Eliminating Bias Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eliminating Bias - Essay Example Both of these aspects of management bias send some signs of favorable predisposition on one group while the other group experiences unfairness, mistreatment and bitterness, which ultimately translate into poor performance. The reporting of these unfair treatments almost often goes futile with fear of being fired or increased discrimination. Management of human resource faces many challenges including management bias due to inherent human errors. Individual managers’ personality which is factor of several psychological development interactions is an issue almost beyond the junior worker’s control. This is therefore the reason why appropriate measures must be taken by the managers, to ensure that their management practices are favorable to all, regardless of their differences. Favoring one group of persons with respect to their different characteristics has been reported, indicating the extent to which these errors affect human resource management. Being a boss is one thing while exercising the best human resource management is yet another. Over several centuries, these errors have continually reduced productivity, at least until when the field of human resource management evolved to offer solutions (Wanq, 2010). Bias and unethical conduct are totally different things in management, since some aspects of its aspects are sub-conscious. The fact that management involves decision making on a high frequency than any other worker exposes managers to risks of being biased on several grounds. Causes of management bias could be weight, height, color, age, race or even ethnicity. Human resource management recognizes management bias as a conflict which must be resolved for performance enhancement. Conflict resolution means that the complete absence of the elements of conflicts may not be realized. It therefore necessitates the accommodation and utilization of the underlying forces of the conflict to a meaningful coexistence that enhances maximization of

Attitude change Essay Example for Free

Attitude change Essay Technology also brought about a change in attitude to many employees because of its personal approach where despite the fact that it allows teams to work together it is also an ideal partner for individual tasks to get done. Craiger JP (2006) claims that technology resulted to a generation of employees who are self starters and problem solvers. By using technology employees learned to work independently, even if they are also dealing with their work teams and welcoming team initiatives on the side. For instance, an employee who does not have a desktop computer or does not know how to use one will have to depend on an encoder or a secretary for files to be encoded, taking two people to finish one document. When errors occur, it will be an accountability of two people. Often, when the margin of error was crossed is impossible to determine. On the other hand, an employee who has a desktop computer and knows how to operate it can type documents himself and be accountable for the whole task. It will also take just one person for the task to be completed. Computer users and the technologically inclined employees are not the only ones who had an attitude change. Those who do not have access to technological innovations in their respective departments were also encouraged to learn how to operate the new gadgets to be able to contribute to the growth of the company and, of course, to avoid being left behind. For fear of being retrenched or laid off by the company for the benefit of accommodating people who can work with the innovations that the organization is adapting, employees are more open than ever to learn new skills specially those that are technological. The same attitude change affects job applicants, who are otherwise not yet members but intending to become members of an organization. Job applicants are now putting more effort in getting at least the simplest technological skills and know-how to get an edge in their job-hunting process, especially with the fact that the younger graduates are more competitive in this area of knowledge. Issues Most of the changes brought about by technology to businesses were positive. The claims cannot be far from the truth. Technology was created to bring in convenience and efficiency, which is what it delivered right from the very start. However, there are also notions as to how technology has largely affected the way in which employees and organizations function, albeit on a negative light. Communication? Contrary to above claims that technology helped the culture of teams to flourish, and that communication became easier through new innovations that companies were investing on, computers and other technological equipment is also blamed for the downgrade in organizational communication. Craiger JP (2006) stressed that computers did not allow employees to communicate until networks were created. There was a great divide between employees who are operating the new facilities, and those who are not. There is also a sub-divide between employees operating the new equipment. The great divide between employees occurs from the very start, when not all employees have access to technology. People who have the know-how are roomed in with the computers, and those who are still on manual work stay in regular cubicles where other employees are present, allowing for interpersonal communication. After much development, majority of employees in many organizations gained access to computers. The problem which turned out later on concerned the transferring, sharing, and merging of files and information within the organization. Born is the network, and things went well. Employees can drag and drop information from and to a colleague, and even share pleasantries with each other on the side. This is where the communication problem began. The problem with technology is that it allows people to be convenient. In fact, employees felt too much convenience that the simplest things are often put on the hands of technology. For instance, instead of dropping by to the nearby cubicle of a co-employee, one just has to click on some icons and send her message through the computer. The technologically-driven workplace also slowly transformed into an impersonal workplace where every bit of thing was coursed through technology. This posed miscommunication problems—messages and files which were not received, lost files, misinterpretation of messages, errors in routing messages, and so on. The list is boundless, but the solution is not far from reach as well. To aid this problem, companies must orient new employees and train existing employees on the art of effective communication, as well as the proper use of company technology. With proper information and education, it is possible for companies to be technologically inclined but still effective in their communication. Re-trainings and new hiring A necessity for many companies who are just starting their technological stance is the re-training of employees. Companies cannot expect all of their employees to be familiar with the jargons and processes of technology once it is initiated in the company. There is also the need for people to maintain the equipment and to troubleshoot them in case something wrong happens. Thus, even if majority of the existing employees know how to operate technological equipment, the company still needs to hire additional people or get an outsourced service for these. This, however, does not sacrifice the cost-effectiveness of business technology. Even if a company spends for additional people or service, the costs that it will incur will still be offset by the multiplicity of role that business technology can undertake. A good way to minimize the costs in this area is to train employees, including those knowledgeable, on the proper use and maintenance of the equipment and by developing guidelines for reporting any problem or damage so that proper and timely intervention can be made. Telecommuting woes A point of debate in the technological workplace is the telecommuting option for employees. This has long been a trend, which proved to be convenient for both telecommuters and their companies. With off-site jobs, telecommuters need not travel to their workplace and be stuck with an office routine. They can also perform personal tasks while working, and avoid the pressure of being confined in an office cubicle. For companies, it saves them the office space the employee needs, and the costs of electricity and other provisional expenses of keeping an employee on the job site. However, human resources managers have one problem with keeping and working with telecommuters and off-site employees in the organization: performance appraisal and monitoring. When an employee works off the job site, he holds his time and place. He may be calling a client for a presentation while waiting for the kids for a drive to the school, and meet the client for a lunch meeting just before going to the grocery for some things needed for dinner. While this requires incredible discipline for tasks to get done, there is no guarantee that all telecommuters have the required character it takes. This brings about the importance of monitoring and performance appraisal, which is an equally grueling task for human resource persons to do with telecommuters. But for many companies, the solution is easy. Monitoring and performance appraisal can be largely dependent on one thing: end product. Telecommuters should be given deadlines and work expectations, and they should in turn give back results. This can prove when an off-site employee has the discipline it takes to work away from work, of he needs to work with the boss around. Privacy issues The ease of organizing work teams is undoubtedly one of the better benefits of modern technology to organizations, but it is not also ideal at all. With the convenient dragging and dropping of information throughout the network of technologically driven companies, it is easy for information to leak and for privacy seals to be broken. On a smaller scale, it can be as simple as one employee stealing the proposal of another employee; or one team member taking full credits to the collaborative work of a work team. On a larger scale it can be the theft of significant company information, or the leak of personal information of employees. This is a possibility to which all companies are susceptible. The exposure of an organization to modern technology, especially that which binds the company to networking, also puts many of its information and exchanges out in the open. Companies, however, need not fret. As privacy has been an utmost concern for many developers of technology, many solutions are now available for companies to protect themselves and their systems. A wide range of products are available to suit many companies’ generic needs, and many developers have come up with security measures that can be customized according to the needs and preferences of an organization. It should be noted, though, that security software and technology does not erase the possibility of privacy issues from taking place. While it can secure much of a company’s information, proper care and understanding of privacy clauses and measures by employees are equally important. Too fast and too furious Another issue concerning companies is the fast turnover of technological trends. New computers and gadgets are introduced everyday, and what is trendy today can be obsolete in a matter of months. While there are companies who are true to their subscription of technology, and strive to invest in newer, better models to improve their standing and service, not all companies can keep up. It can be disheartening for an organization to invest thousands of dollars in innovations, only to find themselves looking for an upgrade months after. Technology’s game is simple: the newer, the better. However, this game should not work for companies as well as they have financial books to consider. For business technology, the key is that whichever fits the company best is the better alternative. Unless very necessary, companies should not feel pressured in constantly buying new equipment every so often to keep up with competition. Delivery of good products and service is what matters most.

The Life of Edgar Allan Poe Essay -- Edgar Allan Poe Writers Authors E

The Life of Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be the father of the short story by many. Over the course of his life, he wrote hundreds of short stories and poems. His writing style is unique and influenced by the tragedies that occurred over the course of his life. In fact, he is most well known for writing morbid stories and gruesome, dismal poems. Indeed his writing habits were heavily influenced by his life. His life was full of depression, angst, and woe. Many of the people he cared for fell victim to deadly plagues and diseases. To cope with this pain, Edgar Allan Poe sought comfort in the bottom of a bottle. In his times of depression he would drink heavily and become sick for days at a time. In between his fits of alcoholism and depression, he wrote. When he wrote, he wrote well. Edgar Allan Poe led a life full of tragedy and troubled times. Although he kept an air of dignity and pride around him, he often felt very lonely and depressed. This feeling of desperation greatly influenced his unique and often morbid writing style. Edgar Allan Poe had very humble beginnings. Within the first three years of his life, he lost both of his parents and was separated from his siblings. Edgar Allan Poe’s parents had a background that can be credited for his imagination and love of writing poems and short stories. His parents, David and Elizabeth Poe, were both actors and stage performers. Although poor, David and Elizabeth were well known on the stage, and played as important characters in assorted plays including comedies and Shakespearean dramas. David Poe preferred to take on minor roles in plays, but was credited by critics as good nonetheless. Elizabeth scored many lead actress roles, but still the two only had enough money to live poorly. They were too poor to care for their firstborn son, William Henry Poe, and had to send him off to his grandparents who were to care for him. On January 19, 1809, Edgar Poe was born. Edgar’s father was suffering heavily from alcoholism, and eventually left Elizabeth to care for her son alone. Elizabeth, however, was showing signs of tuberculosis and was pregnant with a third child. She was struggling to support her family by playing various theatrical roles for money. Soon she was too weak to continue acting. The owner of the theater company she worked for placed adds in newspapers to rais... ...aring, the man orders to bird to vacate his door and his life, and â€Å"Take thy beak from out my heart.† The bird does not leave and the poem ends describing how the bird’s looming shadow crushes the man’s soul beneath it, trapping the man forever in a state of gloom and misery. So it was that Edgar Allan Poe led a life filled with misery, depression, loss, and heartbreak. He sought respect from his foster father and fame among his peers. But because of the ravages of alcohol, he drank all of his blessings away, and what he was left with, abandoned him. His life long dream was to own his own magazine but his lifelong financial problems kept the dream always just out of reach. He did however manage to become the father of the short story, and the first comprehensive detective story author. During his time, his literary works were overlooked or slandered by his many enemies. But now, to this day, Edgar Allan Poe is a household name. His works such as â€Å"The Raven† are known to almost everyone for their rhythmic meter and captivating emotions. The tragedies in Edgar Allan Poe’s life left him lovesick and depressed, and compelled him to write about tales of beauty, love, and loss.

First Ice Story

â€Å"Ok I'll pick you up at nine† â€Å"Thanks see ya later† As she hangs up the phone her mother lightly taps on the door to her room. She strolls in with a mixed look of worry and annoyance on her face. She takes an almighty breath waiting for the inevitable argument she is about to have with her mother. â€Å"Ok I'll pick you up at nine† â€Å"Thanks see ya later† As David puts the phone down he feels a small drop of sweat trickle down the side of his face. He decides to open the window and as he does so a numbing blast of freezing winter air thrusts through the open window. Whilst David is checking the local cinema listings for a film that he and Louise can watch, the first snow flake of winter falls to the ground outside the house nestling on a fallen leaf instantly melting and running onto a small spider that is hiding from the cold trying to keep warm. The room lights up suddenly from the TV set, the curtains drawn, and the cat fed and watered, Louise locks the door and continues down her garden path. Suddenly Louise slips on an unforeseen ice patch, snapping on of the heels of her shoe, she knew wearing high heels was going to be a bad choice! David climbed into his car and turned the heaters on so that when Louise got in it would be nice and warm. This was David's first car, a Ford Escort and it was his pride and joy, his baby that he looked after and cared for as if it had it owns life. Louise walks down the slippery side path and ahead of her she notices a small group of boys, no older than 14 or 15, she thinks shall I go another way? But decides she will be fine. As she approaches them one boy notices her walking their way and alerts his mates to her presence. As she gets closer she realises they were much older than she first thought. At about 6ft tall a piece the boys began to spread out as she got closer. Being polite Louise says thank you ands walks by but she feels a sudden grab of her arm and a freezing shock shoots all over her body. David tears down the country lanes heading for Louise, although he doesn't know what was happening to her, he can almost feel that all is not right. Not far now until he is with Louise, the speedometer increasing rapidly. What he doesn't notice is the police car slowly catching up with him, sirens blaring until David quickly checks his mirrors and notices the blue flashing light. Two things go through his mind, â€Å"Do I stop?† Or â€Å"Do I get to Louise and face the consequences later?† Unfortunately he chooses to wrong thought as he sped up to 75mph in a 30 mph zone. The inevitable happens. David collides with a parked car as he flies round a blind corner, he dies on impact. Louise struggles away from the group of boys and runs as fast as she can, aware of an ambulance screeching past her. Louise could hear the muffled sound of the ambulance radio and hears the words David and Ford Escort. She panics and gets her mobile out to call him, but her phone is dead. Heart racing she runs down the street to the nearest phone box puts the money in, dials the number only to have a man answer the phone. The man explains he is a police officer and David was involved in a fatal car accident. Her face turns as pale as a ghost, her hands a cold as ice and her legs turn to jelly as she replaces the receiver. She falls to floor huddles up in the corner of the phone booth sobbing and wondering what she has done to deserve this pain she was now suffering.

Identity of African American Men Essay

â€Å"No metaphor can capture completely the complexity of ethnic dynamics in the U. S. ‘Melting pot’ ignores the persistence and reconfiguration of the ethnicity over the generations. ‘Mosaic,’ much more apt for pluralistic societies such as Kenya or India, is too static a metaphor; it fails to take in to account the easy penetration of many ethnic boundaries. Nor is ‘salad bowl’ appropriate; the ingredients of a salad bowl are mixed but do not change. ‘Rainbow’ is a tantalizing metaphor, but rainbows disappear. ‘Symphony,’ like ‘rainbow,’ implies near perfect harmony; both fail to take into account the variety and range of ethnic conflict in the United States. The most accurately descriptive metaphor, the one that best explains the dynamics of ethnicity, is ‘kaleidoscope. ’ American ethnicity is kaleidoscopic, i. e. ‘complex and varied, changing form, pattern, color†¦ continually shifting from one set of relations to another; rapidly changing. ’ When a kaleidoscope is in motion, the parts give the appearance of relationships. The viewer sees and endless variety of variegated patterns, just as takes place on the American ethnic landscape. †- Lawrence Fuchs (Literature for Composition 1032) â€Å"Identity in America† was the theme chosen by my English 201 study group. This theme was taken from chapter twenty two of the Literature for composition: Reading and Writing Argument text book. However, I focused the broad theme of â€Å"Identity in America† to the more narrowed theme of â€Å"The Display of African American men in the media. † I chose this theme or topic because I felt that I can relate to it and as a matter of fact, it was also interesting to me. But in order to conduct my research on the particular topic, I came up with the following question, â€Å"How has the identity of African American men been displayed by the media: negatively or positively? † This question was chosen in order to provoke an argument for discussion. I conducted several interviews in order to acquire information about my selected topic. The media’s display of the identity of African American men can be discussed or looked at from two angles: negatively or positively. First, from my experience I can say that the media displays African American men in both lights, negatively and positively. But after conducting interviews with several individuals, my opinion has somewhat changed. I was always aware of the negative images of African/black men in the media. But I was not aware that this display had evolved overtime. My first interview was conducted with April T. Glasgow, a communications major at the University of the Virgin Islands on Wednesday 20th February 2008, at approximately ten o’clock in the morning. We conducted the interview at her dorm’s lobby. I had explained the topic prior to meeting with her, so she already had an idea about what issue the discussion would be addressing. Generally, her opinion was that black men were being exploited and portrayed negatively by the media. She also stated strongly that black men were too often portrayed or given the roles of thugs, gangsters, and pimps in films and magazines. In addition, a suggestion she made on how we could resolve this stereotype was that black people must unite and stand up against these negative portrayals especially those in rap music videos. The second interview was carried out that same day with Professor Alex Randall. His general statements were that the media has changed over the years. â€Å"The negative portrayals of the 1960’s and 1970’s have changed,† Randall stated. Randall felt that in modern times, people of color were treated more fairly and given a more positive portrayal in the media. Randall stated that there were many positive images in the media of African Americans, such as Denzel Washington, Barack Obama, Michael Jordan, and Bill Cosby. In addition, Randall said that in previous years no such image could have been seen in the media. â€Å"We are rational human beings and it’s our choice to choose what part of the spectrum of negative and positive images we would want to emulate,† said Randall. This statement impacted me and slightly changed my opinion on the topic. At that point in conducting my primary research for the paper, my position on the topic has somewhat been altered. After conducting the interviews with April T. Glasgow and Professor Alexander Randall I have become more open minded to the issue. I would admit that I was initially a bit biased and reserved on the topic prior to evaluating the topic from both sides; negatively and positively. In order to decide which position I was going to take I would have to do more secondary research on the topic. Since I started this research paper my observation and assessment of the media have taken a different turn. I now compare and contrast men of other races in the media to African American men. My secondary research was, for the most part, completed using internet sources. The articles that I discovered on the web were very useful and contributed greatly to my research. Three internet articles were analyzed to achieve the secondary data for my paper. The first article I examined was â€Å"The Media’s Bias against black men in America. † The article was basically a discussion of a piece written in the New York Times about the plight of American black men. The author, Armstrong Williams, stated that the New York Times article was another example of major media outlets using negative statistics to consistently cast black men as the scourge of this country. Williams made several strong and interesting statements throughout the article that I thought was beneficial to this research paper. For example, according to Williams, â€Å"The continual coverage of the black man’s plight instead of his progress only hinders his growth, holds back our country from true equality, and hides the truth about the opportunities and challenges that we all face†(Williams  ¶4). Williams also suggested that the American public should challenge the lack of coverage of American black progress in this country (Williams  ¶5). â€Å"In the last century black men have literally gone from being slaves to business owners, government leaders, lawyers, doctors, firemen, generals, entertainers, and educators. No other oppressed class of people anywhere else in the world has advanced its standing in a society this quickly† (Williams  ¶6). I was really impressed by the way Armstrong used this statement to present his argument. In addition, Williams stated that the incidence of drug use, crime, scandal, divorce, and other social ills have increased dramatically for white men, but these statistics are not reported as problems about ‘white men’ in America (Williams  ¶6). â€Å"Approximately 9 out of 10 serial killers are white males between the ages of twenty and thirty five. Yet we never hear these statistics repeated over and over again in the mainstream press, making these crimes synonymous with one particular race as in this case with blacks† (Williams  ¶9). Later in the article Williams explained the image the media is creating internationally. The overseas media continuously places black men in negative positions such as school dropouts, irresponsible fathers, and victims of perpetual racism. The manner in which these stories are constructed and then, displayed to listeners and readers eliminates the possibility of believing that black men do not have positive roles (Williams  ¶10). Therefore, I agree with Williams that the repetitive negative articles can create a vicious cycle of harmful images and low expectations of black men. â€Å"The Black Image in the White Mind† is the title of the second internet article that I examined. The article was useful in constructing my opinion on the topic of how African American men are displayed in the media whether negatively or positively. The article presented some useful statistical data that was quite interesting and yet shocking to me. In this article by Robert M. Entman, he stated that a mug shot of a Black defendant is four times more likely to appear in a local television news report than of a White defendant (Entman  ¶2). He went on to say that the accused is two times more likely to be shown physically restrained in a local television news report than when the accused is a white man (Entman  ¶2). According to Entman, â€Å"The name of the accused is two times more likely to be shown on screen in a local TV news report if the defendant is black, rather than white† (Entman  ¶2). In addition, he stated that while black actors are now more visible in media, it is an open question as to how well they are being represented (Entman  ¶2). The Third article that I examined was â€Å"Black youth and mass media: current research and emerging questions† and I found it to be the most interesting of the three. This article was written by Craig Watkins, an Associate Professor of Sociology and Radio-Television- Film at the University of Texas at Austin. The article was basically an outline of some of the important research findings and emergent issues that examine the changing relationship between black American youth and the mass media industry (Watkins  ¶5). Watkins stated that for most of its history the mass media industry has produced images that distort and misrepresent the complexities of the African American experience (Watkins  ¶9). He stated that contemporary media representations of African Americans can be best described as paradoxical because blacks are simultaneously underrepresented and overrepresented in American media culture (Watkins  ¶9). According to Watkins, â€Å"blacks are underrepresented in many areas of mass media they are over represented in television sports broadcasts and crime and violence related portrayals† (Watkins  ¶13). Watkins said that images of blacks in magazines have increased but they are predominantly portrayed in athletic roles. According to Watkins, African American men are more likely to appear as athletes or musicians (Watkins  ¶14). The strongest statement throughout the article was when Watkins stated that the ‘athleticization’ of the black men in the media reproduces and popularizes long-standing myths about biological and intellectual differences between blacks and whites (Watkins  ¶15). Further analysis of Watkins’ article indicated that when African Americans are portrayed in television news it is generally in aggressive, violent, or criminal roles. Also, a recent analysis of the film industry asserts that blacks tend to be restricted to low budget features that focus disproportionately on crime, violence, and youth delinquency. The repetitious display of blacks in athletic roles creates a limited range of adult and professional role models for young black males being that they are faced with only few media images of successful African American men. The internet articles that I examined clearly showed that there is strong evidence to prove that African American men are negatively and unfairly displayed in the media. After examining these internet articles, I felt that even though they were some positive images of African American men in the media the majority of images are in some way biased or negative. After evaluating and examining my internet sources, I turned back my attention to my English 201 text book, Literature for Composition: Reading and Writing Arguments to get some more insight on the matter. While reading through chapter twenty-three, I came up on a quote from Lawrence Fuchs that I found to be tied in well with my overall all theme of identity in America. I decided to place this quote at the beginning of the research paper a sort of introduction to the overall theme. I chose this quote because it describes the complexity and internal conflicts of identity in America. Speaking of conflicts between identities, Hotel Rwanda is a film that displays such conflict to the extreme. This film was shown in class by my English professor because she said that it was in some way related to our theme and that it could also be used as a part of our secondary research. I did not really understand the connection with our theme until I saw the film. Hotel Rwanda is a historical drama about the hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina played by Don Cheadle during the Rwandan genocide and was directed by Terry George in 2004. The movie is actually based on the Rwandan genocide that occurred in 1994 where almost one million of both Tutsi and Hutu individuals were killed. In the movie which is a reflection of what actually took place, the media was used to instigate conflicts between the Tutsi and Hutu. Throughout the actual conflict the media was used as a tool to falsely display Tutsi’s as the scourge of Rwanda. For example, the radio station, RTLM was used to spread negative and hate messages about the Tutsis such as â€Å"Why do we hate the Tutsis? They are cockroaches†¦Rwanda is Hutu land. †(United Arts. Dir. Terry George. United States, 2004) All in all, it is quite evident from the primary and secondary research that there are both negative and positive displays of African American men in the media. Since the interviews I am more aware that the display of African Americans has changed over time for the better. However, from the Internet articles I have discovered that there are still a lot of negative images of African American men in the media. In addition, I learned that there are still many biases when presenting African American men in media whether on radio, television, or magazines. Overall, the research was very interesting and informative. April T. Glasgow and Professor Alexander Randall were very helpful in making my research paper a success. From carrying out this research paper I was able to conduct some interesting interviews, especially with Professor Randall. I was truly able to critically interpret and analyze the investigation in addition to improving my overall research skills. The research process was a learning experience that I will never forget. Works Cited Barnet, Sylvan, Burto William and Cain E. William. Literature for Composition. New York: Longman, 2007. Entman, Robert and Rojecki, Andrew. â€Å"Media and its Portrayal of Black Americans. † racerelations. about. com. New York. 2008. . Glasgow, April T. Personal Interview. 20 Feb. 2008. Hotel Rwanda. Dir. Terry George. Lions Gate Films and United Artists, 2004. Randall, Alexander. Personal Interview. 20 Feb. 2008. Watkins, S. Craig, â€Å"Black Youth and Mass Media: Current Research and Emerging Questions. † < http://www. rcgd. isr. umich. edu/prba/perspectives/winter2000/cwatkins. pdf>. Williams, Armstrong. â€Å"The Media’s Bias Against Black Men in America. † 31 March 2006. .

Free Essays on Music As Therapy

The following examples illustrate some of the procedures used in music therapy. Although these are only a sampling of the methods used by music therapists, they provide a general idea of how music therapy can work.Singing is used to help people with speech impairments improve their articulation, rhythm, and breath control. In a group setting individuals develop a greater awareness of others by singing together. Songs help elderly people to remember significant events in their lives which they may then share with others. Lyrics are used to help people with their mental disabilities sequence a task.Playing instruments can improve gross and fine motor coordination in individuals with motor impairments. Playing in instrumental ensembles helps a person with behavioural problems to learn how to control disruptive impulses by working within a group structure. Learning a piece of music and performing it develops musical skills and helps a person build self-reliance, self-esteem and self-disc ipline.Rhythmic movement is used to facilitate and improve an individual’s range of motion, joint mobility / agility / strength, balance, co-ordination, gait consistency, respiration patterns, and muscular relaxation. The rhythmic component of music helps to increase motivation, interest, and enjoyment, and acts as a nonverbal persuasion to involve individuals socially.Improvising offers a creative, nonverbal means of expressing feelings. It helps the therapist to establish a bond of trust with a person and serves as a useful assessment technique. Through vocal, instrumental, and movement imp rovisation a person interacts with another and explores feelings which are difficult to express verbally. Improvising offers an opportunity to make choices and deal with structure in a creative way.Composing is used to develop cooperative learning and to facilitate the sharing of feelings, ideas, and experiences. For hospitalized children, writing songs is a means of ... Free Essays on Music As Therapy Free Essays on Music As Therapy The following examples illustrate some of the procedures used in music therapy. Although these are only a sampling of the methods used by music therapists, they provide a general idea of how music therapy can work.Singing is used to help people with speech impairments improve their articulation, rhythm, and breath control. In a group setting individuals develop a greater awareness of others by singing together. Songs help elderly people to remember significant events in their lives which they may then share with others. Lyrics are used to help people with their mental disabilities sequence a task.Playing instruments can improve gross and fine motor coordination in individuals with motor impairments. Playing in instrumental ensembles helps a person with behavioural problems to learn how to control disruptive impulses by working within a group structure. Learning a piece of music and performing it develops musical skills and helps a person build self-reliance, self-esteem and self-disc ipline.Rhythmic movement is used to facilitate and improve an individual’s range of motion, joint mobility / agility / strength, balance, co-ordination, gait consistency, respiration patterns, and muscular relaxation. The rhythmic component of music helps to increase motivation, interest, and enjoyment, and acts as a nonverbal persuasion to involve individuals socially.Improvising offers a creative, nonverbal means of expressing feelings. It helps the therapist to establish a bond of trust with a person and serves as a useful assessment technique. Through vocal, instrumental, and movement imp rovisation a person interacts with another and explores feelings which are difficult to express verbally. Improvising offers an opportunity to make choices and deal with structure in a creative way.Composing is used to develop cooperative learning and to facilitate the sharing of feelings, ideas, and experiences. For hospitalized children, writing songs is a means of ...

buy custom Wallace Group essay

buy custom Wallace Group essay Organizations have different reasons for diversification. One of them is to gain synergy among business units. The Wallace Group diversified vertically by acquiring suppliers, but the business did not perform as expected. This essay will evaluate the most critical problems that the Wallace Group is facing, as well as discuss appropriate strategies to solve the issues and provide an opinion on Wallaces diversification plan. Poor leadership is the first important problem that occurs at Wallace. Leadership is the means through which a person influences others to attain an objective (Hoyes 60). The effectiveness of leaders depends on the followers perception of them and the extent to which they agree with the leaders philosophies and values. The unsatisfactory leadership at the Wallace Group emerges because of the Presidents inability to influence the rest of the workers. First, he does not appreciate the contribution of other employees. Consequently, they become frustrated. Everyone in the company invests to its health and awareness regardless of the position they hold in the organizational structure. Therefore, the failure by the President to harness the potential of the employees has affected the performance of the enterprise negatively. As a result of the inadequate management, the Electronics, Chemicals and Plastics functional groups work as independent units instead of being cohesive parts of the Wallace Group. The lack of coordination has prevented all three divisions of the company from achieving the synergy and complementarity. Leaders must take a systemic thinking approach, which allows them to see how the different parts of the organization fit into the corporations strategy. Since each of the units functions independently, Wallace cannot determine what the problem is, and that is why there was a need to hire a consultant to advice on how to run the organization. Before deciding to diversify, Wallace did not create a strategy that would outline the tasks and the people accountable for them. Consequently, the staff of the organization is determining each persons responsibilities while promoting the technical people at managerial positions despitetheir inexperience. The corporate employees are not efficient enough to provide guidance and coordination to the functional units of the company because they are at their learning stage. The second essential problem at Wallace is the inadequate management of the personnel. The first admission that Wallace made to the consultant was that managing people was problematic. The company has no human resource policy on job descriptions and the modes of deciding the qualification of workers. Thus, the administration hires unqualified people for the engineering and advanced systems. Both the directors of engineering and advanced systems reject them, creating a shortage of skilled employees. The current workers are overwhelmed with their duties, which contributes to their low morale. Moreover, the company has no benefits and reward systems apart from the stock ownership program. The stock option may not motivate the workers enough because it is dependent on the companys performance, which is currently minimal. The absence of a training and development program also highlights the personnel management deficiencies. Those holding the management positions without prior experience cannot improve the situation, and thus, will continue underperforming. The process of training and developing workers relates positively to organizational effectiveness (Niazi 43). The first recommendation for Wallace to solve the above-mentioned issues is to create a collaborative work environment where people from all the units can contribute to the decisions of the company. Such an environment is the first step towards creating policies and strategies that are effective. To achieve this objective, Wallace needs to involve all the vice presidents and program directors in making decisions. Their opinions will provide the administration with a holistic view of the organization and give suggestions on how to eliminate the current problems. Secondly, Wallace should promote the creation of a unified strategy that will outline the role of each functional unit and their contribution to the organizations performance. Leadership is critical in both the creation and implementation of the strategies (Azhar et al. 33). Sincee the realization of the strategy depends on all employees, involving the leaders at various levels, it is critical to encourage the frontline employees to accomplish it. In order to solve the non-cooperation among the functional units, the leaders at Wallace should create cross-functional teams to work on various projects jointly. The teamwork will enhance understanding of each groups contribution and challenges, which in its turn can eliminate conflicts and misunderstandings. The industrial relations should formulate a human resource policy to address the personnel problems. The policy formulation should engage the heads of each of the three units because they understand the skill set they want. As such, only qualified people will be hired, which will reduce the workload of the employees. The corporation should introduce a training program, especially for technical employees who may wish to advance to management levels. The program can enhance understanding between the corporate and the functional groups. Finally, the Wallace Group should create an employee benefit and reward system, which is likely to raise the morale and productivity of the workers. To my mind, the diversification plan was a good idea, but the manner of its implementation was wrong. The company tends to gain from diversification through the synergy benefits that accrue from complementarity. The three units would have completed each other if there was a strategy to coordinate their activities. Although such harmonization would have resulted in spending additional costs (Zhou and Robert 625), it would have been cheaper than the loss the company is experiencing due to the chaos among the units. However, since there was no particular plan for the diversification, the operations director now finds it more expensive to purchase from any of the Wallaces groups than from outside suppliers. Consequently, the diversification venture is more a burden rather than a benefit to the company. In conclusion, the two main problems affecting the Wallace Group include leadership and employee management deficiencies. The recommendations contain the creation of a collaborative workplace, a clear strategy, cross-functional teams and a human resource policy. Buy custom Wallace Group essay

Hillary Clinton Quotes on Politics, Women, Life

Hillary Clinton Quotes on Politics, Women, Life Attorney Hillary Rodham Clinton was born in Chicago and educated at Vassar College and Yale Law School. She served in 1974 as counsel on the staff of the House Judiciary Committee which was considering impeachment of then-President Richard Nixon for his behavior during the Watergate scandal. She married William Jefferson Clinton. She used her name Hillary Rodham through Clintons first term as governor of Arkansas, then changed it to Hillary Rodham Clinton when he ran for reelection. She was First Lady during Bill Clintons presidency (1993-2001). Hillary Clinton managed the failed effort to seriously reform health care, she was the target of investigators and rumors for her involvement in the Whitewater scandal, and she defended and stood by her husband when he was accused and impeached during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Near the end of her husbands term as President, Hillary Clinton was elected to the Senate from New York, taking office in 2001 and winning reelection in 2006. She unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, and when her strongest primary opponent, Barack Obama, won the general election, Hillary Clinton was appointed Secretary of State in 2009, serving until 2013. In 2015, she announced her candidacy once again for the Democratic presidential nomination, which she won in 2016. She lost in the November election, winning the popular vote by 3 million but losing the Electoral College vote. Select Hillary Rodham Clinton Quotations There cannot be true democracy unless womens voices are heard. There cannot be true democracy unless women are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their own lives. There cannot be true democracy unless all citizens are able to participate fully in the lives of their country. We all owe so much to those who came before and tonight belongs to all of you.  [July 11, 1997]  Tonights victory is not about one person. It belongs to generations of women and men who struggled and sacrificed and made this moment possible.  [June 7, 2016]People can judge me for what Ive done. And I think when somebodys out in the public eye, thats what they do. So Im fully comfortable with who I am, what I stand for, and what Ive always stood for.I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession which I entered before my husband was in public life.If I want to knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle. The challenges of change are always hard. It is important that we begin to unpack those challenges that confront this nation and realize that we each have a role that requires us to change and become more responsible for shaping our own future.The challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible.If I want to knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle.The failure was principally political and policy driven, there were many interests that werent at all happy about losing their financial stake in a way that the system currently operates, but I think I became a lightning rod for some of that criticism. [about her role, as First Lady, in attempting to win reforms in health care coverage]In the Bible, it says they asked Jesus how many times you should forgive, and he said 70 times 7. Well, I want you all to know that Im keeping a chart.I have gone from a Barry Goldwater Republican to a New Democrat, but I think my underlyi ng values have remained pretty constant; individual responsibility and community. I do not see those as being mutually inconsistent. Im not some Tammy Wynette standing by my man.I have met thousands and thousands of pro-choice men and women. I have never met anyone who is pro-abortion. Being pro-choice is not being pro-abortion. Being pro-choice is trusting the individual to make the right decision for herself and her family, and not entrusting that decision to anyone wearing the authority of government in any regard.You cannot have maternal health without reproductive health. And reproductive health includes contraception and family planning and access to legal, safe abortion.When does life start? When does it end? Who makes these decisions?... Every day, in hospitals and homes and hospices... people are struggling with those profound issues.Eleanor Roosevelt understood that every one of us every day has choices to make about the kind of person we are and what we wish to become. You can decide to be someone who brings people together, or you can fall prey to those who wish to divide us. You can be someone who edu cates yourself, or you can believe that being negative is clever and being cynical is fashionable. You have a choice. When I am talking about It Takes a Village, Im obviously not talking just about or even primarily about geographical villages any longer, but about the network of relationships and values that do connect us and binds us together.No government can love a child, and no policy can substitute for a familys care. But at the same time, government can either support or undermine families as they cope with moral, social and economic stresses of caring for children.If a country doesnt recognize minority rights and human rights, including womens rights, you will not have the kind of stability and prosperity that is possible.Im sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow youre not patriotic. We need to stand up and say were Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration.We are Americans, We have the right to participate and debate any administration.Our lives are a mixture of different roles. Most of us are doing the best we can to find whatever the right balance is . . . For me, that balance is family, work, and service. I wasnt born a first lady or a senator. I wasnt born a Democrat. I wasnt born a lawyer or an advocate for womens rights and human rights. I wasnt born a wife or a mother.I will fight against the division politics of revenge and retribution. If you put me to work for you, I will work to lift people up, not put them down.I am particularly horrified by the use of propaganda and the manipulation of the truth and the revision of history.Would you tell your parents something for me? Ask them, if they have a gun in their house, please lock it or take it out of their house. Will you do that as good citizens? [to a group of schoolchildren]I think it does once again urge us to think hard about what we can do to make sure that we keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals and mentally unbalanced people. I hope we will come together as a nation and do whatever it takes to keep guns away from people who have no business with them.We need to be as well prepared to defend ourselves agains t public health dangers as we should be to defend ourselves against any foreign danger. Dignity does not come from avenging insults, especially from violence that can never be justified. It comes from taking responsibility and advancing our common humanity.God bless the America we are trying to create.I have to confess that its crossed my mind that you could not be a Republican and a Christian.Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.In too many instances, the march to globalization has also meant the marginalization of women and girls. And that must change.Voting is the most precious right of every citizen, and we have a moral obligation to ensure the integrity of our voting process. From Hillary Clintons Nomination Acceptance Speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention If fighting for affordable child care and paid family leave is playing the woman card, then deal me in!Our country’s motto is e Pluribus Unum: out of many, we are one.  Will we stay true to that motto?So don’t let anyone tell you that our country is weak.  We’re not.  Don’t let anyone tell you we don’t have what it takes.  We do.  And most of all, don’t believe anyone who says: â€Å"I alone can fix it.†None of us can raise a family, build a business, heal a community or lift a country totally alone.  America needs every one of us to lend our energy, our talents, our ambition to making our nation better and stronger.Standing here as my mother’s daughter, and my daughter’s mother, I’m so happy this day has come.  Happy for grandmothers and little girls and everyone in between.  Happy for boys and men, too – because when any barrier falls in America, for anyone, it clears the way for everyone. When there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit.  So let’s keep going until every one of the 161 million women and girls across America has the opportunity she deserves.  Because even more important than the history we make tonight is the history we will write together in the years ahead. But none of us can be satisfied with the status quo. Not by a long shot.My primary mission as President will be to create more opportunity and more good jobs with rising wages right here in the United States, from my first day in office to my last!I believe America thrives when the middle class thrives.I believe that our economy isn’t working the way it should because our democracy isn’t working the way it should.It’s wrong to take tax breaks with one hand and give out pink slips with the other.I believe in science. I believe that climate change is real and that we can save our planet while creating millions of good-paying clean energy jobs.He spoke for 70-odd minutes – and I do mean odd.In America, if you can dream it, you should be able to build it.Ask yourself: Does Donald Trump have the temperament to be Commander-in-Chief?  Donald Trump can’t even handle the rough-and-tumble of a presidential campaign.  He loses his cool at the slightest pr ovocation. When he’s gotten a tough question from a reporter. When he’s challenged in a debate. When he sees a protestor at a rally.  Imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis. A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons. I can’t put it any better than Jackie Kennedy did after the Cuban Missile Crisis. She said that what worried President Kennedy during that very dangerous time was that a war might be started – not by big men with self-control and restraint, but by little men – the ones moved by fear and pride.Strength relies on smarts, judgment, cool resolve, and the precise and strategic application of power.I’m not here to repeal the 2nd Amendment.  I’m not here to take away your guns.  I just don’t want you to be shot by someone who shouldn’t have a gun in the first place.So let’s put ourselves in the shoes of young black and Latino men and women who face the effects of systemic racism, and are made to feel like their lives are disposable.  Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of police officers, kissing their kids and spouses goodbye every day and heading off to do a dangerous and necessary job.  We will reform our criminal justic e system from end-to-end, and rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Every generation of Americans has come together to make our country freer, fairer, and stronger.  None of us can do it alone.  I know that at a time when so much seems to be pulling us apart, it can be hard to imagine how we’ll ever pull together again.  But I’m here to tell you tonight – progress is possible.

Discussion 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Discussion 2 - Assignment Example Belgium was defending its sovereignty and neutrality in the war protected by their treaty with the Great Britain. This resulted in Belgium being attacked by Germany with the largest casualties being on Aorschot, Andenne, tamines, Leuven, Dinant and Liege regions. The documentary follows through the ruins of Leuven showing the aftermath of the war. The Germans brought down to ashes the town together with its university and the priceless manuscripts at the library. The only building that survived was the town hall and only because it was the German QG. The German army killed nearly 6000 Belgian civilians including women and children burnt more than 25000 homes and buildings. The documentary although based on the world seems to be passing judgment on Germany. The documentary is an excellent depiction the horror that was present in World War 1 and the untold accounts by the survivors. Chapter 3 in the book Hitler and Nazi Germany is about the growth and victory of Nazism between 1924 and 1934. The section follows the imprisonment of Hitler and his change of tact. Hitler had been imprisoned for treason after staging the â€Å"Beer Hall Putsch† in Munich, which failed. The Beer Hall putsch was a forceful takeover of the government in Bavaria. He wrote his book â€Å"My struggle† in prison which gave him a lot of publicity. While in prison Hitler realized that the only way to win public support was through a legal and constitutional means and started the process of reconstructing the Nazi (National Socialist German workers party) party. The chapter follows Hitler in prison and after his release, after release from prison Hitler formally refounded the party in February 1925 proclaiming it to be the fighter of Marxism. According to Hitler Germany’s economic depression was a result of the Treaty of Versailles, the Treaty that ended the world war 1, the treaty had burdened Germany with compensations that

Culture of Excellence in the Classroom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Culture of Excellence in the Classroom - Essay Example The key ingredients for success in creating the best culture of excellence in the classroom are the teacher’s experiences, responsibilities, and goals. Certainly many teachers teach the way they were taught.  A teacher’s experience and philosophy are important aspects for successfully providing a culture of excellence in the classroom. For example, if the teacher believes in individualism using Mill’s philosophy, he will encourage students to focus only on themselves, which in turn could result in the development of selfish attitudes.  This will lead to developing a generation which has less effective involvement in their society. On the other hand, if the teacher believes in Bentham’s philosophy, which espouses the approach of the greatest good for the largest number of people, he will encourage students to share what they have learned with their peers.  Ã‚  This enhances the possibility of developing a generation of mutual respect for all peoples.  It is because of these factors, that educators must carefully consider their philosophy of education before they ever enter the classroom. They want to make sure that they foster a learning environment that not only fits their personality, but also is flexible enough to effectively reach all of the students in their classroom. Teacher experience is a vital component in developing a culture of excellence in the classroom because it is through these experiences that students can gain insight and knowledge in a fresh and relevant way. Likewise, there is no doubt that the participation of all stakeholders is important for creating and developing a culture of excellence.  Nevertheless, there is still a tremendous amount of responsibility thrust upon the teacher. For instance, he is charged with the task of implementing institutional rules that society expects its citizenry to uphold. Also, he is responsible to the students because the instructional techniques used in the

The Causes and Effects of Water Pollution in Lake Huron Essay

The Causes and Effects of Water Pollution in Lake Huron - Essay Example Lake Huron suffers from a number of water pollutants that have greatly affected its flora and fauna as well as the freshness of its water. The lake endures point source pollution from industrial wastes and non-point pollution from fertilizer and pesticide runoff from surrounding farms. These pollutants result in adverse effects that contaminate soils, reduce the quality of its water and damage its ecosystem. The damage from pollution in this lake has harmful repercussions on the wildlife, fishes and human beings that depend on water from this lake. Point-source pollution This refers to the direct source of contamination in Lake Huron. This is often done when pipes or vessels direct their toxic wastes directly into the lake. Initially, paper and pulp industries located around the lake believed that water could dissolve anything and, thus, neutralize the toxicity of their wastes (Shear, 2006). This resulted in the companies dumping most of their wastes such as mercury into the lake. Ot her industries dump their wastes that contain harmful chemicals, heavy metals, organic toxins and oil by products into Lake Huron. In the recent past, fecal matter has been observed in the lake. This means that sewerage companies are directing wastes into the lake as well. This has resulted in the increase of harmful and disease causing bacteria in the lake. At the same time, the sewerage and other inorganic and organic wastes disposed off in the lake have resulted in a decline in the quality of Lake Huron’s water. Non-point source pollution This is pollution that does not come from a specific location. The most prevalent non-point source of pollution in Lake Huron is pesticide and fertilizer runoff. There are a number of farms surrounding Lake Huron. These farms depend on the lake for water that is vital for irrigation of the vast horticultural farms due to its constant and never-ending supply. These farms make use of a number of fertilizers and pesticides that are used to e nhance crop growth. However, the chemicals used in making these fertilizers and pesticides are often washed down from the crops by rain or irrigation water. These chemicals find their way into the lake through rivers and stream that empty their waters in the lake (Shear, 2006). This often results in the influx of harmful chemicals that greatly affects the lake’s ecosystem as evidenced by the large number of sea birds that are found dead along the lake’s shoreline. The fishes caught from this lake also have a lot of harmful chemicals in them. Residential waste Household waste has become one of the greatest Lake Huron pollutants. Residential wastes that contain organic or inorganic waste and detergents are major contributors to the lake’s water pollution. Organic waste is one which can be decomposed by bacteria such as fruit and vegetable remains. Inorganic waste includes wastes such as leather, plastic, paper, glass, fabric, metals and wood among other wastes whi ch do not decompose. These wastes cannot be broken down through the help of bacteria and is often referred to as non-biodegradable (Shear, 2006). Detergents are also not broken down easily by bacteria. This means that they remain active for prolonged periods after getting into the fresh water lake. This leaves the water polluted and results in the poising of aquatic organisms such as fish, birds and plants that reside in Lake Huron. Human and animal wastes

Islamic History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Islamic History - Essay Example The history of foundation of Islam is clothed with the veils of legend and obscured by multiple conflicting accounts that make its true outline all but impossible to discern with any clarity. But it is incontrovertible that Northern-Arabia prior to Muhammad was a predominantly tribal environment, structured by exigencies of camel herding, trading, feuding, and raiding. The ‘civilized’ area of Arabia was not in the heartland where Islam was born, but rather had long been located in the coastal south and along the gulf. Inland, the only possible location for development of any sort of state was in the impoverished and remote region dominated by Mecca and the Quraysh clan, where ancient pilgrimage centers protected markets in perfume, leather, and other trade goods. But no such development occurred until the advent of Muhammad, who was born around 570, received his first revelations at the age of forty, undertook his momentous journey to Medina (the hijra) in 622 (year one in the Muslim calendar) and died in 632, having led his people in the conquest of the whole Arab peninsula, and having initiated their great and ultimately successful war against the surrounding Sasanid and Byzantine empires.The religion of Islam is from the Muslim point of view, â€Å"the religion of Abraham and Ishmael† the forefathers of the Muslims. According to Ibn al-Kalbi, who conveys also the belief of his predecessors, Ishmael settled in Mecca where he became the father of many children who supplanted the Amalekites of Mecca; to him is ascribed the origin of the Arabs. Arabs. The Qur'an states that Abraham and Ishmael "raised the foundation of the House" and established a "proper worship". The rites of the pilgrimage, the circumambulation, the visitation of the lesser pilgrimage, the vigil of Arafat, the sacrifice of the she-camels and the acclamation of the name of the deity "came down from the time of Abraham and Ishmael", according to Ibn al-kalbi, and they constitute a part of the religion.(Tamara) Islam had come upon the world scene in the seventh century in connection with the explosion of Arabic-speaking, horse mounted warriors out of the Arabian desert under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad and his successors. The period of hemispheric history from 1000 to 1500 A.D., what we will call the Islamic Middle Period, witnessed a steady and remarkable expansion of Islam, not only as religious faith but as a coherent, universalist model of civilized life. The spread of Islam into new areas of the hemisphere during the Middle Period was given impetus by two major forces. One of these was the advance of Turkish-speaking of Muslim herding people from central Asia into the Middle East, a movement that began on a large scale with the conquests of the Seljuk Turks in the eleventh century. The second force was the gradual but persistent movement of Muslim merchants into the lands rimming the Indian ocean, that is, East Africa, India, Southeast Asia and China, as well as into Central Asia and West Africa south of the Sahara. A close look at the patterns of travel and migration in the post-Abbasid centuries reveals a quiet but persistent dispersion of legal scholars, theologians, Sufi divines, belle- lettrists, scribes and architects outward from the older centers of Islam to these new frontiers of Muslim military and commercial activity. (Spencer) The Islamic world in Ibn Battuta's time was divided politically into numerous kingdoms and principalities. Muslims on the move regarded the jurisdictions of states as a necessary imposition and gave them as little attention as possible. Their primary allegiance was to the Dar al-Islam as a whole. The terrible Mongol conquests of Persia and Syria that occurred between 1219 and 1258 appeared to Muslims to threaten the very existence of

English - School Lunches Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English - School Lunches - Research Paper Example As the school bell rings for lunch, children rush to the canteen to fill their hungry stomachs. Most schools have a menu from which children can select for their lunch. The lunch time for the kids is a time not only to energize themselves but also to sit with their friends and have a good time. However though, there are certain concerns which are going unnoticed by the school authorities. Concerns A lot of teachers have noticed a tired set of students attending the classes which are conducted after lunch. The reason for tiresome students has been the food they consume. Most schools though are not able to provide healthy food to the students. This has been a problem for most of the schools. In most schools, the menu for lunch reads a list of junk foods which is wrong. Looking at the menu, children have no other option but to consume them. The school authorities should take responsibilities and stop selling junk foods. One of the main reasons why junk food should be stopped is it affec ts the health of the children a lot. It is the major reason for child obesity. To be unfit and obese at a young age is a concern. Survey has shown that 32% of the youngsters are obese. One can accept the fact that such food is sold outside to earn money but it is unacceptable when such food is sold in schools. Due of the lack of fresh foods and healthy foods, students buy cheap junk foods. Pizzas, pastas, chips, cookies and burgers form the main menu in school lunches. Consumption of these means a lot of sugar is consumed by the children. School lunches have a high level of sugar content in them. Healthier food would mean that the obesity rate is reduced. Another reason why cafeterias should not serve junk food is that it keeps the energy levels of the children low. High energized food shall help the children to maintain good focus and participate in sports as well. Lunch is the most important since it falls in the middle of the day. Consuming junk food will extracts all the energy and reduces the physical activity. One cannot perform to their potential if they do not have enough energy. In one of the schools, children complained of less stamina while practicing soccer. When the coach investigated in their diet, he found out that most of them had a packet of chips and soda before practice. He advised them not to consume fried and fatty foods before exercising since it consumes most of the energy from the body. Studies have shown that the most commonly food consumed by children is cookies, candy, cakes and ice cream. This is also the reason for children losing energy during their noon classes. He stressed on the importance of consuming healthy and natural food which give energy to our bodies. Despite schools imparting knowledge to the children on how to remain healthy, sometimes they miss out on providing healthy food to them. The authorities should notice this and make sure that children are provided good food. Quality Most of the science classes teach the chi ldren that good food is the secret of a healthy life. However though, the same is not followed in schools. Authorities take a lot of effort to make sure that children get tasty food, but they miss out on the quality. In an era where health has been given primary importance, schools have neglected that. Parents have complained that their children are suffering from illness frequently and their immune systems have gone down. An inspection conducted by the officials brought a

Islamic History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Islamic History - Essay Example The history of foundation of Islam is clothed with the veils of legend and obscured by multiple conflicting accounts that make its true outline all but impossible to discern with any clarity. But it is incontrovertible that Northern-Arabia prior to Muhammad was a predominantly tribal environment, structured by exigencies of camel herding, trading, feuding, and raiding. The ‘civilized’ area of Arabia was not in the heartland where Islam was born, but rather had long been located in the coastal south and along the gulf. Inland, the only possible location for development of any sort of state was in the impoverished and remote region dominated by Mecca and the Quraysh clan, where ancient pilgrimage centers protected markets in perfume, leather, and other trade goods. But no such development occurred until the advent of Muhammad, who was born around 570, received his first revelations at the age of forty, undertook his momentous journey to Medina (the hijra) in 622 (year one in the Muslim calendar) and died in 632, having led his people in the conquest of the whole Arab peninsula, and having initiated their great and ultimately successful war against the surrounding Sasanid and Byzantine empires.The religion of Islam is from the Muslim point of view, â€Å"the religion of Abraham and Ishmael† the forefathers of the Muslims. According to Ibn al-Kalbi, who conveys also the belief of his predecessors, Ishmael settled in Mecca where he became the father of many children who supplanted the Amalekites of Mecca; to him is ascribed the origin of the Arabs. Arabs. The Qur'an states that Abraham and Ishmael "raised the foundation of the House" and established a "proper worship". The rites of the pilgrimage, the circumambulation, the visitation of the lesser pilgrimage, the vigil of Arafat, the sacrifice of the she-camels and the acclamation of the name of the deity "came down from the time of Abraham and Ishmael", according to Ibn al-kalbi, and they constitute a part of the religion.(Tamara) Islam had come upon the world scene in the seventh century in connection with the explosion of Arabic-speaking, horse mounted warriors out of the Arabian desert under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad and his successors. The period of hemispheric history from 1000 to 1500 A.D., what we will call the Islamic Middle Period, witnessed a steady and remarkable expansion of Islam, not only as religious faith but as a coherent, universalist model of civilized life. The spread of Islam into new areas of the hemisphere during the Middle Period was given impetus by two major forces. One of these was the advance of Turkish-speaking of Muslim herding people from central Asia into the Middle East, a movement that began on a large scale with the conquests of the Seljuk Turks in the eleventh century. The second force was the gradual but persistent movement of Muslim merchants into the lands rimming the Indian ocean, that is, East Africa, India, Southeast Asia and China, as well as into Central Asia and West Africa south of the Sahara. A close look at the patterns of travel and migration in the post-Abbasid centuries reveals a quiet but persistent dispersion of legal scholars, theologians, Sufi divines, belle- lettrists, scribes and architects outward from the older centers of Islam to these new frontiers of Muslim military and commercial activity. (Spencer) The Islamic world in Ibn Battuta's time was divided politically into numerous kingdoms and principalities. Muslims on the move regarded the jurisdictions of states as a necessary imposition and gave them as little attention as possible. Their primary allegiance was to the Dar al-Islam as a whole. The terrible Mongol conquests of Persia and Syria that occurred between 1219 and 1258 appeared to Muslims to threaten the very existence of

Reading Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reading Assessment - Assignment Example The current immigrants are different from the earlier immigrants in the sense that they form the source of terrorists and other ill intention arrivals with an objective of destroying the United States. John Amagoalik quote emphasizes relevance of Nunavut to original inhabitants of Australia and Greenland, Canada. Amagoalik argues that preserving Nunavut would assist Inuit and Aboriginals in protecting the erosion of their culture and history. Therefore, Nunavut existence remains symbolic of Aboriginals and Inuit historical reality. Gurston Dacks quote contradicts ideas advanced by Amagoalik. He argues that Nunavut have no particular value. Dacks, further states that Nunavut existence would only revoke postwar ideals rather than infer benefits to Austrian or Canadian community (Smith, 1971). Clash of civilization theory proposes that post-Cold War would result from peoples’ religious and cultural identities. Media arguments and research findings support clash of civilizations theory. Media reports on continued disagreements between Islam community and the Western countries relates to the theory. Contemporary media news reports that Islamic communities have decided to form militant movements that reject Western values and way of living. Unfolding religious and cultural events prompts for analysis to support clash of civilizations theory. Cultural and religious differences between Islam and Christian community require insightful analysis and professional views to ascertain clash of civilizations

Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay Example for Free

Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay A hostage negotiation occurs when a criminal uses innocent people as bargaining chips. The scenarios for these circumstances vary from a desperate mother perhaps who in fear may barricade herself with her own child to a bank robber who utilizes the people around to assist in his getaway. In addition, a more publicized type of hostage situation would be the terrorist type situations where a completely new set of rules must be utilized to deal with these type incidents. For example, a mother may be desperate and reacting in fear. Most likely this type of person the mind set is not that of a criminal and she has no real intentions of hurting anyone but for the most part is reaching out for a solution of some type. The first job of the hostage negotiator should be to create safety. When a negotiator arrives on the scene there may be several armed officers with emotions running high and general confusion. The environment escalates the fear that is already present in this woman and she is most likely fearful for her life as well as the child or hostage she may be holding. Brute force would not be the best method to use in this type of situation as the woman most likely is not looking to harm anyone and is actually seeking some way of escape. For the most part the percentage of women who take hostages are considerably lower than that of a male committing the same crime. Upon arriving on the scene, it would be crucial for the negotiator to get organized and establish some sort of communication with the hostage taker to determine what her issue may be. If the negotiation looks like it might take some time it would be wise to consider a position that would offer some type of permanent accommodation. The next step would be to attempt to determine as much information about the situation as possible. For example, it would be important to know how many hostages and if possible their names. Then it is crucial to determine what they are demanding and from there determine what is it that they are really asking for. Since typically by nature, women tend to be more emotional it would be wise to determine where her frame of mind is at this time. The questions to consider is whether she is desperate and fearful or are her emotions running high with a sense of hopelessness where she feels she has nothing to lose? Also, if possible it would be beneficial to determine is she under the influence of any type of drug or alcohol as these factors could make the situation much more difficult as it is often times impossible to reason with a person under the influence. Their grasp on reality is greatly altered and what is plain logic will not register plainly to them. Another type of hostage situation to consider is a terrorist type situation where the person who the negotiator is dealing with is not from this country and then a whole new set of issues would require attention. Most terrorists who apprehend hostages may believe that they are truly doing a heroic act and it is most likely a religious type of motive. It is hard to reason with a person like this without understanding that this person has no fear of death. In fact, they most likely welcome it as they are under the impression that they will be greatly rewarded in the after life because of what they are doing. In addition, many times when dealing with hostage takers from the middle east they are so despondent as they have lost much in the way of possessions and more importantly they may have lost family members. In the case of these type hostage situations they are not holding the person, for the most part, in a building like perhaps a bank robber type situation. In these cases the hostages are more likely to be picked up from a public place and carried away to another secret location. The hostage takers in turn contact whomever they feel are the appropriate people and from that point make their demands. For the most part they may provide some type of proof alerting the authorities on the number of people taken and assurance that they are still alive. In these type instances they may appear, and often do, have the upper hand and it is the negotiator’s duty to balance the situation. It is imperative to determine at this point what the terrorists may be asking and if the request if realistic and one that could be honored. From this point the cooperation of several government officials may come into play and the decision on who to contact should be made considerably quick. Another type of hostage situation would be when an individual from an urban community is the criminal. Many times these people are desperate and will not be open to negotiation. Often times they are determined they will not be caught and their way of life has reduced the respect of other people’s lives, as they have no great respect for own. Another issue that is prevalent in these type situations would be there also may be the involvement of drugs and alcohol so the negotiator may not be dealing with a lucid personality.

Pathophysiology Of Emphysema

Pathophysiology Of Emphysema This essay will describe the pathophysiology of emphysema and the effect it had on a specific patient that I have chosen for this assignment. It will accomplish this by referring to the patients presenting symptoms and diagnosis and then by examining the changes that occur in the airways of an individual suffering from this chronic disease. The essay will continue by exploring the aims of treatment and how they may control the symptoms relating to the specific patient chosen. It will consider the relevant guidelines to treatment options in order to demonstrate evidence based practice. Emphysema is chest condition that falls under the umbrella term of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This term also includes chronic bronchitis and asthma. Shahab, Jarvis, Britton and West (2006) suggest that COPD is a major contributor to global mortality and morbidity and its worldwide prevalence is likely to increase further. They continue by suggesting that it is well established that smoking is the single most important cause of COPD, increasing the risk of developing and dying from this condition by a factor of thirteen. COPD is characterised by airflow obstruction and is usually progressive, not fully reversible, and does not change markedly over several months. Sharafkaneh, Hanania and Kim (2008) suggest that an imbalance between protease and antiprotease activity in the lung is proposed as the major mechanism resulting in emphysema. Patients with emphysema complain of breathlessness, particularly on exertion, cough, chest tightness and often a reduction in their quality of life. This essay will explore the changes that occur in the lungs of a patient with emphysema and how these changes transpire. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE 2010) state that an estimated three million people in the UK have COPD. They also suggest that out of this figure only nine hundred thousand of these cases are confirmed, the remainder are people that have not yet presented with symptoms to their doctor. Exacerbation of COPD requiring hospital admission places a great burden on NHS resources. Davies (2009) suggests that costs directly related to caring for patients with COPD are over  £500 million annually. Background of patient.http://faculty.washington.edu/alexbert/MEDEX/Spring/Spirometry.jpghttp://www.ispub.com/ispub/ijtm/volume_1_number_1_66/strongyloides_induced_respiratory_failure_6/strongy1a.jpg To maintain patient confidentiality and for the purpose of this essay, the patient will be referred to as Janet. Janet is a 57 year old married woman. She has a history of smoking since the age of 15 and this equates to 42 pack years. She has worked in an office for her whole working life and enjoys walking. She attended the surgery as she was finding walking her dogs increasingly more difficult and was experiencing breathlessness on exertion. Janets weight was stable and she had not experienced any haemoptysis. Her baseline blood pressure and pulse where within normal limits and her body mass index (BMI) was in a healthy range. A full blood count (FBC) identified that Janet was not anaemic nor did she have polycythaemia which represents an abnormally high red blood cell count with a haematocrit greater than fifty percent. Janets peripheral oxygen saturation using a pulse oximeter was shown to be ninety four percent on air. Chest x-ray showing hyperinflation mdguy available at medpreponline.com Pulmonary Function Tests Medex Objectives 2003On examining Janets computerised records it was noted that she did not expectorate much sputum and she had only been prescribed one course of antibiotics for a chest infection in the past three years. Janet had been sent for a chest x-ray on her second visit to the surgery which had revealed hyperinflation of the lungs. Janet was subsequently referred for lung function tests at the local hospital where an obstructive pattern was identified. Spirometry is the test performed to demonstrate airflow obstruction however NICE (2010) state that airflow obstruction alone cannot be used as a diagnosis of COPD; it should only be used in conjunction with the patient demonstrating symptoms such as breathlessness or cough. A comprehensive history taking is very important as this can often identify COPD unaided. Janet was symptomatic and therefore was diagnosed with moderate COPD. Her spirometry showed she had a forced expiratory volume in the first s econd (FEV1) of 55% of her predicted value and a FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of less than 0.7. Predicted values for patients are predicted according to their height, gender, age and ethnic origin. The severity of airflow obstruction is graded according to the FEV1 reading. The updated NICE 2010 guidelines for COPD have reviewed the severity scales which mean that Janets spirometry readings fall into the moderate category. Janets degree of breathlessness was discussed and she graded herself as a level 3 on the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea score (Fletcher 1960). Emphysema often results in the patient having an increased residual lung volume which in due to air trapping; an inability to expel all the air from the lungs. Aetiology and pathophysiology Human lungs are the functional structure of the respiratory system. To understand Janets condition it is useful to look at how the normal respiratory system works. Its function is to supply the body with oxygen and to remove carbon dioxide (Marieb, 2004). Breathing is the movement of gases between the atmosphere and the lungs. For this to occur, there needs to be a system of open airways and pressure changes resulting from the action of the respiratory muscles in changing the volume of the chest cage. The diaphragm is the principal muscle of inspiration, assisted by the external intercostal muscles. The sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles elevate the ribs and act as accessory muscles for inspiration. Expiration is aided by the elastic recoil of the respiratory muscles that were stretched during inspiration. Pulmonary gas exchange is conventionally divided into three processes: (1) ventilation or the flow of gases into and out of the alveoli of the lungs, (2) perfusion or flow of blood in the adjacent pulmonary capillaries, and (3) diffusion or transfer of gases between the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries (Porth 2010). In addition to their gaseous exchange function, the lungs deactivate vasoactive substances such as bradykinin, convert Angiotensin 1 to Angiotensin 2 and serve as a reservoir for blood storage. COPD is characterised by an intense inflammatory process in the airways, parenchyma and pulmonary vasculature (Sinden and Stockley 2010). The lung inflammatory response is characterised by increased number of neutrophils, macrophages and T lymphocytes. The accumulation of inflammatory components contributes to the lung injury in these patients. The mobilization of inflammatory cells to the lungs leads to the release of potentially destructive mediators including proteases and cytokines, which directly contribute to the remodelling and destruction of tissues. Truder, McGrath and Neptune (2003) believe that a delicate balance between protease and antiprotease activity is required for proper lung maintenance. Sharafkaneh, Hanania and Kim (2008) suggest that derangements of this balance results in destruction and inappropriate repair of lungs. They also suggest that macrophages are activated by tobacco smoke and recruit neutrophils and lymphocytes leading to elastolysis and emphysema. Si milarly tobacco smoke activates airway epithelium to trigger airway remodelling. Both of these processes result in airflow obstruction. http://www.scielo.br/img/revistas/mioc/v100s1/a27fig02.jpg In addition to inflammation, oxidative stress caused by tobacco smoke inhalation plays a significant role in generating emphysema. Therefore Janets long history of smoking will have ultimately resulted in loss of elasticity to her lungs, retention of air in the lungs due to hyperinflation, expansion of the rib cage and flattening of the diaphragm. When the diaphragm is flattened, the muscles of the rib cage and abdomen take over the bulk of the work which is a less efficient and more tiring way of breathing. The alveoli are the terminal air spaces of the respiratory tract and the sites of gaseous exchange between the air and the blood. Each alveolus is a cup-shaped sac with thin walls and each structure is separated by alveolar septa. A single network of capillaries occupies most of the septa, so blood is exposed to air on both sides. There are approximately three hundred million alveoli in the human lungs. Emphysema jpg available at www.moondragon.orgEmphysema is characterized by a loss of lung elasticity and enlargement of the distal air spaces to the terminal bronchioles, with destruction of the alveolar walls and capillary beds. Several adjacent alveoli may rupture forming one large air sac that has a reduced ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. There is progressive destruction of the alveoli and the surrounding lung tissues as air is trapped in the damaged alveoli. This causes them to stretch which leads to hyperinflation and a reduced inability to exhale.http://www.moondragon.org/images/emphysema.jpg Smoking tobacco is a well established cause of COPD (Shahab et al 2006). The Department of Health (2010) indicate that tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and of health inequalities. They also state that in 2008, more than 80,000 premature deaths in England were caused by smoking. Callum (2008) suggests that the current level of tobacco use is estimated to cost the NHS around  £2.7 billion every year. Cigarette smoke contains a range of toxic products and these have to be dealt with by the body. When cigarette smoke is inhaled into the lungs the cilia that normally sweep irritants out of the airways become paralyzed. The irritants therefore remain in the lungs infiltrating the alveoli where the damage process begins. Other causes of emphysema can be an inherited condition called alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency, an antiprotease enzyme that protects the lungs from injury. This accounts for approximately one percent of all cases of COPD. Occupation risks such as coal minin g can also be a cause of COPD as the irritants inhaled act as the instigators of the disease process. Interventions and treatments Smoking cessation advice would be the most important intervention for Janet. Smoking cessation has been shown to be the most significant intervention to slow the rate of decline of lung function (Fletcher and Peto 1977). http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/figures/1471-2458-7-332-2-l.jpg The use of the Fletcher and Peto graph that demonstrates decline in lung function and the benefit of stopping smoking could be utilised in the process of addressing Janets smoking habit. The use of a smoking addiction calculator such as the Fagerstrom (1978) test was used to determine the extent Janet was addicted to nicotine. Parkes, Greenhalgh, Griffin and Dent (2008) found that informing a patient of their lung age appears to encourage higher levels of successful smoking cessation and Janet was surprised by her lung age of seventy seven. The damage to Janets lungs could not be repaired however the rate of disease progression could be reduced by her stopping smoking. Janet was referred to a specia list stopping smoking service in order to achieve a higher success rate. Encouraging patients with COPD to stop smoking is one of the most important components of their management. All COPD patients still smoking, regardless of age, should be encouraged to stop, and offered help to do so, at every opportunity (NICE 2010). Gruffydd-Jones (2006) recommends that all patients with any chronic lung condition should have an annual influenza vaccination and a one-off pneumococcal vaccination unless contraindicated. This is beneficial in reducing the risk of severe lung infections precipitating potentially fatal exacerbations of COPD. Bronchodilators such as Salbutamol are frequently used as first line treatment for COPD. Treatment objectives include relieving symptoms such as dyspnoea and cough, slowing the accelerated decline in lung function, decreasing exacerbations, and improving quality of life. The NICE (2010) guideline for COPD recommends beginning treatment with bronchodilators. NICE are the guidelines used predominantly in primary care and will be used as guidance for treatment options in this assignment. In theory, bronchodilators, which act directly on the airways, should have limited benefit in emphysema. However, Diaz, Bruns, Ezzie, Marchetti and Thomashow (2008) claim that in clinical practice many patients with emphysema, benefit from bronchodilator therapy. Pellegrino, Antonelli and Mondino (2010) agree that it is clinically justified to use short acting bronchodilators (SABA) in patients with emphysema. The pharmacology of beta-2 receptorsSalbutamol is a beta-2 agonist. These bind to the beta-2 receptors on the smooth muscle of the trachea to the level of the terminal bronchioles. Binding of the beta-2 agonists to the beta-2 receptors activates a receptor associated G protein that in turn activates adenyl cyclase. This then converts adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to cyclic 35-adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP), which then activates protein kinase A. The activated protein A prevents phosphorylation of the myosin light chain as well as activation of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange pump. This results in a fall in intracellular calcium and leads to smooth muscle relaxation, as less calcium is available for the calcium-dependent myosin-actin interaction required for smooth muscle contraction (Barnes 1995). Black, Oliver and Roth (2009) suggest that short acting beta-2 agonists can mediate further physiological responses to include the stimulation of beta-2 receptors on mast cells, leading to the suppre ssion of inflammatory mediator release and the inhibition of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein release from airway fibroblasts.http://www.uky.edu/~mtp/adrenergic_pics/Beta2Effect.jpg Janet was commenced on Salbutamol one hundred micrograms, two puffs as required and was reviewed after a four week period where it was identified that Janet remained breathless particularly on exertion and therefore her symptoms had not been improved upon. Following the NICE (2010) guidelines for COPD it was agreed with Janet to add in a long acting bronchodilator (LABA). She was commenced on Salmeterol twenty five micrograms two puffs twice a day. Diaz, Bruns, Ezzie, Marchetti and Thomashow (2008) claim that long acting bronchodilators such as Salmeterol have an affinity for the beta-2 receptor that is approximately one hundred times higher than that of short acting bronchodilators such as Salbutamol. The duration of action of Salmeterol is around twelve hours and hence only needs to be taken twice daily often helping with concordance. The benefits of LABAs are to improve respiratory symptoms, airflow, quality of life, rate of exacerbations and exercise tolerance. Patients with emph ysema typically have a greater degree of hyperinflation than others with COPD and bronchodilators have been shown to improve hyperinflation at rest and during exercise. As Janet rated herself as level three on the MRC dyspnoea scale, NICE (2010) recommend that the patient be referred for pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation is defined as a multidisciplinary programme of care for patients with chronic respiratory impairment that is individually tailored and designed to optimise each patients physical and social performance and autonomy (NICE 2010). The rehabilitation process should incorporate a programme of physical training, disease education, and nutritional, psychological and behavioural intervention. The aims of pulmonary rehabilitation are to increase a persons exercise tolerance and give support and advice which may include smoking cessation. It incorporates people with COPD who have undergone additional training to act as buddies to fellow sufferers. Many patients look upon pulmonary rehabilitation as a social occasion and this aspect helps to improve their quality of life. Discussion. This essay has examined the case of Janet who presented at primary care with dyspnoea on exertion. Janet has a history of smoking and following a chest x-ray and lung function tests, she was diagnosed with having COPD. Due to the nature of her symptoms and hyperinflation demonstrated on x-ray, it was concluded that Janet had emphysema which falls under the umbrella term of COPD along with chronic bronchitis and asthma. The rest of Janets history was unremarkable and her observations and blood tests were found to be normal. COPD is characterised by airflow obstruction and is usually progressive, not fully reversible, and does not change markedly over several months. Patients with COPD often present in primary care with symptoms such as shortness of breath on exertion, cough or excessive sputum production. Usually the patient will already have damage to their lungs when they present with symptoms. The symptoms of COPD are extremely subjective and do not correspond to the FEV1 reading. For instance, two people could be seen with exactly the same reading of FEV1, but one patient would have very few symptoms and perhaps only need occasional use of a short acting bronchodilator whereas the other patient could be using two or more inhalers. Airway obstruction is diagnosed using spirometry and an FEV1 of