Analyzing Violence and Crime in USA - 1357 Words

Introduction The evolution of humanity has been marred with much violence and turmoil. In America, the roots of the country were established in a very bloody manner and seemingly resonates in todays world as violence permeates the national landscape. The purpose of this essay is to investigate the causes of violence in America and look specifically at the youth of this country and the effects that are produced because of their behavior. Essentially, this essay will try to communicate how the proliferation of violence committed by American youth demonstrates tight connections among culture, media, and capitalism creating unique circumstances that result in excessive violence and rage relative to other youth around the world. This essay will first introduce the subject of juvenile crime and youth violence and indentify similarities to these situations around the world. Next, this essay will explore the idea and role of capitalism and hot it contributes to the problem. Finally, this wri ting will discuss the medias role within this complex situation and how it affects the circumstances revolving around this particular problem. Juvenile Crime and Youth Violence Juvenile crime is not new. Juveniles have committed crimes for as long as human history has endured. This trend is not specific to anywhere in the world either. In most, if not all, countries, there is a separate criminal justice system and practice specifically designed and designated for juvenile offenders.Show MoreRelatedHow Gun Violence Is Viewed By Society Essay1644 Words   |  7 PagesHow Gun Violence is Viewed by Society †¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The relevance of gun violence has†¯been on the rise today and often one cannot walk away from the news without hearing a story related to gun violence either being covered or displayed on the news ticker scrolling through the screen. This paper will analyze three sources: an article written by Dov Cohen, titled â€Å"Culture, Social Organization, and Patterns of Violence,†on the trends of violence based on location, a Ted Talk given by Dan Gross, titled â€Å"Why GunRead MoreZero Tolerance Policy Review On The Us Education System1519 Words   |  7 PagesZero Tolerance Policy Review in the US Education System Over the past two decades the US schools have faced serious occurrences of violence. Accordingly, the prevention of school disruption and violence has evolved into an essential and crucial consideration. Beyond the avoidance of toxic violence, it is commonly agreed that on one hand teachers are not able to teach and on the other hand students are not able to learn in an educational institution portrayed by disturbance. A national survey conductedRead More Is the Death Penalty Ethical? Essay1235 Words   |  5 Pagesreducing crime? It is interesting not only to see different opinions but to see data that supports and complements those opinions. Searching for information I came across three different arguments concerning the topic of the death penalty and its ability to reduce crime ethically. The first argument was made by two men John J. Donohue and Justin Wolfers. Their argument is that we can be sure that the death penalty does not cause or eliminate large numbers of homicides or other sort’s of violence makingRead MoreDoes Capital Punishment Deter Crime? Essay939 Words   |  4 PagesDoes Capital Punishment Deter Crime? Ahmed Salman Argosy University July, 10, 2015 Introduction Capital punishment or death penalty is punishing by death. Crimes that can attract capital punishment are called capital crimes or offenses. In most countries, capital crimes include murder, robbery with violence, and treason (Doyle 2007). At the moment, there are thirty six countries in the world that practice the death penalty. More than 100 countries have abolished the dead penaltyRead MoreBodega Dreams by Ernesto Quià ±onez898 Words   |  4 PagesThis world isn’t quite big enough for all the hate it contains, that’s why our world is full of violence, crime, protests, and war. Racism is an ugly thing, it’s an ugly trait to hold especially when people tend to do it so proudly. It’s a trait that people should be ashamed of, it’s a trait that is as ignorant as it is thoughtless, and it’s a trait that is imposed every day, even in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. In the story Bodega Dreams it deals with bla tant racism andRead MoreThe War on Drugs: a Losing Battle?1626 Words   |  7 Pagesamount of the charge. This all shows that the war on drugs is not worth the fight, nor the tax payers money. First, the war on drugs harms many innocent people. A story that shows how this war does more harm than good is best told in an article from USA Today written by Chris Hawley: Morelia Mexico. Angelica Bucio knows firsthand the mounting problems of President Felipe Calderon’s nationwide war on drugs. She was among the thousands of of revolters packed into this colonial city to celebrate MexicanRead MoreGun Control And The United States Of America Essay1845 Words   |  8 Pagesbeing the solution to reducing gun violence, or a complete violation to their Second Amendment. For an issue like gun control, that could possibly impact an entire nation, partiality becomes easily entangled in discussions that surround the topic. News sources inside the United States, such as The New York Times, as well as certain foreign news sources, such as Al Jazeera, employs data to support a particular position, rather than personal opinion. When analyzing certain sources from foreign countriesRe ad MoreMarriage Argumentative Essay1631 Words   |  7 Pagesparents are less likely to be physically abused and 55 percent are less likely to be subjected to child abuse in the USA. This is because children raised in a traditional environment are more secure, leading them to be more prosperous, happy and healthy. These children perform better in schools and colleges. Moreover, they display more stable personalities, keeping away from crime as compared to children raised by a single parent. Furthermore, they do not abuse drugs and alcohol. Similarly, men andRead MoreCrime And Crime Prevention Programs2354 Words   |  10 Pagesand order. However, criminal activities can be mitigated. The history of crime is as old as the beginning of life itself. In every generation of time, we learn of people who engaged in crimes against the law and who were punished in accordance to law of the lands in which they lived. Today, methods of mitigating crime have greatly improved, so has the meth ods of committing crime. It’s a delicate game. The reception of crime prevention programs has however been on the rise and people are beginningRead MoreUnited Nations High Commissioner For Refugees2020 Words   |  9 Pagestheir life in the USA. Most of them are refugees who are fleeing persecution and fear. Some immigrants join here for better life and seeking a good opportunity. Yearly around 75,000-80,000 people enter and want to settle In the USA (UNHCR, 2016). Their personal and familiar background or history is quite different when they entered the USA. There a lot of host communities who have been welcoming refugees bringing a new concept of community integration program. To settle in the USA is not easier at

The Tragedy Of Oedipus The King - 1365 Words

Although Sophocles’ Oedipus the King seems to be a play merely focused on the tragedy that is the tale of Oedipus, it is actually a commentary on defying the gods for the reason that one is blindly believing in supernatural entities and allowing those entities to govern one’s fate. The tragedy of Oedipus the King revolves around a king’s downfall as he tries to save his people from utter destruction. His curiosity and drive to save his city brings him to the realization that not only has his entire life been a lie, but that he is ultimately what is bringing the city to ruin. The reader learns that this is due to his empire essentially being built on the fulfillment of a terrible prophecy in which he commits patricide and copulates with his†¦show more content†¦I can’t accept him, can’t deny him, don’t know what to say, I’m lost, and the wings of dark foreboding beating-- I cannot see what’s to come, what’s still to come†¦(550-540) Using imagery of a bird and it’s dark heavy wings, Sophocles alludes to the fear of being uncertain about the existence of gods. The words dark and foreboding play into the overall vagueness of the concept of supernatural beings. One only knows what an oracle or prophet decides to tell them because again they loom over mortals. Oedipus: ...why look to the Prophet’s hearth, the fires of the future? Why scan the birds that scream above our heads? They winged me on to the murder of my father, did they? That was my doom? (1054-57) Oedipus is the epitome of the Athenian opinion and even atheism/agnosticism as he constantly patronizes believers of the gods. Instead of saying that they ensnared him to kill his father, he uses wordplay to also insinuate that Oedipus blames his misfortune on the gods and not himself, and for this reason he dismisses them. He is alluding to the gods ruling on Olympus while they toy with human’s lives. Oedipus’ irrationality is what leads him to attempt to take control akin to the Athenians of the time. Subsequently, the topic of fate versus freewill arises as Oedipus tried to take control of his narrative. Sophocles writes fate and freewill in a way that makes them coexist in a paradoxical manner. OedipusShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of Oedipus The King977 Words   |  4 PagesThe Greek drama â€Å"Oedipus The King† evidently leads to the unveiling of a tragedy. Oedipus, the protagonist of the play uncovers his tragic birth story and the curse he had been baring his whole life. Oedipus is notorious for his personal insight that helped him defeat Sphinx, which lead him to becoming the king of Thebes. He is admired by the people of Thebes and is considered to be a mature, inelegant and a rational leader. From his birth, his story began with a prophecy that Oedipus would grow upRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Oedipus Oedipus The King 1974 Words   |  8 Pages1/26/16 Thesis: Despite the fact that Oedipus sentenced himself to be exiled and put other people to shame, Oedipus should have pursued the truth about his destructive past regardless. He had to fulfill his duty as king to save his people from the plague, and he ultimately had no choice but to accept his own fate. Sub-claim- Oedipus should not have pursued the truth ( PART OF INTRO )Destructive past ( it was fate) Prophecy Killed man Events out of control Oedipus should not have put other peopleRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Sophocles Oedipus The King )1044 Words   |  5 PagesThe Forgotten Ones (Describe the Significance of the Chorus in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King) Oedipus the King is a famous play written by the renowned author Sophocles and first acted out back in 429 BC. It is the second of three plays written by Sophocles that dealt with Oedipus; the first one being Oedipus at Colonus and the last one being Antigone. This play relates the story of Oedipus, a man who becomes King of Thebes while unwittingly fulfilling an old prophecy that said that he would killRead MoreOedipus The King : A Classical Tragedy1272 Words   |  6 PagesSophocles’ Oedipus the King is a classical tragedy that derives its meaning through the experiences of its tragic hero, Oedipus. Throughout the play, the eminent characteristic of Oedipus is his ignorance of the truth that inevitably leads to his downfall. This ignorance of truth is a characteristic found within the Aristotelian definition of a tragedy. Tragedy, as defined by Aristotle in his Poetics, are imitations of actions and are not narrative. This means that tragedies are often demonstratedRead Mo reOedipus the King as a Tragedy Essay539 Words   |  3 Pages Many things can describe a tragedy. However, according to definition of a tragedy by Aristotle, there are only five. The play has to have a tragic hero, preferably of noble stature. Second, the tragic hero must have a tragic flaw. Because of that flaw, the hero falls from either power or death. Due to the fall, the tragic hero discovers something. Finally, there must be catharsis in the minds of the audience. Oedipus Rex qualifies as a tragedy. It fits all the characteristics as definedRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Sophocles Oedipus The King Essay1490 Words   |  6 PagesSophocles’ â€Å"Oedipus the King,† successfully demonstrates Aristotle’s definition of tragedy. According to Aristotle â€Å"tragedy† is vastly different from what one would likely describe if requested in modern times. It is common today to hear one speak of a tragic vehicular crash, but what is being spoken of as a tragedy, is an accident, not a tragedy. Thus, it is important to understand what Aristotle thought when he spoke of a â€Å"tragedy.† Based on Aristotle, POETICS, CHAPTER VI, The tragedy is an imitationRead MoreThe Greek Tragedy of Oedipus the King 971 Words   |  4 PagesA Greek tragedy is one with a tragic outcome that is an inevitable result of the key characters personal flaws. It is a calamity he or she was destined to. However, is it possible that a hero’s laudable qualities could lead to his or her catastrophic fate? Oedipus demonstrates several admirable qualities that are portrayed throughout Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Compassion, diligence, and justness are three qualities that contribute to the internal struggles that Oedipus faces resulting in hisRead MoreOedipus The King : A Master Of Tragedy889 Words   |  4 PagesSophocles were well-known as a master of tragedy. Sophocles was born at Colonus, not far from Athens. Sophocles wrote over 100 different dramatic stories. â€Å"Oedipus the King† is one of his great stories that has a mix of heroics to it and yet, we feel sorry for Oedipus and his fate that was handed to him. We ask ourselves after reading â€Å"Oedipus the King† who was this man and why did he think he could run from his destiny of fate. Was Oedipus responsible for his final fate and could he have changedRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Oedipus The King By Sophocles2776 Words   |  12 Pagesthem with. In the tragedy, Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus’ fate starts with a prophecy. No matter how much Oedipus tries to do the â€Å"right† thing, the prophecy comes to term. It is argument-able that Oedipus was led to his tragic ending by fate. It is also possible that his tragic ending was brought open by his own actions. The idea of fate and free will both played an important role in Oedipus’ downfall. Even though he was a victim of fate. It did not control him. Oedipus was destined to killRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Oedipus The King2114 Words   |  9 PagesSophocles’ play Oedipus The King is the second tragic drama in his series of The Three Theban Plays and follows the events of misery of protagonist Oedipus, the new king of Thebes, after he killed his father and marries his mother without having a sense of awareness of their true identities in relation to him. The true downfall of the king of Thebes begins, however, at the point when he does eventually realize what deeds he has done and decides to punish himself by self-mutilating and blinding himself

International Business and Comparative Strategies Theories

Question: Discuss about the International Business and Comparative Strategies Theories. Answer: Introduction This section of the study deals with the existing theories and models of international business. The section is divided into three parts. In the first part, the discussion has been carried on the competitive strategies taken by the companies for international business. In the second part, the evaluation is made on different international business models and in the third part, the discussion made on the key factors and theories of international business and management. Literature on Best International Business and Competitive Strategy Competitive advantage, in the context of the business framework, helps a business to sustain in the competitive market (Dunning, 2015). The competitive advantage in the international context not only creates a sustainable position for the business organization, rather the business organization gains a relatively attractive position in the market. According to Beamish and Lupton (2016), in the international business context there are two generic approaches to competitive advantage. The approaches are generic approaches, but fundamentally, these two approaches are very different from each other. The two approaches are the cost strategy and the differentiation competitive strategy. According to this particular thesis, if one wants to combine both the thesis then they could not do that. Combining both these strategies is impossible. If the business organization or the firm adopts the cost strategy then, the firm has to make sure that they retain certain standard for the product that is being produced by the organization (Grant, 2016). The organizations adopting the differentiation strategy at times find it difficult to maintain a low and at the same time, find it difficult to compete with other firms, who are producing standardize goods. The changes that have been there in the international business market are rapid changes and the changes are taking place, much after Porter has come up with his theory (Meyer Peng, 2016). The recent studies on the competitive strategy, reveals the fact that there should be a combination of both the strategy. According to the recent studies, combing both the approaches is not at all impossible, but rather it is feasible. If both these approaches can be combined together then the business organization could easily survive and sustain in the complex and the competitive market. The combination of both the strategy is referred as the hybrid strategy and it is opposed to the pure strategy that was propounded by Porter (Cantwell, 2015). According to the recent studies that have been conducted the hybrid strategy, address the needs of the customer in a better way. According to researchers, the hybrid strategy not only addresses the needs of the customer in a better rather to be more precise it addresses the needs of the customers in appropriate way. According to the present studies if organizations are adopting the hybrid strategies, then one should have this fact in their mind that this particular strategy is difficult to imitate. In case of the organizations operating in the foreign markets, the organizations have to be very careful about choosing the competitive strategy (Fleisher Bensoussan, 2015). The competitive strategy that they will choose could be treated as a vehicle that will help the organization gain a position in the international business market. The strategy that the company will choose will help the organization to gain financial return from the competitive market at the same time. Therefore, in the international market, choosing the competitive strategy is very important and the organizations have to be very careful while choosing it. Review Industry Best Practice Models Where Available In the present business world, the best way of business expansion is involving in international business (Zander, McDougall-Covin Rose, 2015). Most of the large business organizations in different countries are applying different models of international business in order to expand the business at the international level. The most popular models of international business and management are as under: Franchising Joint venture Merger and acquisition Turnkey All of the models of international business are very effective in current business scenario. All of the models are discussed below: Franchising: This model of international business is very common and old model. This particular model originated in North America and became very popular for rapid expansion of market or business. This particular business model is very much effective for the businesses, which deal with the products or services that can be transfer easily. According to Morschett, Schramm-Klein and Zentes (2015), franchising is such a business technique in which the franchisor (who is the actual owner of the business and has trademark on the products or service) allows the franchisee (who operates the business in the other country or place on behalf of the franchisor) to distribute and sale the products of the franchisor by using the trademark. Grber and Petersen (2016) noted that the success of the franchising business model depends on the efficiency and success of the franchisee because franchisee is the person, who directly deals with the business in the foreign countries. Buckley (2016) mentioned that many giant business organizations especially from the fast food industry opted for this particular business model for expanding the business in the international market. For example, McDonalds has expanded its business in different foreign countries by adopting the franchising model. In the same way, Starbucks has also expanded its business in different countries. Joint Venture: Joint venture is another common international business model adopted by different business entities. In the words of Jackson and Srensen (2016), joint venture is a business model, in which two or more investors enjoy the business ownership as well as control over the business operations. Tallman and Pedersen (2016) stated that the major advantage of this particular business model is sharing of the business risk. As there are two or more business ownerships, the risks are also shared by both of the owners. At the same time, the model also helps to achieve the financial strengths of the organization. However, Chaney (2016) commented that the owners of the business do not have direct control over the management of the business and sometimes it becomes very difficult to recover the capital from the business. On the other side, Buckley (2016) stated that there are many companies, which have achieved tremendous success by adopting the joint venture business model. For example, virgin mobile expanded its business in India by involving in joint venture with Tata Teleservices. Another most popular joint venture happened between Sony and Ericsson, through which both the companies expanded the mobile communication business in different countries. Merger and acquisition: In this particular business model, two business organization merge together to gain some market and operational advantages in the business. Mellahi and Frynas (2015) believed that merger and acquisitions is the strongest model of business expansion or globalization. This business model was very popular from 1980 to 2000. Radebaugh, Sullivan and Daniels (2015) mentioned that the companies can minimize their risks by adopting the merger acquisition business model. At the same time, Coviello (2015) opined that companies can enhance the market power by applying merger and acquisition business model. For example, Facebook has increased its market coverage and power by acquiring Whatsapp. Similarly, Microsoft and Nokia merged together to gain competitive advantage in the international market. Turnkey: Turnkey is also very common model of international business. Chaney (2016) mentioned that turnkey is such a business model in which the business is in such a condition that allows immediate action or operation of the business. Grant (2016) stated that turnkey business model is generally adopted by the real estate business organizations. For example, MB Haynes has adopted the turnkey business model in order to reach its business expansion to the higher extent. Therefore, from the above discussion it can be said that there are different effective international business models that helped the business organizations to strengthen their market grip. Most of the big business organizations have adopted these four international business models. There are some negative points in the business models. However, the advantages are more, which have made the models more profitable for the companies. Conceptual Model of the Key factors or Theories The above discussion has cleared out that the concept and models of international business have several advantages that help the companies to improve and enhance their market positions. However, Cantwell (2015) argued that the effectiveness of the international business models is largely dependent on the two types of factors internal factors and external factors. The key factors of international business are discussed below: Internal factors: There are different internal factors that affect the performance of an international business organization. The factors are business location, product or service quality, price of the products or services, types and quality of labour and land (Fleisher Bensoussan, 2015). If the company expand its business in such a location where demand for its product is less, no business model will be effective. In the same way, if the quality of the product and services is low and price is high, then the customers will never agree to purchase the product or service. The implementation of the business model depends on the effectiveness or quality of the labourer (Morschett, Schramm-Klein Zentes, 2015). If the labourers are unskilled or less knowledgeable, then the business models cannot be implemented successfully. External factors: The external factors that affect the international business or the companies are political situation, social condition, technological advancement, economic situation and legal boundaries. In order to expand a business in the foreign country, it is very important that the foreign is politically stable. At the same time, is the legal boundaries are less then it becomes easier to expand the business in the international market. For example, after passing the FDI policies and regulations, many companies in USA and UK have expanded their business in India (Dunning, 2015). On the other side, technological advancement influences the international business. If a country is technologically advanced then more business organizations become interested to expand their business in that country (Mellahi Frynas, 2015). For example, Tata Motors merged with Jaguar Landover in order to expand its business in technologically advanced country that is UK. Apart from these factors, the international business of the companies also depends on the economic and social conditions of the countries. If the economic condition is stable and there is growth in the economy of a country, then it is profitable to expand the business in that country (Coviello, 2015). On the other side, while expanding the business in some foreign country, it is essential to identify whether the products and services of the company matches with the social culture of the country or not. For example, Standard Chartered changed some of its policies related to the interests on the deposit or investment, when it expanded its business in Pakistan because as per Islamic banking, interest is prohibited (Cantwell, 2015). However, in order to operate the international business properly, the business organizations have followed some theories of international business and management. Some of these theories are absolute advantage theory and comparative advantage theory. Absolute advantage theory was developed by Adam Smith in the year 1976 and this theory suggests that a company or country gets involved in the international business only when it gains absolute advantage in production (Grber Petersen, 2016). However, as per the comparative advantage theory, a company takes part in international business if it gains comparatively higher advantage in production (Meyer Peng, 2016). Therefore, the theories provide the idea of how and when the international business should be done by the companies. Summary In this study, it has been identified that international business is one of the lucrative way to expand the business. The study has determined that in order to sustain in the competitive market, the business firms adopt the competitive strategies. On the other side, it has also been found out that there are several business models for international business and management. The business models are franchising, joint venture, merger and acquisition and turnkey. At the same time, the international business of a company also depends on various internal and external factors. Along with that, there are some theories that help the companies to conduct the international business successfully. Reference list: Beamish, P. W., Lupton, N. C. (2016). Cooperative strategies in international business and management: Reflections on the past 50 years and future directions.Journal of World Business,51(1), 163-175. Buckley, P. J. (2016). The contribution of internalisation theory to international business: New realities and unanswered questions.Journal of World Business,51(1), 74-82. Cantwell, J. (2015). An introduction to the eclectic paradigm as a meta-framework for the cross-disciplinary analysis of international business. InThe Eclectic Paradigm(pp. 1-22). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Chaney, T. (2016). Networks in international trade. InThe Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Networks. Coviello, N. (2015). Re-thinking research on born globals.Journal of International Business Studies,46(1), 17-26. Dunning, J. H. (2015). Reappraising the eclectic paradigm in an age of alliance capitalism. InThe Eclectic Paradigm(pp. 111-142). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Fleisher, C. S., Bensoussan, B. E. (2015).Business and competitive analysis: effective application of new and classic methods. FT Press. Grber, L., Petersen, B. (2016). International Business Theories (October 2012) Faculty.world. Grant, R. M. (2016).Contemporary strategy analysis: Text and cases edition. John Wiley Sons. Jackson, R., Srensen, G. (2016).Introduction to international relations: theories and approaches. Oxford University Press. Mellahi, K., Frynas, G. (2015).Global strategic management. Oxford University Press. Meyer, K., Peng, M. (2016).International business. Cengage Learning. Morschett, D., Schramm-Klein, H., Zentes, J. (2015).Strategic international management. Springer. Radebaugh, L. H., Sullivan, D. P., Daniels, J. D. (2015).International business: Environments and operations. Pearson Education. Tallman, S., Pedersen, T. (2016). 31. Publishing in top international business and management journals.How to get Published in the Best Management Journals, 262. Zander, I., McDougall-Covin, P., Rose, E. L. (2015). Born globals and international business: Evolution of a field of research.Journal of International Business Studies,46(1), 27-35.

Underachievers Essays - Educational Psychology,

Underachievers This paper addresses the issue of how a negative self concept can effect achievement of gifted students. it specifically focuses on the effect of academic achievement, discusses what it means to be both an underachiever and have a negative self concept, how to identify these students and what family and teachers can do about this. PAPER Many academically gifted children underachieve in school classrooms as a result of the fact that they do not know how to achieve higher a or they feel they cannot achieve a task that they are expected to be able to but find it too difficult. Underachievement is a pervasive problem which results in a tremendous waste of human potential among our most able students. In fact, in 1972 the U.S. Commissioner of Education estimated that 17.6% of gifted ( both academically and non-academically) students drop out of high school, and that percentage is probably even higher today. (Schnieder, 1997) and to add a New Zealand perspective, Moltzen (in McAlpine and Moltzen, 1996) suggest that 10-20% of students who do not graduate are gifted. These students hold a negative self concept of themselves as they have not received the support necessary to be able to work and achieve at their own level. There are many different contributing factors to the establishing of self concepts and how they effect gifted children. . This paper addresses how gifted children form negative self concepts of themselves and how can effect their achievement in an academic school setting. First it is necessary to provide the background knowledge and the definitions on areas that are to be discussed. For the purpose of this paper the definition of self concept is a persons view of self, in relation to their perception of feed back from others. This view occurs in both academic and non-academic areas. (Fox, 1993 in Rawlinson, 1996) To specifically focus on the academic area of self concepts which is being addressed in this paper , an academic self concept is a relatively stable set of attitudes and feelings reflecting self evaluation of ones ability to successfully perform basic school related tasks such as reading, writing, spelling and maths. (Boersma & Chapman,1992 in Rawlinson, 1996) Self concepts tend to be domain specific, meaning that pupils have different self concepts towards different areas of the curriculum (Schunk,1990) but to avoid complications throughout this paper all academic subjects will all be inclusive with each other. The definition of underachievement is not as straight forward as that of self concept as many people have different ideas on what it means to underachieve. Wellington and Wellington (1965) suggest that under achievers have a low level of aspiration. In its simplest form it can be defined as a unfulfilled potential (Moltzen in McAlpine and Moltzen, 1996) but neither of these definitions provide much capture the essence of underachievement in gifted children as they do not provide enough detail as to the difference between what they are achieving and what they could achieve. The definition of the purpose of this assignment is provided by Davis and Rimm( 1994 in Moltzen, 1996) who define underachievement as a discrepancy between the Childs school performance and some index of his or her actual ability such as intelligence, achievement, or creativity score or observational data. Because a gifted student underachieves it does not mean that they are failing in the school system. Gifted students are generally capable of performing at least two levels ahead of their age peers. If they are not identified as being gifted, they are seldom challenged to perform in accord with their potential. In fact, these capable students may be considered underachievers even when they get"good" grades.( Schneider, 1997) All children are natural learners and begin life with a drive to acquire knowledge, understand it and make use of it according to their abilities. Children do not begin school with the intention of seeking failure or frustrating their teachers. (Schnieder, 1997) And gifted children definitely do not go out to seek failure. How pupils use this newly found information that they have learnt and how teachers react to how they use this information or how well they achieve, contributes to the forming of self concepts. An individuals self concept is formed as a result of interactions and experiences with others and is learned and acquired over time. (Rawlinson, 1996) In reinforcement to the idea that self concepts are learned, Scheirer & Kraut (1979) suggest with specific reference to academia that a self concept is a product of interactive outcomes with ones academic environment with

Othellos Sad Misreading essays

Othellos Sad Misreading essays There are many interpretations of William Shakespeares play Othello. Many see him as a victim and many see him as a jealous fool. Both of these assertions are true. However, when Othello speaks at the end of the play, we find it difficult to believe he loved well. Othello reads himself incorrectly here. Interestingly, the truth allows him to see something that does not exist. He did not love wisely or well because he acted like a fool throughout the entire play. The goodness of Othellos nature is only reflected upon by others early in the play, but unfortunately, we never get to see any of that goodness. Instead, we are confronted with a very jealous man that is not capable of seeing any good characteristics in his wife once a bad thought is planted in his mind. He was a fool for love in the absolute worst way. Othellos first mistake is choosing to believe Iago over his wife. We see the worst side of his character when he dismisses Desdemona at every turn. Othello is short on faith. Sadly, he never gives her an opportunity to defend herself. Instead of communicating with her, he decides to obsess about everything, which only compounds the situation. The obsession feeds the jealousy and vice versa. He cannot let go of the thought of a cheating wife and allows his mind to consider murder. We know that he is too far gone when he contemplates this act because he thinks it might actually be good for him to do so. For a man that claims to give his wife all the love in the world, Othello truly misses the mark with her. Had Othello moved toward his wife instead of away from her, we might have seen an example of one of Shakespeares strongest couples. While it pains us to admit that Iago is correct, we must agree with him in that Othello can be led by th nose/As asses are. (Shakespeare I.ii i.395-6). This characteristic makes Othello naive, not wise. Had Othello been wise, he would have be...

Understanding Uniform Probability

Understanding Uniform Probability A discrete uniform probability distribution is one in which all elementary events in the sample space have an equal opportunity of occurring. As a result, for a finite sample space of size n, the probability of an elementary event occurring is 1/n. Uniform distributions are very common for initial studies of probability. The histogram of this distribution will look rectangular in shape. Examples One well-known example of a uniform probability distribution is found when rolling a standard die. If we assume that the die is fair, then each of the sides numbered one through six has an equal probability of being rolled. There are six possibilities, and so the probability that a two is rolled is 1/6. Likewise, the probability that a three is rolled is also 1/6. Another common example is a fair coin. Each side of the coin, heads or tails, has an equal probability of landing up. Thus the probability of a head is 1/2, and the probability of a tail is also 1/2. If we remove the assumption that the dice we are working with are fair, then the probability distribution is no longer uniform. A loaded die favors one number over the others, and so it would be more likely to show this number than the other five. If there is any question, repeated experiments would help us to determine if the dice we are using are really fair and if we can assume uniformity. Assumption of Uniform Many times, for real-world scenarios, it is practical to assume that we are working with a uniform distribution, even though that may not actually be the case. We should exercise caution when doing this. Such an assumption should be verified by some empirical evidence, and we should clearly state that we are making an assumption of a uniform distribution. For a prime example of this, consider birthdays. Studies have shown that birthdays are not spread uniformly throughout the year. Due to a variety of factors, some dates have more people born on them than others. However, the differences in popularity of birthdays are negligible enough that for most applications, such as the birthday problem, it is safe to assume that all birthdays (with the exception of leap day) are equally likely to occur.

Social and Environmental Reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social and Environmental Reporting - Essay Example This support from the various stakeholders is essential for the company in order to ensure that business continues to exist. Stakeholders of the company are varied – they are investors, lenders, creditors, employees, managers, the environment in which the company operates, government, general public and local community. The co-operation between the multiple stakeholders is essential condition for any company to reach excellence. Stakeholders have a direct effect on the decision of the management. Even if all stakeholders are on board but the local community is against a particular project of the company; productivity is likely to be effected as local community will influence government and the employees. Companies can no longer function in isolation. Their activities are likely to have an impact on various stakeholders and it becomes their duty to keep them informed. (Idowu, 2010) Legitimacy Theory Any organisation operates in a social environment which has certain values whic h are acceptable and certain others which are not. Every company seeks to establish congruence between the accepted social norms and the social values associated with the company or implied by their activities. (Rizk, 2010) When there is a disparity between the two; protests are likely to take place and this will be a threat to the organisational legitimacy. Every company likes to gain legitimacy among its stakeholders by performing one of the following activities – Educate public about its activities and the change in them Change the perception of public about the company Manipulate the perception by deflecting attention on to something else Change expectations of performance among the stakeholders. Benefit to the Business of SER – Strengthens the relation of the company with stakeholders Self regulation by the company reduces litigations and government interventions Identifies the risk associated with a business move and reduces the risks Improves profitability of th e company in long run Attracts positive PR for the company (Higgins, 2010) A company which is seen in positive light also attracts a lot of investment. Gives the company competitive advantage. Analysis of Rolls Royce according to Stakeholder Theory Rolls Royce operates in three basic areas – aviation, marine and energy. The main problem that various stakeholders can have in these areas is the pollution caused by the company. The company’s report recognises this problem and also states the various measures that they have taken or are proposing to take in order to mitigate the environmental concerns associated with the company’s operations. The company has mentioned three basic challenges in the sectors and has also come out with solution to the challenges – The Trent XWB engine which is being developed by the company will increase fuel efficiency in the aviation sector by about 16% and thus reduce the carbon foot print of the company. (Rolls-royce.com, 201 0) The Bergen mean burn gas engine emits almost no sulphur and reduces the nitrogen and carbon content in the atmosphere by 90 % and 20% respectively. This step is aimed at telling the stakeholders about the environmental friendly operations of the company in the marine sector (Rolls-royce.com, 2010). In the energy sector ; the company has developed gas turbines which will operate on either dry or

Linguistics and Media Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Linguistics and Media - Term Paper Example It is the short form or ellipsis of a word or phrase. It is also called initialisms: using the initials of the words and compressing it into short form, such as in the word LOL taking L from ‘laughing’, O from ‘out’, and L from ‘loud’. 2. Abbreviations: 1. f2t? : free to talk 2. cul8r: see you later 3. Ruok? = Are you ok? 4. Xlnt! = excellent 5. 2day: today 6. B4: before 7. thN: then/than The word formation process used here is pseudo-acronym. These appear as acronym or abbreviation but they actually are not and they do not stand for anything. They are used because, when pronounced as intended, they resemble the sounds of other words. They are words or initials used to give the sound of an entire word or phrase. Such as the words given above: Before = b4. B. Frames: In the excerpt, the main structuring frame is the semantic frame, it is a coherent structure of concepts; a word, idea or a concept cannot give meaning unless all elements of the str ucture are present (Gelbukh 307-312). The extract is a pep talk, an encouraging speech that motivates the people and congratulates them on choosing the right option for themselves and their country. The major points of the passage were conveyed in empathic tones, choosing to use ‘we’ rather than ‘I’, it emphasizes the importance of the people and that only by standing together they can overcome obstacles. It constructs a mental state of unity and importance in listeners Attributes and values of the frame: 1. Attributes: The attributes in this frame is the victory that is being celebrated which brings with it a lot of challenges also. 2. Values: The individual instantiation is the phrase â€Å"I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight† - it represents the individual symbolization of the attribute: the victory that comes with challenges, that the individual is hopeful that they can be solved C. Metaphors: A conceptual metaphor refers to understa nding one idea or concept with the help of another idea. An idea or thought is explained in terms of another, they are a way of communication and shape our way of thinking and acting. Conceptual metaphors have become a regular part of our communication. The American public is hungry for a national policy that is coherent and cohesive: The conceptual metaphor in this sentence is â€Å"hungry for† which shows want and need of the American Public and the extent and depth of their need. This expresses the ferocity of their need so that the reader has an acute idea of the profundity of their wish. Last week I was depressed, my spirits sank and I was really low. But my best friend has cheered me up since, and I am feeling up now: The cognitive or conceptual metaphor in this sentence is â€Å"spirits sank and I was really low. I am feeling up now† it is trying to express emotions in terms of directionality. The term low refers to being down, less, dejected, morose, depressed etc.; sank also assumes the same meanings. It shows the direction of his emotions that they are low or have sunk, meaning he is very depressed. Opposing low is up; which has a positive meaning or perception in the human mind, up depicts a state of growth, happiness, acceleration, betterment etc. so saying that I am up now means that I am feeling better or happier now. We launched this campaign not far from here on a beautiful June day. It has been an extraordinary journey. The metaphor is â€Å"it has been an extraordinary journey†; journey is a source domain in this sentence, the word from which we draw the

Internet gambling Essay Example for Free

Internet gambling Essay Gambling online is growing exponentially, without the protection of reliable regulatory structures that ensure age and identity verification, the integrity/fairness of the games, or that responsible gaming features are included on a site. In a poorly regulated Internet environment, this study investigates gambling on twenty online sites. Content analysis was utilised to evaluate whether the sample displayed responsible gambling features. In the absence of established, agreed, regulatory evaluation criteria, the researchers constructed their own, based on examples of good practice on available websites and following the recommendations of the Gambling Review Report 2001 and the Gambling Act 2005. The primary findings suggest that most online gambling sites are responsible and most show elements of good practice, which is of interest given the unregulated environment and absence of policing. While some features are derived from conventional gambling policies and regulatory influences, some are unique to the special ethical risks of gambling on line. Web designers and commissioning organisations appear to have anticipated social criticisms by incorporating guards against unethical outcomes before regulatory controls have been imposed. As the impossibility of regulating/controlling the Internet is a common cliche in many commentators’ analysis, this self regulation and willingness to refrain from taking revenue from vulnerable punters, is intriguing. The authors recommend further research to establish an accurate picture, including the size and characteristics of the UK online gambling market. Secondly, to study and compare online gambling with more traditional forms of gambling in terms of underage and problem gambling. More studies need to investigate which forms of responsible gambling are most effective in reducing underage and problem gambling. Lastly, the response of the industry to legislation and micro regulation would be a guide for policy makers and responsible industry practitioners. Introduction Since the increased popularity of Internet access into homes and workplaces in the early nineties, Internet gambling opportunities have expanded at a surprisingly swift pace and more people are gambling online (Wood, Williams and Lawton, 2007). The unregulated nature and uncontrollability of the Internet, with low or no tax gambling, have created a perfect environment for the proliferation of gambling (Crist and Yeager, 1998). Anyone, anytime, anywhere with a computer, a connection, and a credit card can gamble at hundreds of different online gambling websites. Recent statistics state there are as many as 2,500 gambling websites currently operating; consisting of 1,083 online casinos, 592 sports and race-books, 532 poker rooms, 224 online bingo sites, 49 skill game sites, 30 betting exchanges, 25 lottery sites and 17 backgammon sites (Casino City, 2006). Gamcare (2008) state that the number of Internet gambling websites is approximately 3,000. By 12 September 2007, the Gambling Commission had received only 146 applications for operating licences that include provision for online gambling, a minute proportion of the 2,500 sites worldwide. Internet gambling revenues in a single year were $651 million in 1998, more than double the estimated $300 million from 1997 (Sinclair,1999). Further, the global Internet gambling industry is forecast to grow from about $9,000 million in 2004 to $25,000 million in 2010 (European Commission, 2006). If the estimated figures are accurate, then the importance of Internet gambling will continue to rise. Gambling presents a large set of negative social consequences and online gambling has its own challenges beyond those of gambling in general; introducing many new potential problems and rekindling many old ones (Griffiths,1999). Internet and land based casinos have problems detecting and deterring addicted gamblers. Even with the opportunity presented to physically verify age in conventional gambling outlets, no gambling jurisdiction is 100% effective in keeping out underage gambling (Gambling Online Magazine, 2004). It is feared that the anonymity offered by the Internet will exacerbate this problem. Computer-based systems allow gamblers to self-exclude or establish loss limits and may stand a better chance of being effective than the current systems in most conventional casinos. Whilst a determined gambler can move from site to site, reports of players’ activities can be made readily available with contact details for bodies that aim to assist those with problem gambling issues. However, offline and online operators other than those regulated in the UK, do not collect information about a customer’s financial situation, spending or habits, for both practical and protection of privacy reasons. A person who has developed a problem must identify it themselves and take their own constructive steps to deal with it. Operators only train staff to help those who believe they have a problem and approach customer services. Presently there is no comprehensive research or definitive standard as to how to identify someone who has developed a gambling problem. The prevailing view is that it is the minority of players who develop gambling problems. The current regulatory response to this issue is influenced by this perspective (EGBA, 2007). The Growth of Internet Gambling Several factors have contributed to the growth of online gambling. †¢ Internet access has increased globally and technologies that drive the Internet have improved. Confidence in conducting financial transactions online has increased and some governments have licensed online operators within their borders. †¢ The personal computer extends the range of choice. Land-based casinos dictate which games are available to players. Online gambling lets players move through cyberspace to play the games they prefer. †¢ The Internet provides the highest level of anonymity for conducting gambling. The more pervasive concern has been that the Internet attracts people away from person-to-person contact, fostering alienation and real-world disconnection (Boase, 2006). †¢ The costs of establishing online sites are considerably less than those of land-based gambling operations. Flatt (1998) has estimated as little as $135,000. Problem Gambling The ability to gamble anonymously provides problem gamblers with a safe haven without physical scrutiny or surveillance (Scharf and Corrin, 2002). Problem gambling is categorised as an addiction. A severe disorder characterised by obsessive thoughts of gambling, a loss of control, often involving lying and stealing in order to recover gambling losses. As well as other negative consequences (Netemeyer,1998). Specific to Internet Gambling is the role that technology contributes to alteration in gambling habits (Griffiths, 1999). There are no regulated opening times, as exercised by terrestrial operations. It has been argued that there is an ‘exodus from reality’, in the sense that gambling online does not involve ‘real cash’. A gambler may lose control as he or she cannot see a money balance and does not suffer a physical loss. Online gambling loses the social aspect of gambling creating the disadvantage that there are no friends or peers to discourage a gambler from going too far (Griffiths, 1999). Underage Gambling. There is a high priority of protecting children from online gambling, considered more addictive than conventional forms of gambling, because of young people’s familiarity with and access to computer-based technologies (Conway and Koehler, 2000). They have a perception of control resulting from their skills honed playing PlayStation or interactive video games, and may have a false sense of security boosted by their fluency (Mackay, 2004). Another concern is that underage gamblers have easy access to sites and to forms of gambling, from which they otherwise would be excluded by conventional outlets. Many sites offer a ‘demo’ mode, i.e. play without wagering money. It is suspected that ‘demo’ games may give very good odds. Adolescents who are successful on these games could develop a habit which continues when they reach adulthood and are legally permitted to gamble for money, when the odds are no longer so favourable (Mackay, 2004). Regulation Gambling in its various forms is often seen as a deeply-rooted trait of the human activity, which although a source of gratification for many and not innately immoral, can cause harm to individuals. Gambling has long been subject to regulation by governments, reflecting moral, religious and political mores. A pragmatic motivation for such regulation is to generate revenue, which might result in a conflict of interest in regulatory regimes, as the industry grows. The objective of regulation can vary from protecting consumers by ensuring the probity and integrity of the gambling operators and the purging of fraud and abuse of criminal activities, such as money laundering, to reduction of the social cost of problem gambling. There is a gap in the literature concerning the efficacy of regulation. Regulation of online gambling is a comparatively new phenomenon and it is too early to measure its effectiveness. There are debates about appropriate licensing frameworks, legal and technical standards for operators and cover issues, such as protection of customer funds, continuous and repetitive play and intervention to tackle problem gambling. Methodology Content analysis, adopted for this study, has been defined as a systematic, replicable technique for compressing many words of text into fewer content categories based on explicit rules of coding (Krippendorff, 1980). Content analysis has four key advantages: †¢ it is unobtrusive †¢ it is flexible and applicable to unstructured materials †¢ it is context sensitive. †¢ it can be applied to large amounts of data. The lack of research applying content analysis to websites is partially a result of the complexity of Internet information, in particular; the definition of a website, the unit of analysis and the method of sampling. A major problem in conducting Internet content analysis is related to defining the term ‘website. ’ With a large volume of information on a website, it becomes unworkable to analyse the whole website. Therefore, parts of the website, the units of analysis, must be chosen for evaluation. In addition to size, websites differ in purpose, structure and content, therefore selecting a unit of analysis consistently across all samples is highly problematic (Ha and James, 1998). Coding an entire website is difficult and can introduce bias based on size. Selecting the unit of analysis is not an easy task as the volume of data can overwhelm the researcher. In this study the first step was to decide on the sample. The sample consisted of the top twenty most popular online gambling sites visited in Britain, according to: †¢ www. gambling. com, †¢ www. cam-orl. co. uk. Internet-betting-online. html and †¢ www. ukcasinoguide.org. uk . The sites were accessed and coded during a period of three days, in February 2006. The term website was applied on a general level, defined as a collection of pages or files linked together and available online. The unit of analysis was the homepage, plus drill downs. The study attempted to limit the analysis to the homepage. However, it was decided that the content available on a homepage was too limited and did not necessarily reflect the breadth and scope of content available on the whole website. The study experimented with gambling sites. A commonality of approaches indicated prima facie industry norms. The study observed evidence of good practice. The content of the websites was evaluated by characteristics providing factual information and of responsible gambling. The coding template was based on possible features associated with each of the two categories and was used to record the content of each website, within the unit of analysis. Ratings were based on how difficult it was to locate information. More drill downs meant the information was harder to find and scored a lower rating. It was believed that the more easily located and extensive the information, the more an online gambling operator was committed to responsible gambling. Reliability and Validity The reliability of a study involving content analysis refers to the stability and reproducibility of the results (Stemler, 2001). Stability requires researchers to code the data consistently. According to Weber (1990), concerns regarding reliability often stem from the ambiguity of word meanings, category definitions, or other coding rules. The validity of a study involving content analysis is determined by the extent to which the definitions (included in the tool) reflect the sub-categories. The validity of categories is enhanced by the inclusion of many words to arrive at the same judgment. For example, the words gambling and betting were considered interchangeable. One of the primary reasons to conduct content analysis is to collect objective information. Therefore, the study ensured that the procedure was clearly laid out and defined. It was consistently applied to the sample. The following three steps were taken to enhance the reliability and validity of the study’s findings and to ensure that the information gathered was objective. First, to enhance the reliability of the results, after the tool was applied to the website, the coder re-coded the website on the same day to ensure accuracy. Second, the coding scheme was tested to ensure the suitability of the categories and the overall reliability of the tool. It was important that the list of variables was exhaustive and mutually exclusive in order to avoid any confusion. Lastly, to improve the validity of the results, the definitions were reviewed and expanded to ensure that there was an exhaustive list of words for each sub-category where applicable. For example, for the sub-category ‘Addiction Help,’ words such as ‘problem gambling,’ ‘concerns about gambling,’ were included in the coding guidelines to broaden the category, allowing the coder to capture the data. Findings Considering the large amount of data collected, only the criteria of responsible gambling were analysed intensively. These are illustrated in Table 1. The key areas of concern, underage gambling and problem gambling are expanded in Tables 2 and 3 respectively. Sample characteristics Security Online gambling security is as good as most other e-commerce sites. There are no reported any security-related fraud (Turner, 2002). Online gambling sites know that cheating their customers is bad for business and therefore tend to be honest. The market is so competitive that the reputation of market leaders is paramount. Players are likely to switch to rival sites if practices are questionable. Payment systems are critical to the success of any online business and online gambling operators have their own particular challenges to face. The integrity of systems must be assured. [pic] Table 1 Voluntary Initiatives Systems must be secure from hackers and crackers, from both outside and from within. There are readily available codes to ensure security such as the use of encryption and digital signatures. These technologies are already in use. All sites accessed displayed secure transaction information. The ‘dot com boom’ followed by the ‘dot com crash’ has had Internet gambling casualties. Several Internet gambling operators have gone bankrupt. For example Netbetsports and Luvbet folded owing their customers money (Barker, 2007). These firms had a relatively high profile within the industry. Luvbet was one of the first bookmakers to promote an Internet site offering tax free betting. Netbetsports offered Internet customers high bet limits and tax free betting, when UK tax rates were still nine per cent. Internet gambling is expanding in ever-changing and unregulated websites (Hartman, 2007; Holahan, 2006). It is uncertain whether as an unintended consequence of domestic regulation; risk taking clients might be challenged to gamble with unscrupulous vendors. This could represent an extra excitement factor, perhaps generating worse personal consequences, than in an unregulated environment. Responsible gambling The concern with responsible gambling is the rationale of this study. It was intended to measure how online sites recognise that gambling can cause problems for customers and to investigate and record the measures to offer checks. The websites were evaluated according to how helpful responsible gambling information was. The study found no consistency in the responsible gambling information. British legislation requires mandatory procedures promoting socially responsible gambling. This should be clear and prominent on their homepage, if it is to be effective. Eleven sites displayed responsible features on the home page or easily accessible links. Most of the remaining sites contained these features, but access was difficult, hence their lower rating. Fair Gaming and Independent Audits Fair gaming refers to sites operating honestly and responsibly, ensuring monetary deposit safety and winning bets paid in a timely manner. Fifty-five per cent of sites accessed contained information stating that they were independently audited. Independent audits confirm the percentage of payouts of games, review the output and validity of the software, that it consistently produces random results and fair outcomes of games. For example Price Coopers Waterhouse at www. roxypalace. com. The Gambling Review Report (2001) recommends that online gambling software systems must be random-operated and tested by the Gambling Commission. Online sites must make payments only to the credit card used to make deposits or by cheque to the player. The study looked for evidence of these recommended features. Security and honesty of transactions are as important to the supplier as the customer. A bad reputation for online gambling sites could be commercially crippling (Griffiths, 2003). Therefore the responsible features recorded here do have an economic payoff. Ethical Statement An ethical code was a key criterion to be assessed when visiting each site. Only one ‘ethical code’ which covered policies on compliance and data protection, measures restricting minors and the risks of compulsive gambling, was observed. This might be seen as a ‘narrow’ interpretation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) focussing on legal/rule based elements. Legal safeguards are problematic, since any Internet relationship questions which law should be complied with. Smeaton and Griffiths (2004) found two-thirds of the sites they visited displayed no evidence of social responsibility and concluded that social responsibility was a low priority for online sites. Problem Gambling Social responsibility can be evidenced by attempts to offer services in a way that does not encourage repetitive play or by supporting a client with a problem. Sixty per cent of the websites provided problem gambling information. InterCasino UK |Ethics drill down finds the website is committed to detecting and reducing compulsive gambling with |Med | | |procedures including monthly deposit limits and analysis of gambling patterns (this information was not | | | |verifable for the study). | | |Coral Casino |Link to GamCare and facilities for daily/weekly deposit limits, self exclusion periods and access to customer|High | | |accounts. | | |Platinum Play Casino |Link to gambling support agencies and facilities for self-assessment tests, daily/weekly deposit limits, self|High | | |exclusion periods, access to customer accounts and filtering programmes. | | |Spin Palace Casino |Link to gambling support agencies and facility self exclusion periods. |Med | |City Club Casino |Link to a statement of encouraging sensible gambling and link to Gamblers Anonymous. |Low | |Roxy Palace Online Casino |Link to Gamblers Anonymous website. |Low | |32 Vegas Red |Link to Gamblers Anonymous website. |Low | |Victor Chandler |No link or message to be found. |Nil | |Crazy Vegas Casino |Link to gambling support agencies and facilities for self-assessment tests, daily/weekly deposit limits, self|High | | |exclusion periods and filtering programmes. | | |English Harbour |Link to Gamblers Anonymous website. |Low | |Casino Tropez |No link or message to be found. |Nil | |Vegas Red Casino |No link or message to be found. |Nil | |Ruby Fortune Casino |Link to gambling support agencies and facilities for self-assessment tests, daily/weekly deposit limits, self|High | | |exclusion periods, access to customer accounts and filtering programmes. | | |Eurobet Casino |Link to GamCare and facilities for daily/weekly deposit limits, self exclusion periods and access to customer|Med | | |accounts. | | |UK Casino Club |About Us link leads to a Responsible Gaming Policy which offers a self-assessment test, cooling off |Med | | |periods and exclusion options. | | |Golden Riviera |Link to Gamblers Anonymous website. |Low | |William Hill Casino |Link to GamCare and facilities for daily/weekly deposit limits, self exclusion periods and access to customer|Med | | |accounts. | | |Hammers Casino |No link or message to be found. |Nil | |King Solomons Casino |No link or message to be found. |Nil | |www. 888. com |Link to Gamblers Anonymous website. |Low | Table 3 Problem Gambling Information UK legislation requires training of gambling operators’ employees to identify problems and to have procedures to sensitively deal with these. Fifteen sites had problem gambling information. Five linked to the Gamblers Anonymous website. Four sites offered assessment tests. It was not within the parameters of this study, to determine if online gambling sites follow up on tests, when a result indicated a problem. Three of the sites accessed provided information relating to filtering programmes, which can block underage users. These could be found through links to other sites and there was a free trial download facility available. Self-exclusion and Deposit Limits A player who feels that he or she is losing control of play and requires help in restricting access to online gambling were served by eight sites in this study that provided the facility for self-exclusion. This option was never located on the homepage and accessed only through drill downs. The study could not determine if applications were processed immediately or if self-exclusion from one site meant exclusion from multiple sites. It was unclear if these schemes required the gambler to undergo counseling assessments prior to re-admission, or if after the self-exclusion period had lapsed; the player automatically was included again. The study was also not able to clarify if players who request self-exclusion were given information about problem gambling counseling services. Computer-based systems can allow gamblers to self-exclude or establish loss limits and may stand a better chance of being effective than the current systems in most conventional casinos today. Whilst a determined gambler can move from site to site, reports of a player’s activities can be made readily available, with contact details for bodies that aim to assist those with problem gambling issues. Internet gambling operators are equipped to collect adequate data and information to be able to identify patterns of problem gambling (DCMS, 2006). There is the technological ability for operators to collect enough data to be able to identify patterns of problem gambling. This is a requirement of the 2005 Act. However, this is a prescription only for operators with a British licence and the position of the European Gambling and Betting Association (EGBA, 2007) is that it is extremely difficult to monitor and identify when someone has begun to gamble irresponsibly. Therefore according to EGBA, offline and online gambling operators should not collect information about a customer’s financial situation, spending or habits, for both practical and privacy issues. Operators that act on this aim to establish a responsible reputation and may see it as a competitive advantage factor. Yet they may infringe the principle of privacy. An issue for regulators is whether to acquire the power to compel operators to intervene in the event of identifying a problem gambler. The technical provisions in Britain for socially responsible Internet gambling have been drafted and are in the process are being applied. Assessment of the effectiveness of regulations in curbing problem gambling has yet to be done. Some sites permit customers to limit the amount of money that they are able to deposit into their account on both a daily and/or a weekly basis. It was noted that amounts may be revised downwards at any time, but increases are implemented after twenty-four hours. The online gambling operators are unable to override limits set by customers. Some sites allow access to a player’s full history of transactions, withdrawals and deposits. The Gambling Review Report (2001) recommends online sites should be required to set up facilities that enable players to set maximum stakes, limits and to self-ban. Protection of Underage Gamblers In order to ensure child safety online sites were evaluated for identity verification and exclusion facilities, such as the use of filtering software. The Gambling Review Report (2001) offers guidelines to ensure that identification standards are comparable to those of off-line casinos. It asserts that all players who register to play online should be properly identified before they are permitted to play. Age Verification Most sites studied required a prospective gambler to only complete a registration form in order to play. These sites rely on the player to disclose their correct age and do not verify the accuracy of the information. Underage gamblers can use their parents’ credit cards or even their own to register and set up accounts (Schroeder and Versch, 1998). The Gambling Review Report (2001) recommends that players who register online should be properly identified, before they are permitted to play. All sites displayed an age warning on their homepage. 32 Vegas Red alone stated it had taken steps to ensure that their site did not attract young people and used software that stops the underage from joining. Smeaton and Griffiths (2004) have investigated underage gambling and found poor standards of verification. The concern is that many sites are not employing identity verifications systems to check the age of players and therefore allow underage play. Verification systems work by searching available government and financial databases, to find evidence to support the personal information supplied by the player. For example, credit ratings or inclusion on the electoral roll can verify that the player is of the required age. However such searching again might threaten individual privacy. InterCasino UK |Logo displayed on homepage. Ethics drill down reveals site requires customers to declare that |Low | | |they are of legal age. | | |Coral Casino |Logo linked to statement that the company reserves the right to request proof of age. |Med | |Platinum Play Casino |Logo linked to statement defining the customer as adult and sane as per laws of country of |Med | | |residence. | | |Spin Palace Casino |Logo linked to statement relying on responsible parenting. |Med | |City Club Casino |Terms of Use drill down states customer must be adult as per country of residence. |Low | |Roxy Palace Online Casino |Terms Conditions drill down states customer must be of legal age. |Low | |32 Vegas Red |About Us drill down leads to Responsible Gaming drill down stating it is illegal for anyone |High | | |under 18 to open an account or to play and that they have taken steps to ensure that the website| | | |does not attract young people and our website uses software that stops under 18s joining (this | | | |could not be verified by the study). Also requests responsible parenting. | | |Victor Chandler |Logo linked to statement defining the customer as adult as per laws of country of residence. |Med | |Crazy Vegas Casino |Logo linked to statement relying on responsible parenting. |Med | |English Harbour |Terms Conditions drill down states customer must be of legal age. |Low | |Casino Tropez |Terms of Use drill down states customer must be of legal age. |Low | |Vegas Red Casino |Terms of Use drill down states customer must be of legal age. |Low | |Ruby Fortune Casino |Logo linked to statement relying on responsible parenting. |Med | |Eurobet Casino |Logo linked to statement stating the company reserves the right to request proof of age. |Med | |UK Casino Club |Responsible Gaming drill down leads to downloadable Children Protection Software and urges |High | | |responsible parenting. | | |Golden Riviera |Terms Conditions drill down states customer must be of legal age. |Low | |William Hill Casino |Responsible Gaming drill down leads to statement that the company reserves the right to request|Med | | |proof of age. | | |Hammers Casino |Terms of Use drill down states customer must be adult as per country of residence. |Low | |King Solomons Casino |Logo linked to statement defining the customer as adult and sane as per laws of country of |Low | | |residence. | | |www. 888. com |Link leads to statement that it is illegal for anyone under 18 to play and that they have taken |High | | |steps to discourage and track young people (this could not be verified by the study). Website | | | |recommends software supporting responsible parenting. | | Table 2 Age Verification Telephone Betting The Gambling Review Report (2001) states that aspects of online gambling should be more heavily regulated than conventional gambling. However, the Internet’s characteristics make it more difficult to regulate. This study looked for evidence of telephone betting and considered implications of this facility. The three sites that offer the player the facility of telephone betting have a UK High Street presence. It could be argued that the reason why these organisations have added online sites to their operations is to expand opportunities. Using the BCG Matrix, the shops could be considered ‘cash cows,’ well-established with high market share. The new online sites could be ‘stars. ’ The prospect of growth is exciting as are the opportunities (McDonald, 2002). Land-based operators provide an online presence, giving extra services for the player, the anonymity of play compared to their shops, higher levels of usibility, and possibly even more security, simply to grow their businesses, rather than to offer player protection in this feature (Johnson, 1997). Ultimately this criterion failed to help evaluate the concept of responsible on line gambling, given the ‘virtual’ existence of most sites. Technical Support All sites provide ‘24-7’ telephone and technical support, with free numbers, player-to-technician online chatroom and email support. Every channel of communication is available to guarantee full access for a player. This measure is clearly very important to the site operators and customers. The sites are very competent in not losing customers through technical problems and offer very many points of contact. Yet the same form of in house supportive ‘counseling’ service is not offered to problem gamblers. Licenses It is not illegal for British residents to gamble online, nor is it illegal for overseas operators to offer online gambling to British residents. However, the Gambling Act 2005 requires an operator to obtain a licence if they site any piece of equipment, for example a database, presentation device, or determining device in the UK, regardless of whether other devices are outside the country (DCMS, 2005). Gibraltar |Canada |Caribbean |UK |Unknown | |5 |7 |6 |1 |1 |. Table 4 Sources of Licenses As an example the City Club Casino is licensed by the Island of Curacao, but displays US and UK freefone numbers, in prominent positions on their website, which may mislead the player into thinking that the site is American or British. Another disingenuous feature is when ‘UK’ appears.

Petrified Petrarch Essay -- Petrarchian Sonnet Essays

Petrified Petrarch Two hundred years had passed between the sonnets of Petrarch and the reign of Queen Elizabeth. As a form and structure for poetic life, the sonnet had grown hard. Fourteen lines of rhymed iambic pentameter remained pregnant with possibilities and vitality, but must the sense turn after the octave and resolve in the sestet? Love remained in some ways inexpressible without this basic verse form, but something wasn’t right. Too many rose red lips and too much snow white skin belonging to unattainable lovers did not communicate the prevailing amorous imagination. The conventions were a little too conventional. The metaphors were gone somewhat stale. The Reformation had intervened between the Italian Renaissance and her English counterpart. The Petrarchan sonnet was informed by a Catholic Christianity that adored virginity. Thus it was the longing for the unattainable that raised the lover closer to God. The Elizabethan sonnet in many cases reflected the Protestant’s high view of married love, the consummation of which was the metaphor for the relationship between Christ and His Church. The beginnings of sonnets tended to establish a place for the poem within the Petrarchan tradition, and the endings to emphasize their divergence from that tradition. In this way then the beginnings and endings of sonnets works to define the Love/hate relationship of the Elizabethan poet with Petrarch. Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542), a contemporary of Martin Luther and Henry VIII, first introduced Petrarchan love poetry into England. He was a frequent imitator of the foreign model and many of his sonnets are almost literal translations of the Italian. Wyatt felt no obligation to confine himself to the strict Italian form in ... ...e sestet gives the impression that the poet/lover adores her voice in spite of the fact that it’s less pleasing than music, and that she surpasses any goddess or angel in her merely human beauties and the approachability of her common creature hood. The concluding couplet frees twentieth century women from feeling they need to look like a Barbie doll. True affection loves you the way you are. Knowing I too get bad breath and walk on solid ground, I am glad my husband shares Shakespeare’s attitude. Works Cited Jordan, Constance and Carroll, Clare editors. The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., New York, 1999 Maclean, Hugh and Prescott, Anne Lake editors. Edmund Spenser’s Poetry. W.W. Norton and Company, New York, 1968 Wilson, John Dover. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Cambridge University Press, London, 1980

Why the Us Does Not Have an Official Language

Kelly Setters September 12, 2012 ENG 122 Teresa Plummer English Composition 2 Why the United States doesn’t have a Designated Language ? Why the United States doesn’t have a Designated Language Why the United States does not have an official language has been an ongoing debate for a long time. A lot of people are for it and a lot of people are against it. While conducting my research I learned that if the United States made English the official language of the country it would be going against the first amendment, Freedom of speech. Regardless of going against the constitution 27 states have made English their official language.Why is it so important to so many people that the United States have an official language? Would it aid immigrants in the assimilation process and make it more likely for them to succeed? Can other languages be used in the country for certain official purposes, if English is the sole official language? Does official English offend the idea of Ame rican diversity? Does it discriminate against non-native speakers? Does an adequate incentive exist to learn English without it being official? Is there anything wrong with the status quo? Do most countries in the world have an official language? Is it important for any tangible and practical reasons?Do English only laws threaten or enhance public safety? Is official English good public policy? (Debate 2010) These are questions that rise in everyone’s mind when the topic of designating an official language in the US comes up. The 27 states of the United States of America that have an official langiage are, â€Å"Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming. (Us constitution net 1995-2010) Many people think it’s unconstitutional f or the United States to have an official language because it’s America. America is where freedom rings. References No Author Cited Does the United States need an official language Retrieved from: http://maxweber. hunter. cuny. edu/pub/eres/GSR716A_KUECHLER/monique. htm No Author cited (2010) Debate: English as US official language Retrieved from: http://debatepedia. idebate. org/en/index. php/Debate:_English_as_US_official_language Walenta, C. (1995-2010) Constitutional Topic: Official Language Retrieved from: http://www. usconstitution. net/consttop_lang. html

The Maternity Benefits Act

THE MATERNITY BENEFITS ACT, 1961 BY SUSHMA SUDHINDRA 1. OBJECTIVE To regulate the employment of women in certain establishment for certain period before and after child-birth and to provide for maternity benefit and certain other benefits. To provide healthy maintenance of pregnant women employee and her child 2. APPLICABILITY Every factory, mine or plantation(including those belonging to Government) To every shop or establishment wherein 10 or more persons are employed 3. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT No employer shall knowingly employ a woman in any establishment during the 6 weeks immediately following the day of her delivery or her miscarriage. No woman shall work in any establishment during the 6 weeks immediately following the day of her delivery or her miscarriage. No pregnant woman shall, on a request being made by her in this behalf, be required by her employer to do any work which is of an arduous nature or which involves long hours of standing or which in any way is likely to interfere with her pregnancy or the normal development of the foetus, or is likely to cause her miscarriage or otherwise to adversely affect her health. The period referred to in sub-section (3) shall be – (a) at the period of 1 month immediately preceding the period of 6 weeks, before the date of her expected delivery; (b) any period during the said period of 6 weeks for which the pregnant woman does not avail of leave of absence. 4. PAYMENT OF THE MATERNITY BENEFITS Every woman shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of maternity benefit at the rate of the average daily wage for the period of her actual absence i. . immediately preceding and including the day of her delivery and any period following that day. The average daily wage means the average of the woman's wages payable to her for the days on which she has worked during the period of 3 calendar months immediately preceding the date from which she absents herself on account of maternity, [the minimum rate of wage fixed or revised under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (11 of 1948) or ten rupees, whichever is the highest]. PAYMENT OF THE MATERNITY BENEFITS No woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit unless she has actually worked in an establishment of the employer from whom she claims maternity benefit, for a period of not less than 80 days in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery provided that the qualifying period of 80 days aforesaid shall not apply to a woman who has immigrated into the State of Assam and was pregnant at the time of the immigration. For the purpose of calculating under the sub-section the days on which a woman has actually worked in the establishment [the days for which she has been laid off or was on holidays declared under any law for the time being in force to be holidays with wages] during the period of 12 months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery shall be taken into account. PAYMENT OF THE MATERNITY BENEFITS The maximum period for which any woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit shall be 12 weeks of which not more than 6 weeks shall precede the date of her expected delivery provided that where a woman dies during this period, the maternity benefit shall be payable only for the days up to and including the day of her death: Provided further that where a woman, having been delivered of a child, dies during her delivery or during the period immediately following the date of her delivery for which she is entitled for the maternity benefit, leaving behind in either case the child, the employer shall be liable for the maternity benefit for that entire period but if the child also dies during the said period, then, for the days up to and including the date of the death of the child. 5. CONDITIONS FOR CLAIMING BENEFITS Must actually work for 80 days in 12 months immediately preceding her date of Delivery. Should intimate the employer 7 weeks before her delivery date about the leave period. Can take advance payment for 6 week leave before delivery Can take payment for 6 week leave after child birth within 48 hours after submitting the proof. 6. PAYMENT IN CASE OF DEATH OF THE WOMAN If a woman entitled to maternity benefit or any other amount under this Act, dies before receiving such maternity benefit or amount, or where the employer is liable for maternity benefit , the employer shall pay such benefit or amount to the person nominated by the woman in the notice given and in case there is no such nominee, to her legal representative. 7. PAYMENT OF MEDICAL BONUS Every woman entitled to maternity benefit under this act shall also be entitled to receive from her employer a medical bonus of 25 rupees, if no pre-natal confinement and postnatal care is provided for by the employer free of charge. 8. LEAVE FOR MISCARRIAGE In case of miscarriage, a woman shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a period of 6 weeks immediately following the day of her miscarriage. 9. LEAVE FOR ILLNESS ARISING OUT OF PREGNANCY, DELIVERY, PREMATURE BIRTH OF CHILD, OR MISCARRIAGE A woman suffering illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child or miscarriage shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled in addition to the period of absence allowed to her under section 6, or, as the case may be, under section 9, to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a maximum period of 1 month. 10. NURSING BREAKS Every woman delivered of a child who returns to duty after such delivery shall, in addition to the interval for rest allowed to her, be allowed in the course of her daily work 2 breaks of the prescribed duration for nursing the child until the child attains the age of 15 months. 11. DISMISSAL DURING ABSENSE OR PREGNANCY (1) Where a woman absents herself from work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, it shall be unlawful for her employer to discharge or dismiss her during or on account of such absence or to give notice of discharge or dismissal on such a day that the notice will expire during such absence, or to vary to her disadvantage any of the conditions of her service. 2) (a) The discharge or dismissal of a woman at any time during her pregnancy, if the woman but for such discharge of dismissal would have been entitled to maternity benefit or medical bonus referred to in section 8, shall not have the effect of depriving her of the maternity benefit or medical bonus: Pro vided that where the dismissal is for any prescribed gross misconduct the employer may, by order in writing communicated to the woman, deprive her of the maternity benefit or medical bonus or both. (b) Any woman deprived of maternity benefit or medical bonus or both may, within sixty days from the date on which the order of such deprivation is communicated to her, appeal to such authority as may be prescribed, and the decision of that authority on such appeal, whether the woman should or should not be deprived of maternity benefits or medical bonus or both, shall be final. (c) Nothing contained in this sub-section shall affect the provisions contained in subsection(1). 12. NO DEDUCTION OF WAGES IN CERTAIN CASES No deduction from the normal and usual daily wages of a woman entitled to maternity benefit under the provisions of this Act shall be made by reason only of – (a) the nature of work assigned to her by virtue of the provisions contained in subsection (3) of section 4 : or (b) breaks for nursing the child allowed to her under the provisions of section 11. 13. APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTORS The appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such officers as it thinks fit to by Inspectors for the purposes of this Act and may define the local limits of the jurisdiction within which they shall exercise their function under this Act. 14. POWERS AND DUTIES OF INSPECTORS An Inspector may, subject to such restrictions or conditions as may be prescribed, exercise all or any of the following powers, namely: (a) enter at all reasonable times with such assistants, if any, being persons in the service of the Government or any local or other public authority as he thinks fit, any premises or place where women are employed or work is given to them in an establishment, for the purposes or examining any registers, records and notices required to be kept or exhibited by or under this Act and require their production for inspection; (b) examine any person whom he finds in any premises or place and who, he has reasonable cause to believe, is employed in the establishment: Provided that no person shall be compelled under this section to answer any question or give any evidence tending to incriminate himself: (c) require the employer to give information regarding the names and addresses of women employed, payments made to them, and applications or notices received from them under this Act; and (d) take copies of any registers and records or notices or any portions thereof. 15. POWER OF INSPECTOR TO DIRECT PAYMENTS TO BE MADE (1) Any woman claiming that maternity benefit or any other amount to which she is entitled under this Act and any person claiming that payment due under section 7 has been improperly withheld, may make a complaint to the inspector. 2) The Inspector may, of his own motion or on receipt of a complaint referred to in subsection (1), make an enquiry or cause an inquiry to be made and if satisfied that payment has been wrongfully withheld, may direct the payment to be made in accordance with his orders. (3) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Inspector under sub-section (2) may, within thirty days from the date on which such decision is communicated to such person, appeal to the prescribed authority. (4) The decision of the prescribed authority where an appeal has been preferred to it under sub-section (3) or of the In spector where no such appeal has been preferred, shall be final. 5) Any amount payable under these sections shall be recoverable as an arrear of lane revenue. 16. FORFEITURE OF MATERNITY BENEFIT If a woman works in any establishment after she has been permitted by her employer to absent herself under the provisions of section 6 for any period during such authorized absence, he shall forfeit her claim to the maternity benefit for such period. 17. ABSTRACTS OF ACT AND RULES THERE UNDER TO BE EXHIBITED An abstract of the provisions of this Act and the rules made there under in the language or languages of the locality shall be exhibited in a conspicuous place by the employer in every part of the establishment in which women are employed. 18. REGISTERS, ETC. Every employer shall prepare and maintain such registers, records and muster-rolls and in such manner as may be prescribed. 19. PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENTION OF ACT BY EMPLOYERS If any employer contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules made there under he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both; and where the contravention is of any provision regarding maternity benefit or regarding payment of any other amount and such maternity benefit or amount has not already been recovered, the court shall in addition recover such maternity benefit or amount as if it were a fine, and pay the same to the person entitled thereto. 20. PENALTY FOR OBSTRUCTING INSPECTOR Whoever fails to produce on demand by the Inspector any register or document in his custody kept in pursuance of this Act or the rules made there under or conceals or prevents any person from appearing before or being examined by an Inspector, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to 3 months, or with fine which may extend to 500 rupees or with both. 21. PROTECTION OF ACTION TAKEN IN GOOD FAITH No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or of any rule or order made there under. 22. POWER OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO GIVE DIRECTIONS The Central Government may give such directions as it may deem necessary to a State Government regarding the carrying into execution the provisions of this Act and the State Government shall comply with such directions. 23. EFFECT OF LAWS AND AGREEMENTS INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT (1) The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law or in the terms of any award, agreement or contract of service, whether made before or after the coming into force of this Act: Provided that where under any such award, agreement, contract of service or otherwise, a woman is entitled to benefits in respect of any matter which are more favourable to her than those to which she would be entitled under this Act, the woman shall continue to be entitled to the more favourable benefits in respect of that matter, notwithstanding that she is entitled to receive benefit in respect of other matters under this Act. (2) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to preclude a woman from entering into an agreement with her employer for granting her rights or privileges in respect of any matter, which are more favourable to her than those to which she would be en titled under this Act. QUESTIONS Thank You!!!

Printable Worksheets, Projects and Forms for Homeschooling

Printable Worksheets, Projects and Forms for Homeschooling Printables by Subject: Fine Arts | Language Arts | Math | Science | History | Geography |P.E., Health, Safety Nutrition | Misc. Themes | Holidays | Homeschool Forms Printable worksheets for your students. Add these free printable worksheets, activity pages and coloring pages to your homeschool day for variety and fun. Holidays Printable Worksheets: Back to School PrintablesBlack History Month - Famous FirstsChristmas Symbols PrintablesTwelve Days of Christmas Printables12 Days of Christmas Coloring BookSanta and Other Traditions PrintablesChristmas - Nativity PrintablesCinco de MayoColumbus Day PrintablesEarth DayEasterEaster - religiousFathers Day Coupon Book and PrintablesFlag Day PrintablesFourth of JulyGroundhog Day PrintablesHalloween PrintablesHanukkahKwanzaaLabor Day PrintablesMardi Gras PrintablesMartin Luther King, Jr PrintablesMemorial Day PrintablesMothers Day Coupon Book and PrintablesNew Years PrintablesPassoverPresidents Day:~ George Washington~ Abraham LincolnSt Patricks DayThanksgiving PrintablesValentines DayVeterans Day PrintablesWomens History Month - Famous Firsts Fine Arts: Grandma Moses Coloring PageMusic Basics PrintablesMusical Instruments Printable Coloring Book Printable Homeschool Forms: Â  Printable Coloring Calendars 2011/12 School Year - August 2011 to July 2012Coloring Calendars 2011 - January - DecemberHomeschool Record Keeping FormsMy Kindergarten PortfolioMy Memory BookScience Report FormsSpecial Needs Forms Geography Printable Worksheets: Geography PrintablesAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingNunavut Health, Safety Nutrition Printable Worksheets: Dental HealthEat Your Vegetables History Printable Worksheets: Abraham LincolnBenjamin FranklinBlack History Month - Famous FirstsCaptain John Smith Coloring PageCivil WarConestoga WagonFirst Ladies of the U.S. Coloring PagesGeorge WashingtonJohnny Appleseed PrintablesLascaux Cave Paintings Coloring PageMark Antony Coloring PageMartin Luther King, Jr.Medieval TimesNative Americans of North America PrintablesNative American Research and Display FormsPaul BunyanPioneer LifePresidential ElectionPresidential InaugurationPresidents of the United States Worksheets and Coloring PagesRoute 66 Unit and Printables - Fantastic addition to the movie CarsUncle Sam Coloring PageWomens History Month - Famous Firsts Language Arts Printable Worksheets: Alphabet Coloring BooksHandwriting Practice PagesBiography Lesson Plan;Blog Writing ProjectDr SeussParts of Speech Math Printable Worksheets: Counting Pennies and NickelsCounting Dimes, Quarters and Half-dollarsAddition and Multiplication TablesTelling Time to the HourTelling Time to the Half HourTelling Time to the Quarter HourTelling Time to 10 minutes, 5 minutes, and 1 minuteTime Passage to the Hour, Half-hour, and Quarter-hour Physical Education Printable Worksheets: Aquatics: Diving, Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, Water PoloArcheryAthleticsBadmintonBaseballBasketballBoxingCanoe/KayakCyclingEquestrianFencingFootballGymnasticsHandballHockeyJudoMarathon Race Coloring PageModern PentathlonRowingSailingShootingSoftballTable TennisTaekwondoTennisTriathlonVolleyballWeightliftingWrestlingWalking LogWinter OlympicsWinter Olympics Coloring PagesYo-yo Unit and Printables Science Printable Worksheets: Science Report FormsBees PrintablesBirds PrintablesCreepy CrawliesDinosaur PrintablesEarthquake PreparednessAlbert EinsteinMagnetsNewtons Laws of MotionSimple MachinesSimple Machines Coloring BookReptiles Reptiles Coloring BookSolar System VolcanoWeather Seasons: SpringSummerFallWinter Sea Animals: Clam Printables; Clams Unit StudyCrab Printables; Crabs Unit StudyDolphin Printables; Dolphin Unit StudyEel Printables; Eel Unit StudyJellyfish Printables; Jellyfish Unit StudyLobster Printables; Lobster Unit StudyManatee Printables; Manatee Unit StudyOctopus Printables; Octopus Unit StudyRay Printables; Rays Unit StudySeahorse Printables; Seahorse Unit StudySea Turtle Printables; Sea Turtle Unit StudyShark PrintablesSytarfish Printables; Starfish Unit StudyWhale Printables; Whales Unit Study Travel and Transportation: Camping PrintablesStudebaker Cars Coloring PageTrains Coloring BookTrains PrintablesTravel Activity BookTravel Bingo Unit Study Printable Worksheets: Fire Prevention PrintablesMaple Syrup PrintablesKids Surveys - Surveys for Kids by KidsLets Play LibraryLets Play RestaurantLets Play StoreMy Kindergarten PortfolioMy Memory Book