Understanding Services for Developmental Disabilities

As a parent, learning that your child has developmental disabilities can be a life altering moment in time and can cause a devastating chain reaction of events. These events have the potential to change family priorities and structure, hurt relationships, deplete financial savings and stability, and emotionally drain everyone intimately involved with you and your child. How do you find human services programs, agencies, or advocates, whose primary job is to help you provide everything your child needs? It certainly can be an overwhelming barrier, but its the first step in giving you, your child, and your family a plan of action, goals, success, good mental health and bringing everyone back together. What are Developmental†¦show more content†¦Arise, Inc. - ARISE is a consumer-controlled, non-profit Independent Living Center (ILC) that promotes full inclusion of people with disabilities in the community. They are dedicated to removing barriers, sustaining needs, strengthening skills, and enriching the lives of people with disabilities in Central New York. As a local ILC, not only are they run by and for people with disabilities, they also offer services to people of all ages who have all types of disabilities. Each year, ARISE serves more than 3,000 people from branch offices located in three Central New York counties: Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego. (http://www.ariseinc.org/about-us/) AHRC of New York City - AHRC of NYC, a family run organization, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The variety of services offered by the organization is unsurpassed. They offer individuals a wide range of programs, services and supports tailored to meet specific needs. Membership is in the thousands an they are mostly persons with intellectual developmental disabilities, their families, friends and professionals in the field - AHRC of NYC is one of the largest consumer-based nonprofit organizations in the city. The ARC of the United States - The ARC was created in 1950, by families working vigilantly to create services for children and adultsShow MoreRelatedA Research Study On Developmental Disability826 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Gail Goldsmith, BSW, who just retired from Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, NLCMH is authorized by the Michigan Department of Community Health to provide mental health services and services to those with developmental disabilities. Developmental disability is generally defined as a chronic condition, with an onset before age 22, that cause impairment in one or more areas that impact day-to-day functioning such as learning, communication (expressive and receptive language), mobilityRead MoreThe Importance Of Working On A Macro Level Of Social Services1420 Words   |  6 PagesSocial justice and social services have always played a vital role in my life. From leading canned food and toy drives in middle school to volunteering in school settings and soup kitchens, I am dedicated in assisting others to meet their goals and removing obstacles that may present as a disability or create discrimination. Through the experiences of engaging with individuals from different populations, I have realized the importance of working on a macro-level of social services. An individual’s presentingRead MoreThe Importance Of Providing Better Assessments For Adults With Disabilities1559 Words   |  7 Pagesinteractions, th e basic unit of society. This research will focus on the importance of providing better assessments for Adults with Disabilities, before placing them into a specific housing setting, without undermining their independence level. In 1998, Wehmeyer and Bolding published a research article that focused on the enhancement of self-determination of adults with disabilities after they lived or worked in community-based environments. This research specifically focused on the intellectually disabledRead MoreIndividuals with Disabilities Essay1411 Words   |  6 PagesWhy is it then that during times of financial uncertainty services and programs necessary to promote and maintain the health and welfare of individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) as well as other vulnerable populations are among the first to face budget cuts or to be eliminated altogether? Historically, society has relied heavily on institutions to care for individuals with disabilities. The idea that individuals with disabilities could not -- and should not -- be cared for in their communitiesRead MoreDevelopmental Delay1330 Words   |  6 PagesJacqueline McCluskey CDFR 4300 Developmental Delay At least 8 percent of all preschool children from birth to 6 years have developmental problems and demonstrate delays in one or more domains. (Pediatric Perspective, 2003). Developmental delays occur when a child does not reach the developmental milestones by the expected time. It can affect one or more of the five areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social and emotional, and adaptive. If a child is experiencing a delayRead More IDEA Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Essay875 Words   |  4 Pages â€Æ' In 1991 the Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was replaced by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This law was passed to provide free and appropriate public education to every child with a disability. It requires that each child with a disability â€Å"have access to the program best suited to that child’s special needs which is as close as possible to a normal child’s educational program† (Martin, 1978). The Individualized education program (IEP) wasRead MoreEssay on Lifelong Learning: People with Disabilities795 Words   |  4 PagesPeople with disabilities face many obstacles throughout their life. There are many things that can be done to ensure that a person with disabilities reaches their full potential. People with disabilities face many issues pertaining to lifelong learning such as; the beginning diagnosis, early intervention, assessments, educational progress and transitional programs. Diagnosis of Developmental Disabilities Arnold Gessell developed the milestones at which one progress through normal development (CookRead MoreClinical Experience And Knowledge Of Pediatric Dentistry Essay1125 Words   |  5 Pagesdental licensed dental specialist with extensive knowledge and experience of pediatric dentistry dedicated to the evidence based dental care of children including children who have complex medical conditions, Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental disabilities ACADEMIC/ PROFESSIONAL STRENGHTS †¢ Clinical experience and knowledge of pediatric dentistry in hospital setting †¢ Clinical practice of evidence based pediatric dentistry over eight years †¢ Academic positions at Harvard University, University ofRead MoreEducating Special Needs Students Essay1347 Words   |  6 Pageswith disabilities can be even more challenging. One of the most challenging tasks that a teacher today may have to preform is effectively teaching children with disabilities. There are several types of disabilities a child may have including but not limited to intellectual disability, autism, severe disabilities, and multiple disabilities. Intellectual Disability According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), an intellectual disability is a disabilityRead MoreThe Prevalence Of Childhood Disability967 Words   |  4 Pageschildhood disability has continued to increase, growing by 15.6% between 2001–2002 and 2010–2011. Nearly 6 million children were considered disabled in 2010–2011.†Houtrow(2014) The United States civilians have had a negative attitude toward people with disabilities. Donaldson(1980) says that they are attempting to change the attitudes towards people with disabilities. Donaldson states one way they are attempting to change attitudes is by passing legislation to help integrate people with disabilities into

We Should Invest Our Tax Dollars Essay - 1064 Words

INTRODUCTION I grew up in South Akron, and graduated from Garfield High school. This high school has meant a lot to the community and the students that attended it. This is not just a building, but an institution that has turned out a lot of great minds and professional athletes. Losing the high school in this district would be devastating. I feel that we should invest our tax dollars in our own city, and worry about the future of our own child, by keeping Akron schools in the community of Akron. Purpose Garfield high along with Kenmore High school have been slotted to be torn down. There are no dates as of yet to when the projects will start. The removal of these two public two public high schools would leave the entire southern portion of Akron and nearby Kenmore without a high school in or near these districts. Problem Building the learning site in Kenmore would cause major busing problems. The city already owns the property of Garfield High school, so why go out and spend money for property, when you have a property already available? Some people may disagree and say Kenmore is an excellent choice property wise, and the land is readily available. I feel that we should invest our tax dollars in our own city, and worry about the future of our own child, by keeping Akron schools in the community of Akron. Scope My proposal for a solution to the problem is to build a new learning center on the site occupied Garfield High school. This would give the southern portion ofShow MoreRelatedApples: Ethical or Unethical Practices?1114 Words   |  4 Pages The amount of cash, over $100 billion, that Apple has generated is massive and draws scrutiny by the U.S. government. â€Å"Apple successfully sought the holy grail of tax avoidance. It has created offshore entities holding tens of billions of dollars while claiming to be tax resident nowhere (Gavett, 2013). Apple has avoided tax through the use of international operation subsidiaries (see Appendix) in 61% of Apple’s revenue, and the foreign profits stay overseas to avoid taxes on repatriating backRead MoreWhat should the Federal Government do i order to encourage investment in Human Capital?1159 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿1. What should the federal government do in order to encourage investment in human capital? The decision to invest in human capital is influenced by considerations similar to those that motivate a firm to invest in physical capital: the cost of the investment verse the expected return. For example, investing in a college education may require the one borrow the money for tuition. If the interest rates on the loan rise then people will most be less likely to invest in a college education. Thus,Read MoreEssay Texas Toll Roads1238 Words   |  5 Pagesroads for new road construction. We have heard many statements that the toll roads are being built as a money-making system for the state (and the Department of Transportation). Statements have also been made to the effect that the state is selling the state, one length of roadway at a time; that the current roads could be maintained by the state, with current state funding levels. The main complaint is that the roads of Texas have always been free, and should continue to be free. But are theseRead MoreSigning Contracts With Labors Before Expelling Illegal Immigrants Essay1581 Words   |  7 Pagesof materials in case of imposing tariff on importation. Taking loan in foreign countries with lower interest rate and purchasing currency future to avoid the exchange rate fluctuation. Introduction As a quickly growing global manufacturing company, we are facing various and potential opportunities and challenges within the global market. Manufacturing remains a crucial position of accelerating economics in both developing and developed counties. The 2007 financial recession choked off the demandRead MoreSpace Programs And Administrations Have Ascended1273 Words   |  6 Pagesbeyond in outer space. Our imagination has taken us far beyond what we cogitate and answers to some of the mysteries of our universe are now taking shape. The reality we witness is stunning in its beauty and humbling in its complexity and expense. In just a half-century we have left the protective cradle of our home planet Earth, walked on another celestial body, peered into the far reaches of our universe, and enhance our knowledge by understanding certain laws and properties. Our minds have always reachedRead MoreChapter Notes On Money Works1022 Words   |  5 Pagesmanagement and consulting firms beca use of the variety of responsibilities. Every employee constitutes each dollar and its on us how we spend our money and get best returns out of it or another way is to see each dollar as a seed that can grow into a huge tree by our efforts.The best technique of getting good returns is investing smartly and reducing the expenses.HBS students generally tend to invest in homes in such a way that they buy their home at discounted market price and then trade up when theyRead MoreTax Evasion Essay1181 Words   |  5 PagesAs it is often covered in the news, I was previously informed about the subject of offshore accounts and tax evasion. For the most part, wealthy athletes are thrown in the spotlight for having a sizable portion of their assets concealed in a foreign country that limits their tax reporting. However, the significance of the topic and the willingness of banks in aiding tax evasion was unknown until I read the articles that will be later discussed. This topic is of great interest because it truly showsRead MorePos t Brexit1421 Words   |  6 PagesProject Overview Identify and explain the degree of exposure of your case company to international economic conditions and political risk. Introduction Our company – Group 2 Investment Bank – a large US Investment Bank has been based in London, and due to concerns over the regulatory framework post Brexit creating uncertainty is looking for a new location to setup within the Single Market so as to reduce any cross-border risk or political turmoil that may occur. This paper will review FrankfurtRead MoreThe Automatic Millionaire Book Report1628 Words   |  7 Pageslooking to retire early. After talking to the couple, Bach discovers that this is no regular couple financially. He finds out that this couple owns two homes without any mortgages, have absolutely no debt and have a net worth of almost two million dollars. He then investigates why this is so. He finds that the McIntyres have some guidelines that help them. They have goals instead of budgets, they pay themselves first, watch their latte factor or spending and make their savings automatic. ChapterRead MoreDirect Tax Is Legal When It Is Imposed On The Artificial Person981 Words   |  4 PagesTherefore, direct tax is legal when it is imposed on the artificial person. The state may directly tax, such as property, and Feds can implement a consumer tax which is indirect tax such as on gasoline, and purchase tax. Then on 2/03/1913, the 16th amendement introduces us to, †The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without   apportionment  among the several States, and without regard to any census or  enumeration (US Constitution).† This amendment

Reaction to word crimes Free Essays

Through the use of social medias and testing, some of the youth and young adults of today have developed a type of laziness when It comes to simple spelling, as well as, grammatical mistakes. Surprisingly, these mistakes have become so common that they have been accepted as the standard. After watching the â€Å"Weird AY† Wantonly video one point was made very clear, that the target audience Is the youth of modern society. We will write a custom essay sample on Reaction to word crimes or any similar topic only for you Order Now This is shown through his use of humor and illustration of modern social media and the poor habits that the youth of today posses. Weird AY† brings up some common grammatical misconceptions that have, unfortunately, become very common throughout society. One example of this is when he talks about the confusion people have with the difference between the use of less and the use of fewer. Through his use of illustration, it is conveyed how less is to be used when referring to a measurable amount, and fewer is to be used in reference to a number of items. AY also elaborates to the audience that the words â€Å"be, see, are, and you† shouldn’t be written as single letters and the laziness that goes along with writing those words as single letters Is despicable. Through his song † Word Crimes,† AY projects his view on the literary repose of the modern cyber based society that is the world today. The often use of humor and criticism helps to teach the audience the proper use of grammar and spelling ,as well as, shed light on the ignorance of the English language that some of the youth and early adults of today posses. His use of humor is a very good tool to convey his point and view on the topic of awful English habits that have become apparently more common across society youth and makes his song all the more useful in his favor. How to cite Reaction to word crimes, Papers

JFK paper research Essay Example For Students

JFK paper research Essay Earl Warren, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Courtwww.HistoryChannel.comWhat moved some misguided wretch to do this horrible deed may never be known to us. (September 27, 1964)On September 27, 1964, the Warren Commission report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was released after a 10-month investigation, concluding that there was no conspiracy in the assassination, either domestic or international, and that Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin, acted alone. The presidential commission, headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, also found that Jack Ruby, the nightclub owner who murdered Oswald on live national television, had no prior contact with Oswald. According to the report, the bullets that killed President Kennedy and injured Texas Governor John Connally, were fired by Oswald in three shots from a rifle pointed out of a sixth floor window in the Texas School Book Depository. Oswalds life, including his visit to the Soviet Union, was described in d etail, but the report made no attempt to analyze his motives. Despite its seemingly firm conclusions, the report failed to silence conspiracy theories surrounding the event, and in 1978, the House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded in a preliminary report that Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy that may have involved multiple shooters and organized crime. The committees findings, as with the findings of the Warren Commission, continue to be widely disputed. KENNEDY IS ASSASSINATEDSHOT BY SNIPER IN DALLASGOV. CONNALLY HURT IN ATTACK ON MOTORCADEMrs. Kennedy Cradles Husbands Blood-Smeared Head, Cries, Oh, NoSt. Louis Post-DispatchNovember 22, 1963Confusion reigned in Dallas, Texas, and throughout the United States as the details of President John F. Kennedys assassination began to emerge. Because this account was written the day of Kennedys death, it may contain information that has been subsequently revised or updated. By Richard DudmanDallas, Nov. 22President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed today as he was riding in an open limousine through the streets of Dallas. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was riding in a car behind the Presidents and was not hurt in the snipers attack. When Mr. Kennedy died less than an hour after the shooting, the Texan became the thirty-seventh President of the United States. Mr. Kennedy was 46 years; Johnson is 55. Two or perhaps three shots were fired at the presidential car as it passed through an intersection known as the Triple underpass. The President and the Governor slumped in their seats and the limousine raced to nearby Parkland Hospital. Senator Ralph W. Yarborough (Dem.), Texas, who was in the second car behind the President, said that he heard two or three shots that sounded like those of a deer rifle. Shortly before Mr. Kennedys death became known, he was administered the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church. He had been the first Roman Catholic President in American history. As two clergymen hovered over the President in the hospital emergency room, doctors and nurses administered blood transfusions. He was the first President to be assassinated since William McKinley was shot in 1901. It was the first death of a President in office since Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage at Warm Springs, Ga., in April 1945. Roosevelt had been on a vacation when he died. McKinley had been shaking hands at a reception at an exposition in Buffalo, N.Y. Lived 20 MinutesThe shooting occurred at about 12:45 p.m. The President, mortally wounded, clung to life for 20 minutes. Assistant White House Secretary Malcolm Kilduff said the President was still alive at 1:05 p.m. .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 , .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 .postImageUrl , .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 , .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3:hover , .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3:visited , .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3:active { border:0!important; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3:active , .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3 .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2c0cf093745b76deead5b3a93faba4d3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Story Of An Hour Vs. Barbiedoll EssayMike Cargile, a student who was standing near the scene of the tragedy, said that he saw the presidential car race past with the President slumped in the back seat and his wife, Jacqueline, lying across his body. Cargile said the Governor was slumped in the front seat. Both men were carried by stretcher into the Hospital emergency room. Shortly afterward, a carton of blood was rushed to the door and carried inside. Yarborough said he believed that the shots came from behind and to the right of the automobiles. A photographer, who had been riding a few cars behind Yarborough, said the shots apparently came from a rifle pointed out of a fifth or sixth-story window of the Texas Book Depository Building at the

The Working Poor Invisibe in America Essay Example

The Working Poor: Invisibe in America Essay Regardless if we are aware of it or not, not many Americans live the supposed American Dream of having a nice car, big house, well paying job, and have a secure family. In the renowned novel The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler he captures those Americans who live invisible in America that work so hard to suffer from the psychological effects of poverty. Not only does Shipler do that but he also indirectly talks about the â€Å"American Myth† and the â€Å"American Anti Myth through the lives on these individuals. † In The Working Poor Shipler goes on to explain both of the myths. Shipler states that the American Myth â€Å"still supposes that any individual from the humblest origins can climb to well-being† (Shipler, pg. 5), but the thing is that is not true because, there are many people who are humble that work hard and don’t go from rag to riches. The American myth has a demanding standard for both the nation and every resident that the nation† has to strive to make itself the fabled land of opportunity; the resident must strive to use that opportunity† (Shipler, pg. ). Not only that but the American myth also provides a means for laying blame; â€Å"if a person’s diligent work leads to prosperity(†¦) and anyone in society can attain prosperity through work, then the failure to do so is a fall from righteousness† (Shipler, pg. 6). George W. Bush also gave a voice to the myth weather he meant it or not that â€Å"people who work hard and make the right decision in life can achieve anything they want in America† (Shipler, pg. ), but when we examine examples in this book there are many of those who work hard in America but are hit with the circumstances of life and they fail or they are unable to achieve what they want in America; the land of prosperity for all. To the American Myth there is an opposite extreme the American Anti Myth â€Å"which holds the society largely responsible for the individual’s poverty† (Shipler, pg. 6). The ladder that is created in our society by racial discrimination and economic supremacy creates a condition of impoverished communities. As stated by Shipler â€Å"in reality, people do not fit easily into myths or anti myths. We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor: Invisibe in America specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor: Invisibe in America specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor: Invisibe in America specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is just that the individuals in this novel are scattered along this spectrum of polar opposites, that each person’s life â€Å"is the mixed product of bad choices and bad fortune, of roads taken and roads cut off† (Shipler, pg. 6). The debate on welfare and other social policies has been shaped by the question on â€Å"how to define the individual’s role in his/her own poverty† (Shipler, pg. 7). The poor have less control over their private decisions; their personal mistakes have larger penalties, and their personal achievement only bring back a small reward. What many people do not realize such as employers is that the poor lack â€Å"hard skills† like the use of a computer and â€Å"soft skills† like interacting with people and peers. In the novel there are many Americans that depict the â€Å"American Myth,† for example Ann she was typical of the low wage working people ( Shipler, pg. 24-25), but the thing is Ann did not point fingers of blame at anyone, she excepted that she got herself into the situation that she is now. Even though she knew that the credit card companies rates were high she made the option of using them, but that is not because she had a choice or not but only because she had to. The lease on Ann truck was about to expire and her ex husbands child support of $100 was about to stop because her daughter was about to turn 18. Ann only had one option left which was bankruptcy but then she found out that she was too poor to file, so Ann had last option was to stop paying her credit cards, and loans so she could save up to go bankruptcy. When we look at Ann’s story and her struggle in life we see that Ann is an example of the Americans who are invisible in America. Ann tried to make her credit better by paying them off, but she eventually had to stop just so she could save up to file bankruptcy. Another individual in the novel that portrays the â€Å"American Myth† is Christie. She â€Å"did the job that this labor-hungry economy could not do without† (Shipler, pg. 39). Every morning she would drive her battered Volkswagen from public housing the child care center where she watched little children so their parents could go to work, but the ironic part about that was Christie â€Å"could not afford to put her own two children in the daycare center where she worked† (Shipler, pg. 9). Christie low income entitled here to food stamps and rental subsidy, â€Å"but whenever she get a little pay raise, government agencies reduced the benefits,† (Shipler, pg. 40) and Christie felt punished for working because she already did not earn that much and the food stamps she received was not enough to feed her and her children. So w hen the food stamps is reduced that is more money she has to take out of her little to nothing $330 check. Unless employers can and will pay a good deal to society’s essential labor, â€Å"those working hard at the edge of poverty [like Christie] will stay there† (Shipler, pg 46). Work didn’t work for Debra Hall either. Debra was one of the single mothers on welfare and everything seemed to change in her life except her material standard of living. Debra was hit by life circumstances after the birth of her daughter she was â€Å"launched [into] a twenty one year career of welfare checks and â€Å"under the table type jobs† as she put it,† (Shipler, pg. 46) and she was unable to finish school. Being black Debra also felt herself on the wrong end of subtle racial strains, because she felt like the employers were more lenient on the Hispanics, when she packed 3 boxes of bread the Hispanic lady next to her only did one and instead of the manger talking to the Hispanic lady about it the manger raises hell with her because of that ladys lack of speaking English. Debra did not want to continue her family line of low wage jobs, but every time she would ask â€Å"supervisors about the salary at their level, they’d answer vaguely, â€Å"It varies† she couldn’t get specific numbers† (Shipler, pg. 9). This lowered Debra’s confidence that she could ever move up in position and pay. Caroline Payne was a different version of the â€Å"American Myth. † Caroline had earned a college diploma, and she had gone from homeless shelters to owning her own home, even though it was owned mostly by the bank, but the only goal that she could not achieve was a well paying job. â€Å"Caroline was the forgotten story of prosperity in America† (Shipler, pg. 51). She was not the victim of racial discrimination, and she was not lazy. She was very punctual and considered a nice lady by her coworker and mangers at Wal-Mart. â€Å"But she did not move up. She never moved up. And that ceased to amaze her because it had been going on for so long† (Shipler, pg. 51). Caroline worked so hard trying to get ahead working different shifts whenever she could; she was always available. â€Å"The people who got promotions tended to have something Caroline did not. They had teeth. Caroline did not have teeth (†¦) her teeth had succumbed to poverty, to the years she could not afford a dentist† (Shipler, pg 52). Caroline was the face of the working poor, â€Å"marked by poverty generated handicap more obvious than most deficiencies but not different† (Shipler, pg. 53). Caroline life resembled a fallen ladder if she had not been poor, maybe she would have her teeth, if she did not lose her teeth, and maybe she would have not remained poor. What David Shipler meant by invisible in America is for those Americans who do the jobs that no one usually pays attention to, for those Americans who get left behind in Americas economic prosperity, or unnoticed and unaccounted for in our society. They are the ones who work at the edge of poverty, and they are essential to America’s prosperity, â€Å"but their well-being is not treated as an integral part of the whole† (Shipler, pg. 300). Instead these individuals are forgotten and left behind to struggle. In conclusion, poverty is a peculiar menacing thing: â€Å"a cause whose effects then cause the original cause or an effect whose causes are caused by the effect,† (Shipler, pg. 53) all depending on where the cycle begins. Through this novel David Shipler makes it easier for us to see how the invisible in America are a bundle of these causes and effects.

Rap VS Techno essays

Rap VS Techno essays Rap is a style of popular music with a pronounced beat. Techno is a style of popular music using electric equipment and synthesized repetitive sounds. Which is better? This essay is about the differences between the two and what type of music people listen to. Also how each one is acknowledged in society and how old people react to music these days compared to as in their youth days. Rap is a bunch of words put together to give meaning about an event, feeling or emotion. Good rappers like Eminem and Nelly use words that rhyme and give a significant meaning. These rappers reprimand words suddenly and sharply, which makes it so entertaining to many teenagers. Techno however does not necessary have words and it generally pronounces an electric beat. Many DJs use techno rather than rap for dancing since it has a beat and electric echoing for people to dance to. So which is most popular? Generally it depends on the individuals characteristics. For example a rough, swearing character is most likely to listen to rap. Because most rappers use vulgar words in their song. Concerned parents dont like their children to listen to that type of music because the rapper is giving a bad influence to kids. In July 2001 a wave of moral indignation was sweeping Australia over bad language, aggressive lyrics and a pending tour by the U.S. rap singer Eminem. The Australian Prime Minister has aired an opinion, saying that the rapper's lyrics were "sickening and offensive." Over big controversy the rapper was permitted to tour Australia and only people over the age of 18 were allowed to see him sing. In Eminems latest song Without me he uses good lyrics without too many vulgar words. The song is currently in number one place in the Australian top 50. The video clip is also different to his previous ones. He advises to a little boy, in his video clip that his new album is only for adul ts. ...

Communism in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Communism in China - Essay Example The failure of nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek to offer protection from the threat posed by Japan led to his abduction. He was forced by the abductors to reconsider cooperation with the communist army (Office of the Historian, n.d.). This laid a foundation for the rise of communism in the country. The other factor that contributed was the rise of a dictatorial regime. The nationalist government was accused of undemocratic policies and corruption (Office of the Historian, n.d.). The discontent of the population and poor policies made the country more vulnerable to communism ideals. On the other hand, China Communist Party (CCP) received overwhelming support from peasants due to land reforms it initiated and repelling of Japanese invaders (Office of the Historian, n.d.). Lastly, foreign intervention played a role in the rise of communism. The United States and Soviet Union influenced various issues in the country. United States was in support of Nationalist government while Soviet Union supported CCP. However, Soviet Union prevailed as it occupied Manchuria and only left when Chinese Communist forces were in a position to claim victory of the area (Office of the Historian, n.d.). This led to the establishment of communism in the larger part of the

Week 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Week 4 - Essay Example ected is accurate, all the team members should evaluate the operational descriptions of the data and ensure they are all correct, can be easily understood and completed. Therefore, awareness of the reliability and validity of the data collection tool used in quantitative research project is vital (Joint Commission Resources, Inc., 2008). Ensuring that the data collection tool is accurate is very crucial in qualitative research. Using consistent data collection tools increases the validity and consistency of the data collection. For example, a different person should collect the same data one has obtained at a different time. One cannot assume the blood pressure measurements taken are all accurate unless he or she is certain that the sphygmomanometers are often calibrated and all the doctors and nurses are well trained to provide best practice on taking blood pressures. A well cross-examined questionnaire will ensure that there are no shortcomings that lead to the collection of unreliable data. One is advised that if he or she cannot get a reliable collection tool, he should ensure that they carry out a pilot test first to avoid the difficulties. To improve on the reliability of data collection, training should be undertaken to all those who are providing data in correct procedures of data entry. Collecting unreliabl e data will lead to wrong results of the qualitative research (Chambers & Wakley, 2005). Cultural background is important in ensuring that one gets the information that one requires. When interviewing Ms. Li some of the cultural considerations that are important to remember include the preference of Asian Americans to herbal medicine, intimate partner violence or abuse among Asian Americans and the belief that the human body is whole and that each part is intimately connected, therefore when sick the whole body should be treated. The abuse assessment screen refers to a screening tool that is used to evaluate indications of abuse or violence against

Engaging Colleagues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Engaging Colleagues - Assignment Example Most basic techniques of regression and analysis of variance are not completely understood or used appropriately (Judd, 1995). I can assume that I’m not alone facing this problem, my colleagues must also face this and I’m guessing like me, many opted statistics to get over the math-phobia. One strategy would be if a teacher could help explain the most common tactics that can used as tools to make sense of the data analysis quickly. The quicker we make sense of the data analysis the better. It is obvious that the majority finds complex reports very boring and they require stamina and perseverance in comprehending reports. The manners of presenting the data count a lot and findings can be significantly enhanced in the presentation on the data (www.ori.dhhs.gov). Whether there is a gun to my head or not, there are certainly some of the reports that I do find interesting. Any report on patient psychology triggers curiosity and I love to comprehend and learn new things in the report, having said that, I would never read complex reports out of my own desire. There is simply no point if students cannot simply understand what the report wants to tell them. Most of us are wrongfully lead to believe that numbers are unquestionably correct (Helberg, 1995), which is one of the reasons why people hesitate in questioning them. There should be little bit of coaching on how to speedily analyze the data. For instance, there can be a time limit given to the students and colleagues to practice with and special instructions, so that when they will read complex reports they will only look for things that are absolutely necessary, otherwise known as clearing the word noise and getting to the

Law Should Be Kept Separate From Morality Law Essay

Law Should Be Kept Separate From Morality Law Essay The statement quoted from the Wolfenden Report suggests that there should remain a line between sin and crime and that the law should not interfere in matters of private morality or immorality keeping it apart from public morality. This is a broad view and clearly, there are some areas in which the law should act as a moral guardian and interference is justifiable. I will outline some of these areas and critically analyse accordingly. However, there also areas that I feel should not be the laws business and where perhaps the criminal laws intervention cannot be justified. I will also look at the apparent blurring of private and public morality. I will also attempt to outline and clarify all these areas, providing the appropriate authorities, academic commentary and other relevant evidence in order to give a balanced view and to be able to draw a succinct informed conclusion. In order to understand the nexus between law and morality we need to establish the differences. Laws are sets of rules or boundaries established by authorities that should be obeyed and are formally enforced by the Police or the Criminal Prosecution Service. Morals on the other hand are beliefs, values or principles that are set by society or certain aspects of society, determining what is right and what is wrong. Morals do not have to be complied with, they are normally informally enforced through social or domestic pressures. Both laws and morals specify what should or should not be done and mark the boundaries between what is acceptable and unacceptable conduct. Having looked at the nature of laws and morals I will look at the historical debate and attempt to expand on whether or not laws and morals are intrinsically linked. Historically, there has been much philosophical debate as to whether in fact there is a connection between law and morality. Positivists  [2]  such as Jeremy Bentham, John Austin and H.L.A. Hart have all argued that there is not necessarily a connection between law and morality; on the other hand natural law  [3]  , thinkers such as St Thomas Aquinas  [4]  have postulated that there is a clear link between law and morality. To further complicate matters R Dworkin puts forward his own approach of interpretivism  [5]  , developed in a number of his works over the last thirty years  [6]  to try and answer the vexed question of law and morality and the nature of law and the relationship to each other. The links between law and morality can be seen in all areas of law. In Tort, for instance , in cases such as Baker v Hopkins  [7]  where two employees of the defendant company were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes in a well they were attempting to decontaminate. The plaintiff, a doctor, attempted to rescue them even though he was warned of the fumes. It could be said that he felt morally responsible . Unfortunately, all the three men died. The defendant company argued that the plaintiff doctor should either not be compensated because the doctor knowingly accepted the risk he was taking or his damages would be reduced for contributory negligence. The Court of Appeal considered that the suggestion was ungracious and that it was unseemly and irrational to say that a rescuer freely takes on the risks inherent in a rescue attempt. This would appear to be a seemingly moralistic judgement by their Lordships. Similarly, in property cases such as the High Trees Case  [8]  where Lord Denning used the equitable principle of promissory estoppel to prevent the recovery of rent or preventing what he saw as a moral wrong. These could all be seen as instances of the courts making judgements on what is morally right and wrong. In fact, in the case of Knuller v DPP  [9]  concerning a magazine containing advertisements, by homosexuals in order to procure sex, the courts were able to dictate public morality, recognising the offenc e of conspiracy to corrupt public morals established in Shaws Case  [10]  . It is the criminal law that provides us with sufficient evidence to conclude that there is indeed a link between law and morality. The Wolfenden Report itself, actually concerned the role of the law in matters of sexual morality and determining what conduct should be classed as criminal. Unfortunately, the result was not definitive as two diverging views emerged, firstly, that of Lord Devlin who concluded that the legislature was entitled to outlaw behaviour that was generally condemned as immoral on the grounds that such conduct may be likened to treason threatening the continued existence of social cohesion  [11]   and secondly, the view of Hart that immorality alone was not sufficient: law should not be used for prohibiting harm suffered by a person who is offended simply by knowing about other peoples conduct  [12]  . These opposing viewpoints probably accounted for the fact that the part of the Wolfenden Report concerning the decriminalisation of homosexuality was not implemented until the Sexual Offences Act of  1967 (following a motion by Lord Arran in the House of Lords favouring the implementation of the Wolfenden Report and a Sexual Offences Bill sponsored by Leo Abse) which eventually resulted in male homosexuality between consenting adults above the age of twenty-one being decriminalised. Another reason for the delay could be that public opinion and society in general before that time, felt that homosexuality was immoral and the law chose to reflect this, condemning homosexuality as a criminal offence. However, with the more liberated 1960s where there was a seeming relaxation of public and private morality and homosexuality could no longer be seen as immoral, the criminal law acceded to public opinion, leading to the eventual decriminalisation of homosexuality. However, the Wolfenden approach differed when contemplating the matter of prostitution. The committee readily accepted that prostitution was immoral but indicated that it was a matter of private morality, except when it creates a public nuisance. Therefore, the sale of sex was determined not to be an offence but kerb crawling was. This differing approach resulted in the report forming the basis of the Street Offences Act of 1959, an almost immediate response to the Wolfenden report. It seems then, that the criminal law should only intervene where the legislature considers there to be a public nuisance or is harmful to society or as John Stuart Mills stated That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.  [13]   Unfortunately, there are too many unanswered questions. Can we readily say that if something is immoral it is justifiably unlawful? Can we as a society distinguish between one persons perception of a lawful and moral activity and those that are immoral or unlawful and should the law really interfere in matters of private morality? If a person consents to something, would that not be a matter of private morality? The matter of consent and private morality is interesting. Here, criminal law has its vagaries, particularly in non-fatal offences against the person which include actual body harm, grievous bodily harm or wounding. Criminal law will not allow the consent of the victim to be available as a defence, especially if it considers the act to be unlawful. Only if the injury was a result of a lawful activity  [14]   will the defence of consent be available. This does not sit easily with the premise of the law not to interfere in matters of private morality. This has been exemplified in the case of Brown  [15]  . The criminal law deemed homosexual sado masochism as an unlawful activity and the court considered that activities in private between consenting homosexuals involving the infliction of actual bodily harm should constitute offences  [16]  . It seems then that the decision in this case was based on public morality rather than criminality, surely here consent would be a ques tion of private morality and not the laws business, indeed in Brown, Lord Mustill in dissenting, re-iterated that The issue was not whether the appellants conduct was morally right but whether it was properly charged under the 1861 Act. The standards by which questions of private morality fell to be judged were not those of criminal law. The case of Brown can be contrasted with R v Wilson  [17]  where the defendant, with the consent of his wife, branded her buttocks with the initials W and A with a hot knife. The scars led him to being charged with assaulting his wife contrary to section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. He was convicted by a Jury. However, the Court of Appeal held that the defendants conduct amounted to tattooing and that it was not in the public interest to impose a criminal sanction; The initial outcome still shows that the public and their moral judgement still has an influence in criminal law.   It appears then, that generally, the courts are keen to exercise its morality muscle in defence of a perceived public morality. Interfering in what are essentially private morality matters in order to stamp a moral dictum on society in general, however, is not necessarily in the best interest of society as a whole and issues of private morality are thorny issues. There are of course other areas of criminal law where the judiciary has, albeit slowly, intervened in matters of private morality, for the betterment of society, for example in the area of marital rape. Rape itself was enacted as statutory crime in the Offences Against the Person Act  1861. The Act indicated that it is a felony for a man to rape a woman and left the judiciary to establish the elements of the offence and to develop the factors that might allow consent. Its statutory successor, s 1 of the Sexual Offences Act  1956, failed to provide a more substantive definition. It was not until  1976  that s 1(1) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act defined rape as unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who at the time of the intercourse does not consent to it. However, there still appeared to be a presumption albeit rebuttable, that a married man could have sex with his wife regardless of consent. Morally, this appears to be reprehensible and surely the law should have c larified the position. However, it was not until the case of R v R  [18]  that the offence of rape was recognised if it was perpetrated by the husband, clearly an example of the law enforcing a specific moral value on society in an appropriate sphere. A further example of the entanglement of law and morality can be seen in the different approaches by Judges in cases where their own moral values or viewpoints have possibly affected judgements. Often the courts will find themselves dealing with difficult moral decisions involving life and death and often have to decide between individual rights and moral codes. This moralistic approach can be seen in various cases involving euthanasia, considered by the majority of society as both morally and legally wrong. In the case of Dianne Pretty  [19]  (a case decided by the House of Lords), for example, Mrs Pretty suffered from motor neurone disease, a progressive degenerative illness from which she had no hope of recovery. She only had a short time to live and faced the prospect of a humiliating and distressing death. She was mentally alert and wanted to bring her life to an end. Unfortunately, because of her physical incapacity she would have needed assistance. Her husband wanted to he lp, but only if he would not be prosecuted under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 for aiding and abetting her suicide. She sought confirmation through the courts that ultimately refused her appeal. Contrast this with the case of Re B  [20]  . Ms B was a tetraplegic and suffered complete paralysis from the neck down. She was, however, able to move her head and speak. She gave instructions to the hospital through her solicitors that she wanted the artificial ventilation removed. The hospital refused to stop treatment. Ms B took the hospital to court, was successful and was allowed to die. Here the courts appear to take the stance that voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide is morally reprehensible but the request to withdraw treatment, resulting in, what is in effect, voluntary suicide or passive euthanasia was not a clear example of the complex moral and legal dilemmas faced by the courts. Further evidence of this dilemma between law and morality can be seen in the conjoined twin case  [21]  . Jodie and Mary were conjoined twins and their parents were devout Roman Catholics. Mary was the weaker twin and had she been born on her own she would not have survived. She was in fact, being kept alive by virtue of Jodies own circulatory system. Jodie was considered to be capable of surviving a separation procedure, Mary however was not. If there was no separation both would have died. The medical team wanted to separate them knowing Mary would die as a result. The twins parents would not sanction the operation. The medical team sought a ruling from the High Court, that an operation to separate the twins would not be murder. Their Lordships applied the defence of necessity but restricted the applicability of this defence (for the purposes of public policy) to the unique circumstances of the case. However, despite LJ Wards comment that this is a court of law, not of morals when the judgements are examined, it is clear that their Lordships have actually used moral concepts and language in reaching their decision, a true dichotomy. In conclusion, it is clear from the information provided that there are identifiable links between the law in general and criminal law in particular and morality. However, whether it is justifiable for the legal system in England and Wales to utilise the criminal law in the enforcement of specific moral values in society is debatable. Clearly, as we have seen, there are areas where it is justifiable in rape for example but where it is not so clear is whether it can be justified in those greyer areas such as private morality issues or cases of euthanasia. I believe that religion (which is the subject of other scholarly and academic debate) , morals and the law are all intrinsically linked and that in order to create a balanced modern society there must be some fluidity. One mans morality is different from another and the law must try to bridge the gap for the public good. Sometimes the law is rather slow in reacting to public opinion or changes in morality within society, but ultimately, it is the legislature that creates the laws and the job of the courts is only to apply the meaning of that legislation not to query its validity or to enforce moral limitations on parliament, or by implication, enforce those moral limitations on society.

the problem of evil Essay -- essays research papers

Studies in the Philosophy of Religion THE PROBLEM OF EVIL â€Å"God is the omnipotent and wholly good creator of all things† â€Å"There is evil in the world† a) EXPLAIN THESE TWO STATEMENTS AND SHOW WHY THEY ARE SAID TO BE CONTRADICTORY (20) The problem of evil is usually seen as the problem of how the existence of God can be reconciled with the existence of evil in the world. It’s regarded as a logical problem, because it is based on the apparent contradiction involved in holding onto three incompatible beliefs. This being that God is omnipotent, that God is wholly good and that evil exists in the world. The fact that evil exists in the world constitutes the most common objection to the belief in the existence of the omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and all loving God of Classical Theism. Classical Theism is the traditional understanding of God as worshipped by Christians, Jews and Muslims. This definition is initially criticised, for being culture-bound, as other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism don’t believe in one God so can’t be applied to their respective religions. Therefore the problem of evil is only a problem for followers of a theistic religion. God is described as an infinite, self-existent, incorporeal (without body), eternal, immutable (doesn’t change), impassable (incapable of suffering), simple (one entity), perfect (God is seen as a morally perfect being i.e. wholly good), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful) being. Omnipotence means being able to bring about anything which it is logically possible to bring about. However not being able to bring about that which is logically impossible is not a restriction on omnipotence since the logically impossible is not a characterisation of anything. It is a non-thing. Evil is said to come from the free actions of human beings. God can’t do what’s logically impossible and it’s said to be logically impossible for God to create humans who are free but always choose to do what’s right. This therefore takes the responsibility of evil from God. Omniscience means knowing everything that it is logically possible to know. If God knows everything it is not possible for him to think of something he does not know. This raises the question of whether God knows every little fact; does he know what you’re thinking or what you’re going to do? If so then if he’s omnipotent shouldn... ...d that finding good consequences in bad things is a horrible idea. DOES IRENAEUS’ APPROACH SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF EVIL? There are many instances of good being brought out of evil through a person’s reaction to it, however there are many other cases where the opposite has occurred. Sometimes obstacles result in ones character being strengthened but other times they can be crushing leading to ones character being diminished and left incompetent so unable to grow and develop further. So it would seem any soul making is subject to an individual’s temperament and particular way of dealing with a problem. Therefore this doesn’t remove the contradiction, because there’s evidence of people suffering and not getting better after it. This produces more problems as shows God to be selecting people who he should know would suffer immensely because of this evil. Irenaeus approach takes the blame off God for human suffering. This is what is needed to solve the problem of evil. He places the blame on human free will therefore avoiding questions of God’s nature so in essence removin g the contradiction. People accept that suffering is there for a reason and it’s part of God’s plan for soul making.

Business Culture in Italy

Doing business abroad introduces international business people to differences in approaches to business, business etiquette and protocol. Although these may not be crucial to business proceedings they should not be dismissed as unnecessary. Cross cultural awareness can enhance the potential of the international business person's trip considerably. Let us look at a brief example: There are two business people each planning on doing business in Italy. Both have similar proposals. One ignores the possible impact of culture and concentrates their efforts on the business proposal. The other also invests time and energy in the proposal but in addition realises that doing business in Italy is a lot different to doing business in the UK or USA. They look into the business etiquette of Italy, the way in which meetings are conducted and negotiation styles. Nine times out of ten the latter of the two will have the advantage. They will be able to tailor their proposal and demeanour to gel better with the Italian way. In addition, they would endear themselves to the Italian hosts. This guide to doing business in Italy is designed as a brief introduction to areas business people should take into consideration before travelling to Italy. Doing Business – Etiquette Good manners and courtesy are prized qualities in Italy. When doing business in Italy ensure your conduct is always polished. There are etiquettes and protocols for many social and business situations, however, it is important to remember that Italians rate considerateness above behavioural formulas. When meeting and departing always shake hands. This is valid for both individuals and groups. After doing business in Italy for a period of time and building relationships do not be surprised if you are embraced when being met. This indicates the relationship has reached an intimate level. When doing business in Italy you will notice that little personal space is left between people when interacting. In addition, Italians are a tactile people. Moving away or keeping your distance may be interpreted as cold and unfriendly. If you are familiar with Italian, use the polite ‘lei' form until a relationship is established, then use the more informal ‘tu' form. When doing business in Italy, address people using ‘Signor' (m) or ‘Signora' (f) followed by their surname. ‘Dottore' (m) or ‘Dottoressa' (f) is used for those who have graduated. When doing business in Italy, dress to impress. It is no coincidence that Versace, Gucci, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana are all Italian fashion houses. Italians like to make an impression with their clothes. What you wear speaks volumes about the kind of person you are. Doing Business – Punctuality Italians are usually relaxed around issues relating to time. Being late with a good reason will not have any negative consequences. However, deliberate lateness is considered sloppy and taking people's time for granted is simply rude. When doing business in Italy err on the side of caution and aim to be punctual. Doing Business – Business Entertaining Hospitality plays a key role in Italian business culture. Invitations to lunch and dinner are to be expected when doing business there. At such occasions a small exclusive group will usually be present. Each attendee will have a particular interest in your visit. If you plan to host a meal, ask the most senior Italian contact who you should invite. Dining does have certain protocol in Italy. However, do not place too much emphasis on this as more time would be spent worrying about etiquette mistakes than enjoying the experience. Major etiquette tips are that the most honoured guest sits at the middle of the table or on the right of the host; the host always pays; pass dishes to the left; keep your knife in the right hand and fork in the left and do not answer phone calls at the table. Doing Business – Meeting and Negotiations Italians prefer to do business with someone they know. When doing business in Italy, use contacts and networks to introduce you before proceeding to set up meetings. To arrange a meeting write, in Italian, first. Follow this up with a phone call, fax or e-mail. The best time for meetings is between 10 – 11 a. m. and after 3 p. m. Avoid August as most businesses will run on skeleton staff due to holidays. Negotiations can be slow. Demonstrating a sense of urgency is seen as a sign of weakness. At the beginning of a meeting avoid business and concentrate on some small talk. Topics of discussion could include Italian culture, food, wine and football (soccer). Italians will take away proposals and analyse them carefully. Be sure to offer as much information as possible in written form for them to take away. A known Italian tactic is to dramatically change demands at the eleventh hour to unsettle or test the flexibility of their counterparts. Remain firm. Location: Southern Europe, bordering Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3. 2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 232 km, Switzerland 740 km Capital: Rome Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south Population: 58,057,477 (July 2004 est. ) Ethnic Make-up: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south) Religions: predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community Government: republic The Italian Language Italian is the official language of Italy, and 93% of population are native Italian speakers. Around 50% of population speak a regional dialect as mother tongue. Many dialects are mutually unintelligible and thus considered by linguists as separate languages, but are not officially recognised. Friulian, one of these dialects, is spoken by 600,000 people in the north east of Italy, which is 1% of the entire population. Other northern minority languages include Ladin, Slovene, German, which enjoys equal recognition with Italian in the province of Alto-Adige, and French, which is legally recognised in the Alpine region of the Val d'Aosta. Albanian is spoken by 0. 2% of the population, mainly in the southern part of Italy, as too are Croatian and Greek. Catalan is spoken in one city, Alghero, on the island of Sardinia, by around 0. 07% of the population. On the rest of the island, Sardinian is spoken by over 1m, which comes to 1. 7% of the Italian population.

Gender Anthropology

Gender Anthropology Introduction Biology explains the differences between men and women through their sex (biological classification). This is usually possible as women and men have different sexual organs and the disparity in the sexual organs of men and women explains the differences in both sexes. There are also individuals who have both the male and the female sex organs and they are referred to as hermaphrodites as they are neither males nor females. They usually possess a combination of both female and male traits even in their day to day lives.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Gender Anthropology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Culture tries to explain what it really means to be a woman or a man in a certain community since different communities have different cultures. The term gender has been coined up over time to try and explain culturally constructed roles of women and men in a certain community. The presence of infants furt her contradicts the explanation of what gender is as children also have roles they are supposed to play in the society. Gender is dynamic and varies across different cultures of human societies. All these descriptions of what it means to be a woman or a man in a certain specific society changes over time and interactions with the environment are very important in this process, as right from childhood through middle age up to old age, gender roles keep on changing (Brettell Sargent, 2009). Perspectives to gender The exponential growth in technology leading to globalization has helped in exposing a bigger platform for the discussion of the critical factors that explain masculinity or femininity of individuals in the society, whether they are products of nature or culture. This has been possible as globalization has exposed diverse cultures to each other thus enabling cultural interactions beyond territorial borders. In most of the developed societies, they attribute sex to either mas culinity or femininity thus, they have constructed societal expectations of either a woman or a man mostly based on the tasks, duties and responsibilities expected of them to perform in that specific society, which is usually guided by the culture of that society. Despite this assertion, there has been a variation of masculine and feminine traits across cultures in different parts of the world. Infants at their tender age do not have expected cultural roles despite them either being males or females though they acquire them as they graduate from boyhood to manhood and as girls graduate to womanhood. Infants are not able to depict their masculinity or femininity; rather, they seem neutral individuals in the society (Counihan, 1999). The reliance of kids at early age to their parents, their optical, social capabilities and activity level cannot be adequately used in distinguishing their masculinity or femininity. Rather, these characteristics become more manifested in later developmen t stages of life, thus indicating the important role the environment plays in shaping and defining masculinity or femininity of an individual in a society.Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More If the biological sex of an individual determines their gender, then, it could be a very big distinction between infants of either sex. However, this is not the case as toddlers do not depict knowledge of whether they should be masculine or feminine. More so, there is no biological reason or structural evidence as to why they should be so. The terms sex and gender have been used as if they are synonyms despite there being a very big distinction between the two terms. Sex is the biological classification of a man or a woman whereas gender is the societal and cultural constructions of what it means to be a woman or a man in the community or society in question. Sex is a natural constructio n of individuals being of either male or female sex whereas gender is cultural construction of masculinity or femininity (Brettell Sargent, 2009), thus, the term gender is a product of culture and not of nature. Evidence that gender is a product of nature and culture In trying to show that gender is a cultural construction and that it is dynamic, Brettell and Sargent (2009) explored the situation in the United States of America and discovered that for a long time, it was taken that men were equal to masculinity and that women were equal to femininity. Women were considered to be the weaker sex that required protection from men. This made women to be kept away from combat as they were also considered to be sources of human reproduction that is critical for the survival of society. Women were viewed as symbols of femininity and childbearing. Human females are naturally expected to be the child bearers and care takers. However, this assertion has generated criticisms from scholars in the contemporary times who challenge its validity. The task of cooking and food preparation has also been taken to be a feminine task and thus, more often than not assigned to women while men are taken or considered to be the caretakers of their families in terms of them being their families’ breadwinners. On the other hand, men are thought to be more rational, critical thinkers and independent beings, capable of undertaking their activities without reliance on anyone.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Gender Anthropology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They are thought to be stronger and better than women both bodily and in their intellect. They are not expected to be hyper active in household chores such as bringing up of the children. As such, the parenting roles of men should be distinguished from those of women. The division and specialization of labor for men and women traditionally is done such that wom en engage in unpaid household chores while men take up the paid up work. Mothers are presumed to be the home laborers while husbands are expected to provide for the household through paid labor performed in the labor market. The roles and expectations that are linked with these discrepancies assist in construction and definition of gender roles despite the contemporary state of employment of both men and women outside their households. In trying to prove that nature has an upper hand in definition of a man and that of a woman, Brettell and Sargent (2009) terms gender roles for women and men as natural behaviors. In explaining why women ought not to be involved in combat, they argue that â€Å"women don’t have the physical and psychological strength† (p.89). They also add that women’s potential for conceiving and child bearing and consequent rearing makes them unfit for involvement in combat. The reasons given by the United States for barring women from taking up combat positions seems to point out a product of culture and socialization rather than biology. The assertion that men are more aggressive than women has no or has little evidence to support it hence its validity is usually put to question or debated mostly in developed societies which are more liberal in their view of life and its issues. The conception that women are deficient of the preferred extent of aggression seems to be a justification used/employed by the society as a whole to differentiate the roles and responsibilities of women and men (Counihan, 1999). On the other hand, if indeed women are less aggressive than men, they could also make good parents. In some cultures, such as the Aka fathers of Central African Republic, men are known to take up very active roles in bringing up the kids. This can be attributed probably to the dynamics of their societal structure.Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Men and women work interactively to provide for the community as they embrace communal mode of production. This enables the fathers to have more time to interact with their children and family unlike the case of most men in Western societies. From this, evidence speaks for itself that men can also take the responsibility of nurturing and rearing their children and that its just pressures from their cultures that make them to think that they naturally do not have the ability to do so (Counihan, 1999). Conclusion Brettell and Sargent (2009) have succeeded in explaining that the differences in masculinity and femininity can be explained through incorporation of the biological sex of an individual, plus the environment they are brought up in. We are persuaded that gender is a product of both nature and culture. The varied differences evident in gender roles across different cultures and societies show that gender description must incorporate both culture and nature. The gender assigned roles that men are more aggressive than women and that they fit better in combat unlike women, are just societal constructions by the military and the community at large to bar women from taking up positions in combat. It is thus evident that definition of one’s gender is a product of both nature and culture. Gender therefore varies across the diverse cultures and it is dynamic as it is subjective to changes in the environment. References Brettell, C., Sargent, C. (2009). Gender in cross-culture perspective. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Counihan, C. (1999). The anthropology of food and body: gender, meaning, and power. London: Routledge.

Social Media Essays

Social Media Essays Social Media Essay Social Media Essay Essay Topic: Social Media Social Media: Necessity vs.. Nuisance Most people do not listen with the intent to understand, they listen with the intent to reply (Stephen Convey). People view society as a lost cause: we rely so much on technology and social media that we lose Important values that make us unique and Ideal citizens of society. Weve become so subconsciously narcissistic that we forget to take the time to understand someone elses needs. Social media and technology has changed the way we interact with people because we center our lives around an imaginary world. In that world, we post pictures of our breakfast on social media to see how many likes we can get instead of enjoying a meal and spending time with our mother. You may ask yourself, what is social media? Social media is the interaction among people in which they create, share, or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks (Wisped). Social media websites range from Twitter, Backbone. Mainstream, Linked, Google+, etc. And are all globally connected. Society is moving forward and craving the latest and greatest in technology. To what extent is social media necessary? To some, social media Is a necessity and plays an Important part In ones life because It Is their virtual Identity and Image. To others, It Is a nuisance that depreciates the meaning of life. We must find a common ground and truly understand how social media Impacts our lives. Social media allows people from all over the world to virtually interact with each other. For many, this is a great step in implementing technology into our everyday lives. For others, it is absolute chaos because of the lack of privacy and the ignorance it entails. Twitter, a very popular social media website, has become a hotshot for communication and exploring breaking news articles from across the globe. Twitter also allows its users to see what is trending around the world and makes it easy for users to search for a specific topic and see what others are saying. Its fast, its easy, and its convenient. Previous generations did not have the accessibility of social media and were forced to conform to what they were taught and could not branch out to learn differently and connect with others who share common Interests. Before he ease of social media and the Internet, people were confined to sending letters and calling a number out of the phone book to satisfy their needs. In 2006, the Oxford dictionary introduced the term, Google, to Google, as a verb. When someone needs a question answered, one now says, Oh let me Google it! Society is becoming a freight train, adapting new technology to everyday life rapidly. Social media gives us a new outlook on life; people can express themselves and are exposed to different views and opinions that they can learn from and formulate our own thoughts on as ell. No longer is society suppressed from reality. People have a voice and are free to say what they want and share it with everyone. No longer can people be ignorant to the problems of the world. Social media has created a lost generation. We have become so consumed with our Image and how people perceive us that we have forgotten what It means to be a teenager. We would rather sit In our room and Judge people behind our smartness or computers Instead AT going on a DIKe rare on a Delightful sunny cay. Social media has created narcissistic individuals who solely care about rewets and favorites on a 140-character text message seen by others and could care less if it was aimed to hurt someone, otherwise known as a subtlest. Our youth has no feeling of shame or compassion towards people when it comes to social media. It is lowering grades, getting people fired, and affecting others instantly. Negative outcomes arent necessarily social medias fault, but the user itself who influences others and the people who allow the actions of others to affect them. I have asked any of my friends on their feelings towards social media and many of them agree that it makes them feel an array of emotions by the things they see and read. Intimidation sets in and we begin to feel excluded and assume things, which weakens relationships and friendships by the lack of trust and communication. For couples, seeing your significant other talk to and favorite the opposite sexs tweets and pictures on Mainstream, a popular picture sharing application, can cause Jealousy and tension between you, the person, and your significant other. It too creates lack of rust and can ultimately lead to breaking up, or even a divorce if the arising issue is not fixed immediately. It sounds silly, but it is a major problem in many young relationships. It is human nature to Jump to conclusion and assume, but you want to give someone the benefit of the doubt because we want to believe humans are not twisted and evil people. For me personally, social media has had both a positive and negative impact on my life. Knowing campus news or homework tweeted by your teacher is Just a click away leaves a peace of mind, but seeing the ignorant tweets of there and witnessing cyber bullying is appalling and irritating. Students are actively trying to combat cyber bullying by creating anonymous accounts on Twitter that complement many students of both Livermore and Granddad High. These accounts, these students, are genuine people and want to make a difference in the world and I admire their effort. My generation needs to wake up and smell the roses, the world is not going to change itself and we need to set an example for others on how social media should be used. People are constantly looking for ways to improve their ivies and by implementing new technology, we are able to find a mutual standpoint. Social media allows people all over the world to connect and share information and constantly learn new things to benefit them and grow as a person. With the wide availability and convenience of social media, we must create boundaries to prevent a flood of ignorance because in the long run, society will never truly be done with social media. We must educate ourselves in order to preserve the life we have in reality, not virtually inside a social media website.

Project management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 2

Project management - Assignment Example First the objective of the projects are essentials to define, then the goals of project will be stated clearly and communicated to the team members that are associated with the project, then tasks will be defined, after describing the task, resources required for the project are essential to define, the last two steps of project scope involve budgeting and scheduling (Dyal 2008). The critical path method could help penny in assisting scheduling and decision making. Penny could create efficiency, reduce uncertainty, and improve productivity through the help of critical path method. This can help in assess the earliest time by which the each activity can be completed. Through full project Gantt chart penny can evaluate the scheduling progress on the basis of individual task and whole project (Schwable 2013) Resource costing method is best to save the extra cost of utilizing resources; the second method is standard costing that helps in cost control, and the third method is activity based costing that determine the cost each activity required (Lewis 1995) Before starting any project risk assessment is the first step, risk occurs due to lack of tools, information and qualified employees. All uncertainties will be assessed through risk assessment data sheet and risk assessment matrix. Then the action plan will be created after conducting SWOT analysis of project, insurance will be taken to transfer risk and constant monitoring will be conducted to ensure the risk free status of the project. There are multiple evaluation methods but no can be said best; project evaluation methods include qualitative method. The formative evaluation methods are essential to lead up the project that is missing in the case study. The goal based evaluation is missed in the project that is necessary for any project and give ideas to the team members and management that how should the work be done in order to attain the stated goals. This evaluation encounters the SMART targets

How has Japanese Cinema been Informed by Nuclear Disaster Term Paper

How has Japanese Cinema been Informed by Nuclear Disaster - Term Paper Example The style of the day is one of modern casual wear, except when our young protagonist and his friend go to school, then, they wear uniforms.   Whereas in other films, such as Akira Kurosawa’s (1990) Dreams, there is a stark contrast to the actors’ traditional kimono dress that is worn in those vignettes that portray even modern life in Japan, such as Sunshine Through the Rain, where the dress in the home is kimonos, which is presented against a backdrop of modern Japanese architecture reflecting the traditional architecture with modern materials.   The result is striking and beautiful cinematography that is spellbinding as the story in this short vignette. In Kikujiro (Kitaro, 2000), if there is anything that denotes the impact of the nuclear holocaust suffered by Japan at the end of the war, it is in the westernization of the society that is conveyed through the film.   However, it should be noted that Japan was, prior to the onset of the war, looking towards the west as a model of economic success (Keyser & Kumagai, 1996, 1).   Still, with the postwar occupation of Japan by the Allied forces, it might be logical to conclude that the westernization of Japan took on a different direction than the pre-war model.   Kikujiro (Kitaro, 2000) portrays the move away from tradition, into a modern society with modern social problems, such as gambling first and second family identity problems.   While these problems may have existed in Japan since the medieval times, it is the distinct westernized appearance of them in this modern day film that breaks with the tradition of what is usually both perceived and seen in the film as being Japanese. Whereas Japan’s move toward away from the traditional towards a more western model might have been the path in a pre-world WWII setting, nuclear holocaust and the presence of a western occupation following that event probably helped bring Japan to a western present much quicker than they might have arrived had it not been for western occupation following the war. Kikujiro (Kitaro, 2000) is the film that demonstrates modern Japan’s westernization.

Organizational Theory and Behavior Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organizational Theory and Behavior - Term Paper Example Therefore, this paper is going to define the terms organizational theory and organizational behavior is, secondly, mention about the vital aspects of organizational behavior, thirdly, talk about the various theories of organizational behavior, and lastly conclusion. Organizational theory is a theory whose main aim is to enable individuals understand the reason as to why organizations are structured the way they are and how people behave in organizations (Cunliffe, 2008) On the other hand, organizational behavior is a word that is rarely hard in today’s life but seen and heard mostly in the places of work. The reason as to why the many people are not conversant with the term â€Å"organizational behavior† is that they do not know what it comprises. Therefore, organizational behavior can be defined as the culture and behavior of individuals in an organization that results to effective functioning of such an organization. In other words, it comprises of the rules, regulations and procedures that govern an organization (Staw, 2006) There are various vital aspects of organizational behavior and theory; they include organizational culture, ethics, communication, teamwork and diversity. Diversity means that people work in an organization peacefully by not looking at their age, tribe, gender, sex or ethnic backgrounds. Communication is the sending and receiving information, in an organization there are proper channels of communications that are followed for smooth running of organizations. Also among the staff, communication is an important aspect; it is done through memos, phone calls, emails among others. Teamwork is also important in an organization whereby the staff members have to work together as one team for effective and smooth running of organizations. There are several different behavioral theories that show how

Peasants DBQ Essay Example for Free

Peasants DBQ Essay This revolt lasted from 1524 till 1526, it began in the German states, and the main reason for the revolt was new Lutheran ideas that were beginning to go against the traditional Catholicism ideas. Documents 1,4 and 5 give insight on the views those who were on the nobility side, Documents 2 and 3 give more specific details over the views of peasants and finally for Documents 7,8 and 12 explain how the mainly how the revolt didnt have much meaning behind it. Documents 1, 4, and 5 explained the point of view of the nobility which mostly all of the nobility agreed it was negative. In Document 1the Chancellor of Bavaria wrote how he believed that the revolt was simply the belief of the time and thats why so many peasants were following the same belief. Yet the chancellor doesnt realize the side of the peasant who strive for a better life for themselves, they simply want to have more rights for the individuality. In document 4 it explains how they have not reach any religious achievements, so for their freedom they must give a large amount of money to buy their freedom. As for document 5 a pope explains how the peasants are more like salvages and act very ruthless during their revolt. All 3 of these documents are more than likely extremely biased since the nobility only wanted to better themselves and nobody else. Document 2 and 3 explained how the peasants felt during the revolt which they unlike the nobility believed their actions were going to a positive cause. In document 2 a local craftsperson explain how the lords been cruel to all peasants. He is stating the lords and nobles should offer payment for their services not simply force them to do task like slaves. This relates to Luthers knowledge and ideas instead peasants apply it not only to the church but outside of the church. In document 3 they explain the wrong doing of the lord by controlling peasant, they continue into saying that the rulers set by god would be the only one peasants would follow, but that they should still be set free and not be under so many restrictions. Both sides will not be entirely correct since they both strive to better themselves,  which of course they would maintain bias to their sides. Documents 7, 8, and 12 explain the negative side of the revolt from a 3rd person point of view. Document 7 comes from Martin Luther saying how the revolt from the peasants contradicts what they said; he goes on explaining that their actions are under the devils order. Although the actions they may have taken wasnt the best response they did fight for what they believed in and all throughout history this has occurred many times fighting for what you think is right. Document 8 explains how if they all are brothers then the rich should share their wealth with the peasants, yet many would have trouble with this, because the one persons wealth is every wealthy person wealth. Document 12 explains how the peasants forgot their place in the revolt, how they do not have the power to de3ciede for themselves. It truly shows how the peasants have absolutely no word in their treatment.

Evidence Based Nursing in Primary Healthcare Team

Evidence Based Nursing in Primary Healthcare Team 189691 Title: Evidence Based Nursing is developing in primary health care . Critically discuss the applications to your practice. (District Nursing) Undergraduate Degree Level Essay 3,250 words Essay The evolution of the nursing profession has witnessed a great many changes of both emphasis and direction in both the delivery and the content of patient care as well as accompanying changes in both the philosophy and the theory of that care. Arguably the nursing profession has historically based its activities and also its philosophies, on tradition and the perpetuation of currently accepted practices which have not been firmly rooted in a general scientifically tested framework.(Roper N 1977). This can be verified by the fact that the nursing literature of the 1970s and 80s has many references from writers and commentators who were arguing for nursing to evolve into a research based profession and highlighting the fact that there was a demonstrable absence of a significant amount of good quality research-based fact which dictated the current practices throughout the profession in general. (Gortner SR 1976). An impartial observer, considering this situation over the intervening years, would probably agree that there has been a clear and marked swing in both the published literature and the actual practice of nursing, towards the underpinning of practice with strong scientific research. Evidence based nursing has emerged as being one of the dominant driving forces in nursing evolution and the advent of evidence based practice has become apparent to the point where it is now and this could be considered to be the â€Å"gold standard† and essential basis for the majority of professional nursing care (Yura H et al 1998) If we look at the issues and considerations that could support this statement, we could point to Hunt’s tour de force on the subject in his seminal paper of 1981 (Hunt J 1981), in which he sums up his belief that each nurse must care enough about her own practice to want to make sure it is based on the best possible information. This plea seemed to strike a chord in the nursing profession to the extent that, over the following few years, there was a noticeable increase in the published papers that both echoed these sentiments and also defined the various barriers to progress in this respect. These were largely quantified as including time constraints, limited access to the literature, a lack of training in critical skills of appraisal and, most fundamentally, a professional ethos and ideology that placed a great emphasis on the practical rather than the intellectual component of knowledge, together with a work environment that did not actively encourage the seeking out, resear ching and recording of new information (after Royle J et al 1996). One could be forgiven for observing that such comments are still relevant to a degree today. In order to present a balanced argument, we can observe that there is not a blind and uniform acceptance of evidence based nursing procedures. There are some who actively criticise evidence base procedures. Haynes (R B et al 1996) points to the fact that a blind following of evidence based practice can promote a concept of a â€Å"cookbook† of procedures that have to be dogmatically followed and it can stifle the holistic consideration of what may be best for each individual patient. We shall return to this point later. White (S 1997) counters this argument with the suggestion that a nurses’ professional training includes both learning the basic pathophysiology and anatomy and acquiring experience. She suggests that it is actually the â€Å"effective application of this experience that requires a sound evidence base.† Research evidence can aid the professional decision making process, but cannot either do the clinical examination or collate the vast amount of sni ppets of information that pass between patient and nurse. White suggests that it is this clinical expertise (derived from learning and experience), that is the crucial element in the application of the evidence based knowledge which separates true evidence based nursing practice from the â€Å"cookbook† approach with Haynes’ vision of the mindless and unquestioning application of â€Å"both guidelines and rules† (White S 1997). Before we leave the general issues relating to evidence based nursing, we shall also cite the analytical work of Pearson (A 2000) who produced an influential treatise on the role of the nurse and nursing in evidence based research. In his paper Pearson makes a fundamental and significant delineation between lay nursing and professional nursing which is defined by the application of research based practices and procedures. He suggests that the evolution of evidence based nursing had its origins in the days of the reforms pushed through by Florence Nightingale, became commonly accepted practice in the 70s and 80s when the â€Å"theoretical constructs of practice began to evolve and be adopted†, and has currently culminated in the advent and emergence of the nurse practitioner and nurse specialist whose professional structure, training and practice is essentially evidence based. This essay is primarily about how evidence based nursing is developing in primary healthcare team with specific reference to personal practice. This is a potentially a vast topic and therefore we will use illustrative examples of specific areas of development. A great deal of a primary healthcare team’s time (particularly that of the nurse) is taken up with the treatment of pressure sores and ulcers. It is instructive to consider the evolution of the evidence base for the treatment of this condition and then to extrapolate the process to other conditions frequently seen in primary care. We can cite the work of Sir James Paget who made the observation in 1862:- Elderly patients with femoral neck fractures and other high risk groups develop them (pressure sores) early, chiefly in the first week, and then made the observation â€Å"They often appear on the day of operation. It is not just the patient, but every part of his or her body, that must survive the operation†. (Bliss MR 1992). The rationale for citing this statement is that it illustrates a comment and observation that may be factually correct, but has no evidence based weight whatsoever other than being a reflection of the author’s opinion. It has no foundation in statistically verifiable fact and may be subject to all forms of objective bias. It obviously was never produced as a result of a randomised controlled trial but, like many other â€Å"pronouncements† by prominent practitioners, it has both influenced and been accepted by generations of healthcare professionals over the years. This exemplifies Roper’s point, cited earlier, relating to the tradition of previous practice being perpetuated by successive generations. The point can be tracked further still by considering a more recent paper by Vohra (Vohra R K et al. 1986). On the face of it, this paper gives a comprehensive overview of the (then) current practices in the treatment of ulceration and pressure sores. It goes into great detail relating to the aetiology, pathophysiology and trends in management of the ulcer patient and has an extensive and current reference section in the paper. The problem form the perspective of this essay is that, although the paper is undoubtedly comprehensive in its approach, virtually the entire paper together with virtually all of the cited references, is opinion based with not a single reference to a good quality randomised controlled trial. (MacLean DS 2003). The paper does make use of comparative studies where one treatment is compared with another, but this in turn exemplifies yet another shortcoming and that is that such trials are good if a healthcare professional has only these two options at their dispo sal for treatment, (which is seldom the case). Modern philosophy would dictate that in good evidence based practice, the nurse would need to be able to cite evidence that one treatment is demonstrably superior to all others for a given set of clinical circumstances and that this evidence is from a repeatable and unbiased source. To give an illustration of this point, MacLean makes the comment:- It is clearly of minimal value to a patient to be able to say to them that a comparison of rubbing a pressure sore with honey has been found more beneficial than rubbing it with butter when the use of a ripple mattress is clearly superior to both of them. If we contrast this paper with another, more recent paper (Bliss et al. 1999), there are a number of very significant differences. This paper is also an overview of the current trends in treatment of ulcers and pressure sores. Firstly the author is a nurse. Secondly, it only cites 12 references (as opposed to over 70 in the Vohra paper) but each is a randomised controlled trial selected to support the various statements made in the paper. This represents a major and fundamental change in presentation, philosophy and practice. It could be suggested by the cynic that such observations are a chance finding in two randomly selected papers. We would suggest that an examination of the literature of the periods involved would support the view that they represent a true reflection of the genuine change in both style and expectation that now pervades the nursing professions and more fundamentally, it also reflects the criteria by which papers are now judged and accepted for publication in the major peer reviewed journals. It is not appropriate to discuss the content of the paper in detail other than to observe the fact that the paper concludes with a description of the classic Gebhardt trial (Gebhardt KS et al 1994) which compared the results of bed rest with intermittent chair nursing on the development of ulceration and in the words of Morris (A 2002):- In many respects, the Gebhardt trial is a reflection of both the calls noted in the previous paper for proper scientific scrutiny to be brought to bear on the subject and the evolution of the expectation of the healthcare professions into the requirement for a firm evidence base for their continued work. In terms of direct impingement on the practical aspects of primary healthcare nursing, the move towards evidence based procedures can be illustrated in the development of scales such as the Waterlow scale (PN 1991). This was developed as a direct recognition of the need for an evidence based tool which would both directly help the nurse assess and quantify the degree of risk together with helping them predict just which was the most effective treatment modality for any individual patient. This was accomplished by allowing a reproducible measurement of ulceration and thereby rendering this area of clinical practice amenable to proper scientific scrutiny and testing. The result of this scale development is that the nurse can identify a treatment that has not only been suggested by previous practice or experience, but one that can be shown to be the most appropriate for a given set of clinical circumstances with the most likely clinical benefit (NT 1996). It is a logical step from this position to the situation where new scales are developed based on evidence based assessments and treatments, to predict the likelihood of healing of ulcers. Such a situation has resulted in the development of tools such as the PUSH scale (Gardener S et al 2005). This represents the currently accepted end-point of a logical progression that we have traced and quantified from the type of opinion based pronouncements of Sir James Paget, past the experience based observations and comparative trials such as those of Vohra, through to the completely evidence based practices of today where a clinically defined situation is identified, a solution is hypothesised and then subjected to validation by appropriate double blinded and unbiased scientific techniques in a randomly controlled clinical setting. It allows the authors (Gardener S et al 2005) to conclude their paper with the comment The PUSH tool provides a valid measure of pressure ulcer healing over time and accurately differentiates a healing from a non-healing ulcer. It is a clinically practical, evidence-based tool for tracking changes in pressure ulcer status when applied at weekly intervals. Such a comment is virtually unchallengeable because of the weight of valid recorded evidence behind it. If we consider new and current moves to examine the evidence base of activities in the primary healthcare team, we can also consider the advent of screening clinics which are commonly nurse-led. (Califf R M et al. 2002). We could consider the current trend for hypertension screening. It is commonly accepted that treating hypertension is of value in preventing both morbidity and mortality, (Cooper R et al. 2000), but a less frequently asked question is â€Å"What is the rationale and the evidence base for providing a screening programme for patients?â€Å" (HTT 2005). Curiously, the evidence base for the screening programmes that have been run has been rather insecure. The main reason for this has been the comparative paucity of definitive information relating to the levels of effective treatment and, as the treatment can realistically only be assessed as effective over a long time span, such studies take many years to yield substantive information. It therefore follows that the evi dence base for screening can only realistically be determined once a rational an proven evidence base for treatment has been established. (Brotons C et al. 2003). This is the position set out in the comprehensive paper by The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group (HTT 2005). A pragmatic view would also have to observe that the position is further complicated by the constant evolution of new drugs and methods of measuring blood pressure which render previous data on the subject out of date by the time that it is assimilated. (Appel L J et al. 2003). This paper is very detailed in its assessment of the situation and it is not practical to consider all of its findings in any depth, but it provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence base for the promotion of hypertensive screening together with the evidence to support the use of different levels of hypertension as the endpoint of the screening process. Perhaps we can conclude this essay about the relevance of evidence base nursing practice to primary health care with the excellent and though-provoking article by Frances Griffiths. (Griffiths F et al. 2005). Although we have been arguing for the use of evidence based practice in modern nursing care, there is one commonly overlooked aspect of this practice which is the subject of the Griffiths paper. As the wealth of good quality information relating to the effectiveness of many clinical interventions and practices increases, this fact alone presents healthcare professionals in general with the increasing dilemma of how to apply the information obtained to the individual patient. The evidence base for a procedure will generally inform clinicians of the likelihood of it being successful in the general population. It will not give any indication, other than a probability, of its chance of success in the individual patient. This is a problem for the nurse (and other healthcare professio nals), as the bulk of current medical practice is on a face-to-face basis with individual patients, rather than dealing with populations. (Fox R C 2002) To illustrate this point, Griffiths points to the fact that it is commonly accepted that epidemiology tells us that smoking is an independent risk factor in the population for myocardial infarction, yet there is no evidence base to tell us which particular individuals will be affected. Similarly there are a multitude of good quality trials which show that there is an increased risk of breast cancer that is linked with hormone replacement therapy but there is nothing that will tell us which individuals are at specific risk. (Willis J 1995) This dilemma is central to the proper understanding of the place of evidence based practice as the balance between good practice based on proper evidence and individual patient care is central to the history of nursing and will not disappear however good the evidence base for a particular treatment becomes. In the words of Haynes (R B et al. 2002):- Diseases always manifest themselves in patients bodies and minds, and in seeking to understand, treat, and predict the outcome of disease, clinicians need to move their focus from the individual to more generalised research. To this end, the nurse would do well to reflect on the fact that assimilation of evidence is central to her practice, but communicating that evidence to patients is a key part of clinical consultations, with a growing evidence base of how it is best achieved. References Appel L J, Champagne C M, Harsha D W, Cooper L S, Obarzanek E, Elmer P J, Stevens V J, Vollmer W M, Lin P H, Svetkey L P, Stedman S W, Young D R; for the Writing Group of the PREMIER Collaborative Research Group. 2003 Effects of comprehensive lifestyle modification on blood pressure control: main results of the PREMIER clinical trial. J Am Med Assoc. 2003 ; 289 : 2083–2093. Bliss M and Bruno Simini 1999 When are the seeds of postoperative pressure sores sown? BMJ, Oct 1999 ; 319 : 863 864 Brotons C, Godycki-Cwirko M, Sammut M R. 2003 New European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Eur J Gen Pract. 2003 ; 9 : 124–125 Califf R M, DeMets D L. 2002 Principles from clinical trials relevant to clinical practice: part I. Circulation. 2002 ; 106 : 1015–1021 Cooper R, Cutler J, Desvigne-Nickens P, Fortmann S P, Friedman L, Havlik R, Hogelin G, Marler J, McGovern P, Morosco G, Mosca L, Pearson T, Stamler J, Stryer D, Thom T. 2000 Trends and disparities in coronary heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases in the United States: findings of the national conference on cardiovascular disease prevention. Circulation. 2000 ; 102 : 3137–3147. Fox R C. 2002 Medical uncertainty revisited. In: Bendelow G, Carpenter M, Vautier C, Williams S, eds. Gender, health and healing: the public/private divide. 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Norwalk, CT : Appleton Lange, 1998. ################################################################ 11.9.06 PDG Word count 3,454