Wednesday, November 27, 2019

of mice and man essays

of mice and man essays The book that I have read that has really stayed with me is Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I really enjoyed reading it which is unusual because I usualy don't enjoy reading to much. There was something about George and Lennie's friendship that really made me think. Seeing how they were and how they shared life was really intresting. George didn't have to bother with Lennie, he could have abandoned him and gone on his own way. But he did not do that, he stayed with Lennie watching over him almost like a parent to a child. Even though Lennie always got Georege in trouble, George never stoped loving him and always stood by him. The friendship they shared went beyond what was transparent they each shared a dream and both knew they ment the world to each other. I felt that if these totaly different people could get along and look out for each other, why can't we get along with people who are different than us. They made me realize that I could learn something from how to treat people who are differnt than me. What I also liked about it was the way they never stopped trying to reach their dream. This made me think that if they could work hard for there dream why can't I. It showed me that it does not matter were you come from or what you do, it is okay to dream and work as hard as you can to reach For all it shows for friendship and loyalty it also shows how sometimes you have to do things you never thought you would do. For example in the end when George is forced to shoot Lennie in the head you would never have thought he would do that, but you can see that under the circumstances he had no other choice. He only had two choices let the other people get to him first and watch them torture Lennie while he died a long horrible death or do it himself and get it over quick were Lennie did not know what hit him. This is also t...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Terms of Arithmetic and Math in Spanish

Terms of Arithmetic and Math in Spanish You can talk about math in Spanish by learning a few basic terms. Many of the words are ones you already may know from other contexts. Spanish Terms of Arithmetic Here are the words for the simple mathematical functions and how theyre used with numbers: Addition (Suma):  Dos ms tres son cinco. (Two plus three is five.) Note that in other contexts, ms is usually an adverb. Subtraction (Resta):  Cinco menos cuatro son uno. (Five minus four is one.) Multiplication (Multiplicacià ³n):  Tres por cuatro son doce. (Three times four is twelve.) In other contexts, por is a common preposition. Division (Divisià ³n):  Doce dividido entre cuatro son tres. (Twelve divided by four is three.) Doce dividido por cuatro son tres. (Twelve divided by four is three.) Entre is another common preposition. Note that all of these sentences use the verb son, which is plural, in contrast with the singular verb is of English. It is also possible to use es or  the phrase es igual a (is equal to). Other Mathematical Terms Here are some less common mathematical terms: el cuadrado de - the square ofel cubo de - the cube ofecuacià ³n - equationelevado a la enà ©sima potencia - raised to the nth powerfuncià ³n - functionnà ºmero imaginario - imaginary numberpromedio - average, meanquebrado, fraccià ³n - fractionraà ­z cuadrada - square rootraà ­z cà ºbica - cube root Sample Sentences Solo un idiota que no sabe que dos ms dos son  cuatro le creerà ­a. (Only an idiot who doesnt know that two plus two equals four would believe him.) Una fraccià ³n es un nà ºmero  que se obtiene de dividir un entero en partes iguales. (A fraction is a number that is obtained by dividing a whole number into equal parts.) Pi se obtiene al dividir la circunferencia de un cà ­rculo del dimetro. (Pi is obtained by dividing the circumference of a circle by the diameter.) El triple de un nà ºmero menos el doble del mismo nà ºmero son ese nà ºmero. (Three times a number minus two times that number is that number.) Una funcià ³n es como una mquina: tiene una entrada y una salida. (A function is like a machine: It has an input and an output.) Una ecuacià ³n es una igualdad matemtica entre dos expresiones matemticas. (An equation is an equality between two mathematical expressions.) La ciudad est dividida en dos partes iguales. (The city is divided into two equal parts.)  ¿Cul es el resultado de dividir 20 por 0.5? (What is the quotient of 20 divided by 0.5?) El cuadrado de un nà ºmero menos el doble del mismo nà ºmero son 48.  ¿Cul es ese nà ºmero? (The square root of a number minus double the same number is 48. What is that number?) El promedio de edad de los estudiantes es de 25 aà ±os. (The average age of the students is 25.) La divisià ³n entre cero es una indeterminacià ³n. Asà ­Ã‚  la expresià ³n 1/0 carece de sentio. (Division by zero yields an indeterminable number. Thus the expression 1/0 doesnt make sense.) Los nà ºmeros imaginarios pueden describirse como el producto de un nà ºmero real por la unidad imaginaria i, en donde i denota la raà ­z cuadrada de -1. (Imaginary numbers can be described as the product of a real number by the imaginary unit i, where  i denotes the square root of -1.)

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Footnotes in Financial Statements Research Paper

Footnotes in Financial Statements - Research Paper Example The last section of the financial statements consists of the footnotes and consists of information such as the policies and methodologies used in the preparation of the financial statement. In the simplest sense, the information in the footnotes is an extension of financial statement. It contains quality information that might be useful in understanding the financial position of the company. The footnotes can be divided into two section based on the content in it. One is about the accounting methodologies that are used in the preparation of the report. Second is the detailed explanation of the financial and operational reports. The information about the accounting policies of a company is identified and elaborately explained in the first section. There are numerous parts to this section that addresses different aspects such as inventory, revenue, etc. The policies with respect to these different aspects are discussed in this section. The determination of value of these different aspects is also discussed in this section(Tracy, 2009). There are numerous aspects of a business that cannot be easily understood such as when a company books a sale or revenue determination process. The understanding of these processes is very important to understand the information provided in the report. The information about these processes, mainly the revenue section, is provided in the footnotes. The revenue recognition and revenue determination process is addressed in the footnotes of a financial report. Hence the understanding of such methodologies and policies is only possible with the help of the information in the footnotes. The information in the footnotes is very valuable from an investor’s perspective as it can provide valuable information about the financial structure of the company. Facts that cannot be easily grasped from the main report can be understood by analyzing the accounting methods used. The analysis and comparison of the accounting

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Assignment 6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Assignment 6 - Essay Example With regards to the case study the administrators of the district schools had to demonstrate how their students were performing by use of evaluation. This clearly shows that evaluation is an important educational management tool (Wiles & Bondi, 2004). The case studies tend to describe in detail the school level based program implementation as well as the evaluation process. With regards to the evaluation process, stages of how it was conducted are clearly outlined and the school administrators that took part in shaping up the process. Evaluation was used in the district schools in order to influence the decision making as well as improve the schools’ operations. Most of the administrators in the schools and districts were given a proposed framework that was meant to guide them in their activities. Based on the case studies, the proposed frameworks simply implies that evaluation is the process of producing information that ,is mainly used to make decisions about the on-going school programs (Wiles & Bondi, 2004). With regards to the case study, the user survey that was conducted in the district schools was meant to irradiate the importance of the evaluation process from the user’s perception. The areas that were looked at in the survey were: the view of the school program, the evaluation stages, the use of the evaluation information, the purpose of the process and the conditions under which the user was operating. Based on the study, the principal, school administrator and also some staff members were interviewed about their views on significant school programs and about the contributions that had been made by the use of evaluation. The user survey was meant to improve the school operations in the future based on the findings (Wiles & Bondi, 2004). Based on the studies, evaluation reporting simply encompasses timing and frequency. The case studies indicate that the timing and frequency that the school administrators gave out the evaluation reports

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Ri Paper For Internal Circulation Only Raffles Institution 2012 Essay Example for Free

Ri Paper For Internal Circulation Only Raffles Institution 2012 Essay Passage 1 1. What is the writer hoping to emphasise by italicising ‘does not’ and ‘cannot’ in line 6? [1] Lifted â€Å"Just because money does not buy happiness does not mean money cannot buy happiness,† says Elizabeth Dunn, a social psychologist and assistant professor at the University of British Columbia. Paraphrased The author hopes to emphasise †¦ (the contrast / difference between) what money often fails to do but actually has the potential to achieve. {MUST attempt to explain ‘does not’ and ‘cannot’. Merely saying that there is a difference/contrast is stating the obvious. E.g. ‘Does not’ is different from ‘cannot’. = 0m.} 1 2. Using your own words as far as possible, explain how we use money wrongly (line 8). [2] Lifted a. we tend to value GOODS over experiences, b. OURSELVES over others, Paraphrased a. People tend to think that commodities/things {must be tangible} are more important than experiences, b. People value themselves over others/self-centred†¦ OR spend on themselves rather than others, c. THINGS over people. c. People prefer spending on objects rather than people. d. [Inferred] We are spending on temporary pursuits and cravings that tend to disappear over time. {MUST capture the comparison (the reason it is wrong is because the preference is wrong). Need not follow the sequence in the answer scheme.} 3-4 points – 2 marks 1-2 points – 1 mark d. †¦ the spending that makes us happy, it turns out, is often spending where the money vanishes and leaves something INEFFABLE in its place. 1 For Internal Circulation Only 3. Using your own words as far as possible, explain three reasons why experiences are ‘inherently more social’ (line 28) [3] Lifted As experiences are inherently more social – when we vacation or eat out or go to the movies it is usually with other people, †¦we are liable also to RELIVE the experience when we see those people again. And past experiences can work as a sort of social adhesive even with people who did not PARTICIPATE with us, providing stories and conversational fodder in a way that a new watch or speedboat rarely can. In addition, †¦experiences do not usually trigger the same sort of PERNICIOUS comparisons that material possessions do†¦ (lines 2835) Paraphrased a. [Inferred] Experiences naturally involve interaction with people and 1 b. We are likely to recall / revisit / reminisce / recollect the experience when we meet those people again. c. People can also bond with people who were not present / strangers / others (through the sharing of anecdotes/conversational material). 1 1 d. Experiences do not cause hurtful comparisons†¦ OR experiences do not make people envious/jealous/ [inferred] insecure. 1 {MUST capture negative connotation.} 1m per point for any 3 of the above points. Maximum 3m. 4. Why does the writer use ‘seeming’ in the phrase ‘even for seeming essentials like cars, houses and, clothes’ (line 41)? Use your own words as far as possible. [1] Lifted Paraphrased Much of the impetus for a. Such needs are (could be) perceived to be crucial for discretionary spending everyday life even though they are not. OR†¦ even for seeming essentials like cars, b. Suggests that the author has doubts about whether houses, and clothes†¦ these objects are crucial. OR†¦ OR We might MISTAKE that c. The  writer feels that it is wrong to associate happiness with material/luxury goods. motivation for happiness, or for having a better life, but it is driven by something else, a human {Answer MUST include the idea of doubt and the need to compete or to fit explanation. in. Denied: sarcasm, cynicism, mockery Accepted: sceptical/scepticism (on its own), sceptical about this.} 1 2 For Internal Circulation Only 5. Explain what the writer means by ‘Talking about money and happiness in the same breath, it turns out, is not necessarily a surrender to crass materialism.’ (lines 47-48) [2] Lifted Talking about money and happiness in the SAME BREATH, it turns out, is not necessarily a SURRENDER to CRASS materialism†¦ Paraphrased a. Connecting / Linking money and happiness†¦ OR Talking about / discussing money and happiness together†¦ b. is in reality not always giving in to†¦ OR a submission to†¦ OR being a victim of†¦ c. a vulgar desire for material goods. OR excessive/shallow desire for luxury goods. 3 points – 2 marks 1-2 points – 1 mark. Passage 2 6. If you are a single male driving around in the Ferrari with nobody next to you, it is a glaring omission. (lines 14-15) a) Why does the writer refer to the Ferrari in line 15? [1] Pt Lift (not possible) Other trophies simply do not bring the payoff one expects. Says Loewenstein, If you are a single male driving around in the Ferrari with nobody next to you, it is a glaring omission. Inference a. A Ferrari is an example of a ‘trophy’. b. A Ferrari is a well-known example of a highly desired product. c. A Ferrari signifies high status / wealth in society. {Any of the above will be accepted.} 1 3 For Internal Circulation Only b) What does ‘glaring omission’ (line 15) imply here? Pt Lift (not possible) Other trophies simply do not bring the payoff one expects. Says Loewenstein, If you are a single male driving around in the Ferrari with nobody next to you, it is a glaring omission. [2] Inference [Inferred from ‘glaring’] a. It is strongly believed/popularly accepted that/very obvious {‘Emphasise’ and ‘highlight’ are not accepted because the question is not asking for the writer’s intention.} [Inferred from ‘omission’, reinforcing stereotypes.] b. that driving a Ferrari/luxury sports car will attract women / ladies / females / companions / partners. {Direct paraphrase of the quote is not acceptable.} 1 1 7. ‘A life that was constantly happy was not a good life’ (lines 30-31). Explain why this is a paradox. [2] Pt Lift Part of the meaning of life is to have highs and lows. A life that was constantly happy was not a good life. Inference [Must capture the clash.] a. We aim/wish/expect for maximum/optimum happiness in our lives all the time AND any of the following [Must capture what ‘good life’ entails.] b. Yet, a good life is one that has ups and downs, not just ups OR c. Yet, a good life is one with adequate/comparable negative experiences, not just positive experiences OR d. Yet, it is not just happiness that is ‘good’ but the ‘bad’ (of lows) is also seen to be ‘good’ {The key idea here is to question the value of ‘constant’ as a ‘good’ thing.} Answers will get either 2 marks or 0 mark. 1 1 4 For Internal Circulation Only 8. Summary Using material from paragraphs 2 to 5, summarise what Matthew Herper has to say about why wealth does not bring a constant sense of joy, why happiness is overrated, and the relationship between money and happiness. Wealth does not bring a constant sense of joy as Pt a. Lift Re-phrase Part of the reason is that people are not people do not know how to use their money very good at FIGURING out what to do to get happiness with the money, (lines 6-7) OR {Main idea of a lack of knowledge people are incompetent when it comes to understanding how to use money about how to manage money.} People generally OVERESTIMATE (line they have unrealistic expectations of the 8) {Students must capture the idea that it is off the mark.} the amount of long-term PLEASURE they will get from a given object. (lines 89) The way people spend money can make them less happy. (lines 9-10) Other trophies simply do not bring the (line 14) b. c. d. e. (Enduring) joy / happiness / positive outcomes that they can derive from something/object. The way people spend money can make them less happy. Other possessions also may not deliver f. g. {Do not accept ‘prizes’ / ’plaques’ / ’rewards’} PAYOFF one expects. (line 14) the rewards / utility / happiness we hope / wish to have. The central problem is that the human Next, our brain is accustomed to brain becomes CONDITIONED to pleasant/happy/joyful experiences as positive experiences. (lines 15-16) OR You can get used to anything, be it hanging by your toenails or making millions of dollars a day. (lines 19-20) Getting a chunk of unexpected money registers as a good thing, but as time passes, the response WEARS off. (lines 16-18) Mood may be set more by heredity†¦ (line 20) h. with time, their effect on us weakens/dies off/subsides. i. Lastly, our happiness level may depend on our genes 5 For Internal Circulation Only j. k. than by anything else (line 20) But this raises another question. How IMPORTANT is happiness anyway? (line 23) People with chronic illnesses describe themselves as happy, but they would still pay large sums for better health. And although healthy individuals are not much happier than quadriplegics, they would pay large sums of money to keep the use of their limbs. (lines 23-26) Some of lifes most SATISFYING experiences (line 26) do not bring happiness. (line 27) Part of the meaning of life is to have highs (line 30) and lows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (line 30) A life that was CONSTANTLY happy (line 30) was not a GOOD life. (lines 30-31) more than other factors. OR predominantly / mostly [Inferred] However, the significance / necessity / crucial nature of happiness is still in doubt. [Inferred] Even supposedly happy people find happiness insufficient [Inferred] as they are willing to pay to ensure certain privileges†¦ OR health. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. Besides, some of the most gratifying/rewarding experiences do not make us happy. A meaningful life should also have its joyous and sad moments. A life that is always / perpetually happy is not fulfilling. t. u. {Do not award for point s in the absence of point r.} However, there may be at least one Yet, there remains a significant link IMPORTANT relationship between between money and happiness in that money and happiness (lines 31-32) †¦ happy people tend to have higher happy people earn more. incomes later on in their lives. (lines 3334) OR So, while money may not help make people happy, being happy may help them make money. (lines 34-35) Total: 21 points, 11 words that cannot be lifted Points ≠¥ 14 12 – 13 10 – 11 8–9 7 5–6 3–4 1–2 Marks 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 6 For Internal Circulation Only Wealth does not bring a constant sense of joy as†¦ people do not know how to use their money {a} and have unrealistic expectations {b} of the enduring joy that they can derive from something {c}. Other prized possessions {e} also may not deliver the rewards we wish to have {f}. Next, our brain is trained to be accustomed to pleasant experiences {g} as with time, their effect on us subsides {h}. However, the significance of happiness is still in doubt {k}. Even supposedly happy people find happiness insufficient {l} and are willing to pay to ensure their health {m}. Besides, some of the most gratifying experiences {n} do not make us happy {o}. A life that is always happy {r} is also not fulfilling {s}. Yet, there remains a significant link {t} between money and happiness – happy people earn more {u}. (16 points, 116 words) Vocabulary: 9. Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage. You may write your answer in one word or a short phrase. Passage 1 Futility (line 3) noun Philosophers and gurus, holy books and self-help manuals have all warned of the futility of equating material gain with true well-being Answer should capture: ï‚ · Does not achieve purpose  OR lacks meaning ï‚ · Negative connotation Intriguing (line 8) adj The intriguing explanation for the poor wealth-to-happiness exchange rate is that the problem is not money, it is us. Answer should capture: ï‚ · Arousing intense curiosity OR very interesting ï‚ · Intensity 1 mark ï‚ · Hopelessness ï‚ · Uselessness ï‚ · Lack of purpose or meaning ï‚ · Efforts are in vain Accepted ï‚ · Ineffectiveness ï‚ · Meaningless ï‚ · Pointlessness 0 marks ï‚ · Wastage ï‚ · Worthless venture ï‚ · Failure ï‚ · Improbable ï‚ · Inability ï‚ · Foolishness ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Ability to arouse intense curiosity Fascinating Deeply/very interesting Appeal strongly To captivate Very interesting and unexpected Very interesting and surprising ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Capture interest Arouse curiosity Extremely interesting Thoughtprovoking ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Interesting {indication of intensity is not very apparent} Exciting Puzzling Ignorance Surprising Curious Intellectually stimulating 7 For Internal Circulation Only impetus (line 40) noun Much of the impetus for discretionary spending – even for seeming essentials like cars, houses, and clothes – comes from a desire to send certain signals about our buying power and our tastes. Answer should capture: ï‚ · The idea of a push or drive. Quell (line 45) verb And $5,000 worth of new stuff, or even $500,000 worth, is unlikely to permanently quell that need. Answer should capture: ï‚ · Suppressing. 1 mark ï‚ · (Sustained) drive ï‚ · Push ï‚ · Motivation ï‚ · A moving force ï‚ · Impulse ï‚ · Stimulus ï‚ · Boost Accepted ï‚ · Catalyst ï‚ · Thrust ï‚ · Spur ï‚ · Spark ï‚ · Trigger ï‚ · Incentive 0 marks ï‚ · Impulsive ï‚ · Penchant ï‚ · Impetuous ï‚ · Attack ï‚ · Assail ï‚ · Reason ï‚ · ï‚ · Subdue Suppress ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Quiet Satiate / Quench Satisfy Appease Fulfil (incidental / part / whole) Allay Pacify Assuage ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Vanquish / Defeat {wrong context} Stop / Halt / Cease Remove Overthrow / Overcome Repress Oppress Extinguish Destroy / Annihilate Kill Dispel Diminish Literally Figuratively Approximately {the idea of estimation, not accepted} Ostensibly Actually Effectually Basically Passage 2 Virtually (line 1) adverb Surveys have found virtually the same level of happiness between the very rich individuals on the Forbes 400 and the Maasai herdsmen of East Africa. Answer should capture: ï‚ · For the most part. ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Nearly; Practically; Almost completely Almost wholly Almost entirely For the most part Just about ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Almost Effectively Essentially ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · 8 For Internal Circulation Only 10. Application Question: Drake Bennett talks about how pro-social spending can lead to happiness while Matthew Herper argues that money does not lead to happiness. Which writer’s views do you find more persuasive? Discuss the relevance of the arguments presented in both passages to you and your own society. [8] ï‚ · ï‚ · Answers that refer to only material from one passage would not be awarded more than 3 marks Explanation/evaluation should not just be a paraphrase of authors’ opinions Possible points From Passage 1 Bennett 1 Extract For deep-seated psychological reasons, when it comes to spending money, we tend to value goods over experiences, ourselves over others, things over people. (lines 9-11) Possible explanations S’pore context Relevant : In a society that is economically driven more than anything else, this is not a surprise. This drive, whether marked by early economic migration, post-war rebuilding, separation from Malaysia or simply Government push, remains sustained, if not stronger. Material success is celebrated and sheer narcissistic consumption is validated by commercial as well as social media. Examples : 2011 SMU study – S’porean women are significantly more materialistic than their American counterparts. Relevance of 5 ‘C’ [cash, credit card, car, condo, country club] notations despite more than a decade of use Not so relevant: There is a rising trend of S’poreans spending on people rather than objects; in 2007, Finance Minister Tharman had indicated clear tax concessions for charity spending and to focus Singapore as a ‘philanthropy hub’. More people, not just the rich, are donating generous sums to their alumni schools, religious charities and other organizations catering to  specific demographics such as the elderly, physically disabled, terminally ill etc. There is also increase in charity through CSR, whether by global MNCs or S’pore GLCs. Of course, the real intention behind the generosity is debatable but as corporations form a substantial percentage in a small workforce, the evidence is mathematically there that ‘we, the management/employees of company X, Y, Z†¦ are altruistic and caring’. There is a rising trend of social entrepreneurs opening restaurants to help the less fortunate and former prisoners. 9 For Internal Circulation Only 2 †¦ higher â€Å"prosocial spending† – gifts for others and donations to charity – was indeed correlated with higher selfreported happiness. (lines 18-20) Relevant : well-known philanthropists such as popiah king Sam Goi, Elim Chew of 77th Street, remisier Peter Lim, Chinese Chamber of Commerce ex-president Chua Thian Poh, Mustaq Ahmad of Mustafa Centre etc have gone on record to say so on newspaper interviews. Hong Kong billionaire loves to donate to Singapore, especially for education charity, for the same purported reason. The education system also introduces students to prosocial spending. The persistence of students in doing charitable acts also suggests happiness and satisfaction obtained. Not so relevant: This is not a technical disagreement. While the actual amount on ‘pro-social spending’ could be higher, it is usually by a small group of uber-rich AND older persons. The majority of Singaporeans, especially youth, have gone on record in many academic surveys that high levels of nuanced selfish material consumption is more rewarding than engaging in others’ welfare. The intense hours and anxiety spent on studying/work necessarily need to see material purchases as a direct reward. Perhaps this material reward can THEN lead to social happiness by the envy/admiration they evoke – e.g. for a Prada handbag, for the possession of a prized virtual weapon for a Diablo 3 PC online game character. This could be an unintended consequence of a meritocratic society. Most parents would also largely spend on their children and obtain great satisfaction. 3 money spent on experiences – vacations or theatre tickets or meals out – makes you happier than money spent on material goods. (lines 21-23) Relevant: Points to support this will  be relatively difficult based on available Singapore studies. Typically, Singaporeans vacationing will covet purchases from overseas; theatre ticket purchases locally may indicate a need to belong to a certain materially privileged crowd rather than the sheer love of the arts. Nevertheless, any qualified evidence is welcome to support agreement however the difficulty is in establishing the level of happiness obtained. Not so relevant: Typical youth population notes that playing World Of Warcraft or getting a new iPhone 4S is far more meaningful; middle-aged men and their toy figure collections; ladies of all ages on record saying that splurging on themselves, expensive cosmetic treatment more rewarding than anything else – refer to any Friday URBAN section of The Straits Times. As mentioned in earlier point, first the money has to be spent on material goods and THEN the experience related or shared can increase your happiness as a corollary. 4 As experiences are inherently more social †¦ we are liable also to relive the experience Relevant : the rise of alumni associations locally, aided by social media, have greatly increased networking; heritage and memorabilia gatherings are on the rise with 10 For Internal Circulation Only when we see those people again. And past experiences can work as a sort of social adhesive even with people who did not participate with us, providing stories and conversational fodder in a way that a new watch or speedboat rarely can 5 (lines 28-32) Talking about money and happiness in the same breath, it turns out, is not necessarily a surrender to crass materialism – it can also be a route to a new and more humane way to think about vitally important things like consumption, satisfaction, investment, and value. (lines 47-50) rich persons being key drivers behind these projects. Various hobby groups would also be relevant such as cycling clubs, dragon boating groups or cosplay groups. Not so relevant: There are hobby groups based on material goods such as car clubs or clubs for owners of toys. Material goods can also generate a sense of nostalgia. Relevant: SMU Board chairman Ho Kwon Ping and wife Claire Chiang regularly  promote pro-social spending and business; they are seen as new-age positive materialists and intellectuals. Christina Ong, boss of homegrown Club 21, is known for widespread charity outreach and growing her business, with equal pleasure. Not so relevant: For the majority of Singaporeans who lack such education or reflective practices, blatant monetary and property acquisition is the norm and only leads to a vicious cycle of debt, miscalculated risk-taking in investment etc From Passage 2 1 Extract People generally overestimate the amount of long-term pleasure they will get from a given object. Sometimes, Loewenstein notes, the way people spend their money can actually make them less happy. (lines 8-10) Possible explanations S’pore context Relevant: Just the consumer electronics industry here can attest to this; spending on upgrading of Apple smartphones from 3Gs to 4 to 4S; disposing of existing LCD for widescreen and 3D monitors, graphics cards in favour of new ones even though all are fully functional; rising number of secondhand computer parts shops is evidence of increasing technology shopping, which ultimately leaves one unhappy and insecure in the face of inability to keep up with the latest. While the tech spending may supposedly be mostly for males, the females display this ‘overestimation of long-term pleasure’ in copious fashion couture purchases and cosmetics. The increase in level of credit card debt is also an indication of less happiness as a result of overspending. Not to relevant: A basic level of income is necessary in Singapore to live a comfortable life. With a median household income of S$6000, anyone earning less would be hard pressed to live comfortably. In wired Singapore, having electronic goods is a necessity and can help attain more happiness in terms of education and interacting with peers. 2 The central problem is that the human brain becomes Relevant: Just looking at government financial decisions which affect the majority of the population after a while, 11 For Internal Circulation Only conditioned to positive experiences. Getting a chunk of unexpected money registers as a good thing, but as time passes, the response wears off. An expected paycheck does not bring any buzz at all  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and does not contribute to overall happiness. (lines 15-19) Not so relevant: Since the Singapore population composition keeps changing with addition of foreigners, for the majority of the new citizens, this buzz is sustained. As Singaporeans also travel more, they might be more aware of societies which are not as fortunate as Singapore. Relevant: raising a family is universally seen as rewarding; the Government keeps promoting childbearing YET almost the first twenty years of a local child causes much stress for parents – working mothers post-maternity leave and the perennial maid/mother/mother-in-law management; young couples griping about childcare and choice primary schools; until the child is in a choice pri school and moving on to a premier sec sch, the parents put themselves under great duress. There is growing feeling that work-life balance is impossible and people are focusing more on their careers. Not so relevant: Hard to convince for majority local context but there is evidence that a positive change in attitudes to raising children is present, thanks to religious organizations, pro-family policies, national movements e.g. DadsForLife!. There are people who are giving up their careers for the sake of their children. There is also a push for women to return to the workforce after raising their children initially. 4 †¦ happy people tend to have higher incomes later on in their lives. So, while money may not help make people happy, being happy may help them make money. (lines 33-35) Relevant: There are professional who have given up their careers to take up their passions such as opening restaurants and bakeries, and they are doing well. There is an increasing number of entrepreneurs who pursue their passions. The main issue here is that happiness is independent of money and they do not have any links. Not so relevant In 2012, S’pore ranks high in benchmarks of physical comforts – healthiest country in the world, richest country in the world BUT ranks 90th in Happiness Index. Almost the entire local labour force can be on record for having technically higher incomes through their lives but the cost of living never lets up. Singaporeans are not happy or not happy enough but they keep making money anyway. the public becomes numb to the government’s welltimed monetary handouts and utility bill/town council fee reductions; the public expects more consultative engagement for sustained happiness. Recent feedback from the public seems to suggest that people overlook what is good in Singapore and focus on only the negative in terms of healthcare,  transportation, housing, and standards of living. Possible reasons could be a lack of sufficient information about life in other societies and countries. 3 Some of lifes most satisfying experiences do not bring happiness. For instance, having children actually makes people less happy over the short term (lines 26-28) 12

Friday, November 15, 2019

America Needs More Government Programs to Pull Children Out of Poverty

The face of poverty is changing in the United States. When someone mentions that a person is living in poverty, we are inclined to think of a bum living on the street, eating at shelters, and using whatever money they have for alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Usually we visualize this person as being a middle-aged male with drab clothing and a long beard. This description may have fit the average person living in poverty or on the street a few years ago, but it is no longer a correct generalization. Children are the face of poverty in 2015. These children have little chance to rise up out of the lifestyle they are born into. Many of these children are born to teenage girls. The economic states of these mothers and their lifestyles many times put these children in a place of poverty at birth with little hope. The children as well as their parents are in need of assistance in order to stop the growing problem of child homelessness and poverty. There ar e many different opinions and ideas on how to deal with this problem and help these unfortunate children and their families. Unfortunately many of these programs are unsuccessful and do little to help while others are successful in combating the problem and really helping the children in need. First, I will describe the programs that have been ineffective and we must avoid. The first of these would be ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away. The problem is not going to go away. In fact, the numbers of poverty-stricken children are increasing rapidly. If we do not do anything to help these children, we could miss out on great scientists, future doctors, and many other contributions to society that these children are capable of making. Also, we have to remember that these children di... ...times it seems unfair that we are paying to support other people. It is expensive to try and care for all the poverty-stricken children, but it is something that is well worth the effort. We have to take the time to find out what works and w hat does not. After all, it is the future-our children- that we are trying to save. Works Cited Wood, David. "Effect of Child and Family Poverty on Child Health in the United States." Effect of Child and Family Poverty on Child Health in the United States. N.p., 14 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. Sources Consulted "11 Causes of Teen Homelessness." Do Something. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. "11 Facts About Homeless Teens." Do Something. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. Main, Thomas. "How to Think About Homelessness: Balancing Structural and Individual Causes." Springer Link. N.p., Jan. 1998. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Issues Surrounding the Trial Scene Within to Kill a Mockingbird Essay

This essay will identify issues outside of the primary theme of race that come to light during the court case in which Tom Robinson, a black man, is trialled and convicted for raping Mayella Ewell. Throughout the trial, significant action occurs both inside and outside the court room that draws attention to side-lined topics including the definition of courage, the loss of innocence, class relations, and expectation within society. To Kill A Mockingbird was set in the 1930’s, a turbulent decade characterised by struggles between world powers, racial prejudice and economic depression. The aftermath of the Wall Street Crash in 1929 affected America particularly badly, and by the winter of 1932 they were in the depths of the greatest economic depression in their history. These historical events are reflected in the novel by the division within Maycomb’s society according to wealth and class, with families such as the Ewell’s epitomising the term ‘white trash’ and positioning at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Furthermore, despite the American government’s abolition of slavery in 1848, racism was as strong as ever in the Southern States. The black people were forced into racial segregation in schools, public transport and churches. Stemming from this racial prejudice comes a level of expectation that different people in society believe they must adhere too as a result of the segregation and racial prejudice engrained into society. This is shadowed in the book by the minor character of Dolphus Raymond, a drunken white man deemed an outsider by societies norms. All of the action that takes place within To Kill A Mockingbird is concentrated in the fictional county of Maycomb, which can be seen as a microcosm dissecting important issues present in the wider Southern America. The trial in many ways is the most important and dramatic sequence in the novel, as although the trial targets Tom Robinson, in a metaphoric sense it is in fact the entire county of Maycomb that are on trial. Despite Tom’s conviction, the trial does show a small progression within Maycomb, with the jury taking such a long time to make their decision constituting a sign of positive advancement in racial relations, with Miss Maudie stating â€Å"it’s just a baby-step, but it’s a step. † This â€Å"step† is achieved through the books definition of courage, embodied through the character of Mrs Dubose, a ying old woman who embarks on the brave task of facing her addiction to morphine before reaching her end. According to Atticus, Mrs Dubose’s decision shows the possession of â€Å"real courage†¦ when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. † It is this attitude that foreshadows and fittingly describes Atticus’s own approach to the Tom Robinson case. It is clear in the novel that even before taking on Tom Robinson’s case, the lawyer knew that he would fail to acquit the accused of his charges because of the rigid prejudicial outlook innate within Maycomb’s inhabitants. Thomas Shaffer, argues that Atticus shows us precisely that what matters in professional ethics is character rather than moral principle which is highlighted by Atticus’s fights to prove Tom’s innocence to the community, even though he knows it will not be acted upon. While Atticus eventually loses the court case, it his courage and steely determination to see it through until the end that successfully reveals the injustice of a stratified society that confines the blacks to a â€Å"coloured balcony†. Furthermore, the involvement of the Ewell family in the trial also highlights issues of class relations within Maycomb County. The term â€Å"white trash† is a pejorative term particularly used in rural Southern America, to describe a collection of lower class people who live by degraded standards. The term suggests outcasts from a respectable society living on the fringes of the social order who are seen as dangerous because they may be of a criminal nature without respect for authority whether it be political, legal, or moral. The audience are aware from the beginning of the novel that the Ewell family epitomise â€Å"white trash† from Burrell Ewell’s refusal to go to school, and his ability to escape the legal system. Moreover, their home behind the town garbage dump in a tin-roofed cabin adheres to the characteristic of ‘living on the outside of town’ and highlights their social and physical segregation from the more respectable members of the community. Their position at the bottom of the social hierarchy is substantiated by Mayella Ewell’s section of the trial – the young girl believes that Atticus is trying to make a fool of her by labelling her as â€Å"Miss† conveying her lack of social skills as a result of her family’s failure to integrate into society. Moreover, the implication that Bob Ewell abuses his daughter creates a perception of him as being violent and criminal, two characteristics that are of course brought to light in the latter parts of the novel. Overall, this highlights that Maycomb County (and the wider South) are not just segregated by race, but also by class. The sad reality however, is that in the racist world of Maycomb, even the Ewell’s have the power to destroy an innocent man. This leads onto a further issue that is at stake throughout the trial: the threat posed to innocence by evil. This theme is revealed primarily through the characters of Tom Robinson and Jem Finch. The audience are made aware that Tom is an innocent man who has been wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit. This depicts the evil attack of social prejudice on an unoffending man, guilty only of the colour of his skin. Tom Robinson is not prepared for the evil that he encounters, and this consequently leads to his downfall. This concept links to the title of the book â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird†, which highlights that to destroy someone innocent purely for existing, is a sin. Furthermore, the trial also focuses around the loss of innocence of Jem and his movement into adulthood, linking to the Bildungsroman theme within the novel. The Bildungsroman genre is an example of â€Å"the coming of age† novel, and is evident in the novel from the children’s journey from ignorance to enlightenment. Hereby, Jem witnessing the harsh reality of life revealed by the trial is seen as a necessary growth point that his character must go through in order to reach maturity, summarising the transition from a perspective of childhood innocence, to a more adult perspective in which Jem has confronted evil and must incorporate it into his understanding of the world. This shift is apparent in the trial scene after Atticus reveals to the jury that Bob Ewell is a left-handed man, and that a left-handed man would be more likely to leave bruises on the right side of a girls face. Jem, still clinging to his youthful illusions about life working according to concepts of fairness, doesn’t understand that his father’s efforts will be in vain, commenting â€Å"We’ve got him. † After Tom is found to be guilty, Jem’s hopes are shattered as he cries over the injustice of the verdict. His emergence into a more adulthood perspective is highlighted by his conversation with Miss Maudie, where he reveals that he sed to think that the people of Maycomb were the best in the world, but having witnessed the trial, he doesn’t think so anymore. Ultimately, a final issue brought to light amidst the action of the trial, is the levels of expectation that people are pressured by as a result of the class and racial issues present in Maycomb. Dolphus Raymond’s attendance at the trial is accompanied by Jem’s description of his background – that he is a drunk who had several children by a black woman even though he was from a rich and respectable family. As the prosecution begins to question Tom Robinson, the action is diverted from the courtroom as Dill begins to cry resulting in Scout leading him outside where they encounter the mysterious character of Mr Raymond. It is revealed that he is in actual fact pretending to drink alcohol from the paper bag to provide the white people with an explanation for his lifestyle: â€Å"When I come to town†¦ if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whiskey—that’s why he won’t change his ways. He can’t help himself, that’s why he lives the way he does†. This highlights that Dolphus Raymond does care very much about what people think of him, and believes that by stereotyping himself as a drunk, the other members of Maycomb county will find his behaviour excusable. The significance of his character is to forefront the pressures that society’s norms exhume on those who wish to be different – Dolphus Raymond simply prefers black people to whites, just as the white community simply dislike blacks with no valid explanation. In conclusion, it is clear that many other relevant issues to the time period occupy the trial at the heart of To Kill A Mockingbird as well as simply racial prejudice.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Overview of the Social Costs of White-Collar Crime Essay

How much white collar crime actually exists in the society is determined by the organizational resources available to uncover, investigate, and prosecute it, and more generally, enforce what most experts already regard as inadequate laws aimed at its control. Increase rates of white-collar crime produced social costs that is rooted from individual professional employees which is later on promulgated to the rest of the organization and the society as a whole (Rosoff, Pontell, & Tillman 136-137). Social costs can be classified on either monetary or non-monetary level. Financial loss will surely impact those inside and outside the organization. In addition it can also be viewed that social costs of white collar crime may also be related with the economic costs (Rosoff, Pontell, & Tillman 95). It causes devastation to the entire community as compare to lone bank robbery victim. The impact last for many years since it is not only the money being stolen from the company but company services as well (Salinger 177). Victims are affected even for their entire life because they are deprived of their lifetime savings. Identity theft causes victims to be ridiculed by other people because they are misjudged for having criminal records and huge bank credit statements which they did not purchased. Thefts on the other hand commits something that violates not only the law but trust from other people as well. White collar crime damages social relationship. It loosens the morale of people and leads to ample disorganization (Salinger 190). A common white collar crime is tax evasion, which has a very specific effect: taxes are hiked for the poor, to cover for the costs that companies won’t cover. Increased economic hardship for the average citizen and consumer (Rosoff, Pontell, & Tillman 136-137). Crime increases the cost of doing business, and any such increase in business costs is ultimately passed on to the consumer through increased prices and decreased services. Social workers party are also formed as a sign of rebellion to unjust regulations within the company which results to more complex development in businesses (Rosoff, Pontell, & Tillman 252). Deliberately inadequate services and deficient products incur costs. Injury, illness, disability, and death with their attendant psychological suffering are all too common by-products of certain types of white collar crime. This service quality greatly affects the work efficiency of people since manpower is decreasing and may lead to worker’s death (Rosoff, Pontell, & Tillman 136-137). Totality of white collar crime results various social costs. Because workers are underpaid, has no/low insurance and are underprivileged, it has a domino effect that is passed on to other people until it consumes the whole society.

Friday, November 8, 2019

What Is Mental Health Essays

What Is Mental Health Essays What Is Mental Health Paper What Is Mental Health Paper Mental health is a state of well-being in which a person understands his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Both physical and mental health are the result of a complex interplay between many individual and environmental factors, including: * family history of illness and disease/genetics * lifestyle and health behaviours (e. g. , smoking, exercise, substance use) * levels of personal and workplace stress * exposure to toxins  * exposure to trauma * personal life circumstances and history * access to supports (e. g. , timely healthcare, social supports) * coping skills When the demands placed on someone exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health will be negatively affected. Two examples of common demands are: i) working long hours under difficult circumstances, and ii) caring for a chronically ill relative. Economic hardship, unemployment, underemployment and poverty also have the potential to harm mental health. What is mental illness? Mental illness is a recognized, medically diagnosable illness that results in the significant impairment of an individuals cognitive, affective or relational abilities. Mental disorders result from biological, developmental and/or psychosocial factors and can be managed using approaches comparable to those applied to physical disease (i. e. , prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation). What is psychological safety and health? The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines psychological as of, relating to, affecting, or arising in the mind. The concept of psychological safety involves preventing injury to the mental well-being of workers. A psychologically safe and healthy workplace is one that promotes workers mental well-being and does not harm employee mental health through negligent, reckless or intentional ways. For example, a psychologically safe workplace would be free of excessive fear or chronic anxiety. What is the difference between a mentally healthy workplace and a psychologically healthy workplace? Nothing psychologically healthy workplaces and mentally healthy workplaces both describe the same high-functioning, respectful and productive workplace. The term psychologically healthy workplace is often used when talking about preventing psychological injuries (e. g. stress-related emotional conditions resulting from real or imagined threats or injuries). The term mentally healthy workplace is often used within the context of mental health promotion and is viewed as a strategy used to reduce risk factors for developing mental illness. How do psychosocial risk factors in the workplace affect employee health? Workplaces have traditionally looked at workplace health from a strictly occupational health and safety perspective. To have a complete or comprehensive approach, workplaces should also consider measures that may impact the mental health of worker. There is strong evidence that certain features of the workplace can affect employees mental and physical health. These factors include demoralization, depressed mood, anxiety, burnout, etc. These factors increase the likelihood that an individual will experience increased stress, which in turn increases the likelihood of developing or worsening a mental disorder. Psychological health problems can range widely, from mild psychological difficulties such as low mood, sleep difficulties, or excessive worry to severe psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. Because milder psychological health problems are far more common in the workplace, they account for a larger percentage of the negative impacts on employees and employers. Mental distress that has not reached the level of a diagnosable mental disorder can still be a source of considerable suffering. It is possible that workplace factors may increase the likelihood of the occurrence of a mental disorder, make an existing disorder worse, and impede effective treatment and rehabilitation. On the other hand, a supportive work environment can reduce the onset, severity, impact and duration of a mental health disorder. See the OSH Answers Mental Health Psychosocial Risk Factors in the Workplace for more information.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free Essays on Early Theories Of Motivation

In the early theories of motivation there are three theories: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, McGregor’s Theories X and Y, and Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory. Although explanation of motivation has changed over the years, you should be familiar with these early theories for two reasons. The first reason is they represent the foundation from which contemporary motivation theories were developed. Secondly, practicing mangers continue to regularly use these theories and their terminology in explaining employee motivation. One of the early theories of motivation is the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory which is the best known theory of motivation. Abraham Maslow was a humanistic psychologist who proposed that within every person is a hierarchy of five needs. These five needs consist of physiological, safety, social, esteem, self-actualization needs explanation as follows: A physiological need is food, drink, shelter, sexual satisfaction and other physi cal requirements, Safety needs: security and protection from physical and emotional harm, as well as, assurance that physical needs will continue to be met, Social needs: affection, belongingness, acceptance, and friendship, Esteem needs: internal esteem factors such as self-respect autonomy, and achievement and external esteem factors such as status, recognition and attention, Self-actualization needs: growth, achieving ones potential and self-fulfillment, the drive to become what their capable of becoming. Maslow argued in terms of motivation that each level in the hierarchy must be substantially satisfied before the next is activated and that once a need is satisfied if no longer motivate behavior. Therefore, as each need is substantially satisfied, the next need becomes dominant. Understand from a viewpoint of motivation Maslow’s Theory proposed that although no need is ever fully satisfied. A substantially satisfied need will no longer motivate an individual. Accordin ... Free Essays on Early Theories Of Motivation Free Essays on Early Theories Of Motivation In the early theories of motivation there are three theories: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, McGregor’s Theories X and Y, and Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory. Although explanation of motivation has changed over the years, you should be familiar with these early theories for two reasons. The first reason is they represent the foundation from which contemporary motivation theories were developed. Secondly, practicing mangers continue to regularly use these theories and their terminology in explaining employee motivation. One of the early theories of motivation is the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory which is the best known theory of motivation. Abraham Maslow was a humanistic psychologist who proposed that within every person is a hierarchy of five needs. These five needs consist of physiological, safety, social, esteem, self-actualization needs explanation as follows: A physiological need is food, drink, shelter, sexual satisfaction and other physi cal requirements, Safety needs: security and protection from physical and emotional harm, as well as, assurance that physical needs will continue to be met, Social needs: affection, belongingness, acceptance, and friendship, Esteem needs: internal esteem factors such as self-respect autonomy, and achievement and external esteem factors such as status, recognition and attention, Self-actualization needs: growth, achieving ones potential and self-fulfillment, the drive to become what their capable of becoming. Maslow argued in terms of motivation that each level in the hierarchy must be substantially satisfied before the next is activated and that once a need is satisfied if no longer motivate behavior. Therefore, as each need is substantially satisfied, the next need becomes dominant. Understand from a viewpoint of motivation Maslow’s Theory proposed that although no need is ever fully satisfied. A substantially satisfied need will no longer motivate an individual. Accordin ...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

SUMMARIZED ARTICLE Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SUMMARIZED - Article Example The president told the media that he refused to rule out US action in Iraqi against the Sunni Islamic militia group who have spread out towards Baghdad and are threatening to divide the country and establish their own jihadist nation (Moon1). The stock market’s losses accelerated rapidly following president Obama’s comments, with industries and consumer discretionary sectors fronting the decline. The VIX, Wall Street fear meter, expanded to eight point three percent to end at 12.56% (Moon1). The Dow Jones Industrial mean dropped 109.69 points or 0.65%, to end at 16,734.19. The S&P 500 tumbled 13.78 points or 0.71% to 1,930.11 (Moon1). The Nasdaq composite slid 34.30 points or 0.79 percent to 4,297.63. The Dow reached an intraday low at 16,703.73 while the S&P and the Nasdaq fell to a session low at 1,925.78 and 4,284.528 respectively. Retail sales, in macroeconomic news, rose 0.3 percent in May, and almost half the growth rate that economists had projected. American’s new claims for unemployment grants rose unexpectedly in the previous week (Moon1). Despite both economic indicators being below expectations, neither was considered weak enough to change the opinion of bettering economic states and the market’s recent uptrend is still considered intact. Energy shares ranked among one of the recent few gainers. The S&P energy section index rose 0.3%. Oil costs hit nine-month highs on concerns that intensified violence in Iraq could interfere with oil supplies from the key OPEC exporter (Moon1). Major US Airlines’ shares dropped for the second day consecutively as oil prices increased. American Airline Group Inc, the world’s largest transporter, slid 4.9 percent to $40.2 while United Continental Holdings Inc slid 5.9 percent to $42.60 (Moon1). One of Nasdaq’s most active stocks, Geron Corporation, surged 21.2

Friday, November 1, 2019

Surveys in Measuring Flexible Employment in the UK Essay

Surveys in Measuring Flexible Employment in the UK - Essay Example A broad definition of 'atypical' employment is that adopted by Delsen (1991), who describes it as deviating 'from full time open ended work employment: part time work, seasonal work'. In the US the most common term which largely overlaps what is referred to in Europe as flexible working patterns is 'contingent work' (Freedman, 1986). ( H Harris, C Brewster and PSparrow,2003 pg 101) Although some consultants have tried to foster the term 'complementary working', Polivk and Nardone (1989) define contingent employment as 'any arrangement that differs from full time, permanent, wage and salary employment'. Morishima and Feuille (2000) noting that contingent employment can include a variety of workers The common themes that unite the individuals in these diverse categories are that they receive few or no fringe benefits, they have little or no expectation of long-term employment with the firm on whose premises they work at any given time, and they occupy a secondary position to the regular, full-time employees in the firm's status hierarchy. They conclude that although an accurate account of the situation in the USA and Japan, within the European contest such distinctions do not hold true. The complex aspects of flexible working practices render varying effects and implications. Part time work for example will apply to any work hours short of the normal working week for each country which vary across the globe. For instance in France and Belgium, part time work is defined as four-fifths or less of the collectively agreed working time; in the Netherlands and USA as less than 35 hours per week; in the UK as less than 30 hours, with lower thrash holds in relation to social security contributions. Elsewhere, the norm is concentrated around 25-30 hours per week (Bolle, 1997 and Brewster et al, 1996). THE FLEXIBLE FIRM Source: as cited in Keizer (2007). Various scholars have had their significant contributions to the entirety of the Flexibility discipline. Nonetheless John Atkinson stands out for his 'The Flexible Firm" model. Whilst at the institute of man power studies John Atkinson and his colleagues propounded the much quoted model depicting the divisions, between 'core and peripheral' work forces. In this model the core workers are full time permanent career employees who have won security by virtue of committing to functional flexibility in the short term and long term basis. The organisational value of such is encapsulated in the terms and conditions that bind them whilst their remuneration is largely influenced by their achievements including those of t the team and the organisation. (John Stredwick & Steve Ellis, Flexible Working Practices techniques and innovations, pg 11 & 12) The first peripheral group has less job security and access to career opportunity. And their jobs are plug in ones, not skill specific to the firm. Organization looks to the market place to fill the jobs, many of which are filled by the women, and numerical flexibility is achieved by the normal wastage which is fairly high. .(John Stredwick & Steve Ellis ,Flexible Working Practices techniques and innovations, pg 11 & 12) The second peripheral is an extension of the first, with much part time working, shift working, zero hour and short term contracts which maximize flexibility. Such terms and conditi