January 2008 Most Popular Posts

January 2008 Most Popular Posts January 2008 Most Popular Posts January 2008 Most Popular Posts By Daniel Scocco Below you will find the most popular posts of this month. Check them out if you missed any. Give me an â€Å"A†: a vs. an: The indefinite articles a and an both mean the same thing. The definite article the refers to a particular thing (†Give me the ring! The wedding ring!†) while a and an refer to any item of a certain type (†Please hand me a nail, any nail.†) But when do you use a and when do you use an? You were probably taught in school that, preceding a vowel (†an apple†), you use an. Preceding a consonant, you use a. Continuous or Continual?: Many writers use continuous and continual as if they were exact synonyms, but my English teachers taught their students to distinguish between them. A Man is Not a Widow: Last night, not for the first time, I heard someone refer to a man as a â€Å"widow.† Not only did I hear this usage, I saw it headlined across a Powerpoint slide at the presentation I was attending. The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should Know: The Yiddish language is a wonderful source of rich expressions, especially terms of endearment (and of course, complaints and insults). This article is a follow up on Ten Yiddish Expressions You Should Know. Jewish scriptwriters introduced many Yiddish words into popular culture, which often changed the original meanings drastically. You might be surprised to learn how much Yiddish you already speak, but also, how many familiar words actually mean something different in real Yiddish. Celtic: /sel tik/ or /kel tik/?: What is the â€Å"correct† pronunciation of the word Celtic? Boston Celtic fans prefer the soft c sound, but Irish dancers tend to go with the hard c sound. The Generalist vs. The Specialist: One of the biggest problems facing modern day freelance writers is whether to spread out and write on a variety of subjects, or whether to specialise in markets they are able to â€Å"expert† in. Caesar, Kaiser, and Czar: To begin with, â€Å"Caesar† was a family name. Now, in various forms, it is a generic term for â€Å"ruler† or â€Å"emperor.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Idioms About TalkingIn Search of a 4-Dot EllipsisWhat the heck are "learnings"?

Abstract and Concrete Nouns Explained

Abstract and Concrete Nouns Explained Abstract and Concrete Nouns Explained Nouns are naming words and an essential part of the English language. They fall into two main categories: concrete and abstract. It is vital to learn how to use both types in your written work, particularly abstract nouns, which can be tricky. This blog post will take a quick and simple look at the basic definitions of these nouns and offer examples to clarify how they should be used. Concrete Nouns Concrete nouns are fairly simple to understand, as they basically refer to things that are solid, like concrete, and that physically exist around us. This means that we can experience concrete nouns through our five senses, in that we can touch, see, smell, taste, and/or hear them. Examples of concrete nouns include: People (man, woman, dentist, proofreader) Animals (dog, cat, bird, bee) Objects (clock, book, computer, pizza) Places and geographical features (mountain, valley, Norwich, France) Abstract Nouns In contrast to concrete nouns, abstract nouns name things that do not exist physically, such as thoughts, ideas or concepts. They are therefore used to denote things that we cant see, smell, taste, and/or hear. Examples of abstract nouns include: Qualities and characteristics (beauty, kindness, wit) Emotions and states of mind (love, happiness, anger) Concepts and ideas (justice, freedom, truth) Events and processes (progress, Thursday, Christmas) If youre still unsure about the difference between concrete and abstract nouns, let the experts at Proofed help you with your noun usage today!

IN the poem Theodore Roethe's My Papa's Waltz Choose a significant Essay

IN the poem Theodore Roethe's My Papa's Waltz Choose a significant word and find 3 different definitions and relate their uses back to the poem - Essay Example However, the word ‘beat’ used in the fourth stanza stands out to me as particularly meaningful. This word has several listed meanings within the American Heritage Dictionary. The three that seem particularly relevant associate this word with the concept of violence, the concept of music and the concept of exhaustion. The American Heritage Dictionary offers as its first definition of the word ‘beat’ as â€Å"to strike repeatedly; to subject to repeated beatings or physical abuse, batter; to punish by hitting or whipping, flog† (2003). This definition seems to infuse the poem with an undertone of violence that is reinforced by other words that have this same meaning. These include the ideas of ‘battered’ that is used both in the above definition as well as in Roethke’s third stanza as he indicates the battered condition of his father’s hand. This condition indicates that the man is accustomed to fighting and violence and has little or no reluctance to use this same force within the home as the small boy is scraped against the father’s belt buckle, another image for many children of violence as it is the belt that was often used as a direct means of punishment for young boys who broke the rules. The idea of violence suggested by the definition o f the word ‘beat’ is also found in the first stanza when the speaker confesses that he found it necessary to hang on â€Å"like death† (3) in order to avoid injury during these wild dances he shared with his father. The second meaning of the word ‘beat’ offered by the American Heritage Dictionary is focused on the concept of sound. Specifically, this meaning is defined as â€Å"to strike so as to produce music or a signal; to mark or count (time or rhythm), especially with the hands or with a baton† (2003). This seems to be the intended meaning of the word as it is used in the obvious context of the poem as the speaker

Case Analysis of Currency Risk Management Study

Analysis of Currency Risk Management - Case Study Example The organization has two key branches; the Study Abroad College branch, and the High School Travel branch. Archer-Lock is the controller and also the treasurer of the college branch. Tabaczynski manages the finances of the high school division. The college division sends students to worldwide universities for the semester duration activities. Also, the high school division sends students and teachers for trips lasting between one and four weeks (Mihir, Vincent & Anders 1)). The currency hedging measures protect the revenue and profitability of AIFS, from the negative effects of currency exchange rates. This is achieved through the currency forward contracts, in addition to other currency options. The organization hedged its predicted expenses duration for the next two year duration. The main financial challenge that AIFS experienced entailed, implementing the hedge before the full sales cycle and adequate determination of the required foreign currency. There are several basic hedging approaches for handling the foreign currency exchange rates. The techniques are; currency options, forward contracts, currency accounts and loans, and spot trading. All organizations that operate in the international market must analyze the effects of exchange rates changes, on their operations. This will result in determination of the most effective technique for minimizing the foreign exchange fluctuations (Mihir, Vincent & Anders 3). Currency accounts are the most basic hedging technique. The bank accounts are opened in foreign currencies. This is most suitable for organizations with continuous inflow and outflow of cash in foreign currencies. Currency involves borrowing money using a foreign currency. The loan will be serviced in future, through the same currency. Spot trading involves key foreign currencies transactions. Spot transactions are generally applied in

Video games and children Essay Example for Free

Video games and children Essay When live in the digital age, it’s a fact. Children are using more technology than ever and in many ways it makes life safer and easier for families. But when 40- 75% of children in middle school already have cell phones, as well as 89% of children have their own laptops, and 97% of children and young adults play video games and/or own a gaming system. With the prevalence of video games obvious many adults have started asking themselves how these games affect their children. Should I be worried that my child is playing violent video games? How long should I allow my child to play video games? These questions are ones parents who are raising children in the era of technology should be asking, these are the questions that have prompted experts to conduct countless studies on the topic. So here it is the good, bad, and ugly of video games effect on children. I will present information on the positive effects of gaming the negative effects of gaming, and what experts recommend is healthy for a child. Violent shoot ‘em up games or seemingly mindless racing games like Mario Kart or time consuming apps like Angry Birds don’t necessarily bring pleasant thoughts to many parents minds but believe it or not there are some positive effects from video games. Video games actually improve problem solving and logic skills. Specifically, the popular app Angry Birds forces children and adults alike to quickly come up with creative solutions to problems. As for those violent video games parents begrudgingly by their children, well they tend to increase hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and spatial skills. Shooting games often require the virtual character to be running and shooting at the same time. In order to be successful the real life controller must keep track of the character, obstacles in the characters way, the targets position, and the speed at which they are pursuing each other and if the gunfire is hitting the target. Processing this information indeed causes the controller to use hand-eye coordination skills as well as using their spatial ability to be successful. Some studies even suggest that experience with video games maybe a contributing factor as to why fighter pilots of today are more successful with the controls. Also making a fast analysis of a situation and then being able to quickly make a decision gives your brain a real work out. According to researchers at the University of Rochester, led by Daphne Bavelier, who is a cognitive scientist, says that gaming simulating stressful events like those found in battle or action games is a training tool for real world situations. Her study suggests that playing action video games prepares the brain to make quick decisions, Video games similar to virtual simulations that already exist could possibly be used to train soldiers and surgeons. Also according to the same study from the University of Rochester action games train the players brains to make decisions quickly with out losing accuracy. Also a study from the Appalachia Educational Laboratory revealed that children with Attention-Deficit Disorder who played the popular arcade game Dance Dance Revolution improved their reading scores by helping them concentrate. Now that we have reviewed the positive effects of video games, it is time to look at how video games can negatively affect children. First from addiction blog. org video games can cause an increase in emotional and behavioral disorder symptoms. It cuts family interaction time in half and it reduces the about of REM or resting sleep you get. Also it can increase children’s violent tendencies. This is because in video games kids are rewarded for the violence, and the violence it committed repeatedly. This participation and reward system are tools that people use for learning behaviors. Also researchers from the University of Minnesota found that game addicts or kids who frequently play video games are more argumentative with teachers, fight with their friends and score lower grades. Also though some studies like the one previously mentioned here say that video games can improve a child’s concentration, this has been proven to only help concentration in short bursts of times but a child’s overall attentiveness can be harmed. Also a study from the National Institute for Media and the Family suggests that video games can be addictive for kids, and that video games increase their depression and anxiety levels. Also the University of Texas at Dallas notes that excessive video gaming can lead to eyestrain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and back issues. As well as desensitization which is where people no longer react to a sensory to the condition of fear or violence. Also according to science daily some people can react with seizures to excessive video games. Some people have died after marathon video game binges. Now that we have looked at the positive and negative effects of video games, we can look at what experts recommend for children; in terms of how long they play video games and what games they play. It is suggested that parents monitor the video games kids play just like they monitor websites and television show. As well as abide to the two hours of screen time rule from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Screen time in this case means any time spent in front of a computer, television, or cell phone doing anything besides calling or texting. Also the Palo Alto Medical Foundation recommends withholding from installing video game equipment in children’s bedrooms. Finally experts say to follow the warning labels on games. These warning labels go from EC meaning early childhood to T for teen M for mature and AO for adults only. Although these warnings are out there, no one is enforcing them. Any child or teenager can go into a place like Game Stop and buy any video game regardless of the warning. Many people are fighting to put restrictions on games, such as if a game has a mature label or adult only having to provide identification to purchase it. If we have restrictions on other dangerous substances then why not these? There is no denying that video games can have positive effects. In certain situations they can even be used as learning tools. But parents need to monitor the video games children are playing like they would monitor the television shows they are watching. But one question we need to ask ourselves as a society is, do the pros outweigh the cons or is it the other way around? The negative effects of video games are extreme, but now you now the positive the negative and what to do to make sure you or your child is safe from the dangers of video games.

Abdullah Javad 11w It Coursework Website Analysis :: Computer Science

Abdullah Javad 11w It Coursework Website Analysis - I have to design this website because all the other surgeries have done that so you can book your appointments online and it’s sufficient, easy to use and its cheap then you don’t have to telephone or anything like that. Also most of the people like to use internet more and like to book appointment from there, it will be better for the surgery and the customers also mainly its beneficial for the surgery although also people can find out more about the surgery from the website and the surgery costs and all that so more people will like to come and see because the website will attract them to the surgery. - I will be planning to use Italic and time new roman for my font and style because times new roman is very easy writing to read and italic will make people’s interest in the reading. - I will use the hyperlinks on the homepage on the right side also they will be on the same side of the page always so you can get access to it easily also because it looks more efficient. - I am planning to use toured images in my website of at least two different animals. Though I might probably use the images from the Rachel’s disk because they wouldn’t be distort and it will be easier so you don’t have to look for images from the Internet although it will also take less time. - I will design 4 pages altogether the Home Page, the Treatment Costs Page, the Dog Training Courses page and the Animal Of The Month page. Rachel’s website needs a home and three other pages .The Home page links to the other three pages and these all link back to the Home page. Each page will need a heading to explain what is on the page .I must use Treatment Costs, Dog Training Courses and Animal Of The Month. I must remember to include text hyperlinks and picture hyperlinks as well and I must test that they all work. The surgery name, address and phone number go on the home page with

Lotus Car Rental Essay

The Lotus Rental Car company is the world’s leading company in a multimillion dollar industry and can take this great opportunity to provide the consumer with alternative options in vehicles by adding alternative fuel vehicles to its fleet in Los Angeles, California, it would be a good move for this company because alternative vehicles like hybrids offer a less contaminated environment, better fuel economy, and the best in its money worth. Electric vehicles produce zero contamination, but are limited to the distance they can travel. Compare to gas powered vehicles offering lower mileage and higher emissions, which is a factor to the contamination of the air we breathe in. Also by adding the alternative vehicle can improve the company’s image and show that we as a provider do care about what we rent out to our consumer, and by providing that image the consumer would be motivated to drive a much cleaner vehicle that will protect the environment. With more car companies coming out with alternative vehicles this would be the right move to make in investing in alternative vehicles and gaining that momentum that would push this company over the top of all our competitors. The standard engine vehicle has come a long way; Conventional vehicles have only grown more reliable. And year after year they come out with more improvements for the vehicle’s engine. The gasoline car has improved from decades before, and in the past century. Modern civilization depends on automobiles for much of its daily existence, to travel to work and back. Gas stations are everywhere and it’s easier to go and fill up your car with gas, rather than go and sit and plug into a charging station. That being a one of pros to having a gas powered vehicle. However a growing disadvantage to having the gas powered vehicle are the gas prices rising. For every gallon of gas you put in your tank, only 1/5 produces mechanical energy that moves your car. The other 4/5 is lost as heat which is why the gas powered car has more engine parts (The Amazing Rate, 2012). The more parts help the gas powered vehicle in cooling down and maintaining power. The parts convert gas that is flowed through the motor into energy, and more parts to manage the excessive heat. Take a Honda Civic EX, for example, normally the Civic would get about 24 mpg around the city and about 36 on the highway, thanks to developments such as the VTEC valve train profiling system that adjusts as speed adjusts and keeps the engine working at optimal levels (Autos.com, 2014). The hybrid and electric cars that they have out for sale only make up one percent of 250 million sold in America. The maintenance of the car would add up after a couple years of having it, but would still cost you less than the alternative vehicle that would’ve got purchased over a gas powered car. The cost of maintenance is lower compared to hybrid vehicle. Spare parts and replacement kits are readily available on car service centers auto body part centers as well. The maintenance of gas powered vehicle is simple as regular oil changes, air-filter changes, and spark plug replacements, keeping the vehicle in good condition will better the emissions and lengthen the lifespan of the vehicle and improve the gas mileage of the car. For most vehicles now dealers offer you more mileage and better coverage on the vehicle of choice, take for example the Ford 150 it offers you a flex-fuel, Eco-Boost truck and the offer more warranty on the vehicle per miles and years. The point in that is for the company to lengthen the life of the truck and offer better gas mileage to the consumer. The gas powered car, truck, SUV all have the one thing in common and that is that they all run on gas and all vary on gas mileage. Maintenance would also vary, because it is not as cost effective as an alternative vehicle. The Gas powered vehicle has been the one vehicle around for decades and still will improve in making better and less cost effective vehicles for people to drive. Since the first electric car was made in 1900 by William Morrison there have been major technological advances throughout the century that have made today’s electric car a more popular choice for the American consumer (Berman, 2009). It was not until 1999 when interest in electric cars began to increase due to growing concerns about the environment and drastic increases in gas prices (Berman, 2009). The electric car runs on an electric motor and battery to increase a vehicle’s miles per gallon ratio and does not require gasoline. The reason Lotus Car Rental did not jump on to this opportunity was because at the time there was a $15,000 price difference between electric and gas engine vehicles. As of 2012 there is  only a $5,000 difference which is a more acceptable amount to consider and there are now electri c cars that are in the $15,000 to $20,000 range (Cars Direct, 2012). The positives of electric cars are that they require no gas and they can be charged by electric stations around Los Angeles and they do not emit pollution and that fact alone might persuade the consumer to rent an electric car (KBB, 2014). The average miles per full battery charge in the city are about 120 miles and highway about 100 miles in town. The maintenance of an electric car is extremely low because there is no longer a need to purchase gasoline and the company no longer has to do oil changes, air filter changes and emissions tests on a yearly basis thus creating a higher profit margin plus whatever major mechanical problem happens it will more likely be covered by the warranty provided by the dealer when buying the electric car brand new from the lot (Cars Direct, 2012). The average dealer warranty is about six year or 100,000 mile whichever comes first but because we are a car rental company, we will reach the mileage first. Insurance for electric cars are considerably low because they offer discounts for owing that type of car so it will be easier to pass on the savings to the consumer if they decide to purchase it (KBB, 2014). One problem with electric cars is that they are low on horse power which might be a problem for consumers considering that they are more than likely to want to exceed the speed limit on the highway and it might make it a difficult drive when going up on hills and mountains. Another problem with electric cars is that depending on the make and model, the average energy span only lasts about 120 miles before the consumer has to stop and recharge the battery. The main complaint among consumers is the amount of time it takes for the battery to recharge. The average charge time is about 4 to 8 hours if the consumer does not use a rapid recharge station which will charge the battery in between thirty minutes to an hour again depending on make and model (KBB, 2014). There are about sixty rapid recharge stations in and around Los Angeles but it more likely recommended that electric cars be used for in town usage instead of long trips because of the lack of rapid recharge stations. Although not considered as an alternative for the fuel vehicle, such as the electric, hydrogen, ethanol, and propane. The hybrid vehicle operates using advanced technology that combines the electric motor, fuel motor, and generator, to create a more efficient use of regular fuel.  Hybrids have become the new sensation of invention since slice bread. There are many reasons why Lotus Rental Car should add hybrid cars to their fleet. Consumer reports and background information backing up on the hybrid vehicle, it also shows how their popularity has grown among the world and the American population. Hybrids have their own unique way of operating, having an electric motor and a fuel motor, which makes them real fuel-efficient. Hybrids also offer a special braking system that allows the braking energy to be captured and stored in an onboard battery. Costumers report that this type of vehicle will offer a substantial savings in fuel costs because of the engine’s efficiency. Some cars typically getting 48 to 60 mpg, and offering 20% to 35% better fuel efficiency than a typical gasoline car. A typical car for example a Honda Civic only offers a range of 36 mpg on the highway. Costumers also report that hybrid vehicles have almost the same maintenance routine as regular vehicles. As, hybrid vehicles switch back and forth between an electric motor, and a traditional fuel engine depending on road conditions. This switch between power sources saves a lot of wear and tear on both of the motors, and increase the fuel range dramatically. The repair costs are high but repair is not as common as it is on traditional vehicles, and as long as maintenance is done properly these vehicles can outlast a traditional vehicle because the technology saves on wear and tear. The typical cost of a hybrid ranges from $19,000 to $25,000 price range. These prices are a quite pricey compare to those of a gas saver car, which range from $14,000 to $17,000. Even though that initial cost of these vehicles is more than the comparable traditional style car, over the long run all of these technologies will save money. When comparing both vehicles the hybrid is still the best investment, on average hybrids offer a ten-year/ 150,000-mile warranty on the batteries and power training, and a three-year/ 36,000 warranty on the rest of the vehicle. Hybrids batteries and motors do not require any more maintenance than any other car, hybrid brakes even last longer than those of a regular car. Hybrids also have tax incentives in the U.S., which can reduce the cost up to $3,400. After all the research we believe that hybrid vehicles are the best pick of an alternative energy vehicle for Lotus Rental Car Company fleet. Given all of this information on the multiple types of vehicles available we at Lotus Car Rental, Inc. have decided to focus on purchasing hybrid cars. The reason for  this decision is because the prices of the new hybrid cars are acceptable even though they are more expensive than regular cars but the price difference is more acceptable now than when it is compared to a few years ago. The cost of maintenance will not be an issue because by purchasing a brand new hybrid car the manufacturer warranty will be able to cover any major mechanical problems that will happen. This is an important factor for our decision because all rental companies including ourselves never keep vehicles for more than four years because the higher the mileage a car has the more likely that there will be mechanical problems that can happen. As soon a vehicle comes close to exceeding the manufacturer warranty that is when it will be put up for sale. Another reason is that we want to show the consumer that we care about their concerns for the environment and gas prices. Today’s consumer will more likely rent a hybrid car if the rental price difference is not a lot and the insurance fee stays the same. Eventually Lotus Car Rental, Inc. will switch over to electric cars in the future when the concept is upgraded with technological advances. What we mean by this is that the miles for a fully charged battery will increase as the years pass by and there will also be way more Rapid Recharge Stations throughout the United States. For now the focus will be on switching over to hybrid vehicles because this will show the consumer that this company is adapting to change and that we care. This will create an image that will to financial success. References Autos.com. (2014, April). Electric Power Car Vs. Gas Powered Car. Retrieved from http://www.autos.com/car-buying/electric-power-car-vs-gas-powered-car?&session-id=d1fa38119d76b5d16b7f062d6bf474f0 Berman, B. (2009, October 30). Timeline: History of the Electric Car. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/223/electric-car-timeline.html Cars Direct. (2012, March 08). Electric Car Costs vs Gasoline Cars vs Hybrids. Retrieved from http://www.carsdirect.com/car-pricing/new-electric-car-costs-vs-standard-gasoline-vehicles ConsumerReports.org. (2013, February). Hybrid/EV buying guide. Retrieved from

Ethical and Legal Challenges in Professional Practice Essay

The American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics is available to clarify the ethical responsibilities for professional counselors and future professional counselors. According to the ACA (2005), â€Å"the code serves as an ethical guide designed to assist members in constructing a professional course of action that best serves those utilizing counseling services and best promotes the values of the counseling profession.† As a graduate student striving to achieve a Master’s Degree in Counseling, it is crucial, not only to know and understand the ACA Code of Ethics, but also to understand any challenges that I may have in upholding them as well as ways to address these challenges effectively. In this paper I examine a section of the ACA Code of Ethics that I find personally challenging, risk management strategies used to resolve this potential ethical conflict, and a section of the ACA Code of Ethics that will not present a challenge. Personally Challenging Ethics Code According to the ACA Code of Ethics (2005), section C.2.g Impairment, counselors are alert to the signs of impairment from their own physical, mental, or emotional problems and refrain from offering or providing professional services when such impairment is likely to harm a client or others. The ACA Code of Ethics (2005) section C.2.g Impairment also states that counselors seek assistance for problems that reach the level of professional impairment, and, if necessary, they limit, suspend, or terminate their professional responsibilities until such time it is determined that they may safely resume their work. Personal Relevant History In 2005, during my senior year of undergraduate school at The University of  Arizona, I was on the fast track to law school. I was on a full scholarship, earning a 4.0 grade point average, a resident assistant for the dorms, and a member of a co-ed pre-law fraternity. I had just completed my internship working for senator John McCain and had finished the scary LSAT. This is what my friends and family saw. In the background, I was struggling. During the weekends I was â€Å"hosting† parties, or rather people would just show up and throw their own parties at my residence. I was struggling to get out of bed in the morning and often came back home to take naps and miss my next few classes of the day. My grades were slipping and so was my ambition. I took it upon myself to see a psychiatrist and was prescribed anti-depressants. This medication changed my life for the worst. I did not even notice that things were spinning out of control as I maxed out my credit cards (I would just get new cards later) and making impulsive and risky decisions. I was losing sleep as I was either out socializing or home cleaning like a madwoman, and often had bouts of irritability. My boyfriend at the time (my current husband) called my parents and asked that I come home to Phoenix and receive help. So I had a medical withdrawal from school, returned home, and was provided with psychiatric help. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and informed that by taking antidepressants I was experiencing a manic episode. As stated by Griswold and Pessar (2000, p. 1347) while referring to bipolar disorder, â€Å"the use of tricyclic antidepressants should be avoided because of the possibility of inducing rapid cycling of symptoms.† So with a new diagnosis the process of trial and error with psychotropic and mood stabilizing medications and their unavoidable side effects began. Once I was on a stable medication and dosage, I felt like myself again. I got a job at a residential treatment center to work with adolescents that have mood disorders and had gotten into trouble with the law. I found my passion. It was a few years before I could return to school with a purpose. I was graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Family Studies and Human Development in May 2011 and the future goal of becoming a therapist. Future Considerations and Risk Management  Strategies I believe that under the Impairment ethics code, mood disorders are considered a mental or emotional problem that may impair the counselor affecting the way in which a counselor provides treatment to clients. Bipolar disorder does not disappear once one takes the necessary medication. â€Å"Medication alone is often inadequate to restore and maintain physical health and quality of life† (Rheineck & Steinkuller, 2009, p. 339). Rheineck and Steinkuller (2009) recommend that those with bipolar disorder participate in therapy in conjunction with taking their effective medication. It would be myopic of me to assume that bipolar disorder will never affect me as a therapist. If I am not aware of my moods while I am having either a depressive or manic episode I may become irritable with or place my own perceptions onto a client. Ethically, to manage the risks involved with being a therapist who has bipolar disorder, I need to do more than take medication and participate in therapy. According to Biegel, Brown, & Shapiro (2007), a therapist should practice self-care, including self-awareness and self-regulation or coping. I think that when I am practicing, it will be self-awareness that will assist me most in terms of risk management. As an unbiased observation of my inner experience and behavior, self-awareness could also serve as an alarm to signal that I need to take appropriate actions whether to notify my supervisor, limit, or suspend my professional responsibilities. When referring to self-awareness Corey, Corey, & Callanan (2008, p. 44) state that without it â€Å"mental health professionals are likely to obstruct the progress of their clients as the focus of therapy shifts from meeting the client’s needs to meeting the needs of the therapist.† To assist with my self-awareness, I plan to utilize mindfulness. Mindfulness, as defined by Campbell and Christopher (2012, p. 215), â€Å"refers to a state of being aware, with acceptance, of thought s, emotions, and sensations as they arise.† I currently practice various mindfulness exercises in therapy to assist with my mood disorder and coping strategies. To be a positive and healthy professional counselor I will continue with mindfulness exercises throughout my career and my life. I plan on practicing this daily, on my own time, so that I will be able to recognize when I am having moods or episodes that need to be addressed.  Mindfulness will be additionally useful, as â€Å"counselors need to be immediately cognizant of signs of stress and burnout and address these immediately to practice counseling ethically† (Bradley, Brogan, Brogan, & Hendricks, 2009, p. 358). By being mindful and self-aware I will be able to identify the symptoms of stress and burnout as well as any number of potentially harmful feelings. Ethics Code that Does Not Present a Challenge According to the ACA Code of Ethics (2005), section C.2.f Continuing Education, counselors recognize the need for continuing education to acquire and maintain a reasonable level of awareness of current scientific and professional information in their fields of activity. The ACA Code of Ethics (2005) section C.2.f Continuing Education also states that counselors take steps to maintain competence in the skills they use, are open to new procedures, and keep current with the diverse populations and specific populations with whom they work. Personal Relevant History In my experience while working in behavioral health, training always has been emphasized and mandated yearly. During the four years that I spent working at a residential treatment center, I had accumulated more than 500 hours of training. While working at a group home for a year, I had gone through more than100 hours of training. In the past year while working as a youth and family specialist I have completed an additional 60 hours of training. Although I found many of the training sessions over the years to be fairly repetitive, there were also several trainings providing completely new knowledge to me and therefore effective to assisting me while working with clients. Examples of recent effective trainings include crisis prevention intervention, compassion fatigue, cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adults, and behavioral health documentation. Future Considerations According to the ACA Code of Ethics (2005), Preamble, â€Å"inherently held values that guide our behaviors or exceed prescribed behaviors are deeply ingrained in the counselor and developed out of personal dedication, rather than the mandatory requirement of an external organization.† To me this statement means that as a professional counselor I will further my education  and knowledge of skills because I want to and not because an agency I work at mandates it. I do not believe that when one finishes school, they have completed learning, especially if they work in behavioral health. There are always new diagnoses, methods, and forms of treatment coming out that I want to be learn to better meet the needs of my future clients. In a mail-in survey study of 1000 licensed professional counselors conducted in 2009 pertaining to counseling grief stricken clients, Granello, Ober, & Wheaton (2012) found that the majority of the participants stated they were unprepared when it came to specific skills and lacked knowledge to address those with grief. â€Å"Counselors who received training rated themselves as more competent than those who did not, with more training related to higher levels of self-perceived competence† (Granello et al., 2012, p. 158). Another study conducted by Jameson, Poulton, and Stadter (2007), involved 38 therapists and evaluated the effect of a two-year continuing education program on their knowledge, skills, and application. â€Å"The majority (74%) felt the training helped them think clearly and specifically, both about assessment issues and specific interventions† (Jemeson et al., 2007, p. 113). It is clear when reading these findings that further training can only help a professional to work with more specific needs of their clientele. Although all agencies have mandatory trainings, I have observed that there are hundreds of additional trainings offered yearly for any counselors who want to attend voluntarily. I plan to be a counselor who takes the opportunities offered to further educate myself, in order to improve myself and to provide my clients with a better and more knowledgeable version of me. Conclusion In summation, I have examined a potentially personally challenging section of the ACA Code of Ethics, risk management strategies that I plan to utilize, and a section of the ACA Code of Ethics that aligns with my personal beliefs. Examining my personal experiences and traits that may conflict with the ACA Code of Ethics, I am better preparing myself to prevent any effects they may have had toward my future clients. It is important to me that I continue to learn and apply the knowledge I gain in graduate school and additional educational settings to improve myself as a person and as a professional counselor. References American Counseling Association (2005). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author. Biegel, G.M., Brown, K.W., & Shapiro, S.L. (2007). Teaching self-care to caregivers: Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the mental health of therapists in training. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 1(2), 105-115. Bradley, L.J., Brogan, W.C., Brogan, C., Hendricks, B. (2009). Shelly: a case study focusing on ethics and counselor wellness. Family Journal, 17(4), 355-359. Campbell, J.C., & Christopher, J.C. (2012). Teaching mindfulness to create effective counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 34(3), 213-226. Corey, G., Corey, M.S., & Callanan, P. (2008). Issues and ethics in the helping professions ( 8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Granello, D.H., Ober, A.M., & Wheaton, J.E. (2012). Grief counseling: an investigation of counselor’ training, experience, and competencies. Journal of Counseling and Development, 90(2), 150-159. Griswold, K.S., & Pessar, L.F. (2000). Management of bipolar disorder. American Family Physician, 62(6), 1343-1353. Jameson, P., Poulton, J., & Stadter, M. (2007). Sustained and sustaining continuing education for therapists. Psychotherapy, 44(1), 110-114. Rheineck, J.E., & Steinkuller, A. (2009). A review of evidence-based therapeutic interventions of bipolar disorder. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 31(4), 338-350.

Don Quixote and Chivalric Ideals

Don Quixote and Chivalric Ideals Free Online Research Papers During the era of Miguel de Cervantes, the ideals of chivalry and knighthood were the prominent themes in literature. Romantic tales of valiant knights and love captured the imaginations of medieval readers, and this influence proved still to be strong during the Renaissance. In the fifteenth century, these medieval values clashed with the new emphasis on reason. The influence of both sets of values can be seen in the Miguel de Cervantess novel, Don Quixote. In this work, Cervantes illustrates the idealistic character of Don Quixote, who is possesed by chivalric ideas of heroism and valor. Don Quixote sets out to reform the world along with his sensible companion Sancho Panca. After an ill-starred career as a knight-errant, Don Quixote renounces his ideals and is restored to excessive sensibility. At the same time, Sancho Panca champions the very ideas that Don Quixote comes to reject. Through his use of names and through the naive ideals of Don Quixote and his subsequent exchange of beliefs with Sancho Panca, Cervantes reveals the need for a proper balance between the extremes of idealism and rationalism. The subject of names is a prevalent one in Cervantess work. Cervantes begins the work with the peculiar declaration, In a certain village in La Mancha, the name of which I do not choose to remember, Don Quixote makes his residence. The anonymity of the village parallels Cervantess ambiguity when discussing Don Quixotes real name. He explains that he is said to have gone by the name of Quijada, or Quesada, although it is most likely that he was called Quijada. Cervantess deliberate manner of forgetting and his vagueness in relating Don Quixotes real name contrasts sharply with Don Quixotes own naming of things. In taking on his new role as knight-errant, he assumes the name Don Quixote de la Mancha, which, according to him reveals his lineage and honors his fortunate country.† In fact, Quixote signifies the armor that a knight wears to protect his thigh. In choosing this inglorious name, the title character shows his distorted sense of what is admirable. Don Quixote also selects the satisfactory name, Rosinante, for his horse, connoting a hack or nag. Furthermore, when he selects a healthy, buxom, country wench to fall in love with, he gives her the name Dulcinea del Toboso, which he regards as romantic, musical, and expressive, like the names he had chosen for himself and his horse. With such bizarre names that do not suit their subjects, Don Quixotes skewed perspective on life is shown. While Cervantes goes to one extreme and decides to forget the name of a town, Don Quixote intentionally picks out ridiculous names for himself, his horse, and his lady. With the absurdity of these extremes, Cervantes asserts the necessity of finding the middle ground. With the name of Quixote, the title character is presented as a comical, ludicrous figure. Cervantes refers to him often as the poor gentleman who has lost his senses and who has the brain of a madman. During his time as a knight-errant, Don Quixote travels far and wide seeking adventures and righting wrongs. In his mission to save the world, Don Quixote is inspired by the books he read of knights, chivalry, and honor. Everything he does is modeled on these romantic stories, into which Don Quixote immerses himself completely. He explains to Sancho Panca that knights-errant are not permitted to complain of any wound they receive. But he permits his squire to complain, as he had not read anything to the contrary in his books of knight-errantry. Another instance of Don Quixotes reliance on the model of his books occurs when stays awake thinking of his Lady Dulcinea because he read about those knights-errant who passed many sleepless nights in woods and deserts remembering their ladies. Thus, Don Quixote shapes his whole life around the fictional accounts of imaginary figures and looses control of his own life. During his adventurous journey, his â€Å"squire,† Sancho Panca, accompanies this would-be knight. This devoted servant is much more temporal than his master, and Sancho revels in such pleasures as plentiful food and a luxurious slumber. Sancho Panca shows his practicality when he warns Don Quixote of the foolishness of some of his missions. When Don Quixote plans to attack the perceived giants in fierce and unequal combat, Sancho implores him to see correctly that the giants are merely windmills. In addition to bestowing rational advice on his master, Sancho puts his trust in God, saying at various points, Gods will be done, and Lord have mercy upon us. While Don Quixote puts his faith in his tales of chivalry, Sancho relies on God for mercy and guidance, and with his rational behavior represents a great contrast to the senselessness of his master. The traits of master and servant are reversed, however, when Don Quixote is defeated in battle and returns home to renounce all his previously held beliefs. Suffering a severe sickness, Don Quixote is eventually restored to consciousness, and he at once declares that God is merciful and that he is now cleared of those dark shadows of ignorance that clouded his understanding from incessant reading of those detestable books of chivalry. This startling reversal in thought causes his friends to think that his sudden and easy transition from madness to sanity is a certain signal of his approaching death. Cervantes thus equates sanity with death: at a time when most people begin to lose their minds, Don Quixote is at his most rational. Another drastic transformation occurs in Sancho Panca. Upon seeing his master renounce his beliefs, Sancho entreats him to once again espouse chivalric ideals. Sancho encourages him to Get up and go walking in the fields with the hope that behind some bush t hey may find Lady Dulcinea. It is now Sancho who defends the absurd ideas that once deluded Don Quixote. It is unusually easy for both characters to exchange beliefs. Cervantes is therefore expressing the impossibility of remaining faithful to extreme beliefs such as those Don Quixote and Sancho Panca hold at different points in their lives. The logical conclusion, thus, is to find a middle road to which one can hold firm. The balance between idealism and reality is often difficult to find. The struggle to reach a middle ground is illustrated in Miguel de Cervantess novel, Don Quixote. Through the characters of Don Quixote and Sancho Panca, Cervantes illustrates the challenges individuals face to balance their lives with a mix of idealistic and rational thought. Cervantes establishes this struggle through the issue of names. In Cervantess forgetting the name of the village and in Don Quixotes deliberately giving absurd names to things, the folly of adopting extreme notions is shown. Cervantes follows with examples of excessive idealism and rationalism. In connecting sanity with death, Cervantes seems to dismiss rational thought as pointless. But his portrayal of Don Quixotes foolishness in his knightly adventures also illustrates a kind of futility. And in the two characters reversals at the end, Cervantes reveals that it is worthless to only adopt a single way of thinking. The two ends of idealism and pragmatism, however, must both exist in a persons life. If not for Sanchos rationalism, Don Quixotes journey would have been quite difficult. Likewise, without Don Quixotes fantasies, Sanchos life would have lacked entertainment. Such a story as Don Quixotes would not exist if not for the imagination; at the same time, it would be ridiculous to accept this story as truth and not consider it from a realistic point of view. Through this charming, yet sobering, tale, Cervantes illustrates that a proper balance between idealism and practicality must be achieved, and that without both principles, life is fruitless. Research Papers on Don Quixote and Chivalric IdealsHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionWhere Wild and West MeetAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementResearch Process Part One19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyMind TravelTrailblazing by Eric AndersonThe Masque of the Red Death Room meanings

Chinas Hukou System

Chinas Hukou System Chinas Hukou system is a family registration program that serves as a domestic passport, regulating population distribution and rural-to-urban migration. It is a tool for social and geographic control that enforces an apartheid structure that denies farmers the same rights and benefits enjoyed by urban residents.    History of the Hukou System The modern Hukou system was formalized as a permanent program in 1958.   The system was created to ensure social, political, and economic stability.   Chinas economy was largely agrarian during the early days of the Peoples Republic of China.  In order to speed up industrialization, the government prioritized heavy industry by following the Soviet model.   In order to finance this expansion, the state underpriced agricultural products, and overpriced industrial products to induce an unequal exchange between the two sectors, essentially paying peasants less than market price for their agricultural goods.   In order to sustain this artificial imbalance, the government had to create a system which restricts the free flow of resources, especially labor, between industry and agriculture, and between city and countryside.    Individuals became categorized by the state as either rural or urban, and they were required to stay and work within their designated geographic areas.   Traveling was permitted under controlled conditions, but residents assigned to a certain area will not be given access to jobs, public services, education, healthcare, and food in another area.   A rural farmer who chooses to move to the city without a government-issued Hukou would essentially share the same status an illegal immigrant in the United States.   Obtaining an official rural-to-urban Hukou change is extremely difficult.   The Chinese government has tight quotas on conversions per year.    Effects of the Hukou System The Hukou system has historically always benefited the urbanites.   During the Great Famine of the mid-twentieth century, individuals with rural Hukous were collectivized into communal farms, where much of their agricultural output were taken in the form of a tax by the state and given to city dwellers.   This led to massive starvation in the countryside, and the Great Leap Forward would not be abolished until the effects were felt in the cities. After the Great Famine, rural residents continued to be marginalized, while urban citizens enjoyed a range of socio-economic benefits.   Even today, a farmers income is one-sixth that of the average urban dweller.   Farmers have to pay three times more in taxes, but receive a lower standard of education, healthcare, and life.   The Hukou system impedes upward mobility, creating essentially a caste system that governs Chinese society.    Since the capitalistic reforms of the late 1970s, an estimated 260 million rural dwellers have illegally moved to the cities, in an attempt to partake in the remarkable economic development taking place there.   These migrants brave discrimination and possible arrest while living on the urban fringe in shantytowns, railway stations, and street corners.   They are often blamed for rising crime and unemployment.    Reform With Chinas rapid industrialization, the Hukou system needed to be reformed in order to adapt to the countrys new economic reality.   In 1984, the State Council conditionally opened the door of market towns to peasants.   Country residents were allowed to get a new type of permit called, â€Å"self-supplied food grain† Hukou, provided that they satisfied a number of requirements.   The primary requirements are that a migrant must be employed in enterprise, have their own accommodations in the new location, and be able to self-provide their own food grain.   Holders are still not eligible for many state services and they cannot move to other urban areas ranked higher than that particular town.    In 1992, the PRC launched another form of permit called the blue-stamp Hukou.   Unlike the self-supplied food grain Hukou, which is limited to certain business peasants, the blue stamp Hukou is open to a wider population and allowed migration into bigger cities.   Some of these cities included the Special Economic Zones (SEZ), which were havens for foreign investments.   Eligibility was primarily limited to those with familial relations with domestic and overseas investors.   Ã‚  The Hukou system experienced another form of liberation in 2001​ after China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO).   Although WTO membership exposed Chinas agricultural sector to foreign competition, leading to job losses, it galvanized the labor-intensive sectors, particularly in textile and clothing, leading to an urban labor demand.   The intensity of patrols and documentation inspections were relaxed.    In 2003, changes were also made to how illegal migrants are to be detained and processed.   This was the result of a media and internet-frenzied case in which a college educated urbanite named, Sun Zhigang, was beaten to death after he was taken into custody for working in the megacity of Guangzhou without the proper Hukou ID. Despite the reforms, the current Hukou system still remains fundamentally intact because of the continuing disparities between the states agricultural and industrial sectors.   Although the system is highly controversial and vilified, a complete abandonment of the Hukou is not practical, due to the complexity and interconnectedness of the modern Chinese economic society.   Its removal could lead to a migration so massive that it could cripple city infrastructures and destroy the rural economy.   For now, minor changes will continue to be made to the Hukou, as it coincides with Chinas shifting political climate.

The Entertainment Industry and Venue Management in Hospitality Assignment

The Entertainment Industry and Venue Management in Hospitality Industry - Assignment Example This confirms the sector compared to others has potential of sufficiently giving the government high revenue. The extent of Theatre in UK is quite evident based on numerous admirations not only within the bloc but also from global admirers who visit London annually due to the sector’s quality and creativity. Based on Shellard (2004) study, by 2004 had about 541 theatres whereby to date they have increased. Based on 2009 statistics approximately 10% of all visiting over 10 million people normally preferred watching stage shows whereby to date the number continues to augment (BBC News, 2010). The sector’s audiences include both the local and global people whereby the latter prefer making UK as their tourist destination. Hence, contributing to government revenue evident in 2009 whereby the revenue from this sector was about  £2.8 billion (BBC News, 2010). There are roughly 50 parks in UK with Alton Towers being the Britain’s best, whereby similar to theatres the parks their target includes both global and local visitors (Hughes-morgan, 2010). Though not comparable to other sectors, theme parks are currently making significant strides towards being reliable revenue generators. The 2009 statistics depict the sector managed to contribute approximately  £315m, which is significant revenue to the economy (Hughes-morgan, 2010). Probably, the hindering aspect is that their highest turnover period is especially in December when numerous people especially youths visit these venues (Hughes-morgan, 2010). The most targeted people include children and youths though and fun loving people more so parents as they accompany their young ones. Hence, they are family destinations not only to the natives but also tourists visiting diverse states who normally prefer relaxing with their close members more so children. The UK museums play a critical role since they represent culture in historical phases up to date. They actually assemble artifacts and preserve

The mans effect on environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The mans effect on environment - Essay Example The man’s effect on environment This would restore the natural habitat of salmon, estuary and beaches because the nutrient rich sediments will flow downstream. It will prevent erosion and also would enhance the natural eco – system. In the case of water flow in Florida and the people can be affected by such projects. However, people need to take precedence for environment restoration because a responsible and intelligent we have the obligation to protect and preserve nature. If at all any destruction is caused to nature despite of the agent causing it we have the responsibility to take action to protect nature. My estimated greenhouse gas emissions are 15Â  tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents per year, which is below the U.S. national average. In order to limit our impact on environment we should use energy only for need basis. The lighting in the house needs to be efficient. The diet should contain less of meat products. It is essential to use less of vehicles for movement and the recycle products as much as possible. I need to use more organic food and should resort to vegetables and fruits. I need to switch to solar panels for fuel needs. One of the invasive species which is threatening is zebra mussels. It is a problem both in Unites States and Europe. Zebra mussel is a small fresh water mussel and was native to Southern. Russia. This species was introduced to many regions in West in unknown incidents. They are small in size and as they disrupt the ecosystem they are tagged as an Invasive species.