Watershed Management

Society and Polity 2010 Watershed Management – A Hope for Sustainable Development Table of Contents Watershed2 Integrated Watershed Management2 Categorization of Watersheds2 Need for Watershed Management:3 Characteristics of Watershed Management:3 Successful case of Watershed management in Maharashtra3 Approaches/methods used for people's participation4 Persuasion4 Gandhian Approach4 Creation of a common platform4 Selfless leadership5 Identification of the most pressing common problem5 Achievements at Ralegan Siddhi5 ————————————————-Watershed Management: A Hope for Sustainable Development Watershed A Watershed is defined as a topographically delineated geographical area in which the entire run-off tends to converge, through the existing drainage system, to the common outlet of the area for subsequent disposal. In other words, a watershed is an independent drainage u nit. Integrated Watershed Management It is the process of creating and implementing plans, programs, and projects to sustain and enhance watershed functions that affect the plant, animal, and human communities within a watershed boundary Categorization of WatershedsWatersheds are categorized on the basis of the following criteria: * Based on Size: Based on size, the watersheds can be classified into micro, mini and large watersheds. The watersheds with area less than 500 ha are called as micro watersheds. The watersheds with area more than 500 ha but less than 2000 ha are called as mini watersheds. The watersheds with area more than 2000 ha are called as large watersheds. * Based on Drainage: Based on drainage, watersheds can be classified into drains and streams. Drains refer to the smaller water channels whereas streams refer to the larger water channels. Based on Shape: Based on shape, watersheds can be classified into two types namely fan-shaped and fern-shaped. Fan shaped water sheds are those which are circular or nearly circular in shape. Fern shaped watersheds are those which are elongated in shape. * Based on Other Criteria: Watersheds can also be classified according to other factors viz. altitude (high watersheds and flat watersheds), moisture content (arid watersheds and wet watersheds), type of soil (black-soil watersheds and red-soil watersheds), etc. Need for Watershed Management:Watersheds are an asset and therefore they need to be managed properly so that we are able to utilize them in the years to come. They act as a source of water for the people living in and around watershed areas. They help in maintaining the nutrients of the soil, thereby supporting the agriculture sector to give a sustained yield. They also act as a good source of irrigation for the fields throughout the year. Since they support vegetation, they also help in reducing soil erosion as the roots of the vegetation hold together the top layer of the fertile soil.They also hel p in the development of the forests as they act as good source of water for the forest flora and fauna. Objectives: * Water has multiples uses and must be managed in an integrated way. * Water should be managed at the lowest appropriate level. * Water allocation should take account of the interests of all who are affected. * Water should be recognised and treated as an economic good. Strategies: * A long term, viable sustainable future for basin stake holders. * Equitable access to water resources for water users. The application of principles of demand management for efficient utilisation. * Prevention of further environmental degradation (short term) and the restoration of degraded resources (long term). Characteristics of Watershed Management: * Allowing an adequate supply of water that is sustainable over many years. * Maintains water quality at level that meets government standards and other social water quality objectives. * Allows sustainable economic development over the sho rt and long term. Successful case of Watershed management in Maharashtra Development fundamentally refers to human beings.It should be a human experience to meet people's physical, mental and emotional aspirations and potentials, not just in economic terms but should also lead to a sense of self-sufficiency and fulfilment. Ralegan Siddhi, often termed as an oasis of greenery surrounded by dry and bare hilly tracts is a unique example of transformation from poverty to plenty and a living model of people's participation in natural resource management in a watershed. Ralegan Siddhi is a small village with an area of 982 ha in Parner county (taluka) of Ahmadnagar district, Maharashtra, India.It is a drought-prone and resource poor area with annual rainfall ranging between 50-700 mm and temperature varying between 28Â °C and 44Â °C. The village is surrounded by small hillocks on the northeast and southern sides. The land is undulating and slopes vary from 3-15%. The 1991 Census enumera ted a population of 1,982 living in 310 households (presently estimated to be around 325). The sex-ratio being 902 females per 1,000 males (1,029 in 1971; 1,013 in 1981). The continued decrease in the ratio is explained as the return of male folk to the village with improvement in the socio-economic conditions of the village.Backward classes (scheduled castes and scheduled tribes) constitute only 14. 23% of the total population. Marathas of Khatri caste out-number other castes and constitute nearly two-third of the families. Among others are the backward castes including Mhar, Chamar, Bharhadi, Pardi, Sutar, Barber, Fishermen, Matang etc. By 1975, prior to intervention by Mr. Anna Hazare, the village had become quite notorious with all sorts of social evils, moral down fall and with badly shattered economic conditions. In general, the village presented the profile of a poverty-stricken and debt-ridden society.Scarcity of water was key to distress which limited the prospects of agric ulture. The water table was below 20 m, most of the wells used to dry up during summer and the drinking water had to be fetched from the neighbouring villages. The high rate of surface run off, due to high degree of slope and lack of vegetative cover had washed away the top fertile layer of the soils. Barely 20 ha of the village area was under irrigation. As a consequence the agricultural production was too meagre to support and sustain the livelihoods of the people particularly the resource poor farmers.Not even 30% of the food grain requirements could be met from rain-fed mono-cropping practised in the village. Approaches/methods used for people's participation The approaches/methods used by him for the participation of farmers in natural resource management works are highlighted below. Persuasion First of all, Anna went through a careful envisioning of the deteriorating situation in village life and decided to initiate through religion-moral undercurrent by persuading the people for reconstruction of Sant Yadava Baba temple.But he failed to impress and influence the people at large, primarily because the people were too busy with their own business and the worldly affairs. Gandhian Approach The second step was to set up examples by self-practising rather than mere preaching as Mahatma Gandhi used to do. Initially it went on unnoticed but in due course it gathered momentum. Particularly, he tried to organize the youths of the village under ‘Tarun Mandal' (youth organization). Besides, participation from all the sections of society was ensured and encouraged.Creation of a common platform Keeping all the differences and disparities aside, a common platform and meeting ground was created in the form of Sant Yadav Baba's temple. People started sitting in groups during evenings and discussing about the affairs of the village and common concern. Thus, the process of friendship, cooperation and communication started. Selfless leadership Anna himself invested all the money he had (Rs. 20,000) for purchasing building materials for the temple before asking others to contribute. Identification of the most pressing common problemThe main reason of disintegration, division and distress of the village society was the lack of a sound livelihood support system. The economy of the village was agrarian and shortage of water for irrigation was the major constraint to its development. Thus, assured availability of water was collectively identified as the top priority in a meeting of villagers. Achievements at Ralegan Siddhi Successful abolition of social evils like alcoholism, dowry, corruption and the caste system. These changes paved the way for positive steps to development.Regeneration of watershed resources through people's participation, a living example of watershed development and management. Development of agriculture and allied sectors by better farming practices and cropping patterns, judicious use of water by introducing drip irrigation system, yield enhancement etc. as a result the village where nearly three-fourth population was below poverty line, has become self sufficient and is surplus in food grains, today. Conclusion * Improving agricultural productivity. * Improving vegetative covers. * Increasing fodder & food availability. Reducing soil erosion & nutrient loss. * Improve water availability of surface & groundwater. * Enhancing quality of life among local communities.The case study shows the success of Gandhian approach to people's participation in watershed management. Since 1975, this has resulted into participation of all the 325 village families, renovation of a temple, stopping illicit liquor distillation, water harvesting in 4 small watersheds, construction of many check dams, plantation of five hundred thousand forest trees, controlled grazing, raising of ground water level rom 20 m depth to 6. 5 m, sale of onions worth Rs. 80 million in 1995 alone (exchange rate in June 1995 1 US$ = Rs. 31. 3), so lar street lights, village toilets, biogas, organic farming, introduction of livestock, a full high school, institutionalization of decision making at village assembly level, local voluntary organizational capacity building, acceptance and application of voluntary code of conduct, formation of different action committees, etc. References

Compulsory education Essay

The K-12 education system is the public education system that most people are familiar with today. Comprised of 13 grades, kindergarten through 12th, it refers to the public school system in all of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe as well. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact history of education, as it has been occurring in some form for centuries in all parts of the world. Today, K-12 education represents the compulsory education required of all children in the US. Though this type of education can be attained from either publicly or privately funded institutions, children who have reached compulsory school age (ranging from age six to eight, depending on the state) are required by law to attend school. Compulsory education in the United States began over 150 years ago when Horace Mann established a statewide system of education in Massachusetts, which became the first state to pass school attendance laws in 1852. By 1918, children were required by law to receive an education in all states. Kindergarten was actually developed prior to compulsory education. Though it is not compulsory in all states, children are required to start school in most states at the age of six. If the child is too young to start kindergarten the year he turns five, kindergarten may technically be required since he will be turning six that school year. The word kindergarten is of German origin and means â€Å"children’s garden.† The concept was the brainchild of Friedrich Froebel, a self-educated philosophical teacher, who sought to develop a place of guided play for children to â€Å"bloom.† The first kindergarten established in England was in 1852, and the United States followed by establishing its first in 1856. Though education was required of all children in Massachusetts by that time and many other states were following suit, not all schools provided, nor required, kindergarten. Similarly, not all schools required a student to stay in school beyond a certain grade, as compulsory education initially applied only to elementary aged children. Many children were also permitted to miss portions of the  school year, especially farmers’ children who were needed at home for harvesting crops and preparing for the winter. The Education Act of 1918, or the Fisher Act, was an act of British Parliament that implemented changes in progressive education and helped form many aspects of the K-12 education system used today. The Fisher Act raised the age at which children could leave school to 14 and addressed education needs, such as health inspections and accommodations for special needs children. This act also led to the development of a committee that reported to and made recommendations to policy makers regarding education. In the United States, unlike England, public education was governed by each individual state. As early as 1791, seven states had specific provisions for education in their own individual constitutions and were formed partly on the basis of education without religious bias. Prior to the passing of compulsory school attendance laws, education was primarily localized and available only to the wealthy, and it often included religious teachings. Following the compulsory attendance laws, Catholics banned together in opposition of states mandating common schooling and created private Catholic schools. In 1925, the Supreme Court ruled that children could attend public or private schools for education. Over time, each individual state developed its own department of education to oversee the public education system. Compulsory attendance grew to include kindergarten and mandate attendance through the age of 16. Funding sources for public education also grew to include federal, state and local sources. Federal funding was overseen by the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare from 1953 to 1979, until it was divided and the US Department of Education was formed as a stand-alone entity. By the 1950s, compulsory education had become well established, but the K-12 education system was really still in its infancy. Schools were still primarily localized, but education was no longer available only to the wealthy. Even in the 1950s, however, segregation by race was still common practice in public schools in the US. Then came another landmark decision by  the Supreme Court. In 1954, in the US Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Though this decision was met with resistance and it took many years before legalized segregation was completely eliminated, especially in southern states, the federal courts eventually achieved success. This achievement was not without its repercussions, and many urban and inner city schools saw an exodus of wealthy and middle-class white families, who moved to suburban districts. In time, many urban districts were left only with poor families and it became difficult to attract and pay for quality teachers and education. Since the formation of the US Department of Education in 1979, the education system has been similar to what is found today, but has undergone a series of developments and amendments to accommodate the changing needs of education. Funding has always been a source of concern for public schools, especially in poor, urban districts, where the quality of education also came into question. As a result, federal funding is now directly related to school performance as determined by standardized testing under the current No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). NCLB was signed into law by President George W. Bush 3 January 2002. Under this law, standards of accountability were increased in an effort to improve performance and to give parents flexibility in choosing schools. NCLB requires states to administer assessments of basic skills to all students at certain grade levels and achieve the standards set forth by each state in order to receive federal funding. Specific and more rigorous goals were placed on reading achievements under this law and states also had to develop high school exit or graduation exams with specific measures of assessment in place as well. The intention was to hold schools to a higher  level of accountability, but was debated from its inception. Currently, the K-12 public education system provides a 12th grade education to eligible students for free. Families have the option of sending their children to private schools, but are then responsible for tuition. The future of education will undoubtedly experience change and social and economical challenges, just as it has in the past. Programs may soon expand to include pre-K compulsory attendance and could even expand to include options beyond the 12th grade, as these are concepts, in their earliest stages, currently being explored.

Identify two reported court cases that have impacted the evidentiary Research Paper

Identify two reported court cases that have impacted the evidentiary process or analysis in digital forensic cases - Research Paper Example The defendant was consequently sentenced to the federal prison of the US for 57 years, which was recorded to be the longest term of imprisonment in the constitution of cyber crimes. The prosecution of the court revealed that the defendant was using the Federal protected computer ‘botnets’ for creating spam-wire all over the internet, launching of critical cyber attacks and to receive the fixing adware that caused immense threat to the confidential data protection of the government. During the hearing process, the defendant also committed that he had gained over $3,000 by selling the access of his botnets, which further deepened the seriousness of the cybercrime threatening the national security (The Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2006). He had sold the botnets to others who were using it for sending spontaneous commercial spam and the launch of Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS). Ancheta also provided his customers with carious knowledge regarding the use of botnets and proper maintenance of the DDOS attacks and the commercial spam that were considered as against the Federal law (Samaha, 2010). Holding The US court charged Ancheta with a number of acts under the constitution of cyber crime laws. The defendant was charged under 18 U.S.C. Â § 1030 (a)(5)(A)(i) and 18 U.S.C. Â § 1030 (a)(5)(B)(i) for making attempts to the transmission of code to a protected computer, under 18 U.S.C. Â § 1030 (a)(5)(B)(v) against the attempts to make the transmission of code to the computers used by the government for the national defense, under 18 U.S.C. Â § 371 against conspiracy of Federal and national defense information, under 18 U.S.C. Â § (a)(4) against the access to the computers with an intention to commit fraud, and under 18 U.S.C. Â § 1956 (a)(1)(A)(i) against his activities to promote money laundering (Imhof, 2010). Analysis In the case of Ancheta, the decision levied by the court was justified as his crime was found to be severely threatening fo r the US national security. The acts those were imposed on him were all in accordance to the law. The court also instructed Ancheta to pay $51,000 to the Federal against the damage caused to their computers (Imhof, 2010). Furthermore, the defendant’s 57 months of imprisonment created a record of the longest term of punishment in the US, which was very much justified if his severity of fraud was to be kept in consideration. Affect The case of United States of America v. Jeanson James Ancheta is often considered as a landmark case in the history of cyber and telecommunication crimes. The rule of the case contributed towards the development of stricter and a more advanced framework to identify and penalize the persons found guilty for committing cyber fraud or unauthorized access to protected computers being treated as unlawful (Schiller & Binkley, 2011). 107 F3d 4 United States V. Fernandez Lee Synopsis In the month of December 1992, Mr. John Lee was accused with the charge of framing a conspiracy to possess as well as use a cyber device, which was not authorized as per regulatory norms. This approach of the accused was found to be violating the section 18 U.S.C. Â § 371 of the Federal Conspiracy law, which later resulted in his

BIOCHEMISTRY ASSIGNMENT 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

BIOCHEMISTRY 2 - Assignment Example The process involves either an addition of a transforming group to one of the amino acids of the polypeptide chain or its proteolytic cleavage. The modifications comprise glycosylation, phosphorylation, nitrosylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, methylation, proteolysis lipidation. The process of PTM is governed by enzymes such as transferases, kinases, ligases and phosphatises which act upon distinctive amino acid side chains or on the peptide linkages. The mechanism of action of these enzymes involves addition or removal of distinct functional groups, sugars, lipids, proteins etc. either from or to the amino acid side chains. 1. During the process of translation (e.g. disulfide bonding). Disulfide bonds are formed between the two sulphur molecules. Amino acid Cysteine contains sulphur, as a result disulfide bond is formed between two residues of cysteine (R-S-S-R). The bond formed is strong and plays an imperative role in accurate folding as well as stability of protein molecules. DNA is the basic genetic material which is made up of four nucleotides Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C) and Thiamine (T). Adenine always pair with Thiamine with a double Hydrogen bond while Guanine pairs with Cytosine with a triple Hydrogen bond. The process of transcription is responsible for the formation of messenger RNA or mRNA. This process takes place inside the nucleus in eukaryotes. The sequence of nucleotides in DNA is responsible for the amino acid sequence of mRNAs which are translated into proteins. Transcription and translation involves the processes such as initiation, elongation and termination. The process of transcription involves RNA polymerase which is attached to the promoter sequence. When the protein is desired, the gene is â€Å"switched on† and when protein is not required the gene is â€Å"switched off†. Elongation is carried out after the assembly of PIC at the promoter site, TFIIH is similar to helicase which unwinds the DNA. Terminatio n

Learning objectives Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Learning objectives - Assignment Example The skills learnt during the first objective attainment were observation skills, learning the prevailing theories in HR field, updating my knowledge base for working in HR department and problem solving skills. In HR, it is important to have good observation skills so that the employees’ performances can be monitored and in order to motivate them, it is important to have up-to-date information about market trends regarding employees’ pay and need to be proactive in solving the HR problems. I recommended the HR head to develop a policy in which the HR problems are solved by a separate committee so that time of other employees in HR department is saved. There were twenty employees in the HR department and when some issue was raised, ten employees were assigned the task of resolving it. Hence, my suggestion was taken into consideration and five employees were given the responsibility of resolving any HR related issue. Initially, I faced some problems as my writing skills were not strong but eventually I learnt how to communicate the message correctly and clearly. I was partially able to complete my learning objective at the end of my internship programme. When working in HR department, it is important that one has good communication skills as it helps employee to communicate with each other effectively and understand other employees with whom you are working as a team (Torrance, 282). During my internship, I had to interact with many employees and my supervisor used to give me the responsibility of communicating HR policies to employees in other departments via emails on Intranet. While fulfilling this objective, I learnt how to effectively use the communication tools such as emails to inform other employees in the company about changing policies or introducing them to new rules and regulations. At times, I had to face criticism as I was weak in communicating the message correctly but eventually I

ERP in Public Sector Oman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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My experience and the impact of growing up with a parent with a Essay

My experience and the impact of growing up with a parent with a disability - Essay Example The first teacher in any child’s life is the parent; the parent provides life lessons that will be useful in a child’s life. Most children do not spend quality time with their parents due to tight working schedules. My mother’s disability has restricted her movement; thus, she spends most of her time at home. Having a flexible schedule meant that my mother was always there for me. She assisted me in my studies and taught me that having a positive attitude in life would make me stronger. I was taught never to give up and never shy away from assistance as it always leads to success (Ostalecki 47). Having a disabled mother has made me a social person. My mother ensured that I made friends in my life to help me deal with challenges that I faced. I help my mother by doing errands at home and assisting her with any challenges she may encounter. Through my mother, I have learned the importance of existing in a society where people love and care for others. I have also learned that traits like humility and kindness are valuable for any individual in society. Having a disabled mother has made me a self reliant individual. Although my mother has been there for me emotionally, her disability restricts her from helping me with physical activities. This made me learn and adapt to caring for myself and helping her with physical activities in the house. Compared to other students in my age group, I am capable of doing many basic chores without any assistance. Doing chores and caring for my mother has made me gain physical and emotional strength (Ostalecki 89). I and my mother are close, and we shared a lot as I grew up. Every time I have a troubling issue, I consult her, and she is always there to give me advice. Through her experience, she teaches me to be courageous and never give up. She insists that it is always beneficial to hope when faced with any challenge in life. Her disability has made her strong

TMA01 Prometheus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

TMA01 Prometheus - Essay Example There is no poetry, no artistic liberty, and certainly nothing to spark a discussion of his exploits thousands of years later. However, in most accounts, he is a Titan, a giant man or god who attempted to overthrow Zeus, and is the brother of the equally unfortunate Atlas. His personal lasting mark is strangely a side-effect of both his compassion for mankind and his contempt for the gods: bringing fire to the human race. This single act would solidify his martyr status, as he would spend an eternity at the bottom of the pecking order. Zeus sentenced him to survival. Zeus was not known for his mercy; this survival entailed being chained to a rock and eaten by an eagle, which is an animal widely acknowledged to symbolize justice and, ironically, equality. Beyond that, he shares a semi-divine status with Hercules, the demigod who would later release him from his torturous sentence. After this escape, his name was selected to grace the sky as one of the moons of Saturn (Dictionary.com, LLC, 2010). Hesiod’s account of Prometheus fits neatly into the tale of Thegonia, the birth of the gods. Hesiod sought to accommodate the many tales of the development of the gods and of Greek mythology through the production of one cohesive narrative. In particular, there is a constant war between the perspectives of the gods, men (who are represented as having a characteristic kinship with animals), and of the multitudes of characters in between the two extremes. Unlike many writers before him, Hesiod also cast off the ulterior motives of establishing a divine role in human authority. By his reasoning, the gods had a hierarchy as headed by Zeus and granted little importance to the affairs of men- unless they defied godly commands or desires (Vickery 1966, pp. 86-87). As an embodiment of the human spirit of defiance, brothers Atlas and Prometheus would defy the gods and be made martyrs. What makes them iconic is their status as a party between men

Presidential Transition and Policy Priorities on Civil Rights Essay - 1

Presidential Transition and Policy Priorities on Civil Rights - Essay Example These among other concerns are what makes the upcoming days doubtful and very uncertain. I think that acknowledging and taking into account the reality of any situation is the focal point of any circumstance that arises. Being honest with oneself and the public at large makes it easier for everybody to see what exactly is going on and how it is presently affecting the lives of one and all. Others may think that accepting a weakness or flaw is limiting the ability of an individual to think of an appropriate action. What others may not realize is that it is actually the starting point of trying to solve a problem. Because once a dilemma is openly admitted, it is easier to focus on forming plans on how to reduce the damage and eventually eradicate it when short term and long term solutions are made and implemented. not just happen in one day, it is expected that its resolution will also have to come in gradual phases. Hence an abrupt improvement is not likely to happen at once, and the worst could still turn up around the corner. In line with the economic upheaval, the State of the Union also mentioned the need to empower the American people as to how they would use their money to offset the crisis at hand. This does not necessarily mean handing over money to the people per se but showing them that public money is being put to good use and the government is not squandering it to serve its own purpose. However unlikely, this could be one of the answers on how to stabilize the weakening economy, because everybody will have to learn to spend wisely and frugally. It also goes to show that the people are really the heart of the nation for they have a say on how things should be managed in order to keep their heads above water. Having an economic and financial crisis on hand does not mean total devastation of the economy because there is always a chance to turn things around for

Assessment and Planning of Discharge Needs in Geriatrics Essay Example for Free

Assessment and Planning of Discharge Needs in Geriatrics Essay Elderly patients have unique discharge planning needs. As such, the hospital nurse and case management team may find themselves challenged to not only identify the needs of each patient, but to also address those needs when planning the patient’s discharge. In the case of Mr. Trosack, a 72-year-old widower being discharged following a total hip replacement (THR), careful assessment of his home situation needs to be completed prior to discharge to ensure his safety and continued recovery once home. Healthcare Issues  After reviewing the patient’s chart and performing interviews with the patient and his family, the case manager identifies three healthcare issues that need to be addressed on discharge.  ·The patient admits he has not seen a doctor in over 10 years prior to this hospitalization.  ·The patient has been diagnosed with two new health issues: hypertension and diabetes.  ·He has been prescribed new medications for each new diagnosis that he will need to continue taking after discharge.  ·The patient cannot identify pills he currently takes at home, stating simply that they are â€Å"vitamins† for â€Å"energy. Importance of Healthcare Issues Each of these issues needs to be addressed to ensure Mr. Trosack’s safety and continued recovery after discharge: The patient has not seen a doctor in over 10 years prior to this hospitalization. It is important for the case worker to find out why the patient has not seen any doctors, as it may be detrimental to his well-being. For example, did he have a bad experience with a previous provider and refuses to go back? Or, has he just not felt ill? Is his reasoning ability still sound? Or, is there some confusion? Is he in denial or facing fear that has kept him from seeing someone? If the patient is able to make sound decisions and simply has no concerns, he may do well at home. However, it may also be that he is unaware he should be seeing a physician, as â€Å"elderly patients may not report symptoms that they consider part of normal aging† (Besdine, 2009, para. 9). And, if he has had a bad experience in the past with a physician, it may have lead to a mistrust of the entire profession. If he has been refusing to see a doctor despite some concerns over the years, it could foreshadow similar situations in the future. He may not call when new problems or questions arise about is new medications. And, as evidenced by the cabinet of unused medications in the bathroom, he has a history of poor compliance, which could further impact his health. By discussing the reasons behind his lack of preventative care, the case manager will better understand the patient’s mindset and any concerns he may have. If a previous provider’s treatment or behavior has caused a mistrust of the profession, the case manager can recommend or introduce the patient to other providers, especially those that specialize in caring for geriatrics, as these providers have specialized training in caring for the elderly. If cost is a factor, the case manager can refer the patient to applicable programs such as food stamp programs, insurance and Medicare supplement policies, state-based programs, drug company assistance programs and more. If transportation is an issue, the case manager can refer to area agencies or senior citizen centers to utilize low-cost or volunteer-driven services that assist in transporting seniors. The patient has been newly diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes. New medical diagnoses can be scary for any individual, but with elderly patients, it can often bring about a new level of uncertainty and anxiety. Like all patients, they have questions about the new diagnosis and prescribed medications. However, the elderly patients of today grew up in a time when medical problems were not openly discussed. And now, society often looks at senior citizens as â€Å"lesser† citizens—a source for humor and pity in the media, weaker, less productive and expected to retire as they age (Day, 2011). Because of the way in which they were raised and the beliefs of society today, elderly patients may not feel comfortable asking questions. Knowing this, the nurse will look for additional clues from the patient’s interview as to how Mr. Trosack is feeling about his new diagnoses. During his interview with the case manager, the patient seems reluctant to accept his new diagnoses. Stating he doesn’t need any â€Å"darn† medications and doesn’t like being â€Å"disabled,† the patient also shows frustration. When a patient expresses this level of frustration and denial, there is an increased risk for lack of compliance. The need for education is greatly increased in this elderly patient. Because he has no outward symptoms of his new diagnoses, the patient does not feel he needs the new medications. The nurse needs to help the patient understand that his medications need to be continued to help prevent future symptoms from occurring. In addition, the nurse needs to be aware of additional challenges the patient may incur. Since elderly patients have often lost several members of their family (parents, siblings, even children in some cases), they are very much aware of their own mortality. A new diagnosis can bring a new awareness of that mortality, sometimes leading to a depression. When planning other discharge needs, the case manager needs to include these factors into her plan. Home health nurses can assist by visiting the patient at home during the week to ensure proper medication administration as well as assessing the patient for signs of depression and worsening hypertension, diabetes or depression. The patient has two new medications to continue upon discharge and cannot identify pills he currently takes at home. With the patient’s new diagnoses, he has been prescribed new medications. He has already voiced opposition to the idea of continuing these new medications because he does not feel he needs them. Because he does not feel they are needed, he is likely to have poor compliance in taking the medications. The patient would benefit greatly from education about why the medications have been prescribed and thatwith appropriate compliancehe will be more likely to remain free of symptoms. The patient being unable to state which pills he does take on a daily basis is cause for concern. Without the name of the pills, there is no way to verify its overall safety. Furthermore, the nurse and case manager cannot be sure there are no contraindications to taking the newly prescribed medications with the pre-admission supplements. The patient’s inability to recall the name of the pills also reiterates the concerns above regarding the new medications he has been prescribed. The case manager needs to work with the patient’s nurse to ensure the patient understands the importance of maintaining a current medication list, including over-the-counter â€Å"vitamins† for â€Å"energy,† to avoid future problems when being seen for other medical concerns. The Interdisciplinary Team For the patient’s discharge to be a success, the case manager needs to incorporate appropriate members of the healthcare team to make a discharge plan. In the case of Mr. Trosack, this interdisciplinary team needs to include the patient’s nurse, physical and occupational therapy staff, a dietician, a pharmacist, and staff from the local home health agency or public health district. Each member of the team will bring to the discharge plan a unique vision for the patient’s recovery. The nurse is familiar with the patient’s medical history, as well as his feelings regarding his new diagnoses and medications. S/He has learned how best to communicate with the patient and worked to educate the patient on his new health problems and medications. In creating a discharge plan, the nurse will share this information with the home health nurse, include the medication and treatment regimens that are to be continued, and identify goals for the patient related to each. The physical therapist will instruct the team on the patient’s abilities and limitations in relation to the patient’s ambulation and transfers. He may visit the patient’s home to complete an evaluation of additional needs. And, he will create an exercise regimen for the patient to continue once home and make recommendations for assistive devices that the patient may be able to use. The occupational therapist will also identify assistive devices and continued therapy needs, however, these recommendations will be in relation to the patient’s activities of daily living (ADLs) rather than ambulation. She will watch the patient get completely dressed to identify any special needs and assess risk (can the patient tie his shoes or will the laces be a fall hazard? ). She will assess the patient’s ability to shower or bathe, looking for shortcomings or safety concerns. She may also visit the home to complete a home safety evaluation, watch the patient has he carries out his ADLs, and make recommendations for ways to alter his methods to ensure safety. The dietician will make nutritional recommendations based on the patient’s needs for adequate healing. In doing so, she will take into consideration his abilities and limitations identified by the physical and occupational therapists. The dietician may suggest menus for the patient to follow. And, her knowledge of nutrition will allow for suggestions on easy-to-carry foods, snacks or supplements that require no refrigeration and can be stored outside the kitchen, making it easier for the patient to obtain. The pharmacist will provide the other members of the team with information related to his medication regimen. He will alert the other team members to possible side effects, adverse reactions and interactions that may occur. This information will be helpful to the other members of the team as they make their own recommendations for needs after discharge. The dietician will nclude foods that have less chance of interacting with medications and the therapy staff will be alerted to side effects that may impact the patient’s safety. Because the patient will be homebound, he will likely be referred to home health. The staff from the home health agency or public health district will take the information from all of the team members in making their own plans for assignment and recommendations after discharge. They will perform safety evaluations of their own to identify risks for patient and staff alike. They will assign staff to the patient based on the recommendations from the nurse and therapists. They may sign the patient up for meals-on-wheels, or a similar program, based on the recommendations of the dietician and assessments of the patient’s ability to cook and clean up as needed. They will reiterate the teaching provided by the nurse and therapists while visiting the patient and look for side effects or adverse reactions while working with the patient. In short, they will develop a complete plan of care to incorporate all of the feedback from the interdisciplinary team. Safety Assessment There are several areas of concern in regards to safety at the patient’s residence. First, the patient requires a walker and lives on the second floor in a building with no elevator. This presents a safety issue, as well as a potential psychosocial problem. Not only will the patient be unable to safely enter his apartment without assistance; but, he will also not be able to safely leave. The patient, should he reach his apartment after discharge, would be isolated from friends and family and completely homebound. He would not be able to assist in the bakery located downstairs; instead, becoming dependant on his brother to maintain the business. Additionally, the family members interviewed by the case manager share concerns about the patient’s safety once inside his apartment, due to the small and cluttered environment. They worry that the apartment is too cluttered with memorabilia from World War II for him to safely ambulate with a walker. Per the safety assessment, there are also several rugs throughout the space. Each rug represents a trip hazard and should be removed from the environment prior to the patient’s discharge home. Additionally, there are no safety devices in the bathroom. While these devices can be installed, the patient is at risk until the installation is complete. And, until the devices are installed, the patient cannot be assessed by the occupational therapist to ensure safe use. With the safety issues present in his current apartment, it is unlikely the patient will continue to improve in this environment. Not only is he at a high risk for fall and injury in this apartment, but his mobility will also be greatly limited by the crowded environment, reducing his physical activity. Such limitation would reduce the patient’s physical improvement, which is vital in recovery from a total hip replacement. Discharge Planning Needs Per the family interview, there is a lack of support available to the patient. For any patient to recovery successfully after discharge from the inpatient setting, they must have adequate support from friends and family. Elderly patients are especially reliant on adequate support, as they are more likely to experience a functional decline from baseline in the two weeks following a hospital discharge (Naylor et al. , 1994). Mr. Trosack has a brother and a married middle-aged son. Mr. Trosack co-owns the bakery with his brother, who is now running the bakery on his own. His son is somewhat estranged due to a difference in religious beliefs, has a young family of his own, and works nearly 60 hours a week, as does his wife. None of the people closest to Mr. Trosack can make him a priority in their lives. During the family interview, the case manager learns that they were planning on taking turns assisting the patient in his home. However, their busy lifestyles leave little time for that and they do not want to bring in outside assistance. Further, the family does not seem to understand the importance of regular medication administration in addition to denying the two new medical conditions exist since the patient has shown no outward symptoms of being sick. Their answer to cleaning up the apartment is throwing away some of the patient’s most treasured items. Rather than asking for suggestions in making the apartment safer, the family would prefer to have Mr. Trosack dispose of his memorabilia from World War II. This, combined with the social isolation brought on by being homebound and unable to participate in his long-time business, would worsen his chances of developing depression. Should the patient develop depression, his recovery would be further impacted by lack of compliance with medications (Carney, Freedland, Eisen, Rich, Jaffe, 1995). Further, depression can lead to elderly patients becoming confused or forgetful, eating less, poor hygiene, and becoming further isolated from friends and family (A. D. A. M. Medical Encyclopedia, n. d. ), all of which would further delay a complete recovery. Social Isolation Psychological Factors With the patient’s physical limitations, if he were to discharge to his apartment, he would be isolated from the outside world. Because he still relies on a walker, he would be unable to climb or descend the stairs and unable to participate in his own bakery business. He would also rely on visitors for his groceries, trash removal as well as any social interaction. Despite the fact that family members are physically close to his apartment, the relationships are strained and their schedules do not allow for him to become a priority in their lives. When patients are socially isolated, they tend to do poorly. Not only do socially isolated people tend to become anxious and depressed, but they are also more likely to develop high blood pressure. Additionally, isolation has been significantly correlated both with an extended wound-healing time (Cacioppo Hawkley, 2003). Despite the length of time the patient has been in the hospital setting, he is still recovering and his body is still healing. The patient needs to be in an environment that promotes healing. Furthermore, isolation has also been shown to cause impaired vision and hearing, which could increase the likelihood of fall and injury in the patient’s cluttered apartment (Frintner, 2008) In addition to the health-related dangers of social isolation, there are emotional reactions to isolation that one should consider when planning Mr.  Trosack’s discharge. Isolation and loneliness not only affect the body’s immune and cardiovascular systems, but it can also lead to sleep disturbances and depression (Marano, 2003). Depression makes social interactions difficult and sometimes even stressful, causing the depressed person to withdraw from family and friends even more. And, with the patient being unable to fulfill his duties at his family-owned business, the likelihood of dev eloping depression increases, due to a reduced sense of purpose (Smith, Robinson, Segal, 2011). The patient’s risk for isolation upon discharge home indicates that the patient may do better in another setting. Recommendation Upon review of Mr. Trosack’s chart, interviews with the patient and family and the safety assessment performed, it is the recommendation of this writer that the patient not be discharged home. This recommendation would be different if the patient lived on a first-floor apartment or had access to an elevator. However, given the safety and isolation issues present in his home, the patient would be better served in an assisted living facility. Because the patient does not need skilled nursing care, and can perform his most of his ADLs, the patient does not require nursing home placement. An assisted living facility would allow the patient to have some independence in regards to his individual space and performing his ADLs while ensuring the patient a safe environment. An assisted living facility allows for monitoring of the patient overall wellness and general health and can coordinate medication administration and monitor compliance (Maryland State Bar Association, 1998). The services provided by the assisted living facility would help to ensure that the patient stays safe by keeping a watchful eye on the patient—routine safety checks are performed and fall risks are identified and corrected as needed. The facility can also monitor his overall health through the routine safety checks as well as monitor his medication compliance, ensuring the patient takes his medications as scheduled. Furthermore, several facilities offer social activities, which would increase the patient’s likelihood of continued physical activity and reduce the risk of depression and decline after discharge.

Inclusion, Equality And Diversity in Learners

Inclusion, Equality And Diversity in Learners As teachers we all want our learners to reach their full potential with their studies. In order for the learners to do this its important for the tutor to be mindful of the issues of equality and diversity. These issues will be discussed here as well as ways to promote inclusive learning which help the learners to get the most out of their learning. Each learner is different due to different previous experiences and this means we must tailor our teaching so that it is appropriate to each individual learners needs. In terms of equality and diversity the relevant factors we must be sensitive to when teaching are disability, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity/race, age, religious beliefs and economic/social needs. The diverse backgrounds and experiences of individual learners are what make teaching so exciting and challenging. To tackle these challenges tutors need to employ a number of strategies to promote inclusive learning which means getting all the students involved in the learning. Inclusive learning can be achieved in a number of ways such as providing grants to those on lower incomes so they can complete a course at a lower cost or for free. If there are wheelchairs users on the course the appropriate venue for the teaching must be chosen so that access is as easy as possible. A ground floor venue is likely to be the preferred option or where a particular class has to be above the ground floor it must have the option for the wheelchair user to be able to use a lift. For students that have a disability (such as being blind or deaf, etc.) it may be useful for the student to have learning support whilst attending the classes. Carefully prepared resources can also help with inclusive learning. For example, handouts should be in a font size which is big enough (and without serifs) to help partially sighted learners with reading it. Any resources need to be in plain English (i.e. avoid unnecessary jargon). A good layout combining pictures and text is far more stimulating for learners than just blocks of text. Coloured paper may help those who are dyslexic. When it comes to the actual teaching the tutor can use a number of techniques to encourage inclusive learning. These include using different learning styles, differentiation and varying the activities and interaction between the learners. Its understood that different people assimilate information with different learning styles such as auditory, visual, aural and kinaesthetic methods. Differentiation is when the teaching methods match and challenge an individuals needs and ensure their interest and enthusiasm in the subject is maintained. Understanding your students abilities will ensure the right balance of methods and different activities are used. Other points of referral which are available to meet the potential needs of learners include the hardship fund, learner support fund, Citizens Advice Bureau, Job Centre Plus, Norfolk Deaf Association, Sensory Support, MIND, etc. Legislation and Metropole Learning For my job role I require an understanding of all current legislation, policies and procedures. I feel we have these in place so we have a guideline and it also protects tutors and students while working in a teaching environment. I am new to the teaching environment so I have had to learn the different aspects of the current legislative requirements. I follow the Institute for Learning (IfL) guidelines which is a professional body for teachers, trainers, tutors, student teachers and assessors in the further education and skills sector. IFL listens and supports the needs of registered members and it continues to raise the status of teaching practitioners across the sector. My current employer (Metropole Learning) makes sure that I have up to date information on legislative requirements and codes of practices. And I am also aware where to obtain this information if needed. The Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) An independent employer-led sector skills council responsible for the professional development of all those working in community learning and development, further education, higher education, libraries, archives and information services and work based learning across the UK. I would use the knowledge that I have gained from LLUK to increase the quality of my working area (Life Skills). I would also make sure that I incorporate the six core principles: integrity respect care practice disclosure responsibility There are many more legislations that I have to be aware of while teaching. It is important that I keep up to date with these legislations and part of my responsibility is to make sure that they are been adhered to and I know what procedure to follow if this is not the case. Data Protection Act Each learner that I have will have their own file which holds personal and confidential information (address, contact details and medical history). These files are kept in a cabinet which is locked in the main office but I have access to these. Health Safety Act When teaching I am always making sure that the environment that I am working in is suitable for me and my learners. Making any adjustments where necessary, for example if there are wheelchair users or people with epilepsy. I carry out any risk assessments that maybe needed and I am aware of the companyà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s fire procedure including the usage of fire equipment. Race Relations Act, Discrimination Act, and Equal Opportunities It is very important in my job role to have the correct information, knowledge and understanding of these legislations. As the learners that I work with have learning and physical disabilities. I make sure that we have adequate facilities and adapt my resources to make sure that nobody is discriminated against. This essay has helped to summarise the broad range of different people that you can expect to meet in the classroom and has suggested a number of ways to help increase the inclusivity of those learners. In addition, a range of other third bodies were suggested which can assist the student in maximising their potential and ultimately increase the enjoyment of their studies.

A Comparison of Beloved and Don Quixote Essay example -- comparison co

On reading Beloved by Toni Morrison and Don Quixote by Kathy Acker, there seem to be quite a few similarities in themes and characters contained in these texts, the most prevalent of which seems to be of love and language as a path to freedom. We see in Acker’s Don Quixote the abortion she must have before she embarks on a quest for true freedom, which is to love. Similarly, in Morrison’s Beloved, there is a kind abortion, the killing of Beloved by Sethe, which results in and from the freedom that real love provides. And in both texts, the characters are looking for answers and solutions in these "word-shapes" called language. In Acker’s Don Quixote, the abortion with which the novel opens is a precondition for surrendering the "constructed self." For Acker, the woman in position on the abortion table over whom a team of doctors and nurses work represents, in an ultimate sense, woman as a constructed object. The only hope is somehow to take control, to subvert the constructed identity on order to name oneself: "She had to name herself. When a doctor sticks a steel catheter into you while you’re lying on your back and you to; finally, blessedly, you let go of your mind. Letting go of your mind is dying. She needed a new life. She had to be named" (Don Quixote 9-10). And she must name herself for a man – become a man – before the nobility and the dangers of her ordeals will be esteemed. She is to be a knight on a noble quest to love "someone other than herself" and thus to right all wrongs and to be truly free. In another of Acker’s works she writes: "Having an abortion was obviously just like getting fucked. If we closed our eyes and spread our legs, we’d be taken care of. They stripped us of our clothes. Gave us white sheets... ... the end of the text by a community getting in touch with a "language of their own," while Acker’s protagonist is subverting texts to find or create something this "primal." Don Quixote is far more easily paired with the ghost of Beloved. They both are searching for a language they can use and understand and know with the "word-shapes" that they are given. They are both on quests to find love and freedom that are not a product of "slavery." They both are in search of a name, an identity, that is not a product of an "abortion." They are both childlike yet adult, trying to understand. And neither of them are asking for, or offering, forgiveness. Works Cited: Cervantes, Miguel De. Don Quixote. Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Ed Mack, Maynard et al. WW Norton and Co. New York, NY. 1992. Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York, Penguin Books USA Inc, 1988.

The Strange Utopia of The Giver :: Giver Essays

The Strange Utopia of The Giver Imagine living in a world where you can't choose your job, where at the age of twelve you are assigned an occupation by some group of elders. Imagine a world in which you can't choose that special person to be your wife or husband, a world where nobody is special. Visualize a place where you can't have your own children, where you have to take care of somebody else's children. In The Giver by Louis Lowry, this place exists every day. It's a perfect world, a utopia. A job is, for many people, one of the most important parts of their life. If it's so important, you have to enjoy it, and to enjoy it, you have to choose it yourself. In this "utopia," created in The Giver you don't get to do that. Other people choose the activity you are going to do for the rest of your life. For example, Fiona was assigned Caretaker of The Old, a job she really wanted, but don't you think that maybe later in her life, she could change her mind and not want to do her job anymore? She can't do that because she lives in a world where she doesn't have a choice, where she can't run her own life. "You have the power to think what you want. No matter what the circumstance is." No one can tell you what to think, you have a mind of your own, and repressing your thoughts won't do any good at all. I want to give you a quote from the book. " I heard about a guy who was absolutely sure he was going to be an engineer and instead he was assigned sanitation laborer. He jumped into the river and swam to the closest community, no one saw him again." This demonstrates that the elders can be wrong. People defending Sameness can say that all the jobs are made for the people getting them and that they will like them and be an active part of the community. I am going to respond to that with a life story. Before I was twelve, all I wanted to do is be an architect.

Robotics in the Medical Field Essay -- Robotic Surgery, Technology Ad

The medical field has revolutionized the health and well being of society. Throughout the decades, the medical field has been through sweeping changes that leave society astonished. It seems like each year that passes by, there is a new technological advancement that modernizes the medical field. Not only do these advancements modernize medicine, but they in return aid doctors, nurses, and specialists by improving their effectiveness within the field. About ten years ago, the da Vinci Surgical System was introduced to hospitals and the medical field, in general because the FDA had finally approved the system within the United States (Dunkin). The da Vinci Surgical System, also known basically as robotic surgery, introduced the use of a surgical robot, which is operated by the doctor himself using a controlled manipulator (Declan et al.). Prior to the invention of robot-assisted surgeries, most surgeons simply did a typical laparoscopic surgery on a patient. Laparoscopic surgery is â €Å"a type of surgery performed through several small incisions, rather than one (or more) large ones as in standard "open" surgery† (Schmitz). Through the development of superior technology, such as the surgical robot; it brought about changes that effected doctors, patients, and the medical world. A robot-assisted surgery demonstrates how far America and the whole world have come in means of technology within a particular working field. The necessity for a more superior technology within hospital settings are best supported by the development of the da Vinci Surgical System. In 1991, when the surgical system was introduced to the globe, many acknowledged that this system improved three different aspects of regular laparoscopic surgery: it gave doctor... ...y within a medical setting has stepped away from the shadows and into a brighter future with the development of the da Vinci Surgical System in the medical world. Before the surgical robot, doctors or surgeons would have had to make several incisions to their patient’s body, which would cause the patients recovery to be elongated and possibly painful. The da Vinci Surgical System allows surgeons to make smaller, less visible incisions to the patient’s body and have a better precision during the procedure. Throughout several years, surgeons relied on their typical laparoscopic surgery to be able to provide patients with the procedures that required them to make large incisions through the patient’s abdomen. Nowadays, surgeons and their patients can have a sigh of relief because the surgical robot provides surgeons with the precision that they long strived for.

Medieval Philosophy St. Anselm, an Archbishop of Canterbury

Born in Aosta, in a town off Lombardy, St. Anselm grew up with his mother and father. His mother spoke of the greatness and power of God often. She would describe him with very high regards and Anselm assumed he lived somewhere nearby considering they lived in the mountains already. St. Anselm believed that he witness the greatness of God. He dreamt of his servants and a feast of bread with the King. The servants consisted of women and worked just as servants do. As they were all off gathering the harvest he and the Lord ate a meal of bread together. When St. Anselm woke from his dream he told everyone that he sat with the lord and how immense it was. This sparked his interest in God even more.As a young child he was a quick learner (Eadmer, 1972). When he reached his teenage years St. Anselm was loved by many; even those that opposed authority, He was also still hungry for wisdom. He attempted to join the missionary and become a priest but was denied. The monk would not let him in b ecause they did not think his father would approve. St. Anselm’s mother died some time afterwards. His father was a very strict man and was hard on him. He was so tough on St Anselm that the boy decided to set out on a journey of his own. He looked to learn and he found it in a teacher near Avranches. St. Anselm was a devoted scholar who later became Archbishop and doctor of his church.To the claim: To me God does not yet exist; but there is a creative force constantly struggling to evolve godlike knowledge and power, every man and woman born is a fresh attempt to achieve omnipotence and omniscience.This bluntly means that no current God exist. That everyman and woman is a mold attempt to attain total power and knowledge in an image imitating what he or she believes to be of God. The creative force that is being described is used as a synonym to what God’s power would be in this sentence. Considering that the statement is one without belief then the power and knowledge of a superior is describing a goal man is trying to reach when reproducing him or herself. He has not yet achieved it; therefore he continues to reproduce. Man attempt to create the ultimate human being by mating with those that offer the most beneficial offspring. That is the natural instinct of man; to create flawless images of him; to duplicate his positive qualities into another being.With this being said St Anselm would disagree with the statement that God didn’t exist. God existed in the days of Medieval without question. Philosophers just knew he existed and St. Anselm used the Ontological argument as his own translation. The main problem in the eleventh century was not only if God existence was real, it was proving the theory. Many felt that it was just something in the Bible and others felt there was more answers, St. Anselm being one of them.St Anselm felt that a fool says there is no God. When he or she thinks of this image they contradict themselves. They perceiv e something that is not real to them. He believes it is possible to be because man is created in the image of him and no other. There is no other animal or being that replicates the image of God. St. Anselm considers that we can imagine things but only those that are true will be defined. The definition of God is one being superb to all; he is thought to be just that, even by the imagination of nonbelievers.St Anselm was a philosopher that wanted to analyze the words of the Bible and put proof behind them. His definition of the relationship between man and God requires that you have a somewhat religious background and or belief. (2002). He feels that there is one great thing or many that is created through that one. One thing that is greater than all things.There is a being that is good and that creates and receives goodness through itself. He feels that all things that are good receive their good either through themselves or through another. At the highest level all things are eith er identical or one thing is significantly different than the rest, giving it distinct God-like qualities and making it superior to all else.St. Anselm believes that God does exist in reality. All things that are real exist in reality and all things that are not exist in dreams. Dreams are not reality and all things through God go beyond man’s dreams. St. Anselm would change his opinion to make no one happy but won the hearts of many. He stood behind what he believed. His Ontological argument says that the existence of God can be proven through intuition and reason alone and no physical evidence is necessary.Although many philosophers have disagreed with this argument, St. Anselm insists that if a person can conceive of God, then God does exist. He argues that if someone states â€Å"God does not exist† then he or she is contradictory of his or her self. Since they are made in what he thinks to be the image of God himself.Many theorist and philosophers felt that God wa s a being that common man was incapable of communicating with. They felt that he had given them the knowledge to learn of him but not to go beyond that. Meaning that we will only know what he wants us to know and we will only learn of him what he allows us to. Some felt that they were not going to ever talk with God or get the answers that lead to his existence.St. Anselm believed â€Å" sin has so darkened our minds that we cannot hope to reach the truth unless God graciously leads us to it. He does so by offering us the truth through revelation and by inspiring us to accept that revelation in faith. Once we accept the truth on that basis, however, we can hope to reason out proofs for what we have already accepted through faith. God is rational, and what he does is rational, and we ourselves are blessed with reason. Thus we should be able to discover the rationality of God's actions, at least to some extent. We are like students who, unable to solve a mathematical problem, are giv en the answer to it and then discover they can reason out why that answer is correct (1996).† With this belief strongly embedded into St. Anselm’s way of thinking he would change the way that we look at religion today.This theory is still in existence today. Theologians that studied later on after St. Anselm found it hard to accept this wisdom from such a young philosopher. St. Anselm felt that God spoke to him very clearly. He was taught of this God as a child and as he got older he studied this God. As a man he became to know this God and have an intimate relationship with him. He learned that while in the struggles of life’s journey that God was the not only a philosophy but he was also a reality. God was of concrete power and understanding while all others were temporary. His relationship with his father and many peers were not solid and caused him great grief. The encounters with God were reality to him and they were permanent. He realized that God controlle d all that was. St Anselm intriguingly realized that his life was apart of God’s plan, a part of his story.History in this case defines God’s story. It included St. Anselm’s life plan. He wanted to learn as much as possible about God. St. Anselm was a very wise young man for seeking the wisdom of God and that is why he was given the gift of knowledge.His gift was the ability to spread the word of God and his faith in him. He believed in a mighty God that from his testimonies gave him all that he needed. He was hungry for the knowledge that others may have feared. He was not afraid to die on his deathbed because he was sure that he would go to be with God. He was rumored to have asked the Lord if he could stay long enough to find out where our souls started and their purpose. He felt that after him there would be no one else so competent to do his work.St. Anselm was not only a miracle of his time but ours as well. He proved that nothing could stand in the way of knowledge by not allowing his challenges to lower his power to believe. Believe in what he knew to be. He made history not just for his argument but also mostly for his courageous journey through discovery with his own beliefs.Reference:Eadmer and translated by R.W. Southern. May 1, 1972.The Life of St. Anselm: Archbishop of Canterbury. New York. Oxford University Press.Paul Halsall (Jan 1996). Anselm on God’s Existence. Medieval Source Book. April 26, 2006. http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/halsall/source/anselm.asp

The Pianist Essay

‘The Pianist’ is a cinematic masterpiece by the Polish director Roman Polanski. One of the key ideas that appear throughout much of the film is that of ‘hope being instrumental in our survival’. This idea is portrayed through Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish pianist, as he struggles for survival in Warsaw as everybody that he once knew and everything that he once had is lost. The idea of ‘hope being instrumental in our survival’ is worth learning about as it allows the audience to realise the importance of hope in todays society – and to understand how Polanski uses music to symbolise ‘hope’ for Szpilman in the film.Polanski effectively utilises an array of visual and oral text features such as music, dialogue, and lighting to build further emphasis on this theme. ‘The Pianist’ is an honest depiction of the events that occurred during the Holocaust, through the eyes of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Jewish concert pianist liv ing in Warsaw, Poland. As the movie starts we see him in a radio studio beautifully playing the piano. But then the tanks start shooting, the bombs start falling, and the studio is damaged. He can no longer avoid the rapidly escalating situation. Germany is invading his homeland.His time as a concert pianist and radio performer has come to a sudden end. The first half of the movie focuses on the impact of the war on him and his family’s lives and the suffering of others, whilst the second half purely revolves around Szpilman’s struggle for survival and the hope in which he draws from music. Polanski heavily emphasises this idea, getting across the message that Szpilman would not be alive if were not for the hope in which he holds to – even if at times if at times it is by a tiny thread. The most obvious feature used to enhance the idea of ‘hope being instrumental in our survival’ is that of music.After being forced to desert his family and having to live in isolation with his survival being questioned almost every day, it is perhaps only the thoughts of music that keep Szpilman going. This is idea becomes more apparent when Szpilman discovers a piano in one of the flats he is hiding in. He is unable to play because he will give himself away so we instead watch his fingers move across the air above the piano’s keys as whilst the sound plays in his head and too the viewer. Throughout the film we also see Szpilman pretending to play the piano as he taps his finger across his legs.It is moments such as these that help to maintain Szpilman’s willingness to survive by keeping silent, but also how piano gives fills him with the hope that is instrumental in his survival. In other scenes such as when a German officer asks Szpilman to play piano for him, and allows him to live because of his immense talent we begin to realise that Szpilman’s hope – music, does not only help him to survive mentally, but also p hysically as he can share the gift that he has to others. It is also important to note that Polanski only music by the Polish composer, Chopin is used throughout ‘The Pianist’.His sad and evocative music brings upon a sad mood, yet one with a hint of hope and with this, the director can more vividly express his ideas a way that dialogue or action cannot. Another oral feature used throughout the film to express the director’s idea of ‘hope being instrumental to our survival’ is dialogue. Whilst Szpilman’s actions are usually used to express the director’s ideas, there are multiple instances where dialogue is used effectively to express them. In one scene around a third of the way into the film, Mr. Lipa, a businessman comes round to the Szpilman’s family’s house to make an offer on their piano.The majority of the family think the amount of money he is offering for such a beautiful piano is absurd, but when he says, â€Å"2 ,000 and my advice is to take it. What will you do when you’re hungry? Eat the piano? † Szpilman comes to the realisation that whilst music is what he needs to survive mentally, it is in fact food that he needs to survive physically and accept this offer. From this point in the film onwards, Polanski distinguishes physical survival from mental survival for Szpilman and begins to enforce the idea of ‘hope is instrumental to our survival’.We learn that Szpilman will go to all efforts to survive, shown with dialogue, â€Å"[taking off his watch] Here, sell this. Food is more important than time† but it is his hope that he will one day be able to play piano again and be happy that is instrumental to his survival. This is shown later in the film when a German Officer asks him what he’s going to do when the war is over and he replies, â€Å"Play piano again†. It is the simple, but effective use of dialogue such as this that mimic realistic si tuations in comparison to the Hollywood theatrics used in other films that establish an exaggerated, bleak atmosphere.Lighting is another visual feature that is used to good effect to emphasise the idea of hope being instrumental in (Szpilman’s) survival. Throughout the second half of the film, where Szpilman is trapped within solitude – with the hope in which he holds on to hanging by the thread; Polanski uses dark and obsolete colours with a bluish tint that combined create a very strange and desolate atmosphere. While the dark obsolete lighting clearly portrays Szpilman’s pessimism, it is the bluish tint evident that is like the ‘silver lining’ and shows the viewer the hope that Szpilman is still holding on to.In one particular scene, where Szpilman plays piano for the first time in months to a Nazi Officer, moonlight with the distinct blue tint is cast over the piano and his hands as he plays. Polanski creates this effect to make the link for th e audience that music is the hope that has been instrumental to his (Szpilman’s) survival and is the tiny thread that he has been hanging onto when everybody he knows and everything that he once had has been taken from him.In the film ‘The Pianist’, Polanski effectively employed the use of the visual and oral features: music, dialogue and lighting to better communicate his idea of ‘hope being instrumental in our survival’. These three features come together to allow the audience to truly realise the importance of hope being the sole factor that keeps Szpilman alive, and that his hope is symbolised through music. Polanski so skilfully uses these features to show rather than tell the importance of this idea and through this it is little wonder that the movie is considered a modern classic.

An investigation of code-switching in English classes at the University of Danang- College of Language Studies

Bilingual speakers usually tend to switch some words or phrases from one language to another during conversation, which is called â€Å"code-switching†. According to Heather Coffey, code-switching is the practice of moving between variations of languages in different contexts. Code-switching is also intentionally or unintentionally practiced frequently in class. This research will focus on code-switching practice in class of both teachers and students in Danang University- College of Language Studies, how it is performed, what effects it might create as well as some suggestions for this problem. Techniques for this research such as observations, interview and taking of field notes are used as means of data collection.Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Problem statementEnglish ranks second in top 10 Most Spoken Languages in the World. In Vietnam, learning English now is becoming more popular than ever before. For those who know English, they tend to mix the two languages, i.e. English and Vietnamese, in conversation. Code-switching, the practice of moving back and forth between two languages or between two dialects or registers of the same language, therefore is inevitable and sometimes unconscious, especially when they are having English classes.For example, in an English class at Danang University- College of Language Studies, a teacher says: â€Å"Cà ¡c em là  m bà  i  writing rá »â€œi submit cho cà ´ qua mail.†, and students ask: â€Å"Deadline là   khi nà  o vá º ­y cà ´?† Those are just two in tons of code-switching that can be found in English classes. The frequency of finding code-switching practice inside classrooms is very high and it is worth paying attention to work on. That is the reason why I would like to take on this problem to investigate. 1.2 Research rationaleNowadays, English is an obligatory subject at school, a means of international communication, and a second language in our society. Our college, the College of La nguage Studies, offers official, integrated and advanced language training, of which the strength is English. Moreover, students who study English are better prepared and have larger vocabulary since they are taught English at high schools. Finally, it is not only students but also the teachers that code-switch in class for many reasons.Therefore, the finding of code-switching between English and Vietnamese is much higher than in other languages. By carrying out this study, I hope that it will help the students and the teachers as well be aware of code-switching in class and through some general suggestions for this issue, they can find specific solutions to avoid the drawbacks and make code-switching an effective tool for learning and teaching English. 1.3 Research scopeCode-switching is a broad topic since it occurs in many aspects of our lives. However, in this research, I only focus on code-switching in English classes performed by teachers and students of Danang University- Col lege of Language Studies- Department of English because I think it is more practical and feasible. Therefore, the process of interviewing and observation will take place in some English classes and some notes are also taken from the Internet. All the participants taking part in this study are required to use Vietnamese as their mother tongue, and English as their second language.1.4 Aims and objectivesThe study explores the use of code-switching in English classes at the College of Language Studies. Specific objectives are set as follows: Examine the frequency of code-switching found in these classes Investigate the  fluency and accuracy of the participants who apply code-switching in their classes Investigate the purposes and reasons for the practice of code-switching in classes Present an array of the influences of this practice1.5 Research question– What is likely to be the frequency of the practice of code-switching in English classes? – What are the reasons and purposes for code-switching in English classes? – What are the effects that code-switching might create and what can be done to make it a useful tool for teaching and learning English?1.6 HypothesisFirstly, it is hypothesized that the frequency of code-switching among bilinguals is very high because of a number of reasons. It may occur because there are no equivalent words, to convey intimacy, to avoid being overheard or understood, to add emphasis and some other reasons. Such reasons were anticipated in the findings of Nguyen Ha Quyen (2011). In addition, Walid M Rihane (n.d) also provided five reasons for code-switching, which are solidarity, social status, topic, affection and persuasion.Secondly, there is a tendency of practicing code-switching in class more, especially amongst students since they are encouraged to use English in classes; their vocabulary and grammar, however, is sometimes not enough to express their feelings or ideas. This may cause some effects such as words and phrases are applied in the wrong way, some students might transcribe some words to the accents and dialects that they are familiar with and so on.Chapter 2: Literature Review2.1. Previous studies 2.1.1 Code-switching in conversationCode-switching is one of the major issues in bilingual research. According to Milroy and Muysken (1995), the switches occur in different ways, sometimes the switching occurs between the turns of speakers in a conversation, sometimes between utterances within a single turn and sometimes even with in a single utterance. Nguyen Ha Quyen (2011), also investigated code-switching in conversation of Vietnamese teenagers, she pointed out that â€Å"to some people, Code-switching has become a habit and most time occurs subconsciously when speaking with people at the same age† and that â€Å"code-switching should be viewed from the perspective of providing a linguistic advantage rather than an obstruction to communication.†2.1.2. Why do peop le code-switch?Code-switching often happens with bilinguals and there are many reasons for this. Walid M Rihane (n.d) argued that code-switching is motivated by five main factors, which are solidarity, social status, topic, affection and persuasion. Some research has also found that people code-switch to emphasize or clarify a particular point, to reinforce a request, to substitute a word or to express a concept that does not have a direct equivalent in other language. Specifically, Nguyen Ha Quyen (2011), provided some factors that influence code-switching, such as: – No equivalent words in Vietnamese.2.1.3 Code-switching in the classroomCurrently, there has been several research on this field. Ehsan Rezvani (2011), in the research â€Å"Code-switching in Iranian Elementary EFL Classrooms: An Exploratory Investigation† proved that â€Å"code-switching is a readily available and frequently applied strategy for foreign language teachers in classroom interaction and cla ssroom management†, â€Å"although the teacher enjoyed high English proficiency levels, they did not maximize the target language (i.e. English) in their classroom interactions†. In addition, Bulelwa Ndabeni (2002) argued in her research â€Å" An investigation of Code Switching in different learning areas in a grade seven class† that â€Å"code switching has an important role to play in the school classroom, but more longitudinal studies are needed on the implications of code-switching†.She noted that â€Å"we must also be careful of the other negative side of classroom code switching†; â€Å"teachers should be aware of the importance of code switching in the classroom, but they should not use it as an avoidance strategy†. In my research, therefore, I will present some general suggestions to make code switching more useful in English classes. Chapter 3: Methodology and procedures3.1 Research methodI propose a qualitative study using question naires, observation and in-depth interview methods. Specifically, I would like to use questionnaires to collect the data. One of the major advantages of this method is that it provides possible anonymity and avoids embarrassment on the part of the respondents. It can be easy to gather a large amount of information to analyze. However, using questionnaires also brings some drawbacks. Therefore, I would also choose natural observation, which involves observing behavior as it takes place in the environment. In this case, the environment is inside the classroom of English classes. Observation is a useful strategy.For Saurab, â€Å"It is the primary mode of acquiring knowledge about the environment†. This method will help the researcher avoid the wide range of problems that is usually found if using questionnaires. For example, when having questionnaires delivered to the respondents, the researcher might not always get accurate or complete answer, or respondents may answer in ways that correspond to what is socially desirable. In addition, in-depth interview is used as well. This is a powerful data collection method. The biggest advantage of this method is that there is time for the respondent to further develop and give reasons for his or her point of view- without being influenced by the opinion of other respondents.3.2 Description of population and sampleThe participants of the study are teachers and students of The University of Danang- College of Language Studies- Department of English. Those participants, especially students, come from different cities and provinces. The gap of facilities needed to learn English, therefore, may exist amongst the students. Furthermore, the participants are required to use Vietnamese as their mother tongue, and English as their second language.The chosen  type of sample is simple random sample, i.e. each unit in the population has an equal chance of being selected. According to Natalie Andrew, â€Å"freedom of human b ias and classification error remains one of the biggest advantages simple random sampling offer† and â€Å"if done right, simple random sampling results in a sample highly representative of the population of interest.†3.3 Data CollectionInformation will be collected by observing randomly some English classes with Vietnamese teachers. These classes could be for first year or even final year students, since even first year students study integrated English. The researcher will record the date or take some notes. Furthermore, as mentioned above, questionnaire will be used as one of the method to collect the information. The questionnaires will include both closed and open questions and they will be delivered to random classes in the college. In addition, some interviews are also conducted to find out the ways and the reasons for code-switching. The interviewer will ask some closed and open questions and then probe for elaboration. In this way, data will be collected by tak ing notes.3.4 Instrument for data analysisThere will be some instrument needed for data analysis. For interview, it is needed to have a computer and a recorder apart from notes. The computer is to type and edit questions and answers and to save the information after the interview. It is used to design the questionnaires as well. It is also necessary to have a simple calculator to figure out the frequency of the practice of code-switching through its occurrences. In some cases, Microsoft Excel is used as a tool to help the researcher analyze faster and more accurately.3.5 Data analysis and expected findingsData collected will be dissected by logical and statistical techniques to correspond to the followings: the frequency of using code-switching in English classes of both teachers and students, the purposes and the ways of practicing code-switching. The researcher will count the occurrence of code-switching in the data collected, then identify the frequency. Information from the inte rview and questionnaires will be analyzed mainly to get the reasons and manners of performing code-switching in classes. Finally, the researcher makes a report to present the findings.

Importance of Metals

A metal is defined as an opaque shiny element which possesses properties such as malleability and ductility. Malleable meaning that they can be hammered into shapes and ductile meaning they can be drawn into wires. They are also very strong and posses high tensile strength and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Metals are shiny, and also have high densities. Metals are a very important and significant part of chemistry. However, their importance is not just limited to chemistry; they are also used in our daily lives.We may not realize this but without metals; we would not be able to continue with our daily routines as metals play an important role. Metals are used in the making of household conveniences like ovens, dishes, cutlery etc. they are also used in transportation such as cars, buses, trucks, trains. Computers and electronic devices are also made up of metals. Electrical power production and distribution, even most of the construction is made out of steel which is a n alloy; a mixture of metals such as iron and carbon.And it is because of the specific properties of metals, which allow them to be used in the making of such objects. Although we see metals almost everywhere we go, metals are not found easily. In fact, most of the metals are present in the earth’s crust but when found in the earth these are often mixed with other substances. The rocks in the earth’s crust are a mixture of substances, these rocks from which a metal can be extracted from is known as an ore. The method used to extract metals from ores depends on the reactivity of that metal.Some unreactive metals can even be found in the native state, like gold. On the other hand, most metals are too reactive to exist on their own like aluminium, which has to be extracted using a method called electrolysis. And some moderately reactive metals that are in the middle of the reactivity series can be extracted using reduction of oxides like iron. Gold is not found in a mixtu re or combined state but is also quite rare. Gold is extracted by mining.Gold is a very demanding and expensive metal, the 2nd most expensive after platinum. The metal aluminium is extracted from its one aluminium oxide which is also known as bauxite which is mainly aluminium oxide (Al2O3)It is also the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust but is never found separately, only in its bauxite. Aluminum being a reactive metal has to be extracted using electrolysis. The process of electrolysis requires massive amount of energy and therefore making aluminium expensive to produce.

Concerted activity and social networking Research Paper

Concerted activity and social networking - Research Paper Example The same rationale was applied in the case of Crawford v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County of 2009. In this particular case the court held that an employee might not be retaliated against for taking part in an organization’s investigation of a colleague’s complaint (Hogan, 2011). The courts even went on to award a $1.5 million to the staff member who had filed the lawsuit. Even the judge in the Thompson v. North American Stainless case appeared to concur with both judgments when he allowed for a man to sue for retaliatory for being fired just shortly after her spouse filed a sex discrimination charge against her employer who was also his spouse’s employer (Sprague, 2012). It was this kind of reasoning that informed the enactment of the National Labor Relation Act (NLRA) or the law governing the relationship between unions and organization’s management. ... Still the same line of reasoning held sway if a number of rulings that have been made in connection to disparaging remarks made in social media site on employers is anything to go by. The explosion of these social networking has brought about new employment-related issues to the organizations that companies should worry about very much. This explain why new issues like; online harassment and particularly in any of the social sites, theft of company’s secrets by bloggers and ranting from some quarters about YouTube, MySpace, twitter and any other social networking sites; have become common theme is employments seminars. Just as employers are trying to come up with ways and means of dealing with these challenges, a new debate has been kicked-off interrogating the question of whether internet postings constitutes Concerted Activity under the definition of National Labor Relation Act (NLRA).In this regard, NLRA is a law that was enacted in 1935 in order to protect the employeesâ⠂¬â„¢ rights in concerted activity (Smith, 2011). Although the law does not explicitly define what a concerted activity is, case laws have offered what can be looked on as the range of activities that make up concerted activities. These activities include; hour, wages, safety, working condition and also benefits. According to NLRA, these are the activities that should not be prohibited by any policy that a company might decide to implement. As a law, NLRA is the reference point of HR professionals and organizations when it comes to dealing with employees’ social media activities, and particularly Section 7 which provides that â€Å"employees have a right to self-organization, to form, join, or even help labor

Business Law Rubric 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Law Rubric 2 - Essay Example In each and every country, there are legal requirements that ought to be met in the construction industry in order to ensure that there is compliance with standard expectations of buildings. A building inspector is tasked with ensuring that all the buildings under construction pass various tests in their construction stages to ensure that they are safe to the people (Mallor, 1012). Legally, building inspectors are tasked by the department of construction in local governments to ensure that they inspect all the buildings to see if they comply with safety regulation stipulated by the law. A building inspector is mainly concerned with ensuring that illegal structures are not erected since these can pose a safety threat to the people. Municipalities are often responsible for overseeing all the construction work since they deal with issues related to local governments. The building inspector gives advice to the property owners about the steps that can be taken to ensure that all construction work is in compliance with the expected standards. The interviewee is a potential candidate to work as a building inspector and this interview has been designed to get more details about how he views this career. As such, the interview has been designed to get more perceptions about this profession from the candidate. How the job is related to the law -The bank loan officers are compelled by the law to act within certain parameters to ensure that they do not violate the rules and regulations that are expected in this area. This career is related to the law since it is stipulated in the constitution all banks should act within a specific legal framework. A bank loan officer is responsible for vetting loan applicants to see if they meet all the requirements or if they have not been declared insolvent at one time (Cillers, 218). A bank loan officer is expected to verify all the documents possessed by the applicant to establish if he qualifies for the loan. In