The Salem Witch Hysteria Essays - Capital Punishment, Dead People

The Salem Witch Hysteria Essays - Capital Punishment, Dead People The Salem Witch Hysteria The Salem Witch Hysteria Specific purpose: To inform my audience about the Salem witch trials Thesis Statement: The Salem witch trials were a series of events that lead up to the hanging of 19 man and women in Salem Mass. I. Introduction- A. - The year, 1692. The place, Salem Mass. Imagine yourself a woman at home cooking dinner for your family. You peer out the window and find your husband finishing up his days work in the field while your children frolic about as the sun sets behind them. Or imagine yourself a man. Wiping the sweat from your brow as you hurriedly finish up a long days work with anticipation of dinner with the family. Now your at the dinner table , across from your husband or wife. You discuss the weather, how the day went , and the Reverend's most recent Sunday sermon. Suddenly, there's a knock on your door. It's the town magistrate with a warrant for your arrest. You are charged with the crime of witchcraft, examined , then found guilty . If you confess, you spend a lifetime in prison. If you maintain your innocence, you're hung. This is similar to a common scenario of what happened at the Salem witch trials. B- The Salem witch trials were a series of events that eventually lead to the hanging of 19 men and women. They took place in Salem Mass. in the year 1692. C- Who were the accusers? Who where the people being charged? What were the out comes of the trials and why ? Let's start with how it all began. II How did it all begin?- A - Rev. Samuel Parriss' daughter Elizabeth, age 9, and niece Abigail Williams, age 11, had a slave that cared for them : TITUBA B - Tituba tells story from native land C - Girls love stories and start playing with it. Joined by other girls in town. D- On Jan. 16, 1692, started to have fits , seizures , and trance - like episodes. Soon after that the rest of the girls did too. E- Rev. Parriss brought in Dr. William Griggs who could diagnose no medical reason for girls behavior. Concluded girls under influence of Satan. F- Pray services and community fasting held by Rev. in hoped of relaying the evil forces that plagued them. In efforts to expose the witches John Indian baked a witch cake with rye meal and the afflicted girls urine. G- Pressured to identify the witches, girls named 3 woman. Tituba, Sarah Goode, and Sarah Osborne. H- Goode and Osborne maintained their innocence while Tituba confessed to seeing the devil. AND testified to a witch conspiracy in Salem. I- Judges John Hawthorne and Jonathan Corwin examined the 3 women. Once again only Tituba confessed to practicing witchcraft. J- Over the next few weeks, more and more people came forward with accusations III - Who were these new accusers? - A - Most of the new accusers relates to the Putman family B - Ann Putnam Jr. - one of the afflicted children Age 12, accused a total of 62 people of being witches. C - Thomas Putnam - Chief filer of complaints in the Town of Salem. Aided Anne Jr. In her accusations by taking her to court. D - Her mother Anne Putnam SR in court room as much as daughter with accusations. Coincidentally in court room, would become afflicted. E - Mercy Lewis- Servant to Putnam's 17 years old. Also on of the afflicted girls F - Mary Walcot- Ann jr. Best friend. Afflicted girl. G - All 5 girls, Ann Jr., Mercy, Mary, Abigail, and Elizabeth were involved in Tituba's story telling, voodoo practicing, and fortune telling IV Who were the people being charged ? A - The 1st people accused of witchcraft were Tituba, Sarah Goode and Sarah Osborne. Once again , Tituba confessed, while Sarah Goode and Osborne still maintained there innocence. B - Sarah Goode- a prime example of what caused a lot of the accusations. She was viewed as socially undesirable. Sarah 's actions and attitude caused friction amongst other community members and it was no wonder she was accused. C - The next to be convicted was Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse. Both were upstanding members of the community. Always

Foam Definition in Chemistry

Foam Definition in Chemistry A foam is a substance made by trapping air or gas bubbles inside a solid or liquid. Typically, the volume of gas is much larger than that of the liquid or solid, with thin films separating gas pockets. Another definition of foam is a bubbly liquid, particularly if the bubbles, or froth, are undesirable. Foam can impede the flow of a liquid and block gas exchange with air. Anti-foaming agents may be added to a liquid to help prevent bubbles from forming. The term foam may also refer to other phenomena that resemble foams, such as foam rubber and quantum foam. How Foam Forms Three requirements must be met in order for foam to form. Mechanical work is needed to increase the surface area. This can occur by agitation, dispersing a large volume of gas into a liquid, or injecting a gas into a liquid. The second requirement is that surfactants or surface active components must be present to decrease surface tension. Finally, the foam must form more quickly than it breaks down. Foams may be open-cell or closed-cell in nature. Pores connect the gas regions in open-cell foams, while closed-cell foams have enclosed cells. The cells are usually disordered in their arrangement, with varying bubble sizes. The cells present minimal surface area, forming honeycomb shapes or tessellations. Foams are stabilized by the Marangoni effect and by van der Waals forces. The Marangoni effect is a mass transfer along the interface between fluids due to surface tension gradient. In foams, the effect acts to restore lamellae (a network of interconnected films). Van der Waals forces form electric double layers when dipolar surfactants are present. Foams are destabilized as gas bubbles rise through them. Also, gravity pulls liquid downward in a liquid-gas foam. Osmotic pressure drains lamellae because of concentration differences throughout the structure. Laplace pressure and disjoining pressure also act to destabilize foams. Examples of Foam Examples of foams formed by gases in liquids include whipped cream, fire retardant foam, and soap bubbles. Rising bread dough may be considered a semisolid foam. Solid foams include dry wood, polystyrene foam, memory foam, and mat foam (as for camping and yoga mats). Its also possible to make a foam using metal. Foam Uses Bubbles and bath foam are fun uses of foam, but it has many practical uses, too. Fire retardant foam is used to extinguish fires.Solid foams may be used to engineer strong yet light materials.Solid foams are excellent thermal insulators.Solid foams are used to make flotation devices.Because solid foams are light and compressible, they make an excellent stuffing and packing material.A closed-cell foam called a syntactic foam consists of hollow particles in a matrix. This type of foam is used to make shape memory resins. Syntactic foams are also used in space and deep-sea exploration.Self-skin or integral skin foam consists of a dense skin with a lower density core. This type of foam is used to make shoe soles, mattresses, and baby seats.

Entrepreneuship-creating a business opportunity(nutrition restaurant) Essay

Entrepreneuship-creating a business opportunity(nutrition restaurant) - Essay Example I have always had an interest in cooking and serving people. Thus a restaurant was the best idea. Because starting the company should also be in consideration. My finances are not enough at the moment and starting up a business would be a good source of income and has an added advantage. It is what I love doing thus no stress for me while undertaking this activity. The time for starting the company should be perfect so as to make maximum profit from it (Osnabrugge and Robinson 2000). Summertime is a perfect time to open the Chinese nutrition restaurant in London as many people are on holiday. A nutritional restaurant was the best choice as there is non-other on Middlesex Street, London (Hisrich 2011). Many people are trying to live a healthy life, and a Chinese Nutritional Restaurant would be the best choice of business. Prior to the start of any business, it is important to look at the macro market. The initials PESTEL helps a person decide how best to set up the business. The political, economic, and social environment determines the success of a company. The area should have a healthy political environment (Johnson 2005). The rate of transactions that go on in Middlesex Street makes it a perfect location to set up the business. It is an area that has many economic and social activities, thus guarantee customers (Shane 2000). The kind of business one chooses should have the latest technological advancement in them so as to serve the customers better. The business should also be legal and follow all the government’s requirements before going into it. A nutritional restaurant meets all the above specifications and would be a good idea. The street is perfect for the restaurant and would ensure profit for the owner of the restaurant (Stevenson and Jarillo 2007). Four critical factors determine the success of a business, these factors are customer, competition, company and confederations. One should identify the customers before putting up the business. A

Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Interview - Essay Example The focus on the interview was on police related concerns, specifically how, as police officers, they try to keep the campus safe. According to Officer Williams, they have the 222tip line that helps the police in effectively locating the person that on the verge of committing a crime or someone who was reported to have apparently brought a weapon on campus or is engaging in aggressive behavior such as bullying. Officer Williams was noted to come from Navasota, Texas; but was acknowledged to reside in Houston, Texas. He disclosed that he came to live in Houston, where initially, he said that he worked at an instruction company. After he had a family, he said that he decided to pursue a career in law enforcement through attending the University of Houston Police Academy. He remembered and relayed that he graduated top of class and signified that it was a great day for him. He said that he felt like he can make more money and aptly prepare for the future of his family. Likewise, he also emphasized that he wanted to help others who are in need of any form of assistance. After graduation, he relayed that he decided that he wanted to work for the School District so he can help children in school; especially those who become victims of bullying. Also, through focusing on issues that are related to the behavior of children within the campus, he noted that he could also be of assistance to the ones with behavioral problems and manifestation or tendencies to commit a crime. Officer Williams stated that the numbers of bullying is high in the school district and he keeps trying his very best to make sure that the students understand what can happen when someone is bullied; such as risking injuries that could also lead to physical, emotional and psychological infliction of harm. So he said that he makes sure that he focuses on issues pertaining to bullying with the aim of ultimately minimizing these incidents or ultimately putting a stop to them. One’s personal

ICT Notes Case Essay Example for Free

ICT Notes Case Essay Whenever personal details or other private information is stored about people, it is regulated by the data Protection Act and organisations storing such information must register with the data protection bureau. It gives rights to data subjects (i.e. in this case the patients who have specific data about themselves stored on the health centre system). Data is subject to 8 main regulations to protect the rights and privacy of individuals. These are: 1. Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully. 2. Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes. see more:annual function speech 3. Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose for which it is used. 4. Personal data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date. 5. Personal data shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for the specified purpose. 6. Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects under the act (patients have the right to view and correct information held, except in cases of crime or certain government agencies). 7. Data holders should have appropriate measures in place to protect the data against loss, theft or corruption. 8. Personal data shall not be transferred to a country outside the EEC unless that country ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights of data subjects. Computer Misuse Act 1990 This law was introduced to cope with the problems of computer hackers and viruses. The Act was introduced to recognise these three offences: 1. Unauthorised access to computer material If a member of the health centre staff uses another staff members password to log onto their user area, this is illegal. Even if they dont change, delete or damage anything, they are still guilty of accessing materials without authorisation and this is illegal. 2. Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate a crime The difference between this and the first offence is that the person gaining access to someone elses system is doing so with the sole purpose of doing something illegal e.g. fraud, blackmail etc. This might mean that they had to guess or steal the password in order to get into someones user area or their bank account. 3. Unauthorised modification of computer material This offence relates to the deletion or changes made to files with the intent to cause damage to an individual or to the health centres computer system. This offence also covers planting viruses to other peoples systems. Writing a virus technically isnt a crime; but if you knowingly transmit a virus to others, you are guilty under this section of the Computer Misuse Act. Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1989 This act was passed to make it illegal to copy files, software etc without permission. The law can be broken in three ways: 1. Using software without a proper licence. The health centre must ensure it purchases a site licence which allows everyone at the centre to use the software. 2. Using text or images from the internet and using them without the copyrights owners (the authors) permission or acknowledging where the health centre got them from. 3. A member of staff copying a computer program at the health centre and then running it on their computer at home without permission from the copyright holder. 4. Health and Safety Issues Relating to Computer Use The health centre must ensure under the Health and Safety Regulations 1992 that they provide a safe working environment for anyone using computers. The health centre must :Ensure that the computer equipment is safe. 1. Ensure workstations meet the required standards for health and safety i.e. provide proper computer chairs, foot supports, lighting etc. 2. Plan work so the staff have regular breaks which allow them to do non-computer work. 3. Pay for regular eyesight tests for staff using computers regularly. 4. Provide health and safety training and information to all staff. There are various health problems associated with the regular use of computers. Here are some of the most common problems and what can be done to reduce the risks: Health Problem Cause Solution Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) * Repetitive finger, hand or arm movements. * Poor posture. * Badly designed workstations. * Ensure wrists are straight and elbows are close to your sides when typing. * Ensure posture is correct. * Take regular breaks. Eye strain * Staring at the VDU for long periods. * Poor lighting, glare from the screen, flickering screen. * Use a screen filter to reduce glare and keep your eyes at least 18 inches away from the screen. * Ensure appropriate lighting. * Have regular eyesight tests. * Take regular breaks. Back/Circulation problems * Poor posture. * Sitting all day in front of a computer. * Ensure posture is correct. * Take regular breaks and walk to improve circulation. The use of ICT when Paying Staff WagesStaff at the health centre are paid using a computerised system and their wages are paid straight into their bank account. The benefits to the health centre for having a computerised system: 1. It is quicker and more accurate than calculating wages manually. 2. The added security that wages are paid straight into bank accounts i.e. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) money is transferred from the health centres account to the individual staff members account. Employees at the health centre are paid weekly. Payroll uses a system called batch processing, this is where all data is stored up and then all processed together. In order to calculate how much each employee should be paid the following inputs, processing and outputs must take place. Inputs Processing Outputs Employee payroll number, name, address, DOB, marital status, N I number, hourly rate/annual salary, pension details, holiday entitlement, days off sick etc * Employee record will be read by the system. * Each employee will be paid by the system. * Each employee record will be updated by the system * The payslip * Money is transferred from the health centre bank account to each employees bank account. * Report for the health centre detailing updates, payment etc Methods of Maintaining Data SecurityData is invaluable to the health centre if they lose their data it is very hard to replace. Loss of data would cripple the health centre in the short term and may even jeopardise its existence as a service. Measures must therefore be in place to ensure data security. Security can be viewed in terms of physical security, access security and data security.Physical Security Equipment can be made more secure by: 1. Keeping a record of all serial numbers on each piece of equipment and mark the health centres name and postcode on all equipment so the police can identify stolen property easily. 2. The health centre could have a security alarm system and surveillance system on the building as well as ensuring that windows and doors are locked after surgery hours to prevent access. 3. The closing of blinds on windows and switching off monitors at night will make the computers less visible. 4. The use of fireproof doors and smoke alarms will help reduce the risk of fire in the building. Access Security Vast amounts of data is lost due to carelessness by employees e.g. not saving work, deleting files by accident, not saving files with sensible file names and therefore are difficult to find etc. Limiting each employees access to the system with help to ensure against the loss of data to the health centres system. 1. Password -this is still the major line of defence. Restrictions can be imposed on length of password and restrictions on the times a user can access the system. 2. Firewall this is a piece of software which sits between the health centres network and the rest of the internet. It will monitor the system for any breaches of security and protect the health centres information and computing resources by allowing only messages conforming to certain protocols (agreed set of rules) to be sent/received. 3. Anti-Virus Programs this software is used to detect viruses and to limit the damage by removing them. Data Security To prevent the loss of patients records etc the health centre needs to ensure that regular back-ups are made of the data on the system using suitable backing storage (also known as secondary storage). Types of Backing Storage Name of Device Advantages Disadvantages Hard Disks * Large storage capacity 20 gigabytes or more. * Faster to access * Any problems with the hard drive may mean all data stored on it will be lost Floppy Disks * Small and portable * Data can be transferred easily between different computers. * Disks can be made read-only which will reduce the chances of data being accidentally overwritten. * Small storage capacity 1.44 megabytes. * Accessing data is slow * Being floppy it is easily damaged Optical Disks e.g. CDs DVDs * Direct access to the data. * Faster to access * CD-Rs only allow data to be written onto them only once The above list is not exhaustive and you should explore other alternatives.Website Design and Hosting There are many reasons why businesses or individuals have a website. In the case of the health centre it has a website to provide information and services to patients e.g. providing advice on minor ailments, surgery hours etc. Some other purposes of having a website: Type of Site Reason Personal * Sharing pictures/stories with friends and family Business * Inform customers of their products/services * Company news, events etc * Recruit staff E-Commerce * Advertising their products/services for sale * Offering home shopping facilities Educational * Offer information on training * On-line encyclopaedias News and Entertainment * Latest world news * Sports information A website is made up of one or more web pages. A web page is created by writing code in a language called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) which was developed especially to create web pages. There are many web page designs. Most good web pages share some common elements: Web Page Element Its Purpose Banner This is the area at the top of the page and is often the same on all the other pages of the web site. It may contain a company logo, search box etc Menu System This area provides navigation around the site Content Area The main content of the web page is here. It may contain, text, images, sound etc. Footer This area will often contain copyright notices, terms and conditions etc. Navigation (method of moving around the site) is important especially if the site is made up of several web pages. There are 3 main methods to of using navigation: 1. The Hyperlink when you click your mouse on a navigation hyperlink it will take you to another page. This page could be on the same website or a different website (external link). 2. The Menu System the navigation menu gives you a choice of which page you want to view next. A menu is a set of hyperlinks grouped together. There are various menu styles such as a side menu which normally sits on the left hand side of the page. 3. Hotspot this is an area on the web page which when clicked will allow you to jump to another page. It is a way for the designer to make the hyperlink invisible or for them to allow you to click on an image in order to jump somewhere else. When you hover your mouse over a hotspot the cursor changes to a little hand There are a number of ways to create and design a web page: Design Methods Software Advantages Disadvantages Straight from a Microsoft Office application * Word * PowerPoint * Simple, just save as a web page * Can only create a basic page Text Editor * Notepad * Low cost as Notepad is free with windows * You have to know a lot about HTML code * Easy to make a mistake as all the code is written by hand Web Authoring Package * Microsoft Front Page * Macromedias Dreamweaver * It will provide ready made templates * Easy to add/remove pages without breaking the site navigation * Expensive * Takes time to learn In order for other people to see the health centres web site it must be placed on a web server. This is called hosting. A web server is made up of 2 things: * A computer * Running on the computer is a piece of software called web server software. The website is loaded on the servers hard disk, when a request is made to view a web page from the health centres site the server finds it on the hard disk and sends a copy to the computer that has made the request. The WWW is made up of millions of web servers, each connected to the internet. In order to view the health centres website, the requesting computer must be running another piece of software called the web browser. The Use of Systems Flowcharts Flow diagrams are a way to work out the best order to do something. System flowcharts show exactly how the data moves e.g. the health centre could produce a system flowchart to create a new patient record. The main symbols used to develop flowcharts are: Start/End The terminator symbol marks the starting or ending point of the process. It usually contains the word Start or End. Process A box can represent a single step (add two cups of flour), or and entire sub-process (make bread) within a larger process. Decision A decision or branching point. Lines representing different decisions emerge from different points of the diamond. Input/Output Represents material or information entering or leaving the process, such as customer order (input) or a product (output). Flow Line Lines indicate the sequence of steps and the direction of flow. Data storage Indicates a step where data gets stored. For Example Save Orders Delay Indicates a delay in the process. For example Wait 1 day There are benefits and drawbacks to using system flowcharts. Here are some of them: Advantages Disadvantages Flowcharts are good way to communicate the details of a process to all concerned e.g. programmers use them to write commands that will create the computer system. Some processes are so complex that it becomes difficult to represent them clearly in a flowchart. Flowcharts can help people analyse problems, highlight bottlenecks and is a good way to document a process. If an alteration needs to be made to the system, the flowchart usually needs to be redrawn. If it is a complicated flowchart, this can require a lot of work. Flowcharts enable an organisation to have a record of standard business processes. People need to understand what the flowchart means and what the different symbols represent. You cannot give a flowchart to a novice and expect them to understand it. The Use and Analysis of Survey Data The goal in any survey is to collect accurate and complete information. In order for a survey to be effective and provide meaningful data it should be conducted in a uniform manner i.e. all respondents must be asked the same question in the same way. Conducting a face-to-face interview and the completion of a questionnaire are 2 popular ways information is collected. Advantages/Disadvantages of Interviews Advantage Disadvantage Questions are fully completed as respondents can clarify points further with the interviewer. Interviews have to be pre-planned. A time and a place has to be convenient to both individuals. An individual may cancel. Detailed information can be gathered in a variety of formats e.g. written, voice recorded. Interviews can cause a change in behaviour and respondents may feel pressurised into giving an answer they would normally not give. The interviewer can give feedback to the respondent e.g. Thats important to know. This can be used to keep the respondent talking and therefore is likely to give more in-depth answers. Interviews are time consuming, costly and information taken by the interviewer may be too detailed, illegible etc Advantages/Disadvantages of Questionnaires Advantage Disadvantage Can reach a geographically wide spread area. Poor completion and return rate. Many people can be reached in this way quickly and cheaply Points cannot be clarified further and writing may be illegible. Easy to conduct statistical analysis on. If they are simple they have little information. If they are complex they may be difficult to understand. The health centre relies on information being up-to-date and accurate in order to plan or make decisions in the short/long term e.g. depending on the number of patients the health centre has will dictate the number of doctors it has on call. The type of information gathering techniques used will depend on the type of information required: * Quantitative information This is based on numerical facts, figures and statistics e.g. number of patients who are male, sales figures etc. * Qualitative information This provides depth and detailed information. It takes into account views, judgements and opinions etc. The type of questions asked will determine the type of responses given: * Closed ended questions These can usually be answered by a simple yes or no. They are restrictive and can be answered in a few words e.g. does this answer your question? Or can I help you? * Open-ended questions They require a more broad and lengthy answer and are used to gain more information from the respondent e.g. When you say [topic], what do you mean? Or What do you mean by [topic]? Hardware Software that could be used in a Health Centre Hardware Device Function Health Centre Applications Keyboard Input Patient detail input, database, spreadsheets. Mouse Input Most computer users prefer to use this. Scanner Input Scan hand written notes into the system (maybe from previous doctor). Digital camera Input Photo ID held on the system Temperature sensor (thermistor) Input (sensor) Environmental and safety control systems Smoke detector Input (sensor) Environmental and safety control systems Proximity detector Input (sensor) Environmental and safety control systems (doors) VDU Monitor Output Any application requiring Graphic User Interface (GUI) or information display. Receptionist: to up-date appointments Doctor: to view patients history Flat Screen VDU Output As above to save space LCD Display Output As above using laptops or in bright sunlight. Have limited viewing angle. Inkjet printer Output High quality low volume graphic publications and reports. Laser printer Output Volume printing such as welcome letters to new patients, mail shots to advise patients of changes in surgery hours etc. Dot matrix Printer Output Where multi copy output is required e.g. prescriptions. Software Programme Function Theatre Applications Database I/P Process O/P GUI Patient appointment system. Mail shot production. Spreadsheet I/P Process O/P GUI Financial analysis and reporting. Control programme I/P Process O/P GUI Environmental and safety control systems e.g. fire safety system. Word Processor I/P Process O/P GUI General office purposes. Patient letters and mail shots. Control Systems A control system is a system of hardware and software thats used to control the operation of a piece of equipment. Two types of control systems: * Dedicated: these are basic systems that carry out a pre-programmed set of instructions e.g. traffic-light system- lights change at fixed time intervals. * Computer-controlled: these use a computer to control the output device, and this computer can be connected to a sensor e.g. pressure pad sensor for automatic doors. Sensors measure physical qualities in the environment such as heat, light, pressure, sound etc. In order for a computer to control something there must be three things present: 1. A means of getting the information into the computer: An INPUT 2. Instructions for the computer to do something with the input: A PROCESS 3. It then has to be able to alter something in the outside world: An OUTPUT Most computer controlled systems use a feedback loop which is when information from a sensor is used to control the output device. The sensor sends signals back to the computer and the computer decides whether to make any changes based on this information. This happens again and again in the loop system. The flowchart below shows a loop system which represents a system for monitoring light levels outdoors and turning on a lamp when it gets dark (i.e. when the light intensity is less than 50 ona scale). Computer Controlled Systems Advantages Disadvantages Computers can respond instantly to changes. The system is expensive to purchase Systems can be running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Special software is needed. Computers can process data quickly and machines can operate faster than humans. If something unexpected happens, the system may not be able to think for itself. In the health centre the possible control systems are: A security alarm system which may have an infra-red sensor which sends a signal when the beam is broken. A heat sensitive sensor in the corner of a room which may detect the presence of a person. Temperature sensors which could be used to control the heating in the health centre. Analogue and Digital Signals Digital and analogue are two different types of transmission systems: * An analogue signal can be represented as a series of sine waves. The term describes any fluctuating or continually changing process. An example of an analogue signal would be the data sent along a telephone landline. An analogue sensor can take a range of values e.g. a heat sensor. * A digital signal has only two values On and Off. Data transmitted or stored with digital technology is expressed as a string of 0s and 1s. Each of these digits is referred to as a bit (and a string of bits that a computer can address individually as a group is a byte). An example of a digital signal would be the data sent into a television via a digital cable. An analogue sensor can only be On or Off e.g. pressure pad sensor. Computers cannot deal with analogue signals and therefore requires an analogue to digital converter (ADC).This is used to change the analogue data into digital data to allow the computer to process the information The ADC is connected between the sensor and the computers input/output port. Once the computer has processed the data, the output often has to be converted to an analogue signal and so a DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) is used. Database Systems used in a Health Centre A database is an organised collection of data which is organised into fields and records. The main benefit to the health centre for having a database is that it allows them to search quickly for specific patient information. Databases can be: * Flat-File All data is stored in one large table which can be viewed by opening one data file. It can be created using a database system or a spreadsheet. It is ideal for small amounts of data that needs to be human readable or edited by hand. With this type of system there is unnecessary duplicating of data which can mean that mistakes are more likely to happen during data input. * Relational Data is split up into sensible groups and then stored in separate tables. In the case of the health centre they could have a table with customer data, a table with appointment data etc. All the data is linked together by key fields and a database management system (DBMS). This means that data does not have to be duplicated. Relational databases also have built in functions which allow retrieval, editing and sorting of data to be much quicker.

Contractual Law: A Look at John and Chen Essay -- contract law, case st

a) What arguments could Chen use to support his refusal to pay John more than the original agreed price? A valid contract that is legally enforceable should consist of an offer, an acceptance, an intention to be bound and a sufficient consideration. Accordingly, the first contract formed by Chen and John includes John’s agreement to build for Chen extension of the house in consideration of payment of the price of building materials as per the date of completion of performance of the contract and labor costs of $6000 at the performance of the contract. First and foremost Chen needs to understand that this was the original contract and both him and John were legally bounded by the contract. By changing the terms of agreement, John made a counter offer a fact that Chen could use in his justification for refusal of payment. This is evident as John proposed a new term in the contract by demanding a payment of $10,000 or not doing the job as agreed in the original contract. A counter offer changes the terms of the original contract and at this time Chen had the right he terminate the contract due to John’s counter offer. As a matter of fact, it is worth noting that a counter offer fails to exist if the offeree accepts the new terms of the contract as Chen did but Chen can use it to argue that John had no intention to be bound by the original contract (Koffman and Mcdonald, 2007). Duress occurs in a contract when one party is made to engage in a contract that he otherwise did not want to engage in due to blackmails, threats of bring actual harm, and threats of withdrawal from the contract at the time it is urgently needed. The two types of duress currently existing is physical duress and economic duress and Chen can use econ... ...n argue that failure of his completion of the contract in time was out of circumstances that he could not control. In addition, John can argue that the breach of the term of completion of the building at June was contributed by Chens’s reluctance of acceptance of the second offer. References Books Adams, A. (2010). Law for Business Students. London, U.K : Longman Koffman, L. & MacDonald, E., (2007) The Law of Contract (6th Edition) : Oxford University Press, McKenDrick, E. (2005). Contract Law Text,. Cases and Materials (2nd Edition): Oxford University Press, Cases Bank of Australia Limited v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447 Goldsbrough Mort & Co Ltd v Quinn (1910) 10 CLR 674, Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp (Aust) Pty Ltd (1988) 5 BPR 11,110). Smith v William Charlick [1924] 34 CLR 38 The Mihalis Angelos [1970] 3 WLR 601

Financial statement analysis Essay

1. What is the purpose of financial statement analysis? The purpose of financial statement analysis is to provide information used by the business, potential creditors and investors. 2. If a company had sales of $2,587,643 in 1998 and sales of $3,213,456 in 2003, by what percentage did sales change during this time period? 24.18% a. If the company had a goal of increasing sales by 25% over a five-year period, did it meet its objectives? No b. If the company had set a goal of increasing sales by 28% during the next five years, what should be the sales goal for 2008? 4,113,223.68 3. List and briefly describe the five categories of business ratios. a. Liquidity ratios: Used to determine the company’s ability to pay off short-term debts. (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liquidityratios.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) b. Activity ratios: The ability to convert different accounts into cash or sales (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/activityratio.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) c. Leverage ratios: Used to get an idea of a company’s method of finance or measures it’s ability to meet financial obligations. (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/leverageratio.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) d. Market ratios: A ratio of a company’s book value to the market value. (http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Book-to-Market+Ratio) 4. Why might a company have a high current ratio but a low quick ratio (acid test ratio)? A company may encounter this when the current assets are dependent on inventory. (http://www.investopedia.com/university/ratios/liquidity-measurement/ratio2.a sp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) 5. If a company has beginning inventory of $30,000 and ending inventory of $55,000, compute its average inventory. If the cost of goods sold is $140,000, compute its inventory turnover and determine how many days the average item is in stock. The average inventory would be 42,500, and average days item is in stock 110.8 days. (http://smallbusiness.chron.com/calculate-inventory-conversion-period-11197.html) 6. A company computes its accounts receivable turnover to be 20. Based on this information, find the average collection period. If the company has a credit collection period of 30 days, explain the relationship between the credit collection period and the average collection period. Average collection period is 18.25. The relationship between the credit collection period and the average collection period is very good for this company. This company will receive payments owed to them prior to them having to pay whom they owe. (http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Ratio-Analysis.topicArticleId-21248,articleId-21213.html (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/average_collection_period.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) 7. A company finds that its fixed asset turnover (net sales/fixed assets) has fallen below one. What does this indicate? 8. If a company has $181,000 in total liabilities and $225,000 in total assets, what percentage of total assets is being financed with the use of other people’s money? 80.4 (http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Ratio-Analysis.topicArticleId-21248,articleId-21213.html) 9. Distinguish between gross profit margin, operating profit margin, and net profit margin and provide the formula for each ratio. (http://www.investinganswers.com/financial-dictionary/ratio-analysis/gross-profit-margin-2076) 10. Why is the operating return on assets ratio also referred to as the operating return on investment? The interest expenseis added to ignore the costs associated with funding those assets. ( http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/returnonassets.asp#ixzz2LZMFaFbY) 11. If a company’s stock is currently selling for $12 per share and its price/earnings ratio is 6, what are its earnings per share? 2 dollars What does this figure mean? This figure shows that on the market the shares are selling for $12 per share for stock in this company that’s net earning $2.00 per share of stock outstanding. (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/price-earningsratio.asp#axzz2LMPGyktQ) PE Ratio = Market Price / Earnings per share 6 = $12/Earnings per share Earnings per share = $12/6 = $2.00 12. Compare efficiency and effectiveness. 13. What is the difference between accounting profit and entrepreneurial profit? 14. What financial ratio is predominantly used to determine profitability? 15. Describe the earning power of a company. 16. How is financial leverage related to bankruptcy? 17. Compare Chapter 11 bankruptcy with Chapter 7 bankruptcy. What is the relationship among fixed costs, contribution margin, and the break-even point?

Mental Health Essay

Within this essay, I will examine the definition of mental health, as well as it’s connection in our daily lives. I will be discussing a particular mental health problem which is depression under mood disorder. By examining a scenario of a patient who I have looked after who is suffering from this mental problem, and the available treatment options. I am please to focus in this topic that made a real difference to people lives, most especially to the patients who are suffering the kind of mental illness. To understand fully what is mental health, let me first start by giving the definition of health. Health as define by the World Health Organization, â€Å"is a complete state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity†(WHO, 1948). By examining the definition, one cannot conclude that anyone who is seemingly healthy to their outer appearances but in fact may be there is a possibility that person may have hidden characteristics which may consider or regard them unhealthy. For instance, a person with normal vital signs, example of this is an individual with normal blood pressure of 120/80mmhg (Uren & Rutherford,2004) ,may be suffering from any degree of anxiety or depression. By assessing the physical health of a person is relatively easy by taking health measurement of the body. Nonetheless, mental and social aspects of health are much more difficult to determine. It needs a careful and complex assessment to conclude that the individual is mentally healthy. Mental health reflects a person approach or ability to adapt and respond to life by communicating emotions, giving and receiving ideas, working alone as well as with others, accepting authority, displaying a sense of humour and coping successfully with emotional conflicts (Shives & Issaacs p.6). Another definition of mental health is a state of wellbeing in which individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life productively and fruitfully, and to be able to make contribution to his or her community (World Health Organization, 2001). It is easy to disregard the intrinsic value of mental health until some unusual circumstances or behaviour is noticed. We live in the world full of challenges such as pressure from work, studies, family issues, financial difficulties, relationship problems and poor physical health. These are only few examples that affects individual to perceive and act accordingly to their surroundings. Mentally healthy people who achieve self-actualization are able to have positive self concepts and relate well to people and their environment, form close  relationships with others, make decisions pertaining to reality rather than fantasy, be optimistic and appreciate and enjoy life (Abraham Maslow, 1970). Problem solving occurs because people are able to make decision pertaining to reality rather than fantasy; they are able to appreciate and enjoy life; optimism prevails as they respond to people, places, and things in daily encounters; they are independent or autonomous in thoughts and action and rely on personal standard of behaviour and values such people are able to face with relative serenity and happiness circumstances that would drive other to self- destructive behaviour, they are creative, using a variety of approaches as they perform tasks or solve problem (cited in Shives, 2002). Mental illness cannot be viewed in isolation from physical functioning; the two are inseparable. Memory and cognition are mental functions, but because they are initiated in the brain, they are also physical function. A change in brain chemistry- a physical occurence, cause, perhaps by something as seemingly benign as stress- can cause changes in mental functions that manifest as anxiety, panic attacks, or depression. Physical and mental are two inseparable components of the complete human experience. In attempting to understand the complexities of mental illness, it is important to understand that physical and mental, that is, body and mind, cannot exist in isolation from one another ( Marie Thompson,2007 p.5) . Although scientist do not know exactly what causes mental illness, like cancer, mental illness can strike anyone and variety of causes. Scientist are certain that genetic vulnerability plays a role in many mental illness, since the risks of becoming ill is greater if you have a close relative who suffers from depression, bipolar illness, schizophrenia, anxiety or alcoholism among others. However, no specific gene has yet been isolated that causes any of this illness (James Hicks, 2005 p.2). Mental illness or mental disorders defined as an illness or syndrome with psychological or behavioural manifestation and /or impairment in functioning as a result of a social, psychological, genetic, physical/chemical, or biological disturbance ( The American Psychiatric Association). Depression is an important global public health problem due to both it’s relatively high lifetime prevalence and the significant disability that it cause. In 2002, depression accounted for 4.5% of the worldwide total burden of disease (in terms of disability- adjusted life year ). It is also responsible for the greatest proportion of burden attributable to non-fatal health outcome, accounting for almost 12% of the total years lived with disability worldwide. Without treatment, depression has the tendency to assume a chronic course, to recur, and to be associated with increasing disability overtime (World Health Statistics ,2007, p. 16). Depression is considered a disorder of mood (sometimes called an affective disorder, 2  signifying the disturbance of â€Å"affect†) in all widely used classification and diagnostic schemes. In general, a mood disorder represents a departure from what we might consider to be a typical mood state experienced by most persons most days of their lives. Depressive disorders are characterized by sad, guilty, remorseful, tired , withdrawn moods and the influence of these moods on a person’s day to day behaviour ( Sam Victor et al., p. 6 ). The term depression is used in variety of ways. In everyday language, it is commonly used to describe feelings of sadness or despondency. These feelings are part of normal emotion and may be the consequence of disappointments or failures. As a medical term, depression can refer to a symptom, syndrome or illness. In its usual clinical context, depression denotes a disorder of mood that is distinct from normality. Disorders involving abnormalities of mood used to be called manic-depressive but are now more often termed affective disorders. This is more accurate because only a minority of sufferers experience episode of both mania and depression (bipolar affective disorder) and most have recurrent episodes of depression only (unipolar depression) (Malhi, p.1). It is imperative to recognise the severity of depression as it can lead to life threatening such as suicide. Therefore ,it is important for health professionals to assess the potential risks for this. As presence of depression can sometimes not obvious to clinicians, some symptoms, when observed in combination with the others can clearly indicate that a person is in depression. Symptoms often associated with depressed states include early morning wakening, a feeling of grinding tiredness, loss of energy, loss of sexual interest in relationship, loss of appetite, feeling â€Å"down† and feeling of bad temper (Alexander et al, 1994). To maintain confidentiality the patient’s name has been changed to a pseudonym, in order to conform to the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct (NMC, 2008). I will call my patient Mrs. M is a 35-year-old woman who complained of feeling very low for the last 4 months but always attributes this from being tired from work. She was diagnosed with Sero-posivite Rheumatoid Arthritis five years ago but refused to be treated because she believes her joint pains and inflammation can be cured with only paracetamol . Not until her inflammation was uncontrollable and left some of her joints in hands and feet some deformities. Mrs. M. has a husband and two children who are still very young. She describes that the family relationship is good. She was brought up mostly of her childhood by her grandparents. Mrs. M. worked full-time as a Registered Nurse where she was admitted as a patient. Mrs. M has been in the hospital for some time due to the flare up of her disease and over a week I have looked after her. I can still remember when I first met her, the doctor ordered to give her intravenous steroids infusion. It has to be administered through her peripheral line in her right radial vein by Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT) (Anonymous, NHS Trust, 2007). This is the protocol to decrease risks of acquiring infection through intravenous lines. To observe how is this being done, I went with my mentor. At first, we greeted her and introduced ourselves. My mentor explained what we were about to do. I observed that Mrs.M. was calm and only answer when we speak to her. It was discussed by her doctor that after having been given steroids , inflammation of her joints will get better and so improve her mobility but she would have some side effects. Mrs. M. knew these will happen which made her felt hopeful but somehow low and upset. As a nurse herself, she was aware the medication would lower her immune system, could experience mood swings, difficulty sleeping at night, increase her appetite in eating and will contribute in gaining weight. I found it interesting as a student nurse to learn how to respond to a particular situation and observe a patient’s treatment can improve his/her disease or condition. Every shift I am working , I made sure I go and see Mrs. M. For me always visible and ready to listen to verbalise her concerns in consistent way will develop a rapport which I learned was very important in a nurse-patient relationship. I can remember there was a day Mrs. M. was feeling so happy and laughing telling me stories about her family in her own family, her favourite hobby making handicrafts and her experience being a nurse. She also told me how her strength differs prior to the diagnosis of her disease. There were times I saw Mrs. M. not interested in doing anything for the day. She was only lying down in bed crying frustrated in trying to get out of bed independently. She was irritated expressing she did not wish anybody to be near her if not her own doctor or assigned staff nurse. It has been reported she never sleeps soundly at night and always seen sitting at the bedside seemed in deep thoughts. The curtain around her bed was remained closed all the time. As her student nurse, I made sure I frequently checked and asked if she was needing any help. Whenever she was ready to speak , I was there for her. During one of my conversation with her , I have learnt that she used to be being independent with her activities of daily living and looking after her family. She rarely asked for other people’s help. Since she suffered from the disease, she had some deformities in different joints of her hands and feet which added to her mobility problems. She had mentioned to me how she felt frustrated when she cannot complete her household chores. Mrs.M. remembered the day told by doctor to commence on anti-depressant tablet because she was diagnosed with mild depression, she was very scared her family and friends to know. She had decided not to take any medication for her depression. After few days of looking after her she is somewhat different from our first meeting. She became more relaxed,expressing her interests in eating her food, more energy when meeting people, good eye contact and happy while  talking. To actively listen to Mrs. M was showing her that I can be always ready to listen and trusted like her family or close friend. Although some patients can be quite adamant to take medications for their depression , there are some that are referred for counselling. GP’s frequently find themselves in the position of providing emotional support, advice and counselling to depressed patients in an effort to give reassurance, warmth and encouragement . Indeed, this is probably the most common and effective treatment for the majority of patients with mild depression. In this situation, active listening is more important than advice-giving; paying attention to non-verbal and hidden messages as well as what the patient is expressing verbally, and feeling emp athy for their predicament. It should be noted that much of this support is provided by ministers of religion, voluntary agency and self-help support groups (Wilkinson, G.etal). According to my research for patient to be emotionally responsive, I found out some interventions that nurse can use independently without doctor’s order. Use a warm, accepting, empathic approach. Be aware of and in control of one’s own feelings and reactions (anger,frustration,sympathy). With depressed patient: Establish rapport through shared time and supportive companionship. Give the patient time to respond. Personalise care as a way of indicating the patients value as a human being. With the manic patient: Give simple, truthful responses. Be alert to possible manipulation. Set constructive limit on negative behaviour. Use a consistent approach by all health-team members. Maintain open communication in sharing of perceptions among team members. Reinforce patient’s self-control and positive aspects of patient’s behaviour (Stuart,G.,1998). Within this assignment, I am going to use (Gibbs, 1988) reflective cycle. I choose to use this cycle because it encourages a clear definition of this project. The analysis of the feelings, the evaluation and the way to make sense of the experience, and pla what needs to be done in the future. It has helped me demonstrate my ability to reflect on my personal experiences in doing this essay and gave the opportunities to explore my personal learning needs. Before I continue my reflective writing ,let me first discuss the importance of reflection. Reflection as defined by ( john, 2000 ) as a window through which a practitioner can view and focus self within the context of their own lives experience in a way that enable them to confront, understand and work towards resolving the contradictions within their practice. Knowing how to reflect is a process for making sense out of all experience (Taylor, 2000 ). For my first assignment, I have to write a reflective project based on what I have learned. We were asked a project focusing on the subject ,â€Å" What is mental health?†. At first, I was struggling to figure out what topic to write about the given subject. I started to collect data from vast resources of books but the more I read, it becomes more difficult to put my ideas into writing. I am getting more frustrated because I was making little progress. My idea was to sit down and write one long essay and then be finished early. Finally, I decided to write about depression. This essay was about a patient I have encountered and looked after who was diagnosed with sero- positive rheumatoid arthritis. When I wrote this assignment, I have to look back and remembered an interesting nursing experience. Writing this kind of essay was difficult and challenging in a way it was emotional and stressful due to time pressure in meeting deadline and juggling placements and family time. I felt more confident now in dealing with my personal issues as well as dealing with my patient’s physical and emotional needs. I think my writing has improve during this time because of all the different resources and help I have use. With regards to my future assignment, it has broaden my knowledge in constructing my essay. Instead of collecting vast materials to read, I will be more selective of materials to read and will more focus on the specific subject given. I will do more planning and thinking around the topic as much as pos sible. The benefit of this approach is that from the start, I can get the sense of the shape my essay will take. To the greater extent, I really enjoyed writing this essay because it is about the professional nursing field which I am pursuing through schooling. I believe that thru studies and placements, I wil develop my capabilities to be a good and proper nurse to help and support every person to be physically, emotionally, socially and mentally healthy. Because of the many things that I have learned and witness from nurses and nursing aids, I feel this reflective essay will help me in my future career. In conclusion, this reflective assignment demonstrates my ability to show and express my feelings concerning different kind of situations and difficulties while I am writing this project. By basing my own reflection using Gibbs reflective cycle, it gives me the chance to explore, to improve my skills and knowledge to have a better foundation for the nursing career I am aiming for. Through critical reflecting, I can learn from my mistakes and highlight my knowledge and expertise. Nurture yourself with good nutrition: Depression can affect appetite. Appetite is typically decrease and you may loose weight. Sometimes, although appetite is still decrease, you tendto eat for comfort and may gain weight. So you will need to be extra mindful of getting the right nourishment. Proper nutrition can influence a person’s mood and energy. Identify troubles, but don’t dwell on them: Try to identify any circumstances that have contributed to your depression. If you know what is the cause and you feel down, why not talk about it with a caring friend. Talking is a way to release the feelings and to receive some understanding. Focus yourself and look on the bright side: Depression affects a person’s thoughts, making everything seem dismal, negative, and hopeless. If depression has cause you negative outlook in life, make an effort to notice the good things life has to offer. Consider your strengths and blessings. Most of all, do not forget to be patient with yourself. Depression takes time to heal.

Dinah and Male-Dominated Biblical Narrative

Dinah and Male-Dominated Biblical Narrative One of the aptest historical criticisms of The Holy Bible is the way it fails to chronicle womens lives, abilities and viewpoints with the same effort it puts into mens lives. The story of Dinah in Genesis 34 is one of the best examples of this male-dominated narrative. A Young Woman at the Mercy of Men Dinahs story actually starts in Genesis 30:21, which tells of her birth to Jacob and his first wife, Leah. Dinah reappears in Genesis 34, a chapter that early versions of the Bible titled the rape of Dinah. Ironically, Dinah never speaks for herself in this significant episode of her life. In brief, Jacob and his family are encamped in Canaan near the city of Shechem. By now having reached puberty, teen-aged Dinah understandably wants to see something of the world. While visiting the city, she is defiled or outraged by the prince of the land, also called Shechem, who is the son of Hamor the Hivite. Although scripture says Prince Shechem is eager to marry Dinah, her brothers Simeon and Levi are enraged at the way their sister has been treated. They convince their father, Jacob, to exact a high bride price, or dowry. They tell Hamor and Shechem that it is against their religion to allow their women to marry men who are not circumcised, i.e., converts to the religion of Abraham. Because Shechem is in love with Dinah, he, his father, and eventually all the men of the city agree to this extreme measure. However, circumcision turns out to be a trap devised by Simeon and Levi to incapacitate the Shechemites. Genesis 34 says they, and possibly more of Dinahs brothers, attack the city, kill all the men, rescue their sister and despoil the town. Jacob is horrified and frightened, fearing that other Canaanites sympathetic with the people of Shechem will rise against his tribe in retaliation. How Dinah feels at the murder of her betrothed, who by this time may even have been her husband, is never mentioned. Rabbinical Interpretations Vary on Dinahs Story Later sources blame Dinah for this episode, citing her curiosity about life in the city as a sin since it exposed her to risk of rape. Shes also condemned in other rabbinical interpretations of scripture known as Midrash because she didnt want to leave her prince, Shechem. This earns Dinah the nickname of the Canaanite woman. A text of Jewish myth and mysticism, The Testament of the Patriarchs, justifies the anger of Dinahs brothers by saying that an angel instructed Levi to take revenge on Shechem for the rape of Dinah. A more critical view of Dinahs story holds the tale may be not historical at all. Instead, some Jewish scholars think Dinahs story is an allegory that symbolizes the way Israelite men conducted feuds against neighboring tribes or clans that raped or abducted their women. This reflection of ancient customs makes the story valuable, according to Jewish historians. A Feminist View of Dinahs Story In 1997, novelist Anita Diamant re-imagined Dinahs story in her book, The Red Tent, a New York Times best-seller. In this novel, Dinah is the first-person narrator, and her encounter with Shechem is not rape but consensual sex in anticipation of marriage. Dinah willingly marries the Canaanite prince and is horrified and grieved by her brothers vengeful actions. She flees to Egypt to bear Shechems son and is reunited with her brother Joseph, now Egypts prime minister. The Red Tent became a worldwide phenomenon embraced by women who longed for a more positive view of women in the Bible. Although entirely fiction, Diamant said she wrote the novel with attention to the history of the era, around 1600 B.C., particularly in terms of what could be discerned about the lives of ancient women. The red tent of the title refers to a practice common to tribes of the ancient Near East, in which menstruating women or women giving birth lived in such a tent along with their co-wives, sisters, daughters and mothers. In a question-and-answer on her website, Diamant cites work by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, who links the biblical law that keeps a mother separate from the tribe for 60 days upon the birth of a daughter as a sign that it is a sacred act for a woman to bear to another potential birth-giver. A subsequent work of non-fiction, Inside the Red Tent by Baptist scholar Sandra Hack Polaski, examines Diamants novel in light of both biblical story and ancient history, particularly the difficulties of finding historical documentation for womens lives. Diamants novel and Polaskis non-fiction work are completely extra-biblical, and yet their readers believe that they give voice to a female character whom the Bible never allows to speak for herself. Sources Giving Voice to Dinah Sermon given December 12, 2003, by Rabbi Allison Bergman Vann The Jewish Study Bible, featuring the Jewish Publication Societys TANAKH translation (Oxford University Press, 2004). Dinah by Eduard KÃ ¶nig, Emil G. Hirsch, Louis Ginzberg, Caspar Levias, Jewish Encyclopedia. Ten Questions on the Occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (St. Martins Press, 1997). Inside the Red Tent (Popular Insights) by Sandra Hack Polaski (Chalice Press, 2006)

Life and Work of Herbert Spencer

Life and Work of Herbert Spencer Herbert Spencer was a British philosopher and sociologist who was intellectually active during the Victorian period. He was known for his contributions to evolutionary theory and for applying it outside of biology, to the fields of philosophy, psychology, and within sociology. In this work, he coined the term survival of the fittest.  In addition, he helped develop the functionalist perspective, one of the major theoretical frameworks in sociology. Early Life and Education Herbert Spencer was born in Derby, England on April 27, 1820. His father, William George Spencer, was a rebel of the times and cultivated in Herbert an anti-authoritarian attitude. George, as his father was known, was the founder of a school that used unconventional teaching methods and was a contemporary of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles. George focused Herberts early education on science, and simultaneously, he was introduced to philosophical thinking through Georges membership in the Derby Philosophical Society. His uncle, Thomas Spencer, contributed to Herberts education by instructing him in mathematics, physics, Latin, and free-trade and libertarian political thinking. During the 1830s Spencer worked as a civil engineer while the railways were being constructed throughout Britain, but also spent time writing in radical local journals. Career and Later Life Spencers career became focused on intellectual matters in 1848  when he became an editor for  The Economist, the now widely-read weekly magazine that was first published in England in 1843. While working for the magazine through 1853, Spencer also wrote his first book,  Social Statics, and published it in 1851. Titled for a concept of August Comte, in this work, Spencer used Lamarcks ideas about evolution and applied them to society, suggesting that people adapt to the social conditions of their lives. Because of this, he argued, social order would follow, and so the rule of a political state would be unnecessary. The book was considered a work of libertarian political philosophy, but also, is what makes Spencer a founding thinker of the functionalist perspective within sociology. Spencers second book,  Principles of Psychology, was published in 1855 and made the argument that natural laws govern the human mind. At about this time, Spencer began to experience significant mental health problems that limited his ability to work, interact with others, and function in society. Despite this, he began work on a major undertaking, which culminated in the nine-volume  A System of Synthetic Philosophy. In this work, Spencer elaborated on how the principle of evolution had been applied within not only biology, but in psychology, sociology, and in the study of morality. Overall, this work suggests  that societies are organisms that progress through a process of evolution similar to that experienced by living species, a concept known to as social Darwinism. In the latter period of his life, Spencer was regarded as the greatest living philosopher of the time. He was able to live off of income from the sale of his books and other writing, and his works were translated into many languages and read all over the world. However, his life took a dark turn in the 1880s, when he switched positions on many of his well-known libertarian political views. Readers lost interest in his new work and Spencer found himself lonely as many of his contemporaries died. In 1902, Spencer received a nomination for the Nobel Prize for literature, but did not win it, and died in 1903 at the age of 83 years old. He was cremated and his ashes interred opposite the grave of Karl Marx in Highgate Cemetery in London. Major Publications Social Statics: The Conditions Essential to Human Happiness (1850)Education (1854)The Principles of Psychology (1855)The Principles of Sociology (1876-1896)The Data of Ethics (1884)The Man Versus the State (1884) Updated by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Plowshares and Pruning Hooks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Plowshares and Pruning Hooks - Essay Example The mode in which prophecies have been presented continues to hinder many people from understanding prophecies. The figurative languages used do not show any relevance and meaning even if confirmed from the dictionary1. Another problem that faces people who try to interpret prophecies is emotional language used in the prophecies. Most prophecies are full of emotions, exaggerations, excitement, and shock and this affects the manner in which different people interpret and understand prophecies. Another problem that affects prophecies is that God does not mention conditions in promised blessings. God in form of visions and dreams sends most prophecies. The ability to interpret the symbolic visions and dreams from the figurative language to words and writings also affects the level of interpretation of the prophecies. Interpretation ability therefore depends on the feelings and temperaments of the prophet in question. Most prophets in their writing employ the use of apocalyptic literatur e, which is quite different from prophecy but just a sub-genre under prophecy. The use of apocalyptic literature is full of emotions, which are aiming at attracting and capturing the interest of the reader or the audience. This literature has helped me in understanding the scriptures more. Most of us read this prophesies and expect that things will happen exactly the same way as indicated in the scriptures. This piece of literature has changed my interpretation and understanding of the prophecies. I now understand why God does not give conditions and exact timeline as to when His promises will take place. Proper understanding of the descriptive and figurative language has also contributed to my understanding and interpretation of the scriptures. Part 2: The Gospel According to Isaiah 53 by Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser Isaiah 2:1-22 The second chapter of Isaiah is written in form of a poem from the beginning to the fifth verse. Isaiah is praising God and giving his promises to Go d concerning the people of Israel. Poetry is amongst the seven key features that Isaiah uses in order to communicate his message and make the people of Israel to repent their evil ways and go back to God. The theme that Isaiah uses in his prophecy is the theme of anger. From verse six Isaiah is unhappy with the people of Israel for their continued disobedience to God. To express his anger, Isaiah goes to an extent of telling God not to forgive His people. Verse 9 â€Å"everyone will be humiliated and disgraced. Do not forgive them Lord†2. Isaiah also uses hyperbole in this prophecy in order to make people repent. In his prophecy he says that the Lord will destroy all the tall cedars of Lebanon and all the oaks of Bashan Isaiah 2: 13. In verse 14 of the same chapter, he says that the Lord will level all the mountains and hills due to His anger. In addition to this Isaiah uses exaggeration to communicate his message. He tells God that the Israelites land is full of silver and g old and therefore there is no end to their treasures. He also continues by arguing that their land is full of horses hence no end to their chariots. Just already discussed in part of this assignment, Isaiah does not give exactly the date when God’s wrath will inflict the people of Israel. Isaiah says in verse 11 that â€Å"a day is coming when human pride will be ended and human arrogance destroyed.† The scripture does not identify exactly when this will happen. It is