Healthcare Spending

The United States always have been known for acquiring the best health care system in the world. The United States spends a higher percentage of its gross domestic product (GDP) and more for each fund about healthcare in comparison with other country in the world. The most effective health care establishments on this planet are in the U. S., people originate from everywhere to acquire quality health care in U. S. Physicians from different countries come to the United States for advanced training. These are â€Å"All† great things to say about the health care system but how does it affect the spending issues that U.S. is having? â€Å"The National Health Expenditure Accounts (NHEA) are the official estimates of total health care spending in the United States† (Health Data, 2007).LevelAccording to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2013), from 2012, to 2013, wellness payments ended up being forecast to grow slightly from 3.8% to 4.2%. Private health care insuran ce were also predicted to grow, but the growth was diminished by consumer cost sensitivity. CMS also predicted Medicare spending too slow for 5.9% in 2012 to 1.3% in 2013, because there was a scheduled â€Å"30.9-percent physician payment rate reduction authorized under the Sustainable Growth Rate Formula, and an additional 2-percent payment reduction across all providers from the sequester under the Budget Control Act of 2011†.In 2014 CMS, projected worldwide health spending will elevate to 7.4 %, or 2.1 percentage-points rapidly, which will be Medicaid spending growth connected with 18. 0% as well as private health care insurance growth connected with 7. 9%. CMS declares, out-of-pocket paying is planned in order to decrease 1. 5% since the fresh guaranteed  populations are anticipated to end up being somewhat younger as well as healthy in comparison with at this time guaranteed individuals.Medical care expenses in the United States are regarding 18% associated with GDP, a nd this also reveal is projected to go up deliberately. In the event health prices carry on and increase at historic charges, the particular reveal associated with GDP devoted to health in the United States is projected to realize 34% through 2040 (The White House, 2013, para 2). Federal insurance policy contains Medicaid, Medicare as well as other financed organizations financed with regard to productive armed service as well as veterans. (Social Security Administration [SSA], 2013, para 1) Medicaid is a federal/state platform made to cover medical care for many distinct groups of people that is poor. Medicare is often a freedom program for all of age 65 as well as older, also more radiant men and women if the person belong to a particular disability type.Spending too muchAccording to The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (2012), The United States spends some 17.6 percent of its GDP on healthcare – far more than any other OECD country – but does n ot see quality increases equal with its spending. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released primary data itemizing the values doctor's offices charge for popular techniques that revealed an array of price fluctuations involving different doctor's offices. Steven Brill, a Time Magazine journalist, explored hospital bill to determine why the cost was so high. He found that hospitals were receiving effectively over and above what exactly these people might need to help make even reasonable make money from the therapy. One example was $1.50 for the common variation of the Tylenol capsule, (one pill) because too expensive gauze parts, hospital dresses and more.He also states that, â€Å"‘nonprofit’ hospitals are making billions and the CEO take home earnings with equivalence with almost any Walls Street executive – properly in to the six-figure range and sometimes past. According to US News and Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (2013), â€Å"America can commit as much as $2. 8 trillion upon professional medical, which is $750 thousand in excess of the country, would certainly when this put in exactly the same for every capita because various other developed places.Medicare  and Medicaid insurance policies programs covers some $800 thousand connected with the high cost and also the various other $2 trillion will likely be selected through private health-insurance corporations in addition to folks who don't have an insurance policies or even who'll shell out perhaps the costs covered by their insurance policies.†Add or CutSeven hundred billion dollars, that is a ballpark figure associated with what quantity of money was wasted in the U. S. professional medical technique each year, as outlined by a new Thomson Reuters (TRI) statement. In addition, it claims, the quantity adequate to roughly one-third in the place's overall health-care wasting was flushed absent upon pointless remedies, redundant assessments, scam, errors, as well as plenty of additional economic sinkholes that nothing to improve the nation's health and fitness.Needs are paid forMedical care, specifically hospitalization, advanced technology, and also challenging remedies, is really expensive that the majority of folks cannot have the funds for to afford the idea by themselves. At that point Private Insurance, out-of-pocket, Medicare, Medicaid, other payers (workers compensation, worksite health care, maternal, and child health, and vocational rehabilitation) and other public insurance (Department of Defense, Veteran Affairs, and Children Health Insurance Programs) step in and pick up the expense.According to a report published by the California Healthcare Foundation( 2011), In Hospital Care private insurance paid $306.9 billion (36%), out-of-pocket paid $28.1 billion (3%), and Medicare paid $231.3 billion (27%), Medicaid paid $151.0 billion (18%) Other payer paid $80.0 billion (9%) and other public insurance paid $53.3 billion (6%) for a total of $850.6 Billion in hospital care alone. The report also stated, In Physician, and clinical services Private Insurance paid $249.1 billion (46%), Out-of-Pocket paid $52.3 billion (10%), Medicare paid $124.0 billion (23%) Medicaid paid $44.8 billion (8%), other payers paid $48.8 billion (9%) and Other Public Insurance paid $22.5 billion (4%) for a total of $541.4 billion.ForecastChaos is going on with health care spending and a lot of that has to do with the increase in insurance. Will that change for the better? Healthcare spending was projected to continue to grow quickly. If the trends continue at the rate it is going then health care spending will be a quarter of the economy years to come. Wellness has humanity’s the majority of valuable and the majority widespread price; however additionally it is you’re the majority of sensitive learning resource. Globalization has significantly offered in order to economic increase; however at the same time our universe is now additional at risk of tough economy (Hospital & Healthcare Management, 2001, para 3).

Fool Chapter 9

NINE TOIL AND TROUBLE So why is it that we are going to Great Birnam Wood to look for witches?† asked Kent as we made our way across the moor. There was only a slight breeze but it was bloody cold, what with the mist and the gloom and my despair over King Jeff. I pulled my woolen cape around me. â€Å"Bloody Scotland,† said I. â€Å"Albany is possibly the darkest, dampest, coldest bloody crevice in all of Blighty. Sodding Scots.† â€Å"Witches?† reminded Kent. â€Å"Because the bloody ghost told me I'd find my answers here.† â€Å"Ghost?† â€Å"The girl ghost at the White Tower, keep up, Kent. Rhymes and riddles and such.† I told him of the â€Å"grave offense to daughters three† and the â€Å"madman rising to lead the blind.† Kent nodded as if he understood. â€Å"And I'm along because†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Because it is dark and I am small.† â€Å"You might have asked Curan or one of the others. I'm reticent about witches.† â€Å"Nonsense. They're just like physicians, only without the bleeding. Nothing to fear.† â€Å"In the day, when Lear was still Christian, we did not do well by witches. I've had a cartload of curses cast on me.† â€Å"Not very effective, though, were they? You're child-frighteningly old and still strong as a bull.† â€Å"I am banished, penniless, and live under the threat of death upon discovery of my name.† â€Å"Oh, good point. Brave of you to come, then.† â€Å"Aye, thanks, lad, but I'm not feeling it. What's that light?† There was a fire ahead in the wood, and figures moving around it. â€Å"Stealthy, now, good Kent. Let us creep up silently and see what is to be seen before revealing ourselves. Now, creep, Kent, you crashing great ox, creep.† And with but two steps my strategy revealed its flaw. â€Å"You're jingling like a coin purse possessed of fits,† said Kent. â€Å"You couldn't creep up on the deaf nor dead. Silence your bloody bells, Pocket.† I placed my coxcomb on the ground. â€Å"I can leave my hat, but I'll not take off my shoes – we'll surrender all stealth if I'm screaming from trodding tender-footed across lizards, thorns, hedgehogs, and the lot.† â€Å"Here, then,† said Kent, pulling the remains of the pork shoulder from his satchel. â€Å"Dampen your bells with the fat.† I raised an eyebrow quizzically – an unappreciated and overly subtle gesture in the dark – then shrugged and began working the suet into the bells at my toes and ankles. â€Å"There!† I shook a leg to the satisfying sound of nothing at all. â€Å"Forward!† Creep we did, until we were just outside the halo of firelight. Three bent-backed hags were walking a slow circle around a large cauldron, dropping in twisted bits of this and that as they chanted. â€Å"Double, double, toil and trouble: Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.† â€Å"Witches,† whispered Kent, paying tribute to the god of all things bloody fucking obvious. â€Å"Aye,† said I, in lieu of clouting him. (Jones stayed behind to guard my hat.) â€Å"Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.† They double-bubbled the chorus and we were readying ourselves for another verse of the recipe when I felt something brush against my leg. It was all I could do not to cry out. I felt Kent's hand on my shoulder. â€Å"Steady, lad, it's just a cat.† Another brush, and a meow. Two of them now, licking my bells, and purring. (It sounds more pleasant than it was.) â€Å"It's the bloody pork fat,† I whispered. A third feline joined the gang. I stood on one foot, trying to hold the other above their heads, but while I am an accomplished acrobat, the art of levitation still eludes me; thus my ground-bound foot became my Achilles' heel, as it were. One of the fiends sank its fangs into my ankle. â€Å"Fuckstockings!† said I, somewhat emphatically. I hopped, I whirled, I made disparaging remarks toward all creatures of the feline aspect. Hissing and yowling ensued. When at last the cats retreated, I was sitting splayed-legged by the fire, Kent stood next to me with his sword drawn and ready, and the three hags stood in ranks across the cauldron from us. â€Å"Back, witches!† said Kent. â€Å"You may curse me into a toad, but they'll be the last words out of your mouths while your heads are attached.† â€Å"Witches?† said the first witch, who was greenest of the three. â€Å"What witches? We are but humble washerwomen, making our way in the wood.† â€Å"Rendering laundry service, humble and good,† said witch two, the tallest. â€Å"All it be, is as it should,† said witch three, who had a wicked wart over her right eye. â€Å"By Hecate's[27] night-tarred nipples, stop rhyming!† said I. â€Å"If you're not witches, what was that curse you were bubbling about?† â€Å"Stew,† said Warty. â€Å"Stew, stew most true,† said Tall. â€Å"Stew most blue,† said Green. â€Å"It's not blue,† said Kent, looking in the cauldron. â€Å"More of a brown.† â€Å"I know,† said Green, â€Å"but brown doesn't rhyme, does it, love?† â€Å"I'm looking for witches,† said I. â€Å"Really?† said Tall. â€Å"I was sent by a ghost.† The hags looked at one another, then back at me. â€Å"Ghost told you to bring your laundry here, did it?† said Warty. â€Å"You're not washerwomen! You're bloody witches! And that's not stew, and the bloody ghost of the bloody White Tower said to seek you here for answers, so can we get about it, ye gnarled knots of erect vomitus?† â€Å"Ah, we're toads for sure now,† sighed Kent. â€Å"Always a bloody ghost, innit?† said Tall. â€Å"What did she look like?† asked Green. â€Å"Who? The ghost? I didn't say it was a she – â€Å" â€Å"What did she look like, fool?† snarled Warty. â€Å"I suppose I shall pass my days eating bugs and hiding under leaves until some crone drops me in a cauldron,† mused Kent, leaning on his sword now, watching moths dart into the fire. â€Å"She was ghostly pale,† said I, â€Å"all in white – vaporous, with fair hair and – â€Å" â€Å"She was fit,[28] though?† asked Tall. â€Å"Lovely, you might even say?† â€Å"Bit more transparent than I care for in my wenches, but aye, she was fit.† â€Å"Aye,† said Warty, looking to the others, who huddled with her. When they came up, Green said, â€Å"State your business, then, fool. Why did the ghost send you here?† â€Å"She said you could help me. I am fool to the court of King Lear of Britain. He has sent away his youngest daughter, Cordelia, of whom I am somewhat fond; he's given my apprentice fool, Drool, to that blackguard bastard Edmund of Gloucester, and my friend Taster has been poisoned and is quite dead.† â€Å"And don't forget that they're going to hang you at dawn,† added Kent. â€Å"Don't concern yourselves with that, ladies,† said I. â€Å"About to be hanged is my status quo, not a condition that requires your repair.† The hags huddled again. There was much whispering and a bit of hissing. They broke their conference and Warty, who was the apparent coven leader, said, â€Å"That Lear's a nasty piece of work.† â€Å"Last time he went Christian a score of witches were drowned,† said Tall. Kent nodded, and looked at his shoes. â€Å"The Petite Inquisition – not a high point.† â€Å"Aye, we were a decade spelling them all back to life for the revenge,† said Warty. â€Å"Rosemary here still seeps pond-water from the ears on damp days,† said Tall. â€Å"Aye, and carps ate my small toes while I was pond-bottom,† said Green. â€Å"Her toes thus gefilted,[29] we had to seek an enchanted lynx and take two of his for replacement.† Rosemary (who was Green) nodded gravely. â€Å"Goes through shoes in a fortnight, but there's no better witch to chase a squirrel up a tree,† said Tall. â€Å"That's true,† said Rosemary. â€Å"Beats the burnings, though,† said Warty. â€Å"Aye, that's true,† said Tall. â€Å"No amount of cat toes'll fix you if you've all your bits burnt off. Lear had him some burnings as well.† â€Å"I'm not here on behalf of Lear,† said I. â€Å"I'm here to correct the madness he's done.† â€Å"Well, why didn't you say so?† said Rosemary. â€Å"We're always keen on sending a bit of the mayhem Lear's way,† said Warty. â€Å"Shall we curse him with leprosy?† â€Å"By your leave, ladies, I don't wish the old man's undoing, only the undoing of his deeds.† â€Å"A simple curse would be easier,† said Tall. â€Å"A bit o' bat spittle in the cauldron and we can have him walking on duck feet before breakfast. Make him quack, too, if you've a shilling or a freshly-strangled infant for the service.† â€Å"I just want my friends and my home back,† said I. â€Å"Well, if you can't be persuaded, let us have a consult,† said Rosemary. â€Å"Parsley, Sage, a moment?† She waved the other witches over to an old oak where they whispered. â€Å"Parsley, Sage, and Rosemary?† said Kent. â€Å"What, no Thyme?† Rosemary wheeled on him. â€Å"Oh, we've the time if you've the inclination, handsome.† â€Å"Jolly good show, hag!† said I. I liked these crones, they had a fine-edged wit. Rosemary rolled her good eye at the earl, lifted her skirts, aimed her withered bottom at Kent, and rubbed a palsied claw over it. â€Å"Round and firm, good knight. Round and firm.† Kent gagged a little and backed away a few steps. â€Å"Gods save us! Away you ghastly carbuncled tart!† I would have looked away, should have, but I had never seen a green one. A weaker man might have plucked out his own eyes, but being a philosopher, I knew the sight could never be unseen, so I persevered. â€Å"Hop on, Kent,† said I. â€Å"Beast-shagging is thy calling and thou surely have been called.† Kent backed into a tree and half cold-cocked himself. He slid down the trunk, dazed. Rosemary dropped her skirts. â€Å"Just having you on.† The crones cackled as they huddled again. â€Å"We've a proper toading for you once the fool's business is finished, though. A moment, please†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The witches whispered for a moment, then resumed their march around the cauldron. â€Å"Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips, Griffin spunk and monkey hips, Mandrake rubbed with tiger nads, To divine undoing for the old king mad.† â€Å"Oh bollocks,† said Sage, â€Å"we're all out of monkey hips.† Parsley looked into the cauldron and gave it a stir. â€Å"We can make do without them. You can substitute a fool's finger.† â€Å"No,† said I. â€Å"Well, then, get a finger from that comely hunk of man-meat with the bootblack on his beard – he seems foolish enough.† â€Å"No,† said Kent, still a tad dazed. â€Å"And it's not bootblack, it's a clever disguise.† The witches looked to me. â€Å"There's no counting on accuracy without the monkey hips or fool's finger,† said Rosemary. I said: â€Å"Let us make do and gallantly bugger on, shall we, ladies?† â€Å"All right,† said Parsley, â€Å"but don't blame us if we bollocks-up your future.† There was more stirring and chanting in dead languages, and no little bit of wailing, and finally, when I was about to doze off, a great bubble rose in the cauldron and when it burst it released a cloud of steam that formed itself into a giant face, not unlike the tragedy mask used by traveling players. It glowed against the misty night. â€Å"‘Ello,† said the giant face, sounding Cockney and a little drunk. â€Å"Hello, large and steamy face,† said I. â€Å"Fool, Fool, you must save the Drool, Quick to Gloucester, or blood will pool.† â€Å"Oh, for fuck's sake, this one rhymes, too?† said I to the witches. â€Å"Can't a bloke find a straightforward prose apparition?† â€Å"Quiet, fool!† snapped Sage, who I was back to thinking of as Warty. To the face, she said, â€Å"Apparition of darkest power, we're clear on the where and the what, but the fool was hoping for some direction of the how variety.† â€Å"Aye. Sorry,† said large steamy face. â€Å"I'm not slow, you know, your recipe was short a monkey hip.† â€Å"We'll use two next time,† said Sage. â€Å"Well, all right, then†¦ â€Å"To reverse the will of a flighty king, Remove his train to clip his wings. To eldest daughters knights be dower, And soon a fool will yield the power.† The steamy face grinned. I looked at the witches. â€Å"So I'm to somehow get Goneril and Regan to take Lear's knights in addition to everything else they have?† â€Å"He never lies,† said Rosemary. â€Å"He's often wildly fucking inaccurate,† said Parsley, â€Å"but not a liar.† â€Å"Again,† said I to the apparition, â€Å"good to know what to do and all, but a method to the madness would be most welcome as well. A strategy, as it were.† â€Å"Cheeky little bastard, ent ‘e?† said Steamy to the witches. â€Å"Want us to put a curse on him?† asked Sage. â€Å"No, no, the lad's a rocky road ahead without adding a curse to slow him.† The apparition cleared his throat (or at least made the throat-clearing noise, as, strictly speaking, he had no throat). â€Å"A princess to your will shall bend, If seduction in a note, you send, And fates of kings and queens shall tell, When bound are passions with a spell.† With that, the apparition faded away. â€Å"That's it, then?† I asked. â€Å"A couple of rhymes and we're finished? I have no idea what I'm to do.† â€Å"Bit thick yourself, then, are you?† said Sage. â€Å"You're to go to Gloucester. You're to separate Lear from his knights and see that they're under the power of his daughters. Then you're to write letters of seduction to the princesses and bind their passions with a magic spell. Couldn't be any clearer if it was rhymed.† Kent was nodding and shrugging as if the bloody obviousness of it all had sluiced through the wood in an illuminating deluge, leaving me the only one dry. â€Å"Oh, do fuck off, you grey-bearded sot. Where would you get a magic spell to bind the bitches' passion?† â€Å"Them,† said Kent, pointing rudely at the hags. â€Å"Us,† said the hags in chorus. â€Å"Oh,† said I, letting the flood wash over me. â€Å"Of course.† Rosemary stepped forward and held forth three shriveled grey orbs, each about the size of a man's eye. I did not take them, fearing they might be something as disgusting as they appeared to be – desiccated elf scrotums or some such. â€Å"Puff balls, from a fungus that grows deep in the wood,† said Rosemary. â€Å"In lover's breath these spores release An enchanting charm you shall unleash Passion which can be never broken For him whose name next is spoken.† â€Å"So, to recap, simply and without rhyme?† â€Å"Squeeze one of these bulbs under your lady's nose, then say your name and she will find your charms irresistible and become overwhelmed with desire for you,† explained Sage. â€Å"Redundant then, really?† said I with a grin. The hags laughed themselves into a wheeze-around, then Rosemary dropped the puff balls into a small silk pouch and handed it to me. â€Å"There's the matter of payment,† said she, as I reached for the purse. â€Å"I'm a poor fool,† said I. â€Å"All we have between us is my scepter and a well-used shoulder of pork. I suppose I could wait while each of you takes Kent for a roll in the hay, if that will do.† â€Å"You will not!† said Kent. The hag held up a hand. â€Å"A price to be named later,† said she. â€Å"Whenever we ask.† â€Å"Fine, then,† said I, snatching the purse away from her. â€Å"Swear it,† she said. â€Å"I swear,† said I. â€Å"In blood.† â€Å"But – † As quick as a cat she scratched the back of my hand with her ragged talon. â€Å"Ouch!† Blood welled in the crease. â€Å"Let it drip in the cauldron and swear,† said the crone. I did as I was told. â€Å"Since I'm here, is there any chance I could get a monkey?† â€Å"No,† said Sage. â€Å"No,† said Parsely. â€Å"No,† said Rosemary. â€Å"We're all out of monkeys, but we'll put a glamour on your mate so his disguise isn't so bloody pathetic.† â€Å"Go to it, then,† said I. â€Å"We must be off.† ACT II How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child. – King Lear, Act I, Scene 4

Labor Management Relations

Katszuba’s write-up, which appears in the Star Tribune, is similar to Lulli and Henson’s (2006) article in two aspects. First, both articles tackle issues associated with labor union organizing. Katszuba’s article describes a problem associated with efforts to organize a labor union in an office that appears to be exempt from labor union organizing according to State Laws. In the same manner, Lulli and Henson are interested in the dynamics of labor union organizing in a growingly difficult environment where businesses are more interested in reducing labor costs and retaining their competitive advantage. Another similarity is that both articles present the political factors that affect labor union organizing wherein both explore the political motives behind union formation. Both Katszuba’s and Lulli and Henson’s article presents the agenda behind union organizing for the employees and other interest groups and personalities. On the other hand, there are differences between Katszuba’s report and Lulli and Henson’s (2006) article in terms of data and facts presented, specific issues raised, and the perspective from which the general issue of labor union organizing is discussed. Lulli and Henson’s article clearly present the general business and economic environment where labor unions are situated, the factors that promote labor union organizing activities, and the political, social, technological, and internal business practice agenda forwarded by the labor movement. They attempt to provide a wide understanding of the innovations in strategies and tactics employed by labor unions in general. Meanwhile, Katszuba describes a more particular scenario involving the organizing efforts of a labor union at the State Attorney General’s office. His article focuses more on the conflicting interests between the labor union, the State Attorney General as employer, and the employees of the Attorney General’s office. Likewise, Lulli and Henson raises the issue of the political, economic, and social impact of more advanced strategies and tactics used by labor unions to further their sectoral interests. The article discusses in detail the various ways in which labor unions are able to influence legislation, pressure politicians and investors into keeping businesses that are deemed anti-labor from opening new markets in some states, expand membership through a planned recruitment strategy targetting the younger generation of workers, take advantage of technology to advance their organizing efforts and reach a wider audience, and turning mergers and other business activities into opportunities to consolidate and strengthen their ranks. Lulli and Henson note how the results of credible surveys such and polls point to an uptrend for labor union power, support, and influence among the population and how an environment that is supportive of labor unions is encouraged by political and economic developments. They therefore give credit to the labor unions for being able to stand up for their interests and being able to come up with better strategies in organizing. At the same time, the authors observe that human resource professionals must be able to take note and study these developments in the labor movement critically in order to formulate appropriate approaches and tactics in dealing with increased union activity. Katszuba, on the other hand, highlights the tensions and problems created by the labor union organizing attempts in the State Attorney General’s office between employer and employees and within the labor union movement itself due to the â€Å"illegality† of labor organizing in the AG’s office. Likewise, the article not only raises the question of the validity of establishing a labor union in the State Attorney General’s office but also the question of motive in such efforts. To this effect, the article presents the controversy that a former candidate for the State General’s Office is behind the labor organizing efforts and is fanning the embers of employee dissatisfaction in order to destabilize the Office and embarrass the incumbent Attorney General. The question of motive is a crucial point in this article since it influences the reader’s perception of the trouble arising from labor union activities and seems to discredit the efforts of the labor union to gain employee representation by ascribing their motives to an external force other than the employees. The main difference between the two articles lies in the perspective from which union activities and tactics are discussed. Lulli and Henson’s article approaches the subject of evolving labor union strategies academically and in a neutral manner. They present the data in a way that attempts to provide Human Resource personnel with useful information on handling labor union organizing efforts and activities. In contrast, Katszuba’s article presents the story of the â€Å"organizing flap† in the Attorney General’s office in a more sensationalized manner. Although there is an attempt to establish objectivity by presenting both sides of the contending parties, the article is unfortunately lacking in more detailed explanation of the legislative factor that renders the organizing activities illegal. Thus, Mike Katszuba’s report on the â€Å"organizing flap in the AG’s office† and Lulli and Henson’s (2006) article on â€Å"union organizing trends and tactics† are similar in that they examine the phenomenon and issues of labor union organizing. However, a deeper scrutiny of the two articles reveals that while there may be similarities between these reports, there are also salient differences in terms of the facts they present, the issues they raise, and the perspective and objectives that the respective authors wish to impart to their readers.   

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World War 2 Through the 1970s Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

World War 2 Through the 1970s - Research Paper Example The paper will also discuss the civil rights breakthroughs after Second World War for the African-Americans and political awareness of the young Americans during the Vietnam War. On the last part, the paper will describe President Johnson’s great society programs that are currently relevant to America. Introduction There are significant historical turning points for America’s current society, culture, politics and economy from the World War II through to the 1970s. One of the significant turning point was the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) that precipitated the civil rights movements (Kennedy & Bailey, 2010). The event led to calls for massive bus boycotts and national protests due to racial desegregation of African-Americans in public transport (Kennedy & Bailey, 2010). The event ultimately led to a series of public protests that ultimately led to enactment of Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibited all forms of discrimination. This event led to unification of Ame rican society through eradication of racial segregation in many public places such as schools and public transport thus creating the ideal American society. Another significant turning point was the Watergate Scandal. The term â€Å"Watergate† refers complex political scandals that occurred between 1972 and 1974. Five burglars broke in to Watergate Hotel that housed Democratic National Committee Headquarters. The five were later arrested and confirmed that they had been authorised by Nixon to break in the hotel. The scandal changed the political campaign financing and created the aggressive attitude of Americans towards elections (Kennedy & Bailey, 2010). The scandal revealed that Nixon had a wire tapping system and led to impeachment of Nixon and conviction of several top administrators in his government (Kennedy & Bailey, 2010). This can be seen a major turning point in the enforcement of the constitution and political laws in America. America in the late 1930s wanted to st ay away from European conflicts that ultimately led to the Second World War. America was one of the Isolationists that advocated for neutrality and non-involvement in both European and Asian conflicts (Kennedy & Bailey, 2010). The first reason why America did not want to join European conflicts was the memories of the tragic losses experienced during the First World War. Secondly, America was experiencing negative economic effects of the Great Depression and was committed to expanding its economic interests in Latin America. Immediately after First World War, the US congress rejected American membership to the League of Nations since that move would lead to participation in European conflicts. The troubling economic problems bolstered the idea that America should concentrate on the domestic economic problems and isolate from European conflicts (Kennedy & Bailey, 2010). Before the Second World War, women in America attended only to family duties and were paid much lesser for completi ng the same jobs compared with their male counterparts. The first role of women in helping the Second World War was replacing the men in the labor market since majority of men joined the forces. Women were allowed to work in the manufacturing industry, munitions factories and in day care centers. During the Second World War, women served in the military in an official capacity. Women participated in the war through different military branches such as Women Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs), Women Accepted for Volunteer Services (WAVES) and Women Air-force Service Pilots (WASP) (Kennedy & Bailey, 2010). Women also served in the Coast Guard units and Marine units. About 350,000 American women participated

A Comparison of Gifted Education in UK and Singapore Essay

A Comparison of Gifted Education in UK and Singapore - Essay Example This discussion declares that the citizens showed their unrest with the education system, especially because of the ongoing Western influence on Singaporean beliefs and values in the period 1965-1985. The younger and emerging middle class citizens encouraged the government to promote democracy and public participation in its decision-making processes concerning matters such as education. Singapore had a single party dominated government, which did not represent the opposing views of its citizens appropriately. To counter the negative attitude of its citizens, Singapore’s government introduced a systemic educational reform to improve the education system in the early 1980s. It streamed students according to their different academic abilities, and in consequence, they could focus and challenge their unique abilities. The Ministry of Education proposed this education system and termed it as ‘Ability-Driven Education’ system of education. The new streaming system enab led students to learn and evolve at their own intellectual learning speed.As the report discusses  groups of gifted individuals could now experience opportunities and gain due recognition. The gifted education program naturally became a basis of Singapore’s new education system following the conviction that the gifted and talented would serve as future leaders and propel the country to greater heights.  Gifted education refers to the special practices and procedures used in education of children identified as gifted or talented.

Documentation for Web Application Project Outline

Documentation for Web Application Project - Outline Example 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Server - This is where the application will be installed (basically where the application files will be stores). In other words, this is the machine where all the data processing will be done. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Client - The client  represents the computer being used by the website visitor to access the information stored in the server. The website visitor will use browser software to access the website. The design process involves structuring the application together with its functionalities before developing the application. This planning helps in time saving and ensuring that the overall goal of the application in put in picture before one begins the development work. The design process will majorly depend on the kind of application being developed. As for the case of Plant and Machinery website application, the below process has been used. This part of the design focuses on the outlook of the website so that its usability is favorable to the website visitors. Here the designer must make sure that the focus is on the visitor because they never concentrate on how complex the application is but on how easy it is to

Political Paper from 1930-1939 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Political Paper from 1930-1939 - Essay Example There were two federal elections held in the 1930’s and there was a change in government in each election. (Linteau 93). The 1930 election between Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s liberal government and R.B. Bennett, the new conservative leader (Linteau 90) was the precursor to change that was rapidly approaching Quebec. There were very different platforms from each candidate; Bennett based his campaign on finding ways to fight the depression. Bennett promised to bring relief to the unemployed and increase exports (Linteau 1991) leading Bennett’s Conservative victory. King’s Liberal party showed no preparation or awareness of how serious the upcoming election was, appearing â€Å"ill prepared to deal with more increasingly difficult circumstances† (Linteau 1991). The victory was short lived however, as the immense scope of the economic problems of the Depression were more than his government seems equipped to handle. His failure to bring about the solutions he had promised made him an unpopular scapegoat. In 1932 he formed the Relief Act which was meant to help people who we re unemployed by providing grants for municipal works projects. During the 1930’s there were a number of new parties formed. The older more established parties, such as the Liberals who had been in power since 1897 appeared to be old and stagnant. 1932 brought the formation of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) a democratic socialist party. It gained supporters nationwide, but Quebec did not seem to favor the party (Linteau 1991). Another party that fared better in Quebec was the ALN, or Action Liberale Nationale. It grew out of the younger activists of the liberal party. Their program was supported by pressure groups and youth movements toward the social doctrine of the church (Linteau 1991). They were encouraged and inspired by the ideas of the Programme de Restauration Sociale

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 37

Case Study - Essay Example Just to keep employees on their feet, customer feedback cards are available in each store so that customers can contribute to helping the company to improve efficiency. Lastly, the company’s IT system has helped it to continue to stay one step ahead of its customers by providing products that they want before they know they do. All of these factors have helped to contribute towards Giordano’s competitive advantage in the marketplace by helping it stay ahead of the competition. 2) Giordano’s operations strategy is very consistent with its marketing strategy. The focus of Giordano’s marketing efforts is on two areas, high-quality service and low cost leadership, both of which Giordano are very successful at achieving. The test will come when Giordano is forced to move its marketing strategy away from low cost leadership to a combination of high quality products at considerable prices. If Giordano is able to adjust its operations strategy to take this new market positing into account, then the company has a very good chance of capturing a significant market share. 3) The biggest operations management challenge for Giordano as it expands into new territories is staying true to its principles. Although the company will need to adjust its marketing strategies based on the local culture, the focus still needs to be on excellent customer service along with high quality products. As of right now, Giordano does not allow its foreign subsidiaries to act independent of each other. Control is centralized in one region: Hong Kong. If Giordano is going to increase its market share in new markets, then it will need to rely more upon locals to increase performance and efficiency. There is nothing wrong with monitoring each foreign subsidiary from Hong Kong, but there needs to be some freedom given to subsidiaries so that they can become a force in their local market. 4) For Giordano’s operations strategy in the

Analysis of Terracotta Army Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analysis of Terracotta Army - Research Paper Example   The artifacts are contained in three pits and so far, documented evidence indicates that up to 7000 warriors and weapons have been excavated by the archeologists. The artifacts contain foot soldiers and war chariots that are made from wood. Foot soldiers are basically lifelike figures that resemble human soldiers. In his study, Dillon indicates that the size of each warrior is approximately 1.8 meters (Dillon 43). Further, they are characterized by broad foreheads and thick-lipped mouths. A significant percentage of these have ornate hairstyles. Nonetheless, they generally show a distinct dedication and determination in their duties. This is because their eyes are directly focused ahead into some distance. The soldiers are also presented to be in a fighting position. Their positions are realistic and their eyes very bright. They have wide nostrils and muscular yet very strong legs. These attributes imply that the horses were well maintained and relatively serviceable. It cannot b e disputed that this particular population invested a significant percentage of resources in war. This also implies that the communities surrounding the region were hostile and equally invested in different wars in social security. The position of their hips and legs imply that they are ready to gallop. Notably, the artifacts show that there were two different types of soldiers; the artillery and infantry. The artillery soldiers are presented dressed in knee-length tunics and short trousers. In addition, they carry crossbows with them, ready to engage in a fight at any time. Seemingly, their uniforms were made from light materials, enabling them to move around with ease. Under battle conditions, these soldiers would probably be dispatched to engage in fighting at any time. The infantry faction, on the other hand, was heavily armored. In particular, they were presented while carrying swords. With respect to the mode of dress, Dillon cites that they wore shin guards and caps in additi on to their normal uniform (Dillon 77). Comparatively, they were also taller than their counterparts.  Ã‚  

The last days of dogtown by Anita Diamant Essay Example for Free

The last days of dogtown by Anita Diamant Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The last days of dogtown is a novel written by Anita Diamant. The purpose of the novel is to express the level of morality of life in the American society during the 19th century. The author reveals life in the 19th century as sad but at the same time thoughtful. The last days of dogtown is a community set in an exotic landscape with a group of different and surprising characters. These characters are depicted as residents who are threatened or damaged by the ill wills of the outside world. Diamant portrays life in dogtown as cruel expressed through poverty and witchcraft. Residents in the last days of dogtown are oppressed by ignorance, poverty, illness and racial inequality. It is set in a dying town in Massachusetts during the 19th century. (Diamant Anita 52)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dogtown was a name associated with a roaming pack of wild dogs. The wild dogs roamed above the hills of a dying town in Massachusetts. The author portrays dogtown as a refuge place from cruelty and tragedies in the world. However, the decline of morality in dogtown presents other small tragedies which are set off by the residents. Dogtown which acts as a refuge from cruelty in the world presents a settlement space in which residents can live without being damaged or threaten. However dogtown does not fulfill its role since it is portrayed as an open prison where residents are faced by prejudice and other negative influences of the outside world. (Rossi, Mark, Howard 75). The roaming pace of dogs is used to illustrate the large number of people spreading rumor around the town about their townspeople. The spread rumours of presence of witches and whores in the town. Although the rumours are of factual their volume increases when more tongues wag around the town. Residents in this town have made it their business to express the most well hidden secrets of their town’s people. Diamant introduces the character in dogtown in a very confusing manner, creating complex relationships among them. These relationships are tested by the ill wills of the American society. The women in this society are presented as witches, whores or with weird behaviors. The man is depicted as brutal and cruel who shows no respect for the women. All the residents in dogtown have suffered different misfortunes from the brutal society. For example, the thwarted love of a free African woman by a local racist. Dog town’s poverty and misfortune pushes them into different destines. Slavery, alcoholism, poverty, sexuality, prostitution and racial tension have been used to create an immoral American society, in which residents are faced with brutal and cruel misfortunes. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The authors major conclusion is that she expresses the possibility of loving even in the most brutal and cruel conditions. In this town, residents behave like a pack of wild dogs, by huddling together with a dedication to survive and live with hope. By coming together, they search for warmth and safety. Although comfort and kindness are hard to find, these people huddle together and are to survive. The author shows the great immorality depicted in the American society during the 19th century expressed in form of alcoholism, poverty, prostitution, racism, sexuality and canine behavior. The author tries to show that people can come together and outcome even the cruelest conditions in the world. The possibility of creating love in such an environment can create harmony by demonstrating kindness and affection. (Diamant Anita 107). Works Cited Diamant Anita. The last days of Dogtown. Simon Schuster, 2006. Diamant Anita. The Red tent: A novel: Tenth-Anniversary Edition. Picador, 2007 Rossi, Peter H, Mark W. Lipsey, Howard E. Freeman. Evaluation: Systematic approach, sage, 2004.

Mental Imagery Vividness Essay Example for Free

Mental Imagery Vividness Essay Abstract This review examined the hypothesis that mental imagery vividness can be used as a predictor of hallucinatory experience. Earlier studies provided supporting evidences to this hypothesis, showing hallucinating population has higher mental imagery vividness comparing to nonhallucianting population. However, as a result of varied operationalization and measurements of mental imagery, contradicting results abound, showing no significant difference of mental imagery vividness between halluciantors and nonhallucinators. No clear evidences can be used to determine whether the hypothesis is valid or not so far. On the other hand, development of neurological studies provided a new perspective for looking into the relationship between mental imagery and the experience of hallucination. Keywords: mental imagery vividness, hallucination, schizophrenia Mental Imagery Vividness as a Predictor of Hallucination: A Literature Review Mental imagery, as defined by Finke (1989), is an experience significantly resembling that of perceiving, but it occurs in the absence of an adequate physical stimulus. It exists in all of the seven sensory modalities, such as visual, auditory, and olfactory (Thomas, 1999). Mental imagery is believed to be in close relationship with some core psychological mechanisms such as perception and memory, and holding its unique role in contributing to cognitive performance (Kosslyn, 1994). For example, evidences suggested that visual imagery ability predicts visuospatial memory performance (Kail, 1997). Hallucination is an experience that largely resembles mental imagery, because of its perceptual nature as well as absence of appropriate stimuli (Sack, Van de Ven, Etschenberg, Schatz, Linden, 2005). Nevertheless, the two distinguish from each other by the individual’s ability of voluntary control, as well a s his/her ability to determine the source of the experience. Specifically, mental imagery is generally regarded as being actively generated and can be intentionally controlled, while hallucination is most times beyond intention and control. The operator of mental imagery is usually aware of its internal source, while not necessarily so hallucinator. (Bentall, 1990). Hallucination, especially the form of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), is an important hallmark of schizophrenia (Wible, 2009). AVH is the perception of voices in the absence of sensory input. AVH has distinct clinical significance, as it affects about 70% of patients with schizophrenia (Sartorius et al., 1978; Silbersweig Stern, 1996). Furthermore, there have been increasing evidences supporting that hallucination is not a rare case in non-clinical population, either. It is now believed to exist on a spectrum from comparably innocuous forms in non-clinical population to a more pathological manifestation in schizophrenics (see review by Bentall, 1990). Because of its significant implication in psychopathology, continuous work has been going on to find out the risk factors and predictors for hallucination. The relationship between mental imagery and hallucination has interested researchers for long because of their shared features. Among all the characteristics of mental imagery that are potentially related with hallucination, vividness has been most substantively examined. This review summarized theories and empirical evidences for the relationship between mental imagery vividness and hallucination. Although still in its budding stage, relevant neurological evidences were also examined. Theoretical Models Vividness of mental imagery can be defined as the degree of perceptual detail experienced when having a mental image (Oertel et al., 2009). It has been associated with hallucination and schizophrenia for decades. In 1883, Galton suggested that increased vividness of mental imagery might be associated with hallucinatory experiences (as cited in Aleman, Bocker, de Haan, 1999). Later in the 20th century, West (1962) and Horowitz (1975) proposed separate models suggesting that hallucinations were mental images derived from internal source, but mistakenly attributed to external source. More specifically, the model suggested that vividness of perception was typically higher than that of mental imagery. As vividness of mental imagery increased, it became more difficult for the individual to decide its source as internal or external, and eventually these images could grow into hallucinatory. This model suggested that mental imagery and hallucination shared fundamental features and were possibly on the same continuum. Johnson and Raye (1981) supported the importance of imagery vividness, stating that memories from internal and external sources could usually be differentiated by comparing the amount of sensory, contextual and semantic attributes of events. Mintz and Alpert (1972) developed their model relevant to mental imagery vividness as well. They proposed that vividness of imagery was not the only factor contributing to hallucination. According to their argument, increased vividness of imagery, and impaired reality testing, referring to the ability to recognize the distortions in one’s own perception, are necessary but not sufficient prerequisites to generation of hallucination. Bentall (1990) summarized predecessors’ work and introduced the concept of â€Å"reality discrimination† – the idea that â€Å"hallucinators mistake their own inte rnal, mental, or private events for external, publicly observable events†. They stated that one type of information used in the reality discrimination process was the amount of sensory information present in conscious: rich sensory information implied a perception being experiences, while poor sensory information implied a mental imagery. Following this argument, individuals who have the propensity to construct images rich in sensory details are more likely to experience their internal imagery as a perception experience, and thus resulting in hallucination. Barrett (1993) provided empirical evidences in support of the above hypothesis, yet he also pointed out some questions of the model. He argued that it was unclear where the locus of the imagery effects was. The imagery vividness discrepancy between individuals with and without hallucinations could be the result of either storage or retrieval difference of sensory information. Specifically, it could be that hallucinators were able to store more abundant sensory information than nonhallucinators; and it could also be that hallucinators were better at retrieving sensory information than nonhallucinators, with same storage capacity. Despite of some questioning opinions, there are very limited direct theoretical dissents or alternative models. Holt (1972) is one of the very few that he argued that hallucination and mental imagery involved independent systems and should not correlate with each other. However, this is not saying that the hypotheses of mental imagery vividness and hallucination have not been subject to scrutinize. A large amount of researchers have attempted to verify or disprove these hypotheses through empirical evidences. Below is an incomplete summary of the empirical studies that are relevant. Empirical Evidences Evidences in Support Mintz and Alpert (1972) provided empirical evidences in support of their own hypothesis. Their study found that auditory hallucinating schizophrenics had a significantly higher vividness of auditory mental imagery comparing to non-hallucinating controls. They also identified an impaired ability to assess the accuracy of auditory perceptions in hallucinating schizophrenics. Similar results were presented by other studies. Barrett (1993) found that nonclinical subjects with hallucinations had higher vividness of mental imagery, and at the same time, had lower control of these images comparing to nonclinical subjects without hallucinations. Barrett’s (1993) study differed from that of Mintz and Alpert (1972) in the sense that he assessed mental imagery vividness on all seven sensory modalities, with one single factor emerged after factor analysis – general imagery vividness factor. In another study by Bocker (2000), no group difference in perceptual acuity was identified between the schizophrenia group and the normal controls, suggesting perceptual degradation is not a reason for hallucination. For the hallucinating schizophrenia patients, the vividness for visual imagery was significantly lower than control, while that for auditory imagery was not. Although the decreased visual mental imagery contradicted with earlier studies, the relatively high auditory mental imagery ability suggested the possibility that auditory imagery for hallucinating patients was more percept-like and thus harder to differentiate, which is in line with the fact that most of the patients experienced hallucinations in auditory modality. Evidences in Contradiction Brett and Starker (1977) found no significant difference of auditory mental imagery vividness between hallucinating schizophrenics, nonhallucinating schizophrenics medical patients with no history of psychiatric problems. Starker and Jolin (1982) also found no significantly different vividness strength of auditory mental imagery between schizophrenics, possible schizophrenics, or nonschizophrenic psychiatrics, nor between schizophrenic subgroups of currently hallucinatory, previously hallucinatory, or nonhallucinatory. In fact, Starker and Jolin (1982) suggested that hallucinating schizophrenics might actually have less vivid auditory imagery than schizophrenics who had never hallucinated. Aleman et al.’s (1999) study revealed interesting results. In their study, hallucinating subjects reported higher imagery vividness than nonhallucinating controls when subjective (self-report) scales were used to measure vividness. However, the pattern was reversed (i.e. hallucinating subjects demonstrated lower mental imagery vividness) when objective measure was used. Van de Ven and Merckelbach (2003) examined the mental imagery vividness and fantasy proneness in non-clinical population with and without hallucination experiences. They found that although subjects with hallucination scored higher on mental imagery vividness than subjects without such experiences, their imagery vividness was highly correlated with their fantasy proneness. Further analysis indicated that hallucination experience was better predicted by fantasy proneness, comparing to mental imagery vividness. Sack and his colleagues (2005) incorporated in their study measures sensitive to cognitive capacity, in order to rule it out as a confounding variable. Their results showed that paranoid schizophrenics reported higher vividness of mental imagery in comparison to age- and sex-matched healthy controls, controlling for general intelligence and psychomotor speed of the subjects. More importantly, the higher imagery vividness of paranoid schizophrenics was not statistically dependent of the patients’ individual psychopathology, including the presence of hallucinations. The authors thus argued that mental imagery could be an independent trait marker of schizophrenia, and it operated on a separate system with hallucination for schizophrenics. Sack and colleagues (2005) also found that patient group performed worse on tasks that require involvement of mental imagery processes, which could indicate an impaired overall mental imagery ability. However, this performance deficit could be attributed to general cognitive capacity deficit. In comparison, Doninger, Silipo, Rabinowics, Snodgrass and Javitt (2001) conducted a study with a task that was more purely targeted at mental imagery ability without time constraint. Their results also revealed worse performance from schizophrenia patients comparing to healthy controls. Results of these studied implied the possibility that group difference in vividness of mental imagery is not due to an enhancement of mental imagery abilities, but to altered information processing. Oertel and colleagues (2009) conducted a further study to address the question that whether vividness of mental imagery is a trait marker of the schizophrenia spectrum (i.e. including non-clinical population with schizophrenia-like traits – schizotypy) that is independent of presence of hallucination. Subjects include schizphrenia patients, first-degree relatives of schizophrenics, as well as high- and low-schizotypy healthy controls. Results showed significantly higher mental imagery vividness across all modalities in schizophrenics, first-degree relatives, as well as high-schizotypy controls comparing to low-schizotypy controls, with cognitive abilities controlled. In replication of Sack et al.’s work, this study also revealed that the vividness of mental imagery and hallucinations were independent of each other. Results also indicated that first-degree relatives obtained highest score in vividness, and high-schizotypy controls’ score did not differ significantly from that of schizophrenia patients. The results strengthened Sack et al.’s (2005) argument that vivid imagery is a trait marker of schizotypyrather, and could be related to the genetic liability to develop schizophrenia. However, longitudinal studies including premorbid data are required for further investigation. Bell and Halligan (2010) repeated Oertel et al.’s study on high- and low-schizotypy population with a larger sample size, yet with a different measure of schizotypy and a specific assessment of visual mental imagery. Their results revealed no significant difference on visual mental imagery vividness between the two groups. Explanation for Results Variation Although large variations exist across different studies, it is not justified to say whether the hypothesis of high mental imagery vividness predicts hallucination has been rejected or not. The main reason for failing to do so is that procedures, especially the measures of mental imagery, of these studies varies a lot, thus leaving considerable space for alternative explanations. Specifically, some of the measures were subjective scale (i.e. self-report), while some of the measures were objective (i.e. behavioral tasks). On the other hand, some of the measures assess mental imagery vividness of a single sensory modality, while some of them assess mental imagery vividness as a whole across all seven sensory modalities. S ubjective Measure vs. Objective Measure of Mental Imagery Kosslyn, Brunn, Cave and Wallach (1984) had presented an insignificant relation between performance on an objective task of visual imagery acuity and a self-report imagery vividness measure, indicating that subjective and objective measures of imagery vividness may not be necessarily measuring the same constructs and/or processes. Aleman et al. (1999) pointed out that objective and subjective mental imagery measures could yield contradictory results within the normal population. This distinction could be true for clinical population as well. For example, Mintz and Alpert (1972) utilized subjective measures (suggestion paradigms or self-report measures) and obtained the finding of an association between increased mental imagery and hallucinations, while Bocker et al. (2000) used a more objective mental imagery task, resulting in insignificant difference of mental imagery performance between patients and controls. Aleman et al. (1999), who generated contradicting results of subjective and objective measures in one study, summarized the disadvantages of subjective and objective measures. For subjective measures, the process of introspection is involved, which is an ability varied across individuals, and can be especially impaired in hallucinating and/or schizophrenia populations. Also, the effect of social demand could influence a subject’s self-report, depending on how the concept of mental imagery vividness is interpreted. Subject’s idiosyncratic definition of imagery vividness also heavily impact his/her self-report. For objective measures, tasks are not real-life resembling, which can fail to evaluate one’s true capacity in daily life. In addition, commonly used objective measures fail to purely target at the vividness of mental imagery alone, other processes such as conceptualization and reasoning are in effect as well. In addition, the contents of cued mental images could largely vary across individuals. Standardized scoring procedure fail to take into account these confounding processes and experiences, indicating that high imagery vividness does not guarantee a high score as it is designed to, and vice versa. General Mental Imagery vs. Single Sensory Modality Mental Imagery Barrett (1993) introduced the idea of general imagery vividness factor. If that is a valid factor, then measurement of general mental imagery vividness and measurement of single sensory modality imagery vividness could be more different than the mere part-whole relationship. Mintz and Alpert (1972) measured auditory imagery vividness only, and Barrett (1993) measured general mental imagery vividness. These two studies both resulted in significant difference of imagery vividness between halluciantors and controls. However, Brett and Starker (1977) and Starker and Jolin (1982) both measured auditory only imagery vividness and resulted in no significant difference between hallucinators and controls. In addition, in replication of Oertel’s (2009) study, Bell and Halligan (2010) changed the general imagery vividness measure to a visual-specific mental imagery measure, and their results differed from that of Oertel et al.. Bell and Halligan (2010) proposed that vividness per se might not be modality specific, and this argument is in line with the modality-independent salience dysregulation theories of psychosis and the psychosis continuum (Murray, Lappin, Di Forti., 2008). Neurological Evidence Despite of the fact that neurological evidences for mental imagery and hallucination experiences did not start to bloom until late 20th century (Linden et al., 2010) and that there is no specific neurological evidence for mental imagery vividness’s relationship with hallucination, this session is included as it provides new perspectives on how experiences of mental imagery and hallucination overlap. Evidences from earlier studies suggested that imagery and hallucinations were associated with overlapping neural networks (Allen, Laroi, McGuire, Aleman, 2008). McGuire et al. (1995) and Shergill et al. (2001) found that auditory mental imagery and auditory hallucination were involved with overlaps in fronto temporal language circuits. In terms of the main difference between hallucination and mental imagery – voluntary controllability, Linden et al. (2011) speculated that it was generated from the altered forward model of sensory productions. Forward model (Wolpert, Ghahramani, Jordan, 1995) stated that perceptual consequences were predicted upon known actions, and the prediction in turn influenced the actual experience of the self-generated action. The forward model could be in effect in speech production. According to it, self-generated speech is subject to prediction of resulted sensory experience. This hypothesis was partially supported by Linden et al.’s (2011) study. They found that the voice-selective area on the banks of superior temporal sulcus (STS) was consistently activated during auditory hallucination and voluntary auditory mental imagery. This area had been regarded as reacting to external sensory stimulation only, but it was later speculated of having been monitoring the self-generated speech in mental imagery and hallucination. Linden et al. (2011) identified in their study that the monitoring and modulating functioning of relevant auditory regions were disturbed in nonclinical hallucinators, resulting in the likelihood of attributing internally generated speech to external sources. These budding evidences suggested that hallucination and mental imagery indeed share fundamental neural networks and do not operate on completely distinctive systems. However, detailed examinations of the activity of these neural networks in terms of different features of mental imagery and hallucination, as well as differed neural system contributing to their differences are still in need. Conclusion Mental imagery vividness has interested researchers for long because of their potential relationship with the experience of hallucination. However, empirical studies have resulted in contradicting results. Earlier studies proposed that increased vividness of mental imagery is a predictor of hallucination, and they have found that higher mental imagery vividness was related with hallucination experiences. Nevertheless, many of the later replications with various methodological modifications failed to reproduce any significant relationship. Because of the variations of measurement of mental imagery vividness, it is hard to decide whether the hypothesis of the relationship between mental imagery vividness and hallucination can be rejected or not. The development of neuroscience based study methods provided a new perspective of testing the hypothesis. Current neurological studies have focused on neural activity comparison between general mental imagery process and hallucination experience. More specific studies targeting at features of mental imagery and hallucination are needed to provide a higher-level understanding of the relationship between the two experiences. Reference Aleman, A., Bocker, K.B.E., de Haan, E.H.F. (1999). Disposition towards hallucinations and subjective versus objective vividness of imagery in normal subjects. Personality and Individual Differences, 27, 707-714. Allen, P., Laroi, F., McGuire, P., Aleman, A. (2008). The hallucinating brain: a review of structural and functional neuroimaging studies of hallucinations. Neuroscience Biobehavioral Reviews, 32, 175-191. Barrett, T.R. (1993). Verbal hallucinations in normals, II: Self-reported imagery vividness. Personality and Individual Differences, 15, 61-67. Barrett, T. R., Etheridge, J. B. (1992). Verbal hallucinations in normals, I: People who hear ‘voices’. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 6, 379-387. Bell, V., Halligan, P. W. (2009, April). Additional data on whether vividness of visual mental imagery is linked to schizotypal traits in a non-clinical population [Letter to the editor]. Psychiatry Research, 178, 568-569. Bentall, R.P. (1990). The illusion of reality: A review and integration of psychological research on hallucinations. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 82-95. Bocker, K. B. E., Hijman, R., Kahn, R.S., de Haan, E. H. F. (2000). Perception, mental imagery and reality discrimination in hallucinating and non-hallucinating schizo phrenic patients. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39, 397-406. Brett, E. A., Starker, S. (1977). Auditory imagery and hallucinations. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 164, 394–400. Doninger, G.M., Silipo, G., Rabinowics, E.F., Snodgrass, J.G., Javitt, D.C. (2001). Impaired sensory processing as a basis for object-recognition deficits in schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 1818-1826. Finke, R.A. (1989). Principles of mental imagery. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Holt, R. R. (1972). On the nature and generality of mental imagery. In P. W. Sheehan (Ed.), The function and nature of imagery. New York, NY: Academic Press. Horowitz, M. (1975). Hallucinations: An information processing approach. In R. K. Siegel, L. J. West (Eds.), Hallucinations: Behavior, Experience and Theory (pp.163-196.95). New York, NY: Wiley. Johnson, M. K., Raye, C. L. (1981). Reality monitoring. Psychological Review, 88, 67-85. Kail, R. (1997). Processing time, imagery, and spati al memory. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 64, 67-78. Kosslyn, S.M. (1994). Image and brain: the resolution of the imagery debate. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Kosslyn, S. M., Brunn, J., Cave, K. R., Wallach, R. W. (1984). Individual differences in mental imagery ability: A computational analysis. Cognition, 18, 195-243. Linden, D. E. J., Thornton, K., Kuswanto, C. N., Johnston, S. J., Jackson, M. C. (2011). The brain’s voices: Comparing nonclinical auditory hallucinations and imagery. Cerebral Cortex, 21, 330–337. McGuire, P., Silbersweig, D., Murray, R., David, A., Frackowiak, R. Frith C. (1996). Functional anatomy of inner speech and auditory verbal imagery. Psychological Medicine, 26, 29-38. Mintz, S., Alpert, M. (1972). Imagery vividness, reality testing, and schizophrenic hallucinations. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 79, 310-316. Murray, R.M., Lappin, J., Di Forti, M. (2008). Schizophrenia: from developmental deviance to dopamine dysregulation. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 18, S129-S134. Oertel, V., Rotarska-Jagiela, A., van de Ven, V., Haenschel, C., Grube, M., Stangier, U., Maurer, K., Liden, D. E. J. (2009). Mental imagery vividness as a trait marker across the schizophrenia spectrum. Psychiatry Research, 167, 1-11. Sack, A., Van De Ven, V., Etschenberg, S., Schatz, D., Linden, D. (2005). Enhanced vividness of mental imagery as a trait marker of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 31, 1 -8. Sartorius, N., Jablensky, A., Shapiro, R. (1978). Cross-cultural differences in the short-term prognosis of schizophrenic psychoses. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 4, 102-113. Shergill, S., Bullmore, E., Brammer, M., Williams, S., Murray, R. McGuire, P. (2001). A functional study of auditory verbal imagery. Psychological Medicine, 31, 241-253. Silbersweig, D., Stern, E. (1996). Functional neuroimaging of hallucinations in schizophrenia: toward an integration of bottomup and top-down approaches. Molecular Psychiatry, 1, 367-375. Starker, S., Jolin, A. (1982). Imagery and hallucination in schizophrenic patients. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 170, 448-451. Thomas, N. J. T. (1999). Are theories of imagery theories of imagination? An active perception approach to conscious mental content. Cognitive Science, 23, 207-245. Van de Ven, V., Merckelbach, H. (2003). The role of schizotypy, mental imagery, and fantasy proneness in hallucinatory reports of undergraduate students. P ersonality and Individual Differences, 35, 889–896. West, L. J. (Ed.). (1962). A general theory of hallucinations and dreams. New York, NY: Grune Stratton. Wible, C. G., Lee, K., Molina, I., Hashimoto, R., Preus, A. P., Roach, B. J., Ford, J. M., Mathalon, D. H., McCarthey, G., Turner, J. A., Potkin, S. G., O’Leary, D., Belger, A., Diaz, M., Voyvodic, J., Brown, G. G., Notestine, R., Greve, D., Lauriello, J. FBINA. (2009). fMRI

Application of Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC)

Application of Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) Leslie Bruchey Elements of the Professional Nursing Role Nursing care is provided in all hospitals, in different states, different countries with different practices. But with that being said, the nursing process using NANDA –I Taxonomy of Nursing diagnoses, the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) and Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) can provide some standards in care where it is received. Throughout this paper, we will discuss a clinical case that uses these tools in providing care and looking at the patient outcome and discuss the systems that were in place. Clinical Encounter This patient was admitted to a medical surgical unit with the diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, shortness of breath and pain with inspiration, atrial fibrillation and MRSA in the urine. Patient’s other history included chronic kidney disease, oxygen dependent at home and a low ejection fraction. With this being said, this patient had several things happening, but was being treated with antibiotics and Cardizem to control A-Fib. In the middle of the night, the patient was a rapid response for hypotension and moved to the intensive care. Because of a previous echo that revealed the patient’s EF was only 12%, large fluid boluses were not really an option to treat hypotension. The hypotension was caused by a few different reasons, the nurse in med surg had given this patient multiple blood pressure medications, and the critical care doctor felt that she was becoming septic due to her presentation. Also, the critical care doctor decided that the patient needed a stat VQ scan to rule out the possibility of a pulmonary embolism. The patient results concluded that there was a high probability of a pulmonary embolism which warranted the patient to be placed on IV heparin, have a venous ultrasound of her legs and an echo. These tests reviewed no clots in her legs or heart. With heparin, a PT/INR was drawn for baseline and then a hep xa was drawn every 6 hours until the heparin was therapeutic. A BNP and CBC were drawn to monitor blood cell counts and a central line was placed and the patient was placed on Levophed to prevent hypotension for a few hours. After a few hours, the patient was able to keep blood pressure controlled without medications. Antibiotics were continued as patients WBC’s were 14000 and the patient was continuously monitored in the ICU for a few days. CVP’s were measured at 5 and urine output was monitored closely. Nursing Diagnosis This patient had multiple nursing diagnoses’ that fit her condition. One of the diagnoses that fit this patient is decreased cardiac output. With the patient being in A-fib and with an EF of only 12% this patient does not have optimal cardiac output. The patient also prevents with hypotension which is believed to may have been caused by medications that effect preload and afterload which will also decrease the cardiac output of this patient. This diagnosis is a part of NANDA- I Taxonomy of Nursing Diagnoses and falls under domain 4 Activity and Rest and class 4 which discusses Cardiovascular/ Pulmonary Responses (NANDA, 2012). Nursing Interventions Classification Interventions The following are nursing interventions that were used on this patient using the NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification). Hemodynamic Regulation (4150) Definition: â€Å"Optimization of heart rate, preload, afterload and contractility† (Bulechek, Butcher, Dochterman, 2008) Ways to intervene: Patient was placed on a presser, i.e Levophed to cause vasoconstriction and promote an increase in blood pressure A small 250ml fluid bolus was given prior to coming to the intensive care unit The patient was placed on hemodynamic monitoring to check central venous pressures and allowed us to monitor fluid status Medication parameters were in place for medications that would effect HR, preload, afterload Oxygen Therapy (3320): Definition: â€Å"Administration of oxygen and monitoring of its effectiveness† (Bulechek, Butcher, Dochterman, 2008) Ways to intervene: Oxygen provided by nasal cannula was titrated by oxygen saturation, patient was on 3L. Continuous oxygen saturation monitoring by a pulse ox on the finger. Respirations and patient comfort were also monitored, i.e. no shortness of breath or trouble breathing. Urinary Catheterization (0580): Definition: â€Å"Insertion of a catheter into the bladder for temporary or permanent drainage of urine† (Bulechek, Butcher, Dochterman, 2008). Ways to intervene: Foley was placed to monitor urine output. Output was monitored to check fluid balance because of patient’s history of CKD, the MRSA infection and having a low ejection fraction. The catheter was temporary and was used for strict input and output. Family Presence Facilitation (7170): Definition: â€Å"Facilitation of the family’s presence in support of an individual undergoing resuscitation and or invasive procedures† (Bulechek, Butcher, Dochterman, 2008). Ways to intervene: Family contacted because patient was moved to intensive care and needed a emergent central line placement. Patient was extremely anxious and requested that we contact her family to come in for needed support. Family came in and educated on what happened and any other information that was needed at that time. Nursing Outcomes Classification Outcomes Now that we have defined a nursing diagnosis and provided some interventions that this patient needed, it is time to discuss the patient outcome. These interventions help the patient achieve multiple goals and as a nurse, all of our interventions help us improve patient outcomes. This patient has multiple nursing diagnoses, but because decreased cardiac output was addressed, the outcome will be as follows: Cardiac Pump Effectiveness (0400) Definition: â€Å"Adequacy of blood volume ejected from the left ventricle to support systemic perfusion pressure† (Moorhead, Johnson, Maas, Swanson, 2008). The patient will be able to maintain blood pressure without pressers. Patient will have a follow up echo that showed her ejection fraction was 45%. Patient will have adequate urine output. CVP measurements will be within normal limits. Patient will have activity tolerance when getting out of bed and ambulating around room. Patient will continue outpatient rehab to rebuild strength over time. Advantages and Disadvantages The nursing process allows for a standard of care to be provided anywhere that a nurse cares for a patient. With being able to identify what the patients problems are through a nursing diagnosis, we are able to next focus on the interventions that best fit and will provide the best patient outcome. When looking at a patient, we all have our own outcomes that we want to achiever to better the patient. In the patient above, there are many problems that could results in a long list of nursing diagnoses. With being able to focus on one at a time, a nurse is able to think about the needed steps to achieve the positive outcome that we all look at. With using the NIC, NOC and NANDA-I, nurses anywhere are able to identify a problem, the steps to improve the problems and the hopefully outcome for this issue. While these tools help standardize care that nurses provide and focus on and to make sure that the needed interventions to improve the outcome are being performed and are being documented . It is important that the nurse can focus on the needs of the patient and to take credit for all the important things we do during our time with a patient. I also think the nursing process is great for other disciplines to look out what nursing is focusing on and also may help guide the rest of the care that is provided. With this documenting process and just using in the clinical setting, newer nursing can use it to help focus the care their patients may need. These tools are a great resource for nurses but they do have some disadvantages. In day to day care in the nursing realm, these tools are a great resource, but in reality are hard to find time to access and continually document on them. I have seen these types of programs being used in the clinical setting and because nurses are busy, some just copy and paste the same thing over and over day to day. This does not show how we are intervening to meet the outcome. If used right, it is a great tool, but there are a lot of nurses that look at it as just another silly hoop to jump through during patient care and just another thing to document. Some nurses do not take the time to think about what interventions would help our patients. Also, I think that the various lists are good; however, sometimes it is hard to find the exact name of the intervention that we want to use. It takes time to look through the list to find the exact intervention or outcome that best fits out patient needs. Also, it would be hard to get all nurses on board to document with this type of syste m because some are resistant to change and others just are already overwhelmed with the amount of documentation that is required throughout the day. Conclusion The NIC, NOC and NANDA-I Taxonomy of Nursing Diagnoses are a great guide for standard nursing care. Anyone can use these documents to help focus the care their patients need. I believe documenting to nursing process throughout this system will allow for better patient outcomes to continuously reevaluate what the patients’ needs are and what is going on with a patient. Other disciplinary team members would be able to look at what the problems nursing are focusing on and see where they can help support that patients care. Overall, the standardized care would support patient outcomes and allow for nurses to focus on what they can do, improving the patients care by identifying problems, inventions and outcomes. References Bulechek, G.M., Butcher, H. K., Dochterman, J.C. (Eds.). (2008). Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier. Moorhead, S., Johnson, M., Maas, M., Swanson, E. (Eds.) (2008). Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) (4th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby/Elsevier. NANDA International. (2012). NANDA international nursing diagnoses: Definitions classification 2012-2014. T.H. Herdman, (ED.). Kaukauna, WI: Author.

Was Hamlet Insane Essay -- essays research papers

Was Hamlet insane? Scholars have debated this question ever since Shakespeare presented this play to the public. Although I am not a scholar, I believe that there is enough evidence in the play to suggest Hamlet had been sane. He may have been depressed and angry however this was due to the treachery and betrayal contaminating Denmark. The insanity act had been an instrument to allow Hamlet the freedom to achieve his goal of revenge. When the audience first meets Hamlet, he is dressed in black. He is in mourning over the death of his father. When questioned by Gertrude about his attire and his disposition, Hamlet replies 'But I have that within which passeth show—these are but the trappings and the suits of woe.'; (Act 1, Scene 2). Hamlet is incensed over his mother's hasty remarriage to Claudius by stating 'She married. O most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!'; He comments that he would commit suicide if his religious beliefs allowed it. To add to Hamlets problems, his girlfriend Ophelia refuses to see him anymore. She 'did repel his letters and denied His access…';. No explanation is given to Hamlet about her actions. The audience knows that Polonius is responsible however Hamlet does not know this. Hamlet is an angry, depressed man due to life altering events. His faith in humanity is at an all time low. It is in this depressed state of mind that Hamlet meets the ghost of his father. Hamlet's friends find him ranting...

Essay --

Dec 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. government's gathering of Americans' phone records is likely unlawful, a judge ruled on Monday, raising "serious doubts" about the value of the National Security Agency's so-called metadata counterterrorism program. "I cannot imagine a more 'indiscriminate' and 'arbitrary invasion' than this systematic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on virtually every single citizen," U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by Republican President George W. Bush in 2002, wrote in a 68-page ruling. The U.S. Department of Justice said it was reviewing the ruling in a case brought by Larry Klayman, a conservative lawyer, and Charles Strange, described in court documents as the father of a cryptologist technician for the NSA who was killed in Afghanistan in 2011. The judge ordered the government to stop collecting data about the two plaintiffs, who were Verizon Communications Inc customers. Verizon declined comment. "We believe the program is constitutional as previous judges have found," Department of Justice spokesman Andrew Ames said in a statement. Leon suspended enforcement of his injunction against the program "in light of the significant national security interests at stake in this case and the novelty of the constitutional issues" pending an expected appeal by the government. A U.S. official said an appeal was likely. Leon expressed skepticism of the program's value, writing that the government could not cite a single instance in which the bulk data actually stopped an imminent attack. "I have serious doubts about the efficacy of the metadata collection program as a means of conducting time-sensitive investigations in cases involving imminent threats of terrorism," he wrote. That ... ... Glenn Greenwald, a former columnist for The Guardian who wrote about the metadata collection program based on documents leaked to him by Snowden, praised the court ruling. "This is a huge vindication for Edward Snowden and our reporting. Snowden came forward precisely because he knew that the NSA was secretly violating the constitutional rights of his fellow citizens, and a federal court ruled today that this is exactly what has been happening," Greenwald said in an email. A committee of experts appointed by the Obama Administration to review NSA activities is expected to recommend that the spy agency give up collection of masses of metadata and instead require telephone companies to hold onto it so it can be searched. But intelligence officials and the phone companies themselves are said to oppose such a plan. found in nature, for example peptide nucleic acids.

Father of the Bride Wedding Speech -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Father of the Bride Wedding Speech Welcome, everyone. I believe, that as father of the bride, it is my dubious privilege to make the first speech, so, here's one I prepared earlier. I would like to start by saying what a pleasure it is to welcome, on this very happy occasion all relatives and friends of both families. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank especially my wife for not only being tolerant but more importantly an outstanding mother and the guiding influence in the upbringing of our daughter, culminating in today's celebrations. To the reverend, our thanks for officiating at the ceremony, and to his "boss† for keeping the weather at bay. Before I ask you to join me in a toast to the bride and groom. I'd like to bore you with a few words. I will try to keep them short. as I know that the other speakers are really looking forward to standing here before you and making their speeches! Nine months ago Nicola phoned and asked me what I was doing on Saturday, 23 March. As she knows that I always play golf on a Saturday, I thought she had taken up the game ...

Nabakov and Orwell: The Politics of World-Building Essay

Nabakov’s primary point in â€Å"Good Readers and Good Writers† is to embrace the notion that the best writers create new realities out of chaos in their writing. Good readers, then, must abandon traditional notions of history and socioeconomic theory, and approach works with a sense of imagination and a well-honed sense of aesthetics. Orwell’s famous â€Å"Politics and the English Language† bears certain similarities to this, and may well have been a precursor to Nabakov’s theories. Orwell believes that politics led to the over-complication of language, from flowery metaphors to indecipherable scientific jargon. This seems readily apparent during election season, when candidates hide true perspectives and platforms behind a bevy of blinding buzzwords. However, it is important to note that what Orwell excoriates, Nabakov celebrates—after all, Nabakov insists that a good reader will have a good dictionary, the better with which to map out this new world that their favorite author is shaping. This is certainly true in a college education, where one cannot simply advocate simplicity and refuse to learn any complexity. In Orwell’s defense, he was not attempting to offer criticism on a literary level, but wished to comment on the political rhetoric of the time, which then (as now) sought to use inflated phrases to inflate candidates who, in reality, were downright hollow inside. Nabakov advocates something closer to a cause/effect structure—he does not denigrate the (often complicated) politics embedded within literary fiction. Rather, he urges good readers to enjoy the stories they read as fantastic literature first, and political screed second. Orwell would be unlikely to agree with this view, as his two most famous works (Animal Farm and 1984) serve as political warnings against Communism, and the stories wrapped around these warning are, for all intents and purposes, ornamental only. To extend the metaphor further, Nabakov’s theory stresses the necessity of the ornaments in order to appreciate the whole tree; viewing a story with a pre-packaged idea of what it means was just as unseemly to Nabakov as the reuse of political slogans was to Orwell: it is nothing more than an excuse to avoid original thought, which is necessary to good writers, readers, and politicians.

Management of Bipolar (Manic Depression)

Forgotten Kids are children that have disabilities that are barely visible. They have their arms and legs, can see and hear, run, play, etc. , but most have never been invited to a birthday party or to a sleep over. They are the last to be chosen to play and the first to be blamed. Their illnesses aren†t fatal, but a small part of their hearts and souls die with every rejection. Their behaviors seem odd or unpredictable to themselves as much as to society. They are misunderstood and overlooked, thus the name â€Å"Forgotten Kids. Maybe I can bring understanding by showing and providing insight into the life of a child struck with mental illness and hopefully people will realize that my child is just as special as the next. An estimated 7,000,000 children in Missouri that suffers from these â€Å"invisible disabilities. † Mental illness not only affects the life of the child but the whole community. I live with this fact every day because my son suffers from Bipolar, better known as Manic Depression. Bipolar children long to be free of the strange feelings of sadness or euphoria and the voices that torment them. They wish for a good nights sleep and hope for a day when they can put their words on paper. They dream of friends who don†t abandon them when their moods change; and look for a miracle in the eyes of doctors who don†t always believe that bipolar can happen to a child. Until society becomes more aware and accepting of these illnesses, our future children with these disabilities stand no chance. My son,was diagnosed at age nine after his third stay in a child†s psychiatric unit. He was admitted following a period of behaviors I could not understand nor control. I remember him being â€Å"different† (I now know he was Manic) as far back as three years old, leaving me with raging emotions of guilt, shame, loss and grief. By age nine, he had begun lying, stealing, destroying property, setting fires, and hurting himself (these are called rages. ) He had no friends at school, though he would say that wasn†t true. He was filled with an anger I could not comprehend. Most people who knew us said it was my fault as a parent that if I would just â€Å"control† him, he would be fine. Not only was my son stigmatized but so was I. Not until we located the right doctor and started the proper medications that he needed was he â€Å"fine. † Through the years as the medication began working its wonders a new child began to emerge. He laughs, he plays, but most of all he talks about what he feels. He would say that we cannot conceive his isolation, and the depth of it at times. He would apologize for the fact that he couldn†t offer me better understanding. I realized then that what he gives is so much more valuable. He gives me an opportunity to discover the depth of my character, my love, my commitment, my patience, my ability to cope, and the opportunity to explore my spirit more deeply than I ever imagined. I told him that because of him, I am driven to go further than I would have ever gone on my own, working harder, seeking answers to the many questions that seemed to have no answers. He describes a world that seems to pass him by. How he longs to run and play like other children. How sometimes it is a challenge just to crawl from his bed in the morning. Hearing this it becomes obvious how much â€Å"normal† people take for granted and how we forget how precious life is. We†re not burdened with the strifes and conflicts of a much more complicated life. I only wish he could enjoy the freedom of just being a child. He cries from the loneliness that tears his world apart wondering if he is bad or evil and why he isn†t like everyone else. I can†t answer, except to say there is a reason we just don†t understand it. His ability to live through the nightmare of his life is amazing. It†s not easy raising a child with a mental illness but what is even harder is not being accepted by your community because of ignorance and fear. To let a physical, neurological, biochemical or mental handicap stand in the way of these children†s future would be a major tragedy.

An Inspector Calls Essay

JB Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ to enhance the message that ‘we don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’. This is something Priestly felt strongly about and he succeeded in representing his views through the character of the Inspector in the play itself. He wanted to communicate the message that our actions, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, always affect others. He uses the downfall of Eva Smith and a chain of events to demonstrate this. This leads to a very convincing and well-devised play, which puts across JB Priestley’s views clearly and precisely. In Edwardian Britain there was a great difference in the roles of men and women in society and the outlook of what and was not accepted differed substantially. A prime example of this in the play is when Mr Birling says ‘Nothing to do with you, Sheila. Run along. ‘ This tells us that women are treated as inferior to men as they should not interfere with their conversations. For example, upper class men were encouraged to gain sexual experience with lower class women. This way, women were preserved until the wedding night as a sign of purity. The background a marriage carried was seen as more important than the relationship between the couple. In many cases it was necessary for individuals to marry into families that offered greater status or financial strength. This is shown in the play when Mr Birling says ‘Your father and I have been friendly rivals in business†¦ we may look forward to a time when Craft’s and Birling’s are no longer competing but are working together. This suggests Mr Birling cares more about his own welfare than Gerald and Sheila’s happiness. The Inspector conveys the theme of responsibility. He shows we must all look out for each other and think before taking actions. Priestley uses Eva Smith’s death as an example of the suffering of lower class women in Edwardian times and directs the blame at the whole family caused by their small but consequential, chain of events. Priestley cleverly brings in the inspector at a strategic moment, just after Birling has stated ‘that a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own’. This is the speech that Birling has just made, which reveals his true character. That of a narcissistic, unsparing old man. But then the inspector comes in and gradually shows them how wrong Birling is and how we should feel and show responsibility for one another.