Leading educational change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Leading educational change - Essay Example In the book entitled Schooling by Design: Mission, Action, and Achievement, Wiggins and McTighe (2007, p. 108) discussed the theory behind the â€Å"Curriculum Design Cycle†. Although this particular framework is useful in terms of guiding the teachers on how to effectively change and create a new curriculum that can meet the needs of a commnity, this particular model is not applicable when it comes to the need to create educational vision on teacher empowerment. The Innovative Designs for Enhancing Achievements in Schools (IDEAS) by Andrews (2008) is more applicable when it comes to implementing change for the entire educational institution. Lastly, Eacott’s Strategic Model is all about the use of strategies when managing educational administration or educational construct. However, after examining the modern context of educational administration, Eacott (2008, p. 353) found out that the available strategies that can be used in the field of education is â€Å"incomple te† and â€Å"flawed†. Therefore, among these three (3) models, the model presented by Andrews (2008) is more applicable when it comes to creating an educational vision that could empower the school teachers. ... ng, group discussion and voting are all equally important when it comes to encouraging all stakeholders to engage themselves in participating in the process of designing a clear and inspiring vision on teacher empowerment. The construct of parallel leadership is one of the main constructs of IDEAS. Basically, the context of parallel leadership is highly dependent on mutualism, personal expression, and shared purpose, values, and beliefs (Andrews, 2008). Using this theory, one can argue that it is essential for both the school administrator and the primary school teachers to develop mutual respect and trust at all times. After developing a sense of mutualism, both parties are expected to work together towards the development of a single vision that could strengthen teacher empowerment within the primary school setting. During the initiative phase, the school administor and the primary school teachers are expected to participate in brainstorming and/or group discussion process. Basical ly, brainstorming is all about encouraging the school personnel to generate group ideas (Isaken & Gaulin, 2005). This will then lead to discovering and envisioning stage (Andrews, 2008). By encouraging the school staff to participate in a group discussion or brain-storming session, the school leader will have the opportunity to detect the personal opinion or stand of each school staff with regards to certain strategies that can be used in the promotion of teacher empowerment. Teacher empowerment is all about being able to strengthen the decision-making power of the primary school teachers through the use of either administrative strategies or pedagogy (Di Gropello, 2006, p. 4). In some cases, excessive use or implementation of rules and regulations, and red tape serves as a barrier behind

Hobbes and Lock Views on Property Essay Example for Free

Hobbes and Lock Views on Property Essay Property, whether personal or private, is thought of and looked at differently with different point of views. John Locke (1632 – 1704) and Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) had very strong and also very diverse views of property and its importance in the human society. John Locke saw private property as the basis of freedom and liberty. Locke believed that people were born free, equal and were born with three rights that were natural and God-given; these rights were life, liberty, and property. Locke, who believed in liberal democracy, considered property not just possessions that we physically use and own, but rather that property is what  gwe mix with our labour, the labour of our body and the work of our hands h. (The Human Project; pg151). Property is something that you have put your labour into, the work, investment, energy or effort that you put into something makes it an extension of you, which you own. It is not only your land or personal possessions which are considered property, but this can be in regards with anything from a product, an idea, a service, a relationship, sex or religion. He decided liberal democracy was the best way to protect our property because with too much of a strong government, they could threaten our natural rights. Property was extremely important to Locke because he believed that it defines the boundaries of individual freedom. When you have earned and own your property, you are free to do whatever you wish in the limitations of your property without repercussions by the state or government. Locke believed that property was a primarily good and positive thing and therefore he believed that it was something that should be protected by the government because it is one of the three natural rights that we are given. Another idea of property was from Karl Marx whose opinion on property was quite the opposite of Locke fs; it was based on communism, although Marx himself was not a communist. Marx fs attitude of property was that private property was the basis of exploitation and inhumanity. While Locke saw private property as something people should be proud of and gave people incentive to work, Marx believed that private property created an excruciating difference between the  ghaves h and the  ghave-nots h and therefore he wanted to abolish this conflicted difference and the only way he believed that was possible was to eliminate private property. Marx believed that there was a huge difference between the rich and the poor, which he also described as the  haves  and the  have-nots , the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, the powerful and the powerless, or to put simply, the owners and the workers. Marx divided property into two theories: personal property and private property. Personal property was defined as something that is used by the individual on a daily basis, such as their automobile, their home in which they live, their appliances and their clothes or personal possessions. Private property was defined as something that they own but do not use, such as an apartment they lease out to rent, their factory and factory workers, or a long-term investment. He believed to eliminate this barrier between the  haves  and the  have-nots  so that classes would be equal in society would have to abolish private property. Marx wanted to dispose of private property, not personal property. If private property was removed, Marx believed the separation and division of labour between the  haves  and the  have-nots  would be eliminated because it would bring an end to exploitation, alienation, means of production and opiates; in other words, we would no longer have to use our bodies to make profit for someone else and we would be able to put ourselves into our work and feel independent and proud of the work we accomplished. This would allow individuals to feel personal satisfaction from their work as well as eliminate the classes in society. Locke and Marx fs views on property were very different from one another. Locke saw fundamental values in property in which the government should protect while Marx saw private property as the reason to many problems in the human society because of the unequal distribution of wealth and therefore wanted the government to get rid of private property. I do not think that private property should be abolished as Marx recommends. This is because I believe in Locke fs theory that having property gives individuals the sense of independence and accomplishment and by people having possessions they feel like they have earned something by the work that they do. Without this feeling of owning something, society would not be as it is today as people need encouragement and incentive for what they are doing. In this sense, I feel that Marx  argument that private property should be abolished is flawed and that the government should do anything they can to protect our property as it is one of the three rights we are given. If we looked at private property not as property, but as something to work towards as a reward, it will give individuals the sense of accomplishment which is an opiate that is much needed. If everyone in society had equal amounts of wealth, there would be a lack of dedication: why would one work harder than another if in the end they are all getting the same reward? The society needs private property as motivation to work hard and gives a reward for it. This is why I believe and agree with Lockes theory on property.

Anne Finchs Poems :: Anne Finch Poetry Poem Essays

Anne Finch's Poems While other writers use their poetry to decipher the meaning of life, Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea was busy writing about how to live it. Five of her poems, â€Å"Jupiter and the Farmer,† â€Å"The Tree,† â€Å"The Shepherd Piping to the Fishes,† â€Å"Love, Death, and Reputation,† and â€Å"There’s No To-Morrow,† convey strong messages to the reader about how to live their lives. In her poetry, Anne Finch uses anecdotes to help illustrate the validity of her statements, thereby providing the reader with a strong, meaningful, and important message about how life should be lived. â€Å"Jupiter and the Farmer† tells the story of a farmer who took it upon himself to control the weather in favor of his crops: â€Å"The Frost to kill the Worm, the brooding Snow, / The filling Rains may come, and Phoebus glow† (14 – 15). In doing this, the farmer plays god himself rather than let the real god, Jupiter, control things. The farmer ends up choosing what he wanted in such a bad fashion, he ruins his crops and is â€Å"with Famine pinch’d† (24). Upon the realization of his mistake, the farmer calls upon Jupiter and promises he will no longer take fate into his own hands. He resolves to let Jupiter lead the way while he â€Å"live[s] to Reap† (30). Through this poem, Finch stresses how important fate is in everyday lives. Like the farmer, we may have a desire to try and take the reigns from destiny, but it will never end well. Finch says we should just leave our lives to fate, and everything will work out alright. In â€Å"The Tree,† the speaker talks to a tree and express thanks for its â€Å"delightful shade† (1). The speaker goes on to talk of the others who benefited from the existence of the tree and gave it something back in return, such as the birds singing, travelers praising it’s welcome shade, and nymphs making crowns from its blooms. The speaker wonders what she can do to repay the shade given her by the tree. She decides to wish something for the tree’s future. She wishes, â€Å"To future ages may’st thou stand / Untouch’d by the rash workman’s hand† (19 – 20). Ultimately, she wishes something such as â€Å"some bright hearth† (32) be made from the tree at its death.

Learning Styles and Competencies Essay

Learning Styles and Competencies I found my personality spectrum to be true of whom I am as an individual person. I understand psychology as a self-portrait of us and this allowed me to be exposed and confirmed my personality. I am a prodigious thinker because I love to solve problems while exploring new ideas and potentials. When I look back as a child I was very analytical and always kept to myself on figuring problems. This can establish well with math, science, or psychology in a field that I would never be bored of. I realize that when I think, I space out and find truth and this will always apply in my everyday tasks. I like to hear questions given time to figure out in my manner of learning. My other strength is a giver, and I have strong merit of being honest and will always make sure that I will make a difference. Whenever I perform my job duties I make sure I come in with good intentions. I deal with customer service all day and project task all in an eight hour shift. Many people I have seen in the past cheated or stole time that really affected the company along with the workplace. I tend to talk to these individuals into just working as a team instead of being a weak link. I am an easily approachable person, which make sense through this personality spectrum that people see through me. I love to talk business and make sure everyone wins which is a great strength I am well aware of. I know my strength and how I can utilize it further for my career and better myself as an individual. I acknowledge my weaknesses in organization and that adventurous type; however, this does mean I can improve from what I falter. These are a series of habits and familiarized myself to grow better as an individual. I must find patience and take a day at a time to permit myself to understand where I must lead on, become comprehensive, and also have the courage to take further steps. One of the goals was to head back into school and finish what I had started. I have come a long way from when I was young, I have new experiences that motivate me to finish and succeed for my career. I need to write down my different goals, find others who share that common goal and experience what everyone has to offer. I understand we ourselves cannot make alone but as a team we can. If I ever come through any issues, I understand my mentor can also guide me. This learning has helped me to understand further and apply myself for future experiences.

Elizabeth receives three proposals of marriage in Pride and Prejudice Essay

The first sentence of the novel Pride and Prejudice states, â€Å"It is the truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.† This clearly demonstrates how important marriage was in the Victorian age and to the Bennet girls. Using this as the first sentence of the novel reinforces the theme of marriage from the very start. The plot of Pride and Prejudice is centred on four relationships with all of these resulting in marriage. The first relationship was between Charlotte Lucus and Mr Collins which resulted in a marriage of convenience as neither party showed any affection and thought of marriage as merely a contract that would help both sides. The second couple was Miss Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham. In the novel Lydia and Wickham eloped and ran off to London. Mr Wickham was paid by Mr Darcy to marry Lydia. The third was between Miss Jane Bennet and Mr Bingly which was a relationship of true love. The relationship encountered many ups and downs but eventually true love triumphed. The fourth was between Mr Darcy and Miss Lizzy Bennet. This was an unusual couple as they came from very different classes in Victorian society and their marriage very nearly did not happen. This marriage was based on love. The Bennet girls had limited options in life. The first was to get married and love honour and obey their husband. The second was to become a spinster and live off her male relatives. To be a spinster you were regarded as a social outcast in society. The third was to be a governess. To get married was seen to be by far the best option for women in the Victorian age. Women had few rights. The Bennet girls had the unfortunate coincidence of being five girls in their family. This meant that they would only have a small dowry, as all money had to be split five ways. Extra pressure was mounted on the Bennet girls’ shoulders through Mr Collins. If Mr Bingly died the Bennet girls would have been thrown out of Longbourn in favour of Mr Collins’ as their house was entitled to ‘heirs male’. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is the heroine of the novel. Elizabeth has several character traits, which make it somewhat less difficult for her to refuse her first proposal from Mr Collins. These include; her perceptiveness, which enabled her to easily manipulate Mr Collins. Lizzy is very witty and we know this because it says in the text that, â€Å"She has more of a quickness than her sisters†. In the last paragraph of the proposal scene we see that Lizzy puts an emphasis on the personal pronouns â€Å"we† and â€Å"I†. This shows that she is as proud and self interested as Mr Collins. However, Elizabeth lacks self-awareness – she is proud and prejudiced. Elizabeth wants to be seen as an intelligent, educated woman. She wants a marriage but only if it is based on love. She will not settle for merely a business arrangement. The novel of Pride and Prejudice has two comedy climaxes and both have connections with Mr Collins. The first is Mr Collins’ proposal. Elizabeth is genuinely shocked and embarrassed by this proposal. She nearly bursts out laughing when he says that he was â€Å"Run away with by my feelings†. Humour is achieved by Mr Collins’ manner as Austen satirises the role of a traditional clergyman. For example, he is supposed to put others first yet through the first paragraph of the proposal he uses the personal pronouns â€Å"I†, â€Å"me† and â€Å"my† thirteen times. Elizabeth is clearly affronted by the fact that Mr Collins believes that he is dong her and her family a service by making his proposal of marriage. He believes that Elizabeth and her family should regard him as an exceedingly good â€Å"catch†. Elizabeth, however, with her strong intellect does not regard Mr Collins as her equal or as her superior. She can hardly contain her fury when she replies sarcastically, â€Å"I am very sensitive of the honour of your proposals but it is impossible for me to do otherwise other than to decline them†. Her temper rises when Mr Collins persists with his proposal as he believes it is customary for prospective brides to reject a proposal â€Å"a second or even a third time†. Elizabeth, in exasperation, does her utmost to convince Mr Collins that marriage to him is completely out of the question, â€Å"I am perfectly serious in my proposal. – You could not make me happy.† This is the basis of Elizabeth’s refusal – she wants a marriage based on love and respect which will lead to happiness. She regards Mr Collins as beneath her in intellect and sensitivity. In her eyes, he is a pompous fool with an over-inflated sense of importance. She does not love or respect him. She feels that she would be compromising herself by accepting him his proposal and she is totally frustrated by his apparent in ability to accept her refusal. In this proposal we see that there is a character contrast between Elizabeth and Mr Collins. Mr Collins obeys orders. He admits that to Elizabeth he is following Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s instruction to marry when he says, â€Å"It is the particular advice and recommendation of a certain noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness.† Lizzy, however, will not be swayed by the opinion of others whatever their social status. During his proposal Mr Collins reminds Lizzy that he is, â€Å"To inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father.† This shows Mr Collins’ lack of understanding of Lizzy’s love for her father. This is juxtaposition between the theme of love and marriage and the death of Mr Bennet. This is very amusing for the reader. The second proposal that Elizabeth receives is from Mr Darcy. The title of this novel, Pride and Prejudice is a metaphor for Elizabeth’s relationship with Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy is seen by Elizabeth to be too proud. Mr Darcy is a lot further up the social strata than the Bennet family. He thinks that he would be degrading himself to marry her. â€Å"He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger.† Elizabeth is prejudiced against Darcy. Elizabeth has been fooled by Mr Wickham’s stories of Mr Darcy. Elizabeth believes that after the death of the late Mr Darcy, Mr Darcy threw Mr Wickham out of his father’s house and failed to adhere to his promise of a family living. However later on in the novel this is confirmed to be not the case. Through the plot line we see how Austen has created hostility between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth. At their first meeting, Mr Darcy does not endear himself to Elizabeth and her family because of his superior attitude. He says of Elizabeth, â€Å"She is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me.† This dislike of Mr Darcy is increased through his interference in the relationship between Jane and Mr Bingly. He admits to Elizabeth that â€Å"I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister.† Elizabeth was very astounded by Mr Darcy’s first proposal. Her prejudice against him increased due to the manner in which he made this proposal. He explained to her how she had struggled with himself but was unable to stop himself from telling her, â€Å"how ardently I admire and love you†. However, Mr Darcy made the mistake of dwelling on what he perceived Elizabeth’s inferiority. Elizabeth could see that, like Mr Collins, Mr Darcy expected her to accept his proposal and it had not crossed his mind that she would do otherwise. Elizabeth’s anger increases because she can see that Darcy arrogantly assumes that she will marry him. ‘Elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment’. He openly tells her that he has tried to quell his feelings for her because a marriage to her would be degrading. This arrogance and sense of superiority and pride infuriates Elizabeth. Although she is flattered by his proposals, her prejudices make it impossible for her to accept it. She does not want to be seen as a charity case. Also, she does not want to be seen to condone what she perceives to be his ungentlemanly past behaviour towards Mr Wickham and her sister. She declares that from the very beginning she despised his â€Å"arrogance†, â€Å"conceit† and selfish disdain of the feelings of others†. The third proposal that Elizabeth received was again from Mr Darcy. However, by this time Elizabeth has heard the truth about Mr Wickham and his atrocious behaviour. Her regard for Mr Darcy has grown through her understanding of the part that he played in resolving the problems with Lydia’s elopement and eventual marriage to Mr Wichkam. At the time of the second proposal Elizabeth’s prejudices against Mr Darcy have disappeared. Indeed she cannot wait to express her thanks for the part that he played in helping Lydia and ultimately her family. However, Mr Darcy tells Elizabeth that her family owe him nothing and he only cares about her. On her return to London, Lady Catherine De Burgh called on Mr Darcy to obtain the promise from Mr Darcy which she had not got from Elizabeth. She told him of her visit to Longbourn and her conversation with Elizabeth and how she had refused to promise that she would not accept a marriage proposal from Mr Darcy. The effect of her visit, â€Å"had been exactly contrariwise†¦It taught me to hope†¦I knew enough of your disposition to be certain that had you been absolutely irrevocably decided against me you would have acknowledged it to Lady Catherine frankly and openly.† He humbles himself when he openly, for the second time, declares his love for Elizabeth and openly outlines his inferior traits. He confirms that he has been â€Å"a selfish being all his life†. He as an only child her was spoilt and not taught to control his temper. He also says admits that he was â€Å"almost taught to be selfish and overbearing, to care for no-one beyond my own family circle†. He tells Elizabeth that that it is she who has brought him humility. In my opinion it was not only Elizabeth who was prejudiced but Darcy too as he is prejudiced about her place in the social hierarchy. It is also not only Darcy who is proud but Elizabeth is too. She will not lower her standards and complies with the conventions of the day by consenting to marry just to please her mother or other members of society. She is determined to hold out against all the odds and marry only for love. At the end of the novel Elizabeth achieves her goal of marrying someone who will truly make her happy. This could be seen as a reflection of Jane Austen’s view on marriage, that is, that a good marriage is one that is based on love and mutual respect. â€Å"Do anything rather than marry without affection.†

Experiment Onion Cell-Biology Essays

Experiment Onion Cell-Biology Essays Experiment Onion Cell-Biology Paper Experiment Onion Cell-Biology Paper Obtain a sheet of lens tissue paper with lens cleaning solution and clean all the lenses of your microscope gently. Obtain a microscope glass slide. Hold It by the edges and wet It with water. Wipe both sides dry with a paper towel. Always hold the slide by the edges or you will leave fingerprints on the slide. Clean the coveralls in a similar manner. Using the medicine dropper, place one drop of water near the centre of the glass slide. This water is called a mounting medium. It helps produce a clear image. Hold a piece of onion bulb scale so that the concave inner) surface faces you. Then snap it backwards as shown in figure 2. You should now be able to see a thin, transparent skin or epidermis, on the concave surface. Use the tweezers or your fingernails to pull Off piece of this epidermis. Place the piece of epidermis in the drop of water. Avoid wrinkling the epidermis. If wrinkles develop, use the tweezers to gently unwrinkled the tissue without tearing it. Hold a coveralls by the edges and lower one edge so that it touches one side of the drop of water at an angle of about 450. See figure 3 for a visual guide to these procedures. Slowly lower the cover slip by supporting the upper edge with a pencil or dissecting needle. This will prevent the trapping of air bubbles under the coveralls which interferes with your viewing. A few small air bubbles will not cause serious problems. Do not confuse air bubbles with your specimen. Air bubbles appear as circular objects with thick dark lines under the microscope. Examine the sample under low power (xx ocular for a total magnification of xx). Follow the procedure you learned in the previous lab to properly focus on the specimen. Dont forget to adjust the lighting to see the most detail possible in your specimen. Move the slide around until you find a group of cells that clearly show their cell contents. Select one cell that appears to be the best for viewing and move it to the centre of the field of view. Switch to medium power. Be careful to observe that the lens does not touch the coveralls by looking at the stage from the side while you rotate the incipience. Refocus with the fine adjustment knob only once the medium power ocular is in place. Draw a small group (not the entire specimen) of onion skins cells. Remember to follow proper biological drawing rules as you draw your cells. A sample drawing as been provided with this lab. Prepare a second wet mount of the onion epidermis. This time use the iodine solution as the mounting medium. This solution is a stain its purpose is to make some parts to stand out. Finding a good group of cells. Centre this group and change to medium power. Centre a single cell before moving to high power Refocus the image with only the fine adjustment knob. Focus up and down carefully to see details on one cell. Adjust the lighting with the diaphragm control. Draw a single onion skin cell following proper biological drawing rules. Read the discussion questions and answer the questions as you work on your sketches. Clean and put away your microscope. Clean and put away the glass slides and coveralls. Wash the counter tops off and make sure all the pieces of onion skin are placed in the garbage. Discussion Questions 1. Describe the shape off single cell of an onion epidermis. 2. Describe the arrangement of the cells with respect to one another. 3. Describe the cytoplasm (cell fluid) off cell. Include color, clearness, and evidence of any motion. The outer edge of the cytoplasm is called the plasma membrane or cell membrane. It is difficult to see since it is normally pushed tightly against the cell wall. 4. Describe the nucleus off cell. If you saw them, include descriptions of the nuclear membrane, nucleoluss, and nucleoli (there may be several). Are the nuclei always in the same position in the cell? 5. Describe how the iodine stain that you used helped you see the cellular detail. 6. The empty spaces that you saw in the cytoplasm are called vacuoles. The contain mainly water and dissolved substances. Each vacuole is surrounded by part of the cytoplasm called a vacuole membrane. 7. You probably noticed that some cells had only one vacuole that filled most of the cell. Explain why the nucleus in those cells was so close to the cell wall. The droplets in the cytoplasm are the oil that gives onions their smell and make your eyes run. Describe an oil droplet. 8. Estimate the length of a single cell in micrometers (pm) using the method described in class. Use the diameter of the field of view for your objective used before making your calculations. 9. Label all the parts off cell that you can see such as the cell wall, nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, nuclear membrane, nucleolus, nucleoluss, vacuole, vacuole membrane, oil droplet. Make sure you follow proper labeling rules check the exemplar provided to be sure.

10 Fascinating Facts About Beetles

10 Fascinating Facts About Beetles Beetles inhabit nearly every ecological niche on the planet. This group includes some of our most beloved bugs, as well as our most reviled pests. Here are 10 fascinating facts about beetles, our largest insect order. One out of Every Four Animals on Earth Is a Beetle Beetles are the largest group of living organisms known to science, bar none. Even with plants included in the count, one in every five known organisms is a beetle. Scientists have described over 350,000 species of beetles, with many more still undiscovered, undoubtedly. By some estimates, there may be as many as 3 million beetle species living on the planet. The order Coleoptera is the largest order in the entire animal kingdom. Beetles Live Everywhere You can find beetles almost anywhere on the planet, from pole to pole, according to entomologist Stephen Marshall. They inhabit both terrestrial and freshwater aquatic habitats, from forests to grasslands, deserts to tundras, and from beaches to mountaintops. You can even find beetles on some of the worlds most remote islands. The British geneticist (and atheist) J. B. S. Haldane is purported to have said that God must have an inordinate fondness for beetles. Perhaps this accounts for their presence and number in every corner of this globe we call Earth. Most Adult Beetles Wear Body Armor One of the traits that make beetles so easy to recognize is their hardened forewings, which serve as armor to protect the more delicate flight wings and soft abdomen underneath. The famed philosopher Aristotle coined the order name Coleoptera, which comes from the Greek koleon, meaning sheathed, and ptera, meaning wings. When beetles fly, they hold these protective wing covers (called elytra) out to the sides, allowing the hindwings to move freely and keep them airborne. Beetles Vary Dramatically in Size As you would expect from a group of insects so numerous, beetles range in size from nearly microscopic to downright gigantic. The shortest beetles are the featherwing beetles (family Ptiliidae), most of which measure less than 1 millimeter long. Of these, the smallest of all is a species called the fringed ant beetle, Nanosella fungi, which reaches only 0.25 mm in length and weighs just 0.4 milligrams. On the other end of the size spectrum, the Goliath beetle (Goliathus goliathus) tips the scales at 100 grams. The longest known beetle hails from South America. The appropriately named Titanus giganteus can reach 20 centimeters long. Adult Beetles Chew Their Food That might seem obvious, but not all insects do so. Butterflies, for example, sip liquid nectar from their own built-in straw, called a proboscis. One common trait all adult beetles and most beetle larvae share is mandibulate mouthparts, made just for chewing. Most beetles feed on plants, but some (like ladybugs) hunt and eat smaller insect prey. Carrion feeders use those strong jaws to gnaw on skin or hides. A few even feed on fungus. Whatever theyre dining on, beetles chew their food thoroughly before swallowing. In fact, the common name beetle is thought to derive from the Old English word bitela, meaning little biter. Beetles Have a Big Impact on the Economy Only a tiny fraction of the overall insect population can be considered pests; most insects never cause us any trouble at all. But because so many are phytophagous, the order Coleoptera does include quite a few pests of economic importance. Bark beetles (like the mountain pine beetle) and wood-borers (such as the exotic emerald ash borer) kill millions of trees each year. Farmers spend millions on pesticides and other controls for agricultural pests like the western corn rootworm or the Colorado potato beetle. Pests like the Khapra beetle feed on stored grains, causing more economic losses well after the harvest is completed. Just the money spent by gardeners on Japanese beetle pheromone traps (some would say money wasted on pheromone traps) is greater than the GDP of some small countries! Beetles Can Be Noisy Many insects are famous for their sounds. Cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids all serenade us with songs. Many beetles produce sounds, too, although not nearly as melodic as those of their Orthopteran cousins. Deathwatch beetles bang their heads again the walls of their wood tunnels, making a surprisingly loud knocking sound. Some darkling beetles tap their abdomens on the ground. A good number of beetles stridulate, particularly when handled by humans. Have you ever picked up a June beetle? Many, like the ten-lined June beetle, will squeal when you do. Both male and female bark beetles chirp, probably as a courtship ritual and a means of finding one another. Some Beetles Glow in the Dark Species in certain beetle families produce light. Their bioluminescence occurs through a chemical reaction involving an enzyme called luciferase. Fireflies (family Lampyridae) flash signals to attract potential mates, with a light organ on the abdomen. In glowworms (family Phengodidae), the light organs run down the sides of the thoracic and abdominal segments, like tiny glowing windows on a railroad boxcar (and thus their nickname, railroad worms). Glowworms also sometimes have an additional light organ on the head, which glows red! Tropical click beetles (​family Elateridae) also produce light by virtue a pair of oval light organs on the thorax and a third light organ on the abdomen. Weevils Are Beetles, Too Weevils, easily recognized by their elongated, almost comical beaks, are really just a type of beetle. The superfamily Curculionoidea includes the snout beetles and various types of weevils. When you look at a weevils long snout, you might assume they feed by piercing and sucking their meal, much like the true bugs. But dont be fooled, weevils belong to the order Coleoptera. Just as all other beetles do, weevils have mandibulate mouthparts made for chewing. In the case of the weevil, however, the mouthparts are usually tiny and are found just at the tip of that long beak. Many weevils cause significant damage to their plant hosts, and for this reason, we consider them pests. Beetles Have Been Around for About 270 Million Years The first beetle-like organisms in the fossil record date back to the Permian Period, roughly 270 million years ago. True beetles - those that resemble our modern-day beetles - first appeared about 230 million years ago. Beetles were already in existence before the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, and they survived the K/T extinction event thought to have doomed the dinosaurs. How have beetles survived for so long, and withstood such extreme events? As a group, beetles have proved remarkably adept at adapting to ecological changes. Sources Insects - Their Natural History and Diversity, by Stephen A. MarshallBorror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. JohnsonEncyclopedia of Insects, edited by Vincent H. Resh and Ring T. Carde. Featherwing Beetles - Insecta: Coleoptera: Ptiliidae, University of Florida. Accessed December 13, 2012.Coleoptera : The biggest, the smallest ? How many beetles are there?, Coleoptera website. Accessed December 13, 2012.Plant pests: The biggest threats to food security?, BBC News, November 8, 2011. Accessed December 13, 2012.Introduction to Bioluminescent Beetles, by Dr. John C. Day, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) Oxford. Accessed December 17, 2012Glow-Worms, Railroad-Worms, University of Florida, accessed December 17, 2012.

How to Conjugate the Verb Scrivere in Italian

How to Conjugate the Verb Scrivere in Italian To writeTo recordTo attribute (to) What to Know About â€Å"​Scrivere† It’s an irregular second conjugation verb, so it doesn’t follow the typical -ere verb ending pattern.It’s a transitive verb, so it takes a direct object.The infinito is â€Å"scrivere†.The participio passato is â€Å"scritto†.The gerund form is â€Å"scrivendo†.The past gerund form is â€Å"avendo scritto†. INDICATIVO/INDICATIVE Il presente io scrivo noi scriviamo tu scrivi voi scrivete lui, lei, Lei scrive essi, Loro scrivono Esempi: Scrivo un messaggio a mia sorella. - I’m writing a message to my sister.Come si scrive quella parola? - How does one write that word? Il passato prossimo io ho scritto noi abbiamo scritto tu hai scritto voi avete scritto lui, lei, Lei, ha scritto essi, Loro hanno scritto Esempi: Ha scritto i nostri nomi sulla sabbia e mi ha mandato questa foto. - He wrote our names in the sand and he sent me this photo.Siete sicuri che avete scritto tutto? - Are you sure you wrote everything? L’imperfetto io scrivevo noi scrivevamo tu scrivevi voi scrivevate lui, lei, Lei scriveva essi, Loro scrivevano Esempi: Mia nonna mi scriveva un biglietto ogni compleanno. - My grandmother wrote me a card every birthday. Il trapassato prossimo io avevo scritto noi avevamo scritto tu avevi scritto voi avevate scritto lui, lei, Lei aveva scritto essi, Loro avevano scritto Esempi: Ho provato a leggere la lettera che mi hai spedito, ma l’avevi scritta in modo illegibile. - I tried to read the letter that you sent me, but the way you wrote it is illegible. Il passato remoto io scrissi noi scrivemmo tu scrivesti voi scriveste lui, lei, Lei scrisse essi, Loro scrissero Esempi: Boccaccio scrisse tanti racconti dell’umanit durante le peste bubbonica. - Boccaccio wrote many stories about humanity during the Black Plague.Durante la guerra i soldati scrissero pià ¹ di 1000 lettere. - During the last conflict, soldiers wrote more than 1000 letters. Il trapassato remoto io ebbi scritto noi avemmo scritto tu avesti scritto voi aveste scritto lui, lei, Lei ebbe scritto essi, Loro ebbero scritto TIP: This tense is rarely used, so don’t worry too much about mastering it. You’ll find it in very sophisticated writing. Il futuro semplice io scriver noi scriveremo tu scriverai voi scriverete lui, lei, Lei scriver essi, Loro scriveranno Esempi: Stella, scriverai il prossimo articolo su Renzi. - Stella, you’ll write the next article on Renzi. Il futuro anteriore io avr scritto noi avremo scritto tu avrai scritto voi avrete scritto lui, lei, Lei avr scritto essi, Loro avranno scritto Esempi: Non appena avrà ² scritto il mio primo libro, te lo spedirà ². - As soon as I have written my first book, I will send it to you. CONGIUNTIVO/SUBJUNCTIVE Il presente che io scriva che noi scriviamo che tu scriva che voi scriviate che lui, lei, Lei scriva che essi, Loro scrivano Esempi: Penso che scriva un romanzo basato sulla vostra storia. - I think she’s writing a romance novel based on your story.Credo che lo scrivano loro due. - I think the two of them are writing it. Il passato io abbia scritto noi abbiamo scritto tu abbia scritto voi abbiate scritto lui, lei, egli abbia scritto essi, Loro abbiano scritto Esempi: Sono contentissimo che mi abbia scritto. - I’m so happy that she texted me. L’imperfetto io scrivessi noi scrivessimo tu scrivessi voi scriveste lui, lei, egli scrivesse essi, Loro scrivessero Esempi: Volevo mi scrivesse, ma non ho ricevuto risposta per una settimana intera. - I wanted him to message me, but I haven’t heard back for an entire week. Il trapassato prossimo io avessi scritto noi avessimo scritto tu avessi scritto voi aveste scritto lui, lei, Lei avesse scritto essi, Loro avessero scritto Esempi: Non ho mai detto che lei avesse scritto quel messaggio, infatti era Giorgia ad averlo scritto. - I never said that she had written that message, in fact it was Giorgia that wrote it. CONDIZIONALE/CONDITIONAL Il presente io scriverei noi scriveremmo tu scriveresti voi scrivereste lui, lei, Lei scriverebbe essi, Loro scriverebbero Scriveresti una lettera a tuo babbo? Mi ha detto che gli manchi. - Would you write a letter to your father? He said that he misses you.Scriverei un poema intero se servisse a conquistarla! - I would write a whole poem if it helped in getting her to like me. Esempi: Il passato io avrei scritto noi avremmo scritto tu avresti scritto voi avreste scritto lui, lei, egli avrebbe scritto essi, Loro avrebbero scritto Pensavo che avrebbe scritto un giallo, ma invece vuole scrivere un romanzo. - I thought he would write a mystery novel, but instead he wants to write a romance.

Bribery and Corruption in China's Construction Industry Essay

Bribery and Corruption in China's Construction Industry - Essay Example In the end, the approach proposed in this paper may hopefully provide a new understanding of bribery and corruption in the Chinese construction industry. The contemporary world’s experience of globalisation is a unique phenomenon known only in the last fifty years (Soros, 2002). Globalisation has opened the doors of the global market, which has paved the way for countries across the globe to redefine their national and international trading relations. In this regard, China’s response to the demands and challenges of globalisation has stirred worldwide interest as China’s economic growth in the past twenty years have been considered as remarkable and even to some â€Å"miraculous† (Sachs & Woo 1993). Studies have shown that the fast phase economic growth of China in the past twenty years can be attributed to the coming together of multi-factors that creates the proper ambiance and environment for economic progress and development (Haddad, 2007). However, it is undeniable that China’s economic policy of opening its door to international trade is appreciated as one the strongest and clearly perceptible decisive impetus that drives and hastens China’s economic growth. (Yao 2006; Chen & Feng 2000; Fukasaka ,Soligna, & Lecomte 1996; Liu et al 2002). And in the context of China’s rapid economic progress, the contribution of one industry is undeniable – the construction industry. China’s construction industry plays a pivotal role in the China’s economic progress. The construction industry in China is worth US $ 93 billion, it employs nearly 24 million people (more than 5%of the total labour force); it accounts for more than 6% of the GDP, and has been growing at an average rate of nearly 10%since 1979 (Daud & Zong, 2005). Being such, the high performance of China’s construction industry makes the industry one of the most successful and lucrative

Fundamentals of Managing People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Fundamentals of Managing People - Essay Example Wages, Training, safety, diversity, work-life balance as well as health and wellness are some of the core employee priorities. When these are fulfilled, quality output is guaranteed. Additionally, when this delicate balance is attained, employees are able to foster team spirit among themselves as well as loyalty to their employees. Employers on the other hand will experience lower employee turnover rates which eventually lead to reduced profits (Hall, 2003:46). Work life balance is an essential part of the puzzle because every employee has a family and friends outside the employment scope. Many an employee has left their jobs because it does not adequately cater for this particular need. Changed Employee Priorities A decade or so ago, the highest priority for most employees was developing their careers. Today, the tips of the scale have changed. Most employees are more interested in having both a family and a good career and most would leave a job owing to reasons related to work lif e balance (Palundi, 2012:77). It is essential for one to pursue achievement and joy in not only the job but also in one’s personal sphere. Enjoyment in this case means pride, celebration, happiness, a general sense of well being and satisfaction in the job that they do. This has in turn led various companies in the globe to offer competitive packages that offer flexible practices concerning work-life practices. Paid work and family care are the most essential elements of work family balance. However, work-life also includes education, volunteering and recreation. Work-life allows employees to share their time with both the job and their family and still produce quality results. Employers need to understand that work-life balance is important to the employee. However, the employee also has a role to play in ensuring that his needs are met so that his productivity is optimal. It is the employee’s chief responsibility to ensure that he congratulates himself on work well d one and keeps motivating himself (Hall, 2003:79). In addition, it is up to him to give himself a break when he deserves one. He also needs to set boundaries between his professional and personal lives. The management and the employees have to agree on a program that will enhance a positive balance of the two. In a recent study, it was estimated that in every five employees, two are not satisfied with the balance between their private lives and the professional ones. Long working hours, long commutes, increased pressure at work, changing demographics and the deterioration of boundaries between work and life are some of the contributing factors to the dissatisfaction. Employers who ignore this vital element in their employees’ lives will experience high turnover rates, unhappy employees as well as low morale. All employees need to realize that their employees are more interested in assistance programs to better their loves holistically more that monetary compensation (Marchingt on and Wilkinson, 2005:135) It goes without saying there it is not possibly to achieve a perfect balance between work and life. Once cannot be able to schedule equal number of hours to all the many aspects of work and life (Beauregard, 2009:83). Trying to do this will frustrate the employee since it will end up being both unrealistic as well as unrewarding. Additionally, it is worth noting that the balance will keep varying as time progresses, even as little as on an everyday basis. For example, the balance that used

Create a research portrait of a well-known artist, explain how his or Essay

Create a research portrait of a well-known artist, explain how his or her work responds to particular social issues - Essay Example ject, requiring the artist to spend years painting in wet plaster rather than working on his sculpture or other projects, some might wonder what prompted Michelangelo to undertake this project rather than allowing some other artist the dubious honor. Just how much freedom Michelangelo had in this decision is an often discussed topic. It might also be wondered whether the subject of the painting was determined by Michelangelo himself or the Pope who commissioned him for the project. To more fully appreciate the process that contributed to the creation of the Sistine Ceiling, it is necessary to understand the details regarding the commission of the project, why it was commissioned, why Michelangelo accepted the commission given the difficulties involved, how he met these challenges given the media and subject involved as well as his final assessment of the results. It is widely accepted that Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling as none other had the power and authority to force the artist back to Rome. Michelangelo had fled the city only two years earlier after the Pope first commissioned him to create approximately 40 sculptures in the most lavish Papal tomb designed to date and then refused to honor his portion of the contract. In addition, the work being requested of Michelangelo was painting rather than sculpture which he preferred. Other accounts indicate the idea of having the ceiling completed by Michelangelo was the idea of Donato Bramante, who intended to discredit Michelangelo’s daunting reputation. â€Å"In Michelangelo’s eyes, Bramante had persuaded the pope to abandon the project [of the tomb] by warning him that it was bad luck to have one’s tomb carved during one’s lifetime, and had then proposed an altogether different commission for the sculptor, a task at wh ich he knew Michelangelo could not possibly succeed† (King, 2003, p. 11). Work commenced on the project in 1536 under Pope Paul III and was

State of personal indebtedness in Canada. You may focus on student Research Paper

State of personal indebtedness in Canada. You may focus on student debt or the society as a whole - Research Paper Example Recent figures suggest that the current level of personal debt in Canada is on the highest level for the past 8 years. The average non-mortgage personal loan of a Canadian is approximately $26,221 in the second quarter of 2012 suggesting that the overall debt levels are on the rise. (Johnson, 2012) There can be various reasons for this including the general trends and preferences of the consumers as well as the ability of Canadian banks to remain profitable and continue to supply consumer debt despite the fact that overall global scenario may not be encouraging. These trends are considered as troublesome as persistently high levels of personal debts can actually create serious consequences for the economy as a whole. This paper will discuss about the personal debt in Canadian society as a whole and will discuss the concerns as well as solutions for it. Personal Debt in Canada The recent trends of personal debt in Canadian society as a whole have been alarmingly high. The current aver age debt level in the second quarter of 2012 stood at $26,221 higher by $192 from the previous quarter. This figure is also considered as the highest during the last eight years since Credit Bureau actually started to track the personal debt levels. (Johnson, 2012) Studies have shown that debt to income ratio is on the rise as well as the debt-to total assets is on the rise too. These trends indicate that more and more portion of consumers’ income is taken by the debt and higher debt payments can actually reduce the disposable income for the individuals. Average annual growth rate of household debt in Canada grew by 7.4% in nominal terms and 5.3% in real terms during 2000-2011. Such consistent level of increase in household debt has actually put personal debt at the level which may not be sustainable for consumers in the long run. It is also important to note that this rise in the consumer debt is mostly in the non-mortgage debt class and is also secured against the household items. Such characteristics of the personal debt may therefore create significantly more economic consequences for the households. (Crawford & Faruqui, 2012) It has been suggested that such high level of personal debts can actually put Canadians at more vulnerability towards the economic shocks as any adverse change in employment dynamics can put lot of stress on the disposal income of the consumers. Sharp decline in home values as well as increase in interest rates as well as relatively higher level of unemployment can put individuals at more risk considering the current levels of debt in the country. (Chawla & Uppal, 2012) IMF has also shown its reservations over the higher levels of personal debt in Canadian economy and indicated that higher levels of personal debt can actually reduce the economic growth of the country. IMF has even cut its economic forecasts for Canada owing to higher personal as well as mortgage loans and suggested that higher debt levels at consumer level can actually create more risk for the economy as a whole. (BABAD, 2012) Some data indicates that this trend is on the rise across all ages and there are different factors which are actually at play causing the consistent rise in the personal debt levels. It has also been suggested that the persistent increase in the level of income as well as low interest rates have also contributed towards these trends. Some theoretical

Theories of Intelligence PS240 WK5 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theories of Intelligence PS240 WK5 - Term Paper Example In his two-factor theory, Spearman considered a topmost and single general factor of intelligence (referred as â€Å"g†) that can be acquired when factorially analyzed the specific intellectual skills in a hierarchical order. Consequently, Spearman’s theory grew as a foundation in investigating human intelligence through empirical studies (Williams, Zimmerman, Zumbo, & Ross, 2003; Kane & Brand, 2003; Gottfredson & Saklofske, 2009). Through Spearman’s influence, Raymond Cattell became famous with his two notions regarding the human intelligence, and these are the fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. Fluid intelligence refers to the human capacity to think logically, reasonably and solve new problems without any cultural influence. On the other hand, crystallized intelligence refers to the human capacity to acquire information and abilities through an individual’s personal experience and interaction with the environment. Moreover, Cattell’s fluid and crystallized intelligence was one of the early representations of intelligence in hierarchical order (Kane & Brand, 2003; Assaad, Pihl, Vitaro, & Tremblay, 2004; Kaufman, 2011). Aside from Cattell’s theory, Sternberg introduced his triarchic theory into three factors, and these are componential element, experiential element, and contextual element. The componential element refers to the human capacity to analyze, review, assess, appraise, and decide solutions to different problems. The experiential element refers to the human capacity to create, discover, and use existing information in response to new or familiar tasks. Lastly, the contextual element refers to the human capacity in resolving problems through employing and using practical implications. Accordingly, individuals who construe and successfully use these three elements are those who constitute

Historical words Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Historical words - Assignment Example Identification: Defenestration refers to the throwing of officials through the windows of their offices in protest to their decisions. In 1618, a similar incident happened in Prague again when the Catholic Church backed the installment of one of their members as Duke of Styria. On 23rd May, 1619, protestors, led by a Protestant group that opposed the Dukes installation entered the Prague Castle and threw four regents and the secretary out through the windows of the castle. Significance: It explains the absolutism and the unquestionable powers the the French monarchy had in those times. This laid the foundation for a dynasty that was not accountable to anyone and this resulted in a rule that caused hardships for the masses until they rebelled and started the French Revolution which led to the killing and abolition of the French monarchy at the end of the 18th Century. Identification: A Basque noble and military knight who lived between 1491 and 1556. He converted to serious Catholicism after he was wounded in a battle and took an oath to defend the Catholic faith through all means possible. Significance: Ignatius formed the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) which sought to evangelize and promote Roman Catholicism throughout the world. This was to counter the Protestant Reformation and it succeeded in becoming a major apostolic wing of the Catholic church that helped spread the Faith to other parts of the world in later years. Significance: Margaret Cavendish wrote about various subjects relating to politics, gender balance and scientific methods. Her writings helped to promote objective thinking and this supported the renaissance and enlightenment throughout Europe. Significance: The painting tells the story of the hardships that poor peasants had to go through in his part of Europe. It shows the need for massive enlightenment amongst the poor in Europe and sparked the Flemish renaissance which was a part

Theories of Intelligence PS240 WK5 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theories of Intelligence PS240 WK5 - Term Paper Example In his two-factor theory, Spearman considered a topmost and single general factor of intelligence (referred as â€Å"g†) that can be acquired when factorially analyzed the specific intellectual skills in a hierarchical order. Consequently, Spearman’s theory grew as a foundation in investigating human intelligence through empirical studies (Williams, Zimmerman, Zumbo, & Ross, 2003; Kane & Brand, 2003; Gottfredson & Saklofske, 2009). Through Spearman’s influence, Raymond Cattell became famous with his two notions regarding the human intelligence, and these are the fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. Fluid intelligence refers to the human capacity to think logically, reasonably and solve new problems without any cultural influence. On the other hand, crystallized intelligence refers to the human capacity to acquire information and abilities through an individual’s personal experience and interaction with the environment. Moreover, Cattell’s fluid and crystallized intelligence was one of the early representations of intelligence in hierarchical order (Kane & Brand, 2003; Assaad, Pihl, Vitaro, & Tremblay, 2004; Kaufman, 2011). Aside from Cattell’s theory, Sternberg introduced his triarchic theory into three factors, and these are componential element, experiential element, and contextual element. The componential element refers to the human capacity to analyze, review, assess, appraise, and decide solutions to different problems. The experiential element refers to the human capacity to create, discover, and use existing information in response to new or familiar tasks. Lastly, the contextual element refers to the human capacity in resolving problems through employing and using practical implications. Accordingly, individuals who construe and successfully use these three elements are those who constitute

Claims for Damages Arising from the Tort of Negligence Essay

Claims for Damages Arising from the Tort of Negligence - Essay Example The paper tells that in law, any person who has suffered loss or injury has a likelihood of receiving compensation from making a claim of that loss or injury if it can be proved that the loss or injury suffered was partly or wholly as a result of negligent omissions or commissions of certain acts (s) of another party or person. The compensation is aimed at not necessarily making up fully for what had happened to the person but rather to enable the injured party move on with his/her life with less difficulty. If appropriate, claims should be made for damages that arise from a given situation. In the UK, there is legislative provision governing personal injury and loss as well as damages for personal Injury and non-pecuniary loss. Consultation Paper No 140. Damages, in law, are defined as an award often in form of monetary consideration paid to a person who has suffers injury or loss as compensation. Compensation is crucial in most cases since the loss or injury suffered has possibly c hanged the ability of a person to undertake normal duties or activities hence limiting the ability of that person to meet his or her needs. For instance, compensation is vital in an event that a person has suffered a disability. Also, compensation can make a significant difference to life of person(s) who has lost a relative in an accident by providing financial support to the person(s). Besides, compensation is in some cases necessary to fund medical care for an injury or illness that is ongoing and was caused by the accident in question. Moreover, compensation or damages is essential in making up for earnings that may have been earned due to an accident caused by another person due to negligence hence denying the person who has suffered the loss ability to earn money to pay his or her bills.4 In order to appropriately advise Cheryl, Lizzie, David and Bellisima Company on whether they have claim/claims for damages arising out of the scenario, and against whom they would make such claims, it is important to understand some aspects of damages that relate to their scenario. First, in their scenario, in an event that their claims become successful they will be entitled to compensatory damages, that is, they will be paid to compensate them for financial loss and injury suffered from the accident. There are two major types of damages namely general damages and special damages.5 General damages are those that aim at compensating the claimant(s) for the specific injury suffered which is of non- monetary nature. These damages are only awarded in claims that have been made by person(s) who have suffered personal injury; for instance, on personal injury caused by negligence of another party.6 Example of general damages include disfigurement, impairment of physical or mental capacity, physical or emotional suffering and pain, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship among others.7 It is imperative to point out that quantifying these damages may prove difficult and judges mostly base awards on amount placed on similar cases previously. Therefore, how do the courts quantify personal injury claims? As has been noted, such quantification is not easy and most judges rely on similar previous cases to award. In the UK, solicitors in most cases refer personal injury as general damages for suffering and pain. Just like most judges, they quantify personal injury claims based on previous awards on similar cases made by the courts.8 The following factors guide quantification of personal injury claims: one, the extent and nature of the injuries suffered; consideration will be made on similarities of the injuries of the case in hand and cases that are similar and had been decided by courts previously.9 Normally, the extent of the injury usually corresponds to the damages awarded; that is, greater injuries will result to greater awards. Since quantifications are based on precedence, decisions of higher courts are always binding to the lower

Title of Paper Essay Example for Free

Title of Paper Essay Introduction The increase in our prison population has had a major impact on our families, communities, state and federal budgets. In 2000, 92% of federal prisoner released were non-violent offenses and one-third were imprisoned for sell drugs or for possession of illegal drugs. A common misperception is that all these prisoners are dangerous and imposes a threat to others in the community. United States should re-evaluate the great needs of families, children and the re-entry of prisoners in communities. I would like to share some concerns, viewpoints, future needs, and ways to apply what I have learned through the presentation. Concerns Some concerning issues of prisoners and their families and children have been that they are not an important part of the social policy. They are not included in the strategic plans of social services agencies or corrections departments. Our correctional population is numbering over two million and steady growing. Other concerns are the increase in women prisoners, the imprisonment of African American males, high recidivism rates, high cost of maintaining children in foster care placements, welfare assistance of women and children, and the reentry of prisoners back in the communities. Advocates for Social Justice In advocating for social justice for families studies are using theoretical perspectives which focus on the positive roles and functions that families serve as opposed to the problems that they experience indicate that families  are important to prisoners and to the achievement of major social goals, including the prevention of recidivism and delinquency. Hairston’s (1988; 1991a) review of research on prisoners’ family relationship shows two consistent findings; â€Å"male prisoners who maintain strong family ties during imprisonment have higher rates of post release success than those who do not and men who assume responsible husband and parenting roles upon release have higher rates of success that those who do not. I feel that if there have been many positive researches why not follow up them to improve the impact of being imprisoned. Advocating for more parenting programs in prison and involve the incarcerated parents to be a more productive parent to help eliminate and prevent intergenerational crimes. Advocacy should built relationship with children parent and their children by helping child and parent understand their situations better and to mend some of the hurt, distance and humiliation that goes with being separated. About 40% of incarcerated mother in a national survey has relinquished responsibility for the physical care of their children to others. Realizing that not all incarcerated mothers nor fathers wants the connection or re-connection with their children and that’s understandable. But both still need that emotional and mental hurting. . The Role of the Human Service Worker Replace the level three heading with the words for your heading. The heading must be in bold font. How I Will Apply This Course Conclusion References This is a hanging indent. To keep the hanging indent format, simply delete this line of text using the backspace key, and replace the information with your reference entry.

Travis Barker is an Admirable Person :: essays research papers

Why Travis Barker is an Admirable Person   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the people that I admire is Travis Barker. Travis Barker is a drummer in the band blink-182. Although he may be famous, he acts like a normal guy you see every day. Most people think of someone who is famous as being egotistical, stuck up and think they are better than everyone else in the world. Travis basically proves all of those opinions wrong and makes you realize that although some famous people may be that way, not everyone is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Travis is a very talented drummer and takes his work seriously. Travis wasn’t the original drummer for blink-182. The original drummer wasn’t able to make it to a concert because of family reasons and the other two members asked their best friend, Travis, to fill in even though he didn’t know how to play any of their songs. Even though it was only an hour before the show when they asked him to fill in, Travis didn’t want to let them down so he said he would learn every song and perform with them. They didn’t want the audience to hear Travis learning how to play the songs so they found two sticks and that was what he used to practice with. An hour later, Travis went on stage and performed with the other two guys in blink-182 and amazed the crowd as well as his two best friends. When the original drummer said he wanted to go to school and was leaving the band, they asked Travis to take over since he had amazed the crowd with his awesome ability to play the drums.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Travis doesn’t only play the drums, he also teaches drum lessons. Travis visits his home in San Diego, CA often and while he is there he gives young children who don’t have much money, if any, drum lessons. He says he loves working with young kids especially since he knows they don’t have a lot of money. He says this is his way of giving something back to his hometown. Travis also likes to think that even though these kids families may not ever have much money, they may be able to become a drummer one day and earn some money.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even though Travis is well-known, he hasn’t let this affect his life. When people stop him to say â€Å"You’re Travis Barker from blink-182†, he acts like you see someone from blink-182

Stock Market crash of 1929 (present form) :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Before World War I only small fractions of Americans invested or had interest in the Stock Market. Many Americans thought of Wall Street with fear and loathing. Populist politicians denounced Wall Street as the center of financial shell games thought up by millionaire operators like Gould, Drew, Morgan and others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But with the conclusion of the War, many of Americans were getting a different perspective of the Stock Market. Many lost fears of investing due to many were previously buyers of Liberty Bonds. Many Americans assumed they knew the advantages of investing and knowledgeable about stock splits, margin accounts, dividends, etc. New financial methods, the investment trust offered new approaches to investing in the market and many major corporations such as General Motors, General Electric and AT&T offered common stock and bonds were starting to boom and attracted many new money-seeking investors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And till last month, the market was center of conversation, talked about and financial advice was shared everywhere! The market continued to increase, Major Corporations stocks rose incredibly. But brokers loans reached $137 million, and New York’s banks were in debt to the Federal Reserve by $64million. Warning signs began to appear in the market, and many market analysts began predicting the crash. Throughout the nation, thousands of investors were margin trading, buying stock on credit. The margin trader bought stock by paying less than the full price. This was highly profitable but extremely risky. If the stock value decreased the customer had to invest more money to sustain the account. And if the stock kept falling, the customer would run out of their money, and the broker, who usually borrowed money from their banker, was forced to sell out the account for any amount offered. If the customer could not pay the broker, the broker was unable to pay the banker, which placed of them all in debt.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many banks wanted their money from brokers, brokers wanted their money from customers, and the only method most customers could get their money was by selling their stock. And so there were massive rapid sales that totaled to nineteen million shares on Friday the 25th of October. The selling of the stocks depressed the market, in other words caused the stock market crash.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yesterday, on October 29, 1929 also known as â€Å"Black Tuesday,† was the most devastating day in economic history, a total of 16, 410, 030 shares were sold.

Thorn Queen Chapter Two

Crossing over to the Otherworld is easier for me than most people but still requires a bit of work. Once I'd packed up what I needed, I had to drive to Saguaro National Park and hike out to a remote corner of it. Here, two very faint trails intersected in a crossroads-a common marker for gates to the Otherworld. It and the human world lie very close to each other, and certain spots between the two are thinner. Of course, even a thin spot like this wouldn't always be enough for some people to make the journey in their own bodies. They might end up going in spirit or an elemental form. But me? I bore the blood of humans and of the gentry. I could therefore travel both worlds with ease, though my gentry heritage still unnerved me. It was only a recent discovery, one I had trouble coming to terms with. Standing at the crossroads, I closed my eyes, slipping into a trance very similar to the one I used to banish the spirit yesterday. A tattoo of a greenish snake coiled around one of my arms in tribute to Hecate, the goddess who guarded transitions and chthonic magic. Invoking her, drawing on her power, I stretched my body beyond this world. A moment later, I stood in the Otherworld. In a castle. A castle that belonged to me. I recovered myself quickly since crossover side effects almost never bothered me anymore. The room I stood in was a small sitting room, sparsely furnished. In the center of it was a rabbit paperweight, white resin with little blue flowers. It was silly, but that rabbit was imbued with my essence, meaning when I crossed over from Saguaro National Park-or any other crossroads of my choice-my body would travel to this spot rather than to some remote place. Footsteps sounded on the outside hallway's stone floor. A moment later, a bright-eyed young woman with long blond hair peered inside. Her face split into a wide grin when she saw me. â€Å"Your majesty,† she breathed, delighted. Turning back around, she yelled down the hall. â€Å"The queen! The queen is here!† I winced. Man, I wished I could come here without all the hype. Bad enough I had to come here at all. Her proclamation made, Nia ran up to me, squeezing my hand. She was one of my servants. I guess you'd call her my lady-in-waiting since she was responsible for my appearance most of the time. â€Å"Everything's ready to go to the Willow Land,† she told me. â€Å"I've picked out an amazing gown for you.† I shook my head, reaching into the backpack I almost always lugged around. The gentry favored heavy brocades and other elaborateness in their fashion. I wasn't up for any of that today. â€Å"I brought my own.† She stared at the dress I produced, then looked back up at me with raised eyebrows. â€Å"You're jesting, your majesty, right?† Those blue eyes pleaded. â€Å"Right?† I was saved from an argument when others entered the room. Still staring mournfully at the dress, Nia retreated so my senior staff could talk to me. Yeah. Senior fairy staff. Three months still wasn't enough time to get used to this. A tall, very lovely woman with glossy black braids strode in, her movements both athletic and graceful. Her name was Shaya, and I depended on her more than anyone else around here. She was my regent, handling all the dirty work I didn't want to deal with, and I was grateful and lucky to have her. With her was Rurik, the captain of my guard. Having guards was also something that took a lot of getting used to-particularly since they always wanted to follow me around. Rurik and I had gotten off to a bad start, probably because he'd tried to rape me the first time we met. Sporting a large build and pale blond hair, he'd proven himself a capable servant, though I'd often found him fooling around with other women who worked here. I had let him know in a very pleasant voice that I'd rip him apart if I ever found out those women hadn't consented to his advances. A few others trailed in, officials that I'd inherited with the castle when I killed its former king. I couldn't remember half their names. â€Å"Welcome back,† said Shaya, smiling. She didn't possess Nia's rapture but still seemed genuinely pleased to see me. â€Å"Your majesty,† the others intoned, bowing. They waited for me to sit in one of the chairs, joining me a moment afterward. â€Å"Nia says we're ready to go?† I asked, unable to hide my dismay at the upcoming trip. â€Å"Yes,† Shaya told me. â€Å"We simply await your command. At an easy pace, we should be able to do it in three hours.† I groaned. â€Å"Three hours. Do you know how crazy that is? I could do it in half that time by driving to a gateway in my own world and crossing over closer.† She regarded me indulgently, having heard this argument before. â€Å"You can't show up at Queen Maiwenn's court without your retinue.† Rurik, sprawled lazily in a chair, flashed me a grin. â€Å"It's part of your image, your majesty.† I rubbed my eyes. â€Å"Alright. Whatever. Any word on Jasmine?† His smile faded. â€Å"No. We've still got scouting parties roaming the kingdoms, but they've found nothing.† â€Å"Incredible. You guys can make trees come to life and raise stones from the earth, but you can't find one pouty teenage girl.† â€Å"We'll find your sister,† Rurik said grimly. I think he'd taken this mission as a matter of personal pride. â€Å"It may take awhile, but we'll find her.† I nodded because there was nothing else to do. The waiting infuriated me. Every moment that passed meant Jasmine, a mere fifteen years old, had another chance to get pregnant and give birth to a prophesied heir that would allegedly conquer the human world. I was subject to the same prophecy but was smart enough to use birth control. â€Å"Anything else? How are things going otherwise?† Shaya schooled her face to neutrality. â€Å"We manage, your majesty.† She kept her voice as blank as her expression, but I could see badly feigned disapproval on the others' faces. They didn't like the way I neglected my duties here. I suspected Shaya disapproved as well, but it didn't stop her from sparing me the details of the Thorn Land's day-to-day affairs. She knew I didn't really want to hear them, no matter my asking, so she didn't tell me. I noticed then just how truly oppressive the heat was in here. Everyone was sweating. â€Å"My God, it's hot,† I said. They all stared at me, and I immediately felt stupid. What had I expected? When I'd conquered the kingdom, it had shaped itself to my will, transforming itself into my idea of perfection: the Sonora Desert. The castle had not changed, and remained in its constant state: thick blocks of stone. Black stone. Stone that absorbed heat like crazy and had little ventilation. It was the kind of place more suited to cold, misty moors. The land had been greener and more temperate under its last ruler, Aeson. Aeson and I had had a fair amount of friction because he'd been trying to get Jasmine pregnant and had wanted to give me a shot too, in hopes that he would be the father of that world-conquering prince. Plus, Aeson was just a total asshole. I'd killed him in battle, and when a ruler dies, the land seeks out someone else powerful. That someone else had been me. I'd claimed the land without realizing what I was doing, and that's when it had transformed to this mirror of Tucson. It occurred to me how horrible it must be to live here. The gentry lacked most of the technology of my own world. No central air-conditioning. No electric fans. This place had to be roasting these people alive, particularly after what they'd been used to before I came along. Feeling bad for them, I reached out to the air around me with my mind. For a moment, there was nothing, and then I sensed the moisture particles hanging in the air. There weren't many, but they were there. Spreading beyond the room, I pulled in more moisture, undoubtedly turning nearby halls and rooms into ovens. In here, however, the temperature dropped and grew moist. A slight thrill ran through me, as often happened when I tapped my inherited gentry magic. Tentatively, I then attempted to move the air itself in some sort of breeze. Nothing. I had managed that feat only once and couldn't repeat it. Realizing what I'd done, Shaya crooked me a grin. â€Å"Thank you, your majesty.† I smiled back and stood. They all hastily followed suit, and I waved them down. â€Å"Hang out here if you want. It should stay cool for a little longer. I'm going to go do my†¦thing. Then we'll go.† I left the castle for one of its courtyards, a wide, terraced area that I loved. Saguaros and blooming prickly pears lined it. Purple-flowered smokethorns, the tree that had given this land its name, stood sentry, as did mesquite, filling the air with sweetness. A few hummingbirds darted here and there like bright, flying gemstones. I sat on one of the steps that led to the upper gardens and closed my eyes. This was why I had to come back. If left to me, I would have never returned. But once the Thorn Land had bound itself to me, it was mine. It depended on me for its survival. I didn't entirely understand my connection to it, but it was unbreakable. It was the reason I dreamed about this place. There was no escaping it. The sun beat down on me, forever reminding us we answered to nature in the end. My body relaxed, and soon, the life of the land spread into me. It always startled me at first, and then I quickly adapted, like it was the most natural thing in the world. The land was me, and I was the land. We were one, neither of us complete without the other. When I came to, I think almost an hour had passed. I stood up, shaking off my trance. I had extracted myself from that joining with the land but knew it was still with me. It was stronger for having just made the connection. I had fulfilled my duty. My party set out shortly thereafter. Horse riding was a skill I'd had to perfect pretty quickly since hanging out around here. There were no cars or planes. Shaya, Rurik, and Nia were with me, as were about a dozen guards. The guards rode stoically, eyes alert and watchful as they surrounded us. Rurik occasionally barked out an order to them, but mostly he bantered with Shaya and flirted with Nia. I wasn't too good at casual conversation and mostly just listened, more entertained by them than I wanted to admit. It was late morning, and the sun showed us no mercy as we traveled. I fared better than the rest, wearing shorts and sunglasses. The other women at least had lightweight dresses, but the men wore full leather armor and had to suffer considerably. None of them complained, not even Rurik, but sweat poured down their faces. So, it was something of a relief when we hit our first shift in the land. It's an oddity of the Otherworld that it folds in upon itself. Traveling is disorienting. In going in a straight line out of my kingdom, it was entirely possible to cross other kingdoms and then my own again without deviating from our course. We crossed into the Oak Land, and suddenly it was as though the Thorn Land had never existed. You couldn't even see it behind us. One of the guards broke his rigid demeanor to emit a small cheer that made everyone laugh. A cool, almost chill breeze rushed over us. Late autumn had settled on the Oak Land, setting the trees on fire with brilliant colors. It was gorgeous-and much more comfortable-but I secretly hoped we'd pass out of it soon. I had too many disturbing memories of this place. Sure enough, we soon crossed into the Thorn Land again, slamming into that unforgiving heat. It felt like traveling in circles, but the others assured me we stayed on course. That stint was brief, and our next shift took us to the Rowan Land. Late summer ruled here, but it was a more temperate summer than my own kingdom's. Cherry trees filled the landscape. Last I'd seen them, pink blossoms had covered almost every square inch of the branches. Now, as I looked closer, I could see bright red fruit weighing them down. And it was then that the wights attacked. Wights were denizens of the Otherworld, and while they weren't spirits exactly, they had the ability to turn invisible. So, my guards' vigilance had done no good. I counted seven as they swooped out of the orchards. They wore gray clothing and had long, pale faces. For the most part, they looked very much like humans and gentry. Light flared around them as they rained down bolts of power upon us. Wights were even more strongly tied to magic than the gentry, and conventional weapons had little effect on them. You had to take them down with magic. Unfortunately, the storm magic I'd inherited from my father still wasn't quite up to hardcore attacks. Neither was my guards' magic. Special magic-wielding soldiers aside, I'd learned most warriors here were weak in magic; it was why they'd chosen a more physical profession. I still suspected the silver bullets in my Glock might hurt the wights. Only, I had a problem. My guards had closed rank around Nia-the only civilian here-and me. Getting a shot off would likely kill one of them. â€Å"Let me out!† I yelled. â€Å"Let me fight!† The guards ignored me and, in fact, redoubled their own shouts of â€Å"The queen! Protect the queen!† Swearing, I managed to lean through and get a shot off that took one of the wights in the chest. It didn't kill him but clearly caused severe injury. Nearby, a cherry tree ripped itself from the earth. Infused by magic and therefore potentially lethal, it attacked the wounded wight. That was Shaya's handiwork. She had been a warrior before settling into my administration. As we fought, I soon deduced the point of this attack. The wights wanted me-not to kill me, but for other†¦more amorous purposes. They didn't seem to have much organization save to hack through and see who could get to me. Whoever did could have me. It sickened me, and an old, familiar fear welled up. I could handle concussions, broken bones, and the other myriad effects of my vocation. Rape was not something I could contend with. It had become a daily danger, however, since learning about my half-gentry heritage. My father, honorifically dubbed Storm King, had been a tyrannical warlord-one of the most powerful magic users the Otherworld had ever seen. He'd been intent on crossing over and conquering humanity. He'd come damned close, too, until my stepfather, Roland, had defeated him. Unfortunately, a prophecy had surfaced in Storm King's wake, a prophecy that said his daughter's son would complete his work. That was why I was such a hot commodity among Otherworldly males who believed in Storm King's vision. It was also why Jasmine wanted to get pregnant. Giving up on the gun, I produced my jewel-studded wand and started simply casting out the wights to the Underworld. Instant death. As I did my thing and the guards did theirs, we suddenly reached a point where all grew quiet. The wights were dead or gone. Everyone in my party immediately looked to see if I was all right, which I found ridiculous since two of the guards lay on the ground, and a number of them were bleeding. â€Å"Forget about me,† I snapped. â€Å"Check on them!† None had died, much to my relief. Gentry were hard to kill in their own world. They were long-lived and hardy. One of the guards had some healing powers, and we spent a considerable amount of time patching the group up. When we finally set out again, Shaya glanced up at the sun's position and frowned. â€Å"We're going to be late.† I thought about Kiyo. Then I thought about Maiwenn, who always looked like some sort of golden goddess, even with her belly ready to burst with Kiyo's son or daughter. Walking in late to her elite baby party, breaching etiquette under her cool gaze†¦Well, suddenly I wanted to ride as we'd never ridden before. Unfortunately, our wounded couldn't do that. Frustrated, we finally split the party, and those of us who were uninjured rode on at a brisk pace, hoping to cut our time. Before long, we crossed to the Willow Land and slammed into its freezing temperatures. It was just coming out of winter, and spring thaws were in progress, but the chill proved a shock nonetheless. We rode on down the road, determined to get there. We finally made it. But we were still late. Maiwenn's castle staff eyed our bedraggled state but showed me to a room where I could clean up and get ready. Nia practically had a conniption as Shaya and I hastily washed ourselves off and pulled on fresh clothes. Nia's magical gifts gave her a knack for adorning others and arranging hair. Kind of a magical beautician. It killed her that I almost never utilized her services. I could see her itching to do something intricate to my hair, but I shook my head. â€Å"No time. Make it fast. Wear it down.† Obliging-but disapproving-she used magic and a brush to work it into gleaming, silky lengths, pulling a little of it up with a barrette and stealing a couple of small daisies from a nearby vase to tuck into the barrette. With her magic, I knew it would stay perfectly arranged for hours. I splashed on some violet perfume, hoping it would cover any sweatiness I'd missed. With that, we were off. When Shaya and I approached the ballroom, it was obvious we were the last to arrive. The room was packed. I sighed loudly. â€Å"It's all right,† murmured Shaya. â€Å"You're a queen. You're expected to be eccentric. Don't look embarrassed.† â€Å"Is it possible,† I asked, â€Å"that we could just sneak in without anyone noticing?† Before she could answer, a herald stood in the doorway and announced in a voice designed for carrying over loud crowds: â€Å"Her Royal Majesty, Queen Eugenie Markham, called Odile Dark Swan, Daughter of Tirigan the Storm King, Protector of the Thorn Land, Beloved of the Triple Moon Goddess.† Dozens of heads swiveled toward us. I sighed again and answered my own question. â€Å"Apparently not.†

Why Support the Kidney Care Quality and Improvement Act

For the past years, health and health care have transformed to become the dominant economic and political issues in the United States and many other countries. Because most nations have experienced rapid rises in health care spending over the past 30 years, governments have assisted patients in their countries because the cost is simply becoming unaffordable for them.During the earlier times, provision of health care was a relatively simple matter. Doctors carried most of the equipment they used in a black bag and the same doctor was likely to attend a patient for most, or all, of her or his life. During those days the range of medical and surgical interventions was quite modest. Today, sophisticated diagnostic technology complements an extensive array of medical and surgical options making medical care a very complex, highly specialized, and costly commodity.One of the most alarming diseases that had burdened American people is kidney failure. According to a U.S. Newswire report (16 March 2005),   approximately 400,000 Americans currently suffer from kidney failure and of those, around 300,000 require dialysis several times a week, for an average of 3.5 hours per session. At the current rate of new cases — many the results of diabetes, obesity and hypertension — the number of patients is expected to quadruple to more than 2.2 million by the year 2030. Many experts recommended that early detection and better disease management is regarded as the best means to delay the onset of kidney failure.Definitely, kidney function is essential for life. Once a person’s own kidneys fail, some form of treatment is necessary if they are to go on living. Currently, there are two forms of treatment – dialysis (in which the kidney function is taken over by artificial means) and transplantation (in which another person’s kidney is used instead). Successful treatment – by dialysis or a transplant – now gives people with kidney fa ilure a new lease of life, sometimes for many years (Stein 2002, p. 122).However, death can be inevitable. Patients and families usually want to know how long a person can survive with untreated end-stage kidney failure. This too is variable, depending on the extent to which their old kidneys are working – and therefore the amount of urine that they pass. The kidneys may be able to get rid of some excess fluid, but unable to process waste products such as creatinine and urea, or salts such as potassium. It is the build-up of these substances in the blood (especially the potassium) that usually leads to death. This is why dialysis represents the success of our knowledge and skill in conquering a kidney illness. Dialysis is all about life. And, it could cost an insurmountable amount of money when someone goes to dialysis three times a week for the rest of his or her lifeIndeed, there is an immediate need to improve the government’s program that provides dialysis care for those with kidney failure. This is why the members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate introduced bipartisan legislation to update the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) program, which 75 percent of the nation's dialysis patients rely on to live.This is called The Kidney Care Quality and Improvement Act of 2005, sponsored by Senators Rick Santorum and Kent Conrad, and Representatives William Jefferson and Dave Camp. This legislation would update Medicare's composite rate for ESRD — which does not automatically adjust for inflationary increases — as well as provide for important education and preventative programs to help stem the rising tide of kidney failure in the United States (U.S. Newswire, 16 March 2005).The primary reason for health care is to prevent or cure diseases or attend to people with chronic or terminal illnesses. It may be possible, however, for health care costs to undermine the soundness of what our pockets can afford, and such an eventuality would be und esirable. Hence, a pressing issue entails how to achieve a situation in which expensive medical care can continue to be available while, at the same time, the total cost of health care is scaled back so as to keep this cost in line with the overall rate of skyrocketing prices.For instance, Talladega in Alabama has only two dialysis units and there are almost 100 patients that cramp the two units. With The Kidney Care Quality and Improvement Act of 2005 patients will be assured for better care among patients stricken with kidney disease through improvements in Medicare and enhanced education programs, which would prevent numbers in Talladega County from growing any more. Although the act currently sits in a Senate committee awaiting approval, that’s not stopping local doctors from offering warnings to at-risk patients.Ghayas Habash, a nephrologist, said that the main thing people need is to get the message across to people at risk for kidney failure, those with diabetes, hyper tension, black people and those with a family history. If only we address these people aggressively, we can prevent a lot of kidney failure (Casciaro, 18 August 2005).True enough, medical costs have more than doubled over the last decade, and health insurance premiums have risen nearly five times faster than wages. Americans are spending far more on health care than residents of any other industrialized country while receiving lower-quality care overall. Meanwhile, big U.S. businesses that provide health coverage to workers complain that the high costs are crippling their ability to compete with companies abroad whose workers get government-subsidized care.The Bush administration is encouraging consumers to switch to consumer-directed health plans, whose high co-payments would force them to shop for more cost-effective care. But critics argue that individuals can do little to control costs. Instead, they argue, the plans would primarily benefit the wealthy and that society must make hard choices about which care should be paid for by public and private dollars (Clemmit, 7 April 2006).The overwhelming amount of health care purchased in the United States is paid for by the government through Medicare and Medicaid or by privately owned health-insurance companies. Both Medicare-Medicaid and health insurance firms employ personnel, process claims, and issue payments. Their procedures and personnel are expensive and add to the cost of health care without actual medical benefit to anyone.Proposals have been made to dismantle the so-called third party infrastructure and change to a single-payer system in which government would provide and pay for health care. Taxes would be adjusted to cover the costs and administrative bureaucracy would be kept to a minimum so as to maximize efficiency. While a single-payer system has obvious merits, a national consensus in favor of such a system has not emerged. Thus, the problem of health care dollars paying for administrative infr astructure remains, and there is no clear indication as to how to resolve it.For kidney patients, The Kidney Care Quality and Improvement Act of 2005 is long overdue because dialysis is not an option but a necessity for them to continue living. This legislation modernizes the Medicare ESRD program by: ·    creating public and patient education initiatives to increase awareness about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and to help patients learn self-management skills; ·      ensuring patient quality through improvements in the ESRD payment system, including establishing an annual update framework and evaluating the effect of the new Physician Fee Schedule G-code visit requirements; ·      providing Medicare coverage for CKD education services for Medicare-eligible patients; ·    establishing an outcomes-based ESRD reimbursement demonstration project; ·    aligning incentives for physician surgical reimbursement for dialysis access to promote quality and lower costs;  ·      establishing a uniform training for patient care dialysis technicians; and ·    improving ESRD coverage by removing barriers to home dialysis and creating an ESRD Advisory Committee (RPA Website, 2006).Some critics have argue about the use of CKD education. In deeper analysis, CKD education is very crucial because people need to know the things about it prior to developing kidney failure but there is no funding for education that could have helped prolong your kidney function. This Act will be beneficial not only for CKD patients, but also for people who may be at risk. This act will definitely enable people that you (or your loved one) can get more treatments. With the current policy, most people cannot avail the dialysis they need because Medicare doesn't pay for more than 3 treatments a weekAs quality of care is everyone’s privilege, Medicare reimbursement should be updated annually for dialysis clinics just like it is for other providers. Medicare's low reimbursement could result to employer health plans paying more than their share and private companies have to pay higher. This would be a heavy burden for people with CKF because they need to pay higher premiums or their health coverage is reduced, or sometimes employees with CKF or employees that have dependents with CKF have the risk to lose their jobs because of the high costs on their part.Kidney patients need life-saving treatments that need to be improved because their lives are on the line and it is sapping them out of their funds because of the costs. Enacting Kidney Care Quality and Improvement Act of 2005 should therefore be prioritized and Congress should not think twice. Everything should be done to help CKF patients combat this lethal disease, and support them with all our efforts to get better treatments before it is too lateReferencesClemmitt, M. (2006, April 7). Rising health costs. CQ Researcher, 16, 289-312. Retrieved September 12, 2006, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2006040700.Renal Physicians Association (RPA). (2006). The Kidney Care Quality and Improvement Act of 2005 Bill #S.635. Retrieved September 12, 2006, from RPA Website at http://capwiz.com/renalmd/issues/bills/?bill=7319331&size=fullStein, A. (2002). Kidney Failure Explained. London: Class Publishing.U.S. Newswire. (2005, March 16). Members of Congress Announce Bipartisan Legislation to Update, Improve Kidney Care Quality and Ensure Access to Dialysis. Retrieved September 12, 2006 at http://www.prnewswire.com/products-services/reach-us-media-bloggers.htmlpublic-interest-newslines-2.htmlGetRelease.asp?id=44507