Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Nursing intervention Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nursing intervention - Personal Statement Example In this regard, the complaints of the patient must be meticulously explored through obtaining a complete ophthalmic history, careful assessment of the patient's eyes and performing a relevant diagnostic procedure like the slit-lamp examination. As regarded above, obtaining a complete ophthalmic history, careful assessment of the patient's eyes and performing a relevant diagnostic procedure like the slit-lamp examination are essential aspects in making a sound judgment on the patient's case. According to Vader & Krouse (2001), an ophthalmic history encompasses the obtainment and utilization of the client's demographic data, current clinical manifestations, past health history or past medical history (PMH), psychosocial history and lifestyle, and family health history. These facts are deemed vital and important because they can certainly assist the health providers to have an accurate evaluation and understanding about the patient's condition. Demographic data, particularly the age and s... On the other hand, clinical manifestations, or signs and symptoms, such as loss of vision and glare must be suggestive of a particular visual disturbance like glaucoma or refractive errors. So, it is also important to take note of these manifestations as well as the complaints of the patients for further assessment and evaluation. Further, the patient's past medical history (PMH) can also provide valuable facts in relation to the ocular manifestations. For instance, the presence of ocular disorders is commonly seen in persons who have existing diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases. In addition, histories of allergies to medications and substances that can precipitate ocular reactions or eye irritations are also investigated to determine how these factors affect the client's ocular/ophthalmic health. Moreover, psychosocial history and lifestyle, including the patient's occupation and daily activities, can also aid in the assessment as they provide information about the predisposing f actors related to the patient's condition such as exposure to substances that can irritate the eyes and other practices that affect ocular health. In this way, as a student nurse, it is important to ask the client about his/her recreational activities and occupational history, and whether the client wears glasses to protect his/her eyes or not, in order to establish relevant facts (Potter & Perry, 2001). In the same manner, family history provides data on the likelihood of having eye disorders that are hereditary, or genetic, which can run through generations. These familial disorders include strabismus and refractive errors such as myopia, or

Monday, October 28, 2019

Marine Pollution Essay Example for Free

Marine Pollution Essay From our early years in school, our science teachers have taught us that two thirds or roughly 70% of the surface of the Earth is covered by water. And yet it is probably the most neglected element in the environment. The oceans are home to a diverse number of wildlife and an important source of food for most of the inhabitants of the earth, including humans. From this fact alone, the importance of the ocean can’t be more emphasized. Besides being a source of food, the ocean also provides us with various medicines through the abundance of life that it produces. Around 500 types of sea species have potentially cancer curing chemicals (WWF fact sheet, n. d). Marine Pollution In layman’s terms, marine pollution is simply the destruction of the quality of water through contamination, but in scientific terms, marine pollution is the â€Å"distortion of marine environment health† (Sinha, 1998). Anything that we dump to a body of water that is not supposed to be there is marine pollution. The question whether the act of dumping is intentional or not is irrelevant because the intention does not reduce the damage done to the body of water. It has been once thought that the ocean is so vast that it would be able to dilute all the wastes that are put in it. Of course we know now that this is not true. We have polluted the oceans so much, and in a lot of different ways, that we are now feeling the effects of our neglect. We have to stop marine pollution now if we, and the generations after us are to enjoy our world’s number one resource. Sources of Pollution: Causes, Effects, and Solutions Oil Pollution – according to the National Research Council, the oceans suffer more than it seems in the news. Occasionally, major oil spills reach our television screens but so much more is dumped into the ocean every year and they are not even because of accidents (NRC, 1985). Major oil spills are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to oil polluting the ocean. Oil spills are just more visual, because they are televised most (or some) of the time, but oil spills from ships or platforms are just some of the reasons on how oil can be dumped into the ocean. The following graph shows that major oil spills is second to the least source of the total oil that reaches the oceans. Source: Ocean Planet. Oil Pollution. The part that shows the most contribution to oil pollution is known as the run-off effect. It is the combination of all the oil that is spilled in land that seeps through the soil and find its way to the ocean. Run-off pollution is very harmful to the environment and our health. Not only does it damage the oceans but it also damages the smaller bodies of water that the oil used to reach the ocean. The oil can disrupt marine life, and ultimately destroy it (MarineBio, n. d. ) Lots of marine animals are killed due to oil spills because they come in direct contact with the oil, hindering their movement, and therefore their chances of survival, not to mention that the oil is toxic. Despite the decreasing popularity of oil, it would be always there as long as humans can extract them from the earth, so we can’t stop collecting them. What we can do, is to pass laws that would make present laws on the oil production business stricter, and therefore safer. But as mentioned, direct oil spills on the ocean are the least of our worries. We must properly dispose the oils that we use in land because it contributes the most in mixing that oil with our waters. Toxic Chemicals – oil is just one of the pollutants that contribute to the destruction of marine environmental health. There are a number of toxic chemicals out there that are spilled in to the ocean. These chemicals don’t just contaminate the water, the creatures of the sea are also contaminated and create a domino effect on all those that belong to its food chain. We should be concerned about these toxic chemicals because we are part of that food chain (assuming that most people eat fish). â€Å"†¦many pollutants accumulate in marine organisms, humans are exposed to pollutants when they consume food from polluted areas. † Some studies have shown that humans that eat a lot of seafood are prone to chemicals such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) and a number of heavy metals (Dewailly et al. 1999). Like oil, toxic chemicals also find their way to the ocean due to the run-off effect, although sometimes accidents at sea can cause direct spillage of toxic chemicals into the ocean. These are chemicals being transported by ships and somehow, by whatever reason, end up where it should not be. These chemicals destroy the environment much like how oil does, the only difference is some toxic chemicals are invisible. Seemingly harmless seafood products can be contaminated by these chemicals and be transmitted to our body if we consume them. One of these toxic chemicals is a marine antifouling paint ingredient called tributylin. Trubutylin is known to have some bad effects on gastropods and molluscs (Matthiessen and Law 2002). Perhaps the best way reduce chemical spills is to minimize our use of these toxic chemicals. They are toxic anyway ,so we might as well not use them. Use of alternative products in place of these chemicals might be possible, safer, and more environment friendly products. Anything that is harmful to the environment should be phased out or at least be used in moderation. The effects of these chemicals to the environment and our health are far too great for us to continue to use them. Other Pollutants – apart from oil and toxic chemicals, there are other toxins that add up to marine pollution. Some of these are sewage, plastic, and dredged materials. Most sewage still find their way to the ocean, sewage contain nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen and phosphorus is what some toxic algae thrives on. These toxic algae consume the oxygen of an affected area making it a dead zone. One incident happened just a few years ago and is mentioned in the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Fact sheet for marine pollution: A few years ago a massive slick of poisonous algae spread through the channels, which separate the coasts of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The slime affected 200km of coastline, killed millions of fish and forced tourist beaches to close (WWF, n. d). Plastic is the most common trash found on the ocean. They are non-biodegradable materials, they take an eternity of years to be broken down by nature. While at their current un-broken state, plastics can be mistaken by marine creatures for food which is most of the time lethal to them. If animals aren’t killed by eating them mistakenly, they are caught by it, strangling them until they drown, or reduce their capacity to move, making them prone to attack from predators. Finally, dredged materials are things that are removed because of construction purposes. Dredged materials may contain harmful chemicals that are dumped into the ocean and cause sediments to form on coral reefs (WWF n. d) Conclusion These are just some of the reasons why we should stop polluting our oceans and our environment in general. Our oceans surround us, any ill effects that it experience would surely be felt by the inhabitants of the earth. The effects that are caused by marine pollution can be so devastating that it can alter our way of life as we know it. Food supplies, possible medicines, and the overall health of the planet is based on the health of the oceans. We must do everything we can in order to preserve it, for our own, and our children’s sake. Reference World Wildlife Foundation. (n. d). Fact Sheet no. 30: Marine Pollution. November 7, 2008. from: http://www. wwf. org. hk/eng/pdf/references/factsheets/factsheet30. PDF Sinha, P. C. (1998). Marine Polution. November 7, 2008. from: http://books. google. com. ph/books? id=XcWGR-w4-HkCpg=PA19lpg=PA19dq=Marine+Pollution+Argumentssource=blots=fnpHZgsWKIsig=WiDQH-ietk7MZPJviDXhjEC6tkchl=tlsa=Xoi=book_resultresnum=2ct=result#PPP1,M1 – National Research Council. 1985. Oil in the sea. National Academy Press, Washington D. C. November 7, 2008. from: http://seawifs. gsfc. nasa.gov/ocean_planet_scripts/footnote. pl? per1+1 Marine Bio. org (n. d). Ocean Dumping Grounds. November 7, 2008. From: http://marinebio. org/Oceans/OceanDumping. asp Dewailly E, Mulvad G, Pedersen HS, Ayotte P. , Demers A, Weber JP, et al. 1999. from Concentration of organochlorines in human brain, liver, and adipose tissue autopsy samples Greenland. Environment Health Perspective 107:823-828. Matthiessen P, Law RJ. 2002. Contaminants and their effects on estuarine and coastal organisms in the United Kingdom in the late twentieth century. Environment Pollution 120:739-747.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Architect E.J Lennoxs American Courthouse Construction :: American America History

Architect E.J Lennox's American Courthouse Construction THE BUILDING THEN In 1886 the city held a competition for the design of a court house. Thirteen architects competed and E.J Lennox was chosen to construct this building. He was chosen as the architect because of his unique way of demonstrating the Richardsoninan Romanesque design (In North America this design was know as the style of public dignity). But by the time the project was underway, the city government decided that it needed a city hall as well as a court house, so Lennox prepared new designs for a building that combined both. The Interior features involve bronze and iron detailing, painted murals by George Reid, as well as huge symbolic stained- glass windows by Robert McCausland. The entire building was created out of stone. Materials used were Credit valley red sandstone, Sackville brownstone from New Brunswick and greystone from a quarry near Orangeville. The stones are decorated with elaborate carvings of floral and geometric designs, hideous faces and caricatures. The complete building cost the city 2.5 million dollars which is almost nine times greater that the original target price which was set at 300,000 dollars. Many people complained and said that the cost of building the hall could have been used on practical schemes such as sewer improvage, water supplies and other important city needs. This mind blowing amount of money encouraged many investigations and lawsuits. One affair being in which the architects name was revealed carved immediately below the ledge under the uppermost windows and it spelled out "E J LENNOX ARCHITECT A D 1898". THE BUILDING NOW Before designing the building Lennox made a tour to cities of the U.S with buildings with the same style, now city hall's resemblance to H. H. Richardosn's Pittsburgh court house in 1886 is often pointed out. The building is designed so that the clock tower is centered on lower Bay street, providing a satisfying vista. Since this building was designed to be used for various activities when one enters the old city hall form the entrance of Queen and James street they will see three names carved above the door: Court House, Municipal Building and City Hall.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Non Communicable Diseases Essay

Health Promotion- Non Communicable Diseases Non communicable diseases are leading threat to health and development. â€Å"Non communicable diseases (NCD’s) outpace all other causes of morbidity and mortality each year, though most NCD’s have modifiable risk factors and are preventable† (WHO, 2012). Non communicable or chronic diseases are diseases of long duration and generally slow progression. NCD’s are leading causes of death worldwide and 80% of deaths occur in low and middle income countries. The four main types of NCD’s are cardiovascular diseases, for instance, heart attacks and strokes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma and diabetes. Such diseases result from genetic or lifestyle factors. Most premature deaths from NCD’s are linked to common risk factors, namely tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and poverty also contribute to rising rates of NCD’s. Vulnerable and socially di sadvantaged people in developing countries get sicker and die sooner as a result of NCD’s than people of higher socio-economic status. Non communicable diseases represent a major and growing socio-economic burden in developing world. This places undue strain on communities and health system. NCD’s require multi-stakeholders solution. Government is coming up with non communicable disease intervention to bring about radical changes that are needed in order to reduce prevalence rate of NCD’s. Communities have right to receive appropriate information on reducing the risk of NCD’s, so that they are empowered to take the right lifestyle choices. In this assignment, the factors that contribute to the increase incidence of non communicable disease are discussed. Health promotion strategy at the community nurse’s level is discussed with the significance of the use of these health promotion strategies.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Measuring Training Effectiveness Through Kirk’s Model Essay

If you deliver training for your team or your organization, then you probably know how important it is to measure its effectiveness. After all, you don’t want to spend time or money on training that doesn’t provide a good return. This is where Kirkpatrick’s Four-Level Training Evaluation Model can help you objectively analyze the effectiveness and impact of your training, so that you can improve it in the future. In this article, we’ll look at each of the Kirkpatrick four levels, and we’ll examine how you can apply the model to evaluate training. We’ll also look at some of the situations where the model may not be useful. The Four Levels Donald Kirkpatrick, Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin and past president of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), first published his Four-Level Training Evaluation Model in 1959, in the US Training and Development Journal. The model was then updated in 1975, and again in 1994, when he published his best-known work, â€Å"Evaluating Training Programs.† The four levels are: Reaction. Learning. Behavior. Results. Let’s look at each level in greater detail. Level 1: Reaction This level measures how your trainees (the people being trained), reacted to the training. Obviously, you want them to feel that the training was a valuable experience, and you want them to feel good about the instructor, the topic, the material, its presentation, and the venue. It’s important to measure reaction, because it helps you understand how well the training was received by your audience. It also helps you improve the training for future trainees, including identifying important areas or topics that are missing from the training. Level 2: Learning At level 2, you measure what your trainees have learned. How much has their knowledge increased as a result of the training? When you planned the training session, you hopefully started with a list of specific learning objectives: these should be the starting point for your measurement. Keep in mind that you can measure learning in different ways depending on these objectives, and depending on whether you’re interested in changes to knowledge, skills, or attitude. It’s important to measure this, because knowing what your trainees are learning and what they aren’t will help you improve future training. Level 3: Behavior At this level, you evaluate how far your trainees have changed their behavior, based on the training they received. Specifically, this looks at how trainees apply the information. It’s important to realize that behavior can only change if conditions are favorable. For instance, imagine you’ve skipped measurement at the first two Kirkpatrick levels and, when looking at your group’s behavior, you determine that no behavior change has taken place. Therefore, you assume that your trainees haven’t learned anything and that the training was ineffective. However, just because behavior hasn’t changed, it doesn’t mean that trainees haven’t learned anything. Perhaps their boss won’t let them apply new knowledge. Or, maybe they’ve learned everything you taught, but they have no desire to apply the knowledge themselves. Level 4: Results At this level, you analyze the final results of your training. This includes outcomes that you or your organization have determined to be good for business, good for the employees, or good for the bottom line. How to Apply the Model Level 1: Reaction Start by identifying how you’ll measure reaction. Consider addressing these questions: Did the trainees feel that the training was worth their time? Did they think that it was successful? What were the biggest strengths of the training, and the biggest weaknesses? Did they like the venue and presentation style? Did the training session accommodate their personal learning styles? Next, identify how you want to measure these reactions. To do this you’ll typically useemployee satisfaction surveys or questionnaires; however you can also watch trainees’ body language during the training, and get verbal feedback by asking trainees directly about their experience. Once you’ve gathered this information, look at it carefully. Then, think about what changes you could make, based on your trainees’ feedback and suggestions. Level 2: Learning To measure learning, start by identifying what you want to evaluate. (These things could be changes in knowledge, skills, or attitudes.) It’s often helpful to measure these areas both before and after training. So, before training commences, test your trainees to determine their knowledge, skill levels, and attitudes. Once training is finished, test your trainees a second time to measure what they have learned, or measure learning with interviews or verbal assessments. Level 3: Behavior It can be challenging to measure behavior effectively. This is a longer-term activity that should take place weeks or months after the initial training. Consider these questions: Did the trainees put any of their learning to use? Are trainees able to teach their new knowledge, skills, or attitudes to other people? Are trainees aware that they’ve changed their behavior? One of the best ways to measure behavior is to conduct observations and interviews over time. Also, keep in mind that behavior will only change if conditions are favorable. For instance, effective learning could have taken place in the training session. But, if the overall organizational culture isn’t set up for any behavior changes, the trainees might not be able to apply what they’ve learned. Alternatively, trainees might not receive support, recognition, or reward for their behavior change from their boss. So, over time, they disregard the skills or knowledge that they have learned, and go back to their old behaviors. Level 4: Results Of all the levels, measuring the final results of the training is likely to be the most costly and time consuming. The biggest challenges are identifying which outcomes, benefits, or final results are most closely linked to the training, and coming up with an effective way to measure these outcomes over the long term. Here are some outcomes to consider, depending on the objectives of your training: Increased employee retention. Increased production. Higher morale. Reduced waste. Increased sales. Higher quality ratings. Increased customer satisfaction. Fewer staff complaints. Considerations Although Kirkpatrick’s Four-Level Training Evaluation Model is popular and widely used, there are a number of considerations that need to be taken into account when using the model. One issue is that it can be time-consuming and expensive to use levels 3 or 4 of the model, so it’s not practical for all organizations and situations. This is especially the case for organizations that don’t have a dedicated training or human resource department, or for one-off training sessions or programs. In a similar way, it can be expensive and resource intensive to â€Å"wire up an organization† to collect data with the sole purpose of evaluating training at levels 3 and 4. (Whether or not this is practical depends on the systems already in place within the organization.) The model also assumes that each level’s importance is greater than the last level, and that all levels are linked. For instance, it implies that Reaction is less important, ultimately, than Results, and that reactions must be positive for learning to take place. In practice, this may not be the case. Most importantly, organizations change in many ways, and behaviors and results change depending on these, as well as on training. For example, measurable improvements in areas like retention and productivity could result from the arrival of a new boss or from a new computer system, rather than from training. Kirkpatrick’s model is great for trying to evaluate training in a â€Å"scientific† way, however, so many variables can be changing in fast-changing organizations that analysis at level 4 can be limited in usefulness. Key Points The Kirkpatrick Four-Level Training Evaluation Model helps trainers to measure the effectiveness of their training in an objective way. The model was originally created by Donald Kirkpatrick in 1959, and has since gone through several updates and revisions. The Four-Levels are as follows: Reaction. Learning. Behavior. Results. By going through and analyzing each of these four levels, you can gain a thorough understanding of how effective your training was, and how you can improve in the future. Bear in mind that the model isn’t practical in all situations, and that measuring the effectiveness of training with the model can be time-consuming and use a lot of resources.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Joan Beaufort, Ancestress of Royals

Joan Beaufort, Ancestress of Royals Joan Beaufort Facts Known for: a legitimized daughter of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, one of Edward IIIs sons, Joan Beaufort was an ancestor of Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VIII, Elizabeth of York, and Catherine Parr. She is an ancestor of todays British royal family.  Occupation: English noblewomanDates: about 1379 - November 13, 1440 Joan Beaufort Biography: Joan Beaufort was one of four children born to Katherine Swynford, John of Gaunts mistress at the time. Joans maternal aunt Philippa Roet was married to Geoffrey Chaucer. Joan and her three older brothers were acknowledged as their fathers children even before her parents married in 1396. In 1390, Richard II, her cousin, declared Joan and her brothers legitimate. In the decade that followed, records show that her half-brother, Henry, gave gifts to her, acknowledging their relationship. Joan had been betrothed to Sir Robert Ferrers, an heir to Shropshire estates, in 1386, and the marriage took place in 1392. They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, probably born in 1393 and 1394. Ferrers died in 1395 or 1396, but Joan was not able to gain control of the Ferrers estates, which Elizabeth Boteler, Robert Ferrers mother, controlled. In 1396, after her parents married, a papal bull was obtained legitimizing the four Beaufort children including Joan, the youngest. The next year, a royal charter was presented to Parliament which then confirmed the legitimization. Henry IV, half-brother to the Beauforts, later amended the legimitization act without approval of parliament, to state that the Beaufort line was ineligible to inherit the crown of England. On February 3, 1397 (old style 1396), Joan married the recently-widowed Ralph Neville, then Baron Raby. The papal bull of legitimization probably arrived in England shortly after the marriage, and the act of parliament followed. The year after their marriage, Neville became the Earl of Westmorland. Ralph Neville was among those who helped Henry IV depose Richard II (Joans cousin) in 1399. Joans influence with Henry is attested to by some appeals for support by others addressed to Joan. Joan had fourteen children by Neville, many of whom were important in the years ahead. Joans daughter Mary from her first marriage married the junior Ralph Neville, her husbands second son from his first marriage. Joan was apparently educated, as history records her being in possession of a number of books. She also had a visit in about 1413 from the mystic Margery Kempe, who later was accused of meddling in the marriage of one of Joans daughters. In 1424, Joans daughter Cecily was married to Richard, Duke of York, a ward of Joans husband. When Ralph Neville died in 1425, Joan was made Richards guardian until he attained his majority. After her husbands 1425 death, his title passed to his grandson, yet another Ralph Neville, son of his eldest son by his first marriage, John Neville who had married Elizabeth Holland. But the elder Ralph Neville had ensured by his later will that most of his estates passed to his children by Joan, with a good part of the estate in her hands. Joan and her children fought legal battles over may years with that grandson over the estate. Joans eldest son by Ralph Neville, Richard, inherited most of the estates. Another son, Robert Neville (1404 - 1457), with the influence of Joan and her brother Cardinal Henry Beaufort, gained important appointments in the church, becoming bishop of Salisbury and bishop of Durham. His influence was important in the battles over inheritance between Joans Neville children and her husbands first family. In 1437, Henry VI (grandson of Joans half-brother Henry IV) granted Joans petition to establish a daily celebration of mass at her mothers tomb at Lincoln Cathedral. When Joan died in 1440, she was buried next to her mother, and her will also specified that the tomb be enclosed. The tomb of her second husband, Ralph Neville, includes the effigies of both of his wives lying beside his own effigy, though neither of these wives are buried with him. The tombs of Joan and her mother were seriously damaged in 1644 during the English Civil War. Joan Beauforts Legacy Joans daughter Cecily was married to Richard, Duke of York, who contended with Henry VI for the crown of England. After Richard was killed in battle, Cecilys son, Edward IV, became king. Another of her sons, Richard of Gloucester, later became king as Richard III. Joans grandson Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses. He was known as the Kingmaker for his role in supporting Edward IV in winning the throne from Henry VI; he later switched sides and supported Henry VI in winning (briefly) the crown back from Edward. Edward IVs daughter Elizabeth of York married Henry VII Tudor, making Joan Beaufort the 2 times great grandmother of Henry VIII. Henry VIIIs last wife, Catherine Parr, was a descendant of Joans son Richard Neville. Joans eldest daughter, Katherine Neville, was known for being married four times, and surviving all four husbands. She survived even the last, in what was called at the time the diabolical marriage to John Woodville, a brother of Edward IVs wife Elizabeth Woodville, who was 19 years old when he married the wealthy widow Katherine who was then 65. Background, Family: Mother:  Katherine Swynford, mistress of John of Gaunt at the time of Joans birth, and later his wife and Duchess of LancasterFather: John of Gaunt, a son of Edward III of England and his wife,  Philippa of HainaultSiblings:John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset.   His son John was the father of  Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, the first Tudor kingCardinal Henry BeaufortThomas Beaufort, Duke of ExeterHalf-siblings, by her fathers earlier marriages:Philippa of Lancaster, Queen of PortugalElizabeth of Lancaster, Duchess of ExeterHenry IV of EnglandCatherine of Lancaster, Queen of Castile Marriage, Children: Husband: Robert Ferrers, 5th Baron Boteler of Wem, marrried 1392Children:Elizabeth Ferrers (married John de Greystoke, 4th baron Greystoke)Mary Ferrers (married Ralph Neville, her stepbrother, son of Ralph Neville and his first wife Margaret Stafford)Husband:  Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland, married February 3, 1396/97Children:Katherine Neville (married (1) John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk; (2) Sir Thomas Strangways, (3) John Beaumont, 1st Viscount Beaumont; (4) Sir John Woodville, a brother of  Elizabeth Woodville)Eleanor Neville (married (1) Richard Le Despenser, 4th Baron Burghersh; (2) Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland)Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (married Alice Montacute, Countess of Salisbury; among his sons was Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker, father of  Anne Neville, Queen of England, and Isabel Neville)Robert Neville, Bishop of DurhamWilliam Neville, 1st Earl of KentCecily Neville  (married Richard, 3rd Duke of York: t heir children included Edward IV, father of Elizabeth of York; Richard III who married Anne Neville; George, Duke of Clarence, who married Isabel Neville)George Neville, 1st Baron LatimerJoan Neville, a nunJohn Neville (died in childhood)Cuthbert Neville (died in childhood)Thomas Neville (died in childhood)Henry Neville (died in childhood)

Monday, October 21, 2019

Abolishing the Senate of Canada Essay Sample

Abolishing the Senate of Canada Essay Sample Abolishing the Senate of Canada Essay Example Abolishing the Senate of Canada Essay Example The frustration of the public with the Senate has reached new levels. Corruption and cover-up claims have kindled a healthy debate regarding the function of the Senate in the government institutions of Canada. The concerns of the public are real. The increased need of better accountability and lessons from past mistakes make it clear that status quo cannot be accepted and there is a need for reforms. Standards that were adopted decades ago are not tolerable today. Both the public and the experts are in agreement that the Senate should not continue to operate in its current form. There is a disagreement, however, over whether there should be substantial reform or abolishment of the Senate. Public support for the abolishment of the Senate of Canada has increased in recent years. An Angus poll conducted in 1998 revealed that almost as many people support the reforming of the Senate as want to get rid of it. Only five percent were of the view that the Senate should be maintained in its c urrent state. The provinces and parliament just need to agree and a constitutional amendment can be done overnight to abolish such useless institution (Smith, 2003). It, therefore, should not be complicated for Canada to abolish and liquidate its unelected, undemocratic and ineffective Senate. Should Canada Abolish the Senate? Why or Why not? It is a common notion that countries that are marked by the powers of the provincial, national or state governments which overlap should have Upper and Lowers Houses in their parliament. It is to make sure that there are effective representations of regions and prevention of power inequalities. The Senate of Canada ought to be abolished, since the existence of the Senate in Canada is proved to be ineffective. Evidence shows that the Upper House is not useful or necessary. The Senate’s main aim is to ensure a balanced implementation of Canada’s regions. It has, however, been indicated to be an unnecessary role given to the senate. It is caused by the fact that it would be more feasible to add more House of Common seats from the relevant regions in Canada (Smith, 2003). It, however, may present a complication in the sense that there will never be the attainment of matching the population with representation in the House exactly. Also, a continuous chain of disgraceful behavior and scandals by senators has converted the red chamber into a state embarrassment. The functionality of the Senate in Canada has been reduced significantly with little expectations of change. It is the state of thing even with the claims from the Harper Government to advocate reforms of th e Senate (Hoy, 1999; Cody, 1995). While the existence of the Senate may have been a good idea or maybe even a critical idea during Canada’s formation, it does not serve real functions now except disgracing itself. Canada has a single legislature from a practical perspective. The only thing remaining is officially pronouncing it as a unicameral legislature instead of living in denial. It occurs as a result of the little complementary roles played by the Senate, while the House of Commons does most of the work. The result of it is that the Senate gets paid simply to complement the House of Common’s role. It may be considered as a misuse of the state’s revenue, and many proponents of the Senate’s abolition argue that such funds be used in a better way. It has, therefore, been indicative that the functions performed by the Senate can easily be incorporated into a more compacted role for the House of Commons (Smith, 2003). During the 1864’s Quebec Conference, which laid out Canada’s future political system, that time Attorney General, John A. MacDonald made some remarks. He observed that for the purpose of protecting the local interests and prevention of jealousies, there should be representation in the Upper House based on the principle of equality. The power and shape of the Senate were one of the key subjects of consideration a Quebec City, taking six out of 14 days (Malcolmson Myers, 2012). It now appears outlandish to imagine the Senate should use even one hour of serious argument. Instead of being the venue for regional balance or sober thought as it ought to be, the Upper Chamber has resulted in being a fountain of political cronies. It also contains former media personalities and many other unserious characters. The failure to observe and implement the power and shape of the Senate as envisaged by the Quebec Conference, however, may not be applied as one of the reasons for the abolishment of the Canadian Senate. It is due to the simple truth that the society is dynamic. The needs of any given society have a tendency to change depending on the community’s reaction to a variety of factors, such as the environment, population or even it social relations. In this way, therefore, the organizations that are found within a particular society ought to change in correspondence with such societal changes. The Canadian Senate, through such lens, may only need to be reformed so that to adapt to the existing needs of the Canadian democratic society (Malcolmson Myers, 2012; Cody, 1995). Among the main arguments for the abolition of the Senate of Canada is that it lacks support from the public. Such support from the Canadian public has been declining at an appalling rate of consistency. In any democracy, such as the republic of Canada, there is a crucial value placed in the people themselves. It occurs due to the fact that in such democracies most of the public offices and authorities continue holding their positions by virtue of being elected by the citizens of that country (Joyal, 2003). Such situation, therefore, confers virtually all power upon the public that, in turn, confers it upon the public authorities. Such power conferment by the public may be done through such process as elections and the secondary appointments and delegation of duties to other offices by the directly elected authorities. The advantage of such means of power conferment is that the citizens decide whether to support public officers or not in case they are not performing their assigned dut ies. In this case, the Senate of Canada should be abolished, since it does not receive support from the public. Since it is for the benefit of the public that the members of the Senate function, the utter dislike and lack of backing are indicative of the Canadian public’s dissatisfaction of the Senate. The Senate is said to be overwhelmed with an anti-democratic archaism with much of its attention paid to the perks that they claim to be entitled to rather than to the interest of the pubic that helped them obtain their positions (Smith, 2003). Through such philosophy, it is in the best interest of the people that the Senate of Canada is dismissed. It is the public that gives the Senate the power it wields to serve its assigned role. In case, therefore, the people feel that the same Senate does not fulfill the functions it has been given, it would only be proper if it were abolished, as a result (Joyal, 2003). It is a fact that the Canadian Senate has had a very long reputation of cronyism. It has become accustomed to impropriety. During the 1930s Beauharnois scandal is a case scenario. Two liberal senators individually profited from the construction of a hydro dam by the government on St. Lawrence River. Recently, however, the rate of scandal has increased at the same time with the Senate finding itself with even less work. The dramatic concentration of power in Ottawa under the hands of the Prime Minister’s office is an indication that the Senate no longer plays any considerable roles in the mechanism of the political system of Canada. The Senate was once regarded as an avenue for the provision of inspection and financial oversight of the state business. The increase of public observers like the Parliamentary Budget Office and the office of the auditor have, however, taken over this role entirely. Also, the absence of democratic legitimacy in the Senate hinders it from expressing disagreement with state initiatives alleging regional fairness (Joyal, 2003). In addition to all abovementioned facts there is the famous notion supported by the expenses scandal that senators give the impression that they work harder when there is a possibility to take maximum form the public pocket. They develop new and creative ways of claiming costs of travel and living avoiding the rules. Such situation is disturbingly ironic, given that Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister, took authority in 2006 making promises of making the Senate respectable and relevant again. It was through putting an end to political appointments and implementation of electing new senators process (Nadeau, 2011). As an example of Canadian Senate inefficiency and even absurdness, the legal problems of Patrick Brazeau, who was charged assault and sexual assault, can be taken. The sad affair of the resignation of Senator Joyce Fairbairn, after the declaration that she was not legally competent as she had Alzheimer’s disease but was still permitted to vote, should also be mentioned. Another consideration is the scandal of residency and travel expense involving high-profile Senators who were having problems ascertaining where they lived. The former senator’s Raymond Lavigne fraud conviction is another depressing example. The list of similar cases is very long (Sutherland, 2003; Hoy, 1999). Unfortunately, and even with the appointment of two senators from Alberta, Harper appears to have been tempted by the opportunity to reward his friends using his authority, to enable him unite his own political authority. It was exactly what his predecessors had done. It turned out to be like his once ridiculed of the Senate as a dumping area for the chosen cronies of the prime minister. Harper chose senators from among some of the failed Conservative Party candidates, few main party donors, his previous communication advisor and even his former newsman. The Senate Reform Act presented by Harper in 2011 suggested appointing senators elected through provincial votes and also giving a limitation to a term of nine years that was not renewable. It was, however, just the other day after the number of sandals, that Harper approached the Supreme Court seeking for an opinion regarding the apparent constitutional issues associated with his proposed modifications. Some authors have regarded it as contempt for the whole institution. It occurred due to the fact that the reforms would need the approval of seven provinces, including at least half of the population of Canada, which was a very stiff requirement (Nadeau, 2011). It is difficult to avoid the intuition that the passion for reform by Harper has been mainly compromised by his seven years in power. Harper seems to grind out senators who are appointed in some regions instead of encouraging elections by proposing to meet the costs. He also named Denise Batter as the Senator of Saskatchewan. Ironically, the husband of Denise Batter was Chief of Staff to the Minister of Provincial Justice during the passing of the Saskatchewan’s Senate Election Bill. Irrespective of any manifestation of idealism when in opposition, there is hardly any sitting prime minister who would want to create an actual equal, effective and elected Senate. It would be a Senate whose main function would be limiting or counterbalancing his own powers. Following such perspective, a reform of the Senate may be said to be a preoccupation of an outsider, destined to be abandoned once power is attained. It makes constructive Senate reform an absolute impossibility and not a mere remote prospect. There seems to be no way of trapping such hypocrisy (Cody, 1995). It is important to note that referring the matter to the court by Harper also puts forth the possibility of abolishing the Senate. The Supreme Court has been called upon to consider three methods of realizing it: inserting an end date, elimination of all mention of it from the Constitution or taking away its powers. It is a strategy that is worth a serious consideration (Nadeau, 2011). Proponents of the Senate may allege that its members regularly perform their work well, through reviewing and inspecting the lawmaking as the chamber of second clear-headed thought. In reality, however, the Senate does not do more than putting stamps on the legislative agenda. It basically exists as an institution where the rewarding of party loyalists for their unwavering support takes place. It is also a negative experience for taxpayers with over $100 million being incurred as costs on the Canadians annually. As an elected institution, the Senate undermines the fundamental principles of democracy. There might have been a valid reason to include the Senate in a bilateral system of governance when the Fathers of Confederation entered into an agreement in the years that led to 1867. It may have been a necessity then to tackle regional fears of a central government that was too powerful. The Senate makes it vote in party lines and does little or nothing to ensure the protection of the regional welfares of any areas of Canada. There is also a protection of the regional interests in the fields of social welfare, education and health. It is so due to the fact that the evolution of the powers division by the Constitution between the federal and regional governments. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms also avails a good check and balance against any state, federal or regional, that attempts to roughshod over the freedoms and rights of Canadians. Abolition of the Senate seems to be constitutionally hard as a reform on paper. It, however, holds the promise of being eye-catching to the party in power, as it does not involve any political power or authority loss (Smith, 2003). It, thus, subsists within the realm of possibility. Also, with the continuing legacy of patronage, futility and scandal, abolishing of the Senate appears to be the best decision. One of the arguments for the abolishing of the Canadian Senate is that it does not fulfill any meaningful purposes that are required of it. Among the original purposes of the Senate is the role of representing the interests of the Canadian provinces in the process of the formulation of legislation and policies at the federal level. It is considered to be the most fundamental function of the Canadian Senate. The Senate has also been mandated with the responsibility of issuing laws, debating them and enacting such laws. This role by the Senate, however, has been also given to the House of Commons. The House of Commons has been crucial in the general process of the legislation of laws in Canada. For instance, it is in the House of Commons that most bills originate. The reason for abolishing the Senate, in this case, would be that the roles it was made for are already transferred to the other governmental agencies and the House of Commons. According to some commentators, the complexity that may arise from such an argument would be that Senate has been instrumental in its quest to ensure that all of the regions in Canada are represented equally. It may also be necessary to look at the role that Senate plays in the legislative process in Canada from a more objective perspective. In employing such kind of perception, one would realize that the Senate is of important use in debating and enacting the legislation of intricate subjects and general nature. It is more special for the Senate, since it has a more flexible schedule for debating matters and laws. Another argument is that it is very hard to get the agreement requirement for the constitutional reform if that was the way to save the Senate. The provision of the Constitution Act of 1982 state that the amendments to the Senate need the support of Parliament and seven provinces, which represents at least half of the population. It is also the argument of proponents of the Senate abolishing that it may not accomplish the expectations of the proponents of reform. The Senate ought to dismissed, since it has been considered by many people, both laymen and experts, to be lacking democracy, unaccountable and high-handed in a number of ways. The process of appointing Senators has proven to be one with many open questions. First, they are appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada, who is appointed by the Governor General of Canada. The flaw with such process of public office appointments is that it invites various issues in a way that the possibility of considering preference values as opposed to the merits of a person. Through appointments that are made without direct elections of leaders, there may develop setbacks, such as underperformance, corruption and even unaccountability. The Senate of Canada furthers its unaccountability problem through the Board of Internal Economy. This Board is of a secretive nature characterized by weak standards of ethics. The Senate itself also suffers from weak ethical standards. Another problem with regards to the undemocratic nature of the Canadian Senate is its use of the power conferred upon it to enforce exorbitant expense rules. In the event that any scandal that involves the Senate is revealed, the already existing rules and penalties against such scandals do no serve sufficiently to cater for the particular scandal. It is so, since the penalties that have been formulated for the violators of any laws and ethical requirements are weak in themselves. The Senate Ethics Officer has become a kind of a sycophant of the Senate, since he operates under the regulation of the Senators Committee. Another complication with it is that if a particular scandal does not become public, it is more or less likely to be covered by the Sen ate (Joyal, 2003). The result of it is that the perpetrators of the abuse and any other unethical practices are left to continue with their evils. It ultimately affects the society in various ways. They include the lack of sufficient funds for projects and the split and dysfunction of the government. The Senate of Canada, since its formation, has been faced with several challenges and controversies. The challenges and scandals have dealt with a wide number of issues ranging from the basic roles of the Senate to matters that may appear moral from of the general Senatorial aspects. They have been mainly linked with the way the Senate has been perceived by the public and other opposing government bodies that appear to have the same functions as the Senate. The various reasons for which the Senate of Canada should be abolished have been considered to range from the mere roles of which it was formed to the issues of lack of accountability. The Senate has been taken as a means for public authorities to engage in illegal actions but avoid punishment for them. It has been considered to be infested with the spirit of unaccountability and disregard of democracy. Such aspects include the unfairness experienced in the regional balance quests. It has also been proved by the fact that the Senate has a great failing in the ethical standards required of it (Joyal, 2003). It has been perceived as a government body that does not, in fact, carry out the purpose for which it was established. The Senate has been said to perform certain actions for its own benefit rather than for completing its key roles. It lacks the proper support from the Canadian public. It considered vitality in the way Senate ought to run, since any dissatisfaction from the public should be looked into and it has to be ensured that actions are taken in such respect. The mere reason that the mode of appointment into the Senatorial office is not democratic in nature makes it rational to raise questions regarding its accountability and performance. It is for the various reasons stated and explained in the preceding paragraphs that the Senate of the Republican State of Canada should be dissolved.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Finding Experts Who Want to Help With Your Writing Project

Finding Experts Who Want to Help With Your Writing Project Finding Experts Who Want to Help With Your Writing Project Finding Experts Who Want to Help With Your Writing Project By Michael Youve probably read those acknowledgements at the back of a book: Special thanks to Nobel Prize winner Niels Ryberg Finsen for the many hours of medical advice and strong coffee he shared with me, without which this book would not be possible. And youve wondered what it takes to get a world-famous expert of your own, one who could answer the nagging technical questions that come up in your writing project. Now, unless youre working on a book for a major publisher, you probably wont get a Nobel laureate on your team, but knowledgeable experts can be found almost everywhere, at your local college or across the world through email. The good news is that experts are usually glad to help for free. They love finding someone who cares about their subject and they hate having their specialty misrepresented. The wife of one history professor joked that even if the university wasnt paying him, he would go door to door asking, Hi! Have you heard about World War I? Approaching an expert First, figure out what you dont know. As you write, add tags to your text such as [research] so you can search for them later using Control-F or Command-F on your computer. Make a list, in advance, of the most important questions you want answered. When you email an expert, show them that you didnt pick them at random. Show them you know who they are and what they do, that youve read something theyve written. Tell them a little about your writing project. The more reputable and stable it sounds, the more likely the expert will agree to help you. If you already have a book deal, thats good. If youre asking them to do your homework for school, thats not good. Limit your email to one or two brief, narrow, and focused questions. Include your contact information, especially if youre asking for a telephone or face-to-face interview. Give them lots of lead time; dont rush them. Ask for their help weeks or months before you need to submit your manuscript. If they dont reply to your email, stop there. Dont bug them again. You can find another expert. When you talk to an expert, be prepared; dont waste their time with fuzzy questions. Im reminded of a mock interviewer who asked Paul McCartney, Remember when you were with the Beatles? Yes, he did. Keep it open-ended: Is there anything else you want to tell me? An off-hand comment might give you a new story idea that transforms your old one. Ask about what you can ask for. If they answer one question, are they willing to answer more? To meet with you for lunch? To read over your manuscript and make suggestions? It all depends on their availability and interest which depends partly on your professionalism and courtesy. Seek viewpoints that disagree with you. For most writers, the most vivid parts are the points they support and the characters they like. That means your villains may be one-sided. Compensate for your weaknesses by learning about things you would ordinarily ignore. When I was writing a novel that included extremists, I read one of the key books written by their founder. Finding an expert Use your network. Ask people you know, Who do you know that knows about this subject? Reference librarians (often found at libraries) can help you find the answer to any question a sort of non-electronic Google, but without spam or fake news. If your local library doesnt have reference librarians, the U.S. Library of Congress does and you dont need to be a U.S. Congressman to ask them questions. Many colleges and universities have faculty experts lists that are searchable by topic. Many are especially skilled or specially trained as communicators, but all are eager to share their expertise. StackExchange.com is a family of websites where users can ask all sorts of questions and the most helpful questions and answers are voted up. The National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) website has its own Reference Desk in their forums, about which they say, What actually does relate to the price of cheese in China? How many cats can you fit in a coffin? Why does the ABC song and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star have the same tune? You have a research question. Someone in here has an answer. Sign up (you were planning on writing a novel someday, werent you?), log into the website and you can ask away. NaNoWriMo officially starts in November but the forum is open year-round. Showing your gratitude When youve finished your draft, send your expert the chapter or the article they helped you write. They may have more comments and corrections to offer. You can use all the help they can give. When deciding how to thank your expert collaborator, think about how much time and effort they spent, and how vital their contribution was to you. If you literally couldnt have done it without them, and youre making money from their contributions, you may want to offer them some of the money as payment or a tip. Like all of us, your expert has something they want to accomplish by working with you, so think about how you can assist them in accomplishing it. Do they enjoy helping others (you)? Let them know, in several ways, how much you appreciate it. Do they want to correct a misunderstanding, and give your readers an accurate view of their field? Make every effort to get their message across, without compromising your story. You might disagree with their perspective, but at least present it fairly. Do they want the prestige of working with a published author? Use their name prominently in your acknowledgements and publicity. They may want copies to give out. If they have worked with you extensively, they might deserve a co-authoring credit. Write a thank you note. You know, with pen and ink. Maybe on a note card. Send them an autographed copy of your story or article when its published. Bring or send an appropriate gift. If you ask to meet with them, buy them lunch. If youre a fiction writer, name a character or place after them. They will be tickled. Of course, mention them in the acknowledgments of your book. Everybody likes to be recognized. Unless theyre a spy and want to remain undercover. Writing can be a solitary occupation, and you may never have considered that someone important could be interested in working with you. But Joe Moore, a bestselling author of thrillers with Lynn Sholes, says, The most remarkable thing we’ve discovered is that expert advice is easy to get. Almost everyone we’ve approached has been eager to provide fictionalized theories and futuristic details that help make our often outlandish premises ring within the realm of possibility. 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:Comparative Forms of Adjectives7 Tips for Writing a Film ReviewIs "Number" Singular or Plural?

Saturday, October 19, 2019

CLA Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CLA Final - Essay Example od of the Middle Ages and renaissance, when Latin became the predominant language in the entire Europe for most international educated discourse, mythological names were made to appear in Latinised form. The archaeological site of Knossos refers to the complex building of the palace and the surrounding buildings of similar antiquity which were inadvertently excavated at the same time with the palace. For a very long time the name Knossos has survived, from ancient Greek references to the main cities of the Crete. Knossos was majorly identified with a lot of bronze age sites that was mainly supported by the tradition and by the Roman coins that were spread all through the whole field that surrounded the pre-excavation sites. Many of the sites were surrounded by the Knosions or Knos both on the obverse and on the image of the Minotaur and even the Labyrinth. All the signs and symbols that were derived from the myth of King Minos were supposed to have reigned from Knossos. The excavation sites were discovered in late 1870s by an archaeologist known as Minos Kalokairinos. The excavation later began in AD 1990 by another archaeologist called Sir Arthur Evans and the process continued for a period of 35 years. Other than having the history of many years in the Neolithic, the Bronze Age and the classical period, a lot of ruins in the age period of the archaeology have greatly undergone their own history (Latacz & Troy, 2004). From the excavation by renowned archaeologists, tourism and education to occupation of a headquarters by the ruling governments going into war over the control of the eastern part of the Mediterranean. The palace of Knossos became the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. In most cases it looked a maze of the workroom, living spaces and even the storerooms close to the central square. However the palace was abandoned for some unknown period of time towards the end of the late Bronze Age. Except for the periods when

Recent European Foreign Debt Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Recent European Foreign Debt Crisis - Essay Example This saw down turn in small areas of financial systems, which ruined the structure entirely. There are a lot of factors that contributed to the recent European financial meltdown. According to some political economists, the European financial meltdown was bound to happen due to the trade policies adopted by the European Union (Jackson 1). In this regard, they argue that European Union is not proactive enough and act after the facts. This means that they provide response only after the situation has already occurred. The question that many people among them economist are asking is, why should the European countries care about the foreign debt crisis? This paper will explore the causes of the recent European sovereign debt crisis, what happened and why it is indispensable for the European countries to care about it. The foreign debt crisis in Europe occurred as a result of a number of factors. This include finance globalization, 2002-2008 easy credit condition which buoyant high-risk b orrowing and lending practices. Others include imbalance in international trade, bubbles of real estates, which have burst since then, slow growth in economy witnessed in 2008 and there after, government expense and revenue fiscal policy choices and bail out methods by nations for troubled banks and bondholders. Other notable causes include assuming private burdens of debts or socializing losses (Duthel 1). The crisis has had a lot of negative impacts to many countries in Europe. Jackson argues that initially, the crisis was viewed by European Union (EU) as a phenomenon of America. However, its devastating effects changed soon after the European countries saw its impact on the country. For instance, the crises led to a sharp decline in economic activities of European countries over a remarkably short time (Duthel 5). The worst being, it led to a sharp decline in global trade, eroding European prospects of trade. This in turn, provided safety regulator for local industries that are r educing their output. It is a mater of fact that many countries depend on trade for economic growth. This is one of the reasons as to why European countries should take stringent measures aimed at preventing such a recurrence in financial crisis. Economists still see sovereign debt crisis as something that is continuing in the European countries (Duthel 22). This has impact negatively on the countries affected since it makes it hard for some of the countries to be able to pay off their government debts without seeking third party assistance. This interferes with the smooth running of these countries and thus needs prevention and control measures to abate it. For instance, in 2009, there was growing fear of sovereign debt crisis among investors. This was because government debt levels were rising at an alarming rate across the globe coupled with government debt downgrading witnessed in some European countries (Jackson 4). The concerns grew from early 2010, calling on the finance mini ster of Europe to approve a package that could help rescue the nations. This culminated to approval of â‚ ¬750 billion for financial stability in Europe and establishing a European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). The concerns also lead to leaders from euro zone signing an agreement in October 2011 and February 2012 aimed at designing measures to help mitigate collapse of European member economies. The agreement signed includes measures requiring banks to make up to 53.5 percent write-off of debts in Greece owed

Friday, October 18, 2019

Contemporary Developments in Business and Management Assignment

Contemporary Developments in Business and Management - Assignment Example The elements of the general environment are the political systems, economic systems of societies, socio-cultural elements, technological systems of societies, ecological systems, and legal systems. The task environment is the segment of the external environment with which an organization interfaces on a regular basis and is of immediate interest to the organization. It is within the organization's control. The elements of the task environment are the customers and clients, competitors, suppliers, labor supply, government agencies, etc. Guinness is in the beer brewing industry founded in 1759, with breweries (by way of license arrangements) in almost 50 countries and exports to around 150 countries. Next, the beer industry's policies and decisions are analyzed with regards to political influences. This is followed by using Robert Miles's dimensions of corporate social responsiveness to determine the effectiveness of the industry's response. Lastly, recommendations for improvement in t he response of the industry are made. Alcohol is a dependence-producing drug that causes detrimental societal and physical effects. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it leads to diseases, early mortality, accidents, and violent crimes. Due to these social influences, the beer industry operates within a tight legal environment. Legislation exists in various nations to curb the advertising and excessive consumption of alcohol. Examples include control on drunk driving, operation hours of pubs, advertising, distribution, and even import controls, such as in Sweden. Another external influence to which the beer industry is subjected is the economy. Beer as a luxury product  depends on the economy to stimulate demand. With the economic development of the developing nations, the demand for higher quality beverages, and hence beer is set to grow. Ecologically, beer brewing contributes to global warming by emitting carbon dioxide. The use and disposal of bottles and packagi ng also contribute to environmental pollution. Hence, beer brewing is a cause of concern for many environmentalists. Technological influence is not as great as political influence in the beer industry. No doubt, the proper application of technologies such as the brewing facilities and the bottling and packaging technology could help to cut costs and increase efficiencies. However, technologies may be imitated by competitors and any competitive advantages will soon disappear.

Anatomy, Physiology & Disease Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Anatomy, Physiology & Disease - Assignment Example A good example of communicable disease that poses a huge threat to public health include HIV/AIDS. This disease is easy to diagnose; the most common diagnosis is through blood tests. In essence, testing is done in order to identify the presence of antibodies created in the body in an effort to fight the HIV (Holland, Olsen and Florey, 2007). It is worth noting that the disease is caused by a virus known as Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Some of the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS according to Hall, Hall and Cockerell (2011) include weight loss, diarrhea, coughing, dermatitis, herpes, TB, unrelenting wounds, and abscesses. Prevention of HIV/AIDS depends on the mode of transmission. It can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, and transmission from a pregnant mother to the unborn child. Prevention of the disease in relation to sexual transmission is achieved through the use of condoms and sex education. Blood ought to be screened thoroughly before transfusion to detect the presence of the disease. Pregnant mothers also ought to be tested and subsequent treatment given in case of presence of the disease (Ramaiah, 2008). Antiretroviral drugs are used to treat the disease. These drugs are taken on a daily basis in a bid to minimize the amount of the HIV virus in the body (Ramaiah, 2008). There are also post-exposure prophylaxis medications that are used for emergency treatments when an individual has been exposed to the virus (Hall, Hall and Cockerell, 2011). There is however no known cure for the disease. These medication are only used to reduce the amount of HIV in the body in order to allow the body fight infections. Epidemiological studies have proved that HIV is transmitted through three routes namely sexual transmission, exposure to contaminated blood, and mother to child transmission. The

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Marketing Audit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Marketing Audit - Essay Example McDonald’s Australia is a constituent of the APMEA group. This group accounts for almost 18% of the total revenue generated by the firm and within this group China, Japan and Australia accounts for the maximum amount of revenue. According to the McDonald’s Australia Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report 2012, there were around 808 McDonald’s restaurants spread all over Australia as at 31 December 2009 (McDonalds Australia, 2010). McDonald’s Australia Limited operates its franchisee business in Australia and more than 70% of its restaurants are locally owned (McDonalds Australia, 2012). The head office of McDonalds Australia is located at Thornleigh, New South Wales and its four regional offices are located at Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. Marketing Audit Objectives The primary objective of the marketing audit of McDonald’s Australia that has been discussed in this report is to increase the sales of the company in Australia so a s to generate increased profit for the company. The marketing audit has been undertaken to identify the various avenues through which the company can have a 7% annual growth in sales revenue generated in Australia by the end of the year 2013. Based on this primary objective other related marketing objectives of McDonald’s Australia to achieve its target would be to open up new restaurants in different parts of the country, increase brand awareness amongst Australian people to help increasing the customer base of the company, promotion of its products, and creating competitive advantage in the fast food retail industry by strengthening its core competencies and catering to the specific needs and requirements of people based on their specific tastes and preferences. Thus the marketing audit report presented in this study would help the company to identify key performance indicators that can be helpful in formulating the marketing strategies of the company in an effective and ef ficient manner. Marketing Audit Scope The marketing audit of McDonald's Australia would be performed using secondary data from various authenticated sources. The marketing audit would mainly cover five broad aspects as discussed below: Situational Analysis: The situational analysis of McDonalds includes its SWOT analysis. The marketing audit report would try to analyse all the strengths and opportunities of the company which could be utilised to achieve its marketing objectives. Moreover the identified weaknesses and threats of the company would also be helpful to suggest ways of converting them into company’s strengths and opportunities. Internal audit: This would include the analysis of the internal environment of the company covering some key areas like human resources, research and development, financial budget and marketing strategies followed by the company. Environmental audit: The environmental audit of McDonald’s would be based on mainly the PESTEL analysis th at would help to have a better understanding of the Australian market

Main Reasons of Market-Garden Operation Failure Essay

Main Reasons of Market-Garden Operation Failure - Essay Example The Battle of Arnhem, known by its Allied codename of Operation ‘Market-Garden’, was the biggest airborne battle in the history, and the only attempt in the Second World War by the Allies to employ airborne troops in a strategic role in Europe. It was a battle of Army Groups numbering hundreds of thousands of men- 21st Army Group under Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery in opposition to Army Group B under General Field Marshall Walther Model- but constantly its outcome hinged on the actions of small forces and individual battalions at critical points (Hercelode 2000, 61). Rather than a set-piece battle with a orderly beginning and end, it began on 17 September 1944 from a perplexed and daily changing pattern of events, and ended ten days later as the only major defeat of Montgomery’s career, and the only Allied defeat in the campaign in North-West Europe (Hercelode 2000, 62). The direct starting point of the Battle of Arnhem was actually Montgomery’s greatest victory, the Battle of Normandy. The annihilation of the original Army Group B in the Falaise Pocket in August 1944 at the end of the battle was a tragedy for Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Of 38 German divisions committed to Normandy, 25 were completely destroyed, with at least 240,000 men killed or wounded, and a further 200,000 taken prisoner. General Field Marshall Model, chosen on 18 August as both Commander-in-Chief West and commander of Army Group B, found himself organizing the disturbance of his shattered forces across northern France into Belgium and Holland (Hercelode 2000, 62).

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Marketing Audit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Marketing Audit - Essay Example McDonald’s Australia is a constituent of the APMEA group. This group accounts for almost 18% of the total revenue generated by the firm and within this group China, Japan and Australia accounts for the maximum amount of revenue. According to the McDonald’s Australia Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report 2012, there were around 808 McDonald’s restaurants spread all over Australia as at 31 December 2009 (McDonalds Australia, 2010). McDonald’s Australia Limited operates its franchisee business in Australia and more than 70% of its restaurants are locally owned (McDonalds Australia, 2012). The head office of McDonalds Australia is located at Thornleigh, New South Wales and its four regional offices are located at Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. Marketing Audit Objectives The primary objective of the marketing audit of McDonald’s Australia that has been discussed in this report is to increase the sales of the company in Australia so a s to generate increased profit for the company. The marketing audit has been undertaken to identify the various avenues through which the company can have a 7% annual growth in sales revenue generated in Australia by the end of the year 2013. Based on this primary objective other related marketing objectives of McDonald’s Australia to achieve its target would be to open up new restaurants in different parts of the country, increase brand awareness amongst Australian people to help increasing the customer base of the company, promotion of its products, and creating competitive advantage in the fast food retail industry by strengthening its core competencies and catering to the specific needs and requirements of people based on their specific tastes and preferences. Thus the marketing audit report presented in this study would help the company to identify key performance indicators that can be helpful in formulating the marketing strategies of the company in an effective and ef ficient manner. Marketing Audit Scope The marketing audit of McDonald's Australia would be performed using secondary data from various authenticated sources. The marketing audit would mainly cover five broad aspects as discussed below: Situational Analysis: The situational analysis of McDonalds includes its SWOT analysis. The marketing audit report would try to analyse all the strengths and opportunities of the company which could be utilised to achieve its marketing objectives. Moreover the identified weaknesses and threats of the company would also be helpful to suggest ways of converting them into company’s strengths and opportunities. Internal audit: This would include the analysis of the internal environment of the company covering some key areas like human resources, research and development, financial budget and marketing strategies followed by the company. Environmental audit: The environmental audit of McDonald’s would be based on mainly the PESTEL analysis th at would help to have a better understanding of the Australian market

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Thirty Years' War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Thirty Years' War - Essay Example The Thirty Years’ War is viewed by many historians as a German civil war, and a religious war. The war was religious in that it involved conflicts between Protestants (Lutherans and Calvinists) and Catholics. The war was also civil in nature considering that Germany’s principalities, at the time, engaged in conflict in opposition of the Habsburgs at different occasions over the thirty year duration2. In the course of the war, the Habsburgs received opposition from various quarters beyond national borders. Across the borders, the Dutch, Danish Sweden and France, opponents of House of Austria, confirmed their extended opposition to the Habsburgs. This paper will discuss the Thirty Years’ War in light of its four principal phases, the phases being The Bohemian intervention, the Danish phase, the Swedish phase and the French intervention. Causes of the War The causes of the Thirty Years’ War, according to many a historian, is as varied and complex as the numbe r of participants. In other words, the main reason behind the war cannot be accurately presented in one cause. Many historians believe that the war was initially a result of conflict between Catholics and Protestants ((Lutherans and Calvinists) residing in the Roman Empire3. ... The Peace, signed by Emperor Charles V was meant to end the conflict between German Catholics and Lutherans. Meanwhile, secular powers retained the lands that they had taken from the Roman church even as the rulers of Germany held the authority to impose their religions on subjects4. Internal rivalry in the Roman Empire in relation to power balance and politics also contributed significantly to the degeneration with other European powers centering the scene. The fight for political pre-eminence in respect of the rivalry between Habsburg and Bourbon aggravated the conflict to the extent of France joining the conflict in a show of might. The Bohemian Period The Bohemian period started in 1618 and ended roughly in 1625. In 1617 Ferdinand of Styria, a member of the Hapsburg family, was elected king of Bohemia by the Bohemian Diet. The king who was a strong supporter of Catholicism reigned as Holy Roman emperor a couple of years later. Bohemian Calvinists, for fear of losing their religio us rights, revolted in 1618 throwing some Catholic members of the Bohemian royal council off a window in what is popularly known as the Defenestration of Prague. Ferdinand II, with the support of Maximilian I of Bavaria attacked Bohemia under the command of Baron Tilly. In the Battle of White Mountain, Tilly won the war against Fredick V forcing the latter to flee to Holland. Ferdinand II hence regained the throne as King of Bohemia as Maximilian took acquisition of the Palatinate with a Catholic and Hapsburg victory5. The Danish Intervention (1625-1629) When King Christian IV, a Holy Roman Empire prince, Denmark ruler, duke of Holstein, and Lutheran supported the protests directed against Ferdinand II, the Danish intervention officially took root. Ferdinand on his part

Monday, October 14, 2019

“The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman Essay Example for Free

â€Å"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down† by Anne Fadiman Essay Anne Fadiman’s â€Å"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down† explores the depth and complexity of cultural understanding, particularly between the American culture and the Hmong culture of Laos. To do this, Fadiman made of an account of a case of a Hmong child who suffered from epileptic seizure. Here, she elaborately narrated how Lia Lee, a seven-year old Hmong girl, got caught between the conflict in beliefs among her American doctors and Hmong parents. While Lia’s parents totally believe in the Hmong traditional way of healing, her American doctors on the other hand strongly believe on the power of modern medicine. From this theme the book of Fadiman mainly revolved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the subtopics that were discussed in the book also dealt with intercultural communication. Among all the characters in the novel, the Lee parents, Foua and Nao Kao, were the ones who learned most about this. From the story, we found out that the Lee parents belonged to the some of the Hmong people who migrated from Laos to America due to Laos War. With this a background, we could claim that the Lees did the adjusting with their new environment. However, in Fadiman’s point-of-view, the other way around happened.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To prove this, Fadiman wrote that the Hmong people are one of the proudest cultural groups. She mentioned that â€Å"†¦the Hmong do no like to take orders; that they do not like to lose; that they would rather flee, fight, or die than surrender; that they are not intimidated by being outnumbered; that they are rarely persuaded that the customs of other culture, even those more powerful than their own, are superior, and that they are capable of getting very angry (Fadiman, 1997; p. 17).   She also wrote that Hmong people migrated to America not to hope for assimilation but to resist it, just like what they did when they left China (Fadiman, 1997; p.183). However, although the Lee parents seemed to be so proud and fixed with their beliefs regarding healing of their child, at the end, they finally agreed with Lia’s American doctors with her medication. However, the American doctors claimed that if Lia’s parents followed them earlier, then Lia would not end up having her brain dead.   From this, we could conclude that certainly, Foua and Nao Kao had learned that intercultural communication is important in dealing with problems. Moreover, the couple learned how to adjust and balance their own beliefs and practices with those of other culture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The conflict in cultural beliefs in healing was also the most significant topic explored in the text. The clashing of Lia’s parents and her American doctors was one of the reasons for Lia’s condition. The Hmong couple strongly believed that the condition of their child was qaug dab peg translated as â€Å"the spirit catches you and you fall down†. In the Hmong culture, this means that the soul has left the body, thus Lia would become spiritually-gifted. On the other hand, the doctors strongly believed that Lia’s condition is dangerous and must be taken with serious and modern medication. Because of this conflict in beliefs, Lia’s condition worsened.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, this could have been prevented if at the start, both parties valued the importance of intercultural communication. For example, instead of not complying in the giving of Phenobarbital to Lia (Fadiman, 1997; 220), the couples should have listened first to the views of Lia’s doctors regarding her condition. If this has happened, the separation of Lia from her parents due to an order court, which caused too much stress on Lia’s part, could have been prevented. The situation, as Fadiman described in her interview with Lia’s nurses, made Lia â€Å" crying four days straight. Smearing feces, intense crying again. Stripped herself . . . went on a wave of destruction. Had to sedate her† (Fadiman, 1997; p.87). On the other hand, if the American doctors had acknowledged the importance of Hmong beliefs and practices for the Lee couples, then they could have helped each other in dealing with Lia’s condition. In addition, the American doctors should have shown an open mind for the couple’s opposite views regarding health and healing. For example, they should not have pointed the blame to the Lee couples when Lia’s condition worsened. In fact, according to Fadiman, Lia’s condition did not worsen because of the non-compliance of her parents. In Fadiman’s interview with the pediatric neurologist who observed last Lia and who came from a different hospital, he said that Lia’s worse condition was due to her long stay in the hospital. Fadiman wrote that the doctor ordered her to â€Å"†¦ Go back to Merced, and tell all those people at the MCMC that the family didnt do this to the kid. We did.   (Fadiman, 1997; p.255). Through this, at least intercultural communication and understanding had been observed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In relation to this, the people from MCMC, the hospital where Lia was confined, were one the significant people in not only in Lia’s life, but in the Hmong community in California as well. Their actions in dealing with Lia’s case could be said as a reflection of their understanding of Hmong culture. If I were the hospital administrator of MCMC, I would suggest that the hospital hold a special division for Hmong patients. All people that would be assigned in here should have a vast knowledge on Hmong culture. In that way, the hospital could better serve the Hmong people. In addition, I would suggest that all hospital employees be sensitive and open with Hmong beliefs and practices. Finally and the most important one, I would suggest that all hospital employees practice communicating culturally with the Hmong people. This would prevent both parties from misinterpreting and misunderstanding each other.   In dealing with the conflict with their medical beliefs, it is important that the hospital employees could explain well to the Hmong people their views regarding modern practice of medicine. In that way, Hmong people and American doctors could meet halfway to help one another.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

book report- my sister my sorrow Essay -- essays research papers

Book Report â€Å"My Sister, My Sorrow† by Bebe Faas Rice, explores the natural human reactions to death, sickness and love. It delves into sibling rivalry, adolescent fear and stereotypes and gives insight into how beautiful the world seems when your life is on the line. â€Å"Leukemia is one of those diseases that creep up on you suddenly and catch you by surprise† ‘The story revolves around her thoughts and feelings towards friends, family, the meaning of life, depression, love, jealousy, cancer, etc. During the course of the book, the reader begins to understand much about what type of Leukemia it is that Beth has. Explained by the author in lame-mans terms, it becomes simple and enjoyable. Facts and story line fuse together to make an interesting chapter. â€Å"My toothbrush in the morning looked like an accessory to a suicide attempt† the signs of cancer are explained to the reader in an interesting, informative way. Beth explains all the emotions that she feels, she doesn’t leave anything out. As the reader goes through the pages they actually understanding the feelings and the emotions that are being explained. The way she tries to explain grief to the reader is through what she sees â€Å"I’ll never forget that night, with Mum out in the kitchen, sobbing as she scraped the carrots for dinner. Artists and sculptors usually depict grief as a heavily veiled figure leaning on a tombstone, but they’re wrong. What grief really is, is a middle-aged woma n with a carrot parer in one hand, la...

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Social Construction of Fibromyalgia Essay -- essays research paper

The Social Construction of Fibromyalgia   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"With so many people in so much pain, how could fibromyalgia not be a disease?† (Groopman 3) This question regarding the â€Å"condition of persistent muscle pain throughout the body, pain that is often accompanied by severe fatigue, insomnia, diarrhea and abdominal bloating, bladder irritation, and headache,† now known as fibromyalgia raises some rather interesting yet complicated issues in today’s health care field such as: What criteria must be met in order for a symptom or a set of symptoms, as is the case here, to be classified as an illness or a disorder? What does the term illness itself mean? What makes up the concept of health? In this paper, I attempt to tackle these questions by examining the process of the social construction, the medicalization, and the medical uncertainties surrounding fibromyalgia. I will first discuss the process of social construction, or the development of a condition as a disorder, also discussing who t he key actors in the process are and how everyone involved in the process is affected. Second, I will analyze the process of medicalization, or how a set of symptoms comes to be known as a disorder, complete with treatment and all, of fibromyalgia over the years. Third, I Mohamed 2 will look at the medical uncertainties, or doubts about knowledge and treatment, regarding fibromyalgia. Last, I will discuss the possible explanations that have been given to explain fibromyalgia in patients by physicians who are opposed to medicalizing the disorder.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The term fibromyalgia was introduced in 1990, and since then almost six million Americans, ninety per cent of them being women, have been diagnosed as living with the disorder. Physicians are not sure of the exact cause of the illness, but many of the cases are reported immediately after a traumatic event (Groopman 3). Another puzzling issue here is the absence of any muscular inflammation in the complaining patient or the presence of any abnormal laboratory test results or X-rays. So is it possible for six million patients to be â€Å"fooling† physicians? You might have another illness of your own requiring another one of these papers if you’re even considering that absurd idea! Let us begin by defining illness and health. â€Å"Modern medicine is based on and dominated by concepts, methods, an... ...ikely to see a doctor for non-serious health problems† (Brown 43). These physicians also argue that patients become trapped in beliefs that they have an illness, allowing the beliefs to affect them psychologically, worsening their symptoms as a result of stress and depression.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The social construction of fibromyalgia is a quite complicated issue and requires much research. Social constructions are not always this difficult, but the general two paths seem to always be there: Should physicians medicalize a set of symptoms into a disorder or disease, and attempt to treat the illness, or should they attempt to figure out the underlying causes of the symptoms and try not to medicalize something which doesn’t need medicalization? Both arguments about fibromyalgia are strong, and both are backed up by valid claims, although each does have its positive and negative aspects. The social construction of illnesses in the medical field is an extremely assiduous task and requires years of dedication, time and research before final decisions are made. They must be made carefully, since they will affect millions and millions of people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Friday, October 11, 2019

Health and Social Unit Essay

The life expectancy throughout England is 78. 6 years for men and 82. 6 years for women, In Sunderland the life expectancy is lower, the male average life expectancy is 76. 3 years while the females is 80. 6. There are many things that can cause this. In Sunderland there are many different industrial jobs, These jobs can cause many different illnesses that can shorten people’s lives e. g. respiratory illnesses. The factories can cause pollution which can also cause many illnesses. Many of the older generation have worked in the mines and on the ship yards which again can cause various illnesses which can shorten lives. Sunbeds are a big problem, they can cause skin cancers and disorders which can affect the average length of someone’s life. Many girls between the ages of 16-40 use sunbeds on a weekly basis. Which will create more of a chance of cancers and skin disorders. Sunderland is a poorer part of the country, Which means that the majority of the houses tend to be old and outdated. Many houses in the poorer areas of Sunderland will be damp, which is bad for your chest. Other problems within Sunderland which can lower life expectancy, Such as healthy eating. Sunderland has very low rates for healthy eating, which means that many people with be obese, this will cause heart failure. Many people associate poor health with social class, Sunderland is a working class city which means Sunderland will have poorer health because of this, There will be less money for health care which means that many people will have to wait for the medical help they need. There will be poorer health care and less specialist within Sunderland because it is a poorer city, the lack of funds will mean that less people will be able to get the care they need which will result if poor health. The main reason Sunderland has poor health rates is because of the binge drinking and smoking. In Sunderland there is high rate for underage drinking and smoking, this will lower the average life expectancy within Sunderland. People of all ages binge drink within Sunderland, there are many alcohol related death within Sunderland, Whether it is because of organ failures or drunk driving. In conclusion I believe that the main reason for Sunderland having a poor life expectancy is because of the lack of money. If there was more money within Sunderland, they maybe able to fix the houses.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Representations of Either Male or Female Characters Essay

In the films I studied, (A clockwork Orange, From Russia with love, Carry on camping and a Hard days night) women are represented in similar ways but in very different circumstances. Firstly in A Clockwork Orange, women are seen as an objectified sexual obsession to the male gang. In almost every seen of the film women are presented in one way shape or form for example in the bar with the erotic, female shaped tables or the posters of women on the walls in Alex’s room. On the topic Kubrick has previously said â€Å"In the film, women are the ultimate harbingers of sexual desire, and it is only them who can suppress it. This power leaves the male ‘Droogs’ inwardly feeling threatened, which in part leads to cowardly rape.† I feel this quote explains the representation of females in the film perfectly as Alex, a man who feels he has great power over the rest of society, is surrounded by women and is always met with his sexual desire for them; Although the idea of sex in A Clockwork Orange is not an expression of love or intimacy, but rather an exhibition of power and violence. In this case Alex feels that to remain ‘powerful’ over everyone else he needs to use women as a object to satisfy his growing needs for power. In From Russia with Love, women are again seen as a object and are infamously named ‘the Bond Girls’ showing how in the larger scale there roles are minor compared to the ‘amazing’ Mr Bond. The opening title to the film shows barely clothed belly dancers dancing and parading there bodies to the Bond theme tune, showing how there bodies are more important then the woman herself. Throughout the film it is apparent that women are only good for a number of tasks: giving massages to the male characters, belly dancing and for casual sex and even then its when the man wants and not the woman. Despite this, in the film the female lead Tatiana played by Daniela Bianchi, shows woman’s slowly growing power and independence, for example Tatiana smoking representing the freedom that she perhaps now felt, although she is sitting down and Bond is standing over her, clearly in a position of more power. It is felt that the woman in the film are constantly being overlooked by men for example Tatiana killing the villain, which in normal circumstances would make her the ‘hero’ in the film, but this is undermined by the way Bond immediately takes the gun off her, as though it does not belong with her or she is not safe with it. In the film A Hard Days Night whenever the The Beatles perform, the members of the band are all distinguished as four individual, male characters. This massively contrasts with the role of women in the film, as there have been no main female characters; women are either portrayed as screaming, uncontrollable girls or again as sex objects. The idea behind this shows that women have no individuality in the film and are really only there to worship, flirt or to sexually satisfy the boys in the band. Finally the idea of women being perceived as objects is again mirrored in the final film Carry On camping, where the women are seen as objects for the men to flirt with and pursue in a sexual manner. Although Carry on camping differs from the previous films as there are several female characters which are seen to have hierarchy over certain male characters. For example the character Harriet Potter had the power in the relationship and often bossed her husband around in a comical manner. Overall in all the films it is obvious that women are often being represented as objects to satisfy mens needs and don’t serve a real purpose in any of the films and if they do it is only in a comical manner to retrieve laughter from the audience.

Personal Theory Paper Essay

Abstract As the main goal of Christian counseling is to facilitate change in order to help clients achieve emotional wholeness and prosper in the direction of spiritual maturity, the intent of this author is to outline the development of a personal counseling theory which will assist clients in meeting that goal. This theory utilizes aspects from the disciplines of psychology and spirituality, as well as integrates biblical concepts and theology without discounting the relevance of each. The work includes an examination of what is important for understanding human personality, such as motivation, human development, and individual differences. An investigation into where problems tend to develop is presented with conceptualizations of health and wellness, and psychological and spiritual illness. Additionally, the role of integration is discussed. Key elements of the author’s theory, along with techniques which guide the therapeutic process and a demonstration of their effectiveness are considered. Finally, the way in which the worldview of the author impacts her theory, along with her approach to integration of ideas and techniques from various authors and theories is presented. Personal Theory Paper Introduction As believers in Christ, individuals are promised an abundant life (John 10:10), peace beyond comprehension (Philippians 4:7), never-ending unconditional love (Jeremiah 31:3), and victory over the enemy (1 Corinthians 15:57). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2014), defines victory as â€Å"the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist; and achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties.† There are people who continually fight the battle, yet remain defeated. Believed to be  appointed of the Lord to counsel (II Timothy 1:9), this author hopes to come alongside individuals and reveal the undiscovered aspects of God’s love; help them realize who they are in Christ, provide the tools for living and the weapons for the battle, point them to victory, and finally, be their greatest cheerleader throughout the process. To that end, the purpose of this writing is to provide a framework of Christian counseling which will assist clients in facil itating change in order to defeat the enemy and succeed in achieving emotional wholeness. Understanding Human Personality Personality Development and Structure Personality is a conglomeration of all beliefs, actions, temperament, and attitudes of the heart which make up the whole person. Ways in which a person uniquely reacts or responds to events in his/her life constitute the personality traits. Crabb (1977) describes the structure of the personality as consisting of the conscious and unconscious mind, the basic direction or heart of a person, the will, and the emotions; all of which work together as a unit – an indivisible whole. Hawkins (2101a) delineates the personality as a series of concentric circles which shape the total person; beginning with the core self, followed by the soul, the body, temporal systems (or outside influences), and finally supernatural systems. As one works to understand each concentric circle and how each impacts the personality, the counselor will better understand the sourcing of clients’ problems; inevitably helping them to take ownership of the problem and motivate them to change (Hawkins, 201 0a). An individual’s past is important in uncovering misbeliefs originating during childhood which may manifest as dysfunctional behaviors in adulthood (Backus & Chapian, 2000). Additionally, in order to better understand the inner workings of personality, one must seek to comprehend the ways clients are motivated to make core changes. Motivation to Change Avoiding the humanistic approach which would describe the personality as something which cannot be altered, this author remains convinced the basic personality is capable of change through the power of the Holy Spirit. Today’s modern Christians have all too often embraced the secular explanation for the ills of society, going so far as to affirm sin by agreeing with an excuse such as â€Å"I was born this way.† By embracing  personality traits which dishonor God, sin becomes easily sugar-coated and socially acceptable. On one hand, God is praised for His ability to transform lives and encourage conformity to His character, yet on the other hand the personality traits which do not measure up to the biblical standard are accepted as simply unique characteristics in today’s post-modern society where uniqueness is celebrated and all are encouraged to just â€Å"be themselves† and live life in any way they choose. Many Christians refuse to accept a problem ex ists. The Psalmist writes, â€Å"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting† (Psalms 139:23-24, NKJV). Dr. Larry Crabb (1977) is one of a number of Christian scholars who stands firm on God’s Word and shares a common belief that freedom from emotional pain and distress may be found within the pages of scripture as he states, â€Å"Do what God expects because He already has given you everything you need to live responsibly† (p. 140). Adams (1986) agrees with Crabb’s position as he explains if everyone chose to live responsibly according to the truths found in God’s Word, there would be no need for counseling, as all problems would be solvable on the basis of His Word. All legitimate forms of counseling should be based on scripture for in its pure form therein lies no need for improvement (Adams, 1986). This author would agree the assessment of counseling theories and practices should be held to a high biblical standard. Counselees should be encouraged to please God and not adopt the aforementioned post-modern mentality which permits one to behave in whichever way feels good at the time. Such behavior can only lead to emotional turmoil. Backus and Chapian (2000) admonish if individuals are serious about pleasing God, their behavior will be the exact opposite of what is expected. There is no need to go along with the deception brought about by the enemy which causes upheaval in the lives of those who choose to follow his lead. Freedom from the bondage which enslaves the minds of individuals can only be brought about by encountering the truth of the Word of God (Anderson, 2000). Those who do not embrace God’s Word as truth will spend their time seeking gratification of their needs rather than seeking a deeper relationship with God. Life is evaluated in terms of the rules of society and behavior is motivated to gratify self-centered needs (Cloud & Townsend, 1999). While the Christian may encounter deception and misbeliefs  (Anderson, 2000; Backus & Chapian, 2000), the desired choice would be to evaluate the situation within a framework based on biblical truths and exhibit behavior which is Christ-like in nature (Crabb, 1977). Theory of Human Development and Individual Differences â€Å"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made† (Psalms 139:13-14, NIV). Every individual possesses an understanding of the world and it is by this understanding a basis for autonomy within the world is sought after and developed. The process of development involves maturing along the journey and cultivating good spiritual habits. Frequently, the boundaries which guide behavior are for self-preservation (Cloud & Townsend, 1999). When behavior includes positive choices and patterns of relating which embrace biblical principles, such as treating others with the love and respect with which God intended, a â€Å"healthy, balanced interdependence† (Wilson, 2001, p. 246) is achieved. Recognition of the importance of first becoming a complete individual is critical in order for the healthy interdependence to occur. Completion and maturity cannot occur simply by an act of will, for individuals are unable to change in and of themselves (Cloud & Townsend, 1999). Therefore, by allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to direct the life-shaping choices throughout the process of development, a better sense of emotional and spiritual health may be achieved: â€Å"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil† (Hebrews 5:14, NKJV). The job of a counselor is to assist the client in progressing toward a healthy, mature balance of emotional and spiritual health. Where are Problems Developed? Health and Wellness Two scriptures which come to mind when considering health and wellness include: â€Å"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you† (Proverbs 3:1-2, ESV); and, â€Å"The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short† (Proverbs 10:27, NIV). Problems begin when clients neglect to heed the teachings in the Word of God. Hart (1999) states â€Å"many are falling into stress disease† (p. 4) and  proposes the possibility exists to create tranquility in the midst of the chaos and anxiety which presents in today’s world. Changing thought processes and taking time to care for the physical body through rest, not only will benefit the mind and body, but also impacts relationships and spirituality (Hart, 1999). Likewise, Backus and Chapian (2000) posit changing thoughts will change the biochemistry of the brain; the actual chemical comp osition of the cells within the brain and central nervous system. The goal of counseling would be to insure clients achieve good health; not just physically, but emotionally. And not just for themselves, but for others with whom they are involved relationally. Wilson (2001) stressed the importance of recognizing the way in which unhealed hurts affect how one responds to others; hurt people will hurt people. Illness Illness may be characterized by disorder, weakness, unsoundness, lacking strength, fragile infrastructure, abnormal functioning, harmful development, and finally, bondage or oppression of the body or mind. Illness does not just involve the body. The state of the mind lends itself to influence the physical body. Anderson (2000) writes, â€Å"But even modern medicine proclaims that the majority of people are sick for psychosomatic reasons† (p. 33). Counselors are primarily concerned with how illness may relate to and influence the state of the mind. Hart (1999) discusses several practical approaches to promote a state of well-being and reduce stress and anxiety: obtaining the proper amount of rest, consuming a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and in some cases, taking medication. In fact, the least of which is medication. Hart (1999) cites an Australian study listing the percentage of people successfully treated for anxiety disorders. Some treatment options included sel f-awareness, meditation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation, psychotherapy, and medication. The relative effectiveness of the listed treatments indicated prescribed medication as having the lowest percentage at only 16%, compared to self-awareness reported as 95% effective (Hart, 1999). The information contained in the study supports this author’s belief that â€Å"as a man thinks within himself, so he is† (Proverbs, 23:7). In other words, often our physical and mental state is a product of our thoughts. Psychological and spiritual illness. Wilson (2001) states, â€Å"According to Jesus, no one is in perfect spiritual health†Ã‚  (p. 183). In fact, Backus and Chapian (2000) give an example of a client who spent considerable time exhibiting signs of physical illness, yet the reason for her illness was not caused by anything physiological. Her problem involved the psychological and spiritual. Backus and Chapian (2000) go on to emphasize, â€Å"The term anxiety covers a large number of behaviors, including cognitive activity†¦as well as physiological events† (p.72). An entire chapter of The Anxiety Cure is devoted to the connection between anxiety and depression (Hart, 2001). Anderson (2000) describes those who suffer not just with physical sickness but with psychological conditions as a result of satanic bondage; stating when one lives in a constant state of anxiety, a person is unable to concentrate on anything other than all-consuming fear. There remains no provision in the physical, mental, or emotional realm to focus on anything else. Similarly, Hawkins (2010a) is thorough in his explanation of concentric circles to include the supernatural realm. When counseling clients living in spiritual bondage, the words of Isaiah may be of tremendous comfort: â€Å"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you† (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV). Counselees may be encouraged to cease sinful practices which cause the enemy to obtain a foothold in their lives. Correspondingly, the spiritual health which may be proclaimed by some is partial and relative when measured by the absolute standard of what is seen in the Word of God (Wilson, 2001). Therefore, encouraging clients to trust in God and conform to the principles found in the Bible will produce a life less plagued by psychological and spiritual illness. Role of Integration and Multitasking As a Christian counselor, learning to integrate psychological, spiritual, and theological methods in the counseling arena is imperative. God’s Word specifically states, â€Å"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ† (Colossians 2:8, NKJV). General revelation must be placed under the evaluative scrutiny of God’s Word (Hawkins, 2010b). As Christian counselors ultimately are held accountable to the truth of God’s Word, great care must be taken to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide in the process of integration in order to rightly discern the truth. Hawkins (2010b) discusses the probability of uncovering  God’s truth within the work of scientists and scholars when he describes â€Å"unveiled truth† as â€Å"God’s truth.† The importance and role of multitasking is outlined in detail by Crabb (1977) when he describes four approaches of integration: Separate but Equal (a method of keeping psychology and theology completely separate), Tossed Salad (a method of blending them together), Nothing Buttery, (the complete disregard of psychology), and Spoiling the Egyptians (the method of profiting from psychology by carefully screening concepts to insure the compatibility with Christian presuppositions). Paul’s letter to Timothy reads, â€Å"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work† (II Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV). Additionally, Paul wrote to Titus, In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. (Titus, 2:7-8, NKJV) Therefore, when seeking to evaluate clients’ problems, the ability to multitask must focus on theological truth as the cornerstone, while integrating psychology and spirituality in order to obtain a healthy balance which may best be incorporated into the treatment plan. Sourcing Problems and Structuring Effective Intervention Key Elements of Theory This theory of counseling incorporates an integrative methodology which has as its base the primary purpose to restore to clients’ lives the truth of God’s Word and the influence of the Holy Spirit. Hawkins (2010a) stressed the spiritual strategy of placing emphasis on the restoration of Imago Dei. Likewise, this counselor recognizes the importance of structuring a counseling model around an application of disciplines which incorporate Christian values within the core of individuals; the place where the greatest influence of the Holy Spirit takes place, where the greatest impact on cognitive behavior is felt, and the place where the characteristics of the human personality are developed and subjected to purposeful change. The Word of God states, â€Å"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free† (John 8:32, NKJV). There exists a freedom in Christ unlike  anything secular truths may offer. Belief in something causes actions which reflect that belief, therefore, â€Å"beliefs and misbeliefs are the most important factors of your mental and emotional life† (Backus & Chapian, 2000, p. 16). The goal remains to teach clients how to exchange thoughts which are deeply rooted in misbelief with truths found in God’s Word by combining the strengths of cognitive-behavior therapy, as well as other empirically-supported psychological disciplines, without diminishing the strengths of those disciplines. Process and Techniques Motivating effective change can only be accomplished when the counselor is living by example; hiding the Word of God in her heart and mind. Therefore, it is paramount the counselor is free from anything which may plague the mind and cause bondage. To encourage a client to prosper in the direction of spiritual change, the counselor must first focus on the process in her own life as well. Additionally, the therapeutic relationship in counseling is critical. Therefore, creating an atmosphere in which clients encounter an empathetic, listening ear; where they know they are accepted with the unconditional love modeled by Christ and exempt from the threat of judgment; will go far in allowing mutual trust to be established. It is only in an environment of trust that a client will open up and disclose things affecting their lives while allowing the freedom to examine thoughts in their minds in hopes of motivating change (Crabb, 1977). This future counselor believes every battle is won or los t in the mind. Going back to the biblical example of Joshua and Caleb, in one of the most heartbreaking stories of the Old Testament, the Israelites sought to enter the Promised Land and were filled with fear upon eyeing the giants of the land; â€Å"†¦we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight† (Numbers 13:33b, NKJV). Because of their misbelief, they were unable to fulfill God’s call and were made to continue to wander in the wilderness until the next generation rose with boldness to take possession of the land. Joshua and Caleb had followed the instructions of God’s Word, had meditated on it day and night, and as a result became strong and courageous. There was no room in their minds for misbelief. Their actions were a sum total of their thoughts. The deepest, driving desire of their will, as it aligned with God’s truth, allowed them to complete the task and inherit God’s  promise. Adams (1986) argues teaching biblical principles is critical to immediate and lasting change. As a future counselor, this author plans to come alongside clients exhibiting the love of Christ bolstered by consistent prayer for the counselees. Joined together with hopes of being successful in encouraging them to identify incorrect assumptions, to support them as they exchange misbeliefs for truths, and to clarify biblical thinking – all of which will enable them to change and conform to the image of Christ (Adams, 1986; Crabb, 1977). As Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus: â€Å"†¦speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ† (Ephesians 4:15, NKJV). Expectations of Effectiveness If methods used in counseling are in line with God’s Word, change brought about as a result will be effective. Crabb (1977) states worshipping the Lord more fully and serving Him more effectively comes about as a result of solving problems in ways which cause one to be more like the Lord, or spiritually mature. A progression toward healthy relationships will be displayed as clients work toward the goal of spiritual and psychological maturity. The good news is that the Lord Himself promises to guide individuals along the way. Isaiah 48:17b reads: â€Å"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go† (NIV). Crabb (1977) is adamant in his statement that the Lord will never allow a situation in life in which a believer is unable to respond biblically. Similarly, Adams (1986) explains as clients adopt pleasing God as their highest priority, changes made will have value before God and remain in effect. As counselors ente r into relationships with clients, trusting in clients’ ability to make themselves vulnerable before the Lord, desiring change and adopting a conforming nature toward the character of Christ, the Lord cannot help but bless (Jeremiah 29:11). The Influence of Worldview on Theory View of Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality The lens which is used to process and filter this author’s worldview is primarily a Christian lens. It exposes a theological biblical foundation, yet allows room for spirituality and psychology as well. There remains a strong belief to not incorporate any teachings or practices which would  prove to be out of accord with the teachings of the Word of God. Adams (1986) spoke well when he reminded the reader that long before the existence of psychology, Jesus Christ was named Wonderful Counselor. That is not to say psychology does not have a place in counseling, however, one must keep in the forefront of one’s mind the â€Å"depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God†¦of him, and through him, and to him, are all things† (Romans 11:33-35, KJV). Understanding comes from God, including the understanding He grants in the discipline of psychology. Therefore, one must take care not to simply induce superficial change in counselees. As psychology ma y supply wisdom to help clients modify behavior, the Christian counselor is responsible to help clients delve deeper; employing a substantial change of the heart – a change which is guided by the Holy Spirit (Adams, 1986). There is an inner life which is known only to God and oneself. In order to facilitate any outward change of any significance, one must seek to probe those deep places, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through the counselor to implement the changes which the Holy Spirit has promised to effect. Anything less would be inadequate and unbiblical (Adams, 1986). Approach to Integration As Christians, we are granted the capability through the Holy Spirit to know the truth in all things: psychology, theology, and spirituality. The anointing of the Holy Spirit which dwells in the believer, teaches concerning all things. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (I John 2:27-28) Hawkins (2010b) described McMinn’s most effective pursuit toward psychological and spiritual health which involved three things: an accurate awareness of self, an accurate awareness of need, and healing relationships. In combining those three, and screening psychological concepts to determine compatibility with the presuppositions held by Christianity , Christian counselors can profit from secular psychology, provided unwanted elements which oppose truths found in God’s Word are discarded (Crabb, 1977). Conclusion The theory presented is careful to emphasize the importance of teaching the truth of the Word of God. By multitasking, or integrating psychological theories, as well as some aspects of spirituality, it is this author’s belief that the process of substantial, biblical, effective change is attainable for clients. The process of change must begin in the heart of the counselor and then reach out to encourage change in the hearts and lives of counselees. The emphasis must be on the word, â€Å"process.† As Paul writes, may each one â€Å"press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus† (Philippians 3:17, KJV). The hope of this future counselor is not only will counselees be moved to change to effect better mental health, but also will be moved to change to embrace the hope and healing which comes from a life which glorifies God. References Adams, J. E. (1986). How to help people change: The four-step biblical process. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Anderson, N. T. (2000). The bondage breaker. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers. Backus, W., & Chapian, M. (2000). Telling yourself the truth. Bloomington, MN: Bethany House Publishers. Cloud, H., & Townsend, J. (1999). Boundaries in marriage. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Crabb, L. (1977). Effective biblical counseling. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Hart, A. D. (1999). The anxiety cure: You can find emotional tranquility and wholeness. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. Hawkins, R. (2010a). Hawkins’ model for guiding the counseling process. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University. Hawkins, R. (2010b). Introduction, McMinn, and multi-tasking. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University. Victory. (2014). In The Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved September 25, 2014 from http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary Wilson, S. D. (2001). Hurt people hurt people: Hope and healing for yourself and your relationships. Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers.