Obesity Is a Problem free essay sample

Childhood obesity is not merely an issue in the United States- it is an epidemic. The number of overweight and obese children in America has increased at an alarming rate over the past years, and there is no chance of it slowing down unless action is taken. One out of three children is considered overweight or obese. A fast-food craze has swept over the country, consequentially leaving a trail of poor nutrition. Fast-food corporations seem to be encouraging children to consume regular amounts of unhealthy foods by giving away toys with the purchase of a child’s meal. Televisions, computers, and video games, which are considered to be technological necessities, have begun to cloud the importance of exercise. These influences can lead to childhood obesity, which comes with an abundance of negative effects. Obesity puts children at a high risk of developing many serious illnesses. Prevention can be achieved by following a balanced diet and by participating in a healthy amount of physical activity. We will write a custom essay sample on Obesity Is a Problem or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There are a great deal of causes and negative effects of obesity in children, but fortunately there are also ways to hinder or even discontinue the spread of this crisis. One factor that influences childhood obesity is the limited access to healthy foods. Children raised in low-income backgrounds have a greater risk of becoming obese (Mayo Foundation). Poverty may inhibit some parents from being able to provide their children with exercise and a proper nutritional diet due to a lack of time or money. In United States, the average child spends over three hours each day watching television (eMedicineHealth). Nowadays, many children like to watch TV. After finishing their homework, they run to turn on the TV and watch the latest episode of SpongeBob or Phineas and Ferb. During this time, there are many instant food commercials. It is companies’ goals to direct all their efforts in appealing to the youth and children. With fancy packaging and persuading commercials it would be hard for any child to resist the temptations of such an irresistible item like candy and fat packed sweets. Kids are so easy to persuade and unfortunately commercials and  advertisements target these young children and make a profit while doing so. In an article entitled TV Food Advertisements and Childhood Obesity by the Health Gal, there was a study that showed overweight and obese children eat more after watching T. V. food advertisements. It found that todays children are the first generation of Americans projected to have shorter lifespan than their parents. This article contains a lot of statistics that help to support its claim of T. V. advertisements influencing childhood obesity, but while T. V. Advertisements are influencing to young children it still can fall back to the parents and their lack of discipline while watching T. V. and eating dinner. Another cause of this problem is linked to the options of food that schools and day cares are giving to the children. Schools are in charge of most of a child’s education. Most school districts offer students several programs, such as music and art programs, which help children with their learning. It is ironic how schools are teaching students not to eat junk food and eat healthy ones, but at the same time, school cafeterias are serving junk foods. Nowadays, many American families are forced to enroll their children in a daycare at a young age. It can be a hard decision to make because they are putting their child in the hands of strangers. Parents are forced to trust in these facilities and hope their children are being well taken care of. One article in particular entitled Day Care Food May Contribute To Childhood Obesity from the Health Guide magazine, basically relates daycare food to childhood obesity. This article states that nearly 82% of American children under the age of 6 are in daycare. So nutrition, exercise or physical activity and other health issues are all being handled by persons other than the primary parents for a significant number of hours daily. This article is extremely eye-opening and very informative because many parents wouldnt even think about what their children are getting fed when they arent around and just assume that they are getting healthy and nutritious snacks and meals throughout the day. Another important factor that influences childhood obesity is lack of physical activity. Children nowadays are spending more time indoors than did a generation ago. This is due to advancement of technology. Children are now spending time watching TV or playing videogames. They would rather watch their favorite shows and beat the next level of the videogame than play outside. Because children are not burning the calories they are consuming the body fat increases and consequently their weight is affected. Lack of physical activity has contributed to the obesity epidemic. Childhood obesity is thought to not only result from emotional problems, poor nutrition, or lack of financial resources, but also from genetics. Genetics are a cause of obesity in children, because metabolic disorders can be inherited. If one of a child’s parents is obese, the child has a 50 percent chance of becoming obese as well. If both parents are obese, the child has an 80 percent chance of becoming obese (AACAP). When asked if heredity is a cause of childhood obesity, Mrs. Regenia Bell, a registered dietitian, stated, â€Å"Heredity as far as genetics can play a part. However, it’s more likely to be the lifestyle a child inherits. Children of obese or overweight parents are much more likely to be overweight or obese. They eat the same foods and mimic the parents’ level of activity. † Obesity cannot be inherited, but disorders that result in obesity can. Hormone imbalances, steroids, and psychological medications can cause childhood obesity, but these occurrences are very rare. Illnesses that prevent children from participating in physical activity can result in obesity on rare occasions. Two of these illnesses are Prader-Willi syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome. There are many causes of obesity in children, and with these causes come a great deal of negative effects. Obese children not only suffer from unhealthy weights, but must also contend with many other physical, mental, and emotional ailments. Asthma, type II diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease, lower body bone and joint problems, osteoarthritis, growth abnormalities, breathing problems such as sleep apnea, certain kinds of cancer, gout, rashes or fungal infections of the skin, and acne are illnesses that obese children are at risk of developing (eMedicineHealth). These effects are very serious physical problems that would likely follow an obese child into adulthood. However, obesity can have a much more devastating effect- death. Around 300,000 people die each year from health problems brought on by obesity (Redbourn). This number is overwhelmingly high. The percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as overweight has more than doubled since the early 1970s. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 15 percent of children and adolescents are now overweight. Ironically, obesity is among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat. Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise. In fact, 30% of adult obesity begins in childhood. Obesity accounts for more than 300,000 deaths a year and the annual cost to society for obesity is estimated at nearly $100 billion. Childhood obesity is a growing problem. When children are born, they have don’t have any knowledge. It is up to the parents to help their children grow and distinguish right from wrong. If the parents continuously eat unhealthy foods, then children might copy that. If parents eat healthy foods only, then most likely, the children will copy that. Parents should be good role models. The solutions to childhood obesity don’t require diet plans or any therapy. They are simple enough to be done at home: exercising and eating healthy. One of the main reasons why children are getting obese is because the amount of food they eat and amount of exercise they do don’t balance. Exercise is not only well to balance our calories intake but it also strengthen and increases our done density, and blood pressure is better controlled. Also children who are physical active are more likely to remain active into adolescence and adulthood preventing many of the health issues mentioned before. Exercise has many other positive affects in our childrens life such as improvement in classroom performance, and mental health. School-aged children should have 60 minutes of or physical activity daily, as Bell suggests this should be a developmental appropriate, enjoyable, and involves a variety of activities. Bell further explains how she developed a number of tips to help promote increased physical activity. She suggests making physical activity fun, Think about things that your child likes to do, whether it is dance, play basketball, or run around the park, incorporate them into your daily routines. She also suggests making physical activity simple so the family and the child dont get frustrated with complicated exercise plans. Also, reason why children don’t engage in active activities is because they spend more time watching TV and playing videogames. Parents should limit the number of hours spent doing these activities. Eating healthy is key to solving childhood obesity. Schools should not overuse the trust of the parents and feed children junk food because it costs more money. Family has an important role. One article entitled Household Routines Linked to Lower Childhood obesity suggests that there are simple household routines that need to be followed in order to prevent childhood obesity. Eat dinner as a family six or seven times a week, limit the time the child watches T. V. to less than two hours a day, and make sure he or she gets more than 10. 5 hours of sleep a night. The article states that those three simple household routines are associated with an almost 40% reduction in the risk of childhood obesity. Parents are no longer raising families the same as they used to 50 years ago. Both parents are usually having to work outside the home requiring the kids to be in daycare and further causing the family to spend less time together and the parents being tired and overrun with everyday life struggles and stress. The economy has taken a downfall and that has forced many Americans to change their lifestyles. Fast and easy has become part of our lives. Sometimes fast and easy can be a life saver. But in other cases, it is a life destroyer. Childhood obesity is threatening a generation. We need to put a limit on the fast and easy.

Tough Guise Essays

Tough Guise Essays Tough Guise Paper Tough Guise Paper In the film Tough Guise, featuring Jackson Katz it touched on the topic violent males or violent masculinity. Jackson Katz reviewed that about 86 percent of armed rob berries, 90 percent of murders, 99 percent of rapes and 98 percent of violence on women are all committed by men. When we talk about violence in America, whether its mass shootings in the r ell world or violence in our movies, media and video games, were almost always talking a bout violent auscultation. Says Jackson Katz from the Tough Guise video. Also (Katz,2014) in the video it says that the statistics tell the story, the overwhelming majority of violence ilk e; sexual assault, mass shootings, murder, and domestic violence resulting in physical injury, is committed by men and boys. ( Katz,2014) . Now (Katz,2014) this is not because all men are violent. Most men arent, or dont mean to be. Most of these crimes take place because these boo yes were taught that they needed to be violent to be mas culine. This is not the boys fault, it is the way our society is. They see males taking the lead role all over our society. I feel that boys and you Eng men learn early on that being a scalded man mean you have to take on a tough guy imam GE. Men are basically taught to only show the world a certain part of themselves, they are not allowed to show their emotions. (Katz, 2014) All for this dominant culture that has defined being manly as; being physically strong, powerful, physically intimidating, independent, in con troll, and that they an scare people. Also Katz says, If they are athletic or muscular they are see n as the top dog. All of these traits are seen as guidelines to be a real man that is respected. The e media nowadays is showing our culture that being violent is equivalent to being masculine. I would disagree with this topic. I understand fully that if you see something everyday you tend to feel that, that is the way of life and how you should also act. Howe ever also feel that you should know what is right and what is wrong. Therefore if you see a man rutting another male or female to get what he wants you shouldnt take that has, that man bee Eng masculine. You should instead take that as being wrong. Therefore I believe that violent masc. linty is not a taught behavior but a chosen behavior with that excuse.

Constitutional and Administrative Law - The rule of Law and Human Essay

Constitutional and Administrative Law - The rule of Law and Human rights - Essay Example Was it so hard for Socrates to conclude that he constituted ‘a majority of one2’ on that matter? No doubt Socrates, having believed in the Rule of Law when he was alive sought to die in the same manner. This discussion will seek to explore the notion of the supremacy of law and in light of any exposition obtained will consider whether Socrates could have chosen another way to enlighten us. The idea of the supremacy of law is ideally one of the fundamental principles in a society, translating into the law being above all and all being subject to the ordinary law of the land. As such there exist a variety of views about the rule of law, forming a spectrum in light of the culture or society in consideration. What is significant is the recognition of the existence of the rule of law in various societies and to mark how this creature has changed shape over the centuries. For instance, half a millennium ago the rule of law would be seen to be present where the monarch ruled by right of conquest and everyone else was subservient to the monarchy. The monarchs were later substituted for ruling senates or governments but the status of the conquered nations would remain the same. This is exemplified by the Greek, Roman and later the British colonial empires where the conquered peoples were subject to the law introduced by the conquerors. Today such a rule would be considered und emocratic and singularly abhorrent. In the West, freedom had already attained its due significance as long ago as the Battle of Thermopylae and although it has often been in danger since then it is now too deeply ingrained in the system to be rooted out. It is this freedom that has led to liberal democracies and the idea of the rule of law as understood here is different from the eastern-more conservative societies. The supremacy of law in the West is often taken to be a fundamental principle because it gives way to equality, thereby making all equal, with none being above the

Veterinary Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Veterinary Care - Essay Example This would change, however, as people realized that knowing how to care for animals could be a career for them. They began writing books, more of the guide sort, to sell to farmers. These writings eventually found its way outside of Europe. (Biere, 1955) The earliest mention of a practitioner in the United States is found in a 1625 case where a certain person by the name of William Carter was charged of not being able to cure a cow as he promised. The first ever veterinary surgeon of America was College of London graduate John Haslam. (Dunlop, 1996) In the 19th century, several books and journals regarding veterinary medicine came into publication. There were the books entitled The American Cattle Doctor (1850) and The Modern Horse Doctor (1854) by George Dadd. The American Veterinary Journal was founded in 1851 by the same person as well., also of the same person, founded and edited the American Veterinary Journal. It was followed by Alexandre Liautard's American Veterinary Review in 1875 which was by Alexandre Liautard. This became known as the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. (Schwabe, 1978; Smith, 1933) World War II had a big impact on animal medicine and food safety. New drugs developed for soldiers during the war such as penicillin and sulfa drugs were later used to treat livestock. The insecticide DDT was used during the war and later helped kill flies and other outdoor parasites that hurt farm animals. (Smith, 1976) During the war, the government thought Midwestern cattle operations might be targets for sabotage. They were worried that cattle might be contaminated by foreign infections, threatening the food supply. Government veterinarians were hired and local vets were told to be on the alert. After the war, veterinarians began to use new drugs to treat diseases such as foot rot and shipping fever in cattle, as well as infections that killed baby chickens and turkeys. As new drugs came out of the research institutions, they were used against brucellosis, infectious anemia, worms, cholera, Newcastle disease, foot-and-mouth disease, and rabies. (Lise, 2005) The Evolution of Veterinary Care Veterinary medicine evolved from skill and field based practice to a more structured education that began with the establishment of the school in Lyons, France. With the establishment of dedicate schools such as New York College of Veterinary Surgeons (1857-1899) and the American Veterinary College (New York, 1875-1898), the knowledge and the process became more scientific. (Smith, 1976; Smithcors, 1973) Developments in the field of medicine, science and technology paved the way for more complex tools of analysis and medication in the field of animal care. Many technologies now exists today especially for the prevention and cure of diseases afflicting agriculturally important animals. Animals nowadays often receive advanced medical, dental, and surgical care including insulin injections, root canals, hip replacements, cataract extractions, and pacemakers. The field has also grown from caring for agriculture related animals, such as cows, chickens and horses, to animals that serve as pets and even extended to other kinds of animals which are not usually included in these two categories. (Harrowsmith Country Life, 2007) Importance of Veterinary Care Of the many factors why veterinary care is essential, the most important lies in its capacity to eliminate, hamper and mitigate disease outbreaks

Externality and differences between the Pigovian and Cosian views Essay

Externality and differences between the Pigovian and Cosian views - Essay Example This paper discusses externalities and compares and contrasts Pigovian and Cosian Views. Externalities can cause inefficient allocation of resources, because when a negative externality is present, we produce and consume too much of the product and consequently, over-allocate resources to production. For example, when the fisherman is not aware of the effect of the fertilizers on his livelihood, he exerts more time and energy to catch fishes that has a dwindling population. His resources are inefficiently allocated. When a positive externality is present, we produce and consume too little of the product, which leads to under-allocation of resources to production. For instance, if there is a positive externality that involves one homeowner improving his property, other homeowners might not be motivated to improve their own properties. There is under-allocation of resources. Over-allocation and under-allocation of resources evidently result to inefficient allocation of resources. Furth ermore, the price system attains efficiency, if it rewards producers who can serve the customers well, mainly through providing the lowest possible prices (Baumol and Blinder 312). This system becomes faulty, when positive and negative externalities are not identified and integrated into the equation (Baumol and Blinder 312). There are diverse views on how to manage externalities. Some economists advocate for government intervention, while others want to rely on market mechanisms to correct externalities. When an externality causes the market to allocate resources inefficiently, the government can respond in one of two approaches: command-and-control policies or market-based policies (Mankiw 212). Command-and-control policies aim to regulate externalities directly by requiring or banning certain behaviors or actions (Mankiw 213). The government also uses subsidies to require positive behaviors that lead to positive externalities. Also, it is a crime to dump toxic wastes into the riv ers. The costs of pollution and adversities to health and livelihood greatly exceed the benefits to the polluter. Still, it is not always easy to control and monitor all negative externalities. For instance, every transportation vehicle produces some sort of externality or pollution by-products and it will not be feasible to eradicate or ban them all. As a result, the government creates government agencies that develop and implement policies that protect the environment, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the U.S. Other forms of government intervention that regulates externalities are market-based policies. They seek to align private incentives with social efficiency (Mankiw 213). For instance, the government can internalize externality by taxing activities that produce negative externalities, or it can subsidize activities that generate positive externalities (Mankiw 213). Taxes that internalize negative externalities are called corrective taxes (Mankiw 213). They are also called Pigovian taxes, after the economist, Arthur Pigou, who is one of the first advocates of such taxes. An ideal corrective tax would equal the external costs of activities that lead to negative externalities, while an ideal corrective subsidy would equal the external benefit of activities that produce positive externalities (Mankiw 213). This paper proceeds to explore the similarities between

The Criticisms On Agency Theory And Its Application Finance Essay

The Criticisms On Agency Theory And Its Application Finance Essay Introduction Issues on corporate governance, business ethics, decision making and risk-taking are the normal issues being faced by all types of corporations, both old and new. One of the main assumptions why such issues are often encountered by majority of companies and institutions can be attributed to the conflict of interests and the misalignment of corporate goals among those in the managerial position and the common shareholders. According to Moldoveanu, M Martin, R. (2001), in many cases, the application of right managerial decisions, which are considered the lifeblood of any organization, are not being practiced and applied therefore causing inefficiencies on the part of the company and its people. There is always a separation in terms of control and ownership in all corporations. However, this separation is what almost always causes conflict and is most often the root cause of all other problems and issues in the organization. Ideally, the design or framework of a corporation is well-defined in a way that control and ownership of the companys assets are clearly identified and distinguished among the people within the organization. In a usual company setting, control over a corporations assets is delegated to the people assigned in the managerial posts while the ownership of company assets is being handed over to the companys shareholders. Therefore, both the managers and shareholders within the organization are responsible and accountable for each of their deliverables and assigned functions (Moldoveanu, M Martin, R., 2001). Given that both the shareholders and managers perform very specific and highly-critical functions in an organization, it is but natural for the two to develop a specific kind of relationship. The development of this kind of relationship is indeed critical for the success of the corporation. Nevertheless, out of this manager-shareholder relationship also stems the many issues and problems which often result or cause negative impact on the corporations assets. This special kind of relationship that exists between the shareholders and the managers is called an agency relationship. In a typical corporate set-up, managers are given the right to control and manage the assets of the company which are owned by the shareholders. The function of the managers is therefore highly significant as their decisions and moves may potentially cause a positive or a negative impact on the company and its total assets (Economy Professor, 2004). However, failures on the part of the managers are quite common given the structure and framework of most corporations which interfere with the proper decision making and task-delegations of most people on the managerial posts. According to Moldoveanu, M Martin, R. (2001), two of the most common failures of professional managers nowadays are a.) failures due to honest miscalculations and errors which are beyond the managers control and b.) failures related to a managers integrity and selfish motives. These kinds of managerial control failures are what cause extreme damage on the companys valuable assets. Hence, in order to safeguard the company from these potential threats and damages often caused by managerial failures, the shareholders find a less-riskier way of protecting company assets which are usually facilitated by a shareholder via a reward punishment method. The purpose of the rewards punishment method is to provide incentives for every properly executed managerial output. Other methods are also employed and utilized by the shareholders which are intended to protect the company assets such as the monitoring, assessing and checking on the decisions of the manager. Aside from incentives, sanctions are also given to the managers in order to align their interests and decisions based on that of the shareholders (Moldoveanu, M Martin, R., 2001). As in the case of any corporation, this manager-shareholder relationship exists and is most commonly referred to as the agency relationship. This paper on The Criticisms on Agency Theory and its Application on Corporate Governance is aimed at providing a detailed discussion of the agency theory, its history and basic concept, how it is currently being applied and manifested in many modern corporations nowadays and how this theory concept has been abused and improperly utilized by many corporations nowadays. A specific focus will also be allotted on the various criticisms on this particular theory and why its focus on merely two stakeholders: the managers and shareholders, is highly criticized by many people, specifically, other stakeholders involved in the organization. Moreover, this paper will answer how this criticism was justified and how in a way, the agency theory negatively affects proper corporate governance. To be more specific, this paper on The Criticisms on Agency Theory and its Application on Corporate Governance aims to answer the following questions: What is the agency theory? How did the agency theory begin and evolve? What is the role of the agency theory in corporate governance? What are benefits and advantages of adopting the agency theory in a corporation? What are the threats and disadvantages of adopting the agency theory in a corporation? Why is the agency theory being criticized with its focus on merely two stakeholders: the managers (agents) and shareholders (principal)? How does the agency theorys focus on merely two stakeholders: the managers (agents) and shareholders (principal) negatively affect corporate governance? How does this criticism affect other stakeholders within an organization, apart from the managers and the shareholders? A. Agency Theory: The Concept and its Beginnings According to the Economy Professor (2004), the agency theory originated in the year 1970s. This theory basically refers to the relationships that exist between the so-called owners of corporate assets and the so-called controllers of corporate assets. In simple terms, the agency relationship refers to the corporate relationship that exists between the shareholders and the managers within an organization. The agency theory also pertains to the firms view on its network of people resources. This theory states that a special kind of corporate relationship is formed when one person or a group of persons (known as the shareholders) decide to hire an individual or a group of individuals (known as the managers) to provide some service or work for them. Moreover, the agency relationship also occurs when the shareholders assign or delegate some decision-making tasks to the managers (Economy Professor, 2004). But aside from the shareholder-manager relationship, other forms of agency relationship may also exist in a corporation like for instance, the stockholder-debtholder relationship. Generally however, agency relationships are mostly used to refer to the shareholder-manager relationship. In many textbooks and journals, the agency theory is also being referred to as the principal-agent theory simply because it is a type of relationship that involves a principal or a shareholder and an agent or a manager (Economy Professor,2004). Moldoveanu, M Martin, R. (2001) further defined clearly what occurs in an agency relationship. They stated that in an agency relationship, the shareholder or the principal is the one who hires and accepts the services of a manager or the agent based mainly on the latters capabilities, professional competencies, decision-making ability and knowledge. Normally, the principal hires the agent because the former believes in the capabilities of the latter to increase and safeguard the assets of the company. Since the principal or the shareholder is the owner of those company assets, he or she will not hire an agent or manager who is not capable of increasing or protecting the assets of the company. Once the principal hires the agent to be in-charge of the company assets, the principal must automatically transfer his or her decision rights to that asset over to the agent (Moldoveanu, M Martin, R., 2001). The transferring of decision rights from the principal to the agent is vital in order for the latter to take full accountability, control and management over that asset. If there was no transferring of decision rights over to the hired agents, issues and problems stem from it which cause a negative impact not only on the relationship between these two stakeholders but also on the agents capacity to deliver the expectations of the principal (Donaldson, L. Davis, J., 1991). According to Lupia, A. (2001), the delegation of decision rights and power from the principal to the agent is highly important for an agency relationship to work. In the concept of the agency theory, the principal is known to be the person who performs the delegation process. The principal is the one who passes over the authority over the assets, specifically the power and authority to decide, to another person. The agent on the other hand is the one who acts as the recipient of the authority and power being delegated by the principal. When the full transferring or delegation of rights and authority is already transferred to the agent, then the agent already has the full accountability over the company assets. The agent is then subjected to either a sanction or an incentive depending on his management over the assets. According to Donaldson, L. Davis, J. (1991), various types of schemes are usually devised by the principals in order to prevent huge corporate losses due to managerial failures or the agents failure to deliver the shareholders goals and interests. Some of these schemes include financial rewards through the form of benefits and compensations which would greatly motivate the agents to achieve their company goals and align themselves with the interests of the shareholders. This has been an effective corporate strategy which proved to motivate agents to perform their managerial roles better (Donaldson, L. Davis, J., 1991). B. The Role of the Agency Theory in Corporate Governance According to Donaldson, L. Davis, J. (1991), the role of the agency theory in the modern corporations of today is quite important. Essentially, the concept of agency theory is both stewardship and shared ownership. Donaldson, L. Davis, J. (1991), states that the concept of shared ownership in the agency theory is what pushes and drives the managerial executives (agents) to perform beyond the top managements expectations. The idea that the professional managers are co-owners of the companys most valued assets is what drives them to perform better their management functions. Aside from their liability and accountability over the company assets, the idea that these managerial executives are co-owners themselves of the company assets is what makes them more concerned and involved in the nitty-gritty of the corporate process and their own functions. This therefore maximizes the shareholder returns which benefit all stakeholders within the corporation. Moreover, the agency theory encompasses the concept of stewardship. The agents or the professional managers act as the stewards of the company and its assets. Their decisions and their ability to successfully deal with various corporate issues and concerns as well as their ability to increase the value of corporate assets is what makes the managers good stewards of the business or the company (Donaldson, L. Davis, J., 1991). The capacity therefore of the agency theory to maximize shareholder returns by simply motivating the managers or the agents to perform their management functions better is what makes this theory quite useful in corporate governance. Moreover, the role of the agency theory in corporate governance involves a number of important elements which facilitate the effective governance and management of a corporation. One of which is exercise and practice of the decision rights. According to Moldoveanu, M Martin, R. (2001), the agency theory is what strengthens and allows for the proper exercise of the decision rights of the principals over the company assets. Since technically, the principals are the owners of the assets and they are the ones assigned at delegating the power and decision-making authority over to the agents, their rights must still be protected. This decision right comes in three types: a.) the principals right to create, initiate and implement a specific decision and b.) the principals right to authorize or give consent and approval to a specific decision and c.) the principals right to punish or reward an agent based on the results or outcome of a specific decision the latter has made. On the other hand, the agency theory also puts emphasis on the managerial rights that should be utilized and exercised by the agents. These management-decision rights include: a.) the agents decision right to propose, initiate or suggest a specific course of action or decision and b.) the agents decision right to counter, resist or veto a specific course of action or decision (Moldoveanu, M Martin, R., 2001). The agency theory also acts as the initiator and motivator of the punishments and rewards system in an organization. The agency theory states that the concept of incentive (rewards) and sanctions (punishments) is possibly the best form of motivation among all stakeholders, not merely the managers or the agents. Moldoveanu, M Martin, R. (2001) states that managerial incentives usually come in two types: a.) incentives for observable and obvious efforts exerted by the agent or the manager which usually come in the form of monetary or financial rewards such as bonuses, stock grants or salary increases and b.) incentives for observable and obvious efforts exerted by the agent or the manager which usually come in the form of non-monetary rewards, acknowledgement and other privileges. Given all these functions, the agency theory indeed performs a significant role in any organization in terms of safeguarding and increasing the companys most valued assets as well as motivating its stakeholders, specifically its agents or managers to go perform beyond top managements expectations given that their roles, functions and rights are clearly identified by the agency theory. C. The Benefits and Advantages of Adopting the Agency Theory One clear benefit of adopting and utilizing the agency theory within an organization is its ability to maximize the potentials and use of a particular agent. While the agents are clearly motivated to perform or even go beyond their managerial roles, the ultimate benefit is still being experienced by the shareholders as it is their assets which are being maximized. Although oftentimes, when the shareholders return on investment is quite high, all stakeholders also benefit out of it in the form of great financial rewards such as salary increases and bonuses (Sanchez, A.V., n.d.). The increase in shareholder returns and the value of the companys assets is one clear benefit and aim that the agency theory brings in to any corporation that is why its utilization is still very much applicable in the set up of modern corporations. In simple terms, the agents and the principals as well as other stakeholders within the organization directly benefit out of this company financial gain (Sanchez, A.V., n.d.). Another benefit in the adoption of the agency theory in corporations is the maximum utilization of the agency cost or the cost incurred by the shareholder by hiring the agent or the manager. Given that typically, an agent performs quite a number of critical roles including the important function of decision-making, the cost incurred by the company in hiring the agent is therefore justified by the amount of work or services accomplished by the agent for the company. This clearly benefits the shareholders as their agency costs can also be considered an investment for the further growth of company assets (Sanchez, A.V., n.d.). On the part of the agents, the application of the agency theory is also beneficial as it offers the application of the concept of maximum utility. The concept of maximum utility denotes a maximization of their potentials and skills which they have provided the company. In a way the end benefit is still clearly leaning towards the company. Nevertheless, the maximization of the managers skills and potentials also directly benefits him or her as an agent (Sanchez, A.V., n.d.). D. The Threats and Disadvantages of Adopting the Agency Theory According to Mallin (2007), the agency theory can possibly result into a number of threats or disadvantages in an organization. One of these disadvantages is the opportunistic view of the managers or the agents in the corporation. For instance, there were many instances when the agents (managers) took advantage of their power and used it for their own selfish interests. Apparently, some agents do not act in accordance to the interests and goals of the shareholders. Most of the time, the agents are tempted to use their power and decision-making advantages to pursue their own selfish interests and not act in behalf of the principals or shareholders of the company. Moreover, the agents may have a totally different view of what their roles or functions are supposed to be which may be far from what was defined by the shareholders. For instance, some agents or managers may avoid risk-taking which the shareholders consider essential in order to effectively increase the value of a corporate asset. Also, agents or managers have the tendency to avoid making decisions, especially those decisions which are entirely needed to properly govern the corporation. When this happens, the clash between these two stakeholders begin which is another disadvantage brought about by the agency theory (Mallin, 2007). Information asymmetry is also a common problem in the application of the agency theory. This happens when the amount or load of information accessed and received by the agent varies from that of the shareholder. When this happens, it results into an unbalanced amount of corporate knowledge or information between the two which may put either of them at a disadvantage. Also, the gaps in corporate knowledge or information may cause confusion or misunderstanding between these two important stakeholders. As a result of this, conflicts arise between the managers and the shareholders which hinder both of them from performing their distinct functions in a corporation (Mallin, 2007). The Criticisms on the Agency Theory: Why this theory focuses on merely two stakeholders: the managers (agents) and shareholders (principal) The agency theory, coined and popularized in the 1970s, has long been an existing concept and theory that people in the past centuries have been thinking of adopting. It was however only in the 70s that this concept was already adopted by many companies around the world. The popularity of the application and use of the agency theory only commenced when corporate governance became a more difficult and complicated task to do. When the corporations began to expand, more and more clients and employees became part of both the external and internal stakeholders of the company. An implication of this was the tasks became more difficult to manage that the owners of the corporation needed additional people to offer special work or services for them. This then resulted to the birth of the demand on hiring agents (Mallin, 2007). These agents, according to Mallin (2007), were recruited and hired based on their professional competencies, skills, talents and the ability to make decisions. The owners or the shareholders (principals) are the ones directly hiring these agents to offer special services them that would further grow or benefit the corporation. Moreover, Mallin (2007) asserted that the complications brought about by the increase in demand of the services offered by a corporation and an upsurge in the number of its clients, brought about the need to separate control and ownership in a corporation. Most of the time, shareholders or owners of a company are too busy to perform and attend to the important details in a corporations daily operations. The amount of work and responsibility that these owners need to perform are way too much that they need to add more employees to handle them. This therefore resulted into a separation of control and ownership in the company, with the shareholders performing the ownership function while the managers performing the control function. According to Mallin (2007), when the shareholders or principals start performing the ownership function, thats when they begin to make the agents and other stakeholders in the company more accountable and responsible in their tasks and functions. The command and directives come straight from them which would then have to be managed by those under them. When this happens, the shareholders would have a direct control over the business or the corporation just as owners should have. Accountability increases over the shareholders capacity to function as owners of the corporation and its most valuable assets. On the other hand, direct control over the corporations daily operations is exercised by the professional managers assigned by the shareholders. Full control and accountability rests on these individuals which make their functions highly critical in a corporation. These professional managers are concerned with the nitty-gritty of the daily affairs of the corporation as well as the handling of the people under them. Also, they are in charge of increasing the value of a corporate asset which puts more pressure on the functions that they perform in the corporation (Mallin, 2007). Hence, the focus of the agency theory is basically to put emphasis on the importance of the functions that both the principals (shareholders) and the agents (managers) perform or play in the success of corporate governance. This explains the main reason why most corporations nowadays exercise or apply the agency theory in their business framework. Also, the corporations found it to be very significant to maintain the healthy relationship between the principals and the agents as it is only then can they manage the various issues that corporations normally face. Moreover the distinct advantages of applying the agency theory are tremendous, such as the maximum utilization of the companys agents and the increase of the companys most valued assets, that it led many corporations to apply the agency theorys principles in their businesses. Nevertheless, Mallin (2007) argues that one of the most popular criticism against the agency theory is its focus on merely two stakeholders: the agents and the principals. According to corporate analysts, it is not healthy for a corporation to focus on merely two stakeholders and neglect all the other stakeholders that also play key roles in the organization. In the long history of corporate governance, it has been proven to be true that the agency theorys focus on the principal-agent relationship has caused many threats and disadvantages as well to the organization. For one, these two stakeholders cannot properly operate or function without the presence of other key constituents or stakeholders within the organization. Other key stakeholders such as the managers subordinates, suppliers and the investors also perform highly significant functions in the corporation which cannot be ignored or neglected. The seemingly unfair and unbalanced focus of the agency theory on only two stakeholders have been for a long time resulting into negative impacts in the organization which was justified through the perception of other stakeholders on the unequal distribution of power in the organization. The unequal distribution of power and privileges within the organization, mostly focused on only the principals and the agents, is what makes other key stakeholders feel deprived and unimportant in the corporation (Eisenhardt, K., 1989) When this happens, these other stakeholders like for instance the investors and suppliers may be tempted to take away their loyalty on the corporation and move to its competitor. This then places the corporation into a threatening situation as its key stakeholders know much confidential information about the company. F. The Stakeholder Theory versus the Agency Theory The many issues confronted by many corporations through the utilization and application of the agency theory in their corporate governance resulted into many negative impacts on the part of other stakeholders involved in the corporation. For one, these stakeholders namely the employees, investors, suppliers, communities, subsidiaries, the media and the government and other internal and external constituents that the corporation usually deals with, are not given sufficient attention and privileges compared to the shareholders and the managers. This is because in the agency theory, the focus is merely on the shareholder-manager relationship or the principal-agent relationship and not so much on other stakeholders. In order to avoid these kinds of issues on the part of other stakeholders, another theory was created which was the stakeholder theory. In essence, the stakeholder theory states the importance of addressing the needs and emphasizing the functions and roles of other relevant key stakeholders in the organization in order to effectively govern the corporation (Donaldson, T. Preston, L., 1995). Moreover, the stakeholder theory presents the first step to divert the attention from merely two stakeholders: the shareholders and managers, to other stakeholders such as the investors, suppliers, communities, media, political associations and the general public at large whom the corporation directly affects or influences (Donaldson, T. Preston, L., 1995). The stakeholder theory also gave a strong emphasis on the importance of identifying the corporations internal and external stakeholders. This is because any corporation would not be able to stand in itself and operate by itself without the aid of other key stakeholders which the corporation serves or which help the corporation achieve its organizational goals. In other instances, even the competitors can also be considered part of the organizations stakeholders (Donaldson, T. Preston, L., 1995). The usefulness of the stakeholder theory compared to the agency theory is that the former has a clearer, wider view and concern with other people outside of the managers and the shareholders. The stakeholder theory puts more emphasis on their importance as a corporate entity and in a way helps the corporation properly position itself as well, especially in the community where it operates (Donaldson, T. Preston, L., 1995). The stakeholder theory states that by identifying the internal and external stakeholders of a corporation, the interests of the corporation would be balanced among the interests of the other key stakeholders. The corporation therefore would not appear selfish or apathetic to the community and the general public at large because its organizational goals and principles are hinged from the best interests and common good of all its stakeholders, not just the managers and the shareholders. The stakeholder theory also paints a good view of the corporation to other stakeholders as it appears concerned and ready to serve the general public at large. Also, the application of the stakeholder theory implies that the corporation acknowledges that its decisions have either a positive or negative impact on the stakeholders in general. This makes the stakeholders therefore feel important being part of the corporation as its concerned and needs are acknowledged by the corporation where they belong compared to the agency theory which only highlights the contributions and roles of merely two stakeholders: the managers and shareholders. (Donaldson, T. Preston, L., 1995). Conclusion The agency theory in corporations is a useful and widely-used theory that has in itself a lot of distinct advantages and disadvantages to the corporation. Its focus on the important functions of the principals (shareholders) and the agents (managers) is what led to its popular application in corporate governance. For many decades, the use of the agency theory has benefitted many corporations as it aimed to strengthen the relationship between the principals and the agents whose main functions are considered the lifeblood of the corporation. Also, the agency theorys emphasis on the maximum utilization of the agents resulted into tremendous increases in the value of the corporations assets and the corporations maximization of the agency costs they incurred out of hiring the services of these agents or professional managers. Nevertheless, while the agency theory application resulted into many benefits and advantages, it also brought it certain negative impact and disadvantages in the corporations. For one, it resulted into conflicting interests between the managers and the shareholders. The shareholders often seem to have a hard time influencing the managers with their own organizational goals, while the latter focuses on pursuing his or her own selfish interests in the organization. Second, the lack of focus of the corporation on other relevant stakeholders brought forth more disadvantages in the organization as the other stakeholders felt unimportant and neglected in the corporation. This issue has therefore given birth to another theory called the stakeholder theory which balances out the unbalanced treatment and view of the agency theory on the other relevant stakeholders in the company by stating the important roles and functions of other key stakeholders which the corporation directly influences and affects as well.

Loyalty and Trust in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Es

Huckleberry Finn – Loyalty and Trust    Huckleberry Finn does not address questions of law as directly as the other novels that we have read. Ostensibly, Huck is torn between disobeying the slavery laws and honoring his conscious.   However, Huck shows a disregard for other laws throughout the story, so I think that his conflict stems not from a belief that one must obey the law because it is the law, or on a social contract theory.   Huck is never overly concerned with the truth or the norms of society, he adheres to the mores of society because of the consequences as opposed to any fundamental acceptance of them or authority.   Unlike Billy Budd, however, Huck does not seem to be influenced by the fear of corporal punishment, as much as he is concerned with the social consequences that would result if his disobedience was discovered.   The choice that Huck eventually makes is deeper than just choosing to accept the social consequences, he is willing to `go to hell' for Jim, rather than betray the loya lty and trust that has grown between them.      I think that Mark Twain choose an excellent vehicle for the presentation of a sharp, social satire. By letting Huck tell the story, Twain was free to present the ignorance underscoring the mores that were passed onto to children.   Huck interprets the world literally, which starkly contrasts with the romanticism of Tom Sawyer and spiritualism of the widows.   Huck's literalism also allows him more leeway than a third-person narrator can have.   Mark Twain could have presented his criticisms in an essay, or a more sensational, fictional novel; however, he has chosen the most powerful form because the realism of th... ...ppears, because it is possible that Tom's disregard was not based on unintentional, ignorance but rather was intentional and selfish. I will have to re-read Tom Sawyer to consider that question, I remember that was my view the very first time I read the book because I did not read Tom Sawyer first.   I think I changed my mind upon learning that Tom was such a well-known and beloved character, I did not think the audience would accept it.   However, today, I am not sure why I thought the audience's expected acceptance/rejection is indicative of the authors intent. Twain was very dark in his later years, and his use of the dialects, inclusion of the (arrogant, taunting?) notice/explanation (challenge?) and his biting satiric tone indicate that he would not feel constrained by the audiences expectations, and might seek to shock them.     

Image of God

Christianity has been interpreted in many ways by different theologians and lay people. As much as this subject is studied there continues to be an ongoing differing of opinions relating to what it means to be created in the image of God. However, even with the differing of opinions, Christian faith is based on the central belief that Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and that his life on earth, his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven are proof of God's love for humanity. infoplease. com, 2010). Although Christian beliefs are based on the New Testament, Christianity still views the Old Testament as a very important part of its faith and uses it often in reference and teaching. This paper will first discuss what it means to be created in the image of God as it pertains to my opinion and second how my beliefs on this subject are incorporated into my nursing practice.Man in God’s Image  "The most distinctive feature of the biblical understanding of man is the teaching that man has been created in the image of God†. Hoekema, 1986). The bible refers to man being made in God’s image in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the book of Genesis references man being made in God’s image in the Creation Story, in explanation of the generations of Adam to Noah and also again in the Covenant With Noah. Genesis: 1:26-28; 5:1-3 and 9:6. The New Testament references in many different books that man was made in the likeness of God and also speaks frequently of Jesus as being the perfect man who is made in the image of God.Hoekema states â€Å"Since Christ was totally without sin (Heb 4:15), in Christ we see the image of God in its perfection†. Christian belief follows that man was made in the image of God; however, differing theologians have developed differing theories over the years in regards to what it means to be made in the image of God. Theologian Saint Augustine of Hippo believed that humanity, which was created in the image of God, also had an image of the Trinity within it. He believed that there was evidence of the trinity within the human mind such as love, being, knowing, willing and understanding. (newworldencyclopedia. rg, 2010). According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) â€Å"Of all visible creatures only man is ‘able to know and love his creator’. He is ‘the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake’, Man occupies a unique place in creation, he is ‘in the image of God†. God, creator of all life, made man unique apart from other living things by giving him gifts such as dignity, self-knowledge, self-possession, the ability to commune with others, free will, faith and love. Creation began with Adam and has been passed down to all of humanity which, in turn, results in a unity within humanity.Acts 17:26 states  "He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions†. Because creation began with Adam, who was created in God’s image, and we are all from Adam, we too are created in God’s image. The question is what does this mean? For some it means, contrary to my personal beliefs, that with the Fall of Adam and the development of sin the image of God in humanity has been destroyed or corrupted. So what does it mean to be created in God’s image? Man was created with definitive differences from other animals.I believe animals are capable of love and all living things possess and innate ability for survival. I also believe that some animals are capable of a higher cognitive reasoning to an extent. For example, both sharks and chimpanzees have been taught to use a higher thought function in turn producing higher cognition. There is life, even within plants, that manifests and grows. However, God gave man a soul that with his body creates a unity. A soul that possesses unique gifts that other living things do not have. God gave man the ability to develop relationships with others and with God himself.I believe that God initially created man for companionship and love. Because of this our Creator has made a never-ending covenant with us and loves us unconditionally. I believe that God created man and woman equally and that the first union is the first representation of communion among humans. I believe that our humanity, made in God’s image, is created good. I believe that although there is sin in all of us, this sin does not corrupt our souls but because of Adam’s original sin, it is now within all of us, not as a personal fault but a flaw of humanity.A â€Å"wounded nature† (CCC). I believe that man is capable of personal sin and does so on a daily basis because of this wounded nature, however, God gave us free will and man has t he choice of right and wrong. Unfortunately, since the Fall, man is no longer perfect with a divine likeness and sin is actually a proper state within humanity. Meaning that â€Å"As a result of its original sin, human nature is weakened in its powers; subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death; and inclined to sin†. (CCC).God’s image remains present in us because we are created by God. Good remains present in us because we are created by God. This can be evidenced by seeing humanity helping each other in times of need, seeing love shared in so many forms and present in so many deeds, seeing the overall beauty of humanity that is present even though we live in a world of sin and imperfection. Man remains hopeful in many ways and the Grace of God shines through in many situations. With all of this happening on a continual basis how could one question that man has lost his image of God?Yes, there is evil present in the world, as stated earlier mankind i s weakened, only weakened, not distorted and corrupt. Personal Beliefs for Serving those in Need of Healthcare Now that ground has been established for how man is created in God’s image I would like to discuss how I personally not only see this within my nursing practice but also how I use it to provide care to patients. Shelly and Miller state that â€Å"The role of the nurse grew out a Christian understanding of the human person as created in the image of God and viewed the body as a living unity and the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’ (1 Cor 3:16)†.As a nurse I find that this statement has very a great deal of truth in it. Nurses view the body as a Temple in many ways and assist those in who are not able to care for themselves. I feel that because we are created in God’s image, we should work to take care of ourselves and try to maintain a disease free state. Unfortunately, there are people who do not always share this view; this is where keeping God with us while giving care becomes very important. As nurses, whether it is an advanced practice nurse or a floor staff nurse, we have a desire to care for others.We want to help them return to a functioning state of health, whatever that may be because it differs depending on disease process. However, often times because a person has a chronic disease, he or she does not want to participate in their care or is short tempered with the staff that cares for this person. When this happens it is easy for a nurse to also become defensive and give less of herself to this person. Unfortunately, this happens frequently on busy units and emergency departments. If the nurse is not careful, he or she can become jaded and judgmental developing preconceived notions of patients based olely on the diagnosis or actions from the patient. However, if the nurse keeps God in her mind and close to her heart he or she is able to see the patient in a different light and can care for this patient in their diseased state knowing that we are all children of God and made in his image. In order to take optimal, holistic care of our patients we need to always keep with us that humanity is created in God’s image and that life is a sacred gift that we should respect on all levels no matter who the person is or how he or she may differ from yourself.When I am caring for my patients I try to always be not only sympathetic but empathetic. Being sick is a scary thing and often times the outcomes are unknown at the time of the present illness. Fear of the unknown is one of the most common stressors a person can have. So, if you take the stress of â€Å"not knowing† and combine it with the physical stress of being sick and emotional stress that accompanies not feeling well you can easily see that nurses often take care of patients when they are not only at a suboptimal level physically but also emotionally and often times spiritually.With this in mind one can understand the struggle on both sides of the spectrum; a person is at a place where he or she is requiring care from someone other than themselves. This person is a consumer and knows that he or she is paying for the care that is being received, with this in mind one can see how this can easily be looked at from a business-like perspective meaning basically an exchange of transactions and nothing more. However, in healthcare there is the human aspect that is very unique among business.We are in the business of caring. As nurses we not only know this, we feel this. We see a person in need and provide care for that person, this alone has aspects of the image of God within it. The desire to provide care and love for another being even when this being is not always acting kind or â€Å"doing the right thing† is a grace given to us by God. Jesus, the son of God, the second person of Trinity was a great healer and a caring, loving man. In all four of the Gospels, there are acts of healing documented that Jesus performed.Understanding that Jesus wanted to heal afflictions and help those who could not help themselves and knowing that he did this with kindness and love in his heart keeps me true to my profession and spirituality. Not everyone is blessed with good health and even those who are experience tragic events. Because humanity is a union, created by God and in the image of God, we are called to help one another not only in times of need but on a daily basis. I think that in doing this we strengthen our relationship between each other and with God.As a nurse I keep this in perspective so that I am not only helping my patients but also my patient’s family members, my fellow co-workers, and visitors with anything that I can. It is easy to look at a portion of the picture, but we should always take a few steps back and look at the whole picture. In doing this it helps facilitate not only one area but all areas. Jesus was always able to explain to his apostles the whole of a situation when they asked him questions, looking at a problem as a whole, rather than a portion makes it easier to treat everyone involved, not just one person.God has given humanity many gifts, such as the ones mentioned above. God also gives individuals gifts and graces them with the ability to perform and strengthen the gifts given to them. Although we are made in the image of God, people can differ a great deal. They differ in actions, opinions, thought and feelings this is a gift in itself. As nurses God has granted us with gifts of empathy, compassion, intuition and understanding. As much as nursing is a science it also holds a strong component of intuition and feeling.A patient connects with the nurse at the bedside because of the feelings that they share and experience together. When a nurse and a patient are able to connect on this level relationships are formed and care is given, received and collaborated. This bond that is created is another example of how we are created in God’s image and how we share this with others. Conclusion â€Å"To be created in the image of God means that we must look to God for our meaning, purpose, and direction. It also makes us thinking, willing, feeling, relational creatures who reflect these attributes of our Creator†. Shelly ; Miller, 2006). With this in mind we can all realize that to be created in the image of God is a gift, from a loving, relational God. I feel that if we can keep this thought in perspective, that our life, created in His image, is a gift and remain thankful for this gift we will be able to serve others with God in our hearts and minds. God did not create us to be solitary beings. He created us to commune together, to love one another and to help one another. Although our divine likeness has been weakened, it still remains and it is our responsibility to nurture our faith and help it o grow. When we do this we become closer to God and strengthen our bond not only with our love for h umanity and the union we share with it but also our bond with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When we feel that closeness and strength it helps us to remember that we were created in His image and likeness which in turn helps us to live our faith. References Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2000. Christianity: Central Beliefs. (2010). Retrieved September 13, 2010, from http://www. infoplease. com/ce6/society/A0857333. tml#ixzz0zQKnLsSt Created in god's image. (1986). Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans. New American Bible, (1991). St. Joseph ed. Catholic book Publishing Corporation. New World Encyclopedia Online. (2010). Augustine of Hippo. Retrieved September 13, 2010, from http://www. newworldencyclopedia. org/entry/Augustine_of_Hippo Shelly, J. A. , & Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing. 2nd ed. InterVarsity Press: Downersgrove, IL. What it Means for Hum ans to be Created in the Image of God THEO/532 September 14, 2010 Brandy Perkins Malone University Image of God Christianity has been interpreted in many ways by different theologians and lay people. As much as this subject is studied there continues to be an ongoing differing of opinions relating to what it means to be created in the image of God. However, even with the differing of opinions, Christian faith is based on the central belief that Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and that his life on earth, his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven are proof of God's love for humanity. infoplease. com, 2010). Although Christian beliefs are based on the New Testament, Christianity still views the Old Testament as a very important part of its faith and uses it often in reference and teaching. This paper will first discuss what it means to be created in the image of God as it pertains to my opinion and second how my beliefs on this subject are incorporated into my nursing practice.Man in God’s Image  "The most distinctive feature of the biblical understanding of man is the teaching that man has been created in the image of God†. Hoekema, 1986). The bible refers to man being made in God’s image in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the book of Genesis references man being made in God’s image in the Creation Story, in explanation of the generations of Adam to Noah and also again in the Covenant With Noah. Genesis: 1:26-28; 5:1-3 and 9:6. The New Testament references in many different books that man was made in the likeness of God and also speaks frequently of Jesus as being the perfect man who is made in the image of God.Hoekema states â€Å"Since Christ was totally without sin (Heb 4:15), in Christ we see the image of God in its perfection†. Christian belief follows that man was made in the image of God; however, differing theologians have developed differing theories over the years in regards to what it means to be made in the image of God. Theologian Saint Augustine of Hippo believed that humanity, which was created in the image of God, also had an image of the Trinity within it. He believed that there was evidence of the trinity within the human mind such as love, being, knowing, willing and understanding. (newworldencyclopedia. rg, 2010). According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) â€Å"Of all visible creatures only man is ‘able to know and love his creator’. He is ‘the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake’, Man occupies a unique place in creation, he is ‘in the image of God†. God, creator of all life, made man unique apart from other living things by giving him gifts such as dignity, self-knowledge, self-possession, the ability to commune with others, free will, faith and love. Creation began with Adam and has been passed down to all of humanity which, in turn, results in a unity within humanity.Acts 17:26 states  "He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions†. Because creation began with Adam, who was created in God’s image, and we are all from Adam, we too are created in God’s image. The question is what does this mean? For some it means, contrary to my personal beliefs, that with the Fall of Adam and the development of sin the image of God in humanity has been destroyed or corrupted. So what does it mean to be created in God’s image? Man was created with definitive differences from other animals.I believe animals are capable of love and all living things possess and innate ability for survival. I also believe that some animals are capable of a higher cognitive reasoning to an extent. For example, both sharks and chimpanzees have been taught to use a higher thought function in turn producing higher cognition. There is life, even within plants, that manifests and grows. However, God gave man a soul that with his body creates a unity. A soul that possesses unique gifts that other living things do not have. God gave man the ability to develop relationships with others and with God himself.I believe that God initially created man for companionship and love. Because of this our Creator has made a never-ending covenant with us and loves us unconditionally. I believe that God created man and woman equally and that the first union is the first representation of communion among humans. I believe that our humanity, made in God’s image, is created good. I believe that although there is sin in all of us, this sin does not corrupt our souls but because of Adam’s original sin, it is now within all of us, not as a personal fault but a flaw of humanity.A â€Å"wounded nature† (CCC). I believe that man is capable of personal sin and does so on a daily basis because of this wounded nature, however, God gave us free will and man has t he choice of right and wrong. Unfortunately, since the Fall, man is no longer perfect with a divine likeness and sin is actually a proper state within humanity. Meaning that â€Å"As a result of its original sin, human nature is weakened in its powers; subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death; and inclined to sin†. (CCC).God’s image remains present in us because we are created by God. Good remains present in us because we are created by God. This can be evidenced by seeing humanity helping each other in times of need, seeing love shared in so many forms and present in so many deeds, seeing the overall beauty of humanity that is present even though we live in a world of sin and imperfection. Man remains hopeful in many ways and the Grace of God shines through in many situations. With all of this happening on a continual basis how could one question that man has lost his image of God?Yes, there is evil present in the world, as stated earlier mankind i s weakened, only weakened, not distorted and corrupt. Personal Beliefs for Serving those in Need of Healthcare Now that ground has been established for how man is created in God’s image I would like to discuss how I personally not only see this within my nursing practice but also how I use it to provide care to patients. Shelly and Miller state that â€Å"The role of the nurse grew out a Christian understanding of the human person as created in the image of God and viewed the body as a living unity and the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’ (1 Cor 3:16)†.As a nurse I find that this statement has very a great deal of truth in it. Nurses view the body as a Temple in many ways and assist those in who are not able to care for themselves. I feel that because we are created in God’s image, we should work to take care of ourselves and try to maintain a disease free state. Unfortunately, there are people who do not always share this view; this is where keeping God with us while giving care becomes very important. As nurses, whether it is an advanced practice nurse or a floor staff nurse, we have a desire to care for others.We want to help them return to a functioning state of health, whatever that may be because it differs depending on disease process. However, often times because a person has a chronic disease, he or she does not want to participate in their care or is short tempered with the staff that cares for this person. When this happens it is easy for a nurse to also become defensive and give less of herself to this person. Unfortunately, this happens frequently on busy units and emergency departments. If the nurse is not careful, he or she can become jaded and judgmental developing preconceived notions of patients based olely on the diagnosis or actions from the patient. However, if the nurse keeps God in her mind and close to her heart he or she is able to see the patient in a different light and can care for this patient in their diseased state knowing that we are all children of God and made in his image. In order to take optimal, holistic care of our patients we need to always keep with us that humanity is created in God’s image and that life is a sacred gift that we should respect on all levels no matter who the person is or how he or she may differ from yourself.When I am caring for my patients I try to always be not only sympathetic but empathetic. Being sick is a scary thing and often times the outcomes are unknown at the time of the present illness. Fear of the unknown is one of the most common stressors a person can have. So, if you take the stress of â€Å"not knowing† and combine it with the physical stress of being sick and emotional stress that accompanies not feeling well you can easily see that nurses often take care of patients when they are not only at a suboptimal level physically but also emotionally and often times spiritually.With this in mind one can understand the struggle on both sides of the spectrum; a person is at a place where he or she is requiring care from someone other than themselves. This person is a consumer and knows that he or she is paying for the care that is being received, with this in mind one can see how this can easily be looked at from a business-like perspective meaning basically an exchange of transactions and nothing more. However, in healthcare there is the human aspect that is very unique among business.We are in the business of caring. As nurses we not only know this, we feel this. We see a person in need and provide care for that person, this alone has aspects of the image of God within it. The desire to provide care and love for another being even when this being is not always acting kind or â€Å"doing the right thing† is a grace given to us by God. Jesus, the son of God, the second person of Trinity was a great healer and a caring, loving man. In all four of the Gospels, there are acts of healing documented that Jesus performed.Understanding that Jesus wanted to heal afflictions and help those who could not help themselves and knowing that he did this with kindness and love in his heart keeps me true to my profession and spirituality. Not everyone is blessed with good health and even those who are experience tragic events. Because humanity is a union, created by God and in the image of God, we are called to help one another not only in times of need but on a daily basis. I think that in doing this we strengthen our relationship between each other and with God.As a nurse I keep this in perspective so that I am not only helping my patients but also my patient’s family members, my fellow co-workers, and visitors with anything that I can. It is easy to look at a portion of the picture, but we should always take a few steps back and look at the whole picture. In doing this it helps facilitate not only one area but all areas. Jesus was always able to explain to his apostles the whole of a situation when they asked him questions, looking at a problem as a whole, rather than a portion makes it easier to treat everyone involved, not just one person.God has given humanity many gifts, such as the ones mentioned above. God also gives individuals gifts and graces them with the ability to perform and strengthen the gifts given to them. Although we are made in the image of God, people can differ a great deal. They differ in actions, opinions, thought and feelings this is a gift in itself. As nurses God has granted us with gifts of empathy, compassion, intuition and understanding. As much as nursing is a science it also holds a strong component of intuition and feeling.A patient connects with the nurse at the bedside because of the feelings that they share and experience together. When a nurse and a patient are able to connect on this level relationships are formed and care is given, received and collaborated. This bond that is created is another example of how we are created in God’s image and how we share this with others. Conclusion â€Å"To be created in the image of God means that we must look to God for our meaning, purpose, and direction. It also makes us thinking, willing, feeling, relational creatures who reflect these attributes of our Creator†. Shelly ; Miller, 2006). With this in mind we can all realize that to be created in the image of God is a gift, from a loving, relational God. I feel that if we can keep this thought in perspective, that our life, created in His image, is a gift and remain thankful for this gift we will be able to serve others with God in our hearts and minds. God did not create us to be solitary beings. He created us to commune together, to love one another and to help one another. Although our divine likeness has been weakened, it still remains and it is our responsibility to nurture our faith and help it o grow. When we do this we become closer to God and strengthen our bond not only with our love for h umanity and the union we share with it but also our bond with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When we feel that closeness and strength it helps us to remember that we were created in His image and likeness which in turn helps us to live our faith. References Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2000. Christianity: Central Beliefs. (2010). Retrieved September 13, 2010, from http://www. infoplease. com/ce6/society/A0857333. tml#ixzz0zQKnLsSt Created in god's image. (1986). Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans. New American Bible, (1991). St. Joseph ed. Catholic book Publishing Corporation. New World Encyclopedia Online. (2010). Augustine of Hippo. Retrieved September 13, 2010, from http://www. newworldencyclopedia. org/entry/Augustine_of_Hippo Shelly, J. A. , & Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing. 2nd ed. InterVarsity Press: Downersgrove, IL. What it Means for Hum ans to be Created in the Image of God THEO/532 September 14, 2010 Brandy Perkins Malone University

Technological solutions for human services

Technological solutions for human services Human services are movements, which seek to address the needs of the less privileged in the society. While offering their services, organisations are faced with three main barriers in planning, funding and empowerment of their clients.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Technological solutions for human services specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These barriers include organization, provision of transportation to clients, keeping trail of clients, and ensuring that prospective clients are reached. To address these barriers, the use of technology became very essential for an organisation to concentrate on its core activities. Technological solutions also provide the human services with a chance to handle its responsibilities with ease and incur minimum costs. This involves the use of applications that address the barriers that exist in the human services on a continual basis and upgrading it to meet the changing demands. T he desire of human service to be more productive and organised involves the careful organisation of its activities, clearly portraying the sources of its funding, showing the track of its clients and finding means in which they can access their clients. For effective management and budgeting of these activities, it requires the incorporation of appropriate technology that can be able to reveal and store the records of the organisation. In management of funds of the organisation, it is essential to establish means in which anyone with authorisation can know the source of funding, how the funds are being utilised and ways in which they can contribute to the organisation. With the presence of good financial planning the human services can be able to offer its services to their clients accordingly and appropriately. The use of technology becomes very critical to offer the services to the clients who are widely spread in the inaccessible parts of the country. The offices that are decentr alised are interconnected with satellite and this facilitates the adoption of other essential software.Advertising Looking for essay on computer science? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Internet access by the clients in their areas of residence enables the human services to organise meetings and communicate consistently whenever there is any need. For communication to be effective the human services uses emails to distribute notices, meeting notes and any concerns of the organisation (Gillam 126). Such formality enables everyone to be updated any give any suggestion and direction to the agency. Application of technology like the development and use of spread sheets facilitate the organisation to critically maintain and utilise its data effectively. Spread sheets allow the organisation, management and utilisation of data. This application software is used to indicate where funding is obtained from, analyze how the fun ding is used, process the financial data and indicate the financial standing of the agency. By use of this software the agency financial standing can be determined and be used to lobby for funds, presented to the federal government, negotiate for favourable laws and shown to any interested as a source of indicating the credibility of the agency. This software can deal with the barrier of organization sufficiently. For most of the active and prospective clients, transport is the hindering factor in their reception of services from the human services. Since transportation infrastructure is not extensive, the demand of means to access these clients become essential. Human services utilises the internet to provide information by use of application like PowerPoint presentation and Microsoft word. PowerPoint presentation enables the clients to learn new things by themselves at their dwelling points. Word documents facilitate the human services to provide the information regarding their se rvices, links that give other relevant ideologies and updates of the agency. Moreover, notices can be issued to the clients through the application on the educational videos they can watch to meet their needs. Clients at the same time can be able to raise their concerns and complement for the services they receive. This technology adequately curbs the challenges of transportation and becomes environmentally and financially suitable for the agency (Ginsberg 224). The clients therefore see technology as essential and fundamental in the provision and reception of assistance.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Technological solutions for human services specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The activities of the human services involve the interconnection with several people inclusive of clients. To meet adequately this function, the use of technology becomes very demanding. Appropriate technology is the database, which can be ab le to keep records, collecting information and keeping trail of clients. Similarly, database enables the agency to ease its efforts of collecting, storage, retrieval and reporting of data. By keeping the database accurate and updated, the agency can be able to foster productive working environment and the limitless possibilities that the databases provide. Report generating applications provide the agency with the relevant need of statistical reports and analysis of its progress. Since the organisation is able to provide the necessary service to its clients of organising itself, keeping trail of its clients and reaching out to the potential clients, it must analyze its progress and performance. This software enables the agency to report the statistics and other material information of the agency. About this, an analysis of the performance, weaknesses, their client rating and inefficiencies that exist in their services can be dealt with periodically and accordingly. The reports gener ated can be used as a measure of their service standards and formulate policies and plans that can be used to liaise with the government on the needs of the clients of the human services. The incorporation of technology through such application software like databases, Microsoft word, PowerPoint presentation, reporting applications, webcam services and internet provide a means of breaking the agencies barriers. Although the use of technology portrays that human services organisation can handle their tasks with many efficiencies there exist some problems and weakness with its usage. Despite this, their importance outweighs their demerits.Advertising Looking for essay on computer science? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Gillam, Scott. Human services. New York: Ferguson Pub., 2010. Print. Ginsberg, Leon H., and Paul R. Keys. New management in human services. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: NASW Press, 1995. Print.

The top 5 retail jobs for 2018

The top 5 retail jobs for 2018 If you’re thinking about working in retail, it can be a great choice with lots of different ways to achieve your goals. Retail is one of the most versatile industries, with a constant, churning demand to meet ever-growing sales and customer needs. It’s also an industry where you can start laying out a career path that takes you up through the management level, or get that â€Å"right now† job while you figure out what your longer-term career plans are. It’s also a field that’s growing and diversifying quickly due to changes in technology and e-commerce, making it a broader field than ever before. Let’s look at some of the fastest-growing job opportunities in retail for the new year.1. Sales AssociateThink of this job as â€Å"retail classic,† especially if you’re just starting out. Sales associates are basically the boots on the ground in the retail industry, working out on the floor in brick-and-mortar stores to make sure that shelves are stocked, customers are being helped, sales are being made, and operations are running smoothly. It’s typically an hourly job, worked in shifts set by the store’s management. Working as a sales associate can mean working nights, weekends, and holidays, depending on the type of store.Working as a retail sales associate can be a major experience-builder, especially if you’re thinking about branching out into a more advanced career in the retail field.What you’ll need: There’s no official education level needed to become a sales associate, but some companies prefer high school graduates (or equivalent). Sales associates should have good organizational skills, trustworthiness, solid math skills, and excellent customer service skills- not to mention the patience it takes to help customers of all kinds. Most stores provide on-the-job training for new employees.How much they make: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), sales as sociates make a median annual salary of $22,900 per year, or $11.01 per hour. This can vary depending on experience and seniority.For more on how to snag retail associate jobs:6 Job Skills You Need to Be a Sales AssociateHow to Write a Perfect Sales Associate Resume (Examples Included)2. Retail ManagerIf you’ve got some retail experience under your belt already, 2018 is a great time to start thinking about moving up into the managerial level. Retail managers are often responsible for managing teams of associates, or an entire store. Their day-to-day responsibilities may include scheduling staff, interviewing and hiring new staff, training employees, overseeing daily operations, monitoring sales and transactions, providing customer service as necessary, overseeing stocking and inventory, and opening and closing the store. Managers are also ambassadors for the store’s branding and corporate interests as well, making sure the store and the staff are operating within compa ny policies and working toward company goals.It’s a leadership job that requires a good deal of maturity and responsibility, particularly when it comes to handling store finances and making personnel decisions.What you’ll need: A high school diploma (or equivalent) at a minimum, and experience working in retail. Many stores hire and promote from within. Strong customer service skills are a must, but administrative skills are essential too, particularly organization, accounting, and both written and verbal communication.How much they make: According to PayScale.com, retail store managers make a median annual salary of $45,191, or $14.56 per hour.For more on how to snag retail management jobs:How to write a retail management resume (with examples)Retail Management: Your complete guide to starting your career3. Customer Service RepresentativeSometimes called â€Å"customer care† or â€Å"customer success† associates, these retail professionals are responsibl e for making sure customers are informed and happy with their purchases. In a brick-and-mortar store, that might mean manning a desk that handles returns and customer questions or issues. Otherwise, customer service associates may work remotely in call centers, fielding calls, emails, social media queries, or other types of outreach from customers. Customer service associates may be responsible for troubleshooting orders or shipment issues, processing returns or refunds, giving customers information about their product or the store, or providing technical support. In a world where customer feedback can be swift and harsh on social media, customer service professionals need to be more proactive and helpful than ever. It’s also a field that grows immensely, as the retail experience continues to expand from traditional stores to digital storefronts.What you’ll need: A high school diploma (or equivalent) at a minimum and stellar customer service skills. Customer service as sociates are often the ones dealing with irate or unhappy customers, so strong people skills are a crucial part of the job. Customer service associates should also be tech-savvy, since they may be working with customers in a variety of different communication formats, from multi-line phones to computer chat apps.How much they make: According to the BLS, customer service representatives make a median annual salary of $32,300 per year, or $15.53 per hour.For more on how to snag customer service jobs:Develop a solid career in customer serviceTop 10 Skills You Need for a Career in Customer ServiceYour Complete Guide to the Best Customer Service JobsThe top 12 hottest customer service jobs4. Online MerchandiserThis is a job that takes advantage of the e-commerce boom. Rather than working in a traditional store, you’d be working within a digital storefront to make sure that products are organized and displayed in a way to maximize ease and appeal to a customer. In a brick-and-morta r store, this job would mean organizing displays for maximum eye-catching and attention. In an online store, this role includes ensuring that product pages are organized in a logical, easy-to-read way; maximizing SEO and keyword searches to ensure that products are showing up in customer searches; and ensuring that product descriptions and necessary information are complete and readily available. Merchandisers may also coordinate sales and promotions, ensuring that customers are aware of the sales and that there is clear information on the site.What you’ll need: A high school diploma (or equivalent) at a minimum, though many companies prefer further education in business or merchandising. Data analysis skills are also a key element of the job, as you’d be making sure that the site’s offerings line up with customer needs and behavior.How much they make: According to PayScale.com, online merchandisers make a median annual salary of $56,839.For more on how to snag merchandising jobs:Top Opportunities in the Online Retail Revolution5. Warehouse AssociateTagged by Forbes as earning one of the fastest-growing salaries, warehouse associates are another job that is fueled by the up-and-up-and-up growth in the e-commerce sector. The goods that people are ordering online have to live somewhere before they’re shipped, and warehouse associates are the ones receiving, processing, tracking, and shipping these products behind the scenes.Warehouse associates are typically responsible for tracking inventory, getting shipments ready to go out, processing incoming and outgoing shipments, and moving merchandise from one place to another. It’s a very hands-on kind of job- think forklift, not cubicle. It also may not be a 9-to-5 kind of gig, given the need to ship products fast after a purchase is made. Warehouse work often includes shifts at odd hours, as well as on weekends and holidays to make sure that orders are going out on schedule. If youà ¢â‚¬â„¢re interested in a job that can prepare you for a career in logistics as well as retail, this is a great place to start.What you’ll need: Most companies require a high school diploma (or equivalent). You’ll also need to be in good physical shape, with the stamina to work on your feet and lift heavy objects.How much they make: According to PayScale.com, warehouse associates make a median annual salary of $31,311, or $12.69 per hour.For more on how to snag warehouse associate jobs:6 top retail jobs this holiday season and how to get themTop Opportunities in the Online Retail RevolutionIf you want to work in a versatile, ever-developing field, it’s hard to go wrong with retail. It’s not always an easy job (what job working with the public is ever easy?), but if you’ve got a knack for customer service and an interest in business, it’s a field that will continue to grow in 2018.

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 70

History - Essay Example The Athenians were innocent of this (Kagan). As a matter of fact, the Athenians did not join in the battle at Corcyra until their defeat was imminent. The Athenian siege of Potidaea did not cause the war as this was an act of defense against the true aggressor, Corinth. Corinth had been sworn into a binding oath to respect the dominion and rule of the Athenians in Potidaea. By sending military forces to Potidaea, Corinth had broken the treaty. Athens, as a sovereign state, has every legal right and mandate to control the economic issues and aspects of the empire. The treaty that had been signed by both parties did not specify that one party could not issue a decree against the other (Thucydides, Hammond and Rhodes). This means that Athens was within its legal and rightful power to issue the decree against Megara. In conclusion, the Athenians did not in any way cause the war. Certain policies may have played a role in fueling the war, but considering the facts that are specific to this war, the Athenians acted within the law. Their actions served to protect their sovereignty within its