Friday, September 6, 2019
Software engineers Essay Example for Free
Software engineers Essay There have also been improvements in the protocols applied by the internet. In its inception the type and the capacity of data that could be passed through the internet was limited because the mechanism that enable its functioning, referred to as protocols, could not support complex data formats and large data sizes. Software engineers, web designers and application designers have worked so hard over the years that it is currently easy to pass data over the internet in almost all existing formats. The most common web browsers support the sending of multimedia over the internet, furthermore the live streaming of videos and clips is possible with the protocol applied with the latest versions of browsers (Jayne, 1999). It is even possible to chat with friend over the internet and the teleconferencing mechanism that the internet technology has been targeting for so long is now in place. Education is an aspect that requires creativity and integration of various modes of data delivery, the use of plain text, videos, audio streaming, visual aid and real life examples characterises the current American educational system. Volume and integration of various data makes education material quite voluminous, moreover the interaction between the tutor and the student at a personal level is a key characteristic of a good learning session. Therefore, the improvement in the internet protocols that have made it possible to transfer large amounts of data, multimedia and even hold chart sessions is an aspect of the development in the internet technology that has really had a positive impact on the development of e- learning. Security has been a key area of concern with regard to the development of internet and its usage (Tanenbaum, 2001). The well known protocols employed by the internet, the rapid rate of improvement in the internet technology that are hard to keep up with in terms of security protocols and the nature of internet, especially the aspect of an infinite number of potential access point and the lack of a body that is charged with the implementation of policies that govern its usage, are some of the factors that have made the realisation of internet security a designers nightmare (Keeton, 2002). The number of conmen operating in the net is considerable and thus security has always been an issue. The protocols employed by the recent versions of browsers make it possible to integrate security devices or software that increases the level of security. The use of firewalls and implementation of good security mechanisms by most internet providers has in a way developed some sense of security in internet usage. Security in an education system aids the smooth flow of information to the students. Furthermore, the emergence of electronic payment methods that implement watertight security mechanism has made it possible to transfer money from one corner of the globe to the other in a matter of seconds without having to worry so much about it finding its way into someone elses hand (Kwok-Wing, 2001). A secure system is surely a psychological boost to the student and will thus promote learning and transfer of money between the knowledge seeker and provider. The use of computers depends on three major components: Hardware, user and software. Considerable improvements have been noted in all the three areas over the years and are seen as some of the factors that have made it easy for the transfer of data over the internet and the use of such data by the intended end user. The hardware in computers refers to the physical parts that make up the computer system. Some of the hardware in a computer system is the monitor, mouse, keyboard, hard disk and RAM. Initially computers used to cover large spaces and had large power consumption rates (Thelin, 2004). The current generation of computers are built under the consideration of convenience, performance and user friendliness.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Analyse Role Of Mentor Establishing Learning Opportunities Nursing Essay
Analyse Role Of Mentor Establishing Learning Opportunities Nursing Essay The purpose of this essay is to critically analyse the role of the mentor when establishing learning opportunities with the student that are appropriate for their level. Mentors in a Gynaecological ward are trained and qualified nurses, and often engage in mentorship programmes to help student nurses gain first hand insight and experience of working within a busy and demanding environment. The students vary from first year to third year nursing students and therefore their learning opportunities and abilities differ, and the mentors ability to facilitate any learning opportunities varies accordingly. The essay will consider key terms and concepts and clearly determine what learning opportunities mean both for the mentor and the mentee. The learning opportunities to be discussed in this essay are based on the students needs and requirements as stipulated by their university. These needs are usually the requirements of the pre-registration nursing programmes and are mandatory skill clu sters to help the student meet the Nursing and Midwifery Councils registration requirements. The essay will also critically analyse how a mentor supports and facilitates learning and manages to engage and teach students in a busy environment, ensuring that students are gaining the relevant skills and knowledge appropriate to their level and course expectations. A key facet of being a good mentor is having the ability to set realistic objectives and learning needs having assessed the capacity of the student (Gray and Smith, 2000). Nicklin and Kenworthy (2000) suggest that learning objectives are goals that encourage development of skills that students did not previously have. It is important to have a good supportive learning environment which will essentially provide the basis for many learning opportunities for the student (NMC, 2008a). The first thing to do when mentoring a student is to ensure that they are properly introduced to the ward, the staff and the environment. This helps to eliminate any stress or anxiety the student may have had prior to coming on the placement (Manthorpe and Stanley, 2000). This is especially so when it is the students first time on a placement and clinical environment. Following on from the introduction, the mentor will give the student an explanation of the different surgical procedures that are carried out , followed by a student information pack for further reading. The mentor is also required to explain to the student the requirement of maximum attendance during placement. This is not only stipulated in the university requirement, but also in the ward, and all students are required to have at least 40% attendance at placement as required by the NMC code (2008a). One of the first learning opportunities afforded by the mentor to his/her mentee in a gynaecology ward, is the chance to work in a multidisciplinary team to deliver the best care possible to the patient and his/her carers. By working in a multidisciplinary team, the student can engage with professionals of different levels from physiotherapists, occupational therapists and gynaecologists. In allowing the student to be involved in this environment, the mentor offers the student the opportunity to learn different skills and medical techniques that would perhaps have been less visible, if the student was to only work with the mentor and focus on specific learning needs (Gray and Smith, 2000). In a gynaecology ward, the mentor is able to facilitate such learning opportunities in a multidisciplinary team, by allowing a first year student to prepare a theatre patient and take the patient to theatre before retuning back to perform other tasks. However, there are occasions where a first year student may be more qualified than anticipated as they have been working as Health Care Assistants previously and therefore have acquired the necessary skills to be able to not only prepare and take a patient to theatre, but also return with the patient after the surgery. In this instance, the mentor needs to be aware of the different learning needs and provide the correct learning opportunities tailored to the students level. Contrastingly, the mentor may be given a final year student to teach in which case, the mentor needs to create and identify new learning opportunities for the student. Price (2004) specifies that it is the responsibility of practice staff to develop an environment conducive to learning, and mentors should continually monitor students progress to ensure that they provide appropriate support and experience for learners (Hand, 2006). In a gynaecology ward, the mentor can provide the final year student with the opportunity to not only prepare the patient for thea tre, but then collect the patient after the surgery and take hand over notes from the recovery nurse in order to then continue with the post operation care plan. Nevertheless, all the nursing students are offered the opportunity to work in other gynaecology areas including theatre to learn new processes, work with different professionals, and understand the different instruments and sutures used such as the gowns, gloves, operating table, drapes, skin preparation, swabs used, and the method of checking swabs and instrument numbers (Maxwell, 2004). The mentor can also provide more learning opportunities for their final year student aimed at developing their communication skills, by encouraging them to attend and participate in a hysterectomy meeting with the view of conducting their own meeting. At this meeting, the student will observe and listen to the material, then conduct her own research using the facilities available on the ward and the hospital such as the clinic, the library and other colleagues, to prepare her own presentation. This learning opportunity will give the student confidence in her ability to present to a diverse group of people ensuring that her communication skills are adaptable to all situations. Where the mentor observes that the student has gained a good level of understanding of the basic processes of a gynaecological ward, the mentor can find new learning opportunities for the student to develop his/her skills and competence (NMC, 2008a). Another opportunity which a mentor can afford to their student is providing the chance to perform the removal of a catheter using the aseptic technique. To help the student meet this learning need, the mentor identified several patients over a period of 3 shifts that required removal of a catheter and vaginal pack. The mentor explained to the student what this task was and the reason why it had to be carried out. Once the mentor had explained the purpose of the exercise, with the patients consent, the student observed the mentor removing the pack and catheter, carefully explaining each step of the process and the equipment used. After the student had observed this process 3-4 times, with the patients consent, the student was allowed to c arry out the same clinical process explaining to the mentor and the patient each step of her action as the mentor had done to demonstrate her understanding. This was a way for the mentor to assess the students competency and ability to take in large amounts of information (Watson et al, 2000). After the task was completed, documentation in the patients nursing notes was done. The mentors intervention ensured initial exposure to this clinical task was given, however the mentor needs to always be aware of areas for further improvement and building of confidence in the students performance (RCN, 2007a). Morton-Cooper and Palmer (2000) explain that a good mentor/student relationship will allow the sharing of knowledge between two individuals, and Collis-Pellattt (2006) add that mentors are expected to facilitate learning opportunities and tailor teaching to the students individual learning needs. The intervention accomplished both of these points. In a gynaecology ward, it is crucial that students have a sufficient knowledge of the fluid balance sheet. This is knowledge acquired from their university teaching and it is the mentors role to ensure that the student can put their theoretical knowledge in to practice whilst on their placement, by providing relevant learning opportunities designed to explore these practices (Morton-Cooper and Palmer, 2000). In a gynaecology ward, the majority of patients return from theatre with intra venous fluids as well as catheters. This is a prime learning opportunity for the student where the mentor can allow them to monitor the input and output of fluids and document the information accurately and clearly in the fluid balance chart. It is an opportunity for the student to learn how to calculate and measure the fluid output correctly in order to get an accurate figure of the patients medical needs. In doing this effectively, the student learns to detect any risk of retention or dehydration. In providing this earning opportunity, the mentor ensures that the student understands the need to manage risk effectively, reporting risks in order to maintain the safety and well being of the patient and all those concerned in the care of the patient. Due to the pace of a gynaecology ward, it is sometimes necessary for a mentor to allow the student to work independently provided that they have demonstrated the ability and willingness to progress and lead with limited supervision. NMC (2008a) suggest that the student is also responsible for their own learning and must follow the policy for completion of clinical assessments as set out by the clinical placement provider and reflect on and respond constructively to feedback they are given (NMC, 2008a). Often when a mentor is given a third year student to teach, the student will demonstrate a keenness to take on added responsibility on the ward. In this instance, the mentor can entrust the third year student with the management of a small number of patients, ensuring they carry out the necessary care for the patients, all in aid of helping the student develop the skills to prioritise patients care needs. In order to do this effectively, the student would have observed the mentor in th e first instance in his/her management of patient care. The mentor will explain that it is necessary to firstly prepare the theatre patient first before anything else, ensuring that the patient is changed into the correct garments, the theatre bed is made and the patient theatre checklist is completed and accurately documented. Once this is done, other tasks can then be followed in order of urgency. The mentor must also highlight to the student what is construed as urgent in a gynaecology ward, as perceptions differ on what is urgent in terms of prioritising work. Once the student has observed this process several times and the mentor feels that he/she is ready to take on this responsibility, the mentor can assign the student with a small number of patients to look after and with guidance, observe the student in action. The mentor will always ensure that the student is not left alone, and has guidance and supervision at all times (RCN, 2007a). All documentations will be checked and countersigned by the mentor before hand over to the next shift. Where appropriate, the student will also progress to learning bed allocation and the admission and discharge process. Although, some progressive second year students may also be afforded the opportunity to manage the care of patients in this learning environment, the mentor will often only assign one patient to the student and maintain continuous supervision due to the limited theoretical knowledge acquired at university to that point. By doing this, the mentor ensures that the student and the patient are not put at risk. In summary, it has been established that mentoring pre-registered nurses is a vital part of nurse education and has become common practice in the UK. It has been accepted that good mentoring is the result of well-planned learning opportunities and the provision of support and coaching for students, which should also incorporate an appropriate level of supervision (RCN, 2007a). The mentors are also learners in the process and they too require support and guidance from different professionals such as link tutors. Although this assistance is not always available to mentors, they are able to deviate from this problem by having more contact and communication with the students in order to bridge that gap. Duffy (2004) suggests that mentors often feel ill-prepared for their roles and lack the necessary support to carry out their duties as required not only from professional staff, but also from the students education institutions. Experience has shown that there are instances where mentors needed to contact link lecturers to discuss students competence levels but was unable to reach the lecturer and get the matter resolved urgently. What has also been noted as a hindrance to the mentoring process is the lack of quality time spent with the students whilst working on a clinical setting. There were many times when the ward was busy and it was impossible to maintain contact or teach the students during these times. I am of the opinion that clinical settings need to be made more adaptable to students and there needs to be an improvement made on making clinical settings also cater to a learning environment to assist training nurses wanting to progress into the nursing field.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Slow Dancing with Skeletons Essay -- Literary Analysis, Jerome Denucci
What role do memories serve? How do a personââ¬â¢s dreams influence the decisions he must make in life? What are in the messages that people receive from their inner voices? In ââ¬Å"Slow Dancing with Skeletons,â⬠Jerome Denuccio writes that one of Sherman Alexieââ¬â¢s characters, Thomas Builds-the-Fire observes, ââ¬Å"Your past is a skeleton walking one step behind you, and your future is a skeleton walking one step in front of youâ⬠¦ these skeletons are made up of memories, dreams and voices.â⬠(280). This passage interpreted could allude to the fact that a personââ¬â¢s dreams and memories will always be there for him, whether times are good or bad. These skeletons become a part of the human trinity, and unable to be extracted from considerations and decisions made with each step taken. Additionally, Alexie is saying that what happens in the past ultimately stays in the past; there is no altering what has already occurred. The use of memories, dreams , and voices are intricate and influential in allowing readers to understand the minds and motives of Alexieââ¬â¢s dynamic characters. ââ¬Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,â⬠centers on the death of Victorââ¬â¢s estranged father in Phoenix, and Victorââ¬â¢s attempt to recover the ashes and meager fortune that lies there. Moreover, the story builds on the memories that Victor and Thomas recollect as they journey to and from Arizona. At one point, Thomas recalls a dream that he has at the age of thirteen; the voices and visions in his dream summon him to travel to Spokane Falls over fifty miles away to wait for a sign. He expects to see a vision at the falls, but only encounters Victorââ¬â¢s father who feeds him and takes him back home. The memories, dreams and voices Thomas has are important, because the... ...ation of the old-world Indian with a more updated identity of a Neo Native American. In another instance, Junior recalls a time when Norma and he are sitting in the Powwow Tavern and Victor comes in drunk yelling, ââ¬Å"ââ¬â¢Somebody out in the parking lot kept saying powwow. And you know how I love a good goddamn powwow.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ (270). This memory is crucial, because it humorously depicts the importance of alcoholism and the damaging tolls it takes on the reservation. The constant drinking on the reservation also has a detrimental effect on the traditions and culture of the Native Americans. These Indians, so consumed with their drinking, lose all sense of themselves and their traditions. All of Alexie's characters are continually searching for the right way to balance their skeletons. The Native Americans of the Spokane Indian Reservation live in a world of lost dreams.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Analysis of Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra Essay -- William Shakes
Analysis of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra The most influential writer in all of English literature, William Shakespeare was born in 1564 to a successful middle-class glove maker in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Shakespeare attended grammar school, but his formal education proceeded no further. In 1582 he married an older woman, Anne Hathaway, and had three children with her. Around 1590 he left his family behind and traveled to London to work as an actor and playwright. Public and critical acclaim quickly followed, and Shakespeare eventually became the most popular playwright in England and part-owner of the Globe Theater. His career bridged the reigns of Elizabeth I (ruled 1558ââ¬â1603) and James I (ruled 1603ââ¬â1625), and he was a favorite of both monarchs. Indeed, James granted Shakespeareââ¬â¢s company the greatest possible compliment by bestowing upon its members the title of Kingââ¬â¢s Men. Wealthy and renowned, Shakespeare retired to Stratford and died in 1616 at the age of fifty-two. At the time of Sha kespeareââ¬â¢s death, literary luminaries such as Ben Jonson hailed his works as timeless. Shakespeareââ¬â¢s works were collected and printed in various editions in the century following his death, and by the early eighteenth century his reputation as the greatest poet ever to write in English was well established. The unprecedented admiration garnered by his works led to a fierce curiosity about Shakespeareââ¬â¢s life, but the dearth of biographical information has left many details of Shakespeareââ¬â¢s personal history shrouded in mystery. Some people have concluded from this fact and from Shakespeareââ¬â¢s modest education that Shakespeareââ¬â¢s plays were actually written by someone elseââ¬âFrancis Bacon and the Earl of Oxford are the two most popular -candidatesââ¬âbut the support for this claim is overwhelmingly circumstantial, and the theory is not taken seriously by many scholars. In the absence of credible evidence to the contrary, Shakespeare must be viewed as the author of the thirty-seven plays and 154 sonnets that bear his name. The legacy of this body of work is immense. A number of Shakespeareââ¬â¢s plays seem to have transcended even the category of brilliance, becoming so influential as to affect profoundly the course of Western literature and culture ever after. Scholars believe that Shakespeare wrote Antony and Cleopatra in 1606, immediately after Macbeth, and it is o... ... of love, makes it difficult for him to ââ¬Å"hold this visible shapeâ⬠(IV.xv.14). Cleopatraââ¬â¢s Fleeing Ships The image of Cleopatraââ¬â¢s fleeing ships is presented twice in the play. Antony twice does battle with Caesar at sea, and both times his navy is betrayed by the queenââ¬â¢s retreat. The ships remind us of Cleopatraââ¬â¢s inconstancy and of the inconstancy of human character in the play. One cannot be sure of Cleopatraââ¬â¢s allegiance: it is uncertain whether she flees out of fear or because she realizes it would be politically savvy to align herself with Caesar. Her fleeing ships are an effective symbol of her wavering and changeability. The Asps One of the most memorable symbols in the play comes in its final moments, as Cleopatra applies deadly snakes to her skin. The asps are a prop in the queenââ¬â¢s final and most magnificent performance. As she lifts one snake, then another to her breast, they become her children and she a common wet nurse: ââ¬Å"Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, / That sucks the nurse asleep?â⬠(V.ii.300ââ¬â301). The domestic nature of the image contributes to Cleopatraââ¬â¢s final metamorphosis, in death, into Antonyââ¬â¢s wife. She assures him, ââ¬Å"Husband, I comeâ⬠(V.ii.278).
Monday, September 2, 2019
America and the Korean War :: History, Cold War
With the Allies achieving victory in Europe and Japan, Korea, which had been occupied by Japan since 1910, would be placed under the temporary control of Russia and the United States. Korea was divided into two separate states at the thirty-eighth parallel with Russia holding the North and America holding the South (Uschan 36). As the relationship between Russia and America turned for the worse, leading to the Cold war, both attempted to gain as many allies as possible to support them (Bachrach 11). The American government felt it was their duty to stop the Soviet Union and issued the Truman Doctrine, which was a policy to fight Communism around the world (Uschan 27). Therefore the U.S involvement in the Korean War was justified as a way to prove that the U.S would not allow the Soviet Union to spread Communism without a fight. After the events of World War II, the world was left with two major superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union. Both sides of the conflict were balanced in power and a nuclear war was possible. Most fighting was indirect with neither nation sending armed forces at each other (Smith 30). Because these nations were the worldââ¬â¢s superpower, they held a major influence on other world counties and used foreign nationââ¬â¢s conflicts as a way to challenge each other. America began to grow a fear of communism, known as the Red Scare which would only escalate as China fell to Communism (Helbertsam 587). Around 1947, South Korea was one of the only areas in northeast Asia not under communist rule (Bunge 22). It began to appear that the Soviets were taking territory they were likely never to give up causing U.S. officials to realize that they had to make a claim on part of Korea (Uschan 25). While under the rule of the U.S and Soviets, North and South Korea were supposed to have an election that would reunite them sometime after World War II. However the Soviets prevented this and kept a hold on North Korea (Williams 41). Eventually the U.S and Soviets began to form separate groups in order to make a unified stance against each other such as NATO and the Warsaw Pact making the unification even more unlikely between the two sides of Korea. On June 25, 1950 North Korea attacked South Korea; because the invasion was led by a Communist force it gave the U.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Major Factors for a Successful Exhibition Essay
Visitors are the lifeblood of any successful exhibition. Exhibitors expect to meet visitors so they can do business with. Organizers need visitors to visit their exhibitionsââ¬â¢ so they can encourage exhibitors to join their exhibitions, therefore making positive financial returns. On the 28-31 October this year, the HKTDC will organize an international furniture fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition centre. The most successful companies in this exhibition will be the ones that take advantage of the knowledge the event organizers have to offer, and then successfully communicate that knowledge to the project team that will design all the elements that will be present within the display booth. Other factors for a successful exhibition in the eyes of the exhibitor include but not limited to the following â⬠¢Establish meaningfully goals, and come up with a strong and reliable strategy that will achieve your goals. â⬠¢Put into practice powerful and unforgettable marketing initiatives before, during, and after the exhibition. Choose the best type of exhibit display booth that meets your goals and promotional needs as well as your budgetary requirements. â⬠¢Effectively make use of display accessories, banners, graphics, lighting, booth design, and materials to heighten visibility and drive sales. â⬠¢Hand out Promotional products that complement your company image. â⬠¢Ensure those working the show are well trained to fully represent your company, generate leads, and secure sales. Through the eyes of the organizer the key factors of a successful exhibition is when all the exhibition goals have been achieved or completed. Some of those goals I have listed below â⬠¢Pre-promotional strategy as meet it objectives by providing enough interest in the exhibition â⬠¢All the allocated floor space as been taken up by exhibitors â⬠¢Visitors count by surpassed the expected amount â⬠¢Feedback from exhibitors is good and bookings are taken for the following year â⬠¢Nothing unexpected happens â⬠¢When organizers receive recognition for their exhibition A well organized event will enhance awareness, help to capture new business leads and advance customer relationships
Saturday, August 31, 2019
How Steroids Changed Mlb
Known as Americaââ¬â¢s pastime, baseball is a game in which generations of children of all ages grow up playing in parks, streets, and alleyways throughout America. These same children grew up idolizing names such as Cy Young, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, and Hank Aaron. These men, as thousands of men before and after them, played in a league simply named Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball is rich in history with statistics and records dating back to 1873. Baseballchronology. com (n. d. ) provides this fact. However, as technology has advanced, so have the men who play this game. In the last 15 years athletes have become bigger, faster, and stronger making a game that is so difficult to play,look relatively easy. As a result records that have stood for many years are able to be shattered. Attendance has increased to record levels. Team owners and players are making record amounts of money. Unfortunately, along with these record accomplishments Major League Baseball is enjoying, the use of illegal drugs known as steroids are running rampant among the leagueââ¬â¢s players. Therefore, although players have become bigger, faster, and stronger, rampant steroid use among players of the last 15 years has changed the face of Major League Baseball negatively. Although it is true that steroids cannot improve a hitterââ¬â¢s hand-eye coordination, balance, or reflex, steroids can affect how hard a hitter hits a baseball. The harder one can hit a baseball the better the chance a hitter has of a getting a base hit. More hits lead to more runs scored, home runs hit, runs batted in by a single player. High statistics lead to Major League Baseball records that have stood for many years to be broken. A player will earn a high salary because of his accomplishments. He will have more of a fan base. This not only affects his pocket book, but the pocket book of the owner of the playerââ¬â¢s baseball team because of the increased attendance the player generates. Higher attendance leads to higher television ratings. High television ratings affect Major League Baseball because the higher ratings are, the more the league could demand in a network television contract. With all these factors to consider it is easy to see why a player would use steroids despite the health risk, and why owners would overlook rampant steroid use in Major League Baseball. Thompson, Vinto, Oââ¬â¢Keeffe, & Red, 2009 provides interesting facts on this subject. Rampant steroid use has a profound effect on Major League Baseballââ¬â¢s home run record book. Major League Baseball dates back to the late 1800s. An astonishing five of the top 11 home run hitters of all-time either are confirmed or suspected steroid users including the top home run hitter of all-time Barry Bonds. Next is the single home run record. Barry Bonds also owns this record. He hit an amazing 73 home runs in 2001. Barry Bonds surpassed Mark McGwire whom alone with Sammy Sosa became the only players in Major League Baseball history to hit more than 61 home runs in a single season. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are both confirmed steroid users. Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs in 1998 and Sammy Sosa hit 66 that same year. Prior to 1998 only two players ever hit more than 60 home runs in a single season. They are Babe Ruth, who hit 60 home runs in 1927 and Roger Maris who hit 61 home runs in 1961. Sportscity. com/MLB/500-Home-Run-Club (2007-2010) provides homerun statistics. Neither, Babe Ruth nor Roger Maris are suspected or confirmed steroid users. Steroid use is a key factor in perhaps the greatest pitcher of all-timeââ¬â¢s success. Roger Clemens pitched 24 seasons in Major League Baseball. He compiled 354 wins, ninth most in history, 4672 strikeouts, third most all-time, seven Cy Young Awards, most all-time, while winning two World Series. Clemens allegedly began taking steroids in 1998. His accuser, Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens personal trainer from the year 1998 through the year 2007, testified to a senate judiciary committee, under oath that Roger Clemens began taking steroids not only to bulk up his aging body, but to help aid recovery time in between games. For athletes, the benefits from steroids come in the form of accelerated recovery from injury and from workouts, allowing them to exercise harder and more frequently. For a pitcher, especially aging pitchers, steroids help them bounce back between gamesâ⬠(Thompson, Vinto, Oââ¬â¢Keeffe, & Red, 2009, p. 32). Roger Clemens denies these accusations and even fi led a defamation lawsuit again Brian McNamee that was eventually thrown out of court. If Roger Clemens used steroids, would he have won 354 games, or struck out 4672 hitters? Would Roger Clemens have won two World Series championships and seven Cy Young awards? Unfortunately, baseball fans may never know whether or not Roger Clemens took steroids; therefore these fans will never know the answer to these questions. However, just the question itself brings doubt to the legitimacy of Roger Clemensââ¬â¢ records and accomplishments. Broken records are not the only way rampant steroid use changed the face of Major League Baseball. In 1994 a labor dispute between the players and the owners resulted in a work stoppage. For the first time in the leagueââ¬â¢s 123 year history, a playerââ¬â¢s strike resulted in the cancellation of Major League Baseballââ¬â¢s playoffs and World Series. Prior to the strike of 1994 Major League Baseballââ¬â¢s popularity was at an all-time high. Attendance reached a record high 70,257,938 in 1993. The previous record was set in 1991 at 56,813,760. Unfortunately for Major League Baseball, attendance figures dropped dramatically following the strike. Attendance figures from 1995 through 1997reached an average of 57,911,768 per year. Nineteen ninety-eight was a completely different story. Attendance figures hit a record high of 70,601,147 in large part because of the homerun race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Baseballchronology. om (n. d. ) provides statistical attendance facts. Television ratings reached an all-time high because of the large number of fans who wanted to watch every Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa at bat. Major League Baseballââ¬â¢s popularity was again at an all-time high. Owners and players benefitted greatly because of the substantial increase in revenue. Although there were many rumors concerning steroid use among players in Major League Baseball; neither the Major League Baseballââ¬â¢s Players Association or Major League Baseballââ¬â¢s Owners cared to implement a steroid testing program. Rampant steroid use among Major League Baseball Players was just a rumor in 1998. If the two sides agreed to test for steroids and those test turned up positive results in some of the gameââ¬â¢s biggest names, attendance would fall once again. This was simply too much of a risk. Owners decided to look the other way, hoping rumors would fade. Rampant steroid use among players has changed the face of Major League Baseball negatively. First, steroid use among players changed the face of Major League Baseballââ¬â¢s record book. Second steroid use among players help drive attendance up by captivating fans from around America who had no idea players were shattering records because of the use of an illegal substance. Third, steroids use among players helped players and owners line their pockets with millions of dollars in revenue this attendance increase generated. Finally, any accomplishment a player has achieved in the last 15 years is in question from fans of Major League Baseball because these fans do not know every player who used steroids. This is an unfortunate reality for players who achieved greatness through hard work; without the aid of any
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