Governments Involvement Of Government Security - 1519 Words

In this day and age the internet has become a big part of our lives. The internet is now a medium that connects millions of different people across the world in the matter of seconds. However, the vast sea of communication and information that comes along with the internet is not a safe place. More and more often we hear of a security breach within a major company or leaked information, from hackers. Many people are questioning whether or not the government should get involved and regulate the internet. However, people don’t realize that the government’s involvement might infringe on our constitutional rights by censorship of information, invading privacy and the possibility of suppressing our freedom of speech People in the United States†¦show more content†¦Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. Those are the words of the first amendment in our constitution and the law the government must follow. U.S civilians run the risk of losing many rights with government regulating the internet. For example privacy, many government requests has been sent to Google for information on their consumers. In the Google transparency report, a U.S. law enforcement agency asked Google to take down a blog that allegedly defamed a law enforcement official in a personal capacity. The company denied that request. Another separate and different law enforcement group asked Google to take down one thousand four hundred videos on YouTube (Google owns YouTube) because of alleged harassment. Dorothy Chou, a Google analyst states, It s alarming not only because free expression is at risk, but because some of these requests come from countries you might not suspect, Western democracies not typically associated with censorship.† The company did not oblige either of those demands but as the report states, they did fulfil at least with forty- two percent of the removal requests from the United States in 2011. That number compared to the past reports is very low; in 2010, for example, Google said it complied with eighty-seven percent of U.S. requests to take down content. In 2011, Google received six thousand three hundred and twenty one requests for

Inclusive Design Is Not A Synonym For Accessibility

COMPARISIMS TO ACCESSIBLE DESIGNS The terms Inclusive and accessible design are a constant source of confusion. Inclusive design is not a synonym for accessibility neither is it a connotation for the term barrier free design . There are recognised minimum requirements set for designers that when followed let many individuals the opportunity to access programs and activities however they may not support their active and full participation; such standards do not address the sensitivities of sensory and cognitive differences, nor do they address the changes experienced by the human body over time . Designers may use these codes and principles as a yardstick but must go beyond them to achieve an Inclusive design . Inclusive design highlights the importance of meeting the needs of as many users as possible. Designs may be naturally accommodating or adaptable to meet diverse personal requirements; therefore it is imperative that inclusive design be included in all stages of the design process. Inclusive design promotes an integrative approach rather than multiple separate solutions by addressing the needs of an increasing number of people in a single design solution resulting in the inclusive involvement of more people in the activities of society while keeping it cost effective . PRINCIPLES OF INCLUSIVE DESIGN There are five major principles of inclusive design. Placing people at the heart of the design process is the first principle of Inclusive design . Involving as manyShow MoreRelatedRule Of Law And Development10265 Words   |  42 PagesElements of rule of law Elements of Rule of Law The concept of the rule of law consists of a number of distinct but interconnected elements. 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Lecturers can be a reference point for many issuesRead MoreMotivations for Pleasure Vacation7629 Words   |  31 PagesRetired Total Number 14 5 1 4 3 1 3 5 3 39 It is important to note that the study reported here was essentially a qualitative study. Its objectives were limited to identifying, and obtaining insights into, tourists motivations. Because of the research design, data collection technique, and the limited sample size, this study was not concerned with identifying the distributions of these motives in a population. An investigation into the distribution of these motives, which builds upon the basic work reportedRead MoreIntroduction to Materials Management169665 Words   |  679 PagesFrom the Library of Girro@qq.com From the Library of Girro Editor in Chief: Vernon R. Anthony Acquisitions Editor: Eric Krassow Editorial Assistant: Nancy Kesterson Production Editor: Louise N. 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Common project direct costs include: †¢ Direct capital costs, specific to product/service production, e.g. raw materials, plant and equipment, land and construction costs, design costs; †¢ Direct maintenance costs, clearly linked to servicing the project and/or infrastructure asset, rather than improving or adding to it, e.g. tools and equipment, labor costs; and †¢ Direct operating costs, relating to costs for everyday functionsRead MoreGlobalization and Its Impact on Malaysia13672 Words   |  55 Pagesdistinct political, economic, and cultural trends, the term â€Å"globalization† has quickly become one of the most fashionable buzzwords of contemporary political and academic debate. In popular discourse, globalization often functions as little more than a synonym for one or more of the following phenomena: the pursuit of classical liberal (or â€Å"free market†) policies in the world economy (â€Å"economic liberalization†), the growing dominance of western (or even American) forms of political, economic, and culturalRead MoreCase Study148348 Words   |  594 Pages---------------------------------This edition published 2011  © Pearson Education Limited 2011 The rights of Gerry Johnson, Richard Whittington and Kevan Scholes to be identified as the authors of this work have been asserted by them in accordance w ith the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Pearson Education is not responsible for the content of third party internet sites. ISBN: 978-0-273-73557-1 (printed) ISBN: 978-0-273-73552-6 (web) All rights reserved. Permission is hereby given for the material in this publicationRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesQuestions for Review 230 Experiential Exercise Goal-Setting Task 230 Ethical Dilemma The Big Easy? 230 Case Incident 1 It’s Not Fair! 231 Case Incident 2 Bullying Bosses 231 8 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications 239 Motivating by Job Design: The Job Characteristics Model 240 The Job Characteristics Model 240 †¢ How Can Jobs Be Redesigned? 242 †¢ Alternative Work Arrangements 245 †¢ The Social and Physical Context of Work 249 Employee Involvement 250 Examples of Employee Involvement Programs

Maze Runner Book Report free essay sample

Thomas is the narrator and protagonist of the story. He arrives in the maze with no knowledge of who he is or was. He only remembers his name and nothing else about his life. Thomas proves to be brave and clever even though he only has a very limited memory of previous knowledge of the Maze. Since arriving in the maze, Thomas makes both friends and enemies and proves to be a leader among the other boys with him in the maze. Teresa is a teenage girl who mysteriously arrives in the maze a day after Thomas. She tells everyone that everything is about to change in the maze, before slipping into a coma. Thomas is sure that he knows Teresa from before, but can’t remember. Later, it’s revealed that she had worked with Thomas to create the maze. They become close friends over the course of the novel and Teresa helps Thomas and Chuck deactivate the Maze during their escape. We will write a custom essay sample on Maze Runner Book Report or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She is the only female character throughout the entire book. Alby is the leader of the gladers(The group of boys living in the giant maze), and has authority over much of what goes on in the Glade(the only safe area in the maze). He is hot-headed but experienced. Only a few Gladers, those who have been there the longest, ever see fit to question Albys decisions. After being stung by a Griever(giant slug like monsters armed with weapons and made to guard the maze), Alby undergoes a Changing and becomes convinced that they should not return to the outside world. He wishes to stay in the Glade and even tries to sabotage an escape plan. Alby dies during the escape attempt by throwing himself onto a Griever. Thomas wakes up in a metal box with no memory of who he is. He only remembers his name. Dorrs open overhead and reveal a community of young boys living on a type of farm Surrounded by giant walls The place is called the Glade. Outside the Glade and beyond the walls is a massive Maze. Thomas learns that in the maze are monsters known as Grievers. Thomas meets the leader of the Glade, Alby, who shows Thomas around the maze. The day after Thomas arrives, the first ever girl is sent up into the Glade. Her name is Teresa. Teresa tells everyone that everything is about to change, then succumbs to a coma. Thomas feels a connection to her, but can’t figure out where he knows her from. Thomas then decides that he wants to be a Runner, Gladers who go out into the Maze in an attempt to map it and find a way out. While exploring the Maze, Alby is stung by a Griever. Minho, the leader of runners, attempts to get him back into the Glade before the walls close but they are not going to make it. Thomas sees them, then races out to help and becomes trapped outside in the Maze with them. The Maze is most dangerous at night because that is when the Grivers are most active. Despite being the most experienced, Minho panics and runs away leaving Thomas and Alby. Through wits and skill, Thomas manages to save himself with alby, and survive the night in the Maze. That made Thomas a hero and from that, Minho convinces the other Gladers to allow Thomas to become a Runner trainee. Thomas then begins training under Minho. He learns how the Runners map the Maze, looking for patterns to the maze every day. Thomas also visits Teresa who is still comatose. She begins to communicate with him telepathically and tells Thomas that she has triggered the end. The next day the sun has disappeared from the sky, replaced with a dull gray sky. Thomas realizes that the Glade is a fabricated place and that the sky was never real. Teresa tells Thomas that the Maze is a code before she awakens and forgets everything. The Gladers then realize the entrances to the maze no longer close during the night, allowing the Grievers to roam the Glade during the night the grievers come every night and take a Glader With them. Thomas determines a new way to analyze the map information. With Teresas help, they find a series of letters hidden in the maps, spelling out words. Without knowing what to do with the code, the Gladers began to lose hope, but in an act of desperation, Thomas allows himself to be stung by the Grievers to recover memories through the Changing. Thomas learns the way out of the Maze and makes a plan to escape. Thomas gathers the Gladers and leads them into the Maze where they face off against a small army of Grievers. About half of the Gladers die in the fight but Thomas and Teresa make their way down the hole in the Cliff and are able to punch in the code and shut down the Maze. Over the past few weeks I read Maze Runner by James Dashner and copyrighted in 2009 and thought it was amazing. It was one of the best books I’ve read because of the way the plot was set up. i truly enjoyed the story because of the constant feeling of danger throughout the book. It’s interesting that Thomas, the leader, worked with Teresa and the creators to make the very maze he is trying to escape from. As I read the end of this book I kept thinking about the phrase,†Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong† and how all the Gladers thought the answer was the maze but it was actually something entirely different. From the book, I learned that sometimes, the answer to a problem isn’t always the absolute right or wrong answer, just better or worse.

Zombie Paper free essay sample

One of the topics we discussed this past semester that interested me the most was the role of zombies in entertainment. Movies, television shows, and the internet have been overflowing with anything zombie related since the zombie craze began. Although there are many metaphors for the zombie in all three of these resources my favorite is the issue of population. In nearly all depictions and discussions of zombies they always multiply in a dramatic rate because they infect those who they feast on. As a result, society becomes overpopulated and society goes into a state of panic and hysteria. Twenty years ago the United States had a little fewer than 250 million people and now in 2010 we are pushing to 310 million. With so many issues of job shortages and companies outsourcing jobs to increase their profit margin, this is an issue that many Americans are currently dealing with. According to the U. We will write a custom essay sample on Zombie Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page S. Bureau Labor of Statistics, currently there is a 9. 6% unemployment rate. It may not seem so low, but a mere 10 years ago it was barely a 4% unemployment rate.That is more than double the amount of unemployed in a decade. Overconsumption is another issue that is always portrayed in various zombie films. One of the more recent films that shows this is Dawn of the Dead. Basically, zombies have taken over the city and a group of people were able to run for safety. The place of refuge is in the mall and somehow the zombies all show up to the mall. One of the characters tries to explain it may be â€Å"instinct. † As the movie progresses, the people in the mall begin to consume everything around them. It was really amazing to watch this film with that sense of perspective.I realized that we all consume so much and are willing to kill sometimes for that particular item of interest. Unfortunately, close to where I am from a Walmart employee was killed when a group of shoppers during Black Friday broke down the doors and trampled him to death. We are all driven by consumption and sometimes we do not see that limit until someone is hurt or killed. This is one of the most important issues facing our society today. With all the consumption we do of products that are not 100% necessary, there are millions around the world living in omplete poverty. Food for them is not a luxury like it is for us. They do not have the options to choose what they eat, but to eat what they find or given to them. I truly feel as we consume more and more we lose a little bit of our humanity inside of us. That is why I feel zombies are the perfect metaphor for that; because they have no humanity left. Since the beginning of the human race, we have advanced in everything we have ever done. Science, medicine, and architecture are just a few to name. One of things we have gotten better at is also destroying ourselves. Weapons have advanced from a simply knife made out of stone to biological warfare and atomic bombs. Now there are weapons being created which are the size of a few molecules and can kill you in a matter of seconds. Resident Evil is a movie that depicts the issue of the creation of bioweapons and what it can do. Although the idea that everyone will turn into zombies and feed on the living isn’t very realistic, the core of the plot is what’s important. A company has genetically engineered a virus that will be used as a weapon. The virus was then mishandled and released into the atmosphere.Eventually everything we do comes back to us in one way or another. Billions upon billions is poured into spending on creating new weapons while over a billion people in the world do not have access to clean water. We have the power to create something that is not visible to the naked eye and can kill you in a matter of seconds, yet we can’t give everyone in the world access to clean water. Eventually, our choices will come back to bite us. The issue of creating more weapons is just the beginning of many things we need to change before it is too late.Land of the Dead was one of the movies we saw this past semester that raised a concern I did not have before. Zombies are shown as hideous and very stupid. They have no ability to speak and are mostly composed of the lower class. A perfect example is the main zombie character in Land of the Dead is a gas station attendant. This movie dealt very close to the social struggle between the upper class and everyone else. The upper class surrounds themselves in luxurious penthouses and indulge in the finest cuisines while the people outside have to defend themselves against the zombie infestation.I really liked that because I live in an area which I immediately thought of when I saw the movie. Seagate is the name of it and it is a gated community with gigantic houses while the only things surrounding this gated community are cramped apartments of families and a very high crime rate. One of the final topics we discussed in class that I really enjoyed researching was the zombie representing the loss of individuality. A perfect example of a movie where this is depicted is Shaun of the Dead. Although Shaun and his friends are actually not zombies we see them doing the same thing on a daily basis.There is nothing special or unique about any of them. The same thing goes for zombies. They are usually in masses and move in similar movement and have no actual identity. I think this is a very important metaphor because so many of us have become these â€Å"zombie† robots. We get up, shower, go to class, eat, go to more class, go eat, and go to sleep. Then on the weekends everyone goes to the bars and drinks the night away. There is nothing special or unique about any of those things. Our lives have become simple routines that are predetermined.Although Shaun of the Dead may have been a zombie comedy, the idea of individuality should not be taken so lightly. If we lose that, then we lose what defines us and then we truly all have become zombies. Zombies have become so much more than just something that walks around and feasts on the living. They have become subliminal messages reminding the viewers about the current and past issues that plague today’s society. The choice is left up to us whether we choose to see the message, and if so take some sort of action.

15 Quick Tips for a Better ACT Score

Until you actually hit that 36, there’s always room to improve your ACT score. And there are so many ways to reach for that 36. Here are 15 quick tips for a better ACT score. Tip # 1: Take full practice tests You don’t really know the ACT until you’ve done a full practice run. You can take whole mock tests on the official ACT website, or through a reputable third-party company like Magoosh ACT. Tip # 2: Practice reading some charts and tables The ACT is big on visual literacy: the ability to read charts and tables. You’ll find a lot of charts and tables in ACT Math. And these kinds of infographics really dominate ACT Science. So get in some practice reading with visually organized information. Tip # 3: Practice writing Put on your â€Å"writer’s hat.† Do some practice journaling, compose some emails, write on social media. And of course, take your high school writing assignments seriously. Do all you can to become an experienced writer so you can shine on the ACT Essay. Tip # 4: Look at some example ACT Essays One of the best ways to improve your writing is to look at example writing from others. So it’s a good idea to look at some model ACT Essays. If the model essay comes with a writing tutorial, like this ACT example essay does, all the better. Tip # 5: Be punctuation conscious Periods, commas, semi-colons, and so on are tiny marks. But they can have a big impact on your ACT score. ACT English focuses a lot on punctuation, and poor punctuation can also derail your ACT Essay. Tip # 6: Read like a critic â€Å"Everyone’s a critic,† as they say. Join the bandwagon! When you read, really think about the decisions the writer made. What is the writer trying to say? Who is the writer’s intended audience? Did the writer do a truly good job? This kind of critical reading will help you in ACT Reading and ACT English. Tip # 7: Time your reading You’ve got less than 9 minutes to go through an ACT Reading passage and answer 10 questions about the passage. This requires fast, efficient reading. Time your ACT Reading practice and make sure you’re inside the time limits. Tip # 8: Use reading strategies Learn how to look for content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) that help you understand the most important meaning in a passage. Tip # 9: Review some very basic science terms For ACT Science, you may need to know the names of common compounds (H2O, carbon, etc†¦), scientific names for well-known plants and animals, and common science vocabulary from high school textbooks. Brush up on those science basics. Tip # 10: On ACT Math, estimate! One of the great things about multiple choice math questions is that you don’t need to calculate the exact answer. In ACT Math, the exact answer is already there, among the answer choices. To get to the answer quickly, estimate rather than doing exact calculations. Tip # 11: Study the common ACT Math topics The math on the ACT falls into three broad categories: pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry. Within these categories are a number of other question types. You can go to the Magoosh High School Blog to read up on ACT Math topics. Tip # 12: Don’t lean on your calculator You can use a calculator in ACT Math. But excessive calculator use can actually hurt your score, slowing you down and causing you to make mistakes. Always use mental math on the ACT when possible. Tip # 13: Use multiple choice strategies With the exception of the ACT Essay, the ACT is a multiple choice test. And multiple choice questions should be approached with strategy. As you learn how to deal with ACT multiple choice, this article on ACT multiple choice strategy is a great place to start. Tip 14: Make a good study plan Treat your ACT target score as a long-term goal, one that you carefully plan for. Not sure how to lay out your study plan? No problem! This web page of possible ACT Study schedules can give you some ideas.Tip 15: Set the right test date The ACT is offered on fixed dates throughout the year. Look at a list ofthe 2017 and 2018 ACT test dates. The list also comes with advice on how to choose an ACT test date that meets your study needs.

social class and dirty dancing essays

social class and dirty dancing essays Gender And Sexuality Play A Key Part Within The Film Dirty Dancing. Discuss. The film is set in the year of 1963, John F Kennedy was still president and the Vietnam War was not considered a threat, the Beatles had yet not reached America and the Freedom riders were on. In reality the well known and loved, cult girly film, and classic romance was made in 1987. There have been many attempts throughout the film to represent the time in which it was set and yet there are clear indications that the film is of a more modern make. Essentially the film could be classed as both a dancing film and a romance in its genre. It aims to demythologise the myth of the American dream by portraying fundamental rifts within societies thinking. The idea of a relationship occurring between the workers (working class) and upper classes is not a new subject, yet it is obvious that many issues raised within the film, show a deep argument about moral ideas posed by sex. The film opens with a stirring sound track with the montage of suggestive images in black and white gyrating across the screen. The viewer from the opening scenes maybe has an idea why the film is called dirty dancing. Right from the beginning it is clear that the majority of dancers are young, Caucasian, heterosexual couples. Within the view there is one black couple dancing with each other. Everybody appears to be equal in role when dancing. There is no swapping of partners and throughout the rest of the film each couple is for the majority, firmly set with that partner. The action begins with a Cadillac driving along a deserted road and a voice over explaining the year and name of the main character. Immediately we are alerted that the young girl is called Baby. The audience is also immediately aware of the desire of the character to have a man exactly like her father. The voice-over explains that and I thought I would never find a man as... [good] as ...

How to create a hop farm Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How to create a hop farm - Research Paper Example The most essential ingredient to aid the process of brewing beer are hops. These are as important as malt. Apart from adding to the overall taste and the aroma of the beer, hops have a large number of anti-bacterial properties and aid the production of clearer beer by eliminating many unwanted proteins. According to Simmonds (2007), â€Å"Hops have a powerful, agreeable odor and biter taste; they appear to consist of an acid, ethereal oil, an aromatic resin, wax, extractive and a bitter principal called lupulin.† Apart from this, they also are utilized as a diuretic in herbal medicine and allow brewer’s yeast to perform its function by acting like an antibiotic and preventing the growth of other dominating undesirable microorganisms. Dried female fruit called ‘strobiles’ of a plant that is a kind of climbing herb and belonging to the family Moraceae or scientifically known as Humulus lupulus are called hops. These are perennial plants that are pretty tough and hardy the hop vines called ‘bines’ can reach a height of even twenty-five feet to even fifty feet and weigh nearly twenty pounds. Hops need a relatively moderate climate and during the initial stages of growth need a good quantity of sun for at least six to eight hours to attain a good height. They are grown from foot long root-cuttings commonly referred to as ‘rhizomes’ and these are easily available in the market and can even be ordered online. These rhizomes are those of the female plant and need to be planted around four inches below the soil leaving a gap of around one and a half to three feet between each rhizome with all the exposed buds facing the soil surface. Generally, it is sensible and highly recommended to grow them in a South facing area. Just like all other plants of its kind, these plants need very well aerated nutritious soil with a good drainage. Rhizome-based cultivation always results in very fast root growth and therefore

Choose a business whose main focus is in the manufacture of renewable Essay

Choose a business whose main focus is in the manufacture of renewable energy technology - Essay Example Aelos Wind Turbine Company may undertake strategic decisions such as defining the objective and policies of the company. Executives of the company are relegated with the task of analysing new markets and consequently designing new marketing strategies (Panneersalvam, 2006, p.2). They acknowledged the increasing demand in the wind energy industry; thus, they decided to offer their products to different countries. In addition, they have created alternative approaches to manufacturing. These executives established a long-term strategy that ensures sufficient financing. They focused on improving the technical features of the product. Lastly, executives at Aelos Wind Turbine Company designed strategies for recruitment, training, benefits, and salary. These are considered as strategic decisions as it determines the purpose, goal, and direction of the business organization (Panneersalvam, 2006, p.2). Meanwhile, tactical decisions are performed at the middle management level. Tactical decisions of Aelos Wind Turbine Company may include determining a suitable plant location, new product establishment, monitoring of budget, and acquisition of resources. Executives compare the overall performance of the company to the standard marketing plan. They analyzed summary reports that compare standard performance or overall plan for productions (Panneersalvam, 2006, p.2). In addition, they are concerned with information on actual versus the budgeted cost of error rates and processing accounting data. Lastly, these executives concentrate in variance analysis of firing and hiring, cost of training, and cost of recruitment (Panneersalvam, 2006, p.2). These decisions can be considered as tactical as those only affect a single department in the company. These decisions are frequently made by middle managers, which include heads of the departments (Panneersalam, 2006, p.2). Lastly, operational decisions are undertaken on the bottom management level. The operational decisions

In this task, you will explore the process of selecting a research Assignment

In this task, you will explore the process of selecting a research topic. You may use journal articles, scholarly books, and dis - Assignment Example University of Southampton: Mathematical Sciences: databases & indexes Two additional keywords i. Teaching methods ii. Curriculum Key words that yielded the most useful searches i. Misconception ii. Area and perimeter D. Annotated bibliography for five sources identified in your search. Carle, S. (1993). Student Held Misconceptions Regarding Area and Perimeter of Rectangles. Boston: University of Massachusetts. This source focuses on the misconceptions of students in relation to area and perimeter of rectangles. Carle (1993) describes that students enter classroom with personal schemas, anchored in their ideas and experiences, which impact on their interpretation, reception, and recollection of new information. The author’s essentially recommends that the teachers should understand the impacts of such schemas. The author observes that the students manipulate and apply information without difficulties in class, only to forget the content after a while. Consequently, misconceptio ns are entangled into schemas, hence obstructing with the reception of information. Furthermore, the author discusses a framework including Anderson's theory of memory, taxonomy of critical thinking dispositions and abilities, Ennis' definition of critical thinking and cognitive psychology. ... The author has explained how the process of identification starts with pre-test analysis, which has five misconceptions including spatial bias, Equality Assumptions, Conversion Conclusion, Increase/Decrease assumption, and Fallacy of multiples. Disclosure of different types of misconceptions has a direct implication on the current study, which primarily deals with the way such misconceptions affect students’ understanding of area and perimeter formulas. Also useful from this source are the several theories that the author has explained which can help teachers in establishing the process of getting rid of misconception as well as initiating education change – this information can help in formulation the solution and recommendation in the current area of study. Although this source has some very relevant information that relates to the current topic, its usefulness is somewhat limited because it was published two decades ago, and many things have since changed. Therefore, its relevance is subject to further investigations on the more recent studies, to find out if any substantial changes have occurred in connection with the author’s findings. The author concludes the thesis by noting that the multi-faceted framework is very useful in investigating ways of building lessons, while focusing on elimination of particular misconceptions. Furthermore, the author makes suggestions on the manner in which the current innovative educational methods can be improved to aid students in understanding of formulas and mathematics in general. I reacted very positively to this source, because I found its multi-faced framework of investigating students’

Early Childhood Mathematics Teaching

Early Childhood Mathematics Teaching Mathematics is one subject that unleashes deep-seated memories for many people. Most of these memories include the learning of mathematical concepts and skills. Such learning may either be fulfilling or frustrating for learners, as Math covers a wide variety of degrees of difficulty. That is why an effective Math teacher can have so much influence over students in learning and even loving the subject. An effective Math teacher should be able to model to her students her enthusiasm for the discipline that she takes teaching it seriously while according due respect to her learners who may not exhibit the same level of competencies for the subject. Preschool is a time when children may first encounter mathematical lessons, however, much recent research has indicated that preschool children have the ability to understand a variety of mathematical concepts even prior to entering kindergarten (Klein, Stakey, Clements, Sarama, Lyer, 2008; Clement Sarama, 2007). That is why early childhood programs are increasingly required to implement mathematics instruction in classrooms because of young childrens early mathematical knowledge. Development of early math skills provides the foundation for later learning (Clements Sarama, 2008; NAEYC NCTM, 2008; Lee Ginsburg, 2008). According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the quality of mathematical education in early childhood plays an important part in the childs understanding of possibly difficult math concepts (Loop, 2009). Although there had been many studies pertaining to patterns of mathematical teaching in preschool, there is a lack of research on how teachers of Math perceive how young children learn Math and even what to teach in accordance to the developmental level of their learners. This current study draws much inspiration and idea from the work of Platas (2008) entitled Measuring Teachers Knowledge of Early Mathematical Development and their Beliefs about Mathematics Teaching and Learning in the Preschool Classroom. Platas was able to measure the knowledge of early mathematical development and beliefs about mathematics teaching and learning in the preschool classroom of preschool teachers using developed and validated survey instruments and statistical analysis (2008). There was a significant variation in the knowledge and beliefs of early childhood teachers on age-appropriateness of math instruction, classroom locus of generation of mathematical knowledge, math versus socio-emotional development and the comfort level in providing the instruction. The instrument used in the research has been found to be helpful for the preparation of prospective Math teachers as well as for the professional development of current Math educators. Platas work has raised many issues and beliefs regarding the developmental knowledge of preschoolers. Such issues include age-appropriateness of mathematical instruction used by teachers in preschools, the extent of learning of such mathematical concepts taught, the purpose of teaching math concepts in preschool and the comfort level of teachers when they introduce such math concepts to preschool children (Clement Sarama, 2007; Ginsburg Golbeck, 2004; Platas, 2008). DEFINITION OF TERMS: Belief covers all the matters of which we have no sure knowledge and yet  which we are sufficiently confident of to act upon and also the matters that we  now accept as certainly true, as knowledge, but which nevertheless may be  questioned in the future (Dewey, 1933, p. 6). early mathematical development the increasingly complex mathematical constructions and goals that young children develop and pursue in their activities (Platas, 2008, p.3). In-service preschool teachers teachers who are currently teaching in the  preschool level of education. Pre-service preschool teachers aspiring teachers of early childhood education  who are qualified to teach but have not yet gained any teaching experience. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Many national and state organizations have provided teachers with guidelines to help improve mathematics instruction for young children. Forty-six states have comprehensive learning standards for preschool children (Barett et al., 2008). Furthermore, national organizations such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) have developed specific recommendations related to high quality mathematics instruction in the early childhood classroom (NAEYC NCTM, 2006). As the NCTM and NAEYC proclaimed, importance in the learning and development of mathematical skills and knowledge is important in building the foundation of mathematical development of preschool children. However, some early learning programs do not focus on high quality mathematics instruction despite research supporting early mathematics experiences influencing mathematical outcomes later in school and promoting school readiness skills in mathe matics (Lopez, Gallimore, Garnier, Reese, 2007; Slaby, Loucks, Stelwagon, 2005). Other remarkable studies showed that there are many activities involved in teaching mathematics to young children and this would involve knowledge about the subject matter, pedagogical content knowledge, lecturing, introduction of symbolism, and connecting everyday experience to abstract ideas (Ginsburg Amit, 2008). This would imply the need to effectively train teachers of early mathematics. There are many significant studies in line with early childhood education but little information is revealed about the teaching of early mathematics (Ginsburg Amit, 2008). This gap in research in mathematics education calls for the need to be filled especially in the area of teachers knowledge development and beliefs in teaching math in preschool. The only remarkable research in the area of teachers knowledge on preschool mathematical development is that of Platas (2008). Platas suggested in her recommendations, further study is still needed in the area taking into consideration a larger sample size and other necessary adjustments (2008). The need for preschool children to be provided with high quality early childhood programs calls for competent educators in general. Specific to this study, competent math teachers concerned with the development of mathematical ability of preschoolers are the qualifications demanded. It is in this regard that early childhood educators in mathematics should create the basic foundation required in the education system. This can significantly create meaningful understanding on how pre-service teachers and in-service teachers in early childhood education for mathematics should handle and evaluate their teaching abilities and methods. However, it remains uncertain whether pre-service teachers and in-service teachers in early childhood education for mathematics have significantly the same knowledge of mathematical development and belief. Thus, it is important to evaluate their knowledge of development and belief about it so as to come up with a clear justification if there is a need to align their level of skills, knowledge and beliefs if necessary. Even though Platas (2008) was able to compare early childhood teachers based on their knowledge of early mathematical development and beliefs about mathematics teaching and learning in the preschool classroom, there was no comparison done between pre-service and in-service preschool teachers in this regard. The researcher believes that this research gap needs to be filled since future and current teachers knowledge and beliefs will inevitably create an impact in young childrens mathematical knowledge development. It would be interesting to determine if experience in teaching of in-service teachers have affected their knowledge and beliefs on mathematical knowledge development and beliefs or if they remain the same as their pre-service counterparts. Hence this study will analyze and review in-service teachers and pre-service preschool teachers understanding on mathematical knowledge development and beliefs PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the mathematical development and beliefs in preschool learning between in-service preschool teachers and pre-service preschool teachers. The comparison will gauge the need to enhance the teachers knowledge of mathematical development and beliefs in early childhood education. Further development of these teachers adeptness in mathematical knowledge as well as fine tuning their beliefs will be done in the backdrop of the literature in preschool math development. RESEARCH QUESTIONS The researcher will compare and evaluate in-service teachers and pre-service preschool teachers knowledge and beliefs of mathematical development and teaching. In order to find significant results for this, the researcher will try to answer the main research question at of the study: To what extent, if any, is there a difference between In-service teachers and pre- service preschool teachers with regard to their knowledge and beliefs of how to teach mathematics to preschool children? Specifically, the following sub-questions will be answered at the end of the study: What do the teachers think are the necessary concepts and skills preschoolers  need to learn in the area of math? What teaching methods do the teachers think are effective in teaching these mathematical concepts and skills? What are their beliefs regarding teaching math? HYPOTHESIS It is hypothesized that there are significant differences between the beliefs of in-service and pre-service preschool teachers on the basis of experience. Those who have experiences in the teaching mathematics will have a different perspective basing from their own experiences compared to those who have limited or no experience in teaching mathematics to preschool children. It is also hypothesized that there are significant differences in the knowledge of mathematical development between in-service and pre-service preschool teachers. REVIEW OF LITERATURE What Preschool Math Entails The study of Math incorporates the processes of questioning, reflecting, reasoning and proof. It is a powerful tool for solving familiar and unfamiliar problems both within and beyond mathematics. As such, it is integral to scientific and technological advances in many fields of endeavor (Brewer, 2001). The inclusion of Mathematics in the curriculum is aimed at developing students mathematical thinking, understanding, competence and confidence in the application of mathematics, their own creativity, enjoyment and appreciation of the subject and their engagement in lifelong learning (Board of Studies New South Wales, 2002) Apart from the skills developed from the study of Math, values and attitudes are likewise emphasized. Students get to appreciate mathematics as an essential and relevant part of life. They show interest and enjoyment in inquiry and the pursuit of mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding. Children demonstrate confidence in applying mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding to everyday situations and the solution of everyday problems. Math also aims to develop and demonstrate perseverance in undertaking mathematical challenges. Students recognise that mathematics has been developed in many cultures in response to human needs (Board of Studies New South Wales, 2002). The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2000) identified high quality mathematics programs for early childhood as having the following characteristics: (Brewer, 2001, pp. 319-320) They build upon and extend childrens intuitive and informal mathematics knowledge They are grounded in knowledge of child development They provide environments that encourage children to be active learners, eager for new challenges They develop a strong conceptual framework that provides the foundation for skills acquisition They nurture and develop childrens inclination to solve problems. Math Teaching Strategies in Preschool Children learn much on their own. However, the question of whether certain math concepts should be deliberately taught by the teacher or just be freely learned by children through play is another issue in math learning (Clement Sarama, 2007; Ginsburg Golbeck, 2004; Platas, 2008). Shaftel, Pass and Schnabel (2005) agree that children are more motivated to learn even difficult lessons in Math or other subjects through instructional games and simulations rather than traditional classroom instruction. Games have been found to result in improved content retention over time, possibly because of the opportunity for more participation. Math games improved on-task behavior and achievement even for students with mild intellectual disabilities (Beattie Algozzine, 1982). What motivates children with math games is that it allows them many opportunities to reinforce current knowledge and to try out other strategies or techniques without fear of getting the wrong answer. Trial and error is always encouraged, making them more confident in taking risks (Shaftel, Pass and Schnabel, 2005). Math games provide students with an environment for experiencing incorrect answers not as mistakes but as necessary steps towards connecting pieces of knowledge together (Holton et al, 2001; Quinn et al, 1992). Practical games such as those involving knowledge about money should be tied to real-life experiences if mathematical learning is to be optimized. Simulations develop metacognitive skills for analyzing and organizing data, checking responses, justifying solutions to problems and applying mathematical knowledge to daily activities (Hopkins and Dorsey, 1992). Issues of Teachers Teaching Math in Preschool This study is also concerned about the commitment of teachers in teaching math to young children (OConnor, 2010).. It is essential to investigate if they know the value of teaching math concepts to preschoolers at a very young age, which math concepts to teach and if it is worth teaching such concepts. It would also be interesting to know how comfortable these teachers are in teaching Mathematics and what are their attitudes and insights towards it. Teachers derive their behaviors, attitudes and ethics from their own personal and professional philosophies on teaching. Gore (1997) analyzes how such a philosophy leads to ones development of a pedagogical approach. A school having its own philosophy should have their teachers who hold the same beliefs. Alignment of their philosophy is essential for harmony. Gore (1997) claims that systematic and disciplined observations of pedagogy are necessary in order to clarify and perhaps compromise on the philosophy everyone must believe in and live by. This implies that a teachers perception of teaching a particular subject such as Math reflects her own and the schools philosophy regarding the subject. Many researchers have been intensively studying young childrens mathematical development and have come to understand the developmental progression of childrens mathematical understanding (Baroody, A. J., Lai, M.-L., Mix, K.S, 2006; Clement Sarama 2007; Seo Ginsburg, 2004). In order to support early mathematical development in young children, researchers recommend that teachers (a) develop a deep understanding of the mathematical content and concepts (Baroody, et al., 2006); (b) develop an understanding of young childrens mathematical development, including the ability to take into consideration the prior knowledge of the child (Baroody et al., 2006; Clement, 2001 Clement Sarama 2007); and (c) be fluent in the classroom pedagogy that supports and fosters such development including a knowledge of useful representations and strategies and common misconceptions and errors (Baroody, et al., 2006; Seo Ginsburg, 2004). By increasing teachers knowledge and understanding of mathematical knowledge development, it is expected that children will also learn better and a more productive classroom atmosphere is will be created. Therefore, it is important for teachers to know how to support childrens mathematical development in the preschool classroom in order to develop effective and appropriate classroom instruction. Teachers also need to understand how children learn mathematical knowledge as well as assessing their understanding, and monitoring their progress. Apart from the information yielded by Platas (2008) work, the literature point out that preschool teachers need to have a specific level of competency in their teaching which can be measured through their knowledge and beliefs. It was found that kindergarten teachers different training experiences and school contexts have significant impacts on childrens readiness for school (Lin, Lawrence, Gorrell, 2008). This implies that the level of knowledge and beliefs of preschool teachers have been significantly influenced by their training experiences and level of education received. Preschool teachers have different views on early childhood education with some of them thinking the programs in their schools may either be too advanced or too basic. Teachers preparation for cultural diversity in preschool is important prior to creating a welcoming learning environment (Hughes, Kwok, 2007). Skills and knowledge of teachers are important considerations especially on the basic education level. Teachers gestures and utterances were found to have a significant role in childrens learning (Klerfelt, 2007, Valenzeno, Alibali, Klatzky, 2003). In preschool education, high quality teacher-child relationships are expected. Knowing how to establish such good relationships with young children implies that the preschool teacher must have substantial knowledge on relationship building in early childhood education programs (OConnor, 2010). This also suggests that the teacher is effective and knows how to infuse fun in learning. Preschool teachers must have adequate knowledge and strong beliefs in a particular subject area they are tasked to teach. They should have knowledge of useful representations and strategies and common misconception errors when it comes to mathematical development in young children in particular (Broody et al., 2006). A Development model that coincides with theory and research is needed to create the building blocks for early childhood mathematics (Sarama, Clements, 2004). On the other hand, a teachers belief is hard to measure but it proves a reliable measure of teachers experiences and actions (Muis, Bendixen, Haerle, 2006). For example, a teacher may believe that young children are capable of understanding quantities because she herself has been successful in teaching a preschooler the concept of quantities, of which set has more objects and which set has less. Thus, knowledge and beliefs of teachers are requirements for mathematical development in early childhood education. Education and specialized training of preschool teachers are associated with young childrens learning and development (Barnett, 2004). Evaluation of the impact of Early Childhood Education teacher preparation programs and professional development conclude that benefits of high-quality preschool education can only be achieved if teachers are professionally prepared and well-compensated (Barnett, 2004). Research shows that a well-prepared early childhood education teacher brings a warm, safe and conducive environment for learning (NAEYC, 2006). Perceptions of teacher on student-teacher quality and of childrens academic abilities proved to influence academic competence among students (Hughes, Gleason, Zhang, 2005). In addition, it is important to focus on quality of room practices, child characteristics, teachers perceptions of school-related climates and teachers perceptions of workload stress (Mantzicopoulos, 2005). It was found that the amount of teachers math-related teaching was highly associated to childrens mathematical knowledge (Klibanoff, Levine, Huttenlocher, Vasilyeva, Hedges, 2006). The attitudes of preschool teachers on early m athematics do not change as they acquired knowledge of preschool teachers (Alinsinanoglu, Guven, Kesicioglu, 2009). Teachers elementary education credentials, years of education and years of experience have complex impact to childrens learning (Connor, Son, Hundman, Morrison, 2005). All of these issues can essentially be addressed by studying further within the context, knowledge and ability of early educators for early childhood education. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study takes on Platas suggestion that more research should be done in terms of investigating preschool teachers knowledge and beliefs regarding the developmental mathematical knowledge of preschool children. In compliance with the standards of NCTM for high quality math programs, evaluation of teachers competencies should be done to ensure the quality of teaching in early childhood programs. This studys significance lies in ensuring that teachers are adequately skilled and emotionally ready to teach mathematical concepts in the preschool level. In addition, this study is a contribution to the growing body of knowledge of early childhood education. Furthermore, new information may be derived from concerned participants in this research such as fresh ideas coming from the perspective of in-service and pre-service teachers that could be helpful in improving ones performance in their jobs. Thus, the importance of pursuing this trend of thinking will highly benefit teachers in early childhood education. In particular, there is a need to publish studies such this in order to provide support and enhancement of skills to new teachers in the field. It is important to study perceptions of early childhood educators because they play a significant role in young childrens learning and development of knowledge and skills (Chien, Hui, 2010). This study will help not only teachers to better understand the learning process involved in order to maximize mathematical knowledge development of young children. It is also helpful in building a better mathematical foundation for young children. OVERVIEW OF METHODOLOGY Instruments to be used for this study are the instruments developed by Platas (2008) namely the Knowledge of Mathematical Development (KMD) Survey and the Beliefs survey. A demographic questionnaire gathering information about the respondents will also be distributed. The Knowledge of Mathematical Development Survey (Platas) is a set of 20 multiple-choice questions that tests teachers knowledge and development in the area of verbal counting sequence, counting, ordinal number of words, addition/subtraction, divisions of sets, written number symbols and words. In each number, the teacher-respondents are to choose which of two math skills children are likely to learn first. If the respondents think that both choices are easily learned by a child, then the choice of same may be picked. However if the respondent does not know which skill is easier for a child to learn, he or she can choose the option do not know. The Beliefs Survey is a set of 40 beliefs about Math teaching and learning. It has a 5-pt. Likert scale with responses that range from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. The belief survey will evaluate the teachers perspective about 4 areas: (1) age appropriateness of mathematics instruction in the early childhood classroom, (2) locus of Generation of Mathematical Knowledge, (3) Social and Emotional vs. Mathematical Development as Primary Goal of Preschool and (4) Teacher comfort in mathematics instruction. The participants involved in the study will be comprised of 200 in-service teachers and 100 pre-service teachers that will be chosen in random. Results will be analyzed using ANOVA as well as correlation analysis. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY This study will be limited to exploring the knowledge development and beliefs of pre-service and in-service preschool teachers regarding math. It will not evaluate on any other subject area. It is important to note that in terms of experience, the pre-service teachers will have no teaching experience whereas with the in-service teachers experience may range from a few months to about 20 years, depending on the sample gathered. Also, the number of in-service participants is much higher than the pre-service participants. These factors may affect the results due to this unbalance and must be taken into account when data is analyzed. Summary of Chapter 1 Mathematical learning now comes at an earlier age. Preschoolers surprisingly manifest basic mathematical knowledge even before they start school. This realization that young children can already do Math has encouraged professional organizations such as NAEYC and NCTM have come up with guidelines that Math teachers should consult and comply to in their teaching of mathematical concepts and skills. Teachers of young children have the power to influence their preschool students. Teachers should basically possess adequate knowledge and skills as well as appropriate beliefs if quality teaching is to be expected. The work of Platas (2008) entitled Measuring Teachers Knowledge of Early Mathematical Development and their Beliefs about Mathematics Teaching and Learning in the Preschool Classroom has been a monumental inspiration for this current study. However, this study goes beyond exploring teachers knowledge development and beliefs about Math by comparing knowledge development and beliefs of in-service preschool teachers and pre-service preschool teachers. It is presumed that the element of experience will play a significant role in either strengthening or modifying teachers knowledge and beliefs about Math in early childhood education.

Crimes Against Children

Crimes Against Children Child abuse has been a major social concern only since the 1950s but adults have victimized children throughout history. Children are the most vulnerable of all groups which is why child abuse victims are of great concern to society. There are different forms of crimes against children, child abuse, physical or sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. Child abuse is the neglect of or violence against children. From 1998 to 2000, 367,000 children were harmed by their parents.Physical abuse includes intentionally beating, biting, burning, strangling, hitting, kicking or shaking a child. In the 1060s the term â€Å"battered child syndrome† was coined. This is a condition where a child suffers serious physical injury usually inflicted by their parents or caregiver. Sexual abuse of children is particularly offensive and is the least commonly reported form of family violence. Unfortunately child sex abusers are family members and friends or neighbors of the victim. In many cases the child has a trusting relationship with the abuser.Emotional abuse is more subtle and involves power or control to harm the victim’s sense of self. Tactics such as verbal threats, social isolation, intimidation, exploitation, terrorizing a child or exposing him to family violence all serve to diminish a child’s self-worth and can cause impaired psychological growth. Child neglect is the chronic and repetitive failure to provide children with food, clothing, shelter, medical care or protection from harm. It constitutes the largest category of child abuse offenders.Fifty-two percent of all child abuse cases in the Unites States involve neglect. Parental alcoholism, drug problems and other inadequate social and family functions are among the factors affecting the child’s response to victimization. More needs to be learned about the long term consequences of childhood victimization. This article discusses what is known from past studies and also present finding of more recent research. Child maltreatment has physical, psychological, cognitive and behavioral consequences.These include minor injuries to brain damage and even death, low self- esteem, depression, substance abuse and suicide attempt. Cognitive effects include attention problems, learning disorders and poor school performance. Behavior issues range from poor peer relations to physical aggression to violent behavior. Males and females react differently to abuse. Males tend to externalize their feeling and are more likely to develop conduct disorders, while females tend to internalize their feelings leading to depressive disorders.Practices of the community and the justice and social services systems may have long-term effects. Children who are members of racial or ethnic minorities often meet with discrimination. Researches have suggested that victimized children are more likely to develop behavior problems in adolescence and may be labeled juvenile offender s. Abused and neglected children score lower on IQ tests and usually fail to complete school which leads to menial and unskilled jobs. Interpersonal relationships are also affected by child maltreatment.Frequent divorce and separation are more common in abused and neglected people. Childhood abuse also increases the risk of being arrested for violent crime. The psychological and emotional fallout for abused children include suicide attempts, antisocial personality disorder and alcohol abuse or dependency. Abused and neglected children may exhibit aggressiveness and behavior problems in childhood, delinquency in adolescence and antisocial and criminal behavior in adulthood.These children, as adults, may be more prone to become abusive themselves. Recent research indicates that child neglect especially at an early age causes substantial problems. Some forms of early neglect lead to â€Å"severe, chronic and irreversible damage†. There are many mechanisms by which abuse and negl ect affect a child but finding a single mechanism that explains all cases of abuse and neglect is highly unlikely. Both the textbook and the journal article agree that childhood abuse causes substantial problems later in life.

Fashion Film

Rules and Regulations As fashion film is a new addition to the fashion installment, there aren't any specific rules and regulations that the filmmakers have to follow because fashion is all about expressing opinions, feelings etc. However there are a few ethics that they should be aware of, with any film such as violence, drug abuse, discrimination etc. The filmmakers need to be aware of these ethics because the last thing you want the film to do is offend anyone because then the company, or in this case designer, could get a bad reputation and not become successful.Other things that should be considered when putting together a fashion show is the location because you want the show to be memorable to the audience and a unique location will help make it more memorable. The set is another important thing to think about because if there is a theme such as ‘nature' being carried out though the fashion then you'll want to back that up with a nature themed set; this will also make it more memorable to the audience.Seating should be considered because you want the audience to have a perfect view of the fashion and the film hat they will be seeing though out the show so that they can fully take in what they will be seeing. Lights are an important part of a fashion show because you want the catwalk to be lit up perfectly so the audience can see the clothes perfectly especially if there is any fine detail in the clothes.Music is something to consider because this can really add on to the theme of the show and create the sense of escapism that some audiences crave for; for example if there is a nature theme in your show then it could be a good idea to add some slow classic music with some wildlife sounds. The air and make up of the models is key to a fashion show because this can complete the look of the whole fashion show and really enhance the theme of the fashion show. One fashion show that really has been thought out to every detail is the Alexander Macaque show Homeowners SIS 10 in Paris.The title of the show was ‘Plat's Atlantis' and was inspired by concepts of environmental destruction, stem-cell technology, ‘mutation of the fittest' and the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. The location of this fashion show is unknown but it was performed in Paris during Fashion Week at the end of October 2010. I would hold my fashion show in Paris because it is considered the fashion capital of the world. Paris is a great place to hold a fashion show because the fashion history is so strong compared to other cities like London or Tokyo.The set of the fashion show consists of a very long, white, wide catwalk to represent a laboratory to expand the theme of Stem Cell Technology; there was also a 60 foot LED screen at the back to display the fashion film and two twenty foot robotic cameras along side of the catwalk where one of the cameras displayed the footage it was getting onto the giant screen. I really liked this set because it enhanced th e theme of a laboratory really well from the Petri dish like catwalk, the fashion on the models making them appear to be the experiments in the lab and the cameras acting like the scientists observing what was going on.The lighting used for this show was simple and even, this allowed the audience in the fashion show to see each outfit perfectly. This is a great way to install lights and I would defiantly use it in a fashion show because it doesn't take the attention of the viewers away from the fashion. The music for this fashion show sounds like it would e played in an opening scene for a blockbuster movie set underwater; it contains a lot of heavy synchs and long slow drums.I like this music and would use it in a fashion show because it adds to the theme of the show ‘Atlantis' and gives the audience a sense of escapism. To be able to broadcast my fashion film with music, I need to follow the rules set by The I-J Copyright Service. The law set by them states 1. Using the work of others If you use samples of music by other authors in your work, ensure that you get permission to use the work before you attempt to publish or sell your work. Similarly, f you use loops or samples available via sample collections etc. Ensure that these are licensed as free to use, or obtain permission first. 2. Obtaining permission If you need to get permission to use a piece of music, normally the best place to start is with the last know publisher for the work. They will certainly know how to get permission to use the work, (as they must have permission themselves), so they will certainly know who you would need to contact. If the work is by an U. S. Artist, you could contact the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, IBM (Broadcast Music, IncBand members agreements Where music is written as a group effort, we recommend that you draw up an agreement to clarify issues, such as which rights belong to which member, and how royalties would be distributed in the event that members of your group leave. For successful commercial bands, incorporation is also an option. As with a normal incorporated company, the band members would own shares in the band/company. In this situation, a band member would typically sell his shares to the other members if he decided to leave. This states that I need to obtain permission by the DC/Producer that produced this song.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley The society in "Brave New World", by Aldous Huxley, is exceptionally different from society today. Acts that are accepted in today's society are frowned upon in the society Huxley creates, such as, worshipping God, and marriage. Science and technology rule the society in Brave New World, and due to this, society is incredibly efficient and productive. One might see the society in Brave New World as improved and beneficial, but despite the benefits, freedom is extremely limited in this society. Some may believe that the losing of freedom is worth gaining the safety, happiness, and stability of Huxley's society, whereas others do not feel that giving up their freedom is worth what Huxley's society has to offer. The type of society that would be prefered depends on what is valued most, safety and stability, or freedom and individuality. Different types of people would choose differently but it seems that nothing is worth giving up your freedom or individuality.Huxley and Arnold family t ree. It is incomplete.We have drugs and alcohol which is very similar to their 'soma'.Aldous Huxley prospects the idea of having a sex ridden society, in which sex is a normal thing and not considered to be something that happens in an intimate relationship between two people. The civilization which exists today is very close to being an Aldous Huxley 'Nightmare'.It is hard to believe that an idea presented seventy five years ago is in fact a disturbing reflection of our own society. Our era has, yet so far not reached the stage of 'Brave New World' but we are still unsettling societies which will soon attain the rule of 'Brave New World'.The opinion of Aldous Huxley in his book has shown that he wrote a satirical novel about the future, showing the appalingness of a utopia and outlining the affects on thought...

Free Essays on Astrophel And Stella

. Astrophel studied the poems of other writers and tries to find a way for himself to write a poem that honestly expresses his feelings. (â€Å"Studying inuentions fine, her wits to entertaine, / Oft turning other leaues, to ... Free Essays on Astrophel And Stella Free Essays on Astrophel And Stella Which is the main topic of Sir Philip Sidney ´s sonnet â€Å"Loving in truth, and fain in verse my love to show† ? Sir Philip Sidney gave this poem, which first line is â€Å"Louing in trueth and fayne in verse my loue to show† , the title „Astrophel and Stellaâ€Å". Astrophel is the name of the main character, the writer himself. He loves a woman called Stella and writes this poem for her to declare his love in it. But what is the main topic of his poem ? Is it really only to tell Stella about his love ? Or is it his desparate desperate to put his love in words ? Having a closer look to the poem, I will find this out in the following. Stella, the woman Astrophel adores, is married to another man. Therefore she is not available for him. But as he is not able to just switch off his feelings, he wants to write them down. But already in the first verse there is a hint that it doesn ´t come easily to him: â€Å"Louing in trueth and fayne in verse my loue to show† (line 1) . â€Å"Fayne† just means that he is trying and really desiring to bring his thoughts to paper but that he doesn ´t manage it so far. Although Stella is married Astrophel doesn ´t stop hoping. If he just succeeded in writing her a poem and if she liked it then maybe she would also fall in love with him. (â€Å"Pleasure might cause her reade, reading might make her know.† (line 3) ). He even goes that far: Knowing about his feelings would cause her feeling pity for him and she would stay with him because of pity or grace. (â€Å"Knowledge might pittie winne, and pity grace obtaine.† (line 4) ). But he only can think about such things and doesn ´t know how it really would be, as long as he cannot solve his actual problem: Put his feelings in words. Astrophel studied the poems of other writers and tries to find a way for himself to write a poem that honestly expresses his feelings. (â€Å"Studying inuentions fine, her wits to entertaine, / Oft turning other leaues, to ...

International Financial Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Financial Management - Assignment Example Pertaining to planned investments in South Africa by Neptune, this report outlines the possible threats of local firms’ resistance and how Neptune might respond to them. Finally, the report outlines the effects of currency variation of citing production abroad, if Neptune let sales in South Africa to be in Rand. Effects of the Possibility that the United States will take Action to reduce its Current Account Deficit on Neptune The current account deficit refers to a situation where the total imports into a country exceed the total exports (RupyaGyan, 2013). Reduction of the current account deficit means a reduction in the quantity and value of imports and an increase in the quantity and value of exports. The major aim of this move is to encourage and promote exports while protecting local firms of a country. However, it should be noted that a switch in expenditure from foreign to home goods reduces foreign income (Jones, 2003, p, 641). For instance, For instance, industrial cou ntries sought to reduce their current account deficits by reducing oil imports or increasing their exports to other countries. As exports increase, current account deficit reduces (Siddaiah, 2010, p, 71). The possibility that the United States will take action to reduce its current account deficit will pose various effects on Neptune Plc. ... Effects on Neptune Plc if it continues to Export Water Pumps to the United States If the United States’ government takes action to reduce its current account deficit, then the government’s main objective will be to reduce imports to its country and increase its exports. Most governments use the policy of reduction of the current account deficit to divert the expenditure of consumers away from imports and direct it towards home produced goods. Countries limit imports to reduce current account deficit (Neave, 2009, p, 301).This means that, as United States’ residents turn their attention to home produced water pumps, they will spend more in purchasing American manufactured water pumps and spends less in buying foreign manufactured water pumps that have been exported to the United States. Consequently, the demand for foreign manufactured water pumps, Neptune Plc’s water pumps being among the category is likely to reduce drastically. This is because Neptune Pl c manufactures water pumps in Europe and exports to the United States of America. Consequently, this will lead to a decrease in profits because sales shall have decreased because of that scenario. The possible ways that the United States’ Government can use to reduce the current account deficit include demand-switching policies, foreign goods demand reducing policies and supply side policies (Gillespie, 201, p, 493). The use of tariff levies means that the United States’ Government will impose tax on imports. Definitely, imports’ prices will go up. This is because foreign companies that export goods to the United States, Neptune Plc being one of them, will raise prices of their water pumps to maintain their profit levels. As the prices of

Should Euthanasia be legalized Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Should Euthanasia be legalized - Essay Example Involuntary euthanasia is considered as murder in most countries. This can be said to be euthanasia performed to a person who was able to provide consent on whether he chooses to die or not. As much as this practice has come to form part of some countries in the world, in most countries of the world it is illegal and many are yet to embrace the positive sides of euthanasia. Euthanasia is a term that was first applied in the 17th century, and the term was used to refer to a quick and painless death. Towards the approach of the 21century, more countries got to embrace this as it proved to be a solution towards illness related issues. The act became in the light of many critics including religions like Christianity. According to the Bible, God is the Supreme Being and the giver of life, and from this angle most of church faithful has argued that no man has the authority over the life of another. Euthanasia as a practice is known to be administered to patients who have suffered long illn esses and do not seem to show any form of improvements. The type of illnesses euthanasia is administered are mostly terminal illnesses. A terminal illness is an illness which when one develops, he then has no chance to recover. Definition of terminal illness in a country like Netherlands is that terminal illness is a ‘concrete expectancy of death’, Some countries like Oregon has further illustrated the definition of terminal illness as that illness within reasonable judgments will produce death within six months, this is to state that with terminal illness, death is inevitable. When one suffers from terminal illnesses like cancer or a heart related illness, there are many implications in relation to what he goes through. A family member who develops a terminal condition goes through many hardships which are related to the illness he has, this is in relation to fear of his or her life ending, pain and constant stress. Chemotherapy is a cancer related treatment. In this t ype of treatment, chemicals are used as medication. This treatment is used in cancer treatment as a way of destroying cancerous cells. It is also meant as a way of ensuring that cancerous cells do not spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy treatment has been known to be effective in some cases around the world. One disadvantage of this type of treatment is that it is very expensive and not many people can afford it. Chemotherapy has long term and short term effects that a patient may face. Short time effects are such as constant dizziness, constipation, and nausea and general discomfort. The long term disadvantages are that the treatment is time consuming and there are always a risk of the cancerous cells regenerating after the treatment is through. It is for these drastic effects of terminal illnesses that some countries chose to embrace euthanasia as the way out. Spending all of the family money on one member of the family is a decision that can be said to be dangerous in relation to the well being of the other family members. The attempt to treat a family member diagnosed with cancer has been known to put families in tough financial situations. As much as one would give anything for a family member to get better, considerations should always be taken regarding how the remaining members are to continue living. Persistent vegetative state is a condition which is known to be one with both ethical and medical

Assignment 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Assignment 1 - Essay Example The driver continued to drive and the officer discharged his firearm to which the driver stopped and the officer fell off the hood. The taxi driver was taken to the ground and handcuffed (Holmes, 2015). A severe action was taken against the police officer and the driver filed a civil case for the recovery of the damages that he suffered. He suffered injuries on his cheek, left elbow, and rib-cage, had a bleeding nose and mouth, and also filed for the loss of future income and general damages. The driver was released a while later and there was an independent investigation to be carried out in order to find out details about the incident (Lawrence, 2014). Actions were to be taken after the investigation reports had been given out by the Coquitlam RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit. The investigation gave its findings one year later stating that there were no charges against any of the parties. The authorities held that the police officers were acting only in the course of their duties and rights as members of RCMP. The police officers had those powers as peace officers and provincial constables. The response also concluded that if there were damaged caused to the driver, it was due to his role in failing to listen to the police officer and assaulting a peace officer. The investigation reported that the police officers opened fire on the driver after being struck by the car. The civil claim was filed against the officer about a year later and the court held that the police officer merely acted in self defense (Holmes, 2015). The three problem solving methods namely SARA, CAPRA and PARE are used by authorities in order to solve conflicts. The SARA model stands for scanning, analysis, response, assessment which could have been used in this situation as the situation had to be scanned, analyzed, responses would be collected, and then the assessment of the action taken would

Business Law Essay Example for Free

Business Law Essay What is Business Law? Businesses interact in many and varied ways. To name just a few types of business transactions, there are contracts, mergers and acquisitions, leasing, etc. How these transactions are carried out is overseen by Business Law. Additionally, how businesses are formed is a large part of Business law. This area of law is very wide-ranging, although it deals primarily with defining the rights and responsibilities of businesses, rather than enforcing these laws. Because of its extensive scope, Business law has spawned a large number of legal practice area subcategories, which include Sales and Secured Transactions, Banking, Landlord-Tenant, Mortgages, Real Estate Transactions, Debtor and Creditor, Bankruptcy, Consumer Credit, Negotiable Instruments, and Contracts. Business law and Commercial law are very closely related, so much so that the terms are often used interchangeably and the legal issues they address frequently overlap. The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) is the principal presiding authority over commercial transactions. * Business.gov Business.gov helps small businesses understand their legal requirements and locate government services from federal, state and local agencies. Business.gov is an official site of the U.S. Small Business Administration. * Commercial Law / Business Law Definition Commercial law (sometimes known as business law) is the body of law that governs business and commercial transactions. It is often considered to be a branch of civil law and deals with issues of both private law and public law. Commercial law includes within its compass such titles as principal and agent; carriage by land and sea; merchant shipping; guarantee; marine, fire, life, and accident insurance; bills of exchange and partnership. It can also be understood to regulate corporate contracts, hiring practices, and the manufacture and sales of consumer goods. * Compliance with Business Laws Most aspects of running a business have some legal consequences. Whether your business is just starting up, expanding, or winding down, you must comply with the federal, state, and local laws that govern your business activities. * Employment Law for Businesses A great many common law rulings, statutes, administrative rules and legislation make up the practice and interpretation of employment law. Its governance falls under the umbrella of both federal and state statutes, as well as administrative regulation and judicial precedent. When workers file claims for employment discrimination, unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation, these claims fall under employment law. Likewise, overseeing workplace safety and standards, fair wages, retirement and pensions, employee benefits, and much more, are part of this wide-ranging legal area. Employment law deals with both the employer and the employee’s actions, rights and responsibilities, as well as their relationship with one another. A well-known, prevalent administrative regulatory body for employment law is the Department of Labor, which exists on both the federal and the state level.The elaws Advisors are interactive e-tools that provide easy-to-understand information about a number of federal employment laws. Each Advisor simulates the interaction you might have with an employment law expert. It asks questions and provides answers based on responses given. * Self-Employment Assistance Self-Employment Assistance offers dislocated workers the opportunity for early re-employment. The program is designed to encourage and enable unemployed workers to create their own jobs by starting their own small businesses. Under these programs, States can pay a self-employed allowance, instead of regular unemployment insurance benefits, to help unemployed workers while they are establishing businesses and becoming self-employed. Participants receive weekly allowances while they are getting their businesses off the ground. * Model Business Corporation Act A corporation is a legal entity created through the laws of its state of incorporation. Individual states have the power to promulgate laws relating to the creation, organization and dissolution of corporations. Many states follow the Model Business Corporation Act.State corporation laws require articles of incorporation to document the corporations creation and to provide provisions regarding the management of internal affairs. Most state corporation statutes also operate under the assumption that each corporation will adopt bylaws to define the rights and obligations of officers, persons and groups within its structure. States also have registration laws requiring corporations that incorporate in other states to request permission to do in-state business.There has also been a significant component of Federal corporations law since Congress passed the Securities Act of 1933, which regulates how corporate securities are issued and sold. Federal securities law also governs requirement s of fiduciary conduct such as requiring corporations to make full disclosures to shareholders and investors. The law treats a corporation as a legal person that has standing to sue and be sued, distinct from its stockholders. The legal independence of a corporation prevents shareholders from being personally liable for corporate debts. It also allows stockholders to sue the corporation through a derivative suit and makes ownership in the company (shares) easily transferable. The legal person status of corporations gives the business perpetual life; deaths of officials or stockholders do not alter the corporations structure.Corporations are taxable entities that fall under a different scheme from individuals. Although corporations have a double tax problem both corporate profits and shareholder dividends are taxed corporate profits are taxed at a lower rate than the rates for individuals.Corporate law has important intersections with contracts and commercial transactions law. * Securities law A generic term for shares of stock, bonds, and debentures issued by corporations and governments to evidence ownership and terms of payment of dividends or final payoff. They are called securities because the assets or profits of the corporation or the credit of the government stand as security for payment. However, unlike secured transactions in which specific property is pledged, securities are only as good as the future profitability of the corporation or the management of the governmental agency. Most securities are traded on various stock or bond markets. Securities law exists because of unique informational needs of investors. Securities are not inherently valuable; their worth comes only from the claims they entitle their owner to make upon the assets and earnings of the issuer or the voting power that accompanies such claims. The value of securities depends on the issuers financial condition, products and markets, management, and the competitive and regulatory climate. Securities laws and regulations aim at ensuring that investors receive accurate and necessary information regarding the type and value of the interest under consideration for purchase. Securities exist in the form of notes, stocks, treasury stocks, bonds, certificates of interest or participation in profit sharing agreements, collateral trust certificates, preorganization certificates or subscriptions, transferable shares, investment contracts, voting trust certificates, certificates of deposit for a security, and a fractional undivided interest in gas, oil, or other mineral rights. Certain types of notes, such as a note secured by a home mortgage or a note secured by accounts receivable or other business assets, are not securities. * The Setting for Buying and Trading Two principle settings for buying and selling securities exist issuer transactions and trading transactions. On the one hand, issuer transactions are the means by which businesses raise capital. These transactions involve the sale of securities by the issuer to investors. On the other hand, trading transactions refers to the purchasing and selling of outstanding securities among investors. Investors trade outstanding securities through securities markets that can be either stock exchanges or over-the-counter. Stock exchanges provide a place, rules, and procedures for buying and selling securities, and the government heavily regulates them. Generally, to have their securities sold and bought on a stock exchange, a company must list its securities on a given exchange. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must approve the stock exchanges rules before they take effect. Transactions that do not take place on a stock exchange occur in the the residual securities market, known as the over-the-counter market. Only dealers and brokers registered with the SEC may engage in securities business both on stock exchanges and in over-the-counter markets. Most of the broker-dealers serving the public used to be members of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), which served the NASDAQ stock market, but in 2007, the NASD merged with the dealers from the New York Stock Exchange to form the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) a national securities association registered with SEC. * Securities Regulation Securities regulations focus mainly on the market for common stocks. Both federal and state laws regulate securities. On the heels of the Great Depression, Congress enacted the first of the federal securities laws, the Federal Securities Act of 1933, which regulates the public offering and sale of securities in interstate commerce. This Act also prohibits the offer or sale of a security not registered with the Securities Exchange Commission and requires the disclosure of certain information to the prospective securities purchaser. Then, needing an agency to enforce those regulations, Congress established the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which created the SEC. Since then, Congress has charged the SEC with administering federal securities laws. The 1933 Acts registration requirements aimed to enable purchasers to make reasoned decisions by requiring companies to provide reliable information. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 also regulates officers, directors, and principal share holders in an attempt to maintain fair and honest markets. The Act requires that issuers, subject to certain exemptions, register with the SEC if they want to have their securities traded on a national exchange. Issuers of securities registered under the 1934 Act must file various reports with the SEC in order to provide the public with adequate information about companies with publicly traded stocks. The 1934 Act permits the SEC to promulgate rules and regulations to protect the public and investors by prohibiting manipulative devices and contrivances via the mail system or other means of interstate commerce * Partnership Law A partnership is a for-profit business association of two or more persons. Because the business component is defined broadly by state laws and because persons can include individuals, groups of individuals, companies, and corporations, partnerships are highly adaptable in form and vary in complexity. Each partner shares directly in the organizations profits and shares control of the business operation. The consequence of this profit sharing is that partners are jointly and independently liable for the partnerships debts.Creation, organization, and dissolution of partnerships are governed by state law. Many states have adopted the Uniform Partnership Act. A partner relationship is generally the result of a contract either express or implied with no formal requirements (such as a signed document). This is not the case of a limited partnership where one or more general partners manage business operations and assume personally liable for partnership debts while other contributing/profit sharing partners take no part in running the business and incur no liability beyond contribution obligations.) Limited partnerships are governed in many states by the Uniform Limited Partnership Act . State property law also impacts partnerships by defining ownership in a partnership and determining how the death of a partner changes the partnership structure. Federal law plays a minimal role in partnership law except in the context of a diversity action, or in instances where a partnership agreement contains an effective choice-of-law provision designating the application of federal law. Federal law also governs whether a partnership exists for federal tax purposes. For state and federal tax purposes, a partnership is not a taxable entity. Partnership income is taxable to the partners in proport ion to their share in the companys profits. * Small Business Advocacy Despite their importance to the economy, small businesses are heavily burdened by the costs of government regulation and excessive paperwork. Advocacy research shows that firms with fewer than 20 employees annually spend 45 percent more per employee than larger firms do to comply with federal regulations. Advocacy is an independent voice for small business within the federal government and is the watchdog for the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). Advocacy advances the views and concerns of small business before Congress, the White House, the federal agencies, the federal courts and state policy makers. * Mortgage Law An arrangement under which a borrower puts up the title to real estate as security (collateral) for a loan to buy the real estate. The borrower typically agrees to make regular payments of principal and interest to repay the loan. If the borrower falls behind (defaults) on the payments, the lender can foreclose on the real estate and have it sold to pay off the loan. A mortgage involves the transfer of an interest in land as security for a loan or other obligation. It is the most common method of financing real estate transactions. The mortgagor is the party transferring the interest in land. The mortgagee, usually a financial institution, is the provider of the loan or other interest given in exchange for the security interest. Normally, a mortgage is paid in installments that include both interest and a payment on the principle amount that was borrowed. Failure to make payments results in the foreclosure of the mortgage. Foreclosure allows the mortgagee to declare that the entire m ortgage debt is due and must be paid immediately. This is accomplished through an acceleration clause in the mortgage. Failure to pay the mortgage debt once foreclosure of the land occurs leads to seizure of the security interest and its sale to pay for any remaining mortgage debt. The foreclosure process depends on state law and the terms of the mortgage. The most common processes are court proceedings (judicial foreclosure) or grants of power to the mortgagee to sell the property (power of sale foreclosure). Many states regulate acceleration clauses and allow late payments to avoid foreclosure. Some states use instruments called deeds of trust instead of traditional mortgages. Three theories exist regarding who has legal title to a mortgaged property. Under the title theory title to the security interest rests with the mortgagee. Most states, however, follow the lien theory under which the legal title remains with the mortgagor unless there is foreclosure. Finally, the intermediate theory applies the lien theory until there is a default on the mortgage whereupon the title theory applies. The mortgagor and the mortgagee generally have the right to transfer their interest in the mortgage. Some states hold that even when the purchaser of a property subject to a mortgage does not explicitly take over the mortgage the transfer is assumed. Mortgages employ due-on-sale and due-on-encumbrance clauses to prevent the transfer of mortgages. These clauses allow acceleration (having the principal and interest become due immediately) of the mortgage. The law of contracts and property govern the transfer of the mortgages interest. If the mortgage being foreclosed is not the only lien on the property then state law determines the priority of the property interests. For example, Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code governs conflicts between mortgages on real property and liens on fixtures (personal property attached to a piece of real estate). When a mortgage is a negotiable instrument it is governed by Article 3 of the Uniform Commercial Code. A mortgage may be used as a security interest by the mortgage. * Strangely enough, the word mortgage comes from the French word â€Å"mort† which means â€Å"dead† and â€Å"gage† from Old English, which means pledge. The term came from the doubtfulness of whether or not the mortgagor would pay the debt. In the 1500’s, if the mortgagor did not pay, then the land pledged as security for the debt was taken away. The land was then considered â€Å"dead† to the mortgagor. Nowadays, the term mortgage is used as a term for purchasing a property. We no longer associate anyone’s death with it. Although a few lucky people may be in a position to pay all cash for a property, home mortgages are required to purchase a home. Mortgages all have a term (typically 15, 20 or 30 years) representing the length of time before your home is paid off and a rate which determines the principal and interest payment that will be required to be paid during this term. * Bankruptcy Bankruptcy law provides for the development of a plan that allows a debtor, who is unable to pay his creditors, to resolve his debts through the division of his assets among his creditors. This supervised division also allows the interests of all creditors to be treated with some measure of equality. Certain bankruptcy proceedings allow a debtor to stay in business and use revenue generated to resolve his or her debts. An additional purpose of bankruptcy law is to allow certain debtors to free themselves (to be discharged) of the financial obligations they have accumulated, after their assets are distributed, even if their debts have not been paid in full. Bankruptcy law is federal statutory law contained in Title 11 of the United States Code. Congress passed the Bankruptcy Code under its Constitutional grant of authority to establish uniform laws on the subject of Bankruptcy throughout the United States.States may not regulate bankruptcy though they may pass laws that govern other a spects of the debtor-creditor relationship. There are two basic types of Bankruptcy proceedings. A filing under Chapter 7 is called liquidation. It is the most common type of bankruptcy proceeding. Liquidation involves the appointment of a trustee who collects the non-exempt property of the debtor, sells it and distributes the proceeds to the creditors. Bankruptcy involve the rehabilitation of the debtor to allow him or her to use future earnings to pay off creditors. Under Chapter 7, 12, 13, and some 11 proceedings, a trustee is appointed to supervise the assets of the debtor. A bankruptcy proceeding can either be entered into voluntarily by a debtor or initiated by creditors. After a bankruptcy proceeding is filed, creditors, for the most part, may not seek to collect their debts outside of the proceeding. The debtor is not allowed to transfer property that has been declared part of the estate subject to proceedings. Furthermore, certain pre-proceeding transfers of property, secured interests, and liens may be delayed or invalidated. Various provisions of the Bankruptcy Code a lso establish the priority of creditors interests. * Small Business Financing Loans and Grants Federal, state and local governments offer a wide range of financing programs to help small businesses start and grow their operations. These programs include low-interest loans, venture capital, and scientific and economic development grants. * Uniform Commercial Code The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC or the Code), first published in 1952, is one of a number of uniform acts that have been promulgated in conjunction with efforts to harmonize the law of sales and other commercial transactions in all 50 states within the United States of America. The goal of harmonizing state law is important because of the prevalence of commercial transactions that extend beyond one state. The UCC therefore achieved the goal of substantial uniformity in commercial laws and, at the same time, allowed the states the flexibility to meet local circumstances. The UCC deals primarily with transactions involving personal property (movable property), not real property (immovable property). * US Department of Commerce The U.S. Department of Commerce has a broad mandate to advance economic growth and jobs and opportunities for the American people. It has cross cutting responsibilities in the areas of trade, technology, economic development, environmental stewardship and statistical research and analysis. The products and services the department provides touch the lives of Americans and American companies in many ways, including weather forecasts, the decennial census, and patent and trademark protection for inventors and businesses. What is the UCC? The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), a comprehensive code addressing most aspects of commercial law, is generally viewed as one of the most important developments in American law. The UCC text and draft revisions are written by experts in commercial law and submitted as drafts for approval to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (now referred to as the Uniform Law Commissioners), in collaboration with the American Law Institute. The Commissioners are all attorneys, qualified to practice law, including state and federal judges, legislators and law professors from the United States and its territories. These quasi-public organizations meet and decide whether to endorse these drafts or to send them back to the experts for revision. The revision process may result in several different revisions of the original draft. Once a draft is endorsed, the Uniform Law Commissioners recommend that the states adopt these rules. The UCC is a model code, so it does not have leg al effect in a jurisdiction unless UCC provisions are enacted by the individual legislatures as statutes. Currently, the UCC (in whole or in part) has been enacted, with some local variation, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE Act 174 of 1962 AN ACT to enact the uniform commercial code, relating to certain commercial transactions in or regarding personal property and contracts and other documents concerning them, including sales, commercial paper,bank deposits and collections, letters of credit, bulk transfers, warehouse receipts, bills of lading, other documents of title, investment securities, leases, and secured transactions, including certain sales of accounts and contract rights; to provide for public notice to third parties in certain circumstances; to regulate procedure, evidence and damages in certain court actions involving such transactions, contracts or documents; to make uniform the law with respect there to; to make an appropriation; to provide penalties; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts. * 1-101. Short Titles. (a) This [Act] may be cited as the Uniform Commercial Code. * 1-102. Scope of Article. This article applies to a transaction to the extent that it is governed by another article of [the Uniform Commercial Code]. * 1-103. Construction of [Uniform Commercial Code] to Promote its Purposes and Policies: Applicability of Supplemental Principles of Law. (a) [The Uniform Commercial Code] must be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies, which are: (1)to simplify, clarify, and modernize the law governing commercial transactions; (2) to permit the continued expansion of commercial practices through custom, usage, and agreement of the parties; and (3) to make uniform the law among the various jurisdictions. (b) Unless displaced by the particular provisions of [the Uniform Commercial Code], the principles of law and equity, including the law merchant and the law relative to capacity to contract, principal and agent, fraud, misrepresentation,mistake, bankruptcy, and other validating or invalidating cause supplement its provisions. * 1-104. Construction Against Implied Repeal. [The Uniform Commercial Code] being a general act intended as a unified coverage of its subject matter, no part of it shall be deemed to be impliedly repealed by subsequent legislation if such construction can reasonably be avoided. * 1-105. Severability. If any provision or clause of [the Uniform Commercial Code] or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of [the Uniform Commercial Code] which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of [the Uniform Commercial Code] are severable. * 1-106. Use of Singular and Plural; Gender. In [the Uniform Commercial Code], unless the statutory context otherwise requires: (1) words in the singular number include the plural, and those in the plural include the singular; and (2) words of any gender also refer to any other gender. * 1-107. Section Captions. Section captions are part of [the Uniform Commercial Code]. * 1-108. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. This article modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001 et seq., except that nothing in this article modifies, limits, or supersedes Section 7001(c) of that Act or authorizes electronic delivery of any of the notices described in Section 7003(b) of that Act. * 1-201. General Definitions. (a) Unless the context otherwise requires, words or phrases defined in this section, or in the additional definitions contained in other articles of [the Uniform Commercial Code] that apply to particular articles or parts thereof, have the meanings stated. (b) Subject to definitions contained in other articles of [the Uniform Commercial Code] that apply to particular articles or parts thereof: (1) Action, in the sense of a judicial proceeding, includes recoupment, counterclaim, set-off, suit in equity, and any other proceeding in which rights are determined. (2) Aggrieved party means a party entitled to pursue a remedy. (3) Agreement, as distinguished from contract, means the bargain of the parties in fact, as found in their language or inferred from other circumstances, including course of performance, course of dealing, or usage of trade as provided in Section 1-303. (4) Bank means a person engaged in the business of banking and includes a savings bank, savings and loan association , credit union, and trust company. (5) Bearer means a person in possession of a negotiable instrument, document of title, or certificated security that is payable to bearer or indorsed in blank. (6) Bill of lading means a document evidencing the receipt of goods for shipment issued by a person engaged in the business of transporting or forwarding goods. (7) Branch includes a separately incorporated foreign branch of a bank. (8) Burden of establishing a fact means the burden of persuading the trier of fact that the existence of the fact is more probable than its nonexistence. (9) Buyer in ordinary course of business means a person that buys goods in good faith, without knowledge that the sale violates the rights of another person in the goods, and in the ordinary course from a person, other than a pawnbroker, in the business of selling goods of that kind. A person buys goods in the ordinary course if the sale to the person comports with the usual or customary practices in the kind of business in which the seller is engaged or with the sellers own usual or customary practices. A person that sells oil, gas, or other minerals at the wellhead or minehead is a person in the busine ss of selling goods of that kind. A buyer in ordinary course of business may buy for cash, by exchange of other property, or on secured or unsecured credit, and may acquire goods or documents of title under a preexisting contract for sale. Only a buyer that takes possession of the goods or has a right to recover the goods from the seller under Article 2 may be a buyer in ordinary course of business. (10) Conspicuous, with reference to a term, means so written, displayed, or presented that a reasonable person against which it is to operate ought to have noticed it. Whether a term is conspicuous or not is a decision for the court. Conspicuous terms include the following: (A) a heading in capitals equal to or greater in size than the surrounding text, or in contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same or lesser size; and (B) language in the body of a record or display in larger type than the surrounding text, or in contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or set off from surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks that call attention to the language. (11) Consumer means an individual who enters into a transaction primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. (12) Contract, as distinguished from agreement, means the total legal obligation that results from the parties agreement as determined by [the Uniform Commercial Code] as supplemented by any other applicable laws. (13) Creditor includes a general creditor, a secured creditor, and any representative of creditors, including an assignee for the benefit of creditors, a receiver in equity, and an executor or administrator of an insolvent debtors or assignors estate. (14) Defendant includes a person in the position of defendant in a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim. (15) Delivery, with respect to an instrument, document of title, or chattel paper, means voluntary transfer of possession. * International trade law Includes the appropriate rules and customs for handling trade between countries. However, it is also used in legal writings as trade between private sectors, which is not right. This branch of law is now an independent field of study as most governments has become part of the world trade, as members of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Since the transaction between private sectors of different countries is important part of the WTO activities, this latter branch of law is now very important part of the academic works and is under study in many universities across the world. International trade law should be distinguished from the broader field of international economic law. The latter could be said to encompass not only WTO law, but also law governing the international monetary system and currency regulation, as well as the law of international development. The body of rules for transnational trade in the 21st century derives from medieval commercial laws called the lex mercatoria and lex maritima — respectively, the law for merchants on land and the law for merchants on sea. Modern trade law (extending beyond bilateral treaties) began shortly after the Second World War, with the negotiation of a multilateral treaty to deal with trade in goods: the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). International trade law is based on theories of economic liberalism developed in Europe and later the United States from the 18th century onwards. International Trade Law is an aggregate of legal rules of â€Å"international legislation† and new lex mercatoria, regulating relations in international trade. â€Å"International legislation† – international treaties and acts of international intergovernmental organizations regulating relations in international trade. lex mercatoria the law for merchants on land. Alok Narayan defines lex mercatoria as any law relating to businesses which was criticised by Professor Julius Stone. and lex maritima the law for merchants on sea. Alok in his recent article criticised this definition to be too narrow and merely-creative. Professor Dodd and Professor Malcolm Shaw of Leeds University supported this proposition. Contract: the elements of a contract The first step in a contract question is always to make sure that a contract actually exists. There are certain elements that must be present for a legally binding contract to be in place. The first two are the most obvious: * An offer: an expression of willingness to contract on a specific set of terms, made by the offeror with the intention that, if the offer is accepted, he or she will be bound by a contract. * Acceptance: an expression of absolute and unconditional agreement to all the terms set out in the offer. It can be oral or in writing. The acceptance must exactly mirror the original offer made. * A counter-offer is not the same as an acceptance. A counter-offer extinguishes the original offer: you can’t make a counter-offer and then decide to accept the original offer! But†¦ * A request for information is not a counter-offer. If you ask the offeror for information or clarification about the offer, that doesn’t extinguish the offer; you’re still free to accept it if you want. It is very important to distinguish an offer from an invitation to treat – that is, an invitation for other people to submit offers. Some everyday situations which we might think are offers are in fact invitations to treat: * Goods displayed in a shop window or on a shelf. * When a book is placed in a shop window priced at  £7.99, the bookshop owner has made an invitation to treat. * When I pick up that book and take it to the till, I make the offer to buy the book for  £7.99. * When the person at the till takes my money, the shop accepts my offer, and a contract comes into being. * Adverts basically work in the same way as the scenario above. Advertising something is like putting it in a shop window. * Auctions: * The original advertising of the auction is just an invitation to treat. * When I make a bid, I am making an offer. * When the hammer falls, the winning ‘offer’ has been accepted. The seller now has a legally binding contract with the winning bidder (so long as there is no reserve price that hasn’t been reached) An offer can be revoked at any time before it is accepted, so long as you inform the person you made the offer to that the offer no longer stands. * Consideration: each party to the contract must receive something of value.Consideration is the price paid for the other’s promise. There are four legal maxims that apply to consideration: * Consideration must move from the promisor; * Consideration need not move to the promisee; * Past consideration is not good consideration; * The consideration given must be sufficient, but it need not be adequate. Arrangements of a social nature are presumed not to be legally binding, whilse commercial arrangements are presumed to be intended as binding contracts. Of course, these presumptions can always be rebutted in court by producing evidence to the contrary. * Importance of Business Law It is essential to know about business law before starting a business, as it will help you operate your business without the hindrances of ignorance. It is better to seek the expert guidance of an accountant and an attorney to learn about the latest business laws that will affect your business.. There are different laws for different business entities. Be certain you learn about the business laws that govern the kind of business entity that you choose to start. The major types of businesses are C, S and closed corporations, limited liability companies, and sole proprietorships. Zoning Laws: It is essential to know about zoning laws, as certain zones are restricted in certain areas. It deals with the kind or type of business allowed in certain areas, how the land surrounding a business is used, signboards, advertisements, and parking. Licensing Laws: In order to operate a business certain licenses are required and there are some important business laws you need to know. If a business operates without these licenses, it is illegal and the business may be dissolved or forced to close. Trademark and Patent Laws: These are laws that deal with ownership; intellectual property rights, and inventions. They are necessary to protect the business. Employment Laws: These are laws regarding the hiring and firing of employees, their rights, compensation, safety, work place discrimination, child labor laws, overtime pay structure, disability laws and unemployment laws. Tax Laws: This section deals with filing of tax returns and depends on the kind of business entity and the state the business operates in, sales tax. These include franchise tax, income tax and other state and federal tax requirements of a business. These are very important business laws you need to know before starting a business. Environmental Laws: The government enforces the environmental laws for the discharge of hazardous waste and the recycling laws pertaining to the business. Health Department Permits: This is necessary if your business deals with food products. You must get health department permits to operate your business. Fire Department Permits and Air and Water Pollution Control Permits: There are laws that certain kinds of business entities must get permits from these departments to operate. The list above contains basic business laws you need to know before starting a company. It is necessary to take precautions that you are not violating any law by operating your business. You must obtain all the necessary permits and licenses from the appropriate authority.