Monday, March 16, 2020

Canadas depreciating dollar essays

Canadas depreciating dollar essays The Depreciation of the Canadian Dollar Canada has been increasing its prestige as a high-tech, industrial, society since the end of World War II. In many ways it resembles very closely its southern North American cousin, the United States. Some of those similarities are residing in its market-orientated system, pattern of production, and its high standard of living. Most years following the war up to the present, Canada has experienced some kind of continued growth as a prosperous and developed country. However, during the year of 1998, Canada experienced an unexpected large depreciation in their dollar relative to the United States. Late in August of that year, in fact, the value reached an all-time low. During this paper, I will try to present some of the possible economic factors that may or may not have led to this change in Canadas exchange rate. I will also examine some additional analysis and theories as to why the trend possibly occurred. As the year 1998 approached, the trend for the Canadian dollar was on a steady decrease in value in relation to the U.S. dollar. With each passing year the dollar lost some value as the table below demonstrates. Exchange Rate 1.16 1.38 1.36 1.38 1.48 *All data tables extrapolated from the Cambridge Forecasts Country Report, unless otherwise noted. It took an exceptional hit during the year, moving the rate from 1.38 U.S. dollars to 1.48 in U.S. dollars. The plunge is better exhibited in Appendix 1, with the sharp decrease of the dollar illustrated graphically and more specifically, with Appendix 2 showing the drop throughout the year of 1998 alone. In terms of growth rate, the years leading up to the exchange rate drop in 1998 showed very typical numbers. There was nothing out of the ordinary, or anything to hint at a sharp decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar. As highlighted below, up to 1998, the economy was growing at a slow but steady rate each ...

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Adolescent Development

There are mutual influences between an individual and their social environment. There are also at-risk factors involved in the life of a developing adolescent that interconnects with a series of reciprocal systems. I can recall as a developing adolescent quickly maturing into adulthood, the many social, economic, external and internal influences that contributed to certain at-risk behaviors. These type of influences impacted me directly and indirectly. I was influenced by the several environments I was in, and I also contributed to influencing the environment around me. Attempting to exert control over uncontrollable circumstances only lead to desperate situations and weighty consequences. However, learning to accept my present circumstances, and how to appropriately respond to the hardship and temptations in life developed positive life changes. Individual human development occurs within interconnected and embedded ecological systems (McWhirter et al, 2013). The ecological systems include the individual, the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, and macrosystem (McWhirter et al, 2013). The individual consists of genetic and biological factors, and personality characteristics (McWhirter et al, 2013). The microsystem consists of the people that the individual comes into direct contact with and who the individual interacts with (McWhirter et al, 2013). The mesosystem is the embedded interconnections between different microsystems and the impact of the interactions that take place (McWhirter et al, 2013). The exosystem consists of the interconnections between one or more settings that indirectly involve the individual (McWhirter et al, 2013). The macrosystem represents the social blueprint of cultural values, societal structure, gender-role socializations, race relations, belief systems, and national and international resources (McWhirter et al, 2013). The chronosystem is the interconnection and interaction of the individual within different environments, and is the transitions that occur during the course of the individual’s lifetime (McWhirter et al, 2013). These interconnecting systems are referred to as the ecological model, and assumes that the individual is continually interacting with his or her environment  that produces constant change due to mutual influences (McWhirter et al, 2013). Part A – The Ecological Model The core of who I really am involves the combinations of my genetic predispositions, evolutionary and biological components, personality characteristics, and the ongoing process of behavioral, cognitive, and affective experiences (McWhirter et al, 2013). Who I am has a lot to do with my experiences in life, my responses to life events, and the social and environmental influences and interactions involved. The ecological model provides a greater understanding of how I influence my environment and my environment influences me. This is important because it is through the interactions of the ecological systems that help me better understand myself and others. The Individual. I entered the world with an umbilical cord wrapped around my neck, struggling to live due to insufficient oxygen intake. As a child I was very susceptible to illness. As an adult I discovered that I was living with an autoimmune disorder. I have very vivid fragmented memories as a child of several doctor office visits. At the personal level, I was a very fearful, anxious, angry, socially withdrawn child who experienced an unstable, insecure, neglectful, abusive, and dysfunctional home environment. The structure of personality develops in childhood and continues to develop in adulthood (Caspi, Roberts Shiner, 2005). I developed a combination of extraversion and introversion traits. These traits show themselves depending on how safe I determine the environment around me to be. As a child I experienced positive and negative emotionality. I at times struggle with viewing the world as a safe place and occasionally viewed it as threatening. I experienced anxious distress with a tendency toward anxiety, sadness, insecurity, and guilt. As a teenager I experienced darker emotions such as anger, frustration, and irritation. I developed agreeable personality characteristics as a child. In adulthood I sometimes struggle with the fear of rejection, self-acceptance, people pleasing tendencies, self-awareness, and feeling comfortable in my surrounding environment and own skin. I also developed a strong motivation to achieve academically, and have a strong sense of independence. As a child and through my teenage years I was not allowed to have an opinion or express individuality, which resulted in the inability or challenge to think on my own, questioning who I am through life stages, fearful of making decisions on my own and especially decisions I need to make on behalf of others, and codependency issues. The Microsystem. I grew up in a traditional family household for a time being that consisted of my mother, father, and sister. Although, it was considered a traditional two parent household, my father was rarely home, and when he was home he was unavailable. My mother was emotionally unavailable and suffered from manic depression. My mother stayed at home and my father was either out working or pursuing one of his addictions. My family was homeless until I was the age of 5. We had lived and slept in my father’s suburban, randomly stayed with strangers, and at times lived in a recreational vehicle. I assumed responsibility and care of my younger sibling, my mother, myself, and household chores. I entered the stages of maturity alone and without parental support. The lack of positive parenting during my adolescent years made me vulnerable to at-risk risk behaviors such as premarital sex, tobacco use, substance abuse, gang involvement and mental and social disorders (Clinton Clark, 2010). At the age of ten I was removed from my parent’s custody and placed in foster care where my sibling and I were separated and placed in different homes. In the foster system I was only allowed to socialize at school, and attended church depending on whether or not my foster parents at the time deemed it necessary. My sister and I went through several foster home placements which resulted in the loss of security, the loss of our personal possessions, and sense of belonging. Being bounced from home to home, it was difficult maintaining a close friendships with others. I developed an internal mechanism of being friendly with everyone, but not allowing myself to develop a close friendship with others. As I gained independence and freedom in my later teen years and early adulthood, I became more involved in church. The Mesosystem. I grew up in a rural community with a lack of parental involvement. There were no real established mesosystem relationships. The environment was inconsistently positive and very negative at times. Since school was my outlet, I strived for academic excellence and successfully achieved it. School seemed to be the only sense of stability. The Exosystem. Outside agencies that developed policies and created public resources were an indirect benefit to me as an adolescent and young adult. During childhood, I was able to eat lunch at school, and enjoy extracurricular activities such as Campfire Girls, cheerleading, and Key Club. I was given accessibility to the basic needs that my parents could not afford such as cloths, food, and shelter. As an adult, several community resources helped my daughter and escape and terminate a domestically violent relationship. The Macrosystem. During adolescence I was exposed to abuse, neglect, and violence first hand and via the television. My father grew up in the south and was very racist toward certain nationalities and races of people. The cultural context consisted of low socioeconomic status (SES), poverty, and experiencing our Native American ethnic background and being exposed to several conflicting belief systems. I grew up on a culture where corporate punishment was an acceptable practice. The culture valued individuality, independence, and self-reliance. I grew up in poverty with a prevailing crime rate not as noticeable as it is today. Social norms included the overuse of antibiotics (McDonnell Norms Group, 2008), and the use of drugs and alcohol were socially acceptable. Chronosystem. A pattern of environmental events, transitions, and sociohistorical circumstances contributed to my development over my lifespan. Both of my parents lived disloyal and adulterous life styles. Overtime, there unhealthy and dysfunctional patterns of relating to each other resulted in a separation. My father died when I was 17 years old. My parent’s marriage legally dissolved at the time of my father’s death. My mother remarried multiple times. My sister and I were exposed to their dysfunctional lifestyle, which tremendously impacted our lives. I personally, transitioned through many of life events by experiencing two divorces, being a single-mother of four children for quit sometime, remarrying and adjusting to a blended family, the loss of my oldest daughter, and facing the social political arena at work. The soil of my family growing up consisted of poverty, low socioeconomic status (SES), judgmental and racist attitudes, abusive and neglectful home environment, and conflicting belief systems. The three primary roots are family, school, and peer groups (McWhirter et al, 2013). My parent’s inability to raise my sister and me in a loving, secure, stable, and nurturing environment, and expose us to family conflict, abuse, neglect, lack of parenting, being emotionally unavailable, and an unstructured home environment contributed to my dysfunction and the at-risk behaviors in my life. The school system was unaware of our life circumstances and did not any support. My sister ended up dropping out and getting involved with drugs. I became sexually involved with my boyfriend at the age of 15 and became pregnant at the age of 16. My daughter gave me the drive to continue my education and succeed academically in order to provide her with a better life. I was withdrawn during my adolescence and teenage years. Although, I made intent to get along with everyone, I did not associate with everyone. The peer group I involved myself in strived for academic excellence and engaged in positive extracurricular activities. The trunk of the at-risk tree representing my life consisted of low self-esteem, and depression. The branches of at-risk categories in my life were high-school dropout, substance abuse, risky sexual behaviors, and suicide. I was at risk for teen pregnancy and became pregnant at the age of sixteen. I succumbed to sexual activity with one partner in high school that resulted in teen pregnancy. I was very fortunate that at risk behaviors did not escalate. My tree was broken and bruised and produced damaged fruit. Instead of running to quick gratification I learned to run to God. I found my value and security in Christ. My branches although bruised eventually healed and produced good, healthy fruit. It took a lot of effort, drive, motivation, will, and trusting God in the midst of temptation and hardship. I was fortunate to have a variety of Gardeners in my life from Christian counselors, law enforcement, human service workers, youth group leaders, Sunday school teachers, and church mentors who helped me redirect my lifestyle. I learned how to be academically successful, a loving, supportive, caring mother to my children, a hard worker of integrity, and to do the right thing when the wrong thing seems easier at the time being.

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Giving birth control devices to teenagers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Giving birth control devices to teenagers - Essay Example Birth control devices â€Å"could potentially make teenagers to think that they can have sex with anyone at any time and not have any consequences, but a lot of teenagers are uneducated about contraception and will misuse it, making it pointless† (What are the pros of giving free birth control to teens?). On the other hand, many people question the logic of providing birth control devices to teenagers. They are of the view that the easy accessibility of birth control devices may motivate teenagers further and further to engage in sexual activities. In their opinion, the fear of pregnancy is the only thing which prevents majority of teenagers from sexual activities. The availability of contraception or birth control devices will remove such fears from the minds of teenagers and they may increase their sexual activities beyond the limits. Teenage is a period during which the education of a person is taking place. Education is the most important thing in the life of a teenager. F ailure to complete the school or college life with flying colors may prevent the teenagers from getting better employment in future. In other words, security and safety of future life of a teenager are mostly depending on the academic qualifications. The availability of birth control devices may force the teenagers to shift their main focus from education to sexual activities. Such people will realize the consequences of their activities in future and they will not get any second opportunity to revert their future.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Brand Health Check Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brand Health Check - Essay Example In order to regain financial stability and overcome losses, playboy has extended its target market to a broader spectrum and positioned the brand in a different way. The whole targeting approach is explained below: Playboy has done the market segmentation based on the demographic factors especially gender, income profile and business groups in which the potential consumers belong. During the launch of the magazine its target market was the working men but after the decline of sales in 1982’s, they have shifted their focus to working class women also. The current median age of their target age group is 33. Playboy has introduced their product in variety of mediums such as television and online. Visual products were targeted to couple, irrespective of their working class, and the online media for market penetration and reach. (Playboy Enterprises. N.d) In 1990s, the declining sales figure forced playboy to rethink their market segmentation, targeting and positioning strategy. They discovered that explosive growths are available in Far East market, like in Japan. The company realized that change in income profile in Japan has changed the demographic as well as the psychographic orientation of the customers. Hence the segmentation was done according to the psychographics of the consumers. As people started to get out of the workaholic and obsessive behavior, their mindset also changes and the targeting strategies must be restructured in order to expand the market.(The Tech, 1990) Recent studies have shown that in order to stop the ever decreasing sales figure, playboy needs to rethink their positioning strategy in a different way. Playboy is no longer considered to be the lifestyle magazine against the conservative male norms. The company is targeting the middle-aged uneducated and under-paid people too because of product saturation in the existing market (Lapp.2013). Market share can be

Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Joyride :: Creative Writing Essays

The Joyride    Rain clouds began to tear themselves away from the jagged peaks of the Koolau range and rays broke through the clouds and beat down on the muddy water of Pearl Bay. Bobby glanced toward them, but his mind was elsewhere. He paced back and forth along the isolated stretch of the narrow beach. Now and then he would kick at loose pebbles along the muddy grey shoreline. For the moment, Bobby was still in his private world, consisting of little more than a strip of mud flat along one small section of the bay. But his world was about to be invaded. Chris, his best friend since kindergarten, would be showing up any minute. And Bobby knew that before this afternoon ended, their two lives, so entwined these many years, would forever be changed.    Bobby clutched a smooth black stone in his fingers. He leaned into the light breeze, preparing to skip it across the harbour waters, but stopped abruptly, remembering that the gods did not like land removed from the island. As the stone slipped from his fingers, his eyes followed the ripples that glided on and off the grey beach where he stood, then rose almost by habit to gaze once more at the Arizona Memorial stretching white and graceful, remembering painfully that this would be the last time that he would ever walk along this beautiful beach.    As his eyes watched the waves, and how they caressed the muddy shoreline, he began to think of the future. His thoughts were quickly disrupted.       â€Å"Hey bud, how's it going? What was so important that you had to talk to me about?† Chris asked.    â€Å"It's to hard. I can't go on with it.†    â€Å"What? What can't you go on with?† Chris demanded urgently.    â€Å"It's just, that, that, this will be our last weekend together†.    â€Å"Wait a minute. Slow down, your not making any sense. None at all. What do you mean that this will be our last weekend together? We have the whole entire summer planned out. Fishing next weekend, canoeing to Ford Island next month, our bike.....†    â€Å"NO STOP!!! You don't understand. My dad got transferred. We're moving.†    â€Å"But why now. School doesn't start for another two months, and colleges start even later than that!† Chris replied.    â€Å"I know, it sucks. I can't do anything about it. I've tried everything. I've even asked my parents if it would be okay to move in with my grandparents for the rest of the summer. But it's no use. They say I have to get used to the town, meet new friends,and get a job.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research often is the preferred approach to problem design as results are precise. Many researchers prefer the exact measurement and statistical analysis that quantitative research offers. Observation in quantitative research allows classification and the statistical models built document the outcome of a study. The data collected in a quantitative investigation creates answers in numbers and statistics. Deductive reasoning is used to design quantifiable tools that collect pertinent data.Results are accurately measured and presented, as a â€Å"quantitative research paradigm is empirical in nature; it is also known as the scientific research paradigm† (Atieno, 2009, p. 14). Characteristics of a Quantitative Problem Statement The problem statement explains and justifies the decision to use quantitative analysis methods. The problem statement is a succinct and definite, implying data gathering and examination. â€Å"Quantitative research is a means for testing obje ctive theories by examining the relationship among variables,† (Creswell, 2008, p. ). Creswell (2009) indicated if a problem calls for factors that influence the result or a best outcome approach, then a quantitative approach should be used. Characteristics of a Quantitative Purpose Statement As Jenkins (2009) discussed, an effective purpose statement is in alignment with the problem statement. The nature of the study, data collection methods, and the study population identify the design approach. Variables identified in the design and logic of the problem contributes to the project design and hypothesis.Formulation of Quantitative Research Questions and Hypotheses The quantitative research questions and hypothesis clearly seek to answer the problem statement. The hypothesis is the premise of the study, the expected outcome of the study presents anticipated results in a quantitative manner. The questions and hypothesis create a logical basis to identify data collection methods suitable for problem solving. Quantitative Data Collection Procedures Data collection processes reflect the activities as originally outlined in the problem and purpose statements.The construction of formal instruments occurs to measure the quantifiable data gathered and analyzed. Constraints to data collection procedures such as organization, budget, time, and access to the survey population factor into the design process (Jenkins, 2009). Quantitative Data Analysis Procedures The results from the data collection process derived from trend analysis and surveys use statistical methods of measurement (Atieno, 2009). The results provide an exact result numerically measured.The precision offered by gathering data through easily quantifiable tools give reliable results. The data alone does not provide an answer; statistical methods for analysis provide a reliable means of clarifying a large data set (Jenkins, 2009). Statistical analysis is used to mitigate risk when a degree of uncertai nty is present. Numbers from the researched data set use statistical analysis and reporting for analysis. Descriptive statistics allow the presentation of results using graphs and charts (Jenkins, 2009).Visual communications provides a clear graphic representation that allows simple cognition of complex data. Research Fundamentals Quantitative research is a preferred method of problem-solving because of its precision. A properly designed problem statement and purpose statement drives the research process and deductive logic is used in the data gathering design. Results are analyzed using statistical methods to create a result set. Presentation of results may include visual communication tools such as charts and graphs, providing simple tools to understand complex trends and ratios.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Cop And Robber Reinventing Stereotypes - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 880 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Stereotypes Essay Did you like this example? The 1999 film begins at The MET where a stolen valuable Monet painting brings together the self-possessed insurance investigator Catherine Banning and the culprit, self-made billionaire Thomas Crown. While Banning was not the lead investigator on this case, she took matters into her own hands and intrigued Crown by cutting straight to the chase leading on that she knew he was guilty. The two then begin what seems to be a game of cat and mouse ultimately becoming a whirlwind romance. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Cop And Robber Reinventing Stereotypes" essay for you Create order Susan Bordos Beauty (Re)discovers the Male Body discusses how The disjunction between self-conception and external judgment can be especially harsh when the external definitions carry gender stereotypes with them.(134) Although the film may seem to reinforce stereotypes by subjecting Banning to the male gaze in her introduction, it instead is reinventing John Bergers theory that men act and women appear because there is much more to Banning than is lead on. Bergers theory that men act and women appear is used to defy the male and female relationship. It implies that men look at women while the women watch themselves being looked at. An example of this is the Nautica ad where the men are unaware of their own appearances, but the woman nonetheless is aware of hers and of the men ogling at her. Much like the way Banning was introduced with her legs exposed to the male eyes and the way the camera slowly made its way up giving her a sense of mystery. However, the film reminds viewers to not be fooled by her character as Catherine Banning does nothing to please men it is all simply for her own amusement. She finds pleasure in the game she and Crown play as does he essentially making them the perfect match for each other. While Banning encounters typical feelings of self-doubt when she sees photographs of Crown with another woman, she greatly exudes confidence every other moment of the film. As Banning and Crowns relationship grows Banning begins to develop feelings for Crown and vice versa. When McCann shows these images to Banning it was expected of her to feel hurt as would any human but Banning confronted Crown and acted with courage showing that she was tough. In fact, she and Crown are very much alike, as Charles Taylor suggests Crown and Banning are mirror images of each other (par. 2) they both are these rags to riches individuals whose rigid personalities and wisdom has bought them to where they are now. They both defy the Industrial Revolution stereotype which implies that men should not worry about grooming they should worry about being the breadwinner. Crown, of course, is always well groomed as he is shown in various suits and getting tailored. Banning herself proves that she is her own breadwinner by showing she is sharper and more intelligent than McCann, the detective, solving the crime. Bordo furthers that women should worry about their looks and apparel , if failed to do so, they are labeled as feminist and the opposite goes for males, yet both dont fret as their appearance comes naturally to them and does not create the audience to question their femininity nor masculinity. As the two play, this game of cat and mouse they both fight over who has the upper hand in the relationship eventually being Banning. Although times are offered where she shows weakness, for example, the end scene where she is shown sobbing due to believing Crown has stood her up. However, when she sees him behind her, leaps over the seats and jokingly threatens Crown saying she will break both his arms, she regains her power. As Susan Bordo states Nowadays, the act/appear duality is even less meaningful, as the cultivation of the suitably fit appearance has become not just a matter of sexual allure but a demonstration that one has the right stuff: will, discipline, the ability to stop whining and ?just do it. (172-173) Banning herself has that will and ability, she truly wastes no time in getting down to business. She shows that she isnt just the object of attention but rather a more complex woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to obtain what she wants. To conclude, although the film seems to reinforce stereotypes it ultimately reinvents them. Banning starts as the center of the male gaze but she is in fact much more intricate offering an abundance of personalities. She has her moments of self-doubt, but she radiates confidence. Unlike Bordos student who had self-image issues and felt the need to hide behind makeup, Banning is assured and has such elegance that comes naturally. She and Crown are very much alike which makes them a dynamic duo. The two do nothing but lounge around and try to outdo each other in a game of cat and mouse that intrigues them to one another. Overall, the film offered minimal scenes that showed Banning falling into the stereotypes but overall, she overpowered them like the larger than life woman she is. At length, all these elements appeal to the adult audience of both males and females as it represents norms being defied and teaches society that they do not have to settle for what they are set out to be by others.