History of the Cold War Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History of the Cold War - Research Paper Example The Soviet power was never able to expand much under the influence of the U.S agenda. It was under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev that Russia began to undergo a political change which could not be handled and thus led to a political turmoil. The United States itself did not play a direct role in the collapse of Soviet Union but it did play an indirect role in the collapse. This essay would further analyze different events which led to the occurrence of cold war (Leffle & Westad, 2010). After the World War II it was seen that the United States and Russia underwent a competition in the field of economics, race and politics to gain superiority in the world. The Cold War for Soviet Union was to take control of the communist nations under their policy whereas the United States had the aim of removal of communism from the world. The relationship of the Soviet Union and America was never to the par as the communist nation was an ally of the Germans before it attacked them. Communism wa s prevalent in the Soviet Union since its birth under the leadership of Lenin. This was followed by the rule of Joseph Stalin who further enforced communism over the states that fell under the jurisdiction of the Union. It was then that anti communist policies started to escalate in the United States creating hate amongst the masses. Yalta Conference which took place in February 1945 was start of rough relations between the two superpowers of the world. The American President at that time was Truman who was strictly against the communists and this led to the worsening of bilateral relations between the two countries. The invention of atom bomb and the use of it in the World War II created fears for the Russian government which further led to the Cold War (Painter 2002). After the victory in World War II events followed which led to the Cold War among the superpowers. The Iron Curtain Speech was delivered by Winston Churchill on March 5 1946. He urged the United States for a coalitio n against the union because of their policies against the democracy of the world. He stated that â€Å"From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the States.... and all are subject in form or another, not only to Soviet influence, but to a very high and increasing measure of control from Moscow† (4 Gottfried). In 1946 it was found that Soviet spies were in America looking for information regarding the atomic bomb. Moreover an agreement was violated by the Soviet Union when they did not withdraw their troops from Iran because of its resources of oil. Instead a region of Iran was annexed by the Soviet Union which later came to be known as the Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan (Leffle & Westad, 2010). In the latter part of the 1950s it was seen that the Russian President got even more furious at the actions of the United States. After the World War II it was seen that se veral of the nations faced the problem of famine. It was here that the United States launched a plan known as the Marshall Plan to provide the famine struck places with food and other supplies. The foreign ministry of the Soviet Union replied to the Marshall plan in a negative manner stating it as an act sought to infiltrate the

The Triangle Fire Essay Example for Free

The Triangle Fire Essay On November 22rd, 1909 Clara Lemlich of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union provokes, through her words, a general strike of Women Garment workers1. Within two days of her speech, 20,000 shirtwaist makers had walked off their jobs. By February of 1910 most of the companies recognize and grant the demands of the union. All except the owners of The Triangle Shirtwaist Company, Max Blanck and Issac Harris, while they agreed to shorter hours and higher wages, they refused to recognize the union, and their concessions did not equal those of the other business owners2. Then, on March 25th, 1911 the most tragic event of New York City’s twentieth century occurred; a fire broke out in the Triangle Waist Company. This horrific loss of life was observed by many onlookers and resulted in the tragic demise of 146 workers, mostly young woman immigrants who either burned to death, or chose to die by jumping from the eighth, ninth and tenth floors of the Asch building3. This fire and the public observance of lives lost was the greatest tragedy of the time, it had a direct impact on society, it led to political reform and most importantly, changes in legislation that ensured the reform of the work place across our entire nation. This observed tragedy united a society that until then was divided by cultural and economical differences. On April Sixth, 1911 over 350,000 people participated in the funeral march for the seven unidentified victims of the fire. Mrs. Raymond Robins the head of the National Trade Union League traveled from Chicago to take part in the processional. There was representation from  the suffragists, and the Socialists, the poor and the rich. In the pouring rain, people from all cultures, races and religions gathered to pay respect for all the lives lost4. These people and people across the nation, having seen or read about this tragedy came together and united to ensure nothing  like this would ever happen again. The public outcry following the fire stirred the politics and the politicians of this time. No one wanted to take responsibility for the tragedy. The governor of New York blamed the city, the mayor refused to even visit the site, political cartoons bashed the current leadership and controversy prevailed5. The city government had in the past worked together with the police to protect the Triangle Shirt Company and it’s owners. The party of Tammany Hall quickly realized they would need to change their position, and focused on a new stance of reform6. These leaders who historically supported boss politics, were collectively responsible for this tragedy and be it through guilt, or public demand they led the change and were themselves, changed by the tragic fire. The public outcry and demand for reformation of the workplace was finally being heard and acted upon. Pushed by the already publically developed and supported Committee of Safety, the party of Tammany established The Factory Investigating Commission (FIC), which led the legislation and laws related to workplace reform. The commission mandated workplace health and safety by establishing workplace laws and regulations related to fire prevention and safety, woman and children, sanitary conditions, work hours, injury  prevention, compensation, and the construction and use of buildings; the commission implemented and was responsible for the changes that the people had demanded. The young workers that perished in The Triangle Fire were among those who initially fought for the reform, they unwillingly gave their lives for the cause. It was however, this loss that led society to demand safer working conditions. Because of these 146 souls work became a safer, fairer place for all people. The laws and legislation still govern businesses and corporations. The Triangle Fire was and still is, a tragically ironic  humanity-altering event. 1. Jo Ann E. Argersinger, The Triangle Fire (Boston, Bedford/St. Martins, 2009), 13. 2. Jo Ann E. Argersinger, The Triangle Fire (Boston, Bedford/St. Martins, 2009), 16. 3. Jo Ann E. Argersinger, The Triangle Fire (Boston, Bedford/St. Martins, 2009), 16. 4. Jo Ann E. Argersinger, The Triangle Fire (Boston, Bedford/St. Martins, 2009), 89. 5. Jo Ann E. Argersinger, The Triangle Fire (Boston, Bedford/St. Martins, 2009), 26. 6. Jo Ann E. Argersinger, The Triangle Fire (Boston, Bedford/St. Martins, 2009), 102. 4

A Deeper Look into Eva Brauns Life Before and After Hitler Essay

When the war originally began, the Braun sisters were just young girls growing up in Germany. The sisters were Gretl, Ilse, and Eva. The three Braun sisters grew up in Munich. Their parents, Friedrich Braun and Franziska Kronberger, were just an average Catholic, middle class family. Friedrich and Franziska had relationship issues, but worked them out for the sake of their family and financial reasons. Finances were very limited during that time. During WWI Gretl, Ilse, and Eva had no idea how their lives would be changed in just a short amount of time, especially Eva. Ilse was the first born child of Friedrich and Franziska. She was born in 1909. Unlike her other sisters, she wanted no involvement in the war or politics. She stayed very distant from the issues facing Germany. Ilse left her home when she was only twenty years old and began to work as an assistant for a doctor. Ilse and Dr. Marx shared a special relationship. They not only shared a work relationship, but also a passionate relationship outside of work. Their relationship never grew to be more because of his emigration to the United States in 1938. Ilse married twice during her life. She was wed to lawyers in both of her marriages. Ilse was diagnosed with cancer later in her life and died in 1979. She is buried in Munich. Eva was the second born child. She was born on February 6th, 1912 in Munich, Germany. She is the most well-known of the three sisters. She was an all-around girl growing up. She was competitive with her grades and athletics while in school. When Eva was finished with school, she began working as a photography assistant for Henirich Hoffmann in Munich. This is where she met Hitler for the first time. Eva Braun was not just an average German woma... ...egarding that awful night. This is a prime example of how blood is thicker than water. Adolf wasn’t there that night to take care of her. He was too busy planning and scheming ideas of how he could wipeout an entire, powerless race. If he would have been more concerned with his personal relationships, maybe he would have not formed into such an evil man. Adolf Hitler is the main fire behind WWII. He wasn’t just a soldier on the battlefield, he was the Fà ¼hrer. The Nazi followers thought of him as a god-like figure. Works Cited Storey, William Kelleher. First World War : A Concise Global History. Rowman & Littlefield Pub., Inc, 2010. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed March 11, 2012). United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. â€Å"The Holocaust.† Holocaust Encyclopedia.http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/?ModuleId=10005143 (accessed March 11, 2012).

Interview with and Research on an Alzheimer’s Disease Patient

I chose to interview my father’s aunt, who is 85 years old and suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. The reason I chose to interview her is because she is at Stage 6 of the disease, which means she is at the mid to severe level. At this stage, she is manifesting almost all the symptoms of the disease but is still verbally active. Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive, disabling degenerative disease which has no cure. There are however, drugs such as tacrine and donepezil that can slow certain symptoms of Alzheimer’s.However, our patient has not received any treatment for the disease as she does not believe in drugs and does not realize that she is suffering from anything other then old age. Alzheimer’s Disease 4 Interview with and Research on an Alzheimer’s Disease Patient The Interview Our patient is an 85 year old Caucasian female, residing in Ontario, Canada. She currently lives with her daughter. Her husband passed away about 10 years ago. She has a college education and was once an elementary school teacher. She suffers from stage 6 Alzheimer’s Disease, which means she has lost almost all her cognitive abilities, but still is somewhat verbal.She shuffled into the room with the assistance of my aunt, whom she resides with. As she entered the room, I caught her eye and she gave me a friendly smile, but showed no sign of recognition. After she comfortable seated herself across from me, I started asking her questions. When asked about her name, she smiled excitedly, almost like a little girl, and answered â€Å"Agnes†. Agnes is her correct name, so she does remember certain things about herself. I went to ask her about her age. She looked at me with a puzzled look on her face and said, â€Å"Do I know you?†.I told her who I was, but she still did not seem to show any sign of recognition. I enquired about her age again. She ignored my question completely and said, â€Å"My dad must be getting very worri ed about me, I should get home. † I informed her that she was home, with her daughter. Her face took on a distressed expression and she starting insisting on calling her â€Å"dad†, who passed away about twenty years ago. I attempted to change the subject and asked her about her gender, to find out if she remembered that piece of information about herself.She giggled in a childlike manner and stated, â€Å"I’m a girl, silly! †. When asked about what she does, she said she goes to high school, and wants to become a teacher some day. The patient seemed to have lost almost all her short term memory and had regressed to her teenage days, a symptom commonly associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. Surprisingly enough, Agnes remembered her birthday, and that her favorite person in the world was her Alzheimer’s Disease 5 mother. She could not recognize the very commonplace items in my hand, however, a paper and pen. She then went about asking me for a b rownie.When I answered that I hadn’t any, she accused me of lying to her. I informed her once more that I hadn’t any brownies, but I would be more than happy to get her some, if she so desired. At this point, the patient’s face went completely blank and she began staring into space and stopped answering any questions. . Judging from this short interview, it is evident that the patient’s cognitive abilities are severely impaired and she needs constant care and supervision. Due to the fact that Alzheimer’s is a progressively degenerative disease, her condition is only bound to worsen.There are plans for hiring an in-home caretaker for the patient in the near future. Definition of Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain, with unknown causes and cure. It is characterized and associated with clumps of neorofibrils and microscopic brain lesions, disorientation, confusion, memory loss, speec h disturbances and eventual loss of all mental capacity. Patient suffers from loss of mental function. Origin: The disease was first discovered by accident in the year 1906 by a German physician called Dr. Alois Alzheimer.When she passed away, an autopsy it was discovered that there were dense deposits called neuritic plaques around her nerve cells and neurofibrillary tangles inside the cells. Theories Regarding Alzheimer’s Disease: There is more than one theory attempting to explain the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, although the exact cause is still undecided. Among the existing theories are age, family history and genetics, head injuries and heart disease. Alzheimer’s Disease 6 Pathology of Alzheimer’s Disease: Clearly visible in AD brains are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.The disease comes from severe atrophy of certain regions in the brain, including the temporal lobe and parietal lobe. Levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine are r educed, along with the levels of seratonin, somatostatin and norepinephrine. There is a loss of neurons and interfrence with neuronal processes in the cerebrl cortex and other regions within the brain. Signs and symptoms of Alzheimers Disease As observed during the interview and research process, our patient suffers from advanced stage symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, which may manifest themselves as early as in an individual’s 40s or 50s, include but are not limited to the following: Forgetfulness to the extent of interference with normal everyday functions. Impaired speech. Difficulty reading and writing. Anxiety and agression. Recollection of very old events, and forgetting recent ones. Loss of control over urinary and bowel moevements. Eventually, complete loss of cognitive abilities and verbal speech. A return to an earlier stage in life. ComplicationsThe patient often opens the front door and walks out, stating tha t she is going home to her father, which puts her at great risk for an injury or becoming lost outdoors. On certain days, she becomes aggressive and refuses to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. This causes hygeinic complications because she is not in control of her bowel Alzheimer’s Disease 7 movements. Patient wears adult diapers and often suffers from diaper rash. Patient does not recognise family or caretakers, including the daughter she lives with and often becomes aggressive with them.Prognosis Eventually, patient will lose all congnitive and verbal ability. In-home care will be needed in the near future as it is becoming more difficult for her family to provide her with proper care. The patient is having more and more trouble moving around. Evetually she will become completely bedridden and may in the future suffer from related complications like bedsores, etc. Loss of cognitive abilities will also cause the patient to suffer from malnutrition, for she is slowly for getting how to chew, suck, etc.Therefore, she will probably need to be fed through a nasogastric tube. ADLS Patient cannot function through every day life without extensive assistance. She attempts to but cannot groom herself. She has lost all control over her urinary and bowel movement, and neglects her hygeine. The patient needs to be bathed by another person every day. Her skin is thin and translucent, but that is commonly associated with old age. She has trouble feeding herself and needs to be fed by another person; she often forgets how to chew or swallow.

India needs leadership Essay

India being a strong democratic country doesn’t really need a dictator. It may just lead to disruption. India is a big country. People live in harmony and are known for their unity. A dictator may not be able to maintain this. Few people may again misunderstand dictatorship and may think it defies the purpose of freedom. Dictatorship may bring very short term changes. A country needs a strong government. Dictatorship may introduce communal differences depending on the community of the dictator. Human rights can be certainly bypassed. It may lead to disorganization and malfunctioning of the law and order system of the country. For A dictator can easily help us get rid of the dirt in politics. A very small community of people actually understands the meaning of democracy and don’t make misuse of it. For over decades, India is trying to get rid of poverty, may be, a dictator can help in this aspect. A dictator can help the citizens realize the meaning of democracy and freedom. Whether a country has a dictator or not, freedom of speech and rights is what matters to any citizen. It is a myth that smaller countries usually need dictatorship. We cannot forget the smaller country has the same human species with the same human rights as in other countries. Discussion board though Dictatorship may banish dirty politics and corruption from india, I think that choosing is a dictator will end the right to speak ability which evrey indian has!! peole may lost democracy.. and ultimately dictatorship will give born to another hitlar or gaddafi or saddam where human right is was snatched. So india will be a heaven of silence. . India needs strong dictator India doesn’t need a dictator but, it certainly need a strong democratic alliance, which can take some tough decision on the problems which are rising in India. India need a group of people who are not afraid to take some strict actions and go against the law if necessary to bring some fruitful result. For example bihar , UP etc. are under lots of terrorism so if there is a good government which can take some measure to curb the corruption and terrorism then we don’t require a dictator. Democracy should be above all the law, for example they should pass the LOKPAL which is being supported by democracy then lots of things can be done, but the government and the people in the parliament are not strong enough to see the viewpoint and not ready to make changes. India needs a strong dictator There are various opinions of one but do we really want to go the middle east way? Do we really want another Gaddafi or Bashar amidst us? Democracy prevents wars from happening, promotes nThere are two kinds of reasons why India doesn’t need a dictator: strategic, and ethical. First strategic. Against- In a democratic country like India, divided into various layers and clusters based on caste, religion, gender, region, ethnic and other basis, democracy is a great leveler because of two reasons: each person’s value is one (as a vote) and secondly, most people feel that they have a stake in this system, particularly those who vote, and we have very high voting percentages across the world for democratic nations for our elections, particularThe only thing is whether they will justify it or like Thackeray, proudly say they did the wrong thing and ask others to challenge it if they dare to. When Indian people feel they have no stake in a system (they really won’t have a stake, because there is no MLA or MP they can go to in case the bureaucracy strikes at their rights), they will take to protest. A dictator will not allow non-violent protests most certainly, so they will take to violent protests someday. That will only mean violence and secession. India’s experience shows us that it is extension of democracy which solves our problems, be it in Mizoram or to an extent now in Assam, not dictatorship or army rule as seen in Kashmir. If India had a dictatorship earlier during the time of independence, states like Tamil Nadu and Assam as well as North-East would have done all to secede somehow. Thankfully, because democracy was there and Nehru believed strongly in it, we accommodated regional aspirations and that is why those issues were solved. And our issues can only be resolved in this way. Now ethical. I agree that a dictator can take decisions quickly, and democracy is always messy, not just in India but in general anywhere. But development is nothing without equity, because development is for whom? Human beings. And it should be for all. Those who have no stake in such development will engage in violence sooner or later.ly at local and provincial levels. Once you introduce dictatorship, let’s face it, the dictator will have a certain identity and do things as he/she likes. Indira Gandhi is a good example. It’s good in theory to think of benign dictators, but no dictator has ever been benign in the world, and no one can guarantee that someone will be a benign dictator. Even Manmohan Singh, the most soft-spoken of Indian politicians will not be a benign dictator, forget anyone else. Dictators will relish the power they have and soon use it to do wrongon aggression and freedom of expression. A country like India needs a democratic government which can work together as a unit to unite people around them which would in return help the country to develop. And it’s their right to have such stake, every human’s right. So democracy will be messy when it takes into consideration every human’s right in each and every development issue. But that equity in taking decisions is as much important as the decision itself. That is democracy. We have to accept it. It can’t be one man show or one party show. It has to be every person engaged in the decision. For- A resounding yes! As a common man i am ashamed to the stinking, shamelessly twisted ,grossly illogical and unimaginable twisting of democracy has taken this nation to. so called leaders who are better off cleaning ditches are rolling on the dirt of corruption, greed and power with their deaths no where in sight Ok lets VOTE for change! Hell no Its voting for ONE ‘dirty excuse of a human being’ or the Other filthy B–t-rd Fools (no†¦ fools are decent) â€Å"pathetic excuse for the word fool† who are barely biologically human & who cant even manage themselves are trying to manage(make it mismanage and loot) ministries and states What India needs a strong and well minded dictator (No Idi-amins) who will rebuild the nation execute/exile for ever(a hidden secret Guantanamo bay) the corrupted-septic-infected politicians ranging from Kerala to Kashmir and rule wisely till India matures to be democracy or till no descendants of filthy politicians remain. What will it take to overcome India of its worst-in-the-world-corruption , its antique and grossly inefficient government ,judiciary & worst of all politicians who still ravage the nation†¦.Any such movement i am ready to participate as a true patriot to the nation†¦.I CARE but i don’t know how i can make a difference†¦.we need a revolution and strong dictator (No maoists please)†¦..Will there be a way ..is there a leader who we can support †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦one among the clean poiticians who will have the guts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦help us pls Its a scream for help from a helpless citizen†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.looking for a way to liberate his fellow Indians from the satanical clutch India is in†¦.help us†¦help us help us patriots waiting to serve the nation For- It’s been more than sixty-five years since India achieved independence. The effort, toil, blood and passion of our respected freedom fighters gave us the India of today. It was their ultimate dream to craft a nation whose members were free and an integral part of the country’s decision making. The Indian democracy with its much detailed Constitution was a result of their dream. Sixty-five years on, India might be free and those running the nation might be the elected representatives of the masses, but India continues to be plagued by the same old problems of poverty, economic inequality, illiteracy, population, widespread corruption and the same old socio-economic issues. It is perhaps the time of an able, strong-minded, powerful dictator to take hold of the country and cleanse the entire system. Here is a look at 10 reasons why this might prove effective for the country:- †¢ Dictatorship will breed development though straightforward decision making: A dictator being the all powerful head of the state will face no opposition from other parties as in a democracy. He will thus have complete freedom to execute his decisions which might breed development. †¢ Better control the variables of human development: One of the biggest examples is China (a Communist country) where the population has been brought under control by the government, through the one-child norm policy which is virtually impossible in the Indian democracy. †¢ Dictatorship is a more economic institution: In a country like India where poverty is a lingering problem, it is but a luxury to spend lakhs on a single election. Dictatorship is thus a far more economic institution. †¢ Dictatorships regimes can be a path for countries to move on from civil wars and focus on development: China can be used as an example yet again, as the country has been almost absolutely insulated from wars and terrorist attacks. †¢ Dictatorships have flexibility in economic policy that breeds growth: Democracy can often stagnate economic development. An example is West Bengal where the Tata group could not establish their factory in Singur due to stiff resistance from the opposition party in the government. †¢ Dictatorship helps achieve social stability: Yes it does. †¢ The longer lasting and biggest economic miracles have occurred under dictatorships : An example is Hitler’s reign in Germany. â€Å"The Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, at a time when its economy was in total collapse, with ruinous war-reparation obligations and zero prospects for foreign investment or credit. Yet through an independent monetary policy of sovereign credit and a full-employment public-works program, the Third Reich was able to turn a bankrupt Germany, stripped of overseas colonies it could exploit, into the strongest economy in Europe within four years, even before armament spending began.† †¢ Dictatorship breeds order: In a country like India where law and order is disrupted time and again, dictatorship is definitely going to help out. Even in the 21st century Indian women are vulnerable and rape and molestation cases are reported throughout the country from upscale Delhi to the remote  villages of Burdwan. India needs a really strong leader who can make the country safe enough for our women to move around fearlessly, with their heads held high. †¢ Dictators have incentives to promote development and diminish social differences: A lot of readers might still be optimistic enough to feel that democracy will spell better days for India, but as a youth frustrated with the current situation of my country I feel that we really need a change and dictatorship may just be the way out for a better, brighter India.

Extreme Sports The World beyond Its Limits

Extreme Sports The World beyond Its Limits Because of the people’s constant craving for the adrenalin, the dangerous kinds of sports have always been on the top. Since they provide people with the necessary doze of adrenalin, many scientists consider such sport a substance that can be used as a substitute for narcotic. The question is whether the devil is just as black as he is painted.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Extreme Sports: The World beyond Its Limits specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is no doubt that dangerous kinds of sports have at least one strong reason to be cultivated. First, it provides a certain solution to give way to the feelings, which is quite impossible in the ordinary life – at least, to the extent that such sports can suggest. Then, this is a perfect way to show people that you â€Å"have the guts†, that you are a courageous person, even a daredevil. The latter usually passes as a reason for men to take up t hese kinds of sports. Coming closer to the topic, it is reasonable to figure out which sports are considered as such. Where is the line between the sports and the risky sports drawn? The most well-known extreme sports are mountaineering, parachute jumping, diving, parkour and snowboarding (Hildyard 8. Unlike the rest of the sports, they involve not only a great deal of stamina, but also a lot of courage which borders with recklessness. The key idea about all these sports, however different they are, is all the same, and it can be driven to six words, which are: your life is in your hands. The understanding that the consequences of your adventure depend only on the skills of your own, and that you have no one to blame for your own bad luck but yourself encourage the responsibility that each of us have to awaken. This is the breeze of freedom that one can feel as he or she indulges into the element of theirs, whenever it is the air, or the water, or the earth, or the fire. This is som ething that can be considered plunging into the nature, betting your own life to win the secrets that the world around hides. However, that is what concerns me alone. Someone else might feel completely different palette of emotions and think different ideas, but the core notion that the whole experience is sewn through is the feeling that there are no boundaries in this world for the daring ones.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However strange that night sound, these kinds of sports can also learn people to work in team and to appreciate the bunch of people they are working with. This concerns mainly such sports as mountaineering. Being literally bound together with another person whom you hardly know and yet whom you are practically intertwined with is the experience of a lifetime, after which working in an office with a colleague that irritates you seems not to matt er anymore. There is also one more thing owing to which these sports seem so attractive. Parkour as a sport is all shot through with this idea, which is the freedom that only the sports can give. This is the freedom to move and to make decisions; it brings both the muscles and the brain to the ecstatic state. Once having tried the extreme sports, one cannot help going on and on, plunging into the danger every single moment. This can be transferred to the everyday life as well, and make it seem not so dull and mundane as it used to be. Craving for the state of happiness, people have tried most unusual things since the beginning of the mankind. The experiments were both successful and devastating, but the end of the journey would always be the same, with the seeker finally finding the heaven he or she was searching for. Extreme sports are one of such, and, if they make a bunch of people happy, they have proved their right to exist. Hildyard, Jim. Extreme Sports. Oxford: Heinemann edu cational Publishers. 2002. Print.

Banning Junk Food Advertising Essays

Banning Junk Food Advertising Essays Banning Junk Food Advertising Essay Banning Junk Food Advertising Essay In my sentiment. a prohibition against debris nutrient advertisement shouldn’t be a manner to forestall childhood fleshiness because it is non a solution to hold healthier life style. First. ban debris nutrient advertisement will non acquire a existent and unequivocal alteration in the eating wonts of kids. Rather than a solution it is a great challenge that couldn’t be achieved by agencies of Torahs that merely focuses on things kids shouldn’t be eating. alternatively of concentrating on advancing healthy tips. Besides. ban debris nutrient advertisement is non related to worry about the wellness of kids. and we shouldn’t ever back up in Torahs or prohibitions to be cognizant and more responsible with the picks in attention wellness of our childs. Everything kids eat is merely our determination and enforcing a prohibition ignores wholly the importance of our personal duty like parents. As grownups. we make personal picks about the diet. exercising. eating wonts. and life style of kids. so the bar of childhood fleshiness has more personal influence. non the Torahs. Second. when we prohibit something. we are non educating anyone and for that ground is necessary to retrieve the importance of the instruction like the average solution to forestall childhood fleshiness. Jeff Stier. editorialist of Townhall magazine. high spots that we live in a universe where the parents. non the Torahs. are chiefly responsible for kids and they have to educate them. This is of import without a uncertainty ; parents have the duty to command the exposure clip of kids to media likewise the irrational ingestion of debris nutrient. Therefore. we can non fault the advertisement wholly. Third. we shouldn’t permit that a jurisprudence or prohibition assumes parents’ function in the instruction of their kids. it would be strengthen their irresponsibleness as for kids’ wellness attention. so to forestall that a prohibition merely postpones the acquisition procedure to subsequently old ages when parents lose the control. we need to get down learning them a better life style from place foremost because is into the household that kids build healthy or unhealthy wonts. Finally. censoring fast nutrient advertisement won’t encourage consumers. kids and grownups to concentrate on doing important lifestyle alterations. Merely with instruction. we could confront the advertisement environment that is necessary to forestall childhood fleshiness. Work Cited Stier. Jeff. Regulation Junk Food Advertising-The Next Nanny State Initiative . Townhall Magazine July 2011. Non Print.

Darwinius - Facts and Figures

Darwinius - Facts and Figures Name: Darwinius (after naturalist Charles Darwin); pronounced dar-WIN-ee-us Habitat: Woodlands of western Europe Historical Epoch: Middle Eocene (47 million years ago) Size and Weight: About two feet long and 5 pounds Diet: Probably omnivorous Distinguishing Characteristics: Small size; primate-like anatomy About Darwinius To many paleontologists, Darwinius is a case study in how scientific discoveries should not be communicated to the general public. Although the well-preserved fossil of this prehistoric primate was unearthed way back in 1983, it wasnt until recently that an enterprising team of researchers got around to examining it in detail. Rather than share their findings with other paleontologists, the team started a bidding war for book and TV coverage, so that Darwinius was announced all at once to the world in 2009most notably in an extensively hyped documentary on the History Channel. The premise of all the publicity: Darwinius lay at the root of human evolution, and was thus our oldest direct ancestor. As you might expect, there was an immediate backlash from the scientific community. Some experts maintained that Darwinius wasnt all it was cracked up to be, especially since it was closely related to another well-known early primate, Notharctus. Most at issue was the TV documentarys breathless use of the phrase missing link, implying that Darwinius somehow led directly to modern humans (to most of the lay public, the phrase missing link in the context of human evolution implies a simian ancestor that lived at most a couple of million years ago, not nearly 50!) Where do matters stand now? Well, the scientific community is still examining the fossil evidenceas should have happened before the announcement of Darwinius, not after.

Midterm Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Midterm - Assignment Example Risk Test: The risk involved is for both, the employer and the employee, if the financial health of the company booms then it wouldn’t affect the hourly rate of Wright, thus Wright would not be benefited under good condition. Similarly if the company is not doing well then even under such condition it would have to pay the same hourly rate it was giving before, thus making it risky for the company. Tools Test: the article doesn’t specify any information regarding the tools provided to Wright, but upon further examination it can be extracted that most likely Wright uses the equipment and tools of the company in his daily work. These can be, computer, stationery, and other supplies which are used in daily office work. Moreover, the company also provides him with the important data and reports for him to base his work upon. Durability and Exclusivity of Relationship Test: as mentioned earlier, Wright has been employed at Reactors Ltd. for two years during which he has been working on hourly rate and also has been offered the position of General Manager. Working at a central position, where he is responsible for monitoring the activities at the company, it has become hard for him to work for any other clients. Since, Wright has been working as an employee at Reactors Ltd. the taxes as well as the CCP should be canceled for the period of his tenure. Interest and fine(s) would be a possible outcome from the CRA as well. a) It is possible that Monique file a complaint based on the Human Rights act under which are the 14 grounds of prohibited discrimination. However, it is not possible for her to draft the complaint on direct discrimination, like physical appearance which is not a part of this act. But, if she succeeds in coming up with a strong argument regarding the permissibility of piercing in religious context then she can have the chance to prove her point. b) No, there is no contradiction of NB Human Rights act as reflected in the actions of the

Delinguent Youth Subcultures Gangs Research Paper

Delinguent Youth Subcultures Gangs - Research Paper Example Historical Overview Unlawful and criminal subcultures have a long history in industrialized populations. Some experts purports that the dawning of adolescent subcultures, including the delinquent varieties, occurred in the sixteenth century when humongous social changes took place. While others believe that the advent of Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution in Western Europe, which left countless people unemployed and impoverished and disturbed families and communities, gave rise to the criminal tendencies of people, especially of the youth. These ‘dangerous sectors’ of society roamed the countryside and victimized travelers in order to survive, and eventually settled in metropolitan areas -- still subsisting on whatever means available, including theft, robbery and extortion (Cressey, 1983). In the United States, however, there is no certainty as to the exact time when youth gangs appeared. The earliest record confirming their existence traces back to 1783, when the American Revolution ended. Allegedly, these delinquent youths surfaced in a time when the urban conditions of the country overwhelmed them. Meanwhile, other investigators deemed that youth gangs originally came forth after the Mexican Revolution in 1813, when massive Mexican migrations to the Southwest happened. The young members of these new settlers, as hypothesized, might have experienced many difficulties in adjusting to the American way of life, notwithstanding their extreme poverty (Klein, 1995). The Baby Boom, following the Second World War, and the heightened affluence of young people during the Post-World War II economic prosperity of the US combined to fashion a great youth market with economic power who started to create its own identity and groups. At the same period, the young were spending more time in school and their mothers who joined the labor force were away from home, hence parenting and child discipline were somehow neglected. These circumstances of social chan ge, including the strong influence of media, brought about the subculture of young delinquents (Schwartz, 1987). Youth gangs in the United States during the early 19th century were primarily composed of Irish, Italian and Jewish ethnic groups, alongside the Hispanics (Sante, 1991). But in the 1950s, Chinese youth gangs proliferated exponentially. Chin (1996) traced its development to ancient secret society and Triad traditions back to China. As political castaways who were disfavored and alienated in the Asian nation, these US immigrants formed clandestine assemblies and activities such as gambling, prostitution and drug-trafficking. Rivalry among this disintegrated secret society led to violence, while inherent competition and discrimination against its American-born and other ethnic counterparts more often than not resulted in riots, if not heinous crimes (Chin, 1996). Theoretical Underpinnings Although there is no absolute and universally-accepted definition of youth gangs, it is the general consensus of scholars that they are groups whose members meet regularly and whose membership is group-selected based on certain group-defined criteria (Short & Hughes, 2006). Furthermore, they are mostly consisting of a sectoral group who share common identity, values and tradition. Youth who belong to gangs range from ages 12 to 24 (Franzese,

SIM335 Managing Projects Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

SIM335 Managing Projects - Essay Example Any concurrent activities, which activity follows which? The network diagram will look as below and boxes represent the following aspects: If activity A has duration of 4 days, earliest start time would be day 0 (zero) and the earliest finish would be day 4. The earliest start for activity B would be day 4 and the earliest finish would be day 9 as a result of adding. Earliest finish of activity A (4) + duration of activity B (5) = 9 early finish for activity B In general, earliest finish of previous activity+ duration of current activity= earliest finish of the current activity. (Early finish for earlier tasks becomes the early the start for next activity). For a case like activity G that has several preceding activities, we take the value, which has the largest earlier finish value (F 13). The latest start and latest finish are determined by working backwards through the project. Latest start for activity Q = earliest finish of activity Q because it is the last activity. In general: Latest start= latest finish– duration The latest start used as the latest finish for the previous activity. For instance, the latest start for activity Q is 93–5= 88 and this is used as the value for latest finish for activity P. for activities like I & J we use the latest start for activity K. for activity H we take the least value for latest start in this case is 34 (latest start for activity I). ... calculated by: Early finish– early start– duration=Total float For instance, to calculate total float between activities G &H =34–13–(13+8) =0 Critical path is the least amount of time that can be taken to complete the project. This means that there is no float, no free time and a delay in the critical path can lead to a delay in project completion. It can be determined by adding the duration of each activity in the sequence where there is no float. In our case, the critical path is from activity A to Q in the sequence: A(4)+F(9)+G(13)+H(8)+I(7)+K(8)+L(13)+M(9)+N(4)+O(4)+P(9)+Q(5) =93. It is very important as it helps in time scheduling of consecutive activities in a project. Events that occur here are known as milestone (Harold, 2009). If the activity begins on Monday January 16th, the project needs a total of 122 days to finish with a five-day working period then we find out how many weeks we be will need. If one week has a total of 5 working days then t he project will take 122?5=24 weeks and four days, then the project will end on Thursday 5th July 2012. In case activity B is delayed by two days, there would be no effect on the total project duration because it has a float of four days. This is however not the case for activities P and O, delaying activity P by two days or activity O by a day will affect the total duration of the project because there is no float for the two activities (Harold, 2009). Limitations of network diagrams The time estimates depend on personal bias, there is no specific formula for determining the duration of the activities and speculation is used. This may affect the whole project just in case any activity is delayed or takes a longer duration to finish. As seen from above, activities without float if delayed for any reason can

Business - ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business - ethics - Essay Example this was dishonest, Frank replied that each firm had told him to submit his expenses and that therefore he was not taking something to which he had no right. One firm had not asked for receipts, so he determined it was making him a gift of the money. The problem is that Frank is committing fraud by telling the companies that he has expenses of $1000 because whenever his expenses have been paid by either company, the other company has no obligation to pay for expenses that do not exist. 3) Frank Waldron could return half of each companys money, telling the companies he intentionally requested payment from both companies and accept one the offers that have already been extended, thus discontinuing this fraudulent practice. Solution 1. The solution impacts Frank Waldron directly as he would likely become unable to secure a job due to his fraud. Next the Eastern State University placement office would be affected as their reputation with the companies would be tarnished since the fraud was perpetrated under their noses. Finally the companies are affected and would implement ways to prevent this from happening again thus putting red tape up for every new interviewee who might have legitimate

Ethics paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Ethics paper - Essay Example There are many lively debates surrounding the ethics, efficacy, and policy implications of capital punishment as they pertain to its use within the United States. Globally, the United States is one of about 60 nations that regularly employ this type of punishment. However, within the group of Western industrialized nations, it remains the only country that routinely puts people to death. To the extent that the United States shares similar legal and political systems with other Western industrialized countries, it has not followed the trend of most European and Western-hemisphere states that have abolished the use of capital punishment within the last four decades (Gunning et.al,2007). Americas modern system of justice has roots that are most often directly traced to the writing of Cesare Beccarias classic essay, On Crimes and Punishment. One of the primary ideologies that emerged from the doctrine was that a punishment should be proportional to the harm caused by a crime. Implicit in this approach is the notion that the most severe penalty, death, should be reserved for only the severest of crimes. Thus, the array of crimes for which the death penalty was deemed appropriate began to narrow. Another important consideration inherent to this school of thought is that the offenders responsibility or blameworthiness for the crime committed should also be considered in calculations of proportionality. In America, reform of the death penalty first began in Pennsylvania by Thomas Jefferson. Gaining the later support of Benjamin Franklin and William Bradford, Jeffersons efforts led Pennsylvania to become the first state to consider the culpability of the offender in the p roportionality argument. As a result, in 1794, Pennsylvania repealed the use of the death penalty for all crimes except first-degree murder, which required the offender to have premeditated the crime. This notion of culpability for the offense committed takes on distinct

The nature and purpose of World War II propaganda posters used in the Essay

The nature and purpose of World War II propaganda posters used in the US prior to and during US involvement in the war - Essay Example This is why the government had to use all means to persuade them to support its cause in the Second World War and this was done through the propagandists. The American propagandists struggled hard to persuade Americans to fully support the war to the end and ensure that the US emerges victorious. They used different forms of media to pass their message to the masses with the common objective being the fomentation of hatred to the enemy and backing the allied forces. They sold war bonds and encouraged Americans to work hard to produce more so that the soldiers could be well supplied with the basic needs and weapons. This paper focuses on the purpose of World War II propaganda posters that were used prior to and during the US involvement in the war. Snow (2010) asserts that the United States employed the use of posters more than any other media of broadcasting in spreading the war propaganda. In fact it produced the highest number of posters compared to the other countries that took part in the Second World War. These posters had different themes which are as follows: Recruitment, secrecy, conservation, home efforts and production. Their placement was done strategically in areas that didn’t have paid advertisements like in schools, railroad stations, restaurants, post offices and retail stores. Apartment buildings and windows of private homes also played a role as they were used for the smaller posters. These are locations that no other media of propaganda could be used but the message had to be passed to the Americans nonetheless. The government delegated the duty of producing and distributing these posters to the Office of War Information (OWI) Bureau of Graphics. The common feature of the messages circulated in these p osters was positivity as they emphasized tradition, duty and patriotism throughout the campaign (Figure 2). There was need to step up the production process and conserve materials for the war effort because this was a very strong weapon that the allied forces relied on. Figure 3 was used a lot and it was among the first posters to be used by the American propagandists. Its message to the Americans was that the threat of the Nazi is close home than they are aware of. The dark Nazi swastika is looming over a group of innocent patriotic American children who are not even aware of what is going on. Americans were being persuaded that through buying the bonds and making their contributions to the war efforts, the fate of these innocent children could be changed as they could be saved from such evils. The viewers are being urged to buy the bonds because the government was just emerging from depression and did not have the money to stage war on multiple fronts (Jowett & O'Donnell, 2006). T hey were therefore being urged to help the government fight this war through their contributions as it was geared towards bringing peace to America. This poster was very vital during the early days of the war but its use declined in the course of the war when it became apparent that the Nazi threat was on the brink of elimination; financial help was therefore not required at this time. Figure 4 displays an image showing a man dying because someone talked; enemies had send spies to the United States therefore people had to be very cautious with what they say to people they don’t trust. The American government believed that a small leakage of information to the Germans would be terrible news to the Americans as the

Ethics paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Ethics paper - Essay Example There are many lively debates surrounding the ethics, efficacy, and policy implications of capital punishment as they pertain to its use within the United States. Globally, the United States is one of about 60 nations that regularly employ this type of punishment. However, within the group of Western industrialized nations, it remains the only country that routinely puts people to death. To the extent that the United States shares similar legal and political systems with other Western industrialized countries, it has not followed the trend of most European and Western-hemisphere states that have abolished the use of capital punishment within the last four decades (Gunning et.al,2007). Americas modern system of justice has roots that are most often directly traced to the writing of Cesare Beccarias classic essay, On Crimes and Punishment. One of the primary ideologies that emerged from the doctrine was that a punishment should be proportional to the harm caused by a crime. Implicit in this approach is the notion that the most severe penalty, death, should be reserved for only the severest of crimes. Thus, the array of crimes for which the death penalty was deemed appropriate began to narrow. Another important consideration inherent to this school of thought is that the offenders responsibility or blameworthiness for the crime committed should also be considered in calculations of proportionality. In America, reform of the death penalty first began in Pennsylvania by Thomas Jefferson. Gaining the later support of Benjamin Franklin and William Bradford, Jeffersons efforts led Pennsylvania to become the first state to consider the culpability of the offender in the p roportionality argument. As a result, in 1794, Pennsylvania repealed the use of the death penalty for all crimes except first-degree murder, which required the offender to have premeditated the crime. This notion of culpability for the offense committed takes on distinct

The Role Transport Innovations, Including Containerization, Play in Essay

The Role Transport Innovations, Including Containerization, Play in the Emergence and Development of International Business - Essay Example This reflects on the growth of efficiency and productivity gained by international firms owing to the use of containers in the transport of merchandises along global regions (Levinson, 2010). Based on the above discussion, the paper intends to critically analyse the use of transportation and containerization practices in the enhancement of international trade. It would tend to analyse the impact of development of transportation infrastructures and containerization in international trade. The above evaluation would be conducted while also endeavouring to understand the factors prompting such growing significance of transport and containerization in international trade. Innovation generated in the existing modes of transportation is observed to potentially impact the growth of global trade and business mechanisms. The development of oceanic transport across the Atlantic Ocean is observed to largely benefit the growth of American trade and economy. Similarly, the emergence of the jet plane is also observed to potentially contribute in the swifter movement of documents and cargo from one part of the globe to another. This also contributed in the development of trade and business activities on a global sphere. Innovation generated in the development of ocean transport systems is also observed to make the same cost effective in nature (Ballenger,2000). The cost effectiveness of transport activities conducted through oceanic transport is observed to sustain a reduced price of products traded on an international business platform. Development of faster and easier means of transport is taken to rightly contribute in the effective utilisation of resources available on a global scale to generate efficiency and productivity in trading activities along multinational borders. This feature in turn contributes in promoting the development and growth of future trading and economic activities along the international markets (Afuah 2009) The

T-tests For Independent And Related Samples Essay Example for Free

T-tests For Independent And Related Samples Essay Research Problem   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With the increased violence that occurs in our society, it is a reality that most children on social welfare or those who have been placed in foster care have had negative experiences. Some children need to be counseled and psychologically helped in order to regain their sense of self and to help them cope with the difficulties that lie ahead of them. The most evident problems that these children have are in terms of their education and schooling. Despite the efforts of social welfare to help them get the education they need, most children drop out of high school. This study would like to determine the difference in the graduation rates of children in foster care who received counseling and those who did not receive counseling. Research Question   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Is there any difference in the graduation rates of children in foster care who had received counseling compared to those who did not? Hypothesis: Null hypothesis: There is no significant difference in the graduation rates of children in foster care whether they received counseling or not. Alternative hypothesis: There is a significant difference in the graduation rates of children in foster care when they received counseling compared to those who did not. Independent variable: Counseling sessions Dependent variable: Graduation rate (high school) Statistical Design: For this study, the appropriate statistical design is the related samples design (within groups) since the goal is to determine whether counseling sessions significantly increased or decreased the graduation rates of children in foster care which satisfies the assumption of the related sample t-test measures. Effect size: The effect size between the two means would indicate the degree or level of the difference between two groups, it could be high, moderate or low effect which would also indicate just how significant the difference between the two means are from each other. A probability value would not be able to clearly point out just how big the difference is. Table 1 t-test Result t df p.05 Graduation rate (with counseling vs without counseling) 2.69 73 .009 N = 30; ES = .60 Table 1 indicates that children in foster care who had received counseling were found to significantly have higher rates of graduation than those who have not received counseling. The t value (2.69) was found to be statistically significant (p.05), thus we reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis that children in foster care are more likely to graduate if they had received counseling. It was also found that the effect size for this result was .60 which is according to Cohen (1988) is of medium degree. This would mean that the difference in the graduation rates for the two groups may be statistically significant but the difference is actually not so big that other factors may actually come into play with why children who receive counseling have better graduation rates. Statistics N = 30 Mean 1 = 14.75; SD = 6.03 Mean 2 = 10.74; SD = 6.69 t = 2.69 df = 73 p = .009

Management And Treatment And Psychosocial Aspects Of Pneumonia Biology Essay

Management And Treatment And Psychosocial Aspects Of Pneumonia Biology Essay This essay will explore the pathophysiology, management and treatment, and psychosocial aspects of pneumonia in an adult patient. Information has been obtained by the means of history taking, examination, and analysing the patients medical records to form a case study in which the sections mentioned will be considered in relation to the case study. Section A Case History VD is a 68 year old female who was admitted into the acute medical unit (AMU) on 29/1/11 following complaints of generally feeling unwell and chest pain. She had a history of feeling unwell since 25/1/11 coupled with chest pain. This pain was a sharp pain under her right breast which was intermittent and radiated around her chest to her back. The pain was worse on inspiration or when coughing, and was relieved by over-the-counter analgesia. She also felt sweaty, pyrexic (39.7  °C), had rigors and aches over her body, however she was not short of breath. She also had symptoms of a non productive dry cough, poor appetite and vomiting once in AMU (watery and colourless). She previously had no episodes of nausea and vomiting, no palpitations or headaches, no urinary symptoms and normal bowel movements. She has not had any recent contact with anyone who had similar symptoms. In her past medical history she was diagnosed with Sjà ¶grens syndrome and systemic sclerosis last year; both systemic autoimmune diseases. She was on two courses of antibiotics last year for associated pleuritic chest pain. Her family history consisted of her father having ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and her mother dying from lung cancer, although she was a heavy smoker. She currently lives with her husband at home and her occupation is as a shop assistant; this indicates that the infection she has is most likely to be community acquired. She has been a lifelong non-smoker and she does not drink alcohol. She was on no regular medication prior to being admitted, but is now on 1000mg of paracetamol four times a day (QDS) and 500mg of amoxicillin three times a day (TDS). She has no allergies. On examination in a respiratory ward, VD was apyrexial with a blood pressure reading of 95/65, a heart rate of 95 beats per minute and a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute. Oxygen saturations (SATS) were 96% in air and she was speaking in full sentences, whilst looking generally comfortable at rest. Her hands seemed dry and scaly on inspection but there were no abnormalities on her face. On palpation of her chest, there was equal chest expansion and no tracheal deviation. There were also no enlargement of cervical or supraclavicular nodes. On percussion, there were dull sounds that could be heard on both right and left lung bases. On ausculatation, coarse crackles could also be heard in the right and left lung bases. There were no abnormal heart sounds heard and her capillary refill time (CRT) was less than 3 seconds. Her abdomen was soft and non tender, and normal bowel sounds were heard. There was normal tone, power and reflexes in all 4 limbs and her Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS ) score was 15/15. Her arterial blood gas values were as follows: pH 7.43, pCO2 5.49, pO2 10.1, HCO3- 26.8, basal excess of 2.8 and glucose of 5.6; these values indicated that she was not in respiratory failure. She was also found to have a raised C reactive protein (CRP) of 210, with a high neutophil count of 10.1. Her chest x-ray film revealed consolidation in her right lung base and no pneumothorax. The impression from the x-ray was that it was right lower lobar pneumonia (Figure 1 is an example of what VDs x-ray would have looked like). 1 No blood cultures were recorded in her notes as it was assumed that due to the neutrophilia the likely source was bacterial. After being initially treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotics in hospital, her symptoms were relieved, no crackles could be heard and her chest was clearing up on 1/2/11. She was then discharged in the afternoon on 2/2/11 given the instructions to continue with her course of oral amoxicillin. Section B Pathophysiology Introduction Pneumonia can be described as an inflammation to the lungs distal airways, particularly the alveoli, usually with a bacterial infection being the origin. 2 3 It clinically presents as an acute illness which can include fever, cough and purulent sputum, although the latter was not present in VD. Pneumonias can be classified by the site of the consolidation (anatomically), or by the aetiology of the disease (see Table 1). 2 3 VD was suspected to have lobar pneumonia after looking at her chest x-ray. The majority of lobar pneumonias are due to Streptococcus pneumonia and can affect a large part, or a whole lobe of the lung. 3 Lobar Pneumonia There are four stages to the pathology of lobar pneumonia, which is a classic example of acute inflammation; these are: congestion, red hepatisation, grey hepatisation and resolution. 3 Congestion is the first stage and lasts for approximately 24 hours. This is represented by protein-rich exudates leaking into the alveolar spaces and also causing venous congestion consequently causing the lung to become oedematous, heavier and redder in colour. 3 The next stage is red hepatisation which has a duration of a few days. Large numbers of polymorphs (neutrophils and basophils) accumulate in the alveolar spaces along with some lymphocytes and macrophages. 3 Many erythrocytes are extravasated from the distended capillaries into the lung tissue, along with the overlying pleura being covered with fibrinous exudates. 3 The lung is now solid and airless, resembling a fresh liver. Figure 1 supports the latter statement by showing a solid consolidation in the right lower lobe. When the lung become s grey and solid, this is grey hepatisation. This also lasts a few days and represents further accumulation of fibrin coupled with the destruction of leukocytes and erythrocytes. 3 The final stage is resolution, whereby the lung reverts to its normal condition. 4 This happens at approximately 8-10 days in cases which are untreated and is when the cells and fibrin in the alveoli undergo fatty degeneration. 3 4 This causes the exudates to be converted into an emulsion, producing a yellow pus-like appearance. 4 The exudates are now in a condition where they can be reabsorbed, whilst preserving the underlying alveolar wall structure. 3 4 The lungs would be softer but remain solid, and this would be confirmed on an x-ray by consolidation of the lungs. Co-morbidities VDs history also mentioned having a background history of Sjà ¶grens syndrome and systemic sclerosis; both systemic autoimmune diseases. Sjà ¶grens syndrome is an inflammatory disease that predominantly affects the exocrine glands with an association to HLA-B8/DR3, which usually causes dryness in the eyes and mouth. 2 5 However it can also cause extra glandular problems such as: Raynauds phenomenon, arthritis and lung inflammation, causing degradation of the lining of the bronchioles and alveoli consequently causing lung infections. 2 5 6 Systemic sclerosis, also known as systemic scleroderma, is a multi-system autoimmune disease in which the cause is unknown. 2 It mainly causes tightness and hardening of the skin (such as VDs hands) but other systems can also be affected, such as the lungs. 2 There is some destruction to the lungs in patients with scleroderma which can lead to right heart failure due to pulmonary hypertension. 7 Other complications that involve the lungs include pulmonary haemorrhage, pneumothorax and pneumonia. 7 Summary VD had come in with an acute infection and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Her right lower lobe was consolidated meaning that she has had it for a few days as protein exudates have leaked into the alveolar spaces and becoming fibrinous, showing up as solid on the chest x-ray, with her CRP (a marker of inflammation) also being raised. VDs medical history last year stated that she had suffered from two previous chest infections that required antibiotics for her to recover. This could possibly be due to the autoimmune diseases aforementioned that she had recently been diagnosed with, causing her to be more predisposed to contracting infections, especially in her respiratory tract. She is currently not on immunosuppressant drugs, but if she were to be for her autoimmune conditions it would then be detrimental to her immune system. This would leave her still being prone to acquiring infections, leaving her in quite a predicament. Section C Treatment and Management VD was on 1000mg of oral paracetamol QDS and 500mg of oral amoxicillin three TDS by the time she was moved to the respiratory ward. The main actions of these drugs were to improve her feverish symptoms and pain whilst also attempting to clear up her infection. Paracetamol Paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen in the USA) is one of the most widely used non-narcotic, analgesic and antipyretic over-the-counter drugs in the world. 8-11 It has properties resembling those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as its analgesic and antipyrexic actions, which can be traced back to the inhibition of the central nervous systems prostaglandin (PG) synthesis. 8 9 It also shares some anti-inflammatory properties, however it does not produce the platelet or gastric side effects that the other NSAIDs do, thus causing argument as to whether it should even be classified as an NSAID at all. 8 It is commonly given orally and is metabolised in the liver, with a half life of approximately 2-4 hours, hence why VD was given it QDS to avoid toxic doses. Mechanism of Action It is considered that the main mechanism of paracetamol is the inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX), COX-2 in particular as studies have shown that it is highly selective towards it. Due to its high selectivity towards COX-2, its inhibition towards pro-clotting thromboxanes is limited. 9 It is said that paracetamol works centrally and is a weak inhibitor of PG synthesis in intact cells, if the concentrations of arachidonic acid available are low enough, through the inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2. 12 This concept was based on research that discovered that PG production in the brain was more sensitive to inhibition from paracetamol by tenfold compared to the spleen. 9 The COX enzymes are responsible for the metabolism of prostaglandin H2 from arachidonic acid. 9 This is an unstable molecule that can form many pro-inflammatory compounds; COX is highly active when oxidised. 9 12 The oxidised form of the COX enzyme is reduced by paracetamol, stopping it from creating pro-inflammat ory compounds. This lowers the amount of PGE2 in the central nervous system, therefore decreasing the set-point of the thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus. 9 Exactly how the mechanism of the inhibition of the COX enzymes is still in discussion. Due to the differences of activity between NSAIDs and paracetamol, it is thought that there may be another variant of the COX enzyme that paracetamol interacts with, COX-3 a splice variant of the COX-1 enzyme; however this is just a hypothesis and has yet to be proven. 8 9 12 Side Effects When paracetamol is given at therapeutic doses adverse effects are uncommonly seen, although allergic skin reactions are sometimes observed. 8 Fatal hepatotoxicity can be potentially caused by toxic doses of paracetamol (10-15 grams). 8 Initial symptoms are nausea and vomiting, followed by liver damage after 24-48 hours. 8 13 This happens when the enzymes in the liver, cytochrome P450, catalysing the normal conjugation reactions become saturated, and consequently causes the drug to be metabolised instead by mixed function oxidases. 8 A toxic metabolite, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine, is formed and inactivated by conjugation with glutathione. 8 13 However when glutathione levels are depleted, the toxic metabolite accumulates and reacts with nucleophilic constituents in the cell, causing necrosis in the liver and kidney tubules. 8 Contraindications Paracetamol is generally well tolerated by the liver when polypharmacy is involved. However, evidence has shown that chronic alcoholics are more susceptible to paracetamol hepatotoxicity, even at therapeutic levels. 13 Chronic alcohol ingestion induces hepatic microsomal enzymes (CYP2E1) by twofold and can increase paracetamol hepatotoxicity, due to increased amounts of the toxic metabolite. 13 Amoxicillin Amoxicillin is a moderate to broad spectrum, ÃŽÂ ²-lactam antibiotic that is commonly used to treat infections that are caused by susceptible bacteria, pneumonia being one of them. 8 14 A derivative of penicillin, this semi synthetic ÃŽÂ ²-lactam antibiotic is created by adding different side chains to the penicillin nucleus, causing it to become broad-spectrum. 8 It is sometimes combined with clavulanic acid in treatment to form co-amoxiclav, which is more effective in treatment nowadays due to the increase in antibiotic resistance; microorganisms are now developing a resistance to penicillins by secreting ÃŽÂ ²-lactamases and the addition of clavulanic acid inhibits this enzyme. 8 Pharmokinetic Aspects The routes of administration are quite vast: when given orally, amoxicillin is absorbed to a different degree compared to other penicillins as it depends on their stability in acid and their adsorption to foodstuffs in the gut. 8 It can also be administered through intramuscular or intravenous injections; however intrathecal administration is generally avoided as it can cause convulsions. 8 Elimination of amoxicillin is rapid and mainly due to the kindneys, with 90% being through tubular secretion. This however may be advantageous as the inhibition to cell wall synthesis is intermittent rather than continuous, and exposure to the drug is reduced. 8 Mechanism of Action Î’-lactam antibiotics inhibit the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan leading to lysis of the bacterium; this peptidoglycan is crucial for the structural integrity of the cell wall in bacteria, particularly organisms that are Gram-positive. 8 In the synthesis of a peptidoglycan, the final stage is transpeptidation which involves transpeptidases known as penicillin binding proteins (PDPs). Î’-lactam antibiotics attach to these PDPs on bacteria and inhibit the transpeptidases that cross-link the peptide chains attached to the backbone of the peptidoglycan. 8 15 16 The ÃŽÂ ²-lactam antibiotics are closely related to D-alanyl, the terminal amino acid of the peptidoglycan layer. 15 16 The similarity between these two structures allows for the antibiotic and the amino acid to promote their binding to the PDP. 15 The binding of the ÃŽÂ ²-lactam nucleus to the residue of the PDP is irreversible, and it is this irreversible binding of the PDP that disr upts the final transpeptidation of the peptidoglycan layer and consequently inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. 8 15 16 The inhibition of transpeptidation due to the ÃŽÂ ²-lactams causes an accumulation of peptidoglycan precursors, which initiates autolytic enzymes to lyse the excess peptidoglycan. 8 Under normal circumstances, the peptidoglycan precursors inhibit the autolytic enzymes; however the ÃŽÂ ²-lactams inactivate this and halt the process. 8 Unwanted Effects Penicillins are mainly free from toxic effects. The main side effects are hypersensitivity reactions caused by by-products of the breakdown of penicillin, which combine with the host protein and become antigenic. 8 Skin rashes and fever are common but much more serious is acute anaphylactic shock which can be fatal in some cases. 8 When administered orally, penicillins, particularly broad-spectrum types such as amoxicillin, can disturb the bacterial flora in the gut; this can be associated with gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances. 8 Summary VD had no complications and responded well to the treatment that she was given. It was suspected that she had community acquired pneumonia and that the treatment would be a broad-spectrum antibiotic to fight the infection. Paracetamol was also prescribed to alleviate her symptoms. As paracetamol and amoxicillin work on different receptors, there were no contraindications to her treatment. She was given medication intravenously, but once she moves onto oral amoxicillin, she must be aware of GI side effects that may occur. Section D Psychosocial Aspects and Public Health Psychosocial Aspects Although initially there may not be many psychosocial aspects to pneumonia, VD could be suffering indirectly from it. A sufferer of Sjà ¶grens syndrome, VD is susceptible to fatigue which can be physically and mentally exhausting. This can lead to depression, emotional stress and general lethargy. As VD is susceptible to getting infections such as pneumonia due to Sjà ¶grens syndrome, it can also further impact on her psychologically whilst dealing with those infections as her quality of life may be significantly reduced. 17 It is important that a patient with Sjà ¶grens syndrome can address these issues to a health professional if they are ever in distress as psychosocial factors may lead to non-compliance in their treatment. Epidemiology There have been many population studies that have been investigating the annual incidence rate of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). In adults, this can vary from, 2.6-13.4 per 1000 inhabitants, with somewhat higher figures in males and at the extreme ages of life. 18 19 Rates of hospitalization range between 22-51%, with annual mortality rates between 0.1-0.7 per 1000 patients. 20 In approximately 50% of patients with CAP, a pathogen of cause was determined. Streptococcus pneumoniae is found in 20-75% of the cases followed by Mycoplasma pneumoniae at 1-18%, Chlamydia pneumoniae at 4-19% and other viruses from 2-15%.20 C. pneumoniae, however, has arisen as a noteworthy pulmonary pathogen in adult pneumonia patients requiring hospitalization. 20 Cost-effectiveness of Patient Care On average there are roughly 4.5 million visits annually to outpatient clinics, emergency departments and physicians offices due to CAP. 21 However, there has been very little in terms of studies gathering national data on the costs of CAP treatment. One study showed that there was, a total cost of $4.8 billion for treating patients aged à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥65 years and $3.6 billion for treating patients aged Conclusion VD was an elderly woman who was admitted into hospital complaining of acute chest pain and fever for the last few days. After taking a detailed history and examination from her, and with confirmation from a chest X-ray she was diagnosed with right lower lobe community acquired pneumonia. Due to the high neutrophil count in her alveolar spaces, the causative pathogen was most likely to be bacterial and so VD was promptly treated with intravenous amoxicillin, a broad spectrum ÃŽÂ ²-lactam antibiotic that works by inhibiting peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell walls. Paracetamol was also prescribed to alleviate her feverish and chest pain symptoms by inhibiting COX enzymes and PG synthesis in the CNS. Having been diagnosed with chronic autoimmune diseases that can lead to increased susceptibility to chest infections, this can lead to psychological issues such as depression. Recurrent admissions will also be costly to the NHS; if alternative treatments that can allow patients to be treated in an outpatient setting are possible, then there could be significant reductions in cost, particularly for patients over 65.

Pauls Understanding of Holy Spirit Essay -- Religion, Bible, Romans 8

Coming to class today did you guys see anything beautiful? Maybe it was a car. Perhaps a work of art made of glass. Maybe it was jewelry or it is was a flower. If it is really beautiful, you tend to look at it from every direction to appreciate each aspect of it. It just feels good to take in all of the beauty, and satisfying to your senses. Well, I feel that way about the Holy Spirit, how the Holy Spirit leads in our life with an emphasis on His physical direction, how the Holy Spirit leads us spiritually is simply beautiful. Wouldn’t you say? Are you being led by the Spirit? Are you in the Spirit? Does the Spirit dwell in you? It is certainly important for you to be able to answer yes to these questions, but just saying so is not sufficient enough. There is, quite simply, many unscriptural ideas about what these phrases mean. Many people wrongly believe that the Holy Spirit's influence on a person is a "mystical revelation" which overpowers human intentions and that we discern right decisions from wrong ones based on feelings which the Holy Spirit puts directly into our heads apart from Biblical revelation. Many say that the way they feel carries much more weight than the written word. If one can honestly answer "yes" to the questions above, it is only because he has chosen to yield to the teachings and urgings of the Spirit that have been provided to us Christians by God's providence in His Holy Scriptures. You are not really led by the Holy Spirit if you are not living according to His teachings in the gospel. The Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul, shares a great deal of information to us about this subject in Romans 8:1-17. Romans 8 may be described as falling into three distinct but closely related categories. Vers... ...ristian has a choice. He can either live in the realm of the flesh or of the Holy Spirit. The Christian must choose between these two worlds, the way of the flesh, or of the way of the Spirit. Those who walk according to the flesh are condemned to death. On the other hand, those who walk according to the Spirit are led to eternal life. To walk in the Spirit is to have confidence that God is your Father, and that all guidance and strength comes through the Holy Spirit. "I put my mind on Christ and try to listen and obey the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5), the Holy Spirit will give me life and peace (Romans 8:6). If a man is a Christian, he has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). His spirit has been made alive (Romans 8:10) The Holy Spirit is giving life back to his body, bringing it back from the deadness of sin (Romans 8:11) and bring abundant new life in Christ."(Graham)

Gamer: violent video games Essay

Everyone nowadays plays video games. From kids to adults, we all go through the phase of video games. Some are violent others aren’t. So which ones are good for you and which aren’t? Well I believe that video games in general are just games. They do not harm anything or anyone. Violent video games do not cause violent behavior. Just because you go around shooting people on a television doesn’t mean your going to run around the street killing people. This misconception is often misunderstood. It’s just a game. Your sitting next to your television pushing buttons on a controller. Let’s say your playing a violent war game like Medal Of Honor. This game is based off of World War One and World War Two. Of course there is a lot of killing involved, but during a war isn’t that what you expect? Besides the whole killing factor I personally believe that these kinds of games are benefitial. You get to learn what weapons were using during that time period, you learn key events, and most of all you get a historical background of the time period covered. To me this is a unique way of learning. The younger generation tend to play war-like games, which in my opinion is really good. Young kids like shooting and action, but what they don’t know is that they are actually getting more than just that. They are learning what made the United States today. People often look past all those details and just argue that violent video games cause violent behavior, but I am at disbelief. Another reason why I think violent video games don’t contribute to violent behavior is because there is actually no scientific proof. There is no proof out there that violent games cause violent behavior. So what’s wrong with a little bit of machine gun action? Nothing. Nothing at all. In fact some studies show that violent video games actually help with stress and help you relax. Lets say your coming home from work and you had a miserable day. Your boss made you angry because he made you stay late. So you turn on your video game system when you get home ,and decide to shoot some people in the game to help you deal with your stupid boss. So instead of fighting your boss you get to take it out in the video game. It helps you meditate and get your feelings out in an unrealistic envirnment. It’s just too much fun. Who wouldn’t want to run around in a game and blow stuff up? I mean it’s not like I can just go down the street to the store and ask if I could purchase an rpg. Violent video games don’t affect people that way. Ask someone next time, what is the difference between a violent video game and a violent movie? There is none. Only difference is in a video game you have more control than a movie. More control is more fun, and more fun is always good. Just think about how many people just purchased the new GTA 5. That game is probably the most violent game ever produced, and yet people are still staying sane. In my opinion, violent video games have nothing to contribute to violent behavior. Violent behavior is adopted from real violent experiences or encounters. If someone wants to go run down a street and kill someone they will. A video game does not determine that, and never will. We have plenty of pshycos in this world to worry about some video games. Let the people who want to play them. play them. Violent or not at the end of the day it’s just a game.

Working Conditions in Bradford 19th Century

Worksheet: Living and working conditions in 19th century Bradford. This short piece of writing will be describing and explaining why and how the living and working conditions were so appalling in 19th century Bradford. A quote from the poet George Weerth in 1842 gives a graphic idea of what life was like in Bradford 19th century. He gives quite a detailed verse saying in one part that ‘you think you have been lodged with the devil incarnate’ (Bradford health-General, no date) this gives the impression that he would rather be residing or is the same as hell because of the immense disease and vile stench.He compares Bradford to Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester. The reason for these horrendous conditions was the adaptation of industrialisation and urbanisation. Industrialisation was when people moved to the cities, and machines produced things instead of by hand. When industry started to adapt, Bradford started to become worse, in 1800 Bradford had 1 spinning mill 50 years later it had 129 mills. This huge growth in industry and population had some catastrophic effects on Bradford.In 1769 the waterframe was invented, it was powered by water but, it was not a very good machine as with water there are floods, droughts, and foul smells from rivers. One of the main problems came when the use of steam came into force, as coal mills sprang up extremely fast, this transformed human relationships (capitalism). Many of the factories were dominated by women and children, as women were easily controlled and received less than a quarter of the wages that males received. In 1830 in John Woods spinning mill (which was the biggest spinning mill in Bradford) had 528 workers, 489 were women and 38 men.As the industry expanded, even more the openings of wool houses and dye houses came, later then came more shops and houses, they were built anywhere and everywhere. These houses were one up and one down, had no kitchen, no water and no toilet. People bought water private ly in barrels; little did they know that this water could have come from anywhere. At this point there was no sewerage and the dye from the dye houses flooded the town and rivers. It is said that people could set fire to Bradford canal and the water from Bradford could turn silver watch cases black.While the women and children dominated the industry, illness and sickness rates shot through the roof, while there was no sewerage and the population was uncontrollable the average age of death was 18 years old, over fifty percent of children never reached the age of five, and the majority never reached the age of one. In one district alone over five hundred people shared one toilet. In 1850 Bradford won prizes for being the biggest area for textiles, taking over places such as, Manchester and Leeds.At this point in time Bradford was at its worst ,in 1850 the graveyard was full of bodies, houses were too crowded and people kept pigs, chickens and human excrement outside their doors until farmers came and took it away (at the right cost). In the 1841-1851 census it was recorded that up to 20 people were living in one house. Unaware of the dangers of no sewerage, people thought there was no harm in this way of living, as everyone believed these diseases were miasmic diseases and the diseases were caught by overcrowded areas.They believed that decomposing animal and vegetable substances (Thompson, 1982, pp137-138) caused diseases such as smallpox, typhus, cholera and other horrific, frightful diseases. The Bradford Registration District said about twenty percent of all mortality was attributable to ‘Miasmic Diseases’ (Thompson, 1982, pp137-138) so a cleanup of the environment was needed to improve life expectancy. As a conclusion to this piece of writing, it is proven that although the mass growth in industry made Bradford into the biggest textile production area, it also caused colossal social tragedy in Bradford.The main reason for the adaptation in Brad ford was for immediate profit but unfortunately in caused disastrous effects on society.Bibliography Thompson, B (1982) â€Å"Public Provision and Private Neglect: Public Health† in â€Å"Wright, DG jowitt, JA (eds. ) Victorian Bradford. Bradford: City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, pp 137-138. Bradford Health- general (no date). Available at: http://wwwschoolhistory. org. ukgcse/medicine/publichealth/bradford (Accessed: 24 September 2009)

Psychological Causes of Depression

Psychological Causes of Depression The actual causes of depression are still unknown today but there are a few theories that could help explain them. It is widely believed by psychologists and scientists that all mental disorders are brought about by a complex correlation of psychological, biological, and social factors. A serious loss, chronic illness, relationship problem, work stress, family crisis, financial setback, or any unwelcome life change can ignite a depressive disorder (Psychologyinfo. om). Depression is a serious disorder in the United States and has only become more prevalent among individuals as their lives become more stressful and overwhelming. One theory for the cause of depression is the bio-psycho-social model of causation and is the most commonly recognized theory for the cause of disorders such as depression by professionals. As stated earlier, it consists of a complicated correlation of psychological, biological, and social factors.This can be caused by fluctu ated levels of hormones, which would explain why many people first experience depression during puberty. (Grohol, 2006). The exact causes of depression are vast and unknown. Some types of depression have been found in families from generation to generation, which may possibly suggest that it can be inherited (Grohol, 2006). With that said, major depression seems to be present generation after generation, in some families, but not with a frequency that suggests clear biological causes.Furthermore, it also occurs in people who have no family history of depression (Psychologyinfo. com). This is also found in people with bipolar disorder. A study on family members that belong to particular families of each generation that develop bipolar disorders, has found that those with the illness have a somewhat different genetic makeup than those who do not have the disorder. Nonetheless, not everybody with the genetic makeup that is subjective to bipolar disorder will contract the disorder.Addit ional factors such as stresses at home, work, or school, are also involved in the disorder’s onset (depression-guide. com. , et al. ). An assortment of psychological factors appears to play a part in the susceptibility to these unrelenting types of depression. People who have low self-esteem, are not optimistic, and readily overwhelmed by stress, are prone to depression (Grohol, 2006). More than likely, these psychological factors are completely accountable for other forms of mild and moderate depression, particularly reactive depression.Reactive depression is generally diagnosed as an adjustment disorder during treatment. Social learning factors also demonstrate why psychological complications appear to occur more regularly in family members, throughout generations. For example, if a child is raised in a pessimistic household, in which discouragement is frequent and encouragement is not, the child will establish a vulnerability to depression as well. (Psychologyinfo. com. , et al). Recently, researchers have found that physical changes in the body can be paired with psychological changes as well.Medical ailments such as a cancer, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, heart attack, and hormonal disorders can bring about a depressive illness. This can result in the ill person to feel unconcerned with their health and be unwilling to further care for their physical needs. In addition, any stressful change, financial problems, relationship problems, or serious loss can activate a depressive affair (Grohol, 2006). Depression is a serious growing problem in the United States.Modern science and research is slowly helping to further decipher the disorder to help slow its growth. Over 9. 2 million Americans have major or clinical depression. At an economical standpoint, depression is a major problem and needs to be accounted for, with an estimated $30. 4 billion spent annually on depression related treatments, medication, and diagnostics. Surprisingly, the World Health Organization estimates by the year 2020, depression will be the number two cause of, â€Å"lost years of healthy living,† worldwide.As our populations keeps rising and our economy worsening, we can only hope that Psychologists help diminish the illness of depression. References â€Å"Cause of Depression: different causes of depression. † Depression Treatment, Medication, Help, Symptoms: Anxiety Attacks Depression Test, Types, ADHD Causes. Web. 14 Nov. 2009. . â€Å"Causes of depression. † Psychology Information Online. Web. 14 Nov. 2009. . Grohol, John M. â€Å"The Causes of Depression | Psych Central. † Psych Central – Trusted information in mental health and psychology. 6 Dec. 2006. Web. 14 Nov. 2009. .

Literature - In the Pond Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Literature - In the Pond - Essay Example Desperately longing to escape from the single room he and his wife and child have been living in, Bin’s rage is induced by the fact that he fails to obtain an apartment that would provide him and his family with a better life. He feels he has been treated unfairly and that others have been rewarded for political reasons. Unwilling to resort to something as low as bribery, he subjects himself as well as his family, to the endless waiting list for the new apartment, despite his seniority and right to one. It is evident that for some time Bin was able to function in this society quite well. But, the moment he required more than he was given, his dissatisfaction emerged from the depths of his soul. Because, in such a society, one’s power equals the amount of money he owns or people on higher positions that he knows. Effort and hard work are unjustly neglected as unnecessary qualities in a worker, while those that blindly and brainlessly follow orders, are being pushed up th e corporate ladder, praised and rewarded. Seething with anger, the hapless Bin turns to the words of the Han dynasty scholar Wan Chong to find solace. His talents as a calligrapher go unappreciated, and after working all day, he can only give vent to his artistry by night. This is where Bin’s personal epic battle between good and evil commences. He gets the idea to use his talents to gain revenge by placing a satirical cartoon in the provincial paper, which is full of vigor, almost resembling a miniature revolution. Feeling utterly overcome by rage, he does not think things through, but acts rashly, and later wishes his wife stopped him. But, it is already too late. His rage has put into motion something much larger than himself and now that it is out, he cannot stop it anymore. It is said that a good artist can channel any emotion into a work of art, and this is exactly what Bin does. Feeling as low as one can possibly feel, he transforms his anger and utter dissatisfaction into expressive art. He uses his almighty calligraphy pen to fight the establishment and this is the only part of him they are not able to put down and control. It is from this part of his soul that his rebellion is teeming forcefully. Bin becomes transformed from a mindless drone into the everyman of human society, the universal man whose spiritual awakening has just found him and whose dreams have just been set in motion, despite his circumstances, despite his possibilities, despite his reality. Party leaders, secretly alarmed by the accuracy and cleverness of the cartoon, rally hastily. Calling a workers meeting, they bluster and sneer over the political incorrectness of his artwork. They respond with a pay cut and Bin creates another art piece that attacks their greed and their anti-revolutionary tendencies. Bin never backs down from the threats launched his way, and occasionally with his wife’s prodding, he continues to look for justice at the commune level, then with th e county hierarchy, and finally in Beijing. Because his case becomes so famous, his supervisors are unable to just have him beat up, or to simply fire him. Bin tilts at windmill after windmill, undaunted, unwilling to give in to what he knows is wrong. His supervisors dock his pay, humiliate him, and refuse to employ his talents as a calligrapher and choose to hire an outsider instead, but he still stubbornly persists in his efforts. Both sides are caught in an accelerating spiral of recriminations and revenge, the universal human cycle of