PTSD Research Paper - 1674 Words

Taela Butler Miss. Sykes English III Honors 7 April 2014 Living with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder Today, hundreds of thousands of service men and women and recent military veterans have seen combat. Many have been shot at, seen their buddies killed, or witnessed death up close. These are types of events that can lead to Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD: A Growing Epidemic. â€Å") Anyone that has gone through a traumatic event can be diagnosed with PTSD but research shows, military men and women are more susceptible to having PTSD (PTSD: A Growing Epidemic.) And, with little help from the US, many Veterans do not get the help they need or get treated for PTSD. Military men and women begin to†¦show more content†¦About 30% of the men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD. (Military.) The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that PTSD afflicts almost 31% of Vietnam veterans, as any as 10% of Gulf War veterans, 11% of veterans of the war in Afghanistan, and 20% of Iraqi war veterans. An additional 20 to 25 percent of all military men and women have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives (Military.) People with PTSD often have anger issues and emotional problems. It is likely for them to have thoughts of suicide and feel completely disconnected from their lives and from other people. They have lived through a drastic trauma that is hard to overcome and go on with their lives. PTSD effects everyday interactions and feelings. Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder affects the daily lives of the people suffering from it. Some may need accommodations at work depending on their personal severance of the disorder. People with PTSD miss more days at work and work less efficiently than people without PTSD (PTSD Effects.) Certain symptoms of PTSD, such as difficulties concentrating and problems sleeping may make it difficult for a person with PTSD to pay attention at work, stay organized, or make it to work on time. People with PTSD also have higher rates of unemployment than people without PTSD. (Military) As youShow MoreRelatedPtsd Research Paper1038 Words   |  5 PagesThe Perceptions and Treatment of PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has severely affected the lives of countless military veterans throughout the years. Consequently, there likely are many more PTSD cases that exist and go unreported, or misdiagnosed due to misconceptions when reported (Samuelson, Bartel, Jordan, Valadez, 2017). To this extent, I am going to discuss my views on two articles. The first article explains the patient’s perceptions of PTSD symptoms. The second article explainsRead MoreThe Effects Of Ptsd Symptoms And Relationships1441 Words   |  6 Pages Effects of PTSD Symptoms and Relationships Jordyn Burns University of Minnesota Abstract Within recent years researchers have turned their attention to soldiers returning home and their intimate relationships. More specifically, researchers have looked at how a soldiers PTSD affects his/her relationship and well being. There are many symptoms of PTSD, all of which contribute to the severity of that individual’s symptoms. This paper will be a literature reviewRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay1259 Words   |  6 Pagesstress disorder (PTSD) affects many individuals in the United States. This paper focuses on individuals who survived hurricane Ike and Katrina and as a result, suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder. PTSD can affect an individual for a couple of weeks to a few years after the exposure. People who suffer from PTSD can also suffer from depression and substance use (Odonnell Forbes, 2016). The period after a natural disaster can also feed the negative feelings that come with PTSD, depression, andRead MoreA Disorder That Is Discussed In Bo th The Textbook And The1611 Words   |  7 Pagescovered in class is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a disorder that may develop after and individual has experienced or been exposed to extreme trauma. This paper will provide an ABC analysis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; it will also discuss a treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a critique of the disorder. The ABC analysis looks at antecedents, behaviors and consequences of a particular disorder, in this case PTSD. Antecedents or influences on an individual, ofRead MoreDreaming and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Connection974 Words   |  4 PagesPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder is defined as a â€Å"debilitating mental disorder that follows experiencing or witnessing an extremely traumatic, tragic, or terrifying event† (PTSD Info Treatment, 2013). While this definition describes the general definition of PTSD, the DSM-IV states that the criteria for being diagnosed with PTSD varies between a person who â€Å"experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to theRead More Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagesstress disorder (PTSD). Based on the research, post-traumatic disorder usually occurs following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape (Harvard Women’s Health Watch, 2005). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnostic criteria and tests, treatment, prognosis and future research and approaches toRead MoreEffectiveness Of Chosen Intervention For Children With Refugee And Asylee Youth1273 Words   |  6 PagesEffectiveness of Chosen Intervention Based on the available research, the authors have chosen Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy as the most effective intervention when working with refugee and asylee youth. This intervention was chosen due to the high amount of research conducted using this intervention with refugee and asylee youth. The pliability of CBT allows this intervention to mold to the unique needs of this population and serve the vast degree of trauma and mental health conditions this populationRead MoreTreatment Intervention Outcomes For Veterans With Ptsd960 Words   |  4 Pages Treatment Intervention Outcomes for Veterans with PTSD Rita Clady HHS460: Research Methods in Health Human Services LaTonya Jones October 4th 2015 Treatment Intervention Outcomes for Veterans with PTSD Description and Summary Post-traumatic stress disorder is considered as a psychiatric disorder that creates impairments in occupational, interpersonal, and social functioning. Although there are several treatment processes for veterans suffering from this condition, some interventionRead MorePreventing Ptsd During Military Personnel1371 Words   |  6 PagesPreventing PTSD in military personnel Goals: I aim to research if it is possible to prevent or make it harder to obtain PTSD in military personnel through the creation of a new drug, or use of an existing one. Currently, the problem with using medications is that it merely blocks the amount of distress and sadness that is brought on by PTSD. I intend to use some form of medication that could be taken daily by soldiers that would prevent the acquisition of PTSD when a trauma occurs, instead of blockingRead MoreThe Severity Of People s Ptsd Symptoms Following The Hurricane967 Words   |  4 PagesThe severity of people s PTSD symptoms following the hurricane was overtly connected to the amount of television coverage they watched of the damage which included the looting of New Orleans, rescue efforts, and evacuations in and around the Superdome and the Convention Center in New Orleans. People fared better in terms of PTSD symptoms if they watched less television coverage overall, especially of the looting. They also benefitted fr om using prayer as a way of coping with the stress of the hurricane

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain - 1664 Words

The protagonist of Huckleberry Finn is arguably one of the most remarkable character Mark Twain created in all his writings. Huck can be seen as both a symbol of the freedom of the natural man and an individual man with a conscience and a basic sense of decency. He is also very much still an out of control teenager who has issues with most modest things in life like society, religion, work, and even his own father, yet as a reader you never question that Huck is a sensitive, caring human being who is in many ways, superior to the figures of adults that surround him on a daily basis. These are just some of the reasons that Huck is able to find his closest friendships with boys his own age like Tom Sawyer or with outcasts from society†¦show more content†¦We suffer right along with him as the Widow’s old maid sister, Miss Watson, nags and pesters him about washing, dressing, combing, learning, and particularly religion. Yet there is evidence of Huck’s basic s ense of decency, or possibly even shame, at his resemblance to his non-present father. Huck even accepts the Widow’s forging religious providence in spite of his low self-esteem. â€Å"I judged I could see that there was two Providences, and a poor chap would stand considerable show with the widow’s Providence, but if Miss Watson’s got him there warn’t no help for him anymore. I thought it all out, and reckoned I would belong to the Widow’s if he wanted me, though I couldn’t make out how he was a-going to be any better off then than what he was before, seeing I was so ignorant, and so kind of low-down and ornery.† (14). Huck is ignorant only in the sense that he lacks a formal education, but â€Å"low-down and ornery† is the characterization of his father that Huck sees reflected in himself whenever he fidgets in front of a mirror. In fact, Huck’s greatest virtue is his absolute honesty in his self-examination, which overlooks his natural decency and compassion. While some similarities are definitely present, Huck is actually very different from his father, who is bigoted, ill-tempered, and usually drunk,

Through the use of similes, me... free essay sample

Through the use of similes, metaphors, symbolism, idioms, repetition, alliteration, rhyme and diction, Taylor Swift in Red is describing what she felt before, during and after her relationship with a certain boy.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Taylor Swift was born December 13, 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania. She began singing at local events at the age of 10. At 12 she began writing her own songs and learning guitar. Later on her family then moved to Hendersonville, Tennessee to help further her musical career. She started as a country singer/songwriter in 2006 and now in 2016 is a pop singer, songwriter. Taylors first album was a self titled debut album. As biograhy.com states, Taylor was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Artist category and won other accolades, including the ACMs Female Vocalist of the Year Award. Around that time   her second album Fearless came out. In 2010 she became the youngest artist to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, for Fearless, stated by biography. We will write a custom essay sample on Through the use of similes, me or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page com. Her later albums Speak Now, Red and 1989 all sold more than a million copies the opening week.A big part of the song is the symbolism. The symbolism helps you understand what the song is about. The symbolism in the song uses colors to represent emotions. The colors she uses are blue, dark grey and red. The color Blue means sadness, the color dark grey represents depression and loss and red represents happiness, joy and bliss. She uses red to show the strong affection of the relationship and dark grey to show the sadness and loss of that affection when the relationship ended. The symbolism in the song is tied together with the metaphors. When there is a metaphor it includes a color that has symbolism. A metaphor is a comparison not using like or as. The metaphors are only in the chorus. The first metaphor in the song is losing him was blue, comparing losing him to the feeling of sadness. The next metaphor is missing him was dark grey all alone. This says that missing him was depressing and lonely. Another metaphor is loving him was red. The metaphor compares loving him to the feeling of happiness, joy and bliss. In Red, similes decorate the song. A simile is a comparison using like or as. Throughout the whole song at least every verse has a simile. The similes in the song represent what she felt during and after the relationship. It is said that owning a luxury car brings you happiness like how being in a relationship is supposed to bring you happiness. In reality once you get the stationary car it is a disappointment like a relationship that is progressing slowly or not at all, can be a disappointment. Taylor shows that through the simile loving him is like driving a new maserati down a dead end-street. She compares the new luxury car with nowhere to go to the thrill and end of a relationship. The simile loving him is like trying to change your mind, shows how the concept of dating him was hard to grasp in her mind. Like the colors in autumn, so bright just before they lose it all, is the next simile. The simile compares autumn to the end of a relationship. During autumn leaves change and fall like how the relationship soon changed and ended. Blue like Id never known shows that losing him made her get a feeling of unknown sadness. Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met is another simile. You cant know a stranger without meeting them because it is impossible like for Taylor Swift, it is impossible for her to forget him. The simile Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song, is in the next verse. The simile explains how she misses having him around and still remembers everything about him. This is displayed because when you hear an old song that hasnt been played in a while, the lyrics come rushing right away and remember all of them. When you find out there is no right answer to a hard problem you get frustrated. Taylor explains that, fighting with him was frustrating through the simile, fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing theres no right answer.   Ã‚  Ã‚   The use of end rhyme is in the songs verses. The first end rhyme starts in verse 2 with the 2nd and last line. The 2nd line is Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song. The last line is Regretting him was like wishing you never found out that love could be that strong. The rhyming occurs in the last words, song and strong.

Ponce De Leon Essays - Spanish West Indies, Spanish Florida

Ponce De Leon Ponce de Leon was a sailor and explorer for Spain. He had been given governorship of Hispaniola where he soon discovered that on Puerto Rico gold was found. He soon conquered the island and was given governorship of it. From the gold he became very wealthy. He soon learned of an Indian tale of an island called Bimini. On the Island There were supposedly lots if gold and pearls and a mystical fountain that could restore ones youth. Ponce de Leon asked for and received permission to conquer and settle in the island of Bimini. On March 3, 1513 he sailed from Puerto Rico with three ships. Sailing around the northwest corner of Cuba, he then looked for Bimini among the Bahaman Islands. Finally, on Easter Sunday, March 13, he landed on the coast near present day St. Augustine. He called the land Pascua Florida. After searching a few days for gold, pearls, and that elusive fountain, and finding none of them, he turned south. Along the southeast coast of Florida near the Indian River, they met the Ais Indians. The Ais called out to Ponce de Leon, so he went ashore. They then tried to take the boat from the Spanish. In the ensuing fight, an Indian clubbed a Spaniard on the head, resulting in an all day battle between the two. From a captured Indian, they learned that the land was called Cautio by the Ais. Incidentally, the Bahaman Indians called the land, Canico or Cancio. From there, the expedition sailed south around the Florida keys, and up the west coast of Florida to an area near the present-day Sanibel Island. There they battle with the Calusa Indians, led by their chief, Cacique Carlos. Again, there was an all day fight, which led to the Spaniards retreat. Turning southward across the Gulf of Mexico, the explorers came across a group of islands where they replenished their food supply with the turtles on the islands. They named them Tortugas, after the turtles. From there, they returned to Cuba, then back to the Bahamas, then Puerto Rico, seven months later. The King of Spain knighted Ponce de Leon and made him governor of Florida. He also commanded him to settle the island and subdue the Carib Indians, who were raiding the natives of Puerto Rico. The Caribs were known for their maritime abilities, crossing the Caribbean in huge canoes with as many as 50 people in them. Their fierce fighting ability kept Ponce de Leon from returning to Florida until 1521. Ponce de Leon left Santa Domingo with two ships carrying two hundred colonist and all kinds of domestic animals. They landed on the west coast of Florida near Charlotte Harbor, where the Calusa had driven them off before. Before they could erect buildings, they were attacked, and Ponce de Leon wounded with a poison arrow. The colonists got into their ships and left- one ship was blown to the coast of Mexico; the other, with Ponce de Leon, reached Cuba where he died of his wound. European History Essays

The 1970s Essay Example For Students

The 1970s Essay The 1970s were a time of great change in America. Women werespeaking out for their rights. The war in Vietnam was raging. Presidentswere being impeached. African Americans were speaking out againstoppression. It seemed lie everyone was protesting everything. There weremany changes happening both good and bad. Many of the things people did inthe 60s carried over to the 70s. Protests drugs and violence were verybig very real things. First the parents of the 70s were criticized about how they raisedthe kids and new ways of parenting started to be developed. Kids wereleft alone and many were in therapy. Also women rights were just startingto blossom and many sexist business and clubs were changed to accommodatethe women of the 70s. No longer were they just supposed to take a backseat to men. Another major event of the 70s was the war in Vietnam. Many youngmen died during the war. If they were not dead however, they were crazyfrom the pain and agony of war. Many young men from America were shippedout as soon as they turned 18 and there was not one thing they could dobut go. It was a terrible war and many people for got about it. We will write a custom essay on The 1970s specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Finally, President Richard M. Nixon (Tricky Dick) was impeached forthe Watergate scandal. The Watergate scandal was an event was people onthe committee to re-elect the president went into democratic head quartersand tampered with election items. This resulted in the president beingimpeached but he later resigned to lessen the embarrassment. In conclusion the 70s was a time of great change in America. Manythings happened and some were great and some were bad. But America wouldnot be what it is today without the defining time of the 1970s. America Bilingual?The question that many people are trying to answer is should America theland of opportunity be an official Bilingual Language Country. Some sayyes and others say no there is no real clear way or answer but here aresome things that may help your decision. First the reasons why America should be a bilingual country aresimple. 1) If America were a bilingual country more people would be ableto get jobs and buy homes and other items. 2) Being a bilingual countrywould make people closer and the country unite even more than now. 3)People would be able to come from other countries and communicate withAmericans. Finally more people would come to America and not be held backby the language barrier. Next here are the reasons why America should not be a bilingualcountry. 1) More people will come to America to try and find opportunityand take jobs from Americans who were here first. 2) People will need tolearn a new language witch will be hard and time consuming. 3) Lots ofthings will need to be changed to accommodate the new language. Finallymany American will refuse this idea and it will not work properly. I believe that America should become a bilingual country because most ofthe countries in the world are bilingual. Then America would look like itis more united and other countries wont think that Americans think thatthey are the best. Also more people will be able to get jobs and purchaseitems and the economy of the country will be greatly improved. It also isa way to bring Americans to gather and sew all the links that make thiscountry great together and form an unbreakable chain of brother hood thatwill keep this county going for Centuries to come.

French Revolution

French Revolution French Revolution Terror has been commonly used through history as a device that controls. Many times it has been used for the greater good of man, other times it has been used to destroy. The French revolution was one of these periods of time in which terror was used with a positive intent, but had many negative consequences. Following the demise of the monarchy in France, moderates had control of the government, but the Jacobins soon purged the moderates from the National Convention.Terror in revolutionary France was first brought onto the Nobles, and upper class. This was done many times to appease the masses. But later the peasant class was significantly targeted outside of France. Louis Antoine de Saint-Just gave a speech in front of revolutionary supporters claiming that the greatest misfortune that was taking place was that a certain fear of the concentration of authority was necessary to save the state (Doc 5).Napoleon Bonaparte in the coup d'Ã ©tat of 18 Bruma...The most im portant of all Napoleons achievements was the formation of the Bank of France; this generated positive interest in the French economy and encouraged investment in France.The coup d'etat was an act by Napoleon and Emmanuel Sieyes to overthrow the Directory. The Directory was a new form of government that was established in 1795. It consisted of five members that were elected by both houses of the legislature. This form of government was proved even less effective than the Legislative Assembly and the national convention. Within the Directory there was incompetence and corruption that was putting France in a major debt. It didn't do much to solve the financial problems and military problems in France.Attacks on the republic and other conservatives increased. Rising prices and disrupted production drove some groups...

Memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Memo - Essay Example I've prepared an analysis about the use of vulnerability assessment systems and intrusion detection systems in your company, just like you asked me. You specifically asked whether the use of both systems will be a waste of resources and a duplication of efforts. My analysis suggests that VAS and IDS have separate internal functions for the security of the computer systems and both must be a part of a computer system for complete security control. Vulnerability assessment systems are those security scanning tools that assess level of threat that can penetrate a system. The main job of such tools is to scan networks, servers, firewalls, routers, and applications and report system vulnerabilities. "Generally, the tools can detect known security flaws or bugs in software and hardware, determine if the systems are susceptible to known attacks and exploits, and search for system vulnerabilities such as settings contrary to established security policies". (Becker, 1999) New threats are discovered each day thus the vulnerability assessment tools must be updated regularly. Any new weaknesses such as security flaws and bugs would need to be patched in the system so that no holes left for malwares, viruses, spywares etc. to infect the system. Another feature of a vulnerability assessment system is that it generates reports which can tell a user what and where weaknesses exist and how to fix them. (Becker, 1999) Intrusion Detection Systems Vulnerability assessment is the first step in securing the system from threats by taking appropriate security precautions and patch-ups. However, new threats are raised everyday and some might pass through the vulnerability precautions. Therefore the next logical step is to "monitor the system for intrusions and unusual activities". Intrusion detection systems automatically raise the alarm in case of a security breach and inform the Computer Incident Respond Team for their help. "By analyzing the information generated by the systems being guarded, IDSs help determine if necessary safeguards are in place and are protecting the system as intended". Important to note here is that IDS don't protect the system, they just pinpoint the location of the attack and collect the information related to the attack and the attacker. (Becker, 1999) IDS tools are used by the CIRT to generate both technical and management reports since it provide background information on the type of attack and the attacker. IDS can also give recommendations to the management about the courses of action to take to seal the breach. (Becker, 1999) Example The difference can easily be understood by the following example. Vulnerability assessment just checks how susceptible a person is to catching a cold in winters. The vulnerabilities that the system can find is that not enough warm clothes are worn and heater is not being used. The intrusion detection system checks that cold air in hitting the person directly which may be harmful, and the point of intrusion was the chest of the person. So a person gets the information from the vulnerability system that he needs to have a heater and wear warm clothes and from the intrusion

Corporate finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate finance - Assignment Example Blume (1993) had suggested that CAPM provides a model of equilibrium risk/return relationship. The CAPM also denotes that there exists a linear relationship between expected return and non-diversifiable systematic risk which is denoted as beta. This linear relationship is denoted as security market line (SML). In SML, the systematic risk of a share is compared with the risk and return of the market as well as the risk free rate of return for estimating the expected return of a particular share (Arnold, 2008; Pike and Neale, 1999). Figure 1 Source: (Ogilvie, 2008) CAPM defines risk as an extent to which the return of the portfolio of shares or a single share has a covariance with the return in the market. If it is assumed that CAPM correctly defines the capital market, then the risk/return relationship can be established for an efficient market strategy. The CAPM equation represents this relationship and expected return is seen to be a function of the following equation: R = Rf + ? (R m – Rf) Where: R = Expected return on the portfolio or share. Rf = Risk-free rate of return. ? = Beta. It signifies the volatility of the portfolio or the share relative to the market portfolio. Rm = Expected return on the market portfolio. Rm – Rf = Market risk premium (Harrington, 2001; Jones, 1998). Parameters of CAPM The risk-free rate of return: It signifies the return on the asset that has no risk. This indicates that it neither has covariance nor variance with the return on the market. In reality, it is difficult to find an asset of this kind and doubts prevail regarding the actual existence. Various proxies like, treasury bills and government bonds, are used in this stead. However, these proxies are also subjected to inflation and uncertainty and cannot be considered as entirely risk-free (Harrington 2001; Watson and Head, 1998). Return on the market: For CAPM, one of the most important implications is the existence of optimally efficient market portfolio. In t heoretical approach, the market portfolio consists of risky assets that are diversified among the portfolios available. Once this portfolio is held, it is not possible to diversify the risk any further. The market return is the return on the market portfolio, including all the risky assets. Unlike risk-free rate, the market return is difficult to estimate. It is approximated by using the indices of the stock exchange as the proxy for the market. However, issues exist regarding the selection of index to be used as proxy. Beta: It is the measure of non-diversifiable risk and relative measure of risk. It is the risk estimation relative to the market portfolios. In simple words, it measures the price volatility of the share or a portfolio of shares and also, how the expected return of the portfolio or the share will react in consideration to the movement of return in the market portfolio (Moyer, McGuigan and Kretlow 2001; Jones 1998). Hence, beta is the measure for the difference betwee n the return of the various portfolios of share or shares (Ward, 2000; Jones, 1998). Application of Capital Asset Pricing Model in Corporate Decision making CAPM argues that total risk is measured by

Baking pastry Essay Example for Free

Baking pastry Essay Cake decorating is referred to as one of the sugar arts in the world of baking. Cakes are decorated for many people and their special occasions. Many remember the birthday cakes and wedding cakes that went along with creating such fond memories of the events. The success of certain cake decorating shows like Cake Boss, Amazing Wedding Cakes, and Ace of Cakes have taken cake decorating from ordinary and boring to an extraordinary and marvelous level. There are also many new textures and flavors of frosting that have been conjured up over the years. The varieties of frosting have been created to compliment the many creations of cake flavors. The craft has evolved into a form of art over the years using different tips and techniques. It is now a craft which requires a lot of new skills, techniques, and education. One might even pursue a four year or two year college degree in Culinary Arts from a school such as, The Culinary Art Institute. There are also many new textures and flavors of frosting that have been conjured up over the years. The varieties of frosting have been created to compliment the many creations of cake flavors. If you are not easily impressed you might still be amazed at the number, variety and creativity of cakes. Some intricate designs appear to defy gravity. The secret, Patrick says, is judicious use of inedible props, such as Styrofoam (Decorating Lane 58). Sculpted animals are popular. However, theyre at most only cake. Decorating cakes depending on the designing and style tends to be pricier. If the customer tends to ask for a sculpted cake that can make an impressive centerpiece may cost approximately 200 or more. Cakes that are decorated some special way could get good publicity and get good business. Having to sculpt the cake is highly visible and correctly and profitable. Color and dimension is what most people want to see when they order the cake. An if the customers like the work they might come back. However, the cakes must truly be memorable. . One may ask, what does it really take to be a great cake decorator and most importantly where did it all start? Decorating skills and techniques have developed greatly since three-tiered wedding and candled birthday cakes. The process has evolved to this day presenting beautiful towers of deliciousness. These unique creations also take us on an interesting trip through decorating history. As most know, cake is a term with an elaborate history and a subject with many aspects. Cake denotes a baked flour connection sweetened with sugar, honey, eggs and milk. It has a distinct texture created by mixture rising during the cooking process. Cakes found in â€Å"Swiss Lake Villages† were made from roughly crushed grains, moistened, compacted, and cooked on hot stone. Obviously cake techniques have progressed since then. As time passed, over many centuries by trial and error, baking techniques began to improve due to influence from other countries and cultures (Kroskey). Work Cited Decorating in the fast lane. Bakery Production and Marketing 24 Jan. 1992: 58. Culinary Arts Collection. Web. 14 Aug. 2013. Kroskey, Carol Meres. Color and dimension add profits to cakes. Bakery Production and Marketing 24 June 1991: 74+. Culinary Arts Collection. Web. 14 Aug. 2013. Kroskey, Carol Meres. Complementing cakes with color. Bakery Production and Marketing 24 Sept. 1991: 106+. Culinary Arts Collection. Web. 14 Aug. 2013. Kroskey, Carol Meres. Create an illusion. Bakery Production and Marketing 24 June 1993: 56+. Culinary Arts Collection. Web. 14 Aug. 2013. Kuyper, Frances. Making your own decorations in advance. Bakery Production and Marketing 24 Sept. 1991: 112. Culinary Arts Collection. Web. 14 Aug. 2013.

Theories of Depression

Theories of Depression Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental process (Rathus 4). By looking at mood disorders in psychology we can see that major depression has affected more than 15 million American adults, about 6.7% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in the year 2016 (Anxiety and Depression Associatin of America). There are generally two types of mood disorders; depression and bipolar disorder. Depression mostly involves feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt, and great sadness. According to the DSM-IV, an individual needs to be diagnosed with five or more of nine symptoms in order to be declared depressed. Persistent depressed mood for most of the day, loss of interest or pleasure in all, or almost all activities, significant weight loss or gain due to changes in appetite, sleeping more or less than usual, speeding up or slowing down of physical and emotional reactions, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or unfolded guilt, reduced ability to concentrate or make meaningful decisions, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Also, the individual must have at least one of the first two symptoms with their five total symptoms to be considered depressed (Rathus 423). According to the DSM-V, there are quite a few types of depression that an individual can experience. The primary example of depression is Major Depression; this can also be known as Chronic Major depression, and or Unipolar Depression. Some symptoms may include persistent anxious, sadness or an empty mood thought the day, feelings of pessimism or hopelessness, irritability and or sudden angry outburst, persistent certain physical symptoms that may not respond to treatments, loss of interest in all or all most all activities that can include sex, decrease in energy, changes in sleeping or eating habits that can result to over or under sleeping and weight loss or gain. Dysthymia is the secondary type of depression mentioned in the DSM-V. This is an overwhelmed state of a chronic state of depression, that was again explained; feelings of a depressed mood for most of the day but must be for at least two years. When an individual experiences dysthymia; he or she may show symptoms of appet ite or weight changes, feelings of fatigue and helplessness, low self-esteem, changes in sleep, and poor ability to concentrate or make meaningful decisions. SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder has also been mentioned in the DSM-V. This is most common in the harsh winters where there is little light for the body to secrete certain hormones for the body to function properly. The best solutions to aid this problem is to have artificial sun light projected to the individual or either go to a tanning salon. The tanning salon also used artificial sunlight to tan the skin or change the pigment within the skin (American Psychiatric Association). Depression has supporting evidence in both sides of the Nature and Nurture Debate. Biologically, the thyroid gland can affect an individuals depression state. Depending of the amount of certain hormones produced in the thyroid gland, a person may show signs of the nine symptoms described by DSM-IV. Some hormones that may affect an individuals depression state are thyroid stimulating hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Have too much or too little of these hormones may result in a few conditions such as, sleep disturbances, weight loss or gain, trainability or nervousness, fatigue, forgetfulness, inability to tolerate heat or the cold, and dry skin or hair (WebMD).ÂÂ   Also, disorders such as depression and anxiety have the tendency to occur more often in close relatives of affected individuals than they do in the general population. Between 20 and 25 percent of people who is affected with mood disorders have a family member who is affected by a similar disorder. On the side of the nurture debate, the physiocratic view of depression is that same people are prone to depression because they suffered a real or imagined loss of a loved object or person in childhood. Some learning theorists believe that learned helplessness makes people prone to depression. This was demonstrated by a psychologist named Martian Seligman when he conducted an experiment on dogs. The dogs were taught that they were hopeless to escape from electric shock. First, he placed a barrier in the dogs cage to prevent them from leaving when shocks were administered. Later the barrier was removed. However, hen shocks ere again administered, the dogs made no effort to escape. They had learned there was nothing to do to stop the pain (Rathus 424, 425). In the field of psychology, there are many types of theories for different subjects. Depression has many theories which have different implications for the therapy that is used to treat it. Directly and indirectly, the social environment plays a role in depression. Three examples of depression theories are rank theory of depression, Psychodynamic theory of depression and Becks cognitive theory of depression. Theories are used to help treat depression and for an example for each, a female named Sam. The first example used in Wades example would be rank theory depression. Sam made many friends in High School and was well-known throughout school. She would have a major position in the student council and would be the captain and the star player of two major sports teams. As Sam would walk through the hallways, she would find pleasure in being greeted. Sam would be excited over the thought of going to college and having the opportunities of interacting with a new group of people. However , when in college, the idea of instantaneous social acceptance would not be a reality. Starting from the bottom of the social hierarchy, Sam could not begin to understand or accept her new social position and became frustrated and angry; later towards the end of her first semester she would feel depressed. By applying the social rank theory, phycologists may now begin to determine why Sam is depressed. According to Stevens and Price, when organisms are demoted to a lower social rank, they will become depressed in order to accept this fact and reduce their desire to get back on top (Stevens A.). This is an evolutionary function and is designed to avoid conflict between the new and old leaders (Stevens A.). Her treatment should be focused on Rational Emotive Therapy which teaches her that being a leader can be irrational (Wade). The next theory, presented by Sigmoid Freud; is psychodynamic theory of depression which states that depression is a result from anger from imbalanced cognitions and behavior in childhood. To present this theory say for example Sam grew up in a strictly Catholic household that prided on being perfect. Sam has a loving and overprotective mother and a father who overbearing and abusive. However, Sam only displaces positive emotions to her parents and becomes confused on the child. She cannot be angry at her parents because they are essential for survival and she wants to please her parents, but is unable to do so. So instead of being angry at her parents she directs the anger inwards towards herself, this happens unconsciously according to Freud. The treatment based off of the psychodynamic theory would need the Sam to decrease her self-punishment and allow her to understand that it is okay to not be perfect (Wade). Instead of feeling disappointed that she is not perfect, she should ha ve the mind set to work towards perfection; perfection is non-existent. Setting small goals may also help her but only if she allows herself to feel accomplished. Lastly, Becks cognitive theory of depression states that the primary cause of depression is through negative thoughts (Rashmi Nemade). First off, what is cognitive psychology? It is the study of mental processes such as, memory, language, perception, creativity, thinking, attention and problem solving (Wikipedia). Going back to Sam, she thinks that she would never be able to please her parents and that she would be stuck in her social position for the rest of her college career. No matter how much effort Sam put into her activities she would never succeed. Sam is also homosexual and her parents do not accept her because of it. She feels that her future would compromise of either being untrue to herself or defying her parents. There are three thoughts that result in her depression: belief that all efforts are futile, no hope for the future and feeling inadequate. During her therapy sessions, she would be taught to view failures as challenges that are possible to overcome and she needs to know that she is in control of her lifes course (Wade). Sam would have adopted an enchasing attribution to her problems that would enable her to feel hopeful about her efforts and the future (Schneider). References American Psychiatric Association. Diangnostic and statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM-5. 2013. Anxiety and Depression Associatin of America. Anxiety and Depression. August 2016. . Rashmi Nemade, Natalie Staats Reiss, and Mark Dombeck. Cognitive Theories Of Major Depression Aaron Beck. 19 September 2007. . Rathus, Spencer A. Psychology Principles in Practice. Auston: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2003. 4. Schneider, F. W., Gruman, J. A., Coutts, L. M. Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2005. Stevens A., Price J. Evolutionary Psychiatry: A New Beginning. London: Routledge, 2000. Wade, Rebecca Michelle. Theories of Depression. 5 October 2011. . WebMD. Depression, the Thyroid, and Hormones. 2016. . Wikipedia. Cognitive Psychology. 2016. .

Sri lanka agriculture development and rural economy

Dependency theory was really popular during 1960s and 1970s as a direct challenge to the free market theory which was popular during the post-war season. The theory was formulated in 1950s and it is drawn on Marxian analysis of planetary economic system. The theory explains the relationship between economically developed states ( Advanced states ) and developing states of the universe. Harmonizing to the theory, the developed states consider as the nucleus of the system and the developing states as the fringe of the system. When the system is working, resources flow from fringe developing states to the developed nucleus states. It is a cardinal contention of dependence theory that hapless provinces are impoverished and rich 1s enriched by the manner hapless provinces are integrated into the â€Å" universe system. † The dependence theory is applicable to most of the developing states in the universe except few illustrations like India and Taiwan. Harmonizing to my cognition the theory is applicable to all most all states in the south Asia including Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was besides colonized by British Empire during 1815 – 1948 where it made a terrible harm to the Local civilization, Social life, independence every bit good as Economy. Even though the state has been ruled by local leaders from 1948, United Kingdom and other developed states have been created negative consequence on the development of the state. However, presently Sri Lanka is in a right tract toward the development, where the service sector and the fabrication sector shows a fast growing while the Agriculture sector shows a relatively slow growing. Tourism and other service subsectors have been well contributed to the economic system of the state. However the economic system of the state was opened to the universe market in 1977 and the state has been experienced both positive and negative impacts on the development positions. On the one manus most of the local baby industries were collapsed during the period as a negative consequence of the unfastened economic system. On the other manus most of the international investors and multinational carbon monoxide operations came to the state with their new engineerings which was utile to look in the universe market as a bring forthing state. Most of the developing states specially in south Asiatic states, including Sri Lanka have been depend on the IMF, World Bank, ADB and other multinational carbon monoxide operations to carry through their budget shortage through loans or grants under legion regulations and ordinances which severely consequence on the internal development. As consequence of that influence, most of those regional leaders every bit good as people of those states have a dependence outlook which was identified as the major constrain for the development. However, Sri Lanka was able to come in the in-between income state degree and presently the dependence outlook remains merely in some portion of rural countries of the state. In that scenario, Sri Lanka is no longer stray state in the universe, but still in the disadvantaged and developing side which needs particular protection and nutriment for local baby industries to protect them from the international competition. Consequently, Sri Lanka has to utilize different theoretical account which can pull strings the international competition within the state while absorbing the maximal public-service corporation form the international market. Harmonizing to my cognition and experience no any pure theory will helpful to utilize as it is for development in any state. Therefore, the state must hold their ain manner for development which has to critically see their ain resources and restrictions. â€Å" Poor but efficient Agriculture usage of developing state Traditional system † proposed by T.W. Schultz. This is one of a theory which tries to explicate the efficient usage of limited resources by hapless or developing husbandmans in developing states. The theory was foremost found in the T.W. Schultz ‘s book of Transforming Traditional Agriculture which was published in 1960s and the theory was really popular during that period. During 1950s and 1960s, Most of the economic experts and Policy shapers believed that the productiveness of Agriculture sector in developing states as really low. Therefore they argued that the fringy productiveness of the labor in those states as nothing. Hence those agribusiness labors could be transferred from the agribusiness sector to the industrialisation sector without holding any harm to the agribusiness sector. Therefore, it was besides widely accepted that husbandmans in developing states were guided by tradition or civilization. On the other manus they are non responded to the economic inducements. But Schultz argued that the husbandmans in developing states have really limited resources but most of the husbandmans use that limited resources expeditiously. However those husbandmans are hapless because of the other assorted grounds like cultural features such as deficiency of a work moral principle, deficiency of an apprehension of the thought of salvaging, or general ignorance of how to do best usage of their resources. Schultz argued that low income degrees in developing states agribusiness are a consequence of the low productiveness of the available factors of production, but non inefficiencies in their resource allotment. Subsequently, most of the researches have been conducted and accordingly the theory was through empirical observation proved utilizing the research conducted in several developing states. In Sri Lanka, there are plentifulness of little graduated table husbandmans who live under the poorness line but they use their limited resources expeditiously for their harvest cultivation. Water and fertiliser is the most scare resources in the dry zone of Sri Lankan husbandmans. They use particular agriculture pattern which is called as â€Å" Chena cultivation † . Even though that agriculture pattern is non recommended by most of the agriculturalist in the state, Chena cultivation is one of the largely adoptable patterns to utilize H2O and fertiliser. In this method husbandmans ever use new piece of land and they move to new a land in the following season. Farmers use all the vegetive parts as green manure and fire all the difficult parts of workss and mix with dirt as fertilisers. That organic manure covers all the alimentary demand of the new harvests. Farmers cultivate drought immune harvest varsities and cultivate as a mix harvest form. The system lowers the hazard of plague and disease incidence and good as maximise the use of wet. Farmers normally use household labors and utilize some excess labor merely in peak seasons. However, most of those husbandmans are hapless and the life base is besides low. There are many grounds behind the narrative and some of them are low salvaging rate, hapless cost direction, selling jobs, low substructure etc. In that sense, even today, the theory is applicable in most of the developing states and it is utile to understand their agriculture manner, populating manner of the husbandmans. On the other manus, it is utile to propose them to rectify their failings.

Project Management Plan Success

Review the list of reasons why plans fail as described in Ch. 11 of Project Management. Which of these reasons applies to defining and sequencing activities? As a project manager, what steps may you take to prevent your plan from failing? There are many reasons why plans fail to succeed. In discussing our answers to this question, Team C felt that in the list of reasons on why plans fail, poor planning would be on top of the list. When there are no attempts in pushing forward with already made plans, the project is bound to fail. Another reason why project plans fail is because the data in which plans are based are insufficient making it difficult for project managers to take control and give out orders. With insufficient data, the project’s scope would seize to exist. Along with not have an identified scope, the team would not know the ultimate objective of the project, and because of this, people will work towards different directions rather than one common goal. It is important that the reasons on the list are taken care of or prevented. This can be done during the defining and sequencing process. As a project manager, the steps we discussed that are necessary to be taken in order to prevent a plan from failing would be to properly develop a project’s plan. This would include defining each activity’s relevance to the project. By doing so, there is a stated initiative as well as a reason why the project is being done. In order to have a properly developed plan, we would hold a kick off meeting, which would discuss the expectations of every team member, have the purpose clearly conveyed to the team, as well as build strong and positive team energy. There would be frequent follow-ups in order to assure that each step is being completed to getting the project finished. Lastly, we would offer rewards as incentives for the team to complete their tasks efficiently and on time.

Free sample - Application Essay for the University of Connecticut.. translation missing

Application Essay for the University of Connecticut.. Application Essay for the University of Connecticut.Many students find it rather difficult to fit into new environments especially those different from the ones they were brought up in. For one to be an asset to any new society that he/she is introduced to, adapting to it comes in handy. Given my ability to blend well with strangers and new environments, I will settle down without any problems so that I can start making valuable contributions to the University of Connecticut community. I consider my communication skills a wonderful personality trump card because it enables me speak a common language with people from diverse backgrounds. The medical career will combine well with these personality traits because it basically entails interacting with people. My strong science background will go a long way in enabling me succeed in the profession. I derive pleasure from carrying out charity work. I intend to use this talent in helping members of the university community in any arena of l ife. I intend to use my ability to mobilize others around a particular course to rally my college mates around activities such as helping the less fortunate in the society with the few resources which will be at our disposal. Finally, am self motivated, an attribute that sees me undertake an activity for the enjoyment it provides, the learning it allows as well as the feelings of accomplishment it evokes. This will definitely ensure that I live up to what is expected of me in the new society without any supervision as well as any external rewards or reinforcements. Seldom do I get the driving force to pursue any activity from verbal praises or any other rewards and this is the reason why my motivation in every task hardly fades. This attribute is bound to see me undertake tasks which are time-limited, routine and unexciting, which other people may not enjoy in the new community. Intrinsic motivation enables people to make sustained progress toward significant goals, learn to take risks as well as explore and develop their potential to the fullest. In my view, this would be very good for the University of Connecticut community.

Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird Essays Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Essay Topic: To Kill a Mockingbird In the beginning of the book, To Kill A MockingBird, not much is mentioned about Boo Radley. There are many rumors saying he was a horrible person who stayed in his house his whole life. As the reader we see Boo Radley change from a monster to a savior because of the secretive actions he displays. Sometimes things don’t always appear to be what you think they are. You can’t judge a book by it’s cover. During the entire book Scout and Jem don’t even know Boo is trying to help them. Scout’s views of Boo develops and changes throughout the book. Boo Radley is described as a tall guy with blood stained hands from killing and eating raw animals, big popping eyes, scars covering his face with yellow and rotten teeth as well as drool dripping from his mouth. The first part of the book, Scout is a young boy who is terrified of Boo Radley. She assumes he is evil due to all the rumors she has heard about him. However, Scout always follows her older brother, Jem, who wants to play a game named â€Å"Boo Radley.† Scout hears noises that make her want to quit playing the game. She said, â€Å"I heard another sound, so low I could not have heard it from the sidewalk. Someone inside was laughing.† (41) Scout is curious of Boo Radley and wonders why he never leaves his house. Jem and Scout describe Boo as a scary monster which leads us to believe he might be the antagonist and an evil character in the book. Jem and Scout pass the Radley house on the way to and from school every morning and afternoon. One day, Jem and Scout discover a package in a hole in front of the tree next to the Radley’s house. It consisted of chewing gum. They were afraid to eat it because they thought it was poisoned. The next week they found an old tarnished medal in the same spot as the gum which appeared to be from a spelling bee. The week after Jem and Scout found a pocket watch on a chain with a aluminum knife. Scout begins to think Boo is a real person. However

ART Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

ART - Essay Example One does not exist without the other. In American tradition, an author is a creator and full owner of the original artwork. In copyright law, author is the major actor. Author’s role is defined in U.S. Constitution, while copyright law is part of federal law. Article 1 Section 8 of US Constitution states: â€Å"To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries† (U.S. Constitution Online). Even after death of the author, his copyrights continue their existence. However, the modern era have brought many issues connected to originality of created works, authorship, and modern copyright law. The very first law to regulate and protect original intellectual works was Copyright act of 1790. Firstly, it was solely publisher’s privilege and only later copyright law became â€Å"author’s right in her intellection product† (Bracha 186). Only in the nineteenth century the very essence of the copyright law was fundamentally altered. Today it is Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 which regulates authorship rights and protects holders of artworks in the UK. The right of copying artwork includes reproducing, preparing derivative works, distributing, performing, and displaying The law protects original works of art. The existing law applies to such works of art as follows: Copyright law is an example of a specific kind of product. This product is a masterpiece of artistic production. This piece comes together with the other related pieces and is very popular in modern society. This piece of art is related to such important business activities as trading, conserving, exhibiting, performing, reproducing and distributing works of art or reproductions. The main issue about â€Å"dogmatics of copyright is that this dogmatics is able to elucidate the normative import of art and aesthetics.† (Chicago. John M. Olin Law &

Private Healthcare vs Reform Healthcare Research Paper

Private Healthcare vs Reform Healthcare - Research Paper Example ortunately, about most Americans do not have to worry about this too much as they have purchased healthcare plans that have them covered for any eventuality concerning their health. Yes, something as basic as our health is inevitably tied up with money matters. Healthcare is a major industry that operates on profits in order to be able to provide excellent healthcare plans that allow Americans to be able to receive proper healthcare. â€Å"Health insurance facilitates access to health care services and helps protect against the high costs of catastrophic illness† (Wilper, et al. 1). As in most countries, the government also provides health insurance, with public hospitals being subsidized all over the country, especially for those who cannot afford to buy plans offered by private companies. There is a general distinction between private and public healthcare, with the former having a reputation for being able to provide higher quality of services and better treatment than the latter (Yamamoto, Neuman and Strollo 8). As with most federally funded institutions, Medicare, â€Å"a critical source of coverage for 44 million beneficiaries,† operates on a tight budget that does not allow room for added benefits given by private health insurance companies (Yamamoto, Neuman and Strollo 7). Because of this and the fact that the healthcare system does not cover many Americans, the US government has continually been under criticism and public healthcare reform has become the stage for which political battles have been and are still currently being fought (Bureau of Labor Education 1). With the introduction of President Obama’s healthcare reform bill, the battle is on. As always, it is the Democrats (Obama’s side) vs. the Republicans. As the American nation waits for the verdict and protests continue, the question that needs to be asked now is that what really are the differences that the proposed reform healthcare intend to have and what are its effects on healthcare in

Revisiting American Indian Educational Experiences Essay

Revisiting American Indian Educational Experiences - Essay Example government and Christian missionary societies cooperated to "civilize," Christianize, and assimilate Indians. The books showed that despite the school’s attempt to â€Å"civilize† its students, it still failed to destroy the native children’s tribal identities. Yet it also managed to win many pupils to appreciate the English language and other academic skills. It was a â€Å"successful failure† as Traftzer et al put it because the children managed to keep their identities as native Indians despite the school’s oppressive policy to assimilate them yet they also learned the academics taught without â€Å"losing themselves (29). The book illustrated how culturally destructive boarding schools are to the natives and how it fosters elitism among them but it also highlighted the effort of the student’s to retain their sense of Indian identity that includes their native language that often necessitate resisting the discipline of which boarding schools impose. It showed the resolve of the students at boarding school to retain an identity that was purposely eroded through a policy of

Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay Example for Free

Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay Compare and Contrast the characters of Ralph and Jack and comment on their roles in the novel? Lord of the Flies is an allegory, a simple adventure story that also has deeper meaning. Golding uses the characters of Ralph and Jack to illustrate the battle between right and wrong within society. Both have dominant characters but use methods that contrast in many ways. They have different expectations of others and of the island itself, and have opposing priorities and objectives. It is necessary to examine their different character traits in detail, in order to understand how these influence the development of life on the island. At Jacks first appearance in the novel, we recognise him as a natural leader. Jack is the head of the choir and a strict disciplinarian. Choir! Stand still! However, throughout this encounter, he maintains control and dignity. Jack has complete confidence in his decisions. He cannot be accused of worrying people by being indecisive as he always has clear and definite opinions. I ought to be chief I can sing C sharp. However, his black cloak and red hair are hints of a dark and fiery side to his character. These were the main colours of the Nazi Party flag. Gradually we see Jack changing from an authoritarian leader into something much more ruthless, casting him as a type of Hitler. In contrast, Ralph first appears fun-loving and carefree, sounding like a typical public school boy, wacco wizard golly. He is excited at the prospect of an adventure at the beginning, not considering the implications of being alone and coping on the island, standing on his head when he does not know what to do. Forced at last to believe in the reality of the island, laughed delightedly again and stood on his head. Ralph is an instinctive person who has a tendency to rush into things before considering the consequences. This shows his immaturity. Ralph is therefore quite childish and naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve at times. Later in the novel Ralph looks back with regret at that first enthusiastic exploration as though it were part of a brighter childhood. Despite this, Ralph shows himself to be a strong character who often displays clear authority during the novel. He desires order, calling assemblies and using the conch, the symbol of democracy and civilisation, Ralph felt a kind of reverence for the conch. This shows Ralphs belief in democracy. He tries to treat people as equals, including characters like Piggy. He cares for others and is compassionate, especially to the littluns. Ralph also shows his assertiveness when dealing with Piggy, Better Piggy than Fatty, he said at last, with the directness of genuine leadership. He is also courageous confronting the tribe when they steal Piggys glasses calling Jack a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief. Ralphs physical appearance also favours him. He is tall, agile, a good swimmer with a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaim no devil. This is a clear indication of Ralphs character. However, he does not convey as much confidence as Jack. Ralph can appear the weaker of the two by depending on Piggy for advice. This is probably because he has had no experience of leadership and therefore lacks confidence. Simon suggests Ralph needs to be firmer youre chief, you tell em off However Ralph could also be seen as open-minded. He is always prepared to listen to both sides of an argument without forcing his own opinions. Ralph has an optimistic character, never questioning that rescue will come. Ralph earns the respect of the boys and gains their trust. Jack rules through fear. It is a sign of Ralphs good judgement that he delegates responsibility and trusts Piggy, having respect for his advice. Although like everyone else he becomes more savage in order to survive, unlike Jack he does not take this to extremes. Ralph becomes aware of his filthy appearance with a little fall of his heart. After Simons death he says, Im frightened of us. In contrast, Jack becomes a good keen hunter and relishes this role. Increasingly he begins to adopt animal-like methods down like a sprinter as if he is ready to sniff out the scent. Jack can be very determined, and will persevere. At first, Jack is unable to kill the pig, but he shows promise of completing the task in hand I shall! Next time! Soon his obsession with killing the pig takes over and he can no longer keep his basic instincts under control. There are hints that Jack finds it harder to keep a clear head. Jack frowned in an effort to attain clarity, showing that he was beginning to lose concentration and control. Jack forgets about home and has no wish to get off the island. Soon, he has no priorities, other than to hunt and kill. Jack becomes increasingly tyrannical towards everyone. The longer the boys are on the island the worse he becomes. At first Jack targets most of his aggression at Piggy. This seems to be a coping mechanism when things are going wrong. Jack uses Piggy to vent his frustration physically. He seems to feel his only way of control is through violence. Jack shows himself to be a bully, and respect is not given to Jack voluntarily, he demands it. The reason why people obey him is through terror. His followers become known as the Tribe symbolising their loss of individual identity. As Jacks dictatorial style develops he shows himself to be very narrow-minded and expects people never to question him. He will not listen to anyones opinion. Bollocks to the rules! the phrase Jack uses to dismiss democracy. From the beginning, Jack is consistently rude to Piggy. He is a very judgmental person, and he takes Piggy at face value. Jack does not look for the best or show any sign of accepting people for who they are. He has no consideration for peoples feelings. Eventually any suggestions given to Jack are taken as a threat. Jack shows no remorse. A good example of this is the incident concerning the fire. The fire is the symbol of safety and of destruction of power and of hope. The Hunters whom Jack leads can be viewed in the same way. A symbol of safety when obtaining food, but of destruction when blindly killing. By neglecting the fire, Jack shows himself to be unreliable, forsaking the group in favour of his own interests and priorities. He does not admit to being at fault or apologise, but retaliates with aggression. It is easy to understand why Jack is viewed as the obvious leader. He came to the island with experience of holding a responsible position. Ralph, however, has a more spontaneous approach. He is less rigid and seems able to adapt to the changing circumstances. Throughout their time on the island we see Jack and Ralph changing due to their environment and the pressures which they face. Often Ralph rises to the challenge with fairness and clear thinking, but the weight of responsibility causes extreme stress. A strange thing happened in his head. Something flittered there in front of his mind like a bats wing, obscuring his idea. Jack however becomes increasingly violent and degenerates into an overpowering dictator. Lord of the Flies was written by Golding to highlight some of the relevant issues of the day. Published in 1954, there was a strong worldwide movement against dictators and fascism following the Second World War. The division between Ralph and Jack highlights the gulf between good and evil, two continents of experience and feeling, unable to communicate. Jacks role symbolises fallen mankind, degenerating as the novel progresses into ultimate sin and savagery. Ralph also becomes aware of the darkness of mans heart. Ralphs failure to maintain democracy symbolises mankinds failure to deal with our own sinful natures. Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of mans heart and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.

Essay --

Drew Foster Foster 1 Mrs. Bueno Honors English 14 December 2013 Darrin M. Mcmahon the author of the article, â€Å"In Pursuit of Unhappiness†, was born in 1963. Darrin broke out of the order of saying â€Å"Happy New Year!† and realized they are only expected words that are said without any meaning behind them. Even around the holidays where people are expected to be happy, they think the words â€Å"Happy New Year!† are just words that are supposed to be said. If you think about the words â€Å"Happy New Year†, year does not only mean one day, so the words are meant to wish a whole year of happiness. But instead, people just reserve their happiness only for the holidays. John Stuart Mill, Carlyle's long-time rival who are both philosophers makes a valid statement about those who have their focus set on something other than happiness are only happy. For example, setting your goal on being happy is risking being happy, because when you don't achieve it you lose even more happiness. Thomas Carlyle and John Stuart Mill both have similar concepts on happiness. Carlyle, who is a Scottish Philosopher, notices the wrong idea of religion before 17th century. Many disregarded the ideas of religion that put misery into their lives, but some people recognized God's care very satisfying. Earthly satisfaction, McMahon states, was an attempt to bring heavenly felicity down to the earth. This religious change was to replace the feeling of misery with happiness. John Stuart Mill, who is an English philosopher, explains another way of achieving happiness based off of his personal experience. After suffering from a d... ...for such books is a strong indication that they aren’t working.† Setting your goal and being determined or even being desperate to find happiness is dangerous and is risking your happiness. If and when you do not achieve happiness, you lose all of it and even become unhappy. Focus your mind on something other than your own happiness and you will achieve true happiness. Darrin M. McMahon says to â€Å"...Have dinner with your family or walk in the park with friends...put in some good hours t the office or at your favorite charity, temple or church. Work on your jump shot or your child’s model trains. With luck, you’ll find happiness by the by.† So instead of saying â€Å"Happy New Year†, Darrin M. McMahon says â€Å"‘Don’t have a happy new year!’†, because â€Å"Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness† says John Stuart Mill.

Examine the different ways in which ‘good’ is used in meta-ethics Essay

a) â€Å"Examine the different ways in which ‘good’ is used in meta-ethics.† Meta-ethics is the study of the meaning of moral language. It describes presuppositions and language of morality. There are a number of different ethical theories for the meaning of good used in meta-ethics. The four main headings under which most acceptable theories can fit under in some shape or form. These are Ethical Naturalism (or Definism), Intuitionism, Emotivism and Presciptivism. Definism theory states that all ethical statements are similar to non-ethical statements and can, therefore, be approached in the same way. In the same way that we can verify a scientific fact, ethical naturalism theory states that we can verify an ethical statement. They are both prepositional. Definism states that ethical statements are just a type of short hand for more complex propositions. So therefore, in terms of Ethical Naturalism, if I were to use the term ‘good’ in a number of examples, it would just be a ‘summary’ word to sum up all the other words I wish to have incorporated into my sentence. For example, in the sentence: â€Å"I am good at football,† the word good is used to mean ‘skilled’ or ‘talented.’ This does not mean that ‘good’ means ‘skilled’ or ‘talented’, but simply that both of these words are incorporated in the single use of ‘good.’ In another sentence, ‘good’ could be used as a short hand for a completely different set of words. In the sentence, â€Å"It is good to see you,† ‘good’ is used to mean ‘pleasant’, ‘nice’ or ‘heart warming.’ Again this does not mean that ‘good’ means ‘pleasant’ or ‘nice’, but simply that both these words are incorporated in the single use of ‘good.’ A contradictory theory to Definism is Intuitionism. Intuitionism states that ‘good’ is indefinable. Intuitionism also holds that basic moral truths are objective and stand independently of what people my fell or think. Intuitionism holds that we should pick out our moral principles through what we think or feel. There is no definition of good that can always hold true. For example, if someone were to define good as ‘pleasing’, an Intuitionist would respond by pointing out that not all pleasing things are good. A similar theory to Intuitionism is Emotivism. An Emotivist believes that moral judgements simply express our feelings on a subject. If someone were to claim something was ‘good’, an Emotivist would see this as an emotional exclamation, not a truth claim, and would take it to mean that the person approves of the thing/action/person etc. Another fairly similar theory is Prescriptivism. Prescriptivists believe that in using moral language such as ‘good/bad’ or ‘right/wrong,’ we are simply prescribing our opinions. In other words were are saying, ‘do this, and let everyone do the same in the same situation.’ Therefore, if someone were to say ‘giving to charity is good,’ what he or she is really saying is ‘you ought to give to charity.’ This again, means that ‘good’ not used as a universal truth, but in this case it is used as a universal prescription. In summary: in Definism, the term ‘good’ is simply a ‘short hand’ for more complex propositions that apply to that particular example. In Intuitionism holds that good in indefinable and therefore has no universal meaning. Emotivists believe when we use the term ‘good or make other moral judgements, we are simply expressing our feelings. So, therefore, if I say something is ‘good,’ this is simply an exclamation and therefore cannot be true or false and cannot be reasoned upon. Lastly, Prescriptivism holds that when we say something is ‘good’ we are prescribing a particular opinion and making it known to other that we feel they should do the same. b) â€Å"Anything people approve of must be good. Discuss†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The response to this question depends on how we define the term ‘good.’ Can we loosely define ‘good’ as moralistic? There is a common theory that believes that our morals our simply a product of our culture and background. Therefore, there will be different moral codes in different societies. If each individual society has equal validity, it must be agreed that there can be no universal moral code. This theory is called Cultural Relativism. Cultural Relativism therefore holds that ‘good’ means ‘socially approved.’ Therefore if we rearrange the above statement, replacing the word ‘good’ with the Cultural Relativist’s definition, we find ourselves looking at a slightly odd sentence which looks as follows: â€Å"Anything that people approve of must be socially approved†. Now there are two ways to interpret this sentence. The first would be to question the number of people included in the generalization of the word ‘people.’ If the sentence is intended to mean, â€Å"if anybody approves of something, it must be socially approved†, then the statement is not true. However, we can also take the sentence to mean, â€Å"If the majority of people within a society approve of something, then it is said to be socially approved.† If we swap ‘good’ back into the sentence we end up with a statement that looks like this: † if the majority of people within a society approve of something then it is good.† Thus we have formed the central principle of Cultural relativism. In terms of the other theories that define ‘good’, only one can be applied. Definism would argue that the statement is simply a short hand for more complex propositions. So in this case, ‘good’ is used to mean ‘beneficial’ or ‘correct.’ Since this is possibly true, Ethical naturalists would have a fairly strong argument here. Emotivism, Intuitionism or Prescriptivism cannot really apply here as they are all subjective and based on opinion and in this case good cannot be used an exclamation of opinion.

Judaism and Collaboration Assessment Guide

Collaboration Assessment Guide Please complete this guide and submit it with your evidence to the collaboration assessment. Part One: Team Evaluation Rate your team according to each of the performance criteria below. Consider the work of all members, including you. Use the comment area to explain your rating. 3=Always Rating for You: 2=Usually 1 -?Sometimes 0=Never Criteria: Rating for the Team: Comments: Listened to others 3 They listened to what everyone had to say Showed respect for others' opinionsEven if one of us did not like an opinion, we still respected it Completed assigned duties We all completed the assigned parts Participated in discussions We had great discussions Attended meetings on time We were all on time Stayed on task We didn't get off task Completed high-quality work 2 I did research Completed work on time We completed it on the date we agreed on Part Two: Reflection Respond to the following questions with two to three sentences each. What collaboration task did your group complete? The collaboration task that my group completed was the â€Å"stolen girls† and the Jews in concentration camps.They have a few similarities such as, racism and they are both being prejudice. Describe your specific contribution to the group's final product. The specific contribution to our final product was comparing the stolen girl and Jews in concentration camps. We finished it within a reasonable amount of time. What did you enjoy most about working with others on this lesson/task? Explain. What I enjoyed most about working with others on this task was the team work we put into the project. Also, how we all got along and it all worked out smoothly. How did your team deal with conflict?Explain. We did not have any conflicts while we worked on our project. We had a god time working together. Do you feel others were happy with your participation in the lesson/task? Explain. I do indeed feel like others were happy with my participation on the project. In m y opinion, I did all I had to do to be a great worker. What will you do differently, if anything, in your next online collaboration opportunity?

An Analysis of Dranove’s The Economic Evolution of American Healthcare Essay Example

An Analysis of Dranove’s The Economic Evolution of American Healthcare Essay Example An Analysis of Dranove’s The Economic Evolution of American Healthcare Paper An Analysis of Dranove’s The Economic Evolution of American Healthcare Paper The Economic Evolution of American Health Care: from Marcus Welby to managed care was written by David Dranove. The book, published in 2002, was written to explore the history of health care in America and outline the changes that occurred beginning from the traditional health care practice that Dranove called as â€Å"Marcus Welby medicine† to the more modern managed care, all from the economic perspective. The paper covers a brief summary of the chapters and points made by Dranove and critical analysis with close attention to highlighting the main arguments of Dranove. Among the various points emphasized by Dranove in the book, the paper will discuss three ideas: the importance of trust in the patient-physician relationship, the valuable role of managed care in increasing access to health care services, and the means to ensure that managed care organizations deliver quality health care services and do not take advantage of Brief Summary The first chapter, The Rise of Managed Care, discussed traditional health care as portrayed in a television show Marcus Welby, M.D. The television show became popular in the 1960s and was about Marcus Welby, a primary care physician or PCP. The Marcus Welby medicine placed the physician as â€Å"the center of a medical care system† (p. 7). The physician manages an independent medical clinic, does house calls, make referrals, and make important decisions in the hospital setting. In traditional health care, the physician was instilled the right to make autonomous decisions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After several decades, however, managed care was introduced and the physician was displaced as the policy and decision-maker. Dranove called managed care as â€Å"dispassionate and depersonalized†. The close and personal relationship between the physician and the patient was less prioritized and managed care organizations or MCOs became key policy and decision-makers. At this point, Dranove highlighted the shopping problem. The shopping problem caused a dilemma on the part of individuals who are unsure from where to seek medical care. In traditional health care, patients rely entirely on the decisions, advises, and referrals of the physician,   until managed care stepped in and   the commercialization of health products and services made health care a shopping culture that creates problems for patients, also considered as consumers. In the second and third chapters, The Origins of Managed Care and The Government Steps In respectively, Dranove discussed how managed care began especially the various factors that transformed the traditional health care system to a modern and economic-centered one. Managed care began as an outcome of traditional health care. Managed care organizations or MCOs became the middlemen between physicians and patients, consequently solving the shopping problem and issues concerning costly health care services. MCOs identified the needs of patients and fulfilled the responsibility of selecting health care services for them while promising cut rates to lower cost. The second part of the book talks about the modern health economy, primarily in the 20th century. The 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of part two introduced very important details that stressed the advantages but most importantly the disadvantages of MCOs and why there is a need to address them. The modern health economy, according to Dranove, may have offered the American people accessible health care services primarily from health insurances, but the problem with managed care is the quality of services being provided by MCOs, the cost that individuals are paying for these services, and the depersonalization of business. The American people have already lost their trust on MCOs. In the remaining chapters of the book, Dranove (2002) discussed some important points about managed care and introduced several ways in order to address the problems and disadvantages of managed care. The Patient-Physician Relationship One of the most important issues that Dranove pointed out was the importance of developing a desirable patient-physician relationship. More than once, Dranove mentioned that the transition from traditional health care to managed care has led to the depersonalization of health care services. Furthermore, the negative side of managed care has caused the American people to lose their trust on the health care system. Most individuals believe that the health of the American people is not the first priority of MCOs. In fact, MCOs have created a new health care system where individuals needed to rely on the decisions of MCOs and simply choose from the goods and services that MCOs have to offer. The argument of Dranove is agreeable but the current health care system, and even the traditional health care system, cannot address trust issues. The Marcus Webley medicine did gained the trust of people. The relationship between the physician and the patient was ideal. The patient goes to a trusted physician and relied on him for advice, referrals, and recommendations. The physician, on the other hand, was hands-on and attentive to the needs of patients. As Dranove described it, the physician was the center of the health care system. The physician is also the center of the patient’s health. Dranove described the relationship between the physician and the patient as something that should be built on trust. Dranove quoted James Coleman, â€Å"in which the risk one takes depends on the performance of another actor† (p. 14). Patient trust also comes in different forms: 1. Trust that providers will act unselfishly, putting patients’ interests above their own; 2. Trust that providers have the technical competence necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment; and 3. Trust that providers can control and coordinate the resources necessary to deliver quality care. Patients entrust their lives to the hands of physicians and the latter should respond to the patients’ trust by providing them the best quality care. According to Dranove, the best advantage of the Marcus Welby medicine is that physicians value the trust that patients give them and provide the best possible quality of health care to them. â€Å"But the great advantage of the traditional health economy was that economics never stood in the way of quality† (p. 84) The problem, however, is the cost of health care services then. Being independent physicians who were in charge of almost everything, the cost of services asked of patients was too high. According to Dranove, from the 1960s until the early 1990s, health care was what Dranove the economy of the United States. The high cost of health care services became the primary source of revenue in the country, but on the contrary, limited access to these services. Health care services should be for all, as is the goal of the US government when it comes to health policies. Expensive health care services mean that not everyone will be able to afford health care. Readings of other books support this idea. The discussion by Brannon Feist (2009) on health care covered the ideas that Dranove discussed and I agree with, that expensive health care means limited access to it. â€Å"The cost of health care prevents many people from receiving proper treatment and care† (p. 59).

Creative Writing on Inception and the Bechdel Test

Creative Writing on Inception and the Bechdel Test Creative Writing on Inception and the Bechdel Test: The film industry has been accused of being gender biased, with most of the movies produced being dubbed as being distinctively misogynistic. Accordingly, critics such as Allison Bechdel, have identified a need for the creation of films whereby the female characters are not limited to the role of supporters for their male counterparts. Evidently, most movies, both past and present have failed in the achievement of this. More movies, even the award-winning films, continue to be produced without a gender consideration, with most putting the male characters on a pedestal and the women at the bottom. However, some films such as Wanted and Salt, have a female as the lead character illustrating the lengths to which Hollywood producers are willing to change the trends in film production. In her argument regarding gender bias, Allison Bechdel argues that reduction of gender bias in films goes beyond giving women lead roles. She explains that the number of women, their relationship with each other, as well as, their conversations have play a major role in determining whether a film is gender biased or not. Fundamentally, Bechdel introduces the idea of the Bechdel test to determine the level of gender bias in a particular film or movie (bechdeltest.com 1a). This test consists of three main components including the need for having two or more female characters in the film, having these females engage in a conversation, and the exclusion of men in the conversation. Put simply, the Bechdel test demands that a film have two or more female characters who talk to each other about issues other than men. Interestingly, many movies have failed this test at one point or the other (bechdeltest.com 1a). Movies may have many female characters but they do not engage in any conversation with each other, and when they do, the conversation revolves around a man. One such movie that has failed the Bechdel test is Inception by Christopher Nolan. As critics would argue, this movie has passed the first two requirements of the Bechdel test, failing to attain the third requirement (bechdeltest.com 1b). The movie has two female characters namely Ariadne, graduate student and Mallorie, Cobb’s deceased wife. Though these two characters meet with each other about three times throughout the movie, they engage in only one conversation. The conversation, which is the basis of the third requirement of the Bechdel test, is about love, which, when considered from a relative interpretation of the film, the conversation was about Cobbs (bechdeltest.com 1b). The above is the most basic and accepted analysis of the movie based on the Bechdel test. However, if one was to look examine the movie from a different dimension, it is evident that the movie may have failed the Bechdel test in other ways. For example, between the two female characters, only one is a real person, the other is just a figment of imagination. Based on the theme and the context of the movie, we cannot be sure whether, Mallorie, who is the imagined character, is in reality a female. Secondly, because Mallorie was a figment of Cobbs imagination, then it would be justified to assume that the conversation between Ariadne and Mallorie was actually a conversation between Cobbs and Ariadne. The complexity of the movie makes it even harder to decipher in terms of the Bechdel test, but one thing is certain, Inception, fails the Bechdel test of gender bias. Having established that the movie, Inception, fails the Bechdel test, this paper explains how the relative absence of multi-dimensional female characters influences the film’s understanding of men and women. Effects of the Absence of Multi-Dimensional Female Characters As observed in the film, there are only two main female characters, who, upon a closer examination, may have been used symbolically to bring out a message concerning the relationship between men and women (wordpress.com 1). At the outset, the two female characters embrace names that are symbolic to society. Ariadne, for example, is the name of the Greek princess who assisted the hero Theseus in navigating the labyrinth, the prison of the Minotaur. Ariadne embraces a similar role in the movie, as she is chosen to help cobs create the mazes, which he intends to use in infiltrating people’s dreams. Here, the female is seen as a male aide, for the achievement of his goals and desires. Her recruitment into the team shows that she is needed for the task to be completed, but expectedly, she does not play a minor role in this. Observably, her role as the architect is considered the main role in the movie, for it is only after she constructs the mazes that the team can be able to infil trate the dreams. From this, one can conclude that the women play the role of helper in male-female relationships. Additionally, Ariadne also reveals her manipulative side by making Cobbs open up to her, and then using the information gathered to influence his actions into what she wants (wordpress.com 1). With this, the audience is exposed to the manipulative character of women in their relationships with men, and how they use men’s personal issues to achieve this. Mallorie’s role in the movie, on the other hand, is the total opposite of that of Ariadne. This is because her role has a feel of sabotage, and she is the only character whose role was to stop Cobbs from achieving his mission. Her role as a woman is quite complex as she is brought out as both a positive character and influence on Cobbs, as well as, a negative character. In relation to her positive attributes, Mallorie’s activities can be translated as protecting Cobbs, as well as, his victims form himself. She is well aware of the destructive nature of dream infiltration, and for that reason, she is committed to preventing Coobs and his victims from the effects of this (wordpress.com 1). Here the role of the woman in male-female relationships is one of a protector, as well as, that of a passive guide. Both women try to directly and indirectly guide Cobbs throughout the mission. While Ariadne might have been guiding him towards the completion of the mission, Mallorie gui des Cobbs towards the realization of his vices. Because Mallorie is out to sabotage Cobbs activities, it is evident that she embraces a negative role as a woman. She will do anything to prevent Cobbs from completing his mission, even if it means killing his victims during the dream so that they fall back into reality (Fisher 37). Obliquely, we see how women may or may not prevent a man from achieving his goals and ambitions. Women are depicted as a distraction, to the achievement of both personal and professional goals, something that men may agree to undoubtedly. Just as Ariadne and Mallorie are used to bring out the role of women in relationships, Cobbs is also used to bring out the role of the man. For example, the fact that Mallorie is a figment of his imagination, and he managed to infiltrate her thought to the point where she committed suicide, it is evident that men are a tad bit controlling. Evidently, Cobbs loves controlling others, in fact he enjoys controlling other so much that he has made it his career (Fisher 39). The women are not receptive to the idea of being controlled, with one woman committing suicide nd killing others as a way of refusing control, whereas the other tries to attain that control and instead control the male. This inherently exposes the nature of male-female relationships, which is characterized by the need for control. Both men and women wish to have control over each other, and they will do almost anything to attain this. Conclusively, in addition to illustrating the relationship between men and women, the absence of multi-dimensional female characters is also used to bring out the male-male impassive relationships. The relationship between the males in the film is that of business and nothing more. Apart from the relationship between father and son, which appears to be slightly emotional, the rest of the male-male relationships are purely work related. They all have a mission that they intend to take on to the end, and each male has a specific input in the movie that is of minimal emotional nature. The absence of multi-dimensional female characters in the film reveals plenty of things regarding the relationship between men and women. However, one thing can be learned from this film, a woman is a man’s helper and guide.

The Philosophy of Avenue Q Lyrics - An Analysis

The Philosophy of Avenue Q Lyrics - An Analysis Avenue Q Lyrics - The Philosophy of Avenue Q Lyrics During a recent visit to London, I wandered through Covent Garden on my way to watch a West End production of Avenue Q. While passing various shops and street performers I spotted a large plaque placed on the walls outside of St. Pauls church. It was here, said the sign, that the famous Punch and Judy Shows were performed during the 1600s. Thats right, Shakespeares plays had to compete with puppet shows. In traditional Punch and Judy shows, the anti-hero Punch insults, pesters, and beats his fellow characters, much to the delight of the audience. The Punch and Judy shows were a glorious display of political incorrectness. Today, the tradition of puppets delivering obnoxiousness and social commentary continues with Avenue Q. The Origin of Avenue Q Avenue Qs music and lyrics were created by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. The two young composers met in the late 90s while involved in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. Together they have written songs for Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel. However, they wanted to create a puppet-friendly show that was strictly for adults. With the help of playwright Jeff Whitty and director Jason Moore, Avenue Q was born - and has been a hit Broadway show since 2003. Sesame Street for Grown Ups Avenue Q could not exist without Sesame Street, the long running childrens show that teaches kids letters, numbers, and practical life-lessons. The premise of Avenue Q is that adolescents grow up without learning the truth of adult life. Like the puppet protagonist Princeton, many new grown-ups experience anxiety and confusion when entering the Real World. Here are some of the lessons offered by Avenue Q: School / College Does Not Prepare You for Real Life With songs like What Do You Do with a B. A. in English? and I Wish I Could Go Back to College, Avenue Q lyrics portray higher education as an extended stay in the carefree Land of Adolescence. Princetons main conflict is that he is drifting through life, trying to discover his true purpose. One would hope that college would establish this sense of purpose (or at least a sense of self-sufficiency), but the puppet croons to the contrary: I cant pay the bills yet / Cause I have no skills yet. / The world is a big scary place. The ensemble of characters, both human and monster, wistfully recall the days when they lived in a dormitory with a meal plan, a time when if things got too difficult they could just drop a class or seek an academic advisors guidance. This criticism of the education system is nothing new. Philosopher John Dewey believed that public education should proactively prepare students with useful critical thinking skills rather than just facts from books. Modern day critics such as John Taylor Gatto further explore the failures of compulsory learning; his book Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling explains why many people feel the same social / intellectual impotence expressed within Avenue Qs lyrics. The Freedom to Find Our Own Purpose Princeton decides that he should seek his purpose in life. At first his quest for meaning is guided by superstition. He finds a penny from the year he was born and considers it a supernatural sign. However, after a couple a false-start relationships and a dead-end job or two, he realizes that discovering ones purpose and identity is a difficult, never-ending process (but an invigorating process if one chooses to make it so). Steering away from lucky pennies and mystical signs, he becomes more self-reliant by the musicals conclusion. Princetons resolution to find his own path would be smiled upon by existential philosophers. The main component of existentialism is the assumption that humans are free to determine their own sense of personal fulfillment. They are not bound by Gods, destiny, or biology. When Princeton laments, I dont even know why Im alive, his girlfriend Kate Monster replies, Who does, really? A rather existential response. There Are No Selfless Deeds Perhaps there are good deeds, according to Avenue Q, but there seem to be no purely selfless deeds. When Princeton decides to generate money for Kates School for Monsters, he does so because it feels good to help others†¦ and he also hopes to win her back, thereby rewarding himself. The lyrics from Avenue Qs Money Song explain, Every time you do good deeds / Youre also serving your own needs. / When you help others / You cant help helping yourself. This bit of wisdom would please Ayn Rand, author of controversial classics such as Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. Rands concept of objectivism which specifies that ones purpose should be the pursuit of happiness and self-interest. Therefore, Princeton and the other characters are morally justified in performing good deeds, so long as they do so for their own benefit. Schadenfreude: Happiness at the Misfortune of Others If youve ever felt better about your life after watching the miserable guests on a Jerry Springer re-run, then youve probably experienced schadenfreude. One of the Avenue Q characters is Gary Coleman, a real-life child star whose millions were squandered by his irresponsible family. In the show, Coleman explains that his personal tragedies make others feel good. Ironically, it becomes a virtue (or at least a public service) to be a wretched failure or a victim of calamity. (This by the way would would be frowned upon by Ayn Rand). Characters such as Coleman and the recently homeless puppet, Nicky, improve the self-esteem of the mediocre masses. Basically, these lyrics make you feel better about being a loser! Tolerance and Racism Avenue Q Heterosexual puppet Nicky tries to help the sexually repressed puppet Rod come out of the closet. He sings, â€Å"If you were queer / I’d still be here / Year after year / Because You’re Dear To Me.† A bit more devious (in a good way) is the song â€Å"Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist.† During this number, the characters proclaim that â€Å"everyone makes judgments based on race,† and that if we accepted this â€Å"sad but true† premise society could â€Å"live in harmony.† The song’s argument might be specious, but the audience’s self-deprecating laughter throughout the musical number is very telling. Everything in Life Is Only For Now Recently, â€Å"spiritual† books such as Eckhart Tolle’s have been asking readers to focus on the present, to embrace â€Å"The Power of Now.† (I wonder†¦ Does this message anger historians?) In any case, this currently popular concept stems from ancient times. Buddhists have long since explained the impermanence of existence. Avenue Q follows the Buddhist path in its final song, â€Å"For Now.† These cheerful Avenue Q lyrics remind the audience that all things must pass: â€Å"Each time you smile / It’ll only last a while.† â€Å"Life may be scary / But it’s only temporary.† In the end, despite its zaniness and crude jokes, Avenue Q delivers a sincere philosophy: We must appreciate the joys and endure the sadness we currently experience, and acknowledge that all is fleeting, a lesson that makes life seem all the more precious. Why Puppets? Why use puppets to deliver the message? Robert Lopez explained in a New York Times interview, â€Å"Theres something about our generation that resists actors bursting into song on the stage. But when puppets do it, we believe it.† Whether it’s Punch and Judy, Kermit the Frog, the cast of Avenue Q, puppets make us laugh. And while we are laughing, we usually wind up learning at the same time. If a regular human were on stage singing a preachy song, many folks would probably ignore the message. But when a muppet talks, people listen. The creators of Mystery Science Theater 3000 once explained that, â€Å"You can say things as a puppet that you can’t get away with as a human.† That was true for MST3K. It was true for the Muppets. It was true for the bombastically cruel Punch, and it is eloquently true for the ever-insightful show Avenue Q.