Rejuvenating Jamaican tourism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Rejuvenating Jamaican tourism - Research Paper Example It has a monarchy system of government. It has an ideal climate for agriculture and tourism industries. In 1940s, the country discovered bauxite and the government shifted from banana and sugar export to mining. People in Jamaica share a combination of culture from Spanish and Taino. They use English as their official language thought many people use a local language called Patois. Section A: Internal and External Assessment of Tourism in Jamaica In the Greater Antilles, Jamaica leads in the tourism industry. The government depends most from the tourism industry. The industry provides about 50 % of the country’s foreign exchange. It provides about a fourth of the total jobs offered in Jamaica. Tourism industry helps in boosting the economy and creation of job opportunities to the youth. Tourism activities are carried in the northern coast island, which includes communities like Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Port Antonio. Other places with tourism activities include western tip is lands. The country has many airports and airlines, which help in transportation of tourist. According to Clarke (2009) the government also helps in development of the industry. Each finance year, the minister for tourism gets same funds to manage the industry. The government has worked to ensure success of the tourism industry because it contributes a lot in the government revenue. The fame gained through Olympic and music has made Jamaica attract more international visitors. Tourism Demand and Market in Jamaica Tourism has been on high demand in Jamaica. The famous musician, â€Å"Bob Marley† and the Olympic sprinter, â€Å"Usain Bolt† promoted the image of Jamaica world wide. Many people, tour in Jamaica to witness the Olympic champions and famous musicians. The level of visitors has been on the increase from 2000 to 2012. Tourism income increased to 53 % from 2000 to 2005. Tourism net earning doubled from 2000 to 2005 reaching $ 437 million. The rate increased from 2005 to 2010. Tourism industry will earn 1 billion in 2012. According to Black (2011) the demand for tourism does not decrease like other industries, which do not have a consistence growth. In 2000, the hotel occupation rose from 41 % to 65 %, and this has risen up to 90 % this year. Consecutively, the industry has grown for the last five years. In 2008, the industry had a total income of about 500 million, in 2009 it rose to 570, in 2010, it rose again to 700, 2011 it rose to 850 and in 2012 the income will reach 1 billion. The graph below represents Jamaica’s income from the tourism industry. The market of tourism has been promoted by many factors ranging from environmental, social and political. Tourism is promoted by people form other countries and the citizens of Jamaica. Citizens from different counties visit beaches and other places preserved by government for tourism purposes. People from other countries visit the cities in order to have a look of the geographical fea tures. They also visit in order to see the famous Jamaican sprinters who always win in the Olympic Games. According to Dove (2010) music industry has attracted many people who visit the areas. The international visitors contribute more to the income than the local tourist. It is estimated that about 70 % revenue from the industry is generated by international tourists from foreign countries. The remaining 30 % comes from the local tourist or the individual

Labour Market Policy Write a continuous essay to answer one of the 5

Labour Market Policy Write a continuous to answer one of the 5 questions - Essay Example Estimates given shows that unemployment levels mostly stayed below the 5 percent level with coming down to nearly 1 percent during 1950. However, the level of unemployment started to rise gradually during the period of 1970 reaching to 8.5 percent during 1991. This reflects a meteoric rise in the nature of unemployment in Britain in regards to other economies of Europe. Estimates reveal that unemployment in Britain rose by 31 percent unlike a rise of only 4 percent in France during the early period of 1990. (McLaughlin, 1992, pp. 1-2) As a solution measure, the right approach to labor policy needs to be determined. It is observed that the nature of unemployment varies along different countries around the world depending on various factors. Factors, which are mainly observed to contribute to the unemployment growth after the 1970 period, can be listed as the different set of ideologies regarding management of wage structure, the pattern of labor elasticity and labor potential of different countries. Differences in the degree of labor potential in the different countries owe its occurrence due to the promotion of open-market economy. Promotion of the open-market economy led to the use of use of exchange rates to different regions of the market. This is taken to be a potential reason for the differences in labor potential in different market economies around the world. The above fact can also be demonstrated in respect of the traded goods area of the German Republic. It is found that the growth in production in the traded goods section of the German economy surpasses the productivity growth in li ke sector in Britain. The above fact owes its effects from two reasons. The first reason that can be attributed to the above cause is the rise in wages in the traded sector in Germany in comparison with no such wage rise in Britain’s traded goods sector.

Democratization of Islamic Countries

Democratization of Islamic Countries Revolutionary events that engulfed a number of Arab countries in 2010 2011 (in the media, they were called the event Arab Spring), have introduced a wide range of radical changes in the political situation in the Middle East and for the whole region had far-reaching consequences. As a result of these events, instead of the authoritarian regimes in a number of countries came to power moderate Islamist forces (Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, An-Nahda in Tunisia), who set themselves the task of development in these countries regimes Islamic democracy , mainly due to the Turkish model. Moderate Islamists (the party Justice and Development) won the parliamentary elections in Morocco, the country that has remained a monarchy, but went to a certain democratization of their political institutions. In another country, the Arab Spring Libya as a result of the general democratic elections came to power liberal Alliance of National Forces. All of the above events led many experts to conclude tha t new prospects for democratization in the region, which eventually should lead to a homogenization of the Middle East into a single policy area, where the main role will be played by pro-Islamic democratic regimes. However, in other Arab countries such as Syria and Yemen, the event Arab Spring has not been so successful, because here they have exacerbated the internal contradictions and resulted in civil war. In 2013, the prospects for the development of Islamic democracy were at issue in Egypt, where on July 3 was a military revolt, which resulted in the management of Muslim Brotherhood was behind bars. Meanwhile, in late May, internal political situation deteriorated and in a relatively stable until now Turkey. All these events have reopened the debate on an issue that worries experts in recent years: whether moderate Islamic regimes to stay in power and to bring democracy and stability in the political process in the Middle East?Or region again waiting for the dominance of authoritarian rule and civil war?Unfortunately, experts forecasts are not as optimistic as it was a few years ago, because it is clear that the risk of political instability poses a serious threat to many countries in the region. Over 2011-2012, it was possible to observe how the democratic reforms in the countries of the Arab Spring began to gradually become a reality. In particular, in the elections to the Peoples Assembly, the lower house of parliament in Egypt, which lasted more than 2 months, won a landslide victory moderate Islamic Freedom and Justice Party, which is the political wing of the Islamist movement Muslim Brotherhood. For this political force voted about 47% of voters. In the upper house of the Egyptian Parliament, the Advisory Council, it took another 105 members of this party. It is not surprising that the presidential elections held in Egypt in May-June 2012 he was elected leader of the country the candidate of freedom and justice S. Mursi, collected in the second round, more than half of all votes. Fortunately events developed for the Islamists in Tunisia. Here in the parliamentary elections, which took place in October 2011, won a landslide victory moderate Islamic party Ennahda, for which voted 41% of voters. According to the results of the election, the Prime Minister was elected General Secretary of the party H. Dzhebali. Overall, as a result of the impact of the Arab Spring, the democratic process and intensified in a number of other Arab countries of the Greater Middle East. In particular, parliamentary elections were held in February 2012 in Kuwait, where Islamists have received 34 of the 50 parliamentary seats. In Algeria, the countrys parliamentary elections took place in May 2012. They moderate Islamists (Green Algeria Alliance), although a small number of votes received (48 of 426 seats in parliament), but they have been admitted to the election authority and thus were included in the political process. Party moderate Islamic orientation are also a number of other Islamic countries, in particular: The movement of the Islamic Action in Jordan, AK Party building in Libya, Hamas in Palestine, the party Justice and Development in Morocco and others. Unfortunately, all of the successes of new Islamic democracy were thwarted further developments. Since the revolutions of the Arab Spring has passed about two years, but the situation in these countries is still unstable. In particular, in Libya armed fighting between militants of various revolutionary brigades, carried out the attacks and armed attacks on government offices. In Egypt, mass demonstrations by the secular opposition led by the National Salvation Front led to bloody clashes with supporters of Islamist and began to threaten to escalate into civil war, resulting in power in the country again into their own hands took the military. In Syria still ongoing civil war which resulted in the already killed more than 100,000 people. But the main thing that became restless and exemplary country of Islamic democracy Turkey. May 28 at Taksim Square in Istanbul began a peaceful demonstration, which later resulted in the massive anti-government riots that swept a number of Turkish ci ties. On the streets of Turkish cities came mainly supporters of the Turkish secular parties and opponents of gradual Islamization of the country, who demanded the resignation of the leader of the Islamist Erdogan and Islamic forces removal from power. It is clear that all the events are not some spontaneous actions, they have deep historical roots. In general, the main difficulties faced by Islamic democracy, are as follows: The first problem is related to the existence of a deep split in most Islamic societies through secularism / Sharia. This split has developed historically: the processes of modernization, which covered most Muslim societies in the twentieth century, contributed to the formation of a new elite focused on the Western model of development. The latter, which is concentrated mainly in the cities, took an active part in the updated state institutions andbecome their mainstay. At the same time, another hourPart of society remained a supporter of traditional Islamic values. As a consequence, there was a split society through peripherals (province, traditional) and the center (urban, modern). Dissatisfied with existing secular regime organized in the Islamic movement and the beginning of democratization in the Islamic parties. 1980-1990 were the years of revival and the triumph of political Islam in Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria. However, in defense of secular regimes in these countries have beco me military, led to some curtailment of democratic processes. Now another round of such aggravation we see in Turkey, where the secular circles opposed the policy of the ruling Islamic party Justice and Development aimed at the Islamization of the country as well as in Egypt, where the secular parties and the military opposed the president S. Mursi. The second problem is related to the existence of a difficult socio-economic situation, which is observed in most of the Arab Spring. Experts believe that one of the most important factors in the success of democracy is to ensure an adequate level of economic development, which, unfortunately, is not present at a number of Islamic revolutionary countries. The emergence of civil society and democracy can not be there where people need to think about their vital necessities of life. In this context, the economic problems of Egypt, which in no way failed to weaken the government S. Mursi proved to be a factor that contributed to the exit of people on the street. The third problem is characterized by the existence in Muslim societies of the whole complex of inter-clan, inter-faith and inter-ethnic conflicts. Society of the Middle East have a pretty motley composition, because they consist of various religious groups (such as Syria, Iraq and Lebanon), the various ethnic and tribal groups (such as Libya and Yemen), patrimonial clans, etc. As part of an authoritarian regime, all these groups are under government control. But in the case of destabilization of the political situation, they actively intervene in the political struggle for power and tend to inflame tribal and religious struggle, which could result in civil war. In particular, in Syria faced the interests of a number of different groups: Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Kurds, Christians. Fourth obstacle to the development of democracy in Islamic countries stands stratum military circles that actively interfere in the internal political processes in their countries. The armys role in politics in the Middle East has always been significant. Military circles mainly act on the side of the secular community in their struggle against political Islam. In Egypt, the secular army positions were greatly strengthened by General G. Naserom that from 1952 to 1970 led the country. The armed forces in Turkey and have always played an important role in the political life of the country. Prospects for democratization of Islamic countries Arab Spring There are historical experience shows that any significant shocks and abrupt changes in the policies of individual countries are becoming a significant catalyst for peoples activity, pushing it to the protest. Free elections bring to the surface of the political forces that are most consistent with the interests of the masses. It is not surprising that such forces in the countries of the Arab Spring in the first place were the Islamists. But the imposition of its policies mainly towards realization of the Sharia inevitably leads to the emergence of opposition from secular circles and has the effect of further destabilization of the situation in a particular country. The level of this risk is not the same for all countries. It depends on many factors: the duration and nature of the tensions in society, especially the political groups that came to power, the state of the economy, etc But in any case it must be assumed that the current realities in countries emerging from popular uprisings and armed insurgencies characterized by imbalance and threaten to destabilize the political regimes in violation of inner balance. And this can happen in case of problems in the economy and the exacerbation of social problems. In Egypt, there was just such a situation. The revolutionary events and changes in the political regime drew deeper roots of general economic frustration, which was due to too straightforward strategy for market development in the context of significant lack of resources and numerous imbalances in the economy. The revolution led to a further decline in living standards and an increase in the number of unemployed. S. Mursi government failed to stabilize the situation, not of an economic success of the policy of Islamization of the country has caused discontent among a significant number of Egyptians and forced the military to take over power in their hands. Given recent events, the democratization of Egypt in the future looks pretty controversial. Most likely, military forces will continue to try to control the situation in the country. Tunisia, which all States Arab Spring looks most promising in terms of the development of democracy, is now also going through difficult times. Killing one of the leaders of the opposition Sh. Belaida caused outrage among many people. And after the military mutiny July 3, 2013 in neighboring Egypt guide Tunisia announced the introduction in the country for 3 months of emergency. Still among the Muslim countries in the region, the most successful looks Turkey. But much depends on the leadership of the ruling Islamic party Justice and Development. If its leaders will provide a balanced internal policies, taking into account the interests of minorities, including secular circles, the forecast further development of democracy in the country is positive. If the countrys leaders will ignore the interests of the minority, the country may also threaten political destabilization. Considering the broader context of the prospects for democratization of Islamic countries, it should be noted that some of the Arab world as a whole immune to political change. Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly the most striking example, when an authoritarian regime operates without any obstacles. Similarly, in other Gulf countries authoritarian regimes seem strong enough and immutable. Despite the existence of substantial domestic opposition, the events of the Arab Spring almost no impact on Iran. Local authoritarian regime seems to be safe, at least in the medium term. With regard to Iraq, after the withdrawal of US troops, the situation looks increasingly fragile and weak in the face of the fragmentation of the state. Undoubtedly, the war of 2003 and continued US military presence in Iraq has not led to the desired Americans democratic change, but on the contrary, caused a further aggravation of internal problems.

Courts of Healing Justice: Juvenile, Family, and Drug Courts :: juvenile court, family court, criminal justice sy

Courts of healing justice are specialized courts that deal in specific types of offenders. The ones that will be covered here are juvenile courts, family courts, and drug courts. These courts keep these specific types of cases out of the general courts. Their goal is to try to heal the offender of what is causing them to offend instead of just locking them up. They are also referred to courts of second chance. These courts work with social services and law enforcement agencies to provide special attention to the offender’s problems (Kinsella, 2004). The purpose of specialty courts is to reduce recidivism and treat the offenders, setting them on the road to recovery (Kinsella, 2004). Not only can they help the offender but they also provide some relief to the over-crowded general court system, provide cost savings to the public, and provide specialization to the particular court cases (Legomsky, 1990). There are many positive aspects to having specialized courts. Courts of healing justice provide an informal setting as compared to those of general courts. By having informal hearings it hopes to seem compassionate to the needs of the individual (Paulsen, 1966). It is the mission of these courts to focus on what is in the best interest of the person needing the help they can give them (Yermish, 2009). The courts can use the law to order treatment for the offender (Davis, 2003). Specialty courts can arrange for treatment when social services have been unable to do so, thus making court the last resort in the effort to obtain help for the offender (Davis, 2003). Not only do they serve to take away some of the over-crowding of the general courts; they keep personal problems from being exposed in general courts (Davis, 2003). The issues on the opposite side of specialty courts are just as numerous. Public opposition to the specialty courts is that they are not viewed as real courts and they do not believe that the offender is getting the punishment they deserve or that the matters at hand are being treated fairly (Legomsky,1990). In specialty courts a defendant must plead guilty in order to receive treatment services; this takes away his attorney’s right to defend him (Yermish, 2009). When an offender is placed into a treatment program a non-offender is put at the end of the line for receiving the same treatment, the court has the ability to move the offender to the front of the line (Davis, 2003). Courts of Healing Justice: Juvenile, Family, and Drug Courts :: juvenile court, family court, criminal justice sy Courts of healing justice are specialized courts that deal in specific types of offenders. The ones that will be covered here are juvenile courts, family courts, and drug courts. These courts keep these specific types of cases out of the general courts. Their goal is to try to heal the offender of what is causing them to offend instead of just locking them up. They are also referred to courts of second chance. These courts work with social services and law enforcement agencies to provide special attention to the offender’s problems (Kinsella, 2004). The purpose of specialty courts is to reduce recidivism and treat the offenders, setting them on the road to recovery (Kinsella, 2004). Not only can they help the offender but they also provide some relief to the over-crowded general court system, provide cost savings to the public, and provide specialization to the particular court cases (Legomsky, 1990). There are many positive aspects to having specialized courts. Courts of healing justice provide an informal setting as compared to those of general courts. By having informal hearings it hopes to seem compassionate to the needs of the individual (Paulsen, 1966). It is the mission of these courts to focus on what is in the best interest of the person needing the help they can give them (Yermish, 2009). The courts can use the law to order treatment for the offender (Davis, 2003). Specialty courts can arrange for treatment when social services have been unable to do so, thus making court the last resort in the effort to obtain help for the offender (Davis, 2003). Not only do they serve to take away some of the over-crowding of the general courts; they keep personal problems from being exposed in general courts (Davis, 2003). The issues on the opposite side of specialty courts are just as numerous. Public opposition to the specialty courts is that they are not viewed as real courts and they do not believe that the offender is getting the punishment they deserve or that the matters at hand are being treated fairly (Legomsky,1990). In specialty courts a defendant must plead guilty in order to receive treatment services; this takes away his attorney’s right to defend him (Yermish, 2009). When an offender is placed into a treatment program a non-offender is put at the end of the line for receiving the same treatment, the court has the ability to move the offender to the front of the line (Davis, 2003). Courts of Healing Justice: Juvenile, Family, and Drug Courts :: juvenile court, family court, criminal justice sy Courts of healing justice are specialized courts that deal in specific types of offenders. The ones that will be covered here are juvenile courts, family courts, and drug courts. These courts keep these specific types of cases out of the general courts. Their goal is to try to heal the offender of what is causing them to offend instead of just locking them up. They are also referred to courts of second chance. These courts work with social services and law enforcement agencies to provide special attention to the offender’s problems (Kinsella, 2004). The purpose of specialty courts is to reduce recidivism and treat the offenders, setting them on the road to recovery (Kinsella, 2004). Not only can they help the offender but they also provide some relief to the over-crowded general court system, provide cost savings to the public, and provide specialization to the particular court cases (Legomsky, 1990). There are many positive aspects to having specialized courts. Courts of healing justice provide an informal setting as compared to those of general courts. By having informal hearings it hopes to seem compassionate to the needs of the individual (Paulsen, 1966). It is the mission of these courts to focus on what is in the best interest of the person needing the help they can give them (Yermish, 2009). The courts can use the law to order treatment for the offender (Davis, 2003). Specialty courts can arrange for treatment when social services have been unable to do so, thus making court the last resort in the effort to obtain help for the offender (Davis, 2003). Not only do they serve to take away some of the over-crowding of the general courts; they keep personal problems from being exposed in general courts (Davis, 2003). The issues on the opposite side of specialty courts are just as numerous. Public opposition to the specialty courts is that they are not viewed as real courts and they do not believe that the offender is getting the punishment they deserve or that the matters at hand are being treated fairly (Legomsky,1990). In specialty courts a defendant must plead guilty in order to receive treatment services; this takes away his attorney’s right to defend him (Yermish, 2009). When an offender is placed into a treatment program a non-offender is put at the end of the line for receiving the same treatment, the court has the ability to move the offender to the front of the line (Davis, 2003).

Density Lab Report

Density is defined by its mass per unit volume, and is most often written in mathematical terms as; d = m / vMass is usually given in grams, g, and volume is given in cubic centimeters, g/cm3, or, grams per milliliter, g/mL. Density is not a property that depends upon the amount of substance present. For example, one gram of lead and one ton of lead have the same density. Density also does depend on temperature. For instance cold water is denser than warm water; ice is less dense than both. The method used for determining the density of a substance depends on the nature of the substance. In this lab the densities of unknown irregularly shaped solids and liquids was determined.Accuracy and precision of the results will be estimated, and attention will be paid to the correct use of the significant figures. The experiment approach that will be used will tell the mass and volume of the metal and liquid determined by measuring these two quantities with a graduated cylinder and biuret. Pro cedure:a) The density of metalsFirst I obtained a quantity of unknown metal. Recording the unknown number. I used only one type of metal for this part of the experiment.The unknown metal that I was instructed to use was a chunk, therefore, I used a 50ml graduated cylinder. When using the 50ml cylinder, I filled it with water to approximately the 35ml mark. Then recorded the exact volume of water that was added. I placed the cylinder and water on the balance and recorded the mass to every 0.1g. I added the metal to the graduated cylinder until the water level increased by approximately 2.0ml. Being sure to tap the sides of the cylinder to release any air bubbles. I then recorded the volume of the water plus metal to the nearest 0.1mL.Then recorded the total mass of the cylinder, water and metal. I added more pieces of metal to the cylinder until the water level had increased by 2.5ml. Then I recorded the exact volume of water plus metal and total mass of cylinder, water and metal. I repeated the procedure twice more. Being careful not to go over the 50ml mark. And recording the data each time.Calculations:I determined the total volume of metal in the cylinder by subtracting the volume of water from the volume of water plus metal. Then found the corresponding mass of metal by subtracting the mass of the cylinder and water from the mass of the cylinder, water and metal. I plotted out the graph showing the total mass of metal on the y-axis, and the volume on the x-axis. I found the slope of the line by taking two random points from the graph, performing the slope formula and finding the density. From the table provided, I identified the unknown metal to be silver.b). Determining the density of a water/ethanol mixture.I obtained an unknown solution from the instructor. Then recorded the number of the solution.Then I rinsed a buret with a little of the ethanol solution, and filled the buret with that same solution. I read the buret level to the nearest 0.05ml. Then weighed an empty 250ml Erlenmeyer flask. I turned the knob of the buret and put approximately 23.4ml of solution into the flask. I read the buret again, to 0.05ml and recorded.Next I weighed the flask and its contents, by placing the flask on the balance and recording the temperature of the solution. I then determined the density of the solution by taking the mass of solution and dividing it by the volume of solution. Repeating the procedure twice more using a clean flask and the same balance each time.Calculations:For each of the three trials I calculated the density of the solution and determined the mean, average deviation from the mean, percent precision and the range. I then drew a calibration curve from the data given on page 17 of my Laboratory Manual.Discussion:Based on the value of my density, and based on the literature values given on page 16 of my Laboratory Manual, the unknown metal is silver. The density I had obtained from the slope of the graph was 9.09g/mL. I then c ompared my density to the chart given, looking for a similar density. The density of my unknown metal was not exact with a particular metal given in  the chart, but I kept in mind that the density of silver can vary depending of the state it is in.Error Analysis:The possible sources of error in finding the density of the unknown metal and liquid would have to be my consistency throughout the experiment. I had approximated with my bare eye and was not consistently exact. Therefore, there was an inaccuracy in reading the volume displaced from the graduated cylinder and the biuret.

Research Literature Review Breast Cancer in USA Essay

Introduction Breast cancer continues to be an important focus of attention for medical professionals, policy-makers and general public in the US. The high incidence of the disease and its devastating, in many cases, fatal, outcomes rivet the attention of the professional public. Studies identified for this literature review are for the most part practically oriented, in the sense that they deal with topics that are of primary importance in detecting, treating, and preventing breast cancer. Thus, two sources deal with the programs aimed at women education in the US concerning breast cancer, and two others cover the research into environmental causes of breast cancer. The problem of treatment options for breast cancer is also considered. Education Programs In the US where the population is extremely diverse, creation of special education programs targeting various population groups in accordance with their status is of special importance. Armando Valdez, Kakoli Banerjee, Lynn Ackerson, and Maria Fernandez in their article â€Å"Multimedia breast cancer education intervention for low-income Latinas† outline a special program aimed at the segment of women including Latino women. The problem with detection and early treatment of cancer among Latino women is connected to the fact that Latina women’s screening rate is considerably lower the required government standards and the rate for other ethnic groups. The researchers arrive at the conclusion that, given the availability of subsidized mammograms for poor Latina women, the main deterrent for improvement in the screening rate is lack of knowledge about cancer risks and treatment options. Complicated level of education materials prepared for the target group by the American Cancer Society was identified as an important factor blocking the access of Latina women to adequate information as materials presented often required a superior level of reading skills and the materials were not prepared in Spanish. The paper reports â€Å"the results of a multimedia breast cancer education intervention, tailored to the needs of low-education, low-income Latinas, and attempt to document specific changes in women’s knowledge, attitudes and intentions toward mammography screening† (Valdez et al., 2002). Using the Breast Cancer Multimedia Kiosk including instructional videos exposing the target group to the dangers of breast cancer, the authors were able to conclude that interactive multimedia technologies are an effective tool in raising awareness of cancer risks among low-income women. Although the women had some prior knowledge of cancer (â€Å"the majority of baseline study participants (over 80%) knew age and family history as risk factors†), the post-exposure assessment revealed a significant increase in knowledge after the program. Krystal Ngoc-Thy Luong and Jenny K. Yi in â€Å"Apartment-Based Breast Cancer Education Program for Low Income Vietnamese American Women† evaluate a similar program targeting a different ethnic group. As in the case with Latina women, breast cancer is the leading cause of death in this subgroup. Although Asian/Pacific Islander American, or APIA, women have a lower incidence rate of breast cancer (102.0 per 100,000 versus 140.8 per 100,000 for White American women), exposure to Western lifestyle tends to push these rates up. In addition, APIA women tend to be younger when diagnosed with breast cancer than other categories. The study aimed â€Å"to develop, implement, and evaluate the effect of an apartment-based breast cancer educational program for the hard to reach low income Vietnamese women† (Luong, Yi, 2005). The program was designed to be based on apartment visits as it provided a convenient way to reach women, covering neighbourhoods with high concentration of Vietnamese families in Houston. The intervention was carried out by two educators who delivered 20 educational sessions over the period of 3 months that provided the Vietnamese women with information concerning screening, recommendations and referrals to screening. Women were supplied with promotional materials including printed educational information and videos. Measurement of the knowledge levels through telephone surveys concerning breast cancer issues demonstrated that they were â€Å"significantly higher in the intervention group after receiving education about breast cancer when compared to women in the control group† (Luong, Yi, 2005). The researchers drew the conclusion that an apartment-based program has many advantages as compared to other ones because it addresses women in comfortable home settings, giving them a chance to relax and open up more to the conversation with the educator. Environmental Hazards and Breast Cancer Another important direction of research concerns the impact of pollutants and other environmental factors on incidence of breast cancer in women. Thus, Peggy Reynolds, Susan E. Hurley, Robert B. Gunier, Sauda Yerabati, Thu Quach, and Andrew Hertz in â€Å"Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticide Use and Incidence of Breast Cancer in California, 1988-1997† evaluate the connection between the facts that California is the most important agricultural state and also demonstrates the highest breast cancer rates in the US. The purpose of the study was formulated as desire to find out â€Å"whether California breast cancer rates were elevated in areas with recent high agricultural pesticide use† (Reynolds et al., 2005). The research was based on the assessment of 176,302 invasive breast cancer cases including â€Å"70,968,598 person-years of observation† (Reynolds et al., 2005). Using Poisson regression analyses, the authors were not able to find a consistent link between living close to the areas of pesticide distribution and having breast cancer. The upshot of the study was that breast cancer was hardly driven by pesticide use, but was more closely related to various social factors such as socioeconomic status. Julia Green Brody and Ruthann A. Rudel in â€Å"Environmental pollutants and breast cancer† address a wider ranger of substances that can lead to breast tumors. The proliferation of breast cancer in North America has caused the need to look for more sources of this disease, examining a wider range of factors. The study covers â€Å"chemicals that may be breast carcinogens, promote growth of breast cells and hormonally sensitive tumors, or affect mammary gland development and susceptibility† (Brody, Rudel, 2003). The researchers identify already known breast cancer risk factors including reproductive factors, exposure to pharmaceutical hormones, diet, ionizing radiation, socioeconomic status and posited the need to identify more factors. Thus, the scholars point to the need to further investigate the risk associated with occupational hazards including exposure â€Å"to the mammary carcinogens benzene, PAHs, and certain organic solvents† (Brody, Rudel, 2003). For instance, speaking of organic solvents, one study identified a connection between breast cancer rates in Danish women and their exposure to these substances in the workplace. The research, after examining 7,802 women with cancer diagnosis, registered a 20-66% rise in breast cancer risk for women who have been employed in occupations that envisaged active exposure to organic solvents. Other studies demonstrated increased risk of breast cancer development for women employed in the chemical industry, textile manufacturing, or nuclear power plants. The authors conclude by saying that more research is needed in the area, but the literature available so far clearly indicates that the link exists between cancer rates and environmental factors. Treatment Options Finally, another issue which has been identified to inspire researchers is the availability of treatment options for cancer and choice between various alternatives. Kathleen B. Donaghy in â€Å"Fostering Sound Medical Treatment Decision Making: A Focusing on Treatment Choices for Breast Cancer† explores this problem. Invoking the decision-making theory, the author evaluates the potential for adequate decision-making in patients struck with this shocking diagnosis. Donaghy (2003) believes that hasty decisions concerning treatment options made on insufficient information are often regretted by the patient later on. As common deterrents that prevent responsible decision-making she identifies five key points: 1.) cognitive overload 2.) failure to fully comprehend treatment options 3.) inability or refusal to process information in the presence of a denial defense 4.) hurried presentation of information by the physician 5.) self-imposed time constraints to get decisions made. (Donaghy, 2003) The article identifies the key strategies that can be employed by the physician to help the patient in the choice, such as providing maximal possible information to guide the patient’s decisions, improving communication, framing information in an appropriate format, obtaining informed consent etc. Using the decision theory to define decision-making as a choice between status quo and other alternatives shed light on patient values that can be involved in decisions regarding breast surgery. Conclusion The pervasiveness of breast cancer in the US makes research related to the issue highly topical. Examination of causes including environmental factors can help craft governmental policies that will prevent the spread of the deadly disease. On the other hand, developing policies aimed at early detection and effective treatment can be instrumental in curbing the death rate from breast cancer. In this light, creation of programs specifically tailored to the needs of individual groups can be an effective solution. Finally, research oriented toward helping the patient make the best decision concerning treatment options will be an important prerequisite of effective treatment programs. References Ackerson, L., Banerjee, K., Fernandez, M., & Valdez, A. (2002). A Multimedia Breast Cancer Education Intervention for Low-Income Latinas. Journal of Community Health 27(1), 33+. Retrieved April 14, 2006, from http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000714747 Brody, J.G., & Rudel, R.A. (2003). Environmental Pollutants and Breast Cancer. Environmental Health Perspectives 111(8), 1007+. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002005585 Donaghy, K.B. (2003). Fostering Sound Medical Treatment Decision Making: A Focusing on Treatment Choices for Breast Cancer. Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association 6(4), 6+. Retrieved April 14, 2006, from http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002578878 Gunier, G.M., Hertz, A., Hurley, S.E., Quach, T., Reynolds, P., et al. (2005). Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticide Use and Incidence of Breast Cancer in California, 1988-1997. Environmental Health Perspectives 113(8), 993+. Retrieved April 14, 2006, from http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5010885312 Ngoc-Thy Luong, K., & Yi, J.K. (2005). Apartment-Based Breast Cancer Education Program for Low Income Vietnamese American Women. Journal of Community Health 30(5), 2005, 345+. Retrieved April 14, 2006, from http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5011756419   

How to Write a Thesis

How to Write a Thesis Writing a thesis is a task that requires a lot of time, diligence, and skill. It cannot be easily done by a person doing part-time job or by students who are taking too many classes at the same time. Anyhow, writing a thesis is something that should not be considered a troublesome thing. There is no kind of complication at all when you are writing a thesis. You can write a good thesis in no time with just a few instructions. You just have to keep a few points in your mind and you will be able to write a thesis that will outshine all that you have ever seen. Just keep these instructions in mind and you will be able to say that thesis writing is not that hard after all: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Keep the instructions that you have for your thesis in mind. You can get thesis formats, styles, and samples on the internet. Be precise. You should know exactly what you want. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Take good care that you have at least twice the amount of material needed for writing the thesis. Keep a backup copy of your thesis to prevent unavoidable losses. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Take special care to use the number of references specified in the instruction. The number might exceed but citing fewer references than specified will automatically turn your thesis from a good thesis to a bad one. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Make use of good language. Do not use phrases that are too flowery or rich and avoid going into unnecessary details. Be precise and direct. Using indirect gestures in writing is also a bad sign. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Make sure that the thesis does not make use of plagiarized material. Nothing can tarnish more your reputation as a student. For more information about custom thesis writing, and to find guidelines on how to write a good thesis, you are welcome to use our custom writing service.

Research Paper on Life Insurance

Research Paper on Life Insurance Life insurance is a safeguard for family members if the major supplier of income were to die and it were to grievously upset the common means for providing the basics of life. This does not include the burdens of financial expenses for burial, taxes, unplanned or emergency expenses, and furthered educational expenses for children or to have the spouse go back to school to become the primary breadwinner of the family. Life insurance is also not affordable when you are young and just starting out with a family and not always a main concern for the young. Most young people to do not think about death or their mortality, and hence, they do not see a necessity for life insurance. As we grow older, our needs and wants to secure a financial future for our loved ones necessitate the need to evaluate all options for achieving this goal. The cost and availability of features such as these could be a key issue in deciding which policy to accept. There are 6 essential types of life insurance: Five types of life insurance Term life insurance Whole life insurance Universal life insurance Variable life insurance Variable universal life insurance People have to decide for themselves what is going to best for them and for their future. Understanding which life insurance policy will be right for you entails setting one primary objective for yourself and your family by answering two basic questions. (Solomon, 236) First, do I simply need death protection in the event of my death? Second, do I want both death protection and a savings element for my family and I to cover retirement costs if I do not pass away before retirement? There are three fundamental approaches to make this decision for most individuals: 1. The Human Life Value approach. 2. The Human Needs approach. 3. The Retirement Needs approach. Since a person does not know whether they will live to retirement or pass away earlier, a good life insurance policy will help provide for both the human and the retirement needs for survivors and themselves. The â€Å"Human Life† approach When evaluating from this approach you should base your decision on the thought that a person has an earning capacity that can be approximately calculated by estimating annual net income (earnings minus all taxes), estimating the remaining years of wage earning, and subtracting the interest that would be earned if all the income were received in a lump sum. This procedure allows a person to pin down how much money will be needed in the event of their death to continue providing an equitable life for their survivors. Estimating your earning capacity is a valuable asset in determining what kind of insurance you will need for when you pass away or retire. The Human Needs approach Using this approach will take into account the settlement costs of a funeral, taxes, mortgages, and or car payments. It will also provide the income the family needs to readjust to a new lifestyle, income for the family until the children leave the home, life income for the surviving spouse, special needs of the family such as college education for the children, and other needs that may arise from unforeseen circumstances. In adopting this approach to your evaluation, income from all avenues of income such as social security, veteran’s benefits, or trust funds will be subtracted from the total needs of the family once a person has passed away. The Retirement Needs approach Utilizing this approach will require coordinating life insurance and/or annuity purchases with other sources of income such as Social Security, pensions, or personal investments to be able to attain prearranged retirement revenue. Once a person has decided what approach would best fit what he attends to accomplish, he then must choose a type of life insurance. You can buy an individual policy through a licensed life insurance information company, which evaluate insurance companies in general. Individuals must keep in mind a life insurance information policy is only as good as the company that wrote it. For this reason, choosing a good insurance company is at least as important as selecting the r ight policy. (Life-Insurance-Information, 3) There are five types of insurance available to individuals for different goals. The Term life insurance coverage will provide protection for a limited, specific period of time depending on the link of coverage selected. If the person covered by the policy should pass away within the time restrictions on the policy, the face or total amount of the policy is payable to the designated beneficiaries. Normally nothing will be paid to the beneficiaries if the individual insured lives longer than the length of the term policy that was selected. Unlike other types of policies, term insurance does not generate cash values. Term life insurance is usually the least expensive course of protection for people interested in life insurance. Some individuals on restricted incomes purchase term life insurance for the basic insurance protection for their families and, as their salaries rise, they convert the term life insurance policy to different forms of life insurance policies. Another type of whole life insurance is a permanent insurance or a universal life insurance policy. Unlike term insurance policies, permanent life insurance has no specified term of coverage for individuals. Flexible premium or Universal Life Insurance is a life insurance policy designed as a permanent policy for the covered individual(s), but it is different from traditional term life insurance policies because it allows the policy owner to vary the amount and timing of premium payments. The policy also allows the policy owner to increase or decrease the death benefit. Monetary values will accumulate based on premium payments that are selected during the selection of the policy. Usually monthly deductions are subtracted from this fund for the expenses and cost of insurance. The interest is added to this fund afterwards. In some cases the interest rates are stated by the company and vary from time to time depending on the policy. Under federal law, guideline s are defined for policies to maintain status as life insurance under the Internal Revenue Code. This law puts a cap on total payments to the contract and provides a minimum relationship of death benefit to cash value. Permanent life insurance is subject to a different set of policy conditions normally. A permanent life policy requires for premiums to be paid for as long as the insured individual lives and a permanent life policy accumulates a set cash value during the covered period. If the individual insured were to pass away then the death benefit is payable to the beneficiaries listed on the policy. But the policy can be turned in before the insured individual were to pass away, then the net worth is payable to the insured individual. Another aspect of this policy allows for loans to be made from the insurance company against the monetary value of the policy at a rate of return promised in the policy as security. The maximum loan rate guaranteed in the insurance policy may be mu ch lower than that available from a bank or other financial institution. Regardless of where the loan is secured from, if the insured individual where to pass away prior to the loan being repaid, the amount of the loan and any interest due must be repaid from the death-benefit amount before the beneficiaries will receive any compensation. Variable life insurance is also a type of permanent insurance but you decide how the premiums are invested instead of the insurer. Variable universal is a combination of variable and whole life insurance policies. These plans allow for variable premiums and the ability to choose your own investments of premiums. Variable/Adjustable: much like universal insurance except it links your death benefits and premiums directly to your investments performance. Youll also have more control over how the premiums are invested. (4 Insurance, 6) Life insurance is a good bet but you must know what you need and what you hope to achieve by it. Good research and pro per planning can accomplish several different options and goals, it is your choice to want to secure a better financial future incase of death or just to have a partial cash saving and investment plan.

10 Companies Hiring Admins Like Crazy Right Now

10 Companies Hiring Admins Like Crazy Right Now Every company needs an administrative professional to operate the office. If you are looking to find a job in the admin field, you are in the right place. We have found 10 companies that are hiring admins like crazy right now.1. Sutherland Global ServicesEstablished in 1986,   Sutherland Global Services is a global provider of business process and technology management services. It employs over 36,000 professionals and has locations across the United States, Australia, Brazil, and other countries.See all open admin jobs  from  sutherland global services2. Quest QiagnosticsQuest Diagnostics is a leading clinical lab and offers the most extensive clinical testing network in the U.S. It employs over 10000+ professionals country wide.See all open admin jobs  from Quest Diagnostics3. Mount SinaiThe mission of the Mount Sinai Health System is to provide compassionate patient care and advance biomedical research. It employs over 6600 physicians, 12 ambulatory surgery centers, over 4 5 ambulatory practices.See all open admin jobs  from Mount Sinai4. Baylor Scott White healthBaylor Scott White Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in the state of Texas. The organization includes 56 hospitals, more than 5,800 active physicians, and over 40,000 employees.See all open admin jobs  from Baylor Scott White Health5. SobeysEstablished in 1907, Sobeys is one of only two national grocery retailers in Canada. Sobeys hires over 124,000 employees all over the country.See all open admin jobs  from Sobeys6. VHAVHA home healthcare (VHA) is a not-for-profit chartiable organization, providing health care and support services to people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. it also employs over 2000 staff and service providers.See all open admin jobs  from VHA7. LowesLowes is a home improvement company and has stores across United States, Canada and Mexico. Lowes has more than 1,840 home improvement and hardware stores and hires over 265,000 employees.Se e all open admin jobs  from Lowes8. Express ScriptsExpress Scripts is a prescription benefit plan provider and manages prescriptions for over 100 million Americans. Express Scripts hires over 10,000 employees across the country.See all open admin jobs  from Express Scripts9. Air Force Personnel CenterAFPC executes programs covering the entire life cycle of military and civilian personnel for the air force and ensures commanders around the world have the right number of skilled air forced personnel to conduct the mission.See all open admin jobs  from Air Force Personnel Center10. Hudsons BayFound in 1670, Hudsons Bay is North Americas longest continually operated company. It has more than 460 stores and employs over 66,000 staff around the world.See all open admin jobs  from Hudsons Bay

How effectively does the model of large-scale, integrated managerial Essay

How effectively does the model of large-scale, integrated managerial enterprise provide a corporate blueprint to explain the performance of leading national economies - Essay Example Chandler stresses the importance of the managerial functions that had been necessitated by the development of and electric power, and the accompanying enormous capital mobilization which sought to exploit the opportunities that these new technologies presented. Industries thus shifted focus and became more capital intensive, which put overwhelming pressure on the managers to increase their performance so that the large investments could be safeguarded. Chandlers’ work identified three capitalist systems that emerged in the midst of this second industrial revolution, namely personal capitalism which he connected to the United Kingdom (Great Britain), competitive capitalism, associated with the United States, and co-operative capitalism, which is depicted in the economy of Germany. Though each system is quite distinct from the other two, there are several elements that run right through all of them, especially in terms of their function such as enabling the effective focus of ca pital and labour in profitable ventures, increasing a country’s technical in terms of important technological knowledge and also ensuring the growth of managerial skills. The question concerns the application of this theory to the real world, and whether the ideas presented therein hold true for the real world. The theories put forward by Chandler enjoy massive empirical support and I therefore agree with them for the reasons that will be mentioned in the forthcoming sections. The approach will consist of analyzing each of the different capitalism structures in the context of their associated economies, and also in other similar economies where their effects can be traced, and relevance of the theories to the wide range of economies that will be covered. Associated with the Great Britain, personal capitalism is characterized by major large scale businesses being run by

Clouds Seeding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Clouds Seeding - Essay Example This paper takes a closer look at the concept of cloud seeding, the types, uses, and impact on the environment (Keyes 3). The main objective of cloud seeding is to cause enhance the precipitation through rain and snow and reduce the formation of hail and fog. This technology initially launched to research on and to monitor the climatic conditions of various regions in the world has been widely adopted by world’s leading economies with the main objective of negating the effects of extreme weather conditions. Under normal circumstances, harsh weather conditions are mostly experienced in the temperate countries especially during the winter and summer (Keyes 3). Although several methods of cloud seeding exist, the most common categories are the aerial cloud seeding and ground-based cloud seeding. Aerial cloud seeding involves the use of light aircrafts in the modification of weather at a considerable height from the ground. Ground-based cloud seeding on the other hand, entails the launching of intended substances into the earth’s atmosphere to carry out the same purpose. Irrespective of the procedure used to conduct cloud seeding, the underpinning idea is the same as it is the same process conducted in different procedures. Since the essence of cloud seeding is to promote the precipitation of condensed cloud, the methodology involves the injection of certain substances or chemicals into the clouds with the most commonly used being dry ice and silver iodide (Keyes 3). In some cases, the use of propane has proved successful although scholars from certain quarters questioned its efficiency. Since for successful could seeding to take pla ce there has to be super cooled water, the use of silver iodide has solved the problem through its ability to stimulate freezing nucleation because it is crystalline in nature. Research shows that dry ice and propane perform better than silver iodide as far

Environmental Management . response 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environmental Management . response 1 - Essay Example Barrier effect restricts species exchange thereby threatening their survival. Roads increase extinction rates of species since restricted movement causes inbreeding depression, which can wipe an entire species (Underhill, 2002). These assertions are true since presence of a road in a wildlife habitat causes disturbance or affects migration routes and even destroys homes of the species. Moreover, the author asserts that, in some instances, fragmentation caused by road can be beneficial to the animal population since it can help the species to re-colonize new areas. However, I partially agree with this notion since it occurs rarely and depends on the extent or coverage of the roads. Further, the author argues that the presence of a road in wildlife habitat increases chances or prevalence of animals being involved in fatalities or accidents (Underhill, 2002). This assertion is true since when animals cross the road, there are high chances of being knocked over by vehicles and this can result in death or injuries to the affected animal. The author proposes that in order to curb roadway fatalities, as well as minimizing population fragmentation, there is a need to devise a system whereby wildlife can move freely to each side of the road without any problem (Underhill, 2002). This can be achieved through construction of underground tunnels during building of new roads. I believe this is a noble idea and should be implemented without considering the expenses or costs to be incurred. This is because wildlife is of higher value compared to the cost of resources to be used in constructing the underground tunnels. Therefore, it is logical to spend many resources in conserving and protecting wildlife than save the resources and later experience species loss and extinction, which is more

UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Research Paper

UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Research Paper Example A balance sheet is split into three parts; assets, liabilities and stockholder’s equity. Assets are the economic resources possessed by a firm. Liabilities are a firm’s debt or obligations to acquire its assets. Stockholder’s equity is the total value of a firm’s common stock in addition to the additional paid-in capital and retained earnings. A basic rule of finance is that all business transactions are documented on the balance sheet at the dollar value actually decided at the time of the transaction. This suggests that, recording all of the firm’s transactions at their historic cost is the factor that the net worth of the firm illustrated on the balance sheet should not be mixed with the sales or appraised value. Net worth or stock holder’s equity on the balance sheet simply shows the difference between assets and liabilities (Bernstein & Wild, 2000). Income statement, which is also known as the profit and loss statement, statement of operations or statement of income, is another major financial statement. Income statement summarizes the firm’s revenues and expenses over a specified time, concluding with the net income or loss for the period. The income statement is divided into three parts; revenue, expenses and the net income. Revenue is cash inflows or acquiring of assets of a firm during a specified period. Expenses are the outflow or using of the assets, or incurrence if liabilities during a specified period. Net income on an income statement is the total sum earned or lost by the firm during the accounting period. Using the accrual method of accounting, sales are documented on the income statement when the goods and/or services associated with those sales are delivered or shipped to the customer. The cost of goods sold is recorded on the income statement at the same time the sales are recorded. Sales and cost of good s sold are also recorded in spite of of when the firm gets cash for the goods delivered

Review the book named middlemarch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Review the book named middlemarch - Essay Example Featherstone as he was not much satisfied with her. To attend and serve a person who was always impulsive to you was what Mary was doing. She has always been polite to him and has never been harsh to him in return. She was sitting in silence and was reflecting on the events that happened that day when suddenly Mr. Featherstone woke up from his sleep and called Ms. Gray to his bedside. He gave her the keys of the safe and asked her to take out his will. Ms. Gray was ordered by Mr. Featherstone to burn the second will so that only his first will is considered to be valid. She was afraid to act on his orders as there was no one in the room to witness her act. She refused to act on his orders even when she was offered a bribe on it. She felt that Mr. Featherstone isn’t in the right mind and stays firm. Mr. Featherstone went to sleep and he was dead by the next morning. Analysis: Ms. Gray was a very sweet, humble and straightforward kind of person. She had a good understanding and knowledge about human nature with a good sense of humor. But these qualities of her cant be judged by her daily activities. She seemed very simple and plain throughout the novel which contradicts to what she actually is from inside. This made her characters suspicious to few people. She was believed to be very prudent as she felt that many people will be disappointed by Mr. Featherstone's will. The nervous tone of Mr. ... Eliot gave her less opportunity to show the strength of her personality however, when it appears, her character is shown as the strongest character in the whole novel. Her strong character is beautifully portrayed in the death scene of Mr. Featherstone. Ms. Gray proved to the reader that intellect and wisdom are not enough for a woman to surpass the situational problems faced by females. Ms. Gray’s decision secured her but did not help her to get freedom. Ms. Gray’s refusal to burn Mr. Featherstone's will showed an act of self-protection as well as ethical and moral strength. The speakers of Eliot’s novels deconstruct masculine authority which is replaced by feminine narrative power which actually has no inspirational base. A face of such feminine insight is Ms. Gray’s detached and sardonic wisdom. Ms. Gray’s Character is somewhat closest to Marian Evans. 2. Application of Act Utilitarianism: We need to look upon all the alternatives that can be con sidered while taking this decision. If I would be Ms. Gray’s position I would have acted according to Mr. Featherstone’s orders and would have burned the will on his demand as he was on his death bed and this act could have given him some satisfaction and happiness and would have made him felt better. He would have appreciated the efforts. The other option that I had was that I would have consulted someone else or would have arranged some witness in the presence of whom I could have helped Mr. Featherstone on his demands. Thirdly I would have talked to Mr. Featherstone on some other alternative than just to burn the will. I would have done that instead of just declining his request straightforwardly which lowered his morale to an extend that took his life. Furthermore I

BHS 499 (Senior Capstone Project) Module 2 CBT Essay

BHS 499 (Senior Capstone Project) Module 2 CBT - Essay Example Moreover, there were reports that 21 individuals have been documented to have waited for 24 months for their insurance and are struggling to survive (Robert M. Hayes, Deane Beebe, and Heidi Kreamer, 2007). Levit, Smith, Cowan, Lazenby, Sensenig, and Catlin reported (2003; p 155) that the US health care system which has tremendously developed, is found to be the most expensive in the world with a total spending that continues to increase. In fact, national health expenditures have heightened dramatically beginning 1970 from $73.1 billion up to $1.4 trillion as of 2001. Blumberg and Nichols argue, United States does not oblige their citizens to acquire a comprehensive health insurance unlike other industrial nations. Therefore, even if an individual has more than a single option for acquiring an insurance coverage, each option is linked with a choice as well as the opportunity cost of taking it. But are several people in US uninsured There are certain factors which have caused the increase spending in health care over time and consequently contributed by many Americans are uninsured. These factors are: The greater demand of consumers for health services, advances and costs in medical technology, the aging of the population, prevalence of chronic disease, introduction of new at the same time expensive technologies, health care labor market wage increases, increased spending on prescription drugs and changes in the insurance marketplace. These factors are said to be interrelated in the manner to which they propel health care spending. Inadequate health insurance throughout the nation, population characteristics, differences in employment patterns and public program eligibility standards vary one state to another (Hoffman and Wang, 2004; p. 33). On the other hand, President Obama also emphasized that his government will exert more effort to add $6 billion funds for National Institutes of Health Cancer Researches. National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a very importal health care agency that engage in the drug development process; from clinical trials program until drug discovery research. The agency also expedite discoveries of various interventions that are directed to save people's lives such as Cancer Research. Cancer research contributes in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of several major diseases (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000). In the past years of flat budgets, NCI received about three percent (3%) budget increase.Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have demonstrated the breakthroughs that reduced and will still continue to reduce sufferings and allow people to live longer and healthier lives. However in the past, the NIH budget severely limited the large medical advances. B etween 1999 and 2003, there was supposed to be a 15% additional budget to the NIH but unluckily, there was only a 3.2 % increase in 2004; 2% in 2005; 1% in 2006 (the lowest percentage% increase since 1970); and out of 27 NIH institutes, the National Cancer Institute had the greatest appropriation with $4.84 billion (Alliance for Aging Research, 2009).According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS), health care expenditure is expected to transcend $3 trillion in the subsequent decade with just about Evolution of the Problem

Review the book named middlemarch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Review the book named middlemarch - Essay Example Featherstone as he was not much satisfied with her. To attend and serve a person who was always impulsive to you was what Mary was doing. She has always been polite to him and has never been harsh to him in return. She was sitting in silence and was reflecting on the events that happened that day when suddenly Mr. Featherstone woke up from his sleep and called Ms. Gray to his bedside. He gave her the keys of the safe and asked her to take out his will. Ms. Gray was ordered by Mr. Featherstone to burn the second will so that only his first will is considered to be valid. She was afraid to act on his orders as there was no one in the room to witness her act. She refused to act on his orders even when she was offered a bribe on it. She felt that Mr. Featherstone isn’t in the right mind and stays firm. Mr. Featherstone went to sleep and he was dead by the next morning. Analysis: Ms. Gray was a very sweet, humble and straightforward kind of person. She had a good understanding and knowledge about human nature with a good sense of humor. But these qualities of her cant be judged by her daily activities. She seemed very simple and plain throughout the novel which contradicts to what she actually is from inside. This made her characters suspicious to few people. She was believed to be very prudent as she felt that many people will be disappointed by Mr. Featherstone's will. The nervous tone of Mr. ... Eliot gave her less opportunity to show the strength of her personality however, when it appears, her character is shown as the strongest character in the whole novel. Her strong character is beautifully portrayed in the death scene of Mr. Featherstone. Ms. Gray proved to the reader that intellect and wisdom are not enough for a woman to surpass the situational problems faced by females. Ms. Gray’s decision secured her but did not help her to get freedom. Ms. Gray’s refusal to burn Mr. Featherstone's will showed an act of self-protection as well as ethical and moral strength. The speakers of Eliot’s novels deconstruct masculine authority which is replaced by feminine narrative power which actually has no inspirational base. A face of such feminine insight is Ms. Gray’s detached and sardonic wisdom. Ms. Gray’s Character is somewhat closest to Marian Evans. 2. Application of Act Utilitarianism: We need to look upon all the alternatives that can be con sidered while taking this decision. If I would be Ms. Gray’s position I would have acted according to Mr. Featherstone’s orders and would have burned the will on his demand as he was on his death bed and this act could have given him some satisfaction and happiness and would have made him felt better. He would have appreciated the efforts. The other option that I had was that I would have consulted someone else or would have arranged some witness in the presence of whom I could have helped Mr. Featherstone on his demands. Thirdly I would have talked to Mr. Featherstone on some other alternative than just to burn the will. I would have done that instead of just declining his request straightforwardly which lowered his morale to an extend that took his life. Furthermore I

Subjugation of Free

Subjugation of Freedom in One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest Essay The Subjugation of Freedom in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Ken Kesey’s book, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, is a multi-faceted work incorporating many thematic elements. One of the most easily addressable themes is that of freedom and its limitations placed upon the characters in the novel. Many types of freedoms are addressed ranging from the tangible and real to the perceived and implied. The setting primarily takes place in a mental hospital on a locked ward which limits the characters’ physical freedoms. The characters are constantly coerced and demeaned by the antagonist Ms. Ratched which limits their mental freedoms. Beneath all is a subtext of sexual repression which is constantly fought against by McMurphy. Individually, each of these subjugations might be tolerated given exclusions to the others, but together they weigh down the men to the point where their complete lack of freedom almost becomes a comfort. Mental hospitals are typically secure facilities intended to provide a place for patients, whose symptoms range from minor to severe, to be secured and not be a danger to the rest of society while treatment is applied. The manner in which the patients are described in the story indicates that they are not severe mental cases but are those who are unable to function in society at large due to idiosyncrasies and minor hang-ups, yet they are housed in a ward where they are kept under lock and key, their movement is restricted to one day-room, and their activities are on a strictly regulated time-table. Most of the men have given up their physical freedom voluntarily with the expectation of treatment, mental healing and the eventual release back into society. McMurphy, on the other hand, was committed by the state and his sentence depends on the opinion of the Big Nurse, though he doesn’t realize this right away. Nurse Ratched does not resort to physical touch herself and instead uses the three ward aides to perform her physical brutality for her. McMurphy’s eventual goal is to get the other men out of the ward as much as possible because they have become too accustom to it. To do so all at once would likely be too great a shock so McMurphy starts inside the hospital with simply moving the group to another day room. Gradually, they are able to spend more time out of the ward with activities like basketball and the pool. The culmination of their unconventional therapy is the fishing trip where the men re-learn what real life outside the hospital can be like. Nurse Ratched doesn’t resort to physicality with the patients. She much prefers mental control and the main focus for her efforts of control. She has become a master of subtlety and misdirection. Before McMurphy arrives she has the men eager and willing to tattle on each other for tiny rewards. This information is then used in group therapy sessions where the idea is that the men can rely on each other for strength and the group will help lift them up, grow stronger and heal. What actually happens is each man takes it in turn to be attacked by the others for their faults. This is all orchestrated masterfully by Nurse Ratched who has but to ask a few simple pointed questions to get the fire burning. When she isn’t using the men’s own minds against them she drugs them to keep their thoughts slow, to keep them unmotivated and to keep them calm. Also in her arsenal is the threat of maximum mental punishment through shock therapy and lobotomy. Her technique is so perfectly insidious that the men work their hardest to please her to the detriment of each other and ultimately their own selves. She is able to perpetually keep the men in a state where they believe they need her and the hospitals help. Sex is used in the novel as a representation of total freedom. Its exercise is almost always portrayed by McMurphy who, through his general demeanor and newness to the hospital, is the most free, sexually, of any of the men. He is so free, that it has gotten him into trouble as he only seems to be able to act on impulse. Society is not able to deal with his complete abandon and he is eventually punished for it by having a piece of his brain removed. The rest of the men are all repressed mostly due to some problem they’ve had with the women in their lives. In fact, it is their inability to deal with women that brought them to the hospital in the first place. Women are portrayed throughout the book as the root of all men’s problems. Nurse Ratched is the penultimate figure of sexual repression. She does not acknowledge her femininity but hides it successfully, but for her bosom, beneath her sterile, pressed uniform. She is cold toward the men offering no real compassion and serves only to aggravate the men’s issues with women in general. Her power is finally stripped from her, quite literally, when McMurphy rips open her uniform revealing her breasts, the symbol of femininity; she is a woman after all. Limiting or removing freedom boils down to control. Those who restrict freedoms wish to exercise control upon those whose freedoms have been infringed. In the story, the restriction of all freedoms is personified and executed by the â€Å"Big Nurse,† Ms. Ratched. She symbolizes all forms of repression and is the face of the societal machine, whose purpose is to remove individuality and replace self-restraint with group shame. The implication Kesey suggests is that when a person isn’t free to move, free to think, or free to love then they cannot be a valuable, functioning member of society. Works Cited Kesey, Ken. One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest, a Novel. New York: Viking, 1962. Print.

John Kotter Good Leadership Management Essay

John Kotter Good Leadership Management Essay Lead only if u can manage. Though leadership means superiority and power, but management is the basic necessity and pillar of a business organisation. For a leader to function efficiently managerial skills and abilities are essential. The words lead from leadership and manage from management itself specifies its functions and characteristic activities. Leadership and management are definitely two distinctive and complementary systems of action as told by John Kotter in 1991. Both leadership and management are not natural, they are acquired abilities and talents that can developed and modified according to the situation. Both leaders and managers are significant in an organisation to lead the management towards its vision and to manage the employees to accomplish the mission of the organisation. To briefly elaborate the topic assigned, this report will proceed along the following spectrum: what is management? , management concepts, who is a manager?, managers attributes and qualities, role of a manager, management theories, what is leadership?, who is a leader?, what attributes/traits makes a leader successful?, theories of leadership and difference between leadership and management. All of these topics will be explained briefly below with suitable quotes and examples. WHAT IS MANAGEMENT AND ITS CONCEPTS? Management is an existing process which is mainly result oriented, this process involves proper utilization of resources such as human, financial and material resources which are available to the organizations and to individual managers for the purpose of goal attainment (Michael Armstrong, 1990, p. 1). There are four basic management concepts namely, Planning- What, How and When the tasks must be performed. Organizing- Determining tasks, Groupings of work and Putting plans into actions Influencing- Motivating, Leading, Directing organization members mainly to increase productivity. Controlling- Gathering information, Making comparisons and Finding new ways of improving production through organizational modifications (Samuel and Trevis, 2012, p.27). WHO IS A MANAGER? A Manager is a person in an organization, who has a group of employees under his control and it is his responsibility to plan, organise, influence, monitor and control the work of his group or team in order to achieve the organizational goals. There are different types of managers based on their field of work. Such as financial, production, service, marketing, human resource managers. Different managers have different responsibilities and targets. According to F. John Reh,(2011) a senior business executive says a manager is a person who helps others and get more done by motivating them, providing directions, making sure they are working together toward a common goal, removing roadblocks and providing feedback. Peter F. Drucker,(2009) a successful American businessman says The productivity of work is not the responsibility of the worker but of the manager. MANAGERS ATTRIBUTES AND QUALITIES Conceptual ability- A manager is in need of this ability which also involves decision making skills during some complex situations including environmental situations. A managers conceptual ability should be used in relation to the objectives and strategic planning of the organisation. (Laurie J. Mullins, 2005, p.212). Social and human skills- It refers to interpersonal relationship between the manager and employees. The manager should effectively utilise the human resource of the organisation which involves team works and proper direction to his employees and more over the manager should also be versatile. (Laurie J. Mullins, 2005, p.212). Technical competence- It is the managers ability of utilization of specific knowledge, methods and techniques to organise the tasks and is mostly required at supervisory level, staff trainings and in day-to-day operations. (Laurie J. Mullins, 2005, p.211). ROLE OF A MANAGER See Possibilities Manager is the only people who knows the employees better than anyone else and try to bring the best out of them. (Scrid, 2012) Know the Structure   Manger should be up-to-date with the organisation structure and objectives, so that he can evaluate his expectation from the employees. (Scrid, 2012) Remember: Small Actions Count!   Little drops of water make the ocean, and little kindness act as bond between the manager and the employees and creates respect among each other. (Scrid, 2012) Be Creative In this complex and volatile business environment it is expected for the manager to be creative and be an inspirational tool for co-workers and other employees. (Scrid, 2012) Commit   As the level of commitment is contagious, a manager should not only be committed to his objectives but should also show commitment toward his employees. (Scrid, 2012) Be Human   Authority should not create a gap between a manager and his employees. The manager can be himself, but if he tries to be someone his employees can look up to. The manger will gain respect, loyality and a good connection. (Scrid, 2012) Stay Versatile   A manager should be flexible and versatile and be ready for sudden changes and others suggestions from his employees. (Scrid, 2012) Have fun while you work   A manager should know how to be professional at work and having fun in the process. (Scrid, 2012) Be a role model   The manager is considered as the leader for the employees working under him. The employees will mirror their managers work ethics. So the manager should be worthy of being a role model. (Scrid, 2012) MANAGEMENT THEORIES: Frederick Taylors Scientific Management Lillian Gilbreths motion study Max Webers bureaucratic theory Henri Fayols administrative theory Elton Mayos hawthorne effect Systems Approach Chaos theory Team Building theory WHAT IS LEADERSHIP? Ralph Stogdill (1950) points out that the definition of leadership has three components, they are: 1. Interpersonal relationship, 2. Social context and 3. Goal attainment. So leadership is the process of influencing one subordinate or an organised group in setting a goal and in attaining the targeted goal. (Buc and Huk, 2010, p.596) Peter F. Drucker,(2009) a successful American businessman says Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes. WHO IS A LEADER? A leader is one who keeps people moving forward by motivating them and invest in them rather than getting something out of them.A leader is one who delegates the work to the right person who can do it better than the others.A leader not only identifies problems but also initiates a solution to the problem. According to Douglas MacArthur, (1930)   the son of the high-ranking military figure, Arthur MacArthur says A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. WHAT ATTRIBUTES/TRAITS MAKES A LEADER SUCCESSFUL? Emotional intelligence- It is the ability to identify, evaluate, and control the  emotions  of oneself, of others, and of groups. Daniel Goleman framed emotional intelligence and he identified six leadership styles which affect working atmosphere and financial performance. The aspect of emotional intelligence is the selection of these leadership styles to be successful. (Buc and Huk, 2010, p.614) Interpersonal communication skill- It is the   is the process by which people exchange information, feelings, and meaning through  verbal  and  non-verbal  messages: it is  face-to-face communication. Interpersonal communication is not just about what is actually said, it is also about the language used and but  how  it is said and the non-verbal messages sent through tone of voice,  facial  expressions, gestures and body language.(Skillsyouneed, 2012) Modification skills- a leader must be versatile and flexible in order to handle the situations and make some modification in his behaviour, objectives and plans in order to initiate a solution for the problems being faced by the organisation. Creativity- as the decision making process lies in the hands of the leader. It is expected from him to be creative and come up with some innovative decisions for the welfare and profitability of the organisation. Creativity make the leader a role model. Motivation- it is the process of keep people or employees moving forward by fulfilling their needs and ideas and focusing them toward the attainment of the organisational goal with energy and persistence (Buc and Huk, 2010, p.225) LEADERSHIP STYLES Leadership styles mainly deals with the different functions of leadership and the style of leadership towards members of the group or subordinate staffs. They are classified into three styles, namely: Authoritarian (or autocratic) style- it is where the power is with the leader and all the interaction with the group and employees move towards the manager. The leader alone exercises decision making, authority for determining policies, procedures for achieving goals, work tasks and relationships, control of rewards and punishments. Democratic style- it is where the power is mostly with the group and there is a good interaction with in the group. The leadership functions are shared with the group and the manager is also a part of the group. The group members can give their suggestion in decision making, determination of policy and in implementation of systems and procedures Laissez-faire (genuine) style it is were the members of the group and their workings are observed and the power is passed to the members to allow them the freedom of action and no to interfere, but be available if help needed. The members are left to face decisions. There is often confusion over this style of leadership behaviour THEORIES OF LEADERSHIP: Great Men Theory The Trait Theories of Leadership Style Theory Douglas McGregor: Theory X and Theory Y Contingency Theory Behavioural Theories Participative Theories Relationship Theories DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT CONCLUSION

Artificial Restraints In Lord Of The Flies :: essays research papers

"GOLDING PUTS SO MANY ARTIFICIAL RESTRAINTS ON HIS STORY IN ORDER TO EMPHASISE HIS POINT, THAT THE WHOLE THING COMES OUT TOO NEATLY AND, IN FACT, REDUCES THE POWER OF HIS MESSAGE."I think that, while the boys experience immense bad luck due to the author, the story still proves its point. It is still possible though, that the bad luck of the boys could have been experienced in real life. I think that without this bad luck, the point of the story wouldn't be as great, because without the restraint's Golding placed on the boys, life on the island would have been too easy for the boys.The major constraint that Golding puts on the boys is the personality clash between Jack and Ralph. From the beginning, when Ralph is elected leader, Jack hates Ralph, and towards the end of the book, the feeling becomes mutual. Without Jack and Ralph's problems, life would have been easy, and the 'darkness of man's heart' would not have been conveyed to the reader. Jack shows 'the darkness' and if he and Ralph had just been friends, there would never have been an opportunity for Jack to show this darkness which lurked beneath the surface. Golding also uses the dead pilot conveniently against the boys - the way in which he is caught in the trees just in the right position to be caught by the wind and look like the beast and the way the wind picks up after Simon has let him down from the trees and carries him out to sea, so that the other boys cannot see that it wasn't a beast. The author uses the boy's fear against them, and although this could possibly happen in the situation, Golding uses it as a weapon against them, their morale and their companionship. I think that the boys split up and go to Jack because of the fear - he can kill the beast, he can get them meat, and if they ever get upset, he can start a dance and all will be fine.

The Case For Work For The Dole :: essays research papers

Youth faces an uncertain future - it always has in one way or another. The progression from parental dependency to self-sufficiency and independence has always been (and will continue to be) a difficult one. The stresses of successfully completing high school are compounded by peer pressure, personal and family relationship problems, and the natural problems inherent in being an adolescent. As well, today, moreso than in yesteryear, there is an ever-present temptation to turn to drugs and alcohol, either as an escape route, or in order to cope with it all. Doing well at school does not guarantee a future career path, even if the correct choices are known and made. "Starting at the bottom" no longer means that you will get to the top one day. Today, people in their 40s and 50s are being made redundant from positions they once justifiably regarded as being secure until retirement. And competition is strong. Each year it becomes stronger - each year thousands more students join the ranks of the unemployed, and long term unemployment, especially amongst youth, is a real problem. The Government's "Work for the Dole" Scheme is a much-needed positive step that is helping youth make the transition from student, to unemployed, to employee. Each year 25,000 places in the Scheme are available, 20,000 of which are set aside for young people. Under the Scheme, unemployed people perform work (from 12 to 15 hours per week) in return for their fortnightly unemployment benefit. Participation is for a maximum of six months for people unemployed for a period of more than six months. People aged 17 to 21 are required to work for two six-hour days per week, and people aged 21 and over are required to work for 21/2 six-hour days per week. An extra $10 per week is paid to the participant to allow for extra costs incurred relating to transportation, and child minding facilities are available if necessary. Time off from the scheme can be arranged for attendance at interviews for paid employment. In order to reach those most in need of assistance, participation in the Scheme is compulsory. This is necessary so that the chances of success can be maximised to provide the most benefit to participants.It may be of concern to some that the compulsory nature of the Scheme undermines the altruism inherent in volunteer work. Some may fear that it will lead to resentment, lack of cooperation and poor motivation by those forced to take part under threat of diminished or no social security payment.

How to Calculate Retirement Funds

To calculate the present value of interest and principal payments, you will need to use the NAP function, rather than the UP function, since the cash flows in the principal and interest columns are not constant throughout time. ] What do you observe when you look at these numbers? Explain. (c) Using your amortization table, what Is the principal that remains to be paid after you have completed 15 years of payments? How does this figure relate to the payments that you have already made? How does this figure relate to your remaining payments? Explain. (d) Suppose that you had bought this house in June of 2006 under the terms scribed above.Since that date, the average house has declined in value at the rate of 1% per month. [This is the national average for the 3-year period ending summer 2009. ] Assuming that you also experienced this price decline on your house, at what point in calendar time will you owe more in principal on the loan than the house is worth? Assume throughout that yo u make every payment on time and that house prices continue to decline until at least this point in time. Answer the same question if you had paid 30% down Instead of 10%. Explain why your answers are different. E) Now suppose that your house from part (d) was located In Miami, FL.The average decline in housing prices over this time period in Miami was about 2% per month for the last 4 years. Assume that your house's price declined by the same amount as the average house in the Miami area. How does a 2% decline change your answers to part (d)? Are the answers the same or different? Explain. NOTE: For questions prepare a spreadsheet model for part. Use this spreadsheet model with additional calculations for part b, c, d, e. Written answers to the questions in b, c, d, and e should be place on a separate worksheet In the same document. 2.Suppose that your salary at age 25 Is $72,500 and that you are paid on a monthly basis. You plan to retire at age 65 and will need 75% of you last ye ar's salary as Income after you retire for living expenses. You have saved $55,000 to date. You want to build your dream home to live out the rest of your life in at age 50. Based on current prices Ana an Notation rate Tanat Is expected to rise at 1% per year Inelegantly, you project this home will cost $1,000,000 to complete. You have some older relatives that have always had an interest in you and have indicated that you are in their wills. Assume that you will inherit $100,000 in 5 years.Assume that you like to travel and plan to take one nice trip every year starting at the end of your first year of retirement until age 75. The average price of the kind of trips you would like to take is $5,000 today and will rise with inflation. You project that your salary will grow at a rate of 2% and that your retirement income needs will grow at 1%. Finally, assume that you expect to live to age 85 and that you wish to have a balance at the end of your life that is equal to the present valu e of 5 years of your needed income. The appropriate interest rate for your working life is 9% and declines to 6% after you tire.Both rates of return are nominal. Assume that growth rate and interest rates are quoted as annual figures and reported as EAR's. A) What % of your monthly salary do you need to start saving to meet your expected needs? Find the solution to this problem by taking all cash flows to the present (I. E. Age 25) b) Verify that your monthly savings from part a plus your initial savings and inheritance described above will allow you to pay for the house at age 50. NOTE: Build a spreadsheet model to answer these two questions and place it in the same document as your answers to questions 1 .

My area – Earls Court a very weird and different area

Earls Court a very weird and different area. But that is not the opinion of the people living there that's just my opinion. Earls Court is a different area; I like to think of it as a little town not just some area in the heart of Kensington. The streets are always covered in old crisp packets and used condoms and there always seems to be puddles of water or some liquid that never seem to dry up. Behind my house is a private garden which, on a cold winter's morning is as misty as the peak of Mount Everest and the Scottish Highlands put together. This garden is run by a Garden Committee which is headed up by a woman who changes her hair colour every single week, for example last week the woman's hair was black and this week it is about as red as Manchester United's football shirt. In this garden there is a tennis court which is set up during the summer and the rest of the year the poles on which the nets hang are used by myself and about ten other mates as football posts. However the woman with the ever changing hair colour always seems to see us and come out and confiscate the ball even though her house is about from the school to Shepherds Bush tube station. The rules for this garden are extremely, I can't think of the word, hang on, ah yes, STUPID. You are not allowed to play football, play music, play and instrument, ride your bikes or any type of game that can damage the plants. It might as well be an outdoor prison. About 2 minutes walk from my house is a giant Tesco superstore; it claims to sell everything but the trouble is you can never find everything because they keep changing where everything is so I'll probably never know if they do sell everything. I remember about a month ago now, me and my mate Gav were in Tesco's and I had to use the toilet so I told him to wait downstairs. As I came back down the stairs my hat fell off down to the ground floor below; I ran down the stairs only to find my hat had disappeared and Gav standing where it had landed with an evil little grin on his face. Then a Jamaican security guard came up to us and said, † What are you doing†, and I because I didn't want to get in trouble said in a very angry and serious voice, † Gav man, where the hell did you put my hat? , the security guard told Gav to get my hat from where he had hidden it; amongst the boxes of wine. He gave it to me and we were just about to get away without getting into too much trouble when Gav, being the stupid idiot that he is, made the mistake of bursting into a fit of laughter when the guard had just turned away; not when he was out of earshot but when he had just turned his back so the guard heard, turned around, called his colleague and literally and I emphasise the literally, threw us out of the store onto the pavement; where Gav and I proceeded to laugh our heads off. But perhaps the most prominent building in my area is the office complex; just around the corner from my house; down a side road; which runs past a Gospel church. In this complex there is about 6 or 7 cameras 2 of which overlook the gate going in. On a dark and quiet Saturday night if there is nothing else to do; what me and my mates like doing is trying to get into the complex without being spotted by the 20 or so security guards just inside the main entrance. One time I dared a boy called Adam to run in and touch the sign that is about 10 metres in front of the front door. There were about five of us including Adam; he ran past the gate, past the cameras, touched the sign, and ran back. By this time all of the guards were up out of their seats and sprinting out of the door; I was the last one to notice; Adam sprints by me screaming like a little girl and everyone is running, I hadn't noticed what was happening and when I turned around from my hiding place about 15 metres from the gate; about four of the guards were coming through the gate, I stood up and started sprinting like a cheetah chasing a zebra. When I came to the fork I went right whilst everyone else had gone left down to Adam's house, I heard one of guards say, â€Å"You lot go left while we go right, we're going to get these kids†, I though, Christ their going to catch me; I wouldn't have been so worried if they weren't carrying holsters around which could have contained a gun. I ran between and over the parked cars and over a wall about a metre or two high and hid. I waited until they had given up and then I emerged from the shadow of the crucifix, triumphant in the fact that I had given trained security guards the slip. As I mentioned before I there is Gospel church near my house which has a bright green spire and on a Sunday morning and Wednesday evening it is absolutely bursting with music and singing. But the bad thing about this is that all of the cars of the church goers block up the parking lot; the only place that we are allowed to play football. But there are other more interesting things about my area like the fact that a woman fell of the roof of my house into my garden and I still don't know how she got up there. Also about three weeks ago a complete nutter of a man was on the roof of an estate brandishing and firing a rifle. All of the surrounding roads were closed off and armed police and for some reason there was riot police there as well. Nobody was hurt except the guy firing the gun who shot himself in the leg before being arrested. Once I was riding my bike to my mate's house and a tiny, little homosexual man stood in the way on purpose even though he had about a 10 second delay before I was near enough to hurt him; he stepped out and then said in a squeaky little voice â€Å"Watch where your going you stupid little s**t†, I yelled back at him some obscenities that I cannot mention here. Around my area there is a lot of refugees who go around asking people for money. Once I was walking to school when about five of them came up to me and asked me to give them i10; I just looked at them and said, â€Å"You got to be joking†, the leader looked at me really seriously and said, â€Å"I am being seriously perfect†, and that just made me laugh. I think he meant to say, â€Å"I am being perfectly serious†, but got confused. The leader then grabbed me and said, â€Å"give me i10 now†, he was only about as tall as me so I kneed him in his groin and the rest just backed off because a security guard had come out to see what was going on. The guard ‘escorted' the leader off the premises and by that I mean threw onto one of the islands in the middle of the road. There is a tall, red brick building just around the corner from my house which used to be where the local police force lived for free until it was turned into a council flat. There is a woman called Louise who is about 40 years old and has a problem with kids. She is as thin as rake and is about medium height. Her nose is crooked and she has a terribly squeaky voice like a rusty bike chain. She has a balcony coming out of the back of her house which she likes to use for taking pictures of people passing especially kids. When we make noise she comes out and starts going on about how we are making too much noise, and then we confront her about taking pictures of us she just goes quiet and slithers off quietly like the snake that she is. Just last Sunday she came out and starting having a go at us; but when we started confronting her about taking pictures of us she said she'd even take videos of us; we just said but that's illegal, she said so is noise disturbance; then I said â€Å"but which one do you think is more serious†, at which she just walked off and I called after her â€Å"I thought so! â€Å". She wears quite trampy clothes and she probably only has one piece of clean clothing in her whole life. Around my area there are a lot of kids who wander around looking for kids to mug, but I know them so they don't try to mug me. However when I was in first year there was some kids that I didn't know trying to mug people, and once I was on my way home from school and I must have looked like a right idiot with my catholic schoolboy uniform all neat and tidy. They were walking on the other side of the road and I saw them look at me then cross the road towards me; so I crossed the road to where they had been. They were then behind me and had turned around and started walking quite quickly towards me; now you have go to remember that I was a little first year so I couldn't fight off two 16+year olds, so I started jogging, they started jogging, I picked up the pace, so did they, I was coming up to Tesco's now so I sprinted through the back way through the car park into the store up to the first floor and out through the first floor exit. As I went down the stairs I could see them through the 12ft high windows searching for me jogging through the aisles so I started jogging across the large 6 lane road to my house. As I rounded the corner I saw them come out the main entrance, point towards me and start sprinting, so I just sprinted to my house and got through the front door in record time. I opened two doors in about 6 seconds. As I said earlier I consider Earls Court like a little town; a little town with its own high street with every shop its own cinema and even its own arena and park. But with little towns there comes problems. On Thursday mornings there are piles of black bin bags waiting for the bin men to come and take them away; it smells about as bad as rotten fish and eggs put together. You trip over the bags that are strewn all over the pavement. As I go down to school I go past a bright, mustard yellow estate which all the dump trucks come out of and so that stinks even more and there are kids on the estate that spit down on people going past. All in all I think my area has some good points like the fact that most of my friends live there but there are some bad points like all the crime and rubbish on the streets. But it is my area, I've lived there all my life and I love it.