Behavioral Essays - Behaviorism, Learning, Experimental Psychology

Behavioral Conditioning What I want to do is train my dog to shake with either paw upon request. If I say "right" I want him to raise his right paw and the same for the left. I would use operant and classical conditioning to reach the goal of teaching this trick to my dog. I must condition the dog to shake by using positive reinforcement. The dog (Max) already puts his paw on me when I grab his head so I will act like I am going to reach for his head and when he puts his paw on me I will say, "shake." Every time he puts his paw on me after I say shake I will give him a liver treat. Once I have conditioned him to shake it will then be time to differentiate right from left. I want the words, "shake right" and "shake left " to be the conditioned stimulus (CS) and the raising of the appropriate paw to be the conditioned response (CR). I will condition the unconditioned response (UCR), shaking; the unconditioned stimulus (UCS), tapping his leg, by using operant conditioning and liver treats as positive reinforcement. Day 1: I began by acting like I was going to grab Max' head. Just as I suspected he put his paw on my arm. I tapped his leg and I gave him a treat as a positive reinforcer. I am using operant conditioning at this point in order to establish an unconditioned stimulus (taping Max' leg) and an unconditioned response (putting his paw in my hand). Once I have shaped this behavior I can then go on to the second phase using Pavlov's classical conditioning. Day 2: After two days of fixed ratio reinforcement, Max is beginning to give a conditioned response every time I tap his leg. Every time I tap his leg we exchange a paw for a liver treat. I am using continuous reinforcement today. Day 3: I have switched to using variable interval reinforcement. I will only give him a liver treat whenever I feel like it. Max is now learning that when I tap his leg he is to give me his paw. I am actually conditioning an unconditioned response. I am still using variable interval reinforcement but I only gave him two treats the whole day. Day 4: It is now time to switch over to classical conditioning. I have the active ingredient to do a Pavlov classic experiment. My UCS is now the leg tap and the UCR is Max shaking. I no longer have to use any reinforcement. Every time I tap Max' leg, he shakes. Day 5: I now introduce the words "shake right," the neutral stimulus (NS), as I tap the appropriate leg. I am beginning to get the conditioned response, which is lifting the appropriate paw. Day 6: I now introduce the words "shake left," as I tap the appropriate leg. I now have to reintroduce positive reinforcement. I am afraid Max might be forgetting the CR. He is not wanting to cooperate. Day 7: The NS alone now produces a conditioned response, thereby becoming a CS. I must use variable interval reinforcement to insure the CR continues. I will use this schedule of reinforcement so that Max won't know when to expect a treat. I figure that if he doesn't know when to expect a treat, he will give the CR to the CS more often than not. Day 8: When I say, "shake right," Max will lift his right paw. When I say, "shake left" he lifts the left paw. I will continue to use the variable interval reinforcement to maintain the behavior. This was a lot of fun and my dog just got smarter. I think I got smarter too. I think I could teach Max to do whatever I want him to as long as I follow the simple steps of conditioning, classical and operant.

10 Tips About How to Write a Caption

10 Tips About How to Write a Caption 10 Tips About How to Write a Caption 10 Tips About How to Write a Caption By Mark Nichol If you contribute to production of a print or online publication that includes photographs or illustrations, you’re likely, at some point, to write captions. Here’s some advice about how to write good ones. 1. Caption copy must match the tone of the running text (the general written content, as opposed to display type such as headlines and captions). Determine whether captions should be formal or informal, or serious or humorous, or whether the tone can vary depending on circumstances. 2. Caption format will depend on various factors. Portraits (often referred to as headshots), or images of places or products can simply be captioned with a name: â€Å"John Smith,† for example, or â€Å"Deluxe Dual-Purpose Widget,† without terminal punctuation. (If the product caption is a description rather than an official product name, capitalize only the first word and proper names.) Captions for photos or other images showing events or occurrences can consist of incomplete sentences (â€Å"Taking the Inchworm personal-transportation device for a test drive†), but it’s generally better to use one or more complete sentences. (â€Å"John Smith takes the Inchworm personal-transportation device for a test drive.†) Avoid eliding words, as in â€Å"John Smith takes Inchworm personal-transportation device for test drive†; write the caption as if you were speaking it aloud, not as if you were writing a headline or dictating a telegram. Some publications use a lead-in phrase to establish the caption; these are either straightforward or may be conceptual and might be humorous and/or alliterative as well. They are often formatted in boldface and followed by a colon, and they generally are capitalized like headlines. (â€Å"Wiggle Wagon: John Smith takes the Inchworm personal-transportation device for a test drive.†) 3. A brief article can be formatted as a caption; it’s best to distinguish such special features with a box around the photo and caption and/or a different font treatment. (A headline is optional.) The extent of the block of type shouldn’t be less than the space taken up by the photo, and the caption should be broken up into paragraphs if it’s more than a few lines long, and perhaps divided into columns if the image is more than one column wide. 4. Use context to determine how thoroughly to identify photographic subjects. Because a person, place, or thing shown in a photo is almost invariably identified in accompanying running text, titles, affiliations, and other additional information, for example, are rarely required in captions. Subsequent photos of the same subject can be simplified (as when a person’s full name is used only in the first of several captions for photos featuring that person). 5. Avoid replicating content from the running text in a caption. The caption should allude to the running text’s topic, but the specific wording should at most paraphrase the running text. 6. Captions should not use judgmental or facetious language or make assumptions about, for example, a subject’s state of mind. (Of course, a publication that features humorous or satirical content is an exception.) 7. If more than one person is featured in the photo, use directional or other targeting terms (for example, â€Å"left,† â€Å"standing,† or â€Å"holding aardvark†) only if the distinction between the photo’s subjects is not obvious. If you must use such wording, be consistent about style and format. Here are some alternatives (the first of which trusts readers to assume left-to-right orientation): â€Å"Security guards Winken, Blinken, and Nod stand watch.† â€Å"Security guards Winken (left), Blinken, and Nod stand watch.† â€Å"Security guards Winken, left, Blinken, and Nod stand watch.† â€Å"Security guards (from left) Winken, Blinken, and Nod stand watch.† â€Å"Security guards (left to right) Winken, Blinken, and Nod stand watch.† 8. Avoid tired terminology. If, in a photo accompanying an article about a cash donation, a person is pictured pointing at an oversized mockup of a check, don’t write, â€Å"Charity Goodheart gestures at a giant check as Greedco chairman Rich Moneybags looks on.† (And ask yourself why your company or organization is publishing such a tired visual clichà © in the first place.) Simply write, â€Å"Charity Goodheart acknowledges a donation from Greedco chairman Rich Moneybags.† 9. Fact-check all quantitative information such as spelling, names (of people, places, and things) and titles, and data, and double-check that you describe action or procedures accurately. 10. Don’t forget to include credits, and be consistent in style and format. Acknowledge the photographer or stock-photography source with the name alone; there’s no need to write â€Å"photo by† or the like. (However, if a photo is provided without charge by another source, credit, for example, â€Å"Courtesy Lookatthis.com.†) Distinguish the credit from the caption by using another font or point size and/or placing it vertically along the right-hand edge of the image. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Use â€Å"That,† â€Å"Which,† and â€Å"Who†Driver License vs. Driver’s License150 Foreign Expressions to Inspire You

Does Nietzsche provide any good reasons for being sceptical about Essay

Does Nietzsche provide any good reasons for being sceptical about Christian love - Essay Example Despite being the son of a Lutheran minister, Nietzsche was a man who did not subscribe to the ideas of Christianity, especially those that dealt with love, believing that the concept of love had been completely corrupted by the church. However, he was also a great admirer of Jesus because of the manner in which he had lived his life and attempted to reform the religion of Judaism so that it could become more progressive. While this was the case, Nietzsche criticized the teaching of love in the Gospels stating that they did not hold any truth in the reality of many individuals. It was his belief that those individuals who practiced Christianity did not live their lives to the fullest because they subscribed to teachings of Gospels, which were aimed at ensuring that life was composed of absolutes. According to Nietzsche, life was not full of absolutes and the concept of love could therefore not be practiced as preached in Christianity because to do so would mean that individuals could no longer make decisions for themselves; hence remain in the fossilized hierarchy to which the church had relegated them. According to Nietzsche, because Jesus died on the cross, the concept of love died with him and this is the reason why there no longer needs to be any form of absolutes in the manner in which individuals profess love towards each other. According to him, the Christian manner of love as practiced was highly hypocritical because instead of making people happy, it made them slaves of their own actions (Hollingdale, 1999, p.21). This declaration by Nietzsche does not hold any truth because Christian teachings relating to love enabled the church to grow in strength and have continued to sustain it in the modern world despite the rapid secularization currently taking place. There have been points of view though criticized by Nietzsche that Christian teachings on love are among the elements that have ensured a continued growth in provision of charity and aid for

Midterm paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Midterm paper - Essay Example The story of the famous Pocahontas, well remembered for spearheading interracial marriages, has been adapted by several films including the ‘The Pocahontas’ and the ‘Avatar’. The films have many similarities with the original story as narrated by Charles Dudley Warner but there are several exaggerations and manipulations done. The film ‘Pocahontas’ is an animation that attempts to present the life of Pocahontas. Just like in the story, the 1995 release animation presents Pocahontas as a woman who opposed to the idea of the segregation of Englishmen by her people in Powhatan. Both depict her as an influential character who embraced Captain Smith while they were in Virginia in1608. They describe her as a distinguished girl with great character and a genuine concern for humanity. However, the animation leaves several gaps in explaining the particular traits that she had while young, as explained by the author, â€Å"She was a child of remarkable i ntelligence, and that she early showed a tender regard for the whites and rendered them willing and unwilling service† (Warner 1). Such an expression is missing in the animation. Therefore, the story loses its true meaning. ‘The Avatar’ has a comparable plot to the story but the characters used are different. Warner presents historical events that relates to the romantic woman, Pocahontas, who fell in love with the whites despite herself being an Indian. The movie depicts a future occurrence but frames the incidences to reflect the story. While the story talks about Powhatan as from 1607, the movie talks about the Pandora by 2154. The movie talks about the mining of Unobtanium by the humans in the biosphere that has detrimental elements for human survival. In contrast, the Englishmen set their foot in Powhatan in an effort to mine gold. Despite the variances in characters and the timing both talks of men on a mission that results to a relationship between one of t he inhabitants, the Navi and the Powhatan’s in the movie and story respectively. The story provides many detailed accounts that does not feature in Disney’s ‘Pocahontas’ animations. The animation is very casual presenting shallow information about the characters. Little attention is given flashbacks and flash-forward as used the author. This breaks the sequence of events, as they appear in the story, hence the ability to understand what the events as they follow each other (Bazin 23). The author presents a variety of descriptions to demonstrate the nature of relationship between Pocahontas and Smith, an aspect that the film also portrays but with the magnitude. Again, the animation goes overboard in presenting the romance with Smith and the shooting of Kocoum. However, the storyline appears similar and the characters used are given similar names and similar character traits The author is not definite of the actual occurrences. On several instances, he uses the word ‘or’ meaning any of the things he is talking about might have taken place. Contrary to these views, the two films present very definite situations. This biasness is based on the fact, that a movie cannot present two opposing ideas since they can contradict the viewers. The author mentions, â€Å"Either Strachey was uniformed, or Pocahontas was married to an Indian†, this is presumption made by the author but the two films avoid the argument and do not feature this scene, probably due to its

The Social Construction of Facts and Artefacts Coursework

The Social Construction of Facts and Artefacts - Coursework Example In technological writings or introduction of technology by historians, there has been reports and history of successful technologies and the failed ones are not included due to which, it seems that all technology is beneficial. Technological artifacts exist as social constructs. Science, as well as technology, can be understood as the social construct. EPOR (Empirical Programme of Relativism) has helped to construct science as a social construct. EPOR also represents the efforts of sociologists to understand science as a social construct. EPOR is a well-structured program and the empirical research related to EPOR is in an extensive extent while on the other hand, there is SCOT (Social Construction of Technology) for which there is not enough empirical research done. SCOT helps in the development of a multidirectional model for technological developments to construct artifacts of technology as social constructs. The members of one social group regard a technological artifact as having a single meaning socially. While thinking about the existence of a technological artifact as having a single meaning, there are many concerns such as whether the artifact has some relevancy for the members of a group and whether that social group is homogeneous or heterogeneous. For each social group, the artifact has a different social meaning and a different relevancy. Every social group has the different set of problems associated with an artifact and for each problem, there are separate solutions. Both the approaches EPOR and SCOT act similarly in explaining about science and technology relatively. Sociology of technology is underdeveloped than the sociology of science. EPOR approach accommodates sociology of science with interpretative flexibility which means that the sociologist of science has to indicate towards various interpretations of scientific findings and that various aspects of nature are not restricted to only one forced interpretation.  

Disadvantages Of Online Learning Education Essay

Disadvantages Of Online Learning Education Essay Clearly, the benefits that online learning brings to students are enormous and undeniable. Even, as Hinkle suggests in her article Advantages and disadvantages of E-learning, pursuing an online course is an outstanding choice in education, especially when traditional learning situations have many obstacles, such as commuting or distance. However, as every coin has two sides, e-learning also has some fundamental drawbacks that can make it a little bit inconvenient for users. 2.1. Lack of verbal interaction One of the most disadvantages that Dogra (2011) and Hinkle (2009, n.d.) all agree is the lack of verbal interaction between teacher[s] and student[s]. Because of the fact that most online learning programs can only offer a one-way communication, this disadvantage is inevitable! As stated in Top 10 Distance Learning Disadvantages, the loss of human contact, let alone personal touch with instructors, provided in a traditional classroom in which two-way or face-to-face communication always proved its important (Pakhare 2008) is the evident truth. Similarly, Hinkle (2009) also believes that there is a significant reduction in the amount of interaction through distance learning. To further discuss this, Kartha (2011) makes the readers aware of that e-learning does not give learners any help in improving their oral communication skills. Although some online courses enable their users to communicate through discussion and community boards, this definitely differs from carrying a conversation to a classmate sitting next to you in person. Moreover, Dogra (2011b) assumes that an e-learning student may not be exposed to enough multidimensional views of a certain subjects or topic. She demonstrate the hindrance of online learning by saying that the chances of growth or learning of students who pursue full-time courses and are facilitated to discuss many aspects of one problems, many problems of one subject might be higher than those who do not. Whats more, in a class, a debate arising does not necessarily involve in what were taught. Instead, a wide range of issues pertaining to future plan or professional life is also focused on. This helps students develop their personality and teaches them how to deal with life in an appropriate manner. To gain success in life, one needs not only bookish but also experience and particularly, knowledge about various life issues as well as situations. She summarizes that, in some cases, the sale of professional improvement gained through online learning, therefore, might be limited. An article entitled Pros and cons of distance learning refutes this viewpoint of effect of less verbal contact, showing that e-learning seems to be a good way to grow students writing skill owing to that they have to type their contributions to class discussions and any other correspondence with [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] professors and fellow classmates. However, this opinion is flawed. In the first place, if students really need to improve this skill, it is not required to follow an online course. The second and more important reason is that, compared to the loss of communication skills, the benefit is far from equivalent. 2.2. Absence of live academic resources Apparently, online learning means studying in isolation and without a set schedule and proper study timings and it demands strong self-motivation and self-discipline to be a good learner (Dogra 2011a). She warns that this type of learning is totally not suitable for students who need regular and instant feedbacks from instructors. Pakhare (2008) expresses his agreement with Dogras statement and says that the absence of face-to-face communication results in the failure of receiving immediate feedbacks for students assignments and fieldwork studies. They may not have their problems and questions of the last lesson solved by professors or classmates as in a traditional class, which can function as a barrier in ones learning (Kartha 2011). In case of receiving feedbacks, students have to wait for a long time, till the instructors review their work (Top 10 distance learning disadvantages). In addition, according to the article Pros and cons of distance learning, whereas academic resources are supported in most conventional colleges/universities such as libraries, stadiums, study areas and laboratories, online learning environment is much more challenging. It is pretty practical when mentioning the impossibility of drop[ping] a tutoring center or attend[ing] extra help. Therefore, learning process, due to all of these factors, will be less effective. Perhaps, it is the main contributor to lesser weightage to online learning. There is a common notion among employers that students following e-learning class are far less informed and more experienced than those with full-time education (Dogra 2011a); and worse in term of attitude as well (Dogra 2011b). Some employers even refuse to give online learning a piece of acknowledgement (Top 10 distance learning disadvantages). Of course, she says, this situation will completely different in case those students have certain years of experience. However, most companies still give a preference to learners with traditional certificates or degrees (Dogra 2011a). 2.3. Technology difficulties It is beyond doubt that online learning requires some equipment. Two typical kinds of e-learning can be taken as examples here. First, computer-based training provides users with learning objects including audios, videos, animations and application simulations via a CD-ROM or a mainframe and through a local network, while another type, web-based training, has its learning materials delivered over the Internet . A computer connected to a network is a must with both of them. According to Hinkle (n.d.), this triggers off the technology-related problem to people who do not have ready access this equipment, in other words, they are ill-equipped to use it (Hinkle 2009). Besides, power cutoff, failure in Internet server on any hardware issue can also make severe impacts on learning process. Last but not least, technical requirement may put great pressure on ones who are completely not computer-literate, which, in turn, might lead to stress and frustration (Top 10 distance learning disadvant ages).

Adaptations of Mammals to Arid Australian Environments :: Environment Australia Animals Essays

Adaptations of Mammals to Arid Australian Environments Abstract High temperatures and low rainfall characterize much of Australia. It is hard to believe that animals can survive in arid conditions, much less prosper. Yet there is a whole range of mammals, among other life forms, that do. These animals survive because they have adaptations that allow them to live in the hot, dry conditions. The function of the adaptations is to balance thermoregulation with water gain and loss. For instance, many mammals that live in the desert obtain much or all of their water from the food they consume. The reduced water intake is partially balanced through concentrated urine and dry faeces. Evaporative cooling helps to regulate temperature. To limit the water lost through evaporative cooling, mammals are nocturnal, have light coloration and other body features to help dissipate heat, and use microenvironments to reduce heat gain. This is only a short list of the many amazing adaptations Australian mammals have to survive the harsh arid conditions; howe ver, it serves to illustrate the balance between thermoregulation and water regulation. Introduction Seventy percent of Australia is considered arid or semi-arid (Climate averages, 2000). Arid regions are characterized by receiving 100-250 millimeters of rain a year, and semi-arid regions are characterized by receiving 250-500 mm of rain per year (Costa, 1995). The average rainfall in Australia is only 165 mm per year (Climate averages, 2002). Not only are these regions faced with sparse rainfall, but they are also confronted with extreme temperatures. During the summer months of January and February, temperatures regularly exceed 40Â °C in the arid regions (Climate averages, 2002). The temperatures are even more scorching for small animals that live close to the ground because the soil becomes much hotter than the air (Walsberg, 2000). Therefore, Australian mammals must have adaptations to cope with the heat and lack of available water. Additionally, they must have adaptations to balance thermoregulation with water regulation. This paper will address these adaptations and explain how they work. Homeothermy Mammals can be broadly classified as homeotherms, which means their body temperature is relatively independent of the external environmental temperature (Ricklefs, 2001). Mammals and birds keep their body temperatures between 37Â °C and 38Â °C, however there are exceptions (Walsberg, 2000). Maintaining a constant internal temperature requires animals to have mechanisms to regulate their body temperature.

Contract Law Questions Essay

Max, an improvised law student placed the following advertisement in the Law Student Gazette: â€Å"For sale – Treital – Law of Contact, ? 5† Brian telephoned Max but he was not at home and Celia, Max’s girlfriend, answered the telephone. Brian asked her whether it was the latest edition. She replied that it was not. Brian then said he would give ? for the book and Celia replied that she was sure that was acceptable but for Brian to ring back later that evening. That night Brian telephoned Max. Max told Brian that the book was in excellent condition and that he would not accept anything less than ? 5 for the book. Brian, however, did not hear this because of a fault on the line. The next day Brian called at Max’s house with the ? 4 but Max refused to let him have the book Advise Brian 2. D placed a notice in a local newspaper offering a reward of ? ,000 to the first person to climb to the top of the monkey puzzle tree in his garden and take a photog raph of D’s garden. On Monday E was in the process of climbing the tree when he fell off. He was in hospital for four days. On Tuesday, F climbed to within three feet of the top of the tree but considered it too dangerous to proceed further as he was too heavy for the upper branches. On Wednesday, G was at the top. He was about to take the photograph with the special camera which G had purchased for. Especially for the purpose. D shouted, â€Å"Forget it! There is no money at all. The deal is off. † Later that day, D broadcast an advertisement on the local radio station informing everyone that the reward was no longer an offer. On Thursday, H, the son of D’s neighbor, climbed the tree, took the photograph and claimed the reward. He had not heard the broadcasts on the local radio station. On Friday, E returned to the garden and climbed the tree and took the photograph. Advise the parties.

An Apolitical Food Problem essays

An Apolitical Food Problem essays ?The world food problem has been a growing concern that the humankind faces in the process of development today, and key issues such as malnutrition and starvation have most commonly been identified with the poor in underdeveloped countries (Warnock, 1987). An unprecedented rate of population growth outstripping the food production that will lead to an increase in famines has been a popular misconception relating to the world food problem (Radha, 1976), and Robert Malthus noted this similar idea, which is described as Malthusian focus. Contrary to Malthus second theory, defined as the Malthusian pessimism, a shocking fact unveils that despite having more than sufficient food to supply to every mankind today, global hunger has now been intensified (Bennett, 1987), therefore questioning the real cause for the rise in famines we are observing. Environmental threats such as drought and flood have also been alleged to contribute to famine issues in the world. However, the causes of death due to starvation in these natural disasters are definitely arguable, as it is noted that not all countries experience the same catastrophic outcome, namely famines death, in these natural disaster (Buchanan, 1982). The food problem today is thus focused on the underdeveloped and developing countries and how it corresponds with economic growth in respective to developed countries, giving rise to the distinctive gap between the wealthy and poor nations (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 1968). Hence, in this essay, I will be addressing how food problem in the world today is not the result of food shortages, instead its the political and economical framework that creates them (Buchanan, 1982). Economics has allowed us to understand the concept of demand and supply, where prices are fixed at an equilibrium price. For this reason, anyone who can afford to pay at this given price would be able to purchase ...

Louis XIV Essays

Louis XIV Essays Louis XIV Paper Louis XIV Paper Louis XIV was known as one of the greatest Kings of France.Louis XIV ruled as an absolute monarch.He was a great patron of the arts in France. He is responsible for many elegant buildings in France and especially Paris.He was also involved in many wars throughout his reign of France. The reign of Louis XIV lasted an astounding length of seventy-two years.Louis XIV was born on September 16,1638.His reign started when he was only four years old when his father Louis XIII died on May 14, 1643.Louis XIV chose the sun as his emblem.The sun was associated with Apollo, god of peace and arts, and was also a heavenly body that gave life to all things.Like Apollo, Louis XIV brought peace and was a patron of the arts. Louis XIVs father Louis XIII ruled with Cardinal Richelieu, who served as First Minister.When Louis XIII died Cardinal Richelieu also died shortly after the Kings death.Richelieus successor, Cardinal Mazarin, governed the country until Louis XIV grew up.He always wanted to be able to rule alone.So when hisfirst Minister Mazarin died, he decided against ruling with a First Minister.Only a limited share of power was allowed to the able comptroller general of finances, Jean Baptiste Colbert.Colbert believed in an active economic role for the State, he promoted manufacturing and commerce, built up the navy, and developed the French colonies overseas. Louis XIV was not highly liked among the people of France.Previously the kings of France had lived rather close to their people, traveling about a good deal, in war or peace, visiting towns and their poorer subjects.When Louis XIV became a deity, the people bowed down, but felt that the king no longer belonged to them.The French, however, only really love what belongs to them.Louis XIV held a very strict court.He forced all the nobles to live with him at the Palace of Versailles.

What do you think about the class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What do you think about the class - Essay Example The course plays an important role in educating the current generation on how to struggle for what they want through reflecting on the struggles that the indigenous people in time of colonization. Some of other topics that are of importance in attending the class include capitalist development, Immigration and environmental changes. From this class, the teachers are able to sensitize the students on matters of environmental maintenance and protection. The Native American class is able to encourage race diversity. This is through emphasizing on the Native Americans who were living in harmony with each other despite having hailing from different subgroups. The class is able to examine a range of oral genres from various tribes. The native literature also incorporates Native American contribution to the current American tradition. This plays an important role in revealing the literary potential that lies in the diverse aesthetic tradition and giving the current generation an identity. Therefore, the class should be emphasized and widespread in various learning

Southern California Edison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Southern California Edison - Essay Example Based in Rosemead, California, the company was founded in the year 1886 by the name Holt & Knupps. They were "primarily a provider of street lights" then. (About, par.1) Later, in 1897, West Side Lighting Co. and Los Angeles Electric Co. merged to form Edison Electric Co. of Los Angeles. The company changed its name to Southern California Edison in 1909. Today's Southern California Edison is a 122 years old company, "serving more than 13 million people", (EI 1, par.1) providing reliable electric service covering more than "50,000 square miles" (EI 1, par.1) of central, coastal and central southern California, "employing more than 15,500 employees", (SCE 1, par.7) While going through the news releases of SCE, one happens to come across this recent article about "Safe holiday lighting tips."(EI 2, par.4) saying "As the excitement of the season sets in with decorative displays, many people are inadvertently exposed to a greater safety risk of becoming the victim of a fire or electrical accident, such as shock or electrocution." And the rest is about safety measures and light saving tips. It sounded more like an advisory. After going through it, one gets the feeling that they have written it less out of concern for their customers and more out of concern about the 'blame' people would put on their head in case if something went wrong and even if it wasn't their fault. Not without a reason, since I came across another article in Los Angeles Times which said "Power lines are the suspected culprits behind 12 major fires destroyed 1041 homes and killed two people." (Mozingo, par.1) Somehow, I feel, this is another typical case of strained relations between a 'big' company not being able to keep 'all' its customers happy. A common observation involving monopoly businesses. Suppliers: Like every other 'big' company, SCE manages its suppliers in a very systematic manner. SCE requires vendors for various purposes like managing scrap, meter data management, managing its ERP, energy procurement (natural gas and whole sale electric supplies), various materials, etc. One remarkable feature is that it does its energy efficiency program jointly with other utility companies viz. Pacific Gas and Electric Company and San Diego Gas and Electric Company. As such, vendors for efficient energy management are evaluated jointly. One very optimistic feature is SCE's active encouragement for renewable and alternative power generation. In fact, it has a special power contracting option for smaller biomass generators so as to contribute towards California's renewable energy as well as environmental goals. Competitors: Until California's rush into energy deregulation in 1996, SCE had a tightly regulated but a 'natural' monopoly. Though it was intended to move towards a less regulated energy market so as to decrease the cost of electricity by fostering competition among producers, its practical effect has been divestment of generation facilities by utility companies. SEC is the primary electric supplier for much of Southern California. However, the Los Angeles