You Suck: A Love Story Chapter 2~3

Chapter Two The Last Poop â€Å"So that was it?† â€Å"Yep.† â€Å"Never again?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"Not ever?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"I feel like I should save them or something.† â€Å"Would you just flush and come out of there.† Chapter Three I am Poor and My Cat Is Huge Jody walked a step or two behind Tommy, just watching him, as they made their way up Third Street toward Market. She was watching his reaction to his new senses, giving him some room to look around, whispering hints about what he was experiencing. She'd gone through this herself only a couple of months ago, and she'd done it without a guide. â€Å"I can see the heat coming off the streetlamps,† Tommy said, looking up and spinning as he walked. â€Å"Every window in every building is a different color.† â€Å"Try to just look at one thing at a time, Tommy. Don't let it overwhelm you.† Jody was waiting for him to comment on the aura that each person was giving off. Not a heat aura, more of a life force. So far they'd only seen healthy red and pink ones – not what she was looking for. â€Å"What's that noise, like running water?† Tommy asked. â€Å"That's the sewers running under the street. All that stuff will fade after a while – you'll still hear it, but you won't notice it unless you focus.† â€Å"It's like a thousand people are talking in my head.† He looked around at the few pedestrians who were out on the street. â€Å"Televisions and radios, too,† Jody said. â€Å"Try to focus on one thing, let the rest fall back.† Tommy stopped, looked up at an apartment window four floors up. â€Å"There's a guy up there having phone sex.† â€Å"Figures you'd zero in on that,† Jody said. She focused on the window. Yes, she could hear the guy panting and giving instructions to someone on the phone. Evidently he felt the caller was a dirty little slut and therefore needed to apply varieties of hot salsa to her body. Jody tried to hear the voice on the other end of the phone, but it was too faint – the guy must have been wearing a headset. â€Å"What a freak,† Tommy said. â€Å"Shhhh,† Jody said. â€Å"Tommy, close your eyes and listen. Forget the salsa guy. Don't look.† Tommy closed his eyes and stood in the middle of the sidewalk. â€Å"What?† Jody leaned against a â€Å"No Parking† sign and smiled. â€Å"What's just to the right of you?† â€Å"How do I know? I was looking up.† â€Å"I know. Focus. Listen. Two feet from your right hand, what is it?† â€Å"This is dumb.† â€Å"Just listen. Listen to the shape of the sound coming from your right.† â€Å"Okay.† Tommy squinted, showing he was concentrating. A couple of androgynous students dressed in black with severe hair, probably from the Academy of Art on the next block, walked by and barely gave them a look until Tommy said, â€Å"I can hear a box. A rectangle.† â€Å"Acid noob,† said one of the students, who sounded like it might be a guy. â€Å"I remember my first trip,† said the other, who was probably a girl. â€Å"I wandered into the men's room at the Metreon and thought I was in a Marcel Duchamp installation.† Jody waited for them to pass then asked, â€Å"Yes, a rectangle, solid, hollow, what?† She was a little giddy now, bouncing on the balls of her feet. This was better than buying shoes. â€Å"It's hollow.† Tommy tilted his head. â€Å"It's a newspaper machine.† He opened his eyes, looked at the newspaper box, then at Jody, his face lit up like a toddler who has just discovered chocolate for the first time. She ran into his arms and kissed him. â€Å"I have so much to show you.† â€Å"Why didn't you tell me?† Tommy asked. â€Å"How could I? Do you have words for what you're hearing? For what you're seeing?† Tommy let her go and looked around, took a deep breath through his nose, as if checking the bouquet of a wine. â€Å"No. I don't know how to say these things.† â€Å"See, that's why I had to share this with you.† Tommy nodded, but looked a little forlorn. â€Å"This part is good. But the other part†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What other part?† â€Å"The foul, dead, blood-drinking part. I'm still starving.† â€Å"Don't whine, Tommy. Nobody likes a whiner.† â€Å"Hungry,† he said. She knew how he felt, she was feeling some of it herself, but she didn't know how to solve the feeding problem. Tommy had always been her go-to blood guy; now they were going to have to hunt. She could do it, she had done it, but she didn't want to do it. â€Å"Come on, we'll figure this out. Don't pout. Let's go watch people on Market Street. You'll like it.† She took his hand and dragged him up the street toward Market, where rivers of tourists, shoppers, and freaks were flowing up and down the streets and sidewalks. Rivers of blood. â€Å"Everyone smells like whiz and feet,† Tommy said, standing on the sidewalk in front of a Walgreens drugstore. It was still early in the evening and the convention crowd from the hotels was flowing down the sidewalks like a great migrating herd, looking for dinner or a watering hole. Out on the edges, hustlers, homeless, and hangers-on worked their angles, playing the secret path of eye contact to the pocket, while the herd defended itself by paying rapt attention to their companions, their cell phones, or a spot on the sidewalk twelve feet ahead. â€Å"Feet and pee,† Tommy continued. â€Å"You get used to it,† Jody said. â€Å"Is there a clean pair of underwear anywhere on this street?† Tommy shouted. â€Å"You people are disgusting!† â€Å"Would you settle down,† Jody said. â€Å"People are looking. They think you're crazy.† â€Å"Which makes me different, how?† She looked up the street – for the three blocks she could see there were about three people per block shouting at passersby, wild-eyed and angry, and obviously bat shit. She nodded. He had a point, but then she snatched his shirt collar and pulled his ear down to lip level. â€Å"The difference is that you aren't living anymore and it's not a good idea to attract attention to yourself.† â€Å"Which is why you chose to wear that delightful ensemble from the skank-wear collection at Hoes-N-Thangs?† â€Å"You said you liked it.† Jody had become a little more provocative in her dress since becoming a vampire – but she saw it more as an expression of confidence, not a means to attract attention. Was it a predator thing? A power thing? â€Å"I did – do like it, but every guy who passes is staring at your cleavage. I can hear their heartbeats go up. Did you have to turn to mist to get into those jeans? You did, didn't you?† A tap on Tommy's shoulder. A young man in a white, short-sleeved dress shirt and a black tie had sidled up to him, holding out a pamphlet. â€Å"You sound troubled, brother. Maybe this will help.† The pamphlet proclaimed rejoice! on the cover in big green letters. Jody covered her mouth and turned away so the guy wouldn't see her giggling. â€Å"What?!† Tommy said, turning on the guy. â€Å"What? What? What? Can't you see I'm trying to discuss my girlfriend's – uh – well, those.† Tommy gestured to Jody's shoulder, which was now where those had just been. â€Å"Show him, Jody,† Tommy said. Jody shook her head and started to walk away, her shoulders shaking with laughter. â€Å"There's a message here,† said the tie guy. â€Å"It can bring you comfort – and joy.† â€Å"Yeah, well, I was trying to show you some examples of that, but there she goes with them.† â€Å"But this is a joy that goes beyond physical – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, like you'd know,† Tommy said, cupping his nose and mouth as if covering a sneeze. â€Å"Listen, I'd love to discuss this with you, buddy, but right now you have to GO HOME AND WASH YOUR ASS! You smell like you're smuggling a stockyard back there!† Tommy turned and strode after Jody, leaving the tie guy blushing and crumpling his pamphlet. â€Å"It's not funny,† Tommy said. Jody was trying so hard not to laugh, she snorted. â€Å"Yes, it is.† â€Å"Can't they see we're damned? You'd think they could tell. At least you. We are damned, aren't we? » â€Å"No idea,† Jody said. She hadn't really thought about it. â€Å"Didn't cover that in your advanced vampire course with the old guy?† â€Å"Forgot to ask.† â€Å"No problem,† Tommy said, with no effort at all to suppress sarcasm. â€Å"Minor detail. Anything else you might have forgotten to ask?† â€Å"I thought I'd have more time, for follow-up,† Jody said. â€Å"I didn't realize that the man I love was going to bronze us that first night.† â€Å"Yeah – well – okay. Sorry.† â€Å"Where's the trust?† Jody said. â€Å"You killed me,† Tommy said. â€Å"Oh, there you go again.† â€Å"Please, folks. I need a dollar,† said a voice from the left. Jody looked down to see a guy sitting against the granite wall of a closed bank. He was dirty beyond age or race, sort of grimy to the point of shine, and on his lap was an enormous long-haired cat. There was a cup on the sidewalk in front of him and beside it a hand-printed sign that read I AM POOR AND MY CAT IS HUGE. Tommy, who was still fairly new to the city and hadn't learned to look past this sort of thing, stopped and started digging in his pocket. â€Å"That is sure a huge cat.† â€Å"Yeah, he eats a lot. It's all I can do to keep him fed.† Jody nudged Tommy, trying to get him back into the pedestrian flow. She liked that he was a nice guy, but it could really be irritating sometimes. Especially when she was trying to teach him the profundities of being a creature of the night. â€Å"Mostly fur, though, right?† Tommy asked. â€Å"Mister, this cat weighs thirty-five pounds.† Tommy whistled and handed the guy a dollar. â€Å"Can I touch him?† â€Å"Sure,† the guy said. â€Å"He doesn't care.† Tommy knelt down and poked the cat gently, then looked up at Jody. â€Å"This is a huge cat.† She smiled. â€Å"Huge. Let's go.† â€Å"Touch him,† Tommy said. â€Å"No thanks.† â€Å"So,† Tommy said to the cat guy, â€Å"why don't you give him to a shelter or something?† â€Å"Then how am I supposed to make a living?† â€Å"You could print up a sign that says ‘I'm poor and I lost my huge cat'? That would work on me.† â€Å"You may not be the best sample,† said the cat guy. â€Å"Look,† Tommy said, standing now and digging into his pocket. â€Å"I'll buy the cat. I'll give you, uh, forty – â€Å" The cat guy shook his head. â€Å"Sixty – â€Å" Furious head shaking†¦ Tommy untangled bills from a wad he'd pulled out of his pocket, â€Å"One hundred – â€Å" â€Å"No.† â€Å"And thirty†¦ two – â€Å" â€Å"No.† â€Å"And thirty-seven cents.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"And a paper clip.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"That's a great offer,† Tommy insisted. â€Å"That's like four bucks a pound!† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Well screw you, then,† Tommy said. â€Å"I don't feel sorry for you and your huge cat.† â€Å"You can't have your dollar back.† â€Å"Fine!† Tommy said. â€Å"Fine!† said the cat guy. Tommy took Jody by the arm and started to walk away. â€Å"That's a huge cat,† he said. â€Å"Why were you trying to buy it? We're not supposed to have pets in the loft.† â€Å"Duh,† Tommy said. â€Å"Dinner.† â€Å"Yuck.† â€Å"It's a stopgap,† Tommy said. â€Å"You know that the Masai of Kenya drink the blood of their cattle with no apparent ill effect to the cow.† â€Å"Well, I'm sure it violates our lease if we get a cow.† â€Å"That's it.† â€Å"What's it?† â€Å"A lease.† Tommy swung her around and brought her back to the cat guy. â€Å"I want to rent the cat,† Tommy said. â€Å"You could use a break and I want to show the huge cat to my aunt who is an invalid and can't come down here.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"One night. One hundred and thirty-two dollars and thirty-seven cents.† The cat guy raised an eyebrow, the grime over that eye cracked a little. â€Å"One fifty.† â€Å"I don't have one fifty, you know that.† â€Å"Then I want to see the redhead's hooters.† Tommy looked at Jody, then back at the cat guy, then back at Jody. â€Å"No,† Jody said calmly. â€Å"No,† Tommy said indignantly. â€Å"How dare you suggest it?† â€Å"One hooter,† countered the cat guy. Tommy looked at Jody. She gave him the wide, green-eyed expression that she would have described as I will slap you so far into next week that it will take a team of surgeons just to get Wednesday out of your ass. â€Å"No way,† Tommy said. â€Å"The redhead's hooters are not on the table.† He grinned, looked back at Jody, then looked away, really fast. The cat guy shrugged. â€Å"I'll need some kind of security deposit, like your driver's license – â€Å" â€Å"Sure,† Tommy said. â€Å"And a credit card.† â€Å"No,† Jody said, pulling her jacket closed and zipping it up to her neck. â€Å"Nothing kinky,† said the cat guy. â€Å"I'll know.† â€Å"Going to show him to my aunt, and I'll have him back tomorrow, this time.† â€Å"Deal,† said the cat guy. â€Å"His name is Chet.† â€Å"You first,† Tommy said. They stood in the great room of their loft on either side of the futon, where the huge cat, a crossbreed between a Persian, a dust mop, and possibly a water buffalo, was actively shedding. Tommy had decided that he was going to be very cool about the whole blood-drinking thing, despite the fact that he was so amped he felt as if he could run up and down the walls. In fact, he wasn't sure that he couldn't run up and down the walls, that was part of what was freaking him out. Still, since coming to San Francisco a couple of months ago, he had spent entirely too much time overreacting, and he wasn't going to do it now – not in front of his girlfriend. Not at all, if he could help it. â€Å"You should go first,† Jody said. â€Å"You've never fed before.† â€Å"But you gave the old vampire some of your blood,† Tommy said. â€Å"You need it.† It was true, she had given the vampire her blood to help heal him from the damage Tommy and his friends had caused by blowing up his yacht and so forth, but he hoped she would say no again. â€Å"No, no, no, after you,† Jody said, with a very bad French accent. â€Å"I insist.† â€Å"Well, if you insist.† Tommy leapt to the futon and bent over the huge cat. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to go about this, but he could see the healthy red life aura around Chet, and he could hear his little kitty heart pounding. There was a crackling noise inside of his head, like someone was popping bubble wrap in his ear canal, and then there was pressure on the roof of his mouth, painful pressure, and more crackling. He felt something give and two sharp points poking his lower lip. He pushed back from the cat and grinned at Jody, who yelped and jumped back a step. â€Å"Fangth,† Tommy said. â€Å"Yes, I can see that,† Jody said. â€Å"Why'd you jump? Do they look thupid?† â€Å"You startled me, is all,† Jody said, looking away from him like he was an arc welder or a total eclipse and full eye contact might blind her. She waved him on. â€Å"Go, go, go. Be careful. Not too hard.† â€Å"Right,† Tommy said. He grinned again and she shied away. Tommy turned back, braced the cat, who seemed much less freaked by this process than the two vampires in the room, and bit. â€Å"Thuppt, thuppt, ack!† Tommy stood up and started brushing at his tongue to remove cat hair. â€Å"Yuck!† â€Å"Hold still,† Jody said, going to him and brushing the loose, damp cat hair away from his face. She went to the kitchen counter and came back with a glass of water and a paper towel, which she used to wipe at Tommy's tongue. â€Å"Just use the water to rinse. Don't swallow it. You won't be able to keep it down.† â€Å"I'm not going to thwollow it, my mouf is full of cat hair.† Once he had rinsed, Jody picked the last of the hairs from his mouth, and in doing so, she pricked one of her fingers on Tommy's right fang. â€Å"Ouch.† She pulled her finger away and put it in her mouth. â€Å"Oh, jeez,† Tommy said. He pulled her finger out of her mouth and put it in his. His eyes rolled back in his head and he moaned through his nose. â€Å"Oh, I don't think so,† Jody said. She grabbed his hand and bit into his forearm, attaching herself to him like a remora to a shark. Tommy growled, flipped her around, and threw her facedown on the futon, his arm still in her mouth. She flipped her hair to the side and he sank his teeth into her neck. She screamed, but the shriek was muted, bubbling out on Tommy's bloody forearm. Chet, the huge cat, hissed and bolted across the room, through the bedroom door, to wedge himself under the bed, as the sounds of straining leather, tearing denim, and screaming predators filled the loft. The irony, that it sounded like a huge catfight, was completely lost on the huge cat.

Hollywood’s distortion of truth Essay

When it comes to film’s interpretation of history and reality, such as the recent film’s â€Å"Argo† and â€Å"Zero Dark Thirty†, Hollywood has long had a habit of altering facts, creating illusions and fabrications, and even distorting final outcomes. Hollywood is an industry, and for a long time now, has understandably aimed at creating the best possible plot line with regard to its films. In some ways, it could be considered a â€Å"dream factory,† with regard to how removed from reality many of the Hollywood plot lines are. After all, Hollywood film makers are motivated by an economic imperative and as such their bottom line is profit, and aim to satisfy their target audience as greatly as possible. However, in too many films supposedly based on fact, reality and truth has been sacrificed all together, in the pursuit of pure, generic entertainment. The phrase, â€Å"don’t let truth get in the way of a good story† is worryingly, far too applicable to modern Hollywood. With regard to films that claim to be based on a TRUE story, there is a line that should be drawn when Hollywood creates its version of history. To put it simply, how untrue, is just true enough? It seems at present, the answer is somewhat flexible. On February 23rd this year, â€Å"Argo† a significantly dramatized, exaggerated and almost ahistorical interpretation of true story, took out the Academy award for â€Å"Best Picture†, the most prestigious of the Oscars. â€Å"Argo†, directed, produced by and starring Ben Affleck, portrays six helpless, and importantly, innocent Americans thrilling escape, notably orchestrated by the CIA, from the hostile and draconian revolutionary Iran, which is depicted to have been overrun by hoards of bearded savages. The story concludes with celebration, surrounding American, heroism, courage and innovation, leaving the Iranians with frustration in their defeat. Now this approach to film making is not unusual, take James Cameron’s â€Å"Avatar†, the highest grossing film of all time. â€Å"Avatar†, unlike â€Å"Argo†, does not imply that it represents history, and reality, and in this respect tells a fantastic story without misleading the audience. Hollywood blockbusters have always traditionally depicted one party as glorious and triumphant, and the other defeated. â€Å"Avatar†, depicts the peaceful, nomadic tribes of the planet Pandora and their experiences with Humans, who have recently landed on Pandora. The audience is positioned to sympathise with the tribes, before the natives are subject to ruthless invasion and onslaught by the armies of ‘future earth’, and with an enormous struggle, eventually emerge victorious over the violent and materialistic invaders. However, this is fantasy, and illusion, in resplendent, eye popping 3D. â€Å"Argo† on the other hand, and other films such as zero dark thirty, take dramatization and illusion a step further, by distorting the truth of the stories intended to be â€Å"based† on history. In this respect, Hollywood alters reality and history for the audience, and leads them to believe fabricated tales and false facts. Argo’s portrayal of the American civilian escape from Iran as danger ridden, with capture and horror always just around the corner was a plot construction by Hollywood. One of the diplomats involved in the actual escape said of it; â€Å"Noone ever asked, the truth is the immigration officers barely looked at us and we were processed out the regular way†¦It was that straight forward†. The Hollywood interpretation of the true story was so far removed from reality that it prompted Ken Taylor, a Canadian Diplomat to say; â€Å"the amusing side is the script writer in Hollywood, had no idea what he was talking about†. According to Ben Affleck, â€Å"It’s okay to embellish, it’s okay to compress, as long as you don’t fundamentally change the nature of the story and what happened†. Yes, to a small extent it is. However, the reality in â€Å"Argo† was drastically manipulated. It portrayed the Iranian’s as immoral, ignored their docile side and failed to depict the fact that they too had a cause, and wanted justice. It made out as though it was almost entirely the American’s who had skilfully crafted and executed the escape plan, but in reality, according to Jimmy Carter, it was more than 90% a Canadian effort. The transformation of the truth and history, into â€Å"Argo†, somewhat resembled that of Griffin Mill’s ‘winning’ marketing elements for films in â€Å"The Player†, a satirical film on Hollywood, directed by Robert Altman. Mill talks of the factors in film needed to market it successfully; â€Å"Suspense, laughter, violence. Hope, heart, nudity, sex. Happy endings. Mainly happy endings. † His statement is then followed by the question asked by June; â€Å"What about reality? †. Hollywood applies Mill’s theory of â€Å"up, everything up†, too satisfy the profit motive by which Hollywood works, and in many cases glorify the American culture; as seen in the fictional conclusion of â€Å"Argo†. It should be acknowledged that this approach to interpretations of history by writers and directors is not new, and was evident in Shakespeare’s late 16th century in which he slanders Richard the 3rd in support of Tudor dynasty. When Hollywood advertises its intention to base a film around history and reality, its ahistorical interpretations of the truth should be curbed, as it is through story telling that we learn about ourselves, and our cultures as the human race. Recent research has shown that film, far more than previously thought is an incredibly powerful tool for teaching ; children in particular. When films distort the truth, and include incorrect facts, the audience too interprets history, and the reality falsely, even the falsity is outlined pre and post screening of the film. In this respect, when claiming to represent truth, Hollywood should defeat the powerful temptation to apply to the film many of Griffin Mill’s ‘successful marketing elements’, and rather than fabricate to produce pure entertainment, represent truth so that society may understand history, truth, and reality.

Begging in India Essay

Begging in India is a fashion, a compulsion, a profession, a privilege and a recreation. The number of beggars in India is much larger than in other countries. Our heads hang down in shame when we read description of this institution given by foreigners in a hateful manner. To the Westerners, India is a land of the mendicants and snake-charmers. Beggars are found in villages and towns, on roads, crossings and footpaths. But their favorite haunts are bathing Ghats, temples, religious or festival fairs, railway stations, trains and bus-stands. It is a big nuisance to be confronted by street beggars at all odd places. Like the God Almighty they seem to be omnipresent. You are waiting for a bus at the bus-stand or walking down a road with your friend, they appear from nowhere and start an endless volley of entreaties and blessings. They follow you close at your heels and keep pestering you till you give them some coins out of a sense of sheer disgust and helplessness. There are various types of beggars in India. The religious; beggars cluster round pilgrim centres and attract public attention by their wonderful feats. There are crippled and disabled beggars who remain lying on road-sides or at railway or river bridges arousing sympathy of the passers-by, making all kinds of pitiful gesture! ; There are beggars who are quite stout and able-bodied. Begging for them is not a necessity but a profession. They are idlers and rascals who are unwilling to earn their bread by hard work. They often operate in gangs and their leaders hold a bank balance that would be credit to an important business magnate. They are disguised as physically disabled or handicapped. They use as tools young women with new born babies or young children. Whenever they find an opportunity, they commit thefts and crimes, including kidnapping of children. At some places we come across modernized beggars dressed in suits. Such beggars lead a luxurious life in places of retirement. There are travelling beggars who are particularly seen in trains. The collect alms for orphanages, cow-shelters and widow-shelters, which exist only in their minds. Foreigners are their most privileged victims. Begging in India has developed into an art and a full-fledged profession. The practice of begging is the result of the poverty of the country and the deep-seated religious sentiments and superstitions of our country men. Unemployment, illiteracy, ignorance and ever-increasing population are other causes of begging. It cannot be denied that the distribution of wealth is not fair and the gulf between the rich and the poor is very wide. The rich and the well to-do accept extreme poverty and begging as a necessary feature of society. Religion seems to teach them that charity is the surest passport to heaven. Beggars, in themselves are problems and they create other social problems by kidnapping women and children; Sometimes, we begin to doubt the integrity of spiritually and morally high persons and ill treat them because pink clothes have become the common dress of beggars in India. Charity, in our country, enjoys religious sanctity. But it is conveniently forgotten that misplaced charity is good neither for the one who shows it nor for one to whom it is shown. It encourages idleness and in activity. It produces parasites and wastes a sizeable amount of human power. Laws should be legislated for abolishing begging and offenders should be severely dealt with. The government should be establish work-houses where able-bodied beggars should be kept and compelled to work. The people, in general, should be made conscious of the fact that beggars are the ‘greatest enemies of the country and there should be country wide agitations against beggars. The crippled and disabled beggars should be maintained by the State, The disabled and diseased beggars and orphaned children and destitute women deserve particular attention from the State. There should be asylums and training centres for such people. Here they should first be treated for their ailments and then trained in different kinds of handicrafts and cottage industries. The success of some of the schools for the blind, the deaf and the dumb shows the true solution of the problem. In place of individual charity, funds and donation should be raised on a large and organized scale for the relief of these unfortunate people. Indeed, beggary if so intricately women into our way of life that, no matter how corrupt and scheming it gets, it shall continue to claim attention. If not from the educated, from the illiterate and the superstitious. Tragedy stares at us round every corner. Begging is one of the worst social evils that denegrade India in the eyes of the world. The earlier it is eradicated, the better it would be in the interest of our nation.

God’s Design: A Focus on Old Testament Theology

The book â€Å"God’s Design: A Focus on Old Testament Theology† by Elmer Martens discusses the essence of the Old Testament, in which the author offers his own categories from Scripture as text, knowledge of God, deliverance, community and, finally, abundant life. The first section God’s design is discussed in terms of pre-monarchial period stressing the importance and influence of Israel’s history on emergence and development of Christianity. Salvation and deliverance are presented through the Yahweh’s image – a divine warrior. The aspect of community appears as the author draws relations between the people of Israel and the God. Martens argues that the knowledge of God is knowledge of the world’s creation and world’s order which can be found in the prologue in Genesis. The second section discusses the monarchial era and the author applies God’s design template to present or even to prove the validity of his approach. Martens notes that both Hosea and Exodus passages are provided with the same design elements. For example, in monarchial period deliverance was viewed rather differently – actually, Israel established its own army. Instead, the divine warrior is presented in the expressions of the Day of Yahweh. The central point of the section is that people expected for Messiah. The last section is devoted to post-monarchial period. The author refers to tertiary text of Ezekiel. In particular, the author tends to strength the aspect of deliverance and he shows that Yahweh was handing over Israel and he was to be blamed for having got in the hands of enemies. The author views deliverance as the future promise. Only in this period the first community was established in the Israel history. Community is presented as future, whereas the knowledge of God was firstly identified in the post-monarchial period focusing more on prayer. Judgment and salvation are two events which Israel people experiences. In the conclusion the author shows God’s design in creation and shows relations between God’s design and the world’s nations. God’s design is highly appreciated both in the Old and the New Testaments. Book Review I think that the book is very informative and the other offers his original ideas and thoughts about the God’s design in the Old Testament basing in scared scriptures. The author has managed to take seriously scriptural text and to make readers acquainted with hidden facts and revelations. The author doesn’t apply external categories to God’s design. Neither has he supported interposition of categories developed by other scientists as they are not consistent with the book. Instead, Martens has utilized approach which is an excellent way to do biblical and theological researches. Therefore, the author asserts that there are unifying themes of the Scripture and it is necessary to base the whole research on them. Martens claims that there are â€Å"many different pictures† (p. 4) in the landscape of Scripture. The author views his task as â€Å"to paint the best possible picture†. (p. 4) I think that the author has done an excellent job when developing own categories and not forcing them to be applied to any sacred scripture. Instead, the author allows sacred scriptures to shape the necessary template. We can see this in the changing nature of deliverance through the pre-monarchial to post-monarchial era. In the pre-monarchial ear deliverance is accomplished by divine warrior, whereas in monarchial period deliverance changed as Israel had established own standing army. Thus, deliverance is presented through expectation to be sent by the God. Finally, in the post-monarchial period divine deliverance us seen to come from the Messiah defined as cataclysmic event. It is possible to say that the book is the exegetical perspective brought out but h author in the context of unifying themes of the Old Testament. Author’s template can be applied to certain aspects of the text and, in such a way, the author manages to inform his readers about the primary meaning of the passage. To prove exegetical perspective it is necessary to mention stipulations of Israel covenant. In particular, the author claims that Israel must not be loyal to the words which are not a coercive law which doesn’t threaten the blessing of the God. Stipulations are viewed as the necessary response to a personal God. Actually, it was Yahweh who had promised salvation and deliverance to the people of Israel. In other words, the found promises aren’t consistent with Israel’s failure to obey and to follow the ten words of stipulations. However, if this point is proved, it means that God’s design wouldn’t ever be fulfilled because the people of Israel are faithless. It is the God who has designed salvation and deliverance, and â€Å"God’s character and purposes generated the design that brought about faithfulness to the people with whom He was covenanted†. (p. 86) The book offers comprehensive studying and analysis of the Old Testament, but there are many moments where the author refers to the issue of hermeneutics. Some of the passages are vague and they are nothing more than overarching paradigms. The author assumes that the name of Yahweh should be differentiated from God’s name as the author speaks about the God of all people, but it is not correct. Instead, the Abrahamic Covenant shares the same goal interpreted by the Old Testament and the covenant template is found in the pre-monarchial period. Nevertheless, despite certain weaknesses and misinterpretations the book is very helpful in identifying modes of biblical theology.

Madame Bovary and the Religious Significance

Gina GarifoIntro to the Novel Prof SestoWriting Assignment #1 Madame Bovary and the Religious Significance Madame Bovary, a novel by Flaubert’s was filled with many different consequences to all sorts of actions, unmoral and disgraceful acts; especially for Emma. The majority of Emma's life is filled with sin; she is an adulterous, lying woman who ends up taking her own life. Her life is disgrace as well as a mockery of religion. She starts off as a Christian. From a young age , Emma is in a convent- but that was the beginning.Emma is captured by the fantasies she reads in novels, and she wants that life, no matter what. Emma marries Charles because at the time she thinks he is her way out of small town life and the way to became like a character in one of her novels. Later she is driven by her own selfishness into two separate loves affairs, and when those end badly she turns to her religion, because of the fear of God punishment to those who do not abide by his laws. Monsieu r Bournisien was sought out by Emma, and the priest seemed to laugh off Emma problem and perceived it as â€Å"small† and said other have worse problems.He really didn’t have any heavenly advice for her.. The multiple love affairs are a disgrace according to the catholic faith, and until the affair were over Emma didn’t think of God once. Once she was devastated and hurt she turned to her faith. She called up the priest for communion and described it as a new life, and how she can feel the presence of the holy lord. This vision she dreamt of stayed with her and she recalled it as such a beautiful thing Russell’s writings express that religion is based on fear, and in Emma case this is entirely true.Emma only turned to her faith when all other options were exerted. This novel relates to his experts in more than one way. The writing express that fear is what drives people to religion, but more and more people are making their own choices in lives, based on the person. This writing should have been written to Emma herself, because this is exactly what she does. She doesn’t look to god for answers; she makes her own, which ultimately caused her to have two love affairs, lie and cheat and end up taking her own life.

The Impact of Lobbying on Standard Setting in Accounting Essay - 1

The Impact of Lobbying on Standard Setting in Accounting - Essay Example Since these standards must be complied, under the pain of â€Å"penalties† or consequences, companies or entities subject to it are necessarily interested on how should the guidelines or rules of action be made. Standards just like any other laws could be favorable to one person or group but may be unfavorable to another person or group. Standard setting therefore implies a balancing act in terms of its effect among different interested individuals or groups. 2.1.1 What the institutions are involved in standard setting in accounting? Two institutions must come together to have the accounting standards set or financial reporting standards accomplish the latter’s purpose. These are the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). SEC was established was created first in 1934 by the U.S. Congress while FASB’s creation followed in 1973. While SEC is basically an independent regulatory agency which should afford or allow investors information or facts about their investment before buying and while holding the same (Securities and Exchange Commission, 2011. , FASB is an independent, private and not-for-profit organization and recognized authoritative by the SEC (Financial Accounting Standards Board, n.d.). While the first is a government agency which implements laws enacted by congress and the second a private and non-profit organization, both must be independent.

Did Black Nationalism hurt or help African Americans pursuit of civil Essay

Did Black Nationalism hurt or help African Americans pursuit of civil rights - Essay Example As far as the rights of African Americans are concerned, this nation is considered the most discriminated nation especially in the South American regions of the United States. There were several political struggles came forward time to time to bring reforms for the protection of civil rights of this group. Black Nationalism was a supporting struggle that expressed the racial awareness among those Africans living in America. The motto of this movement was to ensure the protection of black power. This move greatly assisted the African Americans in pursuing civil rights. The leaders of the movement offered the ways to combat racism. In early 1960s, this struggle became more active and popular in America. This was the year when the move became more advanced and a well known leader Malcolm X, argued that African Americans should focus to improve their lives in order to integrate in American environment in a better way. Black people should also defend themselves against communal difference s. 2. Describe the anti-lynching movement? Who lead this cause, what were their goals and what was the outcome? Anti-Lynching Movement was a popular movement launched to activate and protect the civil rights of the communities living in America. This movement came forward as a reaction against lynching which, basically, involved extra-judicial killings based on racism. Lynching was a very common practice in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. In the years 1890 to 1920, these killings reached at its peak. Extra-judicial killings were practiced to ensure white supremacy especially in the southern parts of America. According to an estimate of Tuskegee Institute, between 1882- 1968, 1297 whites and 3446 blacks were badly tortured and killed due to these racist controversies in America. Goals: The goal of this movement was to end up the violence that was a common practice in US against African Americans. This movement rose from the southern parts of United States. The thrust of the move was to ensure protection for the communal groups and this awareness had to spread among common people through education and legal amendments. It was the aim that the legal actions for communal equality would be made keeping in mind the federal legislation as well. Women played a great role in this movement. Leading Agents of the Movement: This movement was, particularly, leading by different organizations including the Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching (ASWPL), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and the Council for Interracial Cooperation (CIC). Wells- Barnett was a great leader and supporter of this campaign. He was a renowned journalist. The brutality of lynching movement revolted so white people also started joining this anti-lynching campaign. Outcomes: Finally, in 1940s, lynching was declined and this was the positive outcome of anti lynching campaign. It is considered the prime battle against segregation and racism that finally took shape in a positive manner. 3. Who was A. Philip Randolph and what was his contribution to African American History? A. Philip Randolph was an African American labor who also led civil rights in United States. He was the most prominent among all other trade unionists that fought for the cause of ethnic equality. Randolph was born in Florida and in 1911; he left Florida and moved to New York. Later on, in very young age he joined Socialist Party. Randolph was a realist approach human and believed that African Americans could never gain political power and could never get political freedom until they would be financially strong. He

America's war on Terror Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

America's war on Terror - Essay Example Speaking of the values that referred to by the proponents of America’s war on terror, it is extremely important to mention the following one. To begin with, terrorists are often thought to be enemies of the civilized world since they heavily rely on aggression and violence – something that is banned in a developed social environment. In addition to that, the war on terror allows other countries to redefine their position in many different aspects of foreign politics which ultimately leads towards creation of global community which is extremely beneficial to human beings. Nevertheless, there are numerous people who argue that war on terror is a rather negative phenomenon that should be put to an end. They provide the following arguments. First of all, war on terrorist involves killing people: whether they are armed terrorists or unarmed civilians who die as retaliation from the terrorists. Secondly, the opponents of war on terror point out that the United States of America tend to promote liberty and democracy in countries that have considerable amount of oil in possession (Rubin 183). In other words, the above mentioned war is nothing but a way to conceal the desire to acquire this scarce resource. The opponents of this aspect of foreign policy of America often involve different values to support their position. For example, these people ask why the government that kills other people is better than terrorists who kill other people. Although some reservations should be made, in the long run both parties are engaged in massive killing which is something that is opposite to peaceful nature of humans. In addition to that, the economic interest behind the war on terror is obvious. Thus, terroristic acts are performed not only by the Arab Muslims, but by Africans or Europeans as well. Nevertheless, the United States of America tend to fight terrorist in one part of the world only. There is no coincidence that it also

LACK OF RESPECT IN THE NURSING PROFESSION Research Paper

LACK OF RESPECT IN THE NURSING PROFESSION - Research Paper Example The reason why nursing is not acknowledged as a proper or a good profession is the lack of common grounds or educational standards for the profession (Ryosho 2010). For example in order to become a lawyer an individual gets a degree in law or to become a doctor one has to get a degree in MBBS. There are no common entry-level exams or degree programs in nursing which is why it is creating a great confusion among the young people who intend on making a career in this profession. Another reason for this problem is how nurses are negatively stereotyped on the media. Media often portrays nurses as sexy, lazy, dumb and always after to catch the doctor (Chapman 1998). These negative depictions have greatly overshadowed the crucial tasks and responsibilities they perform on daily basis. There is a global perception that’s been developed over the time that all nurses do changes bedpans, bring patients things to drink or follow orders from their doctors but sometimes they actually have to sit down and complete abundance of work demanded by the health care system. Mostly they have to neglect this work to care for the patients. Hospitals sometimes provide minimal staffing and still, patients are promised safety and in such cases, nurses are usually appointed to around 10-15 patients at a time and with these duties, they are also required to do the paperwork. After carrying out all these duties on daily basis nurses are still under-appreciated, are blamed and not acknowledged the respect that they deserve let alone getting mistreated by the hospital administrators.

Steroids and Masculinity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Steroids and Masculinity - Research Paper Example Steroids are chemical substances which induce changes in hormonal secretions. They are naturally occurring or synthetic fat-soluble organic compounds which are in diverse range including bile acids, vitamin D, cholesterol etc (Steroids). They encourage masculinity and add strength to one’s body. Physical fitness reflects mental upliftment. This steroid consumption slowly becomes an addiction. Following essay addresses the issue of steroid intake in men, its impacts- positive and negative and substitute measures to steroid intake. There are many reasons prevailing in the society for the widespread use of steroids. The media holds a strong influence on the minds of people. They publicize and advocate weight loss, leaner body structures and attractive figures while promoting celebrity endorsed products. This provokes men to be like those celebrities whom they admire. The use of steroids is related with the degree of satisfaction that men have about their own body structure. Some people are believed to have a behavioural syndrome: ‘muscle dysmorphia’; in this condition although men have strong and large muscular built, they still think they are weak (Why Do People Abuse Anabolic Steroids). This mental dilemma forces them to take external help in the form of steroids to build their body according to their hypothetical body image. Men are lured into taking steroids because of its benefits which are- muscle and strength gain, increased agility, increased stamina and increased endurance in any of the physical activities (The Benefits of Using Steroids). Some other benefits include enhanced functioning of sexual organs, treatment of various disorders such as asthma, kidney problems, facial paralysis attacks, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, etc (The Advantages and Benefits of Steroids). As every coin has two sides, so does the consumption of steroids. Some health hazards due to its consumption are- hair loss, fertility problems, insomnia, headache,

Democracy In The Network Age Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Democracy In The Network Age - Term Paper Example Some users will download it â€Å"crack† it and have access to premium features. While they undoubtedly know this is illegal they are also aware it is almost impossible to be prosecuted due to the anonymity the internet allows. This is not to mention the many that download such content and share it. They are also part to the crime but, unfortunately, not very many users are cognizant of the extent to which they should use some of the software and file sharing facilities. Moreover, while there exist laws against pirating of content; for example, peer to peer violations attract fines of up to 500,000 dollars; a survey showed that 93 percent of the respondents illegally download material nevertheless (Liberacki). The music and movie industries are some of the casualties of the lack of restrictive policies and /or enforcing of the same. With the availability of high speed digital duplication software and hardware, pirated content can be reproduced with no degradation from the auth entic material (Intellectual Property Rights). Most of this occurs through file sharing or peer to peer networks, here, the content is availed free of charge. Companies like YouTube are forced to remove some of the content uploaded by users due to copyright issues, for instance a just as someone may buy an original copy of a newly released movie and upload it on YouTube. While YouTube will remove this, there are hundreds of websites that specialize in selling or giving way this content. Publishers and software manufactures stood to make a killing from the online market through selling of premium software and EBooks. Nevertheless, due to the technology of file sharing, when someone downloads any premium content, they can give it out or resell it at will, notwithstanding copyright issues. Currently, the existing policies and legislation are not capable of dealing with these issues because they latter are changing so fast and new concepts developed every day leaving a lot of grey areas , which cyber criminals exploit to the maximum. Former French president Nicholas Zarkozy is on record having said that governments are duty bound to set rules limiting misusing of the internet more so in issue of privacy and piracy. Besides, even when policies do exist inside the USA the same may be unheard of or lax in other countries where the software may end up. As such, new and updated policies need to be formulated, and they should be explicit pertaining to the crimes, furthermore; governments should have the ability to enforce this legislation. Democracy, while benefiting from the internet and social networking especially from an action has also suffered major blows. Take for instance the situations in Egypt and Syria. The internet was used bring about democracy through a peoples’ revolution mostly planned online through social networks. While recognizing the crucial role played by social networks in this, the danger therein must also be considered. In Liberia, the sam e was done, but there was a plethora of emerging issues including that it may have been politically instigated by western powers that had interests in the countries resources. Thousands died in the ensuing protests, and what started as online activism lead to civil war. Thus, while justifying the need to give people a chance for self expression online. It is incumbent of us to examine the extent to which the internet can be used in the quest to obtain democracy without disregarding the

Accelerated orthodontic treatment Research Paper

Accelerated orthodontic treatment - Research Paper Example MOP makes unsurprising orthodontic treatment results, enhances completes with supports, and lessens or takes out refinements with clear aligner help. MOP could be finished in minutes, and does not oblige any progressive preparing; thusly, any prepared clinician can perform it. Moreover, the procedure yields next to no uneasiness to the patient. There is zero recuperation time, and the patients can quickly come back to their ordinary everyday schedule. The system is shown for pretty nearly 80% of patients getting orthodontic treatment and could be utilized as a part of the conjunction with any treatment modality (Mari, 2011). The perfect treatment device for micro- osteoperforation ought to can give ergonomic control by the utilizing clinician, and stay sharp through different apertures, and have a profundity limiter to guarantee infiltration to the negligible successful profundity. Brief haven devices which are smaller than usual plants and brambles are not suitable plan B to perform ing micro-osteoperforation in a private work on setting. As of late, another gadget by PROPEL Orthodontics has ended up accessible which appears to show guarantee. Learn at real colleges have been led with gadgets that exhibited the practicality and consistency of MOP being utilized. Today, expanding quantities of grown-ups are looking for orthodontic treatment to upgrade the social, mental, and utilitarian status of their lives. Treatment of these patients is muddled by the way that the revision of their malocclusion.

Talkshows in America (infuence they have on people) Essay

Talkshows in America (infuence they have on people) - Essay Example But then these shows or discussions could only be attended by a group of people living in the proximity of the places where those meetings or discussions were arranged. And contrary to what is today, earlier people from other parts of the world were not aware of such events or discussions, as there was no medium through which others could witness these events. But with the invention of Television and Radio, the world came closer, and people from all over the world could hear them on Radio or see them and hear them on Television. In the early twentieth century, Radio was the only medium of entertainment. According to the historian, Wayne Munson, the first ever Talk Show was broadcasted on Radio over WBZ in Springfield, Massachusetts in the year 1921. It was related with farming. Usually experts conducted such talks and the purpose of arranging these programs was for educating the audiences. The hosts of these shows took the audiences in altogether different world of knowledge and entertainment. One Mr. Alexander Woolcott on WOR in New York shared his experiences of the different kind of people he met and the books he read, on the radio. Thus, at that time, hosts were the people who spoke and the audiences listened to what they said. Audiences were passive listeners and there was no one to one interaction between the host and the audience. But in 1930's there was a sudden change and the audience became an active member of these shows. In a radio program hosted by Houston called Vox Populi, a recorded intervie w of a man on the street was broadcasted. Thus audiences were enthralled by this innovative idea of involving audiences in the program, which thereby increased the popularity of that program. Thus many other producers too were inspired by this idea and they too copied the same. This is how the audiences were also involved in the programs. It was for the first time in the program of Barry Gray on WMCA that a phone call was received while the program was on air. Thereafter, 'audience request lines' were developed and the novel idea of playing music on the request of audience was implemented. (Ellen Hume - Talk Show Culture) In the year 1948, after the invention of television, people began to enjoy the audiovisual programs. It was during this time that people could actually see their favorite celebrities talk on the shows. Talk show, was a program on television, wherein a certain group of people came together to discuss certain issues. It was conducted by a host and different people who were experts in that particular field were invited on the show. The host before conducting the show prepared the outline of the program keeping in mind the public interest. And he invited the experts who could speak on this topic very well and who could answer the questions of the spectators satisfactorily. The show was generally interactive. The concept of Talk Shows was an outcome of the fusion of news and entertainment. It was informative as well as entertaining. In a talk show the host asks questions to the experts and they answer those questions. Sometimes if a small group of experts are invited then there is a group discussion on certain topics. With every expert or participant giving his personal opinions, the spectators can make a study of that particular topic from different angels. The topics selected for Talk Shows are mostly sensitive or have great

Basis of the first phase of your overall MC plan Essay

Basis of the first phase of your overall MC plan - Essay Example Marketing communication is a process which helps the marketers to communicate information’s like product related information to potential consumer segment. They utilise this method to convey information about product value, existence, and benefits associated with it. It encompasses one of the four elements of the marketing mix. Designing an effective communication process provide marketers an opportunity to attract, create urge, persuade, and remind about the existing brands of a company. In recent times, the scope related to marketing communication has increased. Marketers are using various unique method and techniques to create awareness of their products (Yeshin, 1998). The marketers have to integrate different aspects related to marketing communication to derive maximum benefit from the implementation of any such plan. In the process of developing a marketing communication plan for a product Lemon, lime flavoured beer a zero based marketing communication plan is prepared (Belch, 2003). A zero based marketing communication planning process provides a marketing communication planning team of an organisation, the necessary understanding of what kind of tools are to be utilised while preparing a plan. In this process a particular year’s situational analysis is conducted (BSA Marketing, n.d.). Also SWOT analysis and communication objectives analysis help in preparing a proper planning according to the desired need. In the beginning of this process, key marketing communication related problems are identified. In the next step, by using various marketing communications tools, solutions are searched for the problems. In the given context also, for devising a marketing communication plan for a new brand, a complete situational analysis along with SWOT analysis has to be conducted. The plan also has to prepare keeping in mind the communication objectives. In the first phase of preparing a marketing communication plan, a target audience for the intended product

Development of Theory in Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Development of Theory in Management - Essay Example Exactly what is a "real" manager What should we call managers who work with their staff and learn from them as well-"invalid," "false," or "imitation," as opposed to "real" Are academics and management consultants actually determining current management methods or is the method determined by what is increasing profitability in all areas of an organisation based on cooperation among staff and knowledge of their customer base Three of the most influential theorists in management at the beginning of the twentieth century were Frederick Taylor, Elton Mayo and Henri Fayol. Taylor applied scientific management using time and motion studies, with managers as observers who did not include workers in decision-making. His method, according to Sansone, was said to dehumanise workers. He set up a new effort of structure over people as a variable to improve performance rather than merely using discipline to increase production. Taylor believed managers should be thinkers, and that workers had to be guided by them. Taylor and Fayol had similar ideas, with what has been called respectively Scientific Management and Administration Management, but Mayo was more concerned with the human side of business. His style was called the Human Relations approach (Sandrone). Mayo performed what he called Hawthorne experiments from 1927 to 1932 to examine effects of fatigue and monotony on work conditions and job productivity (Accel Team). By choosing two female workers and allowing them to pick four more, he set up his experiment. He assigned a manager who was more an observer than disciplinarian to study the group and make changes, discussing and explaining them to the group in advance. Variables such as rest breaks, work hours, temperature and humidity were studied. The surprising result for Mayo was that the employees who were included in decisions about working conditions produced more, no matter what the final working schedule was, because they had formed a team. This breakthrough is taken for granted now, but teamwork in an organisation was unknown at that time. According to Accel, Mayo's experiment showed the following reason for its success: The experimental group had considerable freedom of movement . . . . Under these conditions they developed an increased sense of responsibility and instead of discipline from higher authority being imposed, it came from within the group. (Accel Team 6.4) Henri Fayol was a French management theorist who focused on management as fulfilling 5 principal roles: plan, organise, command, coordinate and control, and 14 principles of management in a hierarchal format (Marino). His ideas closely followed those of socialist Max Weber. Fayol was a successful senior manager who applied his formula for controlling his staff, and this formula is still actively practised today. Below are Fayol's 14 principles of administration (Overview 5) Specialization/division of labor Centralisation Authority with responsibility

Self and Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Self and Leadership - Essay Example First, I will present the results of a feedback survey I conducted with my family, friends, and business colleagues. I expect this to provide me with insight from those closest to me as I ask them to identify my strengths, weaknesses, and areas where I could improve. Then, I will assess the results of several standardized tests I took that will offer insight into my personality, intelligence, career strengths, etc. These more objective forms of self-analysis are instructive from a comparative perspective. My scores will include a comparison to classification levels that are recognized as having a significant impact on the workplace. Following that, I will include a section on personal information from my family and past that has bearing upon my skills and functionality within the workplace. This, most personal, area of assessment will include my own biographical information as well as those events in my family's history that impacted my personal development. Finally, I will perform a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat (SWOT) analysis on myself using a synthesis of all of the information I have gathered. I expect this methodology to be useful for providing a condensed presentation of all the data in the assessment and lead to specific goals for improving my leadership skills. My goal, during the course of this exercise, will be to explore my individual leadership capability and determine ways of making myself a better, more effective leader. During the course of the assessment, I expect to be able to communicate my personal and career goals, particularly as it relates to leadership within a business culture. I perceive myself as the type of individual who looks forward to continuously advancing and improving my skills and knowledge. I try to identify the strengths and weaknesses I may have to help me grow and become a better leader. This assessment exercise will help me achieve my ultimate goal of establishing my own successful business so that I can obtain security and independence. Section I: Feedback My initial foray into increasing my intrapersonal intelligence involves a series of interviews with a group of my family, friends, and business colleagues; asking them to comment on me. I must admit that doing this made me a little nervous. It is one thing to take a personality test or fill out an online questionnaire and have a computer rate your score. It is quite another thing entirely to conduct a face-to-face interview with people who are important to you while giving them the opportunity to speak candidly about you. We were advised to listen to the responses carefully, and try to say nothing at all; even if we did not hear what we expected or wanted to hear. As revealed in the assessment portion of this paper, I am a direct and focused person, which makes it hard for me to listen to something I don't want to hear. Ironically, one of the comments from an interviewee was that I needed to "listen to peoples' ideas even if they don't agree with [me]."1 The methodology for this part of the assessment was straightforward. I personally met with each interviewee and asked them three simple questions about

Film review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Film review - Essay Example Special treatment comparable with the best humanitarian attitude was noticed from the actions of Stephanie LaFarge and Laura Ann Petitio towards Nim. Once even Stephanie LaFarge decided to breastfeed Nim as she did to her other human children. To my mind, this step evidences that Nim was delivered the most favorable treatment than one can imagine. Stephanie had been brought Nim up for approximately 18 months. As ordinary human children, Nim also was wearing nappies, became sometimes vulnerable and needed to be fed. Nevertheless, he was treated as a human baby. The author finds interesting the experience used by one of Nim’s teacher – Joyce Butter. If Nim misbehaved, Joyce bitted his ear. And this kind of treatment helped people connected with Nim to be successful with him. Upon this behavior, Nim knew his place and understood that this person was more powerful that he was. At the same time, Nim respected people who bitted him. And if one let the weakness to be shown, Nim noticed it and at his earliest convenience exploited that. Despite the favorable treatment towards Nim described above, I would like to note some situations that shocks me a lot during the whole documentary. Nim likes to smoke pot and drink beer. I kindly understand that experiment provides that subject should be taught with the majority of skills; however drinking beer is not useful one. Simultaneously, to teach Nim with sign language, Dr. Terrace organized sessions during which graduate students taught Nim signs in a windowless room at Columbia University. From author’s point of view, this behavior should not take place at any case. Nim, as a living creature, shall has right for the proper attitude and duties towards him in form of responsibility. The author asserts that people involved in the experiment were responsible before Nim on what the primate received and what he

U08a1 Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

U08a1 Project - Essay Example However, there is a major concern regarding the performance of Tufts Medical Center in the matters relating to comprehensive record keeping for employee injuries while on duty. Also, there have been allegations from nursing bodies that this hospital lacks concern for health and safety of its employees. These are indeed serious charges since employees bulwark services and for most part form the backbone of this institution and perceived detriment to their health and safety. This could have a negative impact on the quality of the medical service which they provide to care-needy patients. In a recent case, it is believed that â€Å"Following complaints filed to OSHA by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Tufts Medical Center has agreed to pay $5,000 to settle issues in record-keeping. OSHA cited the hospital for failing to properly record employee injuries that occurred on the job, including back strains, broken thumbs, needle-stick injuries, and cuts from sharp objects.† (Altman, 2010, para.1). Perhaps, it is necessary to take a good look at the present system of archiving and recording proceedings relating to injuries of employees while on duty at the Tufts Medical Center. It is necessary to isolate those interventions or health care activities that could jeopardize the health of caregivers like lifting crippled heavy patients on to wheel chairs , exposure to chemicals, fear of contracting serious infections and the emotional stress involved in dealing with patients having psychological and mental illnesses. In this context, it is also necessary to understand and appreciate that the entire skyline of modern medical services has undergone severe paradigm shifts. There has been increased need for state-of-the art specialized novel, expensive medical possibilities and a whole new array of medical interventions that need to be put to effective and productive use by health care professionals and care takers. With

Health Problems as a Result of Environmental Crisis Essay Example for Free

Health Problems as a Result of Environmental Crisis Essay Given that I work in an Emergency Department, the usual encounters we have involves health problems. However, in the past months and last year, people that we encounter are those of with fever and flu. Some diseases were also frequent. Diseases that arouse were usually an effect of a downfall in body’s immune system. This has happened when the extreme changes in environmental climate took place. As a result of the fast growing effects of global warming, the weather has extreme changes within a day. The extreme cold and hot weather that occurs in twenty-four hours has a bad effect on body temperature. The tremendous  Ã‚   changes weaken the body since the type of climate that occurs does not match the survival qualifications of human. In order to be involved in this issue, I suggest that the Emergency Department lead a program awareness to fight global warming, deal with its effects, and how to be healthy during the experience of its effects. On the other hand, I can be of help to if I encourage friends and families to practice activities or home choirs that will help lessen climate change. Like, use products with Energy Star seal, this is product lessen greenhouse effect and air pollution. Also, saving energy thru maintenance and cleaning of heating and cooling equipments used in our homes. I can also save energy by using green power, where the energy is from the sun and the wind. Frugality not just in money can help deal with climate change. For example, recycling materials we use at home   and buying new stuff as a product of recycling. Another way to conserve energy is by taking public transportation in routinely going to work or school. Or maintaining the efficiency of your car so it will not emit high amounts of greenhouse emissions. In offices, power management features should be discussed with the employees especially those workers who operate machineries. With this adjustments in our daily lives, we can help fight climate change and also save the world. Reference Climate Change – What You Can Do. January 28, 2008 retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/office.html

Balanced Scorecard Essay Example for Free

Balanced Scorecard Essay A balanced scorecard is very helpful to any organization and should be viewed as a very important document throughout the company. Wal-Mart has developed a scorecard so that their customers can see what goals that the company wants to achieve and also how to achieve those goals. If you look at the scorecard on a regular basis, then you will know exactly how your company is running and what areas you need to work on. Wal-Mart wants everyone to know where to look at their scorecard and how to achieve the goals that they feel will make them even more successful. Wal-Mart also expects that every employee should follow this scorecard to guarantee they are doing the right things to make the company grow even faster and stronger than they already are (Balanced Scorecard Basics, 2014). The financial part is a very important part to Wal-Mart. With this part being successful you will be able to pay all the employees the right amount and also pay all the bills so that the company can make more money and keep thriving in the world today. Also with the financials down, the shareholders will see an increase in the amount of what the shares are selling for and that lets them know what they are making for owning those shares in the company. A competitive position is a major key within a huge retail chain like Wal-Mart. They are number one compared to other store chains similar to them. They continue building stores all over the world while a lot of the competitors keep shutting their stores down. Staying atop of this list is what makes Wal-Mart the leader in general merchandising stores (Wal-Mart Stores, 2013). Another major area of a balanced scorecard is how the customers see what Wal-Mart is doing. This is the most important part other than the  financials but work hand in hand with the financials. If the customers see Wal-Mart as a bad company then they will not buy the items that Wal-Mart is selling and then Wal-Mart will not be able to afford their bills and payroll and eventually have to close down. If they see Wal-Mart as a great place to shop then they will tell everyone that they know to shop there and that will make the revenue rise and make more profit for the company so that they can become even more successful in the future. The customers perspective always pays a big role in any company, if you keep them happy, then the will spend more money and time and energy with your company instead of your competitors (Balanced Scorecard Basics, 2014). Innovation is what you need to do to improve the company and learn how to grow and become a stronger economy. Wal-Mart is trying to be innovative in how they get their ads out to the general public. They are starting to email adds out to individuals emails letting their customers know of great deals and opportunities that are coming up in the local stores (Balanced Scorecard Basics, 2014). They are also developing an app for the smart phones of today with the deals and specials going on within the company. They are trying to get their products and service out in the community. Last but not least are the internal methods. They look at areas they think they will excel in and also the areas that will not excel so much at. The areas that Wal-Mart plans to excel at are usually the electronics. They look at other ideas to help them excel even more than usually and develop a plan to implement how to excel further in these areas. The Ares that are weak, they look for reasons that they are weak and how can they implement a plan to make those areas excel in also. When they can get all the areas in the store to excel greatly then they will become very successful and continue to grow beyond measure. This paper has demonstrated how a strategic plan of a balanced scorecard can help any company grow to a different standard. With these scorecard in effect and followed out completely then any company will succeed in everything that they want to do and become very successful. References Wal-Mart Stores. (2013, November 6). Retrieved March 31, 2014, from Forbes. Balanced Scorecard Basics. (2014). Retrieved March 31, 2014, from Balanced Scorecard INstitute: https://balancedscorecard.org/Resources/AbouttheBalancedScorecard/tabid/55/Default.aspx

Male And Female Gender Roles

Male And Female Gender Roles Throughout history, people who are born as men are granted access to power, position and resources (Masculinities). Cultural norms of gender roles are taught to children by their family, peer group, and community (Masculinities). Based on sufficient research, this review of literature will first focus on the historical facts about how womens status is undermined by inequality and persecution because they were deemed as inferior biological beings (Inferiority). Subsequently, the review will also answer the question of whether women in the present have successfully achieved their rights and gender roles in society completely. At a surface level, womens rights have largely been won (Gaag 146), because more women are working, more girls are being educated (Gaag 146). However, this paper will also investigate how women today continue to experience discriminations and inequality as more than half a million die unnecessarily each year from the complications of pregnancy and childbirth (Gaag 146). Lastly, the final part of this literature review will examine how women have broken free from the gender stereotypes to achieve power in terms of work and family and its effects on men and society (Marshall). A. Historical facts about the Male and Female roles Beyond the physical differences between men and women and their different reproductive functions are separate sets of socially-determined behavioral norms and performance standards attached to each gender (Thomas). However, during the era of Greek Philosopher Aristotle, Womens status was very low (inferiority). According to Aristotle, the primary function of women was to carrying on the family tree, and tending the family hearth (inferiority). The reproduction of children, especially sons (inferiority), was the main purpose of women, and all of the mens social activities were off-limits to her (inferiority). In Aristotles theory of genetics, he proposed that children were made by something he called the substance, which was found in women, and the form, which came from men (Genetics). According to his theory, Aristotle suggested that the form and the substance did not mix together but the form had a magical influence on the substance (Genetics) In other words, the man supplies the su bstance of a human being, and the women is only the nourishment (Inferiority). From Aristotles point of view, it is only men who are complete human beings and can hope for ultimate fulfillment; the best a women can hope for is to become a man (Inferiority) However, Aristotles teacher, Plato, thought differently about women (Plato). Plato believed that women had a significant role to play in society, and he thought women were necessary for society to run smoothly (Plato). According to Plato, even though he believed that females were required to function in a working society, he continue to hold the position that women were no where close to equal to men (Plato) On the other hand, Plato realized that men may have been stronger then women physically but women had strengths that were far superior in other areas (Plato) For example, he believed that women are naturally maternal and these maternal skills made them better care takers for children (Plato). Similarly to Aristotles radical vi ew on women, French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte thought, women were made for men, and men for country, family, glory, and honor (Napoleon). In the 1800s, the idea of female equality received a setback in a series of laws known as the Napoleonic Code (Napoleonic). According to the Napoleonic Code, married women in particular owed their husband obedience, and were forbidden from selling, giving, mortgaging or buying property (Napoleonic). As time progress from the Ancient Greeks to the early stages of the last century, men continued to be regarded as the persons in charge of their families (Thomas). According to census, males were considered to be the head of the household by family members, and the power within the household was completely dominated by the male figure (Thomas) and other family members were defined by their relationship to the household head (Thomas). According to experts, womens responsibility of bearing children continued until the early part of the last century (Thomas). In 1941, over 83% of 15 years old or over had birthed a child and one in five had given birth to six or more (Thomas). Womens fertility continued to be disregarded by the society, and their prominent roles (Thomas) of giving birth and raise children within a male-headed family (Thomas) was unchanged. B. Present womens success and failure at achieving the rights and power According to experts, womens rights, in theory at least, are well established (Gaag 11) and women themselves are more aware of their rights (Gaag 11). However, even though the matter of gender equality between male and females has firmly been placed on the global agenda, we cannot hide the fact that for millions of women life is still very grim (Gaag 11). Although women are having fewer children, that is 50 per cent of women now have access to modern contraceptives (Gaag 11), over half a million women continue to die each year from pregnancy and childbirth related causes (rights). Researcher found that accounted for 41 percent of all births nationwide between 1993 and 2006 (Pittman), there are 62 percent of pregnancy-related deaths (Pittman). Despite the international agreement on womens rights, the denial of womens basic human rights is persistent and widespread (Rights). Like mentioned above, becoming a mother is still a dangerous business (Gaag 26). On the economic scheme of things, during the 20th century, the proportion of married women working for pay increased more than tenfold from less than 5 percent in 1890 to more than 60 percent in 1990 (Mundy 33). The proportion of women ages 25 to 54 who are working or looking for work stands at 75 percent, up from 35 percent in 1950s (Muddy 38) Even though women have expanded their work hours, battled discrimination, and improved their credentials at precisely the time when the rewards for these are greater than ever (Muddy 38), Poverty rates are higher for women than men (Cawthorne). In 2007,13.8 percent of females were poor compared to 11.1 percent of men (Cawthorne). It was also proven by experts that women are poorer than men in all ethic groups (Cawthorne). According to collected data, the trend that men are wealthier than women is very apparent (Cawthorne). This again ties to the fact that, despite some progress in womens wages in the 1990s, women still earn less than men, even for similar kinds of work (rights). Lastly, there is no doubt that more girls are being educated the gap between boys and girls enrollments has narrowed (Gaag 11). Women have improved their credentials precisely the time when the economy craves their skills and schooling (Muddy 53). By becoming well educated, women have raised the chances that they will be employed, and they qualify for much better job than they could have expected 30 or 40 years ago (Muddy 51). According to experts, education is a key reason why womens earnings have risen and why in recent recessions, the unemployment rate for women has been lower than the rate for men (Muddy 51). Through womens persistency, women have improved their prospects more than they realize (Muddy 51). C. The drastic change in gender roles and its effects on both genders While the stereotype of the male breadwinner is still alive in many peoples minds, experts say the reality is that a growing number of women are earning as much, if not more than, their husbands (Linn). In a matter of decades, the traditional male breadwinner model has given way to one where women routinely support households and outearn the men they are married to (Muddy 5). Not that long ago, in 1970, percentage of wives who outearned their husbands was in the low single digits (Mundy 6). The dramatic increases of women earners have altered the way male and female see each other (Mundy 7). Ironically, experts estimate that there are currently about 2 million working women whose husbands are unemployed and looking for work (Linn). The effect of the gender roles shift is most apparent in the male than the female (Muddy 14). In journalism and feminist literature of the 1980s and 1990s (Muddy14), experts found that men tend to resist womens rising economic power, even retaliate against it (Muddy 14). Similarly, one of the other reactions of men towards womens earnings is that men can quit, give up and stop trying (Muddy 14). For all the arguments about women opting-out when they have children, todays mothers- particularly educated ones- are overwhelmingly likely to be employed (Muddy 38). The roles of men and women seems to have shifted, and the earning power of wives compared to husbands has risen, steadily and strongly (Muddy 39). On the other hand, the rate of participation in housework labor increased steadily for men, while the rate for women remained the same (Marshall). Among married men with children, the participation rate rose from 54% to 71%. Furthermore, while the presence of a wife lessened mens involvement in housework in 1986 (single men had a participation rate of 61%, and married men 53%), 2005 saw roughly 7 in 10 married men, both with and without children, participating in housework (Marshall). According to data on men and women rate of participation in housework, married men with children spending significantly more time on housework, and married women spending significantly less (Marshall). Whereas women, The number of hours worked has risen (Muddy 39), and women are much more likely to be working full-time, year-round, than they were 40 years ago (Muddy 39). Experts predict, in the coming years, many women will feel pleased being the familys high earner. They husband will like it too (Muddy 140). Series of surveys shown that, men and women are both less likely to say that men should earn the money and women should take care of the children in todays society (Muddy 63). According to the gradual shift in gender roles responsibilities, its safe to say that womens earning power and the vitality and success signals (Muddy 15), will lead to a genuine breakthrough in the relationship between the sexes (Muddy 15). Conclusion: In conclusion, women came a long way in achieving their rights and ideal roles in society. Based on historical facts about male and female roles, females are the majority of humanity but are everywhere victims of systematic discrimination, oppression and sexual abuse (Oppression). Through their tenacity, women thrived as powerful individuals and economically and socially bypass men. However, according to data, womens gains have been made under threat (Gaag 11), and many continued to suffer from unfavorable conditions such as poverty, childbirth complications, and workplace discrimination. Despite these persistent disadvantages of the female sex, within a generation, more households will be supported by women than by men (Muddy 78). A revolution is under way (Muddy 65).

Obesity in Childhood

Obesity in Childhood PREVENTION OF OBESITY IN CHILDHOOD Introduction In this assignment I will endeavour to tackle the prevention of obesity in childhood as an aspect of health promotion. The rationale of choosing this topic is that obesity and overweight increase the risk of contracting world killer diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes .The prevalence of obesity in United Kingdom and other countries and the cost to National Health Service and economy will be looked into. An analysis of the behavioural change model and how it relates to health promotion initiatives will be discussed. The role of a nurse and other professionals with regards to heath education and health promotion will be highlighted. What is health The World Health Organisation (WHO 1986)defines health as a state of complete physical ,mental and social well being and not just the absence of disease and infirmity. Forster (2002) confirms that health is generally seen in terms of people being ill or well but indicates that this is a simplistic view, as being well or ill are not entirely separate notions but in fact overlap to some degree. Forster(2002) while concurring with the definition of health as provided by the WHO (1986) adds that this definition provides a positive view of health and suggest that health fluctuates over time along a continuum, good and poor health appearing at opposite poles of the continuum. Ewles and Simnett(2003) also suggest that health is determined by many factors such as Physical health, body function, Societal health living accomodation ,employment status , Spiritual health, religious beliefs and moral values or behaviours, Social health being able to sustain relationships and make friends, Emotional health the ability to cope with depression, stress and anxiety. Therefore an individuals health position along this continuum is variable but no distinct demarcation line between health and ill health exists. With regards to the definition given it is argued that health professionals interventions should focus on helping the clients ,individuals, families and communities to gain health related knowledge, attitudes and practice associated towards achieving certain behaviours. Obesity and associated problems.Obesity is a condition of excess body fat associated with increased risks such as diabetes, cardiovascular and other common diseases (Beebe 2008) and (Campbell and Haslam 2005). Like smoking eating is a complex combination of behaviour driven by social and psychological factors as well as biological compulsion (Croghan and Johnson 2005).They went on to say that people eat fast food because it is socially accepted. For example some fast foods have high fat and high sugar content and people tend to overeat them because they are the most palatable and provide pleasure. The prevention and management of obesity has been a national governmental policy for a number of years according to the Chief Medical Officer,s Annual Report 2002,(DoH 2003).Obesity has been highlighted as a health time bomb and seen as a challenge for the government as a whole (DoH 2003).The World Health Organisation,(WHO 1998) has described obesity as a global epidemic as evidenced by the growing trends in most developed countries. Obesity in childhood carries health risks in both short and long term. Marshall et al (2003) agreed with Bond et al (2004) that obesity has been recognized as a major health problem as it is linked to number of diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes .Obesity is known as a major risk factor in the development of many diseases such as arthritis of weight –bearing joints, gastro esophageal reflux, sleep apnea and certain types of cancer,(Bond et al 2004).Therefore obesity can influence physical, intellectual ,emotional and social development influencing childhood .It is for the above reason that long term eating and exercise habits need to be promoted in health and stop obesity in childhood years. Primary care should play a leading role in obesity management and prevention. The above statement is supported by the document Choosing Health ;Making Healthier Choices Easier (DoH 2004) which identified primary care as crucial to the provision of services f or overweight and obese clients. Obesity is associated with many illnesses and is directly related to increased mortality and lower life expectancy. Tackling obesity is a government wide priority .Obesity was one the key areas highlighted in the governments white paper that needed reform and the plan to meet this target was that each primary trust should have a specialist obesity service with the clients have able to access to a dietician and able to receive advice and support on changing behaviour (DoH 2004) Possible causes of Obesity .A study by Mulvihill and Quigley (2003) has revealed that age, education, social class and prosperity have an important influence on the risk of becoming obese. Muller et al (1999) suggest that unhealthy eating habits are associated with overweight in children, they went on to say that overweight is linked with coming from a low socio-economic background, suggesting that these families should be a primary target for awareness and prevention campaigns. The figures released by the National Child Measurement programme are deeply disturbing.   The fact that 22.9% of children in year one in primary school are overweight or obese surely indicates that measuring the BMI of children should begin much earlier (National Obesity Forum 2008). How childhood obesity in England compares with other countries and the implications to the NHS and ecomony The 2002 review of the white paper (Health of the nation) target for obesity was just 6 per cent for 1992. A continuing rising trend in obesity to 2010 is predicted, when one-fifth of boys and more than one-fifth of girls will be obese,(King Fund 2007) . More recently the Munich Declaration(WHO 2000) recognized that actions need to be increased to enhance the roles of nurses and midwives in public health, health promotion and community participation. Irvine (2005) reported that in United Kingdom there has been corresponding growth in emphasis on health promotion in primary care. For example the liberating the talents policy document for England (DoH 2002) identifies the involvement of nurses in public health, health protection and health promotion as one of three core functions for nurses. In the United States the problem of obesity and overweight is a growing concern and the prevalence has nearly tripled during the past decade. The economic cost is approximately 117billion dollars annually taking into account hospitalization and the lost workdays,(Sitzman 2003)In Australlia the child obesity has increased dramatically and the contributing factors include the availability of affordable energy –dense food supply and sweetened beverages that are marketed aggressively. The studies by (Kaplan and Wadden 1986) cited (Joanna Briggs Institute 2008) has shown that obesity also causes adverse psychosocial problem such as bullying, discrimination and in older children and adolescent and low self esteem. The reduction of physical activities such as walking or cycling to school and an increase in computer and electronic games has compounded the problem (Joanna Briggs Institute 2008).Simillarly a study by Jebb(2005)has revealed that obesity and overweight continues to be a serious public health problem as it is rooted in three main areas such as excess food ,absences of controlling food behaviour and lack of physi cal activity. However the studies by ( Dietz and Robinson 2005,Kirk et al 2005 and Reilly 2006) cited by (Joanna Briggs Institute 2008) has evidence that indicates that a combination of dietary intervention, behavioural therapy and exercise will have significant impact on weight reduction in overweight and obesity children. In England the rates of obesity have increased dramatically over the last decade and if no action is not taken one in five children aged will be obese by 2010 (DoH 2003)The prevalence of obesity and overweight has a substantial human cost and serious financial consequences for the National Health Service (NHS) and the economy .In 1998 over 18 million days of sickness were attributed to obesity and the total cost of obesity was 2.6 billon (National Audit Office 2001). In order to tackle the growing problem of obesity, the then Public Minister of Health Tessa Jowell set in motion a wide ranging plan of action (DoH 1999) cited by White and Pettifer (2007) which included the follow ing; Healthy school programme, living centres to be established , safe and sound challenge, to increase activity levels in children and to increase information for public ,so that they can make informed choices. The Choosing Health White Paper (DoH 2004) demonstrated this shift towards this awareness with two of the overarching principles of the policy being reducing obesity and improving diet, nutrition and increasing exercise. Role of a nurse in health promotion Health promotion is at the forefront of healthcare and the teaching role of the nurse is more important than ever (Rush et al 2005). Whitehead(2004) agreed that nurses impart healthcare related information that influences values, beliefs attitudes and motivations. It is for this reason that nurses in primary care play a pivotal role in the management of obesity. Encouraging people to change their attitude towards a health issue is an important part of any health education programme (Clark 1999). Health promotion is a process by which the ecologically-driven socio-political- economic determinants of health are addressed as they impact on individuals and the communities within which they interact (Whitehead 2004).In agreement with Whitehead (2004) , Tones and Tilford (2001) viewed health promotion as political advocacy which is aimed at representing the underprivileged sections of society by helping them to redress the imbalances in power. The WHO( 1986) also viewed health promotion as a mechanism to enhance health and to prevent ill health in order to maintain and impose better lifestyles. Health education is an activity that seeks to inform the individual on the nature and causes of health/illness and that individuals personal level of risk associated with their lifestyle related behaviour (Whitehead 2004).He further states that health education seeks to motivate an individual to accept a process of behavioural-change through directly influencing their value, belief and attitude systems . However, Quinn (2001) argues that although health education is vital for health promotion ,the nurse must acknowledge that having the knowledge does not guarantee that people will implement healthy choices and a change in behaviour. To reduce obesity nurses can engage with young people for instance routinely measuring children s height and weight in order to obtain their body mass index (BMI),to establish the level of obesity. BMI is an accepted measure of obesity and is calculated as ratio of weight to weight, using the formula :BMI =weight in kilograms/height in square meters (Hump hrey Beebe 2008).The National Institute for Health and Excellence (NICE 2006) and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ( CDC 2006) guidelines define those with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 as overweight and those with 30 and over to be obese. There are several approaches that health care professional can implement to tackle obesity in childhood. For example the interventions and strategies can be targeted at the whole population ,individuals who are at risk , children and people with mental health problems. The House of Commons Health Committee’s recommendation (2004) that all children should have their BMI measured annually at school and that the results should be sent home to their parents or carers with appropriate advice. If fully implemented it would amount to full scale population level health screening programme that is cost effective. Health promotion is a vast subject with a variety of theories, models and approaches. Piper (2005) identified, the three models in health promotion frameworks that a nurse or midwife as behaviour change agent, the midwife or a nurse as empowerment facilitator ,nurse as strategic practitioner. Nurses as facilitators of self –help and promoters of positive health , are key to initiating change in this area (Croghan 2005).The nurses are ideally placed to adopt a public health role and can identify health needs as they are in regular and close contact with individual, families , communities and other health and social bodies (Jack and Holt 2008). The above models involve the midwives or nurses working with individual and the focus is on intervention. According to Ewles and Simnett (2003) there are fives approaches to health promotion namely the medical , behaviour change , educational , client centred and societal change. The model by Ewles and Simnett (2003) identify the needs and priorities by setting the aims objectives and decide on the best way of achieving the aims by identify the resources ,plan and evaluate the methods ,set an action plan. In tackling obesity in children the medical approach would include the monitoring of the BMI. The medical approach is a reactive and opportunistic process and is adopted where the client has an existing condition or illness (Whitehead 2004) and (Ewles and Simnett 2003).The medical approach promotes medical interventions from professionals to prevent or reduce ill health and this requires the individuals to comply with preventative medical procedures. The educational approach provides individuals with knowledge and information thereby enabling them to make informed decisions and choices about their lifestyles. For example the educational approach would include teaching the children about the importance of nutrition and exercise. The behavioural change approach is targeted at the individuals ability to change their attitude and behaviour in order to adopt a healthier lifestyle. However the behaviour change theory suggests that change will not occur until the individual is ready (Kopelman and Dietz 2005).The client-centred approach takes on the idea that people should act on their own problems. It helps client to identify what they want to know and act on them. The approach aims to empower the client. The societal approach aims to effect changes on the physical ,social , and economic environment to make it more conducive to good health (Ewles and Simnett 2003).Whitehead (2004) states that health education is an activity that seeks to inform the individual on the nature and causes of health or illness and that the individuals personal level of risk associated with their lifestyle related behaviour. The approach and aim of health promotion is to focus on changing the behaviour towards a healthier lifestyle. The stages of changes in health promotion developed by Prochaska and Di Clemente (1983)cited by Croghan (2005) are Precontemplation, contemplation, prepara tion, action , maintenance and relapse. This model shows the process through which people travel to change addictive behaviour.. During the precontemplation stage the individuals are not thinking about making any change in their lifestyle. Not all clients are a stage in their life where they want to make a lifestyle behaviour change (Croghan 2005).The clients may not be aware that there is a problem and could be resistant to making changes. Contemplation is a point where the individual may be aware that there is a problem and at this stage they are weighing up the costs and benefits of change. Simillarly the Cognitive dissonance theory Festinger (1957) cited by Clark (1999) is a state of tension that occurs when an individuals beliefs are at odds with their behaviours .The cognitive dissonance is viewed as a motivational state as it enables the individual to bring the behaviour in line with beliefs such as binge eating and may change attitude towards it (Clark 1999).Croghan and Johnson (2005) agreed with the above that the support package should begin with an assessment of client s readiness and motivation to change. Preparation is where the client becomes aware that the perceived benefits of change outweigh the costs, change is possible and small behavioural changes may occur. The Knowledge Attitude-Behaviour Model (KAB) proposes that as people acquire knowledge in nutrition and health areas, their attitudes change. Changes in attitude will then lead to changes in behaviours (Contento 2007). The next stage is where the individual takes action to change their behaviour and will lead to the maintenance stage where the new habits become established and the individual sustains the change in behaviour and moves on to a healthier lifestyle. The NICE guidlines (2006) came up with a Obesity Intervention Pyramid aimed at tackling obesity for all children. It starts by adopting a whole school approach by addressing the levels of overweight and obesity in school children. If children are encouraged to become healthier eaters the interventions are more likely to succeed if it is applied as a whole and monitored daily. This done by ensuring that the schools promote a culture where staff, pupils and parents or carers are encouraged to help each other to adopt a healthier lifestyle. The schools are advised to emphasise the importance of a balanced diet .A pictorial form of the balanced diet identifies those foods and drinks that should be consumed regularly and those that are high in sugar, fat and salt that should be limited. Physical activity in schools should be encouraged such as participate in sport and physical education(PE). Walking ,cycling, scooting and walk initiatives should be encouraged. This will reduce traffic outside the school thereby promoting healthy lifestyles. Avoid the blame culture that stigmatises those who are obese and overweight. Always stress the positive such as be healthy, get active, feel better and enjoy being active. The Health Schools Programme approach involves parents and carers since they are the main influence on their children lifestyle .Parents and carers are important role models for children and can help them to stay healthy (NICE 2006).The school based activity should involve General Practioners (GP),Paediatricians ,School nurses, Dietacian and other health professionals. The behavioural programme uses the behaviour change techniques such as self-monitoring ,goal setting, positive enforcement, stimulus control and relapse prevention. BENEFITS AND BARRIERS AND WHAT HAS CHANGED .The benefits of engaging the children are improved health, concentration and behaviour. Nurses must identify potential barriers to participation in health promotion and intervene to reduce those barriers such as (Padula et al 2006) Conclusion Obesity is a problem that plagues millions of people, and can be considered an epidemic. Social changes and the increase in fast food corporations are leading to an escalation in obesity. Diet companies are profiting from the unhealthy habits of individuals and creating a false sense of relief. The rise in obesity is a social inclination, and needs to be seen as more of a health issue, and not as a counter-culture way of life. With a decrease in obesity, our country will become more active, and current obese people will have a new found sense of heightened self-esteem