Gerontology Aging Simulation

Age Simulation Reaction I often times sit back and think of myself as elder later on in life. So many thoughts come to mind about my physical appearance; not so many thoughts in regards to my own mindset or the mindset of others that surround me, both seniors and young people. I have never been a person to care how others feel about me, but this one day in particular when I was put in the shoes of an elderly person my world was turned upside down by the words, looks, and thoughts of others. Going into this simulation I looked at it on the surface, how could being in the shoes of an older person for one day get so deep?.Of course there was an expectation of being limited to a degree but the limitations I was stuck with were difficult beyond belief. Minuscule things became very complex to me, things like writing or picking something up were so troublesome because of the decrease of my fine motor skills. Or how about being able to partake in a simple game of Uno or reading a newspaper b eing suddenly hard for you. These are just a few of the past pleasures that were current irritations. Over the next couple of day I began to ponder on how I take granted the simple, everyday activities or joys of life.I also wondered how I could improve the way I treat elders, whether it’s someone I come in contact with regularly or just a senior in front of me driving slow. I have to learn to control my feelings and expressions towards them, I actually salute them. I don’t know how an elder person keeps on fighting, I experienced their life for one day only and it seem as though the world around me was craving in. Being blind and having hip arthritis wasn't so easy to cope with, I wasn’t able to be as mobile as I would have liked.In fact, I not being as mobile resulted in other health issues. Those around me were in worse condition, on top of the little impairments that affected me, they had limitations such as deafness, having had a stroke, knee injuries, majo r illnesses, and lastly a death of one person closely connected to me. We all started off playing Uno with no problems but as time went on we were unable to play. We couldn’t see the cards, hear each other, and also had trouble even grabbing the cards due to loss of fine motor skills or mobility of some limbs in whole.Those having strokes definitely slowed up the process, most time they were asking me to hand them something or do something for them. I had to have patience when dealing with Morgan, Suzy, and Kelsey; they were very limited. It was kind of stressful to know that I had it better off than them and they relied on me. It was like I felt guilty not helping them because their conditions outweighed those of mines. I was handing this one this and helping that one with that; it was not easy at all. Participating in this exercise gave me anxiety to know that I will one day be face to face with these problems in reality.Also sadness came over me knowing that actual people have to deal with this in life, as the public or on the outside looking in you don’t think of how elders feel or think. I, myself was guilty of some prejudices placed upon seniors. I didn’t really think of elders as individuals anymore, I didn’t think of them able person and this is said to be a myth in â€Å"The Nine Myths of Aging† by Douglas Powell. In this article he talks about how elders are grouped together and treated as a whole not separate.Another myth in which I found to be exactly that is an unsound body is equal to an unsound mind, I find those with more time here on Earth to be some of the most intelligent individuals. Some of the knowledge I now have has come from my grandmother or my elder colleagues. They are so insightful, they don’t just make decision swiftly but they take time to think and contemplate on all the outcomes and resources available. Look at it this way most of them made it this far in their journey and it has result ed in them being wise.I am a true believer that old dogs can learn new tricks, I work in a factory with people are biologically old yet can adapt to new ideas and functions, in some cases are the innovators. Use it or lose it in some cases can be true but I don’t think we should stereotype all older people under this belief. Although my grandmother has health issues I don’t see the depression, self-centeredness, or isolation people talk about. She loves to go places with people of all ages and interest. So that shows me that a lot of thoughts of others are false, nowhere near the truth.I now believe elders to be useful and most enjoyable people to be around. Often times even those who job is to work with seniors don’t see the value that they hold. You can tell by the way in which they treat and talk to them. While they are professionals and trained on how to interact with them, that is actually their downfall. They are trained on how to speak, interact, and resp ond to others; they lose sight of the feelings or connection that makes an interaction favorable. For some seniors the only real interaction they get comes from a professional and for it not to be pleasant can be damaging.Between all the illnesses, impairments, and stresses feeling appreciated or respected by others could go a long way. Even though it was simulation, I got a chance to see from the inside looking out how elders are treated and talked to. During the simulation I was talked down upon with little cheesy terms of endearment, Hun or honey. When time for meds or snacks I wasn’t an opinion or explained. I felt like a prisoner to others just because I had aged. Communication goes a long way with everyone not just elders, so it is especially important when it comes to them.Everyone knows to be polite and respectful to others on general principle. Though I was hard of hearing, instead of yelling distastefully one could stoop or sit to be on the same level as me and clos e in distance repeat clearly. As said in, â€Å"Communicating Respectfully With Older Adults. † Up until reason I used to find myself trying to quickly finish the thoughts of elders with thoroughly listening to their thoughts, it always seemed to take to long for them disclose them fully. Another thing I would do is make decisions for older adults because it seems like it takes them forever to do so.There’s been times when I have went to volunteered at a nursing home where my great aunt is and I would be assigned with helping with meals. During this some of the seniors needed to take meds, I was used to give them instructions fast because I assumed it was a part of their routine. I was always repeating things, but I never thought to slow down and ask them if they had any questions. I just was worried about achieving the goal not how it was achieved. That is a slip on my end. At the end of the day I learned so much about being an elder.I took away lessons that I could o nly learned by being in these shoes. I have a different outlook on how elders feel, I don’t think it’s fair how we pass judgment on them; they are individuals just like us. I think all the prejudices that come up when elders come to mind are from us on the exterior. We don’t give them a chance to express how they feel or make decisions. We don’t give them a chance to do things on their because of the rate in which they do them. We are the one damming them to be useless. We have got to do better by those ones who made a way for us.

Icons and Iconoclasm in the 15th Century Byzantine Era

Icons of the Byzantine era cater to the simplistic thread of art, in that they are made largely of materials already available during the 15th century, such as wood, marble and precious metals. The term simplistic could also refer to the fact that they don't really invite much scrutiny at first glance and the non-discerning viewer is more likely to simply shrug his shoulders and leave. However, icons hold more weight than they seem. In the 15th century, icons were used as symbols of the divine family and their tribulations [Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the crucifixion, etc.].The purpose of which were to convey a story, a biblical truth, a teaching and, more spiritually, a gateway to heaven. The Virgin Eleousa (see Appendix), for instance, which was created in the early Byzantine days, depicts a serene-looking Virgin Mary with the child Jesus on her chest, as if to stress an emotion of great joy and happiness for His birth. Icons at the time were more than just visual aids. They wer e windows into the life and times of Christ and acted as middle grounders, or representatives, of the Divine here on earth.Hence, people kneel in front of icons in veneration, not because they worship the object itself, but because they feel a deep sense of gratitude and awe with what it represents. People venerate the Icon with Virgin Eleousa because it brings to form the Sacred Virgin's consummate motherhood and love for her child and for the rest of humankind. Debate has sprung that iconoclasm is some sort of idol worship. Supporters of icons reject this, again, stressing that while believers place much reverence over the earthly, man-made figures, it is the spiritual sense of the objects that is prime above all things.

Health Information Management (HIM) Departmental Layout Project Assignment

Health Information Management (HIM) Departmental Layout Project - Assignment Example ient’s records department so the records and the offices will have to be adequately accommodated in a design that will not be cramped or that would render some areas hard to access. The main considerations are not just aesthetics but rather functionality and ease of access. The design guidelines for the project are to ensure a well developed space with the required offices and other partition areas in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible in consideration of the whole hospital unit’s visual unity. The spaces have to consider lighting and ventilation as much as possible especially for the office areas and other partitioned spaces that will be occupied by people. The design must ensure that the work flow moves smoothly with no interruptions and in the most efficient manner to ensure speed and quality of work (Alexi et al 2005). The design guideline should ensure at all times that the work travels in a straight line and the locations are properly founded. It should also ensure that the isles carry the load to their best advantage, and eliminate any waiting by the workers which should all have adequate working space and not be cramped. The tools must be at their proper places, and each individual should also be at their best

Management Change Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Management Change - Coursework Example The same situation was present at Oticon where its activities adversely affected stakeholders. Some of the stakeholders had a direct interest and contact with the organisation while others had an indirect interest and occasional contact with it. For instance, Oticon customers were in need of the products manufactured by the organisation i.e. hearing aids, but preferred one that could be inserted inside the ear. Unfortunately, Oticon only manufactured hearing aids that could be placed behind the ear. On the other hand, Oticon customers demanded products that complied with the digital technology. This highly contributed to the plummet of Oticon’s performance and profit margins since it was a strong holder and advocate of the analogue technology. As a result, the organisation lost favour in the buoyant markets including the Far East and America. In addition, the shareholders wanted to own a fast-paced organisation that had a big market share and equity. Their main interest theref ore was in the growth of their shares and dividends. Conversely, the management and employees of Oticon were interested in the growth of the organisation so as to ensure job security, a lucrative remuneration and positive prospects. This was to be achieved by increasing the organisation’s efficiency and implementation of cost-cutting strategies so as to run a more significant, fast and innovative business. This was with the aim of attaining a competitive advantage and market control. The other stakeholders of Oticon that were also gravely affected by the deteriorating state included the government, suppliers, trade unions and pressure groups. With the aim of dealing with the raised concerns Oticon’s President Lars Kolind formulated a viable strategy to enable implementation of management change. The strategy included a decrease in the price of the hearing aid, a reduction of the hearing aid’s size, layoff of some staff, increased efficiency, cost-cutting measure s and implementation of a holistic customer care strategy which was to be supported by a spaghetti-organisational approach. This was to be achieved by changing the formal organisation of Oticon into a disorganised organisation. This involved the elimination of job titles and departments as well as the use of informal communication i.e. face-to-face. At first, this change was met with objection from employees where some felt that they did not possess the project management skills and ability to work as a team. Most, especially those that held hierarchical positions were against the loss of authority, status symbol, routine and information monopoly. In order to overcome, the resistance Kolind involved every employee in implementing the changes in the organisation. He ensured that every employee clearly understood the direction of the new management change. In addition he formulated human values that favoured employees and gave them the opportunity to empower themselves. As a result, a solid employer-employee relationship dictated by trust was established. Moreover, a carrot and stick leadership strategy was implemented. It gave employees only two options of either continuing to work at Oticon but under the new changes or resign. Therefore, majority of the employees had no choice but to comply with the stipulated changes than to lose their jobs. This strategy effectively curbed resistance because with time employees started to support the

Political Corruption in Israel Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Political Corruption in Israel - Research Paper Example Only recently very reliable sources identified that Israel bagged 30th position out of 178 countries when evaluated in context of corruption rate and even worse results were witnessed when the country was compared to other member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (Dattel and Reuters). Highly irresponsible, unprofessional, and inconsiderate behavior of the politicians has led to prodigious public commotion within the country but unfortunately, the terror game played by atrocious political instigators which is fraught with big risks continues to remain in vogue. This research paper is basically an attempt to discuss what contemporary research evidence has to offer on the reality of political turmoil in Israel and how corruption and debaucheries of the political leaders is negatively interfering with the basis of moral government. Research material presented in the paper will principally focus on the corruption of politicians and influential public officials and how their conduct serves to foster lawlessness in every field of life will also be debated in the paper. Israel is placed in the category of â€Å"Elite Cartel Corruption† by Johnston who analyzed political corruption in association with nature of political agencies and economic liberalization (Shannon). He argues that this specific category involves well-connected networks of social elites who share corrupt advantages in an environment of fierce political competition and enhanced economic liberalization. Such politically powerful figures regularly â€Å"work together to protect and maintain their advantages and stave off the opposition† (Johnston cited in Shannon). This is exactly the style of top Israeli politicians and official moguls who exploit their own people in order to foment their personal wealth and form a channel of corruption by notoriously collaborating among themselves. Lost in their wicked conspiracies, they do not maintain a sincere assoc iation with Israeli public, rather use their political influence to transform state agencies into promising means of personal welfare. Consistent bad ranking exposed by a huge collection of analytical studies has not managed as yet to inculcate a sense of responsibility and awareness in the minds of Israeli politicians. Rather Israel continues to be the poorest, disreputable, and most unreliable member of the OECD and the Western world. Research cites that corruption and fraudulence affairs currently occupy the center of the Israeli political stage (Avnery) with many former powerful political figures including prime ministers and governors awaiting judgments in rape and bribery trials. It is thought to be a matter of great concern by all critics that while many other countries suffering from similar troublesome conditions have shown significant improvements over the past years, corruption in Israel remains unaffected by any reconstructive agendas and continues to successfully genera te political upheaval. There is such explicit austerity in political corruption in Israel that millions of lives have been and continue to be sacrificed to resulting exigencies. The series of outrageous events

Nonverbal communication in organizations Research Paper

Nonverbal communication in organizations - Research Paper Example However, it can be apparently observed that business organizations often face certain problems (such as misinterpretation of non-verbal signals), leading towards ineffective business performance and corporate culture. In this regard, certain recommendations have been provided with the objective of enhancing communication process. Contextually, it can be affirmed that business organizations, with effective communication process may aid in enhanced performance of business operations in the present competitive business scenario. Nonverbal Communication in Organizations In the present business scenario, market competition has augmented to a substantial extent with the development in the field of technologies and increased level of globalization. A similar argument has remained in focus of various studies conducted in the recent era, for example in Mujezinovic (2011), Rho (2009), Ambady & Rosethal (1998) and Vasu, Stewart & Garson (1998) to name a few. Although the arguments in these stud ies have been varying and often contradictory, the inferences drawn have been commonly in agreement with the statement that modern business organizations are required to be much competent in performing internal along with external business activities with the intention of executing business operations in a competitive along with a profitable manner. In this regard, communication is determined to be playing an imperative role in assisting business organizations to conduct their respective business activities efficiently. While this particular notion is agreed upon by many, the way through which, communication processes within organizational contexts can be managed remains to be a major point of dispute among researchers. Recent researches in this regard, have viewed that business organizations often communicate externally along with internally1;2;3. As argued by Rho (2009), externally, business organizations communicate messages for conducting various activities such as marketing. On the other hand, internal communication denotes the process on the basis of which effective communication is made between employees and employers. In this context, effective communication will facilitate organizations in better management, coordination and execution of effective business operations towards the accomplishment of desired business targets4. Arguably, non-verbal communication is regarded as a procedure of communicating information and messages through expressions, mimics and gestures. As noted by Spaho (2013), this type of communication involves conveying of messages in any form other that language or words. The impact of non-verbal communication is based on various factors that include inner coherence, dissimulation capacity, ability and strength to manipulate information among others. Non-verbal communication often plays a decisive role in conveying important messages within a business organization in accordance with which business operations can be executed in an eff icient manner5. Discussion Explanation of Non-verbal Communication in Organizations In the most simple way, non-verbal comm

Fundamentals of Healthy Lifestyle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Fundamentals of Healthy Lifestyle - Essay Example Center for Disease Control recommends people to engage in physical activities to combat diabetes (Samuels 1). I experienced many health problems while consuming unhealthy food that is why I turned to healthier choices. By healthy lifestyle, I mean cooking and preparing my meals and snacks using organic products. The outcome so far to this lifestyle change has been a change that I'm more than happy I did. My healthy lifestyle routine consists of my personal health, saving money while eating clean, and being physically active and productive in my daily activities. As an individual, you have the responsibility to take care of your health through eating lifestyles changes and participating in physical activities. Considering my personal health, I come from a family who has been diagnosed with diabetes type one. According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report, that was released in 2014 "1.25 million American children and adults have type 1 diabetes" (Statistics About Diabetes 3). The type one diabetes is genetically passed, and it is a disease that cannot be prevented and you cannot get rid of it. It also occurs when the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Symptoms to the type one diabetes usually start during childhood or young adulthood. Episodes of low blood sugar levels also known as hypoglycemia are common. Diabetics struggle a lot with emotions. They often lash out for little things because they experience the emotional roller coaster. They have to visit frequently the doctor, they need support from their loved ones, they need encouragement, and sometimes they feel lonely because they feel their disease is controlling them rather than them controlling the disease. These statistics are scary enough, which made me consider a healthier way of life. I wanted to be around my friends and family for a long time.

The Purpose of Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Purpose of Religion - Essay Example It is hard to find out the essence of the religion, but it is rather interesting to make an attempt to interpret its meaning and purpose for people. Further discussion is limited by terms of Abrahamic religions and Dharma religions. But before we start our discussion, it is interesting to discuss the role and purpose of religion as a universal phenomenon. For the majority of people, religion was invented for intimidation of people, their self-organization. Basically, religion is a limiting factor of our lives. Still, an initial intention of religion should not be sought in its purpose to oppress people, because the core issue of religion is enlightenment and steering people onto the right path. Therefore, it is better to consider the purpose of religion from a more humane perspective. Religion facilitates our physical pain and spiritual wanderings; our grief and sorrow are diminished once we appeal for God. Moreover, we often go to church looking for redemption. Our daily blames and faults are facilitated in church or even when we appeal for God inside of us. When we think that God has forgiven our faults us, we feel much better. What is even more interesting is that through redemption we transform our faults and sins in our strengths. Thus, the purpose of religion is to assist us in our lives, to help and save our souls from grief and sorrow. Religion makes our lives better for sure. It is necessary not to look for its essence, but just believe in God and salvation. Abrahamic vs Dharmic religions Still, why do not all people believe in one God? Or maybe we believe in one God, but it has different appearances? The emergence of different religions is the reflection of the na tions’ peculiarities. Every nation wants to believe in the most appropriate spiritual power for them. People look for a spiritual contact between God and an individual in the religion. Thus, it is necessary to take into account individual’s peculiarities before creating the most ideal God for oneself. A split of religion into Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) and Dharmic religions (Buddhism, Hindu) is the reflection of historical worldview of Western and Eastern people (Rue, 2005).  Ã‚   These religions are united by faith in one God. For Christians, it is Jesus Christ, for Judaists, Abraham is One God, for Islamists, Muhammad is a prophet who is the messenger of God’s counsel.  Ã‚  There are three different Holy Books, these religions are followed: Bible for Christians, Torah for Judaists and Quran for Islamists. In contrast to Abrahamic religions, Buddhism and modern Hinduism are both post-Vedic religions (Rue, 2005). Gautama Buddha is the central Divine in Hinduism and Buddhism. There are constant arguing between Hindus and Buddhists. The latter underline that during the time of Buddha there was no such thing as Hinduism; the former do not intend to separate Hinduism from Buddhism.  Ã‚  The main intention for Buddhist and Hindus is to find out an internal harmony, to establish inner peaceful relation between a body and a soul. This religions propagate a self-breeding, a self-perfection: "We are the causes of our own suffering"; "Think about your life" etc (Rue 2005, p. 43). As far as we can see, the main emphasis in these religions is made not on God, but on individual’s work for self-perfection. Moreover, a central concept for both Hinduism and Buddhism is â€Å"Karma†. Nothing depends on a man; everything is predetermined. A man should be a peaceful, pacified creature, who is able to follow Divines leading him to enlightenment and bringing him closer to spiritual world of Divines. The main argum ents of Christianity differ from these

Embrace the attributes of the diversity wk8 Essay

Embrace the attributes of the diversity wk8 - Essay Example In an organization, levels of conflict are common when team members do not commit themselves in an organization process. When the organization’s management limits finances to support diversity programs, especially in women management, there will be an increased likelihood that levels of conflict may come into existence (Cox & Beale, 1997). The management can understand that the limits in the input and output resources of the company are negatively affected by the diminished consumer demand. Intergroup and intragroup levels of conflict will be considered in this discussion. An intergroup conflict refers to the disagreement among groups of teams while intragroup conflict is the disagreements that occur among the members within an organization (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2007). Women in management can experience an intergroup and intragroup conflict with teams of management, and request an organization meeting to address various problems, such as an absence of trust and the limits in funds allocation to diversity programs (Cox & Beale, 1997). Women can respond in a negative manner to conflicts with late work completion and absenteeism. There will be limited communication between the women in management and managers who refuse to support diversity programs by disapproving the management goals (Cox & Beale, 1997). However, it can be possible for women in management to work with the management in conflict to encourage and support diversity programs, which can increase the revenue of the company (Cox & Beale, 1997). Therefore, the increased revenue can support diversity programs and lead to the retention of women in

Iterature Review of Papers and Books regarding the development of a Literature

Iterature of Papers and Books regarding the development of a loyalty program - Literature review Example 9). This is because it costs less to retain existing customers than it does to recruit new ones. Moreover, existing customers cost less to manage, as they are less likely to call the company during peak hours and are more likely to know about the product. Additionally, loyal customers are more likely than satisfied customers to buy additional products from the company, which increases profits still further (Szwarc, 2005). Rust et al. (2000) views the issue of customer loyalty in terms of transactions verses relationships. They state that the era between 1920 and 1960 was a product-focused era, in which the emphasis, in advertising and marketing, was on the product itself. This mind-set gradually changed, however, as companies began to realize that the relationship between the customer and the service provider was more important than the individual transaction. Thus, customer satisfaction came to be viewed as more important to these companies than product ads and single transactions. Current sales became less important to companies than the prospect for future sales (Rust et al. 2000). Levitt (1993) states that customer loyalty comes from effectively managing relationships. To do this, the company must build awareness of problems and opportunities. It must also assess what is necessary to get desired results. Accountability is another prong that Levitt (1993) states is important, as businesses must establish regular reporting on individual and group relationships. Actions is the last prong of effectively managing relationships, and this means that companies must make decisions and establish routines and communications that target important relationships (Levitt, 1993). Reichheld (1996) states that there are three rules of thumb to remember regarding customer loyalty. The first rule is that some customers are inherently loyal, in that they inherently prefer predictability and stability in their relationships with stores and brands. The second rule is that some cu stomers are more profitable than others – they pay their bills on time, they spend more money and they require less service. The third rule is that the company should not try to be all things to all people, and needs to find its particular strengths and match these strengths with customers’ needs and opportunities (Reichheld, 1996). Regarding the first rule, that some customers are inherently loyal, Robinson and Etherington (2006) argue that most customers want to be loyal, especially in today’s ever-changing world. They argue that individuals have a need to belong, and want to belong to customer communities for brands and companies that they like (Etherington 2006). Among the developments in the past 20 years which have affected loyalty, according to Szwarc (2005) are new technologies and exporting jobs overseas. While new technology, such as â€Å"phone trees† in which a customer talks to a computer, as opposed to a live person, as well as transporting jobs overseas, are cost-cutting measures, they also affect customer loyalty. Customers want and need to talk to a human being, so phone trees are often off-putting. Moreover, companies get a bad image when it becomes known that they are sending jobs overseas, and customers become frustrated talking to foreign workers when they call to try to solve a problem

Social Interaction in People with Autism Essay Example for Free

Social Interaction in People with Autism Essay People with Autism tend to face difficulties in social interaction. This study examined the possibility that the cause of these social difficulties is heightened anxiety in response to social situations. First year psychology students were asked to complete three surveys online, in order to test their anxiety levels, as well as the extent to which they demonstrate autistic-like traits. The results indicated a link between anxiety and autistic-like traits in the general population. Due to the fact that this study was based on the general population, further research using participants who have autism would be beneficial to ensure the validity of this link. If this link was reinforced in future studies, it could potentially have significant implications for the treatment of Autism. By developing ways to reduce anxiety, clinicians may be able to make patients more comfortable in social situations and improve their quality of life. Social Interaction in People With Autism: The Link Between Anxiety and Social Communication Deficits Individuals with Autism exhibit â€Å"abnormalities in social and communication development, in the presence of marked repetitive behavior and limited imagination† (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). One of the most prominent issues for people with Autism is their tendency to experience difficulties in social interaction. They tend to lack conversational skills, find it difficult participate in social events and are often seen to behave in a generally strange manor (Kanne, Christ, Reiersen, 2009). The reason for this lack of social interaction is unclear. It is possible that people with Autism are simply not interested in social interaction, however it is more plausible that this lack of social interaction is due to heightened anxiety in social situations. Research has identified that those with significant Autistic-like traits are more prone to loneliness. Loneliness implies that these individuals are not content in being by themselves and are experiencing negative feelings as a result (Bauminger, Shulman, Agam, 2003). Furthermore, research has illustrated that many individuals with Autism have expressed a desire to develop friendships and sexual relationships (Jobe White, 2007). These results indicate a desire to engage in social activities; therefore it seems likely that this avoidance of social interactions is due to elevated anxiety rather than disinterest. One recent study compared the anxiety levels in children with autism, with the anxiety levels of two control groups. The results indicated that the children with autism had â€Å"considerably higher† anxiety than the control groups (Gillott, Furniss Walter, 2001). An alternative study examined the link between autism and anxiety in adolescents. Similarly, the results indicated significantly higher anxiety in people with autism. Both studies listed a limited sample size as a limitation, and suggested future research with a larger sample size (Bellini, 2004). This study will build upon the foundation provided by these and other studies and further examine the link between anxiety and autism with a larger sample size. Autism is often considered to be a â€Å"spectrum disorder. † This means that those with Autism are high in particular traits, which can be found to a lesser degree in all members of the general population (Jobe White, 2007). Therefore, the general population can be used to examine the link between autistic-like traits and elevated anxiety. This report will use three questionnaires, namely the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS, Mattick Clarke, 1998), the Autism Quotient (AQ, (Baron-Cohen, Wheelwright, Skinner, Martin, Clubley, 2001) and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE, Carleton, McCreary, Norton, Asmundson, 2006) to analyse the link between Autistic-like characteristics and anxious tendencies in the general population, which can then be related to people with Autism. The aim of this report is to clarify the cause of social deficits in people with Autism. It will examine the notion that these social difficulties are linked to heightened anxiety levels in response to social situations. It is expected that the data will reflect this link, and higher AQ scores will be positively related to higher scores in the BFNE and SIAS. Method Participants The research was based on a sample of first year psychology students studying at the University of Western Australia. There were 356 participants- both male and female- ranging from 17 to 56 years old. Participants were asked to take part in the study as a part of the course requirements for PSYC1102. There were no additional selection criteria; all students were invited to participate in the study regardless of age, sex or ethnicity. Materials The data was collected using three surveys: the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), the Autism- Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE). The SIAS provides a list of social tendencies and skills and asks participants to identify whether the statement is characteristic of them. Participants are given 20 statements such as â€Å"I have difficulty making eye contact with others† and are asked to select the option that most accurately reflects them from a five-point Likert scale between â€Å"not at all† and â€Å"extremely. † Participants receive a score between 0 and 80 based on their answers. The BFNE seeks to assess participants’ fear of negative evaluation; it does this by providing 12 statements such as â€Å" I am afraid of other people knowing my shortcomings† and asking participants to select an answer on a five-point Likert scale from â€Å"not at all characteristic of me† to â€Å"extremely characteristic of me. † Participants receive a score between 0 and 60 based on their answers (Carleton, McCreary, Norton, Asmundson, 2006). Finally, the AQ is a 50-question questionnaire, which assesses where the participant lies on the Autism Spectrum. It assesses the participant on five areas: social skills, attention switching, attention to detail, communication and imagination (Baron-Cohen et al. 2001). It offers statements such as â€Å"I prefer to do things on my own rather than with others† and invites participants to select an answer on the five-point Likert scale from â€Å"definitely agree† to â€Å"definitely disagree. † Participants receive a score between 0 and 50 based on their answers. (Baron-Cohen et al. 2001) The current study aimed to clarify the cause of social deficit in people with Autism. It was hypothesised that these social difficulties are linked to elevated anxiety levels in response to social situations. It was expected that the data recorded from the AQ, BFNE and SIAS questionnaires would be consistent with this hypothesis and highlight the link between autistic-like traits and heightened anxiety. The results show no link between the AQ and the BFNE. However, they do indicate a positive relationship between the AQ and SIAS, and a positive relationship between the SIAS and BFNE, as expected. This indicates that there is some truth to the hypothesis that the social deficits faced by people with autism are linked to anxiety. This study has some limitations, which should be considered when discussing the results. Firstly, participants of this study were first year students, largely under the age of 20, and of similar level of intelligence. These factors make the sample somewhat limited, and it is unlikely to be a true refection of the general population. Future studies would benefit from conducting surveys with a more diverse sample group. A random sample of participants would provide a more rounded and accurate representation of the general population. In addition, this study assessed members of the general population, and most –if not all- participants do not have autism. Therefore, it could be argued that the results may not be entirely valid. While there is research to suggest that autistic-like traits are evident in the general population, this does not necessarily mean that the link between autistic-like characteristics and anxiety established in this study can be transferred to people with autism. Future studies may need to assess this hypothesis with people who have autism for more valid findings. A further possible limitation of this study is that of the 931 students, only 356 participated in the study. It is logical to expect that the students who completed the survey are likely to be the more diligent students. The more diligent students may share similar characteristics, and may have more autistic-like tendencies; this could indicate some bias in the sample group. This study indicates a link between autistic-like characteristics and anxiety in the general population. If this link was proven in future studies to be also relevant to people with Autism, the information could be used to improve the quality of their social interactions. Clinicians could potentially take this link into account when working with patients with Autism. By developing ways to reduce anxiety, clinicians may be able to make patients more comfortable in social situations. This study has supported the theory that there is a link between autistic-like characteristics and anxiety. This could be further developed with more extensive research into anxiety in people who have autism. With further research, clinicians may be able develop methods to target anxiety in people with Autism and reduce the severity of their social deficits.

The Moral Philosophy Of Virtue Ethics

The Moral Philosophy Of Virtue Ethics Virtue Ethics is a moral philosophy commonly attributed to Plato and Aristotle. The meaning of the word virtue for both was that of excellence. Although there are differences in their individual schools of thought, their outlook on morality is more or less the same. Both these philosophers came upon their understanding of ethics and morality while attempting to answer some fundamental question. For Plato, the question was, what is the good life? And for Aristotle this was, what do men fundamentally desire? In their individual attempts to answer these questions we find their theories of ethics. Plato described four cardinal virtues in his works. They were: Wisdom, Courage, Temperance and Justice, referring respectively to the following faculties of the human soul: Reason, Spirits, Appetites and justice being the correct balance of the first three, which according to him was the subservience of spirits and appetites to the faculty of reason. These virtues when properly exercised would lead to the development of an organized, well-balanced and hence virtuous individual. This well-balanced individual would be a happy person. So, Plato hypothesizes that it is a happy person who is leading a good life (hence, a good life is a happy life). He is happy because he is morally virtuous, morally virtuous because he is guided by reason and reason is knowledge. We now understand the first part of Platos theory that to be happy one must be morally virtuous. This leads to the second part of his theory that reason or that ultimate knowledge which is needed for morality comes from the Idea of Good. It is this Idea of Good which exists in the realm of Ideas, of immutable, unchanging Form which is the source and the final goal of all morality. And this Idea of Good is accessible only to the philosophers. Aristotle differs from the Platonic view over the concept of Forms and that knowledge of morality is a priori. According to him, moral principles are to be discovered through the study of mans life and his experiences and not from some obscure, formless world of ideals. In his search for the answer to what men fundamentally desire, Aristotle more or less comes to the same conclusion as Plato, which is the attainment of Eudaimonia, a term used by Aristotle and translated commonly as Happiness. As with Plato, Aristotle also believes that leading a virtuous life will lead to happiness. A virtuous life is one which is governed by reason. Reason in man has two functions. First is the use of reason (or the rational part of the soul) to control the irrational (appetitive, for e.g. emotions and vegetative, for e.g. breathing) part of the soul. The second is to use reason for the sake of deep analysis to come up with knowledge which in turn yields laws and principles to govern everyday life. He further states that virtue in man corresponds to these two functions of reason respectively: moral virtues and intellectual virtues. These moral and intellectual virtues are the mean between two vices. That is these virtues exist as the middle ground between two extremes. Moral virtues are those which based on rationality are ingrained in a man as his nature and are practiced by him out of habit. Examples of the moral virtues are courage and prudence etc. On the other hand, the intellectual virtues are those of exercising the rational part of the soul purely for the sake of reasoning, an example of which is wisdom. The former (moral virtues) are within reach of the ordinary man while the intellectual virtues fall in the domain of a few divinely blessed only. Finally, according to Aristotle it is the state of character of a person which makes him morally virtuous. This state of character is one of the three components of a mans personality. The other two being: the passions (e.g. anger or fear) and the faculties (e.g. ability to feel anger). It is the state of character which propels a man to choose between two extremes. Hence moral virtue is the state of character of a man which leads him to choose the golden mean. Let us take an example, proper pride is the mean between empty vanity and undue humility. To sum up Aristotles philosophy of ethics is that it is the character of man within which lies the power to choose. Hence it is not the act but the choice made between different forms of that act that morality is evident. NOTES William Lille, An Introduction to Ethics, (London: Methuen Co Ltd, 1971), 272. Ethel M. Albert, Theodore C. Denise and Sheldon P. Peterfreund, Great Traditions in Ethics, (New York: D. Van Nostrand Company, 1980), 11. Ibid., 38. Lille, An Introduction, 274, 277. Ethel M. Albert and others, Great, 11. Ibid., 29. Ibid., 38. Ibid., 46. Ibid., 48. Ibid., 39. Ibid., 50.

Factors Affecting Kidney Function

Factors Affecting Kidney Function Kidney Diseases and end stage renal failure are not isolated to affecting just the kidney. All organs are affected by the disruption through Kidney disease and similarly other organs will also affect the kidney and how it functions. The following five diseases show the impact they have on the kidney, its function and pathophysiology. 2. HIV/AIDS Renal complications in patients with HIV/AIDS can be either as a result of the long-term repetition of, or simultaneous infections in an immune suppressed patient or as a result of the many drugs (nephrotoxins) used to treat the HIV/AIDS virus. The exact role that the HI-Virus plays in the pathology of the kidney is still controversial (James, 2005:1632-1633). There are a number of kidney diseases identified by means of biopsies associated with HIV, the most predominant one being HIV-associated Nephropathy. Others are Mesangial Glomerulonephritis where immune deposits are seen, to a lesser degree also minimal change disease, TTP/HUS, Amyloidosis and Lymphoma (Dolin, 2008:1257). It was shown that the type of nephropathy was also clearly defined by race, such being that people of Black African origin predominantly showed HIV-associated nephropathy whereas in other racial groups immune complexes played the major role (James, 2005:1632-1633). In a study done by Tygerberg hospital in conjunction with Stellenbosch university it has shown that 54% of biopsies done on Black HIV positive patients show HIV nephropathies, in the USA this figure shows that it is the 3rd most common cause of end stage renal failure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV-associated_nephropathy accessed 19/03/2011). In HIV-associated nephropathy there is sclerosis of the Glomerular apparatus as well as microcystic tubulointerstitial disease which is defined by the enlargement of the tubules with protein deposits in the tubular space as well as oedema in the surrounding tissue, fibrosis and inflammation (Dolin, 2008:1257). Where kidney involvement is due to immune complex deposits the entire nephron is involved; this can be as a direct result of infection from the virus or alternatively due to the release of cytokines when first infected with HIV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV-associated_nephropathy accessed 19/03/2011). Treatment forms include transplantation, which can however, pose problems with regard to medication interactions between antiretroviral drugs and immunosuppressants, furthermore a high rate of rejection as well as a high risk of cardiovascular disease post transplant are a problem (Trullas [in press]) Treatment consists of slowing the process to ESKD and treating the HIV infection with antiretroviral drugs, further treatment with Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor blockers are used to treat hypertension, possibly immunosuppressant drugs or steroids and dialysis if kidney failure progresses to chronic (Greenberg, 2009:254) 3. Malaria There are four types of malaria parasites; the one that is generally known to show manifestations in other organs including the kidney is Plasmodium falciparum. There are over 500 million people infected with this parasite worldwide with an annual death rate of between 1-3 million. There are over 100 countries worldwide in which malaria is prevalent and many of these countries have reported a 0.57- 60% acute renal failure as a result of malaria. It has also shown that the acute renal failure associated with malaria is more common in adults than children in the tropics where transmission of malaria is low or unstable and where symptomatic disease occurs at all ages (Idonije, 2011:4-7) Acute renal failure occurs in a very small percentage of the cases infected, however the mortality rate can be as high as 45%. (Saroj, 2008:395) The exact pathophysiology of Malarial Acute Renal Failure is not known but there are many theories as to how the kidney is affected, namely through obstruction and adherence of the vascular space by disease affected and thus altered erythrocytes, this is known as erythrocyte sequestration. Further, immune complexes may be responsible for changes in the glomerular and tubular physiology. Dehydration due to sweating, vomiting and reduced fluid intake can lead to reduced perfusion of the kidney with ischemia resulting in acute kidney failure. Pulmonary oedema, acute respiratory distress syndrome and anaemia are all factors that may complicate the malarial acute renal failure. Treatment options include the identification of the involvement of the kidney early on which may be difficult especially in home based treatment in the rural environment, renal replacement therapy (haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis), anti malarial drugs, intravenous fluid replacement (although this may lead to pulmonary oedema and must be closely monitored), diuretics which may reduce the time the patient requires dialysis, possible blood transfusion to help replace fluids as well as assist with the malaria induced anaemia and the avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs (Das, 2008:83-97). Mortality of patients increases with: high Creatine levels, oliguria/anuria, anaemia CNS involvement and late referral to a tertiary care center for early commencement of treatment, age plays no role in the mortality of these patients (Kanodia, 2010:1088-1091). 4. HUS/TTP There are three reasons for thrombocytopenia namely due to platelet destruction as in Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) and Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), failure of platelet production as in malignancies and platelet sequestration (Underwood, 2009:585) TTP and HUS are both thrombotic microangiopathies and both are characterised by the deposition of clots in the small vessels of various organs, amongst these being the Kidney. There is a large clinical overlap between the two (Underwood, 2009:670). HUS is an acute disorder often following a haemorrhagic or diarrhoeal illness. It is characterised by microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, which is caused due to an increase in fibrin in the vessels and this fibrin network damages the erythrocytes causing anaemia. It has been established that HUS is associated with viral and bacterial infections especially in children (McCance, 2010:1408). Both HUS and TTP are linked to pregnancy related acute kidney failure but it is a rare occurrence. If they occur then HUS generally occurs postpartum whereas TTP is linked to preeclampsia and occurs pre delivery (Greenberg, 2009:410). The toxin released from a bacterium such as E. coli causes inflammation when it attaches to the wall of the intestine and from here enters the vascular system. It finds its way to the kidney where it causes damage both in the glomerular and tubular system through thrombosis, and inflammation and thus kidney failure. This infection may also cause fever, hypertension, cerebral and pulmonary oedema, congestive heart failure and seizures (Lerma, 2009:289). TTP on the other hand is caused by blockage of the small vessels through the accumulation of platelets causing vascular lesions in the central nervous system, heart and kidney causing organ failure or malfunction (Underwood: 2009:671). There are two types of TTP, one is chronic relapsing TTP which is rare and the other is idiopathic relapsing TTP. This is a lot more severe in its course and can be fatal within 3 months if left untreated (McCance, 2010:1046). Treatment for diarrhoeal related HUS is generally supportive, fluid-electrolyte replacement, blood transfusion and dialysis if needed. Recovery rate is high but there is a 3-5% mortality rate during the acute phase (DAgati, 2005:498) Glomerular involvement HUS has a better prognosis than HUS with a high vascular involvement. Compared to HUS, the TTP has less haemolysis and milder renal impairment but shows more neurological symptoms such as confusion, headache and motor and sensory defects. Treatment for TTP takes the form of plasma exchange with fresh frozen plasma. Since the implementation of this therapy form the mortality rate has dropped by approximately 25% but with severe renal involvement it still has a poor prognosis. It may re-occur in 25% of the patients who have been successfully treated (DAgati, 2005:511). 5. HELLP Syndrome HELLP Syndrome is an acronym for Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets and is generally found in pregnant woman who have developed preeclampsia or eclampsia (Gould, 2006:120). Symptoms are Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, elevated liver enzymes are due to obstruction of the hepatic vessels by fibrin deposits and the low platelets are the result of either increased use of or the destruction of platelets (Counts, 2008:168). HELLP Syndrome may only develop during labour and as with preeclampsia the best cure is the delivery of the baby. Severe bleeding is unlikely unless platelet counts are very low (below 50 000/mm3). Severe thrombocytopenia or rupture of a subcapsular liver haematoma can both be life threatening (Ratcliffe, 2008:493) Many signs and symptoms such as jaundice, hematuria, GIT bleeds, gum bleeds can be seen in pregnant woman which are related to HELLP but could be mistaken for other diseases such as Hepatitis, ulcers, kidney stones, glomerulonephritis, TTP or HUS so a full blood count is important to differentiate HELLP from other diseases (Queenan, 2007:275) HELLP Syndrome is one of the Thrombotic Microangiopathies as is TTP and HUS but as it is a result of preeclampsia it only occurs during pregnancy and then usually only in the third trimester. Preeclampsia is more common than TTP/HUS during pregnancy but with a lower risk of renal failure unless the case is a severe one. HELLP syndrome shows mild disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) which is characterised by uncontrolled coagulation, increase in bleeding time and liver enzymes (Greenberg, 2009:410) It can be potentially fatal to the expectant mother, decrease perfusion of placenta thus threatening the foetus (Counts, 2008:168) with a mortality rate of up to 24% for the mother and 7.7 60% to the unborn due to intrauterine asphyxia, placenta detachment or extreme prematurity (Feehally, 2007:350). In some instances symptoms do not improve after birth but generally the best therapy is the delivery of the baby. Corticosteroids may be used to help hasten the recovery and reduce the need for blood products (Feehally, 2007:350). Treatment is generally symptomatic; the stasis of any bleeding, blood products if a significant amount of blood was lost or is still likely to be lost without intervention, and the same applies for FFP. A cryoprecipitate may be given if the fibrinogen levels are low (for example Factor VIII from frozen blood) and fibrinolysis inhibitors may be considered in some patients (McPhee, 2009:474-475). 6. Rhabdomyolysis Rhabdomyolysis is due to damage of muscle cells as a result of a variety of factors and can become a life-threatening problem (McCance, 2010:1575). As a result of the damage of muscle cells, its contents (myoglobin, enzymes, potassium and phosphorus) leak into the blood stream. The kidneys secrete myoglobin as myoglobinuria in the urine (Lerma, 2009:109). Muscle cell damage can be due to a variety of reasons and amongst others are: Trauma, extreme exercise, seizures, compromised blood flow, electrolyte disturbances (such as hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia), drugs, temperature (hyperthermia, burns), inflammation and infections. Clinically this disease can vary from mild, with slightly elevated serum levels of myoglobin and creatine kinase (CK) to severe with the necessity for renal replacement therapy. Incidence of acute kidney failure due to rhabdomyolysis is as high as 5-15% (Greenberg, 2009:298-299). Renal insuffiency is due to the excessive amounts of myoglobin being filtered by the kidney resulting in tubular injury and is generally also associated with hypovolaemia (McPhee, 2009:742). Large amounts of myoglobin may clog the nephrons with these being overwhelmed and may produce casts which will also cause obstruction in the tubules. Hypovolaemia is due to not only a decrease in fluid intake but also due to large amounts of fluid accumulating in the damaged muscle tissue (Counts, 2008:162-163). Decreased renal blood flow, hypovolaemia and acid urine all are signs that acute tubular necrosis is likely (Lerma, 2009:109). Treatment consists of hydration with high volumes of preferably IV fluids to increase the intravascular fluid volume, thus increase the perfusion of the kidneys and forcing diuresis, reducing the risk of cast formations in the tubules and increasing the GFR. In severe cases of rhabdomyolis the use of mannitol and bicarbonate to improve urine pH as well as high fluid volumes of up to 12l/24hours have proven beneficial, Dialysis may need to be commenced if urinary output remains low and with urea and hyperkalemia not responding to conservative treatment (Greenberg, 2009:302). Fluid administration must be carefully monitored, as there is a risk of pulmonary oedema in the face of acute kidney failure. The mannitol will assist in myoglobin clearance and urine flow and thus assist with the reduction of the nephrotoxicity of the myoglobin. CK levels will drop over a period of a few days provided there is no further injury to the muscle. Hypocalcemia is generally not treated in these instances, as the calcium tends to accumulate in the injured tissue (Lerma, 2009:112). 7. Conclusion Many external factors and diseases with origins elsewhere in the body, easily affect the kidney in its function. The above five diseases showcase just a small percentage of the many diseases and dysfunctions which affect the kidney in a multitude of ways and gives us an insight of just how important an organ it is.

Indigenous Health Care Essay -- Sociology, Australian Ancient Aborigin

Introduction In this essay the writer will discuss the colonisation of Australia, and the effects that dispossession had on indigenous communities. It will define health, comparing the difference between indigenous and non- indigenous health. It will point out the benefits and criticism of the Biomedical and sociological models of health, and state why it is important in healthcare to be culturally competent with Transcultural theory. The case study of Rodney will be analyzed to distinguish which models of health were applied to Rodney’s care, and if transcultural theory was present when health care workers were dealing with Rodney’s treatment plan. Discussion Ancient Aboriginals were the first people to set foot on the Australian continent, over 40,000 years or more before Colonization (Eckermann, 2010). They survived by hunting and gathering their food, worshipping the land to protect its resources, and ensuring their survival. The aboriginal community had adapted to the environment, building a strong framework of social, cultural, and spiritual beliefs (Eckermann, 2010). Colonisation of Australia began in 1788, when Englishman Captain Cook claimed the land as an empty, uninhabited, continent giving it the classification Terra Nullius and leaving it open to colonization. Eckermann (2010), stated that the English failed to recognise the aboriginal tribes as civilized, co-inhibiters of the land, feeling they had no right to a claim. Major settlements occurred after the nineteenth century. The British had quickly out-numbered the Aboriginal community, leaving them powerless to the changes or the invasion. The belief systems of the Europeans overpowered the aboriginal’s way of life, pressuring them to conform to the... ...ans, is especially crucial in the health care setting in order to build a relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and to break down communication barrier’s. To provide Indigenous people with adequate health care emphasis needs to be placed on understanding indigenous beliefs and the social detriments Indigenous communities are faced with. Applying a suitable model of health to each individual situation will provide the best outcome. This was evident in the case study discussed in the essay. Rodney’s experiences within the medical world ended with a positive and desirable result, but if the appropriate transcultural care was not given, that positive result would have created a negative outcome, which could have been detrimental to Rodney’s future health. This shows the significance that health care workers can have on patient care.

texas vs johnson Essay example -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Texas vs. Johnson A very controversial court case in American history was Texas vs. Johnson (1984). In 1984, a man named Gregory Lee Johnson followed a group of anti – Reagan protesters to oppose the American exploitation of third world countries. This act of rebellion resulted in the burning of the American flag. Out of a total of approximately one hundred demonstrators who were involved in this ordeal, Johnson was solely charged with a crime. Johnson was arrested under Texas law, which made the burning of the United States or Texas flags crimes. Johnson was convicted and sentenced to one year in jail and fined two thousand dollars for his crime in restitution. Texas reasoned that the police were preventing the breach of peace; consider the flag a symbol of national unity. At Johnson's court trial, he was convicted of aiding, abetting and encouraging the burning of the Texan flag. This, in turn, made Johnson guilty under Texas state law. Johnson and his lawyers were dissatisfied with this decision and made an appeal to the Fifth Texas Supreme Judicial District. This appeal, made on May 8, 1985 would be titled as Texas vs. Johnson. The defense argued that Johnson was prosecuted in violation of the first Amendment, clearly states that no law may take away a person's freedom of speech or expression, and of the Bill of Rights and the free speech clause of the Texas Constitution. Johnson argued that in his opinion, flag burning is part of freedom o...

Tudor Succession Problems Essay -- English History Monarchs England Es

Tudor Succession Problems The Tudor period is unique in that it is marked by succession difficulties in every generation. The Tudor dynasty was plagued by poor health, short-lives and a shortage of male claimants to the throne. For three successive monarchs the throne passed not from ruler to child, but from sibling to sibling and three consecutive monarchs died childless. Henry VIII's search for a suitable male heir to his throne had far reaching ramifications. This period is distinctive in that it would start the precedent of determining the succession by statute in consultation with Parliament. The parliamentary enactments and wills that he had created complicated the succession issue for future generations in the attempt to make the transition from monarch to monarch less problematic. While the Tudor period is generally viewed as a one of stability, the recurring succession difficulties created instability and often posed the threat of civil war and even foreign invasion. The succession problems of the Tudor monarchs were largely caused by their lack of issue, for none of Henry VIII's children had children, poor health and were complicated by plots arising from the uncertainty of the succession, foreign affairs, and the wishes of the monarchs of the periods in relation to Henry VIII's will. The succession of Henry VII was the most difficult of all for he had to win a battle to claim the throne and prevent other factions from rising against him to secure his dynasty. Henry VII's claim to the throne was based not so much on hereditary right, as his victory at Bosworth field. There were other claimants to the throne such as Elizabeth of York, Edward of Warwick, John II of Portugal and John de la Pole who all... ..., and in the third generation of Tudors a lack of children. Consequentially, the successors that did succeed were not always clearly the heir. This led to in extreme cases, like at the start of the reign of Mary, civil war. Henry VIII went to extreme lengths to secure the succession and ensure the continuity of his dynasty, lengths that included separation from the church in Rome and divorce. He also started a precedent of parliamentary consultation in matters concerning the succession, a principle that would become entrenched after the Revolution of 1688. On the other hand Elizabeth I went to extreme lengths to avoid discussing the succession in Parliament and designating a successor. There were good things that came out of what appeared to be problems: arguably the church of England, and the reign of Elizabeth I, one of the most glorious reigns in English history. Tudor Succession Problems Essay -- English History Monarchs England Es Tudor Succession Problems The Tudor period is unique in that it is marked by succession difficulties in every generation. The Tudor dynasty was plagued by poor health, short-lives and a shortage of male claimants to the throne. For three successive monarchs the throne passed not from ruler to child, but from sibling to sibling and three consecutive monarchs died childless. Henry VIII's search for a suitable male heir to his throne had far reaching ramifications. This period is distinctive in that it would start the precedent of determining the succession by statute in consultation with Parliament. The parliamentary enactments and wills that he had created complicated the succession issue for future generations in the attempt to make the transition from monarch to monarch less problematic. While the Tudor period is generally viewed as a one of stability, the recurring succession difficulties created instability and often posed the threat of civil war and even foreign invasion. The succession problems of the Tudor monarchs were largely caused by their lack of issue, for none of Henry VIII's children had children, poor health and were complicated by plots arising from the uncertainty of the succession, foreign affairs, and the wishes of the monarchs of the periods in relation to Henry VIII's will. The succession of Henry VII was the most difficult of all for he had to win a battle to claim the throne and prevent other factions from rising against him to secure his dynasty. Henry VII's claim to the throne was based not so much on hereditary right, as his victory at Bosworth field. There were other claimants to the throne such as Elizabeth of York, Edward of Warwick, John II of Portugal and John de la Pole who all... ..., and in the third generation of Tudors a lack of children. Consequentially, the successors that did succeed were not always clearly the heir. This led to in extreme cases, like at the start of the reign of Mary, civil war. Henry VIII went to extreme lengths to secure the succession and ensure the continuity of his dynasty, lengths that included separation from the church in Rome and divorce. He also started a precedent of parliamentary consultation in matters concerning the succession, a principle that would become entrenched after the Revolution of 1688. On the other hand Elizabeth I went to extreme lengths to avoid discussing the succession in Parliament and designating a successor. There were good things that came out of what appeared to be problems: arguably the church of England, and the reign of Elizabeth I, one of the most glorious reigns in English history.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fiber Optics

**Solvency** Not capable with current resources and timeframe to solve takes too long Fainberg, 2012 Max. BTOP Program Officer â€Å"Broadband Construction Season. † Home Page | NTIA. N. p. , 19 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. . Broadband is a world of extremes: it takes heavy-duty, 10-ton equipment to install fiber strands that are as small as a human hair. It takes months and years of hot, sweaty, dust-filled workdays to build a network that will provide massive amounts of data to end users at speeds measured in millionths of a second.It takes hundreds of man-hours, at a pace of 1000 feet per day to install the fiber that will connect our schools and hospitals with resources on the other side of the planet with just the click of a mouse. Plan can’t solve alone Free Press Reports, 2009 Wired Less: Disconnected in Urban America. Washington D. C. : Free Press, 2009. Print. For many urban residents, high-speed Internet services, which typically  ¶ cost $40 to $60 per mont h, are simply too pricey. Compounding the  ¶ Internet access problem, many people are unable to afford a computer or  ¶ lack the skills to navigate the Web. And just like their rural counterparts, some urban areas have been redlined  ¶ by Internet service providers that refuse to offer service to communities  ¶ that may not provide as large a financial return.  ¶ Many urban residents are locked out, unable to participate fully in the  ¶ digital era. They’re prevented from applying for jobs, telecommuting,  ¶ taking online classes or even finishing their homework. It’s becoming  ¶ increasingly clear that Internet connectivity is key to a sound economy and  ¶ could assist those hit hardest by the economic downturn. Fiber-Optics are too vulnerable, delays solvency Seibert, 2009Paul. â€Å"The Advantages and Disadvantages of Fiber Optics | Hub Tech Insider. † Hub Tech Insider | Technology Trends in and around Boston and Beyond. Word Press, 4 June 2 009. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. . Fiber is a small and compact cable, and it is highly susceptible to becoming cut or damaged during installation or construction activities. Because railroads often provide rights-of-way for fiber optic installation, railroad car derailments pose a significant cable damage threat, and these events can disrupt service to large groups of people, as fiber optic cables can provide tremendous data transmission capabilities.Because of this, when fiber optic cabling is chosen as the transmission medium, it is necessary to address restoration, backup and survivability. **Executive Order Turns** Totalitarianism Turn Executive orders are instruments of totalitarianism Mayer, 2001 (Kenneth, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Princeton University Press, â€Å"With the Stroke of a Pen†, 2001, http://press. princeton. edu/chapters/s7095. pdf, Accessed 7/23/2012) Observers who are even less sympathetic cast executive orders in analtogether sinister li ght, seeing in them evidence of a broad conspiracyto create a presidential dictatorship.The common theme of these com-plaints is that the executive order is an example of unaccountable power and a way of evading both public opinion and constitutional constraints. In the more extreme manifestations, executive orders are portrayed as an instrument of secret government and totalitarianism. Thepresident says â€Å"Do this! Do that! † and not only is it done, but the government, the economy, and individual freedom are crushed under the yokeof executive decree.Truman is said to have issued a top-secret executive order in 1947 to create a special government commission to investigate the alleged flyingsaucer crash in Roswell, New Mexico (the air force says no such orderexists, but not surprisingly the proponents of the UFO-order theory don’tbelieve it). 36 When John F. Kennedy issued a series of executive orders authorizing federal agencies to prepare studies of how they would respond to national emergencies, some saw this as evidence that the government was getting ready to take over the economy and establish totalitarian regime. 37 The Justice Department in 1963 complained of an â€Å"organized campaign to mislead the public† about these orders. The department had presumably grown tired of responding to members of Congress, who referred letters from constituents expressing outrage and alarm over the dictatorship that was right around the corner. 38 Conflict Turn Presidential funding approval without Congressional agreement causes inter-branch conflict Rosen 98 Colonel Richard, Judge Advocate General's Corps, United States Army, â€Å"Funding â€Å"Non-Traditional† Military Operations: The Alluring Myth Of A Presidential Power Of The Purse† Military Law Review 155 Mil. L. Rev. 1, Lexis] Finally, if a situation is sufficiently grave and an operation is essential to national security, the President has the raw, physical power–b ut not the legal authority–to spend public funds without congressional approval, after which he or she can either seek congressional approbation or attempt to weather the resulting political storm.To the President's immediate advantage is the fact that the only sure means of directly stopping such unconstitutional conduct is impeachment. 703 Congress could, however, [*149] certainly make a President's life miserable through other means, such as denying requested legislation or appropriations, delaying confirmation of presidential appointments, and conducting public investigations into the President's actions. Interbranch battles hold up agency action – major delays on implementation- the impact is no solvency Cooper 2 Phillip, Professor of Public Administration @ Portland State University, By Order of the President: The Use and Abuse of Executive Direct Action† 232-233] A president who is focused on the short-term, internal view of a possible decision may elect a power management approach. The emphasis is on efficient, effective, prompt, and controlled action within the executive branch. This is an increasingly common approach employed by new administrations; certainly it has been by Reagan and his successors.Whether spoken or unspoken, the tendency to adopt a power management perspective as the base for the use of presidential direct action tools may grow from an assumption that alternative approaches will simply not work or not work rapidly enough because of recalcitrant administrative agencies or opposition by other institutional players inside or outside the Beltway. The executive orders on rulemaking issued by presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton and the Bush memoranda on the rulemaking moratorium are clear examples of this approach.The tendency to use this approach may also stem from the idea that the situation confronting the White House is a real or a perceived emergency in which the executive branch must be mobilized for ac tion. Another tendency is to use this type of approach in national security matters where the White House holds the view that time is of the essence and a particular window of opportunity exists that must be seized. This kind of action is common in the use of national security directives.Control of sensitive materials, personnel practices, or communications is often the focus of this kind of activity. Another feature of the power management approach is the attempt to use the policies of the executive branch to make a wider political point. Certainly the Reagan administration's Drug Free Workplace order is an example, as are many of the Clinton-era orders and memoranda associated with the reinventing government initiative.Still, the power management approach presents many of the dangers and challenges of the various types of instruments. The costs can be high, and the damage both within government and to people outside it can be significant. The rulemaking orders have tied administra tive agencies up in knots for years and have trapped them in a cross fire between the Congress that adopted statutes requiring regulations to be issued and presidents who tried to measure their success by the number of rulemaking processes they could block.Reagan's NSD 84 and other related directives seeking to impose dramatically intensified controls on access to information and control over communication during and after government employment incited a mini rebellion even among a number of cabinet level officials and conveyed a sense of the tenor of leadership being exercised in the executive branch that drew fire from many sources. The Clinton ethics order was meant to make a very public and political point, but it was one of the factors contributing to the administration's inability to staff many of its key positions for months.Tyranny Turn Executive orders are bad, cause tyranny and a loss in democracy Kissinger 92, Henry, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 3/21/08,[â€Å"Executive T yranny,† http://www. cassiopaea. org/cass/exec_tyranny. htm / With the unearthing of old and newly improved executive orders recently we come to realise that this has been an ideological strategy that was designed long before the present U. S. administration. We are seeing the death throes of the US constitution and any semblance of democracy that may have initially existed with the founding fathers.It seems inevitable that the U. S. will become the epitome of a totalitarian rule with a further mandate to build on its already established cultural â€Å"McDonaldization† and geopolitical destruction of the planet. The above words from Kissinger giving a speech at the 1992 Bilderberg meeting in Evian, France, was recorded by a Swiss delegate, no doubt much to the chagrin of this â€Å"elder statesman†, who was unaware of the taping. The barely disguised contempt for humanity is only too familiar within the ranks of the â€Å"Elite†, and this man is particular ly active at the moment.No doubt he is seeing the beginnings of a Faustian pay-off for services rendered. I dread to think what misanthropic propaganda he is peddling behind the closed doors of conferences and special â€Å"interest groups† in 2003. The impact is value to life – moral side constraint Petro, 1974 Wake Forest Professor in Toledo Law Review, (Sylvester, Spring, page 480) However, one may still insist, echoing Ernest Hemingway – â€Å"I believe in only one thing: liberty. † And it is always well to bear in mind David Hume's observation: â€Å"It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Thus, it is unacceptable to say that the invasion of one aspect of freedom is of no import because there have been invasions of so many other aspects. That road leads to chaos, tyranny, despotism, and the end of all human aspiration. Ask Solzhenitsyn. Ask Milovan Dijas. In sum, if one believed in freedom as a supreme value and the proper orderin g principle for any society aiming to maximize spiritual and material welfare, then every invasion of freedom must be emphatically identified and resisted with undying spirit.

Critical Evaluation: Frankenstein Essay

Frankenstein Mary Shelley creates strong meaning through her interpretation a monster by the main concept. Bringing something back from the dead is what created the mystery and curiosity for this lost soul. The idea of this impossibility is what has made it recognised today. Mary Shelley had conceived the idea for Frankenstein in a time of wonder. She uses imagery and strategic repetition of key descriptive words to create an atmosphere of horror and gloom in the first part of the chapter, when the monster comes to life. Shelley invites readers to believe Victor’s story through an objective person. Shelley also uses an important literary device known as the epistolary form — where letters tell the story — using letters between Walton and his sister to frame both Victor’s and the creature’s narrative. She uses imagery and strategic repetition of key descriptive words to create an atmosphere of horror and gloom in the first part of the chapter, when the monster comes to life. She uses variations of words such as â€Å"dreary†, â€Å"horrid†, â€Å"disgust†, â€Å"miserable†, and â€Å"wretched† liberally, and paints vivid images of ugliness and decay. Frankenstein was deeply described as a monster that should not deserve the advantage of having a female companion through his life. The experiences which led Frankenstein understand the way the world perceives those who are different were unfortunately not the way they thought they would be. Within the book Frankenstein has a section where he speaks in first person narrative so that he can present his won perspective of the situation. Harmony was the soul of our companionship,† is an example of personification to the concept. Shelley uses the issues of being different to influence the way the audience feels towards the monster and his brutal murders. Meaning is exposed to the way Frankenstein really feels. His vulnerability is shown when he reveals that â€Å"it tort ured my heart† when he killed these innocent people. An understanding can also be gathered and influenced by the personalities and wishes of both Frankenstein and Victor. At first Victor’s mistake was to create this being of horror. It portrayed Frankenstein as the monster when actually Victor is refusing him of the only thing he wants and needs to live through this life which was not his choice to live. Mary Shelley guides you through the life of the creator and the creator’s created. Shelley gives the audience the change to make up their own mind of who caused the wrong doings by giving using different language techniques to give you an explanation on both sides. Why is it Valued? Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is so very valued because of the imagination which is depicted through the concept of life after death. Frankenstein is recognised worldwide because of his kind heart in such a sad life. Even though he is seen as positively repulsive Frankenstein still finds joy in seeing others act like a family and learning from their experiences in life. Frankenstein is cherished because of its shocking concept. Frankenstein was brought into the world without a second’s thought to what the consequences would be. It has captured audiences in our generation and generations to come for its passionate personalities and imaginary themes.

Communication in Early Childhood Essay

Communication is the most important factor for young children’s learning and social development. Humans have the unique skills of language and speech to enable the sharing of information, knowledge and feelings with others. Early childhood educators have an important job to nurture and support the development of communication in children. Communication skills are required in order to deliver the right message and convey it properly to the child. These involve body languages and facial expression. Without this, an educator loses the connection with a young child since one appears to be cold. As an example, when one smiles while delivering the message, the child will be more interested with what you have to offer in contrast to a stern look. Listening skills are those that are used in obtaining information and messages from others. It is imperative that you have the ability to receive feedback from the child so that you may know their needs. It helps to understand what a person thinks and feels and hence to understand the child closely. Skills for managing the process of communication will help the educator in recognising information required and developing a strong hold on the rules of interaction and communication (MacCallion, 1988). Communication has been described as the process where information is transmitted from one person to another. This includes the use of both verbal and non-verbal means to convey a message. Non-verbal communication includes facial expression as well as body language. Good communication skills involve listening, reading, writing and speaking. An early childhood educator deals with children between the ages of birth and 8years. It is at this age when the child learns to relate with others as well as society. Good communication skills are therefore essential for early childhood educators as they may influence the relationship between the teacher and children (Hubley, 1993). Teaching involves sending and receiving information from the students. Good communications skills will encourage the students to participate in the teaching process. This helps portray school as a place where the students can share ideas as well as relate with society. At this early age, most of the children perceive school as a place that separates them from their family. It is likely that most of the children at this age will prefer to stay at home rather than attend school. Good communication skills will help encourage students to appreciate school as a place of learning as well as a place they can express their own ideas (Joram, 1998). Good communication skills are essential in early childhood education. This is because at this age the child is learning how to express themselves both verbally and non-verbally. Children develop communication skills by exploring, sharing and interacting with adults through their own environment. According to recent studies, children at this age learn by observing how their parents and caretakers behave. It is therefore essential that the educator has good communication skills as this will affect how the children express themselves and learn in the future (knott, 1979). The main aim of early childhood education is to encourage academic, emotional and physical growth. However at this age the learning abilities of a child are not fully developed. In a recent study the concentration span of an adult is below 15 minutes while that of a child is less than 5 minutes. This means that the educator has to find ways to engage the child to maintain a longer concentration span. This involves the use of illustrations as well as demonstration that help capture the interest of the child. Good communication skills are essential in aiding the educators’ ability to maintain the child’s concentration span (Joram, 1998). Early childhood education involves the use of play as the mode of education. This is important in nurturing the child’s development as well as learning. Good communication skills are essential in providing an environment where the children feel free to play with each other as well as participate in the class activities. Play involves participation by the children as well the educator. It is essential for the early childhood educator to be able to create a nurturing environment where the child is confident to interact with others and express themselves. The role of the educator does not solely lie in teaching but also protecting  the child in the absence of their parents. The educator should promote the child’s wellbeing both at school and home. As an example an early childhood educator may notice that children are not interested in the book corner yet all the children enjoy story time and also enjoy looking through the books afterwards, however they will not look at the books in the designated area. With further observation and interaction with the children, it is discovered the children have a fear of the photo of a clown that is hanging above the book corner. Good communication skills cannot be ignored in providing an environment where the child feels able to express their fears openly. Listening, observing and interacting are a key role in enhancing good communication skills (Robinson, 2007). It is essential that the educator observes the children playing before participating in the play themselves. This helps the teacher understand the strengths and weaknesses of the children. It also helps the teacher avoid imposing adult ideas in the children’s play. Observation is a key aspect in developing good communication skills. It is through observation that the educator is able to take an initiative role. This means coming up with new ideas or processes that are based on the children’s ideas (McCarthy, 1996). Good communication skills can enable a teacher to organise parent teacher conferences which provide the opportunity for teacher and parents to discuss developmental skills, children’s work and to plan for future learning experiences. The educator can also engage the young child in cooperative learning where children complete a project or task. Pairs work best in kindergartens. The tasks are in such a way that success of the performance is based on the pair rather than the individual. A good educator should therefore be able to ensure that communication is established in such learning experiences (Wubbels, 1992). Use of illustrations has been shown to build the imagination of a child immensely. Good communications skills emphasis on the power of expressing yourself not only by facial and gestures but also employing other teaching materials such as illustrations. By illustrating sections of a story or particular events, children can improve their interpretation and  comprehension. Children employ responses and personal understanding when they see story characters visually. This develops a child’s imagination and the ability to visualise and interpret printed and spoken information (Hubley, 1993). The importance of communication cannot be stressed further when it comes to early childhood education. Communication skills are core of almost all activities that are practiced at this early age which dictates the type of person that one will grow to. Neither can the importance of communication skills be neglected or ignored. Effective communication promotes the interest and needs of the young child. The child will show interest only if the teacher is loaded with gestures, confidence and softness. Improving of the communication skills have been shown to bring about a tight bond between the childhood educator and the child. The most important aspects of life are greatly influenced by good communication skills. This leads to respectful and meaningful relationships between the educator and child. In order to feel and have the bliss of healthy emotions at home, there is a need to develop communication skills when it comes to children. Some educators are not worried when it comes to communication and therefore emotional attachments are rare. Emotions connect human beings in a complex fashion. It is therefore paramount that early childhood educators acquire good skills of communication to ensure that the young brain is able to gather as much as possible and express as much. In doing so, the young child would be able to learn more and the literacy and learning capability levels of the general population could reach unimaginable levels. Reference List MacCallion, M. (1998). The Voice Book. London, UK: Faber & Faber. Hubley, J. (1993) . Communication Health. London, UK: Macmillan. Joram, E. (1998). Transforming obstacles into opportunity. Teaching and teacher education, 14 (2), 175-191. doi:10. 1016/S0742-051X(97)00035-8 Knott, P. (1979). Nonverbal Communication during Early Childhood. Communicating with Young Children 18 (4) 226-233 http://www. jstor. org/stable/1476648 Robinson, M. (2007). Child Development and Behaviour 0-8: A Journey through the Early Years. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press. McCarthy, P (1996). Speaking Persuasively. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Jack Kerouac’s on the Road †a Biography Essay

On the Road was published in 1957 by Viking Press. Apart from criticism by traditional conservatives, Jack Kerouac’s novel gained huge popularity with a younger generation of rebels (point to Sam’s pencilcase). Commonly viewed as an autobiography combined with a biography of Neal Cassady, it is considered a testament to the Beat legend. Fascinated by the myth of the King of the Beatniks, I examined the authenticity of On the Road and found several issues: the method in which it was written, spontaneous prose; lack of primary sources; and the author’s intention. Jean Louis Lebris de Kerouac was born on the 12 March 1922 in Lowell, Massachusetts. He gained a football scholarship to Columbia University in New York, where he met Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs, who together form the three literary musketeers of the Beat Generation. The Beat Gen were a stalwart literary movement active during the 50s, whose iconoclastic texts dissented formalist constriction of expression, experimentation and individualism, and viewed post-war prosperity, and materialism as antithetical to social equality. Their works pushed the boundaries of censorship, including underground elements sinister to the establishment such as homosexuality, drugs, bop jazz, impulsive desire, preference for marginalised cultures, like Buddhist and Native American, and unconformity to the typically American dream of white picket fence within which your three cherub children can safely frolic. The traditional conservatives called it unrefined and anti-intellectual, and politicians labelled aspects of the Beat Gen psyche as Communist. The popularity and resonance Beat Gen lit had with the youth rebellion generation made it a prominently influential movement in American literature. The Beat Gen members, being life long friends, shared these views and were inspired by figures of the counterculture, in the case of On the Road, Neal Cassady, who was the Beat beliefs personified, â€Å"the holy con-man with the shining mind† (p11). On the Road is about Sal Paradise, an amateur writer struggling with inspiration when he is introduced to Dean Moriarty, a walking legend, the epitome of a Beat man. The novel marks distinct stages of Sal’s growth and development, and his relationship with Dean as he â€Å"shambled after as I’ve been doing†¦ † Narrated by Sal, he meets and travels with other characters, bumming and hitchhiking across America. Kerouac developed spontaneous prose, inspired by improvisation in jazz and passionate excitement, its highly confessional, immediate, producing a raw, liberal and intense stream of consciousness, establishing spiritual and personal connections with the narrator. This convinces the reader of a high degree of honesty and vulnerability, and authenticity. Also, there’s an infamous story that adds to the legend of Kerouac and On the Road: the manuscript was typed in 2 weeks fuelled by coffee and Benzedrine, on a seriously lengthy scroll, of teletype paper taped together so that changing the roll wouldn’t disrupt his writing. Tim Hunt wrote in Kerouac’s Crooked Road that Kerouac â€Å"hoped that drafting†¦ Although it’s important that there is a high connection between the writer and the reader, it’s also important to note that this sort of spontaneity compromises the detail and accuracy of Sal’s accounts, which brings into questions the subtleties and chronology of small-scale action. Also, his emotional investment makes his narration highly opinionated and being so influenced by Cassady as to travel across the country, Kerouac’s opinions transferred into Sal the persona are influenced heavil y by Dean. The authenticity and honesty that spontaneous prose conceptualises is undermined by the deliberation and large revision of the manuscript. The published edition was the fourth, and he had been working on On the Road for 2 and a half years, within which he was experimenting with his writing style. He loathed and complained when his editor, who he called a â€Å"crass idiot†, forced several revisions of contextually pornographic sections. In Essentials of spontaneous Prose, released in 1958, he claims that the conscious critical mind might censor richness of imagination. And I think richness of imagination is a euphemism for â€Å"high†, considering the evidence, fictional and factual, of drugs like Benzedrine and weed that reduce clarity of mind, but stimulate the inventive senses. The high levels of intimacy of the actions, events, dialogue and lives of the characters and their real life counterparts means that we cannot satisfactorily negate or authenticate a large amo unt of content, considering the verbose and opportunistic nature of the characters, in particular Dean, and the introverted thoughtfulness of Kerouac. For instance, after his time with Remi Bonceour, an old friend of Sal’s, he sees â€Å"the cutest little Mexican girl in slacks† and he says: â€Å"I wished I was on her bus. A pain stabbed my heart, as it did every time I saw a girl I loved who was going the opposite direction in this too-big world. † Then lo and behold, he gets on his bus to LA and there she is sitting alone, he befriends/propositions/seduces in the proper gentlemanly way of the 50s as you would a â€Å"strange girl†, offering her his jacket for a pillow. Terry and Sal spend fifteen days together, Sal experiencing the Mexican labourer’s life, and at the end, he leaves with an empty promise of New York together. The truthfulness of this encounter is intimate to Kerouac and the girl that is dubbed Terry†¦ if she even exists. On the bus from St Louis to Pittsburgh, days after his parting with Terry, he â€Å"made the acquaintance of a girl and we necked all the way to Indianapolis. She was nearsighted. † He had just described his parting with Terry with â€Å"love is a duel, and looked at each other for the last time. Still, we have dates that correlate with the chronology of On the Road, but this doesn’t really authenticate the text, because the majority of it is thoughts, words, actions, affairs of people and these are not things that would have been recorded by the public or the media or any historically interested people. The limit on primary sources thanks to the Kerouac estate closing most of his original manuscripts and letters, means that even his biographies are dependent on very little, written post-mortem and supplemented by his friends who were close to his work, like John Clellon Holmes and Allen Ginsberg. Still, other publications that overlap time periods with On the Road include Vanity of Duluoz and Visions of Cody. Visions of Cody was intended as a sequel and replacement of On the Road, and the obscure structure and style seeming dependent on pure recollection, contrasts with the narrative style of On the Road. Kerouac struggled with the rejection of his first novel, The Town and the City, so in order to appeal to more people and find success, On the Road’s surprisingly conventional narrative structure furthers it away from biography and autobiography. The separation of four different trips emphasises the stages of plot development. It has a protagonist, Dean, who solicits the narrator, Sal, throughout their time together on the road. In fact every part begins revolving around Dean. So it’s understandable to think of On the Road as a biography of Neal Cassady, however, it’s highly biased, considering the obvious love, admiration and dedication Dean’s disciple shows, which then means that the biography would undoubtedly contain bias, hyperbole, neglect, forgiveness, and judgement. There are also motifs and allusions to great American stories – influenced by writers such as Melville, Hemingway, Saroyan and Twain, he makes reference to their work: â€Å"here came a melancholy Armenian youth along the red box-cars, and just at that moment a locomotive howled, and I said to myself, Yes, yes, Saroyan’s town† (p78). He had even planned to write in a black man to draw stronger connections to Huckleberry Finn, but decided against it. This is evidence of thematic concern, deliberation and careful consideration, which further undermines the whole spontaneous prose thing. It might be because I’m an avid fan of Kerouac, I just think he’s beautiful and beautifully written, but I think that the mysteriousness of the veracity of On the Road contributes to the aura that has accumulated throughout its time, and doesn’t degrade it as a milestone in literature and America. I think the authenticity of On the Road shouldn’t be brought to light in the first place because it wasn’t meant to be a biography of anyone, and it should just be read to marvel at the wondrousness of words and their meanings, just like any literature, and I really recommend you read it Sam because it’s totally cliche but it changed my life.