Wednesday, July 31, 2019

“All the Years of Her Life” and “The Gentlemen of Rio en Medio” Essay

The thing about synonyms is that even though they though they might seem like they are the same thing, if put in a different context they can mean something completely different. It’s interesting how two characters with very similar traits, goals and morals can be so different when placed in different stories, like when you switch a word for its supposed â€Å"synonym†. Don Anselmo and Mrs. Higgins are two very similar people. Both are traditional, respected, a little on the old-fashioned side and good at being seen as proud and confident. But it’s their greatest linking factor, their love for their families and communities, which divides them. Don Anselmo is a proud, traditional and very well respected man who has kept up the tradition of planting a tree for every child in the village to the point where a â€Å"gnarled but beautiful† orchard had become a part of his property. And when he is confronted with the request to ask the children to refrain from playing in the orchard, he explains that it is not his choice nor his place, as â€Å"the trees do not belong to him†. To him, nothing is more important than respecting the honor of his family. And to him, every child in that village whether they’re related to him or not, is his family. On the other hand, Mrs. Higgins has too close of an association with her son to the point where she sees his problems as hers. She has a proud and confident facade that hides a spirit broken by reasons that are out of her control. She appears to blame herself for her son’s inability to keep a steady job and lead a good life. Like Don Anselmo she closely identifies herself with her family that in her case seems to have an ill effect on her lifestyle. â€Å"You’ve disgraced me again and again,† she told Albert as they left the pharmacy. She feels as if her son’s shenanigans are her fault and this causes her spirit to crumble. This isn’t the first time that her family has failed her, which in her eyes translates into failing as a mother. So as you can see, both characters have almost identical personality building blocks. On one hand, Don Anselmo has used his love and respect for family to create a bond between him and his village that lead to a tight knit  community. And on the other, Mrs. Higgins chose to use her tolerance and pride to create a poisonous relationship between her son’s lifestyle and her happiness.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Nutritional Habits

Diabetes is a very serious physiological disorder that is rather assuming an epidemic proportion the world over. It is caused by the inability of the pancreas to secrete enough insulin to work on the sugar (glucose) that has been ingested. It is treated by putting the patient on supplementary insulin and can be controlled by controlling the diet of the person afflicted with diabetes. This means reducing carbohydrate and increasing protein intake. The most important things in maintaining nutritional health of diabetics is to keep the blood glucose, blood lipids (fats) and blood pressure within an acceptable range. The acceptable range is shown thus: 1.Blood glucose should be 6-7% during fasting and before meals; and 90–130 mg/dl 2 hours after the start of a meal:

Monday, July 29, 2019

Why Not Have Physician Assisted Suicide

During the course of the past 20 years, many people are starting to here more and more situations about people participating in physician-assisted suicide. The fact of the matter is that people are starting to believe that they have the right to control their own life and death decisions. After you begin to think about physician-assisted suicide, and bring in all the facts, it becomes clear that it should be allowed in our society if it is used properly. Many people question the pure definition of physician-assisted suicide. According to the University of Washington School of Medicine, â€Å"physician-assisted suicide refers to the physician providing the means for death, most often with a prescription, in which the patient administers the medication† (Ethics in Medicine). As of 1997 the State of Oregon was the only state that utilize legalized physician-assisted suicide. Some people argue whether this practice is ethical to use today in our society. One strong reason why this should be done is because it is a good choice for people who are suffering unbearably. At times many physicians believe that it is their duty to relieve these people of their problems. One of the most famous arguments in favor of physician -assisted suicide is the story by Timothy Quill, and his patient â€Å"Diane†. Diane was a woman who was diagnosed with leukemia; from the beginning she refused the aggressive treatment. â€Å"She then requested a prescription of barbiturates that could be used to end her life if she determined that her suffering had become unbearable† (Annals of Internal Medicine). Diane was enrolled in a hospice program, many months passed but she began to feel a lot of pain, and fatigue. She used the barbiturates that her doctor gave her and ended her life. This was a very good case in favor of the practice because this woman was in serious pain, and the best solution was to end her life. Another example of a physician-assisted suicide incident that attracted some attention on the issue occurred with a 37-year-old woman named â€Å"BB†. This woman had a â€Å"serious stroke and soon after she became quadriplegic and unable to speak† (Annals of Internal Medicine). She spent many days learning to communicate with others around her by using a special computer. â€Å"Finding her life quality of life intolerable, she repeatedly communicated a wish to die† (Annals of Internal Medicine). She underwent some psychiatric counseling, and they agreed that she had the ability to do her own decision-making. So the staff â€Å"took away all of her artificial nutrition and hydration, and only provided comfort and care until she passed away soon after† (Annals of Internal Medicine). BB, like Diane, was also a prime example of a patient that was in need of physician-assisted suicide; she could no longer go through life the way she was and all she wanted was to die. Many of these patients bring up some important arguments for their reasons in which they have the right to use physician-assisted suicide. The University of Washington School of Medicine states that there are many arguments in favor of physician -assisted suicide or (PAS). The first of the four arguments in favor of PAS is the respect for autonomy of the patient. This means that the decisions about the circumstances for death are very personal. â€Å"They also state that a competent person should have the right to choose death†(Ethics in Medicine). The next argument for PAS is regarding to â€Å"justice. † â€Å"Justice requires that we treat like cases alike. Competent, terminally ill patients are allowed to hasten death by treatment refusal. For some patients, treatment refusal will not suffice to hasten death, and the only option is suicide. Justice requires that we should allow assisted death for these patients† (Ethics in Medicine). The third argument is the issue of compassion, according to the University of Washington School of Medicine. They explain that it is not always possible to relieve suffering, and PAS may be a compassionate response to that suffering of the Patients. The Individual liberty vs. state interest is one of the strongest arguments for PAS. A complete elimination of assisted death limits personal liberty of the individual. This is one of the main concerns about PAS, people believe that it is their body, and they should have the right to do what ever they feel is necessary. These are common arguments that have been used by patients and physicians all over the country. People against the issue of PAS debate many of these arguments and have come up with their own scenarios on the issue. Some common arguments against the PAS are â€Å"when you take a human life, it is morally wrong because of a certain religion† (Ethics In Medicine). Another argument is that some medical doctors like to maintain their professional integrity and are opposed to taking human life. Herbert Hendin states in his article â€Å"Selling Death and Dignity†, that † We should not buy into the view that those who are engulfed by fear of death or by suicidal despair that death is a preferred solution to the problems of illness, age, and depression†(Hendin 78). These arguments that are stated against physician-assisted suicide don’t seem to be strong enough to turn my feelings away from the idea that it is justified. In response to Hendin’s statement, he has no idea of all the pain and suffering that is happening to people, and what they go through. Religion is also an argument that doesn’t make much sense to me. The right thing to do if a patient is suffering from a serious illness or basically living on a â€Å"plug†, is to give them the opportunity to die the way they want and not worry about whether it is morally right, according to a religion. Also the argument made on behalf of some doctors, â€Å"that it harms their professional integrity† is also false. These ill patients think of their doctors as relieving them from pain and suffering. â€Å"Death is not caused by the withdraw of treatment from the physician, but by the underlying disease†(Annals of Medicine). Therefore, these ill patients are going to die either way, so the doctors shouldn’t feel that it is unprofessional to end a patient’s life if it is requested. One reason why people don’t want to let the PAS practice legalized is because they cannot find a certain policy to use it under. Physician-assisted suicide is debated upon regularly today and does not seem to be allowed in most states. One reason for this is because If it is legalized and it doesn’t have restrictions, there will be cases in which people will be going to the doctor to end their life for poor reasons. This form of PAS is unacceptable and that is why there should be a strict policy on the issue. If a patient goes to a doctor and asked for this procedure to be done, the physicians most look into the law on physician-assisted suicide. This policy should state that the practice can only be done if the patient has a serious illness, that is life threatening and undergoing massive amounts of pain, or lost some form of physical and mental abilities, from an illness such as a stroke. Another thing that would be included in this policy is that the patient requesting the practice must undergo some sort of psychiatric counseling to see whether he or she is in the right mind set for the procedure. This is important part of the policy, because PAS shouldn’t be performed if the patient is suffering only from some sort of depression. This policy will sort out the people who need the PAS and those who really don’t need it. This type of policy on physician-assisted suicide should be acted on in our government. Far too many people suffer, lying in hospital beds, wishing for an answer to their problems. They have lived a long enough, suffered physically, and emotionally, as â€Å"Diane† did in Timothy E. Quill’s article â€Å"Death and Dignity: A Case of Individualized Decision Making. † â€Å"We have measures to help control pain and lesson suffering, to think that people do not suffer in the process of dying is an allusion†(Quill 70), so we should not let this suffering continue on for people, and give them the choice to end their lives if they feel that is what they want.

Organisational Transformation in Practice Essay - 1

Organisational Transformation in Practice - Essay Example In this specific instance, the store’s general manager refrained from interacting with employees except when absolutely necessary. Even as there was a limited amount of employees, cliques emerged that hindered workplace efficiency and productivity. The environment had a strong negative impact on my mental and emotional well-being. In investigating these personal factors I implemented Gibbs’ (1988) reflection cycle. Fig. 1 demonstrates Gibbs’ reflection cycle. This cycle begins with a description of the underlining cause of the events and then moves in a clockwise pattern through stages of analysis and reconciliation. These stages are advanced through in the articulation of a patchwork text. Fig. 1 Gibbs Reflection Cycle PATCH II Underlying Causes In analyzing this specific workplace experience of change, I consider that there were a number of underlying causes that contributed to the experience. This specific organizational environment is best considered in terms of psychic elements, as the negative feelings and thought patterns I tacitly accepted and that were distributed throughout the organization occurred at the level of unspoken or unconscious communication. One recognizes this consideration within Michael Diamond’s (2008) concept of the unthought known. ... The consideration of the toxicity I experienced I recognize then can be articulated within this hybrid structural and psychodynamic model. Diamond (2008, p. 357) notes, â€Å"Organizational culture is predominantly unconscious and ultimately located at the core of intersubjective relations that shape values and artifacts at the surface of organization.† In this specific organization, there were great challenges in terms of direct communication between individuals. The cliques that developed greatly hindered organizational communication. It seems in this way the cliques were implemented as an institutional defence, as employees chose to hide behind the group facade. Splitting became a prominent defence as individuals would view another, or a differing group in entirely negative terms. This effected communication through indirect methods. Passive aggressive behavior became prominent among employees. In my personal experience at the organization I recognize that I would frequentl y attempt to schedule my shifts as to avoid specific people. This suspicious and paranoid behavior grew larger the longer I worked at the company. When I did have to work with employees I had previously attempted to avoid a general toxic environment emerged. Rather than having a strong managerial leader to delineate job tasks, there were many arguments among employees as to who would participate in specific tasks such as shelving the aisles or running the cash register. In many degrees these arguments reflected group dynamics and fight or flight behavior. The arguments were simply a means of avoiding work responsibility, but instead reflected power relations within the group. While

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Starting A Business Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Starting A Business - Personal Statement Example I got candle (manufacturing) business is most appropriate for me. For idea generation I used the approach is market driven and the method used is "Growth Products" by which I tried to clearly perceive and think of growing products, which have experienced a regular and remarkable growth in demand. As I found that electricity problem is a greater problem here and during nighttime a few areas covered by electricity so people have to use oil lamp as alternative but the price of oil is out of their capability of purchase so, candle will be the best alternative for them and yet there is no candle manufacturer company. As the market is huge and no threat of competitor except some substitutes so the market has no entry or exit barrier and the profitability is high enough (shown in table below). As this business require a very little investment of BDT 10,00,000 ($20,000) the risk is very low and no intervention should comes from government as Govt. always encourage investing in this country a t any sector. The project is about 20 years. And Govt. of Bangladesh had a contact with China to work on Development in Electricity sector after 30 years as a project of water plant is already running. So till the completion of my target deadline my project is secure enough. Along with assumption, SWOT analysi

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Stratification Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Stratification Systems - Essay Example Perhaps his ideas originated from his family background, where a blend of politics and academics created the right environment for a sociologist of his stature to develop. Studying law at the university further enabled the polishing of the ideas held about the society, despite having developed impressive historical and social views at a very tender age, which almost put him in trouble with his teachers. Weber had personal experience with conflict at the domestic level when his family problems exposed him to taking sides with his mother in disputes (Kerbo, 6). Concept of conflict among upper and lower classes took the dimension of the motivation, which he thought depended on factors such as power, prestige, as well as the ownership of property and wealth. The level of access of class and status is dependent on the transferability of the factor that accords the class and status, for instance prestige. Weber held that it would be possible for prestige to gain property if the parties involved in both classes were willing to exchange their possession. The position that wealthy people often wield power in the society may also translate into prestige involved, making it easy for such persons to rise to political power. In view of bureaucracies and their origin, Weber identifies the authority of the state as the only legitimate party to apply force and violence in carrying out its roles. His observation of the rational source of legal power wielded by the state explains the acceptance of government in the modern world (Kerbo, 15). Rising population numbers in human civilization and the need to control the monetary concept of living among the people eventually led to bureaucratic organization, taking care of administration needs of the socie ty. To generate this argument, Weber identifies three types of authority or dominations namely, charismatic, traditional and legal. From the legal coining of power by the state,

Friday, July 26, 2019

Political science final exam and 3 quizes Case Study - 1

Political science final exam and 3 quizes - Case Study Example His efforts were based on the concept of improving the overall outlook of public administration. The entire effort was based on double decades contributions which came to forth in true spirit only in 1940s. 2.According to the Woodrow Wilson case examined in your textbook on pages 26-27, what idea of a one-time obscure professor Woodrow Wilson would eventually become the dogma of academic public administration? Woodrow Wilson was associated with teaching profession for earlier part of his career, and till the early days of his 30s, he had not achieved anything substantial and for this matter he at one time said that even at age of 31, I have achieved nothing, however he had the insight and vision to become one of the best in the field of public administration and he devoted his efforts and energies towards this field and profession that would become corner stone of public administration principles all over the world. 3.Based on the Woodrow Wilson case on pages 26-27, what similarity exists between former President Woodrow Wilson and current President Barack Obama as it relates to both men’s early writings and their stature in the field of academia? Were their writings prominently received? Both the leaders, the present President Barack Obama and the then president Woodrow Wilson were associated with the academic profession, made their way through continuous struggle and hard work rose up to the rank of being the guiders of the nation in longer run. Both had a similarity amongst them in the context of aiming to bring about change, while Woodrow Wilson resolved to bring about change via public administration and governance model, President Barack Obama followed the same pursuit without clearly naming the domain of public administration. Their affiliation to the field of academia enabled them advocating a point towards improvement in the present setup of governmental activities. Both the leaders

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Organization behavior class in the news report Essay

Organization behavior class in the news report - Essay Example The author pointed out the openness of Grove to learn from his audience, his students. Being an educator at Stanford University, Grove have laid down a realistic case, very truthful indeed because it pertains to the future of his very own company. Tedlow used this incident to show his readers the leadership style of Grove. He wrote a brief biography of the CEO by accident, how, from being an engineer, he strove to become one of the most admired corporate leaders using his past experiences to as guides and educational tools. Tedlow also highlighted Grove's reliance on data during decision-making. He finally pointed out Grove's advocacy in independent thinking. Thinking for one's self using data and previous experiences (and mistakes) as references are cornerstones of Grove's leadership style. In the other article, "Peter Drucker On Leadership" Forbes author Rich Karlgaard used his personal interview with the management guru in plotting out the latter's basic leadership principles. The first point that the author raised is Drucker's emphasis on the question "What needs to be done" For Drucker, knowing what a leader needs to do, as opposed to the asking one's self "What do I want to do," is the key for successful management. Checking one's performance based on the things they ought to do is the next success factor of effective leaders. Drucker further emphasized that effective leaders are mission driven and are willing to turn down other irrelevant tasks to their mission. They also make clear what their current priorities are to their subordinates. A unique leadership style is also required. Focusing on strengths and delegating tasks you are weak at. To save time and money, Drucker also advised leaders to refrain from too much travelling and instead use the power of modern technologies to facilitate communication with subordinates. Karlgaard further warned leaders that misuse of charisma is detrimental to one's leadership. Better be a reliable silent leader than a deceitful charismatic one. Google's CEO Eric E. Schmidt narrowly focused strategy is what author Ben Elgin examines in his article "Google: A $50 Billion 'One Trick Pony'" in Business Week. Elgin showed how the search engine giant preferred to stick with its existing method of generating income than to diversify its advertising product line by exploring other income opportunities. The author commented that Google's singularity in its focus to its text advertisements might hurt the company in the future. Article Comparison These articles show three different perspectives on leadership. The first one is about the hands-on leadership principles accumulated by Andrew Grove. As a practicing business leader, Grove pointed out his first-hand wisdom on how to drive an organization to the top. Based on his past experiences of Grove's failures and successes, Tedlow gave us a picture on how the CEO riskily responded to the leadership problems that he encountered. The second article is more conservative and theoretical. It concerns more on the wisdom gained by an academe and business book writer, Peter Drucker. Drucker based his writings on his researches about CEO's. Being a business professor he gives us theoretical pointers rather than practical wisdom in leading an organization. Karlgaard's article is more of a commentary concerning the soundness of Schmidt's strategy. By limiting is focus on a single product line, Google has become a towering leader in that particular market. Despite these contrasts

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Self-fulfilling prophecy cycle (Negative assumptions, negative outcome Essay

Self-fulfilling prophecy cycle (Negative assumptions, negative outcome ) - Essay Example Supervisors create expectation of their employees, which emanate various occurrences. The first impression when an employer meets a prospective employee. A supervisor would form an opinion of the latter. Something in the manner of Negative assumptions is more noticeable than positive assumptions. While not necessarily rear positive assumptions are a regular occurrence in the employment industry. However, through principle-centered leaders who are distinct from their counterparts. Positivity radiates energy beams from within extending enthusiasm and energy to the persons they interact with at the workplace. Positivity, believe and upbeat in their employees potential is evident and ingrained within them. They also come across as servant leaders ready to give assistance when needed. It does not necessarily end with them giving a helping hand, but they also pass to be resourceful to be exploited by their followers so as to perform better and to their best. Such leaders surround themselve s with effective persons who exude positivity that plays a huge role in molding their followers (Tauber, 24). The moment an employee suspects certain behavior or manner in the supervisor’s actions, the first effects of self-fulfilling prophecy are witnessed. When the supervisor things an employee has some tendencies that are not desirable, they are likely to pay close attention to them thus prompt the target to act in the manner. Such could be through micromanagement of stifling ideas. Employees have certain expectations that contribute to them feeling invested in the firm. The expectations include; regard for their opinions, fair treatment, a chance for advancement and progression through work evaluation and believe and trust in them. These elements are very essential for an employee to be successful in their place of work. Thus, and employer, supervisor or leader should understand this fundamental factors and pay

Culture in business Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Culture in business - Term Paper Example Different nations across the world have different cultures and it is important for a business to evaluate and critically understand these cultural dynamics as they play key role in the success of a business in a particular area. People attach a lot of significance to the cultural issues within their region this usually influence their behavior, attitude, opinion in regard to a business. Communication is an extremely key factor for the success of a business. National culture in which a business enterprise operates can alter and daunt effective communication. Language is one of the most important aspects of a communication (Tahir, 2014). If two people are not able to communicate in a language they both adequately understand, the message transmission cannot go through or its interpretation can be flawed. For example, for an American firm to expand its branches and open more others in the Middles East countries, it is important that the language issue is properly addressed by decisions like hiring workers who understand the language of the local people so that communications with the consumers and every stake holder is enabled. Product promotions and advertisements sometimes require the promoters to use local languages of the people so as to enable the target group; who apparently might not be able to speak any other language relate the advert message. In some culture selection of wording is very important in product promotion. Some words might mean well in one culture but on the other culture, they are condemned. Also, to be able to effectively communicate with employees who probably are hired locally from that nation with a diverse culture require the business management to speak the same language. Consumers are more likely to purchase products from firms that they effectively communicate with than those that don’t. This implies that firms that identify

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Financial System and Intermediaries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial System and Intermediaries - Essay Example Brokerage firms act as agents for their clients in securities transactions at a fee. The brokerage companies offer advice to their clients on the type of securities to invest in capital markets and manage their portfolio activities. The trust companies act as trustees for their clients to manage their funds and estates. The trustee agents advise their clients on opening trust accounts to invest their savings. They also provide investment advice on asset and portfolio management. Barclays Bank advances loans to individuals from deposited money. These loans require security in the form of a property. Interest is charged on the loan. The difference in the lending and deposit rate is the bank’s profit. They include: b) Cash credit: - Advanced to current account holders and other who do not maintain accounts with the bank. It is given against the security of a tangible asset. Interest is charged on the amount withdrawn in excess. The Central Bank acts as the issuer of currency notes and coins that function as the medium of exchange and unit of account in transactions. This helps in monetary policy and determining the amount of money to flow in an economy. The Central Bank functions as a controller of commercial banks in the country. It controls lending and borrowing rates, minimum reserve ratios and discount rates. The Central Bank thus controls inflation levels thus ensuring stability in the

Monday, July 22, 2019

Human and Utilitarianism Essay Example for Free

Human and Utilitarianism Essay Let me begin by defining Utilitarianism: utilitarianism is the belief of doing what is right for the greater number of people. It is a theory used to determine the usefulness of the happiest outcome and how it will affect everyone else. Now, this sounds like a amazing theory, what would be better than making yourself and others happy? I found myself at first agreeing with this theory up until I really looked into it. At first I found myself thinking that not everything is about being happy; some may have to suffer for the happiness of others. For example, there were two boats one contains three criminals on death row being transported to prison and the other boat contains ten happy, loving families simply enjoying a vacation. Both ships have bombs that will go off in a matter of seconds, blowing up both ships and killing everyone. However, there is a solution. I for some odd reason have a device that sets off a bomb on ONE SHIP and deactivates the other. Now the morally right thing to do would be what? What is moral and right? Taking lives? Or saving them? I do not believe in ‘playing God’ or taking lives. I would simply ignore the Utilitarianism way of thinking and walk away. I would let nature take its course. If God has arranged this to happen, then it is meant to happen. Who am I to walk in and ‘play God’ ? I have to say I agree with Hospers when he says â€Å"A hundred men might gain great pleasure from beating up or killing just one Insignificant human being; but other mens lives are not theirs to dispose of. † (Hospers) A Utilitarian would approach this situation by asking himself/herself, what will bring happiness? What will do good for greater numbers of people? Why should the prisoners get to live? There are only three prisoners, and have done nothing good but cause harm to society. What have these families done? The Utilitarian will start to analyze each detail of the situation. They first see that there are only three prisoners as opposed to ten large families. Hence, there are less people on the prisoners boat. Then he/she will see that the prisoners have already been sentenced to death, all being on death row. However, the main point will be that these are three bad men. Doing bad things, and causing pain and sorrow to others. Why should ten happy families be punished for their wrong doings? The Utilitarian would settle for simply deactivating the bomb on the prisoners boat. Believing that killing them will bring greater good and happiness to all. My argument to this is a human life is a human life; what if one of those men are actually innocent and were convicted for a crime he didn’t commit? What if the other criminal was to be released in the morning and go home to a family of eight children and a loving wife? Truth is we don’t know. Utilitarianism fails to acknowledge that a life is a life- we are not suppose to be playing God. We don’t decide who lives and who dies, even if it is for the greater good. We should just let nature run its course. Utilitarianism is a theory of always choosing pleasure over pain for the greater good of all. I believe that I have kept a closed mind towards Utilitarianism. The prisoners are already on death row, which means they are going to die for the evil they have set loose on our world. Why should I sacrifice the lives of innocent families, for a couple of men that have caused unhappiness to all? I want to reach happiness, as does everyone else in the world. I mean does the world function over what the greater good for all is? Is that why we have soldiers in Iraq sacrificing their lives for the greater good of America? Maybe I have just overlooked all the positive outcomes of Utilitarianism. I find myself agreeing with a lot of what it has to say. I want happiness, I want innocent lives to be saved, and I want to strive for the greater good of all. I find it interesting how easy it is to fall into the comfort of Utilitarianism. It goes along with my morals and values and yet I still feel a sort of guilt. If I were to deactivate the bomb on the ship with the families and let the prisoners die, I would still be taking a human life. In my religion (Catholicism), a life is a life. We must forgive sinners and those who have sinned against us. But if these prisoners are on death row†¦were they already destined to die? Would that already be in God’s plan? Was it God who sacrificed his only son for all of us sinners? I feel in a way that makes God himself a follower of utilitarianism. He set the example of offering his only son for our sins, to open the gates of heaven for everyone. Yet one of the Ten Commandments is â€Å"Thou shall not kill. † Is that not hypocritical? As I keep analyzing this situation I realize that God is God. He decides who lives and who dies, not us. I feel that it’s hard to stick to my morals when hearing the theory of Utilitarianism. Allowing someone to die at my hand for the greater good, for happiness of others. That just sounds selfish to me, kind of like the holocaust. Did all those innocent Jews endure experimentation and torture for the greater good of all? I mean, if it weren’t for these grotesque experiments we wouldn’t know the maximum altitude that crews in damaged planes can parachute safely to the ground or find the cure/treatment for hypothermia. The Jews were used as guinea pigs for the greater good of everyone else. Is that not Utilitarianism? So many people could have died of hypothermia if that experiment was never conducted. But how many innocent lives were lost to reach this conclusion? Is there a limit to how much sacrifice should be made for the greater good? There should be. This is where I cannot connect with Utilitarianism, the fact that some sort of evil has to be done to help others. I see hypocrisy in this theory; it wants happiness but wants to rule out evil. People are evil, mean and rude. No one can be happy all the time; no one can bring eternal happiness. This takes me back to my original example, who would I save? The prisoners on death row or the innocent families? The Utilitarian’s seem to have a more interesting argument. Its funny how by writing this paper, my views changed. I look at the situation differently now. I do not feel as biased and conservative as before. My ideas have changed to a more liberal understanding sense. Why release these evil me back into the world? We have enough chaos and evil. These are just three men who chose their paths and now have to pay for it. They were sentenced to death for a reason, I will not be held responsible for the innocence of happy families, children, parents, aunts and uncles. They are not in prison because they have not done anything wrong. They simply stepped onto a ship, whose fate I now hold in my hands. I have made my choice; I will deactivate the bomb on the families boat and let the prisoners face death.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Blackberry Phone Analysis

Blackberry Phone Analysis Blackberry Phone Background Living in a global world, we are mainly ruled by gadgets of all kinds. Starting from a street sweeper all the way up to the CEO of a multinational corporation, we all are beguiled by the charm and charisma that technology brings to our lives. This reality has turned luxuries into necessities. Still man is not satisfied with this technological awareness, always driven by the desire for more convenience, speed, and efficiency to make life easier. To satisfy this desire we bring to you a new Blackberry, with conferencing capabilities and GPS features. The young executives of today and the senior officers at work find it extremely frustrating not to be able to contact multiple business partners simultaneously and with limited fanfare and complications. Our new product solves this problem by allowing users to engage in a conference call by selecting a distribution group, contact group, or by multi-selecting users in the Contact List. Users engaged in a one-to-one call can invite other participants to join the conversation thereby creating a multi-party conference. Introduction The product is not only targeted for business executives who are always running short on time, and have the burden of numerous responsibilities, but also will appeal to the technologically inclined. The real goal here was to build a high-end device that was the ultimate Blackberry to date. It is marketed both the business executives and the gadgetholics who just have to have the best gadget in the market. (Positioning a New Product in an Uncertain Market) Other vendors clearly have their sights set on the same market, hoping the BlackBerry situation creates new opportunities. Nokia, for instance, recently purchased wireless e-mail management firm IntelliSync to target customers who want continuous access to their messages. What we find in the marketplace is increasing awareness of the further potential beyond e-mail of the BlackBerry and other hand-held devices, said Al Smith, president and co-founder of Apresta. Many of our customers are using the device to check inventory, to put in orders from the road. Theyre starting to become very dependent on it and used to using it for that as well. (Blackberry Competition) These same services can be used on other devices as well but our corporate users are loyal to the blackberry since it was the first device to introduce this new wave of technology. Blackberry Classic is definitely a major smart phone enhancement that provides its users with a myriad of tempting features. Features Tri-band 3G support extends support to GPRS/EDGE/HDSPA networks. Push button WiFI setup to readily access protected WiFi access points. Significantly improved multimedia support overall (streaming) video performance, iTunes synchronization, new media player, improved display and, while theyre still working on it prior to the Blackberry Bolds summer release, a new web browser. Faster processor (@ 624 MHz, the fastest Blackberry) 128MB internal Flash memory but also 1GB on-board storage memory expandable to 16GB via MicroSD/SDHC slot. 4.2 megapixel camera GPS with Blackberry MapsBlackberry MediaSync to transfer media from iTunes half-VGA ultra-bright display (480 x 320) Higher capacity battery that translates into 30% extra standby time and 20% more on-air talk-time. (Technical Specifications of a Blackberry) Of particular note; the new Blackberry maintains the traditional QWERTY keyboard with ergonomic improvements a key Blackberry defining feature relative to iPhone. Its high performance browser and resolution along with ahe bright display allows for on-the-go web browsing where attachments can also be downloaded from within the browser. Competition No product can ever exist in the market without facing fierce competition and the new Blackberry is no exception. The rivals include Nokia, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, PalmOne, Good Technology, Seven Networks, and yes, Microsoft. The choice between Blackberry and Nokia (or iPhone for that matter) got even more difficult today, with the appearance of two cutting edge smart phones. The choice for smart phone buyers is increasing each day. On the one hand youve got iPhone, in the other, the reigning champion Blackberry, and then theres Palm, Nokia, Samsung and the rest. Lately iPhone has gotten all the press, with its sleek design and ability for home users and (heres the killer) business users to get push-email on the road. But the Apple-fest isnt going unchallenged. Blackberry hasnt lagged behind either in the face of such competition so it introduced mobile mail along with other appealing features for the phone. Theres no doubting the compelling nature of mobile e-mail. No one likes returning to an office with screens full of unread messages in their inbox. Despite increased work hours, it somehow feels were more in control if messages can be read and dealt with throughout the day in real time. Compared with many mobile applications, its an easier sell internally to senior management and the financial controllers as they can personally see the benefit. (Marketing a Blackberry) Description of target market The Blackberry is a phone targeted towards a particular segment of the market. This target market is defined by the following demographics: Age: Anything above 18. Business executives today are not necessarily above 30 or 40 as it used to be the case a couple of decades ago. Today the Blackberry is a very useful device for managers and business executives to keep in touch on the go and manage their business affairs. Nowadays, these business executives are generally young. However, the older adults may also be targeted for this device. Our aim will be to target executives of any age or seniority: the bottom line is, since this variable has become irrelevant to authority in the modern entrepreneurial world. Sex: Executives are nowadays not limited to any particular gender. The modern business world has an equal number of male and female executives who would require a Blackberry. Hence, the marketing strategy should be geared towards appealing to both genders. Profession: as has been repeatedly stressed again and again, the Blackberry is no ordinary handset. It is targeted towards business users and executives to give them a freehand in managing their business affairs. Income Level: Generally, the income level that would be targeted for the Blackberry would be above the $50,000 mark per year. This is due in part by the fact that executives and business workers earning hefty salaries would be more likely to invest in such business supportive tools and gadgets than other lower paid managers. Educational Level: people who want to manage their affairs up to the minute, or connect with other executives would need the primary users of a Blackberry. Thus, generally this segment of the population would be highly, if not fairly, educated. We would expect this segment of people to be college graduates and would definitely expect a large proportion of them to be holder of a Masters degree. (Target Marketing for Blackberry) Description of Competitors There are alternatives, but I think its a case of market penetration, Al Smith, president and co-founder of Apresta said. The BlackBerry was the first mobile device out there with the ability to do e-mail and a large section of corporate world is addicted to it. As the Blackberry barge continues to take on water during RIMs (Research In Motion) ongoing patent battle with NTP, more and more sharks are drawn to the surrounding swells in hopes of salvaging whatever they may of the companys loyal user base. (Blackberry Competition) Its true, the majority of analyst and competitors alike dont see a Blackberry blackout happening any time soon, but the patent battle has spotlighted a number of alternatives to RIMs popular handheld. Just one year ago there were barely any products on the market that compared with RIMs Blackberry. This is no longer the case. According to Clyde Foster, COO at Intellisync, a wireless e-mail firm that was recently purchased by Nokia, the rest of the handheld market is not only catching up with RIM, these companies are offering better prices on a wider array of products. (The competition begins) That general change in the market has had a lot of people thinking about alternatives. On top of that, you have the scrutiny over the court case. For us, its a benefit that its happening now, said Foster. He noted that inquires about the companies products and services have skyrocketed over the past two months. Sales at Good Technology, RIMs biggest competitor in the software space, have also been booming. (Blackberry vs. Smartphone) Competition has caught up with Research In Motion and its long market leader product, the BlackBerry. The rapid enhancement in Nokia and Motorola handset can prove to be a threat to Blackberry, and could have knocked this product of the shelves in the market, but Blackberry has bounced back with it blackberry classic. This can mean an exit for many new players in the market. Our business in general has been growing, but the litigation has certainly helped, said Danny Shader, CEO of Good Technology. Its changed the profile of some accounts that were previously absolutely committed to RIM, who now seem absolutely committed to replacing them, or at least not relying on them. Regardless, RIM is still the king of the hill in the wireless e-mail market with about 4.3 million Blackberry subscribers in aspace of roughly 6 million. We provide quality as well as unmatched features thereby are do not compromise on price. We are currently not involved in any price competition since we believe that what is offer has unparalleled characteristics. (Blackberry vs. Smartphone) Marketing Considerations Advertising can really make the difference between success and failure. Intelligent marketing through the appropriate channels will project the Blackberry strongly towards the target market and will quicken the take-off into the market, in terms of sales. Marketing a Blackberry I would suggest that the New Blackberry be marketed using a robust marketing budget that would increase our market share. It is essential to understand the basic fundamentals of marketing a differentiated product towards the appropriate target market so that they can focus on the actual prospects. I recommend that advertisements be placed in business journals, widely read newspapers, magazines catering to fashion and business news and news channels. The advertisements should be as brief as possible and should deliver in a nutshell the features of the Blackberry. It is important to understand that the cost of the Blackberry should not be included in the ads or else it will give the viewer a decision-making point: can I afford it or not? Thus, the consumer will not try to learn about its features and its potential enhancement to their business. The advertisements should all bear a standard theme that is eloquent, graceful and appealing. Advertisements that are too cheap or complex shou ld be avoided. Some good examples of advertisements portraying classics are ads of watches, designer brands and jewelry. Focusing on the primary objective the Blackberry is exclusively for the business users assistance will enable the target market to be approached more closely and effectively. Pricing Strategy The pricing for a Blackberry is perhaps one of the most delicate issues. Business executives will not be willing to pay more of a premium without a clear impression of how this device will enhance their business objectives. Thus, careful consideration and costing mechanisms should be used to determine the market price of the Blackberry. I would recommend cost plus pricing to be the best option available. Since, the Blackberry is a differentiated product with no exact substitute, I am confident that the Blackberry will be able to sell at prices slightly above the competition. While this can merely be a risk as well, the price of a Blackberry includes the technical, labor and other overhead costs. Thus, the Blackberry will probably be better off priced above the market competitors. At least it will provide the consumer with the perception that this gadget is differentiated from the rest and has something unique to offer, for which a premium price is being charged. (Positioning a New Product in an Uncertain Market) Description of Location Locating a product requires a great deal of understanding of the lifestyle and habits of our target market. Placement of the Blackberry is a really important aspect for sales to skyrocket. The most appropriate location for placing the Blackberry would be near designer stores and lifestyle outlets such as designer brand outlets and boutiques (predominantly for women). These places are almost accessed by all the people in our target because of the requirements of their work. Another option would be to target upscale stores and neighborhoods housing exclusive jewelry outlets and local clubs. These places are actually visited heavily by our target market because of their lifestyles. (Location Considerations for the Blackberry) References Blackberry competition. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2008, from CIO: http://www.cio.com/article/17332/BlackBerry_Battle_Opens_Doors_for_Competitors Blackberry vs. smartphone. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2008, from PCA Authority: http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/118166,smartphone-faceoff-blackberry-bold-takes-on-the-competition.aspx Location considerations for the Blackberry. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2008, from Tech News World: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/48815.html?wlc=1219722994 Market competition for Blackberry. (n.d.). Retrieved August 25, 2008, from http://www.fiercecio.com/story/competition-heats-up-for-blackberry-maker/2006-10-02 Marketing a Blackberry. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2008, from Business Week: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_49/b3911084_mz063.html Positioning a new product in an uncertain market. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2008, from Tech Target: http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid40_gci960532,00. Target marketing for blackberry. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2008, from Tech News World: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/48815.html?wlc=1219722994 Technical specifications of a Blackberry. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2008, from Microsoft TechNet: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb963930.aspx The competition begins. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2008, from PCA Authority: http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/118166,smartphone-faceoff-blackberry-bold-takes-on-the-competition.aspx The future of Blackberry. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2008, from Skype Journal: http://skypejournal.com/blog/2008/05/a_new_era_coming_for_blackberry.html

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Oral Health And Disease Health And Social Care Essay

Oral Health And Disease Health And Social Care Essay Dental caries is an oral disease not just of the developed nations but fast becoming a public health issues in the developing countries1. Dental caries is one of the major oral health problems in Nigeria. Other oral health/diseases commonly seen in Nigeria include periodontitis, chronic gingivitis, acute necrotising gingivitis, oral cancer and ameloblastoma, cranio-facial developmental anomalies, orthodontic problems and cleft lip and palate2. The oral cavity though small is a important aspect of the human body. It is the gateway to the human digestive system. The teeth are an important part of the mouth. Their function in mastication of food and speech cannot be over emphasized. They also have aesthetic component as well as enhance facial appearance. Thus, any problem with oral health or diseases could present as pain and suffering which could have debilitating effects on individuals in particular and the community at large3. Oral diseases could lead to reduction in functional abili ties and reduced quality of life. According to Petersen (2004) oral conditions are among the most expensive medical treatments in industrialized nations3. Nigeria is classed as one of the poorest countries in the world with 70% of its population leaving below 1 dollar a day. Nigeria is one of the countries in West Africa, comprises of 36 states. She is one of the most populous countries in Africa as well as the eighth most populous country in the world with the population of 154,728 8924 and popularly known as the giant of Africa. In 2007 to date, Nigeria is ranked as the second largest economy in Africa, she is known for her rich cultures, natural endowment such as oil and gas. It is equally indisputable that her human resources are abundant. At the same, it is absurd to learn that about 70.2% of Nigerians are living in abject poverty. Although, the Health services in Nigeria has undergone transformation over the years. The provision of Nigeria health system can be categorized into Public and Private Health services. The public health services serves as the main backbone of Nigeria health care which in most cases is funded by the government on non-profit bases. These are divided structurally into the Primary Health Care (PHC), Secondary Health Care (SHC ) and the Tertiary Heath Care (THC) 5, 6. But the dental care services are provided from secondary to tertiary care. This is due to the fact that dental care services are available in general hospitals (secondary health care) in some states and not at the primary health care bases, also in various teaching hospitals (tertiary health care) as well as private dental services. Dental caries is known as a progressive destruction or demineralization of enamel, dentine and cementum on a susceptible tooth surface caused by microbial (Streptococcus mutans) activities such as the production of acids.7, 8 In most cases, the dental caries is not life threatening but can have an adverse effect on quality of life in individual childhood to old age such as dietary and health. It affects all age groups and it is the most important cause of tooth loss in young people9. Frequent consumption of sugar and sugary food and drinks has been implicated as predisposing factors for the cause of dental caries9, 10,11. The sequelae of dental caries: Bacteria ferment sugar to produce acid. Acid dissolves tooth surface  ® leads to dental caries which affects the enamel  ® dentine  ® pulp  ® pulpitis  ® periapical infection  ® dental abscess12. Years ago, dental caries is one of the most common diseases in industrialised countries for instance United Kingdom and a social class-related condition. There has been a tremendous increase of dental caries in developing countries in recent years due to increased sugar consumption as well as insufficient exposures to fluorides which Nigeria happened to be one of the countries. In Nigeria, DMF index is used in measuring tooth decays which counts the number of decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) or surfaces (DMFS) in patients mouth as a result of caries both in deciduous and permanent dentition7, 8. In 1993, World Bank reported the dental caries incidence in 1990 among females of Sub-Saharan Africa is 0. 7 and the males is also 0.7 while the total world record in these categories are 9.6 and 9.8 repectively.13 Dental caries prevalence in Nigeria varies according to the areas from the studies Akpata carried out. It shows that dental caries in rural areas are very low of 3 dental ca ries cases compared with those in the urban areas which is 33 caries14. The reasons for chosen dental caries: Dental caries as pointed out above is a dental disease that affects all age groups although it is more prevalent among the adolescents and young children. It is one of the major oral health problems. Dental caries is a public health issue because of its impact on individuals and the communities. Social and financial issues: Majority of the population in Nigeria suffers from poverty and the government do not subsidize any kind of dental or medical treatment for the people that is from new born to 59 years but from age 60 pays half price which can still be a problem for people in this category. In fact, dental and medical treatment does not commence until the patient pay an agreed amount but there is always an exceptional case depending on the dentist or medical practitioners discretion. Therefore, most of the populations in Nigeria are in high caries risk. This is due to the fact that some of the parents cannot afford sending their children to school while some of the children have very poor attendance record in school and in most cases leads the children to consume more of confectionery and high carbohydrate diet15. Due to poverty, most people seek for alternative treatment when they have toothache such as the traditional medicine, application of herbs, as well as fake medic ine (cheap) leaving majority of the cases untreated. Tooth loss: Dental caries is one of the major causes of tooth loss which can affect on patients eating habits, self-esteem and quality of life. Majority of the patients visit their dentist when they have explored virtually all the alternative treatment mentioned above and still be in pain which tends to be unbearable or in some cases the area is infected or inflamed. This can lead to extraction of the tooth/teeth, which eventually might lead to tooth loss replacement with removable dentures or fixed prosthesis. Due to lack of affordability of the denture by some patients leads to loss of alveolar as well as deformity. Infections: One of the sequelae of dental caries is infection due to bacteria in the cavity. Bacteria in the dental cavity secrete acids which dissolve the enamel and dentine and if untreated leads to pulpitis and subsequently periodontitis. Because so many people cannot afford orthodox dental care due to the cost of proper dental treatment some people chose alternative treatment as mentioned earlier. This can also leads to potential serious infection such as dental abscess or Ludwigs Angina which is life threatening. Although, one of the treatment is administration of antibiotics and other medications but in Nigeria contest we have to battle fake drugs as in most cases one is unable to distinguish between original and fake drugs. Need to create dental awareness: there are need to educate members of the public on how to prevent and control dental conditions as well as diseases Strep viridians seen in dental caries can cause endocarditis in cardiac patients Dental caries can form cystic legions in some patients Dental caries can cause chronic periodontitis. Dental caries is considered as a public health issue or a major problem in dental public health16 because it targets the entire population with unlimited time frame. Its socio-economic effect is great. People presents to dental clinics and hospitals when they are in severe pain and at the advanced stage of dental caries. Dental caries can occur in deciduous or permanent dentition thus affecting children as well as their parents. The cost of managing advanced dental infections is high. Being unable to identify early, people with high caries risk has also be one of the major challenges for public health. 2. The Community Oral Health Programme (COHP) was started in 1988 by the University of Ibadan in Nigeria by the Dental department. Since its inception it has become an integral part of the comprehensive Community Health Programme of the Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) 17. The COPH main aims and objectives include prevention of oral diseases and provision of basic oral care services to communities. Major components of COPH are: School health programmes, health education programmes and on site dental care provision in hard to reach communities. Dental care has been a part of primary health care thus making very many communities disadvantaged. The health care delivery in Nigeria is such that dental health was been side-lined and the need for primary and secondary prevention of oral diseases in a developing country such as Nigeria where urbanization and westernization is creeping in. Studies carried out over the years have revealed a poor oral health status in many Nigerians18. An a rm of this programme known as the Community Dental Education Health (CODEH) has been organizing activities such as dental awareness campaigns in communities, market places and schools. Financial sponsorships have been mainly from non-governmental organizations and dental companies like Unilever and GlaxoSmithKline19. Evaluation of the programme: Evaluation is the process of assessing the possible relevance, efficiency, effectiveness as well as impact of the activities (efficacy) of a project or programme in accordance to its objectives through a systematic collection and analysis of data15, 20. It is equally very important to ascertain the quality assurance of the programme. Evaluation could be formative that is assessing the possibility of problem occurring while the programme is being developed or summative that is focusing on the impact as well as the effectiveness of the established programme21. This programme has been evaluated by observing the criteria proposed to guide evaluation in public health22 such as: Effectiveness: -this refers to the extent to which the aims and objectives are met which is to create dental awareness and promote oral health care. Also identify issues and questions of concern to stakeholders. Acceptability: to check if people are satisfied with the programme both the targeted and non-targeted population. Appropriateness: this is the importance of the programme which to reduce the prevalence of dental caries and promote oral health care. Equity: equal provision for equal needs for every individual Efficiency: this to ensure that results are achieved in most economical way and if the resources put into the programme is justified. Before the evaluation, decision on the kind of information that is needed is taken. To ensure that relevant data are gathered at the appropriate time, an eight-stage framework for evaluation of health promotion interventions proposed by Rootman et al in 200123 was adopted. These stages are Describing the programme, as well as clarifying the aims and objectives Identifying the issues and fears of stakeholders Designing of information-gathering process like questionnaire, records of behaviour change such as plaque scores, indices, documented record on dental caries rate (this was achieved with the help of dentists and hygienist in the allocated areas of the programme) also question and answer session with patient or during the dental awareness campaign. Collecting data Analysing data Make recommendations publish findings Take action or implementation Evaluation is an empowering experience which should involve all stakeholders. Although, evaluation of this dental awareness and oral care promotion is challenging as there are complex, context-specific programme which also focus on the socioeconomic and environmental determinants of well-being. Determine of outcomes: the outcome of the programme is influenced by the timing of the evaluation. The outcome of this programme after assessing the effects of intervention can be said to be immediate (impact), intermediate and long-term for some patients. Dental awareness and Oral health care programme had the following effects: Improves peoples knowledge and perception about oral health care Improve the oral health care of the communities in the programme Improve the oral health care and awareness among school children It motivates patients that are afraid of visiting dentist It motivates and encourage most of the participants to be going for regular check-up Impact evaluation was inculcated into the programme as the stage ends. This is the stage where the public worker or oral health educator includes review of the programme at the last session. The intermediate and long-term evaluation involves assessment for longer effect. This was ascertained by comparing the participant oral health related behaviour before and after the programme but in most cases after a year some participants discontinue from the programme due to death or loss of interest. Effectiveness of the evaluation: the evaluation was effective as it shows that the aims and objectives of the programme were met. For instance, the aims and objectives for Community Oral Health Programme (COHP) are prevention of oral diseases and provision of basic oral care services to the communities while the Community Dental Educational Health programme (CODEH) is to organise dental awareness campaign in the communities, market places and schools. This shows that the programme is a success and dental team as well as all the workers efforts in the programme are worthwhile. 3. Key elements in the success or failure of the programme: There have been elements and factors that have led to the success and failure in some aspects of the programme. Communication: good communication network between the public health teams, from dentists to their patients and from oral health educators to varieties of patients or the public is paramount to the success of the programme. It is important to make patients feel at ease and demystify the fear of visiting the dentist by answering their questions clearly. Communication can take place at two levels: cognitive (understanding) and emotional (which relates feelings) which is very important when treating a patient7. Effective and good communication helps the patients to feel relaxed while discussing their oral health problems and devise solutions. Communication barriers: these can lead to failure of a programme. Therefore, it is always advised for professionals to identify any existent of communication barriers during the first stage of communication with the patient. These barriers could be: Social/cultural barriers which involves ethnic backgrounds, cultural/religion beliefs, social class, sex and age Limited receptiveness of patients due to mental health problems, pain, dementia, fear or low self esteem Negative attitude by the patients towards dental professionals due to previous bad experience or believes that they know it all. Dental professionals failing to give insufficient emphasis on dental education. Continuous dental professional development needs to be incorporated in the training for all stakeholders involved in the implementation of the COHP programme. Contradictory messages of oral health care to patients from other health professionals leaving the patients confused as well as use of some dental jargons by the dental professionals to the patients. Strategic planning and evaluation of the programme: planning oral health strategy need to be permissible within the political and policy constraints of Nigeria government. This can lead the programme to success by being more productive and effective on what can be implemented in promoting dental awareness and oral health care such as: Oral health needs assessment: this is to assess unmet dental health needs in a systematic approach to ensure that the public health service uses its resources to promote and improve the dental health of the population. The information gathered for the assessment does not only based on DMF data but also from other sources like data from oral health determinants, caries prevalence, prevalence due to toothache, public demand, existence of dental services as well as policy development14. These information gather will build a focus in monitoring the rate of dental caries which will be useful at the national level during planning dental health educational programmes, future demand and utilization of oral health organisation and financing. It will help plan strategies to improve oral health care of the people through public health interventions. Monitor services provided by the dental team and the extent in which the strategies have improved the oral health of the population after the imple mentation of public health interventions as well as changes to the services. Resources and Support: this is to ascertain from the dental budget the fund available for oral health services and promotion to meet with demand and supply of the population as well as educational programme is very essential. As this will help facilitate the programme, involving experienced and trained public health professional, build and equip dental services and the outreach units with modern equipment if needed as well as developing professional network between the program and community8. Although, in some cases professional barriers can be encountered leading to failure whereby the local dentists does not comply with strategy due to threats on their private dental service business or if their employment terms and conditions are affected. Evaluation: this is an effective way of interventions in a programme, providing feedback to both participants and other part of the team as well as the stakeholders; ensure that appropriate use of resources and other guidelines are followed. During planning of the programme, the programme is evaluated to assess how strategy was implemented and at the end of the programme, evaluation is used to determine what has been achieved. Oral health preventive promotion: there are two ways to achieve this through clinical and public health preventive approach Clinical preventive approach: this approach depends on the proficiency and skill of the dentist also this takes place in dental clinics whereby chair-side oral health educational counselling is given to the patients after the administration of one or two clinical preventive agents are used for instance topical fluorides and fissure sealants. This approach has some down falls such as limited coverage of the population, it can be very expensive leading to increase in health inequalities, less community involvement, in some cases fail to pin-point the causes of poor oral health and can easily leads to conflicting messages. Public health preventive approach: this approach stress on the determinants of health for instance stipulates the attributes of oral health problems as shown in Fig. 1 below illustrating the impact of economic, political, environmental conditions to oral health, not to mention peoples lifestyle which is under the social and community context, although some oral health related behaviour can be influenced by some of the social factors depending on individuals, educating patients through oral health educators, dentists and other trained dental professionals. Oral health education is the one of the channels of promoting oral and promote equity and lessen the rate of health inequalities, be in partnership with various agencies and sectors to achieve their goals, creating dental awareness, increasing people knowledge and getting them involved in self-care. C:UsersAmakaDocumentsimg057.jpg Fig. 1 Diagram of Social determinants of oral health15 Oral health care outreach and information centre: this is preventive dental unit where oral health education can be given to individuals or small groups. This is an avenue whereby the dental public health team or oral health educators motivates, communicate also establish friendly and informal relationship with the patients. This kind of preventive treatment can be a success or failure of the programme depending on the patient and staff cooperation. Therefore, it will be wise to evaluate each teaching sessions by using question and answer session with patients and questionnaire on the performance of the educator. The patient feedback should be used to assess the progress of the unit. In Nigeria, majority of preventive dental units in public and private sectors are located in urban areas where most of the dentists are practising. Leaving those in rural areas with minimal or no access to modern dental treatment. 4. Recommendations for the future of the programme: Nigeria government should fund dental fissure sealant for children in the following categories: mentally or physically handicapped, those with nursing or bottle caries as well as those who have primary and first molars. Dentists should be able to clinically give treatment or advice to the patients without language barriers. This implies that there should be available provision a translator if the need arise. Both systematically and topically administered fluoride should be made available and affordable to the population for instance drinking water, salt, milk and use of fluoride toothpaste. Bearing in mind that, some part of Northern Nigeria is endemic of dental fluorosis due to relative high fluoride ingestion through drinking water14. The clinicians should be ready to adapt to the culture of the people and note the cultural differences for instance some cultures or religion forbids a male doctor or nurse to treat a female patient which applies to oral health care. Ability to in cooperate dental health care awareness into schools Public health workers should endeavour to identify children with high caries risk status More oral health awareness should be created as well as dietary education for parents and children. Highlighting on the need to reduce sugar intake and promote consumption of sugar free both in medications and drinks, fruits and vegetables as well as the need for good self oral hygiene practice It has been proven that most parents bring their children to clinics during holiday therefore will recommend that most dental clinics should be school led that is opening till late. Regular dental check-ups should be encouraged by the oral health team for early identification of dental problem Dental health education programmes should be conducted in the communities (both in rural and urban areas) and regularly The government should encourage the implementation of various community fluoride programmes by funding During epidemiological studies of dental caries, DMF index should always be used All Nigeria dentists should also adopt advances methods of diagnosing dental caries which should be considered when recording and reporting caries in future and ensure that this does not affect historical and international comparisons15.

Discrimination on the Border :: Essays Papers

Discrimination on the Border Introduction For over 250,000 women that work in Mexico’s maquiladora sectors the lack of enforced labor laws is a harsh reality. They are discriminated against because of their gender. The Mexican government fails to recognize and enforce the labor laws that protect women from pregnancy testing and other discriminatory treatment. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only problem. The companies that own these factories are also to blame for their lack of interest in their employees’ rights. The Mexican government fails to recognize the problem and so do the owners of these maquiladoras. Why does Pregnancy Discrimination occur? There are many reasons that pregnancy discrimination occurs. Most of them are financially related. Many employers of maquiladoras say that they do not hire pregnant women because â€Å"they want to avoid the cost of maternity benefits (HRW).† Under Mexico’s federal labor code pregnant workers are allowed 6 weeks paid maternity leave before birth and 6 weeks after. While on maternity leave, women have the right to keep their jobs as well as the other rights they have acquired under their labor contract. Maquiladora operators also claim that women are â€Å"not really seeking work, but company funded maternity benefits (HRW).† Maquiladora employers also state that â€Å"paying for an employee that is on maternity leave and not working isn’t a financially sound arrangement for a company (HRW).† Pregnancy discrimination not only violates Mexico’s Constitution and Federal Labor codes but also many international laws as well. The Mexican government has signed and agreed to follow rules of the International Labor office, which prohibits pregnancy as a form of sex discrimination. Mexico is also a partner in the North American Free Trade Agreement that governs the North American Agreement of Labor Cooperation (NAALC), which obligates Mexico to promote the elimination of sex discrimination (ILAB Press Release). Under NAFTA, Mexico voluntarily signed an agreement to the NAFTA labor rights side agreement. This agreement allows all signatories to have their labor practices reviewed by other NAAFA parties. This also allows all allegations to be analyzed by the NAO and committees to be formed to work with countries to resolve their labor problems (HRW). As it was shown, Mexico has many severe problems with gender discrimination in the maquiladora sector. These women have the right to work and be treated equally without the humiliation of frequent pregnancy testing and the verbal and physical abuse put on them by their supervisors.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Going Back to Archaic Greece :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Going Back to Archaic Greece   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Amasis Painter seemed to lure me into his world while reading these works compiled by these very prolific writers. Or maybe it was the writers that brought me back to experience what they felt while studying these paintings and giving up their thoughts to question as they questioned others. In either case it has sparked my interest in this painter, and potter if you will. He combines a perfectionistic attitude with an imaginative flare that is subtle and refined, giving him that contrasting edge that one looks for in an artist. I would first like to start with a look at these artists status in the Athenian Greek world. How did they become artists and how did they live as artists? One might suspect that you need just to turn to the old adage of the â€Å"starving artist†, to get a good idea of what it was like, but I hardly think they were starving or even poor for that matter. Of course I wouldn’t suspect that they were very well off at what they were doing, but they probably didn’t do to bad. In fact I look at Pedley and what he says that, â€Å"vase painting †¦ is the product of private enterprise†(Pedly p 77). This gives me speculation that the vase painters in Archaic Greece might have been sufficiently paid for their services. I get a sense of secure ness of who he is and what he’s doing with his paintings and his pots for that matter. If he does do both it would cut out another hand in the trading deal that would no doubt increase the size of his share. Also by doing this he has total control over the whole making of the vase itself, which shows in the way he presents the figures spatially and sometimes even simply in his works Something that adds to that of course is competition between artists, especially between Exekias and Amasis. These two were the closest in style, and were probably the most sought after painters of their time. A specific vase by Exekias has Memnon with two African attendants naming one of them Amasis. One can conjecture that there stands a good chance that he may be speaking of his colleague. Whether this is derogative towards Amasis in some way, maybe through his heritage, who knows, it shows competition either way.

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Discrimination of Women in Soccer Essay

Gender discrimination and sexism in soccer is hurting many young talented female athletes and their dreams of becoming successful in soccer. Gender inequalities are obvious, but nobody takes the time to try to solve the problem. Media, sport authorities, and many others are responsible of the sexism in soccer. The discrimination among women in soccer is decreasing, but still are many things to solve and many girl dreams of becoming a soccer player totally ended. Male dominance in soccer has become a problem for female athletes, who in the hope of pursuing their dreams in soccer, have been discriminated and treated in an inferior way than males. Soccer is part of our culture, and whether you’re a fan or not, you could probably name one male soccer player. But could you name a women soccer player? Could you name Rachel Yankey? She has scored 17 goals for England National Team, the same as David Beckham, the star of England soccer team. Or could you name Maribel Dominguez? She migrated to USA when FIFA stopped her from playing soccer on a men’s soccer team in Mexico, and in her first year with the Atlanta Beat scored 17 goals and was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. But have you heard these names before? Women’s soccer has still a long way to go and evolve. According to Hughes (2011, March 11), media has a strong influence in what we see or what we don’t see and unfortunately just 2% of mainstream sports coverage is dedicated to women’s sport, so, how come people can learn or be interested about women’s soccer if sport shows don’t even give them a segment. Also is difficult to find information, matches results, or statistics of women’s competitions.

Erich Fromm’s Conception of the Art of Being

Fromm situates the comp adeptnt of hearty psychological science as attempting to finalise the Marxian dialectical contradiction that history constructs valet while placing piece of music as the principal(prenominal) source of such a anatomical structure that cosmos the edifice of history. In access to this, Fromm foc uptakes on the manner in which unity can understand how passions and anxieties ar work by the hearty process. The importance of tender psychology, inwardly this setting is at that placeby unpatterned if single considers that the function of brotherly psychology is to show how those energies passions and anxieties become productive forces adequate of m one(a)-time(a)ing the affable process that of the social construction of man as closely as mans construction of history. Fromm recognizes that social lineament refers to that dower of the constituent structure of individuals which is common to most members of a particular social group, provee d in response to their conditions of bearing. Character is shaped by the dynamic adaptation of needs to social reality, and, in its turn, character conditions the thinking, feeling, and acting of individuals.Despite his use of the word determines, Fromm consistently stresses the dynamism of forgiving temper whereby individuals and groups are able to exsert the seduction of certain enslaving adaptations and open up the hatchway of positive forgodom done with(predicate) self-realization. The concept of social character helps to explain the link mingled with the material fundament of partnership and the ideological superstructure. It is, in this intelligence, the intermediary between the socio-economic structure and the bases and ideals prevalent in society. The economic understructure conditions social character, which determines the ideas and ideals of a class or a group. In turn, these ideas help to mould the social character and, indirectly, influence the economic s tructure.In comparison to Freuds notion of world psychology, Fromm was able to slip by open the guess that, on the basis of what we each(prenominal) share as military man cosmoss, we are capable of creating a society in which the prevalent relationship of command and submission is rejected in party favor of a relationship of solidarity (Fear 228). His analysis of the psychology of socio-economic change in variant social classes from the time of the Reformation through with(predicate) and through to the 20th century reveals a variety of ship canal of suppressing the freedom which was on offer as a issuing of the break from the political, economic, and ghostly shackles that bound people in pre- modalityrn times. concord to Fromm, sensory systemrnity involves a breakdown of old securities which is so frightening that different social groups resort to belief systems and tripments which bind them to innovative forms of domination and submission.In relation to Fromms cre ation of charitable being existence within the context of the aforementioned conditions, Fromm considers the notion of existence estimable existence in terms of virtuosity. Fromm notes, The virtuous or guilty character rather than single justices or vices is the true subject matter of ethical inquiry (Man 33). Character moral philosophy grant back to the philosophy of Ancient Greece, and Fromms debt to Aristotle is freely acknowledged.The abandonment of the idea of an internal human race personality striving towards a telos leaves conventional moral philosophy the impracticable task of deriving moral precepts from a view of untutored human nature (MacIntyre 54-55). Fromm explicitly criticizes this internalized authoritarianism wherein the pursuit of ones own happiness has no positive ethical value as supreme happiness can provided be found in the fulfilment of ones duty (Man 121-3).This idea that there is a natural relish for disgust and that the moral fairness is un deniable to suppress it is anathema to Fromm, for whom loving ones self and loving ones neighbor is not a phenomenon transcending humanity but rather an natural attribute of that humanity (Fear 98-99). Fromm notes that it is the power by which we relate to and enable solidarity with our fellowmen. Within this contextual background what is human nature for Fromm.In The subterfuge of Being, he poses the question of what it is that distinguishes the human being from other animals. For Fromm self-awareness, reason and imagination yet disrupt the harmony which characterizes animal nature. The human being is at once part of nature and yet transcends the rest of nature. rationalness drives us to endless striving for new-fashioned solutions to the problems which we continuously need to confront.The human flavor is one of unavoidable disequilibrium in which there can be no provide to a pre-human state of harmony with nature but plainly a knowledge of reason towards mastery of nature , including human nature. yet by recognizing that the only meaning to life is that which is given by humans through productive living can the possibility develop of achieving happiness through the all-encompassing realization of the faculties which are peculiarly human. In Man for Himself, he cites Aristotle and Spinoza as the leading humanist philosophers, but to a fault endorses Marxs comment in superior that it is vital to distinguish between human nature in general and human nature as modified in each historical period.For Fromm, humanistic ethics is based on the principle that unafraid is what is good for us as human beings and evil is what is detrimental to us, and the sole measuring stick of ethical value is human welfare. dependable is regarded as the affirmation of life through the unfolding of mans powers and virtue is regarded as responsibility to our own existence, whereas evil is perceived as the crippling eyeshot of our power and vice is an instance of our irre sponsibleness toward ourselves.Drawing on Aristotle and Spinoza, Fromm commends productiveness and the productive penchant, involving the full development of the human capacities for creativity, love, and reason. visitation to live in this way results in dysfunction and unhappiness for the individual the particular of which leads to a socially patterned speck. Hence, in the aforementioned work The invention of Being Fromm notes that it is important to recognize the existing law universal law that governs all forms of human relations. Such a law ensures the requirement that we should be remindful that there is no contact between human beings that does not affect all human beings (13).In To establish or To Be? he contrasts the being mode with the having mode. The being mode is a situation in which activities are productive in the horse sense of being consciously directed at the enrichment of human existence, as opposed to the having mode in which activity is directed to acqui ring wealth and power over others (33). Although he accepts that the having mode is socially dominant, he argues that, only a small minority are governed entirely by it. There are still aspects of most peoples lives in which they are genuinely stirred by non-instrumental feelings for their fellow human beings.One of the problems in establishing gives of the productive individual and the being mode is that psychoanalysis has traditionally focused on neuroses rather than well-being. The problem is made much complex by the theoretical move from the consideration of the mental health of the individual to that of society. Utopian thinking traditionally addresses the possibility of a happy society, but much this is seen mere(prenominal)ly as the removal of foreboding caused by material oppression or deprivation. Despite these difficulties, a clear picture of the emancipated individual in thefree society does emerge from Fromms work, with the wildness on a productive thirst and soc ial relations infused with solidarity and love.In relation to this, how is it potential to understand Fromms conception of the necessity to enable the individual to live a life of virtue and indeed to achieve his being or his existence within a world dominated by discordant forms of simulacra enabled by mass media? In read to ensure the realization of an individuals existence and hence that of his being psychologys role, in this sense, involves the production and implementation of various methods that will enable an individual to develop his virtue and as a result of this develop the existence of solidarity and love within society.Such methods include that of enabling self-awareness amongst individuals. Self-awareness in this sense must be understood in relation to the manner in which man stands as a social builder of both man and culture and hence society beyond being a mere political, ideological, or religious individual. Art of Being, in this sense, in relation to and along F romms philosophy opts to enable the realization and the affirmation of the self through the development of virtue in golf club to ensure the existence of solidarity within the human community.Works CitedFromm, Erich. The Art of Being. London Routledge, 1993.The Fear of Freedom. clean York Routledge, 1984.Man for Himself An Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics. New York Routledge, 1990.To Have or to Be? London Routledge, 1993.McIntyre, Alasdaire. afterwards Virtue A Study in Moral Theory. London Np, 1995.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Frostbite Chapter 20

TwentyWe NEEDED AN ESCAPE PLAN, and we needful it fast. Unfortunately, my that ideas c wholeed for things that corpo in reality werent chthonic my control. Like us being left completely alone so we could sneak mutilate. Or having lumpen guards whom we could easily portion one over and slip away from. At the very least, we should get hold of been sloppily secured so that we could break free.None of that was happening, though. later on almost twenty-four hours, our situations hadnt re all toldy c cleaveed. We were comfort prisoners, tranquillise securely bound. Our captors conciliateed vigilant, almost as efficient as both group of guardians. Almost.The closest we got to freedom was heavily supervised- and extremely embarrassing- bathroom breaks. The men gave us no food or water. That was rough on me, provided the human and vampire mix made dhampirs hardy. I could pass over being uncomfortable, stock-still though I was fast reaching a point w here(predicate) I would have killed for a cheeseburger and more or less really, really fat french fries.For Mia and Christian vigorous, things were a trivial harder. Moroi could go weeks withtaboo food and water if they were still acquiring blood. With start blood, they could cook love a a couple of(prenominal) days before getting sick and weak, so immense as they still had other sustenance. That was how Lissa and I had managed era living on our own, since I hadnt been able to feed her all day. wad away food, blood, and water, and Moroi endurance dropped by means of the floor. I was hungry, scarce Mia and Christian were ravenous. Already, their faces sayinged gaunt, their look almost feverish. Isaiah made matters worsened during his subsequent visits. Each time, he would come bug outwardly and ramble on in his annoying, taunting way. Then, before leaving, hed hold back a nonher drink from Eddie. By the terzetto visit, I could practically operate Mia and Christian salivating. surrounded by the endorphins and lack of food, I was pretty sure Eddie didnt til now cognise where we were.I couldnt really sleep under these conditions, scarce during the second day, I started nodding polish off now and indeed. Starvation and exhaustion will do that to you. At one point, I in reality breathing ined, impress since I didnt really intend I could fade into a deep slumber under much(prenominal) insane conditions.In the dream- and I knew perfectly well that it was a dream- I stood on a beach. It took me a moment to recognize just which beach it was. It was along the Oregon coast- sandy and w beef up, with the Pacific unfolding in the distance. Lissa and I had traveled out here at once when we lived in Portland. It had been a gorgeous day, just she couldnt guidele being out in that much sun. Wed kept the visit short as a result, but Id always wished I could have stayed longer and basked in all that. Now I had all the exanimate and warmth I could emergency.Little dhampir, said a voice behind me. Its about time.I turned or so in surprise and erect Adrian Ivashkov observance me. He had on khakis and a loose garb and- in a surprisingly casual look for him- wore no shoes. Wind ruffled his brown hair, and he kept his hands stuffed in his pockets as he regarded me with that trademark smirk of his.Still got your protection, he added.Frowning, I thought for a moment he was double-dyed(a) at my chest. Then I know his eye were on my stomach. I had on jeans and a two-piece suit top, and once again, the little blue eye subject dangled from my belly-button. The c tropicalki was on my wrist.And youre in the sun again, I said. So I suppose its your dream.Its our dream.I wiggled my toes in the sand. How trick two pile shargon a dream?People share dreams all the time, Rose.I looked up at him with a frown. I need to have it away what you mean. About there being darkness just about me. What does it mean?Honestly, I dont get by. Everyone has ligh t around them, only for you. You have shadows. You take them from Lissa.My confusion grew. I dont understand.I thronet get into it right field now, he told me. Thats non wherefore Im here.Youre here for a reason? I asked, my eyes wandering to the blue-gray water. It was hyp nonic. You arent justhere to be here?He stepped forward and caught my hand, forcing me to look up at him. All am go forment was gone. He was dead serious. Where are you?Here, I said, puzzled. Just same(p) you.Adrian move his head. No, thats not what I mean. In the real adult male. Where are you?The real land? Around us, the beach all of a sudden blurred, standardized a film liberation out of focus. Moments later, allthing stabilise itself. I racked my brain. The real world. Images came to me. Chairs. Guards. Flex-cuffs.In a cellar I said slowly. Alarm suddenly bust the beauty of the moment as anything came spur to me. Oh God, Adrian. Youve got to facilitate Mia and Christian. I cant- Adrians grip on my hand tightened. Where? The world shimmered again, and this time it didnt refocus. He swore. Where are you, Rose?The world began to disintegrate. Adrian began to disintegrate.A basement. In a house. In- He was gone. I woke up. The sound of the rooms door opening startled me binding to reality.Isaiah swept in with Elena in tow. I had to difference of opinion a sneer when I saw her. He was arrogant and mean and all-around evil. notwithstanding he was that way because he was a leader. He had the force out and power to back up his cruelty- dismantle if I didnt comparable it. But Elena? She was a lackey. She threatened us and made snide comments, but most of her ability to do so came from being his sidekick. She was a amount of money suck-up.Hello, children, he said. How are we doing today?Sullen glares answered him.He strolled over to Mia and Christian, hands folded behind his back. Any changes of sum since my last visit? Youre taking an awfully long time, and its ups etting Elena. Shes very hungry, you see, but- I suspect- not as hungry as you two.Christian narrowed his eyes. roll in the hay off, he said through gritted teeth.Elena snarled and lunged forward. Dont you dare- Isaiah waved her off. renounce him alone. It just means we wait a little longer, and really, its an entertaining wait.Elenas eyes shot daggers at Christian.Honestly, go on Isaiah, watching Christian, I cant decide which I compliments more to kill you or have you nitty-gritty us. Either option offers its own amusements.Dont you get banal of hearing yourself utter? asked Christian.Isaiah considered. No. Not really. And I dont get tired of this, either.He turned around and walked toward Eddie. Poor Eddie could save sit upright in his chair anymore after all the feedings hed gone through. Worse, Isaiah didnt level need to use compulsion. Eddies face simply lit up with a stupid grin, impatient(predicate) for the next bite. He was as addicted as a feeder.Anger and disgust flooded through me.Damn it I yelled. Leave him aloneIsaiah glanced back at me. Be silent, girl. I dont find you most as am victimisation as I do Mr. Ozera.Yeah? I snarled. If I piss you off so much, then use me to prove your stupid point. Bite me instead. Put me in my place, and show me what a badass you are.No exclaimed mason. Use me.Isaiah rolled his eyes. Good God. What a noble lot. Youre all Spartacus, arent you?He strolled away from Eddie and chuck a finger under Masons chin, tilting his head up. But you, Isaiah said, dont really mean it. You only offer because of her. He released Mason and walked in front of me, perfect(a) pig with those black, black eyes. And you I didnt really believe you at first either. But now? He knelt down so that he was at my height. I refused to look away from his eyes, up to now though I knew that put me at risk of compulsion. I infer you really mean it. And its not all nobility, either. You do unavoidableness it. You really have been bitte n before. His voice was magical. Hypnotic. He wasnt using compulsion, exactly, but he definitely had an unnatural personal magnetism surrounding him. Like Lissa and Adrian. I hung on his every word. Lots of times, Id guess, he added.He leaned toward me, breath hot against my neck. Somewhere beyond him, I could hear Mason shouting something, but all of my focus was on how close Isaiahs teeth were to my skin. In the last few months, Id only been bitten once- and that was when Lissa had had an emergency. Before then, shed bitten me at least in two ways a week for two years, and I had only recently come to realize how addicted to that Id been. on that point is nothing- nothing- in the world like a Moroi bite, like the flood of bliss it sends into you. Of course, by all accounts, Strigoi bites were even more powerful.I swallowed, suddenly mindful of my own heavy breathing and racing heart. Isaiah gave a low chuckle.Yes. Youre a blood whore in the making. Unfortunate for you- because Im not going to give you what you want. He backed away, and I slumped forward in my chair. Without encourage delay, he returned to Eddie and drank. I couldnt watch, but it was because of envy this time, not disgust. Longing burned inner of me. I ached for that bite, ached for it with every nerve in my body.When Isaiah finished, he started to leave the room, then paused. He directed his words at Mia and Christian. Dont delay, he warned. Seize your opportunity to be saved. He atilt his head toward me. You even have a unstrained victim.He left. Across the room, Christian met my eyes. Somehow, his face looked even gaunter than it had a couple of hours ago. Hunger burned in his gaze, and I knew I wore the complementary one a desire to sate that hunger. God. We were so screwed. I think Christian realized it at the same time. His lips wriggle into a bitter smile.You never looked so good, Rose, he managed, just before the guards told him to shut up.I dozed a little throughout the day, but Adrian didnt return to my dreams. Instead, while hovering just at the edge of consciousness, I found myself slipping into familiar territory Lissas head. After all the weirdness of these last two days, being in her mind felt like a homecoming.She was in one of the lodges banquet rooms, only it was empty. She sat on the floor of the far side of it, trying to stay inconspicuous. Nervousness filled her. She was waiting for something- or rather, someone. A few minutes later, Adrian slipped in.Cousin, he said by way of greeting. He sat down beside her and force his knees up, unconcerned about his expensive dress pants. racy Im late.Its okay, she said.You didnt populate I was here until you saw me, did you?She shook her head, disappointed. I felt more confused than ever.And school term with me you cant really notice anything?No.He shrugged. Well. hopefully itll come soon.How does it look for you? she asked, burning with curiosity.Do you know what auras are?Theyre like bands of l ight around people, right? Some New Age thing?Something like that. Everyone has a sort of spiritual energy that radiates out from them. Well, almost everyone. His hesitation made me peculiarity if he was thinking of me and the darkness I allegedly walked in. establish on the color and popance, you can tell a lot about a personwell, if anyone could actually see auras, that is.And you can, she said. And you can tell I use spirit from my aura?Yours is mostly coin. Like mine. Itll break with other colors depending on the situation, but the gold always stays.How many other people out there like us do you know?Not many. I just see them every once in a while. They kind of occur to themselves. Youre the first Ive actually ever talked to. I didnt even know it was called spirit. Wish Id known about this when I didnt specialize. I just figured I was some kind of freak.Lissa held up her arm and stared, willing herself to see the light shining around it. Nothing. She sighed and let the arm drop.And thats when I got it.Adrian was a spirit user too. That was why hed been so curious about Lissa, why hed cute to talk to her and ask about the bond and her specialization. It overly explained a lot of other things- like that charisma I couldnt seem to escape when I was some him. Hed used compulsion that day Lissa and I had been in his room- that was how hed forced Dimitri to release him.So, they finally let you go? Adrian asked her.Yeah. They finally decided I really didnt know anything.Good, he said. He frowned, and I realized he was sober for a change. And youre sure you dont?I already told you that. I cant make the bond work that way.Hmm. Well. Youve got to.She glared. What, you think Im holding back? If I could find her, I wouldI know, but to have it at all, you must have a strong connection. Use that to talk to her in her dreams. I tried, but I cant hang on long enough to- What did you say? exclaimed Lissa. conversation to her in her dreams?Now he looked puzzled. S ure. Dont you know how to do that?No Are you kidding? How is that even possible?My dreams I remembered Lissa talking about unexplained Moroi phenomena, how there efficiency be spirit powers out there beyond healing, things no one even knew about yet. It would appear that Adrian being in my dreams was no coincidence. Hed managed to get inside my head, maybe in a way kindred to how I saw Lissas mind. The thought made me uneasy. Lissa could barely even grasp it.He ran a hand through his hair and tipped his head back, staring at the crystal chandelier above as he pondered. Okay. So. You dont see auras, and you dont talk to people in dreams. What do you do?I I can heal people. Animals. Plants, too. I can bring dead things back to life.Really? He looked impressed. Okay. You get course credit for that. What else?Um, I can use compulsion.We can all do that.No, I can really do it. Its not hard. I can make people do anything I want- even bad things.So can I. His eyes lit up. I wonder what would happen if you tried to use it on me.She hesitated and absentmindedly ran her fingers over the textured red carpet. Well I cant.You just said you could.I can- just not right now. I take this prescription for natural depression and other stuffand it cuts me off from the magic.He threw his weaponry up in the air. How can I memorise you to walk through dreams then? How else are we going to find Rose?Look, she said angrily, I dont want to take the meds. But when I was off them I did really crazy stuff. Dangerous stuff. Thats what spirit does to you.I dont take anything. Im okay, he said.No, he wasnt, I realized. Lissa realized it too.You got really weird that day when Dimitri was in your room, she pointed out. You started rambling, and you didnt make any sense.Oh, that? Yeah it happens now and then. But seriously, not often. Once a month, if that. He sounded sincere.Lissa stared at him, suddenly reevaluating everything. What if Adrian could do it? What if he could use spirit without pills and without any harmful side effects? It would be everything she had been hoping for. Besides, she wasnt even sure if the pills would keep working anymore.He smiled, guessing what she was thinking.What do you say, cousin? he asked. He didnt need to use compulsion. His offer was plenty tempt in its own right. I can train you everything I know if youre able to touch the magic. Itll take a while for the pills to get out of your system, but once they do