Script for radio news report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Script for radio news report - Essay Example It is an all rounded topic that is touching on the current situation in Singapore’s social and political life. THOUSANDS OF SINGAPOREANS THRONGED THE STREETS TODAY IN CELEBRATION OF SINGAPORE’S FORTY-NINTH BIRTHDAY. THE EXCITEMENT IS ALMOST TANGIBLE AMONGST THE PEOPLE WITH A NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES SET FOR THESE CELEBRATIONS. DOZENS OF SINGAPORE CITIZENS HAVE TAKEN TIME AWAY FROM THEIR DAILY ROUTINE TO CELEBRATE THE COUNTRY’S INDEPENDENCE DAY. THEY HAVE CONVERGED IN THE STREETS AS A SHOW OF THEIR PRIDE IN THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE COUNTRY SINCE IT GAINED INDEPENDENCE. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE LEAST POSITIVE PEOPLE, A MAJORITY OF THE SINGAPOREANS WE INTEEVIEWED ARE VERY PROUD OF THE STEPS THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS TAKEN SO FAR. SOME FEEL THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN ENOUGH STEPS IN ENSURING THAT THE PEOPLE RECEIVE THE BEST SERVICES FROM MOST PUBLIC OFFICES. WHILE A FEW SINGAPOREANS FEEL THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS YET TO ATTAIN ITS FULL POTENTIAL, MOST ARE HAPPY WITH THE STEPS TAKEN SO FAR. AT THE MOMENT, ALL THAT SINGAPOREANS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IS AN ULTIMATE BIRTHDAY FOR THE

Multi-Cultural Paper Essay Example for Free

Multi-Cultural Paper Essay Introduction Finding a â€Å"multicultural† experience that brings me out of my comfort zone is something I found difficult. I moved to the city but am a small town girl at heart. I grew up riding a dirt bike, partying in fields, listening to country music, and hosting birthday parties that my friends and I built tree forts at. My first vehicle was a rear-wheel drive manual Chevrolet pick-up truck that I had to put weight in during the winter so I would not slide across the road. I lived on 140 acres of land, and the closest town was 15 minutes away. Since then, I have moved to the city and began, enjoying the convenience of everything like, bringing clothes to the dry cleaners, riding my bike to work, and preferring to lounge by the pool on a summer day, rather than explore like I used to. In college, I studied abroad in Scotland for a semester and had the opportunity to travel around Europe to England, Switzerland, Spain, and France. This experience exposed me to a number of different cultures, currencies, and experiences. It was the highlight of my college experience, but I became extremely homesick after a month and a half and, since then, have had no desire to visit anywhere abroad for longer than a couple of weeks. In addition to being familiar with both the small town and city lifestyles,not many things turn me off or make me uncomfortable. On the other hand, because I come from a small town, there are a few things I am unfamiliar with. I am not as familiar with different races or cultures, the wealth and fashion that comes with living near city suburbs, or the religion of anyone who isn’t Catholic. This is excluding the Europe experience, when I spent most my time in English speaking Scotland. Because of this, I chose three events that would expose me to new things in each one of those categories. Event #1: A Brazilian Carnival The first event took place at the Fine Line Music Cafà © in downtown Minneapolis. Classmate, Sarah Holman and I went to a Brazilian Carnival. I was interested in this sort of event because, in college, I worked at Afton Alps Ski and Snowboard, where they had a Brazilian exchange program and brought a number of Brazilians up for the winter to work. They became the best part of working there most years because they were so much fun and lived life to the fullest during their time in the United States. The event was fun, colorful, active, and something I had never been to before. There were dancers, drummers, people dressed up in costumes, and a band. After the introduction of drummers and dancers, a band began to play. Since we chose to attend on a Sunday afternoon, it was more of a family function but, if we had decided to attend on the Friday or Saturday evening before, I imagine the setting would have become a little wild after a few drinks because the music was so much fun. Instead, kids, parents, and couples were out on the dance floor dancing away innocently. When looking at what I know personally about Brazilians and comparing it to the event, it is clear that they typically like to have a good time. Their music is good, the people are often good looking, and they are extremely passionate about where they come from and their culture. My behaviors will not change in the workplace because of this event but the carnival did confirm the impression I had of Brazilian culture. Event #2: Omaha Fashion Week The second event took place in Omaha, Nebraska, where my youngest sister now lives. Once we found out that she would be walking in two of the shows, on both Friday and Saturday night, my mom, sister, her husband, and my boyfriend and I began planning our trip right away. When planning for the shows, I had no idea what to expect. I have never been to a fashion show, know nothing about fashion and, most importantly, I had no idea what to wear! Going into the first night we had been traveling all day, were hungry, and the guys weren’t around yet to stay at the hotel and babysit so we had to bring my two-year old nephew. One of the things that I am most insecure about is not knowing what to do and, worse, looking like I do not know what to do, in any given situation. To explain, I am always tentative to try new restaurants because I know that each one has a different culture that I may not fit in with. The way they do things, like the way one orders, dresses, and acts, are always altered. This doesn’t mean I avoid the experience but, when deciding to go somewhere new, I always get a nervous feeling with some immediate regret, wishing I had chosen to go somewhere familiar. This is something I am working on because, every time the experience is done, I’m glad it happened and always want to try something else new as soon as possible. This is how I felt going into Omaha Fashion Week. This time, I was more excited to see my sister but, since I was with my mom, sister and a two-year old at an adult event, and since they also had no clue what was going on, I was mortified. The first night felt like a warm-up, and I began to understand the scenery, people, what was happening, and everything else that was going on. There were individuals who were much more casual looking than me, but there also many who were more dressed up. By the end of the night I felt like I could pick out the more important faces by just looking around the crowd. My method probably wasn’t very accurate, but it led to some excellent people watching. The second night was a girl’s night, consisting of my mom, sister, and me. We were able to leave the boys and nephew at the hotel for the evening. Learning from the first night, we showed up right when the event was supposed to begin, which means that we only had to wait half an hour for the show to start, instead of an hour, like the night before. We made sure to get some pictures on the red carpet and relax while enjoying a couple drinks in advance. The challenge for me going into this event was having to go somewhere new, where I had no idea what the culture was going to be like. When looking at the event in a professional context, I was intimidated, going in, by those whom I thought were â€Å"better† than me. Meaning, those who know fashion, have money, status, and the wealthy (not so nice) personalities you see on teenage television shows. I did not encounter any of these stereotypes when at the event. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and not judging, as I would have thought. This makes me think of those who are more successful and intimidating than I in a professional environment. As I have always been taught, treat others as you would like to be treated. This is something I will remember in the workplace for future reference. If I go in treating someone with the respect I would like to get in return, chances are they will treat me with the same respect. I feel that going to this fashion show cemented this lesson for me. I need to not concentrate on my insecurities as much, and, instead focus on treating everyone the same. This event did not confirm the stereotypes I had imagined like everyone being snobby, rich, and over the top. Looking back on the weekend, I think of it as one of the best times I’ve had yet for year 2013, all because I stepped out of my comfort zone. Interview #1 In attempt to deepen the Omaha Fashion Week experience, I interviewed a friend’s sister, Michelle Olson, who is an extremely successful plus size model, living in New York City. Michelle has experienced a much different lifestyle that is very foreign to me; one that I can relate to class and to the multi-cultural experience above. I was able to ask the questions and get the answers below: Michelle Olson Interviewee #1 Michelle Olson Interviewee #1 Q: In class we talked a lot about one’s personal brand. As a model, I assume your personal brand is extremely important and somewhat determines your reputation in the industry. Is this true? Do you have any examples of this you can expand on? A: Personal brand is important in modeling because we have to show our personality somehow with only a few minutes. So its important to just be yourself and wear what you like. A lot of clients are particular about a models personality because they want to show their brand a certain way and target a certain customer. We also cant be too eccentric or too trendy because some clients are just looking for a blank canvas and one that they know their clothes will look good on without being too distracted by the person and their own style. Q: In the business environment one usually has to work hard to advance or know someone to get ahead. Is this true in modeling as well? How do you climb in your industry? A: Eventually a model can [achieve this ] by booking big clients and then having them like you enough to re-book you again. People and clients also tend to take notice, usually if a model books editorials in big magazines. Q: Is it difficult to keep your values in this industry? Is it difficult while keeping a positive image for yourself amongst peers? A: I have been lucky so far in my career in that I have only had good experiences as far as boundaries and my personal values go. Everyone I have worked for have been very respectful and professional. Its important to have an agent that cares about you and will only send you out to legit, professional companies. Q: We also discussed virtual groups/communication in class. Is this a common form of communication in this industry or is it usually easier to do things in person? A: Email is a very important communication tool in my industry. Most of my communication with my agents is by email. All my job details are always emailed to me before the job. When I am in New York, I usually have to actually go in and see and talk to the agents in person at least once a week, sometimes more. Castings however are always in person. They are usually just quick little interview type things where you go and meet the client, have them look at your portfolio, and sometimes maybe take a couple pictures and try on some clothes. If you are unable to see them in person then our agents usually just send our portfolio for them to look at. Q: With the perspective of models being stick thin, does this pressure you to be this way? A: Working as a plus size model is another world than working as a straight size (0-6) model. Plus size is usually like a size 12, so we still have to stay around that size. We still eat very healthy and exercise so that we have good skin and feel good, etc. However, most of us are at our natural size, and therefore theres a lot less stress about size. Its great! Q: Are there â€Å"leaders† in your industry? Or are they always changing because your jobs are always changing? What is that like? A: Our agents are like our bosses. They get us our job so its important to have good relationships with them. We have three of them, and they are all cool and friendly so its quite nice! Obtaining this information from Michelle has provided me with interesting insight on a completely different business environment, than of the corporate life I am used to. Event #3: Scientology Church Tour My third event was a tour and question and answer period at the Saint Paul Church of Scientology. I went to this with three classmates, Sarah, Cody, and Andrea. As mentioned at the beginning of this paper, I am not familiar with many different kinds of religion, beside Catholicism. Through Tom Cruise, I have heard a lot of wonderful things about Scientology. I have also heard the opposite about the religion from his ex-wives. From what I was told, saw, and learned, the experience had a positive impact that made me curious and left me wanting to learn more about the religion. The interesting part about the church is that it focuses on the here and now, versus the Christian religion where their beliefs are based on the Bible, which is many centuries old. The self-guided tour consisted of watching videos to obtain information about the religion. There were different categories, so we could watch the topics we were most interested in. After watching a couple of videos, we felt it would be most beneficial to speak to the tour guide and ask questions about her experiences. From her answers, I gathered that Scientologists like to help people. If you are having troubles in your marriage or need help finding where to go in life, you can join counseling groups. If there is a natural disaster in the world, Scientologists will travel to the location and help out where they can. The part that interested me most is their passion to help individuals with any issues that individual might be having. In a book recommended by Andrea that provided an opposite perspective of Scientology, Jenna Miscavige Hill writes about her â€Å"secret life inside scientology and her harrowing escape† (Beyond Belief, Cover). This is something I wish I would have known about before going into the tour because I would have asked questions in regards to this book. In the book, Jenna explains about her life as a member of the Sea Org, the church’s most devoted core group of Scientology. She describes how she was sent away as a child to receive an education in Scientology, the manual labor she was forced to perform, and the coercion she faced from officials. Nothing about children being sent away to Scientology school was brought up or asked about throughout our time at the Church. After reading the 10 Juiciest Bits about Scientology from Jenna’s book, it made me think twice about what I found out while at the church. Hearing both the positive and negative sides of Scientology will not change the way I act in a professional environment because, knowing both sides of the religion will not diminish the respect I have for other’s personal religious choices. I think the main challenge for the Church of Scientology is the extreme difference in viewpoints you can have on the religion. Those who are Scientologist think it’s the most wonderful thing, but those who know about it and have gotten out have nothing good to say about it. Interview #2 The second interview I conducted did not relate to any of my multicultural experiences, but was instead with a coworker, Violet. Violet is from Uganda, Africa, and came to the United States in January 2000 to attend school at the University of Minnesota. Violet’s experience relates to the â€Å"Chimamanda Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story† video watched in class. Violet Interviewee #2 Violet Interviewee #2 Since this was an in person interview, not many structured questions were asked. Instead, there was a lot of back and forth conversation, unlike the interview with Michelle. When explaining her experiences growing up, Violet made a point on how the way she was raised and lived is only one view, and not everyone was able to live the way she did. Violet comes from a very successful family. She explained how she lived a very privileged life, in Uganda, and does not know what poverty is when asked about it. When her family came to Minnesota, they brought their maid with them, which is not common for many when traveling to the States. Violet came on a student visa. Due to the fact that she was from out of the country, she had to pay almost three times more per semester than most students attending the university. This is something her father paid for so, unlike me and many others, she graduated with no student loans. I asked Violet about the manifestation of personal brand of Africa and she explained that it is very different. One in Africa is unable to choose their personal brand. When interviewing for positions, the question is always, â€Å"Whose son or daughter is that?† not â€Å"How smart or qualified are they?† In Uganda, there is a strong British influence, so class and tribal system is what makes you who are you. It is all about whom you know or who you are related to. Violet never professionally worked in Africa, but states that one’s choices are limited regarding what they can decide to grow up to be. You either plan to be a doctor, lawyer, dentist, or anything else with a designate d path. There are few opportunities and many talents are wasted. Marketing or human resource careers aren’t options or even thought about in Africa when choosing an education path. When Violet came to Minnesota to begin school, she had it in her mind that she was going to become a lawyer. Not until she was almost done with her Bachelor’s degree did she begin to realize that becoming a lawyer was maybe something she didn’t actually want to do. She went on to complete her MBA, with the mind set of beginning to work toward a law degree. She is now a Senior Human Resources Recruiter, and sometimes wishes she had received her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or Communications, instead of Business, realizing that she was still living in the African career mentality when choosing her education. While people in the US think that an 8% unemployment rate is high, Africa has over 50% unemployment. This is partially because there are not enough businesses to employ everyone. Unlike in the US, there are no government services to help the poor. There is also not as much access to goods like in the US. Not everyone has the convenience to go to stores like Target or Wal-Mart. Lastly, when asked if people treat her different based on what the average American knows about Africans – that they are poor – she admitted that people sometimes do. Some are surprised to learn that she speaks English very well, others reject her when they realize that she is not a suffering African, and the black community does not always accept her as black. She has wondered if she had come over as an African refuge; how things might be different in the way people treat her. The interview with Violet was a further look into what I don’t know about Africa. It gave me knowledge and taught me never to judge based what I see on television or read in books. As Violet made clear at the beginning of our interview, she has only one view point regarding Africa, and not everyone was raised like her. This reminds me to never judge when only hearing one side of the story. This is a lesson that can be brought into the workplace every single day. The two interviews and three multi-cultural experiences opened my eyes to things I would never have known about. I learned about what it was like to attend a fashion show, a different culture, and religion. These experiences changed the way I look at life and the way I approach professional environments. Due to this project, I will search for new experiences that will bring be out of my comfort zone, just like the activities above. References Adichie, Chimamanda, perf. Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story. 2009. Film. March 2013. http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html. Fallon, Kevin. 10 Juiciest Bits From Ex-Scientologist’s Tell-All ‘Beyond Belief’. (2013): n. page. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. Miscavige Hill, Jenna. Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape. 1. 1. Harpercollins, 2013. 404. Print. Nassalo , Violet. Personal Interview. 9 Apr 2013. Olson, Michelle. E-mail Interview. 4 Apr 2013.

Time Travel Essay -- essays research papers fc

Time travel is feat thought by most to be impossible. After all time travel is what many science fiction movies are made of. Let us not forget such movies as â€Å"Back to the Future† or â€Å"The Time Machine.† Yet unlike those movies time travel is not necessarily fiction. â€Å"We are in our own time machines, our hearts are pumping blood, we're breathing, we are existing through time (at least until our own personal time machines seriously malfunction).† (Need help citing this!) Still surrounding this topic is a series of theories, and surrounding these series is a number of flaws. Theories and flaws that need to be explained to fully understand the idea of time travel. First things first we must state the basics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To begin with throw away whatever you thought you ever knew about time travel. There is no such thing as working time machines, you can’t go back in time by falling into a black hole, and sitting in a tub of water is not going to change you molecular structure and send it back in time by having you float through a wormhole. Time travel is achieved through speed; theoretically you must reach close to light speeds to go forward in time and faster than light speed to go back in time, according to Einstein’s theory of relativity mind you. Einstein’s theory of relativity is the basis of all time travel theories (Davies 1), â€Å"The essence of his prediction is that time is not absolute and universal but depends on the observer’s state of motion.† (Davies ...

Forward the Foundation Chapter 29

32 â€Å"Professor Seldon come in,† said Chief Librarian Tryma Acarnio in an icy tone of voice. Hari Seldon accompanied by Wanda and Palver, entered the Chief Librarian's imposing office. â€Å"Thank you, Chief Librarian,† said Seldon as he settled into a chair and faced Acarnio across the vast desk. â€Å"May I introduce my granddaughter Wanda and my friend Stettin Palver. Wanda is a most valuable member of the Psychohistory Project, her specialty being in the field of mathematics. And Stettin, well, Stettin is turning into a first-rate general psychohistorian-when he's not performing his duties as my bodyguard, that is.† Seldon chuckled amiably. â€Å"Yes, well, that's all well and good, Professor,† said Acarnio, baffled by Seldon's good humor. He had expected the professor to come in groveling, begging for another chance at special Library privileges. â€Å"But I don't understand what it is you wanted to see me about. I assume you realize that our position is firm: We cannot allow a Library association with someone so extremely unpopular with the general population. We are, after all, a public library and we must keep the public's sentiments in mind.† Acarnio settled back-perhaps now the groveling would begin. â€Å"I realize that I have not been able to sway you. However, I thought that if you heard from a couple of the Project's younger members-the psychohistorians of tomorrow, as it were-that perhaps you'd get a better feel about what a vital role the Project-and the Encyclopedia, in particular-will play in our future. Please hear Wanda and Stettin out.† Acarnio cast a cold eye toward the two young people flanking Seldon. â€Å"Very well, then,† he said, pointedly eyeing the timestrip on the wall. â€Å"Five minutes and no more. I have a Library to run.† â€Å"Chief Librarian,† began Wanda, â€Å"as my grandfather has undoubtedly explained to you, psychohistory is a most valuable tool to be used for the preservation of our culture. Yes, preservation, † she repeated, upon seeing Acarnio's eyes widen at the word. â€Å"Undue emphasis has been placed on the destruction of the Empire. By doing so, the true value of psychohistory has been overlooked. For, with psychohistory, as we are able to predict the inevitable decline of our civilization, so are we able to take steps toward its preservation. That is what the Encyclopedia Galactica is all about. And that is why we need your help, and the help of your great Library.† Acarnio could not resist smiling. The young lady had an undeniable charm. She was so earnest, so well spoken. He gazed at her sitting in front of him, her blond hair pulled back in a rather severe scholarly style, one which could not hide her attractive features but, rather, showed them off. What she was saying was starting to make sense. Maybe Wanda Seldon was right-maybe he had been looking at this problem from the wrong angle. If it were actually a matter of preservation, rather than destruction†¦ â€Å"Chief Librarian,† began Stettin Palver, â€Å"this great Library has stood for millennia. It, perhaps even more than the Imperial Palace, represents the vast power of the Empire. For, the Palace houses only the Empire's leader, while the Library is home to the sum total of Imperial knowledge, culture, and history. Its value is incalculable. â€Å"Does it not make sense to prepare a tribute to this great repository? The Encyclopedia Galactica will be just that-a giant summary of all the knowledge contained within these very walls. Think of it!† All of a sudden it seemed so very clear to Acarnio. How could he have let the Board (especially that sourpuss Gennaro Mummery) convince him to rescind Seldon's privileges? Las Zenow, a person whose judgment he greatly esteemed, had been a wholehearted supporter of Seldon's Encyclopedia. He glanced again at the three in front of him, waiting for his decision. The Board would be hard-pressed to find anything to complain about with the Project members-if the young people now in his office were a representative sample of the kind of persons involved with Seldon. Acarnio rose and walked across his office, his brow furrowed, as if framing his thoughts. He picked up a milky crystal sphere from a table and hefted it in his palm. â€Å"Trantor,† Acarnio began thoughtfully, â€Å"seat of the Empire, center of all the Galaxy. Quite amazing, when you think of it. We have, perhaps, been too quick to judge Professor Seldon. Now that your Project, this Encyclopedia Galactica, has been presented to me in such a light†-he gave a brief nod to Wanda and Palver-â€Å"I realize how important it would be to allow you to continue your work here. And, of course, to grant access to a number of your colleagues.† Seldon smiled gratefully and squeezed Wanda's hand. â€Å"It is not only for the greater glory of the Empire that I am recommending this,† continued Acarnio, apparently warming to the idea (and the sound of his own voice). â€Å"You are famous, Professor Seldon. Whether people think of you as a crackpot or a genius, everyone seems to have an opinion. If an academic of your stature is allied with the Galactic Library, it can only increase our prestige as a bastion of intellectual pursuit of the highest order. Why, the luster of your presence can be used to raise much-needed funds to update our collections, increase our staff, keep our doors open to the public longer†¦ â€Å"And the prospect of the Encyclopedia Galactica itself-what a monumental project! Imagine the reaction when the public learns that the Galactic Library is involved with such an undertaking designed to highlight the splendor of our civilization-our glorious history, our brilliant achievements, our magnificent cultures. And to think that I, Chief Librarian Tryma Acarnio, is responsible for making sure that this great Project gets its start-† Acarnio gazed intently into the crystal sphere, lost in reverie. â€Å"Yes, Professor Seldon,† Acarnio pulled himself back to the here and now. â€Å"You and your colleagues will be granted full insiders' privileges-and a suite of offices in which to work.† He placed the crystal sphere back on its table and, with a swish of robes, moved back to his desk. â€Å"It might take a little doing, of course, to persuade the Board-but I am confident that I can handle them. Just leave it to me.† Seldon, Wanda, and Palver looked at each other in triumph, with small smiles playing at the corner of their mouths. Tryma Acarnio gestured that they could go and so they did, leaving the Chief Librarian settled in his chair, dreaming of the glory and honor that would come to the Library under his aegis. â€Å"Amazing,† said Seldon when the three were safely ensconced in their ground-car. â€Å"If you could have seen him at our last meeting. He said I was ‘threatening the essential fabric of our Empire' or some such rot. And today, after just a few minutes with you two-â€Å" â€Å"It wasn't too hard, Grandpa,† Wanda said as she pressed a contact, moving the ground-car out into traffic. She sat back as the auto-propel took over; Wanda had punched their destination coordinates into the control panel. â€Å"He is a man with a strong sense of self-importance. All we had to do was play up the positive aspects of the Encyclopedia and his ego took over from there.† â€Å"He was a goner the minute Wanda and I walked in,† Palver said from the back. â€Å"With both of us pushing him, it was a piece of cake.† Palver reached forward and squeezed Wanda's shoulder affectionately. She smiled, reached up, and patted his hand. â€Å"I must alert the Encyclopedists as soon as possible,† Seldon said. â€Å"Although there are only thirty-two left, they are good and dedicated workers. I'll get them installed at the Library and then I'll tackle the next hurdle-credits. Perhaps this alliance with the Library is what I need to convince people to give us funding. Let's see-I'll call upon Terep Bindris again and I'll take you two with me. He was kindly disposed toward me, at least at first. But how will he be able to resist us now?† The ground-car eventually came to a halt outside the Psychohistory Building at Streeling. The side panels slid open, but Seldon did not immediately move to disembark. He turned to face Wanda. â€Å"Wanda, you know what you and Stettin were able to accomplish with Acarnio; I'm sure you both can push some credits out of a few financial benefactors as well. â€Å"I know how you hate to leave your beloved Prime Radiant, but these visits will give you two a chance to practice, to hone your skills, to get an idea of just what you can do.† â€Å"All right, Grandpa, although I'm sure that, now that you have the Library's imprimatur, you will find that resistance to your requests has lessened.† â€Å"There's another reason I think it's important for the two of you to get out and around together. Stettin, I believe you said that on certain occasions you've ‘felt' another mind like yours but haven't been able to identify it.† â€Å"Yes,† answered Palver, â€Å"I've had flashes, but each time I was in a crowd. And, in my twenty-four years, I can remember feeling such a flash just four or five times.† â€Å"But, Stettin,† said Seldon, his voice low with intensity, â€Å"each flash was, potentially, the mind of another person like you and Wanda-another mentalic. Wanda's never felt these flashes because, frankly, she's been sheltered all her life. The few times she's been out in a crowd there must not have been any other mentalics around. â€Å"That's one reason-perhaps the most important reason-for you two to get out-with me or without me. We must find other mentalics. The two of you alone are strong enough to push a single person. A large group of you, all pushing together, will have the power to move an Empire!† With that. Hari Seldon swung his legs around and hoisted himself out of the ground-car. As Wanda and Palver watched him limp up the pathway to the Psychohistory Building, they were only dimly aware of the enormous responsibility Seldon had just placed on their young shoulders. 33 It was midafternoon and the Trantorian sun glinted on the metal skin covering the great planet. Hari Seldon stood at the edge of the Streeling University observation deck, attempting to shield his eyes from the harsh glare with his hand. It had been years since he'd been out from under the dome, save for his few visits to the Palace, and somehow those didn't count; one was still very much enclosed on the Imperial grounds. Seldon no longer traveled around only if accompanied. In the first place, Palver spent the majority of his time with Wanda, either working on the Prime Radiant, absorbed in mentalic research, or searching for others like them. But if he had wanted, Seldon could have found another young man-a University student or a Project member-to act as his bodyguard. However, Seldon knew that a bodyguard was no longer necessary. Since the much publicized hearing and the reestablishment of ties with the Galactic Library, the Commission for Public Safety had taken a keen interest in Seldon. Seldon knew that he was being followed; he had caught sight of his â€Å"shadow† on a number of occasions in the past few months. He also had no doubt that his home and office had been infiltrated by listening devices, but he himself activated a static shield whenever he engaged in sensitive communications. Seldon was not sure what the Commission thought of him-perhaps they were not yet sure themselves. Regardless of whether they believed him to be a prophet or a crackpot, they made it their business to know where he was at all times-and that meant that, until the Commission deemed otherwise, at all times Seldon was safe. A light breeze billowed the deep blue cloak Seldon had draped over his unisuit and ruffed the few wispy white hairs remaining on his head. He glanced down over the railing, taking in the seamless steel blanket below. Beneath that blanket, Seldon knew, rumbled the machinery of a vastly complicated world. If the dome were transparent, one would see ground-cars racing, gravicabs swooshing through an intricate network of interconnecting tunnels, space hyperships being loaded and unloaded with grain and chemicals and jewels bound for and from practically every world of the Empire. Below the gleaming metal cover, the lives of forty billion people were being conducted, with all the attendant pain, joy, and drama of human life. It was an image he loved dearly-this panorama of human achievement-and it pierced his heart to know that, in just a few centuries, all that now lay before him would be in ruins. The great dome would be ripped and scarred, torn away to reveal the desolate wasteland of what was once the seat of a thriving civilization. He shook his head in sadness, for he knew there was nothing he could do to prevent that tragedy. But, as Seldon foresaw the ruined dome, he also knew that from the ground laid bare by the last battles of the Empire living shoots would spring and somehow Trantor would reemerge as a vital member of the new Empire. The Plan saw to that. Seldon lowered himself onto one of the benches ringing the deck's perimeter. His leg was throbbing painfully; the exertion of the trip had been a bit much. But it had been worth it to gaze once again at Trantor, to feel the open air around him and see the vast sky above. Seldon thought wistfully of Wanda. He rarely saw his granddaughter at all anymore and invariably Stettin Palver was present when he did. In the three months since Wanda and Palver had met, they seemed to be inseparable. Wanda assured Seldon that the constant involvement was necessary for the Project, but Seldon suspected it went deeper than mere devotion to one's job. He remembered the telltale signs from his early days with Dors. It was there in the way the two young people looked at each other, with an intensity born not only of intellectual stimulation but emotional motivation as well. Further, by their very natures, Wanda and Palver seemed to be more comfortable with each other than with other people. In fact, Seldon had discovered that when no one else was around, Wanda and Palver didn't even talk to each other; their mentalic abilities were sufficiently advanced that they had no need of words to communicate. The other Project members were not aware of Wanda's and Palver's unique talents. Seldon had felt it best to keep the mentalics' work quiet, at least until their role in the Plan was firmly defined. Actually the Plan itself was firmly defined-but solely in Seldon's mind. As a few more pieces fell into place, he would reveal his Plan to Wanda and Palver and someday, of necessity, to one or two others. Seldon stood slowly, stiffly. He was due back at Streeling in an hour to meet Wanda and Palver. They had left word for him that they were bringing a great surprise. Another piece for the puzzle, Seldon hoped. He looked out one last time over Trantor and, before turning to make his way back to the gravitic repulsion elevator, smiled and softly said, â€Å"Foundation.† 34 Hari Seldon entered his office to find that Wanda and Palver had already arrived and were seated around the conference table at the far end of the room. As was usual with those two, the room was completely silent. Then Seldon stopped short, noticing that a new fellow was sitting with them. How strange-out of politeness, Wanda and Palver usually reverted to standard speech when in the company of other people, yet none of the three was speaking. Seldon studied the stranger-an odd-looking man, about thirty-five years old, with the myopic look of one caught up for too long in his studies. If it weren't for a certain determined set to the stranger's jaw, Seldon thought he might be dismissed as ineffectual, but that would obviously be a mistake. There was both strength and kindness in the man's face. A trustworthy face, Seldon decided. â€Å"Grandfather,† Wanda said, rising gracefully from her chair. Seldon's heart ached as he looked at his granddaughter. She'd changed so much in the past few months, since the loss of her family. Whereas before she had always called him Grandpa, now it was the more formal Grandfather. In the past it seemed she could barely refrain from grins and giggles; lately her serene gaze was lightened only occasionally by a beatific smile. But-now as always-she was beautiful and that beauty was surpassed only by her stunning intellect. â€Å"Wanda, Palver,† Seldon said, kissing the former on the cheek and slapping the latter on the shoulder. â€Å"Hello,† Seldon said, turning to the stranger, who had also stood. â€Å"I am Hari Seldon.† â€Å"I am most honored to meet you, Professor,† the man replied. â€Å"I am Bor Alurin.† Alurin offered a hand to Seldon in the archaic and, hence, most formal mode of greeting. â€Å"Bor is a psychologist, Hari,† said Palver, â€Å"and a great fan of your work.† â€Å"More important, Grandfather,† said Wanda, â€Å"Bor is one of us.† â€Å"One of you?† Seldon looked searchingly from one to the other. â€Å"Do you mean†¦?† Seldon's eyes sparkled. â€Å"Yes, Grandfather. Yesterday Stettin and I were walking through Ery Sector, getting out and around, as you'd suggested, probing for others. All of a sudden-wham!-there it was.† â€Å"We recognized the thought patterns immediately and began to look around, trying to establish a link,† Palver said, taking up the story. â€Å"We were in a commercial area, near the spaceport, so the walkways were clogged with shoppers and tourists and Outworld traders. It seemed hopeless, but then Wanda simply stopped and signaled Come here and out of the crowd Bor appeared. He just walked up to us and signaled Yes?† â€Å"Amazing,† Seldon said, beaming at his granddaughter. â€Å"And Dr.-it is Doctor, isn't it?-Alurin, what do you make of all this?† â€Å"Well,† began the psychologist thoughtfully, â€Å"I am pleased. I've always felt different somehow and now I know why. And if I can be of any help to you, why-† The psychologist looked down at his feet, as if all of a sudden he realized he was being presumptuous. â€Å"What I mean is, Wanda and Stettin said I may be able to contribute in some way to your Psychohistory Project. Professor, nothing would please me more.† â€Å"Yes yes. That's quite true, Dr. Alurin. In fact, I think you may make a great contribution to the Project-if you'll join me. Of course, you'll have to give up whatever it is you do now, whether it is teaching or private practice. Can you manage that?† â€Å"Why, yes, Professor, of course. I may need a little help convincing my wife-† At this he chuckled slightly, glancing shyly at each of his three companions in turn. â€Å"But I seem to have a way with that.† â€Å"So it's set, then,† said Seldon briskly. â€Å"You will join the Psychohistory Project. I promise you, Dr. Alurin, this is a decision you will not regret.† â€Å"Wanda, Stettin,† Seldon said later, after Bor Alurin had left. â€Å"This is a most welcome breakthrough. How quickly do you think you can find more mentalics?† â€Å"Grandfather, it took us over a month to locate Bor-we cannot predict with what frequency others will be found. â€Å"To tell you the truth, all this ‘out and around' takes us away from our work on the Prime Radiant and it is distracting as well. Now that I have Stettin to ‘talk' to, verbal communication is somewhat too harsh, too loud. â€Å" Seldon's smile faded. He had been afraid of this. As Wanda and Palver had been honing their mentalic skills, so their tolerance for â€Å"ordinary† life had diminished. It only made sense; their mentalic manipulations set them apart. â€Å"Wanda, Stettin, I think it may be time for me to tell you more about the idea Yugo Amaryl had years ago and about the Plan I've devised as a result of that idea. I haven't been ready to elaborate upon it until now, because until this moment, all the pieces have not been in place. â€Å"As you know, Yugo felt we must establish two Foundations-each as a fail-safe measure for the other. It was a brilliant idea, one which I wish Yugo could have lived long enough to see realized.† Here Seldon paused, heaving a regretful sigh. â€Å"But I digress. Six years ago, when I was certain that Wanda had mentalic, or mind-touching, capabilities, it came to me that not only should there be two Foundations but that they should be distinct in nature, as well. One would be made up of physical scientists-the Encyclopedists will be their pioneer group on Terminus. The second would be made up of true psychohistorians; mentalists-you. That is why I've been so eager for you to find others like you. â€Å"Finally, though, is this: The Second Foundation must be secret. Its strength will lie in its seclusion, in its telepathic omnipresence and omnipotence. â€Å"You see, a few years ago, when it became apparent that I would require the services of a bodyguard, I realized that the Second Foundation must be the strong, silent, secret bodyguard of the primary Foundation. â€Å"Psychohistory is not infallible-its predictions are, however, highly probable. The Foundation, especially in its infancy, will have many enemies, as do I today. â€Å"Wanda, you and Palver are the pioneers of the Second Foundation, the guardians of the Terminus Foundation.† â€Å"But how, Grandfather?† demanded Wanda. â€Å"We are just two-well, three, if you count Bor. To guard the entire Foundation, we would need-â€Å" â€Å"Hundreds? Thousands? Find however many it takes, Granddaughter. You can do it. And you know how. â€Å"Earlier, when relating the story of finding Dr. Alurin, Stettin said you simply stopped and communicated out to the mentalic presence you felt and he came to you. Don't you see? All along I've been urging you to go out and find others like you. But this is difficult, almost painful for you. I realize now that you and Stettin must seclude yourselves, in order to form the nucleus of the Second Foundation. From there you will cast your nets into the ocean of humanity.† â€Å"Grandfather, what are you saying?† Wanda asked in a whisper. She had left her seat and was kneeling next to Seldon's chair. â€Å"Do you want me to leave?† â€Å"No, Wanda,† Seldon replied, his voice choked with emotion. â€Å"I don't want you to leave, but it is the only way. You and Stettin must isolate yourselves from the crude physicality of Trantor. As your mentalic abilities grow stronger, you will attract others to you-the silent and secret Foundation will grow. â€Å"We will be in touch-occasionally, of course. And each of us has a Prime Radiant. You see, don't you, the truth-and the absolute necessity-of what I am saying, don't you?† â€Å"Yes, I do, Grandfather,† said Wanda. â€Å"More important, I feel the brilliance of it as well. Rest assured; we won't let you down.† â€Å"I know you won't, dear,† Seldon said wearily. How could he do this-how could he send his darling granddaughter away? She was his last link to his happiest days, to Dors, Yugo, and Raych. She was the only other Seldon in the Galaxy. â€Å"I shall miss you terribly, Wanda,† Seldon said as a tear worked its way down his finely creased cheek. â€Å"But, Grandfather,† Wanda said as she stood with Palver, preparing to leave. â€Å"Where shall we go? Where is the Second Foundation?† Seldon looked up and said, â€Å"The Prime Radiant has already told you, Wanda.† Wanda looked at Seldon blankly, searching her memory. Seldon reached out and clutched at his granddaughter's hand. â€Å"Touch my mind, Wanda. It is there.† Wanda's eyes widened as she reached into Seldon's mind. â€Å"I see,† Wanda whispered to Seldon. Section 33A2D17. Star's End. Part V Epilogue I am Hari Seldon. Former First Minister to Emperor Cleon I. Professor Emeritus of Psychohistory at Streeling University on Trantor. Director of the Psychohistory Research Project. Executive Editor of the Encyclopedia Galactica. Creator of the Foundation. It all sounds quite impressive, I know. I have done a great deal in my eighty-one years and I am tired. Looking back over my life, I wonder if I could have-should have-done certain things differently. For instance: Was I so concerned with the grand sweep of psychohistory that the people and events that intersected my life sometimes seemed inconsequential by comparison? Perhaps I neglected to make some small incidental adjustments here or there that would have in no way compromised the future of humanity but might have dramatically improved the life of an individual dear to me. Yugo, Raych†¦ I can't help but wonder†¦ Was there something I could have done to save my beloved Dors? Last month I finished recording the Crisis holograms. My assistant, Gaal Dornick, has taken them to Terminus to oversee their installation in the Seldon Vault. He will make sure that the Vault is sealed and that the proper instructions are left for the eventual openings of the Vault, during the Crises. I'll be dead by then, of course. What will they think, those future Foundationers, when they see me (or, more accurately, my hologram) during the First Crisis, almost fifty years from now? Will they comment on how old I look or how weak my voice is or how small I seem, bundled in this wheelchair? Will they understand-appreciate-the message I've left for them? Ah well, there's really no point in speculating. As the ancients would say: The die is cast. I heard from Gaal yesterday. All is going well on Terminus. Bor Alurin and the Project members are flourishing in â€Å"exile.† I shouldn't gloat, but I can't help but chuckle when I recall the self-satisfied look on the face of that pompous idiot Linge Chen when he banished the Project to Terminus two years ago. Although ultimately the exile was couched in terms of an Imperial Charter (â€Å"A state-supported scientific institution and part of the personal domain of His August Majesty, the Emperor†-the Chief Commissioner wanted us off Trantor and out of his hair, but he could not bear the thought of giving up complete control), it is still a source of secret delight to know that it was Las Zenow and I who chose Terminus as Foundation's home. My one regret where Linge Chen is concerned is that we were not able to save Agis. That Emperor was a good man and a noble leader, even if he was Imperial in name only. His mistake was to believe in his title and the Commission of Public Safety would not tolerate the burgeoning Imperial independence. I often wonder what they did to Agis-was he exiled to some remote Outer World or assassinated like Cleon? The boy-child who sits on the throne today is the perfect puppet Emperor. He obeys every word Linge Chen whispers in his ear and fancies himself a budding statesman. The Palace and trappings of Imperial life are but toys to him in some vast fantastical game. What will I do now? With Gaal finally gone to join the Terminus group, I am utterly alone. I hear from Wanda occasionally. The work at Star's End continues on course; in the past decade she and Stettin have added dozens of mentalics to their number. They increasingly grow in power. It was the Star's End contingent-my secret Foundation-who pushed Linge Chen into sending the Encyclopedists to Terminus. I miss Wanda. It has been many years since I've seen her, sat with her quietly, holding her hand. When Wanda left, even though I had asked her to go, I thought I would die of heartbreak. That was, perhaps, the most difficult decision I ever had to make and, although I never told her, I almost decided against it. But for the Foundation to succeed, it was necessary for Wanda and Stettin to go to Star's End. Psychohistory decreed it, so perhaps it wasn't really my decision, after all. I still come here every day, to my office in the Psychohistory Building. I remember when this structure was filled with people, day and night. Sometimes I feel as if it's filled with voices, those of my long-departed family, students, colleagues-but the offices are empty and silent. The hallways echo with the whirr of my wheelchair motor. I suppose I should vacate the building, return it to the University to allocate to another department. But somehow it's hard to let go of this place. There are so many memories†¦ All I have now is this, my Prime Radiant. This is the means by which psychohistory can be computed, through which every equation in my Plan may be analyzed, all here in this amazing, small black cube. As I sit here, this deceptively simple-looking tool in the palm of my hand, I wish I could show it to R. Daneel Olivaw†¦ But I am alone, and need only to close a contact for the office lights to dim. As I settle back in my wheelchair, the Prime Radiant activates, its equations spreading around me in three-dimensional splendor. To the untrained eye, this multicolored swirl would be merely a jumble of shapes and numbers, but for me-and Yugo, Wanda, Gaal-this is psychohistory, come to life. What I see before me, around me, is the future of humanity. Thirty thousand years of potential chaos, compressed into a single millennium†¦ That patch, glowing more strongly day by day, is the Terminus equation. And there-skewed beyond repair-are the Trantor figures. But I can see†¦ yes, softly beaming, a steady light of hope†¦ Star's End! This-this-was my life's work. My past-humanity's future. Foundation. So beautiful, so alive. And nothing can†¦ Dors! SELDON, HARI-†¦ found dead, slumped over his desk in his office at Streeling University in 12,069 G.E. (1 F.E.). Apparently Seldon had been working up to his last moments on psychohistorical equations; his activated Prime Radiant was discovered clutched in his hand†¦ According to Seldon's instructions, the instrument was shipped to his colleague Gaal Dornick who had recently emigrated to Terminus†¦ Seldon's body was jettisoned into space, also in accordance with instructions he'd left. The official memorial service on Trantor was simple, though well attended. It is worth noting that Seldon's old friend former First Minister Eto Demerzel attended the event. Demerzel had not been seen since his mysterious disappearance immediately following the Joranumite Conspiracy during the reign of Emperor Cleon I. Attempts by the Commission of Public Safety to locate Demerzel in the days following the Seldon memorial proved to be unsuccessful†¦ Wanda Seldon, Hari Seldon's granddaughter, did not attend the ceremony. It was rumored that she was grief-stricken and had refused all public appearances. To this day, her whereabouts from then on remain unknown†¦ It has been said that Hari Seldon left this life as he lived it, for he died with the future he created unfolding all around him†¦ Encyclopedia Galactica [1] All quotations from the Encyclopedia Galactica here reproduced are taken from the 116th Edition, published 1,020 F.E. by the Encyclopedia Galactica Publishing Co., Terminus, with permission of the publishers.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In the wake of the financial scandals that struck major corporations such as Enron, WorldCom and Tyco International, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was enacted â€Å"to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures , made pursuant to the securities laws. † (P. L. 107-204, 116 Stat. 45) It aims to create new and enhance previously existing standards and practices for the boards of all publicly held companies as well as management and public accounting firms in the United States, delineating and clarifying rights and responsibilities with regards to auditing and accountability and emphasizing such points as auditor independence, corporate governance and responsibility and assessment of internal controls. Specifically, the Act stresses upon a more exhaustive disclosure of financial transactions as reporting requirements of companies based in the United States now need to be more thorough and more critical, and therefore more costly to implement. As such, this comes as a heavy burden to smaller companies who have to contend with the high costs imposed on them to complete their assessments, effectively forcing many of these small businessess to do away with public ownership, which in turn reduces valuable entrepreneurial activity. Ribstein & Butler, 2006, p. 101) The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, known in full as the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act, was enacted June 30, 2002 through the sponsorships of Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes and Ohio 4th District Representative Michael Oxley. The Act has 11 titles dealing with auditor independence, individual responsibility of senior executives for the accuracy and completeness of corporate financial reports, and enhanced reporting requirements for financial transactions. (P. L. 107-204, 116 Stat. 45, Titles II, III, IV) It also includes measures and practices designed to help restore investor confidence in securities analysts, as well as indicating violations and specific criminal penalties for fraud by manipulation of financial records or other interference with investigations. (P. L. 107-204, 116 Stat. 745, Titles VIII, IX, XI) In its establishment, the Act created the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to regulate and discipline accounting firms as auditors of public companies. It also mandates the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to implement rulings on requirements in compliance with the Act. P. L. 107-204, 116 Stat. 745, Titles I, VI, VII) In his signing statement, President George W. Bush cl aims the Sarbanes-Oxley Act â€Å"the most far-reaching reforms of American business practices since the time of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. † He stressed that it ushers in a new era of integrity and responsibility in corporate America where dishonest leaders will be caught and penalized accordingly, a reference to the major corporate and accounting scandals that affected many large corporations during the '90s and well into the new millenium, shattering public confidence in the nation's securities markets. Office of the Press Secretary, 2002) Particularly enraging accounts that led to the creation of the Act are the scandals that involved Enron, WorldCom and Tyco International, where conflicts of interest, unusual and unreasonably justified banking practices, and problems in incentive compensation activities revealed massive fraud on the part of both the companies and their accounting firms, resulting in massive market downturns. (Patsuris, 2002) The Act combats such unscrupulous activities by emphasizing corporate controls and enhanced financial reporting to maintain credibility. Details of off-balance sheet transactions, pro-forma figures and stock transactions of corporate officers must be reported. To assure the accuracy of financial reports and disclosures, management assessment of internal controls must be thoroughly performed. Timely periodic reporting of material changes in financial condition is required, as well as specified enhanced reviews by the SEC of such corporate reports. (P. L. 107-204, 116 Stat. 745, Title IV) A specific part of the Act, Section 404, requires management and external auditor to report on the adequacy of the company's control over financial reports. This, however, is considered by many the aspect that costs most to implement as enormous effort is needed to document and test important financial controls. Since it requires both management and external auditor to perform assessment in the context of a top-down risk assessment, it must cover all aspects of compliance and thus needs much time, labor and cost. Ribstein & Butler, 2006, p. 100) Compliance with Section 404 of the Act has a much greater impact on smaller companies as there is a significant cost involved in completing their assessments. Ribstein and Butler (2006) contend that this necessitates many small businesses to spend much than what they actually earn, driving a huge percentage of their expenditure on compliance alone. This eventually forces them to forgo with public ownership. As an example, during 2004, U. S. companies with revenues exceeding $5 billion spent . 06% of revenue on compliance, while companies with less than $100 million in revenue spent 2. 55%. (U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2006) It is quite unfair that small companies should bear the brunt when they do not earn as much as their bigger counterparts, and the government must take steps and act on what can be seen as a drawback on such a well-intended regulation. In conclusion, while much of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was created and implemented to help put public trust back into corporations through recognizing and rewarding honest corporate leaders while discplining and fining unaccountable ones, much must be done to help alleviate the apparent burden on small companies who have to spend much on compliance, so that they may flourish and be able to compete without being compelled to spend too much on something that is beyond their capacity. And we should look forward in continuing the good work that the Act itself represents in defending the public from fraudulent and malicious corporate activities.

Free Essays on INFORMATIONAL TEXT

What is Informational Text? Informational text provides ideas, facts, and principles that are related to the physical, biological and social world. Informational texts may take many different forms: picture books, photo essays, chapter books, articles and essays, letters, diaries and journals, factual books including almanacs and statistics, brochures and manuals. The primary purpose is to communicate information. (www.scholastic.com) How does is differ from fiction? Fiction is generally defined as a narrative that is imagined rather than real compared with non fiction which is based on fact. Fiction is a large category that includes many kinds of literary works. It includes historical fiction, realistic stories, plays, fantasies and folklore. A fictional text may be a novel, short story or play. The purpose of fiction is to entertain and involve readers in stories of life. (Fountas and Pinnell, 2001, p 401) Why is it important to teach children how to read it? It is important to teach children how to read informational text because: „_ Provides success in the later years of Schooling. As children progress they are faced with content area text books as well as informational passages on tests. Introducing the children to informational text early on allows them to better handle the information.  ¡Ã‚ §Children learn to read and read to learn ¡Ã‚ ¨ (www.Scholastic.com) „_ Prepares children to handle real life reading. Children need to be prepared to read newspapers, non fiction magazines and web based materials. To prepare children for the real world we need to teach them how to apply their knowledge effectively. „_ Develops vocabulary and other types of literacy knowledge. When reading informational text there is a stronger emphasis on vocabulary. Students are introduced to new concepts and there are many teachable moments. Learning to read diagrams, tables and other types of graphic organizers... Free Essays on INFORMATIONAL TEXT Free Essays on INFORMATIONAL TEXT What is Informational Text? Informational text provides ideas, facts, and principles that are related to the physical, biological and social world. Informational texts may take many different forms: picture books, photo essays, chapter books, articles and essays, letters, diaries and journals, factual books including almanacs and statistics, brochures and manuals. The primary purpose is to communicate information. (www.scholastic.com) How does is differ from fiction? Fiction is generally defined as a narrative that is imagined rather than real compared with non fiction which is based on fact. Fiction is a large category that includes many kinds of literary works. It includes historical fiction, realistic stories, plays, fantasies and folklore. A fictional text may be a novel, short story or play. The purpose of fiction is to entertain and involve readers in stories of life. (Fountas and Pinnell, 2001, p 401) Why is it important to teach children how to read it? It is important to teach children how to read informational text because: „_ Provides success in the later years of Schooling. As children progress they are faced with content area text books as well as informational passages on tests. Introducing the children to informational text early on allows them to better handle the information.  ¡Ã‚ §Children learn to read and read to learn ¡Ã‚ ¨ (www.Scholastic.com) „_ Prepares children to handle real life reading. Children need to be prepared to read newspapers, non fiction magazines and web based materials. To prepare children for the real world we need to teach them how to apply their knowledge effectively. „_ Develops vocabulary and other types of literacy knowledge. When reading informational text there is a stronger emphasis on vocabulary. Students are introduced to new concepts and there are many teachable moments. Learning to read diagrams, tables and other types of graphic organizers...

Linear Algebra and Vector Equations †Math Essay

Linear Algebra and Vector Equations – Math Essay Free Online Research Papers Linear Algebra and Vector Equations Math Essay Week 2 in Linear Algebra focused on Vector Equations (Section 1.3) and the Matrix Equation Ax = b (Section 1.4). The key concepts in section 1.3 are linear combinations of vectors and a spanning set. A vector is defined as a matrix with one column. A vector with n entries defines a vector in Rn. If you plot two vectors in R2, you can find the sum of the vectors graphically using Parallelogram Rule. Linear Combinations are combinations of vectors, using different weights for each. For example, given vectors v and u, 2v + u is a Linear Combination of the two vectors. Furthermore, the equation v + u = b has the same solution as the augmented matrix [v u | b]. This means that b can be made from a linear combination of v and u if and only if the corresponding augmented matrix has a solution. The other key concept in section 1.3 is Span. The Span of vectors is the set of all linear combinations of the vectors. Given u, v, and z, Span{ u, v, z} is the collection of all vectors that can be written as x1u + x2v + x3z. To determine if vector b is in the span of vectors u and v, put all three vectors into an augmented matrix (vector b being the last row) and solve. If the solution is consistent, b is i n the Span{u, v}. Section 1.4 explains how linear combinations can be viewed as vector multiplication. There are three ways of viewing linear systems: as a system of linear equations, as a vector equation, or as a matrix equation Ax = b. So, since all three represent linear systems, they can all be used to find the same solutions. For any matrix A with rows m and columns n, the following is true: for each b in Rm, the equation Ax = b has a solution, each b in Rm is a linear combination of the columns of A, the columns of A span Rm, and A has a pivot position in every row. This means that a 33 matrix must have a pivot in every row to span R3. Finally, the last theorem of the section states that if A is an m x n matrix, u and v are vectors in Rn, and c is a scalar, then: A(u+v) = Au + Av, and A(cu) = cAu. Research Papers on Linear Algebra and Vector Equations - Math EssayIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfOpen Architechture a white paperResearch Process Part OneThree Concepts of PsychodynamicGenetic EngineeringThe Project Managment Office SystemEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andHip-Hop is Art

13 Quotes About the Joy of Baby Girls

13 Quotes About the Joy of Baby Girls When you think of a baby girl, the mind conjures up images of satin ribbons, pink frilly frocks, dainty shoes, and delicate tutus. But be warned! Girls can be full of surprises, too. If you are having a baby girl, you can gain some invaluable advice from these baby girl quotes. These baby girl quotes present the perspectives of some famous personalities on the experience of raising a girl child. Here are some beautiful baby girl quotes to fill your heart with a yearning for a baby girl. Alan Marshall Beck A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. She can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle your nerves, yet just when you open your mouth she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot. Elizabeth Taylor My mother says I didnt open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked. Kate Douglas Wiggin Every child born into the world is a new thought of God, an ever-fresh and radiant possibility. Proverb Like mother, like daughter. Lewis Carroll I am fond of children... except boys. Joseph Addison Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. Irish Saying A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life. Phyllis Diller It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge. Henry David Thoreau Every child begins the world again... Whitney Houston You dont have a baby based on that publicity madness. People dont live like that. Especially black people who were raised in families with morals and standards and integrity. Lawrence Housman If nature had arranged that husbands and wives should have children alternatively, there would never be more than three in a family. Ace Frehley I look at my kid, and one part of me wants to keep her as my little baby. But, yknow, the bottom line is shes 18! Harold Bloomfield One touch is worth ten thousand words.

The reasons why the FASB and the IASB seeking to converge and improve Essay

The reasons why the FASB and the IASB seeking to converge and improve their respective conceptual frameworks and why the project will take along time to complete - Essay Example Following are some of the reasons for the convergence of accounting standards. †¢ Harmonize the global accounting standards so that the users of financial statements feel harmony with rest of their other counterparts anywhere across the globe. †¢ Making the financial statements of the entities comparable all over the world in respect of the accounting policies used by the entities †¢ Eliminating the impact of biasness and partiality from the financial statements such that integrative and objective financial statements can be prepared †¢ Providing opportunities especially to multinational companies to prepare their financial statements on the basis of single common accounting standards so that the manipulations and misrepresentations can be avoided while formulating the consolidated financial statements of the whole group of companies In bringing more convergence in setting the accounting standards, yet there is a long period of time required for this purpose. Some of the reasons for such possible extended time to be taken are as follows: Legal and regulatory stoppages and restrictions which do not allow the accounting standard boards to bring so early changes in the accounting standards merely on the basis of producing more convergent accounting standards. Laws of the jurisdictions ask some real and substance based reasons to bring such changes in the accounting standards. ... Therefore practically once the accounting standards are reformulated, their adoption takes two to three years by the entities in their implementation. In a nutshell, the main hurdle for setting up the new accounting standards for the purpose of convergence, is posed by the regulatory bodies and persuading them for such changes require substantial amount of time and efforts followed by the time taken by the entities to adopt the new accounting standards after their formulation therefore making it more longer for the accounting standards to be convergent globally. Discuss the problems involved in refining, updating, completing and converging the existing FASB and IASB conceptual frameworks into a common framework, illustrating your discussion with reference to specific issues. Discuss that are controversial and difficult to resolve The major problems that arise in refining, updating, completing and converging the present accounting standards issued by FASB and IASB have significant imp lications. Most of the problems are of technical nature however some administrative issues that hinder the convergence process cannot be altogether ignored. In the following discussion some of those problems are highlighted. Retrospective changes in the financial statements In developing new standards which are more convergent in the form of a common framework, both FASB and IASB have to change their existing frameworks altogether. Due to those changes, the financial statements previously prepared under each of the accounting standards would have to be changed by the entities on retrospective bases under newly developed common framework which may display some material diversions as compared to the previously furnished financial statements. In this way the financial

Personal Ethic Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personal Ethic Statement - Essay Example I affirm Leopold correctly states â€Å"land should be both respected and loved† (Nelson 1). Respecting land means avoiding the use of pesticides because pesticides produce poisoned food. I feel that loving the land means understanding which plants will grow on the land. Respecting and loving the land will bring health benefits. Furthermore, I feel Leopold correctly states the â€Å"land ethics concept affects the people’s health† (Nelson 1). Pesticide-induced food products are unhealthy. Pesticide food is poisoned. Land ethics requires using non-pesticide inputs. Health-based management of the land will increase economic benefits. Moreover, I confirm Leopold’s land ethics ensures higher economic benefits. Leopold correct insisted that â€Å"people must take care of the land’s health† (Nelson 1). Most health-conscious persons will not buy the pesticide-induced food products. The same individuals will patronize pesticide-absent grown food. Consequently, selling pesticide-absent food generates high food sales. Concluding, I personally affirm Leopold’s land ethics concept of compulsory ethics-based healthy land management. I propose the right future land management requires planting foods that will thrive best on the land. Likewise, I insist that right future land management requires avoidance of poison-based pesticides inputs. I adhere to Leopold’s espousing the healthy management of the land will result to a healthy environment. Evidently, I affirm land-inclusive ethics rightfully governs the actions of human

Accounting Fraud in an Organization Research Paper

Accounting Fraud in an Organization - Research Paper Example Simply put, accounting is a field that involves financial operations which record information about the financial status of a company. Accounting, when it is moral and professional at the same time, provides a lucid financial picture of a company and enables the accountants to formulate well-versed decisions that aim at securing the profit of the company. The accounting system may be as simple as involving a simple register and may be as sophisticated as a computerized system that records all financial activities providing information about every monetary detail like a current business trend and future vision. Accounting deals with three types of information: operating information, financial accounting information and Managerial accounting information (MoneyInstructor, 2005). Operating information is the largest portion of accounting information. The company needs this information on a routine basis like employees’ salaries, a record of loans rendered, sales, inventory, and so on. Financial accounting information enables the managers, shareholders and the like to make well-informed decisions about their investment, shares, money taken or given as the loan, and etcetera. Managerial accounting information enables managers to make decisions about budget and formulate plans to supervise the financial activities. Businesses and organizations are sometimes very much under the pressure, due to market competition may be, to make them appear profitable to the investors and clientele in order to draw them. But they need to know that practicing counterfeit accounting activities to fulfill this purpose is not only unethical but also can bring disastrous consequences.  

Finance analysis of Whitbread Financial Ratios Assignment

Finance analysis of Whitbread Financial Ratios - Assignment Example Ratio analysis is one of the methods used to carry out a company financial analysis to determine the performance of the company in question in relation to other companies in the industry in which such a company operates and also in relation to its own operations over time. The past performance of the company as shown by the ratio analysis as well as other methods that can be used in the company financial analysis can be used as an indicator of the company’s future performance in terms of the company’s liquidity, profitability, working capital management, asset management, efficiency of the company’s management, cash management as well as investor valuation ratios in order to help in planning and assessment of the company’s strategies as well as for use by investors to make a decision on whether to invest in the company or not.... evaluate the company’s performance against one of its competitors which is called Restaurants Group Plc and finally offer a recommendation on the company’s performance over the two year period between year 2010 and year 2011 and also in relation to the competitor Restaurants Group Plc. Description of the industry The United Kingdom Restaurant industry has been very vibrant over the last three years despite the recession that greatly affected the global markets within the period between year 2008 and year 2010 and the debt crisis in the Euro Zone in year 2011. Based on Oxford Writers, restaurants are a very vital part of the culture of the people of the United Kingdom (Oxford Writers 2012). The industry is comprised of hotel operators, restaurants, pubs and pub restaurants among other services that go hand in hand with the food business. The industry is mostly affected by the seasonal food business due to the fact that the agricultural produce in most of the agricultural areas in the United Kingdom is seasonal in nature. In addition to this, the guests in these restaurants are also seasonal. For instance more people eat out during summer that during winter therefore indicating that hotel business will boom in summer and decline in winter. On the other hand, holidays such as Christmas, Easter etc also increase the number of customers in restaurants therefore increasing profitability. As at 27th April 2012, Whitbread Plc was the largest company in the restaurants industry by market capitalization with a market capitalization of ?3.39 billion followed by Greene King Plc with a market capitalization of ?1.1 billion, followed by Mitchells & Butlers Plc with a market capitalization of ?1.08 billion, followed by Domino’s Pizza UK & Ireland Plc with a market

Forbes International Top Ten Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Forbes International Top Ten - Research Paper Example There are many things that Toyota has done in order to outsell its competition. This report will discuss the strategic plan in depth. According to the Maynard (2008) one of the things that Toyota does is to find a way to build their cars better. Some of what they do is to encourage employees to do exercises that will create a more focused employee. This is part of their strategy to use in training centers to make sure that their employees are focused on what they are attempting to do. They have found that through watching how they make cars and improving this at every level, it has created a better opportunity for them to build cars faster (Maynard, 2008). Dawson and Shirouzu (2011) also state that Toyota is downsizing its board of directors in order to make decisions at the higher levels easier. The plan will also include an expansion to China and India before it is completed (Dawson and Shirouzu, 2011). Akio Toyoda (2011) the new head of Toyota has created a vision for his company that provides what they intend to do in the future. It details their strategic plan and provides important information as to how they see themselves and what they are to do. The information they provide is as follows: â€Å"Toyota will lead the way to the future of mobility (par. 7)†. Toyota will creatively stay ahead of its competition. This area includes finding ways to help people in different types of mobility as well as moving them into the future and they will research â€Å"smart grids† (par. 7) in order to understand how to make their company more ecologically friendly. â€Å"Enriching lives around the world (par. 8).† This statement is their commitment to making automobiles that people want to drive. This provides continuous employment for many people and it provides safe vehicles for those who need them. â€Å"With the safest and most responsible ways of moving people (par. 9).† This statement involves Toyota’s commitment to making sure t hat their vehicles are safe and attractive to the eye. They want people to purchase them because they are emotionally moved to do so as well as providing an automobile that is safe and environmentally friendly. â€Å"Through our commitment to quality, constant innovation (par. 10).† According to Toyoda, this is the â€Å"DNA† of what Toyota is and what they are supposed to do. It means that they are always looking for ways to reinvent themselves so that they can provide vehicles that will respond to the needs of people in the future. â€Å"Respect for the planet (par. 11).† This statement is their commitment to taking the environment into consideration when they make automobiles. They are committed to creating a way to manufacture automobiles that â€Å"minimizes waste† (par. 11). These eleven statements are at the heart of Toyota’s strategic plan according to Toyoda (2011) and they are what they want to work with throughout the next several years. In addition, they have a commitment to their employees to make sure that they are reaching goals that they have set. It is important to Toyota that all employees work to a high level of performance and they expect that their stockholders and others will form positive opinions of what they are doing. They are interested in making sure that the people who work for them take into consideration opinions and thoughts of both their customers and their stakeholders (Toyoda, 2011, par. 12). Toyota also emphasizes

Millennium Development Goals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Millennium Development Goals - Assignment Example Primary education will help the development of countries because it helps develop and improve the essential human learning and life skills which are necessary for gainful employment and productivity, which on the other hand are important for economic progress (Bruns, Mingat and Rakotomalala 2). This goal is still significant for developed countries because while most of the children in the urban areas are already given primary education, those in the rural or remote places many not have the same opportunity. Furthermore, the more educated people there are in other countries, the more the global economy improves, which affects all countries of the world whether they be underdeveloped, developing or developed. Part 2- How successful are we globally in meeting this goal? What are the victories or concerns laid out in the discussion provided on the website? What statistics or evidence do they use to support these conclusions? Based on the facts given by UNDP, the pace of progress is insufficient since in 2009 not all boys and girls are in primary schooling, as evidenced by data on the sub-Saharan African countries alone, where at least one of four children are not enrolled in 2008 (United Nations Development Programme , par 3). The concerns presented are the high drop-out rates among the children, that is, in the sub-Saharan Africa, more than 30 per cent of the children drop out before reaching a final grade (United Nations Development Programme , par 4). Another major concern is the lack of teachers and classrooms (United Nations Development Programme , par 5). Part 3- Discuss the data that you have been reviewing. What sorts of measures are they recording? How does this tie into the goal? What do the overall trends suggest? How does this compare to the conclusions discussed in part 2 of your homework? The measures that they

Forbes International Top Ten Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Forbes International Top Ten - Research Paper Example There are many things that Toyota has done in order to outsell its competition. This report will discuss the strategic plan in depth. According to the Maynard (2008) one of the things that Toyota does is to find a way to build their cars better. Some of what they do is to encourage employees to do exercises that will create a more focused employee. This is part of their strategy to use in training centers to make sure that their employees are focused on what they are attempting to do. They have found that through watching how they make cars and improving this at every level, it has created a better opportunity for them to build cars faster (Maynard, 2008). Dawson and Shirouzu (2011) also state that Toyota is downsizing its board of directors in order to make decisions at the higher levels easier. The plan will also include an expansion to China and India before it is completed (Dawson and Shirouzu, 2011). Akio Toyoda (2011) the new head of Toyota has created a vision for his company that provides what they intend to do in the future. It details their strategic plan and provides important information as to how they see themselves and what they are to do. The information they provide is as follows: â€Å"Toyota will lead the way to the future of mobility (par. 7)†. Toyota will creatively stay ahead of its competition. This area includes finding ways to help people in different types of mobility as well as moving them into the future and they will research â€Å"smart grids† (par. 7) in order to understand how to make their company more ecologically friendly. â€Å"Enriching lives around the world (par. 8).† This statement is their commitment to making automobiles that people want to drive. This provides continuous employment for many people and it provides safe vehicles for those who need them. â€Å"With the safest and most responsible ways of moving people (par. 9).† This statement involves Toyota’s commitment to making sure t hat their vehicles are safe and attractive to the eye. They want people to purchase them because they are emotionally moved to do so as well as providing an automobile that is safe and environmentally friendly. â€Å"Through our commitment to quality, constant innovation (par. 10).† According to Toyoda, this is the â€Å"DNA† of what Toyota is and what they are supposed to do. It means that they are always looking for ways to reinvent themselves so that they can provide vehicles that will respond to the needs of people in the future. â€Å"Respect for the planet (par. 11).† This statement is their commitment to taking the environment into consideration when they make automobiles. They are committed to creating a way to manufacture automobiles that â€Å"minimizes waste† (par. 11). These eleven statements are at the heart of Toyota’s strategic plan according to Toyoda (2011) and they are what they want to work with throughout the next several years. In addition, they have a commitment to their employees to make sure that they are reaching goals that they have set. It is important to Toyota that all employees work to a high level of performance and they expect that their stockholders and others will form positive opinions of what they are doing. They are interested in making sure that the people who work for them take into consideration opinions and thoughts of both their customers and their stakeholders (Toyoda, 2011, par. 12). Toyota also emphasizes

Lenovo Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Lenovo - Assignment Example Consisting of the synergy of companies, the synergy of allocation canal, the synergy of the variety as well as management plus the synergy of price saving. The culture divergence; the disparity among the two countries might oblige the former staffs of IBM to depart from Lenovo. Such that Lenovo ought to respect the independence of abroad R&D centers. Numerous practices general in other authority is controlled in China. The Regulations stiffen regulatory necessities with deference to foreign attainment activities. The consequence will be to slim, rather than enlarge, the chances for foreign scheme capital. All these regulations are put for the safety and constancy of Chinese wealth, plus a means to keep the party’s organized over the financial system. Lenovo ought to intensify its internationalize attainment. Since Lenovo's achievement is accredited to its long-term centering on emerging sales plus successful abroad M&As, it ought to run a high-quality business of the businesse s it merged. Lenovo must place itself for the international market. Placing is at all times the critical subject that the Chinese corporations ignore, as well as it is the cause why Chinese corporation can barely last long. In conclusion, Lenovo should trim down their pricing plan. The worth of the produce is a significant factor to put into consideration; Lenovo is not able to make low-price policies to endure in the international market. Lenovo ought to rather be concerned as regards to the order of their target clients.

Road Accidents as a Health Issue in Australia Essay Example for Free

Road Accidents as a Health Issue in Australia Essay Exploration and Analysis of a Health Issue Affecting Australian Population [Name of Student] [Name of Affiliate Institution] [Date] Introduction Australia, just like other countries in the world, faces various health issues that are widely spread all over the country. The country has to come up with initiatives on how to improve the current Public Health Care services to address these health issues. Accident is one of the several pertinent health issues currently affecting Australia. Particularly road traffic accidents are on the record for causing massive deaths in Australia. W.H.O ranks Australia at number 162 world wide contributing to 1.29% of total death resulting from road accidents in the country (W.H.O, 2005). This essay explores analysis and discusses the issue of road accidents and how it impacts the Australian population and the proposed initiatives to address it. Analysis of the affected population/community Road accident has claimed many lives and caused severe injuries in Australia in the recent past. World Health Organization has put road accidents at position two in the most significant cause of death for 10 to 46 year oldies. The death toll resulting from road carnage has been on the rise in the recent years (National Health Survey, 2006). The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released a report indicating 1465 deaths resulting from road accidents in Australia in 2006, 1603 in 2007 and 1464 deaths in 2008 as shown in the table. | |2006 |2007 |2008 | |No. Of Accidents |1456 |1453 |1342 | |Deaths |1601 |1603 |1464 | The graph below shows the summary of the number of accidents and deaths from 2006 to 2008. [pic] In the year 2005-2006, 18623 persons were involved in the tragic road accidents where most of them died while others escaped with minor and severe injuries. A survey conducted in the year 2006 showed that persons between the ages of 15-24 years experienced a higher rate of injury as a result of road accidents as compared to 35 years old and above (A.B.S, 2010). 1601 people were killed in 2006, (Transport Safety Bureau, 2007). This implies that over 130 people lose their lives in crashes every month. 22,500 people escaped death with serious injuries. The number of accidents in Australia has been consistent for the past 3 years and suspected to be higher than in Europe (car-accidents.com). Number of accidents per region in 2007 and 2008 (A.B.S, 2010). |NSW |Vic. |Qld |SA |WA |Tas. |NT |ACT |TOTAL | |2007 |405 |289 |338 |107 |214 |39 |47 |14 |1 453 | |2008 |376 |278 |293 |87 |189 |38 |67 |14 |1 342 | | Number of deaths caused by road accidents by regions in 2007 and 2008 (A.B.S, 2010). |NSW |Vic. |Qld |SA |WA |Tas. |NT |ACT |TOTAL | |2007 |435 |332 |360 |124 |235 |45 |58 |14 |1 603 | |2008 |397 |303 |327 |99 |209 |40 |75 |14 |1 464 | |NSW- New South Wales Vic -Victoria Qld -Queensland SA -Southern Australia WA-Western Australia Tas- Tasmania NT-Northern Territory ACT- Australian Capital territory Determinants influencing the health issue of road traffic accidents Many factors contribute to deaths from road accidents among them drunk driving, over speeding, unroadworthy vehicles and careless driving. The motorists and passengers have been on the record for violating the laid down traffic regulations. For instance, seat belts are installed in all passenger vehicles for a purpose. Many passengers are aware of this and yet they go  around ignoring their importance (Gozias, 2007). Drunk driving is another crucial factor contributing to the high rate of road accidents in Australia. To curb these incidences, the drivers must change their mindsets and the way of thinking. Many truck drivers believe that they are most armed and cautious while drunk (Worley, 2006). The health authorities concerned with PHC can address this aspect through initiating and running public education and awareness programs. Driver’s attention is extremely crucial in safe driving. Research shows that driver’s attention and concentration are affected by distraction for instance, using a mobile phone while driving. Music playing in the car stereo plays a significant part in the mental and physical attention. These incidences can be avoidable if only the drivers and the passengers are responsible enough. Passengers should not just sit calm while the vehicle is driven around carelessly or under the influence of alcohol. Collective responsibility from the passengers, drivers, traffic departments and pedestrians can go a long way in saving innocent lives (Major Causes Of Fatal Road Accidents, 2010). Studies show that most determinants of road accidents are at the individual levels, for instance, how an individual’s income influences his or her driving behavior. A population’s income status in an important issue in Primary Health Care. Different individuals respond differently to dif ferent instances, situations, laws and forms of enforcement. Different drivers have different capabilities, visual acuity, auditory acuity and different response speeds. Another factor that may contribute to road accident is the other road users other than the drivers. These include walking pedestrians, cyclists and physically challenged road users. A report based on Australian accidents data found driver errors, drunk driving, and other human factors contribute to 90% of all accidents. The authorities have are answerable in most accidents involving pedestrians. For instance, there are few separate tracks and pathways for walking pedestrians and those on wheelchairs (Major Causes Of Fatal Road Accidents, 2010). The social status, age and gender are significant social determinants for road crashes. A Danish National Travel Survey conducted in 2001 showed that driving speed decreases with the driver’s age. Youthful drivers have a passion for high speed where they deduce a lot of fun while at higher speeds. Elderly drivers have been noted to drive at relatively lower speeds (Fosgerau, 2005). Over speeding is a prime cause of road accidents in Australia. Men have been observed to drive faster than women while the unmarried drivers drive slightly slower than the married individuals. Driving too fast or slightly above the posted limit contributes to about 40% of road accidents in Australia. The chances and severity of a road crash is influenced by the driving speed (NSW Road and Traffic Authority, 2007). Fosgerau argues that an individual’s income has positive and highly statistically significant influence on the driving speed. A driver with higher income will tend to drive at higher speeds than drivers with lower incomes. Higher income decreases the value or real costs of fines and other speed related user costs while it increases the perceived value of time (Fosgerau, 2005). Implications of the health issue to the affected population The main effects and implications of road accidents are medical, legal, social and economic. Family and society dynamics are altered after the demise of a relative. If a family’s breadwinner passes away, the whole family is severely affected and may take forever to recover. The family’s income goes down lowering the living standards and quality of life. Death brings about grief, devastation and emotional problem where one cannot come to term with the departure of a loved one (Worley, 2006). Huge medical resources are utilized in caring and treating the accident casualties. These resources are used at the expense of caring for patients suffering from other illnesses. Some accident victims fail to recover fully from injuries sustained being left with a permanent disability. Injuries to the musculoskeletal system may lead to restriction of movement to the victim. A survivor’s life may be filled with persistence pain and psychological sequelae. These disabilities result into neurological deficits like hemiplegia, paraplegia or tetraplegia (Khalaf AI Moutaery, 1998). There are immense and serious economical implications of road accidents in Australia. A lot of money is spent on accident victims every year. Many victims lose their jobs due to long sick leaves (Bishai, 2006). This negatively impacts the country’s economic growth and development. First, there is the decrease in national income when a taxpayer dies and secondly, a significant amount of money is set aside to cater for accident victims. An estimate by World Bank show that injuries sustained from road accidents cost 1% to 2% of the GNP of the country (World Health Organization, 2005). There are legal implications of road accidents among them prosecution for drunk driving, man slaughter and even murder. The penalty for drunk driving may be imprisonment, loss of license and fines (Road Traffic Accidents in Australia, 2012). Conclusion In conclusion, we have seen how any why road traffic accident is a serious health issue and how it is affecting the Australian population. Road accidents and resulting deaths have been explored and analyzed in this essay. Several physical, environmental and social determinants of road accidents among them individual’s age, income, mental status among others have been discussed in this essay. There are current primary health care services that are put into place to address this issue of road traffic accidents. However, these PHC services need some advancements and improvements in order to address the issue more effectively. The next assignment will focus on the existing PHC services including their strengths and weaknesses and the various proposals and initiatives that should be taken to address this persistent issue health issue of road traffic accidents in Australia. References A.B.S. (2010, 06 04). Accidents, Injuries And Fatalities. Retrieved August 16, 2012, from abs: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[emailprotected]/Lookup/D18CA4EA930FF0D2CA25773700169CE5.htm. Bishai, D. A. (2006). National Road Casualties and Economic Development. Health Economics, 65-81. Country Health Profile-Australia. (n.d.). Retrieved 08 15, 2012, from worldlifeexpectancy.com: http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/australia Duckett, S. (2011). Australian Health Care System. Oxford University Press: Australia. Fosgerau, M. (2005). Speed and Income. Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, Vol. 39( No 2), 225-240. Gozias, J. M. (2007). An Analysis of Factors Affecting Road Safety: The Greek Experience. Journal of Transportation Geography, 325-316. Khalaf AI Moutaery, F. A. (1998, October). Implication Of Road Accidents. Retrieved August 17, 2012, from Pan Arab Neurosurgery : http://panarabneurosurgery.org.sa/journal/oct1998/ImplicationOfRoadAccidents.htm Major Causes Of Fatal Road Accidents. (2010, 11 12). Retrieved August 17, 2012, from Study mode: Major Causes of Fatal Road Accidents. (2010, November 12). StudyMode.com. Retrieved from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Major-Causes-Of-Fatal-Road-Accidents-474289.html McKenzie, J.F, Pinger, R.R. (2012). An introduction to Community Health. 7th ed. Jones and Barlett Publishers: Sudbury. Road Traffic Accidents in Australia. (2012). Retrieved August 16, 2012, from Australia Angloinfo: http://australia.angloinfo.com/transport/driving/Road Traffic Accidents in Australia _ Australia.htm Sasser, S., Vargheses, M., Kellermann, A., Lormand, J.D. (2005). Pre-hospital Trauma care Systems. World Health Organization: Geneva. Schneider, M.J. (2011). An introduction to public health. Jones and Barlett Publishers: Sudbury. W.H.O. (2005). World report on road traffic injury prevention. World Health Organization: Geneva. Worley, H. (2006, March). Road Traffic Accidents Increase Dramatically. Retrieved August 15, 2012, from Population Reference Bureau :