Life Academe

Relationship Between Facts and Theories

2012-02-17T15:05:00.002-05:00

A fact that I selected as something that happened when I was growing up is puberty. Puberty is a process that takes place to all human beings during teenage years. According to Feldman 2008, puberty is the period during which the sexual organ of teenagers matures. Feldman said that “puberty begins when the pituitary gland in the brain signals other glands in child’s body to begin producing the sex hormones, androgen (male hormones) or estrogens (female hormones), at adult levels”. Normally, girls start the puberty stage approximately at age 11 or 12 and boys start somewhere between age 13 and 14. (Feldman 2008, p.373-4) On the other hand, we can say that puberty is a stage after childhood and before adulthood. Also, puberty is about mental and physical changes that takes place in a teenagers’ body.

Puberty is interpreted by the cognitive theory by using tools that examine the sources of understanding. The cognitive theory deals with developmental stages that lead and help people to have the ability to think, to know and to understand the world and its surroundings. The father of the cognition theory, Jean Piaget (1896-1980), recommended that the quantity of information increases in each stage and quality of knowledge and understanding change from stage to stage. These human stages are organized as a mental guide that correspond to humanistic behavior and actions that take place. In his assimilation process, Piaget says teenagers assume more responsibilities and engage in serious relationships with people of the opposite sex. This stage, helps us understand and stipulate our cognitive development (Feldman 2008, p.20)

For example, when I was about 13 years old, I felt the drastic changes in my body. My voice started to get deep, I felt more mature and a sense of establishing my own personal views and objectives. I had the desire to assume more responsibilities due to my hormonal changes, as first born, than I used to. I remember asking my father,’’ Why are my nipples hurting?’’ I became even more scared of the transition of having facial and pubic hair added. I started to feel that I was no longer a boy, so I started to behave like a man. My father was there prompting me of all the changes that I would experience being helpful to answer any questions to the concerns of my fears. In my culture, parents stress talking to teens about the changes with their bodies. Usually, the men mentor the boys and the women direct the girls. Being confident and happy for who you are becoming is very important. Respecting the elderly, parents, teachers, and making sure that you grow up prosperous with dignity starts at home. During the teenage years it is very crucial to have a position to engage in education and to be skillful because puberty is a process to early adulthood and those changes reflect who you are as an adult. Family is very important and to set a good example to siblings. Helping my family when they need me most gives me stability, and a purpose because I know they are going to be there for me as well. Believing and trusting in God, my Faith, as my parents and great grand parents did. Learning to cherish my home, develop the traditional land that I inherited from my parents and fore fathers, and to respect all and obey the laws, to treat others as I would like to be treated is what I have learned during the advancement of adulthood. Keeping the traditions that I inherited from my parents is a rite of passage for me, as well as, passing these and many other values to my offspring.

On the other hand, puberty in the evolutionary theory has played a big role interpretation my puberty process. I’m African (Tanzanian) my culture, norms, customs, taboos and mannerism are of essence in my life. I learn all these through my parents and extended family members, because that is the way of life that I was living, my values. This theory requires me to identify my behaviors from my parents and family members as they also inherited them from my fore-parents. As father of evolutionary theory, Charles Darwin stated that this theory is “a process of natural selection that creates traits in a species that are adaptive to its environment”. (Feldman 2008, p.26) This is very vivid to the African cultures, because they automatically become abiding norms and customs that identify one’s culture, decision making and personal identity.

For example, if I was not born and grew up in Tanzania there is no way I could ever understand why I should believe and abide by my culture as I’m. Because my genetic inheritance from my forefathers gave me the physical traits, personality traits and social behaviors that I have, therefore they have influence in my life. It is a must for boys and girls at puberty (teenage) to be taught values and ways of life in my tradition, though that since birth we are automatically abide and taught these values.

Bibliography:

- Feldman, R. S. (2008). Development across the life span. Upper Saddle River, NJ, Pearson Prentice Hall.

05/19/2009

Dad Shoots Daughter's Laptop After Facebook Post” My Dude Right Here

2012-02-17T15:04:00.000-05:00

This is the kind of father we need around this time. This era and generation is so hooked-up and dependent on the video games and gadgets. This dude reminds me of what my parents told me when I was a teenager that "to grow up, do what is the best, expect to take total responsibility of my life and pave my way to prosperity and no hand-outs, but the sky is the limit; or choose to wait and not listen to them as they were the only true love I had and face the world cruelty, wolf-like so called friends and associates to chew me up and spit me out like nothing".

That was the wake-up call; this dude is a true father who knows best because he is preparing his daughter for the real world and not imaginary world that pilot parents pretend they can give their kids, forgetting that no one else will bow to their kids feet, lying to their children that they will live in a honey and butter world. It's the ugly truth that parents are the only thing one has to direct the right way of life; also, we make these kids become who they are by piloting them to the ‘’lazy’’ direction. A parent does nothing, no caring rather their children are in a good predicament or bad are the ‘’bad parents’’, the ones that are ‘’paying attention’’ and get active in their child’s life are ‘’dedicated’’ parents. It takes hard work to be a leader and that is what parenting is, ‘’leadership’’. You can choose to ride the ship of slavery in this world or a ship to leadership. Kids and teens these days will pay for coaches, karate classes and personal trainers, but forget that the real true coach in life is a parent. A parent who, ‘’pushes’’ mentally and spiritually will not be forgotten.

Trust me if your parents didn't care for you or did not love you, you could never be alive today because they did what is the best and based on their capability; and I'm speaking of not all parents per se or use this as blanket statement because we are all unique individuals. I would rather do what this dude did to her daughter to my children as compassionate love than a stranger who can care less about my daughter do that to her, let alone may be shoot her in the head instead of the lap top. Pilot (mom) parents around there, keep it together kids will get old and become men and women then independent individuals some day. Let them take charge today as teenagers because they will become stronger and experienced to the real world. No pre-K, K, elementary graduation parties and gifts because that is sugar coating the brutal real world out there that got-ya technique is the survival for the fittest.

Look at this link here to see the dude that I’m talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl1ujzRidmU

Only out of touch elite wanna be parents can try to teach us how to raise our kids while themselves have no kids rather pets, and can criticize this father/dad. Concern parents need to teach kids how to act in the real world and this father did just that. Don’t be an elite out of touch parent or over your head in parenting; get in touch with the real world that our kids lives into. This dad/father is an IT specialist, he knew and could get around everything his daughter was doing online, that is modern parenting right there. If you don’t teach your kids about the real world someone else is going to teach them and you may not gunna that. Keep it real with your kids now when you have some leverage now. This dude is the real father/dad and father figure right here aint no faking or making stuff here, he is involved and can pull some strings for real. Once again you are my dude dawg, I applaud you man.

“Religio-Politico”

2012-02-17T15:02:00.000-05:00

I have a question? Who said that you are Christian? Yes I’m asking the reader? You call yourself Christian and that's all that really matters? Isn’t that so? I never heard of anyone going around asking for affidavit of support from anyone just proving that he or she is Christian or a member of any other religion for that matter. For Christians, remember, in the Bible not all who shouts Christ's name and go to church every Sunday are true Christians, but you must believe in the trinity; and have faith as small as a mustard seed can move a mountain( Matthew 17:20). Don’t be like Thomas who did not believe his fellow disciples that Jesus came to them to reassure and reaffirm Christianity that he won the death and crucifixions. Based on Thomas story and him seek to see and touch Jesus’ wounds so that he can prove and believe that is true him, the holy Bible tells us that Jesus came back while the disciples were barricaded in hiding while doors and windows locked fearing of prosecutions, and he asked Thomas to prove his point and added that “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:26-29).

In this uncertain time, many have run speeding toward the Lord and many, as well, have set traps to catch the vulnerable that they are the only one can take the speeding vulnerable into Jesus. What I see is like having a broker, lobbyist, lawyer, specialist and or consultant to straighten up things between you and Lord God. For example, GOP prolonging the cloud that President Obama is not Christian or not American for that matter feeds into genuine fear of the weak speeding into Lord at these uncertain times and GOP comes as middle man who supposedly can straighten up things between them and the Lord. Otherwise that is none issues and should never be in the air for even a second, because if there was a truth in it he could never have been even State Senator and US Senator let alone the US President. Come on, even African Countries can pass such a small test of proving true identity although they don’t have even one percent of data mining that US and the west have got.

As Christian, I believe that we are all conservatives by nature and the rest we learn through diversified experiences that characterize our way of life. It is all about perception and personal experience that makes us to choose what themes, procedures, ideologies to use when executing our daily actions. They say “don’t judge the motive, judge the action”. For example, some have used the Tea Party toward the same ways Liberals are using events and groups of people to galvanized power. GOP CANNOT say no for everything and expect to become leaders, not in the Bible, and not in real life; likewise Democrats cannot assume that somehow America don’t need to defend its interest by all means necessary (fighting wars, drill oil, build Nuclear Plants, extract gas, support trading, and back-off welfare system that is so overstretched and act like a trap to keep poor poorer and rich richer. The man is getting hated for ideology, ethnicity, policies, faith, social, and economic, you name it. The very thing that he is good at is that he was born to resist all that. He was born when white and black couples could not get married, and all his life he navigated through all that, don’t underestimate him for that because he has proven to be the master/sage of that, whether we like it or not. Just look at his composure.

We all know that something you work for and paid for is always going to be treasured by you comparing to those that you were handed over. This is also true to school systems; look at performance in the private schools or those who are paying for it from their pockets, statistic shows they perform much better than the rest. So raise to top should be parents to contribute to the school spending by make payment/check to the school district based on income. You will see drastic change and improvement because no parent will waste money for a child who plays video games all night and bring zeros, likewise, a student won’t want to see a parent wasting money paying for his or her school whole he is bringing zeros at home, this is very good incentive and recipe to raise to the top. What I see is that America, altogether, needs to retool and lead the world, end of the story.

Bible eloquently teaches us that being Christian is not by event or sneak-peaking what you like or your friends like to hear and leave out the rest. It is a total reconciliation and one's self converge in the trinity as a whole. The problem with the GOP's so called evangelical is that they are getting caught up in the conundrums of power hunger and power struggle and at the same time they are assuming that somehow they are serving the Lord and their constituency.

Check this out, give Kaiser what is his and the Lord what is his and move on, the rest i will let my foes to dice-and-entice while I serve the Lord. Be informed and don’t personalize everything other than God, because you will be disappointed. We are human, remember, we are full of sin, conniving, faking, manipulative, power hungry, vindictive and you name it, human is capable of them all. Will never stop because it is nature therefore, liberate yourself free from all this by true teachings of Jesus and not by politicians or so called influential “Religio-Politico” figures who like to ignite fire so that they can turn it off and seek to become some sort of heroes, typical human aggressive behavior. Unfortunately, we the public are fusing these humanistic aggressive behaviors willingly or unwillingly. Remember that events like the balloon boy, the Kardashian conniving wedding, fake Reality shows and all stunts to seek celebrity are the fruits of what we feed into. These things could not be at this magnitude if we were not seeking more and more of them. They are giving what the public wants and that is the brutal truth that all people need to know.

I was invited in the Pre-K graduation party, seriously, I graduated my BS by just taking my certificate eat snacks prepared by the university and it was over. Something is really wrong with gift and rearward system to our kids. Some things are expected as children’s responsibility and parents to guide them through as parenting responsibility and not to do them for them. How are we preparing them to face-up the world and stand up for what America believes is our responsibility and how they perform these duties is their responsibilities, just like what the Great Generation and Baby Boomer did. No one can and will say that this is Obama’s, GOP’s, Liberals, Conservatives, or Dem’s fault alone, but our fault, all together as one nation under God. Until we come into such understanding and build up a common ground that can balance the “Religio-Politico”, economic, and social matters then we will be able to tackle the problems that we are facing together. However, we human are composed as individual and we are individualistic society, and that is what makes America great and most welcoming nation under the sun. The beauty is anyone can make it and shatter the glass ceiling that most motherland nations have put on us.

America is the nation of immigrants and we all came here to seek freedom and individuality that we did not have at our motherlands. America always come together and face-up the challenges that it faces, and history has always proven this right; from Revolutionary War, Civil War, WW I & II, Great Depression, Cold War, and September 11^th the world has seen the American resilient and ability to seek and to forge ahead while standing uncompromised and firm in its values always. Clint Eastwood and the 2012 State of the Union Speech are having resounding effects both at home and abroad. It is because American people are prepped once again to overcome the manifested cloud of the economic uncertainty that need to be wiped out but this cloud is keeping one shifting and reappearing like ghost, it is like deja vu all over again. It is time for Kiser to take a note that it is given what it is his and now for Kaiser to be responsible of what it is just like the give assumed his/her responsibilities to give what is Kaiser’s.

My Imaginary Africa: The Motherland For All

2012-02-04T21:50:00.000-05:00

African map

The poverty of Tanzanians and Africans in general is not the poverty of Money and or materials; it is the poverty of heart, knowledge, information, psychology of successful life and deficit of leadership in general. Africans cannot be proud if the houses, cars, furnishing and all bunch of materialistic things we have seen in the so called African leaders and their crony investors and pep-crooks who aim one thing and one thing only to keep Africa as it is in order to leave the corrupting gateway that benefit African leaders and the multi-national corporations. We have seen these mansions, luxurious cars and materialistic things from these people; it could be better for Africans and African pride, if and big if they were built, manufactured and promoted by materials from Tanzania and or Africa. But I guarantee you that less than 1% of the materials and man power (physical and mental) used to make these flying fancy materialistic things came from Tanzania and or Africa combined. The rest came from Asia (Arab world and China).

In my opinion as I se, if I were Chinese, I would be happy than ever because I captured the colonies of Africa that I can continue to mentally enslave and rip the raw-materials that I need in my home country. A lot of Africans’ acts and ways of life indicates diagnosis of been mentally slaved, a dose of therapy and delicate care is needed to eradicate such infectious epidemic that is tearing apart the motherland. Tanzanians likewise Africans, do not see themselves and their own as good, but when a white man or an Arab does something they jump and see them as worth-while and more superior. How can anybody treat us, African, equal while they don’t even treat themselves, even half equal? If a white man jumps, Africans ask, how high? They have mentality that whatever is made out of Africa, from the developed world so to speak, is of much better value. It is not always true, so many things in the locality of Africa are valuable than can Africans imagine, yet are still walking and breathing blind folded. I don’t mean to be rude but let the truth be told and sometimes can cut you through like a surgical knife.

This is happening because it starts from Africans themselves. Africans have tendency of not valuing their own, so they don’t think of their own as well. The question how can African be developed by none-Africans? Of course, how can outsiders come to create jobs for Africans while Africans who are suppose to create jobs for Africans are creating jobs for Arabs, Chinese and or Asians? I remember this polarizing say in Tanzania, a Swahili say that river and canal water runs to the sea/ocean”. Means canal and river water are poor and middle class people, and ocean/sea are millionaires or rich people; or canals and rivers are Africans and ocean/sea are Western people or developed world. Now if Africans don’t stop such self degrading mental polarization and start to elevate themselves are the high standards and toil to attain such standards will never come out of the dark cloud at hat lingering Africa and all its problems. Leadership is the key here, compare to American’s founding fathers and Presidents like Abe Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Regan all we see is the aspiring leadership from the positive leaders at the gruesome time that human being can doubt to see a brighter future. Instead these leaders inspire and insight “the people” and they made sure that they see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is all about “the people” and a good leader who knows how to articulate the powers of the people by the people to reach the desired goals as one people and one nation. Who can resist such truth and inspiring examples? It is sad when you see what is wrong and see people who knows better and should do something about it; instead they go about their business harvest for themselves and leaver millions to fen-for themselves.

Africans have all the richness of the world, Africans world is not explored at all, Africans can do wonders; African food is natural and healthy, but Africans don't get it right because what? Greedy, when African leaders get in power all they think is how they personally benefit, and for Multinational Corporations to lure leaders with such mentality is very easy and cheep. This leaves many in the cumbersome life struggles like we have witnessed in Africa as a whole. One of my very close people in my life, also an African Diaspora has told me that Africans, all nations each are in “need of constitution to guide us how our country should be run.” Another thing I was going to add on this is yes the constitution is fine but we should make sure every Bongo person abides by and respects the constitution because whoever doesn’t then the law will take over. My question is do our characters reflect that we can do it? Probably not but if we’re determined we can do it. Look at the industrialized nations. It took so long to be where they’re. Rome was not built in a day” This is true and its entirety, we need leaders who are bold and wise to put together fair and equal living document (Constitution) that explicitly describe powers sharing, equal rights to all, and provisions that are to be used to enforce this living document where no one is above the law; just like the American founding fathers and European wise-gentlemen did; whereby regardless who is in power in their countries won’t get drunk powers, and if one fool gets drunk powers wont brutally destroy lives their national fabric like African leaders/Mugabe did, rather gets voted out or impeached by the same provisions of the living document. There is an old say that you can trust human when he/she is mixed together with powers and or money, this is always true. Do some soul searching and find out by yourself.

Negro please, emancipate yourselves from the mental slavery. You can’t build a sky-scraper in the air it must touch the ground and with a strong foundation too. Africa is jumping on the moving train and tries to compete with the world that has strong foundations. Africans need to have a strong living document that will guide them as the nations through good and bad times. What good does it do to have a mansion and your neighbor is living in the teepee house? I will feel unsecured, that is both real and a metaphor. How many people in Tanzania and Africa are living under $1 per day? Almost 75% cannot afford one meal a day, based on the world development agencies. How many Tanzanians or Africans get fairness and equal justice for all, "NADA". So all that is like sky-scrapers hanging on the air awaiting to touch down like tornadoes/twisters. A man doesn’t get measured by who he is or what he is or what he got or who do he knows, rather by his own characters, deeds and how he treat himself, his own and others. Remember, charity starts at home.

What is so funny is what African measure as development or being rich; things like big expensive houses, expensive cars, readymade western like food (we call it junk food) and they forget to claim and establish the fabric that can bring about all that with equality without suppressing one another. With all that they work on so hard individually they end up having big houses without drainage, electricity, paved roads to get home all seasons or cut off unnecessary accidents, drainage system that can stop flooding that end-up killing them when it is rainy season, good social policies that benefit many and build-up the middle class as viable fabric of their nations, good agriculture system that can sustain farming and irrigation that can feed Africa and the world instead of the peasantry-system that they have, good quality education system that way even leaders family members can find it worthwhile to take their kids instead of taking them overseas and paying for by the corrupt money and so many good ideas that can make Africans prosper and self reliable.

A lot of Africans they find it rather having a teepee in the developed world where all peoples can play with the same set of rules, and can get quality of life as human being regardless of my status, education, position and to whom I’m known by iconic figures or corrupt leaders. Living in the teepee or not, in the developed world you are assured all basic human need without reservation; if one gets sick can walk in the Emergency Room and get quality care, if one need emergency care can get flown to where specialty is available, one can call 911 in case of emergency and help arrives in seconds if not less than a minute, one can petition the government whenever feels mistreated, can assemble and form association, no one-including leaders are above the law, can get all utilities (electricity, water, gas, telephone and paved roads no bribery) without discrimination and rationing because you have a teepee house or not, one can sue anyone including millionaires when their acts or behaviors or properties infringes the constitutional rights and have equal representation according to the law, can own anything and do business under uniform commerce laws (no special treatment), one can question and or support your representative on the issues feel misrepresented and if there is misconduct can support to vote him/her out of the office on the election or form a referendum to recall such leader as allowed by recall-laws, and one can have oppositional voice under the law as “freedom of speech” permit. These are some of the provisions of the “Bill of Rights” that are God given, anything less than are not good for equal justice and certainly not good for development. Freedom is just a part of “bills of Rights” and freedom is not complete because it is an evolving thing; but freedom right is not attained until all other provisions of bill of rights are in place and simultaneously applied in peoples’ regular lives as community of society.

The new generation needs to survive and the only assurance we can give them today is to be brave enough by denying ourselves petty luxury and offer them a solid living document that can govern all under the rule of law, "CONSTITUTION". Something that “Farther” or “Mother” can give to his/her baby if is to save his life, likewise, there is a danger with the trend that is unfolding ahead of us. ‘Fatherhood Life” is to do selfless and brave things assure the offspring get by and have better quality life than ours. The question is that, are we better fathers or mothers than our parents or ancestors? How will we be measured by the coming generation? That is the daunting question that I’m afraid many Africans can’t answer with perseverance. But for sure, Africans can certainly be productive for national building and make Africa the best place to live only if they sit down and o some soul searching to why and how to solve the problem Africa is facing. Without knowing why and how there is not proper solution to any problem. This needs to be done by forging good quality leaders who genuinely are to serve the interests of Africans from their individual nations to the continent level. Blaming others/west, status quo, wont take Africa anywhere and certainly can’t begging to address problems Africans are facing, it is a cheap politics that diverge Africans away from the reality for so long now. Africa is responsible for Africans and no one person other than Africans; they way they act, do business, lead, interact with others, articulate present from the past and project the future is what will be Africa of today, tomorrow and years to come. Africa is where it is because of the how African leaders shaped Africa to be and certainly it is now work therefore the Ben Frankly say that “to do the same thing over and over and somehow to expect different results it is insanity”. It is like living the dream that make Africans hallucinate living an imaginary life whereby actual life is detrimental. Fatherhood life style can become handy since that in Africa, father is the sole head of the house and raising children who are equipped to face-up the challenges ahead them can make a difference and project a brighter future for Africa ahead. This generation is already at its prime and there is little they can do to reverse the drastic changes but they can help by putting a grand-rule for all, the living document that will hold all accountable with a mechanism for enforcing accountability.

No shortcuts to solid and sound success in life, it will all knock the wall like rat-race. It is like a newborn baby, he/she has to sit, crow, stand, take a step, walk, run, jump and then do the somersault or tricks. Now, Tanzanians and most Africans are just new, independent 1961, and are trying to do the tricks with nations that were independent since 1400's and or 1700's and literary can preprogram anything within African system and successes, it is not a joke. The question is when Africans can be able to take charge and control of their lives and actions? It has to start from what they can control and that is mind, self, home, compounds, communities, then to govern their nations/themselves. Africans have to start like and take charge on what they can produce, then use their own produce and then attain sense of self reliance, otherwise Africa will continue to be poor and soon junk-yard of the developed waste, and that will become literary junky place than it is right now.

There are some good examples in Africa, such as South Africa after apartheid ruling that ruled South Africa propagating hatred among blacks and whites South African. In this regard, like the many leaders during the great generation, Nelson Mandiba Mandela and ANC wise men like Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo drafter the south African Freedom Charter with its governing main theme state that "The People Shall Govern!"; mimicking the “Declaration of Independence drafted by American Founding Fathers and the true living document of all the time. (http://scnc.ukzn.ac.za/doc/HIST/freedomchart/freedomch.html) He is a truly legend who sought no revenge for all atrocities, humiliation and decades he save in jail while the people who looked him as their leader were killed and above all denied the very right of the country they so loved, citizenship with all rights. Mandela was like many Africans in the category of the Great generation, Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere of Tanzania/Tanganyika, Jomo Kenyata of Kenya, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Samora machelle of Mozambique, Patrick Lumumba of Zaire/DRC and Kwame Nkurumah of Ghana. Although they were brushed to have elements of communism during the cold-war era they did what they had to do and what was best for Africa at a time; to attain independency and self reliance. What their successors (baby boomers) brought to Africa is disgrace, greedy, civil wars and corruption that attribute what west calls “stupid death’ to the African people.

I’m sorry to tell you that over all Africans are lacking leaders who do understand the nature of the real world, not materialistic leaders who are bought cheep by the international businesses, while a dog/pet in the developed world gets 100 times quality care than 75% Tanzanian or Africans who can barely eat one meal a day. That is what they want, I guess, since they are all settled for that less, clapping hands on such leaders that are so corrupt and selfish. There is no African leader who doesn’t have immediate family members living or studying in the developed world; and they too, have been there numerous times. Why can’t they learn or copy the leadership style, development principles, governing quality of the successful/western leaders at their home countries that are so promising for them to initiate or send their loved ones to live or study? I think that they are selfish and not leaders from the first place rather special interest’s representatives without genuine challenge and mechanism that balance their powers. One can’t get precise answer to this because it is obvious that Africans can’t get in their brain or inner-cycle and reveal the answer to the general public. But their motives can be question based on their governing and leadership style and put the puzzle together, corruptions. Their family members abroad act like puppets who go overseas to establish businesses as a system of clean-up corrupted money in their banks and investments in the developed world. This is how African minds are corrupted; a leader of a poor African country is an investor in the developed world, taking jobs from poor Africans to well-off westerners. Nothing bad, if they were not leaders who obtain their wealth by corruption leaving millions to fend for themselves and die from hunger/starvation, poverty, disease and wars. I wander if the developed world leaders could survive even a minute for been corrupt like African leaders; Treason, chapter of their constitutions will send them to the electric chair (capital punishment) so fast. I’m getting emotional, why can’t Africans use the God given assets, brain? No one can take away your knowledge and or drain your skills and experiences from another’s brain. Knowledge is power, use it, and don’t let it be corrupted or totally misused. Pass it on.

Super Bowl XLVI (2012)

2012-02-04T21:48:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl XLVI (2012) New York Giants are facing New England Patriots in Indianapolis, Indiana. How fun, them Super Bowl parties are going to be? We gonna blast them. We can’t wait to see who is going to emerge as the winner. Emotions are high and exited at the same time. But also, them commercials are going to kill it. You better be prepared because they will rock your world. Laughing is fun and healthy because it releases stress. Also laughing is the ultimate happiness. It is inspirational for children seen grown-ups gather together, laughing and become playful. Make this Super Bowl stress free and healthy.

Super Bowls are the father and son Quality Time (QT). We are expecting to catch up with some lost stings with friends, family members and associates. Parties are arranged and there is going to be a lot of foods, snacks and drinks, of course. Super Bowl parties are fun and if you are father, Super Bowl can be inspirational to children, especially when father is watching Super Bowl with son(s).

Have you heard or watched “Fatherhood” commercial in the TV or radio urging men to become inspirational fathers/dads, sponsored by www.fatherhood.gov? If you haven’t heard or watched these commercials, “take a time and be a dad”. They are cute and educational because they kind like remind us all that whenever we engage with young boy in a positive ways and teach them new things or do some fun stuffs, in this case like spending time watching Super Bowl while talking life experience, can be very inspirational and life changeling events.

We all need someone to inspire us in life as role model or inspirational. Since it takes a man to raise a man and a woman to raise a woman, why don’t you plan to become a role model and an inspirational figure to a boy if you are a man or a girl if you are a woman and use the Super Bowl party as in inspirational event? You don’t need special skills to become a role model or an inspirational figure to a boy or a girl; just be yourself and positive. Just Google them and see how fun and inspirational they are. Here is one of them, follow the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb2iWSae5HE

The truth be known, I'm rooting for New York Giants to win Super Bowl XLVI tomorrow. Giants, bring the Super Bowl XLVI tomorrow or there's gonna be some spanking for real!!!. Lol. It is not fun if New England Patriots wins because it will be too much repetitive. They need to face up some challenges. Team Tom Brady, I have no hate for you guys but love; however, there comes a time you guys need stopped because you operate like machinery. I think if team Tom Brady loose will bring new energy of excitement in the Super Bowl if not NFL in general.

Don’t get it twisted; I was for Tim Tebow, Colorado Broncos. I lived in Denver and John Elway kind like inspired me and many locals to love Colorado Broncos. Also Tim Tebow put some energy in Colorado Broncos so I felt the energy and love, although media and NFL became egotistic against Tim Tebow because he was unique and not the so called typical athletic rooted constituency. I consider myself Tim Tebow’s constituency because I can identify a lot with Tim Tebow and we need some leverage and representative in the sports. If you know what I mean. But hey!!!! Let’s all get some fun while watching Super Bowl. Go New York Giants, go get them. You have got our blessings.

IS THIS AN INSULT TO THE AFRICAN INTELLECTUAL? (The must read truth about Africa and diasporas; the raw-truth and mind facts about bugling Africa, the Motherland.)

2012-01-27T15:46:00.000-05:00

My input: On March 20^th 2011, in this blog, I wrote and posted this article, “When is Africa and African gonna get up from the dark-life!!!!” months ago. I always say, African problems are brought by Africans themselves, just like the Western prosperity is brought about by the Westerners. The notion that Africans won’t change the way they do business and things will somehow change by nature or by miracle of God it is crazy. If Africans don’t like the environment and situation they are into they would have changed it long time ago. For example, Zimbabwe has changed its economic prosperity gained from Farming, manufacturing and mining into the total chaos. It is because that Zimbabwean did not like the economic prosperity and stability they enjoyed from farming, manufacturing and mining. They are daring to blame others/West for their own brutal acts against humanity and development; just like many other Africans, soon after their independence they chose their loving path that they are into up to today.

I may sound like crazy but economic prosperity and societal development are always results of political policies that originate from the law-of-land, Constitution, and reflect on the foreign-policy of the nation. In this case Americas or Europe for that matter, they are where developed/prosperous because their policies and constitutions are set to project their best interests the way they want to take their nations and exactly as it is right now. Likewise, Africa, it is where it is because African policies are the reasons for Africa to be in the place that it is right now. African leaders, so far are projecting to send Africa further into the dooms days. This is going to happen if and big “IF” Africans don’t change and set out policies that will take Africa into prosperity unlike selfishness and corruptions; big wake-up call to African leaders and tough choices for African people.

To start the change Africans have to stop blaming others for their own mistakes and irresponsibility, such as colonialism, poverty and so on. They should remember that Europe was also once colonized by Ottoman Empire and Egypt, and America was the colonies of Europe, divided among European just like Africa; yes, also slaves and religious prisoners were sent or flee to Americas as slaves as well. But I never heard Americans blaming the Great Britain or Europe for that matter, rather taking ownership and great responsibilities of their actions, from the declaration of independence, revolutionary war, civil wars, WWI & II and civil right movement. America and European’s law of the land creates the true check and balance to the point that even if you put crazy guy in power the country will still stand still and stronger, unlike African countries that a crazy guy like Mugabe, Iddi Amin, Ghadafy, Mubarak, Charles Tailor, Mobutu and many more that their individual actions have taken their entire individual nations into their knees by wars, torture, poverty and so many despicable acts against Humanity.

What I don’t understand is why African leaders and their delegations to the west cannot even just copying something so little like constitution from the western countries when they visit there? Don’t they enjoy the prosperity of West? Yes they do; that’s why they engage in the corruptions, taking their family members to study, shopping, live and banking in the west. They have western fantasy, they, are like almost all Africans sees a “White” person as superior to themselves, Africans. No prejudice, I have family members who are white, and I do not dislike White people. But at the same time I value myself equal and capable to do things that a white person can and can’t do. I’m no inferior or superior to anyone but I value me and my kind as competitive human being who is capable of both bad and good. I remember walking into a tourist hotel in Africa, 5 stars, with my white friend that we met flying from Geneva Switzerland to Tanzania. I was stopped and was told that I was not dressed appropriately because I had jeans and polo-t-short on, but my white friend had sleepers on with tropical casual outfits was not questioned. This was in Africa and I was stopped by a fellow African, watchman, when he saw my credentials he was left mouth opened and refrained by his disgrace. I call that self discrimination, and with such low self esteem, others will control you for until you do some soul-searching and dramatically shift from such dogma and taboo into real and rational world. To their surprise here in the west, they don’t stop anyone because of appearance, they need money and no culture, tribe, clan or appearance on business, because money talks. In order for Africa and African to be treated at high standards they have to start treat themselves and their own to that high standard; stop degrading themselves so much, and I hate to say that, but I witnessed and experienced it first hand. Like my father used to say, “I can forgive but I will never forget”.

That’s why I’m about to introduce to the fantastic article written by a fellow from Zambia, an African brother, who is enlighten us all about what is at the stake, who African are bare-naked truth and raw meat and how to overcome the challenges by first admit the problem then act-upon it. This is the must read article, and it will bring you back into the village that you grew up and change your mind about the way you live, think, see and do things from now own. I agree with him all together and may God bless him for bringing this raw-truth for the public to see.

IS THIS AN INSULT TO THE AFRICAN INTELLECTUAL? Please read on…………..

They call the Third World the lazy man’s purview; the sluggishly slothful and languorous prefecture. In this realm people are sleepy, dreamy, torpid, lethargic, and therefore indigent—totally penniless, needy, destitute, poverty-stricken, disfavored, and impoverished. In this demesne, as they call it, there are hardly any discoveries, inventions, and innovations. Africa is the trailblazer. Some still call it “the dark continent” for the light that flickers under the tunnel is not that of hope, but an approaching train. And because countless keep waiting in the way of the train, millions die and many more remain decapitated by the day.

“It’s amazing how you all sit there and watch yourselves die,” the man next to me said. “Get up and do something about it.”

Brawny, fully bald-headed, with intense, steely eyes, he was as cold as they come. When I first discovered I was going to spend my New Year’s Eve next to him on a non-stop JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Boston I was angst-ridden. I associate marble-shaven Caucasians with iconoclastic skin-heads, most of who are racist.

“My name is Walter,” he extended his hand as soon as I settled in my seat.

I told him mine with a precautious smile.

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“Zambia.”

“Zambia!” he exclaimed, “Kaunda’s country.”

“Yes,” I said, “Now Sata’s.”

“But of course,” he responded. “You just elected King Cobra as your president.” My face lit up at the mention of Sata’s moniker. Walter smiled, and in those cold eyes I saw an amenable fellow, one of those American highbrows who shuttle between Africa and the U.S. “I spent three years in Zambia in the 1980s,” he continued. “I wined and dined with Luke Mwananshiku, Willa Mungomba, Dr. Siteke Mwale, and many other highly intelligent Zambians.” He lowered his voice. “I was part of the IMF group that came to rip you guys off.” He smirked. “Your government put me in a million dollar mansion overlooking a shanty called Kalingalinga. From my patio I saw it all—the rich and the poor, the ailing, the dead, and the healthy.”

“Are you still with the IMF?” I asked. “I have since moved to yet another group with similar intentions. In the next few months my colleagues and I will be in Lusaka to hypnotize the cobra. I work for the broker that has acquired a chunk of your debt. Your government owes not the World Bank, but us millions of dollars. We’ll be in Lusaka to offer your president a couple of millions and fly back with a check twenty times greater.”

“No, you won’t,” I said. “King Cobra is incorruptible. He is …”

He was laughing. “Says who? Give me an African president, just one, who has not fallen for the carrot and stick.” Quett Masire’s name popped up. “Oh, him, well, we never got to him because he turned down the IMF and the World Bank. It was perhaps the smartest thing for him to do.” At midnight we were airborne. The captain wished us a happy 2012 and urged us to watch the fireworks across Los Angeles.

“Isn’t that beautiful,” Walter said looking down. From my middle seat, I took a glance and nodded admirably. “That’s white man’s country,” he said. “We came here on Mayflower and turned Indian land into a paradise and now the most powerful nation on earth. We discovered the bulb, and built this aircraft to fly us to pleasure resorts like Lake Zambia.” I grinned. “There is no Lake Zambia.”

He curled his lips into a smug smile. “That’s what we call your country. You guys are as stagnant as the water in the lake. We come in with our large boats and fish your minerals and your wildlife and leave morsels—crumbs. That’s your staple food, crumbs. That corn-meal you eat, that’s crumbs, the small Tilapia fish you call Kapenta is crumbs. We the Bwanas (whites) take the cat fish. I am the Bwana and you are the Muntu. I get what I want and you get what you deserve, crumbs. That’s what lazy people get—Zambians, Africans, the entire Third World.”

The smile vanished from my face.

“I see you are getting pissed off,” Walter said and lowered his voice. “You are thinking this Bwana is a racist. That’s how most Zambians respond when I tell them the truth. They go ballistic. Okay. Let’s for a moment put our skin pigmentations, this black and white crap, aside. Tell me, my friend, what is the difference between you and me?”

“There’s no difference.”

“Absolutely none,” he exclaimed. “Scientists in the Human Genome Project have proved that. It took them thirteen years to determine the complete sequence of the three billion DNA subunits. After they were all done it was clear that 99.9% nucleotide bases were exactly the same in you and me. We are the same people. All white, Asian, Latino, and black people on this aircraft are the same.” I gladly nodded.

“And yet I feel superior,” he smiled fatalistically. “Every white person on this plane feels superior to a black person. The white guy who picks up garbage, the homeless white trash on drugs, feels superior to you no matter his status or education. I can pick up a nincompoop from the New York streets, clean him up, and take him to Lusaka and you all be crowding around him chanting muzungu, muzungu and yet he’s a riffraff. Tell me why my angry friend.” For a moment I was wordless.

“Please don’t blame it on slavery like the African Americans do, or colonialism, or some psychological impact or some kind of stigmatization. And don’t give me the brainwash poppycock. Give me a better answer.” I was thinking. He continued. “Excuse what I am about to say. Please do not take offense.” I felt a slap of blood rush to my head and prepared for the worst.

“You my friend flying with me and all your kind are lazy,” he said. “When you rest your head on the pillow you don’t dream big. You and other so-called African intellectuals are damn lazy, each one of you. It is you, and not those poor starving people, who is the reason Africa is in such a deplorable state.” “That’s not a nice thing to say,” I protested.

He was implacable. “Oh yes it is and I will say it again, you are lazy. Poor and uneducated Africans are the most hardworking people on earth. I saw them in the Lusaka markets and on the street selling merchandise. I saw them in villages toiling away. I saw women on Kafue Road crushing stones for sell and I wept. I said to myself where are the Zambian intellectuals? Are the Zambian engineers so imperceptive they cannot invent a simple stone crusher, or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after thirty-seven years of independence your university school of engineering has not produced a scientist or an engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the school there for?” I held my breath.

“Do you know where I found your intellectuals? They were in bars quaffing. They were at the Lusaka Golf Club, Lusaka Central Club, Lusaka Playhouse, and Lusaka Flying Club. I saw with my own eyes a bunch of alcoholic graduates. Zambian intellectuals work from eight to five and spend the evening drinking. We don’t. We reserve the evening for brainstorming.”

He looked me in the eye.

“And you flying to Boston and all of you Zambians in the Diaspora are just as lazy and apathetic to your country. You don’t care about your country and yet your very own parents, brothers and sisters are in Mtendere, Chawama, and in villages, all of them living in squalor. Many have died or are dying of neglect by you. They are dying of AIDS because you cannot come up with your own cure. You are here calling yourselves graduates, researchers and scientists and are fast at articulating your credentials once asked—oh, I have a PhD in this and that—PhD my foot!” I was deflated.

“Wake up you all!” he exclaimed, attracting the attention of nearby passengers. “You should be busy lifting ideas, formulae, recipes, and diagrams from American manufacturing factories and sending them to your own factories. All those research findings and dissertation papers you compile should be your country’s treasure. Why do you think the Asians are a force to reckon with? They stole our ideas and turned them into their own. Look at Japan, China, India, just look at them.”He paused. “The Bwana has spoken,” he said and grinned. “As long as you are dependent on my plane, I shall feel superior and you my friend shall remain inferior, how about that? The Chinese, Japanese, Indians, even Latinos are a notch better. You Africans are at the bottom of the totem pole.”

He tempered his voice. “Get over this white skin syndrome and begin to feel confident. Become innovative and make your own stuff for god’s sake.” At 8 a.m. the plane touched down at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Walter reached for my hand. “I know I was too strong, but I don’t give it a damn. I have been to Zambia and have seen too much poverty.” He pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled something. “Here, read this. It was written by a friend.” He had written only the title: “Lords of Poverty.”

Thunderstruck, I had a sinking feeling. I watched Walter walk through the airport doors to a waiting car. He had left a huge dust devil twirling in my mind, stirring up sad memories of home. I could see Zambia’s literati—the cognoscente, intelligentsia, academics, highbrows, and scholars in the places he had mentioned guzzling and talking irrelevancies. I remembered some who have since passed—how they got the highest grades in mathematics and the sciences and attained the highest education on the planet. They had been to Harvard, Oxford, Yale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), only to leave us with not a single invention or discovery. I knew some by name and drunk with them at the Lusaka Playhouse and Central Sports.

Walter is right. It is true that since independence we have failed to nurture creativity and collective orientations. We as a nation lack a workhorse mentality and behave like 13 million civil servants dependent on a government pay cheque. We believe that development is generated 8-to-5 behind a desk wearing a tie with our degrees hanging on the wall. Such a working environment does not offer the opportunity for fellowship, the excitement of competition, and the spectacle of innovative rituals.

But the intelligentsia is not solely, or even mainly, to blame. The larger failure is due to political circumstances over which they have had little control. The past governments failed to create an environment of possibility that fosters camaraderie, rewards innovative ideas and encourages resilience. KK, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, and Banda embraced orthodox ideas and therefore failed to offer many opportunities for drawing outside the line.

I believe King Cobra’s reset has been cast in the same faculties as those of his predecessors. If today I told him that we can build our own car, he would throw me out. “Naupena? Fuma apa.” (Are you mad? Get out of here) Knowing well that King Cobra will not embody innovation at Walter’s level let’s begin to look for a technologically active-positive leader who can succeed him after a term or two. That way we can make our own stone crushers, water filters, water pumps, razor blades, and harvesters. Let’s dream big and make tractors, cars, and planes, or, like Walter said, forever remain inferior.

A fundamental transformation of our country from what is essentially non-innovative to a strategic superior African country requires a bold risk-taking educated leader with a triumphalist attitude and we have one in YOU. Don’t be highly strung and feel insulted by Walter. Take a moment and think about our country. Our journey from 1964 has been marked by tears. It has been an emotionally overwhelming experience. Each one of us has lost a loved one to poverty, hunger, and disease. The number of graves is catching up with the population. It’s time to change our political culture. It’s time for Zambian intellectuals to cultivate an active-positive progressive movement that will change our lives forever. Don’t be afraid or dispirited, rise to the challenge and salvage the remaining few of your beloved ones.

Field Ruwe is a US-based Zambian media practitioner and author. He is a PhD candidate with a B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism, and an M.A. in History.

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day;

2012-01-16T04:24:00.004-05:00

Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day is a national Federal Holiday that is observed to remember the greatest asset of American Civil Rights Movement accomplishment of the 1960s, of which MLK was the iconic and brave leader who paid the ultimate-highest price of the movement by his assassination on April 4^th 1968 at age 39. MLK day was passed by the United States Congress and signed into a law by President Ronald Reagan on November 2^nd 1983 and first MLK day was observed on January 20^th 1986; 1992 President George H. Bush decreed the holiday to be observed on every third Monday of the moth of January of each year, which is near the date and month of his birthday (January 15, 1929); whereby, by January 17^th of 2000 all fifty states in the union officially enacted MLK Day as their official State Holiday and it was celebrated national-wide for the first time.

MLK Jr. Is the Great man who is constantly reminding us all that the promise granted to us, human beings, since Adam & Eve, free-will, is still the highest prize of life under the sun; and America has proven itself that it is the shining city on the hill. "Yes we can" and yes "I've a dream" call is alive. What this day reminds us all is that MLK was selfless man. After he graduated his PHD, MLK Jr. could have done just fine and lived better life serving as senior pastor of the Baptist Church in New York City with a lot of personal benefits, if he had accepted the offer. But the MLK Jr. had a greater vision than just been a senior pastor of the inner city New York City church. In stead, he chose to become a pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, much smaller and widely marginalized city than NYC. There he serves the greatest call of his soul defending equality to all, social justice equality, desegregation and respect for humanity; not only to Americans but all human kind.

The great call of his soul articulated his God given resources and talents that identified him with the Civil Right Movement that largely identified as none-violent movement; and for that he became the iconic and the greatest symbol of the movement and its success. The use of none violent and forging ahead without hesitance so that we all can live free in pursuing our happiness was the powerful message that none-resistance and boycotting of key public services that leaders uses to measure their publicity and electivity was the painful test the segregated south and inactive Federal system ever endured; and only to enact and implement Civil Rights Act could alleviate such painful test to leaders and segregated south. Thank God that President Lyndon Johnson, on July 2^nd of 1964, signed the Civil Rights Act on the law. This was one of the MLK’s successes to humanity when the movement cashed in installment of the promissory note of our founders’ Declaration of Independency; for such magnitude of his selfless, that’s why today we’re celebrating his day, near his birthday.

I think this day should remind us all to question what is it we are standing for? And what is our contribution to the society that we are living? Do we meet the tests and challenges that we are facing? This day should be a soul searching day and a day to learn that we are here today because someone, our fore-fathers and founders, gave up something that they could use as their own personal leisure, in stead to make our living and our world a better place. The question is that are we doing the same for the coming generation? Or we are just mortgaging our future generations? If we are not doing what our founders did for us, then why? We can learn from MLK by his examples such as the match to Washington DC, Montgomery-Alabama Bus boycott, Alabama-Georgia movement, Birmingham-Alabama campaign, Bloody Sunday and his last standing on humanity on his last day in Memphis TN, when Campaigning for Poor People equality as viable members of inclusive society. We cannot mimic MLK because he was unique human being as we all are, but what we can do is doing the right-thing, and that is for all of us to be responsible and hard working individuals who can claim a peace of American pie in our unique ways. That is our contribution to the society because society needs us all as we are all having different input in our own unique ways.

For example we are in the persisting global economic recession that is hitting home harder than ever in our times. Based on the news and some formal and informal reports, the major cause of this recessions is human greedy on the steroids. The home industry downfall is characterized by both greedy by financial institutions (employees/leaders) and by borrowers (home-owners and consumers). The financial industries were so greedy by just looking at the dollar sign for that moment without using standards that a person cant pay the mortgage if his/her income does not have a 20% saving after paying all his/her bills. Therefore this person should never have approved to buy a home because he/she can’t afford a home without meeting the standardized Mortgage calculator, based on the Calculating Income of Employed W2 Borrowers for Mortgage Qualifying standards. These institutions were very shortsighted on sub-prime loans because the interest guarantees were very short-lived, unlike traditional mortgages that were about 30 years. Also the borrowers were shortsighted because they took these massive loans that they could not afford in the long run. To make the matters worse, the sub-prime loans interests were only guaranteed for a very short period of time with very high risk that interest could be doubled or high and that could change the equation of affording the mortgage. Especially for the low-income families/home owners, when interests rose, the already stressed income due to mortgage were crushed by massive interests increase and make it totally impossible to afford mortgage payments. In results, when recession hit, the entire housing industry came into a total calamity and shrunk the middle-class.

MLK fight for poverty and equal justice then is so real today than ever, because Wall-Street greedy is legal and no one is responsible for such massive wasteful spending by government and the greedy. To understand Wall-Street greedy you have to watch the “Wall-Street” movie or be one of the foreclosed houses in this housing market today. But good news is that Free-markets is the good thing that sustains human middle-class and equality for all; but we need good policies that can sustain free-markets and open-up more opportunities by investing here at home. This was not possible for the past 3 years because greedy has affected politicians as well, they can’t agree on anything, that’s why you see Congress approval rating is as low as a toddler’s age. I wander if I ask the Congress that if my mommy is a woman or a man, if they can come into their senses and give correct answer? I guess people will speak and vote this November and hand down decisions.

I believe that MLK day can and still remind us all as member of the community that our action, passively and actively, can make or break our life and or lives of others. It is our responsibilities and obligations to do the right thing and that starts right at you as a person then will trickle down to the society at large. That is MLK’s dream on his “I have a dream” speech and my favorite quote of all the time states that “an individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Read more of his quotes on the link bellow.

References:

1. Mortgage:http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:AfVUcMAspZgJ:raincityguide.com/2009/06/26/calculating-income-of-employed-w2-borrowers-for-mortgage-qualifying/+how+to+calculate+mortgage+and+income&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

2. Bio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.

3. Bio: http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086

4. MLK Quotes: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html

Correlation of Faith, Fate and Freewill

2012-01-10T23:47:00.001-05:00

Faith is the confident belief and trust in something or someone. As Christians, I have faith and trust in God and Trinity (God Father, Son and Holy Spirit); I also have faith in my family and friends and associates that I trust and believe in. I strongly believe that faith and trust in God is the most sentimental and sacred value that someone bares and are very personable. It is personalized because we human beings tend to build our unique connections to things that we believe (God) based on our culture, environment, social-economic, and life exposure as whole. For Christian believers, we are closer to God and we have contracts with God believing in Life-After-Death, by living up to God’s code of conducts, ethics, standard of merits and guiding principles-Ten Commandments that were given to Moses as it is written in the Holy Bible.

Through Adam and Eve, our fore-parents, we inherited Fate. Fate is the reference leading to Destiny. Fate and Destiny are inevitable course of events of life because somehow, somewhere we will all die, fate, and our destiny here on the earth will be done and over. The question that always lingers our mind is that what is the events that will necessarily happen to us, individually, in the future? And it is to what extent that, as we believe and trust, the most-high powers believed to control what will happen in our future? Remember, that we cannot precisely lay-out or predict the future. To answer all these problematic and difficulty questions we tend to use one cumbersome word known as, “fate”.

Fate tends to characterize our life from when we are born to the day we die, including numerous events during our life here on the earth for good and bad. This factor underlines the fact that no one asked to be born and no one for sure can scientifically prove that there is life after death or there was life before birth. Although one can take his/her life or someone else’s so to speak, but no one can recreate resume life as we know. However, we use our spiritual faith and trust to navigate through the very narrow fine line that characterize and satisfy us in answering these cumbersome and problematic questions.

Fate is the gateway to destiny and these are mysterious things that require faith as pathway to get somewhere. Some cultures solve these mysterious things by using taboos and such nature traditions. Faith is complete trust and/or confidence in someone or something; also, it is believed to be a desirable ending predictably of better future. It is a concept based on the belief that predictably one will get rewarded at the desired point; in this case, Christians believe to be granted life after death-heaven is what they uphold and live up to with Biblical Principles. For example, Christian faith is the well-built belief in God as the doctrine of a religion that is based on spiritual fear of satanic and immorality maneuvers that don’t necessarily require scientific proof, rather miracles because life itself is the great miracle.

On the other hand, Freewill is the ability of making self and independent choices without external influence and or any harmful reservation. With or without faith in God we can choose our own destiny by selecting different, "paths", for one another, throughout or lives; even though the different courses of action that we take nonetheless lead to a predetermined destiny; live adequately or die hard and at last heaven or hell. Freewill is the dangerous thing and is the most meaningful things because we can make it or not making it at all in life, but at the same time we reserve the choice to make it or not making it. Everything and anything you have got or you don’t have in life is by the choices you have made. Under any circumstances, the actions you taken and you will be taking are your choices and they have great impact in your life and the lives of others in the society. That it is why it is imperative to make appropriate and thought-full decisions when you have to make choices that lead to decisions. Since we can’t see and or predict the future, Christians deem to depend on faith in God.

After defining and discussing these crucial milestone paradigms of life (faith, fate and freewill), I conclude that, "we human beings have a rational desire to make choices, good or bad. The choices we make over the course of life determine what characterize us individually or collectively. Of course, which path to take is well determined based on belief(s) one chooses and depends on environment that makes up our culture(s). Belief(s), environment and cultures are values that contribute a lot on how we perceive faith, fate and freewill, and it varies greatly depending on these values.

My take on this whole thing is that in life there is beginning and end, and for Christians there are only two results, Hell or Heaven. Using your fate and freewill to shape your faith and get one of the two results as you wish, in other words predetermine your destiny. I conclude by saying that GOD MAKES PLANS AND CONSEQUENTLY WE HUMAN MAKES DECISIONS. Therefore, we ought to blame ourselves when things go wrong because we always make decisions that take us where we are and where we will be. I always say that the decisions we made in the past effects the decisions we make at this present and those we will be making in the future. Having these two choices, good or bad have positive or negative impacts on our life and lives of others, today or years from now as predetermined by our actions. Therefore, doing the right-thing and being savvy when making decisions can be helpful, while taking precautions in life. I learned that to take control of your life is to manage taking control of the decisions you make, then it can be easy to overcome external powers that always try to control/influence your life; because to control your internal life you will establish a clear vision and purpose of life.

Life and War-Fare Psychology:

2012-01-08T14:24:00.007-05:00

Stare at the picture/image above. Then ask yourself how how many things do you envision on this single image? If it is more than one then why? Can somebody else see the same images that you seen? Confusing, right?

Life is the complex thing that human being endures. Life span brings unpredictability, uncertainty and miracles; things that are beyond human recognition, imagination and explanation. For example, human life in and itself, conception process, life before birth-if there is any, and life after death, as we assume there is one. These are things that human beings are struggling to understand, finding a tangible truth and rational proof with scientific backing.

The conundrum of life is impeccable in the eyes of creator, but in the human life is extremely complex because we human beings like to do away with everything and we over-think everything while some things need simple solution but within the guiding principles. The problem is we don’t want to be within the guiding principles rather everyone want to have his own principles yet to live together and harmless, that is where life becomes complex and conflicts emerges. The simple truth is do the right thing, don’t be greedy, love your neighbor and you love yourself, know and establish boundaries, work hard and be responsible of your life and the lives of other that you are taking charge for.

In doing so, we use empowerment that uses resourceful information that makes us to attain Knowledge and skills that can and makes our lives easier. Empowerment through knowledge and skills gives us humans self esteem that boosts our confidence in the issues related to life itself and among others. However, self esteem is also obtained in human's faiths and believes. When we speak of faith and belief many tends to think of religion and spiritual belief. That is true, I also may add that faith and belief are also vivid in things and people we, human have trust and faith on. That means psychologically, physically and emotionally people who are close to us in our life such as parents, siblings, relatives, friends and associates, and things that make up our environment. These, tends to have some influence in our life, knowingly or unknowingly, and are psychological aspect of our lives.

Now, that I'm grown, I remember and hear vividly of the courageous, encouraging, empowering and upholding voices of my parents, siblings and few of my loving relatives screaming to me and my brothers that we have potential and that we can literally do anything to prosper and win in life, but the best effective way is to get education, informed and respect for others by not fearing the adversary, rather to learn them and draw a sharp contrast between us and them and prove them wrong, likewise, to learn and admit the very things that we find ourselves to do wrong. This is empowerment within itself. Until we, humans, have the courage to stand for things we believe and trust and to admit our transgressions, we will still have the seeds of arrogance that will potentially grow and drift us away from the purpose of life the endowed by the almighty creator.

Moreover, I also remember the ringing noises of some close family members and so called friends who deliberately have waged and are waging psychological war fare against my family and me so to speak. Psychological conflicts are deadly and effective than physical because by, nature, they are confusing, misleading, distorting, smearing against, and reposition ones standing in the community and on the face of the earth; these are intended effects by the wager. As a child, if you have someone around who is of presence, which you are supposed to look-up to, and they tell you and others over and over that, "you will never be somebody, rather so and so and you will become their servants", it is a devastating blow to a child and certainly in the teenage and upbringing to adulthood. But, the good thing is I use to go to church at a 7 am mass everyday and I read the Bible, in which my father purchased for me, to children and this made me understand my faith and trust in The Lord God. The magnitudes of psychological fear were alive and effective, but minimal, and became strings as I grew because I managed to draw a sharp contrast and apply the, "serenity" prayer. Also, because of many vicious attacks that my mother endured from my father's family and the so interconnected community we live, some of my uncles, aunts, and cousins were very affirmative toward supporting my mother and, certainly us. What they did and it is so effective in our lives was to give us relevant information, educate us (very successful educated member of family and true believers of the Bible), and empowered us that with faith, trust and faith in God will neutralize the ill psychological war against us. I have seen persistent people, but, to what I see these family members did to us persistently on influencing us to get educated as key to success in life, it was laughable when the psych-war managers tried to somehow instill the belief that we were nothing and we will go no where, certainly me as the first born and stubborn to their standard measures. Some are still arrogant enough to think that I fear or follow their persuasive ways because tactics have changed consistently since early 1980 when this war started.

You know, Africa where I grew up, life is not like Western world life style. To make the matters worse, I grew up in Moshi-Rural, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Yes, I lived under the communist regime of Mwakimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and I experienced effects of his policies of interdependence, poor economic policies, and a much closed community of virtually no right to buy, own or run individual development rather everything had to do with communal settings. Then 1985 came President Ali Hasan Mwinyi who opened the flooding gates of immorality, corruptions and the country became the dump of the world almost. Then, 1995 came President Ben Mkapa, who put corruption on the boom public practice and policies of self-serving through privatized all cooperative owned business to themselves through surrogates or selling for Cheri with lump-sum in their protection. The now, President Kikwete has put corruption on the boom of public practice on the steroids and alter the ruling party CCM meaning into Chukua Chako Mapema (party of Take Yours Early). All these factors life in the interdependence society wasn't especially to, such an outspoken and opinionated person.

As we all know, not all can't take or handle the truth very well, which is my strength and survival. If you are terrified by the facts and truth do soul searching and serving because the truth and fact will always stand. They always say, "what cannot break you, will make you stronger" and that is vivid brutal reality to those who waged psychological war fair on me.

Now, as to my family in general, like all humans, we are unique toward one another, we understand, perceive and react to things differently. I can tell you this psychological fear is effective and can be detrimental if not understood or take serious as it comes. The hardship is it comes sneaking and in camouflaged faces to inflict confusion, as it is intended. The sad thing is most of Africa are not well empowered to handle psychology and certainly don't know that to win or lose in life is all about psychology. This is due to many factors like all other issues Africa is facing, such as education/illiteracy, doomed tradition (doomed because are inconsistency and resistive to modern technology) and lack of information relative to empower them toward psychology of life as a whole. I'm repeating in this article, again, that my father told me that God gave us human mind as most powerful thing ever, and that it is absolutely imperative to use it wisely, and that's all I'm intended to do here.

I would like to conclude that the enemy you know, can touch, see physically and understand is lesser than the enemy you don’t know, understand or can not touch. I remember, 2003, was a tragedy on one of our African Friend’s and class/college mate here in New York, when he passed. His death was caused by carbon monoxide, during winter time his father started the car inside the garage, while the garage door was closed and the door from the attached garage door opened to the kitchen. The deadly gas traveled throughout the house, suffocating his family while they napped. Sadly, the family of 5 or 6 died. Long story short, carbon monoxide is the silent killer, without smell, hear, touch or feel. Likewise, psychological war-fare is like carbon monoxide, but not as lethal as carbon monoxide. You will feel the wounds and pain after it has already affected you, and sadly, you cannot detect or figure it out how to stop it because of the manipulation and blindness from you are sufficed into. The constant and impending poisons from the ones you love has the greatest influence and how you take it with you, as you grow with time, is the war. The way you win the war is how soon you will notice the poison. Stand strong; believe in yourself and God, of course. If someone tells you, ‘’no,’’ and you believe in it, prove them wrong. You can’t live someone’s life, because life is too precious and short. You have to live your life and if someone does not like it, too bad. No one has control of your brain, heart, spirit, decisions and life more than you. He or she can go live his or her own life. This is not selfish thinking, this is what life was existent for.

Everyone has a purpose and everyone has a role. Rather it is, father, son, mother, sister and etc., it is important to do what your heart stands for. Everyone was born to a mother and father, so doing the best in what you have to offer is living. The first lessons in life are from your family. My grandma used to tell us, that there was a woman that never disciplined or admitted that her son did anything wrong. In dialect, she said that friend used to tell my grandma that, “Kimana Kititi nyiuro kye kuwikia nyaki”. Means that that is how a little child behaves, and the boy attitude became corrupt as he grew because there was no accountability, responsibility or correction of the things that he did wrong. So when this child took what he learned in life out to the real world, he used this sentiment he was raised by, because that was all he knew. Of course, he became a cycle of poison to others and eventually to himself. In reality, children want to learn, are built to learn and need to learn. When adulthood calls, that is where most of the warfare takes place. The response and stimulus can take over. In reflecting the truth, and functional psychology of life, the outcome was that he lasted in jail for the rest of his life because he had no touch with reality of the world under the sun. God bless You.

Is President Obama Dividing the Country?

2012-01-05T02:21:00.001-05:00

I have to ask this question. Is Obama dividing the country, as Rush, Hanity' Levin, all GOP primary runners and right wing asserting? What about Santorum as he was pleasing his constituency articulating that government subsidies are only for blacks welfare? Is that unity? Really? In Iowa, the only recipient of welfare or government money, as he asserted in his recent speech, are only black people? By the way I did not see a black person he was referring to as welfare recipients and government free money recipients in his audience or any of his audience in the cocae-state of Iowa. May be I’m color blind, unlike Rick Santorum who speaks of color in articulating his speech. I consider that Read Meat to the majority of his constancy. It is sad but race in the American politics is always the elephant in the room and you can see people working hard trying to wipe out history and ignore the fact that whenever there is race, history always haunts us all. That is why it is always important to do not generalize people because that is what is always known as “stereotyping” and it is bad for whatever circumstances lead up to it

We forgot about GOP sweethearts, oil and farming industries subsidies and rich people's tax cuts as subsidies that contributing taking this country into the financial ditch? Rick Santorum and GOP you can't speak with both sides of the mouth and become credible and unifier as GOP claims to be. Short memory eh...h!!

Let’s speak about race and Black people and Slavery in particular; less than 50 years blacks couldn’t eat, travel, seat, equally contribute to the communities together with white people but all over the sudden the field is plain and ready to compete, less than 50 years. It is mike Tyson fighting a high school contender and expects to worry wining. It is politics as usual, so sad. Why don't they get a paycheck for free job they did to build white house and this great nations if one claims to be the unified like Santorum and GOP Wong, evangelicals that loves God so much but can't dare to face the truth? Please tell me about God, because I grew up in the church.

If you want to be fair so bad why say no for regulations that protects us all? So you don’t even want a police o roam our cities, villages, towns and neighborhood because you don’t believe in regulations? Then why not allow Wall-Street to be regulated and stop attacks on middle class and unfairness to the minorities? Because we have evidence that financial industries is not fair to the minorities at all, it is lie neo-discrimination. White color crime often gets un-propositionally leniency on sentencing compare to small offence that are none-white color crimes, with exception to trafficking. I think that race and economic status has more say to this. It is like Financial Industry that has lobbyists to our law-makers but “We The People” don’t have anyone lobbying for us and when we want one all over the sudden it’s a war and smearing on whatever the kitchen snick GOP can throw out there.

Oh!!! I forgot, wasn’t it Rush, Hanity, US Senator McConnell and the entire GOP announced right after President Obama’s inauguration that they will do anything to make sure that Obama becomes a one time president and or fail? So what is the surprising thing here about economy and spending if GOP all they said is no and stall everything so that he can fail and become one time president? Even for the very thing that GOP supported, like Senator McCain refuses to support his own bill on Campaign spending simple because such bill interest President Obama. It is like gang, click, cult operation out there and that’s why Congress is at its all time lowest approval rating. It takes two to tangle and that’s how it works in the real world. President Obama’s temperament is the greatest gift this nation ever got because an angry human being with the powers the leader of the free-world reserves and get such lowest human kind treatment this president gets from the GOP will results it awe and chaos, and I sometimes get the feeling that that is what GOP what to paint of the very first black president. I don’t feel love, respect, and cooperation and sensational care of leadership of the person took very political risk to go to another country with nukes and kill Osama Bin Laden who is responsible for 911, SS Cole, US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, my home country. Something that it was politically riskier than anything else a leader of free world could do, especially at the turmoil we are facing I the Arab Spring in the Middle east and North Africa. He could care less and sit around like his predecessors who sought not to take out OBL, even when they had instructive intelligence that he could be taken out under order. Why? Because it was not a simple risk to take. I mean it kinds of hurting and make one to wander what else a human being can do to prove to you that he deserves a fair share?

Look at the birth-certificate issues, it was embarrassing, but some leaders were biting on it in underground just to keep conspiracy theories moving. I mean we are human and we can sense. It is not what we hear only; also what we see, observe and mostly feel that is what matters. We are human, think and feel just like any other human, we see and observe the efforts of someone who is desperate to prove to the world that leadership is quality no matter what; and that is what Obama has been trying to do. Ask yourself what would you have done if everything you say to colleagues who are one third of your governing body says no for 2 years? Yet you are a member of minority and don’t want to feed into the stereotype that the group that you belong don’t qualify such leadership qualities and skills, and you want to prove such stereotype and past history wrong? Let us be realist, it is frustrating, now adding politics, it gets confusing and the ball stays stagnant, that is what is happening in the economy.

Is Obama that un-American for protecting GM and Chrysler? If that is the case then we should have all made in china then, may be that is what some of GOP wanted. No way all GOP can have same views, reactions and values as human representing their vastly diversified regionally constituencies to vote the same all the time for in the senate and house of representative for almost 2 years now. They are human and we are unique, even twins see things differently and can split in some issues, especially the issues that Obama stole from GOP; unless GOP are becoming “Surrogates” like Bruce Wills Movie; then they can defend their consistence “No” votes to all the things that were articulated by Obama. When I say “Surrogates” I mean implying meaning, something that unites GOP to say “No” to Obama for even the very things GOP supports. Mind readers, if any will be surprised to lean what that is. He, Obama, deserves a second chance to and we are willing to give to him. God bless the United Stats of America.

United State Is Shipping Gasoline/Petroleum/Oil Overseas:

2012-01-05T00:54:00.000-05:00

It is eye catching to learn that United States is shipping Gasoline, Diesel and Jet Fuel overseas for years now. As we all have been told by leaders and experts that United States is addicted to oil and we consume too much oil of the world. Some went even further and accused our leaders that we go to the war in the Middle East and North Africa because of oils, conspiracy theories, that United States is fighting wars to secure oil. But with this new eye catching reporting, now United States is Selling Oil to other nations. How can it be possible, comparing these wild accusations of United States relationship with OPEC?

Facts are that United States is still importing Crude Oil, about nine million barrels a day, AP Journal [1] reports. It uses its refineries here at home to produce the petroleum (Gasoline, Diesel and Jet Fuel) products that it exports overseas ready to use. In this case most of customers of United States exported oil products are countries that don’t have refineries.

However the export of Petroleum products that United States ship out as export of is very small potion of the Crude Oil it import or produce here at home, reported by AP Journal[1]. But the fact the matter in this report is that United States is exporting Gasoline overseas. Do you know what that means? We are no longer addicted by oil as we once thought we were. Or we are no longer going assumed, as per numerous conspiracy theorists developers, going to the Middle East and or North America fighting the wars because of just securing the Oil Demand at home. We have enough reserves at home from Importing and or producing, and we have record selling Oil to overseas markets. That is the fact and can be proven; I don’t think knuckle-heads who believes in conspiracy theory can easily been won by this simple fact but it is the fact.

Historically United States has been producing Oil here at home; import Oil from OPEC markets and Selling Oil to the world markets. What I called eye catching is that when applying Supply and Demand Principles, of which every one out there understand these principles, we find an interesting trend. The correct recession slow down the United States Economy, every one of you agrees to this, right? Therefore, the persisting bad economy slowed down the demand of oil because not that many people can afford to drive around carelessly because economy is bad. Then, if demand is low automatically the supply becomes low because the economic factors affect the demand and supply. Then we come to the truth we once believed in that “Americans are addicted to Oil” of which we imported much of it. In the case of low demand that also affect supply to become low what do we do with the left-over oil that we use to consume when economy was very good and booming? Yes you are right we add it into our exporting bundle to the growing economies. Therefore, we ship more oil now than ever before because American Markets are inflexed by Oil.

Many, so called experts will claim the un-thinkable, such as regulations as causes of shipping more oils to the world markets. But, as smart and informed reader ask them that Nigeria produces very fine and cheep oil in the world markets, but why do Nigerian line up for gas in the gas stations although they have cheapest oil markets than any other country? I will tell you why, because there economic system (political-economy) is corrupt and creates instability. Then do we have such system here? No, free markets allows for business to buy and sell its products anywhere so long the business does not break the laws of the land and those of the Global Community. The notion that United States is exporting oil now than ever before because our regulations and all that none-sense is false and misleading. In the free market spirit, America is exporting oil today than ever because there are emerging markets out there that are hungry for oil and Americans are not as hungry for oil as assumed to be therefore the excess that Americans don’t need it goes to the oil-needy countries; and that is how free markets should work. Look at outsourcing of American jobs, like customer services, it is not because of regulations as many experts and excuses seeker pundits says, it is because of cheep labor and emerging competitions of these markets that fill-in for Americans who cant simply competing with the lowest standards of the emerging markets. Nothing is wrong with that because that is how free-markets should work, competition that brings competence.

Reference:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2011-12-31/united-states-export/52298812/1

[1] http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2011-12-31/united-states-export/52298812/1

Management Information System- Research Paper Draft: How Information Systems (IS) As Form Of Information Technology (IT) Transformed The Role Of Human Resource Department At Vanderheyden Hall:

2012-01-04T04:17:00.000-05:00

This research paper is focusing on, “How Information Systems as Form of Information Technology Transformed the Role Of Human Resources At Vanderheyden Hall Inc.”. HR is made up of individuals who are the workforce of the agency, and HR Department is the union between employees and the agency management. However, the HR department functions within Vanderheyden Hall Inc. is accountable for the overall responsibility for implementing strategies and policies relating to the management of all employees, the agency’s daily activities while transcribing and enforcing the agency’s policies that are rooted from the mission statement and vision of Vanderheyden Hall Inc. There, is where we find a massive involvement of the Information Technology (IT) Department that is solemnly accountable to monitor and put in place Information Systems (IS) that collects data, facilitates and makes HR Department jobs easy, effective and efficient. At Vanderheyden HR Department, collaborating with the IT Department has improved the success of using middle management. Vanderheyden Hall, as the Community and Human Services/Healthcare, Not-For-Profit agency, has been successful transforming itself into effective and efficient departments by using Information Systems (IS), which are well managed by its investment in the Information Technologies (IT) that are monitored by its IT Department working closely with the Human Resources Department insuring the desired out comes. However, like many other businesses in America, Vanderheyden is suffering the loss of man-to-man (face-to-face) contacts and its benefits that can also be beneficial and has proven so in the past. The critique is to balance and be professional.

Introduction:

Vanderheyden Hall Inc. is not-for-profit organization and OPWDD certified, located in Wynantskill, New York. Its specialties are in Community, Human Services and Health Care. It was established 1800 as the Benevolent Society of Troy to assist indigent women and children and in 1833 the Society opened the Troy Orphan Asylum, which became incorporated by the State of New York. Vanderheyden Hall Inc.’s Mission statement is “empowering youth, individuals and families to build brighter futures”; and its vision is “to continue the work of providing life-changing care to the youth, individuals and families we serve for another 178 years”. Vanderheyden Hall cares for children/individuals with special developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs. As a multi-service agency, Vanderheyden Hall provides a residential program, a day treatment program, crisis respite, clinical services, crisis intervention, respite services, and in-home parent assistance programs. (http://www.vanderheydenhall.org)

The Vanderheyden Hall campus is located on 78 acres of land off Rte. 355 in Wynantskill, NY with six residential cottages, a diagnostic facility and Vanderheyden Hall’s 7-12 grade regents’ accredited school. Furthermore, elsewhere in the region Vanderheyden Hall operates/owns seven group homes that house between eight and twelve individuals each. Separate apartments for supervised independent living and individual residential alternatives are located in Averill Park, Glens Falls, Schodack and Troy. Also, Vanderheyden Hall provides services to twenty one counties within eastern New York State Albany, Broome, Clinton, Cayuga, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Herkimer, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Washington, Westchester, Warren and Ulster counties. (http://www.vanderheydenhall.org)

I chose the role of IS/IT from Vanderheyden Hall Inc. because it is typical American Organization/Agency that lived long and survived many transformation since its establishment in the early 1800’s. Just recently, I spoke to couple of administrators and Human Resources personnel that I know from Vanderheyden Hall Inc., and they confessed that for the past decade IS/IT has dramatically transformed the way they operate and conduct daily business. Also, they added that because it is a Human Services and Healthcare not-for profit agency IS/IT transformation from Federal, State and Local Government laws and regulations has changed the culture of HR when come to sharing of individual information within and outside the agency. This is also due to the new healthcare bill that has HIPA regulations.

The role of IS for HR function within Vanderheyden Hall Inc; How IS has affected processes for HR functional perspective:

The role of IS for this function within Vanderheyden Hall Inc.’s Human Resources (HR) Department is very big because HR is made up of individuals who are the workforce of the agency. However, the HR department functions within Vanderheyden Hall Inc. is accountable to the overall responsibility for implementing strategies and policies relating to the management of all employees, the agency’s daily activities, and also to transcribe and enforce agency’s policies that are rooted from the mission statement and vision of Vanderheyden Hall Inc. By doing so, HR works as middle-man and very closely with IS/IT department, Management, and employees in general.

In the past ten years, Vanderheyden Hall has transformed itself following other businesses toward digitalization process and the central unit for this is IS/IT department. Vanderheyden Hall is using ADT technology as a way of collecting data about what employees worked there, when, and transfer from what unit at what time and to do what. The usage of paper trails have been depleted, as well as the use of manual time cards that employees use to fill when they come to work to transfer from group homes of their vicinity as a proof that they worked. This is done electronically, and IT departments observe massive daily data where by Human Resources Department clarify and if any questions unit/Group Home managers as immediate supervisors are to answer and report it to HR directly.

By using the internet, the IT department assists HR departments to use installed electronic equipment in each group homes, multiple located offices all over the Capital Region and to collect important data that fulfills the agency’s information systems requirements enough to run the agency and fulfill its obligations. This equipment includes, ADT punching/clock machine, agency’s cell phones, centralized pass words, and network connected fax/printer machines. Time Warner Cable Routers deliver the internet and password network computers that sustains the IT department networking services. Other formalities that are used include software that centralize all data, e-mailing system that delivers and collect important data that feeds information systems demands, and digitalized software’s for maximum efficiency and effectiveness of services to all as desired. Such massive investments from the use of the Information Technology Department, as a charge organ for such investments, is the role of the IS/IT in the businesses in almost all American businesses. Such investments have risen from 32 percent to 52 percent since 1980 to 2009. Data shows that most American businesses that have invested in IS/IT on such things like hardware, software and all other communication equipment has made many improvements. These innovations have led businesses to effectively and efficiently communicate, collect important data, conduct marketing, promote sell of goods/services, educate and enlighten community and store important data in the digital achieves. Also, IT departments in collaboration with the management/Administration and other departments, is responsible for the agency’s centralization of data management, establishment of data governance rules and procedure, standardizing data definitions, cleanse and reconcile data, design mater data file and implementing Purisma Data Hub. In this regard, Information Systems has continuously enhanced business challenges and business solutions. (Laudon, K. C. and J. P. Laudon Management information systems: managing the digital firm. Boston, Prentice Hall. Page 5 and 208)

Furthermore, that is where you will find that for an agency like Vanderheyden Hall Inc. , which have main campus’ and many offices located all over the Capital Region, the HR Department in collaboration with IT Department have successfully used middle management known as Group Home Managers. These systems have participated in assisting with monitoring, controlling and providing feedback for decision-making and administrative activities. This is a form of management Information Systems (IMS) that is used to monitor and control businesses and manage to predict future outcomes or wanted outcomes. (Laudon, K. C. and J. P. Laudon Management information systems: managing the digital firm. Boston, Prentice Hall. Page 47)

The benefits of IS for the HR functional users (Vanderheyden Hall Inc. operational level); and Use of the data at all levels of Vanderheyden Hall Inc. (knowledge, management, strategic):

The benefits of IS for the agency’s HR functional users is that it has made it very easy for the HR department to communicate and fulfill the mission, goals and vision of an organization. For example, the HR is recruiting new employees by effective, and fast processing of applications online. The decisions that are made upon the process use all the necessary scrutiny online, as well. They have to do background checks for different government agencies’, required clearances (such as NYS Office of Children and Family Services-OCFS and NYS Office of People with Developmental Disability-OPWDD background clearances) is done online. The monitoring of time cards is done online through ADT, Pay Role checks data and codes with banking are transmitted online, personnel services is done digitally by using internal and external e-mailing systems, all HR forms are online on the internet for employees to print, and in-service training is done online for employees to sign in the computers in their units.

Over all, IS has been beneficial to HR department and the agency by saving time tracking paper trails, money, by reducing man power that information technologies is doing now, and function effectively and efficiency by tracking, catching errors and implementing self check systems before they get far. This is done by applying of information systems that is using information technologies. For example, individuals at Vanderheyden Hall receive Social Security Income (SSI) and Food Stamps form their counties, managers are responsible to monitor HR departments by using IT departments. The IT department has put in place electronic ledgers that HR department looks and tracks spending on the daily basis. The implementation of the equipment substantiates and saves all forms of data services provided, such as, reporting an incident, application forms for all services, maintenance requests, computer trouble tickets, rave to employees/PR, any kind of request by employees or departments, disciplinary actions, etc. are done online.

The benefits of Vanderheyden Hall going digital, expands the use of IT use as an IS medium and its benefits have reminded men the blunt action of Domino’s investment in their own IS/IT known as Pulse. Domino’s success investing and using Pulse as their own IS/IT system gave them business edge, financial stability (saved a lot of money from depending other marketing and IT third parties that are expensive) made them efficient and effective. (Laudon, K. C. and J. P. Laudon Management information systems : managing the digital firm. Boston, Prentice Hall. Page 52)

What are the biggest impacts, both positive and negative, for the Vanderheyden Hall Inc. HR functional perspective?

The capital investment on IS/IT has affected processes for HR Department functional perspectives because it has limited them the ability to have that precious one on one and face to face engagement. We all know that HR Departments is personnel; old used term means that it is the human relations at the work place as an individual that makes up collective purposes, that is to produce goods or render services. Many employees at Vanderheyden feel alienated and that there are glass ceilings between the regular employees know as Union Direct Care Worker (DCW) and the management. The divided link between the HR department, and DCWs is that the HR department is so dependent on the IS/IT products and feedback that real human communications, impressions, motivations, knowledge, skills and abilities are deprived. For example, I spoke to about ten former DCWs and they indicated that the HR department’s personnel at the agency had very minimal contact with employees because of IS/IT easiness and successes on collecting data that makes their job done without contacting any DCWs physically; that made them unappreciated and undervalued, whereas the agency required them to go provide their emotional, physical, and moral support to people with development disabilities. This lack of communication led to the employee’s resignation because of the experience of feeling that they were robots when they communicated with agency’s management and Human Resources Department. Also, the employees were offered jobs somewhere else. The current employees also indicated some elements of the lack of communication, but they said they are working because they needed money and they are ready and willing to do whatever the agency is asking them to do, so as long as it is within the guidelines of the Union contract. On the other hand, I concluded that IS/IT is both beneficial and not beneficial to HR department because it made their job easier, and it met the demands by far; also electronic data can be misleading if the human contact is limited because human contact can’t be read by data gathering equipments. IS/IT at high level can remove and clear the doubts of employees’ bad feelings about HR department and or management at large if is well utilized and professionally shaped to so, this can be the reasons for dissatisfaction with this particular agency as well, and it may be that they are growing in the IT/IS application.

IT/IS Infrastructure, Business Intelligence, Database and Information System Management

IS/IT portion of our Vanderheyden Hall Inc.’s strategic plan drives the mission and its director explores options and asks many questions to Directors, during weekly agency directors meetings, so that IT director can design what is needed. IT is responsible of the agency’s creation of the web-site and how to make portal decisions. IT as an infrastructure for Information System is done by using the agency’s mission, vision and values along with the information that is important to let the public know and able to create a mechanism of getting feedback. Examples of how IT transformed Vanderheyden include the processes related to the agency’s established online network for almost every important services request forms, individuals data, employee training and status, business office forms, maintenance requests, doctors’ appointments, schedules, recreational activities schedules, agency-wise activity schedule, ADT time cards, inter-office correspondence-email service and many more online services. Because of nature of the agency, confidentiality is very important, therefore, the IT department has created a long-in service to access the network and also login service to access individual emailing/GroupWise software; also the login service to access the computer has limitation on what kind of database one can access depending with the ranks, CEO, Administrators, Directors, Coordinators, Managers, Clinicians/Teachers/Social Workers, Direct Care Workers/Employees and volunteers. If there is an incident, employees fill out an incident report form (4 pages) online, then I approve it online and send copies to Community Services (CS) Director and another to the Quality Assurance Department; for maintenance requests, employees fill out a form online and send it directly to the maintenance department at campus; for training, I access agency’s training database and it tells me who is about to fall out of compliance and I assign such employee(s) immediately to the available training at the main campus; regarding time cards, I approve punches employees made during the pay period and send them to Pay-Roll/HR department, for schedules, I access the managers’ database folder online and update schedule weekly as needed all managers can see it; Daily Shift reports are all reportable to the government, as Shift Supervisor (3x a month) I finish my report by using online database templates, then a copy goes to CS and related government agencies if there is any reportable; and money management I have an online database ledger that I log on for all daily spending from the staffs’ office ledger and send it to business office/internal auditor. I believe that these are the results of Knowledge Management Systems that are systems within IT/IS that assists in the gathering of knowledge, and the use of such knowledge in the Enterprise Systems to integrate information/knowledge gathered for management to easily make decisions swiftly and timely. (Laudon, K. C. and J. P. Laudon Management information systems: managing the digital firm. Boston, Prentice Hall. Page 54 and 337)

As program manager, we participate in creating and implementing budgeting. When we create the budget that goes to Finance Committee, it gets combined with all other programs as the agency budget goes to the Board of Directors for final review. The IS approval is the critical factor that facilitates accurate accounting information and data. In this manner, IS tends to help the management and agency as a whole to accomplish required reporting to OPWDD, OMH, OCFC and OASAS for group homes and NYS Education Dept, and the counties that we serve for both school students at our school facility and OCFS group homes.

Impact of the costs, budget cuts and the economy:

The impact of the costs, budget cuts and the weak economy we are all experiencing have had a huge impact to the Vanderheyden Hall Inc. in all aspects and mostly, IS, as a whole. Just a few to mention, severe cuts, lay-offs, furlough to the members of management, and omission of some very important programs and benefits that affects both staffs and individuals. Because the agency fell short in its budgeting, they could not manage to expand its IS/IT to the level that it was projected and that has created some issues here and there. For example, our disaster recovery plan is badly impacted; a vivid example is last winter and Hurricane Irene of 2011. We were left with non working internet connections, fax machines and phones at the main campus. The main campuses are where we have main office buildings, 4 group homes and the schools, so places like these need access to contact emergency facilities at all times. Some group homes were left without power for more than 24 hours not because they did not have alternatives to receive power like generators, but because there were exhausted credit cards to fill-up gas, and maintenance teams could not respond quick enough to coordinate with the management on utilizing plan B emergency responses because main campus’ were completely cut off from communications for about a week. My own program last winter, had an emergency due to not having working heating-boiler pipes to the bursting of radiators in the living room, med-room and two bedrooms of my residents because they got frozen from the persistent cold weather of last winter. In response, I had to use space heaters for the remainder of the winter against codes and state regulations and toward group home licensing because the agency did not pay its bills to the heating repair company, and also, it did not have any other alternatives to have the problem of such magnitude that requires specialty to be fixed due to the constrained fiscal status of the agency. Such fiscal issues have hindered replacement of small IT devices that sustains competitive and effective IS.

For example, it took us longer than usual for our all in one heavy duty printer/fax/copier and scanner to be replaced, the staff computer to get connected to the network after wires burned out, and our personnel’s computer to receive internet after some construction renovation in their computer rooms. This required wires to be removed first and sometimes replacement of ink cartridge/toner in the printer/fax takes up to 5 days because if suppliers are not paid on time we don’t receive what we need. In result, we spend precious time going to the sister programs or main office to get such services and or sometimes it delays important data or information to reach the targeted office, place or person in time. The benefits of IS/IT were that if I could fax some important paperwork I scanned them and send them as an email, but if I needed to print something it took longer. However, some few forms were readily available online to fill out, but most were online and needed to be printed out and filled reports accordingly, and this created havoc. HR is the important unit that holds together the entire organization, as one, and they have done a tremendous job for this agency passing through these unprecedented financial hardship and unhappiness that has caused its staff from loss of benefits, stagnated or cut pay, furloughs and lay-offs.

My Recommendations:

My recommendation to Vanderheyden Hall Inc., as far as IS/IT is concerned, is to have a disaster-recovery plan in place that can sustain its services to consumers and families at all time including during any kind of disaster/natural disasters. I recommend three major areas for improvement telecommunication, data back up and minor important improvements in its intranet/IT network.

First, to assure telecommunication service is up running at all the time, I recommend Vanderheyden Hall Inc. to subscribe services from Sound-Telecom and or like business solutions corporations, to builds emergency response programs for its business. Sound Telecom is readily available in the Capital Region are, home to Vanderheyden Hall Inc. and its affiliates. Sound-Telecom is prepared to act upon and render its services in case of any disaster that can cause telecommunication cut-off. What makes Sound Telecom Disaster Response and Business Continuity-As-Usual services unique is its network that has developed layers of networks from the cloud telephony level all the way down to the front line agent who professionally answers clients’ calls in case of emergency. Its continuity response network has three layers the CLOUD- network that exists in the clouds, the CALL CENTER- Sound Telecom maintains significant in-house call center capacity that can accommodate small to medium-sized responses, and the CALL PROCESSIONG SYSTEM- its network capabilities for multi user call processing platform that can be customized to handle clients emergency response calls in a faultless fashion. (http://www.sound-tele.com/disaster-recovery-services-carbondale-co.aspx#ixzz1eV5tcE5O)

Second, is to assure its data and network has back-up other than its own. Subscription to company like Mozy-Pro Services can assure data-back safety, safer that self-backups because in case of disaster self backups can be destroyed and or down for operation for sometimes. Mozy-Pro provides the following services the highest security standards with military-grade encryption online backup for your Servers, PCs and Exchange environments. This is done by a simple online administration console that will automatically or programmed to schedule backups and all data is stored in the clouds and readily available to back up servers and computers at anytime as needed. This could be helpful because Vanderheyden Hall Inc. operates under HIPPA law that protects consumers’ rights and information. Mozy-Pro is trusted and used by many government agencies as well and its fees are reasonable. (http://mozy.com/pro/server/)

Third, I recommend Vanderheyden Hall Inc. to carry out some minor important improvements in its intranet/IT network. The most improvement that could make things a lot easier is to have a search-box in its intranet/network that way staff who are not computer savvy can be able to search whatever they are looking for from the intranet/network and access it without hustle of asking supervisors, management Business Office and HR (since all forms and services are readily available online). The search engine-box is an important tool for friendly use of networks for IS/IT purposes. Currently, someone has to know the exact-location of file, form, file and application in order to access it. It takes tremendous amount of time to train and keep up with any changes for people who are not computer savvy since Vanderheyden Hall Inc.’ staffing is much diversified.

Conclusion:

Vanderheyden Hall been successful implementing Information Systems (IS) that has proven to be well managed by its investment in the Information Technologies (IT) that is monitored by IT Department working closely with Human Resources Department insuring the desired out comes. The use of electronics devices, software and equipments that has sustained the Information Systems made the job of both employees and management very easy. However, Vanderheyden Hall is suffering the lower employees’ psychological war of alienation. Like many other businesses in America, Vanderheyden is suffering the loss of man-to-man (face-to-face) contacts and its benefits that can also be beneficial and has proven so in the past. The critique is to balance and be professional because Vanderheyden Hall cannot use IS/IT as an E-business agency like eBay, Amazon, eTrading and so on. Vanderheyden is offering human contact, emotional, psychological and mental supports to the individuals with developmental disabilities, therefore it is imperative for the lower end employees to be physically contacted and to be valued or feel appreciated for their input. The challenge is for HR and IT departments to make this happen. The awkwardness of this is when HR department asking the lower end employees (DCWs) to render services to the individuals, that HR personnel cannot render to their lower end employees and that is human challenge that is attributed by the advancement of IS/IT successes and balance is imperative.

Fall/December 2011

Reference:

http://www.mozy.com/pro/server/

http://www.sound-tele.com/disaster-recovery-services-carbondale-co.aspx#ixzz1eV5tcE5O

http://www.vanderheydenhall.org

(Laudon, K. C. and J. P. Laudon Management information systems : managing the digital firm. Boston, Prentice Hall.--)

Legal and Ethical Issues In The Healthcare: Problems And Solutions Of Health Care In The United States Of America

2012-01-03T05:07:00.000-05:00

Abstract:

The healthcare system in America is a mess; although the medical needs of the very poor are covered adequately by Medicaid, Medicare and SCHIP vast middle class Americans do not have access to the affordable healthcare. About 46 million uninsured Americans (majority are middle class), have no health insurance at all. (http://keithhennessey.com/2009/04/09/how-many-uninsured-people-need-additional-help-from-taxpayers/) The current economic recession has worsened the healthcare problem. Millions of people who are suddenly unemployed and underemployed have lost their employer-based insurance or are simply not able to afford the premiums and other out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. I will take position in this paper that healthcare in America should be considered a basic human right; that we can learn from the healthcare experiences and systems in other countries, such as Switzerland and the new Obama Administration seems to be headed in the right direction, but needs to do more. This paper identifies five problems of current healthcare and offers eleven specific proposals that will do much to revive our ailing healthcare system and make America great.

Problem of Health Care In The United States Of America:

Not every one has access in the healthcare. Uninsured can be classified in four categories. First, people in the middle-class who are not eligible for Medicaid/Medicare and cannot afford healthcare costs. Second, people who have healthcare insurance but are left out due pre-existing conditions, and cannot qualify for Medicaid/Medicare. Third, people who get their health care insurance through employer (majority of insured) but are now unemployed or wont become eligible for health insurance by new employer because of probation period. Fourth, mental health patients who must pay high premiums that are limited in the amount of care they receive.

In the United States the majority of people get healthcare insurance from their employers. The Elderly get health insurance through a government funded program called Medicare. Low income families get healthcare coverage through a government funded program called Medicaid; children get health insurance through the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, which expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). A small number of people who are not eligible for any of these other programs purchase their individual healthcare policies from private companies at very high premium rates. The rest are left out as uninsured, and that number is growing fast, that is why to reform American healthcare system is issue number one to Americans on the matters that concerning healthcare. (http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/children039s-health-insurance-program-reauthorization-act-2009)

First problem of the current American healthcare system is high rate of unemployment. Unemployment is one of the problems that cause many to be uninsured. Recent recession that has caused about 6+ millions of American to lose their job cause a big threat to our current healthcare system. For example, unemployment affects the healthcare because majority have employment related healthcare insurance, when they become unemployed the employer withdraw their health insurance immediately because it is expensive. The results are that healthcare costs skyrocketing.

Second healthcare problem is mental healthcare patients who must pay high premiums that are limited in the amount of care they receive. Mental health is a problem that our current health care system is facing. Recently mental health is growing to become an area of concern because if outpatient mental health program and substance abuse treatments (most of the time is mental health associated) were more accessible and affordable, we could avoid a lot of tragedies that took place in our communities; such as columbine shooting, Virginia Tech shooting and recent Binghamton NY shootings. Because these individuals and their family members could have reliable and needed access to treatment weather is outpatients or in-patients treatment. At first, they were considered to have personal problems; in the end, they became tragedies for the----- and communities and society as a whole. Mental health care is in an imminent danger to the community and it should be considered that way in the related institutions for public safety. (Dominic Hodgkin, Constance M Horgan, Deborah W Garnick, Elizabeth L Merrick. (2009)

Third healthcare problem is the Patent Protection Act. This act protects pharmaceutical and drugs corporations to have total monopoly of their products/drugs for good seventeen years. This monopoly results to Americans pay high price of drugs that are very cheep in other countries including our next door neighbor, Canada. Another problem of the Patent Protection Act is that many countries, including India, China and South Africa don’t respect it, yet they produce generic medicines from the brand-name American medications.

Fourth problem of our healthcare is the restrictions on preventive care and lack of access to the physician or clinics for the uninsured. In the United States, individuals, who are uninsured and not eligible for public healthcare services and cannot afford to buy private insurance, go to the hospital for they get hospital emergency room services. {McKenzie, 2008 p. 410-5}. By law, hospitals are required to treat everybody equally. Due to sky-rocketing healthcare costs the vast number of uninsured people cannot afford to see physicians and there are not enough public clinics for them; therefore, they go to the ER. Because are not insured and hospitals have to treat them, hospitals end up carrying the bad debt by charging insurance companies more to treat insured patients. The result is that the insured premiums for those who have insurance, forcing some of them to drop insurance coverage altogether. It is a vicious cycle, particularly in the current bad economy.

Early diagnosis and preventive health care services, that can easily be accessed in the clinics and physicians’ office, are not costly than it is to treat diseases in the ER. These two factors can become very problematic and to address them the current system need to be overhauled.

Fifth, is the high cost of using physicians to provide medical care that BS Registered Nurses, Nurse Parishioners and Registered Physician Assistants can perform; but under the current health care system are restricted. These restrictions contribute to higher costs of healthcare in America, because physicians’ service are expensive than the above mentioned healthcare professional.

Managed care initially was created established to hold down costs and assurance of comprehensive healthcare to all by just a single uniform premium. This was to be done by managing physicians and insurance companies from charging higher cost for lesser services. Today we have witnessed that managed care failed us because we are still facing raising costs and restrictive healthcare system of our time. Because the initial goal and objective of managed care have failed, it has contributed to Americans now to experience higher healthcare cost and increasingly restrictions on healthcare than ever before.

Reform for cost containment and managed care of United States healthcare system is long overdue. Many family members, middle class and poor, are filing for bankruptcy because of outstanding bills they cannot afford. The raising cost of healthcare in the Unites States is not proportional with wages. Cost of living is going up every day, the economy is declining due to the current recession, and many people have lost hope. Because uninsured patients don’t have access to the clinics and physicians, they don’t get annual physical check-ups, early, diagnoses or preventive treatments. These early intervention services are much cheaper through clinics and primary physicians than waiting for full blown-disease that requires expensive Emergency Room treatment. When the uninsured have only the ER as an alternative, then healthcare management raises its premiums to insured people to cover the cost crated by the uninsured frequent use of ER services. Prevention is better and cheaper than cure trying to treat dieses later on.

Other Nations and Obama’s Approach on Healthcare:

According to Managed Care Weekly Digest, p.59, on December 2008 about one-half (57%) of Americans polled were fearful that they will not be able to afford health insurance or seek medical attention when they need it. However, reducing costs in health care reform is the first health priority. Americans wanted President Obama to reform healthcare and expand health care coverage by making it affordable to many who are falling through the cracks in the current healthcare system. Also the poll shows that healthcare reform is the first priority among health care industry leaders as well. (http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Marketing-and-Licensing-Agreements.html).

American healthcare system is a little bit of everything compared to other major democratic and capitalist nations of the world. The spirit of American healthcare is driven by the free market, which has failed many so far. That’s why the public outcry for comprehensive healthcare reform cannot be ignored by politicians in Washington anymore. Some parts of the American healthcare system have been adopted from other democratic, capitalist countries. For example a PBS video clip indicated that American healthcare offered to veterans is like the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) system; that offered to seniors on Medicare is like Taiwan’s healthcare system; that offered to working Americans with insurance is like Germany’s healthcare system; that offered to the millions of American without insurance is like healthcare system in poor countries/third world. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frol02p101&continuous=1) Americans are wandering why their healthcare system is failing them. Recently, the increased fear of recession and number of unemployed has caused many to urge reform of the healthcare system as part of the economy recovery plan.

I agree with Nigel Hawkes that in UK “health has got a very, very high political profile” similarly to the United States’ health care issues, healthcare is the system that should be run by the government and foundered by taxation because healthcare is a fundamental human right. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/interviews/hawkes.html) History has proved that no one can trust healthcare entirely in the free-market without having regulations and government oversights. Because physicians, insurance companies and drugs corporations are interested in making excessive profit, puts the health of people in danger. Therefore, it's a big test of any government to see how well it can make healthcare system work, to operate healthcare as a free market entity.

Those who are in favor of universal healthcare want to see healthcare to be considered as a right. This will require the injection of a lot of money into healthcare, and opponents will become interested to see how well the tax payers money is spent. Hence, it will create oversight on programs, and this will help prevent the make healthcare system from wasteful-spending. America should consider I adopting multiple systems that are already working in other democratic capitalized countries (such as UK, Switzerland, Taiwan, Germany and Japan) and replacing current system that leaves millions uninsured. Both Republican and Democrats can improve healthcare and act as watchdogs on one another while benefiting their constituencies.

Also I agree with the video clip from the sick-around the world, when Switzerland president who was once opponent of the 1994 reformed healthcare that covers all people now and makes healthcare as a right, that a strong democratic nation should initiate good health for its people. Switzerland’s healthcare system was like American but in 1994 they reformed their healthcare and today it is an outstanding healthcare in the world. For example their insurance administrative costs are 5.5% and in the US is about 22% average. In Switzerland since 1994 reform no body go bankrupt due to medical bills, the drug companies make good profit (not super profit like Americans) and are still in the top-10 leading drug companies of the world. Yet Switzerland people are healthy and covered in spite that it was once under healthcare system that is in American today. I like what Switzerland president said, that the free market system cannot entirely work in the healthcare system because it will diminish solidarity and make its society to loose equal access to the healthcare system. Something that took place in Switzerland in 19980s and early 90s and they had to reform it because healthcare is the basic value of its people. Ironically, that is what has been taking place here in America for long time. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frol02p101&continuous=1)

Nevertheless, during 2008 presidential campaign I don’t recall any candidate called healthcare as a right even when their constituency asked them plain question if healthcare was a right or not, all they did was dodge the question. This left me and many who are concerned with the raising cost of healthcare wander that how could the government make a criminals to have a right to an attorney paid for by taxpayer and not make healthcare to be a right to all as it affect sick innocent taxpayer and communities at large? I believe that it is a common sense to have healthcare as a right that can be insured to all with oversights. For example the recent out-break of swine-flu virus that spread and killed hundreds in Mexico and as of April 29^th killed the first person outside of Mexico, a toddler in Texas. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090429/ts_nm/us_flu) This pandemic will affect many, insured and not insured, without their fault but medical treatment will be upon their personal responsibilities and can affect their lives and their families dramatically. If one cannot pay medical bills in America they file bankruptcy and become very limited to the financial opportunities, they are almost handicapped. This is not right; no one calls for disease, and government it should be there to assure its people safety and good living standards.

But I was touched to hear, on March 27^th of 2009, President Obama’s response to a question at a town hall meeting. Someone asked “I want to know from you if the things like preexisting conditions and preventive medicine, if they are a symptom of what's going on in our health care system, then what is the problem? and how do you address it?” President Obama answered as follows: -

Well, I'll talk to you about preexisting conditions, because this is something that I talked about during the campaign; it's something that touched on me personally. My mother contracted ovarian cancer when she was 53, and she died six months later. It's one of those cancers that typically is diagnosed very - at late stages; it's hard to catch early. She was at the time working… And so she had insurance, but when she was diagnosed and the medical bills started mounting up,-this insurance company started saying that this is a preexisting condition, so maybe we don't have to reimburse you. And we had to spend a bunch of time fighting with these insurance companies about this issue. Now, eventually we were lucky we got these costs approved…. But I still remember watching her - you know, she's sick, she's going through chemotherapy, and she's on the phone arguing with insurance companies. And she's lucky she had insurance. There are tons of people out there who, once they've had one heart attack, once they've been diagnosed with diabetes, once they've got some form of chronic illness; from that point forward it is almost impossible for them to get health insurance. And if their employer, especially if it's a small employer, wants to give them health insurance, the costs are so prohibitive that they can't do it even if the employer wants to help….if you've got a preexisting condition you're not going to be excluded but you're going to be able to obtain health insurance. And if you can't obtain it through a private plan then there is going to a public plan that is available in some way to give you insurance, (PRESIDENT SPEAKS)

In his answer President Obama also said that his Administration has seen some indication that insurance companies will be willing to provide insurance coverage to every American if under healthcare reform everyone is mandated to buy health insurance. He said for those who cannot afford to buy from the private companies, the government can pay for them or provide them with affordable insurance. His overall goal is to make healthcare insurance affordable and without pre-existing conditions, just like automobile insurance.

My Approach On Healthcare:

After considerable research and thought, I have came up with a eleven point solutions to reform our healthcare system so that everyone will be covered with dignity and healthcare is a fundamental right to all citizens.

First, I think that healthcare it should be a right based on fundamental principles of human rights. Every one should be required to have health insurance just like it is in the auto insurance. This provision will make insurance companies and drugs corporations to act more humanly when come to healthcare matters.

Second, Government should use its purchasing power by selling insurance in the free markets so that it can create competition; and people should have choice and bargain power. They can either purchase their healthcare insurance from the government or from private companies, as they see fit according to their demands.

Third, insurance companies should be mandated to cover everyone regardless of pre-existing conditions. Also citizens should be mandated to buy insurance just like it is in the auto-insurance, but with tight oversights.

Fourth, both governmental and private healthcare insured people (every one) should be covered for unlimited diagnosis, preventive cares and treatments. However, Americans should be allowed to buy extra coverage of their choice from private insurance, such as cosmetic and other extras; but they will have to pay for it depending on free market value.

Fifth, for poorer (who cannot afford), elderly, and children who covered by governmental programs that are currently in place (Medicaid, Medicare and SCHIP). If private insurance can offer them good reasonable benefits at cheaper price and more benefits than they are getting from the government, then they should have a choice to go to the private insurance and government should pay for their premiums.

Sixth, Americans who are not eligible for government run programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP they will required paying premium of their purchased insurance, depending on the markets. I’m not for free-healthcare system that is run by government like Canadian healthcare system.

Seventh, government should make Pharmaceutical Corporation to compete with other national and international drug companies here at home. This is to eliminate Patent Protection Act/Laws because currently they are giving American drugs corporations a total monopoly of selling drugs in America and this contribute to drive the cost of healthcare higher than usual. The reason is to encourage competition by removal of monopolization of drug corporations because it will drive down the healthcare costs.

Eighth, government should subsidize drugs, vaccines and other health related research and studies by incentives. If they remove Patent Protection Laws drugs price and healthcare cost will come down and government will save a lot of money from Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP. We are not loosing much because Patent Protection Laws are not followed or honored by other countries, such as India, China and South Africa. They make their own generic medication from brand name American medicine without any benefit to Americans. Then why American should suffer from these Patent Protection Laws

Ninth, allow Americans to import drugs from other countries so long they are monitored and passed by Food and Drugs Administration’s safety standards. This process will allow a true competition among Americans companies and more choices to Americans, something that will drive the cost of healthcare down.

Tenth, for Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP programs, federal government should set a own price that it is willing to pay physicians. The risk is that some physicians might refuse government price. But government can incentivize physicians to accept to government’s price by offering to pay off their student loans and giving similar inducement under the National Service Act.

Eleventh, government should allow qualified Registered BS-Nurses, Registered Nursing Parishioners and Registered Physician Assistants to do more procedures that don’t require specialists or physicians. By removing physicians’ monopolized services will reduce healthcare burdens, because physicians are charging very high costs in our current healthcare system. Because the scarcity of physicians makes them charge more than it should be and that makes healthcare costs higher than usual. For example most preventive care and minor diagnosis and or treatments don’t require physicians, especially in the clinics.

The health care professional and patient relationship is very crucial and sensitive. Most of us are pursuing our education to attain a dream career in the occupation that pays good money; but very often these careers come with responsibilities that need personal commitments that have social meaning that is apart from personal satisfactions. Healthcare professionals are vested great powers that are responsible to the safety of other individuals and community at large. Therefore legal and ethics issues on the healthcare industry are the moral guidelines that both professionals and individuals should be abide with in any community. If that is the case, then healthcare should be a right to every one regardless of his or her religion, race, gender, nationality, political affiliation and or social class. I urge politicians, CEOs of the Insurance and Drugs Corporation, Healthcare professionals and their constituencies to act with manner and ethics while reforming the current healthcare that has failed many that way history can not repeat itself. Humanity in the healthcare profession is to subject my own attitude, choices, preferences and tastes to the standards which currently and partially define the practice. We have to learn to recognize what is due to whom; we have to be prepared to take whatever self-endangering risks are demanded along the way; and we have listen carefully to what we are told about our own inadequacies and to reply with the same carefulness for the facts.” (Tong, R. 2007, p.39)

Bibliography:

www.pbs.org

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090429/ts_nm/us_flu

http://www.coverageforall.org/uninsured/uninsured_truths.htm

http://www.nursingworld.org/mods/archive/mod3/cemcglsy.htm

http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/children039s-health-insurance-program-reauthorization-act-2009

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/interviews/hawkes.html)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frol02p101&continuous=1

http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Marketing-and-Licensing-Agreements.html

http://keithhennessey.com/2009/04/09/how-many-uninsured-people-need-additional-help-from-taxpayers/

(Managed Care Weekly Digest, p.59) Marketing and Licensing Agreements; Three-Quarters of Americans and Industry Leaders Want Health Care Reform in President-elect Obama's First term. (2008, December). Managed Care Weekly Digest,59. Retrieved February 22, 2009, from ProQuest Health Management database. (Document ID: 1602207751).

McKenzie, J. F., R. R. Pinger, et al. (2008). An introduction to community health. Sudbury, Mass., Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Tong, R. (2007). New perspectives in health care ethics : an interdisciplinary and crosscultural approach. Upper Saddle River, N.J., Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Dominic Hodgkin, Constance M Horgan, Deborah W Garnick, Elizabeth L Merrick. (2009). Benefit Limits for Behavioral Health Care in Private Health Plans. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 36(1), 15-23. Retrieved April 30, 2009, from ProQuest Psychology Journals database. (Document ID: 1638227241).

PRESIDENT SPEAKS AT 'OPEN FOR QUESTIONS' TOWN HALL. (2009, March 27). US Fed News Service, Including US State News,***[insert pages]***. Retrieved April 30, 2009, from General Interest Module database. (Document ID: 1668346901).

Spring 2009

Legal and Ethical Issues In The Healthcare: Case Study, The Professional Patient Relationship

2012-01-03T04:58:00.000-05:00

Module 7 Case Study -Written assignment

On question a I believe that the medical staff met their obligation of diagnosing Lincoln’s sickness, which was “severe anemia due to hemorrhaging” by Tong 2007, and were able to explain the care plan procedure and its importance, his physician recommended blood transfusion immediately before his lost his consciousness. (Tong, R. 2007p.58)

I understand that faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses does not allow them to agree to blood transfusions for themselves or their children. Because they believe that blood transfusion is the same as eating blood and is prohibited by the Holly Bible. (http://www.towerwatch.com/Witnesses/Beliefs/their_beliefs.htm) However, as physician I would have go ahead and transfuse blood on Lincoln, because the ethical responsibilities of healthcare staff is to serve life’s within their capabilities as such powers are vested to them upon licensure. As a healthcare staff on the scene of such incident, Lincoln was willing for blood transfusion after the merit of such practice were explained to him by his medical staffs. He was competent enough to understand and he showed signs of acceptance of treatment. Therefore transfusion to Lincoln is of his best interest and not otherwise. (Tong, R. 2007p.58)

As question b asked about Lincoln autonomy and parents wishes, I believe that parents wishes of not using bollod transfusion on Lincoln are wrong and should not be followed. Also I do agree with the argument raised by this question that if his parent’s wishes are followed then it is obvious that Lincoln’s autonomy is somehow violated. (Tong, R. 2007p.58) For example, “the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (WT) has a policy to enforce extreme shunning of Jehovah Witnesses by fellow JWs for conscientiously accepting whole blood, red cell, white cell, platelet or plasma therapies (transfusions) even at the risk of premature death. By instigation of the WT, the same policy is also enforced by JW parents upon their unsuspecting children, again even if premature death is probable. The result of noncompliance for these parents is to face extreme shunning themselves.” (http://www.ajwrb.org/review6-15-04.shtml)

Question c is asking a very important question of this course. This question is key-stone of the legality and ethical manners of healthcare professionals. If Lincoln’s parents refuse blood transfusion are not acting on their son’s best interests because the case showed that Lincoln is able and willing live normal like if he undergoes the transfusion treatment as suggested by his physician. He was at the verge to admitting blood transfusion before he became unconscious while waiting to consulting with his parents. (Tong, R. 2007p.58) Studies shows that majorities of “Jehovah’s Witnesses have died because of this restriction the Watchtower Society has placed upon its followers. In the past the Watchtower Society has forbidden its followers to get vaccinations or accept organ transplants, many people died needlessly before the Watchtower Society changed its rules and allowed these procedures. They still hold fast to the prohibition of receiving blood transfusions.” (http://www.towerwatch.com/Witnesses/Beliefs/their_beliefs.htm)

Upon question d, if Lincoln’s parents agree to the blood transfusion, and upon awakening if Lincoln expresses repulsion and anger at both his parents and the medical staff, I will explain to him that it is an ethical responsibilities of medical staffs to save lives by the powers vested on them. That’s why we have Medical Proxy and Medical advance or living will that express personal wills and wishes such as DNR, no life support machine, organ donation, no blood transfusion and many more. It depends on where you live, the document that sets out your wishes for medical care may be called an advance directive, living will, declaration, power of attorney or patient advocate designation. Therefore, he should have one in place if in the future he chose not to have blood transfusion.

I will tell Lincoln’s parents that they have made a tough and right decision because they saved their son’s life by adhering with medical staffs on the transfusion treatment. Lincoln’s life was in eminent danger and their decisions to support medical staff’ recommendations gave them wide variety of options to use their talents and experiences to bring their son alive again. It was not for their decision to support the blood transfusion treatment; it could take long time to bypass legal and ethical boards and committees and may be it could be too late to save his life. I believe that they did the right thing to support medical staff’s decision on blood transfusion. To do the tight thing is always controversial and brings about dilemmas.

Also I will tell Lincoln that his life was in an eminent danger and he lost consciousness something that lead his parents and medical staff members to do everything in their capabilities to save his life. In order to serve his life he needed blood transfusion because he lost a lot of blood as he was suffering from severe anemia that was cause by hemorrhaging (Tong R. 2007, P58). Also data indicates that many of Jehovah’s Witnesses are dying because of some life threatening restriction that its faith leaders has sited upon its followers; especially for those related to medical treatments such as vaccine, organ transplants, use of certain modern medication and treatments and blood transfusion. (http://www.towerwatch.com/Witnesses/Beliefs/their_beliefs.htm)

Fall 2009

Bibliography:

1. http://www.ajwrb.org/review6-15-04.shtml

2. http://www.towerwatch.com/Witnesses/Beliefs/their_beliefs.htm

3. Tong, R. (2007). New perspectives in health care ethics : an interdisciplinary and crosscultural approach. Upper Saddle River, N.J., Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Legal and Ethical Issues In The Healthcare: Critically Ill and Dying

2012-01-03T04:54:00.000-05:00

Case Studies Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide, and Palliative Care

After reading chapter 11 in the Tong book, answer the Case Study questions for the four case studies at the end of the chapter, pp. 285-288. Post your answers here. Connect your answers to the readings.

Case Study #1

Q. a

On Mr. Najiri’s case, physician may have raised a serving no usefulness purpose of medication to Mr. Najiri’s condition that justifies discontinuation of artificial means of life support due to Shiite Muslims belief. However, the physician justified his/her position that Mr. Najiri’s brain dead means no life, and no medical treatment is possible according to main stream American values when he/she said that “in the United States brain death is death” {Tong, 2007 p.286}. Regardless of Shiite Muslim faith, since Mr. Najiri is in America and physician has pronounce his brain dead and further ruling out that since Mr. Najiri’s brain is dead “the hospital will no longer continue to support his cardiac functions artificially”. {Tong, 2007 p.186}. Because professionally physicians are trusted by American community to evaluate and treat patients and that only a physician can pronounce death, on Mr. Najiri’s case the family members would have to abide by physician’s decisions or transfer him to another hospital outside of America for further treatment that can fulfill their faith and belief of death.

Q. b

When medical uselessness becomes not a sufficient guide for end of life decision making, many people relay on their faith and spiritual beliefs as an alternative concept or value that should guide their decisions making process. However, professionalism and legal concepts emerge when there are tow parts (family members) that have different opinions on how process decision making. Often, if divisions happen, each part involved tends to have major philosophical difference and they gather surrogates to support their values and beliefs. This makes it difficult for parties to reach unanimous decisions without rule of the court, such as Terri Schiavo’s case. In Najiri’s case the medical uselessness on the Shiite Muslims’ belief about death cannot have stand when the professional that are the only one can pronounce death declare their love one death. According to their faith Najiri is not dead, but according to American standards that rule out who is dead and who is not, Mr. Najiri is dead. This is not only division between American medical uselessness as a sufficiency guide for MD to rule out death, it is also a spiritual belief/faith division on what is death and when can someone be pronounced dead. Mr. Najiri’s case brought a challenge to America that not only MD can pronounce death to the Shiite Muslims in America.

Q. c

I don’t believe that Mr. Najiri’s physician feels guilty of cultural imperialism. In America we trust medical doctors to evaluate our people, by treating them with best of their knowledge that is vested to them, also to pronounce them dead. Because, if it was not for medical doctors to pronounce someone dead, many people could not be resuscitated; rather been buried alive or killed innocently. I have lived with Muslims, no to condemn them but when someone dies; it doesn’t take hours before buried because their faith tells them to bury the dead before sun-set. To them not MD pronounce death, what if someone just had minor stroke, or cardiac arrest? If no one will give him/her CPR and get buried within hours, live people will be buried alive. But in America, one has to be pronounced dead by MD, and if someone falls CPR must be applied by professionals to resuscitate those who go to the temporary cardiac arrest and or stroke, because they are not dead. Therefore Mr. Najiri’s physician is not imposing any culture imperialism to Najiri’s family, rather it is a power that is vested to him by American society that license his professionalism to use his/her own discrete that reflect American value that “brain death is a true death”. {Tong, 2007 p.286}

Case Study #2

Q. a

I believe that Rhonda’s decisions to refuse Chemotherapy treatment should be respected by her parents. Her parents are to represent her best wishes because she is a minor. As a man of faith, I believe that Rhonda’s decision is rooted from her faith and trust in God, because she said that she has “reconciled herself to be with God” {Tong, 2007, p. 286}. In Rhonda’s case parent should understand and respect their children’s inner decisions and not their private interests. I can see Rhonda’s point of deciding not to take treatment that is as painful as Chemotherapy while she is going to live at maximum of one year. What is the point of her undergoing such painful treatment for a very terminal disease she got?

Q. b

However, legal system directs the healthcare providers, physicians, to follow directives of minors through parents or guardians unless otherwise parents or guardians are proven incompetent. In Rhonda’s case I believe that physicians should examine competence of her parents and do what is necessary for Rhonda and not for parents if there is evidence of split interests; because if any it will demonstrate incompetence. Also to put in mind “Do no Harm to patients” while making these decisions. However, in the mean time a physician should have Rhonda and her parents/family to consult counselor and resolve their hard feelings about their beloving child. It is true that parents can get hit hard with case like Rhonda and it is confusing, sometimes counseling can be of a great help. Also if they have counselor from their church or temple, it can help them to reevaluate their decisions and clear their doubts or resolve their conflict of interests. However, as a physician, he/she should lay out to them the best of her profession about process of Rhonda’s illness and what are the cons and pros.

Q. c

I believe that minors should be allowed to make these decisions, of ending their lives, with guidance from parents/guardians just like the way they negotiate making many of their (minors) decisions in the school choices and extracurricular activities. Some states prosecute 15 or 16 or 17 years old as adults. If such a matter of ending life arises, then patients of age 15 or 16 or 17 years old from these states should be allowed to end their lives as adults. If these states wont allow them it will portray them operating with double standards and legal system is there to correct and put landmarks on such actions. If she lives in the state that prosecute 15 years old as adults, or 15 years old can move out by their own by choosing who or what parent she/he should live with in case of separation, then Rhonda should be allowed to make her own decisions if her parents cannot agree with her, autonomy. Legally her parents are to represent her wishes, but there is clash of interest and so long her state allows 12 or 15 years old to choose what parent a minor should live with, then the same, Rhonda can chose what is best for her life.

Case Study #3

Q. a

No, I think that the Oregon’s law is not justified in the main stream American communities. I believe that Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act is not moral because there is only one person who can physically initiate taking life, and that is God only. What is the different between a physician who injects lethal injection and killed a person who want to die and the person who is not a doctor but assisted a friend of a family member who is suicidal by puling a trigger or using lethal injection? America society is a great with strong moral convictions. This makes it hard for Oregon law not justified because it seems that only suicidal people will be covered by law by getting free pass to kill themselves by assisted “Death with Dignity Act” {Tong, 2007 p.187}. According to my beliefs physician assisted suicide don’t really constitute a dignified death. To me a dignified death is a death that happens naturally or in a coincidence that is not self assisted knowingly that you are facing death for such actions. The provisions for the Oregon law make it really difficult for someone who is not suicidal to apply this law. Have being said so, I strongly believe that most people who applied successful the Oregon law are suicidal, and it there was no such law they could take their lives by any means anyway.

Q. b

The provisions for the Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act safeguard against possible abuses of this law and other suicidal laws to the people who are suicidal, because people who are not suicidal will not use the law anyways. Who in the right mind will consult his/her physician fulfilling the seven Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act if one is not suicidal? For example, provision number 5 requires that possible candidate for this act must be referred for psychological examination if either physician believes that the patient’s judgment is impaired by a psychiatric or psychological disorder {Tong, 2007 p.179}. This provision forgot that serial/psycho killers such as Green River, BTK, Columbus shooting, and VT shooting and so on all visited physicians and they could not predict that these individuals are suicidal and could harm themselves and or others in the community. I believe that people who subscribe in this act need mental, psychological and social help. This law should have, in stead, used to measure and identify people who need mental, psychological and social help by documenting subscribers,. Then they could be getting help by appointing psychologists and counselors who can develop ways to help them in stead.

Q. c

I don’t believe that physician assisted suicide should be legalized throughout the United States; because the act does not represent main stream American values. The text book said that between 1998 to 2004, among thousands Oregonians who subscribe to assisted suicide only 208 qualified {Tong, 2007 p.279}. America value life, and consider life is precious, what kind of role model will be set for the world to follow? We will be sending mixed signals, telling other countries that don’t kill your people, yet we set laws that make us killing each other. Killing is a killing; no body can kill someone and resurrect the same dead person days or months later? Therefore we cannot make jokes and have easy decisions about something we cannot make, replace or even preserve on our own terms, common sense. That’s why life is precious and we, Americans, innocent protects lives.

Case Study #4

Q. a

Sure, the attending physician should put Mrs. M into a ventilator immediately, and do what is necessary in his/her physician powers to treat Mrs. M. it is health care provider’s ethical and value, that “Do no Harm” to patients or clients. Remember that Mrs. M had denied the DNR offer that she was given while hospice attended her. Ventilator will help Mrs. M to breath, common sense that should be the first thing the physicians should do from the first place.

Q. b

No body can tell for sure what is likelihood of Mrs. M case whether to become a medical uselessness or to heal from breast censer, or bone and lung metastases. Life is faith, she believe that she need life, she can get one, what is important is for her not to be denied services that she is requesting so long that by law she can. We have people who are cancer survival while they were told by their physicians that they will not last for long. For example, I have my uncle who had cancer his physician told him that to go home and wait to die; he survived from it 25+ years now. The same uncle, in 1994 he got a bad accident that broke his spinal code several times; he was given 6months to live by his physician. 4 months after not only he lived but he was walking and traveling overseas about 5times, he is still alive working and driving. Therefore I believe that life is miracle and faith, every one sees and believe in and knows when it ends, and they will let it go if that is the case.

What the physician who is attending her need to do in case situation worsen, is to do what is likely to easy her pain, to do not inflict pain or refuse her with treatment that she is asking and most likely wont put her desperate and already delicate life in jeopardy. For example ventilator won’t cause any harm to her, therefore she should get that treatment. Most important is for the physician not to show sympathy to her rather empathy. Not to look down to her with attitude that she is dying and what the heack. That will be wrong, immoral and unethical in the helping profession. There is no enough until when it is enough, every body is unique and we need unique ways of getting things done, and physician should understand that by using professionalism of the healing field.

Q. c

I believe that Mrs. Be should devised if she would like to0 continuer with Chemotherapy, but with physician’s guidance and detailed explanation of the pros and cons. About who makes payment and what physician decides what medicine is functional and what is useless are not connected in this case. In this case there is fundamental disconnect between patient and her physician. Patient is willing to do anything to leave and physician is rejecting patient’s will of fight for her life by any means because of some medical uselessness that physician think that are the major cause. I think the physician doesn’t believe in miracles, but the patient does. Who is to determine that no life, again, not a doctor or a patient but almighty God. Doctor verifies that no life in the body, but cannot for sure and certain, always say there will be no life and become true. There are some with big faith, can prove the physician wrong, miracles.

Nursing Home Administration: Forecasting, Planning and Organizing

2012-01-03T04:50:00.000-05:00

Case Study #2,

Case study #2 raised a very interesting and ambiguous question for many of us to answer with certainty that the directions of rapid occurring change in the healthcare industry is predictable or can be beneficial to owners, staffs and patients. Considering what the U.S. Congress’s Office of technology has warned that the rate of development is too fast for proper monitoring of the effects and threats that the foundations of the most secure American businesses might be in danger. In this case, Nursing Home facilities are the backbone of the American healthcare businesses and its foundation is facing uncertainty as technology is expanding yearly. For example, according to Allen, J. E. (2008) reveled that in the 1980s nursing home nurses were well thought-out to be working at lower technology intensity compare to hospital nurses. That is somehow still the truth today. Nurses in the nursing home are still struggling to catch up with toys changing hi-technology something that is increasingly challenging the nursing home and healthcare industry in general. (Allen, 2008 p.14)

As newly administrator I have plan and strategies on how to deal with uncertainties that the current occurring accelerated changes in the healthcare industry, my facility in particular. It is obvious that in the past nursing home administrator were not equipped to adapt sweeping or yearly prolongation of change in the healthcare industry. Lack of such forecast and training has shortsighted the healthcare industry including nursing home facilities or administrations. My biggest plan to overcome the uncertainty in my facility due to drastic changes is to apply forecasting as one of the main management tool and have quarter, yearly and long-term plans that are adaptive to new technology. Plan will empower my management and establish inclusive decision system that will be propelled by changes that I will be forecasting by formulating framework of all facility’s activities. I will make these plans based on facility’s goals and objectives. (Allen, 2008 p.15)

This will help me to review and evaluate my plan yearly for analysis of where we are going and how we will get there parallel with advancing technology. My plan will have long-term forecasting plan, yet will be actively engineered with short term forecasting that are reviewed as trend analysis quarterly and annually. The aim here is keep up with daily reforms and new technological means launched every day because these changes are drastic and impacts the very existence of nursing home/healthcare industry. As administrator I will have to be adaptive with these changes in order for the facility to use them as forecasting tools that will engineer innovation and success of the facility/industry. (Allen, 2008 p.12-14)

The swift improvement in the healthcare industry ability to exchange information and knowledge through the use of new technologies force us to be continuously reevaluating the way we carry out healthcare duties. For example, the recent economic stimulus bill, $20 billions were directed to implement new healthcare technologies, such as electronic medical records, aimed at improving care and cutting costs (http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0130/p03s03-ussc.html). This bill became a law and it will change the way healthcare industry does business forever. Healthcare professionals and administrators are to adapt this change and implement the law. In this forecasting as main tool of adapting changing of technology and the ways of doing business in the healthcare industry, in my plan I will use staff training, innovative staff meetings and seminars as strategy to induce that change as it comes. This is to avoid sudden shock in my facility. I will also use professional consultants who are expertise in the subject matter that will require our attestations as threat cause by change. In the case of the above mentioned new laws, my focus will be to train my employee to adapt to digital technology documentations, such as electronic medical records as suggested. It will be easier for some because we have such technology among staff members when we use our facility’s ID cards as ways of keeping employees records (attendance, call-ins, entrance/exit the facility or restricted rooms, sometimes other personal records). I believe that this will become helpful because some vital information about patients (allergies, treatment/care plan, DNR, meal plan, prescription drugs, family member information, medical records, e.t.c.) will be know and avoid unnecessary mistakes.

I completely admit what Allen, J. E. (2008) page 13 said about nursing home administrator needs to know, that in order to act professionally and effectively, administrators need to adopt changes as they come. I also believe what he said that “surviving in the nursing home industry will depend on ability to forecast the future and learn entirely new ways of thinking, behaving, motivating and communicating in the nursing facility”. In this case ability to adapt change faster will have good results in the plans and strategies forecasted by the administrator or management. As ambitious administrator, I believe that there is change that comes within, internal change, and change that comes from outside, external change. To understand the sources of the change, will make management aware of such change, its source, nature and possible solutions. For example, an effective administrator will need to consider governmental permissions and regulations, nature of competition, nature of nursing home leadership and economic considerations based on numerous factors. (Allen, 2008, p.16-17)

Furthermore, as administrator I will use forecasting by develop and manage changes that impact finances of my facility because it is important to oversee spending, keep and search for new funders and maintaining the current funders/donors without hurting the organization’s goals and objectives. In doing so, I do understand that in the administrator’s position cut back programs that needs professional supervision and qualification can implicate the facility/organization’s mission by not attaining main goals and objectives. For example at my facility I will need enough RNs, physical therapists, and CAN’s and dietitian. Because these are the core professions for existence of the nursing home and implementation of many required ethical and laws counts on these professions because they are licensed. For example, my strategic plan is to develop a plan on how to formulate process and analyze facility’s goals, objectives, technological advancement, competitions and resources. Goals and objectives can be based on both short and long range, decisions on means to achieve them, and organized methods that ensure them (Allen, 2008, p.18-21).

In this context, as administrator, I will use forecasting as management tool to analyze the trends in the facility. I will also use line staff relationships to initiate and anticipate the swift change that is occurring. Doing so will facilitate facility management to change as the current systems look forward to the change because technology is changing the healthcare business daily. Hence effective administrators must change. I do admit your mini-lecture input that “in order to survive in this dramatic, laser fast change environment, the administrator will need to look at issues in innovative ways, understanding that yesterday's or today's solutions may not work in tomorrow's world.” (Tony Joseph, Fall 2009 Mini-Lecture) For example, planning in healthcare industry involves forecasting, planning, and organization. As administrator I will put emphasis on input, process, and output, this is to control quality by maximizing efficiency and professionalism. I will be using inclusive mechanism while formulating policies as a way to put forward facility’s action plan. (Allen, 2008, p. 21-26)

Fall of 2009

Bibliography:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0130/p03s03-ussc.html

Allen, J. E. (2008). Nursing home administration. New York, Springer Pub.

Tony Joseph, Fall 2009, Nursing Home Administrator Course, Module 2 Mini-Lecture, https://sunyit.sln.suny.edu/default.asp

Museum Studies- Art History -Andrew Warhola (Andy Warhol) Biography

2012-01-03T04:47:00.000-05:00

Andrew Warhola is among the most famous people on the earth. During my research I discovered that his fan and general public more frequently identified him as Andy Warhol. I could not believe my eyes when I searched his name in the internet, so many sites popped-up about him, all filled with his fun comments and gratitude on his contribution to the American culture, art-work/fact, civil-rights movements, social-justice, and personal identity as openly gay. According to The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Inc, Andy Warhol was born August 6, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He died on February 22, 1987 at age 58, in New York City, New York. The record from his foundation indicates that he was admitted at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1945. The institute is now known as Carnegie Mellon University. His Big Electric Chair, Campbell-noodle soup, coca-cola can and articulation of using celebrities as idles in his art-work has made me and minds of many to admit that he is among the leading figure in the visual art movement in American History; and not only in the pop art. (http://www.warholfoundation.org/biograph.htm,)

However, after he became a commercial illustrator, a career that he initially excelled, Andy became famous worldwide known as a pop-artist. He worked as a painter, avant-garde filmmaker, record producer, author, and public figure; although he was also highly involved in the era of 1960s and 1970s civil-rights movement. He worked with wildly diverse social circles; for example he had membership with bohemian street people, distinguished intellectuals, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy aristocrats. In many ways he has been the subject matter of plentiful exposition, exhibitions, books, and feature and documentary film and public icon. According to Hughes “Andy was generally regarded as quiet, shy, and a meticulous observer”. As his Art critic Robert Hughes further by calling him "the white mole of Union Square.” (Hughes, R. 2006)

In spite his Hollywood fantasy, government critic during civil rights movements and as well established public figure, I learned that Andy was a man of faith. According to James Romaine, Andye practiced his faith at Byzantine Rite Ruthenium Catholic Church; James Romaine further that “he regularly volunteered at homeless shelters in New York, particularly during the busier times of the year, and described himself as a religious person”. I was surprised and impressed to learn that in his life, Andy attended Mass regularly just as regular church members in-spite of his life style as openly gay man. (http://oldarchive.godspy.com/culture/Andy-Warhol-Transubstantiating-the-Culture.cfm.html)

Reading of Andy’s biography that is published on his foundation/organization http://www.warholfoundation.org/biograph.htm I discovered that his was the third born in his family. As most of Americans, Andy’s family immigrated to the US from Slovakia, and he was from the working class. He was of Rusyn’s descendants that are in the northeastern Slovakia (Bockris, Victor 1989).

Data about Andy’s childhood indicate that he had two older brothers, John and Paul. His brothers were born in Slovakia, then Czechoslovakia. According to Guiles, F. L. (1989) in third grade, Andy had St. Vitus' dance, a nervous system disease that causes involuntary movements of the extremities, which is believed to be a complication of scarlet fever and causes skin pigmentation blotchiness. Also often bed-ridden as a child, he became an outcast among his school-mates and bonded strongly with his mother. In his child hood he spent most of his time in bed. He drew, listened to the radio and collected pictures of movie stars around his bed. Later on his adult life he described this period as very important in the development of his personality, skill set and preferences. (Guiles, F. L. 1989)

Andy’s early career he developed early artistic talent and studied commercial art at the School of Fine Arts at Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh (now Carnegie Mellon University). In 1949, he moved to New York City and began a successful career in magazine illustration and advertising. During the 1950s, he gained fame for his whimsical ink drawings of shoe advertisements. These were done in a loose, blotted ink style, and figured in some of his earliest showings in New York at the Bodley Gallery. With the concurrent rapid expansion of the record industry and the introduction of the vinyl record, Hi-Fi, and stereophonic recordings, RCA Records hired Warhol, along with another freelance artist, Sid Maurer, to design album covers and promotional materials. (Oldham, A., Spence, S., & Ohlman, C. 2002)

However, throughout his career, Andy produced erotic photography and drawings as expression of sexuality. His most famous works draw from gay underground culture and openly explore the complexity of sexuality and desire. Some stories about Andy development as an artist revolved around the impediment of his sexuality primarily presented as he tried to launch his career. The first works that he submitted to a gallery in the pursuit of a career as an artist were homoerotic drawings of male nudes. They were rejected for being too openly gay. (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0425/is_n4_v55/ai_19101783)

On July 9, 1962 Andy managed to organize his first one man gallery exhibition, in the Ferus Gallery of Los Angeles, California. This exhibition marked the West Coast debut of pop art. Also Andy’s first New York solo Pop exhibit was hosted at Eleanor Ward's Stable Gallery November 6-24, 1962. (Lippard, L. R. 1982)In the 1960s that Warhol began to make paintings of iconic American products such as Campbell's Soup Cans from the Campbell Soup Company and Coca-Cola bottles, as well as paintings of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Troy Donahue, and Elizabeth Taylor. He produced prints using the silkscreen method. His work became popular and controversial because 1960 it was the edge of civil right movements. His imagery were dollar bills, celebrities (images of Jacqueline Kennedy mourning the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963), brand name products (coca cola Bottle or Campbell's Chiken Soup can) and newspaper headlines (Mushroom Clouds, Big Electric Chairs, and Police Dogs Attacking Civil Rights Protesters). (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4004021.stm)

1960s Andy’s work had success and scandal; in the 1970s it proves a much quieter decade, because Andy became more entrepreneurial and or commercial. According to Bob Colacello, Andy devoted much of his time to rounding up new, rich patrons for portrait commissions such as Brigitte Bardot, Queen Beatrix, Liza Minnelli, Muhammad Ali, John Lennon, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, and Michael Jackson. For example, the Andy's famous portrait of Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong in 1973. (http://www.the-artists.org/art-gallery/andy-warhol-portraits.cfm) Andy used to socialize at various nightspots in New York City, including Max's Kansas City, Serendipity 3 and later in the '70s Studio 54. (http://www.maxskansascity.com/warhol/)

1980’s Andy’s financial success partially was due to his affiliation and friendships with a number of prolific younger artists, who were dominating the "bull market" of '80s New York art Julian Schnabel, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Salle and other so-called Neo-Expressionists, as well as members of the Transavantgarde movement in Europe, including Francesco Clemente and Enzo Cucchi. By this period, Andy was being criticized for becoming merely a business artist. His 1970’s art-work echoed criticism on his 1980 exhibit of ten portraits at the Jewish Museum in New York. Andy showed no interest in Judaism. (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1207486218796&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull)

Andy died in New York City at 6:32 a.m. on February 22, 1987; according to news reports, he had a routine gallbladder surgery at New York Hospital before dying in his sleep from a sudden post-operative cardiac arrhythmia. Prior to his diagnosis and operation, Warhol delayed having his recurring gallbladder problems checked, as he was afraid to enter hospitals and see doctors. Warhol's body was taken back to Pittsburgh by his brothers for burial. (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DA1639F930A25757C0A961948260)

This class was worth taking it. His art expressing capital punishment it was well articulated. Although, certainly I don’t agree with Andy Warhol and most of his ideology, he has indeed put landmark in the Art history by articulating and explaining the strength of American diversification with its rich culture.

Spring of 2009

Bibliography:

1. Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. http://www.warholfoundation.org/biograph.htm

2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4004021.stm

3. http://www.the-artists.org/art-gallery/andy-warhol-portraits.cfm

4. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0425/is_n4_v55/ai_19101783

5. http://oldarchive.godspy.com/culture/Andy-Warhol-Transubstantiating-the-Culture.cfm.html

6. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DA1639F930A25757C0A961948260

7. Hughes, R. (2006). Things I didn't know: A memoir. New York: Knopf.

8. Bockris, V. (1989). The life and death of Andy Warhol. New York: Bantam Books.

9. Guiles, F. L. (1989). Loner at the ball: The life of Andy Warhol. London: Bantam.

10. Oldham, A., Spence, S., & Ohlman, C. (2002). 2Stoned. London: Secker & Warburg.

11. Lippard, L. R. (1982). Pop art. World of art. London: Thames and Hudson.

Community Health - My Local Public Health Agency, Oneida County Health Department

2012-01-03T04:44:00.000-05:00

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT PAGE

My local public health agency is county based, under Oneida County Health Department (OCHD). Daniel W. Gilmore, Ph.D. is the Director of Environmental Health Supervisor-in-Charge of OCHD. The aim of Oneida County Health Department is to promote and protect the health of Oneida County; both county’s citizens and visitors. The OCHD director is responsible for initiating, planning, coordinating and directing the programmatic and budgetary management of all public health programs. As McKenzie, 2008 page 50 indicates, OCHD falls in the approximation of 2,86 LHDs (Local Health Departments) in US; and that OCHD like many other LHDs it provide health services to the people and many of these services are mandated by state laws, which also set standards for health and safety. {McKenzie, 2008 p.50}

However, according to the OCHD spoke person, Administration office the “provides administrative, legal, fiscal, health emergency response and preparedness, and public education support for the Department.” The Administration Division provides direct support to the Director of Health as well as the community at large. Many of OCHD division programs are mandated by the federal through Department of Human Services and New York State department of Health, such as public buildings, public transportation systems, the direction and reporting of certain diseases (in this case recent pandemic), the collection of vital statistics-birth and death and many more. {McKenzie, 2008 p.50} this is to say that OCHD is in compliance with both federal and state laws; also administration of OCHD is divided in multiple divisions such as:

Administrative Division: Staff provides Services such as administrative support regarding personnel issues and contracts; also provides a liaison with the NYSDOH, health coalitions and community and government agencies. The administrative staff implements its mission, goals and objectives by assisting various programs that are divided in multiple divisions. Such as Financial Services, that is under Fiscal Services Administrator. Financial services assistance are such as preparation of annual budget, to prepare required financial statements and government reports, to ensure spending is within the budget allotments, to ensures revenues from 3rd party re-imbursements, and to prepares claims for State and Federal and other reimbursement.

Public Education and Public Information Services Division: Also, OCHD administration is responsible for public education and public information services. This division is under Public Education Coordinator. This division caries out its mission by publicize information pertaining to the Health Department, its programs and services, to all sections of the community. The person I contacted at the OCHD indicated that normally this is done by presentations to school groups, professional organizations, health fairs and media interviews and press releases.

According to my research of the OCHD findings, the Public Education Coordinator serves is the official spokesperson for the Health Department. Also, they indicate that in case there is an event of a public health emergency the Public Information Officer informs the public the nature of the emergency and provides all directives. Also, the Public Information Officer will coordinate with all other agencies involved in the emergency in order to preserve and protect the health of the community; this is to fully execute the OCHD mission statement.

Legal Services: In the OCHD this division is under supervision of Assistant County Attorney. Its main goals is to advise the OCHD and other county agencies on public health and environmental law, to represents the department in administrative hearings and in court, to drafts orders on behalf of the Director of Health, OCHD, to deal with public health violations, hazards and troubles, to serves as County’s HIPAA Compliance and Privacy Officer, and to draft and review contracts entered into by and for the Health Department, OCHD.

Health Emergency Response and Preparedness Division: The OCHD Health Emergency Response and Preparedness is a division that is mainly responsible for the OCHD’s public health planning. To implement the main goals of OCHD this division develops plans for the OCHD role in natural, man made disasters, outbreaks and epidemics. Natural disasters are such as floods, fires, hurricanes, tornados, avalanche, thunder storms, and other weather related disaster; whereas man made disasters are categorized as such as biological, radiological, chemical and terrorism; also OCHD plans for outbreaks and epidemics such as flue, pandemic influenza, MRSA and so on.

Nevertheless, OCHD division of Health Emergency Response and Preparedness is also responsible for integrating OCHD plans into the overall hazards of Oneida County Emergency Management Plan and to provide OCHD staff support to the Oneida County Health Emergency Response and Preparedness (CHERP) multi agency committee in order to implement the OCHD mission statement.

According to OCHD its core functions as an effective public health system are such as Ensuring the Quality and Accessibility of Health Services, Preventing Diseases, Promoting and Encouraging Healthy Behaviors, Protecting Against Environmental Hazard, Responding to Disasters and Assisting Communities in Recovery, and Preventing Injuries. The structure of the public health system varies from state to state, but the mission is the same {McKenzie, 2008 p.39}.

Public health is the most inclusive system, the Institute Of Medicine (IOM) defined it in 1998 as what “we as society do collectively to insure the conditions in which people can be healthy”; normally public health system is defined as “activities undertaken within the formal structure of government and the associated efforts of private and voluntary organizations and individuals” {McKenzie, 2008 p.7}.

So far in my county, OCHD has some health alerts that are publicly discussed, residents get information about these alerts by public and private broadcasting, web-site, phone inquiries, news papers, scheduled appointments, brochures and other means of communications.

The information about active alerts that I found in the OCHD are Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and FDA on salmonella typhimurium outbreak notices, immunization clinic, TB Clinics, MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), guide for coaches: an athlete's guide to prevent the spread of bacteria, raccoon rabies, lyme disease information, West Nile virus information, hand washing, personal health fact sheets, cold weather tips, flood preparedness, lead exposure, fluoride information, hot weather health risks, and so on.

However, the above health alerts some are local based involving few people and can be controlled by locally with minimal amount of organizing and resources, such as an athlete’s guide to prevent the spread of bacteria, raccoon rabies, lyme disease, the West Nile virus, flue and personal hygiene. Some are large and complex and they need significant skills and resources for their solutions, such as salmonella typhimurium outbreak, MRSA, and so on. {McKenzie, 2008 p.121}

OCHD programs and services are as follows: community wellness services, early intervention programs, health clinics, environmental health, health education, Women, Infants and Children nutritional supplement program (WIC); and special children services. According to the OCHD public information office these programs are to accomplish the health department’s mission, to “promote and protect the health” of the residents of Oneida County. For example, OCHD like many other governmental health agencies are part of the governmental structure from Federal, State and Local levels. These agencies and their programs are funded primarily by tax money and managed by government officials, and they have authority over their geographical territories {McKenzie, 2008 p.39}.

While researching, I did not find any information that OCHD is directly implementing Healthy People 2010 suggestions. However, I find so many programs and service that they correspond with the Healthy People 2010. The question that if OCHD will meet the goals of Healthy People 2010 or not is impossible for me to answer from the data I collected in this research. But since we are in 2009, I’m optimistic that some of the healthy people 2010 objectives will be met fully, though not so sure if all will be met due to different political appointees with different policies and priorities.

Bibliography:

1. McKenzie, J. F., R. R. Pinger, et al. (2008). An introduction to community health. Sudbury, Mass., Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

2. http://www.ocgov.net

3. http://www.oneidacounty.org/

Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Services: The Nancy Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health Case Study

2012-01-03T04:40:00.000-05:00

Survey of USA Legal System- Analysis Of A Legal Decision Module 01 Written Assignment Week Three

Nancy Cruzan, resident of Missouri state was involved in a severe car accident on January 11, 1983. While lying in the hospital she was at vegetate state due to severe brain damage caused by accident. She lived as a being without recognition, thinking, or feeling. She could not swallow or eat; rather she had a feeding tube inserted in her stomach for food and water. Also she was incontinent and had to wear diapers. According to Barton (1991), Nancy did not respond to stimuli or recognize her family, and diagnostic tests, such as electroencephalograms (EEGs) detected no brain waves due to her persistent vegetative state since January of 1983. {Barton, 1991 #3}

Nancy's parents joined by family members and friends asked the Missouri State Hospital to stop administering food and fluids to Nancy after professionals’ after determination that she has no and would never recover cognitive ability {Barton, 1991 #3}. According to Morrison (2009) Nancy did not have an advance directive or medical proxy whatsoever. She did not have any will or any written document that could prove her parents claim or could indicate how medical institutions can treat her in case of incapacitation {Morrison, 2009 p127}.

After the local probate judge ruled in favor of Nancy’s family and friends, the Attorney General of Missouri appealed the Nancy ruling to the Supreme Court of Missouri However, eventually Nancy’s family worn the appeal on December 14^th 1990, but after the battle that took many years {Morrison, 2009 127}. The matter that was brought in the Missouri Supreme Court on the Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health made history as “the first time that court had considered the issue of the right to die” {Morrison, 2009 127}. The question was could the state of Missouri necessitate clear convincing evidence of Nancy’s wishes by conceding permission to her parents? {Morrison, 2009 127}.

Legal Issues that raises ethical matters in this case are such as, could Nancy, presently unable to make decisions for herself, choose to live in this vegetate state? was there a family right of sovereignty that overrides the State's interest in preserving her vegetate state life? Nancy did not leave specific instructions to terminate her life support if she were ever in a persistent, vegetate state. Who, then, should decide to withhold medical treatment? The family? A doctor? A court? To me I see that it depend who is facing either of these sides, a family member or friends, a doctor, or a judge and DA. What they believe about life and what they value in life sometimes directly influence their decision making. It can be ethical or unethical, perceived well or condemned by the public. But to close family members, vegetate sate to the love one, it can be trauma and disappointing seen someone you always see responsive and communicative laying helpless and cannot talk or show any sign. It is even worse if family members are put in this scenario because of hand of government or politicians.

Put in mind that the removing of feeding tube would result in Nancy's death from dehydration, it sounds inhumane, but her parents and friend had confident that she would not have wanted to live her life as a vegetable, neither one of us wouldn’t, as far as I know. Ethical maters in this case are not like “life is precious” on the issues of random abortions or suicides. To me it is ethical to not consider the general ramifications of the decision on this case, in stead to decide the Nancy’s case on its own merits {Leschensky, 1991 #4}.

Nevertheless, the state of Missouri standing on regardless of the condition of the patient, the overt action of removing feeding tubes constitutes murder under Missouri law; therefore to permit any life-threatening action by a medical caregiver is to violate Missouri criminal law. This was not killing or life threatening by anyone by any means. It was the wish of the Nancy’s family and friend not live the pain of seen their loved one laying in the state rehab helpless at vegetate state with no hope to recover; due to some outsiders who never even met Nancy. It is traumatic and cause more pain than rewards for the family members and friends {Leschensky, 1991 #4}.

Term that was used to analyze and prove this case in this case in the Missouri Supreme Court is “clear and convincing” that Nancy would want the feeding tube to be removed, or on the other words to die. Supreme Court ruled that state are permitted to set the standard at high level even though such a high level of proof, “clear and convincing”, is not required in Nancy’s case. This case was returned to the trial court.

For example, Justice O'Connor settled with the result reached by the Supreme Court majority, and furthered, specifically distinguishing a patient's independence interest in refusing the "artificial delivery of food and water." troubled that “there be means available to protect an individual's liberty interest to refuse medical treatment, she pointed out that the Court had decided "only that one state's practice does not violate the Constitution" and that the ruling "does not preclude a future determination that the Constitution requires states to implement the decisions of a patient's duly appointed surrogate." {Leschensky, 1991 #4}

On 12/14/1990 the judge ruled in favor of Nancy’s parents after more witness who testified that Nancy told them that she would not want to live in the persistent vegetative state. This evidence satisfied the “clear and convincing” standard {Morrison, 2009 127-8}. This case illustrates how important it is for every one to preplan and complete advance directive or proxy or will contracts, as a concept recognized by state laws and supported by most Americans. However, PSDA act of 1991 gives federal government mandate to call upon states and healthcare providers to educate professionals and the public about local laws concerning healthcare decision making rights and advance directives. PSDA don’t provide universal acknowledged advance directive, even though majority suggests that PSDA universality would some how smooth the improvement of public information and awareness {Morrison, 2009 124}.

Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health case has expedite to put in place Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) that was introduced in the U.S. senate by Missouri senator John C Danforth (R) and New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D) in October 1989. This bill died, but six months later Representative Sander M. Levin (D) from Michigan sponsored to the U.S. House of Representatives a considerable revised version of the original bill that died in the senate. On December 1990 President H.W. Bush signed the PSDA bill as part of OBRA, and on December 1, 1991 the bill became effective {Morrison, 2009 124}.

To put laws or legislatives in place such as PSDA Act is to avoid future legal conflicts like this is the way forward, but to cause others to suffer because of divisive common sense then that is not liberty. I do value life dearly, such as reduction of crimes, road accidents, and practices that cost innocent lives. Nancy’s case is unique and needs its own merit because it causes more pain to family members and community, I have been there, and don’t want to resurrect pain every time you visit the hospital or rehab. Barton (1991) said that “we are constitutionally protected right to refuse life-sustaining treatment”. It can be ethical to some and to some can be unethical.

January 2009

Bibliography:

1. {Barton, 1991 #3} Barton, R. S. (1991). "Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Dept. of Health." Issues in Law & Medicine 6(4): 409-413.

2. {Morrison, 2009 #2} Morrison, E. E. and J. F. Monagle (2009). Health care ethics : critical issues for the 21st century. Sudbury, Mass., Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

3. {Leschensky, 1991 #4}Leschensky, W. L. (1991). "Constitutional protection of the `refusal-of-treatment': Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department." Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 14(1): 248.

Human Services Management: The Nature of Management

2012-01-03T04:36:00.000-05:00

I would like to express my views to people who argue that managerial functions are the same; and no matter what the field, they all function the same. (B2) First, “Management in business and human services organization activity means the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals” (B1). These people believe that a person who is a good manager in the business field will also be a good manager in the human services field. In the human services field, management is highly challenging because the factors that differentiate nonprofit organization from profit making companies are the same that makes management difficult. (B2)

Nevertheless, some factors of human services management are challenging. For example: - First, is conflicting values and expectations within departments of human services that directly serve clients. Human services organization missions are always accepted to the targeted community and it causes managerial difficulties to carry on the mission through employees to the community, and sometimes stockholders. For example the text book sited the 1996 welfare reform law as a good example. (B2)

- Second, most of the time human service organizations service clients with complex problems and sometimes are out of will and detected by authority or circumstances. Hurricane/tornado victims, poor people and or drug addicts sometime the help needed don’t get there at the time needed, or they get help but not exactly what they get to improve their situations. For example hurricane and tornado disaster victims who gets help from FEMA, Red Cross, faith base organization and individuals. Or how law income families’ gets help from welfare departments and it don’t help them to improve from the situation; or drug addicts fro various reasons get help from public and private rehabs sometimes ends up back or goes to jail.

- Third, some of the goals or objectives of a human services organization are not specified or simplified enough for the management to carry on this objective accurately and serve clients positively. In comparison with profit making organization, their goal is well explained and outcome is well targeted to the desired clients. For example, Verizon wireless advertise to as many students as they can because they offer modern technological services and youth are well aware of it and organization coverage. If you ask a verizon kiosk sales person about the organization’s mission will clearly explain to you. But if we ask Upstate Cerebral Palsy (UCP) residents counselor what is the mission of UCP will stumble answering that question.

- Forth, actually it is difficult to measure the outcome of human service programs. Because it takes time to see the outcome and sometimes outcomes are not tangible. For example UCP outcome to their clients is merely measurable. UCP has various facilities in central NY that host developmental disabled, autistic, and mentally retarded individuals. But Verizon outcome to college students is we see more and more students subscribes with network and explore the opportunity of mobile to mobile with parents, friends, and family members and so on

However, human services are the agencies that deliver services such as care, mediation, relieve, resources, leadership and so on to the individuals at the communities. These agencies are not for profit making rather needed human services to the communities. Leadership of both profit oriented and Human Services organization has designing, staffing, planning, supervision, budgeting monitoring and evaluation.

Management is equipped with planning, organizing, resourcing, leading or directing, and controlling an organization, as group of people or entities. It is effort for the goal of accomplishing a mission, services and or values. However, resourcing encompass the deployment and manipulation of human capital, financial assets, technological wealth, and innate resources. (B1)

Any management, whether profit oriented or non-profit organization, abide together and assume leadership by working with employees and carry out the vision and mission by overlook organizational process design, connect the elements of the organization together, management of external scenarios, and maintaining supportive organizational culture. Ma

These human services are formed as agencies that deliver services such as educational institutions, welfare, mental health facilities, legal supports, family issue, drug use, eradicating un-employment, special groups, and rehabilitation and so on. (B2) Human services organizations are to reaching out the communities and improving the social conditions.

Human Services organizations have got as specifics purposes, vision, focus and direction on the accomplishments that are necessary to achieve excellence in the services provided. Human Services Organization has values, ethics and professional standards that support Quality of Working Life; by advocacy, society development, consultation, referral, community action, or information dissemination. Normally development is conducted through education, training, counseling, therapy or even coursework.

However, outlining the strength of Human Services management different from Business Management, Human Services Management as public organization such as school, department of social service and or nonprofit organization that are targeted to specific group of people needs. In the Human Services, management can also pass on to the person or people who carry out the mission of management in order to deliver the expected services to the desired community.

Nevertheless, business for profit organizations invades human services industry something that brings about some challenges by providing similar services with aim to gain profit and maintaining professionalism, values and ethics of Human Services Field. In this manner, management of profit oriented organization and of the Human Services organization have same functions as management board.

For example, UCP (Upstate Cerebral Palsy) is a Human Services Organization that stand as an Agency for the state of NY government taking care of mental development and autistic individuals. The organization also has multiple centers that carry out schools, learning centers and job training for profit, such as Amory Campus, Rome Campus, Bonneville Campus, and so on.

Human Services field is a passionate field that stands to serve our community. However, business and profit making organizations provides service to our community that is product oriented; but the only difference is what kind of services? Human services provide therapeutically, moral, ethical, and not products.

In this case human service management personnel must have certain special skills and abilities that needed in human services field. These can be found in the human services ethical values. These values helps to guard human service organization to do not fall into law suites, mal-practice and above all, management of intended service to be delivered by human service provider to the client believing that it will provide expected results.

Bibliography:

B1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management

B2. Management of Human Services Programs, 4^th edition, by Lewis, Packard and Lewis,

Sep 2008 - Assignment #1

Human Services Management: Organizational Leadership

2012-01-03T04:33:00.000-05:00

Human service organizations are programs that deal with the personal and social development of individuals, families, communities and society at large. For example, human service programs are run by management and conduct direct services such as training, education, therapy, counseling and or casework. However, human service organization/management works indirectly social action, through consultation, referral, community development, advocacy, and or information dissemination. (Lewis, Lewis, Packard 2007, page 6)

I will highly consider directive leadership in my human service organization. As a CEO of the organization, I will definitely assume personal responsibilities for making major decisions, and obligated to make things done. Although some tasks may be performed by staff members, also I will allow questions and suggestions from staff members, clients, and or stakeholders (Broad R 2005, page 4). This will allow my organization not to be in the closed box or closed mind kind of leadership. However, I also believe that on some issues that are not specialized on my profession I will use some other leadership styles such as delegative and or participative leaderships. For example, if there is some sort of outbreak in my school, I will delegate all appropriate decisions be made by school/organization Nurse. This is to avoid some professional mistakes that can be avoided is specialization and professionalism play its part.

My ambition is to establish an organization and become an effective leader who will influence future of community by desire to improve performance of human service by creating competent organization and goals. For example, Broad R. 2005, page 10 state that “effective managers are continuers working to help their organizations grow and change to meet new situations and to focus their members on the most significant issues”.

However, I’m intending to use an “Articulating a Future Orientation” as management setting. The reason I chose this setting is because it will consistently seeking out trends as a possible changes in demographics, funding, or public alignment. This trend will make me as an effective manager, and determine how determine how these trends will influence my management. (Broad R 2005, page 9)

Functions of the human service organization, as management settings of my desire, is to serve the community by advocating for children with developmental disabilities. This association will deal with the educational needs and care of children in a day care setting. I know that this vast program will require a team with different specialties. There will be a maximum of 25 children and 10 staffs in the organization. Staffs are, 4 teachers specializing in social work for behavior and educational examinations, with one being an assistant manager and 4 teacher aides with a high school diploma and six week onsite training sessions with the children in the program. One nurse, will be responsible for medical needs and general health of the entire organization.

The reason I chose this function, having disabled children as my clients is because they are most vulnerable groups in my community and need specialized advocates through a safe and unique setting that fits their needs and deliver service in the form of empowerment as early child hood education, and community awareness disabled individuals by aggressive community inclusions, activities, outings or socializations. For example, Reamer 2006, page 18 state that “the principle aim is to help the hungry, homeless, jobless, and destitute (and in some instances, the Godless) to muster their internal resources to lead more productive lives.” (Reamer 2006, page 18)

I will carry out this mission at start by initiating a day care program for children because I believe that community values starts from home and mostly child hood values, therefore to positively empower children is to establish a positive future community. Also, I will open a social center for development disabled children, parents and family may discuss their needs and what fits the child’s personality by using advocacy task force that I will put in place.

Community and recreational activities will also benefit the community because every child will have an opportunity to be treated like every other child. The organization will foster recreational occasions and not segregating these individuals in the closed areas with minimal access to the general public. This organization will also acts as facilitator of organizations that shelter such individuals and develop a way of working together to create community awareness of rights and responsibility of community to do not discriminate children with development disabilities. For example, recently NY state governor has raised a point that has sadden me, that today, only 37 percent of people with disabilities are employed. This point was raised by governor after SNL incident.

Many organizations that serve development disability individuals have a very secluded type reputation, for example, the agency I work for doesn’t take their individuals to the mall, public parades, public parks, and public outings enough for them to at least develop some sort of learning skills and they attend these programs at a very minimal rate. Something that leading them to often having behaviors. I believe they misbehave because they don’t get exposed to these events enough to develop skills and awareness of public population that will make them not panic when they get out of their routines (home, Day treatment/rehab, and then back home).

However, my experience working with individuals/children I learned that consistencies build up a behavior, especially for developmental disabled individuals. Breaking consistence it always agitate individuals and most of the time they act up and misbehave. By allowing the disabled individuals to be around others in the community can bring a positive exposure to others and for them. It also can make individuals want to learn how to behave, due to consonance.

At the beginning I’m not thinking of having a big organization, because human services requires management commitment to deliver desired service, specialized and trained staffs, ability to reach targeted goals and objectives, community values and ethics, ability to compete, productive management and supporting staffs, check and balance of management, self evaluation and analysis of the goals and situational factors. (Broad R 2005, page 4 and 5). This is to attract donors and to meet the community needs of our programs. I will set the size of the organization to grow accordingly depending on the resources such as donors/funds, staffs/volunteers, space, service, and population depending the region and so on.

As a leader of the organization I will be embedded with intellectual professionals who can articulate different visions that will always create challenge in order to influence competence, change and to meet organizational goals. Nature of my supervisory responsibilities will be to set out policies after meet with advisory board and pass to subordinate who will initiate training and clarification of the policies. However, the ultimate purpose of my policies as leader of the organization “is to enhance the well being of clients or consumers”. (Lewis, Lewis, Packard 2007, page 6)

Finally, I do recognize that directive leadership style can easily fall into jeopardy if an arrogant manager comes in place. For example arrogance comes in place when a manager exaggerates leadership, puts pride in the leadership, gets too confident and allows him/her –self importance to play a role in the leadership in steady of professionalism and mannerism. (Broad R 2005, page 4 and 5). However, I don’t consider myself having these arrogant qualities. I will put in place an evaluation of information system data base that implement check and balance of management by sending these evaluations to the Management, Board, and stakeholders if required. In order to gain public trust I will request recognition to the local government, state government and Federal government accordingly. This means, they will come do inspections as they see fit, annually. This will be an oversight strategy to filter and kind of arrogance if I happen to be not CEO in the future.

Reference:

1. Brody, R. (2005). Effectively managing human service organizations. Thousand Oaks, Calif., SAGE Publications.

2. Kenyon, P. (1999). What would you do? : an ethical case workbook for human service professionals. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Pub.

3. Reamer, F. G. (2006). Social work values and ethics. New York: Columbia University Press

4. Lewis, J. A., T. R. Packard, et al. (2007). Management of human service programs. Belmont, CA, Thomson Higher Education/Brooks/Cole.

Human Services Management Course: Dealing With Unproductive Employees

2012-01-03T04:29:00.000-05:00

My situation is when I use to work overnight at my facility one of my core worker use to come and mop the floors and go lay down until morning. I use to work as an AMAP- a person who passes meds, in charge of the shift and overall general welfare of the 12 individuals in the facility. In this instance some behavioral individuals will be getting up, he won’t come until when I call or yell for help. Sometimes it took him sometimes because he puts TV volume up in the living room where he lays down. I reported him twice to the overnight manager but nothing happened to him so I did not bother, because all documentations of overnight shift were mostly documented by me so I was straight.

In the beginning it bothered me so much but as I got use to it, I was doing what is right on my capabilities, so as my chores. Because my chores were visible and evaluated every morning by another AMAP, LPN or RN by signing in and out all mends-narcotic, checklist of all individuals overall well being, checklist of sleeping conditions, checklist of incidents if any, checklist of vital signs, documentation of individuals’ personal files and so on. His chores were in the kitchen preparing lunches and dinner, and cleaning kitchen and dining room.

Some instances, some core workers for the day shift when they were coming in the morning, they were complaining that we, overnights staff don’t get our things done. Sometimes we as an AMAP I was assigned to do laundry and mop the floors, but we use to have some individuals who were getting up very often something that cause me to do not mop the floors all the time, sometimes laundry wont get done all the way. When manager asked me, I use to tell him to check the shift report, read all check lists and IPP books and see how the night was. To mop the floors was difficult because we had so many instances of individuals’ head injuries from falling due to wet floors. So that was not objectionable. I got to the point that I surrendered my AMAP position and as in charge of the shift if they were not checking and balancing the shift responsibilities.

I was employee and shift in charge sometimes after they got rid of governing manager’s position. Sometimes it was unknown, because coordinator will say I’m employee, but RN will say I’m in charge because of the role of passing meds, if incident happens, the responsibilities I have to make phone calls, call for ambulance, give a report to the police who are coming on site, write the shift report, individual repost. For Will brook individuals, they have completely different setting because of their advocacy groups. So it was another set of documentation, and phone calls to their case workers, and advocate group each one is assigned.

Because I have been victim of racial profiling before, it was really difficult to take all these reports I made and managers and RN overview of these reports months after months without noticing something was wrong. I still believe that I was mistreated because of my race, but I was doing what I was assigned on my capabilities and keep all documentation just to cover my back. This has helped me a lot because I was accused falsely by a racist core worker of abusing individuals, when they did investigation they found nothing related to the complains, when they kept an eye on the core worker who reported me they found some allegation of racism and negligence to the individuals, and they fired him. This world is not perfect, but we do what we can and what we love and passionately and move on with life. For example, for the management not doing anything on my complains about the core worker it made me feel like “second class citizen”, also not responding communicated a special meaning to me (Brody, R. 2005, page 367)

I tried to speak to this core worker about this and he told me to do what I’m assigned and leave his assignment alone. Definitely he has some sort of shield from the above, so I plaid smart, just to do what I saw was not harmful to the individuals, or impact individuals, and leave his assignments by himself and the manager who assigned him.

I was not satisfied at all but had to change shift and go to the evening shift, when the core worker was not working that shift I went back to the overnight because it is convenient to me with my school schedules. What helped this situation was my understanding of the position I had, documentation record that I did my job as assigned, and just do my job and move on as life goes on. I will not do the same if it was to do it over again, because many core workers said that I’m naïve and they ride on my back for that, so I will just be responsible of my shift and do my work, although this time I will push for more team work and responsibilities to all as a team.

Bibliography:

Brody, R. (2005). Effectively managing human service organizations. Thousand Oaks, Calif., SAGE Publications.

Human Services Management Course: Communication Conflict In The Workplace

2012-01-03T04:24:00.000-05:00

Describe a situation in which you had a conflict with a subordinate or supervisor

At the facility I work with, I was surprised overhearing a new coordinator as a facility management representative to the organization insisting that her process of cleaning the house she will not hire/promoting in-staff members to the managers’ position; rather she will promote or hire facility’s managers from outside of the organization or different division staffs. I believe that this model will create bad perceptions not only to me personally, but also to any staff-member from my facility. Since she took management in the facility late last year, she hired two managers, one from different setting division, another one new recruit, they did not last more than three months because of nature of setting of my facility and individuals. Normally, before the new coordinator, managers’ position use to be by promoting floor staff members to the manager’s position. It gave the managers’ a sense of awareness of individuals, staffs, and well experienced the responsibilities and duties of the staff members. In the new system, managers found themselves working with total strangers, in strange settings, and strange individuals, and they would burn out very quick. Also some staff members were reluctant to support these new managers, something that made their job very difficult and stressful. For example, “Honest disagreements emerge because well-intentioned staffs feel strongly about fundamental directions”. (Brody, R. (2005), page 369)

What were the concrete issues?

The model of managing the facility uses will unite all staff members and management to fulfill the main goal, that is to serve the best interests of the clients/individuals. To do so the management should understand that staff members are the back born of the facility. The model of the new coordinator, downsized the morale of staffs, jeopardized the positions of new hired managers, and in a bigger picture interfered the best interests of the clients/individuals. Fore example, managers should be aware that their “reactions are constantly being observed and interpreted by each member of the staff in a very personal way”. (Brody, R. (2005), page 367). In this instance, some workers started to transfer to different facilities, or find new jobs, because they did not see any future for them for working with the facility or organization that has no promotion policies.

Describe the flow of communication in chronological order

My organization chronological order starts with President, Division Director, Resident/Program Coordinator, Resident Manger, Assistant Resident Manager, and staff-members. Every facility, including my facility has a Resident Coordinator, Resident Manger, Assistant Resident Manager and staff members.

Describe how, when and where the communication occured at each step of the way (i.e. e-mail, telephone, face-to-face, in the context of a meeting etc.) Note anything about the environment or time of day or week that may have made the conflict worse. (For instance, late Friday afternoon after a tiring week, etc.)

The communication occurred during the staff meeting after the facility stayed for months without having a Resident Manager that covers day shift, when one staff raised the question about hiring a Resident manger. Prior the new coordinator the facility stayed about 5 months without a coordinator. Then the coordinator answered the question that in her management she is not going to hire new mangers from in house.

Few days after the meeting, most staffs started to look for different facilities to transfer, and some searched for new jobs because the morale and expectations went down.

Describe any emotional issues, personality factors, past history etc. that might have made the situation more volatile

When the new managers were hired from outside the house and did not know anything about individuals or care plans, and did not last long. Then some of their responsibilities fell on the staff members due to lack of potential managers in the facility and understaffing situation that lead to mandatory overtimes every day.

Describe major "phases" of the encounter

Started with lack of trust to the management, inexperienced managers and some times no managers at all, managers’ responsibilities been taken by staff members, burn out, transferring or quit/fired and call inns, and excessive mandatory overtime especially for overnight position,

What was the end result?

They Assistant Behavior Specialist, and LPN were given the responsibilities of Resident and Assistant Resident Managers, until when they got good candidate for Resident manager who worked hand in hand with the LPN and Assistant Behavior Specialist. Staffs were some how satisfied since they don’t bare the Managers responsibilities or mandatory overtimes that were inconvenient to them.

As you reflect on this encounter, what helped it come to resolution? Was there anything that made the situation worse?

Situation is not resolved yet because staff members still feels there is no successful progress if one cannot be promoted if qualified. This is real for those who want to accelerate with the organization. This means that most people working in the facility are students and single parents who can get convenient schedule or funds to raise family and don’t want to bother with manager’s position.

If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently and why?

I would have promote or hire a right candidate who will implement the mission and objectives of the facility that reflects the organizational goals, regardless of in house or in agency. A right candidate would have been capable and qualified for the position’s responsibilities as set forth. This could avoid misunderstanding, and all misperception about manager’s position and facility or organizational hiring policies. However, there could be the same procedure for interviewing managers or staff members applicants as usual, the organization through HR has that in place, but the Coordinator is the one who looks and choose who she wants for the positions and then set dates for the interviews.

Bibliography:

Brody, R. (2005). Effectively managing human service organizations. Thousand Oaks, Calif., SAGE Publications.

How To Analyze Business Structure and Stockholders' Equity Before Investing In A Company?

2012-01-03T04:11:00.000-05:00

Business Well Being When Investing:

Business well-being is different for each company depending on the goals, objectives and vision. In general it incorporates a holistic approach focusing on multiple dimensions that reflects quality of products and or services, customer satisfaction, enough revenue, fewer liabilities, increasing profitability and appreciating stock market/dividends. Business well being is judged by using these dimensions to demonstrate the relationship between each while such business must actively strive to improve itself within each dimension to sustain the market competition. Whereas, capital structure is how business finances its overall daily operations and growth by using multiple sources of funds. Source of funds that facilitate capital structure of business is the mixture of business’s preferred equity, long term debt, common equity and short term debt.

As an investor, my favorite company that I will be attracted to invest in to will have to be a company with good essentials such as reasonable balance sheet that is compiled of a business's capital structure. I strongly believe that the strength of such balance sheet can be evaluated by the following three types of investments; i.e. capital structure, sufficient capital and asset performance. Balance sheet tells us the business’s capital structure as to how it finances its overall daily operations and growth by using multiple sources of funds, its net profit/loss, its investment, its assets, and its liabilities. Also, I will look at proportion of equity capital, as opposed to debt capital; if they are proportional then I will invest in such business; because a proportional business’s capital structure is an indication of financial strength of such business.

I think it does matters who you are and why you would like to invest in any company as an outside investor it is imperative to conduct extensive research and get to know the kind/nature, name, trade/trend, and status of the business before deciding to invest in any company because you are taking a risk to either gain or loose the investment. For government, Union/insider group member, an entity and or financial lender investors need to conduct extensive research and evaluate analysis of the business trend with relevant valuable information that can support their decisions. It will include analyzing record books, financial data, and information that can predict future of the company before investing.

Apple Inc:

Apple customers adored Mr. Jobs, but also they are big fan of Apple products because of the quality and unique style, design, innovation and marketing controlling it presents. We are human and we always strive to be different. It is in our gene that we want something stylish, elegant and hard for others to find; and Mr. Jobs as leader and his team managed well to capitalize on the customers who craving for uniqueness and sense of pride it brings to individuals.

Mr. Jobs was a person who understood what it means to be a leader and that made him not get drunk with powers it brings to individuals and in results not become an arrogant and out of touch like many leaders have turn, especially in the political leadership. To do so Mr. Jobs knew that a good leader needs good team and good structure, he lead by example and not by imposing powers. It is true that it can be difficult to replace him because he was unique CEO who understood what a regular client wants unlike many who turn to into elites.

I came across an interesting finding about Apple Computer. Apple company, is worth more than the following: all the gold at the New York federal reserve, according to Alex Jones, the New York Federal Reserve, the largest store of gold bullion in the US and in the world with stock-pile approximately 7,000 tons of gold worth about $350 billion US Dollar; or the entire Singapore economy; the GDP of Denmark; or Every single home in Atlanta, Georgia combined; or Every home in Detroit and Tampa combined; or All 32 Euro-zone banks; or The entire National Football League times 10. (http://powerwall.msnbc.msn.com/tech/things-apple-is-worth-more-than-10896.gallery?photoId=45740)

These are few things that stuck in our brain that could be worth more than a single company. It shows how important to research financial data/info about company before deciding to invest because sometimes conventional wisdom is not at all applicable in the financial decisions, rather professional advice and carefully researching and thorough analysis.

JNJ & Pfizer:

I believe that the major competitor of JNJ Company is Pfizer. Pfizer conducts biomedical research that brings about innovative medicines to the markets faster. It has been successful establishing Pharma-Therapeutics Research and Development Group (that focuses on the finding of small molecules and related modalities) and Bio-Therapeutics Research and Development Group (that focuses on large molecule research and vaccines) as research organizations. Pfizer concentrates on its nine assorted health care businesses such as oncology, animal healthcare, primary are, emergency markets, specialty care, established products, nutrition, capsugel, and consumer Healthcare. (http://www.pfizer.com/about/leadership_and_structure/leadership_structure.jsp)

Whereas JNJ does stack up against Pfizer and all other competitors by producing a must-have domestic and healthcare institution products. JNJ products are vastly diversified, such products are categorized as recent products (newly innovated products from extensive research done by JNJ), Consumer Products (a must have products produces for domestic needs), Medical Devices & Diagnostics (a must have products for institutions like Hospitals), and Prescription Products (regulated products that only prescribed by a certified licensed professional under the law). I personally like JNJ’s slogan statements “Your family’s health and well-being is our passion” (http://www.jnj.com/connect/healthcare-products)

Exxon Mobile:

I looked at Exxon Mobil’s overall well being and I examined its capital structure through and financial data like its balance sheet and the future demand of its petroleum-based products, I see growth and pro-growth signs in the future. Even if global recession keeps on persisting Exxon Mobile will sustain, though at small profit margin. The demand for its product is not shrinking anytime soon because there is no a serous alternative to its product with pro-growth signs so far. Here is the 5 year financial summary history of Exxon Mobile:

Its sales and all other operating income includes sales-based taxes of $28,547 million for 2010, $25,936 million for 2009, $34,508 million for 2008, $31,728 million for 2007 and $30,381 million for 2006 (Exxon Mobile financial summary- (millions of dollars, except per share amounts).

Its total debt (Debt net of cash, excluding restricted cash) is 2010 $ 15,014, 2009 $ 9,605, 2008 $ 9,425, 2007 $ 9,566, and 2006 $ 8,347. Very small debt compare with huge income with minimal liabilities.

Its shareholder earnings per common share is 2010 $ 6.24, 2009 $ 3.99, 2008 $ 8.70, 2007 $ 7.31 and 2006 $ 6.64. It is projecting growth in spite of the global recessions since 2008. More about Exxon Mobile financial info go the link bellow. (http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Files/news_pub_ir_financial_2010.pdf)

Investing:

As an investor I will look for a company with good reasonable balance sheet that is compiled of a business's capital structure. On the balance sheet I will look for three types of investments; i.e. capital structure, sufficient capital and asset performance. Also I will evaluate the Balance sheet if it tells me the business’s capital structure as to how it finances its overall daily operations and growth by using multiple sources of funds, its net profit/loss, its investment, its assets, and its liabilities. Lastly, I will have to be confident that the business has proportion of equity capital, as opposed to debt capital; if they are proportional then I will invest in such business because a proportional business’s capital structure is an indication of financial strength of such business.

Investing is like trusting the management and the company with your money, hoping that they will take good care of it, you will do that to an individual person, likewise, it is imperative to the company. I will add that also, me personally, I will also look at the products, nature of the business and time in which we are living. For example a company like Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, GE and companies producing viable electronics demands are not going anywhere anytime soon; but companies producing products like CDs, stand alone Camera, and Movie Theaters are facing threats of not been around soon; unless they vigorously transform and adopt to new demands consistently as time shifts. I did not forget the black-diamond, crude oil, it is subject to economic growth in all aspects because economic growth needs transportation and oil is the only sustainable energy for trepidation now and forcible future. My opinion.

It is imperative for layman to go the professional, in this case CPA, before investing or cashing out investments in any company or institution. I remember listening to David Ramsey money marketing radio show, in the aftermath of the past recession; so many people lost their money because they acted alone and go cash out their investment accounts when stocks were plummeting, trying to avoid more loss. In results, they paid higher tax because the recession-tax break was not instituted then, they sold their investment when market was very low now they want to reinvest while market is up in the roof, and they have spent some of their investments because they had cash-on-hand and readily accessible. To cut long story short, they gain up to 50% loss of their investment for such one time single minded action that no possible way a professional could advice to do so. Accounting professional fee could save such people from a lot of havoc and loss they endured from one time less than an hour decisions. I was surprised that some people cashed out from one stock and invest in another by just watching marketing fluctuating, in result; they paid fees that were unnecessary and did not gain rather loose. I think watching markets fluctuation is headache and heartbreaking, as investor, let the CPA do their jobs and watch it occasionally and not hourly, or don’t act upon without consulting a CPA/accounting professional; that is why they are there for. My opinion.

While thinking about investing, I would first like to distinct Growth investor as someone investing as means to increase value his/reinvestment, and income investor as someone investing as means money coming in from such investment. Have been saying that, I will prefer to invest in both “growth investment” and “income investment”. “Growth investment” because I’m about 30 years before I retire and I’m in no hurry, good example here is capital gain after selling the stock share; and “income investment” earned interest in fixed percentage/dividends from the money invested, good example here is Certificate of Deposit or Bonds. I don’t like to put all eggs on a single basket, rather to diversify my portfolio and minimize damage that can be caused by markets downfalls, inflations and recessions.

December 2011

Human Service Management: Reflection on Learning - written assignment

2012-01-03T04:06:00.001-05:00

List of three things that I learned about implementing a management information system in human services agencies.

I have learned that in order to implement a management information system in human services agencies one has to recognize systems as outlined by Rapp and Poertner (1992, page 97-100), that information system is divided into three types, each one with different purposes. For example House keeping systems, as automatic basic routine processing information that are used to increase efficiency and accuracy such as payrolls and paying supplies. My organization conduct automated information for Medicare/Medicaid of individuals and instant recorded criminal and traffic violations of employees from authorities, for consumers’ safety. On the other hand Decision Support Systems are best evidence-based practices, results of program evaluation, other demographic and assessed needs. (Lewis, Lewis, Packard 2007 page 195) . Decision Support Systems have no much role in the human service organization as Performance Guidance Systems have

According to Lewis, Lewis, Packard page 195, Performance Guidance Systems indicates to provide most promise for human service organizations than Housekeeping Systems and Decision Support Systems. I think we can opt to use this system to instigate actions that will reflect our task force’s goals, purposes and objectives and plan new activities as we may see fit.

For example, in my organization, they conduct monthly evaluations, my facility as part of division of the organization we have monthly budgets, management caries “Raving for good performance” as motivation, we celebrate all holidays, individuals’ and staffs’ birthdays with special occasion budgeting, activities and meal plans, we conduct training when new programs or care plans occurs for education/information or clarification to staff members, the information we fill in the individuals’ daily notes and facility reports are used by state, main donor to evaluate programs progress and agency promote these documentation to be accurate and timely filled by care givers on the daily basis, by using evaluation on the all the above documentation each individual and staff members are to be used to evaluate performance every three months and if improvement needed, emphasis is put on the area improvement needed by training and clarification. This example is based on my facility ways of instigating action as outlined by Behn 2003 eight purposes for measuring performance by management. (Lewis, Lewis, Packard, 2007 page196)

List of three things that I learned about small groups through participation in this section.

In this group I learned that Personal Power, as outlined by Handy 1985, page 127, is sometimes in the form of charisma or charm as a group member personality it involves an individual's ability to influence others through energy, commitment, and generally having contagious enthusiasm. For example, on 11/20/2008 1:59 PM, my colleague MacIe Case, posted “Hello everyone looks like our pick is Information systems as Jess and Desdery picked this one. I will add to this and be third. Catherine had picked state regulations - both are interesting subjects.. Just wanted to get some consensus so that we can get started on this.. thanks Macie.” This post and many other posts she posted in our group have brought all of us together in decision making as a group to opt Information System as our task force assignment for weeks 11 and 12.

Also I learn that a successful human service organization must have an organizational culture and learning, information system process. For example, Lewis, Lewis, Packard 2007, page 211 pointed out that Poertner (2000) analyzed information as a key factor in arranging organizational culture. I believe that organization starts from small groups then merge the main ideas and formulate an organization.

In human service management teams as well as on-line groups charisma is often associated with expressive leadership and can be very helpful in making the team or group experience enjoyable. Of course, a charismatic person can often persuade a group or team to go a particular direction.

How would I evaluate my own participation in this section? How could it be improved?

I could not participate as much as I wanted too, due to time management difficulties. This holiday, Thanks Giving, it was hectic, and more difficult balancing my personal time, school-16 credits, work-full time, family-one and half year bay and pregnant wife, and miscellaneous time. However, the little time I had reading I learn a lot about information management and the role of managers in collecting data, key factors of information system. Lewis, Lewis, Packard 2007, page 211

What have I learned in this section that I feel I will use in my role as a human services manager?

I learn that as human service manager I will have to determine kinds of information that I will need to use as decision makers to plan and implement programs organizational programs. Such as to be aware of each individuals’ and employees’ personal abilities, consistency in data collection for accurate information system, areas of interests, use of training for the employees to upgrade skills, their likes and dislikes, and use of evaluation of data to analyze success, strengths and weakness.

As I sighted above that in this session I learned a positive use of personal power while participating in a group or organization. The above quotation from my colleague, her charisma has influence me and I believe others to the commitment of subject of weeks 11 and 12.

Reference:

1. Lewis, J. A., T. R. Packard, et al. (2007). Management of human service programs. Belmont, CA, Thomson Higher Education/Brooks/Cole.

Life Academe

Relationship Between Facts and Theories

Dad Shoots Daughter's Laptop After Facebook Post” My Dude Right Here

“Religio-Politico”

My Imaginary Africa: The Motherland For All

Super Bowl XLVI (2012)

IS THIS AN INSULT TO THE AFRICAN INTELLECTUAL? (The must read truth about Africa and diasporas; the raw-truth and mind facts about bugling Africa, the Motherland.)

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day;

Correlation of Faith, Fate and Freewill

Life and War-Fare Psychology:

Is President Obama Dividing the Country?

United State Is Shipping Gasoline/Petroleum/Oil Overseas:

Management Information System- Research Paper Draft: How Information Systems (IS) As Form Of Information Technology (IT) Transformed The Role Of Human Resource Department At Vanderheyden Hall:

Contents:

IT/IS Infrastructure, Business Intelligence, Database and Information System Management

Legal and Ethical Issues In The Healthcare: Problems And Solutions Of Health Care In The United States Of America

Legal and Ethical Issues In The Healthcare: Case Study, The Professional Patient Relationship

Legal and Ethical Issues In The Healthcare: Critically Ill and Dying

Nursing Home Administration: Forecasting, Planning and Organizing

Museum Studies- Art History -Andrew Warhola (Andy Warhol) Biography

Community Health - My Local Public Health Agency, Oneida County Health Department

Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Services: The Nancy Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health Case Study

Human Services Management: The Nature of Management

Human Services Management: Organizational Leadership

Human Services Management Course: Dealing With Unproductive Employees

Human Services Management Course: Communication Conflict In The Workplace

Describe a situation in which you had a conflict with a subordinate or supervisor

How To Analyze Business Structure and Stockholders' Equity Before Investing In A Company?

Business Well Being When Investing:

Human Service Management: Reflection on Learning - written assignment