Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Dromiceiomimus - Facts and Figures

Dromiceiomimus - Facts and Figures Name: Dromiceiomimus (Greek for emu mimic); pronounced DROE-mih-SAY-oh-MIME-us Habitat: Plains of North America Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (80-65 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 12 feet long and 200 pounds Diet: Probably omnivorous Distinguishing Characteristics: Relatively large eyes and brain; long legs; bipedal posture About Dromiceiomimus A close relative of the North American ornithomimids (bird mimic dinosaurs) Ornithomimus and Struthiomimus, the late Cretaceous Dromiceiomimus may have been the fastest of the bunch, at least according to one analysis of this theropods unusually long legs. At full tilt, Dromiceiomimus may have been capable of hitting speeds of 45 or 50 miles per hour, though it probably stepped on the gas pedal only when it was being pursued by predators or itself in pursuit of small, skittering prey. Dromiceiomimus was also notable for its relatively large eyes (and correspondingly big brain), which matched up oddly with this dinosaurs weak, toothless jaws. As with most ornithomimids, paleontologists speculate that Dromiceiomimus was omnivorous, feeding mostly on insects and vegetation but pouncing on the occasional small lizard or mammal when the opportunity presented itself. Now for the catch: many, if not most, paleontologists believe that Dromiceiomimus was actually a species of Ornithomimus, and not deserving of genus status. When this dinosaur was discovered, in Canadas Alberta province in the early 1920s, it was initially classified as a species of Struthiomimus, until Dale Russell reexamined the remains in the early 1970s and erected the genus Dromiceiomimus (emu mimic). A few years later, though, Russell changed his mind and synonymized Dromiceiomimus with Ornithomimus, arguing that the main feature distinguishing these two genera (the length of their legs) wasnt truly diagnostic. Long story short: while Dromiceiomimus persists in the dinosaur bestiary, this difficult-to-spell dinosaur may soon go the way of Brontosaurus!

Friday, November 22, 2019

The 11 Best Pre-Med Schools to Help You Become a Doctor

The 11 Best Pre-Med Schools to Help You Become a Doctor SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Choosing an undergraduate school is the first major step any student will make on the path to becoming a physician. If you’re an aspiring pre-med, you'll want to give yourself the best opportunities and support networks in college and beyond. Applying to (and succeeding in) medical school is a grueling process, so you’ll need to be prepared. Here, I’ll talk about what actually makes a school good for pre-meds before getting into the good stuff: the list of best pre-med schools. What Makes a School Good for Pre-Meds? 6 Key Factors Pre-med students need a lot of specialized resources and opportunities as undergraduates in order to boost their med school applications. It’s important that aspiring physicians attend schools that aren’t only highly ranked but that also provide unique support to pre-meds. In creating this list of best pre-med schools, I considered the following six factors (as you should, too, when deciding on a school!). Factor 1: Medical Schools Admissions History This is perhaps the most obvious and most important factor to consider before applying to college. Various specialized resources for pre-meds are great, but what really matters (and what keys you in to whether these resources are effective or not) is the percentage of pre-med students from that college who actually end up in medical school. The problem is that not all undergraduate institutions make this information easily available, and if they do, the numbers might be artificially inflated. For instance, they might not count students who start off as pre-med but don’t fulfill all the requirements. Or they might attempt to "weed out" weaker students from the pre-med track with difficult classes. That being said, here are some steps you can take to get a general sense of a school’s med school admissions history: Start with online research to see whether any stats are available for the colleges you’re interested in. Try searching "[School Name] pre-med admissions" on Google. Look into class profiles of med schools you’re interested in. For example, Tulane's School of Medicine's latest class profile lists the major colleges and universities its students come from; these include Tulane, UCLA, Emory, UVA, and LSU. This isn't the norm, however, as many med school class profiles don't contain information about undergraduate institutions. Whenever available, I included med school admissions stats in the descriptions below. If I could find stats only from unreliable sources, I did not include them on the list. Factor 2: Pre-Med Advising There are a lot of requirements and activities to keep track of when preparing for medical school applications- something you’ll be thinking about starting as a freshman in college (or perhaps even earlier). Special pre-med advising programs are really helpful when it comes to making sure you’re on the right track. Knowledgeable pre-med advisors and mentors should be able to prepare you for all aspects of the application process, including course and major selection, application development, and interview preparation. The more intensive the advising resources, the better prepared you’ll be for your med school applications. Factor 3: Research and Publication Opportunities You’ll need research experience in some sort of STEM lab for med school applications. The earlier you start your research and the more research you do, the more impressive you’ll look to medical schools. Well-funded research institutions will often have many opportunities for undergrads to get involved in labs simply because more research is happening. And more research means more opportunities for you to get your name on a paper or two, which is a big plus for your CV. You’ll notice that most of the schools on this list are very highly ranked research powerhouses with excellent medical schools- this is no coincidence. The same research funding, facilities, and faculty that make a med school great also help make a school great for pre-meds. Factor 4: Clinical Experience Opportunities You don’t just need research experience for your med school apps- you also need work in clinical settings. Oftentimes, you’ll have to get this experience through volunteer work, such as at a clinic or nursing home. If you’re in an area with limited clinical environments, it’ll be tough to get the experience you need, especially if you have to compete with other pre-meds. Med schools want to see that you’ve spent time in the field- make sure your school of choice offers opportunities for you to gain this experience. Factor 5: Rigor of Curriculum You might not be excited at the prospect of seeking out tough courses on purpose, but a rigorous curriculum will ensure you’re prepared for both the MCAT and medical school. Schools that are tough on their premeds will ultimately produce stronger med school applicants, which is a good thing considering that less than half of all pre-med applicants end up in medical school! Factor 6: Pre-Med Major vs Pre-Med School Most colleges and universities don’t actually have a dedicated pre-med major. At these schools, students are responsible for meeting their general education requirements, their major requirements, and their pre-med requirements. As you might expect, many of the best schools for pre-meds don’t have a specific pre-med major. That being said, they do have strong biological and physical sciences departments. (In fact, many students choose these majors because there’s a lot of overlap with pre-med requirements.) The Best Pre-Med Schools, Ranked College rankings are helpful when starting your college search, but no ranking list is perfect since there’s no way to come up with an officially objective system that applies to all students. In an effort to be as transparent as possible, I’ve compiled this list of the best pre-med schools using the factors described above. Keep in mind that these schools are all stellar options, and the ranking numbers themselves aren’t particularly important. What matters more is how these schools might or might not fit your college criteria. Now, let's take a look at the best med schools! #1: Harvard Harvard’s Office of Career Services estimates that 17% of any one of its classes will apply to med school- that's a huge fraction of the student body! Pre-med applicants with a 3.5 GPA or higher had a 93% acceptance rate to med schools in 2013, whereas average acceptance rates that year were about 42%. Harvard College offers a peer pre-med advising program in which students are assigned a pre-med tutor sophomore through senior year. Harvard University houses the #1 ranked medical school in the US and also boasts extremely strong biological sciences departments. There are several affiliated teaching hospitals nearby, too (which are great for both research and clinical experience). #2: Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins is well reputed as a very highly ranked med school and medical research institution, which means you'll have numerous research and clinical opportunities. You’re sure to have access to impressive resources, as the university is affiliated with one of the best teaching hospitals in the country. Undergraduates at Johns Hopkins follow a pre-med advising program track (which isn't a major). This advising track includes individual appointments, small group meetings, and special programs. The school also has many health-related student organizations. Unfortunately, there’s no good information out there on med school acceptance rates for pre-meds at Johns Hopkins. #3: Stanford Stanford isn’t just a top-ranked college- it also houses a top-ranked medical school. Special pre-med advisors are available to discuss ideas, plan your coursework, help you visualize your long-term objectives, and give you options for gaining experience in the field. The pre-med community at Stanford seems especially organized and cohesive. The Stanford Pre-Medical Association offers lots of information and resources to students, all in one place. #4: University of Pennsylvania Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine is one of the best in the US; access to this med school means tons of research opportunities. But don’t just take my word for it! In 2017, 78% of Penn students who applied to med school were accepted- that's well above the national average of 43% that year. The school also offers a pre-health advising program to guide students through fulfilling pre-med requirements and successfully applying to medical school. #5: Columbia Columbia is home to a top-15 med school. Here, students are assigned a pre-med advisor and attend informational meetings sponsored by the Premedical Committee. Columbia's convenient NYC location guarantees easy access to countless clinics and hospitals, giving you plenty of opportunities for clinical and research experience. Want to build the best possible college application for BS/MD programs? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. #6: Duke We've luckily found some information about med school acceptance rates for Duke undergrads- according to Duke, 85% of its college students get into med school, which is more than twice the national average. This likely has partly to do with the fact that Duke hosts a top-10 medical school. In addition, pre-med students are assigned an advisor who mentors them through the college and med school application processes. #7: University of Washington You might have noticed that all the schools on the list so far have been private schools. But not the University of Washington! UW is one of the best public med schools in terms of research and primary care, and pre-med students benefit significantly from these resources. Pre-health career coaches and advisors help students with academic and vocational concerns, such as picking classes, job shadowing, research, volunteering, etc., through a combination of individual and group meetings. There are also many pre-med student groups, including Alpha Epsilon Delta and the Student Health Consortium. #8: UNC Chapel Hill Unfortunately, UNC doesn’t track specifics when it comes to med school acceptance rates for pre-meds. One source states that 90% of UNC pre-med students who apply to med school get in, but take this with a grain of salt. Overall, UNC has a very good reputation across many health fields for both undergraduate and graduate students. UNC offers an interesting nine-week Medical Education Development (MED) summer program, an intensive program for smart and committed students who have lacked past opportunities to move toward a career in the medical field. If you’re not ready to attend college as a pre-med but want to become a physician, this could be a good option for you. #9: Cornell An impressive 76% of Cornell pre-meds with a GPA of 3.4 or higher got into medical school in 2016. If you end up as a pre-med at Cornell, you’ll be in good company: about 1/6 of undergrads there are interested in pursuing a career in medicine. The school is pretty isolated, so the best research and clinical experiences are the ones on campus. Cornell has a decently ranked med school, which likely provides many of these opportunities. Finally, the school’s Health Careers Program provides specialized advising, programs, information, and an Evaluation Committee to pre-med students. This Committee is particularly helpful when it comes to getting letters of recommendation for medical school applications. Outdoorsy students might not mind trading an urban environment for the scenery in Ithaca, NY. #10: Northwestern With a top-20 med school, Northwestern offers lots of research and clinical opportunities. It helps that the school is located in a bustling urban area. Unfortunately, there’s no available info on pre-med acceptance rates to medical schools for students at Northwestern. There is, however, a lot of info on available resources on the school’s pre-med advising website. These advisors help students with everything from choosing courses to applying to med school. Pre-meds are welcome to schedule individual meetings or stop by during drop-in hours. Bonus: Georgetown I’m including Georgetown on this list because it offers a pretty interesting option for students who like to plan ahead called the Early Assurance Program. If you’re a high-achieving pre-med student at Georgetown, you can get assurance of admission at Georgetown School of Medicine at the end of your senior year. Georgetown isn’t ranked as highly as the other schools above are, but if you’re not interested in going into academia, this won’t matter too much. 3 Final Tips for Future Pre-Med Students If you’re thinking about choosing a pre-med track (or even if you’re still just thinking about it!), you can set yourself up for success by following these three tips. For more guidance, check out our step-by-step guide on how to become a doctor and our list of the best books for pre-med students. Tip 1: Focus on Math and Science in High School You’ll need a foundation in high school for your pre-med courses in college, and you’ll need to do well in those college courses in order to get into med school- it’s that simple! It might be painful at times, but doing well in math and science classes will set you up for better admissions chances at one of these top pre-med programs. Tip 2: Look Beyond Schools' Pre-Med Programs There are so many other factors to consider when making a decision about where to go to college. A school’s pre-med program is important of course, but so are the more practical features that will affect your quality of life. Are you happy with the general area in which the school is located? What about the school's room and board options? Are there student groups or activities you’re excited about? If you’re not happy at school on a day-to-day basis, this could negatively affect your performance when trying to fulfill your pre-med requirements. Tip 3: Keep Your GPA High Many of the stats I found on pre-med acceptance rates to med schools qualified those stats by providing information based on students' GPAs. The implicit (or sometimes explicit) implication here is that students with higher GPAs have more success getting into med school. While of course an undergraduate institution with research opportunities and great advising will help your chances, those resources can only do so much if your grades aren’t great. Conversely, you can still get into med school with great grades and an awesome MCAT score even if you didn’t go to a super prestigious undergraduate institution. What’s Next? If you’re still figuring out whether a career as a physician is right for you, consider getting some hands-on experience. You might not think there’s much you can do as a high school student, but there is! Start by shadowing a physician, and then check out our guide to the best med programs for students in high school. If you’re interested in pre-med programs, you might also be interested in BS/MD programs. Take a look at our comprehensive guide on how to get into a great BS/MD program to streamline the med school application process. Want to know what you should be doing right now to prepare for pre-med programs? Read our complete guide on how to prepare for pre-med in high school and our list of the seven books every pre-med student should read. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Critical paper for the film Lars and the real girl Essay

Critical paper for the film Lars and the real girl - Essay Example The other important thing in the film is the relationship between Lars and his family members who are also supportive of Bianca. Everyone within the family and in the workplace is supportive of Lars and Bianca to an extent of recognizing their relationship. The interesting thing in the film is that Lars’ co-worker Margo, who was admired him felt jealous of the doll. This is evident when Margo indicates that her boyfriend has broken up with her. This is interesting because Lars had ignored her and opted to stay with Bianca, instead of a real woman. The other interesting thing in the film is the doctor’s direction that everyone should support with Lars’ rehabilitation by treating Bianca as if she were a real female. The doctor discovered that Lars was undergoing an underlying problem that required the support of the family members to help overcome it. It is also exciting that Bianca was taken to the hospital after being â€Å"unresponsive.† The news moved across the town and the townspeople sent flowers to console Lars. The people’s behavior towards Bianca and Lars is strange and sounds interesting since this was a unique thing to them. Margo was among the people who had sent the flowers, though she fel t the urge of dating Lars after the misfortune of losing Bianca. The provocative aspect in the film is the way Lars idolization of Bianca at the expense of other women like Margo. This shows that the real women do not deserve the respect and support that Bianca received in the town. It would be appropriate if Lars gave the attention to real women instead of a life-size doll. The lowered the dignity of Margo and other women within the town to play second fiddle to a doll. Another provocative thing in the film is the way Lars lives in the garage, yet Gus had invited him to join them in the main house. Lars lives in solitude and do not appreciate social interactions with other family members or co-workers. This is provocative

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The Role of Computers in Industrial Espionage Research Paper

The Role of Computers in Industrial Espionage - Research Paper Example is, sharing sensitive information with suitable parties while protecting that information against competitors, suppliers, vandals, foreign governments, and customers. The attempt to gain access to a company’s plans, products and clients’ information, and whatever trade secrets are, is considered as industrial espionage. It describes activities such as theft of a business formula, practices, processes, design, instrument, pattern, or any vital information which is generally not accessible because these give the company leverage from competitors. Some other acts associated to this are bribery, blackmail, and technological surveillance. Intellectual property crimes are grave offenses in their own right, â€Å"not because they inflict physical injury or death upon a person, but rather because they steal creative work from its owner.† (Nasheri,) It is inevitable that a company aspires to know the business moves of a rival business and this has been the primary concern of some of the largest companies in the world. They have an annual budget and pool of people to handle these concerns. While it is true that to â€Å"survive in tod ay’s cutthroat business environment, [one] must be properly armed. And one of the most important arrows in the businessman’s quiver is accurate knowledge of his competitors and business environment – in other words, detailed knowledge of the enemy and the terrain of the battlefield,† (Rustmann, 2004) it is however unfortunate that commonly this said conduct is illegal. Oftentimes, rival companies will browse through public records in order to pre-empt actions about another company. However, when the search becomes private, industrial espionage is an unlawful act and punishable with financial penalties and sometimes jail time. Furthermore, this may lead businesses to bankruptcy and also affect the ties of friendly nations for when it already surpasses national boundaries it can make allied nations momentarily are indecisive and doubt

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Pragmatism, Empiricism and David Hume Essay Example for Free

Pragmatism, Empiricism and David Hume Essay Pragmatism is based on the philosophy that ideas must be tested and re-tested, that experiences dictate reality. Pragmatists also believe in no absolute truths or values existing. David Hume argues that, no proof can be derived from any fact, of which we are so intimately conscious; nor is there anything of which we can be certain, if we doubt this (Treatise 2645). Humes empiricist ideals were roots to early pragmatic thought, by way of the theory that, in our reality, nothing is certain and everything that can be sensed must be constantly qualified to find a place in reality. Humes position on our experiences deciding our veracity follows the school of pragmatism by staying away from any conclusive ideals. Thus, his angle on empiricism melds with pragmatism on the level of determining ones selfs existence. Similar to Descartes, he explains that even, and more often than not as per constant perception, metaphysical experience can mold ones identity. And were all my perceptions removed by death . . . I should be entirely annihilated, nor do I conceive what is farther requisite to make me a perfect nonentity (2645). Based so heavily in perception, he further deduces that when insensible during sleep and all perception of environment lies dormant, existence may halt (2645). Hume speculates most closely on miracles and opens his essay with the stance that, A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature . . . the proof against a miracle, from the very nature of the fact, is as entire as any argument from experience can possibly be imagined (Enquiry 2647). He continues throughout his essay, supporting his claim and also breaking down Christianity, highly-based in such phenomena, proving the impossibility of the existence of miracles. This trend is something a pragmatist would argue against, firmly believing in there being nothing absolute. Yet, despite his resistance he concludes, whoever is moved by faith . . . is conscious of a continued miracle in his own person . . . and gives him a determination to believe what is most contrary to custom and experience (2650). This statement, although a bit contradictory to his thesis, appeases to pragmatist thought, allowing for an explanation to those who are still determined to believe in miracles and the like and allows for them to own an identity under his definition. It is at this end where his level of pragmatism veers from Charles Peirce to William James end of the spectrum. Humes doctrine, were it truly classified as pragmatism, is all-encompassing and goes beyond pure knowledge shaping the self. Hume utilizes experiences of every kind as an influence in realitys perpetual state of progress and even further takes on the pragmatist protocol by denying religion that believes in an all-knowing entity. This Agnostician point-of-view is what further fuels Humes philosophy and persists in categorizing him as a pragmatist. In his efforts to liken the mind to a theater he breaks down identity to a simplistic nature. The mind is a kind of theater, where several perceptions successively make their appearance: pass, re-pass, glide away, and mingle in an infinite variety of postures and situations (Treatise 2645). Hume believes all concepts to be greater, complicated and more intricate combinations of simpler forms. Like individual ingredients baked into a cake, everything can be broken down into smaller, easier to understand parts. These many pieces or ideas fit together to create perception and thus, identity which is constantly evolving, finally leading to pragmatism. Hume would likely have subscribed to such a school of thought, the more developed formula. It seems, though, that he had the roots within his empiricist theories and the continuing progress would have led Hume down that path.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Politics in Animal Farm Essay -- Animal Farm

Politics in Animal Farm  Ã‚   In George Orwell’s Animal Farm we get a glimpse of a strange switch in totalitarian rule.   From Mr. Jones a cruel farmer who feeds his animals to little and works them to hard, to Napolean a pig that will have you killed for a bottle of liquor.   Through stupidity, narrow mindedness and pure cowardice of some animals we view the inevitable as the farm animals become ruled by pigs.   Old Major probably not the first animal to think of as an animal to ruin a utopia for the farm, is in most cases not a favored example to contribute to the pigs takeover.   This pig finally near the end of his better than average life chose to create a rebellion against the then in power Mr. Jones.   A truly justifiable act executed in a time to late, for Major died to soon to lead the farm.   If Old Major had summed up an ounce of courage in his closer to piglet years further and earlier then his dying days the animals might have had a chance of a better life.   Old Major can be see n as him being a late coward having what is thought on the farm to be a good life trying to end it a false legend or maybe Old Major was a slow hero wanting to leave a better life for his friends.   Still though we should agree that for Old Major’s failing action or neglect was the time he chose to start a rebellion, in the few days before he died. At one point in the story Napolean takes pups from a dog mother, this would seem strange to most parents a person wanting to raise your children in private without any visitation on the parent’s part, but yet this goes uncontested by the dogs who just seem to think nothing of it.   If the dogs had given Napolean contest to him taking the pups, maybe ... ...their greedy eyes they saw no reason to save the other farm animals.   The book gives as little evidence of any pig showing protest to Napoleon’s actions except of course Snowball and the other three executed pigs. Old Major chose a poor time to launch a rebellion.   The dogs showed little care for the outcome of their pups’ upbringing.   The hens’ independence could be seen as a bad action to the taking over of the farm.   If the sheep were genetically smarter the story’s course could have been changed.   Boxer’s tolerance of the pigs could have been a factor leading to his death.   Benjamin’s negligence could have been the downfall of the farm.   Lastly the remaining pigs selfishness is a contribution leading to the worse then average life of the farm animals.   All these animals were responsible for the pigs’ dictatorship.    Politics in Animal Farm Essay -- Animal Farm Politics in Animal Farm  Ã‚   In George Orwell’s Animal Farm we get a glimpse of a strange switch in totalitarian rule.   From Mr. Jones a cruel farmer who feeds his animals to little and works them to hard, to Napolean a pig that will have you killed for a bottle of liquor.   Through stupidity, narrow mindedness and pure cowardice of some animals we view the inevitable as the farm animals become ruled by pigs.   Old Major probably not the first animal to think of as an animal to ruin a utopia for the farm, is in most cases not a favored example to contribute to the pigs takeover.   This pig finally near the end of his better than average life chose to create a rebellion against the then in power Mr. Jones.   A truly justifiable act executed in a time to late, for Major died to soon to lead the farm.   If Old Major had summed up an ounce of courage in his closer to piglet years further and earlier then his dying days the animals might have had a chance of a better life.   Old Major can be see n as him being a late coward having what is thought on the farm to be a good life trying to end it a false legend or maybe Old Major was a slow hero wanting to leave a better life for his friends.   Still though we should agree that for Old Major’s failing action or neglect was the time he chose to start a rebellion, in the few days before he died. At one point in the story Napolean takes pups from a dog mother, this would seem strange to most parents a person wanting to raise your children in private without any visitation on the parent’s part, but yet this goes uncontested by the dogs who just seem to think nothing of it.   If the dogs had given Napolean contest to him taking the pups, maybe ... ...their greedy eyes they saw no reason to save the other farm animals.   The book gives as little evidence of any pig showing protest to Napoleon’s actions except of course Snowball and the other three executed pigs. Old Major chose a poor time to launch a rebellion.   The dogs showed little care for the outcome of their pups’ upbringing.   The hens’ independence could be seen as a bad action to the taking over of the farm.   If the sheep were genetically smarter the story’s course could have been changed.   Boxer’s tolerance of the pigs could have been a factor leading to his death.   Benjamin’s negligence could have been the downfall of the farm.   Lastly the remaining pigs selfishness is a contribution leading to the worse then average life of the farm animals.   All these animals were responsible for the pigs’ dictatorship.   

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Fourth Alarm W

In John Speeches short story, â€Å"The Fourth Alarm,† the narrator is perplexed by the recent actions of his rebellious wife. She quit her job, partakes as a nude actor in an amateur theatre, and refuses to listen to her male chauvinist husband. The narrator's wife's abandonment of the Apollonian for the Dionysian serves as a modern day Adam and Eve that, instead of questioning the sinful nature of man, questions the traditional masculine-feminine roles in society.According to Biblical tradition, Adam and Eve lived prosperously in an orderly, Apollonian garden -? Eden. However, once Eve strays from this order and eats the apple of knowledge (while tempting Adam to eat it as well), they both become tainted with original sin. Adam and Eves rejection of tradition, as symbolized by eating the forbidden fruit, results in their ejection from the Garden of Eden and into a more chaotic future. As Eve rejected the Apollonian in an attraction to the Dionysian, the narrator's wife rejec ted her traditional role of mother and teacher and embraced the Dionysian traits of nudity, disorder, and orgy.She disobeys her masculine husband and tempts him to take off his clothes; get rid of his attach, wallet, and keys; and embrace sexual equality. In essence, she is striping off what the narrator considers his identity, â€Å"l held my valuables in my right hand, my literal identification† (Achiever 196). Unlike Adam and Eve, which primary subject matter is original sin, â€Å"The Fourth Alarm† delves into the feminine break from social subjugation. Achiever does not demonic the narrators wife as the Bible demotions Eve. He instead focuses on the husband's reaction to his wife's embracement of a sexual equality that challenges male-female societal roles.The narrator, spite striping, can not let go of his worldly possessions that represent his masculinity. He is comforted by tradition and wishes his wife would be more â€Å"nostalgic† and yearning of the old gender roles like he is. Achiever s portrayal of the narrator and his difficulty in accepting change illustrates society difficulty in leaving traditional female subjugation and moving towards gender equality. The underlying question Achiever asks the reader in â€Å"the Fourth Alarm† is if we are ready to accept change, to put down tradition, and to progress to a society marked by equality where the masculine and feminine are equals.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Health and Safety Essay

The health and safety act consists of various principles, these are implemented to ensure employees are safe whilst at work, this doesn’t just apply those those who are employed by a company it applies to any one who enters the building including professional bodies I.e district nurses, And general practitioners the legislation is made up of COSHH,RIDDOR,The manual handling operations regulations, the health and safety first aid regulations and management of health and safety at work regulations, I will identify and write a brief description on how these legislations relate to my job role and work environment. *Reporting any incidents or occurrences puts a duty on an employer o report serious workplace accidents ,occupational diseases and any near misses* this comes under RIDDOR, reporting of injuries,diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1995 ( amended 2008 ),it is a legal requirement to report any accidents and occournences. In my work setting if and accident or dangerous occournence,for example a trip slip or fall, I will report this an accident report book no matter how minor. It is a legal requirement for my employer to have this procedure in place to keep a record of accidents and occournences, and my work establishment complies with wi the requirements of the DATA PROTECTION ACT 1988, by having tear o out pages that are filed and not accessible to unauthorised persons. Another regulation is the *health and safety first aid regulation1981* And in the event of injury or sudden illness failier to provide the correct practice could have fatal results.The health and safety first aid regulations require that an employer provide correct equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees or clients, receive immediate attention if they are taken ill or injured at work the regulation applies to all work settings including mine,adequate provisions will consist of first aid boxes, and first aid rooms at my work setting their is always a trained first aider on site including nightshifts. The COSHH legislation is put in place,this ensures the employer does a risk assessment on any any substance hazardous to health I.e medication,cleaning products and many more, if not used correctly the employer will asses the risks and make a decision on what precautions will be needed to ensure a safety.Relating to my work setting medication is COSHH issue. And only a senior carer who has had full medication training and has been assessed and found to be compitant can administer medication.medication is stored in a trolly which is then stored in a medication cupboard which is locked at all times unless in use and is only accessible to authorised users, again my seniro will have completed a risk assessment for this situation to ensure the correct action is taken and the health and safety is correct and all employees are informed on the situation I follow my work establishments policies and procedures the policies and procedures folder can be found in the nurses station and an additional copy in the mangers office, their are a number of different policies that are to be followed some of which include ââ€" ªCare of dying policy ââ€" ªEqual opportunities policy ââ€" ªLocking door in home policy ââ€" ªEvacuation of the home policy The folder consists of 422 policy’s and is required that once the policy has been read and understood e employees or manager are required to date and sign. Whilst at work I ensure that I support others to understand and follow safe and good hygenie practices i.e frequent hand washing and glove changes.i also ensure that myself and others are we’re correct ppe, and use the equipment required, and also risk asses any situation I may be in. I also monitor and report potentiometers health and safety risks by checking all equipment prior to use for e.g hoist slings and wheelchairs.if I find any problems or concerns I will report this to my manager and make sure all staff are aware that it is out of use, however something minor I.e a dirty wheelchair or frame is something I can take care of myself and ensure it is cleaned correctly. Risk assessments are put in place to ensure the safety of an individuals needs , these assessments vary as different people have different needs these asesments can range from mobility to mental capacity, eating and drinking to personal care. In my work setting their are clients who need help with their personal care, and their others who only need assistance with bathing or showering and can do their own personal care. Prior to arrival to my home a client will have been assessed by a senior Carer, and the information will be put into a care plan which I and my colleagues will then read so we no all information about a client. I practice minimising potential risks by following all of my work place policies and procedures and carrying out and using risk asesments, wearing correct ppe at all times and practicing good hand hygiene and making sure the work place is always clean and tidy and their are no hazardous substances accessible to clients I also practice minimising risks by making sure the building is secure by closing doors and keeping external doors locked. There are many different accidents that may occour in a home some of which are trips,slips and falls from wet or worn carpets, dioreah or vomit etc In the event of someone falling in the work setting different procedures will take. Place, for example if a staff member falls they may get up and feel fine it is essential that it is documented in the accident report book, on the other hand if a client falls carers will not move them until professional help has arrived the client will be made to feel comfortable and depending on e situation may be put into he recovery persition,this again will be documented into the accident report book. I support colleagues to follow practices that reduce the spread of infection by ensuring that we always where correct ppe, and practice good hand hygiene and using alcohol rubs but not as an equivalent to hand washing. I also support by ensuring my colleague and I dispose of hazardous substances in the correct way. Ways that I ensure my own health and hygenie do no pose a risk to others I always have clean uniform when attending work, to ensure I do not bring any airborn viruses I.e MRSA I also notify my manger if I pick up and virus like D&V and will not return to work until I am clear of the virus for 48 hours on arrival back to work I will fill in a return to work form. The manual handlings operations 1992 regulations, requires employers to avoid all manual handling where their is risk of injury.the legislation also states that a risk assessment must take place and followed correctly to minimise any potential risks. If I want any additional support or information I ask my manager, senior carers, or fellow colleagues. I can also access any information I am not sure about in my policies and procedures folder. At my work establishment their are two folders in the nurses station that are acessable to any staff member that are unsure on a certain subject some of these are ââ€" ªMeeting clients nutritional needs ââ€" ªCleanliness and infection control These folders are built up of useful information and policies that are relevant to each subject. Ways in which I help practice to prevent fires from starting and spreading , are ensuring that I know my work setting fire safety policy attend all fire safety training,I also make that I make sure that I know where my fire assembly point is. I also make sure that there are no waste paper baskets overflowing or anything else that could help a fire to spread or start, my working setting also had a no smoking policy,so I also ensure I smoke in the designated smoking are.if a fire was to start , emergency services would be contacted and the building evacuated , and go straight to the fire assembly point.i also ask any visitors to sign in and out and tell them were the fire safety point is. The signing in book will determined how Many people are in the building on arival of the emergency services. Procedures are as followed at my work establishment and many others ââ€" ªNever let any one in the building in without signing in.and professional bodies will have I’d on show always check is ââ€" ªIf I am unsure about a persons identity for e.g a visitor depending on the mental capacity of the person, ask if this person remembers this visitor if this is not possible phone a next of Kin. Personal information is vital in my work setting, all residents Care plans inlcude daily food and fluid intake, mental capacity and all relevant information on an individual is kept in folders in a locked cupboard that is not accessible to any unauthorised persons. I protect y,mown security and of others by making sure I have the correct ppe on at all times and do not have any jewerly on whilst at work, and make sure all external doors are shut, and gates at the top and bottom of stairs are shut and locked. I also ensure others no of my whereabouts whilst at work, to ensure that a fellow carer is their to support the floor, even if I am assisting someone to go the toilet I make someone aware I am of the floor. Comon signs of stress can be very easy to spot some of these include ââ€" ªadgitation ââ€" ªBeing emotional and short tempered ââ€" ªNot completing jobs properly ââ€" ªWeight loss or weight gain ââ€" ªSmoking more ââ€" ªAlcohol binging My self indication for stress is ââ€" ªConstant worrying ââ€" ªWeight gain ââ€" ªBeing over emotional and snappy ââ€" ªFeeling very low and under the weather My own stress levels are triggered by unstructured situations, e.g understaffing at work have caused me to feel stressed and when I am unsure of a situation cause me to feel slightly stressed. My strategies for managing my own stress levels are having a written plan of what My main tasks are that shift, for e.g a morning shift my main task is to ensure all residents and clean and have eaten by. Reasonable time. Some may find it easier to take it task as it comes how ever I would rather focus on the main tasks and making sure these are completed correctly.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How to Conjugate Prêter (to Loan) in French

How to Conjugate Prà ªter (to Loan) in French The French verb  prà ªter  means to loan. When you want to change it to loaned or will loan, a verb conjugation is required. The good news is that this is a regular verb, so conjugating it is relatively easy compared to others. A quick lesson will introduce you to the essential forms of  prà ªter  youll need. The Basic Conjugations of  Prà ªter Prà ªter is a regular -er verb, so it falls into the largest category of verbs found in the French language. If youve already committed words like rester (to remain) or utiliser (to use) to memory, you can apply the same rules to this verb. With any conjugation, start by finding the verb stem (or radical). For  prà ªter, this is  prà ªt-. To this, a variety of endings are added to match both the tense of the sentence as well as the subject pronoun. For example, in the indicative mood,  je prà ªte  means I am loaning and  nous prà ªtions  means we loaned. Present Future Imperfect je prte prterai prtais tu prtes prteras prtais il prte prtera prtait nous prtons prterons prtions vous prtez prterez prtiez ils prtent prteront prtaient The Present Participle of  Prà ªter The  present participle  is easy to form as well. An -ant  ending is added to the stem of  prà ªter  to create the word  prà ªtant. Prà ªter  in the Compound Past Tense For the past tense, you can use the imperfect or the  passà © composà ©. The latter is a compound and requires you to use the  past participle  prà ªtà ©. First, however, you must conjugate the auxiliary verb  avoir  into the present tense. Its actually quite easy. I loaned is  jai prà ªtà ©Ã‚  and we loaned is  nous avons prà ªtà ©. More Simple Conjugations of  Prà ªter The forms of  prà ªter  above should be your top priority, but there may be times when youll need to use the verb in more subjective terms. For instance,  the subjunctive  calls the act of loaning into question while  the conditional  implies that its dependent on something else. The passà © simple  and  the imperfect subjunctive  are used less frequently. Youll likely only encounter them in formal French writing as they are both literary tenses. Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive je prte prterais prtai prtasse tu prtes prterais prtas prtasses il prte prterait prta prtt nous prtions prterions prtmes prtassions vous prtiez prteriez prttes prtassiez ils prtent prteraient prtrent prtassent The French imperative  may not be as useful for a word like  prà ªter, but its good to know anyway. The important rule here is that you dont need the subject pronoun: use  prà ªte  rather than  tu prà ªte. Imperative (tu) prte (nous) prtons (vous) prtez

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Treasure of the Aztecs

The Treasure of the Aztecs In 1519, Hernan Cortes and his greedy band of some 600 conquistadors began their audacious assault on the  Mexica (Aztec) Empire. By 1521 the Mexica capital city of  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Tenochtitlan was in ashes, Emperor Montezuma was dead and the  Spanish were firmly in control of what they took to calling New Spain. Along the way, Cortes and his men collected thousands of pounds of gold, silver, jewels and priceless pieces of  Aztec art. Whatever became of this unimaginable treasure? The Concept of Wealth in the New World For the Spanish, the concept of wealth was simple: it meant gold and silver, preferably in easily negotiable bars or coins, and the more of it the better. For the Mexica and their allies, it was more complicated. They used gold and silver but primarily for ornaments, decorations, plates, and jewelry. The Aztecs prized other things far above gold: they loved brightly colored feathers, preferably from quetzals or hummingbirds. They would make elaborate cloaks and headdresses out of these feathers and it was a conspicuous display of wealth to wear one. They loved jewels, including jade and turquoise. They also prized cotton and garments like tunics made from it: as a display of power, Tlatoani Montezuma would wear as many as four cotton tunics a day and discard them after wearing them only once. The people of central Mexico were great merchants who engaged in trade, generally bartering goods with one another, but cacao beans were also used as a currency of sorts. Cortes Sends Treasure to the King In April of 1519, the Cortes expedition landed near present-day​  Veracruz: they had already visited the Maya area of Potonchan, where they picked up some gold and the invaluable interpreter Malinche. From the town they founded in Veracruz they made friendly relationships with the coastal tribes. The Spanish offered to ally themselves with these disgruntled vassals, who agreed and often gave them gifts of gold, feathers and cotton cloth. In addition, emissaries from Montezuma occasionally appeared, bringing great gifts with them. The first emissaries gave the Spanish some rich clothes, an obsidian mirror, a tray and jar of gold, some fans and a shield made from mother-of-pearl. Subsequent emissaries brought a gold-plated wheel six and a half feet across, weighing some thirty-five pounds, and a smaller silver one: these represented the sun and moon. Later emissaries brought back a Spanish helmet which had been sent to Montezuma; the generous ruler had filled the helm with gold dust as the Spanish had requested. He did this because he had been made to believe that the Spanish suffered from an illness which could only be cured by gold. In July of 1519, Cortes decided to send some of this treasure to the King of Spain, in part because the king was entitled to a fifth of any treasure found and in part because Cortes needed the kings support for his venture, which was on questionable legal ground. The Spanish put together all of the treasures they had accumulated, inventoried it and sent much of it to Spain on a ship. They estimated that the gold and silver was worth about 22,500 pesos: this estimate was based on its worth as a raw material, not as artistic treasures. A long list of the inventory survives: it details every item. One example: the other collar has four strings with 102 red stones and 172 apparently green, and around the two green stones are 26 golden bells and, in the said collar, ten large stones set in gold... (qtd. in Thomas). Detailed as this list is, it appears that Cortes and his lieutenants held much back: it is likely that the king received only one-tenth of the treasure taken thus far. The Treasures of Tenochtitlan Between July and November of 1519, Cortes and his men made their way to Tenochtitlan. Along their way, they picked up more treasure in the form of more gifts from Montezuma, loot from the Cholula Massacre and gifts from the leader of Tlaxcala, who in addition entered into an important alliance with Cortes. In early November, the conquistadors entered Tenochtitlan and Montezuma made them welcome. A week or so into their stay, the Spanish arrested Montezuma on a pretext and kept him in their heavily defended compound. Thus began the plunder of the great city. The Spaniards continually demanded gold, and their captive, Montezuma, told his people to bring it. Many great treasures of gold, silver jewels and featherwork were laid at the feet of the invaders. Furthermore, Cortes asked Montezuma where the gold came from. The captive emperor freely admitted that there were several places in the Empire where gold could be found: it was usually panned from streams and smelted for use. Cortes immediately sent his men to those places to investigate. Montezuma had allowed the Spaniards to stay at the lavish palace of Axayacatl, a former tlatoani of the empire and Montezumas father. One day, the Spanish discovered a vast treasure behind one of the walls: gold, jewels, idols, jade, feathers and more. It was added to the invaders ever-growing pile of loot. The Noche Triste In May of 1520, Cortes had to return to the coast  to defeat the conquistador army of Panfilo de Narvaez. In his absence from Tenochtitlan, his hotheaded lieutenant Pedro de Alvarado ordered the massacre of thousands of unarmed Aztec nobles attending the festival of Toxcatl. When Cortes returned in July, he found his men under siege. On June 30, they decided they could not hold the city and decided to depart. But what to do about the treasure? At that point, it is estimated that the Spanish had amassed some eight thousand pounds of gold and silver, not to mention plenty of feathers, cotton, jewels and more.   Cortes ordered the kings fifth and his own fifth loaded onto horses and Tlaxcalan porters and told the others to take what they wanted. Foolish conquistadors loaded themselves down with gold: smart ones only took a handful of jewels. That night, the Spanish were spotted as they tried to flee the city: the enraged Mexica warriors attacked, slaughtering hundreds of Spaniards on the Tacuba causeway out of the city. The Spanish later referred to this as the Noche Triste or Night of Sorrows.The kings and Cortes gold was lost, and those soldiers who carried very much loot either dropped it or were slaughtered because they were running too slowly. Most of the great treasures of Montezuma were irrevocably lost that night. Return to Tenochtitlan and Division of Spoils The Spanish regrouped and were able to re-take Tenochtitlan a few months later, this time for good. Although they found some of their lost loot (and were able to squeeze some more out of the defeated Mexica) they never found all of it, despite torturing the new emperor, Cuauhtà ©moc. After the city had been retaken and it came time to divide the spoils, Cortes proved as skilled at stealing from his own men as he had in stealing from the Mexica. After setting aside the kings fifth and his own fifth, he began making suspiciously large payments to his closest cronies for weapons, services, etc. When they finally got their share, Cortes soldiers were dismayed to learn that they had earned less than two hundred pesos each, far less than they would have gotten for honest work elsewhere. The soldiers were furious, but there was little they could do. Cortes bought them off by sending them on further expeditions which he promised would bring in more gold and expeditions were soon on their way to the lands of the Maya in the south. Other conquistadors were given encomiendas: these were grants of vast lands with native villages or town on them. The owner theoretically had to provide protection and religious instruction for the natives, and in return the natives would work for the landowner. In reality, it was officially sanctioned slavery and led to some unspeakable abuses. The conquistadors who served under Cortes always believed that he had held back thousands of pesos in gold from them, and the historical evidence seems to support them. Guests to Cortes home reported seeing many bars of gold in Cortes possession. Legacy of the Treasure of Montezuma In spite of the losses of the Night of Sorrows, Cortes and his men were able to take a staggering amount of gold out of Mexico: only Francisco Pizarros looting of the Inca Empire produced a greater amount of wealth. The audacious conquest inspired thousands of Europeans to flock to the New World, hoping to be on the next expedition to conquer a rich empire. After Pizarros conquest of the Inca, however, there were no more great empires to find, although legends of the city of El Dorado persisted for centuries. It is a great tragedy that the Spanish preferred their gold in coins and bars: countless priceless golden ornaments were melted down and the cultural and artistic loss is incalculable. According to the Spanish who saw these golden works, Aztec goldsmiths were more skilled than their European counterparts. Sources Diaz del Castillo, Bernal. . Trans., ed. J.M. Cohen. 1576. London, Penguin Books, 1963. Levy, Buddy. . New York: Bantam, 2008. Thomas, Hugh. . New York: Touchstone, 1993.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Procurement route-Public Private Partnerships (PPP)- Private Finance Assignment

Procurement route-Public Private Partnerships (PPP)- Private Finance Initiative(PFI) - Assignment Example Starting in 1993, the WHO campaigned to private enterprises and other non-government organisations the advocacy to create meaningful partnerships that seek to create projects and programs dedicated to health and development of people. In fact, creating PPP is part of the core strategy of the organisation called the â€Å"Initiative on Public-Private Partnerships for Health,† which succeeded in forming 70 health partnerships around the world (Buse & Waxman, 2001, p.748). The emphasis placed on partnerships for the sake of health is mirrored in the implication that it draws. A healthy society means a healthy workforce and a robust economy. This report aims to explain the fundamental principles of PPP in the context of the proposed expansion of referral hospital along with the enhancement of hospital facilities and services in the midst of global economic downturn. It will evaluate its advantages and disadvantages as well as the Public Finance Initiative and Public Partnerships a s a procurement route. Relevant examples, statistics, and figures will also be presented in this report. 2. Principles of Public Private Partnerships (PPP), Merits and Demerits 2.1 PPP is a form of agreement; thus, it is bounded by equal, reciprocal, and shared rights and obligations. Buse and Walt (2000) expressed the blurring line between what it means to be a private entity and a government entity. Citing its many positive outcomes, PPP entails the formation of an agreement specifying the roles, responsibilities, and rights of each party involved. There is a mutual understanding, as well as expectations between the two parties prior to the agreement that was created. In the same manner, both recognise that they have a common goal, and that is, to improve the quality of health afforded to the people in the context of health care. Buse and Walt (2000) added that there are four crucial principles agreed between the two parties, which must be observed in a partnership. These are bene ficence, meaning public health must be achieved; nonmaleficence or the effort not to develop poor health instead; autonomy or the conscious effort not to step into the boundaries of the other party; and equity which seeks to equally distribute the benefits to people in a dire situation. 2.2 There are no fixed roles assigned to a partner over time. This principle is somewhat confusing considering the specific agreed terms between the two parties mentioned earlier. Buse and Walt (2000, p.551) claimed, nonetheless, that the idea of partnership is â€Å"non-specific,† meaning the definition of partnership depends from one partnership to the other. For instance, not-for-profit organisations have bigger community sectors as their dominant partners, but at present, this has shifted into a partnership between NGOs and corporate organisations in which the emphasis is more on the relationship between a recipient and a donor. Hence, the role/s assigned to a partner to the agreement may change overtime and may be measured unequally, especially in cases when the other partner is able to contribute more knowledge or financial resources compared to the other party. Figure 1: PPP Transformation from 1970s to Present Source: Buse and Walt (2000) Figure 1 above shows the shift in the definition of partnerships. The creation of PPP was built between donors and the recipient government. It was not identified whether the donors included governments, NGOs, or private sectors, which exists for