Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Six

I think the profanities that came out of my mouth when I hit the ground would have been understandable in any language. It hurt. The bush was not particularly sharp or pointy, but it wasn't soft by any stretch of the imagination. It broke my fall somewhat, though it didn't save my ankle from twisting underneath me. â€Å"Shit!† I said through gritted teeth, climbing to my feet. Russia sure was making me swear a lot. I tested the weight on my ankle and felt a twinge of pain but nothing I couldn't stand on. A sprain, thank God. The ankle wasn't broken, and I'd had worse. Still, it was going to slow down my getaway. I limped away from the bush, trying to pick up the pace and ignore the pain. Stretching before me was that stupid hedge maze I'd thought was so cool the other night. The sky was cloudy, but I doubted moonlight would have made it easier to navigate. No way was I going to fight that leafy mess. I'd find where it ended and get out through there. Unfortunately, when I circled the house, I discovered an unhappy truth: The hedge was everywhere. It encircled the estate like some kind of medieval moat. The annoying part was, I doubted Galina had even had it installed for defense. She'd probably done it for the same reason she had crystal chandeliers and antique paintings in the hallways: It was cool. Well, there was nothing for it, then. I picked an opening to the maze at random and started winding my way through. I had no idea where to go, no strategies for getting out. Shadows lurked everywhere, and I often didn't see dead ends coming until I was right on top of them. The bushes were tall enough that once I was only a little way into the maze, I completely lost sight of the top of the house. If I'd had it as a navigation point, I might have been able to just move in a straight (or nearly straight) line away. Instead, I wasn't entirely sure if I was going backward or in circles or what. At one point, I was pretty sure I'd passed the same jasmine trellis three times. I tried to think of stories I'd read about people navigating mazes. What did they use? Bread crumbs? Thread? I didn't know, and as more time passed and my ankle grew sorer, I began to get discouraged. I'd killed a Strigoi in my weakened state but couldn't escape some bushes. Embarrassing, really. â€Å"Roza!† The voice carried distantly on the wind, and I stiffened. No. It couldn't be. Dimitri. He'd survived. â€Å"Roza, I know you're out there,† he called. â€Å"I can smell you.† I had a feeling he was bluffing. He wasn't close enough for me to feel sick, and with the cloying perfume of the flowers, I doubted he could scent me yet-even if I was sweating a lot. He was trying to bait me into giving up my location. With new resolve, I headed down the next twist in the bushes, praying for the exit. Okay, God, I thought. Get me out of this and I'll stop my half assed churchgoing ways. You got me past a pack of Strigoi tonight. I mean, trapping that one between the doors really shouldn't have worked, so clearly you're on board. Let me get out of here, and I'll†¦ I don't know. Donate Adrian's money to the poor. Get baptized. Join a convent. Well, no. Not that last one. Dimitri continued his taunting. â€Å"I won't kill you, not if you give yourself up. I owe you. You took out Galina for me, and now I'm in charge. Replacing her happened a little ahead of schedule, but that's not a problem. Of course, there aren't many people to control now that Nathan and the others are dead. But that can be fixed.† Unbelievable. He truly had survived those odds. I'd said it before and meant it: Alive or undead, the love of my life was a badass. There was no way he could have defeated those three†¦ and yet, well†¦ I'd seen him take on crazy odds before. And clearly his being here was proof of his capabilities. The path ahead of me split, and I randomly chose the right hand path. It spread off into the darkness, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Score. Despite his breezy commentary, I knew he was also moving through the maze, getting closer and closer. And unlike me, he knew the paths and how to get out of it. â€Å"I'm not upset about you attacking me, either. I would have done it in your place. It's just one more reason why we should be together.† My next turn took me into a dead end filled with climbing moonflowers. I kept my swearing to myself and backtracked. â€Å"You're still dangerous, though. If I find you, I'm probably going to have to kill you. I don't want to, but I'm starting to think there's no way we can both live in this world. Come to me by choice, and I'll awaken you. We'll control Galina's empire together.† I almost laughed. I couldn't have found him if I wanted to in this mess. If I'd had that kind of ability, I'd My stomach swirled a little. Oh no. He was getting closer. Did he know it yet? I didn't fully understand how the amount of nausea correlated to distance, but it didn't matter. He was too close, period. How close did he need to be to truly smell me? To hear me walking on the grass? Each second brought him closer to success. Once he had my trail, I was screwed. My heart started racing even more-if that was even possible at this point-and the adrenaline pumping through me numbed my ankle, even though it still slowed me down. Another dead end spun me around, and I tried to calm myself, knowing panic would make me sloppy. All the while, that nausea grew in increments. â€Å"Even if you get out, where will you go?† he called. â€Å"We're in the middle of nowhere.† His words were poison, seeping into my skin. If I focused on them, my fear would win, and I'd give up. I'd curl into a ball and let him come for me, and I had no reason to believe he'd let me live. My life could be over in the next few minutes. A turn to my left led to another wall of glossy green leaves. I sidestepped it quickly and headed in the opposite direction and saw-fields. Long, vast stretches of grass spread out ahead of me, giving way to trees scattered off in the distance. Against all odds, I'd made it out. Unfortunately, the nausea was strong now. This close, he had to know where I was. I peered around, realizing the truth of his words. We really were in the middle of nowhere. Where could I go? I had no idea where we were. There. To my left, I saw the faint purple glow on the horizon that I'd noticed the other night. I hadn't realized what it was then, but now I knew. Those were city lights, most likely Novosibirsk, if that was where Galina's gang did most of their deeds. Even if it wasn't Novosibirsk, it was civilization. There would be people there. Safety. I could get help. I took off at as fast a run as I could manage, feet pounding hard against the ground. Even the adrenaline couldn't block that much impact out, and pain crackled up through my leg with each step. The ankle held, though. I didn't fall or go to a true limp. My breath was hard and ragged, the rest of my muscles still weak from all I'd been through. Even with a goal, I knew that the city was miles away. And all the while, the nausea grew and grew. Dimitri was close. He had to be out of the maze now, but I couldn't risk looking back. I just kept running toward that purple glow on the horizon, even though it meant I was about to enter a cluster of trees. Maybe, maybe it would provide cover. You're a fool, some part of me whispered. There's nowhere you can hide from him. I reached the thin line of trees and slowed just a little, gasping for breath and pressing myself up against a sturdy trunk. I finally dared a look behind me but saw nothing. The house glowed in the distance, surrounded by the darkness of the hedge maze. My sick stomach hadn't grown worse, so it was possible I might have a lead on him. The maze had several exits; he hadn't known where I'd come out. My moment of respite over, I kept moving, keeping the soft glow of the city lights in sight through the branches. It was only a matter of time before Dimitri found me. My ankle wasn't going to let me do much more of this. Outrunning him was slowly becoming a fantasy. Leaves left over from last fall crunched as I moved, but I couldn't afford to step around them. I doubted I had to worry anymore about Dimitri sniffing me out. The noise would give me away. â€Å"Rose! I swear it's not too late.† Shoot. His voice was close. I looked around frantically. I couldn't see him, but if he was still calling for me, he likely couldn't see me yet either. The city haze was still my guiding star, but there were trees and darkness between me and it. Suddenly, an unexpected person came to mind. Tasha Ozera. She was Christian's aunt, a very formidable lady who was one of the forerunners of teaching Moroi to fight back against Strigoi. â€Å"We can retreat and retreat and let ourselves get backed into corners forever,† she'd said once. â€Å"Or we can go out and meet the enemy at the time and place we choose. Not them.† Okay, Tasha, I thought. Let's see if your advice gets me killed. I looked around and located a tree with branches I could reach. Shoving my stake back into my pocket, I grabbed hold of the lowest branch and swung myself up. My ankle complained the whole way, but aside from that, there were enough branches for me to get good hand- and footholds. I kept going until I found a thick, heavy limb that I thought would support my weight. I moved out onto it, staying near the trunk and carefully testing the limb's sturdiness. It held. I took the stake out of my pocket and waited. A minute or so later, I heard the faint stirring of leaves as Dimitri approached. He was much quieter than I had been. His tall, dark form came into view, a sinister shadow in the night. He moved very slowly, very carefully, eyes roving everywhere and the rest of his senses no doubt working as well. â€Å"Roza†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He spoke softly. â€Å"I know you're here. You have no chance of running. No chance of hiding.† His gaze was fixed low. He thought I was hiding behind a tree or crouched down. A few more steps. That was all I needed from him. Against the stake, my hand began to sweat, but I couldn't wipe it off. I was frozen, holding so still that I didn't even dare breathe. â€Å"Roza†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The voice caressed my skin, cold and deadly. Still scrutinizing his surroundings, Dimitri took one step forward. Then another. And then another. I think it occurred to him to look up the instant I jumped. My body slammed into his, knocking him to the ground back-first. He immediately tried to throw me off, just as I tried to drive the stake through his heart. Signs of fatigue and fighting were all over him. Defeating the other Strigoi had taken its toll, though I doubted I was in much better shape. We grappled, and once, I managed to rake the stake against his cheek. He snarled in pain but kept his chest well protected. Over it, I could see where I'd ripped his shirt the first time I'd staked him. The wound had already healed. â€Å"You. Are. Amazing,† he said, his words full of both pride and battle fury. I had no energy for a response. My only goal was his heart. I fought to stay on him, and at last, my stake pierced his chest-but he was too fast. He knocked my hand away before I could fully drive the stake through. In the process, he knocked me off of him. I flew several feet away, mercifully not hitting any trees. I scrambled to my feet, dazed, and saw him coming toward me. He was fast-but not as fast as he'd been in previous fights. We were going to kill ourselves in trying to kill each other. I'd lost my advantage now, so I ran off into the trees, knowing he'd be right behind me. I was certain he could outrun me, but if I could accrue just a tiny lead, then maybe I could secure another good attack place and try to â€Å"Ahhh!† My scream rang into the night, jarring against the quiet darkness. My foot had gone out from under me, and I was sliding rapidly down a steep hillside, unable to stop myself. There were few trees, but the rocks and my ungainly position made the fall painful, particularly since I was wearing that sweater dress. How I managed to keep holding the stake was beyond me. I hit the bottom roughly, managed to briefly stand, and then promptly stumbled and fell-into water. I stared around. On cue, the moon peeked out from the clouds, casting enough light to show me a huge expanse of black, fast-moving water in front of me. I gaped at it, utterly confused, and then I turned in the direction of the city. This was the Ob, the river that ran through Novosibirsk. The river headed right toward it. Glancing behind me, I saw Dimitri standing on top of the ridge. Unlike some of us, he'd apparently been watching where he was going. Either that, or my scream had tipped him off that something was amiss. It was going to take him less than a minute to come running down after me, though. I looked to either side of me and then in front. Okay. Fast-moving water. Possibly deep. Very wide. It'd take the pressure off my ankle, but I wasn't thrilled about my chances of not drowning. In legends, vampires couldn't cross running water. Man, I wished. That was pure myth. I did a double take to my left and just barely saw a dark shape over the water. A bridge? It was the best shot I had. I hesitated before going toward it; I needed Dimitri to start coming down here. I was not going to run off and let him pace me up above on the ridge. I needed the time his hill descent would buy me. There. He took one step onto the slope, and I tore off down the shore, not looking back. The bridge grew closer and closer to me, and as it did, I realized just how high it was. I'd misjudged it from where I'd landed. The slopes around the bridge reached farther up the more I ran downriver. I was going to have a hell of a climb. No problem. I'd worry about that later-by which I meant in about thirty seconds, since that was probably how long it'd take Dimitri to catch up with me. As it was, I could hear his feet splashing through the shallow water on the bank, the sounds growing nearer and nearer. If I could just reach the bridge, if I could just get to high ground and to the other side. The nausea surged in me. A hand closed around the back of my jacket, jerking me backward. I fell against Dimitri and immediately began fighting him, trying to free myself. But God, I was so, so tired. Every piece of me hurt, and no matter how weary he was, I was worse. â€Å"Stop it!† he yelled, gripping my arms. â€Å"Don't you get it? You can't win!† â€Å"Then kill me!† I wriggled, but his hold on my upper arms was too strong, and even holding the stake, I couldn't do anything with it. â€Å"You said you would if I didn't surrender myself. Well, guess what? I didn't. I won't. So just get it over with.† That phantom moonlight lit up his face, eradicating the normal shadows and making his skin stark white against the night's backdrop. It was like all the colors in the world had been blanked out. His eyes merely looked dark, but in my mind's eye, they glowed like fire. His expression was cold and calculating. Not my Dimitri. â€Å"It'd take a lot for me to kill you, Rose,† he said. â€Å"This isn't enough.† I wasn't convinced. Still holding onto me with that unbreakable grip, he leaned toward me. He was going to bite me. Those teeth would pierce my skin, and he'd turn me into a monster like him or drink until I was dead. Either way, I'd be too drugged and too stupid to know it. The person who was Rose Hathaway would leave this world without even realizing it. Pure panic shot through me-even as that part of me that was still in withdrawal cried out for more of those glorious endorphins. No, no. I couldn't allow that. Every nerve I had was set on fire, ramping up for defense, attack, anything†¦ anything to stop this. I would not be turned. I could not be turned. I wanted so badly to do something to save myself. My whole being was consumed with that urge. I could feel it ready to burst out, ready to. My hands could touch each other but not Dimitri. With a bit of maneuvering, I used the fingers of my left hand to pry off Oksana's ring. It slipped off and into the mud, just as Dimitri's fangs touched my skin. It was like a nuclear explosion going off. The ghosts and spirits I'd summoned on the road to Baia burst between us. They were all around, translucent and luminescent in shades of pale green, blue, yellow, and silver. I'd let loose all of my defenses, let myself succumb to my emotions in a way I hadn't been able to when Dimitri first caught me. The ring's healing power had barely kept me in check just now, but it was gone. I had no barriers on my power. Dimitri sprang back, wide-eyed. Like the Strigoi on the road, he waved his hands around, swatting the spirits as one would mosquitoes. His hands passed right through them, ineffectual. Their attack was more or less ineffectual too. They couldn't physically hurt him, but they could affect the mind, and they were damned distracting. What had Mark said? The dead hate the undead. And from the way these ghosts swarmed Dimitri, it was clear that they did. I stepped back, scanning the ground below me. There. The ring's silver gleamed up at me from a puddle. I reached down and grabbed it, then ran off and left Dimitri to his fate. He wasn't exactly screaming, but he was making some horrible noises. That tore at me, but I kept going, running toward the bridge. I reached it a minute or so later. It was as high as I'd feared, but it was sturdy and well built, if narrow. It was the kind of country bridge that only one car at a time could cross. â€Å"I've come this far,† I muttered, staring up at the bank. It was not only higher than the one I'd fallen down, it was also steeper. I pocketed the ring and stake and then reached out, digging my hands into the ground. I was going to have to half-crawl, half-climb this one. My ankle got a slight reprieve; this was all upper-body strength now. As I climbed, however, I began to notice something. Faint flashes in my periphery. An impression of faces and skulls. And a throbbing pain in the back of my head. Oh no. This had happened before too. In this panicked state, I couldn't maintain the defenses I usually did to keep the dead away from myself. They were now approaching me, more curious than belligerent. But as their numbers grew, it all became as disorienting as what Dimitri was now experiencing. They couldn't hurt me, but they were freaking me out, and the telltale headache that came with them was starting to make me dizzy. Glancing back toward him, I saw something amazing. Dimitri was still coming. He really was a god, a god who brought death closer with each footstep. The ghosts still swarmed him like a cloud, yet he was managing progress, one agonizing step at a time. Turning back, I continued my climb, ignoring my own glowing companions as best I could. At long last, I reached the top of the bank and stumbled onto the bridge. I could barely stand, my muscles were so weak. I made it a few more steps and then collapsed to my hands and knees. More and more spirits were spinning around, and my head was on the verge of exploding. Dimitri still made his slow progress but was a ways from the bank yet. I tried to stand again, using the bridge's rails for support, and failed. The rough grating on the bridge scraped my bare legs. â€Å"Damn.† I knew what I had to do to save myself, though it could very well end up killing me, too. With trembling hands, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring. I shook so badly that I felt certain I'd drop it. Somehow, I held on and managed to slide it onto my finger. A small surge of warmth radiated from it into me, and I felt a tiny bit of control settle into my body. Unfortunately, the ghosts were still there. The traces of that fear, of dying or turning Strigoi, were still in me, but it had lessened now that I was out of immediate danger. Feeling less unstable, I sought for the barriers and control I usually kept up, desperate to slam them into place and drive my visitors away. â€Å"Go, go, go,† I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut. The effort was like pushing on a mountain, an impossible obstacle that no one could have the strength for. This was what Mark had warned about, why I shouldn't do this. The dead were a powerful asset, but once called, they were difficult to get rid of. What had he said? Those who danced on the edge of darkness and insanity shouldn't risk this. â€Å"Go!† I shouted, throwing my last bit of strength into the effort. One by one, the phantoms around me vanished. I felt my world settle back into its rightful order. Only, when I looked down, I saw that the ghosts had left Dimitri too-as I'd suspected. And just like that, he was on the move again. â€Å"Damn.† My word of the night. I managed to get on my feet this time as he sprinted up the slope. Again, he was slower than usual-but still more than fast enough. I began backing up, never taking my eyes off of him. Getting rid of the ghosts had given me more strength, but not what I needed to get away. Dimitri had won. â€Å"Another shadow-kissed effect?† he asked, stepping onto the bridge. â€Å"Yeah.† I swallowed. â€Å"Turns out ghosts don't much like Strigoi.† â€Å"You didn't seem to like them much either.† I took another slow step backward. Where could I go? As soon as I turned around to run, he'd be on me. â€Å"So, did I go far enough for you to not want to turn me?† I asked as cheerfully as I could manage. He gave me a wry, twisted smile. â€Å"No. Your shadow-kissed abilities have their uses†¦ Too bad they'll go away when you're awakened.† So. That was still his plan. In spite of how much I'd infuriated him, he still wanted to keep me around for eternity. â€Å"You're not going to awaken me,† I said. â€Å"Rose, there's no way you can-â€Å" â€Å"No.† I climbed up onto the railing of the bridge, swinging one leg over. I knew what had to happen now. He froze. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"I told you. I'll die before I become Strigoi. I won't be like you or the others. I don't want that. You didn't want that, once upon a time.† My face felt cold as a night breeze blew over it, the result of stealthy tears on my cheeks. I swung my other leg over and peered down at the swiftly moving water. We were a lot more than two stories up. I'd hit the water hard, and even if I survived that fall, I didn't have the strength to out swim the current and get to shore. As I stared down, contemplating my death, I thought back to when Dimitri and I sat in the backseat of an SUV once, discussing this very topic. It was the first time we'd sat near each other, and every place our bodies touched had been warm and wonderful. He'd smelled good-that scent, that scent of being alive was gone now, I realized-and he'd been more relaxed than usual, ready to smile. We'd talked about what it meant to be alive and in full control of your soul-and what it meant to become one of the undead, to lose the love and light of life and all those you'd known. We'd looked at each other and agreed death was better than that fate. Looking at Dimitri now, I had to agree. â€Å"Rose, don't.† I heard true panic in his voice. If he lost me over the edge, I was gone. No Strigoi. No awakening. For me to be turned, he needed to kill me by drinking my blood and then feed blood back to me. If I jumped, the water would kill me, not bloodletting. I would be long dead before he found me in the river. â€Å"Please,† he begged. There was a plaintive note to his voice, one that startled me. It twisted my heart. It reminded me too much of the living Dimitri, the one who wasn't a monster. The one who'd cared for me and loved me, who'd believed in me and made love to me. This Dimitri, the one who was none of those things, took two careful steps forward, then stopped again. â€Å"We need to be together.† â€Å"Why?† I asked softly. The word was carried away on the wind, but he heard. â€Å"Because I want you.† I gave him a sad smile, wondering if we'd meet again in the land of the dead. â€Å"Wrong answer,† I told him. I let go. And he was right there, sprinting out to me with that insane Strigoi speed as I started to fall. He reached out and caught one of my arms, dragging me back onto the railing. Well, half-dragging. Only part of me made it over; the rest still hung out over the river. â€Å"Stop fighting me!† he said, trying to pull on the arm he held. He was in a precarious position himself, straddling the rail as he tried to lean over far enough to get me and actually hold onto me. â€Å"Let go of me!† I yelled back. But he was too strong and managed to haul most of me over the rail, enough so that I wasn't in total danger of falling again. See, here's the thing. In that moment before I let go, I really had been contemplating my death. I'd come to terms with it and accepted it. I also, however, had known Dimitri might do something exactly like this. He was just that fast and that good. That was why I was holding my stake in the hand that was dangling free. I looked him in the eye. â€Å"I will always love you.† Then I plunged the stake into his chest. It wasn't as precise a blow as I would have liked, not with the skilled way he was dodging. I struggled to get the stake in deep enough to his heart, unsure if I could do it from this angle. Then, his struggles stopped. His eyes stared at me, stunned, and his lips parted, almost into a smile, albeit a grisly and pained one. â€Å"That's what I was supposed to say†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he gasped out. Those were his last words. His failed attempt to dodge the stake had made him lose his balance on the edge. The stake's magic made the rest easy, stunning him and his reflexes. Dimitri fell. He nearly took me with him, and I just barely managed to break free of him and cling to the railing. He dropped down into the darkness-down, down into the blackness of the Ob. A moment later he disappeared from sight. I stared down after him, wondering if I would see him in the water if I squinted hard enough. But I didn't. The river was too dark and too far away. Clouds moved back over the moon, and darkness fell over everything again. For a moment, staring down and realizing what I'd just done, I wanted to throw myself in after him, because surely there was no way I could go on living now. You have to. My inner voice was much calmer and more confident than it should have been. The old Dimitri would want you to live. If you really loved him, then you have to go on. With a shaking breath, I climbed over the rail and stood back on the bridge, surprisingly grateful for its security. I didn't know how I would go on living, but I knew that I wanted to. I wasn't going to feel fully safe until I was on solid ground, and with my body falling apart, I began to cross the bridge one step at a time. When I was on the other side, I had a choice. Follow the river or the road? They veered off from each other slightly, but both headed roughly in the direction of the city's lights. I opted for the road. I didn't want to be anywhere near the river. I would not think about what had just happened. I couldn't think about it. My brain refused. Worry about staying alive first. Then worry about how you're going to live. The road, while clearly rural, was flat and packed and made for easy walking-for anyone else. A light rain began falling, which just added insult to injury. I kept wanting to sit and rest, to curl up in a ball and think of nothing else. No, no, no. The light. I had to go toward the light. That almost made me laugh out loud. It was funny, really. Like I was someone having a near-death experience. Then I did laugh. This whole night had been full of near-death experiences. This was the least of them. It was also the last, and as much as I longed for the city, it was too far away. I'm not sure how long I walked before I finally had to stop and sit. Just a minute, I decided. I'd rest for a minute and then keep moving. I had to keep moving. If by some crazy chance I'd missed his heart, Dimitri could be climbing out of the river at any moment. Or other surviving Strigoi could be coming after me from the manor. But I didn't get up in a minute. I think I may have slept, and I honestly don't know how long I'd been sitting there when headlights suddenly spurred me to alertness. A car slowed down and came to a stop. I managed to get to my feet, bracing myself. No Strigoi got out. Instead, an old human man did. He peered at me and said something in Russian. I shook my head and backed up a step. He leaned into the car and said something, and a moment later, an older woman joined him. She looked at me and her eyes widened, face compassionate. She said something gentle-sounding and held out her hand to me, cautious in the way one would be when approaching a feral animal. I stared at her for several heavy seconds and then pointed at the purple horizon. â€Å"Novosibirsk,† I said. She followed my gesture and nodded. â€Å"Novosibirsk.† She pointed to me and then to the car. â€Å"Novosibirsk.† I hesitated a little longer and then let her lead me into the backseat. She took off her coat and laid it over me, and I noticed then that I was soaked from the rain. I had to be a mess after everything I'd been through tonight. It was a wonder they'd even stopped. The old man began driving again, and it occurred to me I could have just gotten in a car with serial killers. But then, how would that be any different from the rest of my night? The mental and physical pain were starting to drag me under, and with my last effort, I wet my lips and choked out another gem from my Russian vocabulary. â€Å"Pazvaneet?† The woman looked back at me in surprise. I wasn't sure if I had the word right. I might have just asked for a pay phone instead of a cell phone-or maybe I'd asked for a giraffe-but hopefully the message came through regardless. A moment later, she reached into her purse and handed me a cell phone. Even in Siberia, everyone was wired. With shaking hands, I dialed the number I now had memorized. A female voice answered. â€Å"Allo.† â€Å"Sydney? This is Rose†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 

Beauty essay & Health

Numerous documents and articles criticize and downplay physical beauty. Credible, educated sources encouraging physical beauty are few and far between. Society fetishly discredits standards and beliefs Marilyn Monroe established. Media reporters emphasize Marilyn wore a size 16. By today’s standards, a size 16 is obese. These reports fail to inform audiences a size 16 at that time is comparable to a size 3 today.Health warnings accompany hair bleaching, tanning, and weight control. Political influences attempt to change opinions regarding physical beauty.Political correctness regarding physical beauty standards controls words used by the media. Words used by the media have no impact on reality. Looks do matter. Physical attractiveness and weight management opens realities regarding career, relationships, luck, court decisions, and better health care. Physical appearances determine first impressions. Vision senses override audible senses. Political influences imply obesity is s ocially acceptable. An overweight person gives the impression of increased risk for injuries and insurance claims in the workplace.Before job applicants say the first words, an unchangeable opinion formed in the interviewers mind. Political correctness portrayed by media reporters or women’s groups does not change perceptions of an obese person. Blonds attract more attention, therefore more customers. People seeking potential dates or marriage partners gives priority to their identity, not research. Individuals are perceived by the appearance of his or her mate. Personal priorities determine individual opinions of physical beauty. Contradiction describing physical beauty is everywhere.Career objectives, goals of attracting certain marriage partners, and other life decisions determine which research and statistics regarding physical attractiveness accepted. External physical appearances visually display personal lifestyle choices. People who prioritize excellent or improved he alth disregard research stating extra body weight is healthier than being thin. Proportionate weight results from selecting healthy food choices and participation in effective cardio exercise. People walking around with 12% body fat and visible muscles live a significantly different lifestyle than someone weighing 115 pounds.Athletic people avoid restaurants, eat clean foods, and organize his or her life around exercise and proper nutrition. Someone concerned with weight management and general health keeps his or her calories low and exercise moderately. Athletic lifestyles are too intense for ordinary individuals with average goals. Friends are selected or rejected based on their visible lifestyles. A person’s weight is an advertisement of daily living habits. Society views weight as a measure of physical appearance. Body image acceptance is often translated as a measure of self esteem, happiness and self-worth.People wishing to change his or her weight desire to change thei r priorities. Anorexia nervosa inevitably shows up every time physical appearance is mentioned. Anorexia nervosa is a mental illness. Physical appearance plays very little part in anorexia. People obsessively refusing to eat are acting out a fear relevant to obesity from his or her past. Perhaps someone remembered from childhood developed a drug problem. Weight gain triggered the drug problem. Depriving the physical body of food has nothing in common with dieting down to 95 or 100 pounds.The media and psychologists attempt to associate the two behaviors. They have nothing in common. Media, psychologists, and investigative reporters imply eating disorders is a desire to become thin. Society pushes theories implying thinness is unattractive. Physicians and dieticians emphasize weight is determined by genes and hereditary. These findings are to discourage eating disorders. Verbally, this logic may be accepted. In actual behavior, the idea is rejected. A self confident person remains un changed by outside influences.Self confidence encourages behavior resulting in pleasant physical appearance. No one obtains above average looks by accident. Extremely attractive people stir up negative emotions from others. â€Å"Beauty draws as much hostility as it does desire. Other women hate you. If you are not available or interested, men hate you too. Beauty makes other people who are insecure about their own looks resentful, which erects a barrier that can be difficult to bridge† (Shriver, 2006). Beautiful women constantly receive make-up tips, suggestions to change their hair or fashion advice.Secure people ignore such suggestions. Self esteem is hardly affected by advice, insults and any media program. Fitness industries would close. Society’s opinions are ever changing regarding perception of physical beauty. Changeable opinions are verbal. Reactions physically attractive people receive remain focused. Reactions to physical attractiveness are never planned. G entlemen offering their seat to an attractive lady, smiles, heads turning, stares, insults, envy, and unplanned facial expressions are true constant perceptions of physical beauty.Marilyn Monroe symbolizes beauty. Extremist groups continuously seek ways to alter the perception of Marilyn Monroe’s physical characteristics. Research attempts to alter behavior emphasizing health risks. Health scares do not change actual behavior. The reality to change what is accepted as physical beauty never changes. Notes; Lionel, Shriver, (8/16/2006) The Curse of Beauty, Daily Manuel. http://search. ebscohost. com/login. aspx? direct=true&db=nfh&AN=21963650&site=ehost-live

Advertising Practices in the US and the UK Essay

In spite of the many cultural similarities between the United States and the United Kingdom, there are significant differences between American and British television advertising. Advertising content in the two countries is substantially different today, even though early British television adverts had a tendency to be made in the American style, and supported by American research methodologies, when television advertising was introduced into British culture in 1955 (Lannon, 1986). Although several differences in the two countries’ television advertising practices have been identified in previous research, this study focuses on one in particular: difference in ad content. This research sets out to discuss said differences in ad content and explores the motivations for these differences. This discussion will examine specific media groups in two different societies and discuss their differences, contributing to developing an understanding of different kinds of media practices. Comparing advertising practices in the United States and United Kingdom is relevant for several reasons: because both countries are highly developed industrial consumer societies, consequently, the same categories of consumer products would be expected to appear in both countries; the British system of regulating TV advertising has been regarded superior to the American approach (Buell, 1977); the deep-seated and widespread belief in the United Kingdom that British culture and American culture are both individually based on different assumptions that are reflected in their respective advertising practices (Weinberger & Spotts, 1989a). Advertising Defined â€Å"Advertising – apart from its more or less hidden purposes – is a form of communication between a sender and a receiver of a message† (Borrelli, 2010). Advertising is deemed as the business of â€Å"bringing into notice; spec. by paid announcement in a printed journal, by prominent display of placards, etc† (Online Oxford English Dictionary), an activity to â€Å"the action of calling something to the attention of the public especially by paid announcements† (Merriam Webster Online). It does not matter whether the advertised item is a product, a service or a better version of ourselves (Myers, 1994). According to Sherry (1987), â€Å"advertising is a system of symbols synthesized from the entire range of culturally determined ways of knowing that is accessible through ritual and oriented toward both secular and sacred dimensions of transcendental experience in hyperindustrial society†(pp. 443-444). McLuhan (1970) refers to it as the cave art of the twentieth century. As art, Williams (1980) perceives advertising as the official art of modern capitalist society, Feasley (1984) as fitting the definition of art by its enrichment and intensification of life, as well as a reflection of our lives, and Borghini, Visconti, Anderson & Sherry (2010) as matching the tendency of art to embody universal fantasies, feelings, and thoughts advertising expresses the rational and emotional experiences and moods of consumers. In his analysis of advertising, Schudson (1984) describes advertising as capitalist realism, which he defines as a set of aesthetic practices promoting and celebrating a certain political economy. Schudson’s (1984) description comes from his understanding of socialist realism, which presents a standard version of reality that is simplified, collective, optimistic, progressive, and socially integrative. Capitalist realism celebrates the choice of the consumer in defense of materialism and individualism by representing consumer satisfaction as an idealized form. â€Å"‘Advertising is capitalism’s way of saying â€Å"I love you† to itself’—(and, as we all know, love means never having to say you’re sorry) (Weinberger & Spotts, 1989a, pp. 44). † Accordingly, Csikszentmihalyi & Rochberg-Halton (1981) say that advertising promotes forms of materialism that are instrumental as well as terminal. Advertising works at the level of semiology to provide goods with meaning, and at the level of semiotics to bring together domestic and political economies into a culture whose dominant force is consumption. By teaching the meaning of and use of goods, advertising helps create understanding; it helps make the categories of culture stable and visible (Douglas & Isherwood, 1979). Semiology is the study of signs and symbols from a general point of view, and through its different meanings, semiotics, by defining a framework, analyzes the signs within this framework and through differentiation with other elements, allows one to make a selection and be more precise in the understanding of the meaning (Depaux, 2011). Semiology and semiotics are especially useful in examining the communication of messages (Ashwin, 1984). Symbols create a culture’s worldview and philosophy. A cultural system acts as both a model of and a model for reality. Advertising can then be seen to shape and reflect reality. Thus, advertising can be viewed as a cultural system, and individual advertisements as a performance exhibiting the larger system (Sherry, 1987). Although research on this topic is underdeveloped (Borghini et al. , 2010), McCracken (1988) says that advertising messages have a cultural meaning in everyday life. Additionally, Elliot (1997) and Willis (1990) discuss advertising as a cultural product consumed symbolically by consumers independently of the products being advertised. So, as British and American cultures are both based on different assumptions (Carey, 1975; Lannon, 1986), and as advertising can be viewed as a cultural system, the two respective cultures (American and British) are mirrored in their respective advertising. Effects of Culture How does television advertising content in the United States and the United Kingdom reflect cultural differences? Consumers in different countries have different ways of deciding which brands to purchase (Zaichkowsky & Sood, 1989), and they have different attitudes about advertising (Durvasala, S. Andrews, J. C. , Lyonski, S. , & Netemeyer, R. G. , 1993). These different ways of doing and thinking about things is called culture; it is the complex of values, ideas, attitudes, and other meaningful symbols that allow persons to communicate, interpret, and evaluate as members of a society (Engel, Blackwell & Miniard, 1995). Every culture is a complex web of social relations, religious beliefs, languages and consumption attitudes and habits. All of which impact how advertising is delivered and received by society members (Tse, Belk & Zhou, 1989). Abd. Rahim and Osman (2005) conducted a study that examined how commercials in Malaysia were impacted by globalization. As a part of their research, they made use of ten consumer culture constructs that were developed by Harris and Morgan (1987) and later adapted by Engel, Blackwell and Miniard (1990) to rationalize how advertising is effective in creating our culture. According to Abd. Rahim and Osman (2005) these constructs are â€Å"projected† (p. 36) into advertisements. The constructs are: 1) sense of self and space, 2) communication and language, 3) dress and appearance, 4) food and feeling habits, 5) time and time consciousness, 6) relationships, 7) value and norms, 8) beliefs and attitudes, 9) mental processes and learning and 10) work habits and practices. Alden, Steenkamp and Batra (1999) support the existence and use of these constructs with their culture positioning theory that implies that, as a rule there are three brand positioning strategies used in advertising strategies, specifically the Local, Foreign and Global Consumer Culture Positioning (LCCP, FCCP, and GCCP). Those behaviors are categorized in the form of identification in advertisements to whether they are local, foreign or global in terms of brand positioning† (Abd. Rahim & Osman, 2005, p. 36). The ten culture constructs paired with the culture positioning theory further sustain the advertising as a cultural system concept and shed light on the cultural reasons behind the differences in advertising content across geographical boundaries. Abd. Rahim and Osman (2005) suggest that the most profound effect of advertising upon consumers is in creating a culture that values the pursuit of certain lifestyles. David Slayden (1999) offers a complementary view to Abd. Rahim and Osman’s (2005) assessment of advertising effects: advertising identifies the important myths, symbols, and stories of culture and associates them with a product or service. Initially, British advertising often mirrored American ad experience. During this time, commercials were highly â€Å"unsuited to British tastes† (Nevett, 1992, p. 65). Commercials were being branded as intrusive. British television in the 50s was drastically different from American television; it had only one channel (BBC1) and saturation was low, only 16 percent coverage of private homes (Moskowitz, 1953). The introduction of commercial television into British life was a public corporation with a charter from the government, Independent Television Authority (ITV) (Burdett, 1955). ITV was proposed with the intention to set new standards of technical excellence, â€Å"bring â€Å"new verve into political discussions, improve the pace, and revive personality† (Burdett, 1955, p. 184). The BBC channel was inadequate, to say the least. As a service without a rival, it has tended to coast along†¦when it comes to drama and popular entertainment, one misses the technical proficiency and the pace and brightness of American TV productions†¦the accidents that happen on BBC television are startling to an American viewer. No one seems dismayed here if transmission breaks down and the screen goes black for five minutes. No one seems surprised if a program runs over for fifteen or twenty minutes; and if you see a news anchor talking, but there’s no voice—well that happens too. From time to time, the stagehands will wander out in front of the camera. Its all very casual†¦announcers are supposed to be as devoid of personality as conceivably possible. (Burdett, 1955, pp. 183-184) Also during this time, opinion leaders were opposed to the commercialization of British television: â€Å"The TV monster†¦would bring in its wake a host of undesirable things—the debasement of taste, the corruption of youth, the breakdown of law, and a huckster’s riot of vulgarity† (Burdett, 1955, p. 180). Lord Reith compared commercial television to smallpox, the Black Death, and the Bubonic Plague; when approved by Parliament in 1955, it did so against fierce opposition in the House of Lords (Nevett, 1992). British advertising then underwent a evolution during the 60s and 70s in an effort to infuse ‘Britishness’ (Dickason, 2000, p. 162) into their advertising practices, and additionally to revoke Americanization of British television. In an effort to sell a product and entertain a viewer at the same time, the advertiser â€Å"accepted that he was an unwanted visitor in peoples homes; if they were to let him in at all, or to let him return regularly, then he had better behave politely, quietly, and entertainingly† (Garrett, 1986). British advertising began to employ understated humor and a soft-sell approach, and had begun to make frequent use of features inherent in British culture, such as the persistence of class separation and affection for eccentricity (Nevett, 1992). Soft sell focuses predominantly on the entertainment factor of commercials and is considered noninvasive. As opposed to British advertising, American advertising techniques implore a hard-sell approach. This hard sell approach focuses on disseminating information and pressuring the consumer to buy.

Elder Abuse Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Elder Abuse - Assignment Example The impact that physical and emotional abuses have on old persons exacerbate the process of aging and the diseases that accompany the process. This complicates the ability of elders to leave the abusive relationship. Kinship obligations and use of extended family to resolve emerging issues complicate the resolution of abuses, especially if the victim is a woman. This paper is a case analysis of Harriet Fields case of elder abuse. Case Analysis A Summary of the Facts in the Case The case centres on elder abuse. The case is about Harriet Fields, an 88-year-old widow. Mrs. Fields lives with her son, Bernard, who is 55 years old and has lived with his mother all his life. Bernard has been unsuccessful in finding work, partly because he is unenthusiastic about it and because of his age. Mrs. Fields’ advanced age restrains her from undertaking many activities; this has contributed to her growing isolation from the rest of society. She no longer attends church services regardless of her strong religiosity (Payne, 2005). This prompted her pastor to visit her monthly. At some stage in the visits, the pastor became aware of Mrs. Fields’ injuries, which she had sustained from physical abuse by her son, Bernard. However, this was not an isolated incident as Mrs. Fields had been suffering successive physical abuse. She had not sought medical attention nor reported the incidences to the authorities. The pastor sought help from protective service workers, an unpleasant decision to Mrs Fields. Mrs. Fields’ case exhibited a lack of caregiver support. Mrs. Fields is also neglected as exhibited by unkemptness. She was also suffering from the diseases associated with aging such as poor vision and hearing capability (Payne, 2008). The protective officers notified the nurse and the police who visited her and offered her attention. Mrs. Fields was less enthusiastic about the recommendations of the police and the nurse. On confronting Bernard, the protection offic er learnt that he was unapologetic, blaming it all on her provocation. Mrs. Fields’ elderly relatives were also defensive of Bernard’s actions by dispelling accusations that he was an alcoholic. Main Problems in the case The problems highlighted by the case encompass abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Bernard subjected his mother to physical abuse and financial exploitation as well as mistreatment. In addition, Bernard subjects her to emotional abuse arising from verbal attacks and threats, which degrade and humiliate her (Grande, 2004). Mrs. Fields’ life also manifests abandonment fueled by loneliness and self-neglect whereby she disregards personal hygiene and health care. Her own actions or inactions such as unwillingness to seek medical care manifest self-harm and endangerment (Payne, 2005). Isolation aggravated the risk to abuse since Mrs. Fields kept a low social profile thus making the abuse go unnoticed. How the two theories explain the problems and the n eeds Feminist theory Feminist perspectives explain and respond to oppressive positions of women in most societies. Feminist perspectives delve more in increasing consciousness on women’s roles and positions. Feminist ideas lean towards radical transformation in societies (Payne, 2008). Feminists hold that social and institutional factors shape the positions of women in a patriarchal society. Feminists believe that the patriarchal society manifests increased domination in terms of privilege and empowerment of men. The provision of varying insights depending on the feminist premises yields different types of feminism, which are diverse, competing, and often contradictory (Grande, 2004). The five key feminist theoretical perspectives include liberal

Reflection scenario based essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Reflection scenario based - Essay Example Abuse does not only include physical or verbal abuse. They are of different types and can occur at home, hospital wards, at work or in nursing homes (Age UK, 2013). The term neglect means not getting appropriate services, facilities, treatment and stuff which make you feel comfortable and safe (Tidy, 2013). Older adults are people above the age of 65 referring to the retirement age ( Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2010). They are frail and dependent and are at great risk of getting abused. This paper will discuss how older adults in the acute mental ward are safeguarded and which issues are mostly faced depending upon the particular scenarios. In acute adult wards safeguarding patients of old age is a very challenging task. While safeguarding patients the health care providers encounter several issues. As, in the old age people become very weak a slight physical harm may result into bruises or fractures so they need to be handled with extreme care. For the older adults suffering from mental disabilities, it is very difficult to make them understand about anything. They are almost unable to protect themselves or even participate in safeguarding therefore the responsibilities on the care providers become much higher. Older adults with mental illnesses cannot take care of their financial problems in particular because of lack of understanding and their mental incapacity. The adult ward nurses and staff have to manage their financial issues which sometimes also involve lawyers and police. Handling all these problems is more specific with older adults with mental incapacity. Being older adults the vulnerability to get abused increases, but if it is associated with mental illness the threshold of abuse becomes maximum and therefore, the problems in safeguarding also get intensified. In short, the major issues are lack of understanding due to

Microeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Microeconomics - Essay Example In addition, microeconomics looks into decisions made by businesses regarding production and prices attached to goods and services produced by individual businesses. In general, microeconomics deals with economic decisions made on a micro level (McEachern 13). A clear understanding of microeconomics is essential since it builds a platform through which macroeconomics is constructed. Macroeconomics pays attention to a wider perspective of economic issues. Its main focus is on the national economy in general, providing a basis understanding of how issues relate to each other in the world of business. It is essential to have an understanding of microeconomics and macroeconomics in order to learn how the economy works for a given country. Decisions made by firms and individuals in microeconomics are largely influenced by costs and benefits. In this case, cost can occur in the form of financial cost or opportunity costs. Financial costs can be in the form of total variable costs or average fixed costs while opportunity costs are alternatives foregone (McEachern 14). Microeconomics has a number of questions that economics under this branch of economy attempt to answer. Examples of such questions include impacts of changes on prices of goods on people’s purchasing decisions, impacts of increased income, and impacts of changes on interests on national savings. Economists are of the opinion that the market has two parts; the demand and supply part. The demand side consists of households, economic agents, and firms. These components of the demand side go to markets to source certain goods and services. The supply side comprises of suppliers who supply goods and services to specific markets. In this case, firms are the main suppliers (Boyes & Melvin 21). In markets holding finished goods, those who demand mainly comprise of consumers at household levels. Contrary to this, the main consumers of capital goods include firms such as

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

Thoreau - Essay Example mountain the value of thoughtfulness and the capacity to see, feel, and listen to every other species under the intrinsic occurrences of trouble and living. Based on this, eventually, thinking like a mountain is acknowledging the fact that nature possesses its own approach of finding a way to live and coexist with other creatures. To think like a mountain is to recognize the necessity for equilibrium in the sense that even if predation takes place in the wild, the accumulated chances of having escaped a predator cancel out with the odds of falling prey or not yielding sufficient natural resources which may lead to starvation or death. So, no matter for instance how brutish wolves could become according to the number of animal or human lives claimed from the population of the living, still the function or role of these beasts serves an indispensable contributing factor able to maintain ecological balance despite bearing potential risks at anytime. Certainly, every sincere environmentalist would be more than willing to behave in thought as such mountain does for the desired goal of conserving mother nature. Thus, an environment lover who acquires inclination to adapt to the insight of sustaining equilibrium for the advantage of the greater majority, regardless of considering which organisms may generate hazards, ascertains the core of nature and the kind of supplication that would rightfully fill in the needs thereof being perceived as a whole in a system of life whose parts complement and satisfy each other. Personally, I agree to thinking about life and nature in a similar manner. Knowing what a mountain is like, I could imagine myself in the position of a stationary witness to the flesh of evolution and each breathtaking event from which to comprehend how one form of life manages with a mode of survival or ability to communicate or interrelate with the rest of creation. Likewise, Henry David Thoreau would not in any way dispute such notion of ‘thinking like a

Tax Researh memo (Corporate Formation and Basis Calculation) Research Paper

Tax Researh memo (Corporate Formation and Basis Calculation) - Research Paper Example Fred Horn decides to contribute equipment that has a basis of $100,000 and an FMV of $80,000. Sam Yang will provide his legal services to Acme, Inc., which has an FMV of $20,000, and Wade Kent will use his know-how to develop software that will mass-produce the road runner trap. This software development is worth $75,000 and in addition, Wade Kent will contribute cash worth $100,000. The four shareholders will receive a share of stock as follows: Barry – 140, Fred –150, Sam – 40, and Wade – 350. Each share costs $500. Issue: It was the decision of the four shareholders to come together to form Acme, Inc. However, since each has a personal contribution to the formation of Acme, Inc., there are tax implications involved. Therefore, the issue is that the four shareholders would like to know what tax implications of the formation of Acme, Inc. are to them considering the analysis of their realized and recognized gains/losses. Another issue is the tax implicati on of the transaction to Acme, Inc., including the basis of the assets the shareholders will include in their books. Authorities: District of Columbia v. Universal Computers Assocs. Code Section 351 Code Section 83 Conclusion: Software is classified as a property. However, the classification of software as a property should specify that software is an intangible property. Know-how being non-discardable is also classified as a property, and more specifically as an intangible property for that matter. Any gain or loss recognized by any shareholder will be guided by the satisfaction of the conditions of the Code Section 351. Wade will not have any loss or gain recognized since there is a transfer of property. A cash or property contribution in return for long-term debt, such as bond, does not qualify for Section 351 treatment. Therefore, Wade’s cash contribution is not considered under the Code Section 351 as he receives 175,000 of stock in return. Analysis: Barry will contribut e a land and a building in return of stock shares. The land has a basis of $60,000 and an FMV of $80,000. Acme, Inc. will also assume a mortgage of $90,000 on the land. The amount realized will include $170,000 from the stock shares ($500 per stock share x 340 stock shares). Therefore, Barry will realize a gain of $20,000 of cash, $170,000 from stock and the $90,000 mortgage. The asset-by-asset analysis would be: the total amount of the FMV of the assets transferred would be $200,000 + 80,000 + 90,000, which gives $370,000. From this, the land portion is $200,000 and the building portion is $170,000, which translates to 54% for the land and 46% for the building out of 100% that represents $370,000 (total amount of the assets transferred by Barry). When portioned according to the percentages, the total FMV of the stock received would be $170,000 (Building of $91,800 + Land of $78,200). The total cash realized would be $20,000, which would come from both the building and the land, wit h the building contributing $10,800 and the land contributing $9,200. He would recognize a total of $10,800 from the land and $92,000 from the building. Therefore, his would recognize a total of $102,800 from his transfers. He would, however, receive a basis of $60,000 in stock (60,000 + 90,000 – 20,000 + 20,000 – 90,000 = 60,000). He will also have gains realized as follows: from the

Companies analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Companies analysis - Essay Example The company offers Kangaroo -TV, a medium for targeted advertising, merchandising, market surveying, and branding1. The recent history of the company shows that it has continued making losses and its share prices have dipped to CAD 0.49 (January 11, 2008: close) - an all time low. The 52 week high is recorded at $3.86 as recently as on December 2, 2007 - a drop of 87% in 17 trading sessions. The plunge thereafter is not surprising, as the stock has found its rational floor from an all time high of $7.65 on May 12, 2006. The rapid fall is despite the news emanating from the company in recent times: The share price movement indicates no connection with stock market indices; with a beta of -0.17 compared with the S&P Index. None of the other indicators like PE, Ask-Bid gap throw up any relevant numbers for analysis. Any investment in this share can only be based on a gut-feel. Technology employed by the company is unique and has good market potential. The only reason for holding this stock is the likelihood of a takeover by a larger and financially stronger company - then too the new company is not likely to offer a very high price to shareholders in case of an aggressive takeover. This stock is useless for prudent portfolio management. Any stocks held should be sold at the best possible price. World Point Terminals, Inc. ... They provide storage, blending, and transportation of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and other liquids to their customers. The company's center point terminals store residual oils, such as liquid asphalt and heavy fuels; and lights oils, such as gasoline, diesel, and heating oil. It also provides crude oil storage services through its south riding point terminal facility. In addition, the company, through a joint venture, operates a fleet of tugs providing marine services5. The company was founded in 1942. The company's stock performance has been good. Some of the key performance indicators are: PE ratio of 21.2, EPS $7.80; 52-week high $26.50; 52-week low $13.68 and present price $15.00 (January 9, 2008 close). We observe that the movement of the stock take place in a narrow band and is mostly linked to the S&P Index as indicate by a beta of 0.966. Some of the key developments announced by the company in recent times are: Financial Reports for the third quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2007 reported7. World Point Terminals Inc. Announces Earnings Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2007 World Point Terminals Declares Extraordinary Dividend Payable on December 15, 2006 The latest financial report is heartening for the investor and performance on all fronts has been good. Net profit margin is up to 30.51% for the quarter and 28.65% for the first nine months as compared to 24.41 for 2006. Return on equity is up from 10.07% in 2006 to 25.35% for the quarter; the year to date return of 11.98% reflects the temporary setbacks the company had in the first six months and it appears to be emerging out of its troubles. The extraordinary dividend (the

No Topic, Follow the attachment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

No Topic, Follow the attachment - Assignment Example Companies should work as a team not an organism. Organisms function independently from each other. If the barriers are broken down through communication future problems can be reduced and eliminated. 10. â€Å"Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and targets for the work force asking for zero defects and new levels of productivity. Such exhortations only create adversarial relationships, as the bulk of the causes of low quality and low productivity belong to the system and thus lie beyond the power of the work force†: Instead of requiring unrealistic goals, since all workers and the system are human creation, expectations should reflect a level of breakdown. Instead of quotas, employees should be encouraged to do their best. Rewards and punishments should be based on performance of the worker, not the system or machinery. For example, a broken machine should not impact the employees negatively. Machines wear down and break. Laying off employees or sending them home due to mechanical failure should be the last option. Companies always need to have cleaning, trash removal, or other mundane chores that employees can complete while their machinery is being fixed. If the factory w orkers feel that they are part of team instead of part of the machinery, work can be more productive in a comfortable environment. â€Å"Eliminate work standards (quotas) on the factory floor. Substitute leadership†: Instead of quotas, leaders should be on the factory floor encouraging good work habits. If a leader, manager, or foreman is visible, employees have an incentive to work harder. When seeing an employee talking on a cell phone, or being unproductive a leader can nip it in the bud right then. â€Å"Eliminate management by objective. Eliminate management by numbers, numerical goals. Substitute leadership†: Management that is not seen but heard through dictates, letters, or other means does not impact the employees as much as true leadership

Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

Speech - Essay Example The avialability of a male figure in the family is important for the complete development of the children. In a family, the father offers a sense of security to both the children and a mother (Rosenberg & Wilcox, 2006). He assumes the responsibility of assuring everyone in the family that no matter what everything will be okay. According to a report by Children’s Bureau, emphasize fathers provide a sense of physical and economic security that helps in healthy development of the children. He gives a sense of peace to the mother who knows she has someone she can rely on to love and protect her (Vacca, 2013). According to research, families without fathers are likely to suffer economically compared to families with fathers. It implies fathers are important for the economic status of families. In addition, fathers are key factors in the cognitive development of their children. I am certain that those who had a chance to be taught how to read, write or ride a bike by their dads still remember those moments with nostalgia (Strauss, 2014). The presence of a caring father will always be a source of immense of happiness and peace of mind for the whole family. In conclusion, fathers are critical to family stability and healthy development of children. Fathers offer the basic sense of security to the mother and children. They are the male figures for developing children. The presence of fathers at the home is a necessity that we cannot afford to overlook. Vacca, J. J. (2013). The Parenting Process from the Fathers Perspective: Analysis of Perceptions of Fathers about Raising Their Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Best Practice in Mental Health, 9(2),

Phoenix Agency Roanoke Branch Essay Example for Free

Phoenix Agency Roanoke Branch Essay A parasitic disease is defined as any disease resulting from the presence of any life cycle stage of parasite. Cheyletiella are mites that live on the skin, causing irritation, dandruff, and itchiness. A distinguishing feature of this mite species are the large, claw-like mouth parts. These mites can be found quite commonly on cats, dogs, rabbits, and other species. Though humans are not a natural host for this parasite, Cheyletiella mites can happily live on humans for a while, causing an itchy rash. Cheyletiella parasitovorax, also known as walking dandruff, is a mild dermatitis caused by fur mites in rabbits. It’s often referred to as walking dandruff as the mite can sometimes be seen moving under the dandruff scales. It is primarily transmitted by direct contact between infested and non-infested rabbits. The mites can survive in the environment for several days, so spread may also occur through contaminated hay or bedding. The presence of fur mites is not always easy to determine. When present, Cheyletiella parasitovorax is most likely to be found on the dorsum and neck of the rabbit. Signs and symptoms include thinning of the hair over the shoulders and back, red oily hairless patches over the back and head, dandruff, and mild-to-moderate pruritus. Rabbits may not show any signs of infestation. Though sometimes Cheyletiella mites can be seen moving about on the skin, in many cases they can be quite difficult to find . Diagnosis is made by identification of the mite. This may be possible with the naked eye or using a magnifying glass in heavier infestations. In other cases it may be necessary to examine hair or skin scrapings under a microscope. Examining dandruff, hairs or scrapings of the skin under the microscope can positively identify the mites or eggs. By combing the coat of an infested rabbit over a piece of black paper and observing the paper for â€Å"moving dandruff is another way a diagnosis is made. There are several different treatments available. The veterinarian usually determines which one is best for the rabbit. Most commonly treatment involves a course of either injections or spot on treatments. Dips in lime sulfur and injections of ivermectin have been used to treat an infestation with these mites. The rabbit should be re-examined at the end of the course of treatment to ensure that the infestation has cleared completely. It is just as important to ensure that the environment is properly treated, in order to avoid re-infestation. This is done by removing all hay, bedding, and toys. Once removed disinfect them thoroughly, then use an insecticidal fog or spray that is effective against Cheyletiella. Some veterinarians recommend preventative treatment with kitten-strength Revolution for rabbits who are particularly prone to mite infestations. Dosage amount and frequency will be determined by the size of the rabbit, along with its medical history. There is no vaccine available to prevent this disease. Cheyletiella is considered to be a possible zoonotic infection. Most people are exposed through handling of infested pets. Infection is typically transient and self-limiting in people because constant contact with infected animals is needed to maintain infection with humans. Occasionally humans exposed to this parasite will develop mild skin lesions. These may be itchy and can form open sores in very severe cases. Anyone handling diseased rabbits should thoroughly wash their hands and use appropriate caution to prevent from being infected. Cheyletiella parasitovorax isn’t a reportable disease. I would educate clients about Cheyletiella by use of posters, charts and pictures. I would also send home brochures and websites for them to read over. These materials would describe the cause, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Cheyletiella.

The Irony In The Truman Show English Literature Essay

The Irony In The Truman Show English Literature Essay Truman from The Truman Show and Meursault from The Stranger both have things that foreshadow their ultimate choices in life, which include symbolism, existential themes, and irony. In The Truman Show , there is irony present throughout the whole movie. During most of the film, Truman wanted to leave Seahaven and go explore the world. He had a desire to do more than just live a quaint, common life. He is unique, and it is his motivation that makes him stand out. His enduring determination helped him find the answer. For example, he almost drowned during a storm while sailing, but he persisted on. Truman got an answer, but it may not have been the answer he was searching for. Once Truman learned that his life was a television show, he realized he would not be as unique if he left. He would not be the center of attention, and now wants to be just an ordinary person outside of Seahaven. There also irony present throughout The Stranger, as Meursault also has somewhat of an epiphany towards the end of the novel. Throughout the story, Meursault is indifferent to many things and does not show strong moral values. For example, he kills a man without strong reasoning. After getting sentenced to death, he truly realizes why he is getting punished for his actions. He understands what will happen to him and accepts it. Ironically, instead of having moral thoughts or feelings of remorse, he believes that hatred of him would make him feel less alone. However, he realizes he becomes happier when he better understands human existence and purpose. As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself-so like a brother, really-I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to fe el less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate, (Part 2, Chapter 5, P.123). He feels lonely, and it is the hate from the crowd of spectators that help him feel less alone. Meursault faced a lot of things like an existentialist. For example, he was ready to accept his consequence after he shot the Arab. He also was ready for death, knowing it is inevitable. Some existential themes include freewill, controlling your own fate, accepting your fate, and taking responsibility for your own actions. These themes are all present in The Stranger. It was the freewill that led him to shooting the Arab, because he was in total control. He chose his fate, accepted the consequences, and took responsibility for what he did. For example, he realized he was going to die, and accepted it. There are also existentialist themes in The Truman Show. Although the shows creator, Christof, tried to keep Truman in Seahaven, he ultimately could not. Trumans freewill and control of his own fate led him to discovering the truth about Seahaven, and thus controlling the outcome of his life. He accepted the reality of his life being centered around a television show, but moved on by leaving Seahaven. Although Trumans artificial world came to an end, he entered reality as he left Seahaven. Symbolically, Trumans fake world coming to an end was foreshadowed by a previous event. The light fixture that fell as Truman left his home symbolized things starting to fall apart. Shortly after this even, there were more examples that caused him to be suspicious and doubtful of the world around him. Another great example of symbolism in the film was the unfinished bridge that Truman and Marlon had conversations on. Truman was always uncertain of something when he spoke to Marlon on the bridge, and it could represent Trumans unfulfilled life and uncertainty. Although Trumans life was unfulfilled in his eyes, there is something that foreshadows him traveling in the future and discovering something. The name of his sailboat was the Santa Maria, which was a famous boat that Columbus sailed to America on. This foreshadowed Truman leaving the town of Seahaven to explore a completely new world. There is much symbolism present in The Stranger as well. For example, Mersault does not like being uncomfortable, especially from the weather. Many perceive the sun as a source of warmth, sometimes beauty, but Meursault dislikes the heat. The sun normally brings joy, emotional warmth or comfort to an individual, but Meursault seems to dislike feeling emotional in any way. He also dislikes heat from the sun. The sun was a barrier of Mersaults emotions. It also led him to murder. While walking on the beach, Meursault encountered the Arab again. The Arab reflected light off of his knife from the sun. Meursault thought to himself, All I could feel were the cymbals of sunlight crashing on my forehead and, instinctively, the dazzling spear flying up from the knife in front of me. The scorching blade slashed at my eyelashes and stabbed at my stinging eyes, (Part 1, Ch.6, P.59). Right after this, he shot and killed the Arab. It seems like the little emotions that Meursault had took over his actions. Before walks up to the Arab and shoots him, Meursault thinks to himself, It occurred to me that all I had to do was turn around and that would be the end of it. But the whole beach, throbbing in the sun, was pressing on my back. I took a few steps toward the spring, (Part 1, Ch.6, P.58).However, towards the end of the novel he did gain some morals and understood much more about life. When he did, he looked into the window, with the sun shining behind it, and gazed at his reflection: I moved closer to the window, and in the last light of day I gazed at my reflection one more time, (Part 2, Ch.2, P.81). As you can see, existential themes, symbols and irony not only foreshadow, but affect Meursaults and Trumans ultimate choices in life.

Organisational Equality and Diversity: Māori and Non-Māori

Organisational Equality and Diversity: MÄ ori and Non-MÄ ori Lonita M. Tejano INTRODUCTION According to Lis Ellison-Loschmann (April 2006), outlined the benefits of health care status of the native peoples worldwide relevant to the underlying historical, socio-economic and political processes. The Maoris and non-Maoris health care status in the time of colonization by the British in New Zealand. The differences involve a variety factors in terms of accessibility of health care and racism. Improvement to the access to care is critical to address health disparities and increased information of Maoris and non-Maoris in terms of primary and secondary health care services. Alternatively according to the recent study Lis Ellison- Loschmann (April 2006) they use 2 principles on how Maori people improved their health care services seeking to improve health and quality of life for Maoris. According to Ramsden (1997), health status of indigenous peoples a variety factors that effect of historical, political, and social characteristics of environments their relation with the nonindig enous populations of the countries they lived. They direct on the health concepts of this common society in the effects on Maori health care services assemble in regard to their attitudes toward and social life of non-Maori population. Based on Lis Ellison-Loschmann (2006 April) outlined the benefits of life expectancy in New Zealand in this two group of people. They have a big impact in health care promoting and minimizing the indifferences that has been observed and seen by the researchers lately. According to Lis Ellison- Loschmann (2006 April) observed that Maori health in the country of New Zealand’s during the British colonization can give information in health status between the Maori ad non-Maori indifference. The government play the important role to access health care facility. The government provide two possible principle on how to promote the quality and easy way to access health care for the indigenous people firstly, how to develop the health care principle to the services secondly, and initiation of cultural safety education. BODY In a recent study, King (2003) showed that the Treaty of Waitangi and settlement that the Maoris in Aotearoa from the Pacific about 1000 years ago. According to Pool (1991) informing maybe a hundred of indigenous people arrived in New Zealand on the period of time some stories said that subsequent settlement patterns and become larger population from different version of information like verbal information and demographics recording. The expedition of James cook’s in 1769 the first encounter recorded to the Maori people and European settlers to New Zealand. Meanwhile, during the signing of Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 there was a written agreement between the Maori people protection of interest for the invaders and British settlements and they gather together with some of the Maori chiefs and representative of British crown. In this time there was 80 000 Maori population and 2000 settlers. After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi a huge group of British immigrant and Maori population become decreased and settlers doubled the population. In 1901 New Zealand population significantly reduced to 770 313 settlers whereas the Maoris by 16.5:1.3. Based on Purie (1998) indicated that the British settlers introducing to the Maori people like the infectious diseases and the usage of guns there is major impact to mortality rates to Maoris population. Furthermore, historically the socioeconomic of Maori mortality rate after invading New Zealand the most important thing the Maoris’ loss of land, mortality rate increased from the disease to the extent among those indigenous peoples who wanted to keep their lands. By this time there was a big changes to their economic status like food supplies, and social networking as a whole country. According to Purie(1998) observed that from the land confiscation from the Maori population there was a huge impact of the legislation law like the Maori rights not used language in school as Maori which lead to disparities to health in Maori society. Based to Te Ropu Rangahau a Euro Pomare (2000) found that it has been argument that has been continued a differences in indigenous and non-Maori i n health care sectors and rights of indigenous community not being treated and protected by the said treaty of social, cultural, economic, and political factors cannot be noticed in terms contributory to their health care status as a whole. However, the Maori self-determinant to seek help for health. Based on Pool (1991) in addition to that, Maori health status in New Zealand the government started implementing health care services to Maori community provide services like health promotion programs, health inspectors to work and help gradually to the economy recovery. At this time decreases in mortality rate due to implementation of national health care scheme and community welfare system by the given year 1938 through the treatment methods. Maori community lived in rural areas then they moved to urban for employment opportunities in these areas subsequently led to big population to urban migration. According to Pool (1991) indicated that significantly changes in this country’s economy from their usual way of life like cultivating lands to producing manufactured goods. Due to According to Kunitz (1994) life span significantly increased among native groups of people in this country and western world including neighboring country like Australia, whole part of Unites States of America and Canada on this given time. In comparison of the nonindigenous populations of these countries. During this period of time population become reduced due to diseases like respiratory from the changing of weather, tuberculosis and hepatitis, heart diseases due sedentary lifestyles and diabetes, different types of cancer and accident like vehicular injuries due to reckless driving much higher among Maoris than non-Maoris. A recent study (Ajwani, Blakely, Robson, Tobias Bonne, 2003) mortality rates decreased as a period of time, in regard to the differences between the two groups of people in New Zealand still the same. Based on Te Ropu Rangahau Hanuora (2000) an explanations for health disparities are numbered and said not being equal in terms of health among the two groups of people in New Zealand some said that inequalities is that genetic underlying factors influenced. Nevertheless, not significantly to race and ethnic group that genetic factors about 85%. There are factors contributed to the disparities between Maori and non-Maori like lifestyle in each individual group, the socioeconomic like not having a good job and proper place to live and easy access to health care facility and racism. The explanations are not significant but it is useful to consider them as a precipitating factors that influenced that they linked together. The first studies to help to determine the significant role of socio-economic factors and health status in two group of people there was a research about the mortality rate in men at aged of 15-64 years. Based on Sporle, Pearce, Davis (2002) found that in the most recent years researchers said that Maori men doubled the figure unlikely to non-Maori men at the very young age maybe due to socioeconomic status as a whole and ethnical social community differs the mortality rate among this group of men. A good example the level assessments of socioeconomic deprivation by the usage of census data by the New Zealand deprivation Index. Russell, Parnell, Wilson (1999) found that smoking is a lifestyle factors that can lead to socioeconomic influence to health status. Furthermore, give more importance to consider the difference between Maori and non-Maori in their own lifestyles. The latest survey by the national said that Maori smoke tobacco is higher rate than non-Maoris (53% vs. 20%).Maori men and women are obese and they have some diseases like hypertension due to sedentary lifestyles. According to Lurie (2004) observed that the access to health care is very important role to decrease mortality rate of Maori the root of this ailments promoting effective health care accessible to this group of people. In this idea access to health has been described in terms of both â€Å"access to† and â€Å"access through† health care principles making a quality of health care services that being taken by. United States of America developed a framework for measuring disparities to access health care need of people and promoting quality of service that will includes broader environmental and societal factors example is racism that can effect to access to health care needs. A recent study (Sporle et al., 1991) found that in past 20 years being discriminated and racist is very alarming in health care settings tendency minority people will not seek health care services in the primary health care facility . The Maori Asthma reported that those educated and an educated health care workers to the illness contributed to the Maori people reluctant to seek medical care for their illness until if necessary. According to Krieger (2003) observed that Maori has bad experience first encounters with health care professionals and disempowerment like to access the checking blood sugar to distinguish diabetes diseases. According to Matherson (1992) in addition, to change in health environment to New Zealand’s country the government formulated in 1930s to provide free medical care given by working medical professionals. Thus, health care system specified subsidiary to a government facility services with a secondary care controlled funding whilst in primary care funded by individual doctors. However, Maori initiates concerned on how to promote health care access to their peoples firstly, to provide Maori health care services secondly, the development of cultural safety education. The Maori health care provider’s initiative beyond the services implemented. When the time which being implemented there was a problem with budget of the government funding. In 1991 health reforms being implemented to the development of Maori health care services provider. Blaiklock AJ., Ciro A., Davenfort E., Hassal IB.,Low W., they make reforms of health care and social services that can give more gap in ineq uality as a result of self-determination regarding to education, employment of the individual, types of housing and health status. In addition to that health reforms for Maori effect to health especially the children. According to Ramsden (2002) observed that cultural safety education is playing a golden role of Maoris health care services improvement like cultural safety being implemented to protect the health care professionals and evaluate the relationship between Maori community. Nursing and Midwifery body required Nurses and midwifery to take the registration examination in New Zealand. International Council of Nurses implemented the guidelines for cultural safety for nursing student and to practice all in 118 councils. CONCLUSION Therefore I conclude, disparities in health care status between Maoris and non-Maoris contributed most likely in British colonization in New Zealand. For the past 140 years ago there was an improvement as evidenced by the overall gap in life span between the two groups of people in New Zealand. Even though their differences include the variety influences in regard to socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and discrimination to seek health care delivery system. Maori society implement to improve health care access and have two principles to help between the development of Maori provider services and encouragement of the service through cultural safety education for the health care provider. It started with the people in the community how the response to the purpose like for instance the self-determinant of Maori community in health care services and to evaluate how to improve the health care services. The government of New Zealand provide organizations and cultural safety education an examples to initiates in the government policies that have been shown either for promotion or prevention to health status of indigenous peoples. REFERENCES Ajwani S, Blakely T, Robson B. Tobias M, Bonne M. Decades of Disparity: Ethnic Mortality Trends in New Zealand 1980-1999. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health; 2003. Blaiklock AJ, Ciro CA, Belgrave M. Low W, Davenport E, Hassall IB. When the Invisible Hand Books the Cradle: New Zealand Children in a Time of change. Florence, Italy: Innocenti, Research Centre; 2002. Working Paper 93. King M. The Penguin History of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin Books: 2003. Krieger N. Does racism harm health? Did child abuse exist before 1962? On explicit questions, critical science, and current controversies: an Eco social perspective. Am J Public Health. 2003; 93: 194-199. (PMC free article) (PubMed). Kuritz S J. Disease and Social Diversity: The European Impact on the Health of Non- Europeans. New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc.; 1994. Lis Ellison- Loschmann, and Neil Pearce,: Improving Access to Health Care among New Zealand’s Maori Population. New Zealand. Doi: 10.2015/ AJPH. 2005.0707680 PMCID: PMC 1470538, Am J Public Health; 96 (4): 612-617, 2006. Lurie N. Measuring disparities in access to care. Available at: http://www.nap.edu/openbook/0309085195/html/1.html. Accessed January 8, 2004. Matheson D, ed. Health where it hurts: The story of the Newtown Union Health Science. Wellington, New Zealand: Roger Steele; 1992. Pool DI. Te iwi Maori: A New Zealand Population, Past, Present and Projected. Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University Press; 1991. Purie M. Te Mana, te Kawanatanga: The Politics of Maori Self-Determination. Auckland, New Zealand: Oxford University Press Inc.; 1998. Ramsden I. Cultural Safety and Nursing Education in Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu (dissertation). Wellington, New Zealand: Victoria University of Wellington; 2002. Ramsden I. Culture safety: Implementing Concept. The social force of nursing and midwifery. In: Te Whaiti P, McCarthy M, Durie A, eds. Mai Rangiatea: Maori Wellbeing and Development. Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University Press; 1997: 113-125. Russell D, Parnell W, Wilson N, et al. NZ food: NZ People. Key Results of the 1997 National Nutrition Survey. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health; 1999. Sporle A, Pearce N, Davis P. Social class mortality differences in Maori and non-Maori aged 15-64 during the last two decades N Z Med J. 2002 ; 115 : 127-131 ( Pub Med). Te Ropu Rangahau Haura a Euro Pomare. Counting for nothing: understanding the issues in monitoring disparities inn health. Soc Policy J N Z .2000; 14:1-16.

Where Have All The Good Ones Gone? :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Honesty. Respect. Integrity. Motivation. Dedication. Patriotism. The preceding words represent qualities many of today’s American students lack. Many US citizens question the reason behind this decline of morality within the educational system. Parents blame the teachers; teachers claim the students are unable to be taught and parents aren’t attempting to assist teachers in their quest to disperse their knowledge. As for the students, they just don’t care. Who exactly is to blame? Students? Teachers? Parents? More importantly, how this be fixed? Government programs like the recent â€Å"No Child Left Behind† Act aren’t as effective as they claim, and bribing the students with field trips and Coke float parties do not work. What is a nation, quickly filling with uneducated young adults, to do?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many theories have been tested as to why students are becoming lazy and, for lack of a better word, stupid. Most fingers are pointed towards parental control. Commercials geared towards a drug-free America tell parents to ask questions: Who? What? Where? When? Most parents are too caught up in the drama of their own lives to wonder who their kids hang out with, and where and what they are doing with them. They are more concerned with Mr. Limon not paying them for overtime or why Clint and Robert got fired. Students are ignored and seldom rewarded for good behavior. However, when Mom and Dad get a call from the school when little Johnny was caught smoking marijuana in the boys’ bathroom, it’s a different story. The parents become involved, but for all the wrong reasons. When the parents confront Johnny, he responds negatively, with slamming doors and outbursts of â€Å"You’re ruining my life† or â€Å"I can’t believe you!!† It shouldn’t take a drastic measure for children to get their parents’ attention. Parents should want to know what’s going on in their child’s life, in all aspects. In movies, the parent-teenager relationship is portrayed as something very awkward and forced. The way to solve this: change how it is seen in real life. Parents should talk to their children more, and their children will learn to trust them. In one family, a 30-something year old mother has a 16-year-old daughter. Because of their healthy relationship based on trust and understanding, the daughter considers her mother her best friend. Families need to spend more time together and less time on the run. Plan an uninterrupted family night—cell phones get turned off, computers are unplugged—where the family just plays a nice game of Monopoly or Life, or watches a movie based on positive moral values.

Essay --

Ideology â€Å"An ideology is a set of conscious and unconscious ideas that constitute one’s goals, expectations, and actions.† Today term ideology is used in many ways, which sometimes it is difficult to describe. Based on dictionary, an ideology is the body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of a(n) individual, group, class, or culture. I think from the definitions that I wrote above, ideology is the understanding that if propagated and practiced in the community then it’s called ideology. So, if someone shares something that we all understand or belief, we can call it an ideology. For example, a group of people living near the wilderness might share the ideology that it is not wise to venture into the bush alone and at night. Another example is that people who live in the city, for the most part, might believe that it make sense to look both ways before crossing a street. Common sense ideology often concerns the protection of the individual and community as a whole. Actually, ideology is an important concept to be studied in Political Science. The term ideology is ma...

Maternal Behaviors and Their Effect on the Unborn Child Essay

Pregnancy can be one of the most magical times in a woman’s life. There is nothing quite like taking care of the little person that is growing in the womb, and knowing that everything you do is going to have some kind of effect on that little person. For a vast majority of women, pregnancy is a magical time, one filled with awe and wonder. Pregnant women tend to take better care of themselves, making sure that they are providing the best environment for their growing child. Some women, however, do just the opposite and do not take care of themselves and thus harm the unborn child in their womb. There are several things that can have an adverse effect on the growing child. One of them is the mother’s nutrition. This is an easily adjustable factor, but one that some women don’t actually think about. When a woman becomes pregnant, according to www.americanpregnancy.org, she needs to consume roughly 300 more calories than normal in order to have a healthy pregnancy (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/pregnancynutrition.html). This will provide the extra nutrition that the fetus needs. If a mother does not consume enough calories, she is putting her child at risk of being malnourished. A poorly nourished infant is more likely to get sick, as they do not have the ability to fight off illness as well as a properly nourished child. There is also a possibility that undernourishment can have an impact on the mental development of a child (Feldman, 329). Proper nourishment is vital to proper development both in the womb and once the child is born. Another behavior that can have an adverse effect on the growing child is alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Alcohol is a teratogen, which is known to be harmful to human development (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/alcohol.html). Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can cause the unborn child to have fetal alcohol syndrome, or FAS. This condition causes the child to be of below-average intelligence, have facial deformities, and growth delays (Feldman, 309). According to www.marchofdimes.com, alcohol can also cause the baby to have sucking and sleeping problems, behavior problems, and speech and language delays (http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/alcohol_indepth.html). Even if a mother doesn’t drink every day, even a small amount of alcohol can have adverse effects. Fetal alcohol effects is another condition that a child can develop. With FAE, the child may have some, but not all the symptoms of FAS (Feldman, 329). When my husband and I were foster parents, it was suspected that our foster son had FAE. He did not have growth delays, necessarily, as he was the average size of a child his age, but he did have some intellectual delays, speech problems, and some behavioral issues. Over all, he was a wonderful child, he just needed some extra care and attention in certain areas to compensate for the places he lacked. Drug use is also a behavior that can cause adverse effects on an unborn child. According to www.marchofdimes.com, about 4% of women use illegal drugs during their pregnancy. These include marijuana, ecstasy, heroin, and other amphetamines. To me, that is a staggering number of women. There are many problems that a child faces if the mother used drugs during pregnancy. Premature birth and withdrawal seem to be the most common. There is also the possibility of birth defects, such as heart defects and cleft palates. The symptoms and long term effects of drug use vary depending on the type of drug that the mother used. Some drugs are by far worse than others, but all of them carry a risk. All of the drugs tend to carry a risk of learning disabilities, behavioral issues, and attention problems. There are even some legal drugs, things that you can buy over the counter that can have an adverse effect on an unborn child (Feldman, 329). Aspirin is one such drug. Using aspirin, because of its blood thinning properties, can harm the child and cause excessive bleeding during childbirth (http://drugs.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Womens-Health/Medications-to-Avoid-During-Pregnancy.htm). It would be advisable to consult with your doctor before taking any kind of medication while pregnant because any of them can have an adverse effect on the baby during different stages of pregnancy. I know for me personally, I don’t like taking anything other than my prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, because I’m fearful of what effect it could have on my child. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I almost refused to take Tylenol when I had a headache, because I was afraid it would do some harm. I’ve not been quite that way with my son, but I still avoid most medicines because I don’t want to risk doing any harm. Pregnancy is nothing short of a miracle, and should be treated as such. Providing a healthy environment for the baby to grow is of utmost importance, especially for the well-being of that child. Anything and everything that a mother does during her pregnancy has an effect on her unborn child. Getting proper nutrition and not using or abusing drugs or alcohol will help the mother have a healthy pregnancy and thus a healthy child. References: Feldman, Robert S. (2011) Essentials of Understanding Psychology, 9th Edition http://drugs.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Womens-Health/Medications-to-Avoid-During-Pregnancy.htm http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/alcohol_illicitdrug.html http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/pregnancynutrition.html