Promote professional Development Essay

1.1Explain the importance of continually improving knowledge and practice The importance of continually improving my knowledge and working practice is to make sure that I am aware of and adhere to all the current Health and social care standards, legislations and guidelines for good practice in my work place. Professional development refers to the acquisition of skills and knowledge both for personal development and for career enhancement. Improving my personal development benefits not only me, but the company I work for, my staff and the Customers for who I care for. It enables me to keep up to date and change proactively to make sure that the service I offer is relevant and appropriate to care for my customers. The customers must be confident that they can trust the people that they receive the care from and that they know what they are doing and do it well. This should be an ongoing activity which is the â€Å"norm† for a care organisation which will enhance the quality of their work, make staff happier which can only make for positive outcomes for the care service, customers and the staff. As the Care Team Leader of the care service I am responsible for others such as staff, customers, the customers families and visitors etc. so it is imperative that I am knowledgeable in all areas of management to enable me to manage effectively and within the legislations set out by CQC Continuing my professional development has been important for my career and has and will continue to help me progress throughout my chosen career. 1.2Analyse potential barriers to professional development Potential barriers to continuing professional development could be †¢Lack of budget from the organisation – an adequate training budget should be in place and agreed each year to keep up to date with ongoing and new training courses. †¢Lack of supportive staff – staff that are only concerned with earning their wage each month without caring about the knowledge and  training to care for customers properly. †¢No time to train – adequate time needs to be set aside for each staff member so that they understand and are confident it what they are learning and can put it into practice. †¢No encouragement from management/senior staff – Management suggesting and encouraging suitable/mandatory training courses and supporting staff through these. †¢Inadequate regular supervisions – Monthly supervisions to talk privately with staff regarding any help or training requirements is imperative. Staff need to be able to talk openly with management to be able to continue their professional development. It also helps for management to have an open door policy so that staff do not have to wait for the monthly supervision and can continue to improve daily from management experience. These are all Organisational barriers but we can also have personal barriers which prevent professional development. These could be †¢Low self-esteem – If an individual lacks confidence, this can affect how much they are willing to learn †¢Transport issues – If a company are not able to offer in house training or training courses on site and have to go to other training venues it could involve costs that the individual is not willing/able to pay so this needs to be discussed with management. †¢Childcare issues – If a training course is not during normal working hours this could lead to no childcare and can prevent the individual from attending essential training courses, therefore not being able to continue to work. †¢Sick/holiday time – If an individual is unable to attend training due to arranged holidays or unexpected sickness can impair their learning or possible promotion in the work place through lack of qualifications. 1.3compare the use of different sources and systems of support for professional development We all have a world of knowledge and resources. This can be channelled in either a formal and structured approach or by observations. It all depends on the individual’s motivation. Different ways in which professional development can be carried out can be in formal methods such as appraisals and supervisions. I conduct these to assess staffs performances. I look at future goals and identify the needs of the staff member on an individual basis according to the organisations policies and objectives. This will create a plan for them to move forward and identify their training needs to allow them to grow and evolve. This in  turn, in the long run helps not only the individual but the organisation. Shadowing or mentoring is a huge support tool. It is used mostly when employing new members of staff and allows them to see how a more long standing member of staff works. It allows them to pass on their knowledge and expertise and guide them through policies and procedures and allows the new member of staff to find a way in which to work which is in line with these guidelines. The mentor can work with this member of staff throughout their working time; however shadowing/mentoring can be carried out by numerous members of staff on different shifts. This gives the new member of staff different ideas on ways in which to work so that they can find a way of working which is comfortable for them. Within the organisation they can carry out in house training courses to enhance the workers knowledge. This is ongoing throughout the workers time with the organisation. The simplest form of development is the staff communication book. This can be about any aspect of achieving the highest standards in the care setting. All staff have access to this and can share their knowledge of what has worked well throughout the shift to pass over to the next member of staff working. It can also say what has not worked. This can also be expanded upon in regular staff meetings. It can be discussed in depth and at length with everyone having their say. Within our organisation we also have a policy hub in which the carers can access at anytime if they need to read up on something or are unsure of what is expeted of them. Beyond the organisation external agencies can help the company and individuals with professional development. These can include CQC, social services, other health professionals buy offering support and their extensive knowledge. External training agencies can offer free training (NVQ’s) or a more specific training course, which can differ to the in house training an organisation can offer and maybe more beneficial to the employee. They may develop more from a group training session rather than a question and answer knowledge paper. By working alongside all staff members on different shifts it allows me to assess the staff member’s knowledge and experience in an informal way. I can then pass on my knowledge and ability in a practical setting rather than the formal setting of an appraisal/supervision. 1.4Explain factors to consider when selecting opportunities and activities  for keeping knowledge and practice up to date. Prioritising important elements can assist in highlighting what training should be selected. What goals need to be achieved for the customers we have? What training do the staff team want? What training courses are mandatory for a staff team? All these factors need to be considered and then compared to the training budget the organisation has. Cost has to be weighed against what the consequences entail if professional development is not followed through. For example if your customers require lifting/hoisting and the training is missed this could lead to them being left in a very vulnerable position. The management team being up to date on new policies can help them prioritize what training is needed and when. Time is also a consideration. If you have a large staff team it can be difficult to organise training to which they can all attend. This is also true of the place the training is to be held. Is it more advantageous for the training to be held on site rather than all have to travel to a training facility as travelling can create extra cost. We are just going through the process of rearranging all our training to reduce where it being held. Since starting this position the training has been held at different courts within the organisation and can be up to 10 miles away. This has now been reduced so all training is to be held either in house or the next nearest court. I have found this had has a positive effect within my workplace, more carers are turning up to training session and are enquiring about non mandatory training sessions. It may be wise for a manager to look at just sending 1 or 2 members of staff on a course to be trainer trained in several important courses so that they can train other staff in these topics. Although it may be a high cost to start off with it can work out more cost effective in the long run, especially if the organisation has a high turnover of staff. These trainers can then train in house as and when required at times suitable for all staff and at times suited to the rota as to not leave the customers in a vulnerable position due to lack of staff on shift. 2.1 Evaluate own knowledge and performance against standards and benchmarks I have worked in the care sector for 6 years. Before I began my career in care as a support worker I was a stay at home mom. Before choosing my career path I did some research on learning disabilities, autism and challenging behaviour. A lot of this research was done on the internet getting a snap shot of how to care for the service  users. When I began work I started by doing shadowing shifts which involved shadowing an established member of staff so that I could get to know how things were run and to get to know the service users. On these shifts I also read through my company’s policies and procedures. I was given the opportunity to advance my knowledge by attending training courses provided by the company. I found that I could learn more when the course was as part of a group. Learning the codes of practice ensures that I promote and uphold the privacy, dignity and rights of the clients I care for and that I strive to improve the quality of healthcare, care and support through continuing professional development. I achieve this within my job role by ensuring that the customers and their families are informed and included in all aspects of their care planning. The codes of practice state that I am accountable for the quality of my work and take responsibility for maintaining and improving my knowledge and skil ls. This means that if there is a course I could benefit from (which in turn benefits the company) then I should be attending it. By obtaining my NVQ 3 qualification and all in house training courses I was promoted to Senior carer and then between myself and the proprietors we set up a home care business from the care home I was working at and got the position of care coordinator. In this position I have to made sure that my staff and I were up to date on the national standards which are set out by CQC. This means that I had to make sure that there were enough members of staff on shift at all times to keep the service users safe and to meet their needs. That I made sure that all members of staff were trained and had the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience needed to meet their health and welfare needs. To ensure that my staff were well managed and had the correct knowledge, skills and experience through training to meet the service users’ health and welfare needs. If I failed at this then it means that the service I managed would not meet the essential standards set out by CQC which in turn could mean that the service I ran was shut down meaning all employees out of work and vulnerable adults being let down and left in an extremely vulnerable position. I now work as a care team leader which is a similar role but with a larger establishment. 2.2 Prioritise development goals and targets to meet expected standards We have an extensive training programme which covers a range of topics which is ongoing for staff. These include Emergency first aid, food hygiene,  equality, dignity and inclusion, diet and nutrition to name a few. All staff have attend all mandatory courses before they start their shadowing shifts and these are updated as and when required. We also have a lot of non mandatory courses in which the carers attend and can request to atttend. All staff employed (including relief) all have the opportunity to work towards their NVQ level 2, 3 or 5 All employees files have a record of training showing that there is an ongoing programme of development to make sure that they have undertaken training in key areas such as health and safety, person centered approaches, communication and how to safeguard vulnerable people. Training is monitored to make sure it is kept up to date. Specialist training is completed as and when necessary. I also have a training tracker which enables me to see at a glance who is due for training. 3.1 Select learning opportunities to meet development objectives and reflect personal learning style As well as training that is delivered by someone we also have workbooks. These are questions on a specific topic. This is a very specific style which does not suit everyone but due to training budget this is a very cost efficient way to train a staff team on all key essential training standards. It is also used as a refresher if I notice a carers standards are slipping. I am a mix between a visual learner and auditory learner, I like to see pictures or watch DVD’s and visualising an outcome and also like to learn as a group so that I can discuss the topic and to ask questions as and when I need. This involves the use of seen or observed things including pictures, demonstrations and hand-outs. This is why external agencies coming in or me attending training courses is far more beneficial for me than sitting on my own and learning from a book or doing knowledge papers. 3.2 Produce a plan for own professional development, using an appropriate source of support I start my personal development plan by taken a self evaluation, focusing on my strengths as follows: Motivated person Eager to learn new skills Team builder Interested in the care sector Caring I then decide on my goals in my job and where I want to be or what I want to achieve in my job: Now I am a Care Team Leader I want to fully read up on all the essential standards set out by CQC. As I am still fairly new to this post I want to learn everything I can about this job and everything around this. This can not only benefit me but my staff, customers and the business. Keep up to date with the ongoing training. Book my staff any additional/relevant training courses as and when they require them. I then set my goals/plan out. Part of my development as a Care Team Leader is also gaining my level 5 qualification. This expands on my NVQ level 3 and can only benefit me and the business in the long term. What is my goal? What do I need to do? What resources do I need? Who can help me? What is my timescale? Read up and understand all essential standards set out by CQCRead ‘guidance of compliance – Essential standards of quality and safety’ Sign up for email alerts to keep up to date on any changes Download and print out a copy of the booklet. (not only for myself but for staff also) Keep up to date on all training that is available for me Make sure training is completed on time Keep up to date on all policies and procedures set out by the business Complete my level 5 qualification by August 2015 Keep up to date on completing my units Gain more knowledge and experience Become a NVQ assesor. Goals will be added to the development plan as and when 3.3 Establish a process to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan I will evaluate and amend my professional development plan regularly using the SMART technique which is outlined as followed †¢Specific – target a specific area for improvement †¢Measurable – quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress †¢Assignable – specify who will do it  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Realistic – state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resource’s †¢Time-related – specify when the results can be achieved By doing this I will be able to identify any problems or obstacles which may delay my progress and find ways in which to find the time to get back on track or find alternative ways if I am having trouble achieving them in my current way. At my regular supervisions my PDP will be discussed with my manager and the plan can be added to at any time with suggestions from them and additional ideas from myself. With regular meetings I can see how much I have achieved which will make me strive to achieve so much more but can also identify if the time allocated to a goal is in fact achievable and if not amend the time scale. This is not seen as a failure if not completed when originally said but just adjusting the reality. By completing my level 5 qualification I am setting myself a specific target and my knowledge of the care sector will only expand as I complete each unit. Perhaps learning something I would not of been aware of or looking at a topic in far more depth than I would of done before. I will have outside support from my assessor who will also review if I am setting myself the realistic targets taking into account my day to day role as Care Team Leader and also my personal/family life. 4.1 Compare models of reflective practice Reflective practice is â€Å"the capacity to reflect on action so as to engage in a process of continuous learning†, which some believe is wrong .[1] According to one definition it involves â€Å"paying critical attention to the practical values and theories which inform everyday actions, by examining practice reflectively and reflexively. This leads to developmental insight†.[2] Edgar schon an influential writer on reflection, described reflection in two main ways: reflection in action and reflection on action. Reflection on action is looking back after the event whist reflection in action is happening during the event. I have explored these terms and have found the following: Reflection in action means â€Å"To think about what one is doing whilst one is doing it; it is typically stimulated by surprise, by something which puzzled the practitioner concerned† (Greenwood 1983) Reflection in action allows the person to redesign what they are doing whilst they are doing it. This approach can be used to improve practice by supporting individuals to question their routine work as they carry it out. They may measure their behaviour against their values and values of the organisation to ensure that these are consistent or to try a new approach to an activity and evaluate its success Reflection on action means â€Å"The retrospective contemplation of practice undertaken in order to uncover the knowledge used in practical situations, by analysing and interpreting the information recalled† (Fitzgerald 1994) I can see with reflection on action that it involves turning information into knowledge, by conducting a cognitive post mortem. This approach allows the worker to look at a specific incident, write a report about it and analyse what happened so they can see what additional knowledge or practical support would have been needed to prevent or give the incident a different outcome. It allows the person to establish what they can do to be better prepared when faced with a similar experience in the future, as well as providing an opportunity to identify shortcomings in knowledge or skills which can be rectified by themselves or passed onto management to provide specific training to that individual or as a team. Graham Gibbs discussed the use of structured debriefing. He presented the stages of structured debriefing as follows after the initial experience: Description – What happened? Feelings – What were your reactions and feelings? Evaluation – What was good or bad about the experience? Analysis – What sense can you make of the situation? Conclusion (general) – What can be concluded, in a general sense, from these experiences and the analyses you have undertaken? Conclusion (Specific) – What can be concluded about your own specific, unique, personal situation or way of working? Personal action plans – What are you going to do differently in this type of situation next time? What steps are you going to take on the basis of what you have learnt? 4.2 Explain the importance of reflective practice to improve performance Reflective practice can be an important tool in practice-based professional learning settings where individuals learning from their own professional experiences, rather than from formal teaching or knowledge transfer, may be the most important source of personal professional development and improvement. Further, it is also an important way to be able to bring together theory and practice; through reflection you are able to see and label schools of thought and theory within the context of your work. Reflective practice is important for my growth, to self-evaluate my working practice and so that I can recognise my weaknesses and strengths. Reflective practice enables me to learn from real events and to learn from any mistakes I may have made to help me improve in the future. This can only help in my professional development throughout my career. 4.3 Use reflective practice and feedback from others to improve performance I use reflective practice on a regular basis in my job role. This comes in many different ways. For example; †¢From my staff – they have a very good working knowledge of the care sector and often make suggestions on how things can work better with ways in which we look after our service users. Suggestions on what did not work for them and how we can help make their lives more fulfilled †¢CQC – They visit our establishment for their checks and they can advise how we can improve our service. Not because we are necessarily doing something wrong but because they can advise on a better way. †¢From customers family and friends – These are the people that know the customers the best and although we as an organisation may do things one way they can advise that this may work a different way for their loved ones. I need to learn to use my reflective practice to adapt and learn new ways. Some of the outcomes in using reflective practice may include making changes to my personal opinions or attitudes, undertaking further training to learn new ways of working or to understand a topic better, listening and seeking advice and help form external sources, colleagues etc, also learning from my own mistakes. 4.4 Evaluate how practice has been improved through: †¢Reflection on best practice †¢Reflection on failures and mistakes Reflection on best practice Reflection on best practice helps me think about my own efforts and successes or achievements. Reflection is a critical thinking strategy in which i review and analyse my work, making connections between what I have learnt and my efforts. If I find something that works better than it did before I can then pass it on to the staff also vice versa. Reflection on failures and mistakes Stating what the failure/mistake was, writing an account of why things went wrong, how it could be avoided, who was at fault can only mean that this will not happen again in the future. It will high light how the incident has changed working practices so that this knowledge can be passed on to other staff members and can be improved upon.

Change and Culture Case Study Essay

In tough economic times, companies are looking for ways to continue to provide services and products to the public without compromising quality and efficiency. When it comes to smaller businesses, or businesses that provide the same product or service, it is often wise to merge the companies together to form a stronger, more stable structure. This will take place when Frithsen Physical Therapy merges with Select Physical Therapy. Select Physical Therapy is a national corporation that provides physical therapy as well as aquatic therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training outreach and long-term care services. For the past decade Frithsen Physical Therapy has seen Select Physical Therapy as a fierce competitor that provides less than quality care to its patients. Frithsen Physical Therapy has been well known in the community for providing care in a professional and personal way. Many employees are afraid that merging with a large corporation will change the way they work, causing the quality of patient care to decrease. Middle managers will become essential before, during, and after the merge to ensure that every employee from each company understands the vision for the new corporation and is willing to compromise to make it a reality. The combining of two companies is no easy task and will change the shape and culture of both companies, until a new one is born. Processes such as communication, hiring, patient care and record keeping will change to accommodate the growing corporation, in hopes it will become more effective than either company was on its own. Merging two companies is a delicate procedure, requiring compromise and patience. Each company has built a certain culture over its existence, and each one believes that their culture is best. In reality, each company has certain services or tasks that they perform better than the other. In the instance of Select Physical Therapy merging with Frithsen Physical Therapy, the culture of the new, combined company will be similar to the cultures put in place by each company separately. However, it is important to create a new culture, differing from the previous ones, to promote a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. If this step does not occur, everyone will continue to work in his or her own culture, which becomes divisive, causing the company to be pulled in different directions (Sherrill, 2001). In the first phases of combining the companies, the culture may be fragmented, with each company holding on to what they know. Many of the employees will be wary of the changes occurring around them on a daily basis and may resist certain adjustments (Stanwick, 2000). A new atmosphere of open-mindedness and compromise needs to emerge for the blended company to be successful. When two companies are combined, there are bound to be differences of opinions between practitioners and administrators regarding polices and procedures. It is important to understand that each company brings something valuable to the table, and all ideas and opinions should be considered and discussed Avoiding a competitive stance will help employees from both sides see the positives of blending ideals and values, and ultimately encourage the birth of a stronger, more successful new culture (Stanwick, 2000). To successfully combine two companies involves cooperation from all levels of management. As a middle manager in a merging corporation, there are different strategies and skills that will be necessary to ensure a smooth transition. The most important strategy will be communication. Before the merger occurs, it is important for middle managers to understand the new beliefs and values that upper management desires (Bolton & Lewis, 1998). Once middle managers understand the vision for the new company, they must pass it down to their employees. It is not enough to simply communicate the new vision; middle managers must begin practicing these changes immediately. Leading by example is the most effective way to produce results. The middle managers in most companies are more approachable than top management; therefore it is imperative that middle managers are on board with the new vision of the company and display this in a positive way. While the merger is occurring it is essential to build a team atmosphere, full of open communication, honesty, and teamwork. Each employee from both companies should feel as though their positions is important, and their cooperation is essential to the success of the forming company. Once the merger is complete, it is all about the new culture, staying visible, approachable, and communicating information early and often (Bolton & Lewis, 1998). Aside from ensuring employees are blending well, it is important to focus on patient care. There will be changes implemented at every phase of the merger, but it is important not let misunderstandings, or issues within the staff affect the quality of care given to the patients. Once the merger has been finalized and integration is complete, middle managers need to assess their staff to be sure that each employee is doing his or her part to make the merge as successful as possible. If there are employees who are resisting the changes being made within the company, or not buying into the new culture and vision, it is necessary to evaluate the situation and decide what is best for the team and the company as a whole. Middle managers must not forget to consider the employees feelings when situation such as this arise. Often times, employees resist mergers because their identities are closely tied to their jobs, and they like to experience continuity of their identities. Giessner (as cited by Sidle, 2006) noted that mergers would challenge this continuity, leading to distress and anxiety from employees. When middle management can understand the feelings of their employees, they can be better equipped to handle issues that may arise by allaying fears or implementing strategies to make employees comfortable with their new roles. Even if all employees from both companies are comfortable with the combining of their two organizations, upper management has the daunting task of reworking its current systems and procedures to include the best strategies from each company. In the case of Frithsen Physical Therapy and Select Physical Therapy, the former’s employees will see the most changes. Frithsen Physical Therapy is a small corporation, covering New England, while Select Physical Therapy is a national corporation, encompassing more services and a variety of clinicians. Along with physical therapy services Select Physical Therapy offers occupational therapy, aquatic therapy, long-term care facilities, and a large athletic training outreach program. This will require managers from Frithsen Physical Therapy to be in charge of more people, and perhaps different clinicians than they are accustomed to working with. The shape and systems currently used in the company will have to shift in order to fit a larger scale of business and a more complicated hierarchy. The regional managers from Frithsen Physical Therapy reported directly to the President of the company, whereas the regional managers of Select Physical Therapy report to one of ten executive managers, who then report to the CEO of the company. The clinic managers of Frithsen Physical Therapy were able to see all of the employees they supervise on a daily basis, working side by side. With the inclusion of the vast athletic training program, they will now be responsible for knowing which athletic trainers report to their clinics, and what schools they are assigned to. There will also be a manager of athletic training services that they will need to communicate with about referrals and business relating to the relationship between the schools covered and the clinics in the area. Due to this more intricate hierarchy, the employees of Frithsen Physical Therapy will see a dramatic change in how they communicate with upper management. Under their old organization, there was a relatively straight path to the top, with only a few levels of management until they reached the President. Communication could be done easily by telephone or in person, and most employees had met each other face to face at one time or another. In the new organization, there will be a need for a more formal kind of communication. In organizations communication tends to be directional, moving upward, downward, diagonal or lateral (Leibler & McConnell, 2008). Frithsen Physical Therapy was used to mostly lateral communication, discussing issues with other managers or sharing notes about a particular patient’s care. With the merger, the managers and employees will mostly be communicating upward, providing detailed reports to their supervisors, who will then provide reports to a higher supervisor, and so on. This will require attention to detail and more paperwork for the managers at every level, which will change the way the managers handle issues that arise within their department. With the inclusion of new services and a goal for comprehensive care, comes the call for new positions and alterations to old ones. A need for more middle management will arise, and more staff will be added to accommodate the growth of services while still maintaining exceptional patient care. In conclusion, there are many factors to consider when combining two organizations. It may make sense financially and logically to combine two entities that provide similar services. However, it is important to understand that not only will it be difficult to combine two cultures; it will also take time for employees to adjust to a new chain of command and new policies and procedures. Middle managers will play an important role in the blending of two corporations. They need to remain positive, lead by example, and possibly sever ties with employees who do not fall into line with new visions and ideas. An increase in communication will help make the transition successful, and ultimately all employees will reap the benefits from such a merger. References Bolton, J.M., & Lewis, B. (1998, Jan/Feb). The challenge of merging and consolidating organizations. Journal of Management in Engineering, 14(1), 9-10. Academic Search Complete. Leibler, J.G., & McConnell, C.R. (2008). Management principles for health professionals (5th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Sherrill, T. (2001, May). Creating a can-do culture. New Zealand Management, 48(4), 17-21. MasterFILE Premier. Sidle, S.D. (2006, August). Resisting the urge to merge. Academy of Management Perspectives, 20(3), 115-118. Business Source Complete. Stanwick, P.A. (2000, Jan/Feb). How to successfully merge two corporate cultures. Journal of Corporate Accounting & Finance, 11(2), 7-11. Business Source Complete.

Water and Vinegar Egg

ROLL 9 ISLOM JALOLOV 12/21/2011 LAB REPORT ROLL 9 ISLOM JALOLOV EGG LAB REPORT PURPOSE: WHICH IS MORE PERMEABLE SALT WATER, VINEGAR, OR CORN SYRUP APPARATUS: STRING, RULER, E-BALANCE, 250 ML BEAKERS, PEN MATERIALS: EGG, WATER, SALTY WATER, CORN SYRUP, VINEGAR INTRODUCTION: I AM DOING A LAB REPORT ABOUT EGGS, I’M USING SALTY WATER, VINEGAR, CORN SYRUP, AND I AM GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHICH IS MORE PERMEABLE THAN ALL. REALISTIC STATEMENT: YES MY RESULTS ARE REALISTIC PROCEDURE: STEP #1: COLLECT ALL THE SUPPLIES I NEED STEP #2: HAVE A NOTEBOOK TO COPY THE DOWN THE RESULTS STEP #3: FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS, THAT SHOWS HOW TO DO THE TESTING ON EGGS STEP #4: OBSERVE WHAT I HAVE CONCLUSION: THEREFORE ALLMOST ALL OF THEM ARE PERMEABLE DATA TABLE 1From: vinegarTo: corn  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  syrup  | -Height increased from vinegar in 2 daysFrom: 16 cmNormal eggTo: 19cmAfter vinegar-But the egg deflated and diameter was UndeniableAfter corn syrup  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  | -Width increased from vinegar in 2 daysFrom: 14. 5cmTo: 17cm-Egg deflated in the corn syrup and diameter was Undeniable| 100. 2gEgg smelled like vinegar till the end of the experiment118. 6gCorn syrup did not change color| Before the project-58. g  Egg was still white, although, it’s crust was very smoothAfter vinegar egg was smooth and had liquid’s smellAfter vinegar-87. 7gEgg deflated after corn syrupCorn syrup71. 9g| 2From:VinegarTo: water| -Height increased from the vinegar that egg was in for 2 daysFrom: 16 cm Normal eggTo: 18cm After vinegar-After water egg’s height increased21cm  After water| Mass of the vinegar:149. 8gEgg was on topPlus the egg swelled the liquidMass of the water;98. 2gEgg was in its biggest state| Mass of the vinegar:149. 8gEgg was on topPlus the egg swelled the liquidMass of the water;98. gEgg was in its biggest state| Mass of the eggMass after vinegarMass after waterEgg was seen throughIn white orange dots all over the egg| 3From: vinegarTo: salt-water| -Height increased from the vinegar that egg was in for 2 days  From: 16. 5 cmNormal egg heightTo: 20 cmAfter vinegar-And when the egg was in water for 1 day it  decreased in height by 2 cm  18cm after water| -Width increased by 3. 5 cmFrom: 14. 5cmNormal eggTo: 18cm  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After vinegar-And when the egg was in water for 1 day it  decreased in height by 2 cm(16cm) after salt water| Mass of the vinegar;108. gEgg soak the liquidMass of the salt water:130. 5gEgg soak the liquid| Mass of the egg:  51. 9gMass after vinegar:61. 4gEgg soak the liquid  Mas s after salt-water:81. 9gSmelled like vinegar White colorGummy and very soft Very big in size| GROUP #1 GROUP #2 GROUP #3 DIAGRAM STRING RULER E-BALANCE 250 BEAKER PEN 1. WHAT HAPPENS TO AN EGG IF YOU LET IT SOAK IN WATER FOR A VERY LONG TIME? WHY? The egg usually becomes lose and heavy, also its size gets larger, these things happen because it was in the water 2. WHY DID WE SOAK THE EGG IN VINEGAR? To see if the egg was permeable to the vinegar 3. WHY DID THE EGG IN THE CORN SYRUP SHRINK? Lots of the go out of the egg and get mixed with Corn Syrup so it gets smaller and its weight changes 4. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EGG IN THE WATER? WHY? The egg got smaller and it looked little bigger than the first time. It changes because I think the Corn Syrup has elements that shrank the egg but water doesn’t. 5. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EGG IN THE SALT WATER? WHY? It got the egg to becomes really small I think because salt has lots of elements so it happen because of the Salt

Financial Statement Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial Statement Analysis - Assignment Example A provision for warranty should be provided for at 2% and any changes is taken to the profit and loss account. An account should be maintained that has this figures and if there is returns then the actual amount and changes in the provision is taken to the profit and loss account. b. Calculate K2’s warranty expense for 2008. Opening balance 8,430,000 Provision 2% of 1,934,700,000 38, 694,000 47, 124,000 Closing balance 6,490,000 Warranty expense for the period 40,634,000 c. How much did K2 pay during the year to repair and or replace goods under warranty? Amount paid for repairs =50% of warranty Amount paid for repairs =50% of 2% of 1934.7million = 19,347,000 2. (6 points) Mustang Inc. issued $800,000 of 5%, 20-year bonds at 96 on January 1, 2000. Through Jan 1, 2008, Mustang amortized $20,000 of the bond discount. On January 1, 2008, Mustang Inc. retired the bonds at 102 (after making the interest payment on that date). a. Calculate the net book value of the bond on January 1 , 2008 Interest = .05 x800,000= 40,000 Net book value = 800,000x102/100 = 816,000 b. and the gain or loss that Mustang would report for this retirement. Loss of the retirement = 800,000-816,000= 16,000 3. Higher Ratio financial risk Total debt/ equity (%) Increases EBITDA interest coverage Decreases Operating income/Sales (%) Decreases Free operating cash flow/Total debt (%) Decreases Return on equity (%) Decreases FFO/Total debt (%) Increases / Decreases Long-term debt/ equity (%) Increases EBIT interest coverage Decreases 4. (18 points) Progressive Corporation (a property and casualty insurance company) reported the following in its 2008 annual report: 2008 2007 (in millions) Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value 6.375% Senior Notes due 2012 (issued: $350.0, December 2001) $ 348.9 $ 355.3 $ 348.6 $ 367.8 7% Notes due 2013 (issued: $150.0, October 1993) 149.3 154.3 149.2 162.9 6 5?8% Senior Notes due 2029 (issued: $300.0, March 1999) 294.6 272.0 294.4 311.8 6.25% Seni or Notes due 2032 (issued: $400.0, November 2002) 394.0 350.0 393.9 397.6 6.70% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2067 (issued: $1,000.0, June 2007 988.7 450.0 987.8 936.5 $2,175.5 $1,581.6 $2,173.9 $2,176.6 On December  31, 2008, we entered into a 364-Day Secured Liquidity Credit Facility Agreement with National City Bank (NCB). Under this agreement, we may borrow up to $125 million, which may be increased to $150 million at our request but subject to NCB’s discretion. The purpose of the credit facility is to provide liquidity in the event of disruptions in our cash management operations, such as disruptions in the financial markets, that affect our ability to transfer or receive funds. The revolving credit facility agreement discussed above replaced an uncommitted line of credit with NCB in the principal amount of $125 million. Under this terminated agreement, no commitment fees were required to be paid and there were no rating triggers. Interest o n amounts borrowed would have generally accrued at the one-month LIBOR plus .375%. We had no borrowings under this arrangement during 2008, 2007, or 2006. Aggregate principal payments on debt outstanding at December  31, 2008, are $0 for 2009, 2010, and 2011, $350.0 million for 2012, $150.0 million for 2013, and $1.7 billion thereafter. Required: a. What amount does Progressive report for long-term debt on its balance sheet? The amount of long-term debt reported in the year 2008 was 2,175.5 million and 2,173.9million in the year 2007 b. Why is

Born global firms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Born global firms - Essay Example Considering the long history of Beiersdorf and its presence on international markets, in this part,the expanding strategies of this company in the last 20 years will be examined. In the 1990s, Beiersdorf sales were coming mostly from the Nivea brand, brand that was constantly expanded by the company, starting from skin creams (including those for men), sun care creams, antiwrinkle creams, baby creams, shower products, to deodorant (Jones and Lubinski, 2011). Taking this into account, in 1993 Beiersdorfs has reacquired the rights to the Nivea brand name in the United Kingdom, rights that had been held by an English company since World War II. The company set up in 1994 a joint-venture with a state-owned chemical company in Shanghai called Daily Chemical Factory No. 2 in order to produce its products in the Asian market. Also, in this period, Beiersdorf contracted a 60% longtime joint-venture with Japanese consumer products giant Kao Corp. to market Nivea in Japan. By the end of the 1990s, Beiersdorf had 74 international affiliates and generated almost 70% of its sales outside its origin country - Germany. This multinational continued its policy of opening up to new countries and new product categories (e.g. synergistic expansion) even in 2000s (its presence globally can be seen in Figure no. 4). Synergistic expansion of Beiersdorf consisted of acquisition of the plaster brand Elastoplast in 2001 (which was the market leader in many countries, including the United Kingdom and Ireland). Following the acquisition, Beiersdorf has positioned itself as a global leader in this market. In 2008, Beiersdorf acquired C-Bons, a personal care firm from China and planned other acquisitions to expand further in China. This acquisition was a further initiative in the implementation of the company’s consumer business Strategy, enhancing the company’s business in China and in addition its activities in the growing hair care segment.

World Literature Questions and Creative Writing Essay

World Literature Questions and Creative Writing - Essay Example On the other hand, God would like to test man’s steadfastness. Oblivion of the game where he is just a pawn, the man tosses on the horns of dilemma until he realizes his limitations. Why did the God do this with me? This is the question that dawn on him when he surfaces into reality. Like Faust, I signed my soul with the devil but I was smart .I told him if at any stage my mind changes I will break the pact. The devil was too sure. He knew after getting the best enticements, no man goes back to God.I am happy, by the grace of God I took a very wise decision. I have strived every time for the best and in this pursuit have found that there is limitation which a man should always accept. Human being is created by God with some inadequacy. We are not born perfect that is why we strive for perfection. Perfection is only found in the God’s kingdom.As He is the epitome of perfection so one should not exceed the limits he has imparted us with. Striving to overcome one’s limitation is going against His Will and denying Him. That is the time when the Devil can lure a human being. I too went through the same plight as Faust but I identified my limits as I knew ,I have my constraints and if I deny my God, I am denying my whole being. Devil won’t give one anything for free, He knows how to lure human, â€Å"...we meet again on the other side...same coin you shall pay me back.†Though it is not an easy pact but I went for it as I wanted to work for the humanity, â€Å"my efforts to reach that crown of humanity, after which all my senses strive?†But, then I realized this endeavor was futile as it would leave me nowhere. I realized all this I can attain in God’s grace as well then why to join an evil company? I realized this fact that a devil will win any how by treachery and deceit. I thank to God that this understanding came to me much earlier and I saved myself from devil. 2. Dear Ivan, Life shows many twists and turns, it is never a pleasant journey and some people are less fortunate. I have heard your plight. It is really distressing and I have failed to understand the justice of God as well. Fair should be rewarded in the God’s court but it seems that he too turns His blind eye for the righteous. You were wrongly convicted and have suffered entire life in galore for someone else crime. Your wife also disbelieved you and your children have forgotten you as well as if you have never existed for them. Your petitions to review the case went unheard and that also did not shake your faith. You had firm faith in God and believed in His Justice but the justice was denied to you. I hold your persona with utmost respect and wonder how were you able to forgive Makar and reconcile with the things. I have undergone same predicament and I am unable to reason with this fact, why I have been mocked and ridiculed. I have picked just a piece of string thinking it might be of some use to me but was accused of pic king wallet that belonged to Maitre Fortune Houlbreque  of Manneville. I was wrongly charged and I came to know Maitre Malandain has laid blame on me. I tried to prove myself innocent by showing the proof of my pick but they laughed and disbelieved me. Maitre Malandain always had grudges against me. I was wrongly indicted, you would be surprised to know that the purse was found and returned to the mayor yet people thought me an accomplice and defamed me everywhere. I tried to prove my innocence to every person I met on my way, I am well aware that at my back they made fun of me and suspected me. I have found the futility of convincing everyone. I have grown ill ,pestering myself and now, I am at the death bed thinking my plight is just like yours my dear friend, the justice is denied to me as well in this human world but I am breathing my last with

Event this week Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Event this week - Assignment Example This Greek government has fallen into conflict with other European countries after failing to honor previously set agreements. Moreover, there is a plunge in oil prices. This plunge will affect the British economy if it persists since the foreign exchange created by the sale of petroleum products will fall to low levels. The drop in the oil prices has brought a crisis in many oil-producing countries due to the low concentrations of income generated. It has also brought confusion in Futures markets and international stock exchange markets. Trading in oil and its products is becoming unpredictable and economically risky (Malcolmson, 2014). This collision with Greece implies that Britain will have one less trading partner. This change calls for urgent economic policy modifications and analysis to evaluate the best ways to move forward after the exit of such a crucial player in the Eurozone. An EU summit is expected to resolve this issue and come up with a reasonable solution (Fahrholz, 2007). This decision will affect the economic relationship of Greece with other countries that trade with Britain and other European nations. Some friends of Greece might decide to support them and break their trading ties with other European countries if Greece pulls out of the Eurozone. Others might decide to break their ties with Greece by weighing the benefits they will get when they trade with Britain, compared to trading with Greece only. This event helps students undertaking this course to understand the need of trading partners. It also touches on the effects of breaking trading ties due to failed contracts. The reading of a budget is essential in understanding and explaining a country’s current economic status. It also outlines future economic prospects and their intentions towards developing the country’s economy. Nick, F. (2015, March). Budget 2015: Oil Prices and Greece Threaten British Economy. The Guardian. Retrieved from

Analyse why the requirements for patentability of an invention are so Essay

Analyse why the requirements for patentability of an invention are so strict. Explain, with reasons, whether this is justified - Essay Example (Brettell, Barker). A Patent is defined as a legal document granted by the government giving an inventor the exclusive right to make, use and sell an invention for a specified number of years. The endeavour of the patent system is to encourage inventors to advance the state of technology by awarding them special rights to benefit from their inventions. Patent Law has also been extended to cover Computer programs and various living organisms, such as specialized mice used in cancer research. A recent trend in the field of Patent Law is the extension of patentability to new ways of doing business for example; the method of conducting an auction on the Internet is patented. With respect to books, movies, and works of art the law of copyright is applicable. (Schechter, Roger E).1 First, it must be novel in the sense that the invention did not have prior existence. This will be determined by the patent examiners who will make all efforts to determine the nature of the invention and if they find that the proposed invention had already been described in previous patents or written about in scientific magazines, then they will declare that the invention has been â€Å"anticipated.† Whenever it is concluded that such an eventuality has transpired then in such cases, the patent will be denied. The following case law illustrates this point: Secondly, the invention must not be obvious, which implies that the invention must be a significant improvement over the existing technology. Rudimentary changes to previously known devices do not qualify an invention for a patentable invention. The relevant case law in this regard is as follows: These decisions clearly show that unless the inventive step is new and non – obvious a patent will not be granted. The stringency of the patent act is clearly illustrated here and no exceptions are

Coaching ethical behavior Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Coaching ethical behavior - Assignment Example A leader in any organization is regarded as the face of the organization and how the organization members conduct themselves affect the image of the organization (Passmore, 2010). Leaders can coach their members on how to enhance their ethical behavior. Coaching is defined as a process that facilitate maximization one’s potential. The following are ways in which can coach ethical behavior: ï‚ ·Setting guidelines and refreshing team members-As a leader, the team member should know what is expected of them. Even if they know, how they are supposed to conduct themselves, a refresher on ethical conduct is essential. ï‚ ·Through motivation- The leader can encourage the team members that they can enhance their ethical behavior regardless of the situation they are facing at any particular moment. Emphasis on teamwork motivates each one of them. ï‚ ·Monitoring and evaluation- Just like a coach of a given sport he observes the performance of the team member. The leader should monitor how the team members conduct themselves and evaluate on the progress. A deviation will be recognized, and corrective measures be implemented before it goes overboard (Passmore, 2010). ï‚ ·Exploring interactive moment- A leader should allow the team members to discuss among themselves and identify possible problems and solutions with regards to moral behavior. This is in line with the diversity among the universe population and has to be appreciated. ï‚ ·

A Quality Leader Essay Example for Free

A Quality Leader Essay Dr. Karoru Ishikawa is one of the world’s idolized leaders in quality control. His famous quote† Through total quality control with the participation of all employees, including the president, any company can create better products (or service) at a lower cost, increase sales, improve profit and make the company into a better organization ( Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa) . Ishikawa joined the Union of Japanese Scientist and Engineers, a quality research group back in 1949. The Japanese was concerned about their industry sector since it was known that American manufacturing was producing cheap toys and defective cameras. This group took on the responsibility of Japan’s quality-improvement; that was when Ishikawa took the initiative to build on Feigenbaum’s concept of total quality and promoted greater involvement by all employees, from the top management to the front-line staff, by reducing reliance on quality professionals and quality departments. He advocated collecting and analyzing factual data using simple visual tools, statistical techniques, and teamwork as the foundations for implementing total quality. Like others, Ishikawa believed that quality begins with the customer and therefore, understanding customers’ needs is the basis for improvement, and that complaints should be actively sought. (Evans, 2010 pg 110) Background Kaoru Ishikawa was born in 1915 in Tokyo. He graduated from Tokyo University in 1939 with a degree in Applied Chemistry. In his brief tour in the military as a Naval Technical Officer In charge of 600 workers to construct a factory he quoted â€Å"This experience he says was invaluable to Quality Control activities later on. †, (Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa) He worked for Nissan Liquid Fuel Company from 1941-1947 before he was appointed associate Professor of the University of Tokyo. In 1949 He joined the Union of Japanese Scientist and Engineers because he wanted to change the way people thought about work and help management improve the quality of their product. In 1970 Dr. Ishikawa started conducting quality control training seminars. Around 1978 Dr. Ishikawa became the President of Musashi Institute of Technology. Upon Ishikawa’s 1989 death, Dr. Juran delivered this message: â€Å"There is so much to be learned by studying how Dr. Ishikawa managed to accomplish so much during a single lifetime. In my observation, he did so by applying his natural gifts in an exemplary way. He was dedicated to serving society rather than serving himself. His manner was modest, and this elicited the cooperation of others. † (Dr. Joseph M. Juran) Primary work and significant accomplishments Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa accomplishments have include helping thousands of companies, like IBM, Bridgestone, and Komatsu, to turn out higher quality products at considerable lower costs. His book,†What is Total Quality Control? The Japanese Way†, Prentice Hall, Inc. was a best seller in business books. He has been awarded the Deming Prize and the Nihon Keizai Press Prize, the Industrial Standardization Prize for his writings on Quality Control, and the Grant Award in 1971 from the American Society for Quality Control for his education programmer on Quality Control. Process Improvement Japan, 2012). His creation of the fishbone diagram, the user can see all possible root causes of process imperfections. There are many other accomplishments that Dr. Ishikawa has made, which you can find in books and online. These were deserving awards due to his unselfish work ethics and have truly made him a quality genius. Conclusion Through total quality control a company of any type can stay in business, make products at lower cost, and endure great productivity from its workers. Dr Ishikawa wanted to change the way workers and management do business. Quality should start with the customer and it can be done using his writings, fishbone diagram, and other tools like control charts, run charts, histogram, scatter diagram, Pareto charts, and flowcharts. His knowledge was needed in a time when people wanted a product that will last and was supported by the company who makes it. His many accomplishments and strong work ethics influenced many companies to change and many of those companies are still in business today. Dr. Ishikawa is truly a leader in quality control.

Rape Date Rape And Rape Trauma Syndrome

Rape Date Rape And Rape Trauma Syndrome Rape is a huge issue that plagues the world today. It is a worldwide issue, and is not specific to any one country. Rape also can impact anyone at any time. It is not specific to any one neighborhood, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or financial status. Rapes continue to happen frequently, and yet many are not reported to the police. Rape is widely thought to be the most underreported crime. There are many stigmas that go along with rape, so it makes it difficult to come forward. Also, it is sometimes difficult to prove rape when there are no physical signs. The victim may also fear being further victimized through the investigative process, so the crime is not reported. Furthermore, with the easy availability of illegal drugs, date rape has become more commonplace. Although date rape can occur without drugs, many times people use illegal substances to render their victims powerless against their advances. This is one form of date rape. In these cases, the victims do not even know what happened to them, and if they were even raped. Some of the drugs can create loss of memory, so it makes it impossible for the victim to express what happened. There are many different drugs used for date rape. Some, like alcohol, are not illegal substances. However, many of the drugs used in date rape are illegal substances. Rape can leave the victim feeling powerless. Many victims experience rape trauma syndrome, which can severely impact their lives. With the prevalence of rape in all communities, it is crucial for people to stay vigilant and aware of their surroundings. Although it is impossible to ensure complete security, there are ways to maintain safety. It is important for everyone to make their own drinks so that no one can slip any drugs into them. Also, a buddy system can be very beneficial to help everyone stay safe, and not end up a bad situation. Reasons Why Rape is Underreported Rape is one of the most underreported crimes. The Uniform Crime Report is an annual report that includes offenses reported to law enforcement agencies at the city, county, and state levels (Meadows, 2010, p. 5). This report details the offenses that are reported to the authorities. The National Crime Victimization Survey is a source of data that recognized incidents not reported to the police and includes a detailed report of crime incidents, victims involved, and trends affecting victims (Meadows, 2010, p. 9). Both the Uniform Crime Report and the National Crime Victimization Survey include information about rape, yet they each report drastically different numbers. There are significantly more rapes reported in the National Crime Victimization Survey than in the Uniform Crime Report. It has been reported by the U.S. Department of Justice that only 31% of all rapes are reported to the authorities (Arrigo, 2006, p. 108). This creates a problem in the criminal justice field because it is difficult to put a stop to rape when most people do not report their victimization. There are many reasons why rape is underreported. The National Crime Victimization Survey found that the most common reason given by victims of violent crime (including rape) for not reporting a crime was that it was a private or personal matter (Meadows, 2010, ps. 9-10). Other reasons why victims may not report rape include fear of reprisal, embarrassment, or the belief that the victim may not be believed (Meadows, 2010, p. 10). These issues all contribute to the underreporting of rape. Rape is a profoundly different type of crime as the attacker is using their body as a weapon. Instead of merely stealing some personal item that can be replaced, the attacker takes something from the victims body and mind, which can never be replaced. This ordeal may only last a few minutes, but feels like hours to the victim as they wonder what will happen next. Also, it can last longer in cases of gang rapes. Once the event is finally over and the victim realizes they have survived, they may not want to talk about it with anyone, and especially not law enforcement officers and prosecutors. Rape truly is the most personal of all crimes. Many people do not talk about sexual matters at all, so they are even less likely to discuss rape. If someone was raised in an environment where they did not talk about sexual things, they will be less likely to report a rape as an adult. It is difficult enough for the victim to get through the actual experience, and victims do not want to have to relive it several times with many different people. Unfortunately, that is the only way to bring justice to the attacker. If the victim comes forward about the attack, they will have to talk to the police at least once, talk to the prosecutor, and talk to the judge or jury depending on the type of case. It would not be as difficult if the victim only had to discuss the issue once, but they continually have to discuss it with different people, all of whom are strangers to them. Rape can occur between a stranger and a victim, but many sexual assaults, however, occur between victims and offenders who know each other (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). This leads the victim to fear retaliation if they do report the attack. Many rapists may even threaten the victim to prevent them from going to the police. Victims take these threats seriously because the attacker has already shown their violent nature, so they may be capable of much worse. In the case of date rape, the attacker may know where the victim lives and works, and this makes their threats more dangerous because they know how to find the victim. A survey of college women showed that 38% reported sexual victimization that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape, yet only 1 in 25, or 4% reported the incident to the police (Arrigo, 2006, p. 109). This is just a small illustration of how many rapes go unreported, and how many rapists are free to rape again. Rape victims also have to fear the embarrassment that a rape case can bring. When someone does report a rape and it goes to court, the defense may try to prove it was consensual, or that the victim wanted it. Also, the police officers may ask questions that appear to blame the victim. Although there are laws protecting rape victims to a certain extent, there is still embarrassment that goes along with reporting a rape. Many date rape victims are reluctant to report the act for fear that their own behavior will be scrutinized by others (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). This may be because many of the victims of date rape had been drinking or otherwise involved in some type of festivity when the rape occurred (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Because of their partying, victims may not want to come forward. This also brings embarrassment into their family. It the rape is reported to the police, the family will find out eventually, and the victim may not want them to know. They may want to protect their fam ily, or are simply too embarrassed about the attack. They may not want their parents to know the terrible thing that was done to them. They also may feel partially responsible because they had too much to drink. Ultimately, they do not want to have to talk to complete strangers about what someone did to their own body. Rape is also underreported because victims fear they will not be believed. Many rape cases end up being he said, she said because there is no physical evidence. If there are no bruises or cuts on the victim, it is difficult to prove rape. The emergency room doctor can do a rape kit shortly after the attack to see if there is any evidence. However, even if bodily fluids are found on the victim, that only proves that there was a sexual encounter, it does not prove whether or not it was a consensual act. Many rapists may use verbal threats to get the victim to comply, so there may be no physical marks or bruising. Some women fight back, but others do not because of fear. Rapists may have a weapon they threaten the victims with, so it may be smarter not to fight back in that case. However, this makes it difficult to prosecute. If victims know that there are no bruises or cuts on their body, and it will be difficult to win a case, they many not even report it. Some victims may not report rapes because they do not trust the police. This is especially seen in certain cultures that exhibit a distrust of law enforcement. This may be for many reasons. They may have grown up in a low-income environment where many people participated in illegal activities. They also may have had negative personal experiences with police officers. Also, if they are in the country illegally, they are less likely to report a crime. They may also have a friend or family member who was arrested, and that makes them dislike the police as well. It can also be difficult for victims to come forward regarding sexual assault due to the large percentage of male law enforcement officers. When someone reports a rape, they are asked extremely precise and intimate questions about what exactly the attacker did to them. They have to give details about the encounter that may be difficult to talk about, and it is even worse when the victim is female, and has to discuss it with a male. Although males can be victims of sexual assault, many victims are females, and they have to talk to male officers about their sexual assault. It is uncomfortable for many people to talk to a stranger about anything sexual, so to discuss a sexual assault is even worse. This is made even more challenging as officers can sometimes seem to be uncaring. The officers job is to collect the information about the crime. They are not responsible for consoling the victim, so they may come across as being abrupt or unsympathetic. This only causes the victim more pain as they have to discuss the assault and feel like they are not getting any sympathy. These are only a few of the reasons why rape is underreported. Victims have their own reasons for not reporting rapes, including fear of embarrassment, fear of retaliation, and the fear that they will not be believed. They also may not want to discuss this due to the personal nature of the crime. Victims may just want to move on with their lives and act like the assault never happened. What is date rape? There are many different types of rape. One type is called stranger rape. This is when a complete stranger rapes someone. These rapists often use weapons and threats of violence to gain the victims submission (Arrigo, 2006). However, the most common type of rape is called date rape. This occurs when someone is raped by a person they know. They may be on a date with this person, or be socializing with them at a party. This is extremely common, and often happens on college campuses. Date rape can also include when the assailant uses some type of drugs to make the victim powerless against the attack. Most rapes occur between victims and attackers who are known to each other. In fact, among victims 18-29 years old, two-thirds had a prior relationship with the rapist (Meadows, 2010, p. 97). Many rapists attack ex-girlfriends, casual acquaintances, or people they are currently dating. These rapes are especially difficult as the attacker is someone the victim knows and trusts. The victim may even have to see the rapist around town if they decide not to report the rape. In addition, studies on college campuses have indicated that date rape is increasing (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). An alarming survey shows that more than half of a representative sample of more than 1,000 female students at a large urban university had experienced some form of unwanted sex (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Of these reported acts, twelve percent were done by casual dates, while 43 percent were done by steady dating partners (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). One study found that many women raped by men they know do not think of themselves as rape victims (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Perhaps they think the rape was simply a misunderstanding. Still another study shows that date rape primarily occurs when the date was unplanned or the woman had been picked up in a social setting (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Further studies have shown that 1 in 4 college women . . . [have] been raped or [have] suffered an attempted rape (Arrigo, 2006, p.109). These studies show the frequency of date rape occurring on colleg e campuses. Many researchers have attempted to determine why date rape is so prevalent on college campuses. Mary P. Koss is considered to be one of the most prolific researchers on rape (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). Koss conducted much research on college campuses, and found that 73% of the rape victims reported that the offender was drinking (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). Some researchers point to the college lifestyle as the reason why date rape is so common. Fraternities can contribute to the formation of attitudes that and behaviors that objectify women and normalize sexual coercion (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). Fraternity parties have a long history of underage drinking and random sexual acts. This is a problem when the sexual acts are not consensual. Furthermore, fraternities are about brotherhood, and this creates a preoccupation with loyalty, group protection and security, use of alcohol as a weapon, involvement in violence and physical force, and an emphasis on competitiveness and superiori ty (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). This brotherhood mentality makes it difficult for anyone to come forward if they witness anything inappropriate. Even if a victim comes forward, the attackers entire fraternity house may come to his defense, making it difficult to win a criminal case. Date rape is far too common amongst young people today. Victims do not typically come forward to report what happened, which leaves the rapist able to do the same thing to yet another victim. The partying lifestyle found at some colleges contributes to the rape problem. Parties can end up being a place where drunken men force themselves upon others, who are unable to resist. The victim is left feeling helpless and afraid, and in some cases may not even know what happened. Drugs Used in Date Rape Sometimes rapists use drugs to make their victim drowsy or unable to fight back. There are many different types of drugs used in this way. Rohypnol, gamma hydroxybutyric acid (more commonly known as GHB), and ketamine are just a few date rape drugs that may be slipped into an unwilling participants drink. These drugs are used for date rape because they produce prolonged sedation, a feeling of well-being, and short-term memory loss (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). In addition, many drugs on the market have no particular color, smell, or taste, which makes it easy to add to a victims drink without anyone knowing (Meadows, 2010, p. 99). Because these drugs can create short-term memory loss, the victim may not even know if they were raped or not. Rohypnol is a drug prescribed for insomnia, and is also used as preoperative anesthetic (Meadows, 2010). It also has medical uses as a muscle relaxant, hypnotic, anti-convulsant, sedative, and anti-anxiety medication (Schmalleger, 2009). Rohypnol is the trade name for flunitrazepam. It is a benzodiazepine, and is a central nervous system depressant. Rohypnol can incapacitate victims and prevent them from resisting sexual assault (Meadows, 2010, p. 99). It also can create anterograde amnesia, which makes the victim not remember anything that happened while under the influence of the drug. The effects of Rohypnol can be felt within about thirty minutes of ingesting the drug (Weiss, 2008). The effects of Rohypnol can last from one to eight hours (Schmalleger, 2009). This can make the entire night a blur, and the victim may not remember anything about the night. A further danger of Rohypnol is that it can be lethal when it is mixed with alcoholic beverages or other depressants. This coul d cause a date rape to turn into a murder. This drug is not approved for use in the United States. However, the drug became more commonplace in the 1990s for date rape purposes, and became known as a roofie (Meadows, 2010). Gamma hydroxybutyric acid is another central nervous system depressant. GHB, also called Liquid X, has been used since the 1990s in the United States for its euphoric, sedative, and anabolic (body-building) effects (Meadows, 2010, p. 100). This drug was actually sold in health food stores in the 1980s and the early 1990s (Meadows, 2010). Like Rohypnol, GHB can have negative effects if taken with alcoholic beverages. It can cause breathing problems and nausea (Meadows, 2010). GHB can take effect within fifteen minutes of being drugged (Weiss, 2008). The effects of GHB can last between three and six hours (Meadows 2010). Some of the effects of GHB use are slurred speech, disorientation, drunken behavior without odor of alcohol, [and] impaired memory of events (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 540). Also, a study was conducted with 17 GHB users being interviewed about their drug use. This study found that while on the drug, 65% of users had an increased sexual desire, and 47% had decreased sexual inhibitions (Lee Levounis, 2008). Some of the subjects even mentioned that GHB could cause poor decision making in sexual situations (Lee Levounis, 2008, p. 245). This further illustrates why assailants would use this drug. If the victim is given too much GHB, the effects of overdose include shallow respiration, clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak and rapid pulse, coma, and possible death (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 540). This drug can be very dangerous. Ketamine, also known as Special K, is another date rape drug. Ketamine is used in the United States as an anesthetic, and is predominantly used on animals in veterinary offices (Justice.com, 2011). According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, recent press reports indicate that a significant number of veterinary clinics are being robbed specifically for their ketamine stock (Justice.com, 2011). Thieves are stealing the ketamine and selling it as a drug to party-goers. It can come in a clear liquid form, so it is very easy to slip into drinks undetected. This drug is often used as a club drug, so it is easily accessible to students who may be planning a date rape. Some of the effects of ketamine are delirium, amnesia, depression, and long-term memory and cognitive difficulties (Justice.com, 2011). This drug, like GHB and Rohypnol, leaves the victim unsure of what has taken place. The effects of ketamine can be felt almost immediately (Weiss, 2008). Also, the victim m ay be aware of what is taking place, but unable to stop it (Weiss, 2008). One date rape drug that is commonly used at parties is alcohol. According to the National Womens Health Information Center, any drug that can affect judgment and behavior can put a person at risk for unwanted or risky sexual activity (Weiss, 2008). This definition includes alcohol. Even though the victim may be willingly ingesting the alcohol, someone may take advantage of them once they are drunk. Alcohol can make it difficult to think clearly, harder to tell if a situation is dangerous, and harder to fight back if attacked (Weiss, 2008). Also, like the other date rape drugs, alcohol can cause memory loss, or a black out (Weiss, 2008). The victim may black out and be raped, and not remember what happened the next day. One common effect of date rape drugs is their ability to inhibit the victims memory. These drugs cause short-term memory loss so the victim is unsure if they were raped. This makes it less likely that the victim will report the incident to the police. In fact, the victim may not even realize they were drugged at all. If the victim was drinking the night before, it is possible they will think they simply had too much to drink. This further illustrates why date rape is drastically underreported. What Happens in the Emergency Room? After someone is raped, they may need medical attention. Most often they visit their local emergency room for treatment. It is estimated that 75% of female rape victims require medical attention after their attack (Arrigo, 2006, p. 109). Although different areas and hospitals may have different procedures for handling a rape victim, typically the process is similar. The medical staff will call law enforcement to make a police report, will call the local rape crisis group, will call the Division of Family and Children Services if a minor is involved, and will perform a full examination of the victim. When the police officer arrives to take a report of the alleged rape, they must speak to the victim. They will ask the victim to recall everything that happened in the attack. If the area has a local rape crisis advocacy group, there may be a victims advocate there to help the victim with this process. In an ideal situation, the victim can explain to the officer, victims advocate, and medical staff what took place at the same time so they do not have to repeat themselves. However, many times all parties are not present at the same time, and the victim is forced to relive the event multiple times. The victim must give details about the location of the attack, and what the attacker did specifically. They must tell exactly where the attacker touched them, and where the attacker kissed them. All of this information is crucial for the evidence collection process. Once the police officer has made the report, they will leave. The victim will undergo a thorough medical examination to ensure there are no health concerns. Depending on the nature of the attack, the victim may have a pregnancy test done. Charlotte Murton, a rape crisis specialist, noted that it is also common for the medical staff to check for gonorrhea and Chlamydia (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). The victims must follow up with their personal doctor or local health department to have a more complete sexually transmitted disease screen at a later time. Most victims are also given antibiotics to ward off possible infection. The medical staff will also check for any tearing or irritation in the areas of the attack. When the victim goes to the emergency room, they may have the option to do a rape kit or evidence kit. If the assault happened within 120 hours of the emergency room visit, the medical staff can do the evidence kit (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). This will help collect evidence for a possible trial if the victim decides to press charges. This process is extremely invasive and can even be painful, but it is the only way to collect certain evidence. Typically a rape crisis advocate will stay with the victim throughout the entire process. The process for collecting evidence in Augusta, Georgia is very specific, although the order may be changed. First, the victim must stand on a large piece of paper and undress. The paper is there to collect any loose fibers as the victim undresses. The victims clothes will then be bagged up separately in case there is evidence on the clothes (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). All of t he clothes, including underwear, will be kept as evidence. Once the victim is undressed, the medical staff will do a visual inspection to see if there are any obvious injuries. If so, these injuries will be documented and photographed. Then the victim will have to give 25 hairs from their head (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). This serves to show the DNA of the victim. Any areas the victim was licked or kissed will be swabbed for possible DNA. There also may be a swab of the victims mouth if there was any type of oral contact. The victim will then lie down with a large piece of paper below them to catch any loose hairs or fibers. The nurse will use a comb on the victims pubic hair to gather any loose hairs that may be from the attacker (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). The nurse must then use a special comb that rips out hair to gather 25 of the victims pubic hairs from the root (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). This process is especially painful. The nurse will also use a black light to see if there are any fluids that fluoresce. If something does show up, that area will be swabbed (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, September 17, 2010). If the victim fought against the attacker, the nurse will clean under the victims nails to get possible debris. The nurse will also swab the victims vagina, anus, or penis depending on the nature of the attack (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). If the victim was drugged and is unsure what happened, all areas will be swabbed. There will be several swabs of each area. The victim will then be given clothes or scrubs to wear home. In areas that have a rape crisis center, volunteer advocates are on call at all times to help a victim in need. They are called in to be with the victim throughout the entire emergency room visit, and will follow up with the victim at a later date. These advocates act as liaisons between the victim, medical staff, and police officers. They can let the victim know what to expect in the examinations, and what to expect if they press charges. They also have information about places to obtain counseling and support. This is particularly important for victims who do not have family or friends with them in the emergency room. The process that victims undergo at the emergency room can be very painful and draining. They have to relive the experience to many different people and discuss extremely private matters. Many times, law enforcement officers are male, and the victim must discuss sexual things with this male. This proves to be a difficult experience as sometimes victims are not even able to articulate what happened. They may want to forget about it or not talk about it. Then they have to go through a medical examination to make sure they are healthy. If they decide not to do an evidence kit, it is still recommended that a doctor do a pelvic exam and take swabs for possible sexually transmitted diseases. If the victim does decide to go through with an evidence kit, it is a painful and invasive process. There may even be pictures taken of the victims body if there are bruises or cuts. In addition, in some areas the rape kits may not even be tested. The Texas Tribune reports that the state is so behind i n testing rape kits that it is impossible to catch up (Grissom, 2011). Some unprocessed rape kits in Texas date back to the 1980s (Grissom, 2011). Even if the kits are processed, it can take a year before the results are known (Grissom, 2011). This gives insight into why so many rapes go unreported, and why so many people choose not to have an evidence kit. Consequences of Rape Rape is a horrifying and invasive crime. It has the potential to completely change the victims life. With some crimes, once the actual crime is over, the victim can move on with their life. This is not the case with rape victims. Once the attack is over, there are many other issues the victim will encounter. Many victims of rape experience long-term consequences of their attack. There may be physical consequences deriving from the attack. There also may be emotional consequences. Many rape victims have difficulties returning to their normal lives after the attack. They may exhibit symptoms of rape trauma syndrome, a type of post-traumatic stress disorder. There are many physical consequences that can arise from rape. The victim may become pregnant from the attack. This leads to a difficult decision for the victim, made even more difficult if they do not believe abortion is an appropriate option. Some women may have religious or personal views that prevent them from getting an abortion, and thus are forced to go through a pregnancy resulting from a rape. In addition, the adult rape pregnancy rate is actually increasing based on United States Census Reports (Meadows 2010). It is estimated that there may be 32,100 rape-related pregnancies annually among America women over the age of 18 years (Meadows, 2010, p. 102). This statistic does not even include all the minors who become pregnant due to a sexual assault. Rape victims can also contract sexually transmitted diseases from the attack. Depending on the disease, there may be an easy cure, or they may have to live with the disease for the rest of their lives. If they contract acquired immune deficiency syndrome, more commonly known as AIDS, their life may actually be shortened. This is why many emergency rooms administer antibiotics when someone claims they have been raped. This is an attempt to cure a disease before it is even diagnosed. Also, some emergency rooms may have prophylactic treatment for those who may have been exposed to AIDS. Rape victims may also have acute injuries resulting from the rape (Meadows 2010). Depending on the level of violence in the rape, these injuries can be minimal to severe. Typically the most violent rapes are stranger rapes. This is because stranger rapists are more likely to involve the use of a weapon (Arrigo, 2006, p. 109). This weapon is most frequently a knife (Arrigo, 2006). If the attacker used the knife to stab the victim, there may be internal injuries or bleeding. Attackers also may beat their victims. This can lead to simple cuts and bruises or more complex injuries like broken ribs. In addition, the victim may experience vaginal or rectal tears from the rape. There are both emotional and psychological issues resulting from rape that are included in rape trauma syndrome. There are two phases of rape trauma syndrome. The first phase is the acute phase. In the acute phase, the victim experiences a complete disruption of her life, resulting from the violence she experienced (Meadows, 2010, p. 38). The victim may have a range of emotions during the acute phase, including crying, shouting, swearing, or laughing inappropriately (Meadows, 2010, p. 38). The victim may experience severe mood swings, and change emotions very quickly. They may be fearful to even leave their home. If the attack happened in their home, they may not feel safe living there anymore. The second phase of rape trauma syndrome is the reorganization phase. In the reorganization phase, victims must reorganize their lives (Meadows, 2010). This is accomplished with help from friends and family members (Meadows, 2010). During this phase, the victims have to learn ways to cope with their daily lives, and the disturbing thoughts that may enter their minds at any time. They may return to work and attempt to move on, but the pain and fear is still present in their minds. There are many different symptoms of rape trauma syndrome. Some of the symptoms include fear, helplessness, shock, disbelief, guilt, humiliation, embarrassment, anger, self-blame, flashbacks of the rape, avoidance of previously pleasurable activities, avoidance of the place or circumstances in which the rape occurred, depression, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and impaired memory (Meadows, 2010, p. 102). These symptoms greatly inhibit the victims ability to heal and move on with their life. They may be happy one moment, and then suddenly be overcome with sadness and not able to understand where the sadness originated. While in the acute phase they may experience a wide range of emotions. When they enter the reorganization phase, they may not have quite as many mood swings, but may experience flashbacks of the attack. This contributes to their insomnia. Victims are afraid to go to sleep because they may have nightmares of the attack. They also lost their sense of control when they were attacked, and going to sleep leaves them vulnerable yet again.

Michael Polanyi and Lucian Blaga as Philosophers of Knowledge :: Philosophy Philosophical Essays

Michael Polanyi and Lucian Blaga as Philosophers of Knowledge ABSTRACT: Polanyi and Blaga are two centennial philosophers who could be compared. They both are philosophers who have abandoned the attempt to analyze science as the form of culture capable of complete objectivity and the language solely in terms of its referential force, to make representational knowledge impersonal and to split fact from value. 1. Polanyi's epistemology Polanyi and Blaga are two centennial philosophers who could be put into comparison. Both are philosophers who have abandoned the attempt to analyze science as the form of culture capable of complete objectivity, to analyze language solely in terms of its referential force, and to make representational knowledge impersonal and to split fact from value. Michael Polanyi affirms the irreducible involvement of personal commitment in the perception and understanding of transpersonal reality. He is against the representational expressivist theory of language. According to his theory all assertion of fact expresses beliefs, and are essentially accompanied by feelings of satisfaction or of desire. The act of knowing includes an appraisal, a personal coefficient that shapes all factual knowledge. Polanyi emphasizes the role of the activity of the knower in the formation of knowledge and also is aware of their variability while insisting that we aim at truth 'with universal intent' 'although we can never quite get there'. His book Personal Knowledge should help to restore science to its rightful place in an integrated culture as part of the whole person's continuing endeavor to make sense of the totality of his experience. 'True' means something different in different societies. The critical period of Western philosophy, opened by Descartes and brought to its coming to an end, and the post-critical era is emerging. Michael Polanyi, it appears to me, is the most important philosophical figure opening up this new direction and delineating its basic elements. Regarding the critical pretensions to have found a way, either through philosophical rationality or by means of scientific method, to a universal perspective, Polanyi points out that thinkers of the critical period have pursued 'a mistaken ideal of objectivity'. Thus, when we claim greater objectivity for Copernican theory, we do imply that its excellence is, not a matter of personal taste on our part, but an inherent quality deserving universal acceptance by rational creatures. We abandon the cruder anthropocentrism of our senses, but only favor of a more ambitious anthropocentrism of our reason (PK p. Michael Polanyi and Lucian Blaga as Philosophers of Knowledge :: Philosophy Philosophical Essays Michael Polanyi and Lucian Blaga as Philosophers of Knowledge ABSTRACT: Polanyi and Blaga are two centennial philosophers who could be compared. They both are philosophers who have abandoned the attempt to analyze science as the form of culture capable of complete objectivity and the language solely in terms of its referential force, to make representational knowledge impersonal and to split fact from value. 1. Polanyi's epistemology Polanyi and Blaga are two centennial philosophers who could be put into comparison. Both are philosophers who have abandoned the attempt to analyze science as the form of culture capable of complete objectivity, to analyze language solely in terms of its referential force, and to make representational knowledge impersonal and to split fact from value. Michael Polanyi affirms the irreducible involvement of personal commitment in the perception and understanding of transpersonal reality. He is against the representational expressivist theory of language. According to his theory all assertion of fact expresses beliefs, and are essentially accompanied by feelings of satisfaction or of desire. The act of knowing includes an appraisal, a personal coefficient that shapes all factual knowledge. Polanyi emphasizes the role of the activity of the knower in the formation of knowledge and also is aware of their variability while insisting that we aim at truth 'with universal intent' 'although we can never quite get there'. His book Personal Knowledge should help to restore science to its rightful place in an integrated culture as part of the whole person's continuing endeavor to make sense of the totality of his experience. 'True' means something different in different societies. The critical period of Western philosophy, opened by Descartes and brought to its coming to an end, and the post-critical era is emerging. Michael Polanyi, it appears to me, is the most important philosophical figure opening up this new direction and delineating its basic elements. Regarding the critical pretensions to have found a way, either through philosophical rationality or by means of scientific method, to a universal perspective, Polanyi points out that thinkers of the critical period have pursued 'a mistaken ideal of objectivity'. Thus, when we claim greater objectivity for Copernican theory, we do imply that its excellence is, not a matter of personal taste on our part, but an inherent quality deserving universal acceptance by rational creatures. We abandon the cruder anthropocentrism of our senses, but only favor of a more ambitious anthropocentrism of our reason (PK p.

Folklore in the Movies: An Analysis of Willow :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Folklore in the Movies: An Analysis of Willow My research for this report began when I read Joseph Campbell's article "Departure" in which he discusses folklore; he outlines the course of action that a hero takes in an adventure. He describes the five steps the hero takes as "the call to adventure, the refusal of the adventure, use of supernatural aid, crossing of the first threshold, and the belly of the whale." After reading Campbell's criteria of an adventure, I decided to choose a movie and see how it ties into Campbell's outline of an adventure. The movie I chose was Willow and in this report I will note how it complies with Campbell's outline. Upon finishing Willow I was able to confirm that it did indeed fall into the five criteria in Campbell's article. In Willow Queen Bavmorda seeks control of the world, and she knows that an infant will be born with a mark on its arm and this infant will be able to stop her from gaining power. Therefore, she inspects every child that is born; upon discovering the child with the mark, she will promptly have it killed. One day Willow's children Ranon and Mims find a baby while playing in the river. This child happens to bear the mark for which Queen Bavmorda is searching. The children take the baby to their father. Willow takes the baby to the High Aldwin, and he tells Willow that the safety of the city depends on him and that the baby must be taken across the great river to the Dakini crossroads. This is Willow's call to adventure; it is "a blunder" of "the merest chance", and Willow is thrust "into a relationship with forces that are not rightly understood" (Campbell 1). As Campbell expresses in his article and as is apparent in most adventure movies, Willow is not completely convinced and willing to go on this trip to take the baby back to its homeland. Ranon reminds him of the dangers he may encounter on his way to returning the baby such as fairies, brownies, dragons, and trolls. Willow gets upset at Ranon for mentioning trolls because he knows how much he fears them. Willow is also reluctant to leave his wife and children. Kaiya reminds him that they have never been apart before, and it is apparent that Willow is experiencing feelings of guilt.

The Challenges of Tent Camping :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Challenges of Tent Camping Each year, thousands of people throughout the United States choose to spend their vacations camping in the great outdoors. Depending on an individual's sense of adventure, there are various types of camping to choose from, including log cabin camping, recreational vehicle camping, and tent camping. Of these, tent camping involves "roughing it" the most, and with proper planning the experience can be gratifying. However, even with the best planning, tent camping can be an extremely frustrating experience due to uncontrolled factors such as bad weather, wildlife encounters, and equipment failures. Nothing can dampen the excited anticipation of camping more than a dark, rainy day. Even the most adventurous campers can lose some of their enthusiasm on the drive to the campsite if the skies are dreary and damp. After reaching their destination, campers must then "set up camp" in the downpour. This includes keeping the inside of the tent dry and free from mud, getting the sleeping bags situated dryly, and protecting food from the downpour. If the sleeping bags happen to get wet, the cold also becomes a major factor. A sleeping bag usually provides warmth on a camping trip; a wet sleeping bag provides none. Combining wind with rain can cause frigid temperatures, causing any outside activities to be delayed. Even inside the tent problems may arise due to heavy winds. More than a few campers have had their tents blown down because of the wind, which once again begins the frustrating task of "setting up camp" in the downpour. It is wise to check the weather forecast before embarking on camping trips; however, mother nature is often unpredictable and there is no guarantee bad weather will be eluded. Another problem likely to be faced during a camping trip is run-ins with wildlife, which can range from mildly annoying to dangerous. Minor inconveniences include mosquitos and ants. The swarming of mosquitos can literally drive annoyed campers indoors. If an effective repellant is not used, the camper can spend an interminable night scratching, which will only worsen the itch. Ants do not usually attack campers, but keeping them out of the food can be quite an inconvenience. Extreme care must be taken not to leave food out before or after meals. If food is stored inside the tent, the tent must never be left open.