The Thickness of Ice and Twice Shy Essay Example for Free

The Thickness of Ice and Twice Shy Essay The Thickness of Ice is poem about the different stages a couple go through in a relationship. The main themes in this poem are friendship and love and how these two can blend together. The title has been chosen by Loxley to show a positive side to relationships. The Thickness of Ice is positive as Thickness shows stability and safety. During this poem, Thickness is an oxymoron as well. The speaker in this poem is Loxley herself. I think this is true because the poem seems quite personal and sounds like it comes from a females perspective. It is also emotional and very meaningful. It seems that Loxley is trying to explain to us the different stages a relationship can go through if not taken seriously. In this poem she tells us one way that is the most often way in which a relationship goes in. This is what makes it so powerful and yet sounds so personal. I think she wrote the poem to show us how she felt after a bad experience in a relationship and could also be a warning to all of us about what might happen if people dont play fair in a relationship and end up hurting each other. I know this because the language used in the poem is so strong and powerful that we know that she is upset and hasnt got over something or someone. Throughout this poem we can see that she is planning what will happen. This poem is written in the future tense and makes us think that she can tell what is going to happen and why. She seems to think she can tell what is going to happen from a past experience. This past experience might not have worked out as we can tell from this poem. Also throughout this poem there is a sign of hope. Loxley chooses to use an interesting method of repetition throughout this poem to demonstrate her feelings about the situation she is in; though secretly Ill be hoping well become much more and hoping that that youre hoping that too. Loxley shows us how eager she is to get into a relationship with someone and how she isnt worried about anything and is completely besotted with this person. The poem has a well ordered structure. Connectives such as First Later Last of all give the poem a steady flow. The structure also relates to the theme of the poem that by using these connectives, it gives the poem the same continuous flow of that in a relationship. The relationship that Loxley has written about in this poem is about how two people would meet, fall in love, fall out and go their separate ways. People would naturally use the words first and last of all to describe different parts in a relationship. This shows the comparison between the structure of the poem and that of a relationship. I think Loxley chose to use this structure because it is usually used as a list or an order and the person who wrote this poem (whether it be Loxley or not) obviously thought the relationship was like a list of things that were going to happen. The person who is speaking out in this poem is sure of what is going to happen and there is predicting what she shall do and to me; this is a sign of a list which, in my opinion, is why Loxley chose to use this structure. The tone is this poem is mostly about love and lust. The one tone is most shown in this poem is love. It is what the whole poem is written about. All about falling in love or lust and being hurt in the outcome. This is a very opening poem as it gives the message not to rush into things so that you dont get hurt in the end. If it is Loxley writing the poem from a personal experience then it understandable that she doesnt have any strong feelings towards relationship and that she doesnt really like the way that they can break you. Sher writes about heartbreak and selfishness a lot in this poem and it is quite noticeable that she thinks that all relationships turn out the same as one that she may have experienced before. The tone at the end of the poem does change into a positive outcome when she uses the metaphor; Last of all well be like children, having learnt the thickness of ice this shows that they have learnt a lesson about what happened and that they might have future together but as friends and not in a relationship.

Ethical Debates on Music Sharing

Ethical Debates on Music Sharing To file share or not to file share? That is the question. Should free music off the internet be legal? Who is in the right- Napster or the music industry? There are some of the topics I hoped to discuss when I invited four journalists to my house to debate the controversial issue of online music. Ding-dong! â€Å"Uh-oh†, I think, wiping my hands on a paper towel. â€Å"They must be here early.† Its six-thirty, my guests arent due to arrive until seven, and I am already a half-hour behind. The lobsters are still boiling on the stove, the chunky potatoes are rock-hard and my spinach salad lies in pieces all over the kitchen floor. Things arent off to such a good start. I am supposed to be hosting a small, informal discussion tonight with a few journalists. The topic of the forum concerns the recent legal uproar about online music organizations such as Napster, Morpheus and Kazaa. I have invited a variety of people; some of whom have clashing opinions. I am looking forward to a heated and intellectual discussion; which will be good because I am planning on writing a book on the subject of online music. I havent decided yet whose side I am on; the music industry or the internet music providers. Hopefully, tonights discussion will provide me with some insight as to which side to stand on. Or maybe, I wont have to choose a side†¦who knows? As I walk to the front door, I cant help but feel just a little bit anxious, but excited at the same time. â€Å"I wonder who it is†¦who had the nerve to be fifteen minutes early?† I think to myself. I open the great oak door to find Tobey Grumet, a journalist from Popular Mechanics magazine. â€Å"Hows it going?† he asks casually as he walks through the entryway. â€Å"Its nice to finally meet you.† I say. I cant help but stare at him. I had heard that he was good looking, but geez! He has shoulder-length blonde hair that he has pulled back into a ponytail. He has chiseled features, but not too chiseled. He is wearing gray tweed pants that are only slightly baggy, a black woolen sweater and a hemp necklace. â€Å"Wow, nice place,† he remarks as he walks into my dining room. â€Å"Do you own this house?† â€Å"Yeah, I do..† I reply, shaking my head to get out of my trance. He follows me into the kitchen, and, seeing the state that it is in, offers to help me get ready. â€Å"Its a good thing I got here first. I dont think that Michael Miller would appreciate this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he remarks as he is chopping up a tomato for the salad. â€Å"That guy is a total corporate pushover† he continues, his chopping getting a little bit more intense. I smile politely. I want to be completely impartial tonight, and I try very hard not to let what Tobey is saying affect my opinion of Michael Miller, a journalist a PC Magazine. We work in silence for about ten more minutes. By the time the doorbell rings again, the only thing left to do is drain the water out of the potato pot. â€Å"Thank you so much for all your help,† I exclaim as I walk to answer the door. â€Å"You are a lifesaver!† â€Å"No problem!† Tobey shouts after me. Who should be at the door, but Michael Miller. â€Å"Nice to meet you† he says to me in a grave manner. He is a short, thin man of about 45, with graying hair. His gray Armani suit looks a tad bit too big on him. â€Å"Goodness, Mr. Miller,† I exclaim. â€Å"You are making me feel like a bum in my jeans and turtleneck!† â€Å"Please,† he replies, â€Å"I apologize for the way Im dressed. You must forgive me; I just came from a journalists convention downtown. I didnt have time to change.† â€Å"No worries,† I assure him. One by one, they all arrive; Brian Smithers and Margaret Popper. We chat informally for a few minutes in the study over bourbon. I am mostly quiet, making mental observations of the ways my guests treat each other. For the most part, they seem to be enjoying each others company. Even Tobey seems to be getting along with Michael Miller. Next, my guests are all seated while I bring out the food. Our conversation starts out very formal. Then, I bring out the big question: â€Å"So, does anyone have any thoughts on the new online music providers like MUSICNET?† There is a short silence. My guests look at their plates, as if thinking about the best way to answer the question. I know all of them are thinking hard about the question; being journalists to major technology magazines, this kind of issue is a major obsession with them. It was finally Michael Miller who breaks the ice. â€Å"Well,† he says, putting down his fork, â€Å"I think its obvious that the Napsters of the world were breaking the law and cheating legitimate musicians out of money.† â€Å"Wait a second,† protests Tobey. â€Å"Dont you think its a little bit unfair to say that? Its not like the ‘musicians arent getting enough money anyways. And it isnt the musicians who are getting gypped, its the multi-million dollar music companies like BMG.† â€Å"The real issue isnt about money, its more about the reputations of musicians,† says Margaret Popper, a journalist at Business Week. She tucks her short brown bob cut back behind her ears. â€Å"Doesnt it concern anyone here that free online music allows people to essentially preview albums? Most people wont buy an album just for one song if they can listen to it beforehand for free. These online music providers are contributing to a complete decrease in album sales.† â€Å"Look,† says Brian Smithers, â€Å"you are all missing the point. Free online music is about more than just getting music. Did you ever stop to think that independent musicians use these providers to get out there? It is a fabulous resource for people who arent affiliated with the music industry giants like EMI and BMG.† I sit back and watch interested. So far, Ive got two for free online music, two against it. I ask another leading question. â€Å"Do you think it should be legal to create and share music files online for free?† Again, there is a slight pause. Brian Smithers raises his shaven head and replies, â€Å"Well, yes, absolutely. I mean, think about it. You are already paying for internet service. Why shouldnt the music be free? The internet is a place where everyone can come together and share things. It is a community. It should be free.† â€Å"No,† snaps Michael Miller, â€Å"the music that is shared online is part of an industry. An industry has a major goal to make a lot of money. How are industries supposed to make any money, and keep the economy going, if people can get music for free? It is cheating them out of money.† Brian looks directly at Miller with a glare in his eyes. His eyebrow ring glints in the light. â€Å"This is exactly what I am talking about. People who are obsessed with corporate America. Well, I hate to break it to you, but life isnt all about corporations. Its the little people who matter too.† â€Å"Whoa, hold on there partner!† exclaims Miller. â€Å"I am not suggesting that. But when something is copyrighted, by law that copyright cannot be broken. Its a legal thing.† As the night wears on, the conversation grows more and more heated. My guests remain stubborn and stick to their original points until it is time for them to go. As the last car drives off down the street, I head to the kitchen to wash dishes. My mind starts to wander. Napster launched in early 1999. It was the first of its kind; the idea and technology for sharing music files online had never been dreamed of before. (Brown) It quickly became wildly popular; after all, what music listener could argue with free music? Soon after its emergence, several other Napster copy-cats came onto the scene. Also soon after its launch, the Recording Industry Association of America made Napster its â€Å"public enemy number 1† (Brown). Napster was the first to be hit with claims of illegality by the music industry. According to Janelle Brown in her article on www.salon.com, bands such as Metallica complained that they were being cheated out of copyright money, and they claimed that CD sales were dropping. The Supreme Court ultimately decided that the music industry was correct to demand that Napster shut down (Brown). One by one, the music industry and the courts put a stop to all free online music. Napster wanna-bes continue to emerge, but they will be br ought to court sooner or later and receive the same fate as Napster. Although the ruling has been made final, there are still many activists who continue to argue the validity of free online music. My guests on both sides had brought up valid points. But in order to write my book, I realize I would have to take a side. This was not a black and white issue. I think about the opposing sides. I definitely agree with Michael Miller about the legalities of free online music. Copyrights are protected under the law. But, on the other hand, it is very difficult to monitor what goes onto the internet. There are plenty of things on the internet that are supposedly protected under copyright laws, but they are still there and can be accessed for free. No one is bothering to go to the Supreme Court over these things. I dont think that it should be different for music. Additionally, Margaret Poppers point that free online music hurts musicians reputations is very hard to swallow for me. I dont believe that big name bands like Metallica care about their reputations as much as they care about milking as much money as they can. The same goes for companies like EMI and BMG. Brian Smithers had br ought up an interesting point about the internet being a community. I think about how this remark could potentially add to my book. The idea that the internet is increasingly replacing traditional social settings has always been a topic of major interest to me. I find it fascinating how much things can change over time, yet not really change. People are still communicating with each other and participating in a community, but many have found a different medium for doing so: the internet. Instead of sitting around in a coffee shop discussing the latest popular album that everyone just has to buy; now people can congregate on the internet. Most online file-sharing sites have a place where you can talk to people and share your opinions on the music. The more I think about it, I also like the idea of being able to preview an album before I actually decide to buy it. There are a lot of albums out there that, in my opinion, only have one good song on them. I dont want to be throwing seventeen dollars down the drain if I can save that money by realizing beforehand that the album might not be very good. I dont think that this is the case a lot of the time. Most likely people will preview an album and then decide that they really like it, so they will go out and buy it. If anything, being able to preview an album is a good thing because it puts pressure on mainstream musicians and record companies to produce the finest work they can. Most songs on an album are â€Å"filler songs†, that is they are there simply to take up space on the album, and arent usually very good. Ive come to the conclusion that I will write my book on the advantages of online music file-sharing. Before I started this project, I really didnt have strong feelings either way about online file-sharing. I have used free sharing, such as Kazaa and now Lime Wire, but I never stopped to think about what I was doing. I did have more of a bias towards favoring online file-sharing, but mostly because it allowed me to download music for free. I also never knew very much about the Napster court case. To me, that was the defining moment of sort of the end of free music downloads. I knew that Napster was going to not be free anymore, but I didnt know why. Now I know the specifics of the case, and I favor Napsters side. As an avid music lover, and a consumer, I think I have the right to listen to music for free before I go out and buy it. It might decrease CD sales by a small percentage, but the music industry is still huge. And perhaps putting musicians on the spot by listening to their songs for free and then deciding whether or not to buy their album is a good thing. It puts more pressure on them to spend time making their music as good as it possibly can be. I think that the most compelling argument for me was Tobey Grumet. He argues that the controversy, although it is claimed to be about reputations, is more about money. This is absolutely true the more you think about it. Many little band names do not have a problem with free file sharing. It is the very popular bands signed under big label names, like Metallica, that are causing an uproar. I dont see how their songs being on Napster is harmful to their reputation. If anything, its good because it means that people like their songs. It doesnt harm their reputations as musicians; it more than likely helps it and allows them to be recognized as a very influential band in the history of modern rock music. My sources, I think, were all very legitimate. They all came from magazines that our library subscribes to. Salon.com is most likely biased towards free online file sharing, but the information that I got from them was purely fact-based, like when Napster was launched and so forth. I think that I got a good variety of journalists opinions on the issue of online file-sharing. Each of them had to take an opinion on the subject because it is part of their job. And, for the most part, I dont believe there was any kind of prior incentive to their taking one side or the other. Each of them has an extensive technological background and I think they looked at the issue pretty objectively. I learned a lot about online music from this project. I never realized what an important part of the technology community it plays. It is fun to download free music, rate it, and perhaps even discuss it with fellow music lovers. And it is convenient and thrifty to be able to check out albums before you decide to buy them. My final decision is that online music is a positive aspect of the internet that I hope, somehow, will continue to remain free and entertain music lovers through the means of the internet.

Comparing The Corner Residents and Dostoevsky’s Underground Man Essay

Comparing The Corner Residents and Dostoevsky’s Underground Man      Ã‚  Ã‚   I am a sick man.... I am an angry man. I am an unattractive man. [...] I don't understand the least thing about my illness, and I don't know for certain what part of me is affected. I am not having any treatment for it, and never have had, although I have a great respect for medicine and for doctors. [...] No, I refuse treatment out of spite. (Dostoevsky 1864: 17)    Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote these words around 1864 to describe the mental state of a hyperconscious retired bureaucrat whose excessive analysis and inability to act separate him from the mainstream of the society in which he lived. Dostoevsky's underground man, as he termed his character, is characterized by alienation, spite, and isolation. Dostoevsky presents the life of his character as a testimonial to the possibility of living counter to an individual's own best interests.    Frequently, the public debate over the those problems which occur in poverty-ridden urban environments is presented as if the inhabitants were copies of Dostoevsky's underground man who differed mainly in that they frequently had less education and more pigment in their skin. That is to say, although there are valid comparisons that can be drawn between the Underground Man and the inhabitants of west Baltimore who are so vividly depicted in The Corner, there are also important differences that make any claim of strict equality between a Russian intellectual from the nineteenth century and a 20th-century tout or slinger an absurd caricature. Moreover, the intent of portraying inner-city residents as Underground Men and Women is, frequently, to blame these people for all of their own problems, something t... ...and we may be in for another string of disappointing years in the War on Poverty and the War on Drugs.    Works Cited and Consulted: Dostoevsky, Fyodor. (1864) Notes from Underground. Trans. Jessie Coulson. Middlesex, England: Penguin Books. Hacker, Andrew. (1998) Two Nations: Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal. In Reading Between the Lines: Toward an Understanding of Current Social Problems. Ed Amanda Konradi and Martha Schmidt. London: Mayfield Publishing Company. Simon, David & Burns, Edward. (1993) The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood. New York: Broadway Books. Wilson, William Julius. (1998) "Ghetto-Related Behavior and the Structure of Opportunity" in Reading Between the Lines: Toward an Understanding of Current Social Problems. Ed Amanda Konradi and Martha Schmidt. London: Mayfield Publishing Company.

Natural Order and Phenomena in Shakespeares Macbeth Essay -- Macbeth 2

"Is 't night's predominance or the day's shame / That darkness does the face of Earth entomb / When living light should kiss it?" (Macbeth 2.4.9-11). ¹ The reversal of night and day in William Shakespeare's Macbeth represents a reversal far more permanent and unnatural: that of a nation's hierarchy. When the title character makes the tragic decision to commit regicide and begin a dishonest ascent to kingship, the destruction of the natural order of Scotland commences, and this turn of events is reflected by the violent reaction of natural phenomena in the country. William Shakespeare, as an author contracted by King James I, sought to preserve a conservative monarchical system, promote the philosophy of the Divine Right of Kings, and please his patron through Macbeth: Pairing Macbeth's murder of Scotland's King Duncan with a series of unnatural events, Shakespeare illustrates to audiences the severity of such a crime and the displeasure of nature and God with its perpetrator. The use of violent natural imagery in Macbeth solidifies a monarch's place as the divinely appointed leader of a nation by displaying God's consternation with Macbeth, embodying the interruption of a nation's natural hierarchy, striking terror into the hearts of those disloyal to their monarch, and portraying the witches as supernatural forces of evil upon Earth. In order to understand Macbeth's historical context, one must examine the political culture of the reign of King James I Stuart. James reigned over Scotland from 1567 to 1625 and England from 1603 to 1625, and was the first of a wave of monarchs claiming a divine right to rule (BBC). As the first ruler of a consolidated Kingdom of Great Britain, James issued public statements affirming his... ...ial conservatism and makes for interesting analysis. Just as an eclipse darkens the sun, regicide creates a series of events that reverses the natural order of a divine right monarchy, and William Shakespeare effectively illustrates this idea through the use of natural imagery in Macbeth. Works Cited "BBC - History - Historic Figures: James I and VI (1566 - 1625)." BBC History. BBC, 2011. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. . Kreis, Steven. "James I, Speeches to Parliament (1609)." The History Guide. 12 May 2004. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. . McDonald, Russ. The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare: an Introduction with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2001. Print. Shakespeare, William, and Sylan Barnet. Macbeth. New York: Signet Classics, 1998. Print. Natural Order and Phenomena in Shakespeare's Macbeth Essay -- Macbeth 2 "Is 't night's predominance or the day's shame / That darkness does the face of Earth entomb / When living light should kiss it?" (Macbeth 2.4.9-11). ¹ The reversal of night and day in William Shakespeare's Macbeth represents a reversal far more permanent and unnatural: that of a nation's hierarchy. When the title character makes the tragic decision to commit regicide and begin a dishonest ascent to kingship, the destruction of the natural order of Scotland commences, and this turn of events is reflected by the violent reaction of natural phenomena in the country. William Shakespeare, as an author contracted by King James I, sought to preserve a conservative monarchical system, promote the philosophy of the Divine Right of Kings, and please his patron through Macbeth: Pairing Macbeth's murder of Scotland's King Duncan with a series of unnatural events, Shakespeare illustrates to audiences the severity of such a crime and the displeasure of nature and God with its perpetrator. The use of violent natural imagery in Macbeth solidifies a monarch's place as the divinely appointed leader of a nation by displaying God's consternation with Macbeth, embodying the interruption of a nation's natural hierarchy, striking terror into the hearts of those disloyal to their monarch, and portraying the witches as supernatural forces of evil upon Earth. In order to understand Macbeth's historical context, one must examine the political culture of the reign of King James I Stuart. James reigned over Scotland from 1567 to 1625 and England from 1603 to 1625, and was the first of a wave of monarchs claiming a divine right to rule (BBC). As the first ruler of a consolidated Kingdom of Great Britain, James issued public statements affirming his... ...ial conservatism and makes for interesting analysis. Just as an eclipse darkens the sun, regicide creates a series of events that reverses the natural order of a divine right monarchy, and William Shakespeare effectively illustrates this idea through the use of natural imagery in Macbeth. Works Cited "BBC - History - Historic Figures: James I and VI (1566 - 1625)." BBC History. BBC, 2011. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. . Kreis, Steven. "James I, Speeches to Parliament (1609)." The History Guide. 12 May 2004. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. . McDonald, Russ. The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare: an Introduction with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2001. Print. Shakespeare, William, and Sylan Barnet. Macbeth. New York: Signet Classics, 1998. Print.

Education for Learners with Special Needs: Introduction to Organization and Planning Essay

In 1990, statistics showed that there were well over 43 million Americans with one or more physical or mental disabilities (Dixon, Kruse, & van Horn, 2003). Historically, society has isolated and segregated these individuals. After the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and despite numerous laws and civil rights acts, discrimination against individuals with disabilities continues to be a serious social problem. This lecture briefly discusses the history of the laws and civil rights acts pertaining to Americans with disabilities i. e., how the laws and civil rights acts are being applied to learning in the educational system. Historical Factors That Shaped Special Education Today In 1975, Congress passed the Education of All Handicapped Children Act, now codified as the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004. When the Education of All Handicapped Children Act went into effect October of 1977 (after the regulations were finalized), it guaranteed a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for all special education children and youth between the ages of 3 and 21. The numerous amendments to Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990 expanded incentives for early intervention, preschool special education programs, and transition programs. Currently, IDEA (2004) supports efforts through several programs to provide coordinated service delivery systems for children with disabilities from birth through age 5. The two major programs serving this population are the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities and the Preschool Grants Program (ages 3 through 5). The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 1997) additionally established the Handicapped Infants and Toddlers Program for children from birth to their 3rd birthday. In the 1990s, Congress passed two important public laws. The first was the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the other was IDEA of 1990. The premise of these laws was to guarantee civil rights for all persons with disabilities. The aim of ADA was to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, and accommodations (Henderson, 2000). Today this law includes persons of any age having a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more of life’s major functions. These impairments include communicable diseases; health conditions such as diabetes and arthritis; severe asthma or allergies; mental health and behavioral needs; attention deficit disorder; and other physical disabilities. IDEA (1990) not only changed the name of the Education of All Handicapped Children Act to Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, it also changed the word handicapped to disabled. The amendments to IDEA of 1990 guaranteed all children with disabilities available and accessible free appropriate public education designed to meet the needs of students with special needs. The definition of special education was also expanded to include instruction carried out in the classroom, at home, in hospitals and institutions, and other settings. Related services are provided based on the needs of the special education student to benefit from instruction. In 1997, IDEA was amended once again. The amendment strengthened the academic expectations and accountability of children with disabilities. It also bridged the gap between the curricula delivered to children in regular classrooms and the curricula delivered to children in special day classes, with greater emphasis placed on the inclusion of the disabled child in the regular classroom (Hawking, 2004). Organization The category of learning disabilities is a large one, incorporating many diverse types of disabilities. IDEA (2004) defines specific learning disability as: A disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in a deficient ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. This term includes such conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. This term does not include children who have learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities; intellectual disability; or environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage (Knoblauch & Sorenson, 1998). Least Restrictive Environment Students with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment (LRE). LRE focuses on the degree of integration with nondisabled peers. Least restrictive includes students from a full-time regular education classroom with a consultant services specialist, to students who are home- or hospital-bound, based on their severity of needs. Most students with LD are serviced in the teacher consultant model, push-in model, co-teaching model, pull-out model, learning center, or special day class. Planning Planning for special education begins with the individualized education plan (IEP) team. The IEP team is composed of parents, school nurse, school psychologist, regular education teacher, special education, and others invited by the school and/or parents to participate. The goal of the IEP, according to the National Information Center for Children and Youth With Disabilities (NICHCY, 1996), is to have a variety of individuals who are knowledgeable about the students and their evaluation and placement options. Conclusion. Many laws and litigations have shaped special education, as we know it today. The process of identification and placement has changed over the years and will continue to evolve as parents advocate for the rights of their children. Most students with LD are serviced in the regular classroom with some degree of support, whether it is consultation or pull-out. The IEP team decides the best services for each child on an individual basis.

Managing Diversity in Global Companies

When a firm starts to function internationally, an understanding of culture and its impact on behavior, particularly management behavior and practices, becomes essential. Very often, people experience difficulties when they have to work in another culture because peoples’ world views and mental programs are different in different cultures. Culture has been called â€Å"the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes one human group from another† (Hofstede, 1980). Thus, the objectives of managing diversity in organizations emphasize the appreciation of differences in creating a setting where everyone feels valued and accepted. These objectives are: 1.) To monitor an organization's success or progress in managing diversity by organizational surveys of attitudes and perceptions, among other means. 2.) To create and shape the firm’s common set of values that will strengthen ties with customers, enhance recruitment, and the like 3.) To resist the fear of change in the organization itself and resist the discomfort of differences among the individuals in the organization. Even though there may be real economic benefits to expanding the world view of executives and corporations, developing recognition of the existence and benefits of diversity in global management does not come easily to US managers, who often have less exposure to multicultural realities in their workplace compared to their European or Asian counterparts. At present, most companies remain largely indifferent to changing corporate America's predominantly white status quo. But gradually, it is reassuring to know that some 300 or so companies that are aggressively pursuing diversity initiatives. They include companies such as General Motors and Starwood Hotels that have excelled at seeking out and doing business with black suppliers, many of which are represented on the Black Enterprise Best Companies for Diversity list of the nation's largest black-owned companies. To make the BE Best Companies for Diversity list, a company must demonstrate significant representation of African Americans and other ethnic minorities in four key areas: corporate procurement, corporate boards, senior management, and the total workforce. Others, such as Xerox Corp. and FedEx Express, are among the very best at bringing talented people of color into the senior management ranks of their companies, while PG&E and Marriott International are among those that have excelled at African American board representation. And when it comes to fostering diversity, corporations such as McDonald's Corp. and Verizon are old hands (Black Enterprise, July 2005). However, when companies decide to venture in the global arena, it is significant that the manager is reminded that the first imperative for effectively managing cultural diversity is cultural sensitivity. In fact, according to Clark (1987), one of the most recognized global brands, Coca-Cola, attribute their success to the ability of their people to hold and to understand the following perspectives simultaneously: Their corporate culture. The culture of their brand. The culture of the people to whom they market the brand. When global firms, small as well as large, service as well as manufacturing, have workforces that are distributed broadly across continents, and increasingly in emerging markets of the world. They include people from many countries and cultures, speaking many languages and educated in very different systems. The challenge for diversity for them would be twice as difficult. Thus, to manage diversity, domestically or globally, Laurent (1986) recommended espousing modern human resource strategy that requires these minimal orientations: An explicit recognition by headquarters that its own way of managing reflects the home culture values and assumptions. An explicit recognition by headquarters that foreign subsidiaries may have different ways of managing people, which may be more effective. A willingness to acknowledge cultural differences, and to take steps to make them discussible and, thus, usable. A commitment to the belief that more creative and effective ways of managing people can be developed as a result of cross-cultural learning. As companies continue to expand worldwide, human resource leaders are finding that a one-size-fits-all global solution to promote diversity that does not exist. According to Kurt Fischer, Vice President Business HR. and Diversity Officer of Corning Incorporated, HR managers often find that basic HR functions–compensations. benefits, staffing – no longer support their company’s business strategy. Leaders today are faced with the challenge of rethinking and restructuring how they will deliver HR services – and on a global basis. He suggested transforming HR globally through Centre of Excellence Approach (Stopper, 2003). According to Fischer, the Centre of Excellence approach provides content experts within the HR organization who focus on meeting strategic business needs. For example, a company's HR functions may be aligned with its businesses on paper but not in practice. This disconnect can be addressed through a Centre of Excellence approach, which provides content experts within the HR organization who focus on meeting strategic business needs. These experts serve as consultants to corporate business divisions and develop customised HR products and services to support business issues. For the Centre of Excellence approach to be effective, it should map to three levels of HR transformation: strategic, operational, and foundational. On the strategic level, HR leaders must work to define key HR objectives and a new value proposition with their client business divisions–in effect, changing HR’s positioning in the organization. A non-threatening way to accomplish this task is to participate with business divisions in developing their annual business strategy, and then craft an HR strategy to help each division meet its business goals. HR leaders must transform the organization's HR foundation, addressing core â€Å"people† elements of its change. Flexible networks of HR staff should be established to work cooperatively toward shared workforce management goals. A formalized HR reporting and organizational relationship system should be developed, and key HR performance requirements, accountabilities, and competencies defined. This right mixture of diversity is said to provide a wide-array of solutions to various problems and situations. On the other hand, it is also a venue for introducing conflict and disagreement. As the intense global competition zooms in largely on knowledge, creativity, and human talent, multinational firms are finding it more important to make full use of their entire workforce, tapping the creative energy and talents of all their employees. Their task is to find ways of succeeding not in spite of a diverse workforce, but because of it. At the same time, consistency is more important than ever. The integration of activities calls for close communication and reliable interaction, whereas the presence of global customers requires a single integrated approach to product delivery.   In view of this, Beamish et al. (2003) deemed that striving for consistency and fostering diversity is a continual process. There is no final resting point where a firm attains high consistency and high diversity once and for all. When managers cannot grasp consistency and diversity in a single step; they have to continually improve both. Thus, the actual challenge for global firms lies in their thrust for consistency and then their emphasis for diversity; this is also in consideration of their commonalities and deriving the full benefits from their differences. Works Cited Beamish, Paul W., Morrison, Allen J., Inkpen, Andrew & Rosenzweig, Philip M.   International Management: Text and Cases, (5th ed.), New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2003. Black Enterprise. The 30 Best Companies for Diversity: When it Comes to Minority Representation, These Corporations Mean Business. Earl G. Graves Publishing Co., Inc. 35.12 (July 2005): 112. Clarke, Jr., Harold F. â€Å"Consumer and Corporate Values: Yet Another View on Global Marketing,† International Journal of Advertising 6, (1987): 29–42. Hofstede, Geert. Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values, Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1980. Hunt, James G., Schermerhorn, J. R. Jr., and Osborn, R. N. Organizational Behavior, 8th edition, New York:   John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2003. Laurent, Andre. â€Å"The Cross-Cultural Puzzle of International Human Resource Management,† Human Resource Management, 25.1, (Spring 1986): 91–102. Stopper, W. G. Current Practices. Human Resource Planning, 26.2 (2003): 5.   

Impact Of Climate Change On Insurance

Change in clime is emerging up as a new type of issue in the security facet because of the manner it affects both the life and the wellbeing of homo ‘s in a extremely interconnected and delicate universe. ( Evans, 1994, 107-128 ) Changing clime is going a menace to the basic public assistance and survival demands of worlds across the Earth, including the production of nutrient, wellness, entree to H2O and the use of land. Environmental want lifting from different sorts of economical activities of worlds has increased the strength and frequence of natural catastrophes throughout the universe. Around the universe, there has ever been natural development in the conditions and clime events. In fact, the insurance companies have become experts in patterning the black hazards which has now become an integrated instrument in the insurance industry. This has helped a figure of concerns to digest the losingss from unexpected natural catastrophes without of import defaults. This has now led to the fact that insurance companies have become more refined in analysing, managing and understanding their recent hazards because of their natural catastrophes around the universe. Many of the companies in United Kingdom are observed to be bettering in pull offing and measuring their ways of covering with the hereafter tendencies and hazards of the industry. As a figure of UK insurance companies have started to observe it, depending on their old conditions conditions and forms for be aftering out schemes for future. For this, they must place the chance of losingss and additions related to endure conditions. The impact of clime alteration is on a really broad scope from increased sum of hurricanes, fires and inundations to wellness and life acquiring affected by altering forms of hot and cold conditions. ( Evans, 1994, 107-128 ) Physical impacts ‘ consequence on insurance companies: Companies of insurance and reinsurance are likely to confront the strong impact of the alterations in clime more than other parts of the fiscal concerns. There are a figure of illustrations where it is seen that that how highly upwind status can impact the insurance companies, the authorities and the sectors at catchers. Whilst there are illustrations of how the conditions alterations are impacting the insurance industry because of the flexibleness of the insurance sector, in other ways it is rather good positioned in accommodating the alterations in conditions events and forms. ( David, 2007, 28-38 ) Menace of clime alteration for insurance industry: The chief menace that is confronting the insurance industry is climate alteration. This menace affects both belongings and casualty insurance that the insurance people. Another concern: the two sectors will hold to accommodate to demographic alteration that is looming. This emerges from a survey by Ernst & A ; Young, in coaction with Oxford Analytica. Ernst & A ; Young has compiled a top 10 list of menaces that will face insurance companies after questioning 20 industry leaders worldwide. Harmonizing to Ernst & A ; Young, clime alteration tops the list because planetary heating is altering the clime and increases the likeliness of claims originating from inundations, hurricanes and other natural phenomena. â€Å" I ‘m non certain the industry is poised to get by with clime alteration, warned Tom Kornya, a spouse at Ernst & A ; Young, in an interview with Insurance Journal. Five old ages ago, this hazard was non even on the list. â€Å" Mr. Kornya adds that non merely the sector of harm insurance that will be affected by clime alteration, life insurance should besides cover with it sooner or later. Damage will come to insurance when clime alteration will ensue in air current storms and inundations. In life insurance, the effects will be gradual. With temperatures that may alter, life insurance companies will confront new jobs in wellness and mortality. So there could be different types of losingss. â€Å" The underwriting of these merchandises is dining and no 1 has yet measured that cause clime alteration. The success of the industry will travel through the development of advanced merchandises, which will confront great uncertainness, such as typing velocity and badness of clime alteration, â€Å" he said. The 2nd hazard that the industry faces is the demographic alteration with the reaching of the babe boomers retire, ensuing in new demands. Insurance companies would be under great force per unit area, they will necessitate to replace authoritiess. ( Rober, 2010, 34-33 ) In add-on to the force per unit area generated by this new function, insurance companies will besides cover than their rivals. â€Å" Banks, common fund companies and all fiscal establishments will fight to acquire the same dollar. There is a hazard at that place excessively. Insurance companies must stay advanced with their merchandises to maintain the advantage, â€Å" says Kornya. ( Rober, 2010, 34-33 ) â€Å" The environment in which insurance companies and pattern is invariably altering rapidly, † said Tom Kornya. We find that consumers are looking for simple, low cost merchandises and others who want more complex merchandises that are besides more expensive. A company that will non hold a multichannel entree could fall into the background if it does non utilize Internet, media and telephone. â€Å" The last two menaces on the list of the top 10 hazards of Ernst & A ; Young are the legal uncertainnesss and the possibility of geopolitical or macroeconomic perturbations. In the first instance, answerability and reform in footings of offense could take to fiscal losingss. For the 2nd, the house says that the menace of a terrible fiscal crisis due to derived functions and hedge financess could be damaging to the industry. Opportunities for insurance: Climate alteration nowadayss hazards but besides chances. The possible chances created by the effects of a altering clime may necessitate fostering through the dedication of attending and resources. Too frequently, intelligence coverage portrays climate alteration as a doom-and-gloom narrative of impending catastrophe. Surely, many of the possible impacts of clime alteration are likely to negatively impact us, and we must turn to them, but we should non disregard the possible chances that a altering clime could make in portion by proactively accommodating to them. Some economic sectors and concerns may make better because of the effects of clime alteration, and they should seek to place those new economic chances and put in prosecuting them. Turning back to the illustration the reduced trust on winter roads due to warmer mean temperatures disrupts supply ironss and increases costs for the excavation companies runing in the part. ( David, 2007, 28-38 ) . â€Å" It is a hazard for insurance companies, but besides a great chance, says Tom Kornya. There will be a great demand for pension merchandises. Baby boomers look for low-cost merchandises that generate gross. By cons, debate the function of authorities in the pension is non really advanced. Insurance companies will be required to take this topographic point and this is a new hazard to which they are unaccustomed. â€Å" Financing and advisory Companies in carbon-intensive sectors are already seeking finance to assist them diminish nursery gas emanations. In the populace sphere, big amounts of capital will be needed in the coming decennaries to develop, modify and regenerate cardinal energy, transit and inundation defence substructure across the universe. Climate alteration may look to be a slow burn issue for the fiscal sector, but companies would be wise to give it important attending, as much for the emerging tops of altering demand as for protecting themselves against the eroding of value in the long term. Hedging and trading The demand from the industry is increasing for a figure of hazard transportation instruments in order to protect the companies against the addition in the monetary values of energy, the altering forms of conditions and the likely failure of current freshly introduced engineerings. The happening of C among the trade goods that are tradable has grown higher to complex merchandises that are get downing to draw a big figure of fiscal organisations and let some farther misdemeanor and development of the merchandises. Consumer grosss The consciousness spread about the green issues encourages growing in socially responsible investings by the consumers and organisations likewise. Even though, the market for mortgages, insurance and loans that give wages to low C behavior is right now less, it may increase rapidly. Similarly, the increased consciousness of windstorms and inundations has started to increase the desire of clients who are at hazard for the belongings and casualty insurance. Deductions: There are a figure of activities that the insurance industry can make in order to better their apprehension of the impact and affects of alteration in clime, assist the society and authorities to understand in a better manner and fix for the hazards involved in the development in fire-prone or coastal countries and do points that could protect their clients from the harm induced by the climatic alteration. Following are some of the deductions in order to cut down the negative impact of the clime alteration on the insurance industry: ( Evans, 1994, 107-128 ) Most of the climatic scientists agree that the conditions conditions in future are most likely to differ that the old conditions conditions. Therefore, it will be reasonable for the insurance companies to understand in a better manner, what will be the hereafter if the anticipations of the scientists are true. Hazard theoretical accounts can be developed on the footing of these anticipations with the aid of expertness. We can besides set more possible for the research and surveies as they will supply more cognition and analytical capacity. It will besides assist in enabling the insurance companies to happen the concealed markets and new chances for their merchandises along with the hazard direction and educating consumers. ( Rober, 2010, 34-33 ) Work with the scientists in order to raise the economic relevance and accurateness for the climatic alteration mold. Disclose and acknowledge the hazards of climatic alteration in one-year security filings and by other concern communications. Should take a practical attack in order to act upon the planning and development of land usage, in fraction as most of the expected rise in the losingss are stemming out from the black events that could be prevented by good spacial planning. There are a figure of stairss that could be taken: 1 ) maintain the valuable belongings out of the hazard parts and 2 ) grant both the economic and environmental benefits.