Explanation of Security Breach and Request for Formal Apology Essay

Explanation of Security Breach and Request for Formal Apology - Essay Example A month ago, the lock manufacturer sent me an email to warn me of the possibility that the lock could malfunction and to schedule for a technician to come and fix the lock’s firmware. No further queries were made on this issue following the current measures on cost-cutting, and the fact that the Head of Security was dismissed six weeks ago. I apologize for not informing you of the problem with the system on time. I am heavily involved in planning for the launch of the Bionic Leg event, a project that is critical to the company’s ongoing success, and that is why I have not had time to resolve the issue. Linda is an important employee to our company because she is the most knowledgeable person in Canada in the field of bionics. Bob Loblaw is the only other person in the company who possesses similar expertise. Since they work together, there is a chance that if Linda were to leave then Bob would also leave. This would be a great loss for the company. Without the service o f these two key employees, the Bionics Division would be forced to close. In the last three years, the company has been surviving on the revenues generated from the Bionics Division. Furthermore, we risk losing Linda to our main competitor, Bionic Works Co., which has been trying to poach her from us for quite some time. Her decision to stay is based on her loyalty to my leadership and because she enjoys working with our team. To prevent Linda from leaving the company, we need to compromise company policy and fulfill her terms.

Comparing leadership styles and techniques

Comparing leadership styles and techniques This study will show and conclude whether or not this statement is indeed accurate or just another theoretical belief or ideology amongst between theorist. In this essay we will look at the meaning of both management and leadership, how they differ in concept and in style, and finally conclude whether or not this statement is indeed accurate. What is leadership? Moorhead and Griffin (1998) define leadership as both a process and property. They say, as a process leadership involves the use of non-coercive influence to direct and coordinates the activities of group members to meet a goal, and a property they describe leadership as a set of characteristics attributed to those who those who are perceived to use such influence successfully. According to Moorhead Griffin (1998), Management requires an understanding of human behavior, to help managers better comprehend those at different levels in the organization, those at the same level, those in other organization, and themselves. Management is the planning, organizing, leading and controlling of organizational resources both effectively and efficiently in order to ultimately achieve goals set out by an organization (Moorhead Griffin, 1998; Adair, 2003). Differences between leadership and management: Adair (2003) says, Leadership and management are not the same. In industry and commerce they should go together. In government we often think of political leadership and public service management, but the latter also requires high-quality leadership. Adair (2003) then continues to list the following; Leadership is about giving direction, building teams and inspiring others by example and word. You can be appointed a manager but you are not a leader until your personality and character, your knowledge and your skill in performing the functions of leadership are recognized and accepted by the others involved. This is a very fundamental difference. (Adair, 2003; Moorhead Griffin, 1998) Leadership and change go together. Managing in the form of running an organization is more appropriate where there is not much change going on. When change is endemic, as it often is nowadays, managers must learn how to lead it. Pg 71 Managing entails the proper and efficient use of resources- good administration. Good leaders care about administration, the less good ones dont. Management has the overtone of carrying out objectives laid down by someone else. Moreover, there is nothing in the concept of management which implies inspiration, creating teamwork when it isnt there, or setting an example. When it is the case that inspiration and teamwork exist, you may well have managers who are in effect leaders, especially if they are the source of the inspiration. But it is unfortunately more often the case that management does not ring bells when it comes to people. Other distinctive differences pointed out by (Adair, 2003) include Direction: A leader will find a ways forward. He or she will generate a sense of direction. That may involve identifying new objectives, new products or services and new markets Inspiration: Leadership is linked to inspiration. The words and example of a leader kindle motivation Building teams: A leader tends to think naturally in terms of team. Groups of individuals are transformed into teams. Equally, teams tend to look for leaders rather than bosses. Example: Leadership is example. A leader will have his or her own output or direct contribution to the common task, thereby leading from the front Acceptance: You can be appointed a manager, but you are not really a leader until your appointment is ratified in the hearts and minds of those who work with you. An article by Murray, C. (2010) states and lists the following, the managers job is to plan, organize and coordinate. The leaders job is to inspire and motivate. In his 1989 book On Becoming a Leader, Warren Bennis composed a list of the differences: The manager administers; the leader innovates. The manager is a copy; the leader is an original. The manager maintains; the leader develops. The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader focuses on people. The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust. The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective. The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why. The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leaders eye is on the horizon. The manager imitates; the leader originates. The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it. The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person. The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing. Moorhead Griffin (1998) set out the following table to illustrate the distinction between management and leadership. Activity Management Leadership Creating an agenda Planning and Budgeting. Establishing details steps and timetables for achieving needed results; allocating the resources necessary to make those needed results happen Establishing direction. Developing a vision of the future, often the distant future, and strategies for producing the changes needed to achieve that vision Developing a human network for achieving the agenda Organizing and staffing. Establishing some structure for accomplishing plan requirements, staffing that structure with individuals, delegating responsibility and authority for carrying out the plan, providing policies and procedures to help guide people, and creating methods or systems to monitor implementation Aligning people. Communicating the direction by words and deeds to all those whose cooperation may be needed to influence the creation of teams and coalitions that understand the vision and strategies and accept their validity Executing plans Controlling and problem solving. Monitoring results vs. plan in some detail, identifying deviations, and then planning and organizing to solve these problem Motivating and inspiring. Energizing people to overcome major political, bureaucratic, and resource barriers to change by satisfying very basic, but often unfulfilled, human needs Outcomes Produces a degree of predictability and order and has the potential to consistently produce major results expected by various stakeholders (e.g. .for customers, always being on time; for stockholders, being on budget) Produces change, often to a dramatic degree, and has the potential to produce extremely useful change (e.g. , new products that customers want, new approaches to lobar relations that help make a firm more competitive) Another way of which leadership and management could be distinguished is through different styles, Management has three main categories of styles: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. Autocratic (or authoritarian) managers like to make all the important decisions and closely supervise and control workers. Managers do not trust workers and simply give orders (one-way communication) that they expect to be obeyed. This approach derives from the views of Taylor as to how to motivate workers and relates to McGregors theory X view of workers. This approach has limitations (as highlighted by other motivational theorists such as Mayo and Herzberg) but it can be effective in certain situations. For example. When quick decisions are needed in a company (e.g. in a time of crises), when controlling large numbers of low skilled workers. Paternalistic managers give more attention to the social needs and views of their workers. Managers are interested in how happy workers feel and in many ways they act as a father figure (pater means father in Latin). They consult employees over issues and listen to their feedback or opinions. The manager will however make the actual decisions (in the best interests of the workers) as they believe the staffs still need direction and in this way it is still somewhat of an autocratic approach. The style is closely linked with Mayos Human Relation view of motivation and also the social needs of Maslow. Democratic style of management will put trust in employees and encourage them to make decisions. They will delegate to them the authority to do this (empowerment) and listen to their advice. This requires good two-way communication and often involves democratic discussion groups, which can offer useful suggestions and ideas. Managers must be willing to encourage leadership skills in subordinates. The ultimate democratic system occurs when decisions are made based on the majority view of all workers. However, this is not feasible for the majority of decisions taken by a business- indeed one of the criticisms of this style is that it can take longer to reach a decision. This style has close links with Herzbergs motivators and Maslows higher order skills and also applies to McGregors theory Y view of workers. Leadership styles include the following Transformational leadership Is the set of abilities that allow the leader to recognize the need for change, to create a vision to guide that change, and to execute that change effectively. (Moorhead Griffin, 1998) Charismatic leadership A charismatic leadership style is a type of influence based on the leaders personal charisma. (Moorhead Griffin, 1998) Conclusion: Despite all these differences one has to take note that in this new economy its nearly impossible to distinguish between the two as they both overlap one another and work hand in hand, in other words they complement each other, as Murray A, (2010) points out that there was a time when the calling of the manager and that of the leader could be separated. A foreman in an industrial-era factory probably didnt have to give much thought to what he was producing or to the people who were producing it. His or her job was to follow orders, organize the work, assign the right people to the necessary tasks, coordinate the results, and ensure the job got done as ordered. The focus was on efficiency. But in the new economy, where value comes increasingly from the knowledge of people, and where workers are no longer undifferentiated cogs in an industrial machine, management and leadership are not easily separated. People look to their managers, not just to assign them a task, but to define for th em a purpose. And managers must organize workers, not just to maximize efficiency, but to nurture skills, develop talent and inspire results. But if pressed for and answer one would have to agree with the statement as we are facing difficult times with the worldwide recession and collapse of economies (i.e. Greece, Iceland), and where there is great uncertainty amongst workers, you will find that people are looking out for leaders to navigate them through these troubled times, so there on would justifiably concur with the rationale. As (Adair, 2003) states, Although a natural leader instinctively tries to change and improve things, his or her efforts will, not bear much fruit unless external and internal change is effecting the organization- technological, social, economic, political and cultural change. Industry and commerce, and for that matter public services too, must now operate in a climate of almost constant change, stronger international competition and higher uncertainty. All that explains why the concept of leadership has once again come to the fore. Leaders like change; its in their chosen element. Managers, by contrast, have traditionally preferred to run organizations as machines. They are happiest in a stead state environment where nothing is rocking the boat.

Age Discrimination Within The Workplace Essay -- Job Ageism Essays

Age discrimination in employment, also known as job ageism, is a complex issue which impacts on many areas of Government policy and can have many implications for individuals themselves. Age discrimination can occur across the whole spectrum of employment and can affect both younger and older people. It can affect a person’s chances of getting a job, as well as their chances of promotion or development when in work. Age can also be a factor when employers decide who should be selected for termination. Ageism seems to be more common in the workplace than racism or sexism. Although only about 20% Of all complaints filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) are for age discrimination, settlements and jury awards are substantially higher in such cases than in those for race, sex or disability discrimination (Age Discrimination, 1999). Older people are accused of lacking energy and flexibility, while young people lack experience. Many people are refused the opportunity to show whether or not they have what it takes because of their age. These people are being robbed of their employment opportunities. Definition of Age Discrimination There can be both direct and indirect forms of age discrimination in employment. The most obvious forms are where people hold strong, stereotypical views about a person’s capabilities to do a job or to be developed because of their age. For instance, an employer could regard all 18 year olds as immature and incapable of managing older staff, even if they have the right qualifications and experience for the job. On the other hand, an employer could consider all those over 50 to be incapable of learning about new technology, because â€Å"that’s something that young... ...tions (5th). Boston, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Petrick, J. A., & Furr, D. S. (1995). Total quality in managing human resources. Delray Beach, FL: St. Lucie Press. Player, A. M. (1992). Federal law of employment discrimination (3rd). St. Paul, Minn.: West Publishing Co. Retrieved April 13, 2000 from the World Wide Web: http://gtp.canberra.edu.au Retrieved April 13, 2000 from the World Wide Web: http://www.mscd.edu Weitzman, A. H., & Senior, J. M. (1999). Employment law: Age discrimination.† National Law Journal, 22 (13), B7. Retrieved April 13, 2000 from ProQuest Direct on-line database. Yates, M. (1994). Power on the job: The legal rights of working people. Boston, MA: South End Press. Zemke, R. (1999). Get old - - get out!† Training; Minneapolis, 36 (3), 6-8. Retrieved April 13, 2000 from ProQuest Direct on-line database.

Deception Point Page 94

Crouched beside the powerboat untying the moorings, Corky glanced up just as the machine guns beneath the chopper erupted in a blaze of thunder. Corky lurched as if hit. Wildly, he scrambled over the gunwale and dove into the boat, sprawled himself on the floor for cover. The guns stopped. Tolland could see Corky crawling deeper into the powerboat. The lower part of his right leg was covered with blood. Crouched below the dash, Corky reached up and fumbled across the controls until his fingers found the key. The boat's 250 hp Mercury engine roared to life. An instant later, a red laser beam appeared, emanating from the nose of the hovering chopper, targeting the powerboat with a missile. Tolland reacted on instinct, aiming the only weapon he had. The flare gun in his hand hissed when he pulled the trigger, and a blinding streak tore away on a horizontal trajectory beneath the ship, heading directly toward the chopper. Even so, Tolland sensed he had acted too late. As the streaking flare bore down on the helicopter's windshield, the rocket launcher beneath the chopper emitted its own flash of light. At the same exact instant that the missile launched, the aircraft veered sharply and pulled up out of sight to avoid the incoming flare. â€Å"Look out!† Tolland yelled, yanking Rachel down onto the catwalk. The missile sailed off course, just missing Corky, coming the length of the Goya and slamming into the base of the strut thirty feet beneath Rachel and Tolland. The sound was apocalyptic. Water and flames erupted beneath them. Bits of twisted metal flew in the air and scattered the catwalk beneath them. Metal on metal ground together as the ship shifted, finding a new balance, slightly askew. As the smoke cleared, Tolland could see that one of the Goya's four main struts had been severely damaged. Powerful currents tore past the pontoon, threatening to break it off. The spiral stairway descending to the lower deck looked to be hanging by a thread. â€Å"Come on!† Tolland yelled, urging Rachel toward it. We've got to get down! But they were too late. With a surrendering crack, the stairs peeled away from the damaged strut and crashed into the sea. Over the ship, Delta-One grappled with the controls of the Kiowa helicopter and got it back under control. Momentarily blinded by the incoming flare, he had reflexively pulled up, causing the Hellfire missile to miss its mark. Cursing, he hovered now over the bow of the ship and prepared to drop back down and finish the job. Eliminate all passengers. The controller's demands had been clear. â€Å"Shit! Look!† Delta-Two yelled from the rear seat, pointing out the window. â€Å"Speedboat!† Delta-One spun and saw a bullet-riddled Crestliner speedboat skimming away from the Goya into the darkness. He had a decision to make. 114 Corky's bloody hands gripped the wheel of the Crestliner Phantom 2100 as it pounded out across the sea. He rammed the throttle all the way forward, trying to eke out maximum speed. It was not until this moment that he felt the searing pain. He looked down and saw his right leg spurting blood. He instantly felt dizzy. Propping himself against the wheel, he turned and looked back at the Goya, willing the helicopter to follow him. With Tolland and Rachel trapped up on the catwalk, Corky had not been able to reach them. He'd been forced to make a snap decision. Divide and conquer. Corky knew if he could lure the chopper far enough away from the Goya, maybe Tolland and Rachel could radio for help. Unfortunately, as he looked over his shoulder at the illuminated ship, Corky could see the chopper still hovering there, as if undecided. Come on, you bastards! Follow me! But the helicopter did not follow. Instead it banked over the stern of the Goya, aligned itself, and dropped down, landing on the deck. No! Corky watched in horror, now realizing he'd left Tolland and Rachel behind to be killed. Knowing it was now up to him to radio for help, Corky groped the dashboard and found the radio. He flicked the power switch. Nothing happened. No lights. No static. He turned the volume knob all the way up. Nothing. Come on! Letting go of the wheel, he knelt down for a look. His leg screamed in pain as he bent down. His eyes focused on the radio. He could not believe what he was looking at. The dashboard had been strafed by bullets, and the radio dial was shattered. Loose wires hung out the front. He stared, incredulous. Of all the goddamned luck†¦ Weak-kneed, Corky stood back up, wondering how things could get any worse. As he looked back at the Goya, he got his answer. Two armed soldiers jumped out of the chopper onto the deck. Then the chopper lifted off again, turning in Corky's direction and coming after him at full speed. Corky slumped. Divide and conquer. Apparently he was not the only one with that bright idea tonight. As Delta-Three made his way across the deck and approached the grated ramp leading belowdecks, he heard a woman shouting somewhere beneath him. He turned and motioned to Delta-Two that he was going belowdecks to check it out. His partner nodded, remaining behind to cover the upper level. The two men could stay in contact via CrypTalk; the Kiowa's jamming system ingeniously left an obscure bandwidth open for their own communications. Clutching his snub-nose machine gun, Delta-Three moved quietly toward the ramp that led belowdecks. With the vigilance of a trained killer, he began inching downward, gun leveled. The incline provided limited visibility, and Delta-Three crouched low for a better view. He could hear the shouting more clearly now. He kept descending. Halfway down the stairs he could now make out the twisted maze of walkways attached to the underside of the Goya. The shouting grew louder. Then he saw her. Midway across the traversing catwalk, Rachel Sexton was peering over a railing and calling desperately toward the water for Michael Tolland. Did Tolland fall in? Perhaps in the blast? If so, Delta-Three's job would be even easier than expected. He only needed to descend another couple of feet to have an open shot. Shooting fish in a barrel. His only vague concern was Rachel standing near an open equipment locker, which meant she might have a weapon-a speargun or a shark rifle-although neither would be any match for his machine gun. Confident he was in control of the situation, Delta-Three leveled his weapon and took another step down. Rachel Sexton was almost in perfect view now. He raised the gun. One more step. The flurry of movement came from beneath him, under the stairs. Delta-Three was more confused than frightened as he looked down and saw Michael Tolland thrusting an aluminum pole out toward his feet. Although Delta-Three had been tricked, he almost laughed at this lame attempt to trip him up. Then he felt the tip of the stick connect with his heel. A blast of white-hot pain shot through his body as his right foot exploded out from under him from a blistering impact. His balance gone, Delta-Three flailed, tumbling down the stairs. His machine gun clattered down the ramp and went overboard as he collapsed on the catwalk. In anguish, he curled up to grip his right foot, but it was no longer there. Tolland was standing over his attacker immediately with his hands still clenching the smoking bang-stick-a five-foot Powerhead Shark-Control Device. The aluminum pole had been tipped with a pressure-sensitive, twelve-gauge shotgun shell and was intended for self-defense in the event of shark attack. Tolland had reloaded the bang-stick with another shell, and now held the jagged, smoldering point to his attacker's Adam's apple. The man lay on his back as if paralyzed, staring up at Tolland with an expression of astonished rage and agony. Rachel came running up the catwalk. The plan was for her to take the man's machine gun, but unfortunately the weapon had gone over the edge of the catwalk into the ocean.

Christopher Columbus: Journey and Colonization

The letter reveals a sense of urgency and uncertainty in Columbus derived from the intimation between world powers over the Island of Espanola and the unknown direction the New World would take. Columbus' purpose in writing the formal letter is to explain to the â€Å"Most High and Mighty Sovereigns† what he considers pivotal in the settlement, extraction of gold, farming of land, and trade system of the Island of Espanola. Columbus' main concern, Spanish dominance in the New World, is clearly evident in the final paragraph, in which Columbus prays for â€Å"the increase of much greater states. The nature of Spanish presence In the Islands Is consequent to an RA of Immense competition between states over various colonies In Asia, Africa, and what would be known as America. For states Involved In colonization, such as England, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands, colonies meant prosperity and power through vast riches, mostly gold: an increase in foreign commerce: and new ter ritory to utilize for farming and growth of Christianity.In these purposes there is a clear similarity between the values from the Renaissance and present-day values, in which governmental authority places large importance in the expansion and affluence of its rewriter. In the introduction to his points about colonization, Columbus displays a sense of respect and obedience towards Ferdinand and Isabella and requests support through reinforcement of colonists. Columbus misrepresents the new world as a group of islands, unaware of the much larger continents in which he had not yet arrived.In the Initial voyage, Columbus lands In the Caribbean thinking he has arrived In Asia, which Is why he names the Indians so. Despite his Incongruous concepts, Columbus' voyage proved vital to further colonization of the Americas. The mall body of the letter Is a set of thirteen points In which Columbus details the mall issues of colonizing the Island of Espanola and other islands, namely God, gold, and glory.The expansion of Christianity was highly important to Ferdinand and Isabella, who considered Christianity crucial to the national unity of the newly united Spanish kingdom in the Reconstruct period. Columbus states that the new world will be forcefully Christian and that the â€Å"conversion of Indians† shall be performed by â€Å"parish priests or friars†. Most of Columbus points refer to the extraction, processing, ownership, and trade of gold, the natural resource which most colonizers obsessed over.Columbus presents concerns such as â€Å"no one shall have liberty to collect gold In it except those who have taken out colonists' papers,† â€Å"that all gold shall be smelted Immediately,† and â€Å"there shall be a treasurer, with a clerk to assist him, who shall receive all gold belonging to your Highnesses. † The motive and obsession over gold Is consequential of its use as back-up value in currencies, fancy garments, competitive Expl orers were motivated to find gold by the â€Å"matter of the fifth,† which means that the explorers would be entitled to a certain amount of the riches derived from the land they discovered.To further expand on the importance of a successful trading system, Columbus explains another three points that refer to the stringent process of securing the gold. As most of the glory from colonization came from gold, the method of collection gold and shipping it to the motherland is very strict in order to prevent fraud. Parts of the process which Columbus proposes include â€Å"that it [gold] should all e placed in one chest with two locks, with their keys, and that the master of the vessel keep one key and some other person selected by the governor and treasurer keep the other. There is evidently a clear concern over the safety of the gold, which displays the main purpose of increasing affluence of the motherland. The colonization of the new world influenced an arms race between powe rful European states over the acquisition of gold and territory. Several states were exerting force over native people and exploiting the natural resources in a similar way the Spanish id in the Island of Espanola. Competition between powerful states is a centuries- long trend.Whether searching for gold or plotting the destruction of communism versus the destruction of capitalism in the mid-20th century, dominant states have a tendency to seek the greatest riches from their settlements and disregard the well- being of native peoples. In his letter, Columbus is successfully reactive to the desires of Ferdinand and Isabella and he satisfies their concerns that result from competition in order to pursue further exploration.

Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents Essay Example

Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents Essay Example Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents Essay Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents Essay Essay Topic: Civilization and Its Discontents Human Kinds Ultimate Struggle According to Sigmund Freud’s essay, Civilization and Its Discontents, human kind has been confronted by many different struggles. Although these struggles do come in many shapes and sizes, there is one that stands out from the rest. This main struggle makes itself known through human kind’s everlasting conflict concerning instinct and aggression. This conflict has been made apparent through Freud’s timely argument that human kind’s primal instinct is to act aggressively towards one another. Freud made the observation that this aggressiveness would one day lead to human kind’s ultimate conflict, the demise of civilization. Freud makes his point very clear when he writes of instinct and aggression. This point is exemplified when Freud says that it is natural for human beings to be so aggressive towards one another that it will eventually lead to their downfall. Freud uses primitive society as an example when he says that the leader of the family felt no guilt in spreading and expressing his aggression towards his own family. This paints a deeper picture for the reader, what Freud is basically saying is that this leader can just as easily be the leader of a society, instead of expressing his instinctual rage upon his family, it would be just as easily expressed upon society as a whole. Freud further backs up his statement by saying that humans originally entered society in order to shun the aggressive aspects of life; however in time people began to feel unhappy and guilty because their instincts were not being fulfilled. According to Freud this would make them rebel against the civilization that they created. : This rebellion would be built upon the irony that humans created a civilization to escape the aggressive instincts that consume them, but in the end the rebellion caused them to be filled with an aggression that is even more dangerous than that which they started with. Freud illustrates this point when he says, â€Å"In all that follows I adopt the standpoint, therefore, that the inclination to aggression is an original, self-subsisting instinctual disposition in man, and I return to my view that it constitutes the greatest impediment to civilization (p. 1). Freud then further backs his point as he says â€Å"In consequence of this primary mutual hostility of human beings, civilized society is perpetually threatened with disintegration (p. 69). Both of these quotes exemplify the heart of Freud’s argument. I believe Freud is correct in his assessment that human kind’s ultimate conflict is the instinctual aggressiveness that we inherit at birth. Freud’s argument is very logical, especially in his example, which shows how humans suppress their instinctual traits so much that after a certain amount of time, those traits resurface at a greater strength. Another element that convinced me to take Freud’s side was his excerpt on how civilization was formed to manage the instinctual aggressiveness, but as unhappiness spread and rebellions occurred, the aggressiveness that was meant to be extinguished returned, but this time alongside of rage. All of these elements combined allow me to safely say that I agree with Freud about this conflict. It is said that as long as there is competition and new ideas, conflict will always live. With this in mind, it is safe to assume that conflict is instinctual. There are many conflicts that plague human kind; however Freud has proved, through his essay, Civilization and It’s Discontents, that as long as human kind carries the instinctual aggressiveness, civilization will always be in danger.

Free Essays on Winston Church Hill

meant. He was in trouble a lot at school. His greatest pleasure was reading. He liked to read poetry. He hated Math and Latin, but loved History, Poetry and butterflies. At the age of 12, he was transferred from St. James School to Brighton Harrow. He was treated poorly by the older boys because he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind and stand up for himself. He was a kid that always dreamed of being a soldier. He loved looking at armor. At age 15, he passed his military exam and went to Sandhurst. He graduated with honors at age 18 and became an officer in the Calvary. His father died after the new year. In 1895, he became a war correspondent during the Cuban Rebellion. In 1896, he was sent to India. While there, he realized how much stuff he didn’t learn in school. He started studying and reading to get knowledge. In 1889, they went to war with the Boars, and Winston and sixty British Soldiers were imprisoned. They wanted to escape. Winston climbed the bathroom wall, snuck aboard a train, and returned to England. About a month later, he ran for office. He was elected into Parliament. In 1901, at the House of Commons, he made his first parliamentary speech. Seven years later, in 1908, he married Clementine Hosier. A couple of months later, he got kicked out of office. In 1911, he was elected first Lord of Ad miralty, during World War I. When one of his strategies failed, he was a... Free Essays on Winston Church Hill Free Essays on Winston Church Hill Title: The Story of Winston Churchill Author: Alida Sims Malkus This story tells of Winston Churchill’s life from birth until he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, II. Winston Churchill was born November 30, 1874. He went to St. James School near Ascot when he was 7 years old. At school he lived in a dorm. Winston had one brother named Jack. His mother and father were always gone for great periods of time. He always had a hard time in Latin. He could remember it, but he didn’t understand what the words meant. He was in trouble a lot at school. His greatest pleasure was reading. He liked to read poetry. He hated Math and Latin, but loved History, Poetry and butterflies. At the age of 12, he was transferred from St. James School to Brighton Harrow. He was treated poorly by the older boys because he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind and stand up for himself. He was a kid that always dreamed of being a soldier. He loved looking at armor. At age 15, he passed his military exam and went to Sandhurst. He graduated with honors at age 18 and became an officer in the Calvary. His father died after the new year. In 1895, he became a war correspondent during the Cuban Rebellion. In 1896, he was sent to India. While there, he realized how much stuff he didn’t learn in school. He started studying and reading to get knowledge. In 1889, they went to war with the Boars, and Winston and sixty British Soldiers were imprisoned. They wanted to escape. Winston climbed the bathroom wall, snuck aboard a train, and returned to England. About a month later, he ran for office. He was elected into Parliament. In 1901, at the House of Commons, he made his first parliamentary speech. Seven years later, in 1908, he married Clementine Hosier. A couple of months later, he got kicked out of office. In 1911, he was elected first Lord of Ad miralty, during World War I. When one of his strategies failed, he was a...

How to Check on the Status of Your Tax Refund in Canada

How to Check on the Status of Your Tax Refund in Canada The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) does not start processing Canadian income tax returns until the middle of February. No matter how early you file your income tax return, you will not be able to get information on the status of an income tax refund until the middle of March. You should also wait until at least four weeks after you file your return before checking on the status of an income tax refund. If you file your return after April 15, you should wait at least six weeks before checking on the status of your return. Processing Times for Tax Refunds The length of time it takes the CRA to process your income tax return and refund depends on how and when you file your return. Processing Times for Paper Returns Paper returns usually take four to six weeks to process.For paper tax returns filed before April 15, wait four weeks before you check on your refund.For paper tax returns filed on or after April 15, wait six weeks before you check on your refund. Processing Times for Electronic Returns Electronic (NETFILE or EFILE) returns can take as little as eight  business days to be processed. However, you should still wait at least four weeks before you check on your refund. Tax Returns Selected for Review Some income tax returns, both paper and electronic, are selected for more detailed tax return reviews by the CRA before they are assessed, as well as afterward. The CRA may ask you to submit documentation to verify claims you submitted. This is not a tax audit, rather it is part of CRA efforts to identify and clarify common areas of misunderstanding in the Canadian tax system. If your tax return is selected for a review, it will slow down the assessment and any refund. Information Required to Check on Your Tax Refund To check on the status of your income tax refund you need to provide the following information: Your Social Insurance NumberThe month and year of your birthThe amount entered as Total Income on line 150 of your income tax return for the previous year. How to Check on Your Tax Refund Online You can check on the status of your income tax return and refund using the My Account tax service, which you can register for using your existing online banking information or by creating a CRA user ID and password. You will be mailed a security code within five to 10 days, but you dont need it to access some limited service options. (The security code has an expiry date, so it is a good idea to use it when it arrives, so you wont have to go through the process again when you want to use My Account for another service.) To access My Account, you will need to provide: Your Social Insurance NumberYour date of birthYour postal code or ZIP code, as appropriateThe amount you entered on your income tax return from either the current tax year or the one before. Have both handy. How to Check on Your Tax Refund by Phone You can use the automated Telerefund service on the Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS) to find out if your return has been processed and when to expect your refund cheque. The TIPS phone number is: 1-800-267-6999The Telerefund service is also available at: 1-800-959-1956

DISCUSSION QUESTION RESPONSE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 21

DISCUSSION QUESTION RESPONSE - Essay Example You went ahead and talked about the importance of gestures in effective communication. I have to admit gestures are sometimes confusing but one has to judge every gesture according to the subject being discussed. These will surely enhance effective communication. You stated that you are most uncomfortable with listening and giving feedback. This is not a personal problem but a universal problem as well. Many people interrupt the speaker before they are done with the communication. If the speaker does not understand enough, he may end up having the wrong interpretation of the response (Caputo, Palosaari, and Pickering 122-125). I wholly agree with the initiative you have taken to eradicate this problem. Perhaps I may ask have you made any meaningful progress. Is your approach universally adaptable? I have adapted a habit of asking a question in case I want to put a point across in the middle of a given conversation. Alternatively, I just wait for the speaker to finish what they were saying before I make my

Managing Aircraft Maintenance Projects Successfully Research Proposal

Managing Aircraft Maintenance Projects Successfully - Research Proposal Example Regulations and common sense both mandate that each aircraft be the subject of a fully documented maintenance protocol towards ensuring the airworthiness and serviceability of the aircraft. Routine preventive maintenance, although well within the purview of common sense, is not a required part of the maintenance protocol. Within the aircraft maintenance protocol, each aircraft and the work required for its service is regarded as an individual project. The reality of aircraft maintenance project management (AMPM) is that several overlapping projects must be managed simultaneously. This presents major obstacles and difficulties for the aircraft maintenance organization in terms of resource management and utilization, budgetary constraints, priority conflicts and lead-time fulfillment. These considerations are compounded by several factors. Greater demands are being placed on aircraft as the number of passenger miles being flown trends upward over time. The number of aircraft being flown also trends upward but at a disproportionate rate. More importantly for the proposed research, the number of aviation maintenance technicians in the industry trends upward at a much lower rate, suggesting that the workload placed on maintenance technicians per capita is becoming ever greater. Air Transport Association o f America statistics for the 12-year period from 1983 to 1995 gives these increases as 187%, 70% and 27% respectively, supporting the ‘work overload’ factor of AMPM. Baron (2009) discusses at some length untoward events that can be attributed directly to the effects of fatigue experienced by aircraft maintenance personnel, and so to the project management practices of their working environments. It is important to note the finding recounted by Baron from a study conducted by Johnson et al in 2002. Based on quantitative and qualitative data, those authors discerned that in general, AMTs and AMEs working in aircraft maintenance services were

Taylor Swift perfume report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Taylor Swift perfume report - Essay Example A product is any object which has a distinctive tangible existence. When applied in marketing however, the meaning of product takes in varied form. The product â€Å"may be a good, service or just an idea†4. For this paper, the product which is the subject for discussion is Taylor Swift perfume Wonderstruck. It is manufactured by Elizabeth Arden and is personally endorsed by the famous folk singer Taylor Swift who also bears her name as the namesake of the perfume. The perfume is created by Swift herself with perfumer Olivier Gillotin of Givaudan and is inspired by Swift’s favorite memories and scents, and it features notes of freesia, apple blossom, raspberry, vanilla, honeysuckle, white hibiscus, amber, sandalwood and peach. The packaging includes an antiqued gold Moravian star, a dove and bird cage charms5. The perfume is designed for consumer use and is branded after the singer to encourage easy patronage from the singer’s fans. Given that the product is a personal choice and personally made by Taylor Swift herself (with perfumer Olivier Gillotin of Givaudan), consumers will not accept any other brand because the identification of the perfume to the singer cannot be assigned to another brand. There are several ways where a company determines the price its products. One of the most common pricing methods is the internal accounting based pricing where profit is added as a mark-up in addition to its manufacturing cost6. Projected profit may be added as a ratio to cost or target profit is determined beforehand before determining pricing. Pricing is critical because under a perfect competitive market, price can determine demand; a higher price can discourage demand while a lower price can stimulate demand making a business enterprise more competitive in the market7. In the Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Perfume for Women, the pricing method employed is the value based pricing. â€Å"Value based pricing is tied to the customer’s

Data Collection and Funding for Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Data Collection and Funding for - Research Paper Example sampling will be stratified. The number of patients will be differentiated into different categories because this can enhance the focus on certain percentage of people who can show higher probability of lower medication errors. Medical cards and day-today reports can also be used as an effective tool to identify hypothesis readily. The reason behind using this tool is because it allows gaining valuable data within very short span of time. Considering the case of SSC and CMT in lowered medication error, this manner of data collection is likely to be proven as effective. There can be limitations underlying with the process because there are less instances of people making use of CMT (Green, 2010). It should also be noted that the above mentioned tools are basically provided by a medical institution as per consent granted by patient’s family or patient and organization. These medical records are highly sensitive and cannot be claimed without consent and copyrighted documentation for its utilization in the research work. As a matter of fact, the researcher shall approach the authorities and write application forms for the families as well as the administration of the medical organization. This will surely take some time for clearance but once the consent is received then it will be easier to carry on with the research work i.e. data analysis. There could be a number of health care institutions that can be approached considering the significance of the research. It is surely the need of research regarding SSC and CMT relationship in having increased number of awareness of communicable diseases. Other than medical institutions that are involved in the contribution of innovation and assessment of medical phenomenon, there are various committees that provide research funding. These funding institutions serve the goal of evaluating lack of literature (Dupin & Chupin, 2013). In particular, organizations that are basically involved

The Quick Wins Paradox Article Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Quick Wins Paradox Article Review - Essay Example ers reassurance to the leaders’ supervisor who believes to have made the right choice in promoting them, while on the side of the team members; it reveals to them whether to have confidence in their new selected supervisor or other team members (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). In most cases, the new leaders try to pursue early outcomes, never realizing that they may easily fall into some of the traps that may sabotage their accomplishment (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). This is a failure in terms of success to the organization. It also affects the other employees directly. The father who is part of his team criticized his behavior, but he has reacted negatively. This behavior comes from the employees having a mandate in an industry and they fail in one way or another (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). They often feel any criticism to their side to be an act of attack or aggression. These actions may make some of the team members leave the companies that they are employed. Since the young man is about to attain a degree in Organizational leadership he believes that he has better ideas than his father. This is the reason he undercuts him and he ends up managing many of the projects by himself (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). The certainty and eager aspiration of the new team members frighten the rest of the associates, hindering them from performing to the expectations or getting to contribute to the projects of the organization. The father who is a technician is relying on his son to come up with better ideas that will facilitate his business to grow and also achieve his vision, but the son is only focusing on few details and leaving the critical issues out (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). Some of the new leaders and team members often jump into conclusion in trying to implement some solutions, instead of involving other team members in the decisions. This will significantly affect the outcome because there may not be a clear understanding (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009).

Based on DQ1 Potential Problems and Based on DQ2 Six Steps Assignment

Based on DQ1 Potential Problems and Based on DQ2 Six Steps - Assignment Example â€Å"Feedback is an essential part of learning† (Seun, 2010). b) Implementing all changes at once is not a wise move. If a program is not working the managers must find ways to make changes, but these changes can not occur all at once because this can lead to information overload for the employees. A timetable must be created to slowly implement the changes to the total rewards program. c) It is true that during the design process of the total rewards a lot of groups should be involved such as human resources, executives, finance, employees, board of directors, and customers, but the actual implementation should involve a limited number of people. A way to involve different stakeholder groups, but limiting the number of people is by creating a committee. For a committee to be effective it must have well run meetings (Ala). d) A thorough analysis of the total reward program is needed to ensure the program is viable during both good and bad times. A good strategy to ensure the success of the program during bad economic times is to create an emergency fund that covers at least six months of the total cost of the program. A way to eliminate bias from the process is by hiring a consulting firm to evaluate the program. e) â€Å"Good communication skills are an indispensable asset without which the goals -- be it in any field -- may not be realized† (Buzzle, 2013). Firms must communicate well to their employees the different aspects of the total rewards program. Communication must be made both in verbal and written form. I completely agree that consistent communication is imperative towards the success of an enterprise. Creating a policy regarding proper communication in the workplace can help open the lines of communication between the workers and the managerial staff. At my place of work communication among the employees is good. Some of the techniques that my company uses to maintain good

The Quick Wins Paradox Article Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Quick Wins Paradox Article Review - Essay Example ers reassurance to the leaders’ supervisor who believes to have made the right choice in promoting them, while on the side of the team members; it reveals to them whether to have confidence in their new selected supervisor or other team members (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). In most cases, the new leaders try to pursue early outcomes, never realizing that they may easily fall into some of the traps that may sabotage their accomplishment (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). This is a failure in terms of success to the organization. It also affects the other employees directly. The father who is part of his team criticized his behavior, but he has reacted negatively. This behavior comes from the employees having a mandate in an industry and they fail in one way or another (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). They often feel any criticism to their side to be an act of attack or aggression. These actions may make some of the team members leave the companies that they are employed. Since the young man is about to attain a degree in Organizational leadership he believes that he has better ideas than his father. This is the reason he undercuts him and he ends up managing many of the projects by himself (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). The certainty and eager aspiration of the new team members frighten the rest of the associates, hindering them from performing to the expectations or getting to contribute to the projects of the organization. The father who is a technician is relying on his son to come up with better ideas that will facilitate his business to grow and also achieve his vision, but the son is only focusing on few details and leaving the critical issues out (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009). Some of the new leaders and team members often jump into conclusion in trying to implement some solutions, instead of involving other team members in the decisions. This will significantly affect the outcome because there may not be a clear understanding (Buren &Â  Safferstone, 2009).

Experimental Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Experimental Study - Essay Example Initially, participant clinics, instead of individual participants, were recruited based on the following inclusion criteria: (1) willingness to participate in the study; (2) the number of patients; and (3) similarity of clinical routines. During this stage, there were a total of 179 patients in all the clinics being considered. The following exclusion criteria were adopted in the selection of individual participants for both groups: (1) duration of diabetes of less than 6 months; (2) mental retardation; (3) lack of fluency in the Dutch language. Only eight patients were excluded, but 80 patients refused to participate. After the baseline data have been obtained, 2 clinics were allocated for monitoring intervention and 2 clinics were allocated to control group. Informed consent was administered among patients willing to participate in the research study. The initial sample size is 46 patients for the intervention group and 45 patients for the control group. Data collection at baseline was not discussed in detail in this study, but in the related study with the same set of authors (De wit, et al., 2007).   All patients and their parents were administered a booklet containing questions regarding demographic information and questions to assess their physical and psychosocial well-being which were to be answered at home and returned by mail or submitted to the clinic during one of their routine appointments. Most recent glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)  and treatment regimen were recorded form the patients’ charts. Physical and psychosocial well-being  of the patients was measured using the 87-item child report version of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-CF87), while their parents completed the CHQ-PF50 equivalent to the CHQ-CF87. Depression, as part of the psychosocial well-being of the patients was assessed using the 20-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Scale for Depression (CES-D)  for both patients and their

District Nurses Work Within The Primary Health Care Team Nursing Essay

District Nurses Work Within The Primary Health Care Team Nursing Essay District nurses work within the primary health care team. They support patients at home or in residential care. They also provide a teaching role by enabling patients to care for themselves or by helping family members learn to care for their relatives. (NHS, 2011) Nurse consultants spend at least of 50% of their time working in direct contacts with patients. They are highly trained and are responsible for developing personal practice. They are involved in research, development and teaching. (NHS, 2011) Specialist nurses are also known as clinical nurse specialists. They specialise in a specific area of nursing, for example, patients suffering from diseases such as cancer, diabetes or viruses. . Some clinical nurse specialists also have a teaching and advisory role. They may also be involved in advising medical and nursing staff about caring for patients with particular conditions and/or in teaching nurses and other professionals. (NHS, 2011) Practice nurses work in a GP surgery and are part of a primary healthcare team, which involves other health professionals such as doctors and dieticians. In larger practices, there may be several practice nurses sharing duties and responsibilities but in smaller ones, youd be working on your own, taking on many roles (NHS, 2011). Asthma is a long-term condition  that can cause a cough, wheezing and breathlessness.  Asthma can be well controlled in most people most of the time. When a person with asthma comes into contact with something that irritates their airways (an asthma trigger), the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten so that the airways become narrower and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Sometimes sticky mucus or phlegm builds up which can further narrow the airways (NHS, 2011). Salbutamol is a beta 2 agonist. Salbutamol works by acting on receptors in the lungs called beta 2 receptors. When salbutamol stimulates these receptors it causes the muscles in the airways to relax. This allows the airways to open. Side effects of these types of medication can include nervousness, tremor and headache. (BNF, 2011) Angina describes the pain and chest tightness and sometimes breathlessness or choking feeling caused when blood flow in the arteries that supply the heart is restricted (BUPA, 2011). Glycerol Trinitrate can be helpful in reducing angina attacks, rather than reversing angina started, by supplementing blood concentrations of nitric oxide. Side effects from Glycerol Trinitrate include, headache, dizziness, and diarrhoea, feeling sick and flushing (BNF, 2011). Congestive cardiac failure is something that happens when a heart does not have enough strength to pump blood around the body properly; this leads to fluid collecting inside the lungs and body tissue, which then leads to congestion. It tends to affect older people. It is a long term condition and can be managed with medication and changes in lifestyle. One of the treatments available for use in congestive heart failure is Furosemide, which is a diuretic. Diuretics get rid of excess fluid and salt from a patients body, but in turn the body produces extra urine. They reduce swelling in ankles, make breathing easier and potentially increase life expectancy. Cerebrovascular accident is the medical term for a stroke. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that: A stroke is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, usually because a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing damage to the brain tissue. Aspirin is used in both the treatment and in the prevention of strokes. It works by thinning the blood, therefore reducing the risk of clots. Common side effects include stomach problems such as vomiting and pain. Long term effects can be serious and include a small risk of internal haemorrhage, which could lead to death. Diabetes is a condition in which the body produces too much glucose as a result of a decrease in the amount of insulin that is present in the body. In a healthy individual the pancreas produces insulin which helps to regulate the amount of sugar that remains in the blood stream. In the body of someone with diabetes there is not enough insulin in the blood stream to break down glucose and create energy. There are two types of Diabetes known simply as Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 diabetes the body is unable to create insulin on its own and is diagnosed generally during youth mainly during the teenage years. It is very uncommon as it is an inherited trait and only 5-10% of all people who suffer from diabetes fall into the Type 1 category. With type 2 diabetes, the illness and symptoms tend to develop gradually. This is because in type 2 diabetes you still make insulin (unlike type 1 diabetes). However, you develop diabetes because: you do not make enough insulin for your bodys needs, or the cells in your body do not use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. The cells in your body become resistant to normal levels of insulin. This means that you need more insulin than you normally make to keep the blood glucose level down, or a combination of the above two reasons. Diabetes is associated with short term problems such as hypoglycaemia which can lead to death and many long term health issues which can develop as a result of the illness. The risk of these potential health problems can be reduced through lifestyle and diet management. Synthetic Insulin is used in the treatment of type 1diabetes in a carefully planned insulin therapy programme to replace the insulin that has not been produced by the pancreas. The longer a person has type 2 diabetes the greater the risk that they will have to start insulin therapy at some point throughout their lives. Appendectomy Removal of Appendix in cases of acute appendicitis. Total Knee Replacement Replacement of the whole knee joint. Used to treat severe knee pain, trauma, long term arthritis and mobility problems. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft A surgical procedure used to treat coronary heart disease. It diverts blood around narrowed or clogged parts of the major arteries, to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart.   Total Mastectomy A total mastectomy is also known as a simple mastectomy. It is a procedure that removes all of the breast tissue of an affected breast. The most common form of the surgery, referred to as traditional total mastectomy, includes the removal of the areola and nipple. However, the surgery can be performed using skin and nipple sparing techniques. It also leaves the muscle under the breast left intact. Prostatectomy A prostatectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland. Blockages like tumors of the prostate can affect the normal flow of urine in the urethra. A prostatectomy can help with this. Laparoscopy A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that is carried out using a laparoscope which is a small, flexible tube with a camera on it. Using a laparoscope means that a surgeon can access the inside of the abdomen and the pelvis without the procedure being invasive because large cuts are not needed; Sometimes known as keyhole surgery. According to The department of Health (2005) MRSA stands for Meticillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. It is a very contagious strain of the Staphylococcus type of bacteria. It can cause many different infections and some of these can be very serious. About 3% of the population are known carriers of MRSA and it can be transmitted by a carrier to another person or themselves through an open wound or into the blood steam. In order to reduce the risk of infection of MRSA healthcare workers can practice proper hand hygiene and they can encourage patients to wash their hands after going to the toilet. Gloves can also be used with known carriers. The Department of Health (2007) explains that Clostridium Difficile is a bacterium which is the major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis, an infection of the intestines. It most commonly affects elderly patients with other underlying diseases. It is present in a small proportion of the population but is usually kept in check by the good bacteria. When this good bacteria is not present illness develops. People who have been treated with antibiotics are most at risk. The disease can be spread by healthcare workers, therefore washing hands after contact with a patient can help prevent the spread and reducing the use of antibiotics can help reduce the harm that the bacterium can cause. Adult nurses work with old and young adults with a variety of health problems, chronic and acute. They are involved in many roles including caring, counselling, managing and teaching to improve the quality of a patients life, often in challenging situations. Adult nurses can hold positions at most levels of the NHS career framework. Adult nurses work at the centre of a multi professional team that can include doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, radiographers, healthcare assistants and others workers. They assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for individual patients. Adult nurses can work in both hospital and community settings. Learning Disability Nursing The World Health Organisation defines learning disabilities or LD as: a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind. Learning disabilities is an umbrella term encompassing a range of disorders and deficits that create problems for an individual in relation to learning. People with LD often have physical problems that go hand in hand. Learning disabilities are often diagnosed by psychologists, through a combination of intelligence testing, academic achievement testing, classroom performance, and social interaction and aptitude. Other areas of assessment may include perception, cognition, memory, attention, and language abilities. IQ or Intelligence Quotient is an attempt to measure intelligence using standardized tests. According to the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (2006) it is often used to classify the level of intellectual impairment in someone with learning disabilities. Below 20 would be classed as a profound learning disability; 25 to 35, Severe; 35 to 50, Moderate and 55 to 70, Mild. Errors in fetal development. Problems during pregnancy. Toxins in the childs environment. Tobacco, alcohol and other drug use. Genetic factors. According to the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (2006), between 1 and 2 percent of the UK population have a learning disability. According to Autism.org.uk, autism is a developmental disability that lasts for a lifetime. It affects how they make sense of the world around them and how they communicate and relate to other people. It is a spectrum condition so even though people with autism share difficulties, their condition will be personal to them and will affect them in different ways. People with autism sometimes experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours. According to the NHS (2010) Epilepsy affects the brain and can cause repeated seizures, also known as fits. Epilepsy usually begins early in someones life, although it can potentially start at any age. The severity of the seizures can vary in different people. Some may experience a trance-like state for a short time,  while some others lose consciousness completely and have convulsions where they shake uncontrollably. Downs syndrome is a genetic condition where a person inherits an extra copy of one chromosome. This additional genetic material can result in characteristic physical features such as a flatter than normal face and also intellectual features which can vary from moderate to severe LD. Cerebral palsy is not a learning disability, but is common to have a LD if you also have cerebral palsy. It is a physical condition that affects the movement and control of a body. It is caused by a lack of development in part of the brain during pregnancy or childhood. The severities of problems are dependent on which part of the brain is affected (Mencap, 2010). When talking about people with LD, dual diagnosis refers to the comorbidity of learning disabilities and mental health problems. People with LD often suffer with depression or anxiety. It is important for nurses to be aware of the common conditions in LD because they can easily be missed if they are not actively looked for. It can be much more difficult for someone with LD to communicate a problem with their health and also, symptoms can be missed due to diagnostic overshadowing which means that secondary illnesses are missed because the symptoms are mistaken to be related to the primary disorder. Most people with LD live at home with help from families and day care services. Care for people with LD is often provided by family members with support from a range of healthcare workers and professionals such as nurses, psychologists, speech therapists, physiotherapists and specialist behavioral therapists; healthcare assistants and day workers. Direct payments are made by councils to people receiving social care services, instead of the council providing the service directly (direct.gov.uk). LD nurses work in a variety of setting which include the home, family, adult education, education for young people and community/residential settings (NHS Careers Website). Social Role Valorisation is the name given to a concept formulated by Wolf Wolfensberger, Ph.D in 1983 which follows the principle of normalisation. Normalisation is a set of principles that underlie the idea that people with a learning disability should live in ordinary places, doing ordinary things, with ordinary people: essentially experiencing the normal patterns of everyday life. The five service accomplishments identified by OBrien and Tyne (1981) were: Community presence; Relationships; Choice; Competence; Respect. Person Cantered Planning is way of seeing and working with all people with disabilities. It helps people with disabilities plan and organise their future in a more ordinary way. Fundamentally the person is at the centre and family members and friends are made full partners in the plan. The plan should reflect what is important to the person and the capacities that they have. It should also help a person to make a valued contribution to society. People with learning LD have been referred to as patients, clients and service users. Service user is the current term used within healthcare but the term client is still used by some and probably depends on who you are talking to. The four principles of the 2001 white paper valuing people are: right, independence, choice and inclusion. Right means that people with learning disabilities should have the same rights and choices as everybody else. Independence means the people with LD should be helped to live lives that are as independent as possible. Choice means that people with LD should be empowered to have choice in the treatment they receive and the lives that they lead. Inclusion means that people with LD should be included in society, have access to services and helped to gain valued social roles within society. One of the issues with LD nursing is mental health. People with LD often also suffer with mental health problems. There is a distinct difference between a person having a mental illness and a learning disability,

Changes in the American Diet Essay -- essays research papers fc

I. Introduction A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This paper will consider the adaptations of the United States to a changing diet, from the early to late twentieth century. B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The purpose of this project is to research the evolution in American cuisine throughout the 1900s, towards a more convenience-based pattern of food consumption. The modernization of the United States, particularly in terms of the workforce, will be examined as it relates to a changing diet. Finally, some effects of these changes will be described. II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Background: Early Twentieth Century Cooking III.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Modernization of the United States A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Women in the Workforce B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Technological Advances in Food Preparation C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Less Time Spent in the Kitchen IV.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Changes in American Diet A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Background: Early Twentieth Century Cuisine B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Rise of Convenience Foods 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prepackaged and frozen foods 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fast food industry 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eating away from home C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nutrient Levels, 1900-present D.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Increase of Fats and Sugars in the American diet E.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Increased Food Consumption V.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Discussion A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Qualifications B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conclusions C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Suggestions for Further Study VII. Works Cited Introduction This paper will explore the culturally adaptive, yet physically maladaptive, changes in American diet from early to late twentieth century. A shift from traditional to convenience foods coincides with the general modernization of the United States, specifically in the role of women in the home and in the workforce. As America changes from a rural nation to one that is urban and industrialized, with rapidly increasing technology, more and more women are seen in the workforce. This increased activity allows less time for preparing meals, and modernization makes spending this time unnecessary. However, increased accessibility of food, and especially convenience food, leaves... ... and dietary adequacy.† Ecology of Food and Nutrition 14 (1984): 105-115. Bindon, JR. â€Å"Some implications of the Diet of Children in American Samoa.† Collective Anthropology 1 (1994): 7-15. Bowers DE. â€Å"Cooking trends echo changing roles of women.† Food Review 23 (2000): 23-30. Dortch S. â€Å"America weighs in.† American Demographics 6 (1997): 38-46. Dyson LK. â€Å"American cuisine in the 20th century.â€Å" Food Review 23 (2000):2-9. Goodman P. â€Å"Time capsule: dinners and entrees.† Frozen Food Age 51 (2002):37. Goungetas, B, and K Morgan. Snacking and eating away from home. In Peter F, What Is America Eating? Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1986. Krebs-Smith J, SM Krebs-Smith, and H Smiciklas -Wright. Variety in Foods. In Peter F, What Is America Eating? Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1986. Marcus MB, and A Spake. †A fat nation.† U.S. News and World Report Aug. 2002: 40. Schlosser E. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. New York: Perennial 2002. Tillotson JE. â€Å"Our ready-prepared ready-to-eat nation.† Nutrition Today 37 (2002): 36-39. U.S. Department of Labor. Employment Status of U.S. Civilians by Age and Sex. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2001

Le Grand Meaulnes :: essays research papers

Titre: Le Grand Meaulnes Autor: Alain Fournier Genre: Roman d’adventure Date de Publication: 1913 Temps: Se deroule en 1890 et dure a peu pres 6 ans Lieu: Sainte-Agathe en Sologne et puis a Paris Personnages principaux: Augustin Meaulnes, Franà §ois Seurel, Ynonne de Galais et Frantz de Galais. Personnages secondaire: Mme Meaulnes, M. et Mme Seuriel,Mouchboef, Valentine Blondeau, Les Charpentiers, M. de Galais, Ganache, oncle Florentin. Resume Brief Augustin Meaulnes arrive comme interne dans l’à ©cole de M. Seurel, pere de Francois Seurel, le narrateur. C’est un garcon original qui bouleverse la tranquillità © de cette vie campagnarde. Un jour,il s’à ©gare dans le bois et parvient à ¡ un chà ¢teau oà º se dà ©roule une fà ©te à ©trange, en l’honneur des fiancailles du maitre, Frantz de Galais. La fiancà ©e ne viendra pas. La fete s’achevà ©, et Frantz s ‘à ©nfuit. Mais Meaulnes a rencontrà © Yvonne de Galais,la sÅ“ur de Frantz. Elle est belle. Il en tombe amoreux.Il doit cependant rentrer à ¡ l’à ©cole. Dà ©sormais Meaulnes ne cesse de la rechercher, de meme qu’il essaie avec Francois de retrouver,en vain, le domaine mysterieux. Frantz reparait,fait promettre à ¡ Meaulnes par un serment de rà ©pondre à ¡ tout appel au secours.Meaulnes part pour Paris,retrouve Valentine la fiancà ©e de Frantz tandis que Francois retrouve Yvonne que Meaulnes à ©pouse f inalment.Mais le matin des noces,là ¡ppel de Frantz se fait entendre. Meaulnes fifà ©l au serment y rà ©pond,part en abadonant sa jeune femme qui mourra en couche.Meaulnes reveindra chercher sa fille un an plus tard et partira avec elle pour de nouvelles aventures. Personnages Principaux Augustin Meaulnes: C’est le hà ©ros du roman. Il est aventurier, idà ©aliste absolu et toujours insatisfait. Il veut toujours plus, il n’est jamais content de ce qu’il a. Quand il n’obtient pas quelque chose, il se donne a fond pour l’obtenir et quand il l’a, il veut dà ©ja autre chose. Il vit d’inquià ©tude, cherche autour de lui quelque chose qui soit capable de le contenter totalement et de lui faire conquà ©rir le royaume des reves. En plus de cela, il est un entraineur, un chef. Il n’accepte pas le monde tel qu’il est fait par les autres. Il est illuminà © et crà ©e autour de lui comme un monde inconnu. Pour y arriver, il organise des escapades et une de ses escapades le conduit a Yvonne, dont il tombe amoureux. Dà ©s le debut du rà ©cit on remarque que le mot â€Å"fuite† est associà © au pesonnage de Meaulnes. Un premier portrait de Meaulnes nous est fait par sa mere au debut du livre.

Texting and Driving Should Be Banned

Have you ever considered reading a book while driving? If not then why would you text and drive? Driving is something that requires your full attention. When you open up your cell phone to send a text or receive a text then you might as well get out a book and start reading. Suppose you are driving down the road and your phone alerts you that you have a text message coming in, when you grab for that phone you are a victim of visual, cognitive, and manual distraction. Many people have lost their lives due to visual distraction. When you take your eyes off of the road, it only takes one second to cause an accident. I am sure if sixteen year old Ashley Johnson could start her day over she would. On May the 15 this exceptional, popular tenth grader had been texting while driving when she hit a pickup head on. She was in critical care for several days before dying sustained to injuries that occur during her accident. Not only did she lose her life but someone lost their daughter, granddaughter, sister and friend. If only she could have waited until she stopped driving. Patrick Sims is another prime example of why you should not text and drive. Patrick and his girlfriend were driving down the road the day before Thanksgiving. Patrick was texting a friend when his girlfriend started screaming, as he looked up there was a bicyclist so close to the front of his vehicle that he could not avoid hitting him. This was a sixty three year old grandfather that was out riding his bike for health reasons, minding his own business. Now this is something that this young man has to deal with for the rest of his life. He told CBS during an interview that he wished that he could have another chance; he also told them that the image of this man lying on the street dead would never leave his mind. I remember texting one time while I was driving and it was the first time and the last. I got a text message and I wasn’t going to read it but I was scared it was my mom or about my mom because she was sick. I was going to wait till I stopped at the red-light to check it but it was just too tempting to wait so I grabbed my phone to read my text when I ran off of the side of the road. That was a stupid decision on my behalf. It was only my niece wanting to know what I was doing. It was not just my life in danger it was also my children’s. I decided that day that I would never read a text again while driving. I am just thankful and fortunate that I got another chance. I honestly believe when you put yourself or someone else’s life in jeopardy by texting it is not an accident. You know exactly what you are doing when you open that phone and start typing or reading. Texting should not be just ban from people that drive automobiles but it should also be for people who drive trains and buses. It is a cognitive distraction when you take your mind off of what you are doing. On September the twelfth two thousand and ten, Robert Sanchez a commuter train engineer started his day like every other day. I’m sure when he left his home that morning he never thought it would be his last day returning home. During the day Robert was texting and receiving text from a young guy who he mentors. Robert did not yield and hit a freight train head on killing twenty five people and injuring eighty more. Roberts’s life was taking that day instantly. His life was taken just because he answered a text letting this young boy know where he was. This could have been prevented. Not only is his family grieving but so are all of the innocent lives that were taking that day. If you feel like you are too tempted to text while driving then you need to turn off your phone until you get stopped or put it away where you cannot reach it. Texting don’t only cause you to take your mind off of your driving but when your texting you don’t have on your hands on the wheel. When you are driving it is important that you drive with your hands not your knees or your forearm. I’m sure some people don’t think manual distraction is such a big issue when it comes to driving, but trust me it is. It is just as important as visual or cognitive distraction. Any time that you are driving you need to avoid all three distractions. You have a better chance reacting to a situation if you are driving with both hands. I know a young lady that went to school with my nephew. She was driving home one day after school, it was her and her little brother Ben. Sarah was texting while driving, Ben said that she had her knee up under the steering wheel driving and she came upon a curve and she just couldn’t react fast enough and lost control, she was killed. Her brother survived this terrible tragedy physically but not mentally. It has been ten years now and this young man is still seeing his sister lay beside him in this car bleeding from the head and not responsive. I feel like people are just selfish when it comes to texting. I know a lot of people don’t think about the consequences but it’s time that people wake up and see what texting and driving can do to families. I understand that texting is the new fad and some people rather text then talk. Texting is not a necessity to life. Many people have lost their lives because they made the wrong choice. I’m sure if the victims that have been involved in a misfortune could have another chance to drive without texting and take more responsibility for their actions they would. Driving is something that takes all the attention you can offer. That includes watching where you’re going, keeping your mind on what you’re doing and keeping both hands where they need to be. If you feel like you just can’t wait to text pull over to a safe place and text. Before you text and drive again visualize a loved one in your life and ask yourself this question, is it fair to them that I am being so selfish, not caring if I take my life or someone else’s life? I promise you that you’re not going to die if you have to wait to text but if you don’t wait to text you will definitely die.

Develop Health and Safety and Risk Management Policies Essay

An act is passed by Parliament, which is the highest form of law in the land. An act of parliament is the primary legislation of the UK. A law is considered to be an act when it has already been duly passed by a legislative body. It is for this reason that certain acts vary from one state to another. A regulation, on the other hand, is one that is approved by a group of individuals based on an act that has already been passed. These regulations are based on the act that has been approved and served as a means to make the act a lot easier to follow and adhere to. Delegated or secondary legislation allows the Government to make changes to the law using powers confered by an Act of Parliament. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 , also referred to as HSWA, HSW Act or HASAWA, is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive with local authorities (and other enforcing authorities) is responsible for enforcing the Act and a number of other Acts and Statutory Instruments relevant to the working environment. General duties of the act: †¢ To maintain or improve standards of health and safety at work, to protect other people against risks arising from work activities, to control the storage and use of dangerous substances and to control certain emissions into the air. †¢ Contains the duties placed upon employers with regard to their employees. †¢ Places duties on employers and the self-employed to ensure their activities do not endanger anybody (with the self-employed that includes themselves), and to provide information, in certain circumstances, to the public about any potential hazards. †¢ Places a duty on those in control of premises, which are non-domestic and used as a place of work, to ensure they do not endanger those who work within them. †¢ Places duties on manufacturers, suppliers, designers, importers etc. in relation to articles and substances used at work. †¢ Places duties upon employees. †¢ Places a duty on everyone not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare. †¢ Provides that an employer may not charge his employees for anything done, or equipment provided for health and safety purposes under a relevant statutory provision. It also establishes the Health & Safety Commission (HSC) and Executive (HSE), lays out the systems for enforcing the act, including the penalties for breaches of law and is the source of Crown immunity. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (and local authorities) are the enforcing authorities who work in support of the HSC. Both are statutory bodies, established under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (the HSW Act). HSC’s statutory functions include conducting and sponsoring research; promoting training; providing an information and advisory service; and submitting proposals to Ministers for new or revised regulations and approved codes of practice. HSE advises and assists HSC and has specific statutory responsibilities of its own, notably for enforcing health and safety law. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (amended 2003) These Regulations require an employer to implement preventive and protective measures on the basis of general principles of prevention set out in EU legislation. There is also a new regulation requiring that a competent person in the employer’s employment shall be appointed for the purpose of assisting him in undertaking the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under statutory provisions (not one who is not in his employment as in previous legislation). Employers must also arrange any necessary contacts with external services, especially as regards first-aid, emergency medical care and rescue work, that might be needed. In the event of failure to comply with these Regulations, it is not an adequate defence that it was caused by his employee or by any other. RIDDOR 1995 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations It places a legal duty on employers, the self-employed and those in control of premises to report some work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the relevant enforcing authority for their work activity. This can be the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or one of the local authorities. Responsible persons are generally employers but also include various managers and occupiers of premises. Though the regulations do not impose a specific obligation on employees, they have a general obligation under section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to take care of safety. The Health and Safety Executive recommends that they report incidents to their employer and encourages voluntary notification to the relevant regulating authority. COSSH 1994 (amended 2002) COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. You can prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous substances by: †¢ finding out what the health hazards are †¢ deciding how to prevent harm to health †¢ providing control measures to reduce harm to health †¢ making sure they are used †¢ keeping all control measures in good working order †¢ providing information, instruction and training for employees and others †¢ providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases †¢ planning for emergencies Most businesses use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances. Some processes create substances. These could cause harm to employees, contractors and other people. Sometimes substances are easily recognized as harmful. Common substances such as paint, bleach or dust from natural materials may also be harmful. Manual Handling Operations 1992 This is defined, in Regulation 2, as ‘any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or by bodily force. The regulations apply to all work that involves carrying or holding loads such as lifting boxes, packing goods, or pushing or pulling trolleys. They specify all factors employers must consider if they employ manual workers. These include whether manual tasks involve awkward movements, moving loads over long distances, holding goods that are difficult to grasp and the capabilities of the worker. Employers are required to provide adequate training to staff on safe handling and lifting techniques relevant to the task. Manual handling is a major source of injury and the HSE have provided a lot of supporting materials and guidance for employers on how to minimize the risks involved in MH operations. Food Safety Act 1990 The Food Safety Act 1990 is wide-ranging legislation on food safety and consumer protection in relation to food throughout Great Britain. The Act covers activities throughout the food distribution chain, from primary production through distribution to retail and catering. It gives the Government powers to make regulations on matters of detail. The Food Standards Agency is the principal Government Department responsible for preparing specific regulations under the Act. The main aims of the Act are: †¢ to ensure that all food meets consumers expectations in terms of nature, substance and quality and is not misleadingly presented; †¢ to provide legal powers and specify offences in relation to public health and consumers’ interest; and †¢ to enable Great Britain to fulfill its part of the United Kingdoms’ responsibilities in the European Union. Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 The way in which you achieve the following points depends on the individual setting. Whichever policy you have, it should firstly include a written statement that outlines your food safety procedures, and secondly be reviewed at regular intervals. You should always bear in mind that it has been developed to encourage businesses put in place food safety management procedures, and to comply with food hygiene regulations. It applies to everyone who works in the food business, from owners and managers right through to food handling staff. Businesses can range from a supermarket, cafe, pub, mobile food stall, exclusive restaurant, right through to a school dining area. All sectors are covered including; caterers, primary producers (such as farmers), manufacturers, distributors and retailers. It relates to public or private organizations involved in any of the following activities; †¢ preparation of food †¢ processing of food †¢ manufacture of food †¢ packaging of food †¢ storage of food †¢ transportation/distribution of food †¢ handling of food †¢ Offering food for sale. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (FSO) 2005 The Order applies to virtually all buildings, places and structures other than individual private dwellings e.g. individual flats in a block or family homes, and it is your responsibility to make sure your workplace reaches the required standard and employees are provided with adequate fire safety training. The Fire Safety Order places the emphasis on risk reduction and fire prevention. Under the Order, people responsible for commercial buildings i.e. the employer, owner, or any other person who has control of any part of the premises, are required to carry out a mandatory detailed fire risk assessment identifying the risks and hazards in the premises.

John Paul Vann

John Paul Vann is the central character of Sheehan's book, the character around whom the whole Vietnam War seems to turn. Fearless, misguided, Vann appears to stand for America itself. American ambassador and commanding general were informing the Kennedy administration that everything was going well and that the victory was theirs. Vann saw Vietnam War otherwise. In the end Vann was killed when his helicopter crashed and burned in rain and fog in the mountains of Vietnam's Central Highlands, leaving behind a most extraordinary legend.He succeeded in imposing himself as the real commander of a whole region in Vietnam, and the Pentagon, in an unprecedented move, gave him authority over all U. S. military forces in his area. He commanded as many troops as a major general. Vann never hesitated to use whatever level of force was necessary to achieve his ends, but considered it morally wrong and stupid to wreak violence on the innocent (another reason for his popularity with the anti-war p eople). The influence he wielded both within the U. S.civil-military bureaucracy and the Saigon government made him, by general agreement, the most important American in Vietnam after our ambassador and commanding general, a position recognized at his Arlington funeral, attended by the entire Washington military establishment. Neil Sheehan's book is now popular with both critics and public, and Hollywood would even think of making a film portraying an American military hero from the Vietnam War with such sympathy. DEVELOPMENT OF THEME Both John Paul Vann and Neil Sheehan went to Vietnam in the early 1960s, Vann as a military advisor, Sheehan as a reporter for United Press International (UPI).As the months passed, Vann’s disillusionment with the war’s progress eventually led him to share his frustrations with Sheehan and other reporters, and the advisor became one of the correspondents’ most valuable sources of information on the true dynamics of the situation ou t in the countryside. In the mid-1960s Sheehan left Vietnam for assignments in the United States, but Vann remained and, after assuming a civilian position, rose to become one of the most powerful Americans in the country.In 1972, a short time after Vann’s death in a helicopter crash, Sheehan began work on a biography of the soldier. Sixteen long years later, the book was finally published to a chorus of critical praise. John Paul Vann went to Vietnam in March 1962 at age thirty-seven. A lieutenant colonel in the U. S. Army, he served as senior advisor to the South Vietnamese Army’s 7th Infantry Division, which was headquartered at My Tho in the Mekong Delta south of Saigon. An intelligent, fearless man possessed of terrific stamina and a deeply held belief in the legitimacy of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Vann was an ideal advisor in many respects. Sheehan wrote in A Bright Shining Lie that the military man’s character and education had ‘‘combined t o produce a mind that could be totally possessed by the immediate task and at the same time sufficiently detached to discern the root elements of the problem. He manifested the faith and the optimism of post–World War II America that any challenge could be overcome by will and by the disciplined application of intellect, technology, money, and, when necessary, armed force. (134)’’But as the months passed and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) troops that he was advising continued to flounder, Vann’s frustration grew. South Vietnamese commanders proved reluctant to commit troops to confrontations because of political concerns back in Saigon and their own instinct for self-preservation, and the rosy forecasts of American policymakers troubled him as well. Moreover, Vann felt that both the South Vietnamese government and U. S. officials did not appreciate the significance of the social problems plaguing the country, and he argued that U. S.bombing po licies and the Strategic Hamlets program (in which peasants were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in group encampments) were eroding already tenuous support for the Diem regime out in the countryside. By the end of his first year in Vietnam, wrote Sheehan, ‘‘Vann saw that the war was being lost. The ambassador and the commanding general in South Vietnam were telling the Kennedy administration that everything was going well and that the war was being won. Vann believed then and never ceased to believe that the war could be won if it was fought with sound tactics and strategy† (102).Sheehan and the other members of the Saigon press corps bucked attempts by U. S. and Vietnamese officials to spoon-feed the media information on the war’s progress, and relations between the camps quickly deteriorated. Within a matter of months, however, the adventurous UPI reporter had developed an effective network of independent sources and established a productive p artnership with David Halberstam of the New York Times. One of the correspondents’ best sources in the U. S. military was John Paul Vann.Writing in A Bright Shining Lie, Sheehan described the relationship between Vann and the reporters in similar terms: ‘‘Vann taught us the most, and one can truly say that without him our reporting would not have been the same†¦. He gave us an expertise we lacked, a certitude that brought a qualitative change in what we wrote. He enabled us to attack the official optimism with gradual but steadily increasing detail and thoroughness’’ (254). Sheehan noted that he and most of the other correspondents initially supported America’s presence in Vietnam.‘‘We believed in what our government said it was trying to accomplish in Vietnam, and we wanted our country to win this war just as passionately as Vann and his captains did,’’ (211) Sheehan said. But the reports of Vann and other sourc es, coupled with their own firsthand observations out in the field, convinced the press corps that the U. S. prosecution of the war was fundamentally flawed. While attending the funeral for John Paul Vann in 1972, Sheehan was struck by the stature of those in attendance (from General William Westmoreland, who served as a pallbearer, to Ellsberg, who had been one of Vann’s closest friends).Upon returning home, Sheehan secured a two-year leave of absence from the New York Times, along with a contract from a publisher, and began work on a biography of Vann. The writer felt that by studying Vann’s life, he would also be able to examine America’s role in Vietnam. As he wrote in A Bright Shining Lie, ‘‘The intensity and distinctiveness of his character and the courage and drama of his life had seemed to sum up so many of the qualities Americans admired in themselves as a people. By an obsession, by an unyielding dedication to the war, he had come to person ify the American endeavor in Vietnam.He had exemplified it in his illusions, in his good intentions gone awry, in his pride, in his will to win† (325). As the 1970s blurred into the early 1980s, Sheehan’s obsession with Vann’s story grew. Month after month passed by as the writer tried to reconcile Vann’s dark secrets (a troubled childhood, a sexual appetite that doomed his army career) with the honorable soldier he had known in the Mekong Delta. And over it all lay the shadow of the war itself, the contradictions of which Sheehan continued to see encapsulated in Vann. Sheehan fell into a reclusive routine in which his waking hours were dominated by the book.In August 1986 Sheehan finally completed the manuscript for A Bright Shining Lie. Over the course of the next year, the author pared the book down to 360,000 words, still a massive work. In 1988—sixteen years after Sheehan began work on the Vann biography—A Bright Shining Lie was finally published. Paralyzed by our own Newtonian paradigm, we defeated ourselves by persistently viewing the Vietcong as being different from us in degree, when in fact they were different in kind. Underestimating them as being different only in degree, the U. S.military often contemptuously referred to them as â€Å"those raggedy-assed little bastards† (205). To Americans, the Vietcong simply had less technology to fight with; but the Vietcong knew they had a different kind of technology – the land, and they used it to great advantage against U. S. technology. In his A Bright Shining Lie, Sheehan relates a story that perfectly expresses how the Vietcong used nature in concert with their kind of technology. A Captain James Drummond is told by a prisoner that â€Å"the most important Vietcong training camp in the northern Delta is located in clumps of woods above a hamlet.When he gets there, Drummond finds . . . four thatched-hut classrooms furnished with blackboards under th e trees . . . † (88). The very idea that â€Å"blackboards under the trees† – a virtual oxymoron in American thinking -could be used to defeat the United States, is, once again, â€Å"unthinkable. † It represents what psychiatrist Charles J. Levy calls â€Å"inverted warfare,† which Gibson explains as â€Å"the sense in which American common sense on how the world operates was reversed or inverted in Vietnam†.A Bright Shining Lie confirms, that the core of the U. S. news operation in Vietnam during the crucial years from 1961 to 1963, came under the influence of a mid-level U. S. Army adviser, Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann, who was convinced that he had solved the riddle of how to galvanize what was essentially a fifteenth-century South Vietnamese army into a twentieth-century fighting force: Get rid of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, and have the United States take over the war, in toto.On January 2, 1963, the ARVN 7th Infantry Division, which was under the command of General Huynh Van Cao, carried out orders to destroy a Vietcong radio transmitter located in the hamlet of Tan Thoi in the Mekong Delta. Acting on intelligence that indicated that the transmitter was protected by a force of about one hundred Vietcong in nearby Ap Bac, Vann and his staff settled on a plan of attack that featured his usual precise calculations. ‘‘Vann saw an opportunity to use the ARVN’s advantages in mobility, firepower, and armor to destroy a Viet Cong unit,’’ noted Harry G.Summers, Jr. in the Historical Atlas of the Vietnam War. But instead of wreaking havoc on the guerrillas (whose hit-and-run tactics had frustrated the American advisors over the preceding months), the operation proved disastrous for Cao’s troops. Larger-than-expected Vietcong forces at Ap Bac and Tan Thoi were ready for the attack, having intercepted radio messages concerning the upcoming operation. When the raidâ⠂¬â„¢s first helicopters arrived, they were met with withering ground fire, and three of the H-21 helicopters and one Huey (UH-1) gunship were promptly downed.The first few minutes of the battle set the pattern for the rest of the clash. As the hours dragged by, ARVN forces committed a series of strategic blunders—some over the objections of Vann and his staff—that served to further deteriorate their position. Finally, Vann felt that Cao’s forces showed little appetite for battle, a factor that further contributed to the debacle. By the next morning the Vietcong guerrillas had slipped away, leaving behind eighty ARVN dead and another one hundred wounded. Significantly, three Americans had been killed as well.Later in the morning, Cao ordered a fraudulent air strike on the area, nearly killing Sheehan and two other Americans who were surveying the long-abandoned battlefield. In the battle’s aftermath, U. S. and South Vietnamese officials tried to call the clash at Ap Bac a victory, but Vann and his staff quickly disabused the press corps of any such notions. Enraged by the whole operation, Vann called the ARVN effort ‘‘a miserable damn performance,’’ and even though correspondents who used the quote did not reveal his identity, U. S. officials familiar with Vann knew whose voice it was.‘‘As a battle it did not amount to much, but Ap Bac would have profound consequences for the later prosecution of the war,’’ wrote Summers. ‘‘Prior to Ap Bac,’’ Sheehan pointed out, ‘‘the Kennedy administration had succeeded in preventing the American public from being more than vaguely conscious that the country was involved in a war in a place called Vietnam†¦. Ap Bac was putting Vietnam on the front pages and on the television evening news shows with a drama that no other event had yet achieved’’ (421). Vann retired from the army several mont hs later.When those who knew him learned of his departure, many assumed that he had selflessly sacrificed his military career so that he could comment on the war with greater freedom, and his reputation was further enhanced. His admirers were unaware that Vann’s myriad sexual indiscretions (including a valid statutory rape charge that he ultimately beat) had permanently scarred his record, effectively limiting his advancement anyway. In 1965 Vann returned to Vietnam as a civilian, serving as a provincial pacification representative for AID (the Agency for International Development).As American involvement in the war expanded, Vann’s authority increased, even though he continued to be an outspoken critic of some aspects of the war’s prosecution. ‘‘His leadership qualities and his dedication to the war had assisted his promotion, as had a realization by those in power in Saigon and Washington that his dissent over tactics or strategy was always meant t o further the war effort, not hinder it,’’ wrote Sheehan (436). In May 1971 Vann was promoted to an advisory position that gave him authority over all U. S. military forces in Vietnam’s Central Highlands and adjacent provinces along the central coastline.The unprecedented arrangement gave Vann more power than he could have ever wielded had he stayed in the army. By this point, some people who knew Vann felt that the years of involvement in the war had changed the man, and not for the better. They noted that Vann had adopted a much more lenient philosophy about appropriate methodologies for winning the bitter war. Those who recalled his harsh criticisms of bombing strategies earlier in the conflict for the toll that they exacted on civilians found that he had become an enthusiastic proponent of intensive bombing campaigns.Sheehan wrote about an exchange between Vann and Washington Post reporter Larry Stern that dramatically reflected Vann’s change of heart : ‘‘Anytime the wind is blowing from the north where the B-52 strikes are turning the terrain into a moonscape, you can tell from the battlefield stench that the strikes are effective,’’ (365) Vann reportedly told Stern. In March 1972, North Vietnamese forces launched the three-pronged Easter Offensive, a bold effort to overwhelm South Vietnam by attacks on three strategic regions.All three thrusts were ultimately turned back, however, as the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) was handed a major setback. Vann was widely credited with being a key figure in the defense of An Loc, a site seventy-five miles north of Saigon that had been one of the NVA’s primary targets in the offensive. In June of that year, however, Vann was killed in an air crash when his helicopter, flying low over an otherwise treeless valley at night, hit a small group of trees standing over a primitive Montagnard cemetery (Montagnards are aboriginal tribespeople who make their homes in so me of Vietnam’s more mountainous areas).EVALUATION OF THE THEME AND BOOK PRESENTATION As the months passed, and disastrous events such as the Ap Bac debacle and the Buddhist uprising erupted, Sheehan emerged as one of the war’s finest—and most controversial—correspondents. He did so despite struggling with an almost paralyzing certainty that death would claim him when he went out into the field. When he first arrived in Vietnam, Sheehan had been exhilarated by violent, dangerous excursions out in the countryside, but the events at Ap Bac changed his attitude in dramatic fashion.While surveying the scene of the battle, Sheehan and two others (reporter Nick Turner and Brigadier General Robert York) had nearly been blown apart by General Cao’s fraudulent attack against the abandoned Vietcong positions in the area. In June 1964 Sheehan left UPI for the New York Times. A year later he returned to Saigon, where he stayed until 1966, when he was transferr ed to Washington, D. C. That same year he wrote an article, ‘‘Not a Dove, but No Longer a Hawk,’’ that reflected his growing disillusionment with America’s involvement in Vietnam. In the late 1960s he served as the newspaper’s Pentagon and White House correspondent.By 1971 Sheehan had come full circle; he emerged as a critic of the war. In 1971 Ellsberg’s disenchantment with U. S. policies led him to give Sheehan a massive collection of confidential government memorandums and reports on the war that came to be known as the Pentagon Papers. To opponents of the war, the records in this archive—commissioned by Defense Secretary McNamara back in 1967, they included reports dating back to the 1940s—provided stark evidence that U. S. involvement in Southeast Asia had too often been characterized by deceit, misjudgments, and bureaucratic arrogance.Sheehan’s massive tome garnered many awards (Pulitzer Prize, National Book A ward for nonfiction, Columbia Journalism Award, Robert F. Kennedy Book Award, and others) and laudatory reviews in the months following its publication. Boosted by the recognition, the book became a best-seller. Reviewers were almost unanimous in their praise for Sheehan’s work (the harshest dissent with the critical consensus appeared in the National Review). New York Times Book Review critic Ronald Steel commented that if there is one book that captures the Vietnam War in the sheer Homeric scale of its passion and folly, this book is it.Indeed, reviewers recognized that the book worked in large measure because of its choice of subject matter. Critics felt that, in John Paul Vann, Sheehan had found a larger-than-life figure whose experiences in Vietnam offered valuable insights into the character and nature of American involvement in the conflict. Making more sense of what happened in the conflict than most books, this is a thoughtful, well-made work. References Sheehan, Nei l. (1988). A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam. New York: Random House.