Thursday, January 30, 2020

Georgia Atlantic Company Essay Example for Free

Georgia Atlantic Company Essay During the depression of the 1930s, Ben Jenkins, Sr., a wealthy, expansion-oriented lumberman whose family had been in the lumber business in the southeastern United States for several generations, began to acquire small, depressed sawmills and wholesale lumber companies. These businesses prospered during World War II. After the war, Jenkins anticipated that the demand for lumber would surge, so he aggressively sought new timberlands to supply his sawmills. In 1954, all of Jenkins’s companies were consolidated, along with some other independent lumber and milling companies, into a single corporation, the Georgia Atlantic Company. By the end of 1992, Georgia Atlantic was a major force in the lumber industry, though not one of the giants. Still, it possessed more timber and timberlands in relation to its use of timber than any other lumber company. Worldwide demand for lumber was strong in spite of a soft world economy, and its timber supply should have put Georgia Atlantic in a good position. With its assured supply of pulpwood, the company could run its mills at a steady rate and, thus, at a low per-unit production cost. However, the company does not have sufficient manufacturing capacity to fully utilize its timber supplies; so it has been forced to sell raw timber to other lumber companies to generate cash flow, losing potential profits in the process. Georgia Atlantic has enjoyed rapid growth in both sales and assets. This rapid growth has, however, caused some financial problems as indicated in Table 1. The condensed balance sheets shown in the table reveal that Georgia Atlantic’s financial leverage has increased substantially in the last 10 years, while the firm’s liquidity position markedly deteriorated over the same period. Remember, though, that the balance sheet figures reflect historical costs, and that the market values of the assets could be much higher than the values shown on the balance sheet. For example, Georgia Atlantic purchased 10,000 acres of cut timberland in southern Georgia in 1961 for $10 per acre, then planted trees which are now mature. The value of this acreage and its timber is estimated at $2,750 per acre, even though it is shown on the firm’s balance sheet at $230 per acre, the original $10 plus capitalized planting costs. Note also that this particular asset and others like it have produced zero accounting income; indeed, expenses associated with this acreage have produced accounting losses. When Georgia Atlantic was originally organized, most of the outstanding stock was owned by the senior Jenkins and members of his family. Over time, however, the family’s ownership position has gradually declined due to the sale of new common stock to fund expansion. In 1987, Ben Jenkins, Sr. died; the presidency of the firm was passed to his son, Ben Jenkins, Jr., who was 61 at the time. By the end of 1992, the Jenkins family held only about 35 percent of Georgia Atlantic’s common stock, and this represented essentially their entire net worth. The family has sought to finance the firm’s growth with internally generated funds to the greatest extent possible. Hence, Georgia Atlantic has never declared a cash dividend, nor has it had a stock dividend or a stock split. Due to the plowback of earnings, the stock currently sells for almost $2,000 per share. The family has stated a strong belief that investors prefer low-payout stocks because of their tax advantages, and they also think that stock dividends and stock splits serve no useful purpose—they merely create more pieces of paper but no incremental value for shareholders. Finally, the family feels that higher-priced stocks are more attractive to investors because the percentage brokerage commissions on small purchases of higher-priced stocks are lower than on large purchases of lower-priced shares. They cite the example of Berkshire-Hathaway, whose stock price has risen phenomenally even though it now sells for over $15,000 per share and pays no dividends. (The family does acknowledge, though, that Warren Buffett, Berkshire’s chairman, has done a superb job of managing the company’s assets, and that the rise of its stock price reflects that factor as well as Buffett’s financial policies.) As the date for Georgia Atlantic’s annual stockholders’ meeting approached, Mary Goalshen, the corporate secretary, informed Ben Jenkins, Jr., who is commonly called â€Å"Junior† at the company, that an unusually low number of shareholders had sent in their proxies. Goalshen felt that this might be due to rising discontent over the firm’s dividend policy. During the last two years, the average payout for firms in the paper and forest products industry has been about 35 percent; yet for the 58th straight year, Georgia Atlantic’s board, under the Jenkins family’s dominance, chose not to pay a dividend in 1992. The Jenkins family was also aware that several reports in the financial press in recent months indicated that Georgia Atlantic was a possible target of a takeover attempt. Since the family did not want to lose control of the company, they were anxious to keep the firm’s stockholders as happy as possible. Accordingly, Junior announced that the directors would hold a special meeting immediately after the annual meeting to consider whether the firm’s dividend policy should be changed. Junior instructed Abe Markowitz, Georgia Atlantic’s financial vice president, to identify and then evaluate alternative dividend policies in preparation for the special board meeting. He asked Markowitz to consider cash dividends, stock dividends, and stock splits. Markowitz then identified six proposals that he thought deserved further consideration: (1) No Cash Dividends, No Stock Dividend or Split. This was the position Markowitz was certain that Junior and the family would support, both for the reasons given above and also because he thought the company, as evidenced by the balance sheet, was in no position to pay cash dividends. (2) Immediate Cash Dividend, but No Stock Dividend or Split. This was simply the opposite of the no dividend policy. If a cash dividend policy were instituted, its size would still be an issue. (3) Immediate Cash Dividend plus a Large Stock Split. The stock split would be designed to lower the price of the firm’s stock from its current price of almost $2,000 per share to somewhere in the average price range of other large forest products stocks, or from $20 to $40 per share. (4) Immediate Cash Dividend plus a Large Stock Dividend. The reasoning underlying this policy would be essentially the same as that of Alternative 3. (5) Cash Dividend, Stock Split, and Periodic Stock Dividends. This policy would require the company to declare an immediate cash dividend and, simultaneously, to announce a sizable stock split. This policy would go further than Alternatives 3 and 4 in that, after the cash dividend and stock split or large stock dividend, the company would periodically declare smaller stock dividends equal in value to the earnings retained during the period. In effect, if the firm earned $3 per share in any given period-quarter, semi-annual period, and so on—and retained $1.50 per share, the company would also declare a stock dividend of a percentage amount equal to $1.50 divided by the market price of the stock. Thus, if the firm’s shares were selling for $30 when the cash dividend was paid, a 5 percent stock dividend would be declared. (6) Share Repurchase Plan. This plan is based on the premise that investors in the aggregate would like to see the company distribute some cash, but that some stockholders would not want to receive cash dividends because they want to minimize their taxes. Under the repurchase plan, individual stockholders could decide for themselves whether or not to sell some or all of their hares and thus to realize some cash and some capital gains, depending on their own situations. To begin his evaluation, Markowitz collected the data shown in Tables 2 and 3. As he was looking over these figures, Markowitz wondered what effect, if any, Georgia Atlantic’s dividend policy had on the company’s stock price as compared to the prices of other stocks. Markowitz is also aware of one other issue, but it is one that neither he nor anyone else has had the nerve to bring up. Junior is now 66 years old, which is hardly ancient; but he is in poor health, and in recent years he has been almost obsessed with the idea of avoiding taxes. Further, the federal estate tax rate is currently 60 percent, and additional state estate taxes would be due; so well over half of Junior’s net worth as of the date of his death will have to be paid out in estate taxes. Since estate taxes are based on the value of the estate on the date of death, to minimize his estate’s taxes, Junior might not want the value of the company to be maximized until after his death. Markowitz does not know Junior’s view of this, but he does know that his tax advisors have thought it through and have explained it to him. Finally, Markowitz knows that several Wall Street firms have been analyzing Georgia Atlantic’s â€Å"breakup value,† or the value of the company if it were broken up and sold in pieces. He has heard breakup value estimates as high as $3,500 per share, primarily because other lumber companies, including Japanese and European companies, are eager to buy prime properties such as those owned by Georgia Atlantic. Of course, Georgia Atlantic could sell assets on its own, but Markowitz does not expect that to happen as long as Junior is in control. Now assume that you are an outside consultant and have been hired by Abe Markowitz to help him with the analysis and make a presentation to the executive committee. First, Abe is not sure whether an announced dividend policy is a good idea. He believes an announced policy could cause the firm to feel forced to take actions that otherwise would be undesirable. He has also expressed concern about signaling and clientele effects. As old man Jenkins used to say, â€Å"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.† Thus, analyze the firm’s present dividend policy to determine how well the company has performed compared to other firms in the industry before discussing the implications of the alternative dividend policies and making a recommendation. Markowitz also wants you to discuss whether the firm’s historical rate of return on investment has been affected by its dividend policy, the estate tax issue, and the takeover issue. Junior is famous for asking tough questions and then crucifying the person being questioned if he or she has trouble responding. That is probably why Markowitz wants you to make the presentation. So be sure that you thoroughly understand the issues and your answers so that you can handle any follow-up questions that you might receive.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Nuclear Power :: essays research papers

The world's natural resources are being consumed at an alarming rate. As these resources diminish , people will be seeking alternative sources by which to generate electricity for heat and light . The only practical short term solution for the energy-crisis is nuclear power. Nuclear power, however is not as safe as burning coal, gas or oil in a factory it is in fact, much more dangerous, There are dangers associated with a nuclear power plant which far out weigh the benefits to society as a whole and in part to the community living and working around the power plant . About 20 percent of our nation's total electrical consumption per year is supplied by nuclear power from the 100 or so nuclear power plants throughout the country . Even though atomic power has been in use for over 50 years it was primarily a tool of war and destruction when the war ended need for atomic bombs diminished . The scientists who created the weapons were out of jobs . They then turned this destructive power into huge plants generating "clean and cheap " electricity for the country . It was called progress. Progress also brought with it sickness , mutations , cancer and eventually death to those exposed to high levels of radiation . Government declared that nuclear power is safe and efficient . Also have big Oil corporations who have a lot of money invested in nuclear power and want to see as many plants as possible put into and kept in operation . The truth is that accidents do happen at nuclear power plants and at other facilities all the time . An accident at a nuclear power plant has the potential to be much more devastating than an accident at a coal or gas plant because of the radiation that could be released . An example of this is Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania where there was a partial core meltdown in march of 1979 and an "acceptable" amount of radiation escaped into the atmosphere . However no amount of radiation is acceptable if released as a result of an accident at a nuclear power plant . Is Nuclear Power necessary ? Today many Americans adopt lifestyles that are based on energy in-efficient devices . These include large automobiles and electric appliances that require electricity from energy-intense industrial processes . The public is doing all it can to force nuclear power plants

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Language A Very Complicated System Education Essay

Language, a really complicated system, is really polar to human existences ( Saffran & A ; Thiessen, 2007 ) . It allows people to show their ideas, communicate with each other, and transmit cognition ( Scanlon, 1977 ) . Its importance stimulates a batch of research workers to research the development of linguistic communication in kids ( Shatz, 2007 ) . There are several sensible theories explicating how kids learn a linguistic communication ( Evans, 2007 ) . Some suggests that societal environment as an of import component in determining kids ‘s lingual development ; while Chomsky, a nativist theoretician, argues that there is a Language Acquisition Device inherently born with us, and human existences can get linguistic communication of course ( Meisel, 1995 ) . Harmonizing to Chomsky ( 1959 ) , there is a poorness of stimulation that the lingual input available in the societal environment is so limited for kids to develop a linguistic communication system, and therefore there must be some biological predisposed mechanism accounting for human lingual development. The undermentioned essay is non trying to reason against Chomsky ‘s thought, but to exemplify how the societal environment interacts with the innate lingual ability and determine the development of linguistic communication in kids. It has long been suggested that societal environment plays a important function in kids ‘s lingual development. Behaviorists, one of the earliest histories of linguistic communication development, see linguistic communication acquisition as a merchandise of operant conditioning ( Evans, 2007 ) . Skinner, the suggester of behaviourist theory, stresses that the acquisition of linguistic communication is besides contingent upon the effects of larning it ( Shatz, 2007 ) . For case, when a kid additions favourable attending from its parents ( a sort of intangible support ) after bring forthing a peculiar sound, it is really likely that the kid will reproduce that sound. The behaviourists have shortly been to a great extent criticized for their oversimplified theoretical account of human linguistic communication acquisition. There so comes the rise of empiricist and socio-pragmatic theoreticians which emphasize the importance of societal and cognitive elements of linguistic communica tion ( Tomasello, 1998 ) . Tomasello ( 2003 ) proposed the usage-based theory and explained linguistic communication acquisition utilizing a functional attack ( Tomasello, 2003 ) . Language develops when kids have the desire to pass on purposes with the others and when they realize the matter-of-fact maps of linguistic communication in the society ( ( Inhelder & A ; Piaget, 1980 ; Mueller Gathercole & A ; Hoff, 2007 ) . They learn the constructions of linguistic communication through observation ( Tomasello, 2003 ) and accrued linguistic communication experiences ( Lieven & A ; Tomasello, 2008 ) . Baldwin and Meyer ( 2007 ) argued that linguistic communication is inherently a societal behaviour. A word itself does non incorporate any significance, it is the members of societal community who use it and give it a significance ( Tomasello, 1999 ) . Therefore, to larn what a word is refer to, societal interaction is indispensable.Language and society is closely linked, and social factors to a great extent influence the linguistic communication to be used ( Evans, 2007 ) . Clearly, the societal environment plays a cardinal portion in determining the development of linguistic communication in kids. We shall concentrate on the societal environment in its broadest sense, non curtailing to peculiar scenes like place and school. The undermentioned essay chiefly explores how the measure and quality of societal interaction and stimulation, cultural norms and outlooks shapes kids ‘s lingual development.Social interaction and stimulationThe functional attack suggests that linguistic communication develops through kids ‘s battle in a societal context ( Robinson & A ; Ellis, 2008 ) and through their active interaction with others ( Inhelder & A ; Piaget, 1980 ) . The deficiency of societal interaction or an appropriate societal environment hinders normal development of linguistic communication in kids ( Rice, 2007 ) . For illustration, Genie, the miss who was kept entirely and locked in a room for 12 old ages, failed to utilize linguistic communication usually ( Pines, 1981 ) . Linguistic environment The most important component of linguistic communication development is the lingual input. Both the measure and quality of lingual input are of import. Measure can be expressed as the frequence of exposure to linguistic communication ; while quality is expressed as the assortment of input ( Hoff, 2006 ) . Surveies show that the more frequent the kids are exposed to peculiar words or sentence constructions, the earlier they can get and reproduce them. And the wider the scope of vocabularies the kids are exposed to, the more picks of word they have when building sentences ( Naigles and Hoff-Ginsberg, 1998 ) . However, lingual input is besides a sort of disciplinary feedback ( Mueller Gathercole & A ; Hoff, 2007 ) , so that kids who engage in more societal interaction have higher opportunities to be corrected when they make errors. Exposing to different types of input can heighten the profusion of the lingual environmen. For illustration, if one wants to larn Cantonese, s/he can actively seek for a Cantonese environment like watching Cantonese films, sing China Town, run intoing Cantonese friends, etc. different types of lingual input may assist linguistic communication development in different facets. The consequence of frequence of exposure in linguistic communication acquisition can besides be shown in survey that involves bilingual linguistic communication scholars. Bilingual linguistic communication scholars, holding to larn two linguistic communications at the same time, have less exposure to both the linguistic communications, comparing to monolingual kids ( Genesee & A ; Nicoladis, 2007 ) . It is found that bilingual kids have a smaller vocabulary size in each linguistic communication, and the sort of words they learn are rather different, as bilingual kids receive different lingual inputs from different communicative spouses. Bruner ( 1981 ) believed that linguistic communication development is a consequence of the interaction between nature and raising. As suggested, societal activities like ‘play ‘ are valuable beginnings of lingual input. During the drama clip, kids can actively prosecute in lingual exchange and interactions with the grownups ( Shatz, 2007 ) . It was found that kids who possessed playthings and engaged in originative drama were more sophisticated in showing themselves verbally and showed promotion in linguistic communication acquisition ( Scanlon, 1977 ) . Other linguistics stimulations and activities like playing with image cards and role-playing a narrative are besides good to the kids ‘s linguistic communication development ( Hoff & A ; Tian, 2005 ) . Research surveies showed that there is a birth-order difference in the development of linguistic communication in kids. First-born kids are relatively more advanced in sentence structure and vocabulary ; while later-born kids have better conversational accomplishment ( Hoff, 1998 ; 1999 ) . The ground history for such difference is closely linked with the differences in the type and measure of lingual input. First-born kids have been the lone kids before the reaching of younger siblings. Fakouri ( 1974 ) suggested that the parents ‘ love, attention, and attending to the individual kid are indivisible by, and they perchance prosecute the kid into a higher- quality interaction, and therefore the exposure of lingual input is greater. Upon the birth of a sibling, the opportunity of acquiring one-to-one communicative interaction with the parents is lessened for both kids ( Hoff, 2006 ) . Yet, the later-born kids have another beginning of lingual input, which is from their senior sib lings. However, the quality of the lingual inputs provided by elder siblings is dissimilar to that by the parents, as they normally are less complex and dwell more grammatical mistake. A antiphonal spouse The functionalists believe that a antiphonal spouse for communicative exchange is needed for linguistic communication acquisition. Just like the other types of development, linguistic communication acquisition besides needs the staging of grownups. A antiphonal spouse should be cognizant of what the kid is go toing to in the here-and-now context and follow into that peculiar object or event ( Karrass et al. , 2002 ) , so that the kid can do usage of this societal cue to larn the linguistic communication associated with that focused topographic point ( Diesendruck, Gelman, & A ; Lebowitz, 1998 ) . The particular type of societal interaction is called joint attending, and it strongly correlates with word acquisition ( Bruner, 1983 ) . Children can larn new words expeditiously when they are socially engaged or pass oning with a antiphonal spouse, and larn best if they jointly attend to execute some day-to-day modus operandis like bathing and dining ( Tomasello, 1999 ) . Research done by Tomasello and Todd ( 1983 ) showed that the continuance of battle in joint attending was positively correlated with vocabulary size. Questioning and giving immediate responses to kids can keep their involvement as good ( Tomasello, 1999 ) . Studies found that kids who have grownups prosecuting them in conversation and utilizing more wh-questions during communicating have relatively better development in aides and verb usage ( Hoff, 1999 ) . Social-interactionist theoreticians believed that a good communicative spouse of a kid should do good usage of kid directed address or motherese ( Snow, 1979 ) . Child-direct address is a particular signifier of talk that normally is rather simple, with the talkers expressing meaning-rich words like the names of aims and verbs one-by-one clearly. Furthermore, the talker normally negotiations with higher pitch to capture the attending of the kid ( Mueller Gathercole & A ; Hoff, 2007 ) . Research surveies on the use of child-direct address show that it is associated with enhanced phonological consciousness and word acknowledgment. However, it should be noted that although child-direct address is correlated with a broad scope of positive results, it is non indispensable for normal development of linguistic communication in kids. This alone type of address is non cosmopolitan, as in some states, speaking to babes with such a high-pitch and simple construction is considered as discourtesy to them ( Hoff, 2006 ) . There is grounds demoing that kids, whose communicative spouses have higher educational degree, possess wider scope of vocabularies and are able to organize comparatively long and complicated sentences. They are besides better in depicting objects or evens that are non instantly present ( Umek, Fekonja, Kranjc & A ; Bajc, 2008 ) . The difference in the caretakers ‘ educational degree may connote the difference in the profusion of kids ‘s lingual environment and rational stimulation. Higher educated health professionals perchance can supply more acquisition chances to their kids than caretakers who are less educated. This shows how of import lingual input is for the favourable development of linguistic communication in kids. Cultural norms and outlooks are another country that can do a immense consequence of kids ‘s linguistic communication acquisition.Cultural norms and outlooksThere are a batch of cultural norms and outlooks invisibly hidden in a kid ‘s socie tal environment ( Inhelder & A ; Piaget, 1980 ; Ochs & A ; Schieffelin, 1995 ) . The impact of cultural norms and outlooks on linguistic communication development are more hard to mensurate ( Herschensohn, 2007 ) , as kids internalize these norms and bit by bit absorb them as 1 ‘s ain values ( Inhelder & A ; Piaget, 1980 ) . The undermentioned portion illustrates how societal category, ethnicity, gender and equals shape the development of linguistic communication in kids. Social category Many research surveies found differences in the ways and forms of linguistic communication development among kids of different societal categories. Health professionals in the upper category speak more to their kids ; and in bend greatly expand the vocabulary size of these kids ( Hoff, 2006 ) . To be more precise, the kids ‘s vocabulary size is found to be positively correlated with the health professionals ‘ or parents ‘ figure of words spoken to them. Besides a quantitative difference, there are besides qualitative differences between the two societal categories. The unwritten linguistic communication of kids from lower socio-economic standing was worse than those from higher socio-economic position ( Hoff, 2006 ) . Upper category parents talk to their kids normally because they want and plan to prosecute in a conversation with them ; while lower category parents normally talk to their kids for some practical grounds like giving them instructions to work [ ( Hoff, 2006 ) . Children of from the upper category are exposed to a wider scope of vocabularies, particularly the productive vocabularies ( Hoff, 2003 ) . Children normally spend most of the clip with the people from the same societal category ; the common influence reinforces the kids to move and speak in the same manner as the other members of the societal category do. And because of the self-fulfilling prognostication, kids might hold acted harmonizing to what the others expect ( Edwards, 1979 ) . Therefore, even the kids of different societal categories go to the same school, their li nguistic communication development might yet be really different. Ethnicity Peoples from different states experience different advancement in linguistic communication development. People ‘s pick of vocabularies can extremely reflect their cultural outlooks and norms. Peoples from an individualist civilization have a different linguistic communication attitudes and vocabulary pick as people from a collectivist-oriented state ( Gudykunst & A ; Schmidt, 1987 ) . As stated by Ayyash-Abdo ( 2001 ) , people believing in individuality concern more about their ain beliefs, demands and rights ; while people with a leftist mentality consider themselves as a portion of the whole community, and topographic point the group ‘s demands on a higher precedence than their ain demands. Collectivist seeks harmoniousness and emphasizes cooperation. Wu and Rubin ( 2000 ) found that, in footings of linguistic communication usage, individualists ‘ manner of showing their thoughts is more direct and self-asserting, and they use â€Å" I † more frequently to give voice their sentences. Conversely, leftists like to utilize â€Å" we † , and there are much more relational nouns in the Chinese linguistic communication that helps to do all right differentiations between different relations. For illustration, in English, â€Å" uncles † can intend one ‘s female parents ‘ senior or younger brothers, and besides one ‘s m ale parent senior or younger brothers. But in Chinese, there are four different nouns for those four different types of â€Å" uncles † . Several surveies attempted to compare the linguistic communication development in American yearlings with Nipponese yearlings. The former, in general, represents individuality ; while the latter represents Bolshevism. it was discovered that the American babes knew a broad scope of productive and receptive vocabularies ; while Nipponese babes were good at symbolic drama ( Tamis-LeMonda, Bornstein, Cyphers, Toda & A ; Ogino, 1992 ) . To account for the difference, Tamis-LeMonda, et Al. ( 1992 ) found that American female parents tend to label objects and events more on a regular basis, stress the demand of independency ; arouse the kids ‘s involvement in the external word ; and are more information-oriented when they talk to their kids. On the other manus, Nipponese female parents ever engage their kids in group drama and dyadic activities ; advance a sense of dependance ; and are more affect-oriented. Ethnicity does non merely act upon the kids ‘s size of vocabularies, but besides in a batch of ways such as the linguistic communication attitude, pick of words and ways to sentiments. The geographical features of a state besides have an impact on kids ‘s exposure to different types of words. For illustration, in Hong Kong and other metropoliss which are closer to the equator, snowing is non possible. In Cantonese, we merely have one noun to depict â€Å" snow † , without any other vocabularies that could depict the different types and strength of â€Å" snow † . In contrast, there are many words created to separate the assorted sorts of â€Å" snow † , e.g. snowstorms, snow squalls, bustles, graupel, sleet, dendrites, acerate leafs, snow pellets, etc. Gender Quite a batch of research surveies on the gender difference in linguistic communication development of kids show that misss, between one to three old ages old, could treat linguistic communication and reading at a faster rate and bring forth syntactically more complicated sentences than male childs of the same age ( Umek et al. , 2008 ) . Boys, instead, could understand the significance of words better ( Wolf & A ; Gow, 1986 ) . It appears that male childs are less well-developed in linguistic communication acquisition in the early old ages. Karrass et Al. ( 2002 ) suggested that this might good be the influence of gender stereotypes. It is normally taught and believed that male childs are more active and misss are more soft and elegant. It is found that parents of male childs are less sensitive to their linguistic communication accomplishments, but shows greater concern to the boy ‘s motor development ( Eaton & A ; Enns, 1986 ) . For misss, the parents tend to speak to their g irls more frequently, and prosecute them in communicative activities like story-telling. Peers Peers become increasingly of import as the kids grow up ( Fortman, 2003 ) . Childs further develop their linguistic communication and societal accomplishments through interacting with their equals. By that clip, in order to seek group designation and keep association with the group, different group norms and group ‘language ‘ like hip-hop may emerge to stand for group rank ( Giles, 1979 ) . The specific sort of linguistic communication is created for the group to admit each other and except the out-group members. Children at this age may change their linguistic communication attitude and ways of showing thoughts to make a positive self-image obtain a desirable group individuality ( Ryan, 1979 ) .DecisionA batch of facets within the societal environment drama of import functions in determining the development of linguistic communication in kids. Yet, as stated in the debut, Chomsky ‘s nativist theory is besides really sensible and influential. A well-developed lingui stic communication system is in fact a merchandise of rich societal environment and the kid ‘s willingness and accomplishments to react to the societal input.

Monday, January 6, 2020

Essay on Conflicts in Sudan Genocide in Darfur - 1547 Words

The Republic of Sudan, or Sudan as it more commonly known, is currently in a state of crisis. Darfur, in western Sudan, is in the middle of the worst humanitarian crisis in the world right now. They are on the brink of genocide, the deliberate killing of a very large number of people from a particular ethnic group or background. Like Most civil wars the incidents have been occurring for over twenty years. The armed conflict began to get serious in February of 2003. It was then that the Sudanese government in cohorts with the Janjaweed militia engaged in civil strife with two rebel groups. The first of the rebel groups involved being the Liberation Movement Army/Movement (SLM/A), the second the Justice Equality Movement (JEW). The†¦show more content†¦The Sudan government has stated that any barbaric and inhumane acts in Darfur have been at the hands of the Janjaweed militia as a result of ethnic clashes. Their position contradicts with what Musa Hilal, a Janjaweed commande r, told a human rights activist on September 27, 2004 during an interview. He stated that all militia activity was not only government directed but government backed as well. Hilal claimed that all of the orders that he himself and his people carried out were from a field commander in the West. The main overlying command that he has received and passed along to his subordinated is to mobilize the people. According to him he has no idea who is responsible for the mass killings and raids. This seems ludicrous being as he has complete control over the entire region and its happenings. His position is a contradiction to eye witness accounts that place him in military uniform celebrating after a citizen attack. The Sudanese justice system has been ignoring the individuals responsible for the attacks and the crimes against humanity. In June of 2005 the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened their investigation from outside of Darfur of the situation there. The Prosecutor has not been b abe to gain access to Darfur to further conduct the investigation. This is in part a result of the Sudanese governments refusal to cooperate with the ICC on the grounds that it will deal with the prosecution of any of the individuals involve itself.Show MoreRelatedThe Conflict Of The United States855 Words   |  4 Pagesdefinition of genocide must of recently changed without many individuals being aware, unless the current ongoing pertinent issue did not want to be addressed in the twenty-first century. In the largest country in Africa, it is unimaginable that a genocide conducted by their government continues while the rest of the world does nothing. The largest country in Africa is Sudan, which is located on the northeastern side of Africa. The western region of Sudan is the primary focus, Darfur. 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Beginning around 2003, according to Darfur Scores (n.d.), â€Å"the Sudanese government in Khartoum and the government-sponsored Janjaweed militiaRead MoreGenocide in Darfur Essay1531 Words   |  7 PagesHolocaust of Today: Genocide in Darfur By definition, genocide is â€Å"the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.† According to Eric Reeves, writer for the Sudan Tribune, genocide â€Å"encompasses not only the killing of members of a national, ethical, racial, or religious group, as such, but also deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or part.† Whatever genocide may be definedRead MoreDarfur Conflict Essay1350 Words   |  6 PagesMarch 23rd, 2013 The Darfur Conflict The government of Sudan, a country in Northeast Africa, is committing a horrendous crime against humanity. Genocide is raging on in Western Sudan against poor, helpless, innocent people. It is actually the ten year â€Å"anniversary† since the beginning of the Darfur conflict and the genocide still continues on. There are over 1.4 million people who still do not have homes to come back to, and the numbers stack higher every day. Bombings have not stopped, as thereRead MoreWhat Caused the Darfur Genocide? Essay894 Words   |  4 Pagesrebel movements- the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement took up arms against the Sudanese Government, accusing the failure to protect sedentary people from attacks by nomads and the marginalization of the area in Darfur. Darfur is a region in the western part of Sudan, where it is home to 6 million people from around 100 tribes. In response to the attack, the Janjaweed, which is the government-supported Arab tribesma n, raided non-Arab villages in Darfur to create a Pan-ArabRead MoreEssay about Darfurs Turning Point or Not1174 Words   |  5 PagesEvil can come in many different forms. Desmond Tutu claims this to be as he once said, â€Å"When people think of the sort of things that happen when genocide happens, its again not people who are intrinsically evil.† This quote by Desmond Tutu is a definition of evil because not everybody was born being evil it depends on a persons real nature. When many people think of evil they think of the people that they do not like or do not care for. Without people being evil are world would not be as it is todayRead MoreSudanese Government And State Sponsored Militia Carried Out The Darfur1641 Words   |  7 Pages Darfur is located in the western region of Sudan, adjacent to Chad and Central Africa. In early 2004, the Sudanese government and state sponsored militia carried out the Darfur genocide. The targets of the genocide were black African tribes. The genocide in Darfur has claimed approximately 300,000 lives and displaced over 3 million people. In response to these mass atrocities the international community took action, but many were dissatisfied with what seemed to be a lack of effort. Of the groupsRead MoreThe Genocide Still Going on in Darfur, Sudan Essay examples1048 Words   |  5 PagesNot everybody believes in genocides, other may have a different opinion or thoughts. Sometimes people don’t realize its genocide because they believe in what they are doing and they think there is no harm done because it’s not affecting them. To be taken away from your family, to go live somewhere else or to be killed can have a huge impact on your life. Genocides play a huge role i n the world; it has and will affect many people. In Darfur there is a genocide going on, it has been going on for a

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Understanding PTSD Flashbacks

A flashback is an intrusive, unintentional, vivid memory of a traumatic event. Flashbacks are one symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Defining PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in the aftermath of a traumatic event, including military conflict,  assault, interpersonal violence, a car accident, or a natural disaster.  PTSD can also occur among first responders,  as well as  people whose loved one experienced a traumatic event. To be diagnosed with PTSD, an individual must experience symptoms in the following four categories  for at least a month after the trauma: Re-experiencing the event. People suffering from  PTSD often re-experience the event in unwanted, unintentional ways, including flashbacks and nightmares.  Avoidance of the event. Someone who is experiencing PTSD will often  try to avoid reminders of the event.Negative thoughts or emotions. The person may experience negative emotions (or a lack of positive emotions), feel self-blame, or lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed.Hypervigilance.  PTSD patients typically feel as thought they are constantly on â€Å"high alert.† They may have trouble sleeping, be irritable, or become easily startled, for example. While many people may develop some of these symptoms immediately after a traumatic event, not everyone who experiences a trauma develops PTSD. What a PTSD Flashback Feels Like Flashbacks can  be incredibly  vivid  and involve  re-experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells that were present during the traumatic event. Some people become flooded with the emotions that they felt at the time of the trauma.  Flashbacks can be so overwhelming and immersive that the person experiencing the flashback may temporarily feel that they have physically returned to the moment of the traumatic event. In some cases, a person experiencing a flashback may behave as though they were back in the traumatic event. Flashbacks can occur as a result of a  trigger—that is, when they notice something in the environment that reminds them of  the traumatic event. However, people can also experience a flashback without being aware of a particular trigger that caused it. Flashbacks vs. Memories Flashbacks occur when individuals involuntarily re-experience a memory of a  traumatic event. Importantly, the psychological definition of a flashback  differs from the common colloquial use of the term. A flashback is  not  simply a â€Å"bad memory. Rather, it is an experience in which an individual actually feels as if they  are re-living parts of the traumatic event. Flashbacks in PTSD are different from intentional memories because they occur without the person trying to do anything to bring back the memory. In fact, psychologist Matthew Whalley and his colleagues have found that patterns of brain activation are different when people are exposed to words that they associate with flashbacks, compared to words that they associate with non-flashback memories. Studies on PTSD Flashbacks   Psychologists have investigated whether it is possible to prevent the development of flashbacks after a traumatic event. Researcher Emily Holmes and her colleagues have suggested that, since flashbacks are often powerful visual images, it may be possible to reduce the severity by distracting the visual system. To test this idea out, Holmes and her colleagues conducted an experiment in which participants watched a potentially traumatizing video.  Afterwards, some participants played Tetris, and others did not. The researchers found that participants who played Tetris only had about half as many flashbacks as the participants who didn’t. In other words, it appears that a neutral activity such as Tetris kept the visual systems in the participants brains occupied, making flashback images less likely to occur. In another paper  by Dr. Holmes’  team, researchers asked emergency room patients who had experienced a traumatic event to participate in a similar study. Some participants played Tetris while others did not, and the researchers found that participants who played Tetris had fewer intrusive memories of their traumatic event over the next week. More broadly, researchers have found that psychotherapy and medication can reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms, including flashbacks. One type of therapy,  Prolonged Exposure,  involves discussing the traumatic event in a safe, therapeutic setting. Another therapeutic technique,  Cognitive Processing Therapy, involves working with a therapist to change ones beliefs about the traumatic event. Researchers have found that both types of therapy are able to lessen the severity of PTSD symptoms. PTSD Flashbacks Key Takeaways Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that can occur in the aftermath of a traumatic event.Flashbacks are a PTSD symptom that involve re-experiencing memories of the traumatic event.PTSD flashbacks can be extremely  vivid and may make  individuals feel as though they are re-living the traumatic event.  Several treatments are currently available for PTSD, and new research is investigating whether PTSD flashbacks can be prevented. Sources Brewin, Chris R. â€Å"Re-experiencing Traumatic Events in PTSD: New Avenues in Research on Intrusive Memories and Flashbacks.†Ã‚  European Journal of Psychotraumatology  6.1 (2015): 27180. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3402/ejpt.v6.27180Friedman, Matthew J. â€Å"PTSD History and Overview.† U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD (2016, Feb. 23). https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/PTSD-overview/ptsd-overview.aspHammond, Claudia. â€Å"PTSD: Do Most People Get It After Terrifying Incidents?† BBC Future (2014, Dec. 1). http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141201-the-myths-about-ptsdHolmes, Emily A., James, E.L., Coode-Bate, T., Deeprose, C. â€Å"Can Playing the Computer Game ‘Tetris’ Reduce the Build-up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science.†Ã‚  PloS One  4.1 (2009): e4153. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id10.1371/journal.pone.0004153Iyadurai, Lalitha, et al. Preventing Intrus ive Memories After Trauma Via a Brief Intervention Involving Tetris Computer Game Play in the Emergency Department: A Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial. Molecular Psychiatry 23  (2018): 674-682. https://www.nature.com/articles/mp201723Norman, Sonya, Hamblen, J., Schnurr, P.P., Eftekhari, A. â€Å"Overview of Psychotherapy for PTSD.† U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD (2018, Mar. 2). https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/overview/overview-treatment-research.aspâ€Å"PTSD and DSM-5.† U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD (2018, Feb. 22). https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/PTSD-overview/dsm5_criteria_ptsd.aspWhalley, M. G., Kroes, M. C., Huntley, Z., Rugg, M. D., Davis, S. W., Brewin, C. R. (2013). An fMRI Investigation of Posttraumatic Flashbacks.  Brain and Cognition,  81(1), 151-159. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3549493/â€Å"What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?† Am erican Psychiatric Association (2017, Jan.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd

Saturday, December 21, 2019

John Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men - 767 Words

John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a classic among American literature and is regarded as an important novel in American literature. It is an effective novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat as it goes through The Great Depression with George and Lennie and their dream of owning a farm and how it is tragically ruined. One of the most important topics of the novel is loneliness and how it affects characters in the book. Loneliness affects the characters by their happiness and their bitterness. This can be seen through Crooks, Curly’s wife, and Candy readers see these characters go through loneliness and how they deal with their loneliness. Loneliness affects Crooks by his bitterness and his personality and what he thinks about being lonely. In the middle of the book Crooks says to Lennie, â€Å"I ain’t wanted in the bunk house and you ain’t wanted in my room† (Steinbeck 68). This quote proves that Crooks is lonely and isn’t wanted by anyone in the bunk house this makes him bitter too Lennie and the other characters in Of Mice and Men. In the book Crooks also says to Lennie, â€Å"A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody†¦I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick† (Steinbeck 72-73). This quote shows what Crooks thinks about loneliness and how it can make a man go bitter and insane and how loneliness affects Crooks and how he acts around the other characters in the novel. These quotes prove the affects of loneliness on Crooks by his bitterness, his actions, andShow MoreRelatedJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1248 Words   |  5 PagesIn Steinbeck s novel Of Mice and Men, He uses imagery many times to create a realistic setting and plot. Steinbeck’s depiction of migrant workers and their daily complications during the depression are objectively precise due to his use of imagery with idioms, dreams, nature, loneliness and animal imagery. The main theme of the book transpires to be loneliness and fate. While George and Lennie, the main characters have a synergetic relationship, fate steps in and does away with their dreams, whichRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men897 Words   |  4 Pagesthat we possess. Many people feel certain emotions based on events that have taken place in their lifetime or how they were raised throughout their childhood. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, he portrays the feelings of isolation and loneliness in three different characters. George’s isolation is illustrated in Steinbeck’s, Of Mice and Men. George expresses many hard feelings towards Lennie at the opening of this story. â€Å"‘...you’re a lot of trouble,’ said George. ‘I could get along so easy and soRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1243 Words   |  5 Pagesis what John Steinbeck achieves by portraying this through the characters in his novella Of Mice and Men. The main characters are affected by loneliness in their own different way throughout the novella. rf The loneliness is maintained by the challenges that the characters have to face, and they sustain those challenges of being inhumane towards each other. Crook, a figure in the story who experiences discrimination encounters the challenge of race, due to the book’s setting in the 1930’s duringRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1080 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"I want you to stay with me Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself.† The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck shows the relationship between two migrant workers in the 1930s, George and Lennie, along with the other members on the new ranch that they began working on. Georgie and Lennie dreamed of following the American Dream and owning their own patch of land and the novel revolves around the dream and the obstacles that stand in their way. Lennie, a strongRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men2167 Words   |  9 Pagesjobs. In John Steinbeck’ s Of Mice and Men, George Milton and Lennie Small wander through California in search of a new job that would help them make enough money to live their American dream on â€Å"the fatta the lan’†(Steinbeck 14). George and Lennie’s hard work and determination is not enough for them to live their dream. Lennie has a mental disability that slows the two friends down from living their dream; they have to run from job to job because of Lennie’s unintentional actions. Steinbeck incorporatesRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1286 Words   |  6 PagesThe realistic fiction novella Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck explains the journey of two migrant farm workers. Lennie and George are forced to overcome the Dust Bowl and The Great Depression around 1938. This makes jobs even harder to come by because everyone wanted one. Lennie and George were kicked out of Weed and they now work at a ranch in Soledad. At the new farm the friendship between Lennie and George becomes harder to maintain. The people on the farm are all different shapes, sizes, andRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1360 Words   |  6 Pagesfeeling, thinking and acting in everyday life. In the story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, a duo of farmers, George and Lennie, search for work wherever they can. Their dream of having a farm of their own is coming into reach, while George has to wield Lennie away from the temptation of Curley’s wife and the reality of what L ennie can do. John Steinbeck uses characterization to illustrate the nature of human existence. Steinbeck portrays George as a man who tries to help, and helps others soRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1448 Words   |  6 Pages In the novella, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck discusses the idea of loneliness and how people who work at the ranch have no family and no future in lives. He indicates that all people at the ranch are lonely, but he specifically uses a few characters to highlight their state of being lonely and more miserable than the others. He emphasizes the loneliness of ranch life during the Great Depression, and shows how people are willing to try and find friendship in order to escape from the state ofRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1205 Words   |  5 Pagesand the time period of John Steinbeck s novella, Of Mice and Men, exemplifies the idea that people from minorities are held back from achieving their version of the ‘American Dream’. This goes to prove not everyone will overcome the overbearing tidal waves of their hardship s, which makes the American Dream nothing more than a dream to them. Crooks, the black stable hand, faces discrimination due to his skin color as this unfortunately was common in the 1930’s. John Steinbeck uses Crooks’ situationRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men968 Words   |  4 PagesSolidifying the theme of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the protagonist George expresses his significant loneliness despite a strong kinship with his friend Lennie, â€Å"’I ain’t got no people†¦ I seen the guys that go around the ranches alone. That ain’t no good’† (41). Published in 1937, amidst the horrific turmoil of the Great Depression, Steinbeck’s novella struck a sensitive chord with readers. Set in the heart of California’s Central Valley, this story follows two men, George and Lennie, as they

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Forensic Medicine ad Toxicology †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Forensic Medicine ad Toxicology. Answer: Introduction: Forensic autopsy was carried out to determine the manner and cause of death. Forensic autopsy is always done when the cause of death is suspected to have been criminal (Vij, 2014). The now deceased had a disagreement with the husband and uncertainly died, therefore the forensic autopsy. Clinical autopsy could have not been done as the cause of death was evident. The autopsy indicated a well inflated lungs and moderate agonal congestion which supports that GW had started CPR. The claims by GW would have been supported by evident changes in the ribs of the deceased. The stomach of the deceased was found to be empty since the victim had not taken any solid closer to the point of death. The diseased only took lots of alcohol after breakfast which is absorbed directly into the body system. The liver was expected to show signs of focal lesions in addition to the paleness and bile stains. The liver should have also been lobular dues to malfunction dues to the overdose and form a mottling pattern as well as grossly necrotic. There was no fatty change during the autopsy as well as lack of fibrosis indicates abnormality. The paleness of the liver and was an abnormal histological evidence. Yes these would have been as a result of the care of the patient in the last two days prior to death (Kharoshah et.al 2011). The normal historical depends on various factors including patience care thus the condition of the patient in the last two days caused the abnormality. According to the police report, TA had relationship problems with the husband. The deceased financial problems as well and had been referred to a doctor as a result of depression. Based on these the patient had the motive and means to commit suicide. The manner of death in this case was natural as no any other substance was found within the diseased body during the autopsy. The deceased died a natural death as a result of too much consumption of alcohol and which affected the body system leading to death. Alcohol poisoning, based on the evidence of the autopsy report the deceased died of alcohol poisoning which is a result too much alcohol in the blood stream (Byard Payne, 2015). The deceased had an empty stomach as all the consumed alcohol had moved to the blood stream affecting brain activities thus low breathing rate, reduce heart rate leading to shuttering of all system of the body. There were other test such alcohol poisoning tests would have been done to check if the deceased could have been suffering from the effect of excess alcohol present in the blood stream. This would have been done immediately the deceased was brought into the hospital as this could have led to various mechanisms to eliminate alcohol within blood stream even though the patient would have experienced brain effects in case of survival. The deceased died at the age of 27 year, at this age the cause of death is mostly suicide and accidental poisoning. The deceased is likely to have died of alcohol misuse as well as relationship problems. The death therefore consistent to the data as indicated in epidemiology module two. References Byard, R., Payne-James, J. (2015). Encyclopedia of forensic and legal medicine. Academic Press. Kharoshah, M. A. A., Zaki, M. K., Galeb, S. S., Moulana, A. A. R., Elsebaay, E. A. (2011). Origin and development of forensic medicine in Egypt. Journal of forensic and legal medicine, 18(1), 10-13. Vij, K. (2014). Textbook of Forensic Medicine Toxicology: Principles Practice-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.