Patient Safety and Quality Essay Example for Free

Patient Safety and Quality Essay The nurse involved with the caring for this family needs to be open to facts of the situation at hand by realizing that it is going to be a period of stress on Susie. At the same time, the goal is to make sure that Susie prioritizes her daily activities which will involve all three of caring for her children, taking in the additional demands of assisting her mother and promoting her health, and of course making sure her career is also focused on. As it is, Susie is overwhelmed and the nurse will need to help the family overcome any additional stress points as well as the specific illness related to her mother and so the nurse will prioritize as well. Since Susie seems to manage the household, the nurse will need to make her the key point of contact with the steps involved with making sure the family stays healthy during this period of additional anxiety. As it has happened now with her mother coming in to the family, she will need to adapt to a new lifestyle that has new demands of caretaking as described in the family structural theory. Family structural theory is a theory where a family is an open and social cultural system, which reacts and adapts to the demands placed (Grand Canyon University). This theory would be best applied by the nurse recognizing the rules and roles the family currently has and how they will need to change to encourage health promotion. Developmental stages give opportunities to family members to realize their potential (Edelman Mandle, 2010). With the children also being a priority to take care, Stage four of the Family Developmental Theory will be applied. Perhaps the nurse will need to better understand through Susie what the latter’s keys to success have been from Stage 1-3 to better help take care of the kids through this. Through these types of conversations, the nurse can help promote health throughout their family by better understanding how the cope with particular situations and helping apply new methods of care. Health promotion can best be accomplished when the nurse focuses on Susie first and then the rest of the family so that Susie can also take care of the family. Health education includes all family members, with learning activities according to each individual. General teaching goal will be same but the approaches and specific goals will be different for each family member. A nurse will have to provide different teaching to each family member. To promote health for Mrs. Jones, nurse can make a plan explaining how Mrs. Jones need to function at her highest level of capacity physically, psychologically, culturally, and spiritually. To promote Susie’s health, nurse will have to educate her on social roles, financial and occupational responsibilities, and reassessing life goals. School aged children health can be promoted by educating on staying away from harmful and unsafe environments such as drug and alcohol abuse. Also, allowing school aged children participate in family conversations and allowing them to speak increases their self-esteem which can be beneficial to Susie to decrease stress. References Edelman, C., Mandle, C. L. (2010). Health promotion throughout the life span (7th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby. â€Å"The Form and Function of The Family.† (2011). Grand Canyon Universtiy, Phoenix, AZ.

Case Analysis Hershy Food Company Marketing Essay

Case Analysis Hershy Food Company Marketing Essay The evolution of global chocolate industry presents many interesting details. Chocolate industry on a global scale is a huge. Chocolate, given its tempting qualities is a huge marketable product for many reasons. Hence, the industry itself is huge we can speculate. As we are aware, chocolate is made out of cocoa seeds. In the initial periods, chocolate was expensive to be manufactured. It was only after the industrial revolution in Europe that a remarkable shift in chocolate industry can be seen. Chocolate also comes in a variety of taste. (Allen, 2010 , p. 21)According to the international cocoa organization, chocolate industry on a global scale is a multi-billion industry. During the year 2006 chocolate industry and manufacturer made tremendous gains from sale. Some of the forerunner or top manufacturing companies in accordance to their sales during 2006 were Hershey Foods Corporation, Mars Inc, and Cadbury Schweppes PLC who topped the list. (ICCO) During 2002 and 2001, the chocolate industry can be concurrently be classified in terms of their sales itself. According to the report available with IOCC, it is mentioned that during the year 2000/2001, the world cocoa industry witnessed a remarkable jump in terms of their share, be it production, consumption and sales. Most importantly, for year 2000/2001 production of world cocoa or chocolate was estimated to be 2,825,000 tonnes. (ICCO, Annual Report for 2000/2001 , 2001 , p. 13) However, for the year 2008/2009, which is the last available report published by ICCO, cocoa production was estimated to be 3.5 million tonnes. (ICCO, Annual Report 2008/2009, 2009, p. 3) From these data we can assume that world chocolate industry is a huge business globally. Hence, it would be interesting to analyze the case also related to Hershey Food Company, a chocolate manufacturing giant, which is discussed as follows. Hershey Food Company: Performance Audit Report 2002 and 2011 Starting the year 2002, Hershey Food Company faced many challenges. Some challenges that were brought to the notice of the audit board were competition from competitors, namely Nestle and Mars that has increased manifold. The global market shares of Hershey Food Company also fell sharply during the said year. Another challenge facing the company CEO then was the factor covering value enhancing to its customers worldwide. As the case is, competition from Nestle and Mars are such that it gave a sense of fear for the company management and its board of director. Hence, the company report that came henceforth was to make a strategic shift to enhance its products, which necessarily raise a question of investment. In that regard, what the company CEO then in the year 2002 recommended was to include realignment plan of US$275 as a shift towards reduction of the workforce in the company that will go towards voluntary compensation. Such a plan was really for a company that is known to have been a people champions for long enough. Yet it was probable, and the case can be looked to the declining market share and unpredictability, given the fierce competition from Nestle and Mars. As reported by ICCO, Hershey Foods Company for the year 2005 was dismal to say so, given that it an annual sale was estimated to be US$ 4881 million dollars, four places below its competitors namely, Nestle, Mars, Cadbury and Ferrero. (ICCO, The Chocolate Industry ) So considering these developments the voluntary realignment plan was a necessity felt the company CEO, Richar d H, Lenny. Audit that was carried out for the year 2001 to 2011 brought into face the many unknown facts and figures about Hershey Food Company. The investigation carried out by Attorney general brought to the notice the most unfamiliar case. What is interesting to note is that audit carried out in the company shows that majority of shares in the company was owned by single large shareholder. This is very unlike and came as a surprising factor for auditors as well given the complexity in shareholder and their ownership, besides the links of the company to many charitable initiatives, which posed many questions for auditors. Somewhat Hershey Food Company represents a community shareholder. This is what the audit report showed about Hershey Food Company. Then Strategic Development from 2001 to 2011 The strategic development starting March, 2001 till September, 2002 saw many proposals being raised in a span of one year as a factor to push the sales and revenue generation initiatives of the company. Given the board of director meeting it was figured that Lenny, who was the CEO of the company then and his management styles, was not received by the company stakeholder properly. It is said that Lenny management was somewhat out of the boundary, which brought to fore disagreement amongst employee and co-managers in the company. In March 2002, the company strategic team decided to explore upon the sales factor of the company, however, the company CEO was reluctant and was trying to seek alternative to such a decision being made. As a matter of fact, competition also the market was not only posing many pressure on the company management, but also brought into contention the test of time that raised a conflict amongst stakeholder and director of the company. Such happening was a pre-cursor to the overall episode encompassing Hershey Food Company. The conflict of idea and recommendation regarding sales objectives between the board of the company and the trust was really interesting to note. Part of the strategic development from 2001 to 2011 also saw many forms of protest, within and outside the company management realms. Such case is sad indeed for a company of repute. The development that came about also somewhat show an increase of 10% sales for Hershey Food Company in 2002, that also in a span of 3 months under the leadership of Lenny, the company CEO. The success in that regard was accorded to the cost cutting measure initiated by Lenny in context of the realignment plan. However, somewhat the case of conflict as can be seen is that the vision of Lenny and that of the company founder was not match-able in any regard. Such development in parts within Hershey Food Company and its strategic development starting the year 2001 to 2011 brought into contention the very conflict that is reported between the trust and board of directors, which is central to the issue facing the company at the most critical time, and reason enough for the conflict to erupt. Board Meeting Outcome Given the audit that was developing in the company, sales of the company was brought to an injunction or ban by a panel of judges. However, following the year 2002 during September, the injunction was cleared and granted. This development saw the introduction of Candy Swoops Slices in 2003, which was listed by Productscan as the most innovative product of the year itself. Following the board meeting, the outcome also saw the acquisition of Joseph Schmidt by Hershey Food Company in 2005. (Malhotra, 2009, p. 395) Company Status Today The company status today as we have maintained earlier is one amongst the major manufacturers of global chocolate. Many innovative products were introduced by Hershey Food Company in a span of five years. Moreover, to gain its market share lost to its competitors, Hershey Food Company decided to become a fearless product innovator. These somewhat paid dividends, which brought Hershey Candy Slices Swoops which was received highly in the market. (Malhotra, 2009, p. 395) Hence, today Hershey Food Company is a major competitor in the chocolate industry. The battle for the company was won in actuality, and today Hershey and Mars are fighting for the number spot in the global industry, which to some analysts is a $73 billion industry annually. (Malhotra, 2009) Hence, these figures itself present many interesting facts about Hershey and where it stands today after the internal turmoil since 2001. Recommendation What we learned from the case study and its analysis is that governing issue was one formidable background that can be read and make out. Given the presence of huge number of shareholders in the company and unbending management further ignite the pressure that the company is facing. Hence, it is recommended that corporate govern ace of the company should:- Be held by a body of authority that is designated to take decisions and dismantle complex issues in organized way. Bring into contention effective leadership. Finally, production and Operational Management overall should be streamlined for enhanced process of the company. SWOT Analysis of Hershey Food Company Hershey main strength as can be analyzed lies with its innovative approach to introduce products that are to the taste of consumers. In the history of the company, advertising also have been the main strength that Hershey [posses to outdo its competitors. Being a chocolate manufacturing giant, Hershey the board also was one factor which posed many dangers for the company. For instance organizational weakness was one feature overall of Hershey. Yet the opportunities for the company lays within the competitive leader that the company has strive for many years. Given that Mars is on the number spot the factor of it also presents Hershey with an opportunity like never before to reclaim its place as the number one manufacturer in the industry. Yet the threat was always there, and recurring as can be seen to the stiff financial audits and leadership of Lenny, which to the boards is not a feasible one as far as Hershey Food Company strategy goes.

Urban Heat Island and Green Infrastructure

Urban Heat Island and Green Infrastructure Chapter 1 What is urban heat island? History â€Å"Did you know that people can affect the environment and even change the weather? Well, next time you are told you cannot, say you already have.†[1] The more urban areas and construction industry develop, the more profoundly the surrounding landscape is altered but also the city scene is changed. Buildings and streets infrastructure replace open land and vegetation. Regions that were once permeable and moist are converted into impervious and dry surfaces. These changes cause urban regions to become warmer than their suburban and rural surroundings therefore forming areas of higher temperatures or heat bubbles in the landscape. This effect is now known as urban heat island and is absolutely not related to the greenhouse effect or global warming. It is strictly a land use phenomena, sometimes exacerbated by city activities. It was in the 1810’s when Luke Howard, a British meteorologist, first investigated and in 1818-1820 described the phenomena. His study[2] was made on the London climate and he documented the effect that built-up areas have on the local weather and temperature. Nowadays, the urban heat island is one of the most studied climate effects of settlements and there is a large body of data on urban heat island characteristics from cities globally. Components of urban heat island In order to identify and describe the urban heat island in one metropolitan area, scientists use temperature registrations of different components. The first component is the surface temperature which represents the temperature of exposed urban surfaces like streets, pavements, faà §ades and roofs. The second component is the atmospheric temperature defined by the air temperature measured in two layers from a vertical city section. These two layers are defined like this: Urban canopy layer – represents the city’s layer of air from the ground to the roofs’ level Urban boundary layer – represents the city’s layer of air from above the roofs to the point where urban activity no longer influences the atmosphere. Figure 2‑a Picture illustrates the difference between urban boundary layer and urban canopy layer Apparently, surface and air temperatures are not related, however surface temperature has an indirect, but extremely significant influence on air temperature, especially in the urban canopy layer. During day time, heat is absorbed by urban infrastructure and edifices and after sunset the energy is slowly released in the air. Consequently, the air temperature in the city during night is maintained at a high level while in suburbs it is cooling down. Figure 2‑b Picture illustrates the city heat bubble Urban heat island is manifested as heat bubble that incorporates the affected parts of the city. But for a better general understanding, when referred to urban heat island effect, it is normally presented as a temperature difference or comparison between the air within the urban canopy layer and that measured in a suburban or rural area outside the settlement both during day and night. Figure 2‑c Picture illustrates the temperature difference between the urban and suburban areas The temperature difference between the two zones is specific for every settlement and it depends significantly on local climate and city morphology. The same rule applies to how warm the urban area is during nighttime compared to daytime. As a general approximation, it could be stated that the city temperature is warmer with 2 ° to 12 °C than suburbs and surrounding rural areas but its. As a result the annual mean air temperature of a city can be with 1 ° to 5 °C warmer than its surroundings.[3] How do urban heat islands form? From the beginning it should be pointed out that every settlement is capable of generating a heat island regardless of its size or location. However, the aspect of urban heat island is characteristic to every city. In addition to the local climate which is subjected to various meteorological factors such as temperature, relative humidity and wind, a number of man-made causes determine the occurrence and intensification of urban heat islands. This phenomena must be seen as the combined result of energy losses and gains together with the increasing area urbanization. City background Climate Settlements’ background strongly influence urban heat island formation. Climate, predominantly wind and clouds, is one of the most significant factors. Heat island levels are largest under calm and clear weather conditions while increasing winds mix the air and reduce the phenomena. Figure 2‑d Picture illustrates how radiative cooling works on cloudy and cloudless nights Radiative cooling is â€Å"the process by which a body releases heat†[4]. In this case the bodies are buildings and pavements. This process is substantially affected by the presence or absence of clouds therefore the level of urban heat island is different depending on the conditions. The maximum level of radiative cooling is experienced on cloudless nights. If there is no wind there is nothing that can block the release of heat in the atmosphere. Therefore the air within the urban canopy layer will continuously be heated and in this case the urban heat island reaches the highest point. Clouds reduce radiative cooling as they increase humidity level and also bring precipitations. Furthermore clouds act like a barrier that absorbs released heat and re-radiate it both back and towards the atmosphere, fact that leads to temperature equalization within the canopy layer. Table 2‑c Temperature equalization process When the temperature equalization is reached, the radiative cooling process stops. In this case, the urban heat island is less prominent than during clear sky nights. Geographic location Geographic location has also an influence on urban heat island. A coastal city may experience cooling of urban temperature as well as cities in cold or temperate climates. A city located in the proximity of a forested area has the tendency to create a higher urban heat island than a city developed in a desert. Forests are cooler, therefore the temperature difference between the city and the forest will be higher compared to the desert case where the temperatures are close. City’s morphology Albedo An additional factor that influences urban heat island, particularly at night, is urban morphology. Increasing urbanization heavily alters the ground cover and water formations. What used to be vegetation, beach or lake, now is converted into a city form which comprises the materials used in constructions and infrastructure, the buildings’ dimensions and spacing and amount of green spaces. Materials’ surface color is also an important factor in the city’s morphology. Albedo is determined by the reflectivity of a surface. It is usually defined as a percentage of reflected radiation or by a number between 0 and 1. An albedo with a value of 1 means that 100% of the incoming radiation is reflected and 0% of it is absorbed. An albedo with a value of 0 means that 100% of the incoming radiation is absorbed and 0% of it is reflected. Additionally, urban geometry influences the wind flow direction and speed. Figure 2‑e Albedo illustrations Urban materials One typical city can have approximately 10-20% of its land surface rooftops. Concrete, asphalt and pavements may cover up to 35-55% of the city’s area. All previously mentioned surfaces are really burning during summer, and during day time they can be hotter with more than 50 °C than the air temperature. These structures and the materials they are composed of have large heat capacity and surface radiative properties that facilitate absorption and storage of solar energy. What is more is that urban construction materials are often dark in color, especially roof coverings and a low albedo effect contributes even more to the development of urban heat island. Cities can have multiple and different formations but the ones most relevant to urban heat island are urban canyons. They are like a standard classification of the urban environment, covering the width of the streets and buildings’ height and are usually defined by a ratio between these two factors. Building height is defined by H and canyon with, which represents the streets’ width and thus the distance between buildings from the sides of the street, is defined by W. A high ratio of H:W means that the urban canyon is tall and narrow and a low H:W means that the urban canyon is low and wide. This ratio is a relative measurement. Figure 2‑f Upstream urbanization â€Å"To cool cities, build them tall and shiny†[5]. The impression that tall buildings act as a protection from heat is a completely misplaced one. In fact, small, modern cities with upstream urbanization can have a larger urban heat island effect than a bigger city with no upstream urbanization. This study Thermal Effects of Urban Canyon Structure on the Nocturnal Heat Island: Numerical Experiment Using a Mesoscale Model Coupled with an Urban Canopy Model[6] on tall and narrow urban canyons demonstrates the complex effect that skyscrapers have. These urban canyons display a larger amount of materials that can retain heat and the faà §ades area is close to or even bigger than the canyon area itself. Buildings act as a barrier against wind and air is hardly circulated. Narrow urban canyons with skyscrapers limit the sky view and streets are most of the time shaded. But even with a modest amount of daylight comes a large retention of heat. At the beginning of the day, only the uppermost part of the faà §ades are directly sunlit, but during the day, the beam of light reaches lower. At the end of the day, more than 60% of the skyscrapers’ faà §ade area is sunlit by the direct light beam and thus results a maximized heat absorption per unit area. The absorbed heat is rel eased during night and narrow spaces between buildings act as a trap and the cooling process becomes slower. The amount of released heat combined with hot gas emissions and reduced wind speed make these city segments experience an increased urban heat island effect. Another very common urban canyon is the wide and high type. Skyscrapers act as wind barriers but there is a higher chance to have a better natural ventilation because of the wide spaces between the buildings. The sky view is larger than in a narrow and high urban canyon therefore the building shading effect is lower. Buildings and pavements receive direct sunlight throughout the entire day and at night the cooling process is slow. This is because a large amount of heat is released in the same time in a relatively small space and there is very little wind to help the process. Figure 2‑i Shadow effect in low urban canyons Wide and low canyons receive more sunlight and wind enters between buildings easier than in a high urban canyon. Streets are only partly shaded by buildings and buildings across the street rarely shade each other. In this situation, during the day, buildings and streets absorb heat faster and on the entire surface area. Surfaces receive direct light beam with maximum heat and they also absorb the small reflected heat by surrounding materials. Likewise heating process the cooling process at night is also faster because the large space between buildings does not trap the warmth and allows air circulation. Lack of vegetation As previously mentioned, increasing urbanization alters the local landscape and most importantly it is done in many ways that really trap a lot of heat. Most of the city’s area is covered with different materials which obstruct the growing of vegetation and prevent the ingress of water in the soil. Therefore the natural circulation process of water in atmosphere is completely changed and it becomes a general concern only when it is too late for changing. As a result, city’s top view in general looks like a mass of concrete combined with asphalt and with not too many little green spots as parks. Therefore, cities are considered hotspots of heat also due to the lack of grass and trees. Vegetation provides moisture and shade which helps lower the surface and air temperature. Open land is a living component compared to concrete and asphalt and it is cooler due to water infiltration high albedo. When sun is shining the water is released from the ground and it cools the surfa ce and also the air by providing humidity. Effects The most obvious effect of urban heat island is that it increases the annual mean temperature of the city. Increased surface heat, especially during summer, can pose a threat to indoor temperatures as well. When a building is designed, faà §ades and roofs are projected to act as an envelope that protects the indoor for outdoor in normal circumstances. But the envelopes’ outside materials are exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day. When the outside surfaces reach abnormal high temperatures hotter than air temperature, no matter how well the walls and roofs are insulated, the indoor air is affected. As a result, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems (HVAC) are overused and the energy consumption of the building is increasing. Figure 2‑j Heat bubble effect on clouds The urban heat island can be represented as a heat bubble which incorporates the city. â€Å"When a normal cloud hits the heat bubble it can expand up to two times and can blow up about the half way through. This leads to an increase in precipitations and sometimes the midtown can see up to two times more rainfalls quantity than areas surrounding it.†[7] 1 | Page [1] Quote from Elliot, M. (Director), 2013. The urban heat island explained on The Weather Channel [2] Howard, L., 1818-20. The climate of London: deduced from Meteorological Observations, made at different places in the neighborhood of the metropolis (1st ed., Vol. I). London [3] Quote from Wikipedia, 2001. Urban heat island. [online] [4] Quote from Wikipedia, 2003. Radiative cooling. [online] [5] Quote from Upton, J., 2014. To cool cities, build them tall and shiny. [online] [6] Paragraph information from Kusaka, H., Kimura, F., 2004. Thermal Effects of Urban Canyon Structure on the Nocturnal Heat Island: Numerical Experiment Using a Mesoscale Model Coupled with an Urban Canopy Model. American Meteorological Society. [7] Quote from Elliot, M. (Director). (2013). The urban heat island explained on The Weather Channel

The Theme of Darkness in Conrads Heart of Darkness Essays -- Heart Da

The Theme of Darkness in Conrad's Heart of Darkness Works Cited Not Included It has been said that although Conrad may not have been 'the greatest novelist, he was certainly the greatest artist every to write a novel';. I feel that this is an apt description of Conrad's writing style in Heart of Darkness (1902), as he paints many verbal pictures by using expressive words and many figurative descriptions of places and people. An extensive use of words relating to colour, is evident throughout the novella. The idea of darkness (and light) is emphasized from the title of the novella, and continues to play an important role throughout in the story . My opinion is that Conrad felt that using 'darkness'; as a recurring theme throughout the story would be an effective tool because of the many connotations of darkness. Darkness can, for example, represents evil, the unknown, mystery, sadness or fear. Also important is the way darkness and light can be used to represent two opposite emotions or concepts. Light vs. dark can, for example, represent good vs. evil, the civilized vs. the uncivilized, illusion vs. reality or assumption vs. fact. We know from the start of the novella that the darkness that Conrad refers to is symbolic, because, while the silent narrator aboard The Nellie comments on the many lights emanating from the shore, the lighthouse, the other boats and the setting sun, Marlowe comments that they themselves are in 'one of the dark places of the earth';. Therefore we know that Marlowe has his own opinion and explanation of what the darkness is, and if we assume that this story is autobiographical, and Marlowe is a mouthpiece for Conrad, then this explanation actually indicates Conrad's personal views on what the darkness is. Nigerian novelist, Chinua Achebe attacked Heart of Darkness as racist. He felt that Conrad used the darkness to symbolise the negative character of Africa, and objected to the novel as a manifestation of 'white racism over Africa'; (Achebe, 1975). I do not agree with this view of the novella as a purely racist piece of literature. I feel that, although Conrad did live in a time when some forms of racial prejudice were so commonplace that they seemed almost natural, he wrote the novella essentially as 'an expose of imperialist rapacity and violence'; (Cedric Watts). Several times throughout the novella he refers to co... ...ces to light when describing her appearance indicates that her civilisation is part of her. As the room grows darker, they delve deeper and deeper into the truth. Eventually, Marlowe lies to her about Kurtz's last words because he feels that she would never have been able to deal with the truth, that 'it would have been too dark, too dark altogether';. Conrad wrote the novella Heart of Darkness because through his story he shows how two sides of the world could be as different as white and black. Africa was dark ? much more natural and closer to the moment of creation than the West, which had tried to progress by creating it's own light ? religion, social beliefs and technology. Marlowe's journey led him to Kurtz, who existed at the very heart of darkness because he had succumbed to it's conquering power, and, in Western terms, regressed to the level of the natives in the land. He shows his belief in the triumph of darkness over light by using the word 'darkness'; it in the title of the book. This shows that he believes that the way the Western World existed in the time of the writing of the novella was very unstable, and would only sink further into darkness as time passed.

Role of Nature in the Poetry of Keats and Wordsworth Essay -- Poetry An

Nature played an important role in all works of the Romantics but I believe it is John Keats and William Wordsworth who understood not nature in themselves but themselves in nature. As Wordsworth once said: "the feeling therein developed gives importance to the action and situation and not the action and situation to the feeling." 1 Both Keats and Wordsworth understood that the most complex feelings and emotions can be described and understood when related with a simple act of nature. With a simple gust of wind we are given a glimpse into an author's soul as it is used to convey thoughts, feelings and moods of an author. In Keats' "The Eve of St. Agnes" the wind is used not only to set the scene of a stormy night but also I think as a way to describe Porphyro's ecstatic heart. "Flutter'd in the besieging wind's uproar; / And the long carpets rose along the gusty floor."2 You can imagine as they are running through the halls and out the door how his heart must be leaping with both joy and fear. As the wind tugs at the tapestries on the walls and lifts the carpet from the floor his heart may feel tugs of guilt for whisking her away and also freedom and joy. In Keats' poem, "To Autumn" the wind is personified with these words, "...as the light wind lives or dies..."3 As the wind picks up and comes to life with motion and character it can also slow and cease as will life. I believe Keats relates his feelings of life and death to the seasons of nature in this poem. To me this poem seems to end abruptly, perhaps because I know the winter season is yet to come but it makes me wonder if perhaps Keats found peace as he was writing and decided to just leave it at that. When reading this poem in particular I feel Keats' inspiration ... ...ps something much more solid underneath. After speaking to the old man, Wordsworth confirms this realization as he says "I could have laughed myself to scorn to find / In that decrepit Man so firm a mind"15 and Wordsworth ends the poem with a sense of comfort on "the lonely moor".16 During their times both men found solace in their writing. And while they wrote they drew inspiration, motivation and an understanding of what was in their hearts by observing what was in their surroundings. Nature played an important role not only in their imagery but also by giving them something to relate and compare their thoughts and feelings to. Not only did they reach an understanding of themselves through nature but we were left with an understanding of them through the simple, timelessness of nature. "To her fair works did Nature link / The human soul that through me ran".17

Intimate Partner Violence Essay

Intimate partner violence is sometimes common in relationships, and many partners in the relationship, usually the male, will demonstrate acts of violence against his mate. There are various categories where violence falls, such as stalking, mental abuse, sexual abuse and physical abuse. We can find intimate partner violence in all groups of people which include, economic, social, ethnic, racial and many types of cultural group. Acts of violence can take place between one individual in the relationship or both. Usually there are links between intimate partner violence and different aspects that generally affect the relationship, where economic, psychological and social conditions contribute to the number of incidents reported to authorities. The impact of intimate partner violence varies, usually in the type and severity of abuse. Individuals who are vulnerable due to physical, psychological, economic, or social conditions or who have experienced prior victimization may be even more severely affected than those with financial resources, good health, favorable environments, and no other significant stressors or health problems. However, intimate violence can be traumatic for anyone. In some cases, the effects of prior intimate partner violence can be triggered for the first time or after a long period of remission months or years after the actual occurrence of violence has stopped. Intimate partner violence needs to be further investigated to find solutions. We learn from the Department of Justice Statistics Report, that â€Å"Statistics about intimate partner violence (IPV) vary because of differences in how different data sources define Intimate Partner Violence, (IPV). For example, some definitions include stalking and psychological abuse, and others consider only physical and sexual violence. Data on IPV usually come from police, clinical settings, nongovernmental organizations, and survey research. † There are many definitions of violence, and this is taken into consideration when statistics are completed. We also learn that, â€Å"Most IPV incidents are not reported to the police. About 20% of IPV rapes or sexual assaults, 25% of physical assaults, and 50% of stalkings directed toward women are reported. Even fewer IPV incidents against men are reported (Tjaden and Thoennes 2000a). Thus, it is believed that available data greatly underestimate the true magnitude of the problem. While not an exhaustive list, here are some statistics on the occurrence of IPV. In many cases, the severity of the IPV behaviors is unknown. † We are told by (Heise and Garcia Moreno, 2002) that, â€Å"Traditional gender norms (e. g. , women should stay at home and not enter workforce, should be submissive)† There are many males who often desire for their partners to stay out of the social and workforce realm and often violence is acted out toward spouses when they don’t give up any social attachments. Heise and Moreno tell us that, â€Å"Some factors that are common in intimate relationships that are violent include: 1. Couples with income, educational, or job status disparities 2. Dominance and control of the relationship by the male 3. Some community factors associated with intimate violence are: 4. Poverty and associated factors (e. g. , overcrowding) 5, Low social capital—lack of institutions, relationships, and norms that shape the 6. Quality and quantity of a community’s social interactions 7. Weak community sanctions against IPV (e. g. , police unwilling to intervene)† We learn from The Federal Government Source for Women‘s Health Information (womenshealth. gov. 2006) that, â€Å"One in four women report that they have been physically assaulted or raped by an intimate partner. These crimes occur in both heterosexual and same-sex relationships. Physical and emotional trauma can lead to increased stress, depression, lowered self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorder (an emotional state of discomfort and stress connected to the memories of a disturbing event). † We also learn that, â€Å"Violence against women by anyone is always wrong, whether the abuser is a current or past spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend; someone you date; a family member; an acquaintance; or a stranger. You are not at fault. You did not cause the abuse to happen, and you are not responsible for the violent behavior of someone else. † No matter who commits the violence in the relationship, (male or female), or the age of the victim in the intimate partnership, it is wrong. We also learn that, â€Å"Women of all ages are at risk for domestic and intimate partner violence and face similar challenges when trying to leave an abuser, like feelings of shame and money concerns. However, women who are 55 years and older and are abused face unique challenges. These women grew up and married during a time when domestic abuse was often ignored. Now, at an older age, they have endured many years of abuse and may have problems with poor self-image and shame. Older women who have been abused also are less likely to tell anyone about it; have health problems that keep them dependent on their abusive partner; feel committed to caring for their abusive aging partners; and are fearful of being alone. † We also learn from sources with the Department of Health and Human Resources that, â€Å"Many individuals who are abused in the relationship often stay because they feel obliged to stay out of loyalty or because of fear. Violence in the home doesn’t just affect the person being abused; it affects everyone in the home, including children. Children may witness abuse in a number of different ways. 1. They may be in the room and see their mother being abused. 2. They may hear their parents fighting. 3. They may see the aftermath of the abuse when they see their mother’s bruises. Studies have shown that children who grow up in violent homes are more likely to withdraw and have behavioral problems. As they get older, these children often blame themselves for not stopping the abuse. This can lead to further withdrawal, depression, and substance abuse. Children who grow up in abusive homes are more likely to become abusers or be abused themselves. A boy who grows up with a father who beats his mother tends to see women as weak and submissive and repeat the cycle of abuse in his own relationships. A girl who sees the abuse of her mother is likely to think that abuse is part of a normal relationship and become involved with an abuser herself. Intimate Partner Violence needs to be addressed. Too many individuals fall victim to this type of violence in a partnership and studies show that many factors contribute to this abuse. Many individuals who have never been in an abusive relationship wonder, â€Å"Why doesn’t she leave? † There are many reasons why individuals may not leave an abusive relationship. She may possess little or no money and have no way to ultimately support herself and her children or she may reach out for help only to find that all the local domestic violence shelters are full. She may not be able to contact friends and family who could help her. Or she may worry about the safety of herself and her children if she leaves. There must be resources for these individuals to turn to when violence is apparent in the intimate relationship. If you are being abused or have a loved one who is being abused, get help. Don’t ignore it. It won’t go away. Keep in mind, you’re not alone. Many women are victims of domestic abuse. There is help out there for victims of domestic abuse in intimate partner relationships. Contact your local women’s shelters in your area for advice and protection. Without help, abuse will continue and could worsen. Many resources are available to help you understand your options and to support you. No one deserves to be abused Typically each time the abuse occurs, it worsens, and the cycle shortens. Breaking this pattern of violence alone and without help is difficult. It’s always important to recognize that you may not be in a position to resolve the situation on your own. You may need outside help, and that’s OK. Without help, the abuse will likely continue. Leaving the abusive relationship may be the only way to break the cycle. Reference Page Heise, L, Garcia-Moreno. (2002) †Violence Against Intimate Partners†. World Report on Violence and Health. P. 87-121 The Department of Health & Human Services. (2006). â€Å"Violence Against Women†. womens health. gov. Tjaden, Thoennes P. (2000). â€Å"Full Report: Violence Against Women Report†. Department of Justice.

How The Internet has Affected the Music Industry Essay

When Tim-Berners Lee dreamt up the, then, crazy idea, of an inter-global network, I’m sure very few people had the same optimism in believing that it could happen in the future. Over the last ten years, the Internet has evolved from just web pages to e-mail, to online gaming, to viewing sport and film previews, and to buying and downloading music online. The Internet has now become one of the music industry’s greatest markets, estimated to reach over 25% of sales in five years. This may be true, yet the Internet is also one of the music industries greatest enemies. For some years now online shopping has been available to anyone with a credit card and an Internet connection. E-commerce retailers such as Amazon.com sell everything from garden tools, to C.D’s and mini-discs. It is only in the last couple years however, that online shopping has taken off. Before this the public and businesses alike had not been taking full advantage of this phenomenal asset, which has been proven to save companies millions. It was only with the creation of Windows 98 and other Internet programs that people were sure that their credit card numbers and personal details could not be viewed by another person, or ‘hacked’. Once this huge hurdle was overcome, the way we used the Internet and the effect it had on the music industry had changed forever. The close relationship between the Internet and the music industry has led to many dramatic revolutions. First of all it has changed the way in which we purchase music. It has also opened up a new medium for record companies and musicians to promote their music, and now consumers can listen to music via technology such as RealAudio. Also, with peoples Internet connections getting faster all the time, and now with the invention broadband Internet, you can listen to music through Internet Radio Stations whilst still surfing the Internet, a new technique called ‘streaming’. From a consumers point of view this is all excellent news, and I am sure there is yet more to come. But from the music industry’s perspective, not all of this new technology is helping their cause. Many areas of the music  industry have been affected in a bad way, areas such as musicians and record companies worry about copyrights, songwriters and music publishers also worry about copyrights, and distributors and high street retailers worry about sales, and they should be worried as C.D shipments went down by 7% in the first six months of 2002. Copyrights are based on control of the market: how and when a copyright work is used. So the Internet has changed the foundations of the music industry. Because it is so easy and inexpensive to create a website, this makes it easy to put someone’s copyrighted work on to your website and the Internet, therefore making it available for anyone to listen to or copy. As many consumers will still download this copyrighted music for free it is obvious that they do not believe that copyrights stand for much. This is all part of a much larger problem, controlling the distribution of copyrighted music on the Internet, a task that surely is near impossible with so many websites committing copyright fraud. The most famous example of copyright fraud occurred on June 1, 1999. With Microsoft’s supreme dominance over the computing industry and the Internet, not many other companies get a look in. In the end it took a first year university student called Shawn Fanning with the help of funding from his uncle to disrupt the balance of power. It was with the creation of an MP3 website called Napster that the public really took to downloading music from the Internet. Up until the formation of Napster, the technology had been available but had not really made it into the mainstream. You might say that it was Napster that revolutionised the way we obtain music from the Internet, not the new technology. There was however, one fatal flaw with this website. All the music that was being ‘shared’, had copyright to its name, and Napster was using these songs without paying the record companies. So on December 7, 1999, The Recording Industry Association of America sued Napster for copyright infringement. They were asking for damages of $100,000 each time a song was copied. This however did not stop Napster operating as normal, it was only when they were sued by the hugely popular rock band Metallica that Napster was prompted to take action, or at least look like they were taking action. It was on October 31, 2000 that Napster announced a new partnership with  Bertelsmann-RCA in which Bertelsmann put  £26,000,000 into Napster to keep it going. Then on July 26, 2001 a federal judge ordered to shut down Napster, but the music industry’s elation did not last long, just two days later it was up and running again. Now Napster is working together with major record companies EMI, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal to develop a system where consumers using the service will pay per song or a monthly subscription fee. This is a new system, which will attempt to benefit everyone. So despite the early indications that all this technology would go to waste, Microsoft, the record companies and Internet companies seem to have sorted themselves out. The Internet may have once been a huge enemy for the music industry, but it seems like the Internet is now on its way to having an extremely positive affect on the music industry.