The Golden Lily Chapter 18

JILL DIDN'T GIVE ME any starry-eyed looks at breakfast the next morning, which was kind of a relief. Micah had surfaced again, and while they weren't as flirty as they'd been in the past, the two were chatting animatedly away about a science project she had. Eddie and Angeline were equally engrossed in conversation, making plans for when she was free of her suspension. Her blues eyes were alight with happiness as they talked, and I realized that she had legitimate feelings for him. She hadn't just been throwing herself at him for the sake of conquest. I wondered if he knew. It would've been easy to feel like a fifth wheel here, but instead, I was pleased and content to see my little cohort getting along so well. Stanton's conversation had still left me conflicted, but there was nothing wrong with appreciating the peace around here. I would've been happier still if Trey's behavior had also normalized, but when I reached my history class later, he was absent yet again. I had no doubt he'd claim he had family stuff, but my earlier suspicions were returning, about whether his family might be responsible for his injuries. Should I report my worries to someone? Who? I didn't want to jump to conclusions either, which left me in a bind. Eddie and I always sat near each other in that class, and I leaned toward him before the bell rang, pitching my voice low to address another concern. â€Å"Hey, have you noticed that Jill's been kind of acting weirdly around me?† â€Å"She's got a lot going on,† he said, ever quick to defend her. â€Å"Yeah, I know, but you had to have noticed her last night. In the library? I mean – keeping in mind I'm terrible at figuring this stuff out – it was like she had a crush on me or something.† He laughed at that. â€Å"She was kind of laying it on thick, but I don't think you have to worry about some romantic complication. She just looks up to you a lot, that's all. Part of her still wants to be a brave fighter who rushes out fearlessly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused as he savored that idea, a mix of pride and rapture on his face before he tuned back into me. â€Å"But at the same time, you're starting to show her there all sorts of ways to be powerful.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said. â€Å"I think. But speaking of her being a brave fighter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I studied him curiously. â€Å"Why don't you train her anymore? Don't you want her to hone her skills?† â€Å"Oh, yeah. That. Well†¦ there are a few reasons for it. One is I need to focus on Angeline. Another is that I just don't want Jill worried about that. I'll do the protecting.† Those were exactly the reasons I'd guessed. The next one was not. â€Å"And I guess†¦ the other thing is that I don't feel right being in contact with her like that. I mean, I know it means nothing to her†¦ but it means something to me.† Again, my social skills took a moment to kick in. â€Å"You mean, you don't like that you have to touch her?† Eddie actually blushed. â€Å"It doesn't bother me, that's the problem. Better for us to spend time together in a hands-off way.† I hadn't expected that, but I could understand it. Leaving Eddie to his own inner demons, I soon got caught up in the day and wondering what had happened to Trey. I'd hoped he'd come into class late, but he didn't. In fact, he didn't surface for the rest of the day, not even when I was finishing up my independent study. I'd thought he might come by again for homework. â€Å"You look troubled,† said Ms. Terwilliger, watching me pack up when the bell rang. â€Å"Worried about getting your project in on time?† â€Å"No.† I'd actually finished two of the charms, but I certainly wasn't going to tell her that. â€Å"I'm worried about Trey. He keeps missing school. Do you know why he's out? I mean, if you can tell me?† â€Å"The office notifies us if a student will be out for the day, but they don't tell us the reason. If it makes you feel better, Mr. Juarez's absence was called in this morning. He hasn't disappeared.† I almost mentioned my fears about his home but held off. I still needed more evidence. Between worrying about Trey, Ms. Terwilliger's work, the Warriors, Brayden, and all my other myriad complications, I knew I couldn't waste any of my free time. Nonetheless, I went to Adrian's after school on a mission I couldn't refuse. On our way to Wolfe's class earlier this week, Adrian had mentioned offhandedly that he hadn't had the Mustang looked at by a mechanic before purchasing it. Although my own novice assessment hadn't found anything wrong with the car, I pushed for Adrian to get the car examined – which, of course, meant I had to look up a specialist and make the appointment. It was just before my textile museum date, but I was certain I had time to make it all work. â€Å"The guy I bought it from seemed pretty trustworthy,† Adrian told me, after we'd dropped the car off with the mechanic. He'd told us he'd look at it right away and that we could hang around and wait. His shop was on the outskirts of a suburban area, so Adrian suggested we go for a walk through the neighborhoods. â€Å"And it ran just fine when I did the test drive, so I figured everything was okay.† â€Å"That doesn't mean there aren't problems you can't see. It's best to be safe,† I said, knowing I sounded preachy. â€Å"Bad enough you got a car you can't drive.† Glancing over, I saw a small, half smile on his face. â€Å"With your help, I'll be a pro in no time. Of course, if you don't want to help anymore, I'll just wing it and figure it out on my own.† I groaned. â€Å"You already know what I'd say about – wow.† The neighborhood we were in was pretty affluent. In fact, I'd say the houses bordered on being bona fide mansions. We stopped in front of one that looked like a cross between a hacienda and a southern plantation, large and sprawling with a pillared porch and pink stucco siding. The front yard was a mix of climates, green grass with palm trees lining the path to the house. The trees were like tropical sentries. â€Å"Gorgeous,† I said. â€Å"I love architecture. In another life, I'd have studied that – not chemicals and vampires.† As we continued on, we saw more of the same, each house trying to outdo the others. All of them had high fences and hedges blocking their backyards. â€Å"I wonder what's back there. Pools, probably.† Adrian stopped in front of another. It was as yellow as his car and showed another mix of styles, like a southwest version of a medieval castle, complete with turrets. â€Å"Nice juxtaposition,† he remarked. I turned, knowing my eyes were wide as I stared at him. â€Å"Did you just use juxtaposition in a sentence?† â€Å"Yes, Sage,† he said patiently. â€Å"We use it all the time with art, when we're mixing different components. That, and I know how to use a dictionary.† He turned from me and scanned the house, his eyes resting on a gardener who was out trimming some hedges. A sly smile crossed Adrian's lips. â€Å"You want to see the back? Come on.† â€Å"What are you – † Before I could say another word, Adrian strode up the granite pathway and cut across the lawn to where the guy was working. I didn't want anything to do with this, but the responsible part of me couldn't let Adrian get into trouble. I hurried after him. â€Å"Are the owners home?† Adrian asked. The gardener had stopped his clipping and stared at Adrian. â€Å"No.† â€Å"When will they be back?† â€Å"After six.† I was astonished that the guy was answering these questions. If I'd been asked them, I would've assumed someone was staging a break-in. Then, I saw the glazed look in the gardener's eyes and realized what was going on. â€Å"Adrian – â€Å" Adrian's eyes never left the other man's face. â€Å"Take us to the backyard.† â€Å"Of course.† The gardener dropped his hedge clippers and headed for a gate on the side of the house. I tried to get Adrian's attention to stop this, but he was outpacing me. Our guide stopped at the gate, entered a security code, and led us to the back. My protests died on my lips as I gazed around. This back property was almost three times the size of the front. There were more palm trees ringing the yard, along with a terraced garden full of plants, both native and non-native. A huge oval shaped pool dominated the space, its turquoise hue startling against the gray of the granite that surrounded it. On one side of the pool, several steps led up to a smaller, square pool. It could only hold a few people, and a waterfall poured out from it, down to the larger pool. Tiki torches and tables around the pools completed the lush setup. â€Å"Thanks,† Adrian told the gardener. â€Å"Go back to your work. It's okay if we're here. We'll see ourselves out.† â€Å"Of course,† the man replied. He walked back the way we'd come in. I snapped back to reality. â€Å"Adrian! You used compulsion on that guy. That†¦ I mean, it's†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Awesome?† Adrian walked over to the steps leading up to the upper pool. â€Å"Yeah, I know.† â€Å"It's wrong! All of this. Breaking and entering, and compulsion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shivered, despite the sweltering heat. â€Å"It's immoral. Controlling someone else's mind. You know it! Your people and mine both agree.† â€Å"Eh, no harm done.† He climbed to the top of the pool and stood on its edge, surveying his kingdom. The sun brought out chestnut glints in his brown hair. â€Å"Believe me, that guy was easy to control. Weak-willed. I barely had to use compulsion.† â€Å"Adrian – â€Å" â€Å"Come on, Sage. Not like we're going to hurt anything. Check out this view.† I was almost afraid to go up there. It was so rare for any of the Moroi here to use their magic that it was easy for me to pretend it didn't exist. Seeing Adrian use it – the most insidious kind – made my skin crawl. As I'd told Ms. Terwilliger in our charm discussion, no one should be able to control another like that. â€Å"Come on,† Adrian repeated. â€Å"You're not worried I'm going to compel you up here, are you?† â€Å"Of course not,† I said. And I meant it. I didn't know why, but some part of me knew Adrian would never, ever harm me. Reluctantly, I went to join him, hoping that would encourage him to leave. When I reached the top, my jaw dropped. The intimate pool hadn't seemed that high, but it gave us a stunning view of the mountains off in the distance, rugged and majestic against the blue of the sky. The larger pool glittered below us, and the waterfall made it look like we'd entered some mystical oasis. â€Å"Cool, huh?† he asked. Adrian sat down on the small pool's edge, rolled up his jeans, and took off his socks and shoes. â€Å"Now what are you doing?† I asked. â€Å"Making the most out of this.† He put his feet in the water. â€Å"Come on. Do something bad for a change. Not that it's really that bad. We aren't trashing this place or anything.† I hesitated, but the water was intoxicating, as though it too could wield compulsion. Settling down, I copied Adrian and dipped my bare feet into the water. Its coolness was startling – and wonderful – in this intense heat. â€Å"I could get used to this,† I admitted. â€Å"But what if the owners come home early?† He shrugged. â€Å"I can talk us out of it, don't worry.† That wasn't exactly reassuring. I turned back to the gorgeous view and lush property. I wasn't always the most imaginative person, but I thought back to what I'd said about living another life. What would it be like to have a home like this? To stay in one place? To spend days by the pool, soaking in the sun, and not worrying about the fate of humanity? I fell into daydreams and was so caught up that I lost track of time. â€Å"We have to get back to the shop,† I exclaimed. Glancing over, I was astonished to see Adrian watching me, a look of contentment on his face. His eyes seemed to study my every feature. Seeing me notice him, he immediately looked away. His usual smirky expression replaced the dreamy one. â€Å"The mechanic will wait,† he said. â€Å"Yeah, but I'm supposed to meet Brayden soon. I'll be – † That's when I got a good look at Adrian. â€Å"What have you done? Look at you! You shouldn't be out here.† â€Å"It's not that bad.† He was lying, and we both knew it. It was late afternoon, and the sun was merciless. I'd certainly felt it, though the coolness of the water had helped distract me. That, and I was human. Sure, sunstroke and sunburns were concerns, but I loved the sun and had a high tolerance for it. Vampires did not. Sweat poured off Adrian, soaking his shirt and hair. Pink blotches covered his face. They were familiar. I'd seen them on Jill back when she'd been forced to play outdoor sports in PE. Left unchecked, they'd turn into burns. I jumped to my feet. â€Å"Come on, we have to get out of here before you get worse. What were you thinking?† His expression was astonishingly nonchalant for someone who looked like he would pass out. â€Å"It was worth it. You looked†¦ happy.† â€Å"That's crazy,† I said. â€Å"Not the craziest thing I've ever done.† He smiled as he looked up at me. His eyes grew slightly unfocused, as though they were seeing more than just me. â€Å"What's a little crazy here and there? I'm supposed to be doing experiments†¦ why not see which is brighter: your aura or the sun?† The way he looked at me and spoke unnerved me, and I remembered what Jill had said, how spirit slowly drove its users insane. Adrian hardly seemed insane, but there was certainly something haunted about him, a definite shift from his usual sharp wit. It was as though something else had seized hold of him. I remembered that poem line, about dreaming and waking. â€Å"Come on,† I repeated. I held out my hand. â€Å"You shouldn't have used spirit. We need to get you out of here.† He took my hand and staggered to his feet. A rush of warmth and electricity went through me, just as it had the last time we touched, and our eyes held. For a moment, all I could think about were his earlier words: You looked happy†¦ I brushed such sentiments aside and quickly got him out of there, only to discover the mechanic hadn't finished. At least in his shop, we were able to get Adrian some water and air conditioning. As we waited I texted Brayden. Running an hour late with family stuff. Sorry. Will be there as soon as I can. My phone chimed back about thirty seconds later: That only leaves an hour for the textile museum. â€Å"That's not nearly enough time,† said Adrian deadpan. I hadn't realized he'd been reading over my shoulder. I moved the phone away and suggested to Brayden we just meet for an early dinner. He concurred. â€Å"I'm a mess,† I muttered, checking myself out in a mirror. The heat had definitely taken its toll, and I looked sweaty and worn. â€Å"Don't worry about it,† Adrian told me. â€Å"If he didn't notice how awesome you were in the red dress, he probably won't notice anything now.† He hesitated. â€Å"Not that there's even anything to notice. You're as cute as usual.† I was about to snap at him for teasing me, but when I looked over, his face was deadly earnest. Whatever retort I might have managed died on my lips, and I quickly got up to check our status, in order to hide how flustered I felt. The mechanic finally finished – no problems found – and Adrian and I headed downtown. I kept watching him anxiously, afraid he'd pass out. â€Å"Stop worrying, Sage. I'm fine,† he said. â€Å"Although†¦ I'd be better with some ice cream or gelato. Even you have to admit that'd be good right now.† It would, actually, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. â€Å"What is it with you and frozen desserts? Why do you always want them?† â€Å"Because we live in a desert.† I couldn't argue with that reasoning. We reached his place, and I swapped cars. Before he went inside, I inundated him with advice about getting water and resting. Then, I spoke the words that had been burning inside of me. â€Å"Thank you for the poolside outing,† I said. â€Å"Your near-sun-stroke aside, that was pretty amazing.† He gave me a cocky smile. â€Å"Maybe you'll get used to vampire magic after all.† â€Å"No,† I said automatically. â€Å"I'll never get used to that.† His smile immediately disappeared. â€Å"Of course not,† he murmured. â€Å"See you around.† I finally made it to dinner. I'd chosen an Italian restaurant, filled with the scents of garlic and cheese. Brayden sat at a corner table, sipping water and earning glares from the waitress, who was probably impatient for him to order. I sat down opposite him, dropping my satchel beside me. â€Å"I am so sorry,† I told him. â€Å"I had to do this thing with my, uh, brother.† If Brayden was mad, he didn't show it. That was his way. He did, however, give me a scrutinizing look. â€Å"Was it something athletic? You look like you ran a marathon.† It wasn't an insult, not by any means, but it did take me aback – mostly because I was thinking of Adrian's comment. Brayden had had almost nothing to say about my Halloween costume, but he noticed this? â€Å"We were out in Santa Sofia, getting his car looked at.† â€Å"Nice area. Keep going up the highway, and you can get to Joshua Tree National Park. Ever been there?† â€Å"No. Just read about it.† â€Å"Iconic place. The geology's fascinating.† The waitress came by, and I gratefully ordered an iced latte. Brayden was more than happy to tell me about some of the park's geology, and we soon fell into our comfortable rhythm of intellectual discussion. I didn't know the park's specific makeup, but I knew more than enough about geology in general to keep up. In fact, I was able to talk on autopilot while my mind wandered back to Adrian. I recalled again what he'd said about the red dress. I also couldn't shake the comment about me being happy, and how that was worth his suffering. â€Å"What do you think?† â€Å"Hmm?† I realized I'd lost the thread of our conversation after all. â€Å"I asked which type of desert you find more striking,† Brayden explained. â€Å"The Mojave region gets all the hype, but I actually prefer the Colorado Desert.† â€Å"Ah.† I slipped back into the flow. â€Å"Um, Mojave. I like the rock formations better.† This triggered a debate of the regions while we ate, and Brayden seemed happier and happier. He really did like having someone who could keep up with him, I realized. None of my books had said anything about the way to a man's heart being through academic debates. I didn't mind it, though. I liked the conversation, but it didn't exactly send thrills through me. I had to remind myself it was still early in our relationship – if I could even call it that. Surely the head over heels part would come soon. We talked for a long time after the meal was over. The waitress brought us an unsolicited dessert menu when we finished, and I surprised myself by saying, â€Å"Wow†¦ I can't believe how much I want gelato right now. That never happens.† Maybe the sweat and heat had leached my nutrients†¦ or maybe I still had Adrian on the brain. â€Å"I've never heard you order dessert,† said Brayden, sliding his menu away. â€Å"It's not too much sugar?† It was another of those weird statements of his that could be interpreted a number of different ways. Was he judging me? Did he think I shouldn't have any sugar? I didn't know, but it was enough for me to close the menu and set it on top of his. With no other scheduled forms of entertainment for the night, we decided to just go for a walk after dinner. The temperature was down to moderate levels, and it was still light enough out that I wasn't as concerned about the Warriors of Light jumping out from corners. That didn't mean I ignored Wolfe's teachings, however. I still kept an eye on my surroundings, watching for anything suspicious. We reached a small park that only took up one city block and found a bench in the corner. We sat down on it, watching children play on the opposite side of the lawn while we continued a discussion on bird watching in the Mojave. Brayden put his arm around me as we talked, and eventually, we exhausted the topic and simply sat in comfortable silence. â€Å"Sydney†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I turned my gaze from the children, surprised at Brayden's uncertain tone, which was very different from the one he'd just been using to defend the superiority of the mountain bluebird over the western bluebird. There was softness in his eyes now as he looked at me. The evening light made his hazel eyes take on a little more gold than usual but completely hid the green. Too bad. Before I could say anything, he leaned forward and kissed me. It was more intense than the last one, though still a long ways from the epic, all-consuming kisses I'd seen in movies. He did rest his hand on my shoulder this time, gently bringing me a little closer. The kiss also lasted longer than previous ones, and I again tried to let myself go and lose myself in the feel of someone else's lips. He was the one who ended it, a bit more abruptly than I would've expected. â€Å"I – I'm sorry,† he said, looking away. â€Å"I shouldn't have done that.† â€Å"Why not?† I asked. It wasn't so much that I'd been yearning for the kiss as it was that this seemed exactly like the kind of place you'd want to kiss: a romantic park at sunset. â€Å"We're in public. It's kind of vulgar, I suppose.† Vulgar? I wasn't even sure if we were really all that much in public, seeing as no one was next to us and we were in the shade of some trees. Brayden sighed with dismay. â€Å"I guess I just lost control. It won't happen again.† â€Å"It's okay,† I said. It hadn't seemed like that much of a loss of control, but what did I know? And I wondered if maybe a small loss of control wasn't such a bad thing. Wasn't that kind of the basis of passion? I didn't know that either. The only thing I knew for sure was that this kiss had been a lot like the last one. Nice, but it didn't blow me away. My heart sank. There was something wrong with me. Everyone was always going on about how socially inept I was. Did it extend to romance as well? Was I so cold that I'd spend my life never feeling anything? I think Brayden misread my dismay and assumed I was upset with him. He stood up and held out his hand. â€Å"Hey, let's go walk to that tea shop one block over. They've got this local painter's art on display that I think you'll like. Besides, no calories in tea, right? Better than dessert.† â€Å"Right,† I said. Thinking of the gelato didn't cheer me up any. The Italian place had had pomegranate, which kind of sounded like the best thing ever. As I stood up, my cell phone rang and startled both of us. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Sage? It's me.† I had no reason to be mad at Adrian, not after what he'd done for me, but somehow I felt irritated by the interruption. I was trying to make the most of this night with Brayden, and Adrian unsettled everything. â€Å"What's going on?† I asked. â€Å"Are you still downtown? You need to come over right now.† â€Å"You know I'm out with Brayden,† I said. This was pushy, even for Adrian. â€Å"I can't just drop everything and entertain you.† â€Å"It's not about me.† It was then that I noticed how hard and serious his voice was. Something tightened in my chest. â€Å"It's about Sonya. She's missing.† The Golden Lily: A Bloodlines Novel

What is Censorship?

I will discuss whether or not censorship is a good or bad thing and what affect it has on the people and whether this influence is helpful to society. The media needs censorship because discretion in viewers or censorship is necessary; it reduces the risk of exposing children of easily influenced ages to adult content as well as inappropriate content that should not be exposed to all. Media exposure is a powerful factor in influencing the values and opinions of children; for this reason, the need to control all that they see and hear from the media. An example of this are rap songs, which usually contain swear words, say if a young child was in the room and heard this and then began to repeat the word, this is why some word in songs are censored. On the other hand there are cons to censorship. It compromises freedom of speech. Also not censoring can be a good thing as shock tactics are the best way to help children/teenagers to stay safe, for instance if a teenager saw a picture of a girl dead from a drug overdose it would help them to see that it is dangerous making sure that they stay away from it. Everyone should be able to choose whether censoring is better or not, seeing things like the example above will help children to think twice leading them to make the right choices rather than being reckless and irresponsible with their decisions. In conclusion I believe that censorship is good because it protects the privacy of the people. We should all have a choice, some may rather prefer content be censored like if they live in a family environment with children around. Whereas others would choose not censoring for example if they live on their own and are an adult, listening to swear words would not cause any harm or have any impact as most likely they already know these certain words.

Review for the World That Trade Created

In trade routes and otherwise greed led to violence. This was demonstrated through slavery, piracy, and control of ivory and opium. African slavery began from greed; Europeans needed labor to fuel their large trading productions and manufacturing of the traded goods. Mesoamerican slavery and destruction was caused by the Spanish conquistadors in their infamous quest for gold, god, and glory. Through greed the conquistadors decimated an entire civilization to obtain their gold. However the British and Dutch reaped many economic benefits of this perhaps even without knowledge of where their wealth had come from. Piracy, also fueled by greed, began as small bands, but eventually transformed into large companies of corporate raiders. The demanding trade of ivory and opium came from greed and addiction. They became key â€Å"luxury† items for wealthy Europeans, and it was the incentive for wars and violence. Pommeranz demonstrates throughout chapter five that greed led to violence. Gold, God, and Glory powered everything in the beginning. The Spanish enslaved the Aztecs when they conquered them to help them with sugar production rates, increasing their profit. The Spanish also attempted to convert the Aztecs to Catholisism, and if they rebelled, they were forced into slavery in the name of God. Lastly, they were immensley proud because they managed to conquer the Aztecs, claiming the land as their own while also beginning the use of slavery. Slavery was also pertinnent later in history when the Dutch, seeking revenge upon the Spanish while also being enticed by the wealth sugar trade brought, conquered a port in Brazil, controling the sugar trade. However, they did not have enough slaves to take advantage of the sugar, so although they opposed it at first, travelled to African ports and obtained slaves by exchanging luxury goods for human lives. Although the Portuguese regaiined control of the sugar production in Brazil, the Dutch still utilized the advantages of slavery in Africa and the exploitation of human lives that were not theirs to control. Lastly, Robinson Crusoe eventually learned to abandon his ideas of self sufficiency and rejection of luxury, and entered into the slave trade, enticed by the wealth it would bring him. Before corporations, there were family ties. Blood was the medium that bound together the many companies of the time. One example of such a family company was Samuel Rosenfelder’s fur trading house. As Rosenfelder added to his company, he also prepared his son Max to take over the company in the future. Eventually, Max would continue passing the company to his three sons. However, by the 1600s, there was an obvious advantage to using corporations to conduct business. Corporations were impersonal alliances that provided a logical and easy way to do business on a large—global—scale. The first corporations were anonymous with wide distributions of power and not really necessary until the railroad boom in the 1830s. However, these corporations gave birth to something useful at the time: corporate raiders. With the amount of sea trade that was happening, corporate raiders became the new pirates. Made of refugees, criminals, runaways, and mercenaries, corporate raiders are referred to as â€Å"multinational, multiethnic, democratic bands of sea rovers. † Although they had less dignity and were more violent than â€Å"traditional† pirates, corporate raiders were often favored in the eyes of the law, signifying government’s involvement in trade. After all, trade was a fruitful source of income. As the greed and available wealth grew, so did violence on the seas. The history of trade has taught us a lesson about greed, and the horrors it can lead to. Greed for products often leads towards violence. Two outstanding examples of this were the result of Great Britain’s greed for Chinese Tea, and King Leopold’s desire to begin an ivory market. Hooked on the imported Chinese Tea, British people had little to offer in return. Struggling to find compensation for their needed beverage, the British discovered the advantages of trading opium for tea. Easily seducing the Chinese with a cheep alternative for compensation, their greed for tea only grew. Becoming comfortable with their trading situation, the British were infuriated when the Chinese attempted to stop the Opium Trade. Finally resulting in battles between the British and Chinese, (know as the Opium Wars), the British were guaranteed their tea, and granted what they wanted, at the cost of violence. King Leopold II, the monarch of Belgium. Having a lack of colonies, King Leopold’s only hope for new territory would be in Africa. He began to show interest in Africa by becoming an advocate for illegal slave trade and other issues thus becoming popular among the African eople. Building roads, hospitals, and other infrastructure the African population began to acquire a strong trust for him. Starting his turn on Africa, King Leopold began to use African mercenaries in 1879 to control the Kongo. His reasons for this were to control much land in Africa and declare the seized land â€Å"his† property. Gaining wealth from the trading the abundant ivory, his greed for land and tusks only grew. Natives were eventually brutalized, ears and limbs were severed off of those that opposed him. After leaving piles of dead elephants for the natives to discard, his soldiers sailed down the congo river shooting the Lunda, or Mongo for sport. King Leopold’s greed for wealth from ivory trade brought horrible violence to the people of Africa, and caused a decrease in the elephant population. Both the trade of tea, and ivory caused greed for those who desired it, and when the threat of a stop to the trade presented itself, violence was the only answer, today we can see the same pattern carrying out as it did hundreds of years ago, as greed for oil grows.

The Concept Of The Post-Human Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Concept Of The Post-Human - Essay Example But, the outstanding development of sciences, especially such as genetics, biotechnology, informatics, cybernetics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, astrophysics, cosmology and others, led to significant changes in the customary understanding of the relationship between humans and nature. Pepperell (1997) argues that new findings in the modern scientific researches pose today more questions than answers about the universe, nature and humans; moreover, â€Å"the tendency towards the developments of artificial life, synthesised intelligence, instant telecommunications and virtual reality means that we are now aware of a disappearing barrier between ‘natural’ and ‘human-made’ phenomena† (p.165). As a consequence of the shifts in the understanding of human power and beliefs in human’s superiority, an idea of â€Å"post-humanism† was born in 1940s and nowadays it has become quite popular, especially within â€Å"science-fiction-minde d† circles (Clark 2010). This paper is aimed to explore the meaning of the concept of the â€Å"post-human† and to discuss major assumed hazards for humans related to the concept, with the references to two famous movies – Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982) and the Terminator series (James Cameron, 1984; 1991). The films not only help to realise the possible threats to humanity from uncontrolled development of technologies, but, importantly, they â€Å"raise even more probing questions about the consequences of our definitions of the human† (Pyle 2000: p.124). What is the â€Å"post-human†? The early definitions of a post-human society are connected with the cybernetic movement started by Norbert Weiner in the 1940s, then ideas of the post-humanism have been popularised by American futurists (such as Stephen Hawking, Alvin Toffler and others) (Clark 2010). Gradually the concept of the â€Å"post-human† has been developing, inspiring many of na tural scientists and philosophers, as well as science-fiction writers, artists and film-makers. Generally speaking, a post-human is a conceptual imaging of â€Å"biotechnological or cybernetic systemic couplings† (Cobley 2010: p.294). Currently this concept is used in several meanings. Pepperell (1997) suggests three cases of the term’s using: (1) it is used to indicate the end of the Humanism period in the historical process of the world social development; (2) it is used to emphasise the transformation of a human being’s concept, mentioned above; (3) it refers to the current persistent convergence of technologies and human organisms, leading to â€Å"a future state of humanity in which biology is merged with technology† (p.174). The latter meaning draws the most attention in the world research society and causes heat debates, especially between the so called transhumanists and their opponents. According to the definition of Marx More: â€Å"Posthumans will be persons of unprecedented physical, intellectual and psychological ability, self-programming and self-defining, potentially immortal, unlimited individuals. Posthumans have overcome the biological, neurological, and psychological constraints evolved into humans. †¦Our personalities having been transferred â€Å"into† more durable, modifiable, and faster, and more powerful bodies and thinking hardware† (cited in Pepperell 1997: p.175). Bostrom (2003) explains what advantages the posthuman persons will have in comparing with the current state of human beings. Among them there are: a higher level of intellectuality and consciousness; resistance to many diseases and nonsusceptibility to aging;

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 42

Journal - Essay Example This notifies the audience that the author is in support of the fact that there are fake scientific data published in journals and ignoring such information can have a detrimental impact on people. The content of the article is detailed giving examples of numerous instances where scientists have linked vaccination to autism and where a scientist disagreed that HIV results to AIDS. It also gives an instance where John Bohannon disclosed that it was easy to put out deceitful scientific information in available publications (Wong 1). The use of these examples makes it interesting and easy for the reader to understand. The author also uses quotation marks to show emphasis on numerous words within the article such as â€Å"mental retardation†, â€Å"knowledge† and â€Å"scientific counterfeits. Wong, the author, uses a comparatively formal language. The article’s tone is resentful evidenced by the last two sentences of the article. Additionally, the author appeals to the readers by clearly emphasizing on his

Define the Word ( not asking dictionary definitions) Assignment - 1

Define the Word ( not asking dictionary definitions) - Assignment Example Hence, sublime is like a documentary, which has a collection of the art, music, technology, nature, lifestyle and culture of the America. Such include the technological and natural changes as represented by the artists in different forms. As used in the readings, representation means a depiction of ideas in visual arts and literature. Such include the depiction of ethical concerns of the Americans in literature. Thus, representation provides a unique form of non-verbal communication where pictures, images and literature act as the key substitutes of imagined or remembered things in America (David, 1986). Representation gives meaning and a sense of appreciation of the things, which individuals in their current state are not able to perceive or see. It is vital for representation to occur throughout in artwork to ensure that people can have an actual depiction of the things, which they cannot see in their current physical

Why Finland Education Model will not work for the United States Essay

Why Finland Education Model will not work for the United States Education System - Essay Example These include; institutional design, funding, and Teacher training- teacher retention. Critical analysis of these factors and their application between the two countries explains the variation in their education performance ranking. Unless united States initiate reforms on its institutional designs, it will lag behind Finland in terms of its overall education system performance. The Finland government has centralized education policy decisions under the ministry of education. This means that the curriculum structure is uniform and tests are homogeneous across the whole country. Such institutional design means that diverse teaching skills are applicable in different settings and learners abilities. This offers better opportunities for the children and teachers with unique differences to work towards a common goal. This explains the outstanding performance of the education system in Finland as seen from its high global ranking over United States. In-depth assessment of the institutional design of United States exposes significant flaws that make its education system relatively poor (Tiina and Markku, 2007). The curriculum development and implementation has been decentralized to individual states. This has placed significant accountability pressure on the teachers and placed much emphasis on passing tests. This design means that the socio-economic diversity in terms of learning ability, teaching skills among teachers and students is disregarded. This has been in force since the passing of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act (2002) by President George Bush administration. This has seen teachers concentrate on tests which fail to capture other important aspects of learning among students’ hence poor math and language skills mastery progress. It is therefore evident that while Education in Finland is managed from national platform, the United States has left education management in the

Essentials of Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Essentials of Marketing - Essay Example Enlightened customers no longer buy into the old strategy that believes a good product sells itself. Marketing has become a well-balanced mix of concepts and techniques, research and sales, promotion and production. Marketing has been described as "[...] the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives" (Lancaster & Reynolds, 1999, p. 1). It is not so much a single task as it is a concept of visualizing your customer through their eyes, and creating a profit by understanding and satisfying their needs by providing something of value (Forsyth, 1999, p.124). Marketing is the companys interface between the customer and other key elements of the organization such as finance, production, and design. This concept remains constant and is unaffected by the product type or market sector. It is a continual process of scanning the environment to glean information about the customer in terms of age, politics, economics, culture, and technology. Todays customer driven company relies less on market manipulation and more on researching the customers desires and buying habits. In the end, it does not matter what you market, where you market it, whether it is a tangible good or a service, domestic or global, the basic marketing processes remain the same (Sandhusen, 2000, p.15). Thomas Eberling, CEO of pharmaceutical giant Novartis, insists that selling medicine is no different than selling soft drinks, and in his words, "[...] both require an in-depth knowledge of consumer behavior" (as cited in Capell, 2001). Understanding customer and market segment behavior is one of the most important elements of marketing. It requires understanding the segment as well as how they react as individuals. Behavior impacts profits and marketers employ extensive research to predict customer reaction to a product. Products that fail are often

Strategic management. read article then answer questions Essay

Strategic management. read article then answer questions - Essay Example This confounding hinders the fact that resource-based concept is only one of the various strategic logics within heterogeneous firms that leads to intra-industry performance differences. The influence of environments on company performance has been a key theme in strategy and has become a function of the fit between organizational structure and the environmental setting (Porter, 1996). Extrapolating this argument to inter-organizational level, researchers argue that the influence of network position on firm performance is controlled by the environmental context. Essential to the argument is that changes in the environment influence the nature of skills and capabilities needed for competitive advantage. Since network positions are crucial to firms in an attempt to acquire appropriate skills and capabilities, firms are compelled to strategically design their networks to acquire skills and capabilities in a changed environment. Nevertheless, any mismatch between needs of the environment and the firm’s position could have serious performance implications (Bingham and Eisenhardt, 2008). Position strategy has various advantages like constructing an impressive empire surrounding an attractive market that offers long-term competitive advantage. In addition, competitive advantage relies on valuable strategic position within an industry and linking the various resources to defend the position, since strategic positioning drives huge profitability (Peteraf, 1993). Often companies defend their position by combining resources that their competitors find difficult to imitate; therefore, position strategy links resources to successfully defend an organization from challengers. Nevertheless, like any strategy, the position strategy has its vulnerability factor which is change since when industries change relocating a business empire locked in a strategic position is tough. The weaknesses of this strategy include dismantling synergies in case of change that management wo rked hard to put in place and exposing the organization to risks in transition to a fresh strategy. Thus, change forces managers to dismantle their resources in position strategy and reassembling them in fresh strategic positions, which consumes time and potentially lethal because performance may stall until all pieces are reassembled (Siggelkow, 2001). Currently firms are leveraging on social media tools in an attempt to attract consumers to engage in their interactive online social environment (Shadkam and O'Hara, 2013). In environments of moderate change, leverage strategies outperform position strategies because change is incremental and conventional which ensures that managers rotate strategically important resources in the industry. Although position strategy bases on the empire analogy, leverage strategy resembles chess in that competitive advantage results from having valuable pieces and ensuring smart moves with the pieces. Organizations pursuing leveraging strategy attain competitive advantage through their strategically essential resources within the existing as well as new industries at a rate consistent with market change. For instance, Pepsi owns various strategically important resources; however, the company has leveraged the resources to

WAN intranet Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

WAN intranet - Research Paper Example Companies with remote locations have started preferring using intranet instead of conventional network configurations because it is easier navigating the intranet than a Local Area Network (LAN). Thus, LANs are being replaced by LANs in progressive organizations. The users login to an internal site to carry out organizational chores, much like using a website. An intranet is just like an organization’s isolated internet. For a company that has numerous remote locations that need to be connected to the private network, remote-access, also called a Virtual Private Network (VPN), is implemented which is actually a user-to LAN connection. When a company has to implement an enormous remote-access, like that of 100 locations, the VPN has to be contracted out with an Enterprise Service Provider (ESP). This ESP will set up a network access server and will deliver desktop client software to the users at all the hundred remote locations, who then install it on their computers. This will be called the VPN client software. The users will then dial up a call to connect to a local Point of Presence (POP) of the ESP to eventually access the network access server and will use their VPN client software to get connected to the company’s private network after having themselves authenticated to the VPN server, where they can share the centralized database, carry out their web business, web meetings, and transfer information. The users are also able to access the centralized database because the installed intranet server enables fast and reliable access to database records by removing the need to replicate databases for separate clients at remote locations (Knight et al., 2005). VPN client is the calling router and the VPN server is the answering router. The VPN client software makes possible a safe and encrypted link between the company’s network and all the hundred remote locations via an intermediary third party. This connection is

If the Earth Were a Village Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

If the Earth Were a Village - Essay Example In terms of my racial background and how it has affected my social life, I had always thought that race didn’t hold much sway in constructing who I am, but I would be naà ¯ve if I didn’t believe that this influences other peoples opinions of me. It is the case that in this society many people still view race as an important indicator of social status. Whilst it does not matter to me I cannot say with certain it has not affected how others think of me. In terms of how my religious background has affected my life, it is the case that this has exposed me to a number of people in my social circle. As I had regularly attended mass and many after church services, I have met many people who I generally consider to share many of the same values as myself. Furthermore through catechism I have met many friends who come from very different backgrounds but also share many of the same values as me. In this regard I feel I have been very lucky with meeting lots of friendly people throughout my life. However in many respects this could be considered troublesome insofar as through these outlets I have really only been exposed to people with similar vales as myself, and with an increasingly multicultural society I can definitely see the value in meeting more people from different backgrounds with different values.

Aural and spatial elements Essay Example for Free

Aural and spatial elements Essay Wertenbaker uses simple and minimalistic production design and uses her actors as her main resource to convey meaning and character especially as they are playing different gender or changing between convict and officer characters throughout. The few props are used to clarify meaning and are important in their own right along with costumes and set. She uses language and music to communicate with the audience and to create a specific atmosphere. Wertenbaker uses the movement or gestures of a character to emphasise a point or show character’s relationships. An example of this is Sideway in the first rehearsal, the stage direction â€Å"walking sideways, arms held high in a grandiose eighteenth century pose† this reinforces the idea of how uneducated the convicts are, as the audience can see Sideway has never seen a theatre production just has an idea of what it would be like. An example where gesture is used to communicate character’s relationships is in Act 1 scene 7 where Harry and Duckling are rowing, the stage directions for Duckling are â€Å"remains morose† and â€Å"doesn’t turn around† these are hostile actions as Harry is desperately trying to get her attention â€Å" Why don’t you look Duckling. † The audience can see that their relationship is unstable. The way Wertenbaker positions her characters on the stage is important in communicating status and character such as in Act 1 scene 11 when Major Ross and Captain Campbell enter, the convicts â€Å"slink away and sink down. † This shows that the convicts are afraid of the officers and they try and get as far away as possible from Robbie and become inconspicuous. The beginning scene has important use of positing, the convict are â€Å"huddled together in semi-darkness. † This gives an idea of how horrible the conditions were for the convicts during transportation. The officers are on deck above the convicts and in better conditions again showing status. This idea is kept throughout the play but gradually changes as the production of the convict’s play takes effect . Costume is used to communicate character, Governor Arthur Phillip’s costume would be grander and more decorative than the other officers and he has a higher status. The convicts would be wearing similar clothes but all slightly different such as Mary’s which would be covering her and suppressing her femininity because she feels guilty about what happened on the ship â€Å"I would have been less of a whore†. Sideway’s clothes would be over the top to show his flamboyant personality . All the costumes also have to be simple to allow quick costume changes as the actors multi-role. Wertenbaker’s set is very simple with only a few props. This is done to represent the bareness of Australia and how they have to create a new colony but have arrived with hardly anything. The set is also kept simple because there are 22 scenes and a complex set would take too long to change each time and therefore slow down the pace of the piece. Props are used sparsely but are very important in showing character’s situations. Example of this are the whipping equipment need in act 1 scene 1, they are used to clearly show the audience how the convicts were treated on the ships and the punishments. The play book is used throughout the play when the convicts are rehearing or talking about the play as this is one of the main themes of Our Country’s Good , however not many other books are used and this emphasises that the convict are uneducated and many can’t read. Ralph’s dairy and the picture of his wife are important props in showing his character. Ralph idolises his wife as something pure â€Å"I might kiss your picture as usual. † He uses his diary to write his thoughts showing he doesn’t feel he can talk to the other officers and is disturbed with the new land and behaviour of the convicts and officers. Food is mention throughout the play â€Å"if I was rich, I’d eat myself sick† but it is never used as a prop this highlights the lack of food in the colony. Wertenbaker uses gun shot sound effects at the beginning of the play in scene 3 Act 1, as the officers are shooting birds this reminds the audience that they have just arrived on a new land and are already destroying its nature and wildlife. The other sound effect Wertenbaker specifies in the play is drumming which occurs at the end In the last scene as the convicts go on stage, this symbolise a parade that a new colony might give as celebration. It also creates excitement for the play. The triumphant music of Beethoven’s fifth symphony is played at the very end as an introduction to The Recruiting Officer, this makes the audience happy and excited and reflects what the convicts would be feeling at that time. Other music Wertenbaker may want to be used during the play, especially the aboriginal scenes is didgeridoo music as this is a native instrument to Australia. The Language Wertenbaker uses shows character, an example of this is Liz’s monologue in Act 2 scene 2 where she use lots of slang â€Å"born under a ha’penny planet† this shows the audience she is uneducated. In contrast to Liz, Arthur is very educated and we can see this due to the literary and historical reverences he mentions when backing up an argument â€Å"In the Meno, one of Plato’s great dialogues. † This is a way that difference in education shows the split between convicts and officers. Language is also used to show change in characters, for example at the beginning Wisehammer is rough and has no hope for the future â€Å"alone, frightened, nameless in this sinking hole of hell†, however as the play progresses we actually see him as being one of the more educated convicts. â€Å"Abject: a man without hope. † In the last scene we see him thinking of the future and with restored hope â€Å"I’ll write a play about justice. † Our Country’s Good would be more suitable for a proscenium arch stage because it communicates the bareness of the new land as no-one is on the other side unlike a transverse stage. Wertenbaker wanted to use a cyclorama to symbolise Australia and this would need to be upstage and therefore would work best in proscenium as it has a back wall. The third reason is the convicts and officers could easily be separated and shown in their groups and more easily commutate status and power. The lighting is very important in staging the play. The lighting would of be harsh blues and yellows to represent the climate of Australia. This lighting is the most effective way of making the audience aware of the different climate and habitat of Australia and how hard it was for the convicts and officers to adapt to the change. The lighting would also be used to show night and day as some of the scenes are during the night, this would create an atmosphere for the piece. Wertenbaker chose to create an obviously theatrical piece of drama instead of a piece of realism because she wanted the audience to see the social message the play contained, how drama can reform and educate people. A theatrical piece is the most effective way to do this as it allows both the actors and audience to see the story from both sides of the colony due to the multi-rolling actors.

Food Safety Management Strategies

Food Safety Management Strategies Food Issues Abstract The following essay on food safety will discuss about the importance of food safety and why governments and food standards agency now a days focus on the devastating consequences of food borne illness and diseases. It will deal with food poisoning and its risks. Apart from it the most common types of pathogens (salmonella, e coli, and campylobacter) have been mentioned describing the outbreaks. The main thing is that all the above-mentioned things have been explained here with a focus on the food safety management. Some of the tools such as irradiation and specially HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) to support hospitality management have also occupied some space here with its importance. As a final point, it has been thought to be practical to examine the solution with recommendations for practical adoption for the hospitality industry to deal with the complexity and cost of the above food safety management tools Introduction The world is full of various kinds of problems and it is true that everyday efforts are made to find out solution to these problems and some of them are sorted out too. Among the issues concerned directly with the human survival, which are posing a very big challenge in front of the world, one is the issue of food safety. According to Nestle 2004, food ‘poisonings, causing death, raise alarm not only about the food served in restaurants and fast-food outlets but also about the food bought in supermarkets. Consumers, industries as well governments are together taking food safety as a serious issue. There is a saying â€Å"health is wealth† and any carelessness which may cause food poisoning or any problem like this may lead to a very fatal consequence, so it becomes essential to take necessary food safety measures. To make sure food is safe to eat the Food Standards Agency carries out a range of work, including funding research on chemical, microbiological and radiologica l safety, as well as food hygiene and allergy.. As Griffths 2000 says, the food chain, like any other chain, is only as strong as its weakest link and the responsibility for food safety lies not only with producers and processors of food, but also governments and consumers themselves. Food Poisoning its risks Food is essential to life but if contaminated can cause illness and even death. But fortunately only in a minority of cases the latter happened although there is social and economic consequences associated with the millions of cases of food related illness. The WHO definition embraces all food and waterborne illness regardless of the presenting symptoms and includes â€Å"any disease of an infectious or toxic nature caused by, or thought to be cause by, the consumption of food or water† (Griffith 2006). Food borne disease therefore includes illness caused by various chemical, physical or microbiological hazards, which may be present in food or water. Anything that interferes with the safe foods is a food hazard (Hemminger, 2000) which can be present in the product that can cause harm to the consumer either through illness. Biological hazards include food borne infection which occurs eating something with live germs inside them. On the other hand it also consists of food intoxication occurring when a person eats something with bacteria- produced poisons that wont be killed by heating. The agents causing these food infections are bacteria, toxins, virus, parasites and fungi. Current food trends reveal that more and more frequently today we buy pre-prepared ready-to eat convenience foods, dine out in restaurants and cafà ©s, prefer fresh over frozen products and have a growing demand for foods of animal origin. While this gives us many new choices in the food we eat, this vast selection of foods we expect to be available to us â€Å"now† has possibly created a greater risk of bacterial food poisoning. Germs or bacteria grow in the food themselves when people dont store it properly or handle with care. Even in the fridge, the food may get bacteria. Food poisoning bacteria are often present naturall y in food but usually only in small numbers. However, given the right conditions their numbers can increase extremely quickly, so that 1 single bacteria could multiply to over 16 million in only 6 hours. This is where the food poisoning problem begins. As Eley 1996 says, some food poisoning is of mild level and some is strong level. Accordingly the food affects the human body and causes health problems while sometimes it result to be fatal too. For food poisoning to occur there must be bacteria or their toxin present in the food. Secondly the food must be suitable for organisms growth. There must be right conditions of warmth and moisture for the bacteria to grow while with sufficient tome for bacteria to grow and multiply. Adding above all there must be enough bacteria or their toxin present to cause present to cause illness and the food should be consumed. This is commonly called the food poisoning chain which is diagrammed below. (resources.ccc.govt.nz) Food Poisoning Bacteria Contaminate High Risk Foods . HIGH RISK FOODS Common Pathogens (in the Hospitality Industry) The three principle food poisoning pathogens that are dealt with that might affect the hospitality industries are Salmonella, E-coli and Campylobacter. Salmonella is usually heard of in the catering industry with reference to chicken and eggs. Some pets like birds and turtles also carry this Salmonella. The most appalling thing about it is that it can even go into the lymph tracts, which are known for tracking water and protein to the blood, and the blood itself. Thus it may cause some serious complications too. The main symptoms associated with the disease salmonellasis are fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, and headache. Time frame lasts for 12-36 hrs normally 4-7 days. The prevention could be to chill food quickly, using pasteurized milk and egg products. Raw and cooked cross-contamination should be avoided and equipment should be sanitized properly. Escherichia coli (E. coli) belong to the host of bacterial germs and is mainly found in beef. However, its dangerous relative, E.Coli 0157 H7, only appeared in the 1970s, perhaps coevolving in Argentina or Chile, two cattle raising countries with a high meat diet. E Coli 0157 is a mutant form which lives in the intestines of some cattle, sheep and goats but is not naturally found in the intestines of man but it can produce toxins which can be very fatal even if ingested in small amounts. It was first recognised as a pathogen in 1982 as a result of outbreak of unusual gastrointestinal illness. The illness was traced to contaminated hamburgers and it was similar to the other outbreaks in Japan and America. Among other known sources of infection are eating of vegetables like sprouts, lettuce, salami,unpasteurized milk and juice, and swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water. In September 2006, there was an outbreak of food-borne illness caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria found in uncooked spinach in 26 U.S. states. By October 06, 2006 199 people had been infected, including three people who died and 31 who suffered a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome[3] after eating spinach contaminated with the E. coli O157:H7. A subsequent outbreak, in November-December 2006, was initially attributed to green onions served by two restaurant chains — Taco Bell and Taco Johns — but later was determined to have been caused by prepackaged iceberg lettuce. Overall, at least 276 consumer illnesses and 3 deaths have been attributed to the tainted produce. (en.wikipedia.org) Among the most recent outbreaks of E Coli 0157 in U.K. was in August 2009 which lead to severe illness in a number of visitors to Godstone Farm in Surrey. It was reported by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) that the total number of cases of E Coli O157 linke d to Godstone Farm in Surrey is 86 ( www.ecoli-uk.com). Campylobacter bacteria differ from E.Coli and Salmonella as it is a food-borne pathogen, as opposed to a food poisoning pathogen and is transmitted by food. In contrast with food poisoning bacteria it does not develop and multiply in food. However only a few bacteria are required to cause illness, with the food acting as the vehicle of transmission. This bacteria is found on poultry, cattle, and sheep can contaminate meat and milk of these animals. Symptoms occur are severe vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps and prostration. Time frame is usually 2-4hrs and lasts for 2-3 days. This can be prevented by keeping hot food and cold food cold while washing hands properly. Appendix A provides the various causes and symptoms of the pathogens that can impact on the hospitality industry. FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT TOOLS Food Irradiation its costs Food irradiation is a processing technique that exposes food to electron beams, X-rays or gamma rays, and produces a similar effect to pasteurization, cooking or other forms of heat treatment, but with less effect on look and texture (www.food.gov.uk). It is used to kill bacteria listed above like Salmonella, Ecoli, and campylobacter. Irradiation stops vegetables such as onions and potatoes from sprouting and also delays fruit ripening. Generally beams of radiation are passed into food transferring energy which kills the bacteria. It can prevent the division of microorganisms which cause food spoilage, such as bacteria and moulds, by changing their molecular structure. Any food process will add cost which In most cases just dont rise just because a product has been treated. Many variables affect it ,one of them is the cost of processing. Irradiation costs range from US $10 to $15 per tonne for a low-dose application (for example, to inhibit the growth of sprouts in potatoes and onions) to US $100 to $250 per tonne for a high-dose application. The cost to build a commercial cobalt-60 food irradiation plant is in the range of US $3 million to $5 million, depending on its size, processing capacity, and other factors but this is within the range of plant cost for other technologies (www.iaea.org). Often the capital costs of irradiation equipment are seen as too expensive, even though low operating costs for most products make per unit costs very competitive with other treatments. Commercial contract multipurpose irradiators work in many countries offering irradiation services at reasonable cost. Since irradiation gives the added economic benefit of lon g-lasting fresh market life for many foods, decreased waste and increased market potential of the food should be considered in a cost-benefit analysis. Implementation of HACCP its costs HACCP is a systematic approach to be used in food production as a means to assure food safety (Corlett Pierson 1992). (Appendix B provides the seven principles). But according to Mayes Martimore, 2005 â€Å"absolute safety is absolutely unattainable, but effective HACCP implementation is the surest way of delivering safe food†. If implemented properly (Appendix C), there are benefits in the area of product quality which is primarily due to the increased awareness of hazards in general and people participation from all areas of operation. While on the other hand if HACCP is not properly applied then it may not result in an effective control system. This may be due to improperly trained or untrained personnel not following the principles correctly or it may be through lack of maintenance of the HACCP system. HACCP is carried out by people. If the people are not properly experienced and trained then the resulting HACCP system is likely to be ineffective and unsound (Mortimore Wallace 1998). Small and Medium sized enterprise (SMEs) rarely have the skills, knowledge or resources needed to develop and implement a HACCP programme. This is where the use of internal or external expert consultants can be a good way of getting started. But it is also debated that the SMEs might lack the internal resources to organize the training themselves and the financial resources to use an external training provider. Naturally the larger the company the smaller the percentage and so it makes it more difficult and costly for small businesses to implement HACCP which will need the services of external consultants as they can not afford full time staff. Another major issue related to the implementation of HACCP is its costs which come from staff training, investing in new equipment, external consultancy service, structural changes to buildings and employing new staffs. Not only has the cost of HACCP for hospitality industry depended on the requirements of the system but also on the improvement of the current status of the food safety-related practices in the company. It is better to acknowledge that there will be an investment in order to reap the benefits of HACCP. How much will depend on its available resources within the organization and what training is needed. However accurate estimation of benefits and costs prior to implementation is difficult and should be based on actual experience. Conclusion To sum up it is seen that food borne illness is always at a high in some countries. Whilst it is difficult to predict events, strategies and research in the future are likely to recognise not only the importance of food safety management systems, but the role of individuals, working with their peers and superiors, within a business food safety culture. It is understood that this actively involves the businesses and managers themselves and they must consider the active and unconscious food safety messages they communicate to their employees. Failure to do so might result in high volume of food borne illness in some day among ourselves. Recommendations for Hospitality Industry The following recommendations were being suggested that can be applied to the hospitality industry. * Hospitality Industries must follow the four basic steps to reduce food borne diseases Clean: Washing hands and surfaces often Separate: Dont cross- contaminate Cook: Cooking to proper temperature Chill: Refrigerating properly * Realistic guidance should be provided to the caterers to identify the hazards present and deal with the complexity of HACCP. It must reflect the working conditions of hospitality operations and be produced by professional caterers with operational experience. It must deal with all the possible hazards involved in producing food for immediate consumption, from the source to the customers plate. * Effective training should be given to the senior management, the HACCP team and team leader and other production staff which will develop awareness and motivation as well as provide technical and practical knowledge. It should not be an classroom activity but an ongoing programme in the workplace. * To deal with the complexity of HACCP, proper documentation should be made of the hazards together with the critical control points in order to make it safe, which in turn will allow chefs to see HACCP as useful and easy to apply. * A base line audit of training requirements, researching the available resources and then drafting a casted training plan can be made. From the total of these costs and a comparison with the annual sales of food and beverage a percentage will be found that is what is the percentage of food and beverage sales which needs to be spent on a HACCP system. Based on the above percentage managers could implement a strategy for menu pricing to cover up the cost. * Finally developing and distributing clear guidelines to the food service mangers in the event of a suspected food borne illness outbreak will improve food safety within the hospitality industry. Bibliography Corlett, Jr. A. D and Pierson, D. M. (1992). Haccp: Principles and applications. Chapman Hall: London. Eley, A. R. (1996), Microbial food poisoning, 2nd edition, Chapman Hall, London, pp. 200 Griffiths, O. A. (2001). Haccp works: Integrated Food Safety Management for Food Business. Highfield publication: Doncaster. Hemminger, M. J. (2000). Food Safety: A guide to what you really need to know. Blackweel publishing:U.S. Mayes, T. and Mortimore, S. (2001), Making the most of HACCP: Learning from others experience, Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge. Nestle, M. (2003) Safe Food:bacteria, biotechnology and bioterroisism. University of California press: London. Wallace, C. and Mortimore, S. (1994). Haccp: a pratical approach. Chapman Hall: London. Griffith, J. C. (2006). Food Safety:where from and where to? British Food Journal 108 (1),pp 6-15. Available at http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewPDF.jsp?contentType=ArticleFilename=html/Output/Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Pdf/0701080101.pdf (Accessed: 18th Nov 2009) Food Irradiation . Retrieved from http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/rad_in_food/irradfoodqa/ at 10 pm on 20th Nov,2009 Food Irradiation .Retieved from www.iaea.org/nafa/d5/public/foodirradiation.pdf at 11pm on 19th Nov,2009 E Coli. Retrieved from http://www.ecoli-uk.com/news.php at 8pm on 15th Nov,2009 E Coli Outbreaks. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_North_American_E._coli_outbreak on 15th Nov, 2009 Food Poisoning. Retrieved from resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/FoodPoisoning-healthsafety.pdf on 11th Nov,2009 Food Borne Illness. Retrieved from http://www.fightbac.org/content/view/11/18/ on 9th Nov,2009

Care for Post Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Care for Post Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Assessment for the care of patient with respiratory problem  following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft 3 vessels disease and Mitral Valve Repair Introduction This essay examines a case study of a male patient with a complex history who has undergone elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and suffered a number of recovery complications. Coronary artery disease is a common pathology in the Western population, perhaps due to lifestyle and dietary factors, including lack of exercise and smoking. The case history will be examined in the light of nursing care and current theoretical knowledge, looking at the individual needs of the patient and the potential interventions which could be employed to address this patient’s emergent and ongoing condition. Nursing care at any stage, critical, acute or chronic, must be an holistic process which takes into account all of the social, physiological, psycholological, emotional and spiritual needs of the person. Given the critical state of this individual’s health, however, some needs can be identified as more urgent that others. The case history will demonstrate the predominant needs of this patient as those connected with his respiratory function and status, and therefore while all aspects of the case will be considered, considerable attention will be paid to his respiratory needs, treatments and potential outcomes. The focus is on nursing care, which must address the emergent clinical picture whilst considering long term, mid term and short term outcomes in a client-centred context. Discussion The patient, who shall be called Mr S to protect confidentiality, was admitted on June 6th for an elective coronary artery bypass graft procedure, plus a Mitral Valve Repair. According to UHC (2007) a coronary artery bypass graft (CAB or CABG) is a surgical procedure in which a healthy blood vessel is transplanted from another part of the body into the heart to replace or bypass a diseased vessel. In this case, it is the treatment of choice for the patient whose history of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease made him a prime candidate for corrective surgery. Coronary artery disease is defined as the failure of the coronary arteries to deliver oxygen and fuels for myocardial work (Emery and Pearson, 1998). Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of myocardial infarction (Emery and Pearson, 1998). According to STS (2007), mitral valve repair is an open heart procedure which aims to treat stenosis or regurgitation of the mitral valve, which is the inflow valve for the left side of the heart. In normal physiology, blood flows from the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, and into the heart through the mitral valve (STS, 2007). When it opens, the mitral valve allows blood to flow into the left ventricle, which then closes to keep blood from leaking back into the lungs when the ventricle contracts to pump blood into the systemic circulation (STS, 2007). In this case, mitral regurgitation has been diagnosed, which is probably consequential to Mr S’s ischaemic heart disease (Emery and Pearson, 1998). The patient history includes the following: post lateral MI treated with thrombolysis; shortness of breath on exertion; treatment with GTN; hypertensive disease; raised cholesterol; smoker (80-100 cigarettes a day, stopped smoking in 2000); umbilical hernia repair; removal of a benign growth on the thyroid gland; left ankle oedema; distal varicosities to the left extremity. Mr S is allergic to penicillin, overweight at 115kg and has been treated for the health consequences of his lifestyle for some time. Mr S underwent the procedure as planned, with the standard postoperative care. On return to the ward from theatre he was initially on synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation, which is a system that was developed as a method of partial ventilatory support to facilitate liberation from mechanical ventilation (CCM, 2007). In this system, a demand valve is located within the system through which patients can take spontaneous breaths, without having to breathe through the ventilator apparatus, allowing the patient to breathe spontaneously while also receiving mandatory breaths (CCM, 2007). As the patient’s respiratory function improves, the number of mandatory breaths is decreased, until the patient is breathing unassisted on continuous positive airways pressure (CCM, 2007). Non invasive forms of ventilatory support have been found to be associated with improved patient outcomes (Peter et al, 2002), in a range of acute respiratory conditions including acute respiratory fail ure. Mr S was extubated after ten hours, placed on high flow oxugen via face mask at 50%, but PA02 was only 7 with quiet lung bases on auscultation, leading to the introduction of WCPAP, with a PEEP of 7.5. He was coughing but not expectorating, and developed a number of other postoperative complications which are listed below. His CVP was on 24mmhg and stable within that range. Blood Pressure went down to 80/50 mmHg, treated with gelofusion with no response. noradrenaline was started 07mic/kg/min Frusemide 20mg /hr with good effect; on the second day urine outputtailed off to 60-70ml/hr so the frusemide was increased in 40mg/hr with good effect. Urine output increased to a ratoe of 120-150mls/hr. Mr S has has 3 chest drains: mediastinal, pleural and pericardial . Mr S is ventricularly paced at around 90 beats, with an underlying bradycardia of 44 beats /min. Blood results: urea was 4.4 on the first day, 8.3 day two post-op; creatinene was initially 102, then 164, and on the third day it was 280. Noradrenaline was used, followed by some attempt to wean MR S of this level of support, but the MAP was not stable and could not be kept at 70, and so noradrenaline recommenced. Plans for discharge were postponed due to the WCPAP, the renal complications and the blood pressure issues. Mr S was had an Epidural with plain levopuvicaine at 5mls per hourincreased to 8 mls because of pain on movement; in addition to this he had a PCA (which was being used minimally), and regular Cocodamol. As can be seen, Mr S’s condition is quite serious with a range of complications from the surgery related to his postoperative recovery. Given than cardiac surgery has been performed and there are issues with maintaining blood pressure and cardiac rhythm, the two appear to be connected. Low cardiac output due to arrythmias are of some concern, and so all observations should be closely monitored. The area of concern for this essay, however, is the area of the respiratory complications, but brief mention will be made of the nursing considerations of the other aspects of his condition Nursing care focusing on his pain relief should include regular pain management, assessment of pain scores and sedation levels, and hourly pump checks on the epidural infusion and the PCA. These should be documented contemporaneously and comprehensively, and this information should be used for ongoing care planning, evaluation and communication with colleagues. Monitoring of intravenous infusions should include checking the IV site and cannula for patency or any signs of inflammation, checking that all the infusion lines are connected, and the pumps are set at the correct rate. Fluid balance should be recorded on the appropriate chart at the appropriate hourly intervals. The colour and consistency of the urine should also be noted. Fluid management is important in respiratory disease because excess fluid intake is prone to leak through the capillary membranes into the lung tissues (Peters, 1998). Vital observations should be recorded as specified by the medical and cardiothoracic teams. Pressure area care should be carried out, nutritional status should be monitored, and responses to medications noted. All medications should be administered as charted. Further to this, the chest drains must be observed, insertion sites assessed for signs of infection, and temperature monitored for signs of systemic responses to infection. The drain contents must be included in the fluid balance measurements, and must also be reported to the doctors, and observed for signs of haemorrhage. The drains must be kept off the floor but below the level of insertion of the tubing, to prevent the contents tracking back up towards the body, which would increase the risk of infection. For this reason, if Mr S is moved at any time or repositioned, or during procedures such as bedmaking and attending to hygiene needs, the tubing of all three drains should be clamped for the duration of the activity and then unclamped again afterwards. In addition to this, Mr S appears to need considerable respiratory support. The literature shows that satisfactory oxygenation can generally be achieved in most patients by the use of continuous positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask with a PEEP valve of 5-10 cm of water. However, it has become apparent that Mr S cannot be safely weaned from this as yet. One option to consider would be NPPV, which is a treatment which has evolved from CPAP (Peters, 1998). It has been found to be very effective in providing ventilatory support for patients with respiratory disorders, particularly long term and in the home setting (Peters, 1998). This might be one option which could support Mr S in being discharged from the intensive care facility. Positioning and physical support to maintain this are also important (Peters, 1998). Therefore, Mr S should be nursed upright or semi-upright, well supported by pillows, but giving due consideration to pressure area care. Thorens et al (1995) suggest that the quality of nursing seems to be a measurable and importantfactor in the weaning from mechanical ventilation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While Mr S’s condition is not COPD, many aspects of his symptoms and, obviously, the environment in which he is being nursed, are similar to those described in this study by Thorens et al (1995). They suggest that below a threshold in the available workforce of ICU nurses, the weaning duration of patients from ventilation and other forms of mechanical ventilatory support increases dramatically (Thorens et al, 1995). Therefore, very close attention should be given to the education and number of ICU nurses (THorens et al, 1995), which in this instance could be vie wed from a managerial point of view, in ensuring that the appropriately skilled and experienced nurses are those allocated to the care of Mr S, and that his case should be seen as a priority. Addressing Mr S’s emotional and psychological needs are also important. While it is an extremely invasive and potentially life threatening procedure, coronary artery bypass graft surgery and mitral valve repair surgery are associated with positive patient outcomes(Moshkovitz et al, 1993). This was also an elective rather than an emergency procedure. This may mean that Mr S was not necessarily expecting such a problematic recovery period and so will need support adjusting to this. The same could be said for his family and carers, who would perhaps be somewhat shocked to find him still in a relatively serious condition. The support mechanisms available to him should be assessed, and it should be factored into the nursing care plan that time (often the most precious resource available to nurses) is allocated to him to ensure that he has amply opportunity to communicate with the staff. Communication difficulties may be associated with his condition, state of mind, level of conscio usness and the use of CPAP, and these must be taken into consideration. Wong et al (1999) discuss risk factors of delayed extubation and prolonged intensive care unit length of stay, which suggest that such occurrences are associated with higher levels of morbidity and longer periods of recovery. Whether this is due to the nature of the underlying condition, or the nature of the environment (or both), cannot be determined. However, it would appear that it is in Mr S’s best interests to be facilitated towards a level of wellness along the illness-wellness spectrum that is sufficient to warrant his discharge from the intensive care unit. It might be appropriate to consider different medication regimes, or to allow the physiological systems of his body more time to adjust to his postoperative recovering state. Another potential action might be to remove the epidural and encourage Mr S to use the PCA more appropriately, to support his pain control as a self-managed phenomenon, and to encourage a move towards increased independence, mobility and generally improved health. There is a degree of motor block evident from the epidural. Epidurals are also associated with low blood pressure, so this might be a factor in Mr S’s condition. The epidural would need to be removed under aseptic technique, and a small dressing placed over the site. The tip of the epidural catheter must be checked to make sure it is complete, and this noted in the patient’s records. Close monitoring of the patient’s blood pressure following this might allow the nurse to assess whether this has had a positive effect on Mr S’s blood pressure. Similarly, if Mr S is more mobile and able to move a little more independently, this might increase cardiac output and improve blood pressure. He is at considerable risk of post-operative thrombosis, in particular deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and so mobilisation will be a key factor in his recovery and in preventing these complications. Hannan et al (2003) found that post-operative recovery from coronary artery bypass graft surgery can be adversely effected if the patient suffers from 6 or more comorbidities. Given his medical history, it is unsurprising that Mr S finds himself not recovering as quickly as potentially possible, and so it is important to maximise all opportunities to promote recovery and health. The use of low molecular weight heparin as a prophylaxis against deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism is common in post-operative care, and is likely to be used here. However, there is a serious consequence of anti-coagulant therapy, which is the incre ased risk of haemorrhage, and so this again will need to be monitored for very carefully. Stanley et al (2002) suggest that neurocognitive decline is a continuing source of morbidity after cardiac surgery. This may be associated with cardiac arrythmias (Stanley et al, 2002). Mr S’s underlying bradycardia may then be a contributory factor in his long-term prognosis and this is why such intensive cardio-pulmonary support is warranted. Neurocognitive dysfunction is common after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (Stanley et a, 2002), and so assessments of this should form part of the ongoing care and monitoring of his condition. The pacemaker will also be monitored for functionality, and heart rhythm observed. Any changes will be assessed by the cardiothoracic team and any improvements towards normal rhythm noted. It is also important for nurses to consider multidisciplinary team input as a part of interprofessional working and client-centred care. For example, some research has demonstrated that a multidisciplinary approach to weaning from mechanical ventilation has been associated with greatly improved outcomes in the short and long term (Smyrnios et al, 2002). Mr S, given his condition, would be a prime candidate for pulmonary physiotherapy, which has been argued by some to be useful in the recovery process. Given the respiratory assessment findings, this may be used. However, the usefulness of respiratory physiotherapy for the prevention of pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery remains unproved(Pasquina et al, 2003). Therefore it would need to be a collaborative decision in conjunction with the consultant in charge of Mr S’s case. Conclusion This examination of Mr S’s case and history has demonstrated that he is suffering from a number of post operative complications associated with his surgical status, his past medical history and the range of comorbidities he is suffering. The diagnosis of his current condition must remain the area of responsibility of the doctors who are in chargeof his case. However, nursing interventions are a vital component of his care and potential for recovery. While doctors may diagnose and prescribe, it is the nursing staff who assess, monitor, administer therapies, and engage in the majority of prophylactic activities to support optimal return to wellness. This essay has also considered the need for an holistic approach to Mr S, viewing him as a person in the context of his own life rather than simply a set of conditions which much be treated and hopefully, resolved. However, the nature of his condition is serious, and until the cardiac and respiratory function issues are resolved, there is very little that can be done other than to support him and his body systems to continue to function, whilst engaging in nursing activities aimed at minimising further complications from his continued dependent and unwell state. There are a number of actions that can be taken, including pressure area care, fluid management, engagement with the multidisciplinary team, and pain management, all of which can contribute to supportive a positive prognosis for Mr S. However, he continues to require intensive nursing care until such time as he is able to be weaned off the CPAP and the noradrenaline which is helping to maintain the blood pressure. Until that time, all his needs will continue to be met by 24 hour intensive nursing care. References CCM (2007) http://www.ccmtutorials.com/rs/mv/page7.htm Emery, C. and Pearson, S. (1998) Managing coronary artery disease. In: Shuldham, C. (1998) Cardiorespiratory Nursing Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes. Hannan, E.L., Racz, M.J., Walford, G. et al (2003) Predictors of Readmission for Complications of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery JAMA. 290 773-780. Moschovitz, Y., Lusky, A. and Mohr, R. (1995) Coronary artery bypass without cardiopulmonary bypass: analysis of short-term and mid-term outcome in 220 patients. Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 110:979-987. Pasquina, P., Tramer, M.R. and Walder, B. (2003) Prophylactic respiratory physiotherapy after cardiac surgery: systematic review British Medical Journal 327:1379 Peter, J.V., Moran, J.L., Phillips-Hughes, J. and Warn, D. (2002) Noninvasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure- A meta-analysis update. Critical Care Medicine. 30(3) 555-562. Peters: R. (1998) Respiratory failure: Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome In: Shuldham, C. (1998) Cardiorespiratory Nursing Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes. Shuldham, C. (1998) Cardiorespiratory Nursing Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes. Smyrnios, N.A., Connolly, A., Wilson, M.M. et al (2002) Effects of a multifaceted, multidisciplinary, hospital-wide quality improvement program on weaning from mechanical ventilation. Critical Care Medicine. 30(6) 1224-1230. Stanley, T.O., Mackensen, G.B., Brocott, H.P. et al (2002) The Impact of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation on Neurocognitive Outcome After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. Anesthesia and Analgesia 94 290-295. STS (2007) http://www.sts.org/doc/410 Accessed 28-6-07 Thorens, J.B., Kaelin, R.M., Rainer, M. et al (1995) Influence of the quality of nursing on the duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Critical Care Medicine. 23(11) 1807-1815. UHC (2007) http://healthcare.utah.edu/healthinfo/adult/cardiac/glossary.htm Accessed 28-6-07 Wong, D.T., Davy, C., Kustra, R. et al (1999) Risk Factors of Delayed Extubation, Prolonged Length of Stay in the Intensive Care Unit, and Mortality in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft with Fast-track Cardiac Anesthesia: A New Cardiac Risk Score. Anesthesiology. 91(4) 936. Woods, S.L, Froelicher, E.S.S. and Motzer, S.U. (2000) Cardiac Nursing Philadelphia: Lippincott.

The Loss of Freedom in Modern America Essay -- Argumentative Persuasiv

The Loss of Freedom in Modern America    Society exists in two realms: public and private.   Thousands of years ago, the public realm was clearly defined as the political arena, where men interacted one with another, and the private realm dwelled among the work and labor of man.   The progression from ancient Greece to modern day society has blurred the defining line between the two due to the increasing influence of money.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Greek society, the public realm was a place of action: a place to achieve freedom.   As time progressed, wealth increased among individuals, making it less defined.   These changes blurred the division between public and private realms because the public realm became controlled by wealth.   This forced many out of the public realm and into the private realm, making it more difficult to achieve freedom.   Simultaneously, individual thinking led to an increase in knowledge about the world in general, leading to disproving what man commonly accepted as fact until that point.   Now freedom was no longer as easily attainable and man's necessity for freedom merged into the private realm of work and labor.   Therefore as the society progressed, individuality decreased and public and private realms were not as distinctly separable as they once were.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In today's society, this blurred definition of what is necessary and free and how it is obtained is observed in modern America.   Over the years, politics in general are no longer a public arena where every man can achieve freedom.   In America, there is a representative democracy, in which the people elect represent... ... loss of individuality in the public realm and the increase in conformity in society has led to some extreme expressions of desires for freedom.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, society was at one time clearly defined by public and private realms.   The first was a place to achieve individual freedom while the other was a way to obtain basic human necessities through work and labor.   Throughout the ages, there has been a progressive diminishment of the definition between these two realms of society due to the increasing influence of wealth on the public realm.   As a result, individuals have become frustrated, for they can no longer achieve freedom in the public realm.   Now, they result to extreme forms of expression to achieve their necessity of freedom in the hybrid society where public and private realms coexist.

The Once and Future King Guenever Essay -- essays research papers

The Once and Future King Description of Guenever   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Guenever is one whose personality and appearance fluctuates often during the course of her life. The facts that she fell in love with someone other than her husband and that she never bore a child contributes greatly to these abrupt and drastic changes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The description of Guenever as a young wife is one with deep, clear blue eyes, which almost beheld a sort of fearlessness which was startling, as was her black hair. Although Gwen was quite fond of her husband, she found herself taken a fancy to the young knight, Lancelot. She admired his broken face and found herself falling in love. She loved both Lance and Arthur. She felt respect with gratitude, kindness, love and a sense of protection, but there was no romance felt in her relationship with the King.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gwen is said to have been clumsy when under pressure and lacking knowledge to ache or swell, selfishness indecently exposed, an inability to settle down, pert arguments on abstract subjects and a lack of exof the world. Like most 22 year olds, it was stated that Guenever had a chaos of the mind and body, a confusion and profusion of beliefs and hopes, the ability to be transported by the beauty of physical objects, a heart perience as to when truth should be suppressed in deference to the middle aged. On top of these, there were the broad and yet uncertain lines of her personal charact...

Personal goal and professional goal Essay

Submit a statement that discusses your career goals, as well as the factors that led you to select the Mid-Career MPA program as a means of furthering your personal and professional goals. Be as specific as possible in describing how your expected course of study will enable you to build on your prior professional experience and achieve these goals (750 word limit). Economic development and welfare of the people are the natural fit with my personality traits from my childhood which allowed me to choose the highest level of Federal Civil Service Examination of India and got selected in this merit based competitive examination. Candidates with different To get the blend of all the fields I was the class monitor up to class 5th; class president from 6th to 11th class to conduct the weekly debates, secretary of the scientific society in college, in Students’ Union at Indian School of Mines, club secretary in Ordnance Factory, and secretary, Residence Welfare Association. I was in National Cadet Corps and Junior Red Cross Society. After completing the schooling and graduation with merit scholarships I joined Indian School of Mines, the premier Institute for Earth science for Masters in applied Geology through national competition. Selected in National Education Test of UGC and with a scholarship from Council for Scientific and Industrial Research I completed M. Phil. Initially, 12 years I have worked in middle level management in various Defence production units mainly in the field of Administration, Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Estate and store. I got one year exposure in policy issues in Higher Technical Education. As the head of Coal Mines provident Fund Organization (CMPFO) for two years, I sought to improve the public service to benefit 7.5 lakh coal workers in the field of provident funds and pensions bringing reforms in a mission mode. SAP ERP was implemented in the organization which was first in govt. department in India. A bench mark was created in engaging multiple Fund Managers leading to transparency and fair competition. I had the exposure of Board level management in Mineral Exploration Corporation limited, a pan India Company as Director. Four years under my leadership, as the country head of computerization at Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), the organization transformed from manual environment to fully computerized system. All receipts and payments of PF and pension became online making the life of 50 million poor workers easy removing all paper returns. The interactions are now through web and SMS reducing the footfalls of workers and employers in EPFO offices. 6 years, while working with the Federal Ministers for Water Resources, Rural Development and as the Director in coal ministry of Government of India, I have actively participated in development of macro level policies, its formulation and implementation. To name a few are; the National Water Policy, Land Use Policy for Inclusive Economic Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Corporate Social responsibility in coal sector, re-engagement of ex-service personnel in coal transportation, Poverty Eradication through National Rural Employment Guaranty Act to meet the Millennium Development Goal, programme were massive initiatives of the Government. I have played important role in the planning and monitoring of execution of such policy options. Additionally, I have been deeply engaged in my advisory role to the ministers to address the political and other socio-economic development issues of the different political provinces of India. Now I am working in top level management of Ordnance Equipment Factory, a Defence production Unit of India. The Mason program is intended to provide the analytical and leadership skills to implement major social and economic change. It has the sessions on experience sharing, strategic management, communication, and policy decision making. The curriculum also includes the applied economics, quantitative analysis, political institutions and globalisation. My extensive experience in multiple roles in different government departments of India will provide a good fit to contribute during the MPA programme as a Mason Fellow. My in-depth knowledge in important streams of public work will further allow me to perform effectively during my academic work at Harvard. I have credible track record of having developed and fostered enhanced level of partnership and cooperation between the stakeholders engaged in the faster socio-economic growth of India. I have demonstrated leadership skills by initiating several joint institution development activities with government, which all will be honed through a formal exposure to a MPA programme at Harvard. I have dreamt and aspired lately to be a Mason Fellow and would accomplish my personal goals of doing public good with improved knowledge and competence. I seek to join a mid career management course in public administration to sharpen my ideas in consonance with the emerging National and International Economic Scenario. I strongly feel MPA under Mason Programme, would provide me this opportunity to upgrade my capacity and equip me with latest management techniques. As I grow in my career, I would be required to take more responsibility and be associated in major policy making issues in govt. in the country.