) studied how self-disclosure relates to the development of personal relationships, relational intimacy, and relationship dissolution. The results showed that perceived intimacy was strongly associated with level of self-disclosure. Self-disclosure was found to be strongly reciprocal. Levesque et al. 2002 found that the level of self-disclosure strongly influences individual differences between disclosers. HANSEN E.J SCHULDT J.W (1984) did a study on marital self-disclosure and marital satisfaction. The sample for the study was on a sample of 50 married couples of mean age 25 years and mean length of marriage was 3.18 years and mean education was 15 years. Scales used for measuring the variables were Jourards self disclosure questionnaire( jourard and Lasakow, 1958) and Spaniers (1976) Dyadic Adjustment Scale. the results of the study showed that wifes disclosure to husband was positively related to husbands marital satisfaction and husbands disclosure to wife was also positively related to husbands marital satisfaction. One predictor that may have particular importance to marital satisfaction is gender roles. According to Kurdek (2005) there are two classes of theories that explain the position about how men and women experience close relationships in different ways. the first class, that is the biological, posits that males and females in a relationship process events differently at the cardiovascular, endocrinological, immunological, neurosensory, and neurophysiological levels. For example Kiecolt-Glaser Newton (2001) in their research reviewed evidence showing that men are more physiologically sensitive to acute stressors than women and women showed stronger and more durable physiological changes than men in marital conflict. The other class that is the class of social psychological theories posits that both genders differ in ways that are directly relevant to relationship functioning like the structure and content of how the self is constructed, personality traits and socialized roles. The other class that is the class of social psychological theories posits that both genders differ in ways that are directly relevant to relationship functioning like the structure and content of how the self is constructed, personality traits and socialized roles. Other research has also substantiated that marriage disproportionately benefits men, with husbands reporting higher levels of marital satisfaction and well-being than their wives (Bird Fremont, 1991; McRae Brody, 1989; Schumm, Webb, Bollman, 1998). Gender is defined as the socially determined role of an individual that is ascribed as a result of his or her sex (Juni Grimm, 1994). Gender roles influence men and women in every aspect of their lives and relationships (Knox Schacht, 2000). Demographic characteristics including age, race, income, education, length of marriage, and religiosity, have been linked to marital satisfaction and marital conflict (Knox Schacht, 2000). Based on Gottmans (1999) research, length of marriage is also a significant predictor for marital satisfaction and marital conflict. He identifies two critical time periods of vulnerability in the marital trajectory, with the majority of couples divorcing within the first seven years of marriage. Couples who divorce within the first seven years of marriage have relationships characterized by having high levels of marital conflict. Conversely, a second vulnerable time period for the marital trajectory is 16 to 24 years of marriage. This is the next most likely time frame for couples to divorce. These relationships are characterized by spending little time together, lack of communication, and a lack of conflict expression. Gottman (1999) refers to these couples as two ships passing in the night.