English-language films Essay

My favorite theme park is Hershey Park, with excitement your heart start racing as soon you make pass the gates wanting to see what is beyond that point. As I walked inside I saw the most spectacular rides that I have properly never seen. Just as you pass the gates you see corn popping, cutting candy being spun, and lemonade gently squeezed to perfection. Your eyes widen with excitement knowing that you finally made it to Hershey Park. just pass the gate the park covers a large area, In the distance you see rides, water parks, and much other activity just waiting for you to jump right in. excitement you run along to reach one of the ride, that you want to get on because of it Fahrenheit, along with the steepest roller coaster you have never seen before. You wait in line with hundreds of people excited and horrified to ride the steppes roller coaster under the blazing sun. Then the time comes when I moved up the line just a second of me getting in the ride, my heart started pounding as I walk inside the ride fated my seat belt waiting to be sent off. Then we were sent off the steep hill and on with the rest of the ride with twist and turns. When it was over I could feel the adrenalin run down my blood want me to go for another ride on the coaster. Then I moved to the next roller coast the storm runner but time the line way shorter it was not dreadful as the last roller coaster. I had to sit I front of many people waiting for the ride to take off, like bolt of lightning we took off as the countdown gets to zero. There are many roller coasters like the bear hanger, in this roller coaster that actually roars like a bear while its moves it has twist and turns that makes you feel like letting everything out you had for lunch. The is the kissing tower were you could spent time with your loved one, the tower goes up in the sky then turns around in the sky, and then back down. After an exciting day you had in the park it’s time to go home. Hershey was fun because I had to go on all the roller coasters, most all had their tasteful candy.

Response Paper Gilgamesh Essay

The Epic of Gilgamesh is very complex, but it is also considered one of the greatest epics in the Western literature. In the story we can find several contradictions, from which I chose the friendship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh. The story of Gilgamesh starts off by the description of Gilgamesh, â€Å"the strongest one of all,the perfect,the terror† (Ferry 4). Initially, Gilgamesh appeared as someone who isn’t able to have feelings nor relationships. Although he fought with Enkidu, once Gilgamesh tested his opponents strength, he decided to let him into his world becoming best friends. Some people would say that Gilgamesh is using Enkidu for his journeys, which we can see when he allows the hunter to take his prostitute and bring him. He did this for nothing in return, where we can notice that he already had a plan for Enkidu. Whilst this is correct in some points there are other things involved that prove differently. In the beggining of the story, Enkidu was made by the goddess Arura in order to punish Gilgamesh with the same wild and stormy heart as Gilgamesh has. Having this into consideration, Enkidu owes life to Gilgamesh, or at least shall be thankful to Gilgamesh for his own existing. Also, the people shall be grateful for their city, because Gilgamesh is the one â€Å"who opened passes through mountains; and who dug deep wells on the mountainsides;† (Ferry 4). This indicates the strength of Gilgamesh and values he had in the city. Once friends, Enkidu has started living differently, not like the wild beast he used to be. Enkidu is lucky for the friendship he has gotten from Gilgamesh, but it has also costed him. Gilgamesh has always wanted immortality and fame in the city, and because of his wish Enkidu is the one who has suffered. Before going to Cedar Forest, Enkidu is the one who was discussing with the Elders about the dangers of the trip. One doesn’t notice anywhere in the text how Enkidu knew about dangers of the trip and the keeper of the Cedar Forest, the demon Huwawa. This is the privilege that Gilgamesh does not have. Furthermore, throughout the trip, Enkidu is the one who was communicating with the God of the sun, their protector, Shamash. Aditionally, the Elders are advicing Gilgamesh to  let Enkidu go first and † find the water to quench† (Ferry 19) his thirst and offers to the God. This is a big advantage/value for the Enkidu, since he is the one communicating with the Gods and able to know the road. Further in the story, their friendship becomes stronger, once they share their strenghts and weaknesses, courage and fear. The most intriguing thing in the whole story is the heroic side of Enkidu. The true friendship and loyalty to Gilgamesh are his biggest values. Once in fight with the demon Huwawa, Gilgamesh was scared of the speed Huwawa was possessing and, once Gilgamesh saw his face, he hid away, in some cases even weeped. In each time, despite the dangerous cicumstances, Enkidu had quick mind and knew what he had to do, which is show Gilgamesh he was not alone, â€Å"Two people, companions, they can prevail together against the terror† (Ferry 26). Going futher into the story we are finding out that, because of killing Humwawa and Bull of Heaven, the Gods have decided to punish Enkidu,although God of Sun Shamas tried to save him. He had the protection of the God, because he was compressed into this trip. Initially, the mother of Gilgamesh, Rimat-Ninsun, just before the trip has hit the biggest weakness of Enkidu, â€Å"Enkidu has neither father nor mother;† (Ferry 13). This proves the fact that he had no choice left because he was feeling worthless and there was no other solution but to go to this dangerous trip. Even at the end, when Enkidu knew he was destined for punishment, he did not have selfish heart, he accepted it and stayed loyal to Gilgamesh. This has me thinking, who is the real hero? By whose name should the book be named instead? By the great strenght and power Gilgamesh, or the loyal, great guide who turned into hero with his actions? Did Enkidu think he owed his life to Gilgamesh, or he did not want to go against the will of the Gods? Considering many tablets are not recovered, which made the text incomplete, there is complexity to this friendship and many questions that need to be answered. Here, after Enkidu dying, we also get the feeling of Gilgamesh being selfish, and not saving his friend. As soon as Enkidu has died, and Gilgamesh saw a worm falling out of his nose, he saw the reality where this can happen to him too. He was determined to find immortality. Although on a  new selfish quest, we can see his true grieving for a friend, a brother. Every individual Gilgamesh encounters with can see that he is full of sorrow. This is where the prevalent repetition happens. At first, I thought it was a literary element only. However, how the story grew, the significance of the repetition grew also. It became the emphasis of Gilgamesh’s sorrows. It keeps being repetead to keep our mind on the soft-hearted Gilgamesh, who truly grieves for Enkidu, who undoubtfely deserved it. It is engraved in our memory that he is truly lonely and has lost someone who was a big part of his life. But even so, that little part in the back of my mind is still set on Gilgamesh not urging for Enkidu’s sparing. In a conclusion, friendship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is far more than important in this great epic. The contradictions are tempting to discuss, and because of the missing tablets, there will always be some questions. However, although Gilgamesh did not get his immortality, this prominent story, through many centuries, definitely has.

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God. † subsequently, end off with how my saint taught e to always a positive outlook for the world, and also to put our trust In God. Saint Teresa of Avail had once stated â€Å"l never liked gloomy saints, always try to be cheerful everyday. † This taught me that having a negative split may lead you to have a not so good day, whereas if we are more cheerful we then always think positive and we eliminate the people/things that make us unhappy. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. † This beatitude embodies my saint because Saint Teresa at one point in her life wanted to come a martyr, meaning she refused to fear death when it came to her faith. â€Å"Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God† I believe my saint was pure in heart because it was also noticed from another's perspective that she was friendly and saw the good in others.Lastly, my saint left us with a quote saying, always find t hat those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to ear the greatest trials† this quote means that on earth there will come a time where we will be given consequences for our belief, but this shows that God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. We who abide in Christ will be saved all we need to do here on earth is put our trust in God and never give up our faith.So all in all, Saint Teresa of Avail was a very strong woman, strong mentally and spiritually and now it is our duty as believers to live a strong Christian mental and spiritual life as well. In conclusion, Saint Teresa of Avail left us with another quote saying, â€Å"it is love alone that gives worth to all things. † Therefore we need to love to give our life on earth some worth, which I believe is to live the life we love and love the life we live, all In a Christian positive, spiritual manner.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car A Market-Driven Company Case Study

Enterprise Rent-A-Car A Market-Driven Company - Case Study Example In order to ensure that it meets it aim, the Enterprise relates to other institutions such as insurance toward providing proper services to its customers. The case analysis makes use of customer value funnel in order to realize the way the company relates to its macorenvironmental and microenviromental. The company acts as the biggest company offering the rental cars to the public. The macroenvironmental drivers include Society and subcultures, Demographics and Psychographics, Economic Factors, Natural-Physical Factors, Political-Legal Factors, Technological Factors while the microenviromental drivers include, Collaboration, Competition, Suppliers and Regulators.The company must always put proper strategies towards manipulating the macroenvironmental factors to help in delivering continuous value to the customer.Society and subcultures.The society and the existing subcultures is important when studying how the Enterprise strive towards ensuring continuous value to the customer. The E nterprise have to consider the essential needs of the society, which always affect the taste of the individuals about the product or service they consume. For instance, the company maintain the need for a friendly environment to ensure that it does not interfere with everyday activities of the residents. The company has established a fuel efficient rental car opportunity which is a step towards offsetting the amount of carbon released in the atmosphere. Demographics and Psychographics Study of demographic is significant since it helps in showing how the company is striving to serve its potential customers in a given geographic location. The company also consider the need to reach a wider part of the market in order to provide services for all their potential customers. The case study shows that the enterprise has established branches and is in the process of increasing its size in order command larger part of the market (Weinstein, 2012). This have allowed the company to offer local ized response to its potential customers. Economic Factors This refers to how the company relates to the global economy towards achieving profits. The case analysis shows that the Enterprise has been able to gain control in the North American rental car industry. This is a step towards enlarging the market share of the company which ultimately led to improvement in the profit. Technological Factors This refers to how the company is striving to improve its services to the customers through application of technological advancements. Technological advancement is significant for every contemporary firm especially when there is need to avoid becoming obsolete (Weinstein, 2012). The company looks forward to develop iPhone application

Property Market Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Property Market Analysis - Essay Example Taking this into consideration, property market is evolving into various distinct fields. Various specialists usually have the responsibility of valuating property market as well as facilitating transactions involved in buying and selling in the property market. Some of the most common types of property market businesses include appraisal, development, net leasing, property management, real estate marketing, real estate investing, relocation services and corporate real estate among other businesses (Abdul 2002). In every field of property market, businesses usually specialize in certain types of property market. These include residential, commercial and industrial property (Abdul 2002). Moreover, most of the construction businesses usually have a significant connection to property market (Adams 2007). Current research on the property market indicates that lack of effective property market laws usually have a substantial barrier to investment to most of the developing countries all over the world (Adams 2007). In most societies worldwide, a significant portion of the total wealth is usually in terms of land and building. Taking this into consideration, land as well as a building is highly valued in many societies all over the world (Abdul 2002). In more advanced economies, the primary source of capital used by individuals as well as small companies to buy and improve building and land is mortgage loans. Most of the banks are willing give these loans as the real property usually act as security if the borrower fails to pay the money borrowed. Efficient market theory is one of the most discredited theories (Siegel 2009). The theory assumes that all participants in the market receive and act effectively on relevant information in the market as soon as it becomes available to them (Siegel 2009). If this is actually the case, then the best investment would be just a coin toss.

The role of regulation and crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The role of regulation and crisis - Essay Example The subprime crisis was also an outcome of negligence of financial regulatory body as well as the professionals engaged in accounting and auditing process. To have a better understanding of financial crisis the role of government, regulatory body, accounting system & standards, political environment and capitalism needs an analysis. From 2001, the Lamfalussy framework was introduced in EU system of supervision and regulation. The framework was arranged in four separate levels and published by European council (Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee, 2009, p.12). These regulations are responsible for making the accounting and auditing process more transparent. After the great depression, International Monitory Fund and World Bank were established to avoid the causes which actually results into depression. But these regulatory bodies are almost 65 years old and are ill equipped to handle the complex banking environment of 21st century. Almost all the major economies have their own regulatory bodies, like Financial Services Authority (FSA) of UK and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in US, but they failed to check the financial crisis. Even the Basel II Accord agreement that was published in 2004 failed to detect and control credit crunch. Many banks are blaming Mark to Mark et system for development of such a disastrous financial crisis (Rayner, 2008). The financial system is based on the trust and faith, but collapse of Lehman Brothers, Bank of America and PNC Bank Corp are few examples of how the policymakers and regulators failed to maintain people’s faith in them. Most surprisingly America’s financial system failed to manage risk and proper allocation of capital (Stiglitz, 2008). Fair Value Accounting or US Accounting Standard FAS 157 is basically used for determining fair value or market value of the assets and the liability. Many critics argued that fair value accounting is highly

Research Paper On any of these 5 Topics Listed Below Topics Essay

Research Paper On any of these 5 Topics Listed Below Topics - Essay Example Even though they have changed a little, all of Aristotle’s elements for tragedy are here. Plot is the most important element discussed in Aristotle’s poetics. He insists that the play must be a construct built upon cause and effect, and that both of these must be within the context of the play, and the cause must precede the effect. The tragedy must be important, showing some universal theme. But the most important of these is the putting-together (? structuring) of the events. For tragedy is a mimesis not of men [simply] but of an action, that is, of life. 20 Thats how it is that they certainly do not act in order to present their characters: they assume their characters for the sake of the actions [they are to do]. And so the [course of] events -- the plot -- is the end of tragedy, and the end is what matters most of all. (Aristotle 21) If we look at Death of a Salesman, we find several plots within the play and all are complete and flow chronologically from cause to effect. However, the main story centers around the inability of Willy to change, which cost him everything. Willy is an old fashioned salesman in a new fast moving world, and he has been left behind. His dreams for his children are just as passà © and unrealistic, as there is no way they can every be realized, and Willy cannot let go of them. He lives in a fantasy world he created, and can no longer separate it from reality. Each of the boys has his own tragedy, life ambitions never realized, because they were never allowed to create their own dreams and could never achieve those of their father. Biff could never get past catching his father with another woman and knowing that his father gave that woman his mother’s silk stockings. Finally, there is Linda Loman, possibly the most tragic of all, because she did nothing. Linda Loman deferred to h er husband, even with the boys, so she is totally ineffectual, and because she entrusted her dreams to Willy, she loses by default. All she

Improving business through operations management Case Study

Improving business through operations management - Case Study Example According to one of the owners, they pointed three major for the reasons for closure of restaurants. Firstly, Deibel said the property they lost through the kitchen stalled them back hence considering the closure. Secondly, they were facing a lot of and stiff competition locally from other restaurants around Cambridge offering the same services for example nearby restaurants like Oronico restaurant, Charlie’s kitchen and the red house restaurant. Thirdly, they said they decided to close up the restaurant to allow them pursue other opportunities. Lastly, the owners of the building had sold the building they operated and it forced them to vacate. Insufficient capital: limited capital has a negative effect on the longevity of the restaurant. Owners should keep enough capital so that in cases of a loss and increased costs they can be indemnified back to normal position (Koch, Herman, and Garrett 11). Lack of health care covers to employees: Restaurant owners should consider health care programs so that they comply with the law. This helps or reduces costs when loss occurs like fire experienced in upstairs restaurant. Business operational management determines the life span, profitability and daily expenditure of the business (Koch, Herman, and Garrett 232). As we have seen above a restaurant should identify certain common challenges before starting or when during operation of the business for example competition which is

Antibody targeted drugs for cancer therapy Dissertation

Antibody targeted drugs for cancer therapy - Dissertation Example Targeting of an antigen that is suitable is done, the conjugate attached to it, which is usually inactive is internalized through endocytosis that is receptor mediated, without undergoing any modification. The conjugate taken thus into the cell is then released into the cell from the lysosome and the cytotoxic activity is then restored. This is the principle behind antibody targeted chemotherapy. Monoclonal antibodies are currently considered as important treatment approaches for malignancy because of their tolerance and also effectiveness in the treatment of various cancers. However, in view of limited scope for clinical trials only a few monoclonal antibodies are approved for clinical use and application against cancer. They not only have a role as anticancer agents, but also have ability to increase the selectivity of various other anticancer agents which are not effective when applied alone. Introduction Classic anticancer treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and su rgical resection. ... eal treatments of cancer where the toxicity is exerted only on tumor tissues and normal tissues are spared, application of monoclonal antibodies for target approach of cancer therapy has found its way. Such an application has revolutionized because of hybridoma technology which has contributed to the production of monoclonal antibodies. When these are used for anticancer treatment, they either target the cancer cells directly, or get exerted after conjugation with cytotoxic drugs or immunotoxins or enzymes (Juntilla et al, 2011). Thus, immunotherapy has become the fourth modality of cancer therapy. Strategies for this therapeutic application are destruction of cancer cells that are directed by immune reaction, interference of the therapy with the growth and differentiation of cancer cells, transport of anti-cancer agents to the cancer cells based on antigen epitopes, anti-idiotype vaccination and finally, development of humanised mouse monoclonal antibodies through genetic engineerin g. Several agents like radionucleotides, toxins and chemotherapeutic agents have been conjugated for anticancer application. These forms of treatment are not only useful following surgical resection but also can be employed in terminal cancer stages (Bodey et al, 2000). In this review, role of antibody mediated cancer therapy will be discussed through review of suitable articles. Monoclonal antibodies Antibodies that are produced from a single type of immune cell are known as monoclonal antibodies. Since these antibodies are basically clones of a single parent cell, they are all identical. Monoclonal antibodies have wide application both in diagnostic and therapeutic clinical arenas (Lambert et al, 2005). Currently, they are used in the treatment of various conditions like cancer, rejection

Art Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Art Comparison - Essay Example In this essay, it will feature more from the Museum of Modern art where the comparison between the works will be mainly based on the style, content, artistic intention and the historical context. When these aspects are explained, it gives one a deeper meaning of the work art work and you stop viewing it with a surface eye. This is because ever art work has a meaning and a source of inspiration. Art work has been used to communicate and it has more than a thousand words. It is a simpler way to communicate and it leaves a greater impact than writing so many words. It is much easier to remember an image of an art for many years than to remember a piece of written work. Though there are many types of art like singing, drama, poetry, and dancing, this essay will be focusing on painting and sculpture arts. Most of the paintings were done using oil because oil was resistant to water, it was readily found, was flexible enough to take different shapes and colors. Therefore, this paper look at the comparison between Lucky Strike by Stuart Davis and OOF by Edward Ruscha artistic works and Marilyn Monroe, I by James Rosenquist and Woman, I by Willem de Kooning in this essay. Luck Strike is a painting that was done by Stuart Davis. Stuart Davis was an American who was passionate about art. This art can tell that the artist was appreciating the tobacco company in America. It also shows that he loved the products from his own country.2 It was during 1921 that the tobacco the top most products in America that Stuart Davis came up with this art as a gift to the American Tobacco Company. OOF was done by Edward Ruscha in the year 1962 but he refined it in 1963. It was a gift of Agnes Gund. â€Å"I was interested in monosyllabic word sounds that seemed to have a certain comedic value to them†, Ruscha said. He was in a joyful mood when he was designing this art and he wanted to pass the

Credit Cards vs Debit Cards Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Credit Cards vs Debit Cards - Essay Example Paying the credit card expenses within the billing period offers the user an opportunity to pay the money without interest. The disadvantage is that the interests pile up rapidly in case the money spent is not paid within the billing period. When used responsibly, credit cards can be of great help as they help the user build credit, which can eventually result in rewards and gifts. This paper focuses on effects that credit and debit cards has, how it can put you far in debt and how it impacts your credit. The advantage of having a debit card is that you can use it to shop in various places all over the world. Additionally, most ATM cards are pre-set such that they can provide debit option thus there is no need for cardholders to carry money around. On the other hand, credit card use entails purchasing good after which you sign or provide you credit card pin number as an assurance that you will pay the debt later (Nelson, Nelson, & Stroup, 2012). Most people prefer using debit cards t o credit card arguing that using debit cards prevents one from over expenditure since it makes one feel like you are using cash payments. The fact that debit cards are connected to a checking account enables the users limit purchases and only buys items that they can afford to pay for at the moment. Additionally, most establishments that offer debit cards do not have any charges for any transactions. On the other hand, credit cards holders have to pay quite a high interest if they fail to pay the bills in time in addition to card charges (Nelson, Nelson, & Stroup, 2012; Carbo-Valverde, et al., 2007). An advantage that credit cards have over debit card is that payments for goods purchased using credit card can be withheld till the buyer is satisfied that the quality of the product is satisfactory. On the contrary, sellers make instant deductions for goods purchased using debit cards. The Fair Credit Billing Act supports such action since it posits that the purchaser has no liability for fraudulent transactions and for goods, whose quality is unsatisfactory or undelivered services. This applies for any disputable purchases. This gives credit card holders protection against deceitful merchants or service providers or in case of theft (Basel, 2006). One disadvantage of being a debit cardholder is that, in case of debit card theft, you may have to pay for all purchase transactions done using your card, which may include overdrafts particularly if you fail to realize and notify your bank in a period of 60 days. Debit cards thus have restricted consumer protection as compared to credit cards. While doing online or over the phone purchases, credit cards are the preferable option since they offer protection to the user thus helps take care of any misadventure (Directgov, 2012), Credit card users have an opportunity to build a proper credit by ensuring punctual bill payment. Good credit history is important and can help in securing loans, insurance, or in getting a job. Loans borrowed by individuals with a good credit history have a lower interest rate as compared to those for persons with unsuitable or no credit history. Additionally, some credit card offer incentives that card holders can use to obtain gifts as well as get discounts (Barrett, 2009). Debit cards provide for overdrafts, which must be made at a specified period. However, it is advantageous in that the interest rates for such

Capital Punishment in the United States Essay Example for Free

Capital Punishment in the United States Essay Have you ever thought about if the person sitting next to you is a murderer? If he is, what would you want from the government if he had killed someone you know? He should receive the death penalty! Murderers and other major offenders should be punished for the crimes they have committed and should pay the price for what they have done. Having the death penalty in our society is humane. It helps with overcrowding and gives relief to the families of the victims, who had to go through an event such as murder. You may not see it as that big of a deal, but the families of the victims of these criminals have to live every day knowing that while their family member is dead, this criminal is still well and living. Usually people just want to look past this problem because they are not in the position of the families of the murder victims, but you need to look at it through the eyes of these families. Until we stop just letting these things slide, they will continue to happen. The death penalty has been around since the time of Jesus Christ. Executions have been recorded from the 1600s to present times. From about 1620, the executions by year increased in the US. It has been a steady increase up until the 1930s; later the death penalty dropped to zero in the 1970s and then again rose steadily. US citizens said that the death penalty was unconstitutional because it was believed that it was cruel and unusual punishment (Amnesty International). In the 1970s, the executions by year dropped between zero and one then started to rise again in the 1980s. In the year 2000, there were nearly one hundred executions in the US. On June 29, 1972, the death penalty was suspended because the existing laws were no longer convincing. However, four years after this occurred, several cases came about in Georgia, Florida, and Texas where lawyers wanted the death penalty. This set new laws in these states and later the Supreme Court decided that the death penalty was constitutional under the Eighth Amendment. There also has been the problem of overcrowding in prisons and jails. Some people say that this is a problem but having more jails built will solve this problem. Having more prisons or jails built may help solve the problem but the death penalty effectively stops draining more money from the taxpayers to give these murderers a home. These murderers get three warm meals a day; they do nothing all day, and have a place to sleep just because the taxpayers fund these facilities. Murderers on death row do not deserve to get a place to stay. They deserve to have their lives taken for the crimes that they have committed.

Examining The Importance Of Computer Technology Information Technology Essay

Examining The Importance Of Computer Technology Information Technology Essay Why is the future of computer technology an important role in the society. Here are few of the reasons why it is an important role to the society. First it is important to the educational field, for the reason that most of what we do is based on computers. Second it is important to the business field; because it can help with the speed accuracy and relevant so that businesses can grow and less expenditure. Third; technically speaking it is important to our economy for the speed the connection around the world and also the communication. Lastly; technology is one of the important roles in our environment. What I mean by that is that technology helps us to maintain our environment by reducing wastes for example; papers, plastic etc. Now those are some of the importance and also the advantages of the technology. Technology also has its disadvantages and here are some. We all know that technology grow everyday and people inventing are just eager to invent the most compatible and reliable gadgets to be used by the end users, which is good but at the same time it has its disadvantages here are some of the disadvantages of the technology. The technology makes kids these days lazy and can place children at risk for harmful effects on their physical, social, and psychological development. Children need physical activity, social interaction, and the love and guidance of caring adults to be healthy, happy, and productive. Nowadays businesses are mostly connected to internet and do business online which is good; however there are people out there scamming people with fake businesses online and hackers to hack into your system and steal information or money. The use of computer also results into unemployment as computer can perform the task that might need nearly six to seven workers. Unemployment is likely to result into crimes. Continuous work with comput er causes loss of eyesight in the long run. Internet, which is widely used to see pornographic scenes, will lead to sex violences and more. To conclude it even though technology has its downside I still think that in the future it will be beneficial to our society and environment. The Future of Computer Technology Computer technology is spreading all over the world. Even though it might have few disadvantages but the advantages are still spectacular and very useful to our society. First up is the education field, in the United States Department of Education researched that children tend to learn more with computers than by reading books or do research using encyclopedias. Computers have ways to crab students attention by the animated graphics, sound and colors. It also allow student to communicate with their friends, families and the world. In addition educational field, computer is one of the must to know basic because everything we do is somehow related to computer and the technology. (Mr.Pandys article published 2010) states that the importance of computers in school will help students prepared and shape up for the future of technologies. He also says in his article that students who have knowledge in computer will have better chances of job opportunities than others that dont have experien ces in computers. Technology in the classroom is not just for the students. Teachers can use the technology to keep student records, plan lessons, communicate with parents that will save them time, or going around with heavy books, chalk, pen, papers etc. so the role of computer technology in the educational field is massive and still eager for more knowledge about the technology world. Majority of businesses today relies on the computer technology in so many ways. Like the convenience of the business, few years ago when you walk in to a office you see a lot of filing cabinet or drawers, fax machines, typewriters and papers all over the place. Todays office relies on a computer that you can send anything anytime store all your data or information on the external hard drive of computers, also you can just type and print using the computer. Computer helps us in many ways and businesses too. Computer technology also helps us in accuracy and time in the business and the offices. For example; the auditor, accountant, and finance there are numerous software for that kind of job that can help with the accuracy of the data and lessen the paper usage that will help our environment. Another importance of the computer and the business is the communication. These days communication is been one of the best thing that has happened in our life. Communication through internet has h elped the business in so many ways like meetings, information, updates, expenditures and more. You can set up a meeting with your staffs via web conference like youre sitting next to them. It also saves you time and money for traveling around the globe just for meetings or letters and also it updates you on whats happening in the world. Like (Scholasticus 2010) says, using computers in todays business has enhanced the performance of employees and the business. According to (Geeta Dhavale 2010) she says that computers are widely used in all the hospitals for numerous purposes apart from administration, accounting, billing, and appointments. It literally helps doctors in performing various surgeries; especially laparoscopic surgeries are possible because of computers where doctors insert the medical tools and small camera and conduct an operation with the help of computers monitors. Even X-rays, CT scan, Ultrasound etc they are all computer based. (Evens) says, that Computers are also important on the medicine field for the analysis part so that it will save time and will help you to find a cure for a specific illness. It also important for the doctors so that they can communicate via internet to see the latest updates on the medical field and also be able to do web conferencing with other doctors around the globe. To conclude it, computer technology has been spectacular for these past few years, by being as huge as a room to the size of a book. The importance of computer technology in our society and environment keeps expanding both needs and wants. Elementary schools, high school, college, universities, businesses are both connected to the use of computer and tend to want more. Information Technology programmers have been working finding a way to create the most compatible technology that the end user will be satisfied with it and yet it will all trace back to computers. See computer technology has its disadvantages but the advantages are far better and useful in our lives, it helps us with the speed time, accuracy and relevant. The speed of sending a message via internet is a matter of minutes and at the same time it saves your time. In the business field and medical field, and the NASA accuracy is their life they cannot afford to make mistakes and that is when the computer comes in handy to help them do the job. To summarize all the information and research are all relevant and useful for the society. Even though computer technology has its disadvantages but still the advantages of computer technology and its future will help our society and will save many life. Resources: Steve Furberhttp://www.Oxfordjournal.org http://www.articlesbase.com Evens Hospital Computer Technician PC world Magazine 2008 Sebastian Andersen 2009 http://www.uaseducation.com LynDel Randash, www.eHowcom.com Greeta Dhavale www.buzzle.com Scholasticus www.buzzle.com Futureforall.org

Pressure Ulcers: Reliability of Risk Assessment Tools

Pressure Ulcers: Reliability of Risk Assessment Tools The purpose of this assignment, is to identify a patient, under the care of the district nursing team, with a Grade 1 pressure ulcer, to their sacral area. To begin with, it will give a brief overview of the patient and their clinical history. Throughout the assignment the patient will be referred to as Mrs A, in order to protect the patients identity and maintain confidentiality, in accordance with the guidelines set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2008). A brief description of a Grade 1 pressure ulcer will be given, along with a description of the steps taken in assessing the wound, using The Waterlow Scale (1985). This assignment will discuss the literature review that was carried out, along with other methods of research used, to gather vital information on wound care , such as the different classifications of wounds and the different risk assessment tools available. This assignment, will include brief overviews, of some the other commonly used pressure ulcer risk a ssessment tools, that are put to use by practitioners and how they compare to the Waterlow Scale. This assignment will also seek to highlight the importance of using a combination of clinical judgement, by carefully monitoring the patients physical and psychological conditions, alongside the at risk score calculated from the Waterlow Scale, in order to deliver holistic care to the patient. Mrs A is a 84 year old lady who has been referred to the district nurses by her General Practitioner, as he has concerns regarding her pressure areas . Following a recent fall she lost her confidence and is now house bound. She now spends more time in her chair as she has become nervous when mobilising around the house and in her garden. She has a history of high blood pressure and occasional angina for which she currently takes Nicorandil 30mg b.d. as prescribed by her General Practitioner , Nicorandil has been recognised as an aetiological aspect of non healing ulcers and wounds (Watson, 2002), this has to be taken into consideration during the assessment and throughout the management of her wound. Mrs A has no history of previous falls or problems with her balance. She has always been a confident and independent lady, with no current issues surrounding continence or diet. She has always enjoyed a large network of friends who visit her regularly. It is recommended by National Inst itute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) that patients should receive an Initial assessment (within the first 6 hours of inpatient care) and ongoing risk assessments and so referrals of this nature are seen on the day, if it is received if not within 24 hrs. In order to establish Mrs As current risk of developing a pressure area, an assessment must take place. An initial holistic assessment, looking at all contributing factors such as mobility, continence and nutrition will provide a baseline that will identify her level of risk as well as identifying any existing pressure damage. A pressure ulcer is defined as, a localised injury to the skin and / or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear. A number of contributing, or confounding factors, are also associated with pressure ulcers. According to the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP 2009), the significance of these factors, is yet to be elucidated. Mrs A is more vulnerable to pressure damage, as her skin has become more fragile and thinner with age (NICE 2005). There are risk factors associated to the integrity of the patients skin and also to the patients general health. Skin that is already damaged, has a higher incidence of developing a pressure ulcer, than that of healthy skin. Skin that becomes too dry, or is more moist due to possible incontinence, is also at higher risk of developing a pressure ulcer than healthy skin. An elderly persons skin is at increased risk, because it is more fragile and thinner than the skin of a younger person. Boore et al (1987) identified the following principles in caring for the skin to prevent pressure damage, skin should be kept clean and dry and not left to remain wet. The skin should also not be left to dry out to prevent any accidental damage . Due to Mrs A spending more time sitting in her chair, she has become at a higher risk of developing a pressure sore, as she is less mobile. The reason being It becomes difficult for the blood to circulate causing a lack of oxygen and nutrients to the tissue cells. Furthermore, the lymphatic system also begins to suffer and becomes unable, to properly remove waste products. If the pressure continues to increase and is not relieved by equipment or movement. The cells can begin to die, leaving an area of dead tissue resulting in pressure damage. Nelson et al (2009) states, pressure ulcers can cause patients functional limitations, emotional distress, and pain for persons affected. The development of pressure ulcers, in various healthcare settings, is often seen as a reflection of the quality of care which is being provided (Nakrem 2009). Pressure ulcer prevention is very important in everyday clinical practise, as pressure ulcer treatment is expensive and factors such as legal issues have become more important. EPAUP (2009) have recommended strategies, which include frequent repositioning the use of special support surfaces, o r providing nutritional support to be included in the prevention. In order to gather evidence based research, to support my assignment. I undertook a literature review of the Waterlow Scale and Classifications of Grade 1 pressure sores. The databases used were the Culmulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and OpenAthens. I used a variety of search terms including pressure sores, Grade 1 classification, Waterlow Scale, and How pressure sore risk assessment tools compare. Throughout the literature review the information was gathered from sources using a date range between the years of 2000 2011, although some references were found from sources of information that are from a much later date. This method of research ensured a plethora of articles and guidelines were collated and analysed. The trust guidelines in wound care were used, to show how we implement theory into practise in the community, using the wound care formulary. There was a vast amount of information available, as pressure area care is such a broad subject. The search criteria had to be narrowed down, in some cases to ensure the information gathered was relevant and not beyond the scope of the assignment. The evidence used throughout this assignment, is based on guidelines and recommendations given by NICE (2001), EPUAP (2001) and articles sourced from The Journal of Community Nursing (JCN). This was the most accurate information and guidance on pressure ulcer classifications and assessment although, some articles may not have been the most recent. The assessment tool used throughout my area of work, is the Waterlow Scale. The Waterlow Scale was developed by Judy Waterlow in 1985, while working as a clinical nurse teacher. It was originally designed for use by her student and is used to measure a patients risk of developing a pressure sore. It can also be used as a guide, for the ordering of effective pressure relieving equipment. All National Health Service (NHS) trusts have their own pressure ulcer prevention policy, or guidelines and practitioners are expected to use the risk assessment tool, specified in their trusts policy. NICE (2003), guidance states, that all trusts should have a pressure ulcer policy, which should include a pressure ulcer risk assessment tool. However, it reminds practitioners that the use of risk assessment tools, should be thought of as an aid to the clinical judgement of the practitioner. The use of the Waterlow tool enables, the nurse to assess each patient according to their individual risk of dev eloping pressure sores (Pancorbo-Hidalgo et al 2006). The scale illustrates a risk assessment scoring system and on the reverse side, provides information and guidance on wound assessment, dressings and preventative aids. There is information regarding pressure relieving equipment surrounding, the three levels of risk highlighted on the scale, and also provides guidance, concerning the nursing care given to patients. Although the Waterlow score is used in the community setting, when calculating the risk assessment score, it is vital that the nurse is aware of the difference in environment the tool was originally developed for. The tool uses a combination of core and external risk factors that contribute to the development of pressure ulcers. These are used to determine the risk level for an individual patient. The fundamental factors include disease, medication, malnourishment, age, dehydration / fluid status, lack of mobility, incontinence, skin condition and weight. The external factors, which refer to external influences which can cause skin distortion, include pressure, shearing forces, friction, and moisture. There is also a special risk section of the tool, which can be used if the patient is on certain medication or recently had surgery. This contributes to a holistic assessment of a patient and enables the practitioner to provide the most effective care and appropriate pressure relieving equipment. The score is calculated, by counting the scores given in each category, which apply to your patients current condition. Once these have been added up, you will have your at risk score. This will then ind icate the steps that need to be taken, in order to provide the appropriate level of care to the patient. Identification of a patients risk of developing a pressure sore is often considered the most important stage in pressure sore prevention (Davis 1994). During the assessment a skin inspection takes place of the most vulnerable areas of risk, typically these are heels, sacrum and parts of the body, where sheer or friction could take place. Elbows, shoulders, back of head and toes are also considered to be more vulnerable areas (NICE 2001). When using the Waterlow tool to assess Mrs As pressure risk, I found she had a score of 9. According to the Waterlow scoring system she is not considered as being at risk as her score is less than 10. As I had identified in my assessment, she had a score of 2, for her skin condition due to Grade 1 pressure ulcer to her sacrum. I felt it necessary, to highlight her as being at risk. A grade 1 pressure ulcer on her sacral area, maybe due to her recent loss of confidence and reduced mobility which has left Mrs A spending more time in her chair. Pressure ulcers are assessed and graded, according to the degree of damage to the tissue. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), classifies pressure ulcers based on the depth of the wound. There are four classifications (Category/Stage I through IV) of pressure damage. In addition to these, two other categories have been defined, unstageable pressure ulcers and deep tissue injury (EPUAP, 2009) Grade 1 pressure damage is defined, as a non-blanchable erythema of intact skin. Indicators can be, discolouration of the skin, warmth, oedema, induration or hardness, particularly in people with darker pigmentation (EPUAP, 2003). It is believed by some practitioners, that blanching erythema indicates Grade 1 pressure damage (Hitch 1995) although others suggest that, Grade 1 pressure damage is present, when there is non-blanching erythema (Maklebust and Margolis, 1995; Yarkony et al, 1990). The majority of practitioners, agree that temperature and colour play an important role, in identifying grade 1 pressure ulcers (EPUAP, 1999) and erythema, is a factor in alm ost all classifications (Lyder, 1991). The pressure damage usually occurs, over boney prominences (Barton and Barton 1981). The skin in a Grade 1 pressure ulcer, is not broken, but it requires protection and monitoring. At this stage, it will not be known how deep the pressure damage is, regular monitoring and assessment is essential. The pressure ulcer may fade, but if the damage is deeper than the superficial layers of the skin, this wound could eventually develop into a much deeper pressure ulcer over, the following days or weeks. A Grade 1 pressure ulcer, is classed as a wound and so I have commenced a wound care plan and also a pressure area care plan. I will also ensure, Mrs A has regular pressure area checks in order to prevent the area breaking down. The pressure area checks will take place weekly until the pressure relieving equipment arrives, this will then be reduced to 3 monthly checks. Dressings can be applied to a Grade 1 pressure ulcer. They should be simple and offer some level of protection. Also, to prevent any further skin damage a film dressing is often used, or a hydrocolloid to protect the wound area (EPAUP, 2009) . These dressings will assist in reducing further friction, or shearing, if these factors are involved. It is considered the best way to treat a wound, is to prevent it from ever occurring. Removing the existing external pressure, reducing any moisture, which can occur if the patient is incontinent and employing pressure relief devices, may contribute to wound healing. Along with adequate nutrition, hydration and addressing any underlying medical conditions. The advice given to practitioners, on the reverse of the Waterlow tool is to provide a 100mm foam cushion, if a patients risk score is above 10. As Mrs A has an at risk score of 9, with a Grade 1 pressure sore evident, I feel it appropriate to provide the pressure relieving mattress and cushion to prevent any further pressure damage developing. All individuals, assessed as being vulnerable to pressure ulcers should, as a minimum provision, be placed on a high specification foam mattress with pressure relieving properties (NICE, 2001). As I am providing a cushion and a mattress, it is not felt necessary to apply a dressing at this point. However, the area will need regular monitoring, as at this stage it is unknown how deep the pressure damage is. If proactive care is given in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, with the use of risk assessments and providing pressure relieving resources, the pressure area may resolve. Pressure ulcers can be costly for the NHS, debilitating and painful for the patient. With basic and effective nursing care offered to the patients, this can often be the key to success. Bliss (2000) suggests that the majority of Grade I ulcers heal, or resolve without breaking down if pressure relief is put into place immediately. However, experiences in a clinical settings supports observations, that non-blanching erythema can often result in irreversible damage (James, 1998; Dailey, 1992). McGough (1999) during a literature search, highlighted 40 pressure ulcer risk assessment tools, but not all have be considered suitable, or reliable for all clinical environments. As there are many different patient groups this often results in a wide spectrum of different patient needs. The three most commonly used tools in the United Kingdom (U.K.) are, The Norton scale, The Braden Scale and The Waterlow Scale. The first pressure ulcer risk assessment tool was the Norton scale. It was devised by Doreen Norton in 1962. The tool was used for estimating a patients risk for developing pressure ulcers by giving the patient a rating from 1 to 4 on five different factors. A patients with a score of 14 or more, was identified as being at high risk. Initially, this tool was aimed at elderly patients and there is little evidence from research gathered over the years, to support its use outside of an elderly care setting. Due to increased research over the years, concerning the identification and risk of developing pressure ulcers, a modified version of the Norton scale was created in 1987. The Braden Scale was created in the mid 1980s, in America and based on a conceptual schema of aetiological factors. Tissue tolerance and pressure where identified, as being significant factors in pressure ulcer development. However, the validity of the Braden Scale is not considered to be high in all clinical areas (Capobianco and McDonald, 1996). However, EPAUP (2003) state The Braden Risk Assessment Scale is considered by many, to be the most valid and reliable scoring system for a wide age range of patients. The Waterlow Scale, first devised in 1987, identifies more risk factors than the Braden and the Norton Scale. However, even though it is used widely across the U.K., it has still be criticised for its ability to over predict risk and ultimately result in the misuse of resources (Edwards 1995; McGough, 1999). Although there are various tools, which have been developed to identify a patients individual risk, of developing pressure sores. The majority of scales have been developed, based on ad hoc opinions, of the importance of possible risk factors, according to the Effective Healthcare Bulletins (EHCB, 1995). The predictive validity of these tools, has also been challenged (Franks et al, 2003; Nixon and Mc Gough, 2001) suggesting they may over predict the risk, incurring expensive cost implications, as preventative equipment is put in place, when it may not always be necessary. Or they may under predict risk, so that someone assessed as not being at high risk develops a pressure ulcer. Although the Waterlow scoring system, now includes more objective measurements such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight loss after a recent update. It is still unknown, due to no published information, whether the inter-rater reliability of the tool, has been improved by these changes. It has been acknowled ged, that this is a fundamental flaw of these tools and due to this clinical judgement, must always support the decisions made by the results, of the risk assessment. This is clearly recognised by NICE, as they advise their use as an aide-mà ©moire (2001). The aim of Pressure ulcer risk assessment tools, is to measure and quantify pressure ulcer risk. To determine the quality of these measurements the evaluation of validity and reliability would usually take place. The validity and reliability limitations, of pressure ulcer risk tools are widely acknowledged. To overcome these problems, the solution that is recommended is to combine the scores of pressure ulcer risk tools, with clinical judgment (EPAUP 2009). This recommendation, which is often seen in the literature, unfortunately is inconsistent as Papanikolaou et al (2007) states: If pressure ulcer risk assessment tools have such limitations, what contribution can they make to our confidence in clinical judgment, other than prom pting us about the items, which should be considered when making such judgments?. Investigations of the validity and reliability, of pressure ulcer risk tools are important, in evaluating the quality, but they are not sufficient to judge their clinical value. In the research of pressure ulcer tools, there have been few attempts made to compare, the different pressure ulcer risk assessment strategies. Referring to literature until 2003, Pancorbo Hidalgo et al (2006) identified three studies, investigating the Norton scale compared to clinical judgment and the impact on pressure ulcer incidence. From these studies, it was concluded that there was no evidence, that the risk of pressure ulcer incidence was reduced by the use of the risk assessment tools. The Cochrane review (2008), set out to determine, whether the use of pressure ulcer risk assessment , in all health care settings , reduced the incidence of pressure ulcers. As no studies met the criteria, the authors have been unable to answer the review question. At present there is only weak evidence to support the validity, of pressure ulcer risk assessment scale tools and obtained scores contain varying amounts of measurement error. To improve our clinical practise, it is suggested that although tools such as the Waterlow Scale are used to distinguish a patients pressure ulcer risk, other investigations and tests, may need to be carried out to ensure a effective assessment is taking place. Practitioners may consider, various blood tests and more in depth history taking, including previous pressure damage and medications. Patients lifestyle and diet should also be taken into consideration and where appropriate, a nutritional assessment should be done if recent weight loss, or reduced appetite is evident. Nutritional assessment and screening tools are being used more readily and appear to be becoming more relevant in managing patients who are at risk of or have a pressure ulcer. The assessment tools should be reliable and valid, and as discussed previously with other risk assessment tools they should not replace clinical judgement. However, the use of nutritional assessment tools can help to bring the nutritional status of the patient to the attention of the practitioner, they should then consider nutrition when assessing the patients vulnerability to pressure ulcer development. The nutritional status of the patient should be updated and re-assessed at regular intervals following a assessment plan which is individual to the patient and includes an evaluation date. The condition of the individual will then allow the practitioner to decide how frequent the assessments will occur. The EPUAP (2003) recommends that as a minimum, assessment of nutritional status should include regu lar weighing of patients, skin assessment, documentation of food and fluid intake. As Mrs A currently has a balanced diet, it is not felt necessary to undertake, a nutritional assessment at this point. Her weight can be updated on each review visit, to assess any weight loss during each visit. If there is any deterioration in her condition, an assessment can be done when required. Continence should also be taken into consideration and where necessary a continence assessment should take place. Incontinence and pressure ulcers are common and often occur together. Patients who are incontinent are generally more likely to have difficulties with their mobility and elderly, both of which have a strong association with the development of pressure ulcers (Lyder, 2003). The education of staff, surrounding pressure ulcer management and prevention, is also very important. NICE (2001) suggest, that all health care professionals, should receive relevant training and education, in pressure ulcer risk assessment and prevention. The information, skills and knowledge, gained from these training sessions, should then be cascaded down, to other members of the team. The training and education sessions, which are provided by the trust, are expected to cover a number of topics. These should include, risk factors for pressure ulcer development, skin assessment, and the selection of pressure equipment. Staff are also updated on policies, guidelines and the latest patient educational information (NICE 2001). Education of the patient, carers and family, is essential in order to achieve optimum pressure area care. Mrs A is encouraged to mobilise regularly, in order to relieve the pressure as a Grade 1 pressure sore has been identified, she is at a significant risk of developing a more severe ulcer. Interventions to prevent deterioration, are crucial at this point. It is thought, that this could prevent the pressure sore from developing into a Grade 2 or worse. NICE (2001) have suggested, that individuals vulnerable to or at elevated risk of developing pressure ulcers, who are able and willing, should be informed and educated about the risk assessment and resulting prevention strategies. NICE have devised a booklet for patients and relatives, called Pressure Ulcers Prevention and Treatment (NICE Clinical Guidance 29), which gives information and guidance on the treatment of pressure ulcers. It encourages patients to check their skin and change their position regularly. As a part of good practise, this booklet is given to Mrs A at the time of assessment, in order for her to develop some understanding of her pressure sore. This booklet is also given to the care givers or relatives so they can also gain understanding, regarding the care and prevention, of her pressure ulcer. An essential part of nursing documentation, is care planning. It demonstrates the care, that the individual patient requires and can be used to include patients and carers or relatives in the patients care. Involvement of the patient and their relative, or carer is advisable, as this could be invaluable, to the nurse planning the patients care. The National Health Service Modernisation Agency (NHSMA 2005) states clearly that person centred care is vital and that care planning involves negotiation, discussion and shared decision making, between the nurse and the patient. There were a number of improvements that I feel could have been made to the holistic care of Mrs A. I feel that one of the fundamental factors that needed to be considered , were the social needs of the patient. As I feel they are a large contributing factor, towards why the patient may have developed her pressure sore. The patient was previously known to be a very sociable lady, who gradually lost her confidence, resulting in her not leaving the house. There are various schemes and services available, which are provided by the local council or volunteer services, to enable the elderly or people unable to get around. For example, an option which could of been suggested to Mrs A are services such as Ring and Ride, or Werneth Communicare. Using these services or being involved in these types of schemes, may have empowered Mrs A to leave the house on a more regular basis. This would enable her to build up the confidence, she lost following her fall. This would have also lead to positive impact on the patients psychological care, as Mrs A would have been able to overcome her fears of leaving the house, enabling her to see friends and gain communications lost. As previously mentioned in this assignment, although Mrs A had a score of 9, which is not considered an at risk score. I still felt it necessary to act on this score, even though the wound was a not considered to be critical. If it is felt the patient is at a higher risk than that shown on the assessment tool, the practitioner should use their clinical judgement, to make crucial care decisions. It should also be considered, by the practitioner that risk assessment tools such as The Waterlow scale, may not have been developed, for their area of practise. Throughout the duration of Mrs As wound healing process, a holistic assessment of her pressure areas and general health assessment were carried and all relevant factors, were taken into consideration. The assessment tool used to assess her pressure areas, is th e most common tool used currently in practise and the tool recommended by the Trust. To conclude, there is evidence to prove that pressure ulcer risk assessment tools are useful, when used as a guide for the procurement of equipment. However, they cannot be relied upon solely to provide holistic care to a patient. It has been highlighted, that to ensure a holistic assessment of patients, it is necessary to complete a variety of assessments, to create a complete picture. Although The Waterlow scale covers a number of factors that need to be considered, throughout the assessment, it has become evident that the at risk score, can often be over or under scored depending on the practitioner. Clinical judgement has proved to be, a very important aspect of pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. The education of the patient, carer and relatives has also been highlighted, as an important aspect of care. Empowering the patient with information regarding their illness, may decrease the healing time and help prevent has further issues.

College Admissions Essay: Celebrating Diversity -- College Admissions

Celebrating Diversity    Growing up in Florida, the prevalence of a diverse society has always been evident to me. While realizing at a young age how many differences exist in my hometown of Orlando, I eagerly wanted to become a part of each segment of my world. From a young age, my parents could tell that I had an interest in the international cultures in my life.    When I started high school, I wanted to study other cultures and further my knowledge of another language. Besides taking classes in Spanish, I chose to volunteer after school with Bosnian refugees. The volunteer program aids Bosnian refugees in their immersion into American culture. I volunteered to help a family become accustomed to life in the United States, and was paired with a family who had spent less than three weeks in our country. My family included a mother and two teenage daughters around my age. Within the first hours of meeting the Sinanovics, I believed that through an ongoing relationship, I would be able to have a lasting impact on three lives.    Because the Sinanovics spok...

Why We Baptize in Jesus Name :: essays research papers

Why We Baptize in Jesus' Name Introduction The subject of water baptism has long been called a great issue and no doubt has been made such by many church leaders of the past and present. In our study of it, let us first consider its importance, or the necessity of being baptized. The Importance of Water Baptism Christian water baptism is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ. If it is not important in the plan of God, why did Jesus command it in Matthew 28:19? And why did Peter follow up by saying, "Be baptized every one of you," and by commanding the Gentiles to be baptized (Acts 2:38; 10:48)? We must remember two points about the importance of water baptism. First, whatever Christ definitely established and ordained cannot be unimportant, whether we understand its significance or not. Second, Christ and the apostles showed the importance of this ordinance by observing it. Jesus walked many miles to be baptized, though He was without sin, saying, "For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness" (See Matthew 3:13-16.) It is true that water itself does not contain any saving virtue, but God has chosen to include it in His plan of salvation. Peter explained, "Baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21). According to Luke 7:30, "the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized." The Mode of Baptism According to the Scriptures, the proper mode of baptism is immersion. "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water" (Matthew 3:16). "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him" (Acts 8:38). "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death" (Romans 6:4). A corpse is not buried by placing it on top of the ground and sprinkling a little soil on it, but by covering it completely. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, "At first all baptism was by complete immersion" (vol. 1, p.651). And the Catholic Encyclopedia states, "In the early centuries, all were baptized by immersion in streams, pools, and baptisteries" (vol. 2, p.263). Immersion was not convenient after the Catholic church instituted infant baptism; thus the mode was changed to sprinkling. (See Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed.

Study the short stories of both Raymond Carver and John Cheever

It is my intention within this essay to study the short stories of both Raymond Carver and John Cheever, in doing so I propose to address the theme of masculinity which runs throughout both of the author's stories. I shall do this by considering, among other things, such subjects as Post Modernism, Dirty Realism and social climate and how these are applied to the texts Boxes and Elephant, by Carver and The Season of Divorce by Cheever. The background in which both Carver and Cheever write, is very significant to the way in which both writer's male characters are emasculated within the stories. Carver was writing in the decade of the eighties, and as such Reaganite economics had much to do with the way in which the men lost their grip on the hunter gatherer stereotype which had preceded. The traditional role of the male shifted from heavy industrial work to more emasculated work, such as secretarial/office roles, and domestic captivity therefore diminishing their agency. On top of this many men became jobless due to redundancies concerned with this shift from a blue-collar society to a white-collar society, and so this domestic captivity was enhanced. It is such men who Carver writes about in his short stories. The men who have slipped out of this â€Å"traditional male breadwinning world† Cheever again, writes men relevant to the political climate in which he both lived and set his stories in. In the post war era of the fifties, the male role had begun to become redundant, as during the war women were compelled to do work which had been traditionally thought of as male, and as such the myth that women were not equipped to cope with such jobs, was dispelled. Therefore in the post war when all of the men came back from war, there was a new air of female liberation, which they had not had to deal with previously. Given this fact men became emasculated by the new found power of the female. We can see this treatment of masculinity within Raymond Carvers short story Boxes. The narrator, who unsurprisingly is never named within the story is captive within a suburban world of women and sears catalogues, in which he seems a spectator to his own life. This can be seen through the style of the narrative, in which there seems to be a collapse of male agency. Throughout the story the narrator, seems to be completely inexpressive of his feelings: â€Å"I don't know why, but it's then I recall the affectionate name my dad used sometimes†¦ (p. 25) The use of the statement â€Å"I don't know† permeates the text, and shows the narrators lack of voice compared with the expressiveness of the women who seems to surround his life. Contrary to a narrator's role, he seems to say or think very little, and it is in fact his girlfriend, Jill who has all of the active verbs in the story: â€Å"†¦ â€Å"this is what we want†, she says. â€Å"This is more like what I had in mind. Look at this, will you† but I don't look. I don't care five cents for curtains. â€Å"what is it you see out there, honey? † Jill says. â€Å"Tell me. (p. 25) This is one of the rare occasions when the narrator expresses how he feels about the situation, but he expresses it only to the reader, and again within the story itself he has no voice. Jill's use of the word â€Å"we† expresses her dominance over the narrators character, as it shows that she makes his decisions for him and that he is not his own person but has inescapably become part of a couple, from which he can no longer be distinguished, and as it is Jill who is in the driving seat, the narrator seems to have lost his identity altogether. It should also be noted that the way in which Jill addresses the narrator seems more befitting a pet or a dog than it does someone of equal stature and respect. We can see however through this that she does not regard him as of an equal stature to herself within the relationship, or even his life as a whole. Throughout the story the narrator has no contact with anyone of the same gender at all, except those who he sees through his window. It is significant that the men, whom he watches from a distance, always stand in stark contrast to himself. I. e. he is on the inside confined by a â€Å"five roomed cottage of his very own† (Boyd), and the real men are on the outside where they are free of the constraints of domestication. Also they are always doing something masculine, whereas when he is watching them he is always doing something feminine or is feminised in some way, for example a man changes the oil in his car while he, attempts to do something masculine by finding a roach and trying to smoke it while drinking a ginger ale. This scene is highly feminised in that he tries to do something masculine but falls short, because he simply has lost the ability to be male. So where a man would smoke a roach and drink a beer, he only attempts to smoke and drinks a ginger ale instead. The theme of feminisation permeates this novel and there are many other ways in which the narrator is disempowered, which I shall not go into. The image of suburbia however, is significant to this disempowerment as the surroundings represent, among other things the bland depredation of the characters lives. It also represents a highly feminised culture. One in which the sears catalogue is the coffee table equivalent of the bible, it is second nature to be house proud and for miles around there is no refuge from the reminder of the life, in which the characters of Carver's stories live. Within another of Carver's stories Elephant, we can see masculinity and the role of the male portrayed from the point of view of a man desperately trying to hold on to the shred of power which he has, rather than succumb to powerlessness as the narrator of Boxes did. The main theme of Elephant is that of the breadwinner, however within the story this role is taken for granted, as all of his family emasculate the narrator by taking advantage of every male role that he could be classed under, as husband, father, brother, and son. Each of his family guilt trips him into giving them money except his ex wife, who doesn't need to, because it is the law that she gets his money. â€Å"That's four people, right? Not counting my brother, who wasn't a regular yet. I was going crazy with it. I worried night and day. I couldn't sleep over it. I was paying out nearly as much as I was bringing in. You don't have to be a genius, or know anything about economics to understand that this state of affairs couldn't keep on. I had to get a loan to keep up my end of things. That was another monthly payment† (p. 80) We can see from this that the narrator refuses to let his grasp of the role of breadwinner go easily, even although he does not have the ability to sustain such a role. It is the fact that the narrator is trying so hard to maintain some sort of control, that his family are taking for granted, and conversely it is this â€Å"control† which is emasculating him. The brother, plays a very important role within the story, and as such I believe that this is why Carver chose to make him stand out from the rest of his family, as more obnoxious and more amoral than the rest of the narrator's family, the reason being twofold. Of all of the narrator's family the brother is the only male to whom he is not obliged to help, and therefore the narrator grudges him more than the others. He has been emasculated by all of the women in the story, and his children, however his brother seems more than anyone to have picked up on this and be jumping on the bandwagon, and this creates a tension as the narrator feels that as a male adult he should also be a breadwinner. More importantly, however is the fact that his brother epitomises the failure of the traditional male position in life, which he fears more than anything, and as such he resents being confronted with his worst fear. Within this story, we are not given so strong a representation of suburbia, as we are within Boxes, however what we are given is a post modern minimalist image of the narrators life, in which there is very little reference to his surroundings at all. When we are given a glimpse of his surroundings however, it is a very sparse image: â€Å"I didn't bother to lock the door. I remembered what had happened to my daughter but decided I didn't have anything worth stealing anyway†¦ I had a TV but I was sick of watching TV. They'd be doing me a favour if they broke in and took it off my hands† (p. 8). The strength and impact of the story lies in the fact that there is very little to say about the narrators own life. It is empty and devoid of meaning so in order to have some use in life he feels the need to continue on his breadwinning path to destruction. The narrator lives in an emotional suburbia. Through this use of Dirty Realism to create an image of a life so futile and empty that it is barely worth living it at all. But the characters do, and it is because of this futility that many of them attach importance to minor things, such as the type of curtains they want to put up. As I have said earlier, like Carver, Cheever also portrays a portrait of the suburban American man as defeated and emasculated, and we can see this well within his short story The Season of Divorce. Within this short story traditional American masculinity, and the freedom to be a sexual predator, is displaced by the role of the husband and father and commitments to family life. The first two words in the story are â€Å"my wife† and this sets a trend for the rest of the story, in which the narrator is first and foremost part of the family unit, and secondly, if at all, a man. The main plot of the story, is about the way in which the narrator deals with another man attempting to usurp his position as husband, however the way in which Cheever has portrayed these events, creates a reversal of roles, as the man who tries to usurp his position is not put across as very predatory, and it is the narrators wife who is in the position of power. She is flattered by the attention and allows the situation to escalate. It seems that Ethel is in the male gendered role and both her husband and her suitor portray the female reaction to such occurrences: â€Å"At nine o'clock the doorbell rang†¦ e seemed distraught and exhilarated when he appeared†¦ ‘I know that you don't like me here, I respect your feelings†¦ I respect your home, I respect your marriage, I respect your children†¦ I've come here to tell you that I love your wife'†¦ ‘get out' I said. ‘you've got to listen to me'†¦ ‘I know that there are problems with custody and property and things like that to be settled'†¦ ‘get out of her, get the hell out of here' He started for the door. There was a potted geranium on the mantelpiece, and I threw this across the room at him, hitting him in the small of the back†¦ (p. 190) We can see from this passage that the reactions of both of the men, Trencher coming to talk rationally to him, and the narrator screaming and throwing a potted plant at Trencher, are both instinctively female reactions to such a situation. I believe that it is through the suburban surroundings in which they have been immersed that they have come to lose sight of what it is to be male and as such have become homogenised to the femininity of a suburban life, in which all that really exists is a home life. In conclusion, it seems that each of the central male characters within these stories, all seems to have the same fleeting moment of epiphany, in which they realise the futility of their life, but then they forget what it meant and continue on with their lives, convincing themselves that they are happy. In a typically post modern manner both authors seem to draw heavy reference from their own lives and I believe that it is because of this that both Cheever and Carver seem to be protesting against this feminisation and downfall of the traditional American male. Carver however, I believe is much more negative about the downfall of the male role, as he always ends his stories with the feeling that there is no hope: â€Å"what is there to tell?†¦ they leave the light burning. Then they remember, and it goes out. † (p. 26) Whereas Cheever in the end always reverts to a blissful ignorance on the part of the male character, and everyone lives happily ever after†¦ or do they?

Energy Production Opportunities From Community Waste Water Environmental Sciences Essay

In 2002 and 2003, the late Richard Errett Smalley ( 1943-2005 ) , Nobel Laureate in Chemistry ( 1996 ) , devised a list of the 10 most urgent jobs confronting humanity in the following decennaries [ 1 ] . Clean H2O was ranked as the 2nd most of import challenge for world. The standard that Smalley used to rank these jobs was their impact on other facets of human life. Water straight influences critical countries such as wellness and sanitation, resource efficiency and the protection of the environment. Urban H2O ingestion varies mostly from over 1 Ts per capita in developed states ‘ larger metropoliss to simply 3 L in the 3rd universe ‘s urban countries [ 2 ] . In the US, approximately 3 % of the one-year energy ingestion ( 75,000 to 100,000 GWh a twelvemonth ) is used to handle H2O and waste H2O in municipal installations [ 3 ] . In the peculiar instance of efficient waste H2O intervention, it is interesting that the cardinal literally lies in the job itself: waste H2O contains 9 times more energy than is used to handle it [ 4 ] . This means that H2O has a antic renewable potency, fact which is of great relevancy for a proper ecological record and for countries where clean H2O is merely barely available. A twosome of methods for roll uping energy from waste H2O have been tried with assorted grades of success. Biogas production through the agitation of organic affair is the most normally used method and presently has a recovery efficiency of approximately 40 % [ 5 ] , [ 6 ] . Sludge incineration is besides used in order to dispose of solid affair and generate thermic energy for intervention workss [ 6 ] . Rearward osmosis, which has proven its efficiency in handling salt H2O, late entered use for cleaning industrial waste H2O [ 7 ] . Apart from these conventional methods, several new attacks have been studied, taking at a better energetic efficiency. The Microbial Fuel Cells ( MFCs ) are at the head of these fresh promotions [ 8 ] . A MFC typically works this manner: at the anode the organic affair is oxidized by micro-organisms ; the negatrons so travel through an external conductive wire to the cathode, therefore bring forthing electrical energy, while protons are transferred through a proton-exchange membrane. At the cathode, the negatrons combine with the protons and with O from the ambiance and form clean H2O. For the clip being, development is still in an early phase and important work has to be done for obtaining designs that can do MFCs feasible for all-out applications. The simplified theoretical account of a MFC is shown in Figure 1. Another possibility for H2O purification, already in usage as a desalinization engineering, is utilizing solar energy in a solar-still of assorted forms and designs – Figure 2 [ 9 ] .2. Short description of Buzau waste H2O intervention unitI was really excited by the proposed subject and so I decided to see with my ain eyes a waste H2O intervention unit. I chose the Waste Water Treatment Unit from the metropolis of Buzau ( WWTUB ) , as it corresponds to European Council Directive [ 10 ] , and I was given all the necessary information and the chance to take exposures of the chief constituents of the installing. In the Figure 3 the chief constituents of the unit are presented. The station is designed to function an tantamount population of 235,000, handling more than 72,000 m3/day of waste H2O. Under certain conditions conditions, a partial intervention of up to 120,000 m3/day is possible. The station treats waste H2O, pluvial H2O and industrial H2O after partial intervention. At this clip, WWTUB is handling about 22,000 m3/day of waste H2O ensuing in about 200 m3/day of sludge. The electrical energy necessary is 6,628 kW/day for H2O and 212 kW/day for sludge, ensuing in a monthly ingestion of about 212,040 kilowatts. From the biogas that is obtained about 72,540 kilowatts are produced each month, guaranting all thermic energy that is needed for the procedure of sludge treating and for internal usage. From the appraisals of the proficient staff, when the Cogeneration station will be connected to the National Electrical Network, the sum of produced energy will be significantly increased. The chief stairss in the intervention procedure are presented in the Figure 4 and include: – Primary intervention: harsh screen of big objects ; all right screen of big suspensions, littorals, and lubricating oil ; primary deposit. – Secondary intervention: consists of biological intervention through activated sludge and O extract through aeration. After the secondary deposit, 75 % of the sludge is sent back into the circuit, while the remainder of 25 % plus the sludge from the primary deposit is operated on ( through thickener, anaerobiotic digestion and centrifugal desiccation ) ensuing in biogas and solid mass ( fertiliser ) . The biogas is used to obtain electrical and thermic energy through a cogeneration system or a thermic station. – Tertiary intervention: has the intent of extinguishing extra compounds ( N and P ) and to disinfect the H2O. The riddance of N is done biologically by nitrification and subsequent denitrification, which transforms the nitrate into N, which is sent into the ambiance. Phosphorus riddance is performed chemically. The resulting H2O is sent into the Buzau River.3. Practical thoughts for energy efficient community waste H2O interventionFrom the showing of scientific literature, there is clearly an huge energetic potency in waste H2O. Unfortunately, up to this twenty-four hours this potency has been mostly underused, usual waste H2O interventions, although critical, being energy-consuming procedures. As depicted in the simplified diagram of an usual waste H2O intervention works ( Figure 5a ) , there are at least six stairss that require energy, for merely one measure that can bring forth thermic and electrical energy. As mentioned in the debut portion, the two methods that retained my attending were the Microbial Fuel Cell ( MFC ) and Solar Distillation ( SD ) . Even if these methods are in their early phases of development, and may be for the clip being unproductive, they do hold the possible to boom in the hereafter. My thought consists in uniting these methods in what I have named â€Å" A intercrossed MFC-SD waste H2O intervention works † and turn the separate restrictions of both methods into a cumulated advantage. Although such a intercrossed works affecting MFCs and solar stills would still necessitate electrical energy to run ( for all pumping operations ) , we can safely presume that this sort of works will hold a lower ingestion of energy and it could besides bring forth plenty electrical power to prolong itself. As it can be seen by comparing Figures 5a and 5b, the energy consuming/ energy bring forthing stairss ratio is 5/4 ( for the intercrossed works ) , a much better ration t han 6/1 ( for the usual works – Figure 5a ) . There are several advantages of this type of works, schematically represented in Figure 5b, that will be discussed individually for MFCs and solar distillment operations.3.1. Microbial fuel cells and plat-microbial fuel cell operationsSince MFCs and Plant Microbial Fuel Cells ( PMFCs ) [ 11 ] require organic affair to feed the micro-organisms ( chiefly anaerobic bacteriums, such as Shewanella oneidensis and Geobacter sulfurreducens ) , after a first harsh separation of big mechanical drosss, the waste H2O is introduced in the first MFC, where, at the same time with the bacterial debasement of organic affair and subsequent production of electricity, the aqueous slurry is thinning. After the first measure of solar vaporization, the staying slurry has concentrated plenty to be submitted to a 2nd MFC intervention where staying organic affair is farther decomposed by the same bacterium. The staying sludge after a 2nd solar distillment is used as food for the PMFC unit, where farther energ y is produced. The PMFC unit serves besides as a â€Å" baby's room † for bacterial population that is used to sow MFCs 1 and 2, but besides as â€Å" filter † to retain CO2 evolved in the MFCs. Indeed, in order to minimise the cost of the runing units, graphite electrodes can be used, the C easy transforming itself in CO2. Thus, evolved CO2 in MFCs 1 and 2 will function a dual intent: one as portion of the photosynthetic procedure in phytoplankton, algae and aquatic flora in the PMFC, and another one as hydrogen carbonate anion ( HCO3- ) , functioning as a scavenger for heavy metals. However, there are already surveies covering with the decrease of CO2 emanations [ 12 ] . In Figure 6, a PMFC is intuitively represented. The construct of MFCs is comparatively new ( less than a decennary old ) , but at that place already are rivals in the immature market of industrial and semi-industrial microbic cells, such as the Israel-based company, suggestively named Emefcy Co.3.2. Solar distillment operationsThe chief advantage of this operation is obtaining pure H2O at lower costs, a H2O that does n't necessitate a subsequent biological or chemical auxiliary purification measure. A proper design of the solar still could speed up the vaporization and H2O roll uping procedure [ 13 ] . An advantage of solar distillment is that it can besides disinfect the waste H2O, since most micro-organisms are sensitive toward UV radiation [ 14 ] ( that is the ground for which after the SD measure, waste H2O must be re-inseminated with microbic populations from the PMFC ) . However, a certain disadvantage could originate from the location and operating hours of these units. On the other manus, if the location permits it, before its discharge in next watercourses, this H2O could be used to bring forth more electricity in a micro-hydroelectrical works.4. DecisionIn my sentiment, the high energy potency of waste H2O must be regarded in position and with trust in adult male â₠¬Ëœs possible to bring forth efficient solutions. Bearing this in head, we must excite research on utilizing this possible and use the consequences on a graduated table that is going larger and larger. This is the lone manner we will accomplish better practical solutions and lower costs. There have been infinite jobs in world ‘s history that seemed impossible to be solved in an efficient and economical mode. However, we have ever managed, through wonder and doggedness, to happen inexpensive solutions that could be applied at a big graduated table. Take the computing machine, for case. Who would hold thought a twosome of decennaries ago that this machine, that used to make full an full room and was merely accessible to some, would of all time turn out to be literally at manus for about anyone. I am certain that, with the right support, my thought of sublimating H2O utilizing Microbial Fuel Cells and Solar Distillation can go a world excessively!

Mexican American Borderlands Essay

Mexican American Borderlands and the Caribbean lie with in the join States adult male person has been reign the cosmos since the ancient times. Wo work bosom generate always been looked everywhere by hands as the purposeless gender. People at in one case claim that workforce and wowork force nuclear number 18 exist but in reality, men are allay dominating the world. Even in genuine countries of the world, women are non given compeer opportunities as men. work force are paid higher(prenominal) salaries than women. Women cannot walk freely in the streets. These are some of the examples which verbalise that men are still reining the world. The case of male bureau is worst in the third gear world countries where people are poor and illiterate. I as well as halt experienced more a(prenominal) incidents in which I have been neglected just because I am a girl. after I read the half dozen stories in the Mexican American Borderlands and the Caribbean Experience in the United States, I learnt nigh more things that were unkn deliver to me. I embed pop many provoke facts somewhat the different cultures out of which some were level(p) shocking to judge about. In the paragraphs below, I am red ink to talk about the common themes that I found in those sextette stories. Those six stories had different characters and their own stories. But all(prenominal) those six stories had a common theme which was male dominance. men do not have the right to rule women. Men and women are evenly important like the sides of a coin, without maven side, the coin is incomplete. The company should also stop differentiating among men and women and giving men all the privileges. The first myth Bien charming, talks about a woman named Lupe who was brought up in a Hispanic culture. She was not successful in her relationships and then she decides to move to Texas to come forward a new life. in that location she meets a man named Flavio who was already married. Flavio did not tell her the lawfulness and compete with her feelings. He leaves her low-down hearted. She is totally broken .But later(prenominal) Lupe realizes that she does not need men in†¦If you want to get a fully essay, order it on our website

Match made in heaven Essay

â€Å"There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends. † Homer That bard created such two people in The Odyssey, their contrasting roles concealing the similarities in their natures. Both Penelope and Odysseus dealt with â€Å"a world of pain†, but in very different settings: she wastes away at home, while he faces a myriad of adventures and sufferings around the Greek world. Although Homer assigned them dissimilar parts in his epic, however, his story still reveals striking resemblances between Odysseus and Penelope: they possess positive qualities and several faults in common as well as one major dissimilarity, all of which are the secrets to their long and blissful marriage and help them to see â€Å"eye to eye. † One can easily see why Ithaca’s king and queen remained happily united for so many years when looking at the shining characteristics they share. Both are wondrously loyal, even when faced with an abundance of temptations. Over the course of twenty years, Odysseus knew countless lovely women, from Nausicaa to Calypso, yet he remained determined to return to his wife. Likewise, Penelope had her choice of one-hundred and eighty of the best men in Greece all vying for her hand, but she still â€Å"falls to weeping for Odysseus† every time she thinks of her beloved husband. Undoubtedly, The Odyssey’s happy ending could not have occurred without their mutual fidelity. Cunning brilliance is the second attribute common to both Odysseus and Penelope, and it served to reunite them as much as their reciprocal devotion did. Odysseus is known as the â€Å"man of twists and turns†, and presumably, he used his acumen to select a wife who could match him in matters of the mind. Being the hero of the story, Odysseus’s brains are flaunted by Homer in his every action, from his escape from the Cyclops to all the creative stories he fabricated. But Penelope’s wisdom can also be detected within the text, and is crucial to the plot. For example, take the often-retold story of her web, woven and unwoven to keep the suitors at bay for three years, or when in Book 18, she coyly elicited expensive gifts from each suitor to compensate for some of her husband’s squandered estate. One can also adduce the test she devised for the suitors as a confirmation of her sagacity: â€Å"The hand that can string this bow with the greatest ease†¦ he is the man I follow. † Penelope knows very well that it is highly unlikely that one of her brazen suitors could muster the strength needed to shoot â€Å"his polished bow†: it was just another clever way postpone marriage. Had Penelope not â€Å"sp[un] out her wiles†, much like her husband had done abroad, the lovely queen of Ithaca would probably have been coerced into an unwanted union long before Odysseus returned. Not only are the queen and king of Ithaca alike for possessing dominant traits of loyalty and astuteness, they also share several shortcomings. Firstly, although they are devoted enough to pine for each other for two decades, neither were one hundred percent loyal to their spouse. Odysseus did not remain faithful to Penelope, sleeping with Circe, then Calypso, and perhaps some mortal women unworthy of being mentioned as well. Odysseus claims that he lay with the Circe for the sake of diplomacy, but if so, then why did he stay in her â€Å"arching caverns† for over a year, leaving only at his crew’s urging? Homer also hints at Odysseus’s voluntary treachery during his seven-year detainment with Calypso, including lines such as â€Å"they lost themselves in love†, and â€Å"since the nymph no longer pleased. † Is the bard implying that the nymph with lovely braids once pleased him, and thus, he willingly copulated with her? Penelope, being a woman, could not have had such affaires d’amour and still be considered loyal. However, because she was only a woman, she still harbored an innate desire to attract men. In Book 18, she fulfilled Athena’s wish that she should â€Å"display herself to her suitors, fan their hearts, inflame them more† in order to receive the suitors’ gifts, but perchance also to satisfy her own longing for attention – after all, Penelope is a woman whose husband has been gone for more than twenty years. She succeeds in accomplishing both: After she descends the stairs, â€Å"the suitor’s knees went slack, their hearts dissolved with lust† and they showered her with â€Å"gorgeous presents. † Homer seems to reiterate this fact that Penelope enjoyed the courtship of so many fine, young princes, even though her suitors were a burden and a plague to the household. Book 19 includes a passage describing a dream Penelope had, in which an eagle, which later reveals himself as Odysseus, destroys her flock of geese by â€Å"snap[ping] their necks and kill[ing] them one and all†, the geese obviously symbolizing her gaggle of suitors. Penelope is comforted by this dream and seems to hope that it foreshadows future events, but also acknowledged that she â€Å"wept and wailed† and was â€Å"sobbing, stricken† at the slaying of her geese. Hence, though Penelope does remain honorable and is faithful to Odysseus during the twenty years when they were apart, she still, perhaps subconsciously, fostered a desire to do otherwise. However, Penelope’s slight interest in her suitors may not be a have been such a bad thing; on the contrary, it could have inspired her to forgive her husband more easily if he ever told her of his dalliances with goddesses. Second, both Odysseus and Penelope are characterized as â€Å"wary†, and although their caution helped them to succeed in many situations, both are overly circumspect at times, causing them to be suspicious of those who love them most. One of the most tense and heartbreaking scenes in the book takes place in Book 23, when Penelope is face to face with her devout husband for the first time after twenty years of separation, yet refuses to acknowledge him, prompting Telemachus to reproach: â€Å"What other wife could have a spirit so unbending? Holding back from her husband, home at last for her After bearing twenty years of brutal struggle- Your heart was always harder than a rock! † Her son is right, but Penelope still refused to speak to Odysseus, even after Telemachus’s rebuking, causing the great-hearted Odysseus to â€Å"blaze up in fury† over his wife’s distrust. An analogous incident took place later between Odysseus and his old father. Seeing Laertes in the orchard, Odysseus observed him sitting alone, â€Å"his heart racked with sorrow†, a sight enough to make even â€Å"long-enduring Odysseus† stop to weep. Yet, even so, Odysseus decided to test the old man first, to â€Å"reproach him with words that cut him to the core. † It was wholly unnecessary to verify the loyalty of Laretes, for after all, the man is his father and if that were not enough, Odysseus had heard testimonies to Laretes’s grief from Eumaeus as well as his own mother in Hades. Odysseus’s often-praised caution prompted him to be rather irrational his handling of the situation, telling a tale that causes his dear father to grieve even more: â€Å"Both hands clawing the ground for dirt and grime, he poured it over his grizzled head, sobbing, in spasms. † His suspicion inflicts unnecessary pain on his father, much as Penelope’s caution angered him; nevertheless, it is because their minds operate in such a similar fashion that they are able to understand each other’s rash actions, caused by that extreme â€Å"wariness† which dominates their reasoning. It was because of their faults that Odysseus and Penelope could see â€Å"eye to eye. † But for all their innate likenesses, one main difference remains between the hero and heroine of The Odyssey: Odysseus has pride, a kind of virile self-regard that Penelope surely lacks, for better or for worse. Odysseus’s excessive self-respect gets him into many difficult circumstances: his odyssey of misery would not have occurred had he not revealed his identity to the Cyclops because he could not bear being remembered as â€Å"Nobody†. One cannot imagine that Penelope would find ever herself into such a predicament. However, there are some instances during the plot of The Odyssey when Penelope should have displayed more dignity. Several times throughout the story, Telemachus scolds her in a disrespectful manner, telling her to â€Å"Tend to your [Penelope’s] own tasks†, declaring that he â€Å"hold[s] the reins of power in this house. † Penelope didn’t put her teenage son in his proper place, opting instead to meekly withdraw to her own quarters. Had Telemachus spoken similar words to his father, Odysseus’s ego certainly wouldn’t have allowed such a lack of reverence, and Telemachus most likely would have received some tough love at his hands. Pride is the only significant distinction between the characters of Odysseus and Penelope, but it is a meaningful difference as well. If Ithaca’s queen was as self-righteous as its king, one could expect many royal family squabbles instead of the marital bliss they are famed for. Penelope is modest and demure, attributes that are absolutely necessary in order to live in harmony with a proud man like Odysseus. In conclusion, Odysseus and Penelope are alike in almost every respect, with their good qualities holding them together, their faults leading to understanding, and their one dissimilarity producing compatibility. That is why they were able to build the strongest kind of love, the love described in I Corinthians 13:7 : † Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. † The Odyssey itself is a testimony to this kind of bond between husband and wife, a bond forged by harmonious natures, able to survive through twenty years of separation, temptation, and suffering.