Jason :: essays research papers

There is a place I like to go to get away from everyone and everything. My room a place that is mine alone and if my door is closed, then those outside have to knock to be granted access. My room makes me feel comfortable because it contains all my things and with these things around me, I feel safe. Three dressers line the wall opposite my bed. Two have shelf units above them, with a full mirror hung on the wall of the middle one. Next to the left most one, there is a desk, usually cluttered, and a bookshelf on top that houses many well-read books. There is a pink plastic dollhouse to the right of the doorway, next to my closet; once an everyday plaything, it now sits alone gathering dust in the corner. My closet is full of clothing, but also contains many pairs and sizes of shoes, old dolls shelved high above the floor, and a few games (most are either downstairs or in my window seat).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My bed is against the wall to the bathroom. The bathroom that my sister and I share is between my bed and the closet. My bed is very comfortable and cushiony. It helps put me to sleep at night because of the security I feel with it. A real â€Å"security† object, I suppose, would be the stuffed animal I received when I was born, a stuffed monkey called ‘Curious George’. When I was little, I used to think that if I did not lay my feet flat on top of the bed, wolves would come and bite them off because they could see them, so I usually had â€Å"George† protect me. Other stuffed animals in my room give me comfort still, even though I do not play with them as I once did, they provide many happy childhood memories.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A caricature of me, that was drawn when I lived in California, is another thing I like to laugh at because it does not really look like the person I am today. Next to that is a picture I drew of my two old dogs, who passed away when we lived in Switzerland. It shows them sitting on clouds with halos, looking down on us, smiling, as they always did. That picture is a real source of comfort to me because sometimes it feels as if they are watching over me.

Health Promotions and Disease Prevention Paper Essay

Elder Mistreatment Elder mistreatment is a widespread problem in our society that is often under-recognized by health care professionals. As a result of growing public outcry over the past 20 years, all states now have abuse laws that are specific to older adults; most states have mandated reporting by all health care professionals. The term â€Å"mistreatment† includes physical abuse and neglect, psychological abuse, financial exploitation and violation of rights. Poor health, physical or cognitive impairment, alcohol abuse and a history of domestic violence are some of the risk factors for elder mistreatment. Diagnosis of elder mistreatment depends on acquiring a detailed history from the patient and the caregiver. It also involves performing a comprehensive physical examination. Only through awareness, a healthy suspicion and the performing of certain procedures are physicians able to detect elder mistreatment. Once it is suspected, elder mistreatment should be reported to adult protective se rvices (HHS fact sheet, 2005). It is estimated that over 2 million older adults are mistreated each year in the United States. Elder mistreatment first gained attention as a medical and social problem about 20 years ago, when the term â€Å"granny battering† first appeared in a British medical journal. Since that time, elder mistreatment has become a matter of concern not only in the United States, but throughout the world. This heightened awareness has followed a growing awareness of child and spousal abuse. Nevertheless, because of differing definitions, poor detection and under-reporting, the extent of elder mistreatment is unknown. These same factors make the collection of data difficult and its accuracy questionable. Published studies estimate that the prevalence of elder mistreatment ranges from 1 to 5 percent (Healthy people, 2010). Most health care professionals are reluctant to address domestic violence. However, physicians are in an ideal position to detect and manage mistreatment, as they may be the only person outside the family/caregiver role who regularly sees the older adult. In addition, the  physician is the most likely person to order the testing, hospital admissions and support services that are sometimes needed to correct elder mistreatment. This paper will discuss the clinical, ethical and legal issues regarding elder mistreatment. The various forms of elder mistreatment are defined, including ways to identify patient and caregiver risk factors, and history and physical findings that suggest a diagnosis of elder mistreatment. Finally, a systematic approach to patient evaluation, documentation and reporting of suspected cases will be reviewed. Reasons elder abuse may be missed or not reported by health care professionals include unfavorable attitude toward older adults (ageism), little information in medical literature about elder mistreatment, reluctance to attribute signs of mistreatment (disbelief),isolation of victims (patient not seen often by physicians/health care providers), subtle presentation (i.e., poor hygiene or dehydration), reluctance/fear of confronting the offender, reluctance to report mistreatment that is only suspected, mistreated person requests that abuse not be reported (patient/physician privilege), lack of knowledge about proper reporting procedure, fear of jeopardizing relationship with hospital or nursing facility Types of elder abuse Physical Abuse- occurs when a person is touched in an inappropriate way, such as hitting, punching, kicking, slapping, and pushing. Physical abuse often leaves marks on the person’s body: bite marks, bruises, welts, and burn marks. Marks are often left on arms, wrists, face, neck, and abdomen area; Emotional/Psychological Abuse- occurs when a person is demeaning to another person. A person may treat the elder like a child or call them names. An elder may seem unusually depressed or may talk bad about themselves; Sexual abuse- among an elder occurs when sexual contact is made without consent. It also occurs when an elder is incapable of making such a decision, and is rape; Financial abuse- occurs when a person or persons take advantage of an elderly person financially. This includes stealing money, lying about how much the elder needs for certain care, or cashing the elder’s checks without permission; Neglect/Abandonment- occurs when the elder is not being properly cared for, such as not being fed, bathed, and properly medicated. This is also when the elder is being ignored. The care  giver refuses to give care to the individual (Physical abuse of the elderly, 2005). Elder Mistreatment: Definitions and Classifications In an effort to increase physicians’ awareness, facilitate accurate detection and promote further research, the American Medical Association published a position paper on elder mistreatment in 1987. This paper proposed a standard definition: â€Å"‘Abuse’ shall mean an act or omission which results in harm or threatened harm to the health or welfare of an elderly person. Abuse includes intentional infliction of physical or mental injury; sexual abuse; or withholding of necessary food, clothing, and medical care to meet the physical and mental needs of an elderly person by one having the care, custody or responsibility of an elderly person† (HHS fact sheet, 2005). Elder mistreatment may take many forms. Types of elder mistreatment are often classified as physical abuse and neglect, psychological abuse, financial exploitation and violation of rights. A major obstacle to prevention of and intervention for elder mistreatment is a lack of awareness on the part o f physicians and other health care professionals (LA4Seniors, 2005). Risk Factors and Prevention Cognitive impairment and the need for assistance with activities of daily living are important risk factors for elder mistreatment. Caregiver burnout and frustration can lead to elder mistreatment. Substance abuse by the caregiver or the patient, especially abuse of alcohol, significantly increases the risk of physical violence and neglect. Psychological and character pathology in the caregiver and patient are also major risk factors. Prevention of elder mistreatment is difficult and depends as much on the social support network as on the medical network. Preventing elder mistreatment involves identifying high-risk patients and caregivers, and attempting to address the underlying issues. Screening patients and caregivers before placement can be helpful, when it is feasible. Helping patients obtain county or state assistance can also help reduce some high-risk situations. Risk Factors for Elder Mistreatment Older age, lack of access to resources, low income, social isolation, minority status, low level of education, functional debility, substance  abuse by caregiver or by elderly person, psychological disorders and character pathology, previous history of family violence, caregiver burnout and frustration, and Cognitive impairment. History- Recognizing mistreatment is often difficult. The older adult may be unable to provide information because of cognitive impairment. The history is sometimes difficult to obtain from the victim, for fear of retaliation by the abuser. This retaliation can come in the form of physical punishment or threats of violence and abandonment. Older adults are often fearful of being placed in a nursing facility, and some may prefer to be abused in their own home rather than be moved to such a facility (LA4Seniors, 2005). The mistreated older adult often presents with somatic complaints. Physicians should ask older patients about rough handling, confinement and verbal or emotional abuse. Subtle or confusing complaints may actually be indicative of mistreatment. It is important to recognize that abuse and neglect are most often discovered during routine visits at the physician’s office or in the long term care facility. Generally, the patient should be interviewed without the caregiver(s) present. Cognitive impairment may limit the ability to obtain an accurate history. It is important to ask general questions about conditions in the home or nursing facility. The physician should try to obtain an accurate view of the patient’s daily life, including meals, medication, shopping and social outlets (HHS fact sheet, 2005). It is also important to ask the patient about the nature and quality of the relationship with the caregiver. It may be helpful to ask questions such as, â€Å"How do you and the caregiver get along?† and â€Å"Is the caregiver taking good care of you?† It is critical to assess the patient’s mental status for indicators of depression or alcohol and substance abuse. A discussion of the patientâ €™s financial situation may be appropriate. If issues of mistreatment are raised, the caregiver should be interviewed as well. The physician must be careful not to over interpret or to make suggestive comments, especially when the patient is cognitively impaired. Essential Features of the History in the Assessment of Mistreated Elders Medical problems/diagnoses, detailed description of home environment (adequacy of food, shelter, supplies), accurate description of events related to injury or trauma (instances of rough handling, confinement, verbal or emotional abuse), history of prior violence, description of prior injuries and events  surrounding them, description of berating, threats or emotional abuse, improper care of medical problems, untreated injuries, poor hygiene, prolonged period before presenting for medical attention, depression or other mental illness, extent of confusion or dementia, drug or alcohol abuse, quality/nature of relationships with caregivers. Physical Examination and Laboratory Tests The physical examination is often used as legal evidence of mistreatment. Laboratory and imaging studies should be performed to confirm any suspicious findings in the history and physical examination. The presence of dehydration and malnutrition can be established with simple laboratory tests such as a complete blood count and measurement of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, protein and albumin levels. Radiographic studies provide evidence of old and new fractures. Unfortunately, proving that a fracture was caused by abuse can be difficult (HHS fact sheet, 2005). Role of advance nurse and nursing intervention strategies- The nurses can play a vital role as a case finder, manager, advocate, educator, researcher and caregiver to physically abused elderly and family or caregiver in a given community. Inform the decision makers about the magnitude, trends and characteristics of violent deaths; and, evaluate and continue to improve by educating the patient and the care giver, and if is necessary reporting the abuser to the authorities. Nurses should involve the case managers and the social workers, document all the findings accurately and report the mistreatment case as soon as possible. Documentation Documentation of all findings may be entered as evidence in criminal trials or in guardianship hearings. Documentation must be complete, thorough and legible. Such circumstances dictate that there is a â€Å"chain of evidence.† This need mandates a careful collection of physical evidence, which is critical in cases of suspected sexual or physical abuse. Laboratory data and, when possible, photographs should be used for verification of written documentation. Management Management of elder mistreatment first involves discussing the situation with the patient, if feasible. The patient should be allowed to play a role  in the ultimate resolution, if he or she is able to do so. First, the competency of the patient should be determined. Local and state social services have different methods of addressing mistreatment. Social workers from hospitals, clinics or long term care facilities are valuable resources and should be able to assist with these services. Multidisciplinary teams can be very effective. These teams typically include geriatricians, social workers, case management nurses and representatives from legal, financial and adult protective services. Multidisciplinary teams are often more effective in problem-solving and provide a forum for discussion with participants involved in the older adult’s care. Senior advocacy volunteer groups are also helpful. A senior advocate can provide information to the abused person and enable access to resources from community programs and social services. Basic Features of the Physical Examination Head- Traumatic alopecia or other evidence of direct physical violence; poor oral hygiene; Skin- Hematomas, welts, bite marks, burns, decubitus ulcers; Musculoskeletal- fractures or signs of previous fractures; Neurological- cognitive impairment that is a risk factor for mistreatment and influences management decisions regarding competency; Genito rectal- poor hygiene, inguinal rash, impaction of feces; General- weight loss, dehydration, poor hygiene, unkempt appearance (LA4Seniors, 2005). Reporting All health care providers (physicians, nurses, social workers, etc.) and administrators are mandated by law to report suspected elder mistreatment. The laws differ from state to state; physicians should determine the specific requirements in their states. Any other person may also report suspected abuse and neglect. All reporters are immune from civil liability if they act in good faith and without malice. They are also protected from termination of employment. Health care providers can be found to be negligent if they fail to report the suspected mistreatment. Penalties can include fines, imprisonment or loss of licensure. Reports of suspected elder mistreatment should be given to the state or county division of adult protective services. In the absence of such services, the reporter should contact the county extension office or the state’s office of child and  family services. In addition, any Area Agency on Aging would be able to provide assistance in reporting suspected mistreatment. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (telephone: 800-799-SAFE) or the Older Women’s League (telephone: 800-825-3695) could also help. Contacting the police is always an option, especially in an urgent situation (HHS fact sheet, 2005). In the event that the older adult is a resident of a long term care facility, a separate mechanism often exists for investigating suspected mistreatment through the state agency that surveys these facilities. Identifying the appropriate avenue for investigation can be done through the available adult protective service agency or the state department of child and family services (Elder Abuse, 2005). Once suspected mistreatment has been reported, the responsible agency will assign a social worker to investigate the case. The social worker will provide an accurate description of the home or nursing-facility environment. After assessment, the social worker may provide insight into some possible solutions to the problem and information about available resources. Unlike cases of child abuse, if the older adult is competent to make decisions, he or she may refuse intervention. If the older adult is not competent to make decisions, a guardian can be appointed by the state. The guardian can then direct care as needed until the problem is satisfactorily resolved. Injury Prevention- In healthy people there is no precise data specific for elder abuse, but these are related data from that site. The target rate for physical assault by intimate partner is 3.3 physical assaults per 1,000, and the baseline is 4.4 physical assaults per 1,000. The target rate for annual rate of rape is 0.7 rapes or attempted rapes per 1,000 persons, and the base line is 0.8 rapes or attempted rapes per 1,000 (Health people, 2010). Objectives from Healthy People 2010 Reduce injuries, disabilities, and deaths due to injuries and violence, and educating the primary care givers about the signs and symptoms of abuse or mistreatment, and educating them about alternative coping mechanisms. Several themes become evident when examining reports on injury prevention and control, including acute care, treatment, and rehabilitation. First, injury comprises a group of complex problems involving many different sectors of society. No single force working alone can accomplish everything  needed to reduce the number of injuries. Improved outcomes require the combined efforts of many fields, including health, education, law, and safety sciences. Second, many of the factors that cause injuries are closely associated with violent and abusive behavior (Health people, 2010). Violence and Abuse Prevention Violence in the United States is pervasive and can change quality of life. Reports of children killing children in schools are shocking and cause parents to worry about the safety of their children at school, and if the problem is untreated the aggression later on will turn on the parents or older adults. Reports of gang violence make people fearful for their safety. Although suicide rates began decreasing in the mid-1990s, prior increases among youth aged 10 to 19 years and adults aged 65 years and older have raised concerns about the vulnerability of these population groups. Intimate partner violence and sexual assault threaten people in all walks of life (Elder Abuse, 2005). Violence claims the lives of many of the Nation’s young persons and threatens the health and well-being of many persons of all ages in the United States. On an average day in America, 53 people die from homicide, and a minimum of 18,000 persons survive interpersonal assaults, and as many as 3,000 persons attempt suicide (Elder Abuse, 2005). Elderly, females, and children continue to be targets of both physical and sexual assaults, which are frequently perpetrated by individuals they know. Examples of general issues that impede the public health response to progress in this area include the lack of comparable data sources, lack of standardized definitions and definitional issues, lack of resources to establish adequately consistent tracking systems, and lack of resources to fund promising prevention programs. Disparities Adults aged 65 years and older are at increased risk of death from fire because they are more vulnerable to smoke inhalation and burns and are less likely to recover. Sense impairment (such as blindness or hearing loss) may prevent older adults from noticing a fire, and mobility impairment may prevent them from escaping its consequences. Older adults also are less likely to have learned fire safety behavior and prevention information,  because they grew up at a time when little fire safety was taught in schools, and most current educational programs target children (Healthy people, 2010). Opportunities To reduce the number and severity of injuries, prevention activities must focus on the type of injury—drowning, fall, fire or burn, firearm, or motor vehicle. Understanding injuries allows for development and implementation of effective prevention interventions. Some interventions can reduce injuries from violence-related episodes. For instance, efforts to promote awareness in society can help reduce the risk of assault, intentional self-inflicted and elder neglect and abuse. Higher taxes on alcoholic beverages are associated with lower death rates for some categories of violent crime, including mistreatment, abuse, and rape (Healthy people, 2010). Healthy People Objectives This organization encourages the Individuals, groups, and other organizations to use this framework and integrate it into their current programs, events, publications, and meetings, schools, colleges, and civic organizations to undertake activities in order to further the health of all members of their community. It is a national initiative that aims to improve the health of all Americans and eliminate disparities in health. Reducing the prevalence and overall number of people who suffer from different variety of diseases, and increase concerns for the nation’s elderly, and to reduce the overall rate of elder abuse, prevent its associated health problems, and educating the care givers and enhancing their coping mechanisms and alternative modalities to deal with the related stress. Health care providers can encourage their patients to pursue healthier lifestyles and to participate in community-based programs. By following the national objectives, individuals and organizations c an build an agenda for community health improvement and can monitor results over time. Healthy People objectives have been specified by Congress as the measure for assessing the progress of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, and the Preventive Health and Health  Services Block Grant. Healthy People objectives have been used in performance measurement activities (Healthy people, 2010). Many objectives focus on interventions designed to reduce or eliminate illness, disability, and premature death among individuals and communities, and to educate the care giver regarding recognizing elder abuse, and prevention modalities; others focus on broader issues, such as improving access to quality health care, strengthening public health services, and improving the availability and dissemination of health-related information. Each objective has a target for specific improvements to be achieved by the year 2010. Together, these objectives reflect the depth of scientific knowledge as well as the breadth of diversity in the Nation’s communities. More importantly, they are designed to help the Nation achieve Healthy People 2010’s two overarching goals and realize the vision of healthy people living in healthy communities (Healthy people, 2010). Interim Progress toward Year 2000 Objectives Numerous objectives addressed injury prevention in Healthy People 2010. Twenty-six objectives were specific for unintentional injuries, and 19 objectives were specific for violence prevention. By the end of the decade, targets had been met for 11 objectives. Unintentional injury objectives showing achievement were unintentional injury hospitalizations, residential fire deaths, nonfatal head injuries, spinal cord injuries, nonfatal homicide poisonings, and pedestrian deaths. Violence prevention objectives that met their targets were, suicide, weapon carrying by adolescents, conflict resolution in schools, and child death review systems. REFERENCES Elder Abuse and Neglect Statistics (2005). In search of solutions. Retrieved on 8/20/05 from http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/eldabuse.html Healthy people 2010(2005). Retrieved on 8/20/05 from http://www.healthypeople.gov LA4Seniors (2005). A public service website for seniors and their families. Retrieved on 8/20/05 from www.la4seniors.com/elder abuse.htm National center on elder abuse (2005). Retrieved on 8/20/05 from http://www.elderabusecenter.org HHS fact sheet (2005). US department of health and human services. Retrieved on 8/20/05 from www.hhs.gov/news/press/2000pres/20000503b.html Physical abuse of the elderly (2005). Physical abuse of the elderly: signs, descriptions, and what you can do about it. Retrieved on 8/21/05 from http://de.essortment.com/physicalabusee_rfjb.htm

Dont get me started on… Valentine s Day

Valentine’ s Day is trying to abduct me into a fake world where everything is glorious and perfect, a world we all wish to be living in. February 14th is the date I most dread every year. Couples get loved up and forget about the important things in life, such as working nine to five to pay the enormous bills that are piled in a drawer or scattered in the living room. Using Valentine’s Day as a runaway from bills isn’t going to make things better. Running away from Valentine’s Day sounds more appealing, it stop’s us from meeting women like these: 1) The hopefuls: These are women who get excited on Valentine’s Day because they believe their special person is out there somewhere, and loneliness isn’t an option. 2) The women who know love only exists in fairytales. These women would sit alone watching a romantic movie. They would cry, curled up on the sofa, every time there’s a romantic scene, while their full mug of hot chocolate gently warms the palms of their hands. Valentines Day is an excuse to advertise couples kissing and holding hands in public. Why would you want to advertise kissing? Which leads to interaction, which surely leads to†¦ yeah, you get my point? It’s not the best example for kids now-a-days is it? Wherever you go, even at the local shop, you’re reminded of this day with hearts, cupids and silly poems on the front of handmade cards. Believe it or not, I caught the bus and I went to town for a small portion of chips with sausage in batter, My FAVOURITE. And on the standing notice board, written in red chalk was: VALENTINES DAY OFFER, small portion of chips and sausage in batter,  £2.99 only. What a massive bargain. I’d never thought I’d hate to love the meal I always devour, little did I know.  £2.99 was a bargain, but I turned away and went in the nearby corner shop, to pick up some cheese and onion crisps instead. At least I could enjoy eating without the reminder of Valentine’s Day on my back. We all know when it’s coming, we’re not stupid. Living close to cinemas, restaurants, shopping centres, bowling alleys and night-clubs could be perceived to be an incredible place to live; everything is close by (except the chip shop). I guess it’s convenient as I’m quite out going, but it is the worse place to live on February 14th. Why? Because the whole area is full of teenagers drunk with fatigue, and middle-aged couples walking tall and ecstatic as if they are The bee’s knees. The only people with class on this irritating day are old people, they are respectful and they don’t go out with the hundred-and -something year old partner. They keep to themselves, like everyone should. Right? People that go out on Valentine’s Day are not paying attention to others feelings, now how selfish is that? Husbands and wives become immediately closer in 24 hours however, after 24 hours it was like they never were. Love is unconditional and is â€Å"life-long† if you love the person. But Valentine’s Day only lasts 24 hours. So, what about the other 364 days? We don’t have love your pet day, because you’re supposed to do that anyway. New years and Christmas are two good reasons for going out and celebrating. A new year is a day where we all are overwhelmed for the year to coming, while Christmas is celebrating Jesus’ birthday. And then there’s Valentine’s Day†¦ An interesting way for the government to continue making a ridiculous amount of money – which would probably be spent on single parents benefits. This makes me think. Government= a greedy bunch of people who needs money to operate. So that’s it. Valentine’s Day is just a day the government make money, they don’t care about lovers. People are not thinking outside the box and why there really is a valentine’s day, it’s all a part of the government’s evil and sick plan.

Problem Solving and Resourcefulness

RESOURCEFULNESS By: Edgardo Eleccion ( GCCNHS) For many times in our lives, we are often tested in our values and skill of being resourcefulness. Oftentimes, this is more considered as a skill than a value. A person with a gift of resourcefulness is far more advance than those who have none. Definitely, most of the successful individuals in the field of business, education, arts, medicine, politics, communication, religion and others possess the inherent or acquired skill of resourcefulness. However, what is really this skill of resourcefulness? Iannarino ( 2010) defines resourcefulness in his blog as the ability to find a way to achieve your goal or to make one. This is especially true when the goal is difficult to achieve and when little or no direction is given. Resourcefulness is the ability to think creatively, to generate ideas, and to identify alternatives. Resourcefulness is also imagination, the ability to visualize how something could be achieved when there is nothing there but the vision. According to Cindy Quarter eHow contributor, being a resourceful is the ability to approach a problem in different ways. It requires the ability to be creative and pursue a solution from one or more than direction. It is not built in ability but it is learned overtime from the variety of experiences. To be able to develop this into our children, they should be exposed to a situation that requires them to be resourceful and that will provide them the opportunity to succeed. Kids will self-confident and acquire problem solving skills as a result of engaging in activities that result resourcefulness. Games that requires resourcefulness help children to gain creativity and persistence in a fun in an entertaining way. Teachers in the secondary should help high school students develop their resourcefulness in them. They should expose these young minds into a worthwhile and engaging classroom activities everyday and make positive feedbacks after such activities in their everyday lessons for a day to day improvement to surface their individuals resourcefulness. This will prepare these youth into the next stages of their life ahead on how to deal problems along the way in different way around with less pressure. The role of teachers in the classroom is vital in nurturing the students’ skill necessary in building a kind of life intended for them in their future. This will not be seriously taken by the students at their younger years, but when the world dictates competition and pressure, there surfaces the skill they have learned in the classroom situation. Resourcefulness can not be learned in one day as Rome was not built in one day too. It needs constant learning, constant training and constant sacrifices. It needs several exposures into several competition, tasks and challenges along the way. The constant exposure that lead to experiencing a situation that emerge creativity will help a certain individuals to grow and become a better person ready to face the next layers of life’s challenge. In the world of work specially in business and education , resourcefulness is the crucial skill one must possess. A teacher with this skill has great advantage in terms of making his strategies in teaching and his materials a worthwhile and more fantastic to his learners. Moreover, it helps him prepare his teaching aids with less money involved. In the field of business, a manager having this skill can enter into competitive world and able to go beyond the expectation the corporation is aiming for. In real life situation, resourcefulness helps an individual in solving his own problem in different way in which others never ever think of. You may be in business, education, arts, communication, politics, and religion, resourcefulness is necessary in building up the new you. Edgardo Eleccion is a secondary teacher of Gingoog City Comprehensive National High School ( GCCNHS) Gingoog City, Philippines. He is a Values Education Teacher.

Interview with Zara Dane Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Interview with Zara Dane - Article Example Certainly, the good times will help fuel the writer’s muse, but at the end of the day, the good times tend to swallow up the productive times whole. So, when a friend of mine mentioned that she had knew someone who was a friend of an obscure horror writer, and that she had met with her to discuss her craft, I was envious.And yet, I found myself in just such a situation recently, being given the singular pleasure of meeting with Zara Dane, American ex-pat thriller/horror author extraordinaire, now living in Manchester. I admit, I have certain prejudices. All week, I have been fantasising about what our meeting will hold. Her reputation as a fiction writer who specialises in the horror genre precedes her. Will we meet within the gates of a cemetery at midnight? Am I to expect similarly odd behavior? Will she be†¦a friendly person? The last question is answered after a brief conversation with her on the telephone. My suggestion to meet at a local eatery is turned down, and i nstead I am graciously invited to her home. I’m first met by a small, but beautiful historic two-story in Manchester. Those familiar with Dane’s work are aware of her entrancing way of interweaving beauty, sensuality, innocence and corruption into her tales of murder and mayhem, and her abode certainly gives a very similar impression. Its brick exterior is a warm, but fairly subdued pink, (a tribute to the home she left behind in New Orleans, US) the color of flushed cheeks. Feminine, but not cloyingly so.... This is my first time meeting Zara, and I am instantly captivated by her green eyes and mischievous smile. My first impression upon meeting her is that I have met one who is not really from this planet. Social, hospitable, intelligent, all of these things describe her, but there is somethingwhat is it I leave the outside with its shouting children, scorching asphalt and the smell of heavy, French cooking from nearby restaurants, and enter into a place of coolness, serenity and iced sweet-tea. We settle down on her dark green sofa in preparation for time spent doing a question and answer session, when the ice is very much broken by a loud racket coming from upstairs. Dane excuses herself and takes a moment to shout at her uproarious dog who has been sequestered to one of the upper rooms. A strange mix-the, calm, Victorian surroundings, that one would normally associate with a very buttoned-down, proper personality (and impeccably clean! So much for messy artists) that are the home to this vivacious, creative, almost eccentric, auburn-haired woman who is outfitted entirely in black, right down to her boots. Zara returns, friendly and flustered, and apologises profusely, then offers to refill my tea. I decline, then awkwardly plunge into my first question, considering all of the perversity and horror of your storiesdid you have a normal life growing up Zara laughs. "Oh, my, I guess you could say that. My dad is a lawyer, my mum is a professor. I grew up in a fairly well-to-do neighborhood and attended a horribly competitive private school. I got good grades, was on the swim team and things like that, but I was in a very, very unhealthy situation. I had very caring friends,

Geography Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Geography - Research Paper Example Indias climate is influenced by mainly the southwest winds. South-west monsoon brings most of the rainfall during a year in the country. In the months of summer temperature rises up to 45 degree centigrade in the day. In the winter, it falls to as low as 1 to 8 degree centigrade in the night. Intensity of the summer season causes rain in plains of the India. The rain fall varies region to region and it is found to be between 500 mm to 1500 mm except desert of Rajasthan and Kutch where precipitation usually remain less than 250 mm. (Climate) Agriculture has always been a back bone of Indian economy since independence until 1990 when agriculture contributed more than one-third in Gross Domestic Product. India has vast arable area of 170 million hectares in 2005 which is the second largest arable area after U.S. India is among the world’s leading producer of rich, wheat, milk, sugar cane. India is either the world leader or the second largest producer in eight top crops. India is the world leader in the production of bananas, mangoes, and spices which are the important part of Indian meals. (India’s Role†¦) Post reform India saw a big surge in industrial activities and the industrial output showed the growth of 8.4 percent in 1994-95 and exports increased by 27 percent. Experts opine that Indian contribution in the world GDP will rise from 6 percent to 11 percent by the year 2025 and it will become the third largest economy after U.S, and China. The contribution of Indian industry in GDP comes to about 26 percent. (India Industry) India has been in limelight due to its software industry – the sector has been a major export earner for the country. As per The National Association of Software & Services Cos (NASSCOM), Indian IT sector is likely to see exports of $59 billion in fiscal 2011, which will show strong revenue growth of 18.7 percent over previous year. The

Strategic Analysis and Choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Strategic Analysis and Choice - Essay Example Thus, the need arises to have a blue print that tells how to go about it Companies need to diverse, differentiate, integrate backward or forwards, and manage business portfolio balanced. And hence they need to plan - develop a vision, set the mission, develop long term plans and further break them into objectives to achieve the desired goal. But it is important that the strategy is to be consistent with the organizational goals and policies, it should be flexible enough to respond to the faster changing environment in which it is operating, and it should add value to the organization and become a source of advantage over its competitors, and lastly, it should be feasible and practical enough to get through. Strategic management can be defined as the art and science of formulating, implementing, ad evaluating cross-functional decisions that enable an organization to achieve its objectives (David F.R., Strategic Management). The process of strategic management involves three stages, viz. formulation of a strategy, implementing a strategy and lastly, evaluating the strategy. Since, organizations have limited resources thus they need to choose from amongst the alternatives available. Setting a strategy starts with developing a strategic vision so as to provide long term direction, and provide a purpose to the organization. The strategic vision is then converted into specific performance objectives for the company to achieve. And then forming strategies to achieve the desired outcomes that have been developed in the form of objectives. This all was the planning portion of the process; no strategy is useful until it is implemented and executed effectively and efficiently. In the end, evaluat ion stage begins which requires comparing actual i.e. the reality with the planned. But as companies prosper and grow they need to diversify into new areas. Companies have to balance their portfolios well enough with cash cows, stars, dogs and question marks so that cash needs growth needs all are being fulfilled by the company. Strategy analysis requires companies to understand their markets, their cost structure, and also the capabilities underlying the firm i.e. any of the core competencies or the distinctive competencies that the company possesses. Companies need creativity and new ideas to identify any potential gaps in the strategy, the markets etc. which will lead them to make and implement a solid strategic plan to serve the new and existing markets. Source: http://www.netmba.com/strategy/matrix/bcg/ Huge businesses are normally divided into the strategic business units. These strategic business units are the individual planning units contained within one large and diversified business serving either the external or the internal market. They make independent decisions for themselves and have a control over their own destiny. They have competitors and are profit centers for the company but still independent. Companies already have so many products and services have many other growth initiatives because of the factors such as globalization, services, quality and the emerging e-businesses. Globalization is not only letting companies to enhance their revenue