Courtship Of Mr Lyon and Wolf Alice Comparison Essay Essay

Extract: The Courtship of Mr Lyon from ‘the voice that seemed to issue from a care full of echoes’ to ‘he went on all fours’. Using this extract as your starting point and this reference to one other story of your choice, you should: -Explore Carter’s manipulation of language to develop the voice of the lion and the reaction of the girl to it. -Examine how Carter exploits the voices of her characters in both stories to comment on attitudes towards characters that are different. The Courtship of Mr Lyon loosely refers to the main storyline presented with the fairytale; The Beauty and The Beast. It is heavily feminine and throughout strives for the equality between men and women, despite their potential ‘otherness’s’. Combined with Wolf Alice, loosely based on Lewis Carroll’s: Alice through the Looking Glass, Carter uses a variety of linguistics and literary techniques in order to communicate a strong sense of voice to the reader. Developing this, then enables Carter to manipulate language to suggest the reactions and relationships between characters within both stories. Throughout the extract, Carter uses a third person omniscient narrative in order to create a sense of separation from events, potentially mimicking the attitudes of society. In general those who tend to ‘stick out’ are ignored, abandoned and shunned. The use of this narrative choice enables reader’s to be faced with the reality of their actions and encourage them to change their views. Beauty exists within days of ‘pastel-coloured idleness’, a sense of boredom reinforced by the use of soft sounding constanants and open vowels. The choice of these lexis help to suggest details regarding Beauty’s persona, a passive character, innocent and submissive, unable to make her own decisions, reflecting historical context, many women were considered to occupy this role within Carter’s writing time. With, ‘a kind of halo’ the Beast appears almost saintly, providing a distraction from Beauty’s monotonous existence. This also suggests the Beast is the authoritative figure within the relationship, Beauty possesses somewhat of awe towards him. However, the distinct lexical choice ‘kind’ suggests the Beast is not entirely what he seems, his sense of ‘otherness’ never able to leave him totally. The Beast appears to hold the position of authority between himself and Beauty; ‘he was irradiated’ foregrounding the anaphoric references ‘he’, highlighting the importance the Beast possesses. A strong sense of the voice of the lion is created through the Beast ‘forc(ing) himself to master his shyness’ revealing feelings the Beast possesses, through a internal third person narration. However, unlike Beauty, who is unable to defeat the ‘small talk (that) turned to dust in her mouth’, the Beast overcomes his sense of fear, yet again suggesting he is stronger than Beauty, a strong sense of character and voice created through repeated reinforcing of the character of the Beast. He can relate to Beauty, ‘(gazing) at her with green, inscrutable eyes’, he is able to understand that she needs to see herself different, shake off the societal constraints she has become conditioned to obey. Beauty is submissive, no longer shying away from the Beast, she has come to accept the Beast’s ‘otherness’ much more, and realises her potential, of which he has created. Beauty sees her face ‘as if it were a bud’, suggesting her potential, she needs to grow and mature, with her stark realisation; ‘all he is doing is kissing my hands’, reinforcing how far Beauty has already progressed, as at the start, she is afraid to acknowledge the Beast’s existence. Earlier in the story, when Beauty first enters the Beast’s castle, her father is attacked by the Beast, who shook him ‘until his teeth rattled’ and ‘yapped distractedly’ after. Although these actions are not that expected from a ‘normal’ member of society, and suggest the Beast possesses very little humanity at that moment, the humorous nature of the phrases suggest that the Beast may not be as frightening as initially thought, hinting to the reader foreshadowing, already actions of the Beast are not all as they appear. The Beast sees the ‘absolute sweetness’ of Beauty, an ambiguous syntactic parallel, suggesting to the reader that not only the Beast, but Beauty too possesses ‘otherness’, as her beauty, ‘who looked as if she had been carved out of a single pearl’ hinders her development, she is treated as a possession, and has very little idea how to interact with humans alongside her in society. Within Wolf Alice, a third person restricted narrative is used to emphasise the central character’s sense of ‘otherness’ within the story. Described as a ‘ragged girl’, with a ‘panting tongue’ that ‘runs on all fours’, Wolf Alice is introduced as different from the rest of the society. The voice of the narrator stating ‘her pace is not our pace’. The inclusive audience address of ‘our’ perhaps suggesting, similar to within The Courtship Of Mr Lyon, that society wishes to separate themselves from people that appear different, or unique, a belief that Carter wishes to challenge, emphasised by the phrase; ‘she was lonely enough’. However, the repetition of the lexis ‘pace’ may suggest similarities between Wolf Alice and the rest of society, even though different, there are similarities also, Wolf Alice is not entirely different. The Nuns, supposedly religious and accepting, ‘poured water over her, poked her with sticks to rouse her’. Evidently, these are against Wolf Alice’s otherness, containing within them the views of the entire society. However, Carter may also be using the Nun’s as an alternative, additional message, that religion too is deteriorating. Throughout The Courtship of Mr Lyon, the idea of eyes is repeated frequently. A symbol of understanding and potential, ‘as if her eyes’ the Beast is able to see the possibilities Beauty contains and wishes her to encourage her character to blossom. Earlier in the story, Beauty finds the Beast’s ‘bewildering difference from herself almost intolerable’, she focuses only on the differences between themselves, and has a lack of understanding and appreciation. The progression Beauty has made in accepting other’s differences is highlighted as ‘the stiff bristle of (the Beast’s) muzzle’ graze on her lap, and Beauty does not retreat. Within the Beast’s eyes, ‘she saw herself repeated twice’ possibly showing Beauty’s realisation. She is now able to see how she is viewed by society, as well as the changes she has made herself. She is no longer shallow or possesses appearance-dominated beliefs. Beauty is amazed at ‘how is was that she had never noticed before that his agate eyes were equipped with lids like those of a man’, she has finally come to accept both her own and the Beast’s otherness, and is content and comfortable with herself. ‘It was no longer a lion in her arms but a man’, concludes the main idea of the story, both Beauty and the Beast have found themselves and are comfortable, despite the reactions and isolation they experience from society. They are happy together and become one, the idea highlighted with the tense change of the last syntax, the present tense suggesting a continuation, suggesting this occurs in the present, and should continue, an idea which resonates within the reader’s mind. Finally, the Duke too, within Wolf Alice has differences and repulses society; ‘his thin legs scabbed with old scars where thorns scored his pelt’. Society too has hate for him, he is an outcast, much like Wolf Alice. ‘Old scars’ suggest previous encounters with society, their macabre actions, wounding the Duke. Carter is challenging the reader, just because actions are completed by the masses, does it make them right? The Duke ‘sees, nowhere a reflection of himself’. He has retreated from society, he does not accept his character, further emphasised by his separation from society, living on his own in a ‘gloomy mansion’. Potential fear the villagers have towards the Duke is highlighted within the humorous euphemism ‘lupine fiesta’s’, perhaps suggesting that the reader’s do not want to accept responsibility for the actions they have performed which have driven the Duke to be so un-human. The repeated capitalisation of ‘Duke’ also suggesting respect, if not fear, towards the strong, seemingly soulless character. If they had been accepting and nurturing, the Duke may have been able to blossom and progress, yet their harsh, judgemental actions have secluded the Duke, leading him to live a primal life, no conscious present. However, throughout the story, Wolf Alice grows and matures from a child to a woman, gradually developing human-like characteristics, such as the need for hygiene, ‘looking for rags to sop the blood up’. After meeting the Duke, Wolf Alice continues to progress and encourages the Duke to do so too. Finally, ‘as if brought into being by her soft, moist, gentle tongue†¦ the face of the Duke’ appears in the mirror. The ideas of the story concluded, similar to The Courtship Of Mr Lyon, Wolf Alice and the Duke both accept their otherness, and encourage the other to do so. All are able to find happiness and live contently despite the views society may possess. Carter is suggesting that feminism does not mean a dominating sex, but equality between them, as each is equal within creation. In conclusion Carter’s use of literary and linguistic techniques successfully portray the sense of voice and the reactions of characters within both stories to the idea of otherness. Her final ideas are concluded well within both stories, creating a clear message which resonates and questions the reader, encouraging them to consider their actions within a modern-day society.

History and Development of Mac Cosmetics

History and development of M. A. C It all started with two Canadians, a hair salon owner Frank Angelo and a makeup artist, named Frank Toskan, The two men started MAC in Toronto in 1984. They wanted to create cosmetic products that could withstand all the rigorous wear required to do photo shoot, such as the heat from bright lighting. Frank Toskan was the idea man in the company. Before he partnered with Angelo, he spent hours experimenting with formulas to try and create this â€Å"super makeup† with the help of chemist Victor Casale, who was also his brother-in-law.He then formed a business relationship with Frank Angelo since he was a skilled entrepreneur. Since they already had connections in the field of makeup and fashion, they spread the idea of MAC through their networks. The quality and durability of the cosmetics soon gave the company the boost it needed on the celebrity scene. This led to endorsements from celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Boy George, Debbie Harr y and other big '80s stars.MAC opened its first stateside store in 1991 in New York City and opened its first European store in Paris in 1996. It also has a store in several more European countries as well as in China and distribution deals with several department stores in the U. S. A. such as Nordstrom's and Macy's. In 1994, they sold interests of their company to Estee Lauder, another prominent cosmetics company, four years later Estee Lauder took over the company completely.In 1997 Frank Angelo passed away and Frank Toskan quit MAC to devote his time to an AIDS charity. Estee Lauder kept the MAC name and continued some of the original owners' charity work, such as the MAC AIDS Fund. Although MAC is now available the average consumer, the company maintains its focus on professional makeup artists. The MAC brand continues to grow, and the line now consists of hundreds of products worldwide and the brand's reputation of quality remains intact.

25 Summer Programs at Stanford for High Schoolers

It’s the time of year to start planning your summer! If you have a few weeks to spare and want to try something new, consider applying to one of these 25 Stanford-based summer programs just for high school students. You have worked all year to earn good grades and make the most out of high school. With summer around the corner, it can be tempting to kick back. While some rest is probably overdue, so is some exploring. Here are three reasons we think dedicating a few weeks to a program will give you the summer of your dreams. Meet peers with similar interests and drive. Some of the best and brightest students from around the world gather at Stanford each summer to learn from world-class faculty––and each other. Use this time as an opportunity to swap stories, share study tips, and dream together. Get ideas for how to pursue your passion . Students aiming to attend top tier colleges and universities will need a lot more than participating in a summer program to make their application stand out. That said, taking captivating seminars and going on mind-blowing expeditions offers a great starting point from which to continue exploring your passion after the program ends. Learn what life on campus is like. If you have dreamed of going to Stanford, an on-campus residency program gives you the opportunity to test the waters. Over several weeks, you will experience the daily rhythms of Palo Alto and learn whether this Golden State university is right for you. Spend seven weeks working in an active lab conducting research. Keep in mind you must have at least a 3.5 weighted GPA, with all As and Bs in science and math classes. Additionally, you must live within 25 miles of Stanford’s campus and come from a low-income family. You must also be the first person in your family who plans to graduate from college. Please ask a teacher to nominate you using this form . Ever wonder what makes chimps smaller than gorillas? Â  You can delve into questions about body size evolution during this 8-week program. Note: You must be from the San Francisco Bay area to participate.

Damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley - Assignment Example However, San Francisco’s water needs mean they are interested in damming the valley. The city argues that engineer reports indicate the valley to be the best source for sufficient water. They also state that the domestic water needs of the city’s population far outweigh the interests of campers in the valley. The anti-damming side argues that the engineer reports are faulty and unreliable, not exhausting other possible water sources for the city. Besides, damming the valley upholds the immoral and selfish commercial exploitation of nature. I advise you to vote against the Bill on the rationale that this will allow for the involvement of all stakeholders in deliberating on the issue and independent engineer investigations, both of which have been foregone in the preparation of the current bill. Background on the Hetch Hetchy and the Raker Bill: The Hetch Hetchy is a valley in California, closely related with the Yosemite Valley and lying in the wider Sierra Nevada mountain ranges (Hetch Hetchy Timeline 1). In light of the rapid commercial expansionism of America at the expense of the environment, the Harrison administration legislated and converted the entire area into the Yosemite National Park on March 3, 1891. A notable figure in sparking public awareness on conservationism and, in particular, the need to conserve the natural setting of California was John Muir, who has later headed the Sierra Club to protect the established park (United States Mint 1). Geographically, the Yosemite National Park consists of the Yosemite Valley and the Hetch Hetchy Valley (History Matters 5-6).

Contemporary Theories of political Economy final essay

Contemporary Theories of political Economy final - Essay Example Thus in order to fathom the basis of the economical crisis that emerged during the late 1060s and the early 1970s, a more thorough and wide-ranging approach needs to be taken. At the start of the 1970s, the opinionated left had created strict doctrinal views about the purpose of capitalism. They believed that capitalism was inherently a system of exploitation and oppression (Jà ¸rgensen 125). The global and economic activities that took place in the 1960s were largely the result of capitalism as it had emerged since the Great Depression. However the 1970s were witness to a crisis and transformation of capitalism, initially displaying its faults but later on escaping the clutches of the left. Indications of a crisis were being sighted in the late 1960s, attributable not merely to the global unrest of 1968 but also due to the fact that the economic system was not fail-proof to the pervasive effects of crisis in capitalist systems. One of the major effects of the protest cycle that had initiated in 1968 was the emergence of newly revived working class militancy (Jà ¸rgensen 125). This militancy was responsible for shattering the peace of the labor market that had been present for a long time now. The time period between 1968 and 1972 attested to a series of strikes in Western Europe, specifically characteristic of wildcat strikes that were held beyond the structural setup of negotiation. Jà ¸rgensen observes that â€Å"the official trade union leaderships were more often than not taken by surprise by their members’ militancy† (125). The unrest occurring during this time period, along with the fall of the Bretton Woods system and the dollar crisis, cumulated together and made the global crisis into an impending reality. It was in 1973 that the crisis finally struck, and the hopes of stable capitalism as a reasonably organized perpetuum

South Africa Apartheid History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

South Africa Apartheid History - Essay Example Apartheid (1948-1994) cannot be considered as ‘the best solution’ for the country because it violated human rights and freedoms of black populations and caused separation between white minority and black majority. Primarily, apartheid was one of the main forms of racial discrimination, separation of white minority and black majority. Social divisions in this colonial society increasingly took on a rigid racial character1. Between 1950s – 1970s white power was used to forge one of the most extreme forms of racial discrimination in the twentieth-century world. For instance, whereas the strength and size of the settler population in the United States or Australia meant that race relations were for many years relegated to the peripheries of national historiography, race was an abiding concern even in the most inward-looking settler histories of South Africa2. Apartheid cannot be the best solution for South African because this term coincides with the concepts of racism, segregation and oppression of black population. Segregation in South Africa encompassed many different social relationships. It is often discussed as a series of legislative Acts which removed and restricted the rights of ‘non-whites’ in every possible sphere. Segregation was more than a set of restrictive legislation: it refers as well to a composite ideology and set of practices seeking to legitimize social difference and economic inequality in every aspect of life3. For instance, "Coloured" was the official apartheid designation for persons of mixed raceâ€Å"4. Many of the spatial and social elements of segregation, such as the division of churches on the basis of color, were initially governed by convention rather than law. It is important to mention the exclusion of blacks from skilled work, and especially from the exercise of supervisory functions ove r whites, was determined by custom as well as legislative

Effect of Incentives on Employees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Effect of Incentives on Employees - Essay Example The concepts of recognition and reward have been found to have close link with incentives. The main purpose of incentives is to increase the motivation of the employees in any organization towards attainment of their specific organizational and performance goals. It also leads to increased motivation to work as a team towards the attainment of a common goal of the members in an organization. In simple words, incentives are rewards and recognition given to an employee beyond their expected salary. (Incentives Get Employees Working) The most common form of incentive is any kind of monetary reward to the employee. Several other kinds of incentives include a free trip, promotion on trail basis, a free holiday, gifts, discount coupons and vouchers. However, these are not the only form of incentives and there are many more, which differ according to the demand of the situation. (Incentives Get Employees Working) Incentives are given to increase the motivation of the employees. Since money has a considerable effect on the increase in the levels of motivation, money is considered to be a great incentive in most, if not all the organizations. There have been a number of studies that have proven that incentives in the form of cash prize have been successful in obtaining the desired outcome from the employees. Not only money, but several other incentives have also proven to be effective. However, it's not in all the cases that incentives such as money, will defiantly lead to the desired outcome or attainment of organizational goals. Not all the incentives lead to satisfaction in the employees. There are several reasons for this, the first being disappearance of intrinsic or intangible incentives, followed by hierarchy of needs and saturation level. Absence of Intrinsic/Extrinsic Incentive When behaviour is followed with the greed in mind solely for extrinsic rewards, then the performance decreases. For instance, a doctor who did his job because he liked helping people, now does it with only one purpose of gaining more money, would charge more and work less. This reduces his performance; however his extrinsic incentive has risen. This equally applies to employees as well. In some cases, also if the employee gains more satisfaction by intrinsic rewards, then extrinsic incentives will not lead to increased motivation and vice versa. (Management Implications of the Interaction between Intrinsic Motivation and Extrinsic Rewards) Hierarchy of Needs According to Abraham Maslow's theory of motivation, every individual has needs that are set in levels of hierarchy. When the first level is achieved, the individual moves on to the second level of his needs. However, while he is struggling to achieve his second level of need, if the individual is given the first level of need, it doesn't motivate the individual at all. When applying this to any organization, incentives could at times cause dissatisfaction in the employee leading to decrease in performance. For instance, if an individual's current need is to buy a car and he puts all his efforts to attain the goals of the organization

Discuss the similarities between Louis Wirth's Urbanism As A Way of Assignment

Discuss the similarities between Louis Wirth's Urbanism As A Way of Life and Cara Buckley's article in The New York Times - Assignment Example Thus it is expected that there will not be occurrences of abrupt and discontinuous variations in personality between people living in the city and those on the countryside. However, recent studies have revealed that the experience of country folks moving to the city has been characterized by hardship where many feel left out while others just fail to adapt to the busy city life. This paper seeks to research and discuss the similarities between Louis Wirths "Urbanism as a Way of Life" and Cara Buckleys article in The New York Times. According to both authors, the rapidity and recentness of urbanization in the United States is a major course of the problems faced in urban centers and the lack of awareness towards them. The urban centers are populated densely by individuals from diverse cultures and religions which leads to very different modes of life among the city inhabitants. There is a wide variability and segmentation of individuals and a significant absence of intimacy in the relation between fellow city inhabitants which are generally superficial and short lived. According to Wirth (2), the heterogeneity of the urban population results in disintegrated social structures which promote mobility, instability and insecurity. Buckley’s article also reflects Wirth’s ideology that the social life in urban centers is superficial and there are distant social relations. Buckley writes about the experiences of newcomers in the New York City and how it changes the personality and social behavior pattern s of the people who move to the city. This is depicted in Lisa Phin’s case who is 25 and moved to the city from Dallas (Buckley 2008). She had a hard time making friends and out of the loneliness she faced she resorted to building friendships through online websites. The tight schedules, routines and the usual bustle of the city life quickly take the

ECOMMERCE PROJECT MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ECOMMERCE PROJECT MANAGEMENT - Essay Example The first challenge of project management is ensuring that a project is delivered within the defined constraints. The second challenge is the optimized allocation and integration of the inputs needed to meet those pre-defined objectives. (The Gale Group 2002) The goal of the project is to create the initial planning documentation required to be established for all contract negotiations. This will include: project title, sponsor, main stakeholders involved and their contact details, the project manager and major deliverables expected. The project will be designed under the following circumstances: The individual in charge of the project has been assigned as the Principal Consultant (of a 10 person team) to a new eCommerce project contracted by Brisbane City Council The goal of this person is to: 1. To create the initial planning documentation required to be established for all contract negotiations. This will include: project title, sponsor, main stakeholders involved and their contact details, the project manager and major deliverables expected. 2. The planning document will include a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) that will be utilized for the project. The WBS will require identification of ALL activities & tasks in the project and their description; person[s] responsible for each task; estimated and/or actual cost of all tasks; phase of the project. Project scope simply refers to the size of the project in terms of what will be included and what will not. For the purpose of building a website for our imaginary online Halloween-goods business, let's say that our project scope will include: A Web site design 5 pages of content 1 contact-us form A Web store Now that we know the scope of our ambitious one-month project, in terms of what will be included and the time we have to complete it, I will brainstorm a list of things outside the scope of this project - the inclusion of these things (or anything else) outside the scope of your project would constitute what's called scope creep. Let's say that our project scope will not include: anything stored in a database Multimedia like video or Flash Automatic shipping/distribution ability (Hammer) Project: SV who needs "how-to" instructions for migrating from your current skills and applications to open standards-based skills and applications, you're at the right place! Our migration tracks guide you through the resources that will accelerate your migration from proprietary technologies to an e-business on demand environment. These resources include tools, technical articles, online tutorials, classes, forums, Web casts, customized services, and other forms

Values And The American Culture Essay Example for Free

Values And The American Culture Essay The values that drive American culture as such are their ability to assess almost all of its situational issues boosting the ease with which they were able to adjust to changeable life conditions making sure the link of its race. This constitutes American behaviors, its mores and traditions which were handed down through generations with little modifications. This is its own culture. Like their gestures, eating habits, drinking habits, sex, and laughter which are all personality indicators are likewise their cultural markers. Even their food preferences and attitudes toward food which necessarily reveals their inner self is also a display of their culture, because food plays an important role in the lives of all people beyond its obvious one, a necessity. Sam Keen cites Geoffrey Gorer: the most significant common traits in these peaceful societies are that they all manifest enormous gusto for concrete physical pleasureeating, drinking, sex, laughterand they, they all make very little distinction between the ideal characters of men and women, particularly that they have no ideal of brave, aggressive masculinity ( Watters 2005), reminds me in particular of a proof of American culture having been developed through generations of varying grades of adjustments and alterations to continue to live and survive in the midst of fierce environmental situations. I think this is what most American teen-agers call an attitude of being cool! Normally however, things happen because something else took place, consequently, events takes place; a battery of events, a domino effect, because there are only few things that come to pass all by themselves. The above citation also reveals a view of a society that is exactly the living portraits of their ancestors; a society that is composed of people who are just as weak as those who nurtured them or the other way around. They look like disconcerted, unsettled group at one point; of what appears to be simpleton in ignorance for men and women alike can rise above the limits of physicality in determination to achieve the optimum level, a better and compromising society. That men and women alike can rise above carnality to supersede poor human idiosyncrasies and egocentricities. That men and women alike are capable of rising above the meager desires of the flesh. In other words, it is a pity, for these is how this particular group of people has been nurtured. The prayer of the poor souls by Mark Twain is indicative of that particular generation weakness in personalities. In this 21st century, who would rush out to applaud soldiers going to war? Who would go to church and pray that the soldiers be safe? People would think of it as a sickening idea. However, in the past that was their last recourse in the midst of tribulations for a prayerful congregation that seems to be lost and in need of some supreme powers to overtake the opponents, whose reasons for warfare is not so clear, who have no alternative but to suffer the chills of the uncertain, mercy from the Supreme Being for the children’s lives that will be lost including their very dreams, all of it is simply the result of their foolish obsessions. It was a reflection of the achievements in education and technology of the time. Praying for the security of forces in times of war, a war which was usually conducted as a result of overt desire for what is transient and materialistic, a war that simply runs counter to the ideals of preservation of life even at the fetal stages, for even in the most difficult problems in science and mathematics there are almost always solutions, there are those born physically defective that are even helped to bring about normal living. Bravery could have meant patience, learned, forgiving, persevering and endurance overlooking the mistakes of others, talking about matters on the tables of logic and reason, sourcing-out what can be afforded whether intellectual or material. For going to war is a mere reflection of bravery in cowardice, it is illiteracy in the midst of modernizing technology, it means plummeting economy, bankruptcy, too elementary an idea of hiding in the power of guns and bullets, the manly relief of those who have frustrations in their younger days. Why pray for those who go to war? Let them be, and let their desires be fulfilled to the fullest and let us see what beneficial results it would bring. War on the other hand is a balancing factor; its mortality factor is justifiable (Miller Levine 2002). The population must be equated with its resources. Otherwise, everyone will suffer for lack. It is a way of getting rid of what is surplus. Painful maybe as it seem, but, that is one glaring generality of a truth which people have to learn and accept. For if human population increase is merely brought about by desire and lust without considerations of the intellectual nature of people, then there must be some way to balance the situation without necessarily putting forth in public the real reasons for going to war. Mead presupposes that there are really people who are avid at inventions, eager to go to war (Watters 2005). This is simply just like a fashion show of prowess and might, a beguiling entrepreneur masking the motivations of greed, a game of the ignorant for in it there is no virtue. It is the making of the poor in spirit a dangerous invention of murky imaginations, an out-dated social waste. Of warfare’s and duels and fights are the painful consequences of improper family breeding, wrong values at the wrong places (Watters 2005). A concrete illustration of the concept of culture as eventualities can be seen through Samuel Langhorne Clemens life (Mark Twain 2006). From the time he was born until when he was a writer, where he made clear his fine evolution on how things were with him that brought about his totality as a person, an American personality. At one point in his life he used aliases, pseudonyms, and allegories to show major happenings and events that molded him into being. He could have been blunt and straightforward. But, looking back at his childhood years where he grew up moving from place to place as his family moved, adapting constantly to constant ecological changes, orphaned from a mother’s tender loving care, model by an uncompromising father, growing up with a bully aunt, which strained him to be smart at his age, in his own little way. He felt none in his family could be a confidante to a witnessed absurdity, to comfort him in dire need of a shield, to listen to his stories, to guide him through his journeys. Better are the hens and the chicks, the cats and its kittens, the dogs and its puppies, and the birds and its nestlings, even the lions and its cubs does have their own bonding ways. So, at the outset, he has to deal with his fears, deal with his own problems, and gain his own wits, create his own little world for a young boy at his age, pushing him to make decisions of his own to secure his life. Pity, but the prices of sternness, negligence in family responsibilities, bully, poverty, economic instability, politics, and war, has to be paid for tremendously, by the horrifying lives of those left behind to pursue an undefined journey. Does this mean life in America is indifference? Life is not that easy and rosy. Tom who is the male counterpart of various animals and Sawyer who saws timber (Merriam-Webster Inc. 2004) nicks across the very soul of Samuel Clemens, a reality of how one person can become because of the many and various factors that are sometimes, somehow, are beyond ones control. Nature as they say have its own ways of making a man, and molding him accordingly. Another life clarifies what brought about the American culture. Contrary to those fairytales, Louisa May Alcott as a teenager was riddled with the necessities early in life. She was supposed to be left at that young age to be bemused by the fleeting amenities of a young lady. But, the burden of working in the shadows of her dreams to bring about the basics of life seemed just inevitable to her. Multitasking was the name of her game to help finance her family needs. It is a show of the ability of women to find ways and means to sustain life. She was not bitter though. The story was also an eye-opener and disappointment to realize how some men are narrow in outlook in putting up with a simple family needs for sustenance. She pursued the unknown fields with tenacity to success, allayed fears and troubles. In her story â€Å"Little Men†, she bared another of the wholesome American family and its spirit, the willingness of granting opportunities to those in needs, without necessarily prejudicing family interest, without setting too many rules, making life easy and desirable (Alcott 1986). It also depicts the truth that more is given to some, and to others are less, and only the poor and the weak are the justification of the wealthy. To those who are given more, a lot more is required of them. Others may not realize this. But, others does, especially those who give themselves time to reflect for whatever comes and whatever leaves them. George W. Renwick, A Fair Go for All: Australian/American Interactions, 1991, wrote: The value systems of Australians and Americans combine competitive and cooperative strands, but in different ways. The Australian harmonizes them while the Americans see them as mutually exclusive and is torn between them. Americans are always ready to put themselves in competition with the group or groups to which they belong; it is often â€Å"either the group or me. † For the Australian it is the group and me, with a great deal of personal privacy as well. † Australians search for ways to collaborate with the competition while Americans seeks ways to â€Å"beat† it. The American position seems to be that too much cooperation weakens one’s advantage. This may stem, in part, from the different ways such values are inculcated. Much is made of mandatory participation in team sport in Australian schools. Americans place more emphasis on the outstanding individual and early on learn â€Å"spectatorism,† with its powerful identification with the few superior performers. Finally, another attribute which drives American culture is their preference to physical evidence and eyewitness testimony. They see facts as the supreme kind of evidence. Popular best-selling books weave their tales by giving clues to the appearance of physical evidence or fact: a button that is torn-off a sleeve, a telephone answering machine, a caller ID, and a bank-book of regular deposits or withdrawal, are all pieces of evidence from where American behavior, motivation and values are apparent (Lustig 1996). References Alcott, Luisa. Little Men. U. S. A: A Signet Classic. 1986. Lustig, Myron W. and Jolene Koester. Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures.US: Harper Collins College Publishers. 1996. Miller, Kenneth R. Biology. Upper Saddle River: N. J. Prentice Hall. 2002. Renwick, George W. A Fair Go For All: Australian/American Interactions. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press. 1991. Tan, Amy. Fish Cheeks. New York: Ivy Books. 1989. The Merriam Webster Dictionary. Springfield, Massachusettes. Merriam-Webster Inc. 2004. Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. (ed. Unabridged). New Delhi. UBSPD. (Original work published in 1876). 2006. Watters, Ann. Global Exchange. U. S. A: Stanford University. 2005.

The Effects Of Social Isolation Nursing Essay

The Effects Of Social Isolation Nursing Essay A 60 years old female XYZ patient was admitted in hospital with organic brain syndrome two years ago. She is still hospitalized. My first interaction with patient was when I entered her room, she told me to get out. In second interaction as I tried to talk to her, she listened to me only for two minutes but didnt answer me and instructed her care-taker to tell me to leave the room. My further attempts at interaction with the patient would result in conversations not lasting 2-4 minutes and then she would remove herself to a place where no one would bother her. Most of the time, she kept herself in her room and become aggressive when someone tried to take her outside. She couldnt concentrate on one thing more than 2 minutes. Her major symptoms were short attention span, impaired recent memory and poor judgment. In three weeks rotation I have found she was reluctant to talk with others. She felt more comfortable when no one disturbed her. Initially she was very strongly guarded but very gradually as I worked with her, things began to improve. I made small interventions to make her socialize, such as, every day I took her outside and asked her to greet the health care professionals etc. The end result of these little efforts was very positive. The health care professionals noticed a discernable change in her behavior. Now this patient greets others and responds more positively. The Doctor said she showed very positive improvements and recommended these interventions should be continued. The concept which came in my mind and very perceptibly I have found in my patient was social isolation. According to Nicholas R, Nicholson Jr. (2009) Social isolation is suggested, state in which the individual lacks a sense of belonging socially, lacks engagement with others, has a minimal number of social contacts and they are deficient in fulfilling and quality relationships(p.1346). Social isolation is a social condition that leaves significant effects on psychological well-being and physical health, with the costs of these conditions particularly higher among old and mentally ill patients. According to Havens et al. cited by Nicholas R Nicholson Jr. (2009) Psychological barriers such as decline in cognition, poor or altered mental healthà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ factor that lead to social isolation (p.1346). If I relate the concept with my patient she likes to live alone, unable to share her life experiences, lack of belongingness with others, unable to do her activity daily living and these all were because of her cognitive impairment and low concentrate level which leads her towards social isolation in her. Many factors which leads to social isolation. In Pakistan, gradually we are loosing our traditional values, social bonds like family and neighborhood. With changing socio-economic and cultural conditions, we witness the emergence of nuclear families living separately rather than the traditional extended families living together. Literature on social isolation is not available about our country but I have found the South Asian Article (New Delhi India). Indian culture is similar to ours and we can easily relate their findings to our context. Age Well Foundation (2010) stated that Ever-changing socio-economic scenario of the country has resulted in emergence popularity of nuclear family à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦they felt themselves completely isolated and alone (p.21). According to Age Well Foundation (2010) In urban areas 39.1% older persons were reported isolated socially as well as emotionally (p.09). In late age certain human faculties become enfeebled. For instance cognitive impairment, physical frailty, restricted ability for social interaction. If this is accompanied with social isolation, the chances of depression occurring are much increased. If the situation continues, the person is caught in a downward spiral where social isolation and depression feed on each other, and the person becomes deprived of the ability to conduct social interaction. According to Draper cited by Heather L. Menne et al. (2009) left untreated depression and depressive symptoms à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ intensified problems with cognitive processing (p.554). According to Amin A. Gadit M. (2010) Among the mental illnesses, depression 22.9%prevalence of depression among elderly (p.03). Chronic illnesses, the death of friends and loved ones and feelings of social isolation can add up to social isolation in older adults. According to Ather M Taqui et al. The prevalence of depression in the elderly in our study was 19.5% (p.04). They also mentioned the cause of depression was nuclear family and due to less social interaction with family, elderly suffer from depression. Stigmatization towards mental illness is very common, which make mentally ill patients socially isolated more. Zahid, J. et al. (2006) stated The younger respondents felt that people with schizophrenia, depression and drug abuse are dangerousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ more likely to blame people with drug abuse problems for their drug use (p.57). Care-taker perceptions towards old age people and for mentally ill patients are also contributing factor towards social isolation. According to Baltes and Smith quoted by Graeme Hawthorne (2006) It is a stereotype of later life that there is a network of loneliness, social isolation and neglect (p.522). During my mental health clinical, I observed that care-takers think that if they fulfill the patients physical needs, give them medicine on time, this is more than sufficient. Their attitudes toward old age was as they are very old, there is no hope for them to cure from mental illness. The same thing was happened with my own patient. Her care-takers perceptions were now my patient is very old and you dont need to make any efforts because since two years I am with her but there are no positive improvements. Roys Adaption Model (Roy Andrews 1999) is one conceptual and theoretical model in nursing with which social isolation fits well. In this model she focused on four modes of adaptation, physiologic-physical, Self-concept, Role function and Interdependence Mode. If human declines in one mode it has specific affects on physical and mental health. According to Nicholas R, Nicholson Jr. (2008) Being socially isolated can be conceptualized as having ineffective self-concept or Interdependence mode responses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the person has failed to adapt and this is manifested by being socially isolated (p.1349). Through this model a nurse can observe the behavior of the person is adaptive or maladaptive. Self-concept mode focused on psychological and spiritual sense of integrity and purpose of living in the universe. When someone looses sense of psychological well being, has no purpose of life, unconcerned with others, this makes a person socially isolated. Cognitive impairment is the major cause which interferes in this mode and the person feels helpless to adapt this mode effectively and goes into social isolation. Interdependence mode deals with human relationships with others, their purpose, structures and how it grows individually and in a group. When a person fails to adapt this mode appropriately and shows less concern towards close relations, or a persons loved ones show less concern toward the person it makes the person socially isolated. Social isolation has strong connection with mental illness. Social isolation and cognitive impairment go side by side. According to Ellis and Hickie cited by Graeme Hawthorne (2006) In addition there are associations between social isolation and mental illnessà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ premature death (p.522). My patient was socially isolated due to impaired cognitive abilities, short attention span and impaired recent and immediate memory. Older people need more concentration and care as I relate the above with my patient, she was 60 years old and struggling to remember recent events and concentrate on one point. When she failed to do these tasks which hinder her communication and daily activities, this made her more agitated and led to social isolation. In old age cognitive impairment decline daily activities, loss of interest in social interaction, face difficulties to express their own feelings and to understand others ideas. All these things also play a significant role in social isolation. According Van Oostrom cited by Graeme Hawthorne (2006) Related to difficulties with mild cognitive impairmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦partner loss and institutionalization (p.522). Research conducted on social isolation has identified many different factors that might contribute to social isolation in older adults, Physical environment factors such as place of residence, geographic distance from family or friends. According to Kaneda cited by Barratt J. (2007) In developing countries growing numbers of older à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦isolation bereft of the traditional environment of an extended family (p.02). In the light of literature, my patient was dependent on the care-taker in hospital although she fulfills her physical needs but I never observed her encourage the patient to mingle with others. In my view this was also one of the causes for her social isolation. Maintaining relationships and participating in social activities have been associated with improved memory and intelligence in the elderly. There are many strategies which as a nurse we can develop to take out a person from isolation. Studies found that educational and social activity, group interventions that target specific groups of people can alleviate social isolation among older people. Patient assessment I have covered in the scenario. I had planned strategies at the individual, family, group and institutional level. But I just got a chance to implement on the individual and institutional level. Strategies for individual: I worked on her short attention span and on social isolation. Initially I asked her to come out from the room, we would take a round in corridor. She refused but gradually she accepted. I made her friend of the other staff, explored her life achievements and acknowledged it in front of other staff; made her sit in the garden and in the television room, Every day I took her outside and encouraged her greet the health care professionals. I involved her in occupational therapy although out of eight days occupational therapy sessions she only attended three sessions and only in the last session she sat for as long as ten minutes and talked with doctor and answered the questions appropriately. I asked her the old admitted patients names and she could recall most of their names. I encouraged her to sit and talk to them. I tried to involve her in a daily routine, like, to decide what she would like to wear next day and to ensure to brush her teeth and wash her face herself. I think to involve the socially isolated patient in her daily routine is the best technique to take them out from their condition. I gave her the opportunity for decision making, such as I wanted to talk to her and where would she want to sit and for how long could we sit together. As a result, it made her talk and use her cognitive ability. I asked her about her interests. She told me, she liked to recite her religious verses and Nat I asked her to recite in the occupational therapy session. There everybody acknowledged her and she was encouraged to talk about herself. She said she had performed Hajj with her husband and now my husband is not alive. I tried to involve her in drawing but for this she strictly refused me, but asked me to write down the name of Allah. She promises to color it but later on she refused. On a group level, I tried to engage her in group activities but due to time constraint, I was not able to implement. I was planned to involve her in psycho education and in cognitive behavioral therapy, group discussions with set agendas, exercises group to promote physical activity. It was also difficult for my patient to cope at that time, but I believe if I could stay longer with her or at least go every week on clinical rather than alternate weeks, I could achieve this task as well. We can involve them in occupational therapy sessions and make a play group where they can play small native games. According to Dana A Glie, et al. (2005) elderly non demented subjects found that participating in cognitively stimulating leisure activities (e.g. playing board games) protected against development of dementia (p.865). My patient was interested in reciting the Quran and if she recites in a group it make her socialize with others and women who are gathered there can share their interests as well. According to Andersson cited by Cattan M. (2005) (1) found that among small groups of older women who lived alone and who discussed health-related topics, significantly reduced loneliness and increased social contact, self-esteem and participation in organized activities was found. (p.05) Family can also follow the above individual level strategies which I had done with my, if person lives at home. They can give appropriate time to them, involve them in their discussion. As a nurse I could conduct teaching on patient disease process and on social isolation with family and teach them how to deal with the isolated patients. At institutional level we can conduct the workshops, seminars, can make nurses group who entirely deal with isolated patient, provide more information on social isolation in different disease. Attendant nurse teaching should be conducted because they should also know the reasons; consequences of social isolation. I have conducted the teaching on social isolation and on major symptoms of my patient disease which leads to social isolation with two attendant nurses (N/A). At community level we can make community support group for old people, plan activities which they can do easily. Initially when I start reading this topic my understanding about it, was very limited. I thought loneliness and isolation are the same topic but as I read more about it I have found loneliness is purely a persons own feeling and even though a person who involves in a group or sits in a group can go through the loneliness feelings. Whereas social isolation is with-drawl from surrounding, a person has no concern with others. Before dealing with this patient I felt that to approach this patient was very difficult because this patient was not only mentally ill but also isolated and would not let others interact with her. Gradually I started and noticed the difference. Social isolation in older people is very common and it leaves its great impact on mental health. It does not only impair the cognitive ability, it also declines the daily activities. As a nurse it is our responsibility to deal these patients with endurance, educate the family and care takers to overcome the physical and mental health problems. I also learnt that there is a great contribution of care-takers to make patient socially isolated and if we as a care-taker take a responsibility to give them psychological support and treat them according to their capacity they can also spend a normal life or even we can prevent them from deteriorating.

Pollen Analysis :: essays research papers

The remains of ancient plants can provide a wealth of archaeological information about a site, with many methods being available to the archaeologist engaged in extracting this data. Perhaps one of the most widely-known of these techniques, possibly because of its attractive nature, is pollen analysis - a technique developed in the early years of the twentieth century by, like so many archaeological techniques, a geologist -- the Norwegian Lennart van Post. To understand the technique and the uses to which it may be put, we must first examine the biological nature of the material itself. Because of a hard outer shell - the exine - pollen is particularly resistant to chemical attack and will survive in most conditions; the only environments which are truly hostile to this shell are abrasion, such as may be the case on sandy sites, and oxidation. However, the most favourable conditions for preservation of the pollen record are acidic, anaerobic sites such as peat bogs. This high degree of survivability combines with another factor inherent in the nature of pollen - the large amount produced - to make pollen analysis one of the most important tools available to the archaeologist. Though one further factor in the make-up of pollen enhances its value, namely the wide morphological variation between pollen from different plant species, most of which can be detected and classified using normal laboratory equipment. Pollen analysis is a technique which demands a high level of skill on the part of the excavator, scientist and interpreter to enable it to fulfil its potential. Collection of pollen samples can prove troublesome, the risk of cross-contamination is significant and efforts must be made to minimize the effect of any excavational bias. The number and ratio of pollen grains present in a sample can also be skewed by factors such as the orientation of the site and the nature of the pollen grains themselves, for example, trees such as pine produce much greater quantities of pollen than species such as oak and thus have a tendency to overrepresent themselves in the pollen record. Once collected the pollen is extracted from the soil, usually in the laboratory to avoid contamination, and analysed using a light, or scanning electron microscope (SEM). The wide differentiation in the size, shape and colour of the pollen grains enables identification to be made down to genera level. Following identification, the individual exines in a sub-set of the sample are quantified and plotted on a pollen analysis diagram, usually as a percentage of the whole.

Conflict in William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay -- William Sh

Conflict in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play about the love relationship between the young Romeo and Juliet, who belong to 2 ancient family names that hold a grudge against each other, the Montagues and the Capulets. There are also many other conflicts which ultimately stop Romeo and Juliet form being together. The story was written by the famous play writer, William Shakespeare, and originated the poem, 'the Tragicalle Historye' of Romeo and Juliet written in 1452. Throughout the play conflict is a very important issue and was the main reason the relationship ended in tragedy. In Romeo and Juliet, conflict is the focal point of the play as most of the story is based around this. The conflict in the play is introduced through nature, social and personal levels of feud. The first major conflict that is essential to the play, and is the backbone of the whole story is the feud between the families, the Montague?s and the Capulet?s is very important as it is introduced in the prologue, ?From ancient grudge break to new mutiny? showing that the conflict has existed for many generations and once again the feud has arisen to boiling point. The next line, ?where civil blood makes civil hands unclean?, gives us the impression that the conflict between the Montagues also involves many other people, which helps to show the extent of the conflict. This is reinforced by the fact that even the servants of the families are quarrelling during the beginning of the play, just before the big fight that involves the whole of Verona. Shakespeare shows this by making the servant use insults that were used at ... ...o and Juliet as a tragic production. This is because without conflict the story would not carry the message of how people should put their quarrels to bed before they have disastrous effects and make you realise that people should live together in peace and harmony. Conflict is the backbone of the play with one major feud branching off into many other smaller feuds between various characters. Romeo and Juliet would be meaningless with out feuds as it helps to keep the play moving by adding an extra dimension, this can be seen in any story as without feuds no story would be successful. This is specifically shown in Romeo and Juliet wit the play being built around the feud between the two families grudges over each other, causing the relationship between Romeo and Juliet to be kept secret and further tearing them apart.

Overcoming Marital Conflict :: essays research papers fc

Overcoming Marital Conflict Marriages are made, not in heaven, but by wonderfully fallible human beings who hope for the best, but who often do precious little to make this most challenging and complicated relationship work. From the very first couple and their differing view point over the apple to modern times, men and women have always disagreed. Both sexes are born with inherently different personality traits. Although mankind knows they will never see eye to eye with the opposite; they still are attracted to them, perhaps for that very reason. Unfortunately it also means there will be unavoidable conflict in the union of a woman and man. Woman's inherent sexuality and the widely dissimilar sexuality of her mate is one of the primary conflicts in marriage. They will also find diversity in their views on sex, communication, emotional expression, nearly every aspect in their lives. Sex has made marriages and broken them. Great relationships do not always translate into wonderful sex! Many couples love each other deeply, but still don't have a fulfilling sexual relationship. Havelock Ellis (1859-1939) wrote in The New Spirit, "The omnipresent process of sex, as it is woven into the whole texture of our man's or woman's body, is the pattern of all the process of life". This leads me to believe our sexuality is the core to ourselves. Unfortunately there are so many variants between men and women emotionally that unavoidable conflicts will surface in the bedroom. Adam and Eve are the only union who ever had the freedom of entering marriage and lovemaking with no preconceived ideas no hang-ups, and no inhibitions. Men and women each possess different outlooks toward the act of sex. Most women need an emotional connection prior to experiencing a truly satisfying sexual encounter. Whereas men tend to avoid deeply emotional bonding. Men can be happy with superficial love, not that all men stop there. Women also feel affection is the essential cement of her relationship with a man. She marries a man that cares about her, and she wants him to express his care often. Without it she usually feels alienated from him. With it she will become emotionally bonded to him. Learning the sexual outlook of each other's partner will increase the ability to deal with the sexual conflicts that materialize. Fear of failure and rejection and the belief that something is wrong infiltrates many sexual experiences. Case studies show that most couples who complain of sexual problems in their marriages are really experiencing a deeper problem. Letting go of assumptions, most of which come from books, movies, and fantasies, and sharing desires and fears with their mate, their individual

Dinosaurs and Man May Have Co-Existed

Dinosaurs and Man may have Co-existed It has been a constant debate between creationists and evolutionists on how old the world is. Evolutionists believe that earth was created over 4. 5 billion years ago while, creationists believe in a young earth created only about 6,000 years old. With that debate is the argument on when the dinosaurs walked the earth. Evolutionism teaches that humans and dinosaurs lived millions of years apart from each other.What many people are not aware of is that there exists a considerable body of evidence that supports the Biblical account of humans and dinosaurs living at the same time and even interacting with each other. Some of this evidence suggests that this may still be happening today in certain parts of the world like the African Congo. (1) Dinosaurs are often portrayed as having lived in a time before man. However, the available evidence shows that man and dinosaur coexisted. Legends of dragons are found among most people groups.For example, ther e are the stories of Bel and the dragon, the Kulta of Australian aborigines, St. George and the dragon, and of course many Chinese legends. Often, the anatomical descriptions given are consistent, even though they come from separate continents and various times. (2) These depictions match what we know from the fossil evidence of certain dinosaurs. Thus, dinosaurs are known directly from their fossils, and indirectly from cave drawings, tapestries, textiles, figurines, carvings, bas reliefs, and many oral and written eyewitness accounts, most of which are quite old. 2) Pick up just about any book on dinosaurs, and it will say that dinosaurs lived from 230 million to 65 million years ago. That’s always stated as a fact, but how do they know? The ages of dinosaur fossils are determined by the layer of rock in which they are found. How do they know how old the rock layer is? It is usually the case that when layers of rock are piled up upon each other, the bottom one is the oldest , and the top one is the youngest, because the bottom one had to be there before the other ones formed on top of it.So, one can make a cross-sectional cut through a rock formation, examine the layers, and be reasonably confident that the lower layers formed before the upper layers (3). The questions are, â€Å"How long did it take for each layer to form? † and, â€Å"How much time elapsed between layers? † Traditionally, geologists have used the â€Å"geologic column† to answer these questions. Although the rapid formation of rock layers is an obvious fact, it makes evolutionists uncomfortable because it isn’t compatible with a neat uniformitarian explanation.If rock layers form rapidly in short periods of time, separated by longer time intervals of undetermined length, which makes it impossible to tell how long ago the rock layers were formed. Geologists are coming to the consensus that fossil-bearing rock layers were produced rapidly, and that there wer e unknown periods of time between the rock layers (3). Therefore, most of â€Å"geologic time† is represented by the rocks that aren’t there. Geologists have given traditional dates to sedimentary rock layers.They do that based upon the kind of fossils found in the rocks, and the evolutionary assumptions of the stages through which life evolved, and how long it took to evolve through each stage. The fossils in a sedimentary rock layer tell you what kinds of critters were living in that area at the time they were buried by a flood, landslide, or sandstorm (3). The dating and correlation of the geologic column is based on the assumption that all the wildlife living all over the world is the same at any given time.Therefore, floods, landslides, and sandstorms that occur in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia, will all bury the same kind of critter in any given year. (3) Believe it or not, dinosaur footprints, and the footprints of man, are found in the same strata, in the very same formation, in some cases only 18 inches apart, at a geological dig in Glen Rose, Texas, called the Paluxy River Bed. The ancient footprints of â€Å"man† at the site are found to be evenly spaced, and go under overhanging shale formations, continuing under the formations, and have been excavated. 4) Dinosaurs were said to have lived 250 million to 65 million years ago because their bones are found in rocks that are said to be Triassic, Jurassic, or Cretaceous. Rocks are classified as Triassic, Jurassic, or Cretaceous because they contain fossils that evolutionists presume were alive all over the Earth only during those periods of time. If you found a rock with a dinosaur bone in it, you would not be able to convince an evolutionary geologist that it was anything other than a Triassic, Jurassic, or Cretaceous rock.If radioisotope dating indicated the rock was less than 65 million years old, or more than 250 million year old, the evolutionist would flatly reject the radioisotope date. It is a fundamental article of faith that dinosaurs lived 250 to 65 million years ago. (3) New evidence from the Paluxy river bed in Glen Rose, Texas, as well as from South America, Mexico, and California, demonstrates beyond any doubt that dinosaurs and mankind co-existed, and walked the planet earth at the very same time — during the age of man.Believe it or not, dinosaur footprints, and the footprints of man, are found in the same strata, in the very same formation, in some cases only 18 inches apart, at a geological dig in Glen Rose, Texas, called the Paluxy River Bed. The ancient footprints of â€Å"man† at the site are found to be evenly spaced, and go under overhanging shale formations, continuing under the formations, and have been excavated (4). How is it possible that human footprints found in Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, New Mexico, Kentucky, and other states, are in rocks supposedly 250,000,000 years old† (4) Winkie Pratney in  Creation or Evolution?Part III, the Fossil Record: discusses the mysterious dinosaur tracks and human footprints found close together at the Paluxy River Bed: â€Å"Though the dino tracks (in the Paluxy River Bed in Glen Rose, Texas, for instance) are real, perhaps the human prints were later ‘clever carvings' by Indians. Recent research, however, has shown that they continue under shale bulldozed away, and paleontologists like Dr. Camp of the University of California and Dr. G. Wescott of Ypsilanti, Michigan, have pronounced them genuine.Scores of other similar finds have come in: human skulls in the Pliocene strata; pollen and anthropods in Pre-Cambrian layers; even pictographs of a dinosaur among other animals on ancient canyon walls, which would knock some 70 million years out of the geologic column† (Acts, p. 15, June 1996). (4) Since dinosaurs supposedly died out 65 million years ago, it is not possible that anyone in historic times has ever seen a living dinosaur. But what if people have seen living dinosaurs? Wouldn’t that completely refute the assumptions upon which the dating of the geologic column rests?For that reason, it is worth evaluating the evidence that man and dinosaurs might have lived together. If dinosaurs and man lived together, don’t you think they would be mentioned in ancient books? Certainly they would. They would not be called â€Å"dinosaurs† because that word wasn’t coined until 1841. If they were mentioned, you would expect them to be called something else, but would expect their descriptions to match dinosaurs (3). You would expect to read things like this, written by Philostratus (200 – 230 AD) wrote in the  Life of Apollonius of Tyana, Northern â€Å"India is girt with dragons of enormous size; not only are the arshes full of them but the mountains as well and not a single ridge is without one. †¦ The dragons of the foothills have crests, of moderate height when young but they grow with them and extend to a great height when they reach full size. † The bodies of the plains dragons are sometimes found with elephants, a great reward for hunters. Their tusks resemble those of swine, but more twisted and sharp. â€Å"They say that in the skulls of the mountain dragons are stored stones of flowery colors that flash out all kinds of hues. † They tell us that â€Å"a great many dragons' skulls are enshrined† in the center of the great city of Paraka (Peshawar? close by the mountain. (3)For over 2 hundred years there have been reports of a living dinosaur in Africa. This creature, which the natives call â€Å"Mokele-Mbembe† is believed to be a sauropod type of dinosaur (5). Sauropod means â€Å"Lizard-Footed† dinosaur. Sauropods are four-legged, herbivorous dinosaurs. These incidents were reported long before the word â€Å"dinosaur† was coined, and long before anyone (in this century) knew they existed. If Mokele-Mbembe is a living dinosaur, then it makes the claim of total dinosaur extinction unfounded.The Congolese people are very familiar with the aquatic dinosaur living in the Likoula swamp region. They call this Apatosaurus-like creature â€Å"Mokele-Mbembe† which means:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"one who stops the flow of rivers† (5). From the size of this awesome beast this name is sure fitting! They believe this animal  (which they greatly fear)  is sacred. This belief is due to the illness and death of many in the pygmy tribe after one was killed with a spear and eaten by the people. Of course, the deaths and illness were probably more likely due to spoilage of its meat.An animal this large could have been eaten for several weeks. (5) â€Å"Persistent reports of strange creatures in remote, swampy jungles of western Africa have led two scientists to believe that dinosaurs still may walk the Earth. Both historical reports from Westerners and firsthand accounts fr om natives indicate dinosaur-like creatures may exist today in a virtually unexplored jungle in the People’s Republic of the Congo, the researchers said yesterday. Dr. Roy Mackal, a research associate at the University of Chicago, said he believes the animals may be elephant-sized dinosaurs (5). In an article in Science magazine, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the researchers say natives call the creature ‘Mokele-Mbembe. ‘ â€Å"The researchers say they believe it actually may be a dinosaur that looks like a smaller version of the brontosaurus, a giant plant-eater that died out 70 million years ago. Natives shown pictures of many kinds of animals picked illustrations of the brontosaurus as most closely resembling the creatures they say they saw, Mackal said. †Ã‚   Source: Warren E. Leary â€Å"Dinosaurs May Inhabit Remote Jungle. † San Diego Union Tribune, Oct 18, 1980 (Washington date Line). as quoted in  "That their words may be used against them† by Henry Morris, pg. 258) Roy Mackal, an American Biochemist (and evolutionist) has headed several expeditions since 1980 to the Likouala swamp. Mackal has collected numerous eyewitness accounts from the Congo natives. Many live in different locations, yet their descriptions of the creature are the same despite lack of communication with each other. Descriptions of the dinosaurs physical appearance and behavioral traits are consistent with each other. (5)| â€Å"I am not at all convinced it has been proven that the dinosaurs became extinct prior to the advent of man.I believe there is much evidence, ancient and modern, to indicate that dinosaurs and human kind existed on earth contemporaneously, and that human beings, while they probably lived in different regions than dinosaurs for the most part, did on many occasions encounter the sometimes huge and fearsome creatures. The memories of these encounters were so vivid and deep that t hey were passed down in a multitude of cultures as legends, painted on cave walls, represented in pottery, and written of in literature† (Quote from Francis Schaeffer (a well known Christian Historian) .Though most are now gone, I believe that some small species of dinosaurs may still alive today in remote parts of the world. | Works cited page 1. Swift, Dennis. â€Å"More Evidence That Dinosaurs and Man Co-existed ! †Ã‚  Angelfire: Welcome to Angelfire. 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . 2. â€Å"Men and Dinosaurs Coexisted. †Ã‚  Www. icr. org. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . 3. Jones, Do-While. â€Å"The Age of Dinosaurs. †Ã‚  Ridgecrest, California – Your Community Portal. June 2004. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. lt;http://www. ridgecrest. ca. us/~do_while/sage/v8i9f. htm>. 4. Keyser, John D. â€Å"Dinosaurs and Man? †Ã‚  Hope of Israel Ministries. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . 5. â€Å"Mokele-Mbembe Search Living Dinosaurs Dinosaur Embryos Uncovered. †Ã‚  Angelfire: Wel come to Angelfire. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . 6. Warren E. Leary â€Å"Dinosaurs May Inhabit Remote Jungle. † San Diego Union Tribune, Oct 18, 1980 (Washington date Line) Griffin Bearicks Spring semester 2011 April 13, 2011 Geology 1304 Roger Sigler

Promote professional Development Essay

1.1Explain the importance of continually improving knowledge and practice The importance of continually improving my knowledge and working practice is to make sure that I am aware of and adhere to all the current Health and social care standards, legislations and guidelines for good practice in my work place. Professional development refers to the acquisition of skills and knowledge both for personal development and for career enhancement. Improving my personal development benefits not only me, but the company I work for, my staff and the Customers for who I care for. It enables me to keep up to date and change proactively to make sure that the service I offer is relevant and appropriate to care for my customers. The customers must be confident that they can trust the people that they receive the care from and that they know what they are doing and do it well. This should be an ongoing activity which is the â€Å"norm† for a care organisation which will enhance the quality of their work, make staff happier which can only make for positive outcomes for the care service, customers and the staff. As the Care Team Leader of the care service I am responsible for others such as staff, customers, the customers families and visitors etc. so it is imperative that I am knowledgeable in all areas of management to enable me to manage effectively and within the legislations set out by CQC Continuing my professional development has been important for my career and has and will continue to help me progress throughout my chosen career. 1.2Analyse potential barriers to professional development Potential barriers to continuing professional development could be †¢Lack of budget from the organisation – an adequate training budget should be in place and agreed each year to keep up to date with ongoing and new training courses. †¢Lack of supportive staff – staff that are only concerned with earning their wage each month without caring about the knowledge and  training to care for customers properly. †¢No time to train – adequate time needs to be set aside for each staff member so that they understand and are confident it what they are learning and can put it into practice. †¢No encouragement from management/senior staff – Management suggesting and encouraging suitable/mandatory training courses and supporting staff through these. †¢Inadequate regular supervisions – Monthly supervisions to talk privately with staff regarding any help or training requirements is imperative. Staff need to be able to talk openly with management to be able to continue their professional development. It also helps for management to have an open door policy so that staff do not have to wait for the monthly supervision and can continue to improve daily from management experience. These are all Organisational barriers but we can also have personal barriers which prevent professional development. These could be †¢Low self-esteem – If an individual lacks confidence, this can affect how much they are willing to learn †¢Transport issues – If a company are not able to offer in house training or training courses on site and have to go to other training venues it could involve costs that the individual is not willing/able to pay so this needs to be discussed with management. †¢Childcare issues – If a training course is not during normal working hours this could lead to no childcare and can prevent the individual from attending essential training courses, therefore not being able to continue to work. †¢Sick/holiday time – If an individual is unable to attend training due to arranged holidays or unexpected sickness can impair their learning or possible promotion in the work place through lack of qualifications. 1.3compare the use of different sources and systems of support for professional development We all have a world of knowledge and resources. This can be channelled in either a formal and structured approach or by observations. It all depends on the individual’s motivation. Different ways in which professional development can be carried out can be in formal methods such as appraisals and supervisions. I conduct these to assess staffs performances. I look at future goals and identify the needs of the staff member on an individual basis according to the organisations policies and objectives. This will create a plan for them to move forward and identify their training needs to allow them to grow and evolve. This in  turn, in the long run helps not only the individual but the organisation. Shadowing or mentoring is a huge support tool. It is used mostly when employing new members of staff and allows them to see how a more long standing member of staff works. It allows them to pass on their knowledge and expertise and guide them through policies and procedures and allows the new member of staff to find a way in which to work which is in line with these guidelines. The mentor can work with this member of staff throughout their working time; however shadowing/mentoring can be carried out by numerous members of staff on different shifts. This gives the new member of staff different ideas on ways in which to work so that they can find a way of working which is comfortable for them. Within the organisation they can carry out in house training courses to enhance the workers knowledge. This is ongoing throughout the workers time with the organisation. The simplest form of development is the staff communication book. This can be about any aspect of achieving the highest standards in the care setting. All staff have access to this and can share their knowledge of what has worked well throughout the shift to pass over to the next member of staff working. It can also say what has not worked. This can also be expanded upon in regular staff meetings. It can be discussed in depth and at length with everyone having their say. Within our organisation we also have a policy hub in which the carers can access at anytime if they need to read up on something or are unsure of what is expeted of them. Beyond the organisation external agencies can help the company and individuals with professional development. These can include CQC, social services, other health professionals buy offering support and their extensive knowledge. External training agencies can offer free training (NVQ’s) or a more specific training course, which can differ to the in house training an organisation can offer and maybe more beneficial to the employee. They may develop more from a group training session rather than a question and answer knowledge paper. By working alongside all staff members on different shifts it allows me to assess the staff member’s knowledge and experience in an informal way. I can then pass on my knowledge and ability in a practical setting rather than the formal setting of an appraisal/supervision. 1.4Explain factors to consider when selecting opportunities and activities  for keeping knowledge and practice up to date. Prioritising important elements can assist in highlighting what training should be selected. What goals need to be achieved for the customers we have? What training do the staff team want? What training courses are mandatory for a staff team? All these factors need to be considered and then compared to the training budget the organisation has. Cost has to be weighed against what the consequences entail if professional development is not followed through. For example if your customers require lifting/hoisting and the training is missed this could lead to them being left in a very vulnerable position. The management team being up to date on new policies can help them prioritize what training is needed and when. Time is also a consideration. If you have a large staff team it can be difficult to organise training to which they can all attend. This is also true of the place the training is to be held. Is it more advantageous for the training to be held on site rather than all have to travel to a training facility as travelling can create extra cost. We are just going through the process of rearranging all our training to reduce where it being held. Since starting this position the training has been held at different courts within the organisation and can be up to 10 miles away. This has now been reduced so all training is to be held either in house or the next nearest court. I have found this had has a positive effect within my workplace, more carers are turning up to training session and are enquiring about non mandatory training sessions. It may be wise for a manager to look at just sending 1 or 2 members of staff on a course to be trainer trained in several important courses so that they can train other staff in these topics. Although it may be a high cost to start off with it can work out more cost effective in the long run, especially if the organisation has a high turnover of staff. These trainers can then train in house as and when required at times suitable for all staff and at times suited to the rota as to not leave the customers in a vulnerable position due to lack of staff on shift. 2.1 Evaluate own knowledge and performance against standards and benchmarks I have worked in the care sector for 6 years. Before I began my career in care as a support worker I was a stay at home mom. Before choosing my career path I did some research on learning disabilities, autism and challenging behaviour. A lot of this research was done on the internet getting a snap shot of how to care for the service  users. When I began work I started by doing shadowing shifts which involved shadowing an established member of staff so that I could get to know how things were run and to get to know the service users. On these shifts I also read through my company’s policies and procedures. I was given the opportunity to advance my knowledge by attending training courses provided by the company. I found that I could learn more when the course was as part of a group. Learning the codes of practice ensures that I promote and uphold the privacy, dignity and rights of the clients I care for and that I strive to improve the quality of healthcare, care and support through continuing professional development. I achieve this within my job role by ensuring that the customers and their families are informed and included in all aspects of their care planning. The codes of practice state that I am accountable for the quality of my work and take responsibility for maintaining and improving my knowledge and skil ls. This means that if there is a course I could benefit from (which in turn benefits the company) then I should be attending it. By obtaining my NVQ 3 qualification and all in house training courses I was promoted to Senior carer and then between myself and the proprietors we set up a home care business from the care home I was working at and got the position of care coordinator. In this position I have to made sure that my staff and I were up to date on the national standards which are set out by CQC. This means that I had to make sure that there were enough members of staff on shift at all times to keep the service users safe and to meet their needs. That I made sure that all members of staff were trained and had the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience needed to meet their health and welfare needs. To ensure that my staff were well managed and had the correct knowledge, skills and experience through training to meet the service users’ health and welfare needs. If I failed at this then it means that the service I managed would not meet the essential standards set out by CQC which in turn could mean that the service I ran was shut down meaning all employees out of work and vulnerable adults being let down and left in an extremely vulnerable position. I now work as a care team leader which is a similar role but with a larger establishment. 2.2 Prioritise development goals and targets to meet expected standards We have an extensive training programme which covers a range of topics which is ongoing for staff. These include Emergency first aid, food hygiene,  equality, dignity and inclusion, diet and nutrition to name a few. All staff have attend all mandatory courses before they start their shadowing shifts and these are updated as and when required. We also have a lot of non mandatory courses in which the carers attend and can request to atttend. All staff employed (including relief) all have the opportunity to work towards their NVQ level 2, 3 or 5 All employees files have a record of training showing that there is an ongoing programme of development to make sure that they have undertaken training in key areas such as health and safety, person centered approaches, communication and how to safeguard vulnerable people. Training is monitored to make sure it is kept up to date. Specialist training is completed as and when necessary. I also have a training tracker which enables me to see at a glance who is due for training. 3.1 Select learning opportunities to meet development objectives and reflect personal learning style As well as training that is delivered by someone we also have workbooks. These are questions on a specific topic. This is a very specific style which does not suit everyone but due to training budget this is a very cost efficient way to train a staff team on all key essential training standards. It is also used as a refresher if I notice a carers standards are slipping. I am a mix between a visual learner and auditory learner, I like to see pictures or watch DVD’s and visualising an outcome and also like to learn as a group so that I can discuss the topic and to ask questions as and when I need. This involves the use of seen or observed things including pictures, demonstrations and hand-outs. This is why external agencies coming in or me attending training courses is far more beneficial for me than sitting on my own and learning from a book or doing knowledge papers. 3.2 Produce a plan for own professional development, using an appropriate source of support I start my personal development plan by taken a self evaluation, focusing on my strengths as follows: Motivated person Eager to learn new skills Team builder Interested in the care sector Caring I then decide on my goals in my job and where I want to be or what I want to achieve in my job: Now I am a Care Team Leader I want to fully read up on all the essential standards set out by CQC. As I am still fairly new to this post I want to learn everything I can about this job and everything around this. This can not only benefit me but my staff, customers and the business. Keep up to date with the ongoing training. Book my staff any additional/relevant training courses as and when they require them. I then set my goals/plan out. Part of my development as a Care Team Leader is also gaining my level 5 qualification. This expands on my NVQ level 3 and can only benefit me and the business in the long term. What is my goal? What do I need to do? What resources do I need? Who can help me? What is my timescale? Read up and understand all essential standards set out by CQCRead ‘guidance of compliance – Essential standards of quality and safety’ Sign up for email alerts to keep up to date on any changes Download and print out a copy of the booklet. (not only for myself but for staff also) Keep up to date on all training that is available for me Make sure training is completed on time Keep up to date on all policies and procedures set out by the business Complete my level 5 qualification by August 2015 Keep up to date on completing my units Gain more knowledge and experience Become a NVQ assesor. Goals will be added to the development plan as and when 3.3 Establish a process to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan I will evaluate and amend my professional development plan regularly using the SMART technique which is outlined as followed †¢Specific – target a specific area for improvement †¢Measurable – quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress †¢Assignable – specify who will do it  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Realistic – state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resource’s †¢Time-related – specify when the results can be achieved By doing this I will be able to identify any problems or obstacles which may delay my progress and find ways in which to find the time to get back on track or find alternative ways if I am having trouble achieving them in my current way. At my regular supervisions my PDP will be discussed with my manager and the plan can be added to at any time with suggestions from them and additional ideas from myself. With regular meetings I can see how much I have achieved which will make me strive to achieve so much more but can also identify if the time allocated to a goal is in fact achievable and if not amend the time scale. This is not seen as a failure if not completed when originally said but just adjusting the reality. By completing my level 5 qualification I am setting myself a specific target and my knowledge of the care sector will only expand as I complete each unit. Perhaps learning something I would not of been aware of or looking at a topic in far more depth than I would of done before. I will have outside support from my assessor who will also review if I am setting myself the realistic targets taking into account my day to day role as Care Team Leader and also my personal/family life. 4.1 Compare models of reflective practice Reflective practice is â€Å"the capacity to reflect on action so as to engage in a process of continuous learning†, which some believe is wrong .[1] According to one definition it involves â€Å"paying critical attention to the practical values and theories which inform everyday actions, by examining practice reflectively and reflexively. This leads to developmental insight†.[2] Edgar schon an influential writer on reflection, described reflection in two main ways: reflection in action and reflection on action. Reflection on action is looking back after the event whist reflection in action is happening during the event. I have explored these terms and have found the following: Reflection in action means â€Å"To think about what one is doing whilst one is doing it; it is typically stimulated by surprise, by something which puzzled the practitioner concerned† (Greenwood 1983) Reflection in action allows the person to redesign what they are doing whilst they are doing it. This approach can be used to improve practice by supporting individuals to question their routine work as they carry it out. They may measure their behaviour against their values and values of the organisation to ensure that these are consistent or to try a new approach to an activity and evaluate its success Reflection on action means â€Å"The retrospective contemplation of practice undertaken in order to uncover the knowledge used in practical situations, by analysing and interpreting the information recalled† (Fitzgerald 1994) I can see with reflection on action that it involves turning information into knowledge, by conducting a cognitive post mortem. This approach allows the worker to look at a specific incident, write a report about it and analyse what happened so they can see what additional knowledge or practical support would have been needed to prevent or give the incident a different outcome. It allows the person to establish what they can do to be better prepared when faced with a similar experience in the future, as well as providing an opportunity to identify shortcomings in knowledge or skills which can be rectified by themselves or passed onto management to provide specific training to that individual or as a team. Graham Gibbs discussed the use of structured debriefing. He presented the stages of structured debriefing as follows after the initial experience: Description – What happened? Feelings – What were your reactions and feelings? Evaluation – What was good or bad about the experience? Analysis – What sense can you make of the situation? Conclusion (general) – What can be concluded, in a general sense, from these experiences and the analyses you have undertaken? Conclusion (Specific) – What can be concluded about your own specific, unique, personal situation or way of working? Personal action plans – What are you going to do differently in this type of situation next time? What steps are you going to take on the basis of what you have learnt? 4.2 Explain the importance of reflective practice to improve performance Reflective practice can be an important tool in practice-based professional learning settings where individuals learning from their own professional experiences, rather than from formal teaching or knowledge transfer, may be the most important source of personal professional development and improvement. Further, it is also an important way to be able to bring together theory and practice; through reflection you are able to see and label schools of thought and theory within the context of your work. Reflective practice is important for my growth, to self-evaluate my working practice and so that I can recognise my weaknesses and strengths. Reflective practice enables me to learn from real events and to learn from any mistakes I may have made to help me improve in the future. This can only help in my professional development throughout my career. 4.3 Use reflective practice and feedback from others to improve performance I use reflective practice on a regular basis in my job role. This comes in many different ways. For example; †¢From my staff – they have a very good working knowledge of the care sector and often make suggestions on how things can work better with ways in which we look after our service users. Suggestions on what did not work for them and how we can help make their lives more fulfilled †¢CQC – They visit our establishment for their checks and they can advise how we can improve our service. Not because we are necessarily doing something wrong but because they can advise on a better way. †¢From customers family and friends – These are the people that know the customers the best and although we as an organisation may do things one way they can advise that this may work a different way for their loved ones. I need to learn to use my reflective practice to adapt and learn new ways. Some of the outcomes in using reflective practice may include making changes to my personal opinions or attitudes, undertaking further training to learn new ways of working or to understand a topic better, listening and seeking advice and help form external sources, colleagues etc, also learning from my own mistakes. 4.4 Evaluate how practice has been improved through: †¢Reflection on best practice †¢Reflection on failures and mistakes Reflection on best practice Reflection on best practice helps me think about my own efforts and successes or achievements. Reflection is a critical thinking strategy in which i review and analyse my work, making connections between what I have learnt and my efforts. If I find something that works better than it did before I can then pass it on to the staff also vice versa. Reflection on failures and mistakes Stating what the failure/mistake was, writing an account of why things went wrong, how it could be avoided, who was at fault can only mean that this will not happen again in the future. It will high light how the incident has changed working practices so that this knowledge can be passed on to other staff members and can be improved upon.