Responsibilities and Jobs of a Domestic Assessor

The world is in a mortal peril. The rate at which we are destroying our ecosystem is staggering and shocking. The human race has destroyed millions of acres of forestland, and has converted it into farms and for civilization. The earth is calling us to take some concrete steps to maintain the fulcrum and balance of our environment.

If this continues unabated, all of mankind may cease to exist in a few more centuries. Fortunately, all the countries in the world have realized that something concrete must be done to preserve the environment. The rich countries have vowed to take action against global climate change by bringing in modern green technologies.

For the past 100 years, technology has destroyed the ecosystem. Today the invention of green technology or the technology which is helpful to the environment has raised the hope of restoring the ecosystem. A domestic Energy Assessor has the onus to preserve the environment and to prevent humans from running it. A person is entitled to carry out assessments in households, only and only if he is qualified as a Domestic Energy Assessor from the institution of an accredited quality. However one needs to pay heed to many issues that may come up during the process. Therefore a high degree of professionalism maintained by independent thoughts and a firm judgment is very much needed.

The Domestic Energy Assessor must have an Insurance policy in case he gets sued by a client. The client can sue him on the basis that the data he has provided is faulty. There are a specific set of rules that need to be followed by every DEA, and every decision must be made by keeping the regulations in mind. There are many factors that the DEA must consider before he gives his decision. The factors include the risk and safety involved. The space for 'space heating' need to be determined by the dimension of buildings that are yet to be constructed and the buildings that already have been. If there are any changes that the DEA feels should be inducted, he can give suggestions to the home owners.

Energy appliances are thoroughly checked for the level of emission. One may change the arrangement or the appliances in order to make the house environment friendly. If the cavity in the walls is not insulated properly, it is possible you may have issues. Energy can be saved, if the walls are insulated properly. Moreover the SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) ratings will improve and your energy bill will come down. The DEA inspectors will also carefully look at the boilers, fireplaces and heaters in the house. The DEA inspectors are provided the access to every nook and corner of the construction. Co-operation and willingness to listen is always required of the home owners. The DEA inspector must be polite and quick. The DEA inspector checks the age of the building, extensions, if any and the materials used for the construction of the building. Every factor, whether big or small come into play when having the environmental friendly home is concerned.

Legal Domestic Abuse - Is the Family Court System Supposed to Be Just and Fair?

I often hear domestic violence survivors hollering that the family court system is not being just and fair. They say, it is supposed to be just and fair yet, it isn't.

My question is, "Is that true?" I'm not sure if the word "fair" is relevant here.

What Is Before the Court

You see the family court system is really about adjudicating on what's before the court. And what's before the court is more a matter of what the attorneys put before the court, that is, what they put in front of the judge.

So, if you are scratching your head or tearing your hair out over what's just and fair, I recommend that you consider what's before the court.

It's your business to carefully monitor whether your case is being put before the court in a way that represents your best interest. And if it is not, it is your responsibility to do something about it.

It is not the court's responsibility to make sure your position is properly represented. Rather, the court's job is merely to pass judgment on what is before the judge.

Being Proactive to Create Justice

Now, it is true that battered women often get the raw end of the deal in family court. It is also true that one of the reasons for this is because they are not knowledgeable on how to get their case before the court.

And sadly, as is typically the case, their counsel reflexively operates according to the financial politics of the case. You may think it is cold and cruel that finances govern the operation of the legal judicial system; but let's face it, attorneys are paid court agents. They are not free public servants, at least not in divorce court.

If you are a domestic violence survivor and protective parent in a custody or divorce matter, be mindful of the influence and control you could have by getting your case before the court.

Domestic Abuse and Family - The Use of Your Family to Carry Out Your Abusive Partner's Agenda

To add insult to injury, confusion to the complicated, mystery to the already oozing drama is the use of your own family to carry out your abusive partner's agenda. Why?

Whose Family Is My Family?

If you're perplexed as to why your parents are suddenly supporting your partner's desire to have you out of your house, or his interest to have you out of your children's lives, it may be time to look closer at the dynamics in play.

If you don't, you may be inadvertently allowing for the destruction of some important family support at a time when you need them most. In fact this, in part, is why this strategy is often used. It adds to your isolation!

What to Do When You Notice Your Family Is Acting Like His Family

If you are working your way out of an abusive relationship and must pass through the social political ropes of family court, pay close attention to what side of the courtroom your immediate family gravitates. And as hard as this may seem, recognize this too is NOT about you.

Abusive people will use any and all of your natural network of strength as though they own natural rights to what's yours. And from here, they will work these supporters to be your enemies and to become their allies, all in an effort to strengthen their efforts to carry out their own agendas.

If you approach the least likely member of your family to be drawn into this strategic ploy first, you will be more successful at influencing the whole clan before the seduced support for your partner's agenda spirals out of control.

Let this family member know you know what is and/or may be going on, and ask them to serve as your voice with other members of the family. This way you can keep your focus on your personal battles and enlist a messenger to offset this ploy. Furthermore, this family member's message to the rest of the family is likely to be received more objectively than if it came from you.

God Willing? Political Fundamentalism in the White House, the 'War on Terror', and the Echoing Press

David Domke, God Willing? Political Fundamentalism in the White House, the 'War on Terror', and the Echoing Press. London and Ann Arbor, Ml: Pluto Press, 2004. 240 pp.

The relationship between politics and media has always been a topic for vast researches. On the other hand the use of religious discourse in addresses and speeches of politicians to back their policies is not a new issue. But what is done in this book that makes is outstanding and different is an analysis of the interconnections among all these three together. Thus David Domke's book is ideally positioned to cut right into the heart of debates about the modern developments at the intersection of religion, politics and media within the US. According to him, the foreign and domestic foreign developments in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were not only (neo) conservative, but also firmly grounded in a (Christian) religious fundamentalism. Domke argues that the Bush administration has turned a religious worldview into political policy and has created what Domke calls a 'political fundamentalism', defined as 'an intertwining of conservative religious faith, politics, and strategic communication' (p. 6). The book is also a critique of the Bush administration's disregard for democracy in the months following the attack.

The introductory chapter of God Willing? identifies four main characteristics of the Bush administration's communication that were grounded in a conservative religious worldview: (1) a binary concept of reality (apparent in the consistent use of two constructions: good vs. evil and security vs. peril); (2) an obsession with time and demands for immediate action against terrorism(manifest in two beliefs: that action in the here and now is imperative, and that one's commitment to a certain course of action, if perceived to be God inspired, should be of an enduring nature); (3) declarations about the will of god for the united states and the values of freedom and liberty; and finally (4) an intolerance for dissent(apparent in the administration's unified voice in public communication, its appeals for other political actors to act with political unity and its harsh criticisms of dissenters). In each of the chapters that follow, one of these characteristics is defined and discussed in detail, with evidence offering its consistent presence in the public communications of the president between 11 September 2001 and 1 may 2003.

In chapter 2 he examines the presence of two binaries in the president's discourse and news coverage after September 11- good versus evil and security versus peril- and argues that these conceptions of reality reflected and contributed to a sense of moral certitude among the bush administration that was used to justify limits on civil liberties and major preemptive military action while also helping to engender public support for the president and administration's "war on terror".

Chapter 3 offers evidence of time fixations throughout the administration's discourse and news coverage, and argues that they allowed the administration simultaneously to push for immediate action on specific "war on terrorism" policies and to justify this desire as a requisite step in a long-term, God- ordained process. The implication was clear: to not act quickly or to not endure in the campaign against terrorism was to risk another September 11.

In chapter 4 evidence is offered of how the universal gospel of freedom and liberty, offered by the president and echoed by the press, functioned as a central rationale for the administration's foreign policies, particularly in justifying the new preemptive doctrine and the Iraq war.

Chapter 5 focuses on how the administration's emphasis upon political unity and harsh rebukes of those dissented worked together to encourage support for the administration, and to suggest that anyone who held opposing views was unpatriotic and potentially placing people in the United States at risk.

Chapter 6 reflects upon the collection of evidence, in three central sections. First, it argues that the Bush administration offers an instructive case study of how political fundamentalism can gain wide support in the United States. The chapter's second section scrutinizes the role of news media in these processes, with the argument that in a nation-challenging context, commercial mass media are drawn to the discourses of political conservatives, particularly those that are religiously grounded. The final section of the chapter explores how cultural leaders might craft a moral discourse that counters the predominance of political fundamentalism, and why it is crucial for U.S. citizens and others that they do so.

Chapter 7 offers conclusions, focusing on implications of the administration's political fundamentalism for democracy, both in the United States and globally.

In the way the writer brings a rigorous analysis of a wide range of empirical material, David Domke's work is of great value to study. However, to what extent his work can contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between religion, politics, and the media is a matter of question. Some scholars may find it the role of religion has been exaggerated. Some scholars may question the way he has analyzed meaning formation and reception in media as it is a subjective matter. Nevertheless, the book very well clarifies how the actions of the Bush administration and the news media are directly counter to fundamental American democratic ideals and principles. It shows how civil religion is used to promote its political goals and to justify self-interest. So "God Willing" is a must-read for anyone who cherishes American democracy, anyone who feels uneasy about the Bush Administration's use of religious images, as well as those who have concerns about the way the press helps Bush advance his agenda. However, the potential and necessity for further discussion on the subject exists that can encourage other scholars.

Living With Your Domestic Maid - 5 Tips for Maintaining Personal Space and Privacy at Home

Having a live-in maid is a delicate arrangement. For the duration of her work contract, an adult woman is "adopted" into your household, sharing your private living space. Clearly, such constant and close-proximity contact affects the privacy of both the recruiting family and the foreign maid. It is therefore surprising that many employers fail to give sufficient thought and planning to this unique situation, to ensure the personal space and privacy of everyone involved.

For harmonious living with your domestic help, you need to anticipate the privacy concerns of your family and maid, and actively address these issues. This may be difficult task because most people don't feel comfortable talking about their privacy requirements. Ignoring this awkward topic would be a short-sighted tactic, and a sure-fire recipe for conflicts later on.

We include below a few pointers to help you tackle the subject of privacy with a live-in domestic maid. As employers, the husband and wife should discuss frankly and prepare themselves before the "stranger" steps foot into their family home. Plan and implement specific dos and don't s to minimize any intrusion into their personal, couple and family lives.

1. Adjust your displays of affection While hand-holding, quick pecks on the cheek, and cuddling in front of the TV are probably fine, you would be wise to keep the overtly romantic gestures out of the plain view of your maid. Of course, sensibility and decency are the obvious reasons to confine amorous exploits between spouses to the bedroom. A less obvious, but important, reason is to avert any feelings of loneliness and envy from your maid, who is far away from her own loved ones.
2. Dress suitably Some adult males go shirtless while lifting weights and exercising at home; some walk from the shower to the wardrobe with only a towel wrapped around their waists. Some folks unclothe and dump the laundry directly into the wash, wearing little or nothing beside the washing machine, in the privacy of their own homes. Breastfeeding mothers lose their inhibition when nursing their babies within the four walls of their residence. While natural, such behaviours need to be toned down with the presence of a stranger in the house. Different people have varying levels of comfort for such exhibitionist conduct, and your maid may have a markedly more conservative upbringing.
3. Avoid confidential discussions and heated quarrels in front of the maid Family members disagree sometimes, but always strive to resolve the disputes in private, without rallying the maid's support for either party. Learn to settle domestic quarrels quickly and amicably. Prolonged quarrels between the employers is embarrassing, for both for participants and witnesses! (A member shares his personal experience in our maid forum [http://www.maidaware.com/forum/index.php?topic=8.msg30#msg30].)
4. Respect the personal space of every home occupant Everyone should have his own time and space to indulge in private thoughts and activities, such as personal grooming, leisure and rest. Promote a respect for privacy in your household, and seek your maid's cooperation and understanding, to engage in some activities without her involvement. For example, you may wish to plan a fortnightly movie date with your spouse, or an outing with the kids to their grandparents' house without the maid tagging along. At the same time, respect your maid's need for time off to meet her own friends, and support her needs to communicate periodically with her family back in her home country.
5. Maintain an open communication channel with your maid Our cultural and social conditioning influence our thoughts and behaviour. Despite your best intentions and efforts, your maid may feel uncomfortable with certain practices in your household. Instead of allowing the frustration to fester inside, you should solicit her feedback from time to time. Sometimes, it may be a small and simple matter that is easily resolved once it is made known. To quote an example, our maid felt awkward with a neighbour's harmless interaction with our year-old toddler. This elderly gentleman would bend forward to stroke our daughter's head and coo at her. I thought it is a friendly and heart-warming gesture, and would hold her in my arms while the neighbour talked and played with her. During a recent casual conversation, our maid finally revealed her fear and wariness about such close contact with a stranger. She fret over chance encounters with this neighbour. As my employee, she felt obliged to emulate my friendly disposition towards the man, which goes against her basic instincts. Made aware of her feeling of "privacy infringement", I had a polite word with the neighbour, and resolved this underlying problem quickly and successfully.

The Politics of Division

Does the average American hold to a consistent ideological policy on every issue? Does the average American agree with their stated political party on every issue? Do political parties consistently hold to their same ideology or platform over the decades? The answer to all is a no!
The ideals of conservatives and liberals are not always constant across all lines. At times, these philosophies have even seemed interchangeable between the political parties. People are confused when they look at traditional definitions of the conservative and liberal and try to reconcile them to the "labels" today. That is because politicians exploit these terms to their own purpose.
"Conservative" and "liberal" are loaded terms because of the rhetoric politicians use against each other. Calling someone a liberal gives an automatic negative reaction from a segment of the public; this is true even though they may not truly understand what the term represents. The same is true when you label someone a conservative; it is a signal to automatically reject that person and their values. This is the politics of divisiveness. This style of politics is destructive. It is intended to be so.
"Politics" itself has become a dirty word:
The Oxford Dictionary describes "politics" as:
"1 the activities associated with governing a country or area, and with the political relations between states.
2 a particular set of political beliefs or principles."
Compare that to Oxford's definition of "party politics" as: "Politics that relate to political parties rather than to the public good."
Implicit in these definitions is that "politics" is designed to provide for the governing of a country for the public good; "party politics" is not concerned with the public good, but rather the good of the party; the public good is left on the trash heap and the good of the party becomes the goal.
THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
Conservatism and liberalism should not be a "one or the other" choice. Both philosophies have proven their value to society over time, and both should be part of our future. Both philosophies should be understood, and both appreciated for their contributions. Both can, in fact, be held at the same time. For example, our society needs to move ahead with new solutions to the problems we face (a liberal value), but tempered to whatever degree possible by practices in the past which have proven successful (a conservative value).
In other words, by all means, let us move forward, while learning from the past. However, to do this, we must get past the party politics of division and blame.
Barack Obama did not become President of the same country that he started campaigning for in early 2007. Obama is now the President of a country in turmoil. It is not an enviable position. Where will Obama draw the strength to lead America out of its turmoil?
Obama faces challenges that perhaps no American President has faced since Franklin Roosevelt came into office in 1932. Roosevelt faced a world-wide depression, and a world increasingly threatened by fascist powers in the Pacific and Europe. Roosevelt stood up to those issues; it was not easy and it was not fully completed until after Roosevelt's death. However, America survived those times, and emerged a stronger nation for it.
President Obama now faces a U.S. economy that is in ruins, our confidence shaken to its core. The U.S. military faces a war on two fronts, Iraq and Afghanistan. Afghanistan, once thought won, is threatening to spill over into Pakistan, which in turn, may spill over into India. Iraq could yet still spill over into Turkey and Iran. Combined, these two issues, economics and war, will demand our attention.
ENDING THE POLITICS OF DIVISION
Two centuries ago, Edmund Burke said, "All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter." President Obama must find a way to lift America's spirit, and gain its peoples' confidence. To do that, he must find a way around the divisive politics that has poisoned the American political system, for Obama cannot solve America's problems alone. He will need a Congress willing to work in earnest to find solutions and compromise. Otherwise, business as usual in Washington, D.C. bodes poorly for America.
The founding of America was a remarkable event in history. America put to the test the question of whether man is fit to rule himself, whether man is capable of providing equality and justice, or is man to be ruled by Monarchy or aristocracy, for his own good. America became the world's first democratic nation. One of the major principles of America is that it is governed under the U.S. Constitution, not by the will of men; the final source of authority is the people, not a Monarch, not a President. The rights of the people were set above all else, to be preserved for all posterity. The opening line of the U.S. Constitution states this boldly and plainly:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence (sic), promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Since its inception, there have been those that charge America is destined to fail; and yet, America has survived for over 200 years. However, America will not survive as a democracy, if its people fail in their desire for the principles that founded America: liberty, justice, equality, and virtue. It is a burden that America willingly undertook in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence, and carried it through a bloody Civil War, and two World Wars. Can the American people continue to carry this burden? If it is to be, it must be through the people, for in a democracy, there can be no other.

After obtaining a degree in political science, I embarked on a career in insurance and government. For the last 21 years, I have worked for local government and government associations. I have written articles, as well as manuals, assisting local government in effectively managing their activities and exposures. I have also provided training in these areas, been a frequent speaker at educational seminars, and acted as President of an association of governmental employees.

During this time, I continued an interest in the politics that is embedded in government and where politics is leading this nation in the Twenty First Century.

Earn Online Political Science Masters Degree For A Better Future

After earning a bachelor's degree, people get busy in their professional life that they hardly get time to earn their master's degree, in this way they either sacrifice their on going job, so that they can enhance their skills to attain a brighter career or they drop the idea of getting their master's degree, instead of leaving their current job in the middle. Therefore, those who have earned their bachelors degree in political science or in a related field of study can easily enroll for their online political science masters degree. This degree is offered online at a number of well known accredited colleges and universities.

By the end of online political science masters degree, graduates become capable to analyze, from an international point of view various political issues. This is because; they acquire academic qualification important in this regard, hence, it is assumed that they can be the future's finest political scientists.

Those who opt to excel in the field of political science, by earning their masters degree, make efficient use of their practices of life as well as their work and undergraduate experience, to discover profound issues of politics and power. Thus, in this way, they find it easy to extend their understanding of political structure and its impact on domestic and international policy.

During the program, students study the theories and philosophies behind government, political processes and economies. Furthermore, the theories behind democracy are assessed and recognized by them. They also learn to make comparison between those theories and other political systems. Including the study of American government and its policies, students also study about various other governments in different parts of the world. After completing online political science masters degree, students acquire the skills to interact in a global system.

In addition, the students of online political science masters degree analyze that how public policies and political systems are developed, operated and originated. They learn research methodologies as well, so that they can collect data and perform appropriate analysis and research in their domain.

Moreover, while earning the degree, students are skilled in collecting and analyzing data, in taking interviews, in doing surveys and in presenting their findings by maintaining a proper report, which is very useful for political lobbying, nonprofit, civic and social organizations.

Students are taught a number of courses, during this degree program that includes contemporary political theory, international politics, American government and politics, East Asian politics, environmental politics, European politics, Feminist political theory, International economics, Public policy, Critical geopolitics and various others.

Career Prospects and Salary Information

As stated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in near future, political scientists will be highly in demand, because the employment rate is expected to rise to a great level. Hence, graduates of online political science masters degree will find rewarding career opportunities in their domain.

After earning online political science masters degree, one can opt from a variety of careers available in business, teaching, government, journalism, political activism and in various other areas. Like in government one can work as a politician, legislator, ambassador, diplomat, lobbyist, an electoral official, a political campaign worker and etc. Furthermore, positions other then in government includes political researcher, legislative analyst, corporate public affairs advisor, sociologist, historian, lawyer, judge, political journalist, political talk show host and etc.

Depending on the nature of federal, state and local governments, it has been found that there are positions available for people having political science background. This is because of retirements and promotions that gradually or sometimes rapidly takes place in federal, state and local governments. Whenever, economic insecurities are encountered, positions in federal government are found highly competitive.