Informaiton System Essay Example for Free

Informaiton System Essay Assess the advantages and disadvantages of using a Web-based compensation tool versus a client-server based or stand-alone PC-based system and then give your opinion on which system would provide the most value to an organization’s stakeholders. Include three (3) facts to support your opinion. e-Compensation represents a web-enabled approach to an array of compensation tools that enable an organization to gather, store, manipulate, analyze, utilize, and distribute compensation data and information. The advantages of using a Web-based compensation tool versus a client-server based or stand-alone PC-based system include the automated approach that replaces tedious manual processes to make any compensation program easy to manage and virtually error free. Web-based compensation tools do not require installation and updating which saves a lot of administration work and can be access from anywhere with the Internet. The data in Web-based compensation tools is stored remotely and requires little disk space. It also becomes more important that Web-based compensation tools are cross-platform and work on different Operating System. Whereas using a client-server based or stand-alone PC based system would need an administrator to administer, maintain, develop and implement policies and procedures for ensuring the security and integrity of the client/server database, and also resolving any database issues. However, Web-based compensation tools have some serious disadvantages. The most important problem is their poor user experience, because of the performance problems and browser limitations. Another disadvantage of the Web-based compensation tool is that the remote server could be compromised disclosing private information. The fact that the Web-based compensation tool requires Internet connection can also be a limitation. Although Web-based compensation tool seems to have more advantages than a client-server based or stand-alone PC based system, in my opinion, client-server based would provide value to an organization’s stakeholders. Three things initially attract people to web-based over client-server: they are easier to deploy and upgrade, demand less IT support, and require less hardware. While it is true that web-based deployment and upgrades are easier, client-server technology actually delivers far superior benefits and long-term cost savings. Client-server software affords a richer, crisper user interface that outperforms browser- or web-based software in terms of the number of clicks and the ease of use. The client-server based provides set-ups and can be altered without disturbing the clients, while the other two systems require accessing every peer in the network (www.client-serverbased). For example, the client server arrangements aid security requires efforts, because there are fewer servers, limiting the number of persons with access to them and increasing security features of the servers. The two-tiered model enables file sharing between the client and the users. Justify the use of e-Compensation tools in the job-evaluation process from the perspective of HR, management, and the employee. Through e-Compensation tools organizations can adapt to shifting demands for information. e-Compensation tools enhance the practice of designing and administering compensation programs in a dynamic and competitive environment in three key ways. First e-Compensation tools can increase access to critical compensation information without the need for sophisticated or dedicated IT staffs and sophisticated technology infrastructures. They can simply access key information electronically on an as needed basis. Second, e-compensation tools enable round-the-clock availability of meaningful compensation information to senior managers, HR managers, and employees. Third, e-compensation tools can streamline cumbersome bureaucratic tasks through the introduction of workflow functionality and real-time information processing. Job evaluation is the process of methodically establishing a structure or hierarchy of jobs within an organization. This is based on a systematic consideration of job content and requirements. The purpose of the job structure, or hierarchy, is to provide a basis for the development of a wage structure. The job structure, however, is only one of the determinants of the wage structure, with other factors becoming increasingly more important. Job evaluation develops a plan for comparing jobs in terms of those things the organization considers important determinants of job worth. e-Compensation tools enhance the practice of designing and administering compensation programs in a dynamic and competitive environment. HR views the use of e-Compensation tools in the job-evaluation process as a means to streamline their processes and reduce administrative burdens. HR can electronically distribute them to target employees or managers via a corporate intranet. From management perspective e-Compensation can assist in reducing HR administration and compliance costs, help compete more effectively for global talent and provide real-time metric to allow decision-makers to spot trends and manage the workforce more effectively – managers can review a list of proposed merit increases for his or her direct reports. Managers and employees have access to key information to make completing a job analysis or job evaluation project relatively easy. Employees are able to gain access to data which is improved by utilizing e-Compensation to make critical decisions. The use of the e-Compensation tools empower employees with a collaborative employee compensation application that shows their complete compensation package in an intuitive format and provides the tools they need to plan their financial futures. Evaluate three (3) benefits and three (3) drawbacks of a centralized approach to managing merit pay programs compared to a more decentralized approach. Merit pay refers to the process of determining employee compensation (base salary or bonuses), in part, on the basis of how well each employee performs at work. A centralized approach bases an employee’s pay rate on the value of the job/role held, the degree to which the employee has mastered that job/role and how well the employee has performed over time. The most apparent advantages of centralization are an organizations ability to closely control operations, provide a uniform set of policies, practices and procedures throughout the organization, and better use the knowledge of centralized experts. Companies also adopt different approaches to compensation administration responsibilities. Some rely on a centralized approach where the design and administration of compensation programs are performed by a single company department. Some rely on a decentralized organizational structure that allows faster decision-making and better adaptability to local conditions and context. In the decentralized approach managers across the organization forecast the pay increases they expect to recommend in the coming year to retain their key employees and to remain competitive. The decentralized approach can make it difficult to transfer employees from one department to another and may bring about a lack of internal consistency. The drawbacks to the centralized approach are that a compensation program may suit general corporate needs, but not individual department needs, communication between different computers is not easy, resulting in configuration problems, and it does not provide built-in knowledge management capability that would guide or empower managers to make their own decisions. Suggest three (3) types of integrated analytic features that are needed for compensation planning and decision support in e-Compensation systems. Integrated analytics brings together information from a companys ERP, customer relationship management, human resources, financial management, supply chain and e-business systems, and enhances it with advanced analytics, empowering the company to react more quickly to a rapidly changing business environment. Integrated analytics better integrates an organization’s information assets across the value chain, delivers role-based business intelligence to the information consumer in a personalized manner, and includes advanced analytical models focused on decision making. Many human resource information systems, however, do not yet provide integrated analytic features needed for compensation planning and decision support, such as the ability to also see related real-time competitive market salaries. Some integrated analytic features needed for compensation planning and decision making are analytic engines for data enrichment and analysis, analytic applications such as Budgeting, Planning and Balanced Scorecard, and integrated analytic applications that provide process-specific analytics and allow the developers to add more features based on user needs. In order to survive and win in todays market, ERP vendors have recognized that they must have improved information delivery and analytics as core components of their products. The rapid flow of information has increased the need for executives and managers to keep their fingers on the pulse of their companies and to be able to easily access timely, accurate information. It is clear that the market is moving away from the realm of custom and nonintegrated applications and into pre-delivered products that are closely linked to ERP systems. Assess the barriers that prevent organizations from realizing the potential of Web-based internal equity tools and propose three (3) approaches to overcome those barriers. Internal equity refers to establishing the relative worth of jobs inside the organization. It is hard to determine the value of the information before you pay. Organizations can find free web-based services such as HR-Guide’s job evaluation tool. There are several factors that hamper organizations from fully realizing the potential of web-based internal equity tools. First, most of the tools are not generally integrated across software programs in the market that support the design and maintenance of internal equity policies and practices, relatively few are currently both integrated and web-enabled. Second, the challenge facing organizations in implementing these e-compensation tools is that these tools are only as good as the data they access. Third, proper training is required to ensure user acceptance and competent use of the technology. Fourth, some users find data entry tends to be slower and less flexible using web applications than client-server-based software, particularly with nonlinear processes. Finally, while web-based software tools increase access to and distribution of information, the quality and efficiency with which decisions are made still remain ultimately with the manager. There must be organizational commitment to gather, manage, and maintain accurate and relevant data. Organizations need to obtain an integrated web-based compensation software solution that automates and integrates internal equity and external equity software applications and can be used stand-alone, over an intranet, or over the web on an outsourced basis. Lastly, organizations need to implement software and invest in training programs. Recommend three (3) strategies that HR managers can use to evaluate the quality of market data (surveys, benchmark salary studies, etc.) that they receive from outside sources. Paying people fairly is good for business. Underpay, and employees will eventually look for a better offer. Overpay, and the payroll budget and profitability will suffer. That is why companies use market data to research the value of their jobs. HR managers use the latest market data to get accurate data relevant to positions within their organizations expertise. Gathering background information is critical in building a pay structure from scratch to articulate the compensation philosophy, clarify concepts that define the fundamental beliefs about the structure, and design and develop the strategy. To determine the prevailing rate for a job, organizations can benchmark jobs against compensation surveys that are detailed and specific to the organization’s industries and regions. A good compensation survey uses standard, proven methods of data gathering and statistical analysis to determine how much companies pay for a specific job in a specific industry. Commercial and association surveys, Pg 458 Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources. http://www.humanresources.pro/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=50Itemid=73

Essay --

Lonnie Young III Susan Trudeau College Writing 25 November 2013 University College Program Today’s colleges are more geared towards admission requirements such as GPAs, standardized test scores, and advanced placement scores to accept students. Students are often denied for admission because their standardized test scores or grades are below the average scores. Some of the students might attend community colleges in order to transfer into the college of their choice or go to the University College Program. The University College Program at UDM is a secondary admission program. This program is for students who have not met all the university admission requirements. Students in the program must sign a contract to participate in support services the university has to offer. The contract plays an important role in the day to day life of UCP students. The contract not only includes several obligations for student in the program to obey, but also for admission into the program immediately. The reasons why the contract used are to keep students on the straight and narrow, academic dish...

Plato the Republic Essay

Art has always been controversial in a society because of the many different ways the artist tends to express themselves. Plato, who helped lay the foundation for western culture, saw the problems in art over 2,000 years ago. Plato’s The Republic is a series of books that discusses the republic that Plato is trying to create. In each book Plato touches on different topics dealing with the art, that he feels effect society then. Today, some of the points that Plato argue can still be argued. Plato looks only at the negative effects that art can have, rather than the positive effects. In Book II, Plato focuses on fictitious stories told to children while their growing up. Plato’s first plan is to â€Å"create a censorship of the writers of fiction† (Plato 13). The job of these people will be to pick which stories are â€Å"good â€Å"and which stories are â€Å"bad†. For some people, books like Harry Potter are good and for others it is bad. The point is that one person’s definition of one thing might be the antithesis of another person’s definition. The censorship of writers can be both useful and not useful. The censorship of writers can be useful, because it might keep certain arts out of the child’s hand. It could be not useful because, the parent will make the ultimate decision if the child will hear or read the story. The next point is what makes the people chosen qualified to select what the children should hear, or not. Once again, it brings up the point of people having their own definition of good and bad. In society today, there are ratings to television shows and movies. Some are not rated for children but in the end the parent makes the decision on what the child is allowed to watch. So instead of having a censorship committee, he should educate the parents more. Plato then goes to talk about the effects of letting children hear tales by saying â€Å"and shall we just carelessly allow children to hear any causal tales which may be devised by causal persons, and to receive into their minds ideas for the most part the very opposite of those which we should wish them to have when they grow up† (Plato 13). This shows how Plato only looks the negative effects of art. The positive about having villains in art is they give the children an example of what not to be. Also having villains in art it allows the children to be able to recognize what is bad, and who are bad people. For example, in Little Red Riding Hood, it teaches a child lessons such as do not talk to strangers, and listen to the parents. It also shows children the consequences for not listening to their parents. In Book III, Plato focuses on imitation. Plato goes on to talk about how after imitating for so long it becomes natural for the person â€Å" did you ever observe how imitations, beginning in early youth and continued far into life, at the length grow in habits and become a second nature affecting the body, voice, and mind† (Plato 15). It can be argued that just because you imitate something does not mean that is who the person is. For example, there are plenty of actors who have been acting their whole life, who do not take the roles portrayed the home. Meaning that the roles that the person play in films is not the role they play in their everyday life. Plato then goes to talk about the roles that a person should imitate â€Å"when he comes to a character which is unworthy of him,[then] he will not make a study of that† (Plato 16). Plato feels that a good person should imitate roles that are only good in nature. Once again Plato fails to realize how a person imitating something bad could have a positive effect on the people. Imitating can have positive effects on society by allowing them to see what is not good for a society. In some cases, the only way to show what something is to imitate it, because it is no longer around. For example, slavery is no longer around, so you most likely cannot find a slave, so you have to imitate it. The topic Plato touches on is having a person do only one job when he says, â€Å"we shall find a shoemaker to be a shoe maker and no a pilot also† (Plato 17). Plato fails to realize that the person may not be imitating but may in fact be able to do more than one things well. This goes back to â€Å"one man can only do on thing well and not many† (Plato 14). Throughout this book, Plato only looks at person doing more than one thing as imitating, and not as being who they really are. In Book IV, Plato focuses on how new music affects the state. Plato wants music to stay the way it has always has been, because Plato fears that when new music comes about the laws of the state changes with it â€Å"when the modes of music changes, the fundamental laws of the state always change with them† (Plato 8). What Plato means is that when new things come about people began to rebel against society, and do what they want. Society does change, but it does not become corrupt. Society changes because new things become accepted such as new styles, slang, and etcetera. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, corrupt means to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions. Society was never good in the beginning for it to become corrupt because of music. Not everyone in society started off having good morals, manners, or action. No one is perfect all the time, and neither is a society. In a society there will always be people who break the laws. Just because music changes does not mean society completely changes with it. In today’s society with the hip hop era there is a lot of things that are done now that would not have been done twenty years ago. For example rappers today call females derogatory names, and now a lot of females are excepting to be called those names. While some females are proud to be called those names, other not so much, and they stand up for what they believe in. Plato then goes to say that it is the guardian’s responsibility to pick what is right for the child to hear â€Å"our guardians must lay the foundations of their fortress in music† (Plato 18). This goes back to book II, were the parent will pick what they feel is right for the child to hear. The parents should be educated on the effects that the music can have on the child. Even though music can have no direct effect on one child’s life, it could have an indirect effect. It could have an indirect effect, because of the people who have the direct effect pass it on. While the music can have no direct effect on a child, Plato feels that the child should still be taught on what can be sung at home, and what can be sung at church. For example it is reasonable to sing a gospel song in church, but not a song by Lady Gaga, because it is not appropriate for church. Plato focuses on how new music changes society in negative way, but never says how new music can help society. New music can help society by bringing about new ideas, bringing people together, and it gives the people a sense of expression. According to emedexpert. om, music can help with blood pressure, the heart, and memory. So music is not just something for the soul, but it also helps heal the body. In Book X, Plato focuses on poets and poetry. Plato feels that poetry is an imitation of the soul; he feels that it portrays a bad part of the soul. Plato argues that the soul is quiet and stable. By quiet and stable Plato means that the souls have no emotion, and should not act angry, or any other way that can be seen as bad by sayingâ€Å" and he is also like him in being concerned with an inferior part of the soul† (Plato 29). For some people poetry is an outlet for people to express themselves, and get their angry and frustrations out. Plato also feels that it poet write about things that they have no knowledge of â€Å"the poet is like a painter who, as we have already observed, will make likeness of a cobbler though he understands nothing of cobbling; and his pictures is good enough for those who know no more than he does, and judge only by colors and figures† (Plato 24). No one can judge whether a person’s poetry is true or not, most likely no one knows the person personally to make that judgment. It might be things that the poet writes about that happened years ago. He feels that Poets cannot be factual educators because they do not know what is good. Poetry is an art that is supposed to felt, and it supposed to bring out the bad part of the soul, because it is the part that needs to be expressed. So Plato’s argument about the soul being stable and quiet is false, because nobody is happy all the time. Plato believes that once one gets in touch with their angry side, one will start to become an angry person, and that poetry will not be entertainment, but the way some people handle situations in life. Plato is so convinced that poetry is so bad for the soul, he never talks about how it could heal the soul. Poetry can help heal the soul by letting out built up emotions. Plato banishes poetry for the republic because they are unwholesome and dangerous. In the end, Plato has set rules and banned the people and arts that he does not want for his republic. Plato’s republic will be very simple, and will not allow hardly any new art. No new music will be allowed for the fear that it will corrupt the state. No poetry will be allowed for the fear of letting people getting in touch will their emotional side. Overall, Plato fails to do what he planned on doing, and that is improving society. Throughout The Republic, Plato keeps the same narrow mind set by not seeing the good in art. He failed on improving society by failing to see how the arts can help him change society, rather than corrupt society.

Themes Of Racism And White Privilege - 939 Words

In Kindred, Octavia Butler uses characters and events to symbolize parts of larger themes of racism and white privilege in the story. Kevin is a symbol of the complicated relationship that white America has with black Americans. Kevin believes that he is not racist, yet his actions betray an unconscious prejudice towards African-Americans. This is evident when Kevin reacts angrily when Dana refuses to type up his writing for him. â€Å"He really had asked me to do some typing for him three times. I’d done it the first time, grudgingly, not telling him how much I hated typing, how I did all but the final drafts of my stories in longhand. That was why I was with a blue-collar agency instead of a white-collar agency. The second time he asked, though, I told him, and I refused. He was annoyed. The third time when I refused again, he was angry.† (Butler 109) Kevin does not see that Dana has a choice whether or not to do this typing for him, and feels entitled to her time and labor. Another instance in which Kevin feels entitled to her time is when they first meet. â€Å"‘Buz told me you were a writer,’ said the voice that I thought had gone away. ‘Look, I can’t count with you talking to me.’ I pulled out a tray full of large screws—twenty-five to a box. ‘Take a break’† (53) Kevin ignores Dana’s request for him to leave her alone, and pesters her. Kevin assumed that he knew what Dana needed to do better than she did, and decided that whatever she wanted did not matter. Though he may haveShow MoreRelatedAlice Mcintyre Talks About How Whites View Racism In Many1222 Words   |  5 Pagestalks about how whites view racism in many different examples and stories of white talk. McIntyre defines white talk throughout the reading, â€Å"Talk that serves to insulate white people from examining their/our individual and collective roles in the perpetuation of racism. It is a result of whites talki ng uncritically with/to other whites all the while, resisting critique and massaging each other’s racist attitude, beliefs, and actions† (McIntyre, 45-46). McIntyre talks about the themes that were discussionsRead MoreRacism In Master Harold And The Boys By Athol Fugard1291 Words   |  6 Pages Institutional racism is a global phenomenon. The never-ending list of disadvantages minorities face on a day to day basis is catastrophic. Nevertheless, one thing that can be done is to improve awareness. Institutional racism should be recognized by those higher in social status since minorities only make up a small percentage of the earth’s population. This limits the amount of control they have, leading to systemic oppression and restricting the number of opportunities people of color have.Read MoreThe And Race Expert Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum1312 Words   |  6 Pagesher most popular publishes. It focus on white and black relations during adolescents. Throughout the reading, the author engages her readers in conversations about race she has had in her personal life. In part one of the book, Tatum defines terms in order to understand racism. The words prejudice and racism are two of her most defined words. She details how they distinguish from one another. Being prejudice, which is also consequence of cultural racism, means having preconceived assumption orRead MoreRacial And Cultural Identity : I Am A White American1370 Words   |  6 Pagesdiffer from my students, as well as some ways in which the institution of education can be changed to be more racially and culturally inclusive. Before I can delve into my students’ racial and cultural backgrounds, I must first look at my own. I am a white American, born and raised in Minnesota. My ancestors moved to America from France and Norway; however, in my family, our traditions are more Norwegian than French. For example, every Christmas we make lefse and krumkake, two traditional NorwegianRead MoreThe General Themes Of White Privilege1287 Words   |  6 PagesThe general themes of â€Å"White Privilege† by Paula S. Rothenberg are the idea that America is and has been a white dominated country, where being white is the norm. It talks about how this socially accepted idea has oppressed and discriminated against anyone who did not fit the majority or privileged group, which continues that cycle of racism. Issues in this book brought to light, how white people take their mentality and actions for granted. This in return oppresses anyone who does not fit the privilegedRead MoreEssay about The Color of Fear by Lee Mun Wah692 Words   |  3 Pages Race, privilege, and gender are three key issues addressed in Lee Mun Wahs The Color of Fear. Different characters in the film bring out these issues and discuss how they have come about and how they are apparent in our society today. Lee Mun Wah uses different variations of visual language and compositions to show certain perspectives on the different characters. Also there is a theme of interlocking hierarchies presented in the film. CertainRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Sister Outsider 1709 Words   |  7 Pagesoverall American system that promotes systems of oppression that correspond with racism. Lorde explores many themes within her writings, but this paper will concentrate on the underlining themes from â€Å"The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism† (Audre Lorde), themes such as the need and use of anger without guilt, oppression vs. oppressed relationship, and the need for a different feminist movement. When dealing with racism Lorde proclaims that the only response for dealing with such issue is angerRead MoreWhite Privilege : Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack967 Words   |  4 PagesWise’s examination of the inconspicuous character of racism 2.0 dovetails fittingly with our course’s recurring theme of institutionalized racism. In class lectures we have defined institutionalized racism as the discriminatory practices that have become regularized and routinized by state agencies , organizations, industries, or anywhere else in society. Although such practices might not be intentionally racist, they end up being racist nevertheless as consequence of the systematized and unspokenRead MoreWhite Privilege : Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack1455 Words   |  6 PagesThis purpose of this paper is to synthesize this writer s three key revelations from this semester which are, (1) white privilege, (2) curriculum corruption and inadequate United States history education in K-12 public schools, and (3) United States legislation which disadvantages the minor races as a means for the dominate race to maintain power and control. Thus, this exploration organizes each area of significant course discovery, which a hybrid of class sources and readings relating to eachRead MoreRacism: A Contagious Virus1130 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Racism is a man made illness that has spread upon humans worldwide and to this day, Racism is currently still a contagious virus. Racism is mans gravest threat to man, the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason. The idea of race and superiority has caused major social and economic damage globally; with a fire still burning of hate and ignorance will we ever see a conclusion and closure of hate of our fellow man. In my response paper I will highlight readings that have expanded

Biography of Caroline Kennedy, American Author and Diplomat

Caroline Bouvier Kennedy   (born November 27, 1957) is an American author, lawyer, and diplomat. She is the child of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier. Caroline Kennedy served as the U.S. ambassador to Japan from 2013-2017. Early Years Caroline Kennedy was just three years old when her father took the Oath of Office and the family moved from their Georgetown home into the White House. She and her younger brother, John Jr., spent their afternoons in the outdoor play area, complete with a treehouse, that Jackie had designed for them. The children loved animals, and the Kennedy White House was home to puppies, ponies, and Carolines cat, Tom Kitten. Carolines happy childhood was interrupted by a series of tragedies that would change the course of her life. On August 7, 1963, her brother Patrick was born prematurely and died the next day. Just months later, on November 22nd, her father was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Jackie and her two young children moved back to their Georgetown home two weeks later. Carolines uncle, Robert F. Kennedy, became a surrogate father to her in the years following her fathers death, and her world was rocked again when he, too, was assassinated in 1968. Education Carolines first classroom was in the White House. Jackie Kennedy organized the exclusive kindergarten herself, hiring two teachers to instruct Caroline and sixteen other children whose parents worked in the White House. The children wore red, white, and blue uniforms, and studied American history, mathematics, and French. In the summer of 1964, Jackie moved her family to Manhattan, where they would be out of the political spotlight. Caroline enrolled at the Convent of the Sacred Heart School on 91st St., the same school that Rose Kennedy, her grandmother, had attended as a girl. Caroline transferred to the Brearley School, an exclusive private girls school on the Upper East Side in the fall of 1969. In 1972, Caroline left New York to enroll at the elite Concord Academy, a progressive boarding school outside of Boston. These years away from home proved formative for Caroline, as could explore her own interests without interference from her mother or stepfather, Aristotle Onassis. She graduated in June 1975. Caroline Kennedy earned a bachelors degree in fine arts from Radcliffe College in 1980. During her summer breaks, she interned for her uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy. She also spent a summer working as a messenger and assistant for the New York Daily News. She once dreamed of becoming a photojournalist, but soon realized that being so publicly recognizable would make it impossible for her to surreptitiously photograph others. In 1988, Caroline earned a law degree from Columbia Law School. She passed the New York state bar examination the following year. Professional Life After earning her B.A., Caroline went to work in the Film and Television Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She left the Met in 1985, when she enrolled in law school. In the 1980s, Caroline Kennedy became more involved in continuing her fathers legacy. She joined the board of directors for the John F. Kennedy Library, and is currently the president of the Kennedy Library Foundation. In 1989, she created the Profile in Courage Award, with the goal of honoring those who demonstrate political courage in a manner similar to the leaders profiled in her fathers book, Profiles in Courage. Caroline also serves as an adviser to the Harvard Institute of Politics, which was conceived as a living memorial to JFK. From 2002 to 2004, Kennedy served as CEO of the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the New York City Board of Education. She accepted a salary of just $1 for her work, which netted over $65 million in private funding for the school district. When Hillary Clinton accepted the nomination to become Secretary of State in 2009, Caroline Kennedy initially expressed interest in being appointed to represent New York in her place. The Senate seat was previously held by her late uncle Robert F. Kennedy. But a month later, Caroline Kennedy withdrew her name from consideration for personal reasons. In 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Caroline Kennedy to be U.S. Ambassador to Japan. Though some noted her lack of foreign policy experience, her appointment was approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate. In a 2015 interview for 60 Minutes, Kennedy noted that she was welcomed by the Japanese in part because of their memory of her father. People in Japan very much admire him. Its one of the ways that many people learned English. Almost every day somebody comes up to me and wants to quote the inaugural address. Publications Caroline Kennedy has co-authored two books on the law, and has also edited and published several other best-selling collections. In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action (with Ellen Alderman, 1991)The Right to Privacy (with Ellen Alderman, 1995)The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (2001)Profiles in Courage for Our Time (2002)A Patriots Handbook (2003)A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children (2005)A Family Christmas (2007)She Walks in Beauty: A Womans Journey Through Poems (2011) Personal Life In 1978, while Caroline was still at Radcliffe, her mother, Jackie, invited a co-worker to dinner to meet Caroline. Tom Carney was a Yale graduate from a wealthy Irish Catholic family. He and Caroline were immediately drawn to one another and soon seemed destined for marriage, but after two years of living in the Kennedy spotlight, Carney ended the relationship. While working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Caroline met exhibit designer Edwin Schlossberg, and the two soon began dating. They married on July 19, 1986, at the Church of Our Lady of Victory on Cape Cod. Carolines brother John served as best man, and her cousin Maria Shriver, herself newly married to Arnold Schwarzenegger, was her matron of honor. Ted Kennedy walked Caroline down the aisle. Caroline and her husband Edwin have three children: Rose Kennedy Schlossberg, born June 25, 1988; Tatiana Celia Kennedy Schlossberg, born May 5, 1990; and John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, born January 19, 1993. More Kennedy Tragedies Caroline Kennedy suffered more devastating losses as an adult. David Anthony Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedys son and Carolines first cousin, died of a drug overdose in a Palm Beach hotel room in 1984. In 1997, Michael Kennedy, another of Bobbys sons, died in a skiing accident in Colorado. The losses hit closer to home, too. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis died of cancer on May 19, 1994. The loss of their mother brought Caroline and her brother John Jr. even closer together than before. Just eight months later, they lost their grandmother Rose, the matriarch of the Kennedy clan, to pneumonia at the age of 104. On July 16, 1999,  John Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and his sister-in-law Lauren Bessette all boarded Johns small plane to fly to a family wedding on Marthas Vineyard. All three were killed when the plane crashed into the sea en route. Carolyn became the lone survivor of JFKs family.   Ten years later, on August 25, 2009, Carolyns uncle Ted succumbed to brain cancer. Famous Quotes Growing up in politics I know that women decide all elections because we do all the work. People dont always realize that my parents shared a sense of intellectual curiosity and a love of reading and of history. Poetry is really a way of sharing feelings and ideas. To the extent that we are all educated and informed, we will be more equipped to deal with the gut issues that tend to divide us. I feel that my fathers greatest legacy was the people he inspired to get involved in public service and their communities, to join the Peace Corps, to go into space. And really that generation transformed this country in civil rights, social justice, the economy and everything. Sources: Andersen, Christopher P.  Sweet Caroline: Last Child of Camelot. Wheeler Pub., 2004. Heymann, C. David.  American Legacy: the Story of John and Caroline Kennedy. Simon Schuster, 2008. â€Å"Kennedy, Caroline B.†Ã‚  U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/217581.htm. ODonnell, Norah. â€Å"Kennedy name still resonates in Japan.†Ã‚  CBS News, CBS Interactive, 13 Apr. 2015, www.cbsnews.com/news/ambassador-to-japan-caroline-kennedy-60-minutes/. Zengerle;, Patricia. â€Å"U.S. Senate confirms Kennedy as ambassador to Japan.†Ã‚  Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 16 Oct. 2013, www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-japan-kennedy/u-s-senate-confirms-kennedy-as-ambassador-to-japan-idUSBRE99G03W20131017.

Organ Donation An Organ Donor - 1068 Words

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, every ten minutes a name is added to the National Transplant waiting list. As of December 1, 2015, there are 122,477 people that need a lifesaving operation and are on the transplant waiting list. While on the waiting list, there is an average of 22 people that die every day. So far, only 23,134 transplants have been done in 2015. (U.S. Depart.of Health and Human Services) This incredibly low number of transplants is why more people should become organ donors. Choosing to become an organ donor provides the opportunity to save up to eight lives and improve the quality of life for many others with tissue donation. An organ donor can also provide comfort to the grieving family: the loss of the loved one will be helping others to live. Becoming an organ donor is much easier than many think. The decision can literally be done in just minutes. Web MD states, an organ transplant is the surgical removal of a healthy organ from one person, alive or deceased, and transplanting the organ into another person whose organ is failing. Often an organ transplant is the last effort to save and individuals life. This is why it is so important for individuals to become organ donors. Not all organs in the body are transplantable. (Organ Transplants,16) The most common organs that get transplanted are: heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and pancreas. Tissue such as bones, corneas, and skin can also be used from organ donors. There areShow MoreRelatedOrgan Donor / Donation Organization779 Words   |  4 PagesCreative Title Topic: Organ Donor/Donation Organization: Topically Specific Purpose: Whatever the decision might be, the smart thing to do it to do some research. I. INTRODUCTION A. Attention getter: Did you know that as of 1988, according to the American Transplant Foundation, 597,166 transplants have occurred in the U.S.? B. Relevance: Organ donation, being controversial as it is, does not have enough information out into the public in order for the people to make a concise opinion/idea aboutRead MoreOrgan Donation And The Death Donor1538 Words   |  7 Pages Organ donation has been on the downward trend in the last couple of years while the need for healthy organ donors are on the rise. On the average day, twenty-two people die while waiting on the organ transplant list. While it can only take one person to be a living donor to save a life, and in the case of being a donor after death, one person can save up to eight people. Since the gap between organ donation and the need for organs continues to grow apart, something has to be done to reverse thisRead MoreOrgan Donation Vs. No Pay For Organ Donors892 Words   |  4 PagesWhen faced with the argument of paying organ donors versus no pay for organ donors, the tension between both parties could be cut with a knife. Meanwhile, there’s thousan ds of patients on the organ waiting list to date, some being fortunate while others aren’t. In other words, these patients are dying because their life is depending on people that aren’t willing to donate. There are many who agree that paying an organ donor doesn’t have to belittle the virtue of one’s beliefs, but instead a chanceRead MoreOrgan Donation And Its Effects On The Donor Essay1694 Words   |  7 Pagesmortal donation also takes away any chance of effects on the donor. Since the donor is deceased, there is no worry of the effects because of two reasons: they are no longer living and they have no use for their viable organs anymore. With the several pros and cons of postmortal donation, comes the different aspects of inter vivos donation. When organs are taken from living donors and are transplanted there are also several pros and cons present. One disadvantage in live organ donation is the effectRead MoreAn Analysis Of Organ Donation Essay1509 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of Organ Donation Flashback to when you were sixteen years old. Young, naive, and about to be ruling the streets with your very own Driver’s License. You passed your written and physical driving exams, but before you are able to get your â€Å"right of passage†, you must indicate whether or not you are willing to donate your organs in the case of your death. But how does one know which box to check? It is your responsibility to educate yourself in the matter because ignorance is not alwaysRead MoreOrgan Donation : Organ Donations Essay1323 Words   |  6 PagesPreviously organ donation has encountered organ donors and organ supply rejections. Organ donation challenges and demands decreased as the organ shortages increase over the years. Organ donation mission is to save many terminally ill recipients at the end stages of their lives, the significance of the organ donation is to give back to restore one’s quality of life. The ongoing issues may present an idealistic portrait of how these issues may be resolved. As a result organ donation mission is toRead MoreOrgan Donation : A Necessary Part Of The Healthcare Field Essay1332 Words   |  6 PagesOrgan donation saves lives, and is a necessary part of the healthcare field. However, organ donation is failing to save as many lives as it could because of the low participation rates among the general population. There are numerous types of organ donation, and various organs that can be donated. Several issues need to be resolved and some systems need to be reformed to help increase the level of organ donation to meet demand. Several improvements such as creating an opt-out registration systemRead MorePersuasive Speech : Organ Donor1480 Words   |  6 Pagesaudience of the importance of becoming an organ donor to save lives. Thesis: Becoming an organ donor can give severely ill people another chance at living a normal life. I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: Imagine having a loved one who is in end stage organ failure and has been put on the organ transplant waiting list, in hopes getting the chance to live. B. Reason to Listen: With the long list of people waiting to receive an organ transplant, it is important thatRead MoreOrgan Donation And Organ Organs Essay1308 Words   |  6 PagesOrgan donations have encountered organ donor and organ supply rejections. Organ donation challenges and demands increase as the organ shortages increase over the years. Organ donation’s mission is to save many terminally ill recipients at the end stages of their lives. The significance of the organ donation is to give back to restore one’s quality of life. The ongoing issues may present an idealistic portrait of how these issues may be resolved. As a result, the mission of organ donations are toRead MoreOrgan Procurement And Transplantation Network1321 Words   |  6 Pageswhile waiting for a donated organ to become available for transplant. The number of people in need of a transplant is growing much faster than the number of cadaveric organ donors: from 1988 to 2012, the numbe r of people on the waiting list grew from 15,029 to 117,040, while, during the same interval, the number of deceased donors rose from 5,901 to a still inadequate 14,011 (â€Å"Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network†). In the United States, the cadaveric donation system is described as â€Å"informed

Mortality Ad Immortality Essay Example For Students

Mortality Ad Immortality Essay Mortality and ImmortalityNew York Society, in Edith Whartons Age of Innocence (1920), is paradoxically immortal and mortal. Like the Olympic pantheon of mythological Greek antiquity, New York Society cavorts and carouses, bickers and condemns while it feasts on ambrosia and canvas-backs. Newland Archers sister is the gossipy Cassandra; his wife is the huntress Diana. And he, by all instances of the society around him, should be Dianas archer twin: Apollo. He, too, should be immortal, that is, like a god, a deity, never aging, perfect, alive although dead, icy, condemning and aloof. Surprisingly for Newland and the expectations of his society, after meeting Ellen Olenska he recognizes through the contrast between her and New York that he, like her, is different from the others in New Yorks pantheon. He, too, is mortal, that is, human, aging, imperfect, feeling, compassionate and warm. Once Catherine, the great matriarch of the pantheon, is able to fall from immortality and become a mo rtal, there is a possibility for Archer to leave the pantheon and live a mortal existence himself. But despite his realization of this possibility, Newland never leaves the pantheon to take on a mortal existence. His inability to freely act on his desires casts the icy perfection of immortality in a new light: immortality becomes a form of paralysis. He, ironically, is trapped in his immortality like a soul in a statue. Through the dichotomous metaphor of immortality and mortality, Wharton is able to cast New York and her hero (or perhaps, more precisely, anti-hero) Newland Archer as paradoxically god-like yet paralyzed. When Wharton first describes the characters of New York society, they are always conceived of as immortal in some way. Beginning with Catherine Mingott, her immense accretion of flesh rewarded her by presenting to her mirror an almost unwrinkled expanse of firm pink and white flesh. So, Catherine, despite her very old age, manages to escape wrinkles. She is not alon e in escape aging, a sign of her immortality. For example, Mrs. van der Luydens portrait by Huntington is still a perfect likeness though twenty years had elapsed since its execution. Wharton further emphasizes this point: Indeed, Mrs. Van der Luyden . . . might have been the twin sister of the fair and still youngish woman drooping against a gilt armchair in the painting . . . In fact, Mrs. van der Luydens youth is so eerie that, She always, indeed, struck Newland Archer as having been rather gruesomely preserved in the airless atmosphere of a perfectly irreproachable existence, as bodies caught in glaciers keep for years a rosy life-in-death. Her husband, Mr. van der Luyden, also has the same quality of being alive but dead. His home is like a place for the living dead: As Archer rang the bell, the long tinker seemed to echo through a mausoleum; and the surprise of the butler who at length responded to the call was as great as though he had been summoned from his final sleep. Inde ed, van der Luydens home always, looms up grimly, even in the summer. In his grim state of being alive but dead he is a sort of immortal. His immortality is made even clearer when, later, Mr. van der Luyden is described as Ellens protecting deity. Everything about this ruling family of New York society seems to insist upon their life-in-death nature, or their immortality. Another member of the pantheon, May Welland, is also described as an immortal. When she first enters the Beauforts ballroom, in her dress of white and silver with a wreath of silver blossoms in her hair, she looked like a Diana just alighting from the chase. When Newland visits May in St. Augustine, May, walks beside Archer with her long swinging gait; her face wears the vacant serenity of a young marble athlete. In both instances, May is described as an immortal, something beyond human. She is described as being superhuman in Newlands mind for pledging to give him up if he truly loves someone else. Newland later t ries to understand what makes her seem so immortal. He guesses that perhaps the faculty of unawareness was what gave her the look of representing a type rather than a person; as if she might have been chosen to pose for a Civic Virtue or a Greek Goddess. May is, in some sense, the most immortal of the immortals, since even on her honeymoon she is as icy and frozen as ever: She looked handsomer and more Diana-like than ever The inner glow of happiness shined through like a light under ice. Later, when May suggests that Ellen would be happier with her husband than in New York, Newland condemns her suggestion saying, Watching the contortions of the damned is supposed to be a favorite sport of the angels; but I believe even they dont think people happier in hell. Here he suggests that May is like an angel watching Ellen suffer. The archery tournament is the most vivid example of Mays godliness. When she comes out of the tent to the tournament, She has the same Diana-like aloofness as wh en she had entered the Beaufort ballroom on the night of her engagement. Her nymph-like ease makes her stand out from the other participants. Also, she, like Mrs. van der Luyden is able to defy the aging process: In the interval not a thought seemed to have passed behind her eyes or a feeling through her heart; and though her husband knew that she had the capacity for both he marveled afresh at the way in which experience dropped away from her. As another attribute of her godliness, May never shows pain; her only wounds are imaginary: Archer thinks if May had spoken out her grievances (he suspected her of many) he might have laughed them away; but she was trained to conceal imaginary wounds under a Spartan smile. May is always young; she is always innocent and without visible pain. As final testimony to her ability to defy age, she dies quickly and mysteriously of pneumonia after she weans her second child. Ellens mortality stands out in stark contrast to Mays immortality. Ellen age s, cries and feels. Early in the novel, It was generally agreed that Ellen had lost her looks. Even Archer agrees that her early radiance is gone. The red cheeks have paled; she is thin, worn, a little older-looking than her age, which must have been nearly thirty. Her mortality is emphasized by the fact that she ages; and it is made even more apparent when compared to the cast of gods who never age. Further, Ellen is the only character (besides Newland) who cries . Her first sadness is revealed when she explains to Newland her frustration of the real loneliness, which is living among all these kind people who ask one to pretend. Her humanism and sympathy for others is also quite exceptional in her society of gods. Ned Winsett points out that Ellen bandaged and rescued his little boy: My little boy fell down chasing his kitten, and gave himself a nasty cut. She rushed in bareheaded, carrying him in her arms, with his knee all beautifully bandaged, and was so sympathetic and beautifu l that my wife was too dazzled to ask her name. Ned, a mortal, is the first to recognize Ellens beauty. No one among the pantheon recognizes her beauty except Newland , of course, and Catherine after her stroke. Ellens aging, sympathy and humanism cast her as a mortal against the backdrop of immortal New York. Catherine is the only one among the gods of New York that seems to fall from immortality. In the beginning of the novel, she seems as immortal as the rest with her vast flesh keeping her skin smooth and pink and wrinkle-free, despite her old age. As if conscious of her position in the pantheon, Catherine has a grand mural of the Olympiad painted on her summer home. She also speaks like a god, condemning Ellen to her fate: And now its too late; her life is finished. She spoke with the cold-blooded complacency of the aged throwing earth into the grave of young hopes. Her ability to judge, condemn and bury alive is seen in her treatment of Ellen and then later Mrs. Beaufort. But soon after her abandonment of Mrs. Beaufort, Catherine suffers a stroke. Unlike Mr. Welland whose sickness is a sham induced to protect the reputation of his bad doctor, Catherine is the first character in the novel to really become ill and almost die; in this sense, she is the first of the immortals to fall from godliness. Her body, which once never aged, now shows physical signs of deterioration. She looked paler with darker shadows in the folds and recesses of her obesity. Also, her temperament has changed from being the cold, callous goddess to a more understanding mortal woman. Wharton describes the change in Catherine: The growing remoteness of old age, though it had not diminished her curiosity about her neighbors, had blunted her never very lively compassion for their troubles; but, for the first time, she became absorbed in her own symptoms and began to take a sentimental interest in certain members of her family to whom she had hitherto been contemptuously indifferent. Aft er her change, Catherines first impulse is to bring Ellen back home. Her focus has changed from purely godly concerns to human concerns. Although previously she had been the first to condemn her, to cut her off from her allowance when she refused to divorce, she suddenly identifies and sympathizes with Ellens plight. Something has changed in Catherine; she is now mortal. She invites Archer to her home, specifically denying May the invitation. Archer tells Catherine that she is handsome, but Catherine immediately uses the complement as a segue to champion her granddaughter. She says, Ah, but not as handsome as Ellen. She is the first of the gods of New York Society to see beauty in Ellen. She also resolutely decides that Ellen must stay with her and receive her allowance: The minute I laid eyes on her, I said: You sweet bird, you! Shut you up in that cage again? Never!' A clearer indication of this change in her mortality is her own recognition of the change. Catherine says, She hadn t been here five minutes before Id have gone down on my knees to keep her if only, for the last twenty years, Id been able to see where the floor was! This statement is highly ironic because, of course, literally she has not been able to see the floor because of her extreme obesity. But on another level, she admits to being off the floor, not leveled in reality, on the ground and in a mortal existence. Through Catherine we realize that it is possible for someone to relinquish his place among the gods and choose a mortal existence. Despite the fact that Newland recognizes the possibility to shift from an immortal existence to a mortal existence, he remains in the pantheon. In the pantheon, Newland plays the role of Apollo. In Greek mythology Diana (called Artemis by the Greeks) and Apollo are the archer pair. Artemis and Apollo are the great twin archers in mythology; May makes clear, particularly to Ellen that she and Newland are the same in all feelings cementing the analogy betwee n the mythological archers and the New York Archers. Janey, Newlands sister, is referred to as Cassandra-like. In Greek mythology, Cassandra is the gossipy lover of Apollo, thus, once again securing the analogy between Newland and Apollo. Apart from the godlike similarities , Newland also behaves as an immortal in other ways. For example, he, like the van der Luydens, often senses that he is alive but dead. In conversation with May, he thinks to himself, Ive caught my death already! I am dead. Ive been dead for months and months. In another scene, Wharton describes Newland as absent from life, as though her were dead. By being godlike like May and simultaneously alive-in-death like the van der Luydens, Archer is an immortal and fits in well in New Yorks pantheon. Despite his immortal characteristics, his mortality is starkly visible, particularly when he visits Ellen. Early on, Newland sees evidence of his mortality first in the literature that he reads. He first begins to feel trap ped in his role when May and Mrs. Welland insists he go from family to family announcing his engagement. He feels like he is a wild animal cunningly trapped. He supposes that his readings from anthropology are forcing him to take such a coarse view. Further evidence of his mortality is in his agreement with Ellen. On their first meeting in her home, she tries to explain away the van der Luydens place in the pantheon. She suggests that they remain powerful and exclusive because they receive so seldomly; thus, she debases their immortality. Newland, laughed and sacrificed them. Newland is able, like Catherine, to become mortal and sacrifice his gods. But, he lacks the boldness to do it outside of Ellens company. With Ellen he is able to view New York as through the wrong end of a telescope. But once he steps outside her company, New York once again becomes vast and imminent and May the loveliest woman in it. Newlands mortality is addressed more directly by the Marchioness Manson: in j est, she says while referring to Dr. Carver, How merciless he is to us weak mortals, Mr. Archer! Although the expression is clearly just humor, there is also the question of Archers mortality that is distinctly articulated. Not only does Newland recognize his mortality in the conversations he has with others, but he also sees it reflected in his studies of relics and of future inventions. Through a comparison with his readings, Newland comes to understand his society as a hieroglyphic world. Hieroglyphs are obscure symbols, but they are also very ancient. In this comparison, Newland shows an understanding that all the codes of his modern society will someday be as obscure and meaningless as hieroglyphs. He compares the simulated reluctance of Mays acceptance of the engagement as similar to the books of Primitive Man that people of advanced culture were beginning to read, where the savage bride is dragged with shrieks from her parents tent. In comparing the rituals of the immortal so ciety in which he lives with the barbaric and ancient traditions of the past, he understands that his society, too, will one day be gone. This acceptance is extremely mortal; the recognition of the near possible end to his pantheon shows that he is, at heart, not an immortal. The final meeting between Ellen and Newland in the museum highlights this sense of impending mortality that Ellen and Newland share but that the other immortals can not seem to grasp. Newland and Ellen begin their final conversation while staring at a relic from a society that may once have been as powerful and immortal as New York society. Ellen says, After a while nothing matters any more than these little things that used to be necessary and important to forgotten people, and now have to be guessed at under a magnifying glass and labeled: Use unknown.' Ellen and Newland both realize that all the rules and regulations that have forbidden their happiness will soon become relics just like the museum exhibit. In an earlier scene, the same sense of mortality is found by looking into the future rather than the past. Ellen and Newland speak lightly about the future of the telephone and the fantastic predictions of Jules Verne and Edgar Poe. They speak of the future and speak of the past, placing themselves in a transient age, and naming themselves as mortals that are born, grow old and die. Although he clearly possesses the characteristics of the mortals and immortals, Newland is unable to fall from immortality as Catherine did; he is unable to vocally champion and publicly love Ellen as Catherine is able to. Unlike Catherine, Newland never chooses to act against the rules of the immortal society. Instead he lives a life of pretend, upholding the rules of immortals while suffering as a mortal. His life of faade is so convincing that people begin to call him a good citizen. He allows his true love, the only other mortal who had been included in the pantheon, to live alone, exiled. Meanwhile, h is lack of boldness makes him miss the flower of life, the freedom that he, ironically, had always pictured himself as possessing. He can never freely choose the life he wishes to live. And, in this sense, his immortal life is more paralyzing than liberating. Ironically, it is the mortals who are free to live where they want to live and be who they want to be. The juxtaposition of mortality and immortality in Age of Innocence is the most informative tool that Wharton could have used to relate the true nature of the last pantheon in American history. Newland, in his struggle to confront his own mortality and then in his cowardice to deny it, is the most befitting narrator for a tale of such a society. He is simultaneously in the circle of gods, while also a mortal, rejecting and criticizing the lives that the others lead. His decision not to cheat on May and not to abandon his unborn child is simultaneously a tribute to his understanding of immortality and mortality. He stays with he r, partially because he is sheltered, protected and empowered by the pantheon. At the same time, he and Ellen agree that a life of infidelity would make him just like the others. A life of cavorting and carousing, like that of Larry Lefferts, would be a life of the cold immortals. So, in his decision to be forever faithful, his life is a tribute to the compassion of human mortality. In this sense, Wharton leaves the question of whether Newland is a mortal or an immortal open. He never seems to grow old, or age just as the immortals. At the same time, his compassion and fidelity are so unlike the characteristics of the others that he seems entirely distinct from them. Perhaps Wharton places Newland in the paradox position between mortality and immortality intentionally. After all, Newland, in his position of flux, has the gift of an insider perspective while maintaining a critical eye. Simultaneously, he lacks the power to change and reconstruct his society in order to allow us, read ers, to observe his entrapment in the marble mausoleum of New York society. Words/ Pages : 3,106 / 24 We Wear The Mask Essay