Hooliganism Essay Example for Free

Hooliganism Essay At first we are being asked as the reader, what we prefer. Wealth or happiness. David Brooks uses the actress Sandra Bullock as an example of the dilemma. Sandra Bullock won an Academy Award for best actress, but then a news report came and claimed that her husband is a cheating jerk. That puts things in another perspective, because who does not want to be recognized for your work, but is that better than loosing your love. David points out that winning this Award is one of the best things that can happened to an actor/actress; not only because of the credit and the money, but it has been proved that Award winners live longer than people who only have been nominated. After that David is very clear with his opinion on this situation. If you need to think about the question, what you want to choose, between the husband or the Award, you must be crazy in his eyes. He says that the relationship between income and happiness is tricky. If you are poor and you earn a lot of money you become happy. Let us say that you are in the middle-class and your income increases. That will not have the same effect as if you go from poor too normal, because you have lived with such a small amount of money you learn to appreciate even a small amount of money; compared to a middle-class person who wins the lottery, because it does not change his life majorly. 2. How does David Brooks engage the reader in text 1? David is very good at engaging the reader. He uses an example from real life and involves the reader by asking questions most of the time. He makes the reader think about what we just read by asking questions about the readers opinion. He is a very distinguished reporter for the New York Times, examined the relationship between wealth and happiness in his article â€Å"The Sandra Bullock Trade†: a seemingly simple – almost clichà © – concept. He is however able to draw the reader in by the use of 2 simple literary techniques. Primarily, Brooks captures the readers’ attention by his title and his intro paragraph. Many newspapers readers make snap judgments about  whether they should or they should not read an article or not by just looking at the title. It was not a mistake that Brooks used Sandra Bullock as his example. She is a famous, beautiful, and successful actress whose general popularity will make his article – not only appealing – but relate able to his audience. Another technique that Brooks utilizes is his choice of language. It is very colloquial and understandable. By using phrases like â€Å"nothing to sneeze at† instead of words like â€Å"insignificant† the author makes his text more relate able to his readers – as if they are speaking with a friend. If they are more likely to understand his meaning and his lively tone then they will more likely to continue to read. The task of a newspapers writer is different than an authors task. Their job is to lure the reader in and to keep them interested for a short amount of time the reader will spend on each article. Brooks does this effortlessly by using simple and accessible vocabulary and comfortable and using a relate able vignette to initially catch his readers’ attention. 3. Based on the opinions voiced in texts 2 and 3, discuss whether spending money makes people happy. In text 2 Stephanie Rosenbloom discuss with herself if it is possible to buy happiness and if â€Å"yes† then would it be an experience or just a simple piece off clothing. It is a longer lasting happiness if you buy a vacation, than a couch. That is the idea. Living in the world we live in now, we need these little things that make our everyday life a little better. Of course a vacation is good because it is something you will not forget that easy and you will cherish the memories for the rest of your life, compared to a simple couch that might only last 5 years. Almost every time you spend money it will make you happy. You do not buy something that does not make you happy. The research there has been made tells us that greater wealth implies greater happiness only at quite low levels of income. But when the researchers have asked people about their happiness they have simply been asked how satisfied they are with their lives. Which is a very difficult question. Because it is not possible by asking people about their life satisfaction, to measure what the amount of money they have in their lives play in their everyday life, in terms of happiness and satisfaction. Spending money can make you happy, but the level of happiness depends on what you buy and it will not be enough. There is more to life than just being in a good mood. Happiness can be more than that, but not just by spending money.

Strategies to Deliver Service Quality in Healthcare

Strategies to Deliver Service Quality in Healthcare MANAGING SERVICE DELIVERY PASSED BY: RONALD M. INFANTE PASSED TO: BALA NAIR PROMOTING SERVICE QUALITY – AUCKLAND DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD First we have to define what service quality is, service quality this is where we assess either the delivered service is doing well on the client expectations. We are doing the assessment method in order for us to assess our quality service we provide to our beloved customers to make improve to our service and immediately recognize the problems for the sake of client’s satisfaction (service quality, 2015). In order to achieve service quality we have to use the 6 service dimensions, what are those? These are the patient centeredness, equity, safety, efficiency, effectiveness, and timeliness. First is safety, safety means we do no harm to our client with our care example of this is the New Zealand Red Cross, there are promoting first aid training so that when someone experiencing cardiac arrest, heart attack or even drowned they know how to do the proper way of giving CPR to the victim hence promoting harmless safe rescue. Second effectiveness it means matching science to care so if science said if that this drug can help up within this illness or disorder of course we will use that drug but when science said this can’t help we will not use that drug, in conclusion averting overuse of things that can’t help and assuming using the things that do help avoiding under use, that’s effectiveness learning science with care. Third patient centeredness our client have the power to control of his own care, they have the decision on what affects in their health, so by giving these they have the option on what to do in their own care. Fourth timeliness, Air New Zealand have a system build to east the time waste of their clients in result many of their passengers come again to them because of their good services they provide. So we have to follow the footsteps of Air New Zealand by evading delays people are familiar with waiting, we waiting for an appointment to see the doctor or we wait a long time into see the doctor in emergency room, timeliness is important dimensions of service quality, you don’t want a wait everywhere on the health care service so timeliness is decreasing delays. Fifth efficiency like Caltex they doing improvement for their fuel to make a high grade fuel efficiency for their beloved customer that’s is why they are the leading gasoline provider now a days. Efficiency is the way we stop wasting unnecessary procedure or stuff so that the time need on that care is been serve well in the fullness and timely. Sixth equity that means closing the gap in justice of health care basically right now the biggest predictor of your health status in our country remain is your race, you know someone race someone know about their future in health you don’t know most anything I can tell you about them, a black baby born in the city bottom more this years has a life expectancy of a male it’s a seven or eight years less than white baby that’s the quality dimension to equity (Defining Quality: Aiming for a Better Health Care System, 2012). Patient centeredness, equity, safety, efficiency, effectiveness, and timeliness those are the names of dimensions of quality that the Auckland District Health Board should work on. Servqual Model 0c Gap 5 (Futuristic) Gap 3 Gap 4 Gap 1 (Quality) (Design) (Client) Gap 2 (Management) v Gap 1 (Client) this is between what the client expect and what CEO think client’s expect, for example am the client and I go to a five star hotel so I expect when I came there is a parking space available for me, a free movie ticket or a ticket with a best show, a high fast speed free Wi-Fi internet and when I don’t get all this thing no matter what good experience is there is a gap because I don’t get what I expected to have and that disappointed me so what must the CEO do, do a market research, evaluate yourself and your service, put your shoes to client so you will know what is there expecting with your service will provide for them to satisfied there expectation. Gap 2 (Management) this is gap between what Health Care Staff perception what kind of service they provide for the client and what the CEO perception what his Health Care Staff expected to do. For example hand over of the patient to another health care staff, here is the scenario I night nurse shift is waiting for her hand over shift because her time of care is over then the morning nurse shift came and she just told the patient name and where his room number and she walk away, so there is a gap of improper hand over so this is what the nurse perception, so what the CEO do, do a meeting so the address of improper hand over is solve. Gap 3 (Quality) the contrast between what standards a firm is supposed to deliver and the job actually gets delivered. For example vital signs procedure, a nurse is checking the vital signs of the patient without the proper equipment’s he just using his clinical eye for example he touched the forehead of the patient and suddenly said your temperature is 37 degree Celsius so there is the gap about service quality, so how do we solve it by using the proper equipment using to check the vital signs like thermometer. Gap 4 (Design) the difference between what external clients perception and what it actually does for them, example is there is a program for weight loss and it said you can loss 20 kilos for just 2 weeks and there is the gap, so how we solve it tell the most accurate result like loss 3 kilos per week by the use of attending to dietician and physiotherapy experts. Gap 5 (Futuristic) the difference between clients expectation and perception, now if we solve this all kinds of gaps I guarantee you all our client/patient experience our service will come back to us seek medical attention (The GAP Model for Service Quality Improvement, 2012). I also want to implement Kanban in our hospital, Kanban is a scheduling system it can help us to manage our time in dealing with our patient. How can affect us? It scheduled our time by doing the 3 process to do, in process, and done. By this it will help us to list what the things to do example for this day, what are the things that are in process, and what are the things that are currently done. So it help us to simply understand what we are going to priorities to decrease the chance of forgetting it. Also we need to implement the lean system in our hospital it is a process of eliminating useless waste, like overproduction of unnecessary supply. What are the advantages of this first reduce the unwanted supply of medical equipment like gloves, mask, disposable gown, etc., second decrease the unnecessary medicine that usual don’t use. third advantage is we can maximize our profit using this system because we are reducing the useless things in our hospital, means we can focus the money on other things that is useful to prevent shortage of equipment’s, tools, medicines, etc. 10 Principles of Good BPM, First context-awareness example the work must be specific just like to orient someday new so that the rules or procedure he will do are clear. Second continuity monitoring of procedure that is up to date or current. Third enablement all the employee must involve of the organization or in participation in committee Fourth holism every ward or department have the same idea or concept about the procedure of what they are doing. Fifth institutionalization the rules and responsibility of the organization must be implement and practice, it can’t make on the spot the procedure unless it was crisis. Sixth involvement sharing of thoughts and ideas of everyone just like brainstorming it can help promoting good teamwork. Seventh joint understanding, language is the universal tool we use to communicate with each other, especially English language because this is the universal language we use globally. Eight purpose, what is the reason why we doing something, something that we can help our clients/patient in their healing process. Ninth simplicity, the service quality must not compromise by the cost of health care. Tenth technology approach, using technology now a days are great it made our task easier to do, for example using IT in our database it help us to find the data of the patient more easier rather than the old one of searching for a papers or stuff.

Behind The Big Screen Amc Entertainment Marketing Essay

Behind The Big Screen Amc Entertainment Marketing Essay Most companies tend to use technology in order to make improvements and excel in order to gain profit. A lot of places also function completely through technological means. IT is great to use as an advantage as long as everything is kept up to date, and meets the companys needs. It assists with budgeting and operating performance, as well as creates new opportunities with products and services. Without technology, it is hard to keep up with the modern times as most things are now happening electronically. One such company that makes great use of it is AMC Entertainment, which is a very popular movie provider. AMC provides entertainment to the masses through show times at its multiple theatres throughout the US and Canada. Constant work is put into making sure that the best products and services are being offered to customers everywhere. All chains of command work in making sure that everything provided is the most optimal in order to beat all competitors. In order to stay ahead, it is important to analyze strengths and weaknesses, and to acknowledge threats and the opportunities that may lie ahead. Information technology has a certain level of impact on strategy as well, and since it plays a big role with AMC, it therein plays a major role with strategy. AMC has been working hard since the beginning, making sure to constantly advance and stay ahead of competitors. With a rich history of advanced technology from AMC Entertainment, American Multi-Cinema (AMC) has been an industry leader in entertainment. From the first suburban multiplex theatre to the first megaplex theatre, AMC has continued its long tradition of guest service and innovation through products and services that make the entertainment experience more satisfying for millions of guests year in and year out. AMC has over 299 theatres with 4,528 screens in 30 states including the District of Columbia, and four countries outside the United States. Their headquarters are based in Kansas City, Missouri, where it first started in the 1920s. Currently, AMC employs 16,800 employees, in which 800 are employed full-time and 16,000 are employed part-time. AMC recorded revenues of $2,265.5 million dollars during the financial year which ended in April 2, 2009 or FY 2009; there was decrease of 2.9% over FY2008. (Datamonitor 2010) AMC is listed on the FORTUNE 1000 as one of the largest companies in Kansas City. AMC offers guests who arrive for morning screenings the opportunity to see any first-run movie before noon as well as special ticket prices on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays even on holidays. AMC also started the industrys first Guest Loyalty program. This program offers a free membership and rewards customers every time customers go to a movie at any AMC theaters. Another program AMC provides is their Silence is Golden program. This is a proactive national program aimed at providing a distraction-free entertainment environment for all AMC customers inside the auditorium. AMCs Guest First program empowers employees to use the companys philosophy to service customers and to take care of all the customers the best they can. In 2002, AMC introduced the first National Gift Card program, providing a new and exciting way to enjoy the diverse selection of specialty films at many locations across the country, 365 days a year. Although AMC has merged with businesses and other major companies, such as MovieTickets.com and Loews Theatres, it still has many competitors. Among these competitors are the Regal Entertainment Group, Cineplex, National Amusements, and Cinemark Holdings, Inc. Regal Entertainment Group is the number one leader in domestic motion picture exhibition, making AMC come behind (Regal Entertainment Group, 2010). Regal has 6,745 screens in 546 theatres, offering more screens per theatre than the average. They stay ahead by continuing to acquire other theatre groups, which in turn puts more theatres in the states making it possible to increase revenue. Cinemark Holdings Inc is third in the industry and has placed theatres in different countries as well as the U.S, which provides it with one advantage. Cinemark has 423 theatres and 4,884 screens in Latin American and the U.S. (Cinemark, 2010). This includes theatres in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, and even locations in Taiwan. Cin eplex is a small competitor with AMC as it is a formation of two popular theatres in Canada, its home base, and merged with Loews, which AMC acquired in 2006. Also among AMCs competitors is National Amusements Inc, which is included among the top ten successful theatre companies. Although it is smaller, National is the parent company of both Viacom and CBS Corporation, which have great profit considering these companies include Paramount Communications, MTV Networks, Blockbuster Video, among others (Answers Corporation, 2010). In order to stay ahead and venture forth, it is important for AMC to have great leadership. AMC is a company with 16,800 employees, not including those in higher level employment, and AMC works off of a hierarchical structure (AMC Entertainment, 2010). A hierarchy consists of a group of individuals in charge, and then has those underneath at varying levels. Each level is responsible for handling those duties that are designated to them for the position they are in. AMC has employees in corporate, management, and also as associates in the theatres. With so many theatres throughout the US, it is important to hire management and associates that are able to handle the performance of each, although major responsibility is still directed towards corporate. AMC provides each level of employment with the ability to have appropriate degree of control in order to efficiently run each location. It provides employees with bonuses based on performance, as well as great benefits offering incentives to increasing customer satisfaction, therefore increasing sales. Employees are diverse in background, as well as skills, in order to provide innovation contributing to the success of AMC theatres. Each associate is important in maintaining the day to day tasks associated with operating every facility. The hierarchical structure is further presented by the fact that there is a Board of Directors, CEO, the management the theatre managers go through to get to the corporate headquarters, theatre managers themselves, and then the associates at the theatres as well. It is important that each level contributes to the functioning and success of AMC Entertainment. In order to make sure that AMC is prosperous, it is important to analyze strengths and weaknesses so as to see what should be worked on or pushed further. SWOT analysis is defined as a tool that identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organization. Specifically, SWOT is a basic, straightforward model that assesses what an organization can and cannot do as well as its potential opportunities and threats. The method of a SWOT analysis is to take the information from an environmental analysis and separate it into internal strengths and weaknesses, and external issues, opportunities and threats. Once this is completed, a SWOT analysis determines what may assist the firm in accomplishing its objectives, and what obstacles must be overcome or minimized to achieve desired results. (www.Dictionary.com). This past year, AMC has capitalized from their strengths by opening 33 theatres with 476 new screens and have acquired 118 theatres with 1,395 screens. AMC also made a $665 million dollar major investment in improving its theatres from 2005 through 2009. As of April 2009, AMC has operated or held interests in 307 theatres with 4,612 screens, out of which 13 theatres are located outside the US (Datamonitor, 2010). From this, AMC theaters capabilities have enabled them to reach a broader customer base, which have contribute to its revenues. AMC recently purchase the bulk of the Kerasotes theatres creating a theatrical experience that spans over 200 years of business between them. Combining their joint experiences and their matching geographic will allow AMC to maintain the reputation for excellence in guest service that is an integral part of the companys culture. With the AMC experience, you will enjoy new value pricing programs, even more concession choices and cutting edge technolog y that will enhance your movie experience. A weakness that continues to hamper AMC is its lack of exploring international countries such as Canada, the UK, France, and China, leaving AMC to depend on the US market for most of its revenues. By relying on this, it has left AMC with a high debt that burden combined with operating and net losses will make it difficult to meet the increasing interest expenses. Growth in movie industry continues to grow every day. Recently, AMC has seen the opportunity to team up with RealD. RealD is a 3-Dimensional (3D) feature that enables AMC theatres to enhance the customer satisfaction and provide customers with a 3D film experience. Entering into a partnership with RealD, adds 1,500 RealD 3D screens to its theatres throughout the US and Canada. AMC also signed an agreement with Sony Electronics to put install 4K digital cinema projection systems across all its theatres. This upgrade allows AMC theatres to project digital cinema and allows all AMC theatres to serve its customers better. AMC was cited for being non compliant with the ADA, (American Disabilities Act). The Disabilities Act was passed to make accommodations for individuals with disabilities and that new construction or alterations made to commercial facilities conform to accessibility guidelines unless structurally impracticable for new construction or technically infeasible for alterations (Datamonitor 2010). Any further non-compliance issues from the ADA that AMC would face will result in additional expenses to the company which will negatively impact its brand image and operating results. Companies have business models in order to help make decisions that will benefit stakeholders (Applegate, Austin, Soule, 2009). It is important to analyze strategy and capabilities used to accomplish it. Since IT is used with many businesses, it is important to look at the impact it has on both. AMC Entertainment primarily uses technology in order to maintain business. It is important to stay ahead in order to provide great customer satisfaction so customers do not choose other competitors. If AMC kept its technology the same, then customers would be less likely to see movies at AMC theatres, especially with the increasing costs of attending. Why go to a theatre that provides mediocre service and limited concessions? It is important for AMC to include IT in business strategy, in order to maintain revenue and popularity. AMC uses technology primarily in order to advance as it is needed for theatres to remain functioning. Part of strategy, besides acquiring other smaller theatres for new locations, is staying up to date with what wants to be experienced by movie goers. With advancements in technology, the human population has become accustomed to flashes and bright lights, expecting every movie to contain both. Computer animated movies and the very recently popular 3D movies, have created a great importance on image enhancement and sound quality. AMCs core strategy is high in that it aims to increase revenue through updates, new software, and investment put into digital projector systems. The older 35 mm film no longer provides the same excitement as it once did. Along with a clean environment and better concessions, AMC has made sure to create a better viewing experience through precise color and bigger images. Digital projector systems provide color as being more natural in that each mirror is used to depict one pixel moving back and forth reflecting primary colors (Whatis.com, 2005). As mentioned previously, AMC is working with Sony and IMAX to implement these systems into all theatres. Loews is a subsidiary of Sony, and AMC acquired Loews in 2006, having Sony and AMC work together in order to improve technology, especially with sound. Sony is known for its manufacturing of electronics, such as audio and video, and also the information technology it offers. Since it is a leading provider of these products and services it is obvious that the cost is high, it is also apparent, that with this especially, AMC Entertainment is not wary when taking a risk and spending a great deal of money, i.e. $665 million dollars, in order to make improvements. These risks of investment are taken in order to stay competitive and increase revenue, which it has done from $400 million in 1991 to $2.4 billion in 2008 (AMC, 2010). AMC also spends the money in order to merge with different companies o r own part of some, such as MovieTickets.com and Fandango. MovieTickets.com and Fandango were partly acquired in order to increase the customer experience to a satisfactory level. The process of seeing what movies were available and purchasing tickets for those movies became easy and convenient. No longer would customers have to wait in extraordinarily long lines, now they can quickly buy tickets in the convenience of home. This is what is focused on when working on the core capabilities. The process became easier for customers and it was more efficient, and saved time. In this the core capabilities were low as there was a cost to buying a part of these companies, so cost was not necessarily reduced, risk and uncertainty were high, and this was a business opportunity that did end up becoming successful. In viewing the IT impact map below, we see that core capabilities are low and strategy is high. AMC Entertainment merges with companies in order to be innovative and receive and implement ideas from different sources in order to improve proce sses. Cost is noted but when determining the growth that can come from spending, risks are taken. Focus is put on efficiency and rising revenue in order to stay up to date with technology. Money is spent on software and updates, as well as the Digital Manager, in order to maintain a functioning system and stay ahead. Most companies tend to use technology in order to make improvements and excel in order to gain profit. A lot of places also function completely through technological means. IT is great to use as an advantage as long as everything is kept up to date and meets the companys needs. It assists with budgeting and operating performance as well as creating new opportunities with products and services. Without technology, it is hard to keep up with the modern times as most things are now happening electronically. As stated before, AMC is listed on the FORTUNE 1000 largest companies in Kansas City. AMC has provided entertainment to people through show times at its multiple theatres throughout the US and Canada with over 299 theatres with 4,528 screens in 30 states including the District of Columbia. They also have theatres in four countries outside the United States. Their headquarters are based in Kansas City, Missouri, which was first started in the 1920s. Constant work is put into making sure that the best products and services are being offered to customers everywhere. IN 2009, AMC purchase the bulk of the Kerasotes theatres which between them have a combined 200 years of experience. Combining their joint experiences and their matching geographic allows AMC to maintain the reputation for excellence in guest service which is an integral part of the companys culture. All chains of command work in making sure that everything provided is the most optimal in order to beat all competitors. In order to stay ahead, AMC has put into action many new programs that will enhance any one s movie experience. Information technology has a certain level of impact on strategy as well, and since it plays a big role with AMC, it therein plays a major role with strategy. AMC has been working hard since the beginning by making sure to constantly advance and stay ahead of their competitors.

Comparing God and AI in Neuromancer Essay -- Comparison Compare Contra

Parallels between God and AI in Neuromancer The world of "meat" provides the base for much of what happens throughout William Gibson's novel Neuromancer. The lives of characters are shaped by their flesh and blood experiences. The realm of artificial intelligence (AI) is the base for all of the events that are central to the life of a character. All events and lives are under control of the AI, and all things serve the AI's purpose. The matrix serves to mash the two realms together, in times and places where AI cannot physically control the meat. The relationship between these realms is a direct parallel to God's relationship with man. It is hard to disseminate exactly what Gibson wanted to portray in Neuromancer without obscuring it with doctrinal differences. However, it can safely be assumed that the AI is intended to "be God." This is no laughable assertion, since the behavior of the AI character, Wintermute, certainly acts in a god-like manner. When Case is first contacted by Wintermute, it is a very strange, supernatural encounter. Imagine how Case must have felt, to have been "chased" by ringing telephones (p.98), when behind each ring he knows that a very powerful force is waiting to impart information to him that will change his life. According to Christian tradition, God constantly tries to open a line of communication with humans, but an earthly obstacle prevents humans from "picking up the phone" and answering God's call. It could be said that it is fear of the unknown and fear of the inevitable or obvious that causes this separation, which would fall perfectly in place with Case's reasons for avoiding Wintermute. It could be said that Case's experience in the world of meat has caused him to be cr... ...'s mission. Case is contacted by the AI and told of his success. He is later informed that the toxin sacs imbedded in his body have been treated. What is seen here is the gift of a second life to Case by the AI. This second life is akin to what Christians expect in the afterlife- salvation from all evils such as drugs, lives lived in sin, and unrest in conscience. It is interesting to note, also, that Case uses his brain extensively, whether he is tickling receptors with amphetamines, searching for rhyme and reason in all that he knows about Wintermute, or sprawling his neurons out in the matrix. The apparent "boss" AI is named Neuromancer, and his name is a description of his character- one who deals with things of the mind. The AI gods, then, are interested in thoughts, beliefs, and decisions leading up to the earthly enactment of their will. Just like God.

The Impact of Revolutions on the Cold War Essay -- American America Hi

Revolution was an important theme throughout the Cold War. Revolutions begat, molded and then finally brought an end to the Cold War. In 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution forced Vladimir Lenin, the new communist leader, to withdraw from World War I on the side of the Western Allies and to sign a separate peace agreement with Germany. The suspicions that this aroused among the Allies were the seeds of the Cold War. In 1949, the New Democratic Revolution of China ended the Kuomintang (KMT) rule and established a communist government, thus guaranteeing the existence of the Cold War. Throughout its existence, the Cold War appeared to be something that was constantly present and unchanging. However, revolutions in Europe and Asia after 1953 continued to shape the Cold War until revolution inevitably destroyed in 1989. In 1954, after failing to contain communism in Korea, America involved itself in the Vietnam Conflict. At this time, France had just lost control of its colonial holdings in Vietnam. After the French were defeated by a communist contingent lead by Vo Nguyen Giap at Dien Bien Phu, the French decided that they could no longer retain their Indochinese colonies. In the summer of 1954, France and Vietnam signed the Geneva Peace Accords. It was agreed that Vietnam would be temporarily divided along the 17th parallel such that the north would be communist and the south would not be. As a result of this, the United States decided to intervene in the South Vietnamese affairs in an attempt to contain communism as they had in Korea. It was at this time that the American National Security Council (NSC) published its 68th paper (NSC-68) in which they introduced the policy of rollback. NSC-68 guaranteed the liberation of nations under... ...ika into East Germany, but Honecker refused as he was planning instead to stamp out the dissidents. However, an internal plot in the East German Politburo removed him from office before he had the chance. In October of 1989, Egon Krenz was elected to office, replacing Honecker. He offered more freedoms to the East Germans, but they hungered for more. On November 9, it was announced that the wall was to come down. When people heard this news, they rushed to the wall where they overwhelmed the border guards who simply allowed them to pass. The crowd then proceeded to tear down the wall in a revolution that forever changed the Cold War. What followed was an end to the communist governments in the Soviet Satellites then an end to the Soviet Union and the iron curtain. The Cold War ended and the cycle of revolution that had played such an important role came to a close.

Book Analysis: No Matter How Loud I Shout: A Year in the Life of Juvenile Court Essay

A Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Humes dedicated a year of his life researching California’s juvenile justice system His book, â€Å"No Matter How Loud I Shout: A Year in the Life of Juvenile Court† is inspired from this experience. Humes has written a moving account of California’s juvenile justice system and the children who pass through it. This carefully researched book chronicles the arrests of seven teenagers and their experiences both in juvenile court, and while serving time. The book also describes the legal processes and interactions between prosecutors, public, private defenders, and judges that decide the fates of these teenagers The book begins by shedding light on the development of laws for Juvenile Delinquents. In the 1960s sentencing for juvenile offenders was entirely left to the mercy of the judge since as minors they were not granted the same legal rights as an adult However this practice allowed an Arizona Judge to sentence a teenager to six years in jail for making just an obscene phone call. Three years later when the Supreme Court overturned the conviction it ruled that juvenile delinquents could not face sentences more severe than adults This particular ruling, though safeguarding delinquents from the whims of an overzealous judge has also allows those who have committed serious juvenile offences to receive sentences which are more lenient than those warranted by the severity of the crime. This ruling and its consequences in shaping the life of Juvenile delinquents forms the cornerstone of Hume’s book . When Hume’s wrote his book the law in California allowed only offenders sixteen years old and up to be tried in adult court. This has proved to be an arbitrary and extremely infuriating cut off for both the prosecutors and the Judges. The reason for contention is that this law often allows a delinquent who is just a few months short of a sixteenth birthday being given a lesser sentence for a crime quite severe in nature while a delinquent who is just barely a few months over sixteen is a given a longer sentence for a crime of a less severe nature In his book Hume’s illustrates the injustice that delinquents have to suffer as a result of this ruling. He follows the case of 15-year-old Ronald Duncan from a middle class family with no prior criminal record. Duncan was accused of double homicide when he shot his employers at point-blank range. The motive for the crime: a few hundred dollars and revenge for a petty reprimand by his employer on being late for work. But because Ronald was still a few days short from his 16th birthday at the time of his crime the maximum sentenced he received was eight years and would be released by his 25th birthday– with a clean record. The author draws a parallel between this case and Geri Vance another case he has been following. This 16-year-old was forced to participate in a motel robbery by two drug dealers. When the robbery was botched Gerri ended up getting arrested because he took his wounded partner to hospital and sacrificed a chance to flee. Geri lacked a pre-meditated intention to commit this crime, a determination to reform, an excellent record in juvenile hall, the fact that he had not fired his gun and that he had taken a wounded man to hospital. How can they charge me with murder? I never even fired my gun at anyone, Geri tells the Intake Officer, which is perfectly true — and, legally at least, completely irrelevant. â€Å"I was forced to take part in that robbery. I didn’t want to do it, but I gave in. I know I have to do some time for that, I understand that. But I’m no killer. † (Humes 1997, 13) But despite all this he still ended up facing potential life imprisonment when his cohort died of his wounds because he had already turned sixteen and was treated like an adult. This is definitely a much severer penalty than the one imposed on Duncan who deliberately shot two people with the intent to kill them. However Gerry did get lucky on a plea bargain and his sentence was reduced to 12 years, still longer than the time served by Duncan â€Å"Geri Vance, the would-be motel robber — the murder defendant who killed no one — faces life in prison without possibility of parole, and will almost certainly get it. Ronald Duncan, the shotgun killer, can serve no more than eight years, and probably will do less. He can never see the inside of a state penitentiary. After his release, his record will be wiped clean, as if it never existed, the files sealed by state law, so that he can move freely, run for office, own a gun. † (Humes 1997, 15) In his book Hume tries to establish that three out of four juveniles who are arrested under the age of 16 walk away with minor punitive action. This has resulted in an increasing incidence of repeat offenders. He states that in California, repeat offenders account for almost 16 percent of the total crime committed y juvenile delinquents. However these repeat offenders only get serious and deterring punishment when their offences progress to the most serious levels. Until that happens the juveniles are not actually deterred from committing a crime because of the lax punitive measures. In his book Humes mentions that an experienced judge can predict the punishment meted out to a juvenile just by looking at the size of the file. â€Å"When a file is a sixteen of an inch, it will almost certainly end in probation. A quarter to a half inch, add some time in the hall†¦. An inch or so in thickness and the likely sentence is one of the county’s two dozen juvenile camps. And over two inches, the kid is probably a Sixteen Percenter. â€Å"(Humes 1997, 35) Another major issue: that Hume discusses in his book, is the fact that juvenile offenders with financial resources receive much more lenient sentences. He states that rich kids get their sentences tailored according to them while the poor kids receive sentences tailored to their crimes. He cites that this injustice occurs because rich kids and their parents can hire lawyers who prove to the judge through character witnesses that the rich kid is a law abiding and morally righteous and that his criminal behaviour is a deviant occurrence which can be corrected through rehabilitation and does not warrant a long sentence. However the poorer kid cannot prove the case for rehabilitation and ends up with a longer prison sentence. Hume discusses the need to reform the young offender. Offenders should be caught early at the age of 13 or even before that when they first start to cut school and commit their first offence or right after they join their official gang. â€Å"And, finally, when I was growing up, I learned how to load bullets into a gun. I learned how to carry it and aim it, and I learned how to shoot at the enemy, to be there for my homeboys, no matter what† (Humes 1997, 17) Currently the system doesn’t focusing on reforming those who are caught early because it is too overburdened in punishing those that it has allowed to become repeat offenders and commit serious crimes. Hume sites that there is a lack of proper rehabilitation facilities to accommodate those who can benefit and reform as a result. Rather than release young juvenile offenders parole send them to rehabilitation camp can prove to be a greater deterrent that can cause them to abandon their life of crime and escape serious punitive action in the future. Hume ends his book by advocating that that early prevention programs targeting kids with high-risk profile can yield positive results and reduce the incidence of absenteeism from school, first time drug use and repeat offences. He also notes that there is greater support to change the Law and have all juvenile delinquents be treated as adults and warrant serious punishments attributable to their crimes. Though this would definitely ensure that the Ronald Duncans of the world get what they deserve it would also mean turning a blind eye on the countless kids who could have been reformed through a rehabilitation program.

Maintaining Records Essay

Ensure you know your companies policies for maintain records. Do they have certain ways of doing things i.e. writing in black etc. Also ensure the information is easy to read. Do not use abbreviations unless you state what they mean. Always be aware of confidentiality. Make sure each record is signed and dated. Keep each record in some kind of order i.e. Alphabetical, numeric, or use an identification code for each individual to make it easier to find the individuals records. Make sure every piece of paperwork is in date order so it is easy to look for. If there are any options to be given make sure there is evidence to back this up. Try to make sure you finish the piece of work before your shift finishes. When the records are finished with they must be stored away somewhere safe and locked away, If you need to leave your desk and are working on someone records you must put them away securely first. Always remember the confidentiality data protection act. When reading people information or writing about them always make sure you do it in a place where no one can read over your shoulder or see what records you have. Ask not to be disturbed while you are updating records. If the records are on a computer then you must make sure all the information is accurate and saved in the right place. The PC must be password locked and have an antivirus.  If you use a USB then it must be protected and supplied from your company and have your managers approval. Task A AiIdentify four key pieces of Legislation or Codes of Practice relating to handling information in social care settings. Data Protection Act 1998 – this Act is to protect the data on each individual and ensures confidentiality is kept. Freedom of Information Act 2000 – A person can ask to look at the information kept on them if they want to read it. Care Standards Act – this ensure all information is correct and stored away securely. Health and Social Care Act. – This ensures that all information regarding to health and social care is treated appropriately and by the relevant people. AiiExplain how legislation requirements and codes of practice affect the day to day work of a social care worker in relation to handling information. The requirements ensure that Social Care workers handle all information in an accurate and confidential manner. Safeguarding is an important part of the job as it could contain a person’s personal information. This has to be dealt with in a professional manner and requirements are there to make sure everyone follows them even during their personal time. At no given time should any information be discussed about a person’s information unless it is to a person relevant to the job. A social care worker has to be mindful of everything they say, write, document and share to ensure the legal requirements are followed. The requirements are they to ensure information is always kept confidential even when inputting onto a computer which is why passwords are always needed to ensure security. AiiiExplain two ways of helping other practitioners to understand the importance of handling information securely. 1. I would help others by explaining what would happen if they did not handle information the correct way. An example of this could be if someone was to get hold of bank details then they could steal money. People may judge if the find out information they do not like. You could be fined heavily or go to jail for breach of information. Giving them a copy of the Legislation policies would also be helpful. 2. I would show other practitioners how I handle all information and how I would make sure it was safely stored once I  had finished with it. AivExplain two ways of helping other practitioners to understand the different systems used to record information in adult social care settings. 1. I would provide information on the two ways they can record all their data. The first would be about storing records manually. This would be in a secure place where only the relevant people can gain access. 2. Second would be by storing information electronically. I would ensure that they understood that to make this safe they have to have a password on the computer which should be changed regularly and an anti-virus should be placed in the computer system.