Family in Dead Poet’s Society’s Neil Perry

Neal Perry is one of the major characters in the Peter Weir 1989 film Dead Poet’s Society which starred Robin Williams as Professor John Keating who inspired the lives of his students at Welton Academy. Actor Robert Sean Leonard portrays Neal Perry and plays as a pressured student who is passionate about theatre. In this film, family plays a large role in the development of the plot and the characters in the film most especially Neil Perry’s family who later can be assumed as the reason for Neil’s suicide. His parents are presented in the film as the typical aristocrats who hold themselves responsible for their child’s future career. Mr. Perry is a father who dictates what he and his wife think is the best for Neil without considering his interests. Clearly, this puts Neil in a very frustrating situation as he struggles to pursue his dreams and please his parents. Her mother who at some point can be regarded as softer than his father, she also contributes to the pressure being put upon Neil. They want him to become a doctor someday which reveals that they want him to be in a profession where there is a stable income. Being an actor clearly does not appeal to them as the profession does not always provide stability. Also, it can be assumed that Neil’s parents are also dictated by the society around. They are also victims of conformity who want to establish their reputation in the higher class of their society. John Keating, the English professor of Neil Perry has definitely influenced his way of thinking. Mr. Keating inspired him to â€Å"Seize the day† and pursue his dreams despite the dictates of his family or society. Neil responds to this by pursuing a role in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He does so without the consent of his parents. However, the move just worsens his situation as he is instructed to leave Welton to enter a military school. Apparently, Neil believes he had had enough of his parents’ dictates in his life that he finally resorts to suicide. In Neil’s situation, it is quite hard to determine whether it is Mr. Keating’s teachings that led him to taking his life. What Mr. Keating intends to teach is non-conformity—for students to practice freedom and pursue their dreams for their own fulfillment. For this matter, it can be assumed that Neil would not have taken suicide if he had not met Mr. Keating. It is Mr. Keating who taught him to pursue his dreams no matter what and his act of taking the role of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream led his parents to have him quit school for military. Before Mr. Keating, Neil has always been the obedient child who always followed his parent’s orders. Without Mr. Keating, he would not have auditioned for the character role for it would be disobedience to his parents. Without Mr. Keating, he would probably be still stuck in the medicine field too weak to stand up for his own and defend himself to his parents. He would not have known freedom and would still have conformed to the rules of his family and society. His passion in acting would not have been ignited by Mr. Keating’s teachings. Clearly, Mr. Keating has influenced his way of thinking that led him to become more frustrated in life. However, suicide is not acceptabl e as the only way out. With Mr. Keating’s teachings of non-conformity, Neil could have pursued his dreams by himself and detach himself from his tyrannical parents. He could have made a living of his own by accepting acting roles. In addition, he could have asked Mr. Keating for help. Mr. Keating could have talked to his parents and convinced them that their son is not a machine that they could run by themselves. He needs to have a life of his won. There are a lot of other ways to solve his predicament without him taking his life. Clearly, his parents have become too much of a burden for him emotionally that a boy of his intelligence was unable to think straight in such a hard time. In this film, the purpose of one’s family is given emphasis as the major supporter of one’s life. Neil Perry has lost all the support that he needs when his parents forced him into things that he does not want to do. His family is unable to understand his passion which creates a discrepancy in his way of living that he resorts to suicide. One’s family is as important as the air that we breathe. Living without their support can clearly make life miserable in ways that it makes life feel unworthy.

Chronic Disease In St Lucia Health And Social Care Essay

Chronic disease is a disease of a long continuance and by and large slow patterned advance ( WHO, 2010 ) . The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics states that a chronic disease is one enduring 3 months or more. These chronic diseases usually can non be prevented by vaccinums or cured by medicine, nor do they merely disappear. Chronic diseases are chiefly caused by three major hazard factors – baccy usage, hapless eating wonts and physical inaction. Majority of these hazard factors are themselves worsened by hapless socioeconomic determiners, such as deficiency of instruction and poorness. Most frequently these determiners are a indicant of the chief forces driving societal, economic and cultural passage, including globalization, urbanization and an ageing populations. Chronic diseases are impacting population wellness as the epidemiological passage advancements and are the lead cause of mortality worldwide and pose increasing jobs for the load of disease and quality of life in developed and developing states ( WHO, 2003 ) . Non catching diseases include a wide scope of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, malignant neoplastic diseases, chronic respiratory disease, mental-health jobs and musculo- skeletal upsets. The first four mentioned above history for about 50 % of mortality globally, and portion behavioral hazard factors, such as extra Calorie ingestion, diets high in saturated and transfatty acids, inordinate consumption of intoxicant, physical inaction, and baccy smoke. Approximately 35 million people have died from bosom disease, shot, malignant neoplastic disease and other chronic diseases in the twelvemonth 2005. The loads of these diseases are every bit shared among work forces and adult females, and are more prevailin g in people under the age 70 ( WHO, 2004 ) . 80 % of chronic disease deceases occur in low and in-between income states. Figure 1: Global distribution of entire deceases ( 58 million ) by cause in 2005. The age-specific decease rates between the old ages 2005 – 2015 are projected to fluctuate somewhat, Nevertheless, the ageing populations will ensue in an overall addition in chronic disease decease rates for all ages combined. In 2005, all chronic diseases account for 72 % of the entire planetary load of disease in the population aged 30 old ages and older. The entire lost old ages of healthy life due to chronic diseases, as measured by DALYs, are greater in grownups aged 30-59 old ages than for ages 60 old ages and older. More than 80 % of the load of chronic diseases occurs in people under the age of 70 old ages. Table 1: Projected planetary deceases and load of disease due to chronic disease by age 2005- 2015 Deaths ( Million ) DALYs ( 1000000s ) Deaths per 10000 DALYs per 100000 2005 2015 2005 2015 2005 2015 2005 2015 0-29 old ages 17 15 220 219 48 40 6320 5994 30-59 old ages 7 8 305 349 311 297 13304 13375 60-69 7 8 101 125 1911 1695 27965 26396 a†°?70 20 24 99 116 6467 6469 32457 31614 All ages 35 41 725 808 549 577 11262 11380 World Health Organization undertakings that, globally, NCD deceases will increase by 17 % over the following 10 old ages. The greatest addition of 27 % and 25 % severally will be seen in the African part and the Eastern Mediterranean part ( WHO, )1.2 Types of chronic diseases1.2.1Cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease CVD is the term used by the scientific community to encompass non merely conditions of the bosom [ ischaemic bosom disease ( IHD ) , valvular, muscular, and inborn bosom disease but besides high blood pressure and conditions affecting the cerebral, carotid, and peripheral circulation. The hazard of CVD is related to diet, physical activity, and organic structure ( ) . The forms of nutrient supplies and of nutrient and nutrition that modify the hazard of CVD are besides good known. Whereas CVD was one time mostly confined to high-income states, it is now the figure one cause of decease worldwide every bit good as in low- and middle-income states, where 80 per centum of the universe ‘s 13 million one-year CVD deceases occur. And at least 21 million old ages of disability-adjusted life old ages ( or DALYs, a step of future productive life ) are lost globally because of CVD each twelvemonth. The huge bulk of CVD can be attributed to conventional hazard factors such as baccy usage, high blood force per unit area, high blood glucose, lipid abnormalcies, fleshiness, and physical inaction. Cardiovascular diseases are major cause of chronic disease decease and were accounted for of 17 million deceases in 2002. It is estimated that by the twelvemonth 2030, 24 million will decease of CVD, of which 80 % will happen in low and in-between income states ( 5 ) .1.2.2 CancerCancer is a major and turning disease load worldwide. The figure of new malignant neoplastic disease instances is projected to increase from 10 million in 2000 to 15 million in 2020, 9 million of which would be in developing states. The epidemiology of malignant neoplastic disease in developing states clearly differs from that in developed states in of import respects. While developed states frequently have comparatively high rates of lung, colorectal, chest, and prostate malignant neoplastic disease ( some of which is tied to tobacco usage, occupational carcinogens, and diet and lifestyle ) , up to 25 % of malignant neoplastic diseases in developing states is associated with chronic infections. Seven types of malignant neoplastic diseases account for about 60 per centum of all freshly diagnosed malignant neoplastic disease instances and malignant neoplastic disease deceases in developing states: cervical, liver, tummy, esophageal, lung, colorectal, and chest.1.2.3 Respiratory DiseasesChronic grownup respiratory diseases-such as chronic clogging pneumonic disease ( COPD ) and asthma-are a major and turning load in footings of morbidity and mortality in the underdeveloped universe. COPD ( which includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and clogging air passages disease ) is mostly linked with coffin nail smoke every bit good as exposure to unvented coal-burning cookery ranges ; it accounts for 2 per centum of lost DALYs on a world-wide footing.1.2.4 Diabetes MellitusDiabetes affects people worldwide and is one of the oldest diseases known. There are two common types of this disease: type 1and type 2 diabetes. Type-1 diabetes histories for 5-10 % of all diagnosed diabetes. Type-2 diabetes is the most common signifier of diabetes. It accounts for 90-95 % of diagnosed diabetes. The World Health Organization ( WHO ) estimated the world-wide prevalence of diabetes in grownups to be around 173 million in 2002 and predicted that there will be at least 350 million people with Type 2 diabetes by 2030. At present about two-thirds of individuals with diabetes live in developing states and the bulk of new instances will arise from these countries. The planetary addition in the incidence of diabetes is related to high degrees of fleshiness associated with a alteration from traditional diets, decreasing degrees of physical activity, population ripening and increasing urbanisation. Diabetess Mellitus is the most prevailing signifier of diabetes on the planetary graduated table ( 6 ) . For the past few decennaries, Diabetes Mellitus has reached epidemic proportions in many parts of the universe. The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has predicted the planetary prevalence of all Diabetes will increase from 194 million in 2003 to 330 million in the twelvemonth 2030 ( 7 ) .1.2.5 High blood pressureAnother normally happening chronic disease is high blood pressure. High blood force per unit area increases the hazard of bosom disease and shot. Hypertension is sustained high blood force per unit area ( a†°?140/90mmHg ) . Blood force per unit area itself is the force per unit area exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vass. Each clip the bosom beats ( about 60-70 times a minute at remainder ) , it pumps blood into the arterias. Blood force per unit area is at its highest when the bosom beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic blood force per unit area. When the bosom is at remainder, between beats, blood force per unit area falls. This is diastolic force per unit area. Blood force per unit area itself is non harmful – it is indispensable as it is the force that drives blood through the blood vass to provide O and foods to the organic structure ‘s variety meats and tissues and transport off godforsaken stuffs. However, when blood force per unit area becomes excessively high it has detrimental effects on about every portion of the organic structure and can take to serious unwellness and decease. Hypertension is an of import public wellness challenge worldwide because of its prevalence and its function as a hazard factor for cardiovascular disease. Some of the hazard factors of high blood pressure include fleshiness, intoxicant, household history, and smoke. There are two types of high blood pressure, viz. primary high blood pressure and secondary high blood pressure. Primary high blood pressure is more common, happening in 90-95 % of the high blood pressure population. There is no identifiable cause and it develops bit by bit over many old ages. Secondary high blood pressure occurs in 5-10 % of the high blood pressure population. ( ) In the twelvemonth 2000 it was estimated that the entire figure of grownups with high blood pressure was 972 million. Of these, 333 million were estimated to be in developed states and 639 million in developing states ( 0 ) . Kearney PM et al. , predicted that by the twelvemonth 2025, the figure of people with high blood pressure will increase by about 60 % to a sum of 1.56 billion. ( Kearney PM et al. , 2005 ) the grounds are the go oning population addition and alterations in life style, which includes a diet high in sugar and high-fat processed nutrients and sedentarism.1.3 Impact of chronic disease in the CaribbeanCaribbean states are in epidemiological passage, where non merely nutritionary lacks have well declined but infective diseases have besides been vanishing. However, over the last 30 old ages, nutrition-related chronic non-communicable diseases have easy emerged as the major public wellness jobs. Non-communicable diseases ( NCDs ) have bit by bit displaced catching disea ses in the Caribbean. Ratess of chronic non-communicable disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and malignant neoplastic disease have been increasing in the Caribbean and are the taking cause of mortality and mobility in the part ( Ragoobirsinghet al. , 1995, 2002 ; Wilkset al. , 1998, 1999 ; Figueroaet al. , 1999 ; Rotimi et al. , 1999 ; Cruickshanket al. , 2001, Figueroa, 2001 ; Sargeantet al. , 2001 ; Henniset al. , 2002a, B ; Corbinet al. , 2004 ; Wolfeet al. , 2006 ) . Of concern is the fact that while the prevalence and mortality rates of these diseases are highest in the aged, they are non restricted to any one age group. An estimated 10 % to 20 % of the Caribbean population over 20 old ages of age suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, severally, with prevalence more than duplicating at older ages ( Hennis et al. , 2002a, B ) . High blood pressure and diabetes rank as the two taking chronic upsets among Caribbean populations and are bes ides major hazard factors for other diseases such as cerebrovascular disease ( shot ) and coronary bosom disease. Prevalence of chronic diseases in the Caribbean part over the base on balls 3 decennaries Another dramatic epidemic among the Caribbean population is the high prevalence of fleshy [ organic structure mass index ( BMI ) & gt ; 25 kilogram ma?’2 ] and fleshiness ( BMI & gt ; 30 kg ma?’2 ) . Approximately half of the grownup Caribbean population is fleshy and 25 % of big Caribbean adult females are corpulent ( Henry, 2004 ) . The intensifying tendency in fleshiness is considered to be a major causative factor in chronic disease prevalence in the part. The increasing fleshiness degrees, chiefly among adult females, possibly associated with the alterations in traditional diets and the acceptance of sedentary life styles. In some the islands more than half of big adult females are reported to be corpulent. Datas from Barbados highlights the importance of fleshiness as a hazard factor in chronic diseases. Based on available grounds, corpulent individuals, ( BMI & gt ; 30 ) of 40-79 old ages had a 2.6 times greater hazard of high blood pressure than individuals with BMI & lt ; 25, and corpulent adult females had 5.2 times the hazard of developing diabetes. It is estimated that cut downing fleshiness in the Barbadian population could cut down high blood pressure and diabetes by 30 % and 33 % severally.1.4 Impact of chronic disease in St. LuciaSt. Lucia has undergone a important demographic passage in the last 3 decennaries ( Wilks, et al. , 1998 ) . Some characteristics of this passage include the rise in the average age of the population from 20 old ages to 15 old ages between 1970 and 2010, the doubling of the proportion of individuals older than 60 old ages old from 5000 to over 17,000 and the addition in life anticipation at birth from less than 50 old ages in 1950 to greater than 73 old ages in 2010 ( World population prospectus, 2008 ) . As a consequence, the chief causes of unwellness and decease in St. Lucia and many other Caribbean islands and parts at a similar province of development are the chronic non-communicable diseases ( Sargea nt et al. , 2001 ) . There is an increased prevalence of diet-related chronic non-communicable diseases, such as cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes and fleshiness. ( Wilks et al. , 1998 ) . Between 1992-1999 in St. Lucia, preventable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and circulative systems accounted for 20.8 % of deceases, with the major causes being cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic bosom disease, and hypertensive disease. Other major causes of decease were malignant neoplastic diseases ( 14.5 % ) , disease of the digestive system ( 8.7 % ) , and diabetes ( 7.2 % ) ( 8 ) . Approximately 1,304 deceases were due to diseases of the circulatory system and was accounted for 33 % of all reported deceases, decease due to cerebrovascular was ( 35.9 % ) , hypertensive disease ( 14.8 % ) , and ischaemic bosom disease ( 13.6 % ) ( Health in America, 1998 ) . There were 731 deceases due to cardiovascular disease from 1996 to 1999, accounting for 19 % of all deceases and 53 % of deceases ratio of 5.8:1. Most ( 21 or 62 % ) occurred in the 15-44 old ages age group, and had a male-female ratio of 9.5:1. Cardiac apprehension caused 268 cardiovascular deceases ( 37 % ) , ischaemic bosom disease 174 ( 24 % ) , pneumonic circulation and other signifiers of bosom disease 134 ( 18 % ) , and bosom failure 153 ( 21 % ) . Females accounted for 359 ( 49 % ) of deceases due to cardiovascular disease, and individuals 60 old ages of age or older accounted for 588 deceases ( 80 % ) . ( WHO statistics ) . Based on PAHO statistic St. Lucia is the 10th taking island in the Caribbean with high rates of non- catching chronic disease, accounting for about 63 % . Over the old ages prevalence of non catching diseases have been increasing, in a study done by the Kairi advisers limited in association with the national appraisal squad of St. Lucia concluded the undermentioned findings for the twelvemonth 2005 to 2006 for the distribution of chronic disease in St. Lucia. Irrespective of per capita ingestion quintile, high blood force per unit area was the most prevailing lifestyle disease impacting individuals with diseases in St. Lucia. In every quintile group, it besides shows that the prevalence of diabetes ranks second to high blood force per unit area as a life clip disease impacting individuals with diseases in St. Lucia. In each of the quintile groups, more than three fifths of the individuals with diseases reported enduring from high blood force per unit area while more than one one-fourth reported enduring from diabetes. In the twelvemonth 2007 diabetes and Hypertension were the two the most permeant and declining wellness jobs confronting the island of St Lucia. The diseases afflict a wide swath of people, immature and old. St. Lucia has a population of about 160,000 thousand people, and of this 28.1 % of the population have abnormal blood glucose or high blood sugar and 8.1 % have diabetes ( Graven et al. , 2007 ) . 20 % of people over 40 old ages of age suffer with the disease ( the ministry of wellness 2007 ) . At least 35 % of those with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus do non cognize that they have the status ( The Ministry of Health, 2008 ) . In rural country of St. Lucia the proportion with undiagnosed diabetes is well higher ( St. Lucia Diabetic Society, 2008 ) . At the clip of diagnosing, every ten percent individual with diabetes has already developed one or more micro- or macro-vascular complications ( Ministry of Health, 2008 ) . Diabetess is among the taking cause of decease. If inadequately treated, diabetes can do sightlessness, kidney disease, nervus disease, amputations, bosom disease, and shot. Even painstaking and well-treated diabetics often suffer from these complications and have above-average medical costs. If observed, the Native St. Lucian has many barriers to wellness instruction, which fundamentally involves their civilization, life style, handiness and socio-economic position. For case, St. Lucian is presently sing a crisis of poorness. Peoples from lower socioeconomic position have poorer wellness than those in higher socioeconomic places. Assorted surveies have reported the relationship between low socioeconomic position and the development of chronic disease ( ( Lynch et al, 2000 ; Stelmach et Al, 2009 ; Supriya et Al, 2009 ) . Recent poorness appraisals in St. Lucia estimation that 18.7 % of families and 25 % of the population live in poorness. Income inequality is high, with 26 % of the population characterized as inveterate hapless ( MPDEH, 2003 ) . That same study estimated that a decennary subsequently in 2005/06 the poorness rate had increased to 28.8 % of the population ( Government of St. Lucia ( GOVST ) , The appraisal of Poverty volume1, 2006 ) .The highest poorness rates in2005/06 were in the territories of Anse La Raye/Canaries ( 44.9 % ) , Micoud ( 43.6 % ) , Soufriere ( 42.5 % ) and Laborie ( 42.1 % ) . The poorness spread and poorness badness besides occurred in these same territories ( GOVST, 2006 ) Furthermore, because of poorness and life in rural countries, most people consume less expensive and frequently high fat nutrients, and less fruits and veggies ( Henchy et al, 2000 ) . Brown et Al, ( 2005 ) described how socioeconomic place influences wellness among individuals with diabetes. Diabetes is twice more prevailing in low income populations compared to wealthy populations ( Stelmach W et Al ; 2009 ) . Some accounts for this increased hazard among people of low-income or resource-poor countries include increased emphasis, low entree to medical and preventative attention, and hapless environment.1.5 Diet, nutrition and chronic diseasesThere are clear associations between the assorted biomedical and behavioral chronic disease hazard factors, and it is good established that diet quality and healthy feeding patterns play an of import function in both preventing and pull offing chronic diseases and the factors that increase their hazard ( Kant A.K, 2004 ) . The links with nutrie nt and nutritionary position are particularly strong in the instance of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and their hazard factors ( metabolic syndrome, fleshiness, high blood pressure and lipemia ) . The nutrient we eat, in all cultural choice, defines one ‘s wellness, growing and development. Hazard behaviors, peculiarly smoke and sedentarism, alter the consequence ( ) . All this takes topographic point in a societal, cultural, political and economic environment that can worsen the wellness of populations. Diet is a cardinal constituent in predisposing to chronic disease, chiefly where diet is energy dense doing positive energy balance and fleshiness. Adoption of western diet which are high in fats, aminal protein, refined saccharides and low in fiber, fruits and vegetable can farther increase one hazard of developing no of more chronic disease ( ) . Several surveies have demonstrated a prudent diet rich in fruits, veggies, fish and wholegrain to be associated with a diminution in chronic disease hazard such as diabetes ( Van Dam et al. , 2002 ; Anne-Helen Harding et al. , 2004 )CarbohydratesCarbohydrates nutrient beginning are the most of import beginning of Calories for the universe ‘s population chiefly because of their low cost and broad handiness ( ) . Although Carbohydrates is easy accessible and widely eaten saccharide is a cardinal dietetic constituent impacting insulin secernment and postprandial glycemia and is implicated in the etiology of many chronic diseases ( Brand -Miller JC et al. , 2004 ) . Both the measure and type of saccharide eaten have effects on insulin secernment and postprandial glycemia. Foods with a rich glycemic index ( or glycemic burden ) produce high rates in blood glucose.A Diets including big measures of high GL nutrients increase the hazard of diabetes, chest malignant neoplastic disease, colorectal malignant neoplastic disease, endometrial malignant neoplastic disease, and overall chronic disease ( Barclay AW et al. , 2008 ) .Dietary fibersEpidemiologic grounds has shown that nutrients rich in fiber aid glycaemic control in diseases such as type 2 diabetic patients ( ) . A diet high in fiber helps in control blood sugar degrees in those with type 2 diabetes. It besides helps with colon wellness as the high fiber diet with smoothing the stool and facilitates to burden loss ( ) . Fats Dietary fat is one of the most influential foods in wellness. Fats has many maps in the human organic structure, Equally good as to supplying more than twice the energy supplied by saccharides and proteins and providing indispensable fatty acids, fats slows digestion of saccharides in order to fuel the encephalon he fats serve as bearers for fat soluble vitamins ( A, D, E and K ) and as parts of cell membranes ( ) . The overconsumption of fat, chiefly saturated fat, has been linked to six of the 10 prima causes of decease worldwide ( ) .Coronary bosom disease and malignant neoplastic disease ( ) .There is a strong nexus between dietetic fat ingestion and hazard of chronic diseases such as malignant neoplastic disease, such as colon, chest, prostate, and ovary malignant neoplastic disease ( ) . Several surveies over the past 30 old ages have verified the relationship of high dietetic fat intake with higher mortality due to assorted malignant neoplastic diseases ( ) . Some saturated fatty acids raise blood cholesterin degrees and, therefore, increase the hazard of coronary artery disease ( ) . High fat, consumption is a chief cause of fleshiness, high blood pressure, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and gall bladder disease ( ) . Surveies have show that states with higher per capita consumptions of fat, particularly carnal fat, have higher incidence rates of certain malignant neoplastic diseases, including chest, colon, prostate, and pancreas. [ 41 ] Migrational surveies show that when persons move from a state of low fat consumption to one of high fat consumption, the hazard of some malignant neoplastic diseases increases [ 42 ] .AVitamins Vitamins are indispensable foods hey are required in little sums, but have of import and specific maps such as advancing growing, reproduction and the care of wellness. Nutritionally, they form a cohesive group of organic compounds that are required in the diet in little sums ( mcgs or mgs per twenty-four hours ) for the care of normal wellness and metabolic unity. They are therefore differentiated from the indispensable minerals and hint elements ( which are inorganic ) and from indispensable amino and fatty acids, which are required in larger sums. Vitamin lack nevertheless, may increase the hazard of chronic diseases ( ) . Suboptimal folic acid degrees, along with suboptimal degrees of vitamins B ( 6 ) and B ( 12 ) , are a hazard factor for cardiovascular disease, nervous tubing defects, and colon and chest malignant neoplastic disease ( ) and low degrees of the antioxidant vitamins ( vitamins A, E, and C ) may increase hazard for several chronic diseases. . Nutritional Passage There are now about 350 million corpulent and more than 1 billion fleshy people in the universe, populating in both developed and developing states. Previously, developing states grappled with undernutrition. Now many of these states like St. Lucia are in a transitional province and are covering with the twin immoralities of under- and over nutrition. In the Caribbean states between the 1970s and 1990s, the prevalence of overweight/obesity increased from 7 % in work forces and 20 % in adult females in the 1970s to 22 % in work forces and 58 % in adult females ( Ragoobirsingh D et al. , 2004 ) . The planetary prevalence of fleshy amongst preschool kids is estimated at 3.3 % . Within the Caribbean part and St. Lucia has one of the highest incidences for this age group with St. Lucia holding 2.5 % of the 0-5 yr. population ( De Onis M et al. , October 2000 ) .Obesity in kids and striplings is known to hold important impact on both physical and psychosocial wellness, these surging rates of fleshiness leads to an addition in lipemia, high blood pressure, insulin opposition and unnatural glucose tolerance subsequently in life ( Reilly et al. , 2003 ; Weiss et al. , 2004 ) . Urbanization, industrialisation and transmutation procedures have been the chief cause of this public wellness achievement. In modern civilizations, demographic factors interact with societal and economic factors and lead to alterations in the forms of wellness and diseases as hypothesized by Omran ‘s epidemiological passage theory in the early 1970s ( Orman et al. , 1971 ) . Omran ‘s theory describes the altering form of mortality from the predominant catching diseases to the emerging non-communicable diseases. In his survey, Omran defined three phases of epidemiological passage, i.e. ‘the age of plague and dearth ‘ , ‘the age of withdrawing pandemics ‘ , and ‘the age of degenerative and semisynthetic diseases ‘ ( Orman et al. , 1971 ) .1.6 Dietary wonts of St. LuciansFood wonts reflect the plantation past: the typical diet contains a batch of starches, carnal protein content that varies by location, and until late, small in the manner of green veggies. Starches include assorted sorts of yams, taro, taro, bananas and plantains, Sweet murphies, manioc and Artocarpus communis. Most of these are boiled, served with some sort of boiled fish or meat, and accompanied by a sauce. Pepper ( pepper ) sauce is ever present at the tabular array, as most dishes are non prepared spicy hot. Animal protein beginnings reflect the historical scarceness of this component: porc Rhine wines, hog tail ( fresh and salted ) , chicken back, and saltfish, ( pod ) salted beef, fish ( tuna, winging fishing, ruddy center, barracuda, sharke, pilchards, doodly-squat fish ) . Most of the dishes are prepared with fats such as ; coconut oil, lards, xanthous butter. Equally much as St. Lucia has a broad assortment of fruit they are merely eaten Fruits such as ; Mangifera indicas, aureate apple, papaia, Citrus paradisi, oranges, cherries, Anacardium occidentale, sugar apple ( love apple ) .Main dishes are accompanied by veggies such as, alligator p ear, calaloo, Spinacia oleracea, tomatoes, okras, carrots, pigeon peas and lentils, Imported processed nutrients have been available for decennaries, but more late account for larger parts of many repasts. Foods such as pasta, rice,1.7 Cause for chronic non-communicable diseases in St. LuciaChronic diseases have legion hazard factors, which function at different degrees, from the most proximal ( i.e. biological ) , to the most distal ( i.e. structural ) . These hazard factors can be classified as ‘modifiable ‘ and ‘non-modifiable hazard factors ‘ . Modifiable determiners include factors that can be altered, such as single and community influences, life and on the job conditions and socio-cultural factors, non-modifiable determiners include those factors that are beyond the control of the person, such as age, sex and familial factors.1.7.1 Biological factorsSome populations are susceptible to chronic disease because of familial cistrons. In a south Africa a tribal group â€Å" Afrikanders † have been found to hold familial hypercholeste remia, a rare familial upset, characterised by really high low-density lipoprotein, cholesterin and early cardiovascular disease. ( Steyn K et al.,1996 ) . Familial and lifestyle factors are considered to be the chief subscribers in doing type 2 diabetes ( O'Rahilly et al ; 2005 ) . The familial make-up of a individual is every bit indispensable to the development of the disease but a individual life style and environmental factors can lend significantly. Some of the major lending factors include fleshy, abdominal fleshiness and physical inaction and to lesser extent intrauterine and early childhood factors ( Alberti et al, 2007 )1.7.2 Early life beginningThe clip between intrauterine growing and the development is the most vulnerable period in the life rhythm and topographic points major physiological, metabolic and psychological demand on the female parent to back up the growing and the development of the foetus ( Allen, 2001 ) . Good growing and development is dependent on a suff icient supply of energy and foods. Under nutriment during gestation is linked with hapless gestation and neonatal results which can hold negative long term deductions for the baby such as a decrease in intelligence, growing upset, low unsusceptibility, increased morbidity, mortality and the development of a scope of diseases during maturity ( Rasmussen, 2001 ) It is proposed that type 2 diabetes consequences from comparative intrauterine malnutrition and the latter leads to lifelong scheduling ( Baker et al ; 1986 ) . Children with low birth weight are most likely to see growing restraint, whether due to intrauterine nutritionary limitation or familial sensitivity to low birth weight ; similar associations of low birth weight have been made for the development of diabetes ( Lindsay et al ; 2001 ) . Babies who are born low birth weight tend to turn fast after birth ‘catch-up growing ‘ , frequently become fleshy as immature kids. They are most likely to develop high blood force per unit area and unnatural blood glucose degree early in life, which future increase their hazard of developing chronic diseases, such as bosom disease and diabetes ( Barkeret al. , 1997 ) . The prevalence of Low Birth Weight ( LBW ) is about 6 and 9 % in the Caribbean. The association between low birth weight and grownup disease makes pressing the concer n of these high LBW prevalence rates in the Caribbean ( Henry ; 2000 ) . An under-nourishes kid is usually a smaller and shorter kid ( 0 ) Acrobatics is an indicant of long standing mal and under-nutrition and is frequently accompanied by fat deposition, peculiarly around the abdominal subdivision when faced with nutrient in copiousness. Predisposing persons to fleshiness in maturity. ( ) Similarly kids who are born to big female parent and are big for their gestational age are most likely to bring on insulin opposition and type 2 diabetes subsequently in life ( Bennett et al ; 2002 ) . In Jamaica kids shortness at birth and increased current weight are independent forecasters of insulin opposition ( Bennett et al ; 2002 ) . There is important sum of grounds, chiefly from developed states, that states intrauterine growing deceleration is connected with an increased hazard of coronary bosom disease, shot, diabetes and elevated blood force per unit area ( WHO, 2002 ; Godfrey et al. , 2000 ; Forse et al. , 2000 ) . It may be the form of growing, i.e. restricted foetal growing followed by really fast postpartum catch-up growing that is critical in the implicit in disease tracts. Likewise, big size at birth is besides associated with an increased hazard of diabetes and cardiovascular disease ( McCance DR et al. , 1996 ; Leon DA et al. , 1998 ) .Behavioural hazard factors ( lifestyle factors )Lifestyles play an of import function in finding chronic diseases and lifestyle alterations are likely to be responsible for a important proportion of their addition over clip.1.7.3 Poor dietNutrition is a major modifiable determiner of chronic diseases, with scientific grounds back uping the position that alterations in diet have effects on wellness result of a individual. Non-communicable diseases are linked to high ingestion of energy dense nutrients, made of carnal beginning and of nutrients processed or prepared with added fat, sugar and salt. ( ) St. Lucia is undergoing rapid nutritionary passage ( Boyne, 2008 ) . There has been an addition of fast-food eating houses, and an increased in the ingestion of repasts high in fat, sugar, and salt and a decrease in the ingestion of cereals, grains, fruits, veggies, tubers, and leguminous plants ( Jacoby et al.,2008 ) . The increased ingestion of imported nutrients high in fat and Na has led to a diminution of the wellness position of people throughout the part, with an addition in wellness jobs such as fleshiness and diabetes ( Report from WHO, 2003 ) .1.7.4 Physical inactionPhysical inaction and sedentary life style is linked with increased degrees of fleshiness, chest malignant neoplastic disease, colon malignant neoplastic disease, osteoporosis, emphasis, anxiousness and depression ( Hardman et al. , 2001 ; Warburton et al. , 2001 ) , and one of the chief implicit in causes of mortality in the universe.1.7.5 SmokeSmoke of baccy is one of the most modifiable hazard factors and pre ventable causes of decease in the universe. The World Health Organization ( WHO ) attributes to about 4 million deceases a twelvemonth to tobacco usage. It has been responsible for 22 % of cardiovascular diseases in industrialised states, and for the huge bulk of some malignant neoplastic diseases and chronic respiratory diseases ( WHO, 2002 ) . It is projected by the 2030 smoke will kill one in six people globally, if the present tendencies persist. ( WHO, 2002 ) . This anticipation of decease will include about 7 million people in developing states ( Mackay, WHO ; 2002 ) Smoke has been linked with premature mortality amongst users, with cardiovascular disease ( i.e. shot and bosom onslaught ) doing most deceases and is closely followed by chronic lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and lung malignant neoplastic disease. ( Bjartveit et al. , 2005 ) . Alcohol maltreatment is deemed to be the beginning of 8 % -18 % of the entire load of disease in work forces and 2 % -4 % in adult females. The Rate of smoking in among work forces in St. Lucia is at its highest therefore addition the hazard of chronic diseases.1.8 Social determiners of wellnessThe societal determiners of wellness incorporate implicit in causes of wellness jobs which includes environmental factors, working position and lodging and life conditions and socio-cultural factors that have an consequence on the wellness of a population. These factors besides increase the hazard of an single developing non-communicable disease.1.8.1 Urbanization and globalizationUrbanization is a cardinal hazard factor in the development of non-communicable diseases epidemic, as the economic system grows and develops into a more ‘modernised ‘ society and the populations easy migrate from rural to urban countries. In St. Lucia, the per centum of people populating in urban countries has increased from 43.3 % in 1996 to 47.5 % in 2001, ( ) . Surveies have shown that urbanization leads to dietetic alterations towards acceptance of the alleged ‘western diet ‘ , which is high in carnal proteins, fat and sugar. ( 20 ) This is frequently accompanied by lifestyle alterations including intoxicant ingestion, coffin nail smoke and physical inaction increasing the population ‘s hazard for non-communicable diseases. ( 34 )1.8.2Environmental factors1..8.3 Obesogenic environmentThe function of the media plays a really important function in advertisement, selling and advancing the ingestion of high energy dense nutrients and fast nutrients mercantile establishments with big part sizes. In a survey to place major beginnings of nutritionary information among urban Black South African adult females, found that telecasting was the most extremely believable beginning of information. This influenc ed nutrient picks based on gustatory sensation, household penchants and price.35 Other factors associated to hapless eating patterns include, easy entree to cheap unhealthy nutrients compared to the high monetary values of healthy nutrients.1.8.4 Structural environmental factorsStructural environmental factors include environmental factors that might move as an obstruction to take parting in physical activity, such as a deficiency of playing Fieldss, Parkss, proper pavements and exercising installations, every bit good as the being of offense and force on the streets.1.8.5 Socio-cultural factorsBeliefs and attitudes about organic structure image of some persons have been found to increase the hazard for developing non catching diseases. The belief that tenuity is associated with personal jobs and illness, particularly HIV and AIDS, seems to be a barrier to keeping normal organic structure weight in some persons ( ) . Attach toing beliefs about organic structure weight are socio-cultural factors related to nutrient consumption, which partially contributes to flesh iness in some persons. ( )1.9 The economic impact of chronic diseases in ST. LuciaChronic diseases have had and continue to hold a major economic impact on persons, households, and the wellness system in St.Lucia ( ) . Since chronic diseases affect the immature and people in their productive old ages, they cut down productive labor and gaining capacity at a family degree. Treatment of chronic diseases puts much strain on the already overburdened wellness system, because of the extra resources required. The load is non merely on the wellness attention system but besides but besides indirectly causes loss of productiveness from the disable, absenteeism and early decease.RationaleChronic diseases such as bosom disease, malignant neoplastic disease and diabetes negatively affect the general wellness position and quality of life of persons, and there is an absence in the literature of surveies looking at the wellness position of individuals in St. Lucia with chronic non-communicable dise ases. It is against this background that this survey was undertaken. This survey is designed to research and reexamine the association between diet, lifestyle and chronic non-communicable disease in St. Lucia. This comprehensive systematic reappraisal seeks to analyze the association between diet, lifestyle and hazard of chronic disease among St. Lucians. Aims To analyse the form of chronic disease hazard factor distribution in a well defined population in St. Lucia To analyse or critically measure the 30 most normally nutrient eaten in St. Lucian To analyze dietetic forms, nutrient picks and wonts of St. Lucian To synthesise qualitative findings diet, lifestyle and chronic diseases Research Question The Prevalence and incidence of chronic diseases is really high in St. Lucia and is the chief cause of decease in the island. Does St. Lucian diet and lifestyle contribute to additions figure of chronic diseases in the state? Hypothesiss Null hypothesis: St. Lucian diet and life style has no direct impact on the prevalence of chronic diseases in St. Lucia Alternate hypothesis: St. Lucia diet and life style has an impact on the prevalence of chronic diseaseChapter 22.0 Methodology.This research will be b? °N†¢ed on N†¢ecnd? °ry informations collected from assorted reliable beginnings and used to bring forth new informations as a footing for analysing the life style and 30 most normally eaten nutrients in St. Lucia in relation to chronic diseases. This type of research will non affect human topic. The literature hunt scheme is described in a drumhead in Figure.The information was taken from journal articles and published bkN†¢ . By definition, secondary research describes information gathered through literature, publication, broadcast media, and other non-human beginnings.Literature hunt schemeFigure 1 Literature hunt scheme and survey design The hunt, covered publications between the old ages 1985 to 2009. The undermentioned beginnings were included in the hunt procedure.Electronic library databasesTo increase the fullness of the research and cut down the ambiguity, cardinal words were used merely when mapped capable headers and the Thesaurus were non available for a peculiar hunt database. Chronic disease was used as the chief hunt term and combined with extra footings deemed relevant to the cardinal inquiries. These extra footings were identified, nutrition, diet, lifestyle. Databases searched included the followers: MEDLINE, PreMEDLINE, CINAHL ( Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature ) , CDSR ( Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews ) , ACP Journal Club ( American College of Physicians Evidence Based Medicine ) , CCTR ( Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials ) Health Star, PAIS ( Public Affairs Information Service ) , Proceedings First, Population Index, Proquest Digital Dissertations, Science direct, Pub Med.Hand huntsA manus hunt of the International Journal of Chronic disease for the old ages 1985 to July 2009 was conducted. Mention lists from studies were manus searched for other eligible studies.InternetThe cyberspace hunt. foremost, involved utilizing the hunt engine, Google, with the footings ‘Chronic disease ‘ and ‘diet ‘ and either ‘lifestyle ‘ , ‘prevalence ‘.To eliminate irrelevant sites, the research was limited to hunts utilizing predefined standards based on several ushers for happening dependable information from trusty beginnings on the Internet. Sites were eliminated if ( I ) they were clearly merely commercial ; ( two ) they did non look to be trusty or dependable beginnings ( i.e. personal home pages ) ; a nd/or ( three ) had small to no relevant information.Inclusion/exclusion standardsThe hunt was limited to English studies, which included columns, and theoretical reappraisals, PhD thesis and other grade plants, sum-ups of conferences, historical documents and book reappraisals. Letterss to the editor, columns were excluded. Documents selected for retrieval were assessed in a two-stage procedure. In the first phase, documents were selected based on reading of rubric and abstract. The 2nd phase involved reading of the full text of the articles selected, to set up the grade to which the paper satisfies inclusion/exclusion standards.Critical Appraisal:The research worker used the QARI ( Qualitative Appraisal and Review Instrument ) critical assessment instrument from the Joanna Briggs Institute System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information bundle ( SUMARI ) ( see Appendix 1 for difficult transcript ) .Data extraction:Data was extracted from documents utilizing the QARI informations extraction procedure which aggregated findings and seeked to classs and synthesis. Data was extracted manually utilizing the standardized informations extraction tool in QARI ( see Appendix 1 for difficult transcript of extraction tool ) and contained within the Joanna Briggs Institute System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review the Information bundle ( SUMARI ) . Where meta-synthesis was possible, qualitative research findings were pooled utilizing the Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument ( QARI ) . This procedure involved the collection of findings and categorized to bring forth a set of synthesized statements that represent such collection.

Boys Girls Clubs Of America

Boys Girls Clubs Of America Socialization is generally thought of as being an essential part of human development in that its importance is often times disregarded. However, understanding socialization can be a complicated and enduring process. â€Å"Sociologists use the term socialization to refer to the lifelong social experience by which people develop their human potential and learn culture† (Macionis, 2011, 68). Humans need social experience to acquire the skills needed to learn their culture and for survival. â€Å"Social experience is also the basis of personality, a person’s fairly consistent patterns of acting, thinking and feeling. We build a personality by internalizing – taking in – our surroundings† (Macionis, 2011, 68). When an individual is lacking social experience, personality seldom develops. People usually rely on others for assistance when their children are growing physically and emotionally but most importantly as their personality is developing. Many th eorists have focused on childhood as being the most critical time when personality is formed; however, Erik H. Erikson’s eight stages of development have set apart that focus and places emphasis on socialization throughout the life course as being the most influential (Macionis, 2011). Erikson centralized that challenges are faced throughout the life course fluctuating from infancy, toddlerhood, preschool, preadolescence, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood to old age even though not everyone faces these challenges in the exact order (Macionis, 2011). In summary, Erikson’s stages of development model calls attention to how several factors, including the family, school and peer groups, shape our personalities. Since socialization is a learning process that begins after birth and is learned throughout an individual’s life span, a common question is how can people be socialized? Looking around the world, we see that different cultures used different tech niques to socialize their children both formal and informally through school and peer groups. As we age, we enter new statuses and need to learn the appropriate roles for them. Across America, there are many national organizations that have been organized to provide programs for young people that help with maintaining socialization skills that have been embedded amongst our youth. â€Å"The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a national organization of local chapters which provide after-school programs for young people† (http://www.bgca.org). The first Boys’ Club was founded in Hartford, Connecticut in 1860 after a group of women noticed how young boys from needy families would hang out on the streets after school because they didn’t have anywhere else to go. The club was created to provide them with a safe place to play. By 1906, there were fifty-three independent Boys’ Clubs that came together in Boston for form a national organization known as the Federat ed Boys’ Clubs. After many years, the organization renamed itself Boys’ Clubs of America and in 1990 renamed itself to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. There are currently over 4,000 autonomous local Clubs, which are affiliates of the national organization and serve over four million boys and girls. Clubs can be found in all fifty states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and on US Military Bases. In 2010, member percentages included: 65% are from minority families, 5% are 5 years old and under, 43% are 6-10 years old, 19% are 11-12 years old, 21% are 13-15 years old, 12% are 16-18 years old, 55% are male and 45% are female (http://www.bgca.org).

Sosial anthropology (Satanism,Youth Gang Satanists ) Essay

Sosial anthropology (Satanism,Youth Gang Satanists ) - Essay Example Satanism is commonly defined simply as devil worship, the religion of worshiping and imitating Satan, the biblical enemy of Christians and Jews. Satanists are more against Christianity than Judaism, though, condemning Christians for the censure of the Church and defiling Christian practices, specifically the Eucharistic celebration. Christians, in turn, severely oppose the satanic beliefs that man is an animal, just like the other creatures in this planet, and that man is a god of his own life (Dominguez). Among the supposed deeds of the Satanists include cannibalism, serial killings, terrorism, and witchcraft (Dawson 258). Rituals summoning the devil and prayers adoring Hell and its master are two of the usual charges hurled towards satanic cults. These rituals are said to invoke the help of the devil before performing magic and casting spells on another, usually helpless, human being. Satanists are often associated with the symbol of a pentagram with a goat’s head in its center, identified as their emblem (Dominguez). There are two kinds of Satanists, according to Dr. Jerome Dominguez, writing from his website explaining religion and cults. The first kind comprises those believers in Satan’s existence and power. They sacrifice animals and children in order to worship and gain favors from him. Their main rite is the Black Mass, a distorted version of the Catholic Church’s Eucharistic celebration, performed to obtain magical powers through sexual orgies. The other kind of Satanists do not believe in Satan’s existence, only in him as the personification of human desires. They act on these desires through drugs, promiscuous sex, murder, theft, etc. Groups based on this kind usually protest the label of Satanism. Satanists comprise only a small percentage of the world’s non-religious, usually distributed within cults and secret organizations (Domiguez). They can be categorized into seven often-overlapping categories:

Assignment ec 410 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ec 410 - Assignment Example At 50% no activities that are cheaper to produce in the U.S as compared to Mexico. 1).The main difference between outsourcing in manufacturing versus business service is that in manufacturing the company may be given the mandate to manufacture goods locally using the patent of the parent company. On the other hand, the parent company may enter into a contract with another firm whereby, that firm is given mandate to offer services either locally or in the foreign market (Avadhanam, para.4) 2). Skill premium is where the wages earned by both skilled and skilled labors who works in the same field increase relatively to each other. The skilled premium in the U.S has widened wage gap between skilled and unskilled labor for the past 30years (Kannan, p.115). 3).The effects of outsourcing on workers’ wages include; it reduces the wages earned by workers, skilled workers may obtain more wage benefits as compared to the unskilled. Finally, it causes suffering to workers who worked at outsourcing firms. 5).It is true that U.S skilled workers fear the security of their jobs due to possibility of outsourcing. This because a firm may find cheaper to outsource labor rather than utilize local labor (Kannan, p.136) 1). The three factors that make Kenya an attractive site for Business Process Outsourcing include: availability of the 3 fiber optic cables, emergence of 4 undersea cables and availably of highly skilled labor force (The Economist,

Easyjet Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Easyjet - Assignment Example Here, the application of innovation to Easy-Jet is analyzed in the following sections of this report. The logo of turning Europe orange is much more than a logo for Easy-Jet; it is the vision to which the airlines moves by means of its various lines of businesses – airlines being the case under consideration in this report. Easy-Jet is all about innovation and creativity; in a business where services are rather homogenous in nature, the cost advantage mainly belongs to the old names of the industry since they break-even at a much earlier time, causing issues to the new entrants. Otherwise, the competition remains cut-throat because the technology in the airlines industry is fairly replicable, and does not stay as a competitive advantage for a longer period of time. Subsequently, the importance of innovation and creativity rises as a major source of gaining the competitive advantage in the arena. There is substantial evidence in the research to reveal the fact that the strategy planned by the firm is well defined, and has goals and strategies defined in a manageable mode. The preliminary action is to define the target market which is technically the leisure seeking travelers – as described by the corporate management of the business. Gradually, the firm is also targeting the business travelers, but the major source of revenue or the larger chunk are the leisure travelers. Alongside establishing precise target market, it is also critical to attain the network of key airports that are the major requirements for catering to the leisure class travelers since this category prefers airlines that picks them from their home town and drops them to their destiny. Along the similar lines, Easy-Jet has linked and formed networks across the key airports in Europe and the major population in the same region. Extending the same towards the frequency of flights develops

The Importance of Diversification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Importance of Diversification - Essay Example The Importance of Diversification Diversification involves adding new products from different industries (Investopedia, 2013). For instance Tuscan Treasures can add to its product line the sale of vacation packages and cruise trips. In 2011 the global tourism industry generated revenues exceeding one trillion dollars (Berwyn, 2012). The use of a diversification strategy lowers the business risk of the company, while at the same time increasing its income streams. The third growth strategy the firm must use is product development. The company can introduce its own line of decorative products. These products are going to be unique and different because they will be made using banana ply paper as the raw material. Banana ply paper is a renewable source that comes from the trunks of the banana trees. The owner of the patent is the company Papyrus Australia. This company offers licensing agreement to companies interested in sponsoring its product to become business partners. Decorative products are a complimentary product to furniture that will increase the overall revenues of the firm. It is important to properly market the new green product through different marketing channels such as the internet, television, satellite radio, and mobile technology. The company is suffering from profitability problems. There are a variety of factors that could be causing the firm’s inability to generate profits. Profitability issues typically involve either declining sales or increasing costs. The company’s sales must be sufficient to cover all fixed and variable costs. If the expenses of the company exceed its revenues the company will incur in net losses. The firm must determine its breakeven cost to ensure the sales projections of the company exceed that number. A way to boost the sales of the company is by investing in advertising. The poor profitability of the company may be associated with high costs. The company must perform a cost analysis to evaluate the payroll obligations of the company. The analysis should provide information regarding whether the company is overpaying its employees and to determine if the firm could operate with a smaller workforce. Investment in new technologies can increase the efficiency and profita bility of the business. New technology can also reduce labor costs. A second element of the cost structure of the company that must be evaluated is its materials costs. The market must be analyzed to determine if a suitable supplier of Italian furniture is available that offers lower prices than the firm’s current suppliers. Lowering materials costs will reduce the cost structure of the firm and raise profitability. Another reason the profitability of the company may be suffering is a lack of productivity. Low employee morale or a lack of motivation can hinder the productivity of the workers. The managers of the company are responsible for motivating the staff. A way to increase the motivation of the workers is by offering intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. An example of an intrinsic reward is a manager telling a subordinate they did a great job during a work day. Offering positive reinforcement can increase the confidence of the workers. Giving financing incentives such as a C hristmas bonus is an example of an extrinsic reward. Part C The downsizing initiative of the firm must be well planned and executed in an effective manner. The company must keep the information about the strategy internal to avoid hurting

HR MANAGEMENT Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HR MANAGEMENT - Term Paper Example n is defined as a state arising in processes that are internal and external to the individual where the person perceives that it is appropriate to pursue a certain course of action directed at achieving a specified outcome and the person involved pursues that outcome with vigour and persistence (Robinson, 208). The employees have their own needs hence the plan to interview them is seen as viable so as to be in a position to get their views and ideas about what they think should be incorporated in their work in order to motivate them. The HR department will be in a position to use the responses from the interviews to create a master plan of the following: The plan to rebrand the HR department will be implemented over a period of time and this will be done in stages. The HR manager will be responsible for implementing that action plan and he will get some input from the other members from the same department. All the responses from the interviewees will be taken into consideration so as to be in a position to come up with a sound policy document that can improve the performance of the HR department as well as to improve the morale of the workers. The employees have to be treated as valuable assets to the company and this is the reason why we have to get their views. The interview questions are designed in such a way that they are short and they enable the interviewee to give short and succinct answers. Therefore, it is anticipated that an interview with one employee will take approximately 15 minutes. These interviews are expected to be conducted in five working days so as to enable the department to perform other pertinent tasks in its operations. We anticipate that at least two hours per day from Monday to Friday (8 am to 10am) will be devoted to these interviews and they will be conducted in the boardroom. After conducting the interviews with all the employees, the HR manager will need at least three days to go through the responses by the interviews so as to

The difference between management and leadership Essay

The difference between management and leadership - Essay Example There is, in fact, a great deal of difference between leadership and management but the best way to differentiate one from another is their basic purpose in an organization. Management is a function—encompassing directing people and controlling resources, implementing and enacting various operations in accordance with the established values—that every organization must exercise. For instance, the manager from my previous workplace exhibited an excellent job in managing the team. He had a comprehensive grasp of the company’s values and principles, and thus he knew exactly how to handle the people and the resources available towards achieving our goals. He told us what to accomplish within a certain timeframe to keep everyone working in line with the company’s goals and objectives. As a manager, he also did good at planning things around the office and facilitating activities which had to be completed. Leadership, on the other hand, is more focused on the re lationship between the leader and his/her people that can motivate them to work hard and strengthen the bonds existing within the organization. In my previous job, I can say that my manager was also a good leader. He was not just there to tell people what and what not to do. He was also there to support us and coach us whenever he felt that some pieces of information and skills were missing.

Flat Tax in UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Flat Tax in UK - Essay Example Central government, however, generates its revenues mainly from income tax, national insurance contributions, value added tax, corporation tax and fuel duty. Definition: "A flat tax, also called a proportional tax, is a system that taxes all entities in a class (typically either citizens or corporations) at the same rate (as a proportion of income), as opposed to a graduated, or progressive, scheme. The term flat tax is most often discussed in the context of income taxes."(Expert Report 2005) At first confined to academic conversation and a few small islands, the flat tax has lately been introduced in numerous of the ex-communist countries of middle Europe, counting latest members of the European Union. Additionally, Poland has announced its intention to adopt a flat tax system. As a result far none of the 'old' EU nations has taken this step, though Ireland is introducing a flat tax for companies (Feldstein). Hypothetically we could calculate an average rate of tax under the current multi-rate system, and charge everyone this rate under the flat tax. Though this would consequence in taxpayers (mainly the lower earners) paying more tax. In practice so most flat tax systems propose a single rate approximately the similar as, or lower than, the existing standard rate. This means that no-one will pay additional tax on the transition to a flat tax. Remove most tax allowances and deductions One of the advantages of the flat rate is its minimalism, in that taxpayers and collectors only have to use one rate of tax in their calculations. This straightforwardness is usually extended by removing mainly of the exact tax deductions surrounded by the accessible system that try to give stipend for exact circumstances or incentives for exacting activities. In part this removal of allowances is sensible since once a single low flat rate is introduced they turn out to be less important (HM Treasury, 2003). Greatly increased personal allowance The individual allowance is the basic amount that every taxpayer is allowed to earn free of tax. The majority flat tax proposals engage an important augment in this amount, first and foremost to make sure that all low earners are better off under the flat tax system (in lots of cases by being taken out of the tax net in total), even subsequent abolishing a lot of the precise allowances (Richard Teather). Apparently a flat tax will decrease the largely tax take, at least originally, unless it is set at the present average rate (in which case a lot of taxpayers would pay additional under the reforms than they do at present). Certainly raising the individual allowance considerably will also result in a substantial loss of tax revenue. But how much The majority people

Critical thinking Essay Example for Free

Critical thinking Essay The Curriculum and Instruction In an idealistic perspective, general education should be given much emphasis. True enough, even in the tertiary level in the Philippines, general subjects are still taken for the development of wholeness and excellence as human beings. The curriculum of our education system is also cumulative. Therefore, there is progression in learning while harnessing our past knowledge. Idealism in education gave importance to the subjects like philosophy, theology, history, literature and arts. This is evident especially in college. In some universities, the students are mandatory to take philosophy and theology in 12 units each. These subjects invoke the students to be conscious truth seekers as they step out in the real yet materialistic world. Whereas the science subjects, it help the students in dealing with cause and effect relationships. Language, too, is given high importance as our tool for communication. Moreover, critical thinking is highly imposed on the students so that we may not be deceived by our senses. Ideally, all of the subjects should be values-integrated and deals with real-life problems. The education system in the Philippines may not be too concerned with the Macrocosm concept but usually, especially in the Catholic schools, the curriculum is theocentric and there is the emphasis on acting in Christ-like ways, which can be considered as the ideals. The Educator All the people that make up the school especially the teachers are bound to be the students’ moral and cultural models. It’s with them that the students aspire to be upright individuals. Moreover, the teachers make use of references about inspirational models such as heroes, exemplars, etc. so that the students, too, will embody their good traits. In an idealistic method, the teachers incorporate effective communication with the students, especially Socratic dialoguing. This evokes the students to be critical thinkers through questioning and rationalizing. The Philippines is known to have a lot of heroes, from epic stories to real life stories. We are taught to identify the qualities of their heroism and be like them. We are trained to communicate, debate even, what is good, what is beautiful and what is true. We are shaped to be intuitive learners because learning does not stop, for the search of the truth is part of our lives. The Goals for the Students Again, the students in an idealistic set-up are expected to be truth seekers as they study the subjects that elicit critical thinking. In the journey of studying, they made use of their senses but more importantly, they process all of their observations and feelings through reflection. In this way, the learner examines his own mind and compares or shares it with others in order to seek for the truth. This I believe is harnessed in our education system because, at least from the schools I came from, we are trained to be intuitive and have introspective explorations. All of these goals boil down to an ultimate objective which is for self-development. This can be attained if we are values-driven, intrinsically motivated and if we are immersed with our cultural heritage. These again are highlighted in the Philippine education.

Trading Strategies Essay Example for Free

Trading Strategies Essay Gone are the days when purely the corporation’s fundamentals are being studied before someone invests in the stock market. The traditional way of studying corporations is to look at their earnings, assets, liabilities, etc. A fundamentally sound company is an ideal company to invest in. Today, the fundamentals of any company are still considered; in fact, most investors (especially the medium- to long-term traders) consider the fundamentals of a company as a prerequisite to any investment that they are going to execute. The fundamentals of a company tell an investor if his or her investment will be safe in the long run even if there would be minor bumps in the stock market (volatility of prices, for example). Investing in a company with sound fundamentals ensures the investor that any minor price fluctuations can be ignored as long as a long-term horizon is the perspective of the investor. Thus, even if the price of a certain stock drops, an investor would not easily pullout his or her investments because he or she believes in the company. In essence, he is an investor more than being a trader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   But it is indeed correct that fundamentalists need market technicians. Technical analysis is about charts, trends, and market behavior or psychology. It is in this study that an ideal time to enter into an investment (or to sellout your shares) can be established scientifically. A classic example of how technical analysts may help an investor is by considering the case of the recent US subprime woes. Even fundamentally sound companies in the stock market are affected by this market decline. A fundamentalist, hence, the long-term investor, has a little concern on this because he know that the company he is investing on is safe and will rebound in the long run. However, a technical analysis of prices during this period would dictate that an investor should have sold his or her shares and buy back as soon as the market goes on the uptrend mode.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I agree that both fundamentalists and market technicians need each other for them to maximize their earning opportunities.

Effect of Motion on Facial Recognition Skills

Effect of Motion on Facial Recognition Skills Introduction Humans have a remarkable capacity to learn and use facial motion to extract personal characteristic to recognize another individual’s facial motion which is considered is one of the most active areas of research in the field of computer vision and pattern recognition and numerous algorithms have been proposed to handle various aspects of the problem such as illumination, pose, expression, age (Aggarwal, Biswas , Flynn, Bowyer, 2011), and even smile and human identity (Ning Sim, 2010; Avarguà ¨s-Weber , 2012).Facial motion is able to provide identity-specific dynamic facial signatures that benefits the perception of identity (Roark, et. al, 2003). For example, study has shown that people who are famous, their faces were able to be recognizes by the participant better when it is a moving image which involving several kind of facial motion rather than static images (Ning Sim, 2010). Similar observation has been made by Thornton Kourtzi (2002) too. Pilz, et al. also further e xplains that moving images not only help human subjects to improve their rate of recognition but also time of reaction too (Ning Sim, 2010). This clearly shows that faces are a special type of visual pattern for which we haveunique expertise (Avarguà ¨s-Weber , 2012). These findings may means that facial motion may contain considerable identity-specific information and that humans are probably using these to recognize each other in daily life (Ning Sim, 2010). In short, when increased response times or error rates of faces are shown in an inverted, but not upright orientation, the recognition performance of an individual will be impaired as it required strenuous amount of effort in recognition, this occurrence is known as the face inversion effect (FIE) (Martin Macrae, 2010). This  Ã¢â‚¬Å"face-inversion effect† (FIE) has become one of the standard tools for exploring face processing, in particular the roles of configure or relational versus feature (Thornton, et. al, 2011). Macrae and lewis have shown evidence that face recognition is caused by individuals’ orientation to global or due to local facial features during encoding of stimulus (Martin Macrae, 2010). To add on, individuals’ propensity are different in order to identify complex visual stimuli in a global or local manner (Martin Macrae, 2010). Looking at the research question, there are actually a total of four hypotheses, to show a further understanding. The first, it is hypothesized that the mean scores of low static upright orientation are equal to that of the mean scores of the low static inverted orientation. Second, the mean scores of the low dynamic upright orientation are lower than the mean scores of the low dynamic inverted orientation. Third, the mean scores of the high static upright orientation are higher than the mean scores of the high static inverted orientation. The four and the last is that the mean scores of the high dynamic upright orientation are higher than the mean scores of the high dynamic inverted orientation. Methods Participants 150 participants from a University, including 39 males and 111 females. The students’ ages ranging from 19 to 51 with the mean age of 22.2. Students were supposed to complete the experiment, as part of an academic requirement of a tutorial class. All participants given written consent prior before commencing the research study. Materials In order to measure the level of facial motion in affecting face inversion effect, a Match- to- Sample task was used. Participants were required to fill up and complete the sequence of trials, identifying the right faces which was presented to them at the beginning of the experiment, followed by a blank screen of 5 seconds. Next step to do, they were to identify the right upright or inverted static and dynamic faces shown in each trial. The images of the faces will stay on screen till a response was given. Procedure Participants were instructed in the beginning of the experiment how trial sequences will be presented. Four different sequence of trial types was randomly assigned in the presentation. The first trial type is an upright static image of the target face was presented to the participants. Second trial type, an inverted static image of the target face. Followed by the third trial type, an upright dynamic footage of the target face and the fourth trial type; an inverted dynamic footage of the target face. In each and every trial sequence, participants were presented with the image for 5 seconds, then followed by a blank screen for 5 seconds. Participants, next, were shown with two test images choices and there is only one of them matched the actual shown earlier which is correct. Images in the test will appear until the point of a response is being clicked on. The next trial test will then began with another new image right after a response was made. Design The independent variables in the research study were Motion, being it dynamic or Static, Face Recognition skills either High or low recognition of faces and Orientation of the face, be it Upright or Inverted. The dependent variable in the research study will be the proportion of matches of the images that were deemed correct. Results The results on the test were calculated based on accuracy of data collected and the performance to respond to test images and footage in an upright static condition using a one- way repeated measures analysis of variance test. These results were according from the top and bottom, participants’ result was evaluated based on the performance of the participants on the test in the static upright environment. The mean proportion of correct matches in the low group participants who has poor facial recognition (FR) skills in the upright static environment (M= 0.82, SD=0.052) and inverted environment (M= 0.78, SD=0.134) was compared to high group participants who have high FR skills in the upright static environment (M= 1.0, SD=0.00) and inverted environment (M= 0.89, SD=0.096). Figure 1. Mean proportion of correct matches made in the low and high groups under Static orientation The result shows that the low group participants reflected poor FR skills in the upright static environment (M = 21.6 years, 6 males), t (48) = 16.88, p Table 1 Paired Sample Statistics for Low and High Facial recognition in upright and inverted orientations with static or dynamic conditions. Table 1 above has shown that the mean proportion of correct matches made in the low and high facial recognition groups with static or dynamic condition. Based on the first hypothesis, it is not true as the results has shown in Table 1 that it does not support the overall studies done on the facial recognition and visual orientation. However, The mean scores of the high static upright orientation were higher than the mean scores of the high static inverted orientation which resulted that the third hypothesis which was mentioned earlier in the introduction is true. Figure 2. Mean proportion of correct matches made in the low and high groups under Dynamic orientation. Figure 2 above has shown that the mean proportion of correct matches made by low and high groups participants under Dynamic orientation. Based on the second hypothesis, it stated that mean scores of the low dynamic upright orientation were lower than the mean scores of the low dynamic inverted orientation. However, it seems that the graph in Figure 2 has shown differently where actually the mean scores of the low dynamic upright orientation was higher than the mean scores of the low dynamic inverted orientation. Therefore, it seems that second hypothesis which is based on the results shown on table 1 above is also not true and subsequently does not support the overall studies done on both facial recognition and visual orientation. The means proportion of the graphs in the high static upright orientations is higher than the mean proportion of the graphs in the high static inverted orientation which is also reflected in Table 1. In the results of the final hypothesis as shown in Figure 2, the mean scores in the high dynamic upright orientation appeared to be higher than the mean scores of the high dynamic inverted orientation. This further concludes that the third and fourth hypothesis is true as reflected in Figure 1, 2 and Table 1 and supports the overall studies on facial recognition and visual orientation. Table 2. 2 Paired Sample t test for Low and High Facial recognition in upright and inverted orientations with static or dynamic conditions. Above Table 2 shows the results of mean proportion of correct matches made in the low and high groups of the participanta under the several types of visual orientation. Discussion The aim of the study was to see how motion improved performance for people who have poor face recognition skills. The Participants were asked to complete the tests which involved series of trials that consist of differentiating the images of faces in upright and inverted orientations under static and dynamic conditions. Four hypotheses were created in conjunction to the research question given, to show further understanding of research question. The first hypothesis is that motion and recognition are proportional in terms of identifying faces, the dynamic movements able to help the people with poor recognition skills to identify motion. This meant that the upright condition is similar to the inverted condition, where both were static and the condition of low FIE, prove that it is not true. The second hypothesis where the mean scores of low dynamic upright orientation is much higher than the low dynamic inverted orientation in recognizing the faces in the trials, but the low dynamic i nverted orientation group, the mean scores are higher. Therefore, the second hypothesis was proved to be not true, in terms of the low dynamic inverted orientation. Thus, it helps those poor recognition skills participants to perform better in an inverted orientation instead. Using the result, the third and the last hypothesis shows that both upright orientations with static and dynamic conditions are greater than the inverted conditions which shows that facial recognition is assisted by the images in the upright orientation. The last hypothesis which the mean scores of the high dynamic upright orientation is proved to be true to be true that the scores were higher than the means scores in high dynamic inverted orientation, based on Longmore Tree, 2013, this was demonstrated to be a benefit in aiding the process of face processing and facial recognition. Thus this concludes that motion does have a significant effect in the facial recognition process of people. On contrary to the study done in discussion of the strengths and limitations of this study, it is found that the number of participants were a total of 150 which satisfy the general requirement of a study in having at least 30 participants. Therefore the criteria on sample size were fulfilled. As this study was done based on the focus that if motion was helpful, in terms of the targeting the right audience, this study was helpful in terms of helping individuals understand the issues with facial recognition and how the difference in orientation would affect our visual perception. The limitations of the study is that it was conducted in the way for individual to understand that how motion actually helps in individuals’ recognition skills, involving studies of individual who have different cognitive perceptual disorders. Therefore, making the study seem unhelpful in giving information on how can motion be fully utilized in terms of treatment of the disorders. Another limitation would be the age ranges of participants, where it is between 19 to 51 ranges of age. It was proven that younger observers were proven to be better than older observers in multiple motion. Older observers usually require practice to be better due to controls of optical blur and retinal image even though they show similar learning function as the younger ones. (Legault, Allard, Faubert, 2013). To conclude, the result shows that motion do have an impact to in visual processing and facial recognition. However, Future studies should be conducted in a way where by the age range is conducted along with a balanced number of participants in term of gender. It would be better if future studies were to focus on specific audiences with more research and academic information as to understand better of the issues treating disorders. Last but not least, there is a level of significance showed in the student, proving that there are important information provided in regards to facial recognition skills.

Langston Hughes Poetry :: essays research papers

Langston Hughes (1902-1967) absorbed America. In doing so, he wrote about many issues critical to his time period, including The Renaissance, The Depression, World War II, the civil rights movement, the Black Power movement, Jazz, Blues, and Spirituality. Just as Hughes absorbed America, America absorbed the black poet in just about the only way its mindset allowed it to: by absorbing a black writer with all of the patronizing self-consciousness that that entails.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The contradiction of being both black and American was a great one for Hughes. Although this disparity was troublesome, his situation as such granted him an almost begged status; due to his place as a â€Å"black American† poet, his work was all the more accessible. Hughes’ black experience was sensationalized. Using his â€Å"black experience† as a faà §ade, however, Hughes was able to obscure his own torments and insecurities regarding his ambiguous sexuality, his parents and their relationship, and his status as a public figure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of Hughes’ most distinctive styles stemmed from urban nightclubs in which black artists performed for a white audience. Hughes’ great appreciation for the black urban music style is obvious throughout the various rhythms, patterns, and unpredictable improvisations that mirror the chaotic and pulsating tempo of city life. Jazz and black oral influences, as well as social dichotomy are pervasive elements throughout Hughes’ poetry. Like nightclub entertainers, Hughes used the progression of Afro-American music (jazz, ragtime, swing, blues, and be-bop) in order to show the growth and change of a community in conflict, as is shown in â€Å"Subway Rush Hour.† This poem, brimming with sudden and broken rhythms, is characteristic of jazz riffs popular in the 1920s. In â€Å"Subway Rush Hour,† Hughes uses the musicality of his poetry and incorporates it with an important social statement regarding the relation status between blacks and whites. Equality is an ever-present theme throughout Hughes’ poetry. In â€Å"Theme for English B,† Hughes presents us with musical and effective language, an intense social statement, and a very important sense of equality, shocking us into reality. Although â€Å"Theme for English B† was published in 1949, it has many of the characteristics that his earlier works from the Harlem Renaissance possessed. The rhythmic rhyming adds to the musicality of the poem. The language is simple, yet effective in making a very important social statement. An especially intense aura of American separatism is present throughout the poem. A sense of egalitarianism is also present throughout the poem: the instructor is just as much student as the student is professor, young and old each have much to offer the other, and black and white partake of each other.

Formation of the Triple Alliance :: History

Formation of the Triple Alliance In 1871 two new major states of Europe had been formed—the German Empire and the kingdom of Italy. The new German Empire, under the hand of Otto von Bismarck, was steered carefully, always with an eye upon France, for the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71) had left France thirsting for revenge and for recovery of the lost provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. 2 Germany had allied itself with Russia and Austria-Hungary in the Three Emperors’ League, but Austria-Hungary and Russia were not the best of friends, partly because they were at odds over the Balkans and partly because Russia represented the Pan-Slavic movement, whose program threatened the very existence of Austria-Hungary. The Treaty of San Stefano (1878), following the Russo-Turkish War, furthered the cause of Pan-Slavism through the creation of a large Bulgarian state and offended Austria-Hungary as well as Great Britain. A European conference (1878; see Berlin, Congress of), called to revise the treaty, caused a sharp decline in the friendship between Russia on the one hand and Austria-Hungary and Germany on the other; Bismarck formed (1879) a secret defensive alliance—the Dual Alliance—with Austria-Hungary. 3 In 1882 Italy, angry at France chiefly because France had forestalled an Italian advance by occupying Tunis, signed another secret treaty, which bound it with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Thus was the Triple Alliance formed. It was periodically renewed until 1913. In 1882 Serbia joined the alliance, in effect, through a treaty with Austria-Hungary. Romania joined the group in 1883, and a powerful Central European bloc was created. Italy was from the first not so solidly bound to either of its allies as Germany and Austria-Hungary were to each other. Italy was in fact a rival of Austria-Hungary in the Balkans and particularly for control of the Adriatic; moreover, there remained unsettled territorial problems (see irredentism). The Triple Alliance, however, turned diplomatic history into new channels. 4 Formation of the Triple Entente The Three Emperors’ League died a slow death, but in 1890 its day was over: Germany refused to renew its reinsurance treaty with Russia, and Russia in consequence sought a rapprochement with France. At the same time France, face to face with an increasingly powerful Germany and a hostile Central European combination, felt great need of an ally, and French diplomats began to make overtures to Russia for an agreement to counterbalance the Triple Alliance. French capital aided Russian projects, especially the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and friendly diplomatic visits were exchanged.

Dame Ragnell: Searching for the Truth Essay -- Arthurian Legends Lite

Dame Ragnell: Searching for the Truth Throughout the Arthurian legends, the role of the mysterious hag is one that continually appears. The hag is often associated with great magical power and revelations - both physical and psychological. In "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell," Dame Ragnell is the magical hag that aids Arthur in his quest for the answer to the "Holy Female Question." It is ultimately because of the noble, chivalrous and courtly Sir Gawain, that the true identity of the hag can be revealed. While Dame Ragnell is not an evil character, the hag is ultimately a character of question. One must wonder how trustworthy the hag truly is when magic is involved. From other Arthurian legends, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight we can see that the hag is a malevolent character who uses the hag image as a guise to fool others. In the end, the hag's real image is generally revealed along with her goal. Dame Ragnell is not a beautiful woman who has intentionally taken the form of a hag trying to deceive o thers like Morgana LeFey in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Dame Ragnell offers the truth to the men of the story and proves Sir Gawain to be as honorable as his reputation says he is. The story begins with Arthur hunting a stag in the forest. After the kill of the stag he stumbles upon a giant of a knight, Sir Gromer Somer Joure. In order to live, the knight makes a deal with Arthur. If he returns in a year and a day with an answer to the question "What do women want?" his life will be spared. Arthur and his confidant, Sir Gawain, ride throughout the land with two books. In these books they write down the answers they receive from women all over the land to Sir Gromer's question. Upon comparing their b... ...n cursed? Where is the proof of this curse? Apparently she can become fair at some point on her own. Does this mean she too practices magic? How do we know Sir Gromer and Dame Ragnell are not one in the same? How do we know Dame Ragnell is not really Morgana LeFey? Who IS Dame Ragnell? What exactly is her goal in this story? Does Dame Ragnell simply want to show the men with the highest power the way to fulfill a woman's true desire? Is she, like countless political women, plan to change things from the inside of hierarchy? Dame Ragnell may not have been quite the innocent maiden she was portrayed as in her marriage to Sir Gawain. The lessons she teaches, and the awareness she brings to the court of Arthur are definitely timeless lessons that human beings are constantly being taught. Never judge a book by its cover - you never know what it might really have to say.

The Greeks and gods Essay

The Greeks looked at their gods with attributes they only wished they could attain. They developed stories of extraordinary people that were the offspring of immortals such as Nymphs or gods like Hermes or Zeus. Most of these stories consisted of labors, quests, or bloody wars, where the heroes were at the epicenter of the tale. What made these heroes so great was not just the fact they had godly attributes or completed monumental tasks, but endured more tragedy or more bliss than any common Greek would undergo. One tale commonly told was that of a demigod named Achilles. His mother Thetis was a Sea Nymph, and his father was Peleus, was the king of the Myrmidons. Most stories of Achilles revolved around war, where either his gift was at his greatest or worst. Every Greek sought him for battle so his skills would tip the balance to their favor. No myth exemplified this more than that of the ten-year Trojan War. An excerpt from a translation written by Apollodorus that accounts this time state, â€Å"He also took Lesbos and Phocaea, then Colophon, and Smyrna, and Clazomenae, and Cyme; and afterwards Aegialus and Tenos, the so-called Hundred Cities; then, in order, Adramytium and Side; then Endium, and Linaeum, and Colone. He took also Hypoplacian Thebes and Lyrnessus, and further Antandrus, and many other cities. † (Frazer) By many accounts, you could argue that Achilles was the dealer of death and that he relished in every moment of his adventures. By his own words, this was not the case. For example, in the textbook the Classical Mythology it states, â€Å"The now dead Achilles laments, I should prefer as a slave to serve another man, even if he had no property and little to live on, than to rule all those dead who have done with life† (Morford, Lenardon, Sham, 2011). Another hero that many spoke of during that day an age was Odysseus. He was a descendant of Hermes who became king of Ithaca. The real stories of Odysseus that Greeks and many others embrace were of the Trojan War and Homers poem the Odyssey. Some Greeks would argue Odysseus came second only to Achilles as a hero due the trials he endured. Odysseus’s story began at the start of the Trojan War where he stood and fought for ten years. After nine years of failure, Odysseus was enlightened by Athena to trick the Trojans and capture its city. He erected a symbol, he knew only the Trojans would accept and embrace. He hid the strongest Greeks inside a giant wooden horse who laid and waited until nightfall. Once inside impenetrable walls the Greeks were able to sake the city. Once war was all but over, Odysseus  sailed for home. â€Å"Come then, do as I say, let us all be won over; let us run away with our ships to the beloved land of our fathers since no longer now shall we capture Troy of the wide ways. † (Lattimore, 1999) During this voyage, he encountered a man eating Cyclops named Polyphemus who he ended up blinding to escape. Unbeknownst to him Polyphemus was the son of Poseidon, god of the sea, who became enraged. The consequences of these actions did not lead him home to his kingdom and beloved wife, but astray for another ten years of wars and adventures. The one hero that endured more pain and suffering than any other was Heracles. He was the bastard son of the god Zeus and a beautiful Greek woman named Alcmena. Hera, the wife of Zeus, always showed distain for Zeus’s infidelities, yet took a close personal interest in Heracles. There are several instances where she intervened to cause him great tragedy. First, she tried to stop his birth. This was only overcome by tricking Ilithyia, the goddess of birth, who Hera had sent. Months after that Hera sent serpents to his cradle, but he grabbed them by the neck shacking them as if they were just one of his toys. The next obstacle came when he was a man after he was to wed the King Creon’s daughter, Megara. Seeing that Heracles had found his piece of happiness with his new wife and daughters Hera drove Heracles mad. In his fit of rage, he killed them. Overwhelmed with grief Heracles searched for a way of redemption. He came across the King of Tiryns, Eurystheus, who told him the only way he could cleanse his soul was to endure 12 impossible labors. One of his labours was to kill the Nemian lion, which was ironic. â€Å"The Nemeian Lion whom Hera, the queenly wife of Zeus, trained up and settled among the hills of Nemeia, to be a plague to mankind. There he preyed upon the tribes of the indwelling people, and was as a king over Tretos and Apesas and Nemeia. Nevertheless, the force of strong Heracles subdued him† (Evelyn-White, 1914). After completing the 12 labours, Heracles enjoyed many adventures. He saved Olympus from the Gigantes and assisted in conquering Troy. For a moment, life for him was peaceful until Hera drove him mad again. During that fit of rage, he threw his closest friend Iphitus over a wall to his death. After this tragedy, Heracles knew he would have to cleanse his soul again. Queen Omphale offered him a choice. A task that would require him to endure one of the worst shames a man could. Her proposal was for him to wear women’s clothing and conduct the tasks as one of her female servants. For the next three years, Heracles completed his servitude in shame without ever being honored for any of his previous glories. In conclusion, all these heroes had godly attributes which enabled them to complete monumental tasks, but at the same time endure more tragedy or bliss than any common Greek would undergo. Achilles was a great warrior but found no peace with what he had accomplished in his life. Heracles also endured much strife and ended up dying a gruesome fate. On the other hand, Odysseus left his home, endured many obstacles, but returned from twenty years of servitude with rejoices from all of Greece. One common fact remains, despite each hero’s fate no Greek would endure so much, but could look to these myths as a testament to great achievements or failures. References: Frazer, J. G. (1921) Apollodorus, Epitome 3. 33. Retrieved from http://www. theoi. com/Text/ApollodorusE. html Morford, M,Lenardon, R, Sham, M, (2011) Greek Mytholodgy 9th Ed. Oxford University Press Lattimore, R (1999). The Odyssey of Homer. New York, NY: Harper Perennial Modern Classics. Evelyn-White, H. The Theogony of Hesiod. (1914). Retrieved from http://www. sacred-texts. com/cla/hesiod/theogony. htm