Global Variables in Ruby

Global Variables in Ruby Global Variables are variables that may be accessed from anywhere in the program regardless of scope. Theyre denoted by beginning with a $ (dollar sign) character. However, the use of global variables is often considered un-Ruby, and you will rarely see them. Defining Global Variables Global variables are defined and used like any other variable. To define them, simply assign a value to them and begin using them. But, as their name suggests, assigning to global variables from any point in the program has global implications. The following program demonstrates this. The method will modify a global variable, and that will affect how the second method runs. $speed 10 def accelerate $speed 100 end def pass_speed_trap if $speed 65 # Give the program a speeding ticket end end accelerate pass_speed_trap Unpopular So why is this un-Ruby and why dont you see global variables very often? Put simply, it breaks encapsulation. If any one class or method can modify the state of the global variables at will with no interface layer, any other classes or methods that rely on that global variable may behave in an unexpected and undesirable manner. Further, such interactions can be very difficult to debug. What modified that global variable and when? Youll be looking through quite a lot of code to find what did it, and that could have been avoided by not breaking the rules of encapsulation. But thats not to say that global variables are never used in Ruby. There are a number of special global variables with single-character names (a-la Perl) that can be used throughout your program. They represent the state of the program itself, and do things like modify the record and field separators for all gets methods. Global Variables $0 - This variable, denoted by $0 (thats a zero), holds the name of the top-level script being executed. In other words, the script file that was run from the command line, not the script file that holds the currently executing code. So, if script1.rb was run from the command line, it would hold script1.rb. If this script requires script2.rb, $0 in that script file would also be script1.rb. The name $0 mirrors the naming convention used in UNIX shell scripting for the same purpose.$* - The command-line arguments in an array denoted by $* (dollar sign and asterisk). For example, if you were to run ./script.rb arg1 arg2, then $* would be equivalent to %w{ arg1 arg2 }. This is equivalent to the special ARGV array and has a less descriptive name, so it is rarely used.$$ - The interpreters process ID, denoted by $$ (two dollar signs). Knowing ones own process ID is often useful in daemon programs (which run in the background, unattached from any terminal) or system services. However, this gets a bit more complicated when threads are involved, so be wary of using it blindly. $/ and $\ - These are the input and output record separators. When you read objects using gets and print them using puts, it uses these to know when a complete record has been read, or what to print between multiple records. By default, these should be the newline character. But since these affect the behavior of all IO objects, theyre rarely used, if at all. You may see them in smaller scripts where breaking the encapsulation rules is not an issue.$? - The exit status of the last child process executed. Of all the variables listed here, this is probably the most useful. The reason for this is simple: you cant get the exit status of child processes by their return value from the system method, only true or false. If you must know the actual return value of the child process, you need to use this special global variable. Again, the name of this variable is taken from the UNIX shells.$_ - The last string read by gets. This variable may be a point of confusion for those coming to Ruby f rom Perl. In Perl, the $_ variable means something similar, but totally different. In Perl, $_ holds the value of the last statement and in Ruby it holds the string returned by the previous gets invocation. Their usage is similar, but what they really hold is very different. You dont often see this variable either (come to think of it, you rarely see any of these variables), but you may see them in very short Ruby programs that process text. In short, youll rarely see global variables. Theyre often bad form (and un-Ruby) and only really useful in very small scripts, where the full implication of their use can be fully appreciated. There are a few special global variables that can be used, but for the most part, they arent used. You dont really need to know all that much about global variables to understand most Ruby programs, but you should at least know that theyre there.

Stealers Wheel essays

Stealers Wheel essays My idea is that the following scene was written by Director Tarantino choreographed to the song by Stealers Wheel. Rather than the norm where a scene is written and the music is picked thereafter. As I describe the scene I will give the lyrics to the song and show how they correspond to the characters actions in the scene. Mr. Blonde starts talking to the cop, who still insists he knows nothing. The lyrics to the song begin; keep in mind that I am suggesting that the words are what the cop is thinking. Well I don't know why I came here tonight. I got the feeling that something ain't right. I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair, and I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs. Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right... Here I am stuck in the middle with you. The words being sung tell us that the cop is wondering how he got into this situation, he knows something is up, and he is scared that he may not be able to make it through the rest of this torturous interrogation alive. The clowns are his fellow officers who allowed the situation to get so out of control, and the jokers are Mr. White and Mr. Pink. And now he is stuck in the middle of this whole ordeal with the most cynical, evil, and hardest criminal of the bunch....Mr. Blonde. Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you and I'm wondering what it is I should do It's so hard to keep this smile from my face cause I'm and I'm all over the place These are the lines that justify what I am saying the most. He is wondering what he should do, he knows that Mr. Orange is a cop and if he were to mention it to Mr. Blonde it may save his life. It is an internal conflict in which he heroically decides to keep quiet. He can't keep the smile off his face because he knows the cops are outside just waiting for Joe to come to the warehouse so they can bust the whole operation, and when he comes the torture will be over. ...

United States should not remove all penalties on drugs Essay

United States should not remove all penalties on drugs - Essay Example More than 30% of the states have legalized the use of these kinds of drugs. Thus there arises a conflict of interest between the Federal Government and the central government. However, the liberalization and decriminalization of drugs is not a very acceptable phenomenon from a societal point of view. This essay makes an attempt to justify the opinion that US should not remove all penalties on drugs. Discussion The US government had planned to remove or reduce the drug penalties on several grounds like lack of any violent activities or the use of weapons. If the drug penalty on those people are removed who have not indulged in violence, the others may be instigated to get involved in such activities knowing that they would be freed too. This would have a harmful effect on the society. The drug peddlers who trade drugs to anyone other than the minor had also been given relaxation. Circulation of illicit drugs even to the adults is not acceptable (Savage 1). A lot of money of the govern ment that comes in form of taxes is spent in the prison expenses of the people convicted of the crime. Most of the people had taken advantage of this and had moved to jail so that their basic needs are taken care of. However, to curb such increasing expenses the persons who are accused of using and distributing drugs cannot be freed because it will cause harm to the society. The drug peddlers who trade drugs to anyone other than the minor had also been given relaxation. Circulation of illicit drugs even to the adults is not acceptable (Savage 1). A lot of money of the government that comes in form of taxes is spent in the prison expenses of the people convicted of the crime. Most of the people had taken advantage of this and had moved to jail so that their basic needs are taken care of. However, to curb such increasing expenses the persons who are accused of using and distributing drugs cannot be freed because it will cause harm to the society. These drug addicted people would come out and spread the curse among more people and it would have detrimental effects on the society. Thus by maintaining the penalty the government of US would be able to deliver better safety standards for the public. If penalties are removed, the use of drugs would lead to several organized crimes. The drugs are mostly expensive and thus the sale of drugs provides a lot of money to the drug peddlers. These people with their money can influence many powerful entities and continue with their illegal business. It would also lead to a waste of money by the youngsters especially who can use that money for educational or other productive uses. The consumption of drugs would also increase because the people who did not indulge in drugs in fear of legal bindings would now start using drugs. Most important point in this regard is the fact that US government under the leadership of Ronald Reagan and more recently Bill Clinton had passed several legislations to curb the use of drugs. These measures have actually helped the government control the use of drugs. Records have proved that the crime rates had decreased in the period when these rules were there. Thus in order to ensure the safety of the citizens and the benefit of the society as a whole, the US should not remove the penalty on drugs (Levine 1). Conclusion Thus it is clear that the binding that is existent in the US regarding the consumption and the use of laws should remain stringent and the penalties that are existent should not be relaxed. The relaxation of the penalties woul d send a wrong signal to the society and the illicit consumption would increase. The stringent regulations would curb the crime rate of the society that take place due to drug abuse. The waste of money and other forms of resources would be prevented and it could be utilized for the social welfare. The regulation of the use of drugs would prevent the economic power from concentrating into the hands of the influential drug dealers. Though the people who indulge in the business and use of

The Law of Trusts Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Law of Trusts - Case Study Example In 2004 Brian entered into a covenant under a trust deed with his children Pat and Richard. Pat and Richard can sue against Brian at law for damages to compensate Pat and Richard for their loss of expectation if Brian does not perform his promise. In Cannon v Harley1 a father promised his daughter by deed that he would pay her any sum exceeding 1,000 which he received under his own father's will. When he failed to do so, she successfully sued him at law for the amount she would have obtained had his promise been performed. It is important to note, however, that the same promise was not enforceable in equity. Equity will enforce promises made for consideration, but not ones whose only claim to enforcement is that they are contained in a deed. None of the property referred to in the 2004 covenant has been transferred to Pat and Richard. Brian appointed Tony and Nathan as his executors and trustees under his will. Now the question arises who can enforce the covenant. If the Contract (Ri ghts of Third Parties) Act 1999 were to apply to covenants (which is doubtful) then assuming the requirements of the Act were satisfied, Pat and Richard would be able to enforce the covenant at law and obtain damages for lost expectation. It can be argued that they hold the benefit of the right to sue on the covenant on trust for Pat and Richard. If this argument, the 'trust of the covenant' argument, can be made out, then Pat and Richard can compel Tony and Nathan to sue Brain. The assumption is that Tony and Nathan would recover substantial damages, which they would then hold on trust for Pat and Richard. There are three difficulties, which stand in the way of this argument succeeding. To be a valid trust, it is necessary three certainties, formalities, and perfect constitution. A trust will be perfectly constituted where the rights, which are to form the subject matter of the trust, are vested in the intended trustee. The principle laid down in the case Milroy v Lord2, Lord Turne r LJ explained three ways of benefiting third parties. The easiest way to benefit the third party is by an outright gift. If the Beneficiary is minor and a gift is a real property then it is not possible. In this situation, he needs to create a trust or declare himself as a trustee. The transfer to the trustees must accord with the rules applicable to the property concerned. Legal estates in land must transferee by deed, equitable interest, and copyright by writing (which may include an electronic document), chattels by deed of gift or by an intention to give coupled with a delivery of possessions, a bill of exchange by endorsement, and shares by the appropriate form of transfer followed by registration.   The traditional approach also adopted in subsequent cases like Re Fry3, required all stage should be completed. However, if the settlor wants to become a trustee himself he must declare it in clear and unequivocal terms, which carry out man's intention.  

Something Beautiful Is Coming Essay Example for Free

Something Beautiful Is Coming Essay HTC was founded in 1997 by Cher Wang and her husband. Wang wanted to manufacture personal digital assistance under contact of established brands. However, the company failed to convince buyers. Instead remained focused on contract manufacturer’s mobile phones according to its customer’s strategic priorities. Cher approaches the business with the eyes of the customer. HTC had nututred contacts into valuable business relationships, creating products that combined customer-oriented design with advanced technology to cast a reputation for consistency and excellence that many industry valued and applauded. In mid 2000, HTC started making customized smart phones running on windows operating system for Deutshe Telekom and Vodafone. This proved strategically shrewd, creating potential growth without having to rely on handset manufacturers. Facts and Figures HTC started making customized smart phones running on windows operating system for Deutshe Telekom and Vodafone. This proved strategically shrewd, creating potential growth without having to rely on handset manufacturers. Under this ‘operator business model’, sales exploded, growing 100% annually, with net profits rising some 300% per annum since 2003. HTC soon became darling of the market, with share prices soaring 1000% in March 2006. Mission A customer oriented positioning that communicated its strengths and tapped into the zeitgeist of its target market- tech savvy trendy customers interested in performance and design. Strategy Business Strategy- Sustained on ‘operator business model’, proved immensely successful. Functional (Marketing) strategy- The key to its strategy was its partnership with networks such as vodafone Internet and viral marketing proved effective Sponsorship of the Columbia –HTC cycling team in 2009 ensured messaged reached millions of viewers worldwide

The Abortion Controversy Essay -- essays research papers

The controversy within the biomedical ethics topic, abortion, has two main proponents. The first is the view against abortion, also known as pro-life. The other view is rooted upon the belief of being pro-choice, or basically for abortions. These two different views are like two mathematical principles, in that although these two views have many differences, they also have larger similarities in the background. For example, when pro-choice activists support abortions due to unwanted pregnancies, the activists are not rallying behind the idea of sexual incompetency (pregnancies due to lack of birth control). Rather, they are supporting the idea that women have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies. In order to understand these opposing views, justifications and condemnations, on abortion, it can basically be divided into three categories. These categories are based upon the reasons for which abortions are carried out, and include congenital defects, rape, and economics . Congenital defects, is when deformities within the baby are detected during an early stage of a pregnancy. These defects, such as Down’s syndrome, are detected through an amniocentesis test. The second justification for abortion is from criminal cases, such as rape. A final reason for an abortion is due to economics, the financial condition, of a family. Economics can also include cases such as teen pregnancies. The anti-abortionists have numerous reasons for their beliefs, and many of them are attached to their religion ideals. Religious ideals, range from having an abortion before 120 days after the pregnancy, as in Islam, to considering it a sin to have an abortion, as in Christianity. However, the anti-abortionists’ reasons also come from the belief that a human being is born after conception, and that the death of that embryo or fetus resembles the murder of an innocent human being. They believe that no one has the power to take command of another’s life, mainly an infant, which is dependent on others for survival during the initial stages of life. In addition, to the fact that abortions kill innocent human beings, anti-abortionists believe that they also damage the mental, as well as physical condition of the mother. Since, after an abortion a mother is more susceptible to breast cancer, and to periods of depression. In the case of congenital defects, the pro-life activis ... ...cal analysis of abortions. In the eyes of Economics, abortion can also have a negative effect, or an opportunity cost. For example, is the mother of Einstein or Darwin had an abortion, then the opportunity cost would be the loss of knowledge they discovered. Likewise, the opportunity cost of an unborn child due to abortion, whom could have had a significant effect on human race, can be devastating. Work Sited Anderson, D. E. Newsroom Guide to Abortion and Family Planning. Second Edition. Washington, D. C.: Dickinson Publishing, 1996. Harrison, Maureen, and Steve Gilbert. Abortion Decisions of the United States Supreme Court: The 1990’s. Beverly Hills: Excellent Books, 1993. Joffe, C. Doctors of Conscience: The Struggle to Provide Abortion Before and After Roe v. Wade. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1996. Melville, Keith. The Battle Over Abortion. Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 1990. Whitney, Catherine. Whose Life?. New York: William Morrow and Company Inc., 1991. Internet Source. http://www.cbctrust.com/medproc.html Internet Source. http://www.prolifeinfo.org/statestats.html Internet Source. http://www.prolifeinfo.org/up16.htm Internet Source. http://www.tidalweb.com/life/go.htm

My School Essay

Today if there is any institution which exerts the greatest influence on us after the family, it is the school. The years that we spend in school are not merely time spent in learning and filling our minds with knowledge, but also time spent in moulding our character, acquiring various attitudes and imbibing basic principles of life. The basic traits of our personality are formed during our school days. The name of my school is Don Bosco Secondary School. It is situated in a town called Tura, W.Garo hills, Meghalaya. It is considered to be one of the finest schools in the state, highly acclaimed for its excellent HSLC results. The school building is an impressive structure. It consists of four floors and has about 25 classrooms. Classrooms are spacious and airy. see more:speech on my school Two staircases at both ends lead to the floors. The school has a well equipped library, a well- established science laboratory and an excellent computer room, all of which are situated on the third floor. The schools auditorium situated on the top-most floor is said to be the finest hall in the region. The Principal’s office, clerk’s room and the Staff Room are on the ground floor, close to the entrance. The school canteen is another important part of the school complex. It is situated on a separate wing close to the ground floor. Two cemented basketball courts stand in front of the Principal’s office, while the school’s football field lies at the far end of the compound. A small garden full of flower plants surrounds the school building adding to the charm and beauty of the entire complex. My school has over 1500 children studying from nursery to class X and a staff of over 45. Our headmaster is an experienced and a very efficient person, who has been at his job for the last 15 years and more. Under his able direction, the school has been obtaining cent percent HSLC results over the last 10 years. The teachers are well experienced and well versed in their subjects. My school has also made a name for itself in the field of cultural pursuits and sports activities. The school band is considered to be one of the best bands in the whole region. The principal celebrations in my school are School Annual Sports Day, Parents’ Day, Teacher’s Day, Children’s Day, Anniversary Day, Founder’s Day, etc., which are celebrated in a grand manner. Co-curricular activities, such as, scouting, N.C.C., Eco- Club, School band, etc. have contributed in making my school an excellent educational institution of the region. What I like most in my school, is the discipline that exists there. The headmaster as well as the teachers are disciplined and men and women of character. They do not allow any untruly behaviour or any undisciplined activities by students. A lot of emphasis is given to character formation, moral education and acquiring good values of life. Although the school ambient is rather strict and time-table based, yet there is lot of fun and joy in the school. Matches, tournaments, cultural shows, competitions, outings, etc. make my school life lively, interesting and enjoyable. I am proud to be a student of Don Bosco Secondary School, Tura. As I glance back at the bygone school years, my heart swells up with gratitude and thanks giving for the twelve wonderful years that I spent in the school. My school has profoundly shaped and moulded me more than any other factors in my life. School is a temple of learning and a training ground for future citizens. The name of my school is JB High School. It was set up in 1943 by a land-lord in our area. He donated land and money for the school. The atmosphere in which our school is situated is very pleasant. It is surrounded by a play ground on one side and a garden with a small pond on the other. The school has two rows of big buildings. The name of the school is written on the front building. There are ten class rooms in the front building. Other ten rooms in the back building are used for different purposes such as the Head Master’s Office, Library, the Clerk’s Office, the Science Laboratory, the Teachers’ Common-room, the N.C.C. and Scout Room, etc. There is also a hostel in our school campus. There are twenty teachers, a PET, a librarian, a clerk and two peons in our school. All the teachers are qualified and experienced. The Head Master is a learned man. He teaches Science and Geography. He also teaches English. The total number of students of our school is about five hundred. We go to school in uniform. The uniform for boys consists of blue half-pant and white half shirt. For girls it consists of blue skirt and white blouse. The school functions from 10.30 A.M. to 4 P.M. classes begin after a mass prayer. During the recess hour we go to play ground. Some students also go to library and read newspaper there. In games period we play football, volley ball, etc. Girl students play ring ball too. The library of our school is a big one. There are about two thousand books on different subjects; we have a library period in our weekly routine. We borrow books from our library and refund them after a week. We observe the Republic Day, the Independence Day, the Teacher’s Day in our school. We also celebrate the Ganesh Puja and the Saraswati Puja in our school. We also hold debate competitions and games and sports every year. The school magazine named â€Å"the Shree† is published every year. In annual examinations the students from our school show brilliant performance. Many students from this school have occupied glorious position in our state. The District Science Exhibition is also held in our school. Two years ago a classical teacher from our school won the Governor’s Award. The discipline, the study atmosphere and the brilliant academic result of our school attract many meritorious students from distant parts of our state. It is an ideal school in all respects.

Peter Pan Syndrome Essay

Peter Pan syndrome, is exactly how it sounds. It’s a disorder that is derived from the novel Peter Pan written by J.M. Barrie that defines those who appear as an adult but their actions are quite childlike. The ‘Peter Pans’ of present society â€Å"see the adult world as very problematic and glorify adolescence, which is why they want to stay in that state of privilege†, according to Humbelina Robles Ortega, professor of the Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment of the University of Granada and an expert in emotional disorders. Although it can affect both men and women it is often seen in the male population. The syndrome is developed through environmental factors, and cannot be genetically inherited. â€Å"What causes Peter Pan syndrome?†, you may ask. According to top psychologist, it is do to overprotective parents. What this is exactly is that the parent is so overprotective that it does not allow the child to have their own life experiences to grow up and learn on their own, so the â€Å"child† is in need of constant parenting. Dan Kiley, who defined Peter Pan syndrome in 1983, also suggests behind every â€Å"Peter† there is a â€Å"Wendy†. Thus creating the term â€Å"Wendy syndrome†, which is used for women who shadows their companions as a motherly figure. Women with â€Å"Wendy syndrome† The consistent parenting figure in the person’s life with PPS, Peter Pan syndrome, never gives them a chance to grow up. The typical PPS victim experienced a great deal of permissiveness in his upbringing. This led to a lack of self-discipline, demonstrated by laziness and irresponsibility, along with the inability to learn how to control their emotions. PPS may be diagnosed once the person begins to show symptoms and signs. Certain symptoms are outbursts of emotion, expressing anger to the point of wrath, happiness that turns into extreme panic, frustration that leads to self-pity and/or depression, and they always feel guilty. The use of anger is used to push the person away that is trying to push reality upon them. People diagnosed with this also show difficulty relaxing and can be really undependable considering their childlike characteristics. They are also narcissistic with dependency and manipulation tendencies. Basically, this syndrome characterizes the personality of an immature person and also includes narcissistic behavior. Another serious problem people with Peter Pan syndrome have is developing relationships. Referring back to the person’s relationship with their parents, men often find themselves fixated on their mother. Usually because of their fixation with their mother, this is when they develop feelings of anger and guilt due to their conflicting feelings for their mother. The relationship with the father is at odds since the person diagnosed believe his love and approval is off limits. The hang up on their mother is what will cause difficulty in future relationships. Individuals with this syndrome have a hard time building relationships with peers. As a result they become depressed and feel desperately alone in their attempt to belong. They often don’t fix the problem though because their solution to any problem is to ignore the issue and until it disappears. Most people, especially men, with this diagnosis cannot have a real connection with friends because they believe they can only be bought. When they do get friends, they often ‘drag their feet’ and cause a delay when hanging out because they share characteristics of the condition called narcissistic personality disorder. Males with PPS have trouble keeping a love life as well. They tend to become easily extremely jealous and exhibit violent outbursts. If the woman tries to assert her independence, the male becomes easily provoked to fits of anger. They fear if the woman asserts their independence, then they’ll appear weak and not like a man in front of friends. This often causes the male to refuse to share feelings. This may result to having difficulty expressing love, especially when it comes to being sensitive. Men often pick younger women to have relationships with because that way they don’t have to worry about responsibility such as settling down and having a family. People with the disorder could live a normal life. There is no physical or brain function change for those with this disorder. It may take energy from their partner, but with dedication they could show them having a committed relationship can be worthwhile too. If their partner begins to suffocate them then they’ll scare them off, so it’s better to give them their own space. If it is a man, then make sure they still get their â€Å"man cave†. As long as both partners are understanding of the person’s needs with PPS then it’ll work out. The only thing that could stop them from having a bad life would be the narcissistic characteristics of Peter Pan syndrome. They tend to be absorbed with imaginative comfort in their minds which attracts them to introspection. This leads them to be imprisoned by childhood fantasy, not the realities and difficulties of life that they need to overcome. In an attempt to avoid the realities of life, it could cause them to use prohibited drugs and abuse alcohol in an attempt to escape the obstacles of life. The only major complication of Peter Pan Syndrome for individuals having the disorder is not being able to build strong relationships. However, they remain unsuccessful at facing fears and responsibilities, and may also acquire other psychological disorders. According to research, people having Peter Pan Syndrome have very low self-esteem and are unmotivated leaving them feeling depressed. Individuals having Peter Pan Syndrome do not usually exhibit the self-confidence, motivation and determination that are keys for being successful. Treatment for Peter Pan syndrome is uncertain. Peter Pan syndrome is still unrecognized as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association and WHO, which is why there is no specific treatment. There are therapies such as the wilderness therapy, which covers psychodrama, cognitive behavioral therapy, strength-based therapies, solution-focused therapy, trans-personal counseling, and family therapy. There is other treatment modalities as well, such as: The Healing Sound of Silence, Embracing The Twelve Step Philosophy, and Transforming Into An Effective Adult. The Healing Sound of Silence helps the individual keep away from refocusing their addiction on something else such as: watching TV, computer games, drugs, etc. Instead, they put the focus on themselves and their issues in an attempt to get their life back on track. It allows them to learn the basics on how to face the real problems of life. The Twelve Step Philosophy is a camping therapy. It’s a twelve-step program that helps them recognize the importance of a support system. They learn that every individual has a role and purpose. They also learn self care. The transformation into an effective adult is when the Peter Pan-like person begins taking responsibilities. Even though there is no established cure for the disease, the only time that the person with Peter Pan Syndrome is treated is when the individual shows willingness and awareness of their disorder. Since Peter Pan Syndrome is a disorder caused by factors during childhood, any prevention measures should be directed at parents and their awareness on how to raise a child. Parenting discussions should be organized, especially for teenage parents so they are aware of techniques to teach their children about responsibilities. Also, the environmental factors still need to be considered when raising a child. The right role models should always be around as well for positive influence.

Important School Tips for Parents From a Principal

Important School Tips for Parents From a Principal For teachers, parents can be your worst enemy or your best friend.  Over the course of the last decade, I have worked with a handful of the most difficult parents, as well as many of the best parents. I believe that the majority of parents do a terrific job and genuinely try their best. The truth is that being a parent is not easy. We make mistakes, and there is no way we can be good at everything. Sometimes as a parent it is critical to rely on and seek advice from experts in certain areas. As a principal, I would like to offer a few school tips for parents that I believe every educator would want them to know, and that will also benefit their children. 1. Be Supportive Any teacher will tell you that if a child’s parent is supportive that they will gladly work through any issues that might arise over the course of the school year. Teachers are human, and there is a chance they will make a mistake. However, despite perception, most teachers are dedicated professionals who do a terrific job day in and day out. It is unrealistic to think that there are not bad teachers out there, but most are exceptionally skilled at what they do. If your child does have a lousy teacher, please don’t judge the next teacher based on the previous, and voice your concerns about that teacher to the principal. If your child has an excellent teacher, then make sure that the teacher knows how you feel about them and also let the principal know. Voice your support not only of the teacher but of the school as a whole. 2. Be Involved and Stay Involved One of the most frustrating trends in schools is how the level of parental involvement decreases as a child’s age increases. It is an extremely discouraging fact because children of all ages would benefit if their parents would stay involved. While it is certain that the first few years of school are arguably the most important, the other years are important as well. Children are smart and intuitive. When they see their parents taking a step back in their involvement, it sends the wrong message. Most children will start to slack off too. It is a sad reality that many middle school and high school parent/teacher conferences have an exceedingly small turnout. The ones who do show up are the ones that teachers often say don’t need to, but the correlation to their child’s success and their continued involvement in their child’s education is no mistake. Every parent should know what is going on in their child’s daily school life. A parent should do the following things every day: Ask your child how their school day went. Engage in conversation about what they learned, whom their friends are, what they had for lunch, etc.Make sure your child has time set aside to complete homework. Be there to answer any questions or assist when needed.Read all notes/memos sent home from the school and/or teacher. Notes are the primary form of communications between a teacher and parents. Look for them and read them to stay up-to-date on events.Contact your child’s teacher immediately if you have any concerns.Value your child’s education and express the importance of it every single day. This is arguably the single most valuable thing a parent can do when it comes to their child’s education. Those that value education often thrives and those that don’t often fail. 3. Do Not Bad-Mouth the Teacher in Front of Your Child Nothing undermines the authority of a teacher any faster than when a parent continuously bashes them or talks bad about them in front of their child. There are times when you are going to be upset with a teacher, but your child should never know exactly how you feel. It will interfere with their education. If you vocally and adamantly disrespect the teacher, then your child will likely mirror you. Keep your personal feelings about the teacher between yourself, the school administration, and the teacher. 4. Follow Through As an administrator, I cannot tell you how many times I have dealt with a student discipline issue where the parent will come in tremendously supportive and apologetic about their child’s behavior. They often tell you that they are going to ground their child and discipline them at home on top of the school’s punishment. However, when you inquire with the student the next day, they tell you that nothing was done. Children need structure and discipline and most crave it on some level. If your child makes a mistake, then there should be consequences at school and at home. This will show the child that both the parent and school are on the same page and that they are not going to be allowed to get away with that behavior. However, if you do not have any intent on following through on your end, then do not promise to take care of it at home. When you practice this behavior, it sends an underlying message that the child can make a mistake, but in the end, there is not going to be a punishment. Follow through with your threats. 5. Do Not Take Your Child’s Word for the Truth If your child came home from school and told you that their teacher threw a box of Kleenexes at them, how would you handle it? Would you instantly assume that they are telling the truth?Would you call or meet the principal and demand that the teacher be removed?Would you aggressively approach the teacher and make accusations?Would you call and request a meeting with the teacher to ask them calmly if they could explain what happened? If you are a parent who chooses anything other than 4, then your choice is the worst kind of a slap in the face to an educator. Parents who take their child’s word over an adult before consulting with the adult challenge their authority. While it is entirely possible that the child is telling the truth, the teacher should be given the right to explain their side without being viciously attacked first. Too many times, children leave out crucial facts, when explaining situations like this to their parent. Children are often devious by nature, and if there is a chance they can get their teacher in trouble, then they will go for it. Parents and teachers who stay on the same page and work together alleviate this opportunity for assumptions and misconceptions because the child knows they won’t get away with it. 6. Do Not Make Excuses for Your Child Help us hold your child accountable. If your child makes a mistake, don’t bail them out by constantly making excuses for them. From time to time, there are legitimate excuses, but if you are constantly making excuses for your child, then you are not doing them any favors. You won’t be able to make excuses for them their whole life, so don’t let them get into that habit. If they didn’t do their homework, don’t call the teacher and say it was your fault because you took them to a ball game. If they get in trouble for hitting another student, don’t make the excuse that they learned that behavior from an older sibling. Stand firm with the school and teach them a life lesson that could prevent them from making bigger mistakes later on.

Starting a Historical Fiction Series †A Reedsy Success Story

Starting a Historical Fiction Series – A Reedsy Success Story Starting a Historical Fiction Series – A Reedsy Success Story Author R.P. Wollbaum is another example of the tremendous opportunity that indie-publishing represents for writers. He self-published his first book in 2015 and is now working on book 5 of his Bears and Eagles series. He has found his editor and cover designer through Reedsy and has been working with them ever since. His story is quite nice, so we thought we'd let him share it on our blog.I have always been interested in history. As a young lad, I used to listen to the old-timers talk about the old country. There were still a few around that had been born in what they called Russia, now called Ukraine, and they talked about life there. They also talked about life in their new home, Canada and how there had been literally nothing but open sky and prairie when they had arrived. They even told stories they had heard from  their grandfather about life in the ‘Old Country’, and the struggles they faced to make a life for themselves.I had always had an interest in writing. B ut writing things in longhand - my handwriting is terrible- then transcribing them by typewriter was a pain and any hope of finding someone to publish your work was almost impossible. So it was just an infrequent hobby for me.Then life in Canada changed and our young men and women were once again losing their lives in war. This time in Afghanistan and a young man serving as a member of the King’s Own Calgary Regiment lost his life. Most of us in Canada know of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) Battalion. Albertans know about the Lord Strathcona Horse (an armored brigade), and Calgarians know about the Calgary Highlanders. They are all famous Canadian regiments. But the King’s Own Calgary Regiment? Who were they?So I researched this little-known cavalry brigade and thought to myself, what led this young man from a country not known for its military history, to join a reserve reconnaissance battalion? A plotline developed and I worked backwa rd in time to come to a starting point in the late nineteenth century when things were much like they are today, but I definitely still needed to do some worldbuilding. Huge Imperial Empires were dueling over land and prestige. Islamic fundamentalists were fighting to expand their territories and Christians were fighting them.I placed a young educated man, Russian born to German emigrants and his younger brother in a Cossack battalion along with other younger sons of other German families and progressed from there. Each book of the Bears and Eagles series follows the next generation of this family and I place them in times and events that did occur, but perhaps not exactly how or when.The explosion of indie-produced writers made the decision to publish easy, and I made a choice early on to obtain professional help for editing and book cover design. I had enough budget to edit two novels and one book cover. So I published Bears and Eagles, the first book in the series. It was well re ceived for a first effort by an unknown author.My original cover was eye-catching, but its retro art was not particularly suited to my theme. That is when I discovered Reedsy and the services they provided. I chose Dane Low to be my cover artist. Not only was he easy to work with, but I thought his addition of a battle scene into the background of the design was masterful. He is my choice as cover artist for the rest of the series.The original editor I had hired did a good job, but there were mistakes. So I again looked to Reedsy for help. I am a guy. I write for guys, but I have many powerful female characters in my novels, and I made the decision to find a female editor to work with. Kate O’Donnell and I came to an agreement for an editorial assessment of Eagles Claw and right away we had a connection. I take most of what she wants me to do to heart. Although we speak the same language, we have different cultures and usages of language that have to be ironed out at times. S he is Australian, I’m not, and my target market is North American males; but we are able to compromise, both of us being a little quirky and offbeat in our own ways.She was my sole choice for Eagles Talon, the third release of the series. She performed the whole editing process for me and did fantastic work. My work is now being noticed, even though I only first published last June. Kobo has recently asked me to participate in a pilot project they are putting together that may see my hard copies distributed with the Indigo chain. Kate is about to do an editorial assessment of the fifth novel in the series, and I am about to begin rewrites on book four, for which she did everything - from an editorial assessment to a full and substantial copy edit.I have expanded my distribution beyond Amazon and Kobo and have found that other sales channels, for me, sell as well or better than Amazon.  My Reedsy experience has been fantastic. Soon I will be searching for a marketing profess ional to join my team and will be looking to Reedsy once again.My journey continues.You can check out R.P. Wollbaum's Bears and Eagles series on Amazon here.  As always, feel free to leave any questions for R.P. Wollbaum in the comments below. And if you're ready to follow his example and looking for an editor, designer, or marketer, take a look at Reedsy here!

Social Institution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social Institution - Research Paper Example No matter how extensive the family membership is, the mutual bonds under a common authority exist among the members of a family. The evolving traits of the family’s structure are best explicated by sociological theories such as functionalist, conflict, and interactionism. Functionalists view that every society has interrelated social institutions, including the family, the educational institutions, the religious sects, the government and political system, and the mass media (Giddens & Griffiths, 2006). Each social institution contributes toward the advancement of the society. Since every society operates based on the consensus of its members, it serves the best interest of the general populace. In particular, functionalists emphasized the value of social structures than that of the individuals. Functionalism is a â€Å"top-down,† structuralist theory, which gives more importance on the societal structure and stratification, rather than on the individuals (Giddens & Griffiths, 2006). Functionalism views individuals as the product of social influences as they continuously expose themselves to other structures or members of the society, including family members, peers, relatives, and media. Family as a social institution, in the eyes of the funct ionalists, is beneficial to individuals because they usually experience physical care and emotional support from it. In 1965, Talcott Parsons tackled the origin of â€Å"family† and the roots of nuclear family (Giddens & Griffiths, 2006). He suggested that prior to industrial revolution societies were founded on an extensive network of kinship. This network bridges the relationship of the family members to the members of the nuclear family. In such family networks, the role of each member is mainly defined not by any skills or educational background, but through ascription. G.P. Murdock argued that the nuclear family has universally existed because it supported the economic,

A Basic Project Management Framework and the Proper Staff Literature review

A Basic Project Management Framework and the Proper Staff - Literature review Example The measures that had been put in place were not working, in July emergency measures were put in place.   This included free two-year extensions to passports as well as many other drastic measures.   One such measure was to add 100 staff to places issuing passports, and there was a phone line set up to deal with inquiries over the phone. In addition, more measures were put in place in order to improve the lines at passport offices.   Even though the Agency set up a goal of reaching the deadlines for processing passports by peoples’ dates of departure, there were still about a half of a grand missed dates of departure.   This is not to mention all of the hand-wringing going on by customers who were anxiously anticipating their passports being processed. Another aspect of this whole fiasco was that, throughout the ‘90s, some of the concerns of management were to lessen costs as well as make the organization more effective, at the same time keeping good quality cust omer relations.   Management thought that perhaps the Agency had done well for itself, improving in both of these senses of the word and that it boded well with other agencies comparable to itself—costs to the consumer being competitive with other places around the country. Regardless, both management and the Agency realized that they had not taken into consideration, along with the fact that there was increased demand for passports, that the Agency was working out of deference to how many passports were coming in at one time rather than taking into account the fact that the Agency was dealing with a higher demand.  Ã‚