The hood and its influence on youth culture Essay

The hood and its influence on youth culture - Essay Example Hollywood movies often reflect the life in South Central Los Angeles and paint a picture in the minds of viewers about such stereotype but the media perhaps makes the bigger impact in such perception because of the reliability of the information given and the actuality of things that are reported. The media often show the poor neighborhood which is prone to violent events due to the obvious inequalities and the abuse of workers resulting to fights. Looking at the history of south Central L.A., proposition 13 can be blamed for what is happening at the ghetto. The proposition â€Å"cut funding for California libraries, universities, children’s programs, parks, playgrounds, and perhaps most importantly, its public schools† (Corwin, 174). This resulted to even worse quality of living conditions among the poor because the funds for maintenance and improvement of facilities were not enough. In relation to this, the low funding of schools have been affected by the building of prisons. It could be said that the priorities of the government have not been well-balanced. It is ironic that more money was spent on prisons when the more important institutions that could have helped the people stay away from the jails should have been given top priority. Instead, the exact opposite happened. Corwin says that, â€Å"From 1984-1995, California built nineteen new prisons but the state has not built a new university campus in almost thirty years† (175). Considering this situation, had there been great efforts to construct schools or improve those which already existed, more children could have been molded in a better environment. In effect, there would be no need to construct more jails if there was a better plan for the people that encourage them and show that there is a hope for a better tomorrow for the poor. Moreover, there is the â€Å"three strikes† law which demands more prisons to be built. The law is said to force more prisoners to stay in jai l for a minimum of twenty five years to life even for petty offenses. The long period of punishment for offenders increases the number of prisoners at a faster rate and thus requires the government to build more prisons. Other factors that affected the situation in the ghetto were the Watts riots which caused most white residents to flee the area. Then there was the fair housing legislation which allowed middle-class Blacks to move to better environments leaving the unemployed, single mothers, elderly and the welfare cases behind. Such groups of hopeless and helpless people were joined by Latinos who fled their country due to worse political situations. The competition for a low paying job among Blacks and Mexicans is high and is making their lives more difficult. With the struggles that they are going through, the people often result to violence to express their cry for their rights however such actions make the situation even worse. Following out Corwin’s logic, the conditi on of schools should first and foremost be made a top priority for the government because this can be an instrument in the making of better citizens. The improvement of such institutions should be well-funded so that quality service will be given to the people. Teachers should be paid well so that they will stay in the ghetto even after years of experience. Volunteer and substitute teachers may be accepted but they should not be the ones largely making up the faculty of the schools. The people, whether Whites, Blacks or Latinos, should be given equal

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Management - Essay Example Internal forces of business environment include: strategy, employees and its own culture. External forces of business environment include government, climate, political and economic conditions. Business environment is of utmost importance to an organization and a manger has to work while monitoring the external and internal sources of business environment and either change or continue its operations in accordance to the changes in the business environment to remain successful and increase profitability of the organization. If managers are able to keep a watch on its business environment, they can benefit from opportunities available in the environment, they can counter the threats and weaknesses that are available in the internal and the external business environment and further enhance the strength of the business. For example: Managers need to continuously monitor the changes in the demographics of the country in which it is operating in so it can adjust its marketing and human res ource activities accordingly and benefit from opportunities. ... People may have a desire to purchase a good or service, but their desire does not create a market. A market is created with a customer can be qualified as able to make a purchasing transaction. Customers are only qualified to make a purchase if they have an existing need that needs to be satisfied, have the ability to make the purchasing transaction, have monetary resources to conduct the transaction and have the power to complete the transaction. Contemporary society consists of connections between human beings; market is a network that creates such connections by connecting buyers and sellers. When humans of the contemporary society interact with each other, they achieve wellbeing and the conditions of their life increases. Markets provide individuals with goods and services to satisfy their needs which help in improving the conditions of individuals and leading to well being of the society. Works Cited Weimer, Arthur M. Business Administration: An Introductory Management Approach. Homewood, Ill: R.D. Irwin, 1966. Print. Paper 2 One of the major elements in the marketing mix is the place of distribution of product. Distribution is regarded as the procedure through which a good or service is made available for the consumers to consume by a manufacturer or business making that product or service (Longenecker 200). The activity of distribution can be conducted through direct and indirect methods. This form of transfer of products from the manufacturer to the consumer is conducted through one of the options of channels available to the producer. Channels are referred to as organizations that are dependant on other organizations and all these organizations combine

Technology in Education Essay Example for Free

Technology in Education Essay The use of technology in education has brought about great changes in the way we teach and learn. In this digital age it is imperative that technology is embedded into all aspect of learning and teaching. Educators face many challenges when it comes to integrating technology into the classroom due to lack of training, and the availability of technological equipment. Research has shown that to cater to our students who are digital natives, and to remain globally competitive we need to ensure that classrooms spring forward into the 21st century. According to Pelham, Crabtree, Nyiri, â€Å"Education researchers, government officials, and the international development community often have different ideas about the best approach to improving educational attainment across the globe† (2009, p. 74). The same can be said for educators and district leaders; there are a variety of opinions on how important the use of technology is within the classroom, and the necessity of it in preparing students to excel in today’s digital society. In the early 1970s a very small number of schools had access to computers, and usually those schools we home of the elite. However, during the late 20th century the obvious necessity to incorporate computers into the classroom became apparent. Companies such as Apple and Hewlett Packard ran promotions, which allowed more districts the ability to purchase technology for their schools (Nyiri et. al. , 2009). Since then, the integration of technology into education and schools has become paramount in the ability for students to become prepared for the 21st Century workplace. Schools are enthusiastic about introducing technology and computers into the classroom but there are several obstacles that they must overcome. The first obstacle is the lack of funding. Many schools embrace the idea of integrating technology into the classroom but do not have the funding to provide the technology to their students or teachers. President Obama’s charge to facilitate every classroom with computers and wire every school for Internet use can be seen as the light at the end of the tunnel. During the summer of 2009, several educational groups urged congress to spend several billion dollars to improve technology in the classroom, and to ensure that teachers knew how to use this technology effectively. According to Miners â€Å"Recognizing the importance of the matter, president Obama and congressional leaders included $650 million in the federal stimulus package for the enhancing education† (2009, p. 35). It is expected that over 25% of this funding is used to train teachers on the use of this technology. In acquiring technology for schools, and training teachers on the effective use of this technology they will in turn prepare our students to be globally competitive in this digital world. There are a variety of technological tools that can be utilized in the classroom; and although technology is available often times it is not used. The main issue that needs to be overcome is the lack of training that teachers receive on this technology which in turn creates a sense of apprehensiveness in integrating technology into the classroom. As stated by Miners, teachers have desired to use this technology in the classroom but have done so poorly due to â€Å"perhaps an unsatisfactory implementation of poorly conceived programs† (2009, p. 36). In 1997 a group of teachers completed a study on how the integration of technology could be used to enhance student learning. This became known as the Teacher Leadership Program. This program has transformed into a professional development for teachers which train them on the use of technology in the classroom through an intensive summer study and continuous online training. Then these teachers can return to their schools and train their colleagues (Miners, 2009). Modeling the integration of technology into their lesson plans is imperative to emphasizing the ease and effectiveness of this technology in the classroom. Not only this, but educators need to utilize technology when collaborating and communicating with their colleagues. Email, instant messaging, and school websites are just a few of the ways that colleagues can use technology with their peers’ all the while modeling appropriate use for the students. When students walk into the classroom they want to be immersed in the lifestyle they are accustomed to at home. Cell phones, personal computers, IPods, and gaming systems are the norm at home, students have grown up with this technology at their fingertips and know how to operate it in most cases more efficiently than most technology professors. They are accustomed to communication via instant messaging, reading digital books, listening to music on mp3 files, posting their diary on blogs, and making friends with facebook. Entering a classroom that is filled with old books, white boards, and no technology present does not provide them with the type of environment in which they need to learn. As Harris and Rea state, with â€Å"the Google/Facebook generation accustomed to being connected to information sources and social networks all the time and in many forms, how can we best use these technologies to transform, supplement, or even supplant current pedagogical practices† (2009, p. 37). The first issue that needs to be addressed is the use of technological equipment in the classrooms. Smart boards, also known as digital white boards are the wave of the future. According to Corcoran, smart boards are â€Å"are a portal to the digital world† (2009), students can interact with the information on the screen using touch screen technology. Almost one third of classrooms in the United States have Smart boards, which in turn allows students in these classrooms to become actively engaged in learning. Students who have access to smart board technology become â€Å"doers† in the classroom rather than sponges ingesting the information disseminated by the teacher. It allows students of all learning styles the opportunity to learn; given the fact that it is of great importance to differentiate in education, being able to cater to all learning styles whether visual, auditory, or kinesthetic through the smart board leads to a very productive learning environment. However, an interactive white board in the classroom is merely a white board if it is not used effectively. PowerPoint presentations which are interactive are much more interesting than an oral lecture from the teacher, or taking notes from a book. Being allowed to manipulate and interact with the information allows the students to absorb and retain what they are learning. Teachers can create lessons which are visually stimulating, link their lessons with online websites, incorporate music, images, and video into the lesson. They can create online games such as Jeopardy or Millionaire to assess student learning, or use programs such as ClassScape to assess students learning. Teachers can create web quests, which are interactive systems of learning. By allowing students to use the internet as a form of learning rather than constant dictation from the teacher we allow them to attain the information themselves therefore retaining it more easily. Jonassen, Howland, Marra, and Crismond (2008) noted that web activities such as WebQuests or scavenger hunts are common tools that allow for independent thinking, challenge students intellectually and assist with problem solving skills. The integration of technology into the classroom are key in motivating the students to learn, to become active in the classroom, and to use the knowledge that they have in dealing with technology in the classroom. Gone are the days of paper and pencil classrooms, with the integration of technology into the classroom comes the love of learning is rekindled in many of these students lives. With the wide array of websites available online nowadays teachers have no excuse for not utilizing technology into the classroom. These websites can be used in the classroom and also at home. An excellent example is Wiki space which is a webpage where teachers can post their lectures and notes or where they can create an open forum for class discussion. As students are invited to this wiki-space they can edit and add to the discussion online. Students can create their own wikispace, which can greatly decrease stress when working on group projects. Teachers can build their own virtual classroom websites which can be used to as a means to communicate with, and make parents aware of the goings on in the classroom. Students can use these websites to access homework, and to contact their teachers. Through incorporating technology into the classroom and to use it as a form of communication with parents, colleagues, and students, teachers are preparing the students for life in the 21st century and ensuring that when they leave the classroom and enter the workforce they are prepared for the technological challenges that they will face them.

The Effect of Technology on Globalization

The Effect of Technology on Globalization Technology is understood to be the driving force of globalization that began in the 18th century and has continued ever since to the 21st century, in-between three industrial revolutions have taken place. The 1st industrialization revolution was in the 18th century that took place in manufacturing industries. The 2nd industrialization revolution was in the services industries. The 3rd industrialization revolution of the 21st century which we are going through is know as information age as described by Adam Smith. This technological development has helped globalise the world economy and it is also known as the Kondrative long Wave process (K-wave)  [3]  . As the diagram below shows:- The diagram describes the tends of technological changes that have taken place since the industrialization revolution, relating from production, distribution and communication, that has fuelled the globalization. It has brought about innovation and interaction between nations that werent possible before. That has led to some of the greatest invention that revolutionized trade, communication and interaction to a whole new level and increased globalization .As Thomas Friedmans said Globalization is not a choice. Basically, 80% of it is driven by technology  [4]  . According to Cable (1995) Transportation costs are falling with improved physical communication with the help of improved technological advances in telecommunication, computing, fibre optics and satellites.  [5]  Which has resulted in the speeding up of information flow and the transportation of goods across nations more quickly and efficiently . This is being achieved through the technologies mentioned above, that is at the heart of the communication and transportation globalization, which is ongoing. Joseph Schumpeter has called it a glaze of creative distraction  [6]  . Take for instance transportation system wouldnt have been made possible without the invention off steam engine in 1796 a problem solved by James Watts  [7] The diffusion of steam engine technology to streamline ships, with the help of propulsion technology and the introduction of Jet Aircraft in 1950s brought about new dynamics of globalization which has allowed flexibility in movement of labour freely. This innovation has allowed massive economic expansion to take place and caused Global Shrinkage, in terms of distances. As the Diagram below illustrates on how travelling distances have been reduced over time and made world smaller: The diagram shows the Global Shrinkage: the effect of changing transportation technologies on Real distances  [8]  . Improvements made in transportation and the development of containerization allowed goods to move from place to place and continent to continents ever since its launch in 1956 to move goods from Newark, New Jersey to Houston Texas through the Gulf of Mexico  [9]  . Shipping ports around the world have cranes built to lift the containers more efficiently and thus saving money and speeding trade. Compare to pre-containership era of 1960s where trade was slow and unreliable that also fall due to bad weather or thieves. As Economist Paul Kurgnam says that the result is new economic geography requiring new theories of location and trade. The changes have been both technological and political  [10]  . Technological development has helped increased globalization. A prime example of technological globalization is that China and India have benefited economically as technologies like airplane, container ships have allowed China to export its goods to Europe and US vice versa and allowed countries to exploit their comparative advantage in trade. Article named The container that changed the world published by Virginia Postrel in New York times re-enforces the point that Low transport costs help make it economically sensible for a factory in China to produce Barbie dolls with Japanese hair, Taiwanese plastics and American colorants, and ship them off to eager girls all over the world, writes Marc Levinson in The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger  [11]  . According to Kondrative Wave (K Wave) system we are in the fifth cycle that is known as the Information Age. The Internet /World Wide Web has been the biggest thing to come out of Information technology advancements. That has revolutionized how information is passed or its availability thus creating an economy based on knowledge. The Internet has been described as a decentralized, global medium of communication comprising a global web of linked networks and computers.  [12]  As people across countries can trade and communicate instantaneously economically, for example e-mail has allowed instant communication through the World Wide Web, World Wide Web on the other has made World One as countries can now trade with each other, all made possible due to the cost effectiveness technological advance like the internet /world wide web. Where information is been exchanged at a global level instantaneously. As Information is the new mantra that spells success in the modern world  [13] Technology like the Internet has given rise to E-commerce; E-commerce that refers to business conducted through means of electronic communication networks like Internet. That has brought about new dynamics to the globalization of businesses. Where virtual business can be set up and trade worldwide without any barriers stopping them. For example business like Amazon, Borders and eBay that have sprung up because of Internet have transformed the way small business operate and have given opportunity to individuals to enter these global markets. As Internet help provides a cheaper faster way of communication between business and its consumers worldwide. Another sector that has seen the biggest impact because of technological globalization is the financial sector, where diffusion of information based technology has made possible people around the world to trade 24/7 trading has moved to electronic system from the physical system making money move more efficiently and on a faster level, thus allowing more participation of those people who are connected with the internet. Technology has also impacted the cultural globalization with inventions like telephone and television. Telephone has made it feasible for any one to talk to each other regardless of where they are geographically in the world, all made possible with the help of satellites and mobile phones that has made possible to make a call, receive e-mail, texts and even allow video call. It is due to technological advancements made in the field of communication, as seen no countries are now really apart. All made possible due to technological breakthrough in communication that have revolutionized business, commerce, and linked millions of people. TV on the other hand has connected parts of world, where they feel and see without having to leave the room. On TVS by just a touch of the remote button, that allows people to explore worlds on different channels it is made available because of Internet, communication advances and with the help of sounds and visual that are transmitted through the TV. Co mmunication technology has brought the world closer and people closer regardless of where they are in the world. We have found out that form the 1st industrial revolution Technology has had a great impact in the globalization as it help join the world together, where distance is no barrier for trade and is considered to be an essential part of economic globalization activity. As Friedman pointed out that 80% of globalization is technology driven. The technological development made in areas like communication and the invention of telephone and Mobile phones all with the help of satellites has made help removed the time and distance that has excited before. Transportation on the other hand has allowed trade to take place more efficiently and cost effectively with the help of the containerships, Jet Airplane and electric trains. It has helped facilitated growth between nations, as countries are able to take advantage of their comparative advantages as large goods can be exported and imported between countries. The spread of information technology has made production networks cheaper and easier, all made possible because of digital networks like the Internet that is cost effective. This has been one of the fundamental economic globalization factors that have helped overcome the friction of distance and time. Without these technological advancements globalization would not be made possible or even achieved As the K-Wave shows the types of technologic advances at different stages of industrialization and there economic impact that all began in the late 18th century.

Terrorists and Personal Weapons :: Terrorism

Terrorists and Personal Weapons Personal weapons fired at short ranges are the primary weapons of terrorists as well as the police officer or soldier fighting against them. One of the most important facets of personal weapons is that they have changed little since the 1940s. They have not been affected by the technological revolutions of nuclear, electronic and aerodynamic guidance and control systems. The weapons may be smaller and lighter with more advanced sights, but the ranges and rates of fire have changed little. The most significant change in personal weapons is most likely the controlled burst. The controlled burst is a system of sustained fire where bullets are fired in short, fast groupings of three. These three round bursts conserve ammunition and also give more effective fire for normal use. Another important development with the ammunition is the creation and use of caseless ammunition, which eliminates the need to eject a cartridge. Plastic ammunition has been designed primarily for training but could be effective for terrorists. If a gun made up completely of non-metallic parts, then plastic bullets would be desirable in evading detection at airports. While some terrorists employ the use of assault rifles, light-machine guns, sub-machine guns and even shotguns, the pistol is still the most popular. Revolvers and self-loading pistols are used because of their size and ease of concealment. Pistols can be carried in a pocket or a hip or shoulder holster, leaving both hands free until it becomes necessary to draw the gun. Armor-piercing missiles are used increasingly on attacks of both armored vehicles and the walls of buildings. They have had little success against vehicles, however, because they do not usually achieve a clean hit at the right angle in the right place, which is essential for effectiveness. Arab terrorists use the hand-held surface-to-surface Russian RPG 7 missile most commonly, and oftentimes these weapons have been largely provided to Arab governments who then can pass them on to terrorists. Terrorists can also use mortars in their attacks. Improvised mortars are extremely easy to make but can be inaccurate and unreliable, and so accidents are unavoidable. Most suitable for terrorist use are light mortars. A popular light mortar is the British 51mm Mortar, which weighs 6.25 kilograms and (its bomb weighs only 0.9kg). It has a range of 800 meters and a projected error of 2%. The use of anti-aircraft missiles by guerrillas to shoot down helicopters and other aircraft has increased.

Comparing Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of Darkness and Kipling

Imperialism in Heart of Darkness and Kipling's Poetry   Ã‚  Ã‚   Imperialism sprung from an altruistic and unselfish aim to "take up the white man's burden"1 and â€Å"wean [the] ignorant millions from their horrid ways.†2 These two citations are, of course, from Kipling’s â€Å"White Man’s Burden† and Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, respectively, and they splendidly encompass what British and European imperialism was about – at least seen from the late-nineteenth century point of view. This essay seeks to explore the comparisons and contrasts between Conrad’s and Kipling’s view of imperialism in, respectively, Heart of Darkness and â€Å"White Man’s Burden† and â€Å"Recessional.†      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In a historical context, the two texts differ greatly: Heart of Darkness is Conrad’s autobiographical description of his trip up the river of Congo and his encounter with the atrocities of European rule in Africa.3 Conversely, Kipling’s â€Å"White Man’s Burden† was written to welcome the United States of America to the club of imperialistic nations. The event that prompted Kipling to write this poem was the United States’ intervention in the Philippines. Under the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the Philippine sovereignty was transferred from Spain to the United States and thus the United States emerged as an imperialistic nation dedicated to progress. This is the core of the matter – progress. Kipling speaks of ‘a Law’ in his poem â€Å"Recessional.† The code of behaviour and the enlightenment that Kipling wished to be aggrandised to all ‘primitive’ nations. In other words: Progress in the mean s of railroads across continents, telegraph lines over deep seas, commerce beyond boundaries and steam boat lines criss-crossing the earth.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Imperialism was at its height... ...55,1978) * Conrad, Joseph. â€Å"Heart of Darkness† in The Norton Anthology of English Literature, M.H. Abrams, general editor.   (London: W.W. Norton, 1962, 2000) * Islam, Shamsul. Kipling’s Law: A Study of His Philosophy of Life (London: The MacMillan Press Ltd., 1975) * McClure, John A. â€Å"The Rhetoric of Restraint in Heart of Darkness† in Nineteenth Century Fiction, Volume 32, Issue 3 (Dec. 1977), pp. 310-26 – available through www.jstor.org * Raskin, Jonah. The Mythology of Imperialism (New York: Random House, 1971) * Rudyard Kipling’s Verse, ‘Definitive Edition’ (London: Hudder & Stoughton, 1940) * Watts, Cedric. â€Å"‘A Bloody Racist’: About Achebe’s View of Conrad† in Joseph Conrad; Critical Assessments, Keith Carabine, ed., Volume II: ‘The Critical Response: Almayer’s Folly to The Mirror of the Sea’ (Mountfield: Helm Information Ltd., 1992)

Changing Our Lives Essay

Changing Our Lives There are several reasons I decided to go to college at this point of my life. The first reason was simply because when I first received my G. E. D. I couldn’t decide which occupation was right for me. There were so many different and interesting career paths to choose from. It became overwhelming trying to narrow it down to the best choice. I honestly didn’t want to waste time and money going to school for a job I didn’t enjoy or that I could not excel at.I wasted the next part of my life using drugs and gambling. I made a lot of bad decisions that led me to become involved with law. I have never been charged with any felonies, but I have plenty of misdemeanors to show for my behavior. This limits me to what jobs I can receive. Once the company does a background check the hiring process usually stops there. Even though I have changed my life for the better most employers won’t give me a chance to prove myself. My record definitely limit s me when choosing an occupation.I am embarrassed and not very proud of my mistakes I have made in life but I will not let the past slow me down. Being enrolled in college will help prove myself as a responsible adult and show others that I can shine in any situation. Going to college will give me that chance to make my family proud. I also think it is setting a great example for my children. They see every day how hard it is to work for a job you don’t like and not receiving the pay you deserve.Deciding to go to college will teach them that no matter what happens in life it’s never too late to make a change for the better. After a lot of thought and time I decided that I would receive my bachelors degree in business administration with a concentration on management. This opens many different outlets upon graduation and will help me decide on a specific career. I will also have the knowledge to hold a management position and make more money while still attending colleg e. My ultimate goal is to one day own a couple of small businesses of my own.I already have the creativity, passion, and drive to be successful. Going to college will give me the understanding about the business world and bring me closer to my career goals. Waiting to go to college has been frustrating, but definitely worth it. I feel like I finally have enough time to manage work, school, and family life. I am more responsible and am able to make better choices. After changing my life I am finally on the path to seeing my dreams come true. Hopefully I will achieve my final goal of one day being my own boss.