Pride and Prejudice Study Guide

'Pride and Prejudice' Study Guide Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen that satirizes issues of marriage and social class. It follows the relationship between the quick-to-judge Elizabeth Bennet and the haughty Mr. Darcy as both learn to mend their errors in judgment and look beyond markers of social status. First published in 1813, the bitingly funny romantic comedy has endured as both a popular favorite and a literary classic. Fast Facts: Pride and Prejudice Author: Jane AustenPublisher: Thomas Egerton, WhitehallYear Published: 1813Genre: Comedy of mannersType of Work: NovelOriginal Language: EnglishThemes: Love, marriage, pride, social class, wealth, prejudiceCharacters: Elizabeth Bennet, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Jane Bennet, Charles Bingley, George Wickham, Lydia Bennet, William CollinsNotable Adaptations: 1940 film, 1995 television miniseries (BBC), 2005 filmFun Fact: Researchers named a pheromone in male mice that attracts females â€Å"Darcin† after Mr. Darcy. Plot Summary Pride and Prejudice opens with the Bennet familys reaction to a bit of social news: the nearby Netherfield house has been leased to Mr. Bingley, a wealthy and single young man. Mrs. Bennet expresses the belief that Bingley will fall in love with one of her daughters. Her prediction proves true at the neighborhood ball, where Bingley and the sweet eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, fall in love at first sight. At the same ball, the strong-willed second daughter Elizabeth Bennet finds herself the object of disdain from Bingley’s arrogant, antisocial friend Darcy. Caroline Bingley and Mr. Darcy convince Mr. Bingley of Jane’s disinterest and separate the couple. Elizabeth’s distaste for Darcy only grows when she befriends Wickham, a young militiaman who claims that Darcy ruined his livelihood out of spite. Darcy expresses interest in Elizabeth, but Elizabeth harshly rejects Darcy’s self-absorbed proposal of marriage. The truth soon unravels. It is revealed that Wickham spent all the money Darcy’s father left him and then tried to seduce Darcy’s younger sister. During a trip with her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth visits Darcy’s estate, Pemberley, where she begins to view Darcy in a better light. Her positive impression of Darcy grows when she learns that he has secretly used his own money to convince Wickham to marry, rather than abandon, her sister Lydia Bennet. Darcys aunt, Lady Catherine, demands that Darcy marry her daughter, but her plan backfires and instead leads to Darcy and Elizabeth finding their romantic happiness alongside a reunited Jane and Bingley. Major Characters Elizabeth Bennet. The second of the five Bennet daughters, Elizabeth (â€Å"Lizzy†) is the story’s protagonist. Playful and intelligent, she prizes her ability to make judgments quickly. Her journey of self-discovery is at the heart of the story, as she learns how to discern the truth beneath first impressions. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Mr. Darcy is a haughty and wealthy landowner who snubs Elizabeth when they first meet. He is proud of his social status and is frustrated with his own attraction to Elizabeth but, like her, he learns to overcome his previous judgments to come to a truer perspective. Jane Bennet. The sweet, pretty eldest Bennet daughter. She falls in love with Charles Bingley, Her kind, nonjudgmental nature leads her to overlook Caroline Bingley’s malice until it is almost too late. Charles Bingley. Polite, open-hearted, and a little naà ¯ve, Bingley is a close friend of Darcy. He is easily influenced by Darcy’s opinions. He falls in love with Jane but is persuaded away from her, although he learns the truth in time to make amends. George Wickham. An outwardly charming soldier, Wickham’s pleasant demeanor hides a selfish, manipulative core. Though he presents himself as a victim of Darcy’s pride, he is revealed to be the problem himself. He continues his bad behavior by seducing young Lydia Bennet. Major Themes Love and Marriage. The novel focuses on the obstacles to, and the reasons for, romantic love. Most notably, it satirizes expectations about marriages of convenience and suggests that genuine compatibility and attraction- as well as honesty and respect- are the foundations of the best matches. Characters who try to subvert this thesis are the targets of the book’s biting satire. Pride. In the novel, uncontrolled pride is one of the biggest obstacles to the characters’ happiness. In particular, pride based on notions of class and status is framed as ridiculous and unfounded in real values. Prejudice. Making judgments about others can be useful, but not when those judgments are formed erroneously or quickly. The novel posits that overly confident prejudice must be overcome and tempered before the characters can reach happiness. Social Status. Austen famously satirizes the manners and obsessions of class distinctions. While none of the characters are socially mobile in the modern sense, obsessions with status are presented as foolish and arrogant. Wealth and inheritance do matter, though, as evidenced by Mr. Collins’ presence as Mr. Bennet’s heir. Literary Style Austen’s writing is famous for one particular literary device: free indirect discourse. Free indirect discourse is the technique of writing thoughts that seem to come from an individual characters mind, without shifting into first-person narration or using action tags such as she thought. This device gives readers access to inner thoughts and helps to solidify the characters’ unique voices. The novel was written in the Romantic period of literature, which was at its peak in the first half of the 19th century. The movement, which was a reaction against the onslaught of industrialism and rationalism, emphasized individuals and their emotions. Austen’s work fits into this framework to a degree, as it emphasizes decidedly non-industrial contexts and focuses primarily on the emotional lives of richly drawn individual characters. About the Author Born in 1775, Jane Austen is best known for her sharp observations of a small social circle: country gentry, with a few lower-tier military families in the mix. Her work prized the inner lives of women, featuring complicated characters who were flawed yet likable and whose internal conflicts were as important as their romantic entanglements. Austen shied away from over-sentimentality, preferring instead to mix heartfelt emotions with a helping of pointed wit.

Where Do You Get Your Ideas

Where Do You Get Your Ideas A common sentence from new writers itching to dive into the business. Whether talking novels or magazine features, the newbie wants to be known for having written, and they are ever-eager to jump on that writing train. Developing a writers eye comes from developing the habit. It isnt something you remember to turn on. Its a trait you learn to perpetually live with. Over time of honing this skill of seeing the world through a writers eye, one learns to: 1) hear every bit of dialogue as potential for a character exchange 2) read every news story as a potential plot 3) interpret every experience as the basis for a feature in a mag or chapter in a book Everything becomes fodder. Even if you have this ONE STORY youve always wanted to write, you still watch the world for dialogue and snippets of activity that fit into that ONE STORY youve always wanted to write so that you can make it richer. Youre always looking, listening, interpreting life as writing possibility. Two articles are sitting in a basket in front of me right now, saved from magazines I read three or four years ago. One was about canning vegetables. However, the title (which Im saving for myself, thank you very much) grabbed me. It was a practical title of a how-to piece, but the uniqueness of the title, then some sections of the how-to, suddenly appeared as the great basis for a story to me. Another article came from a gardening piece in a newspaper. Oh my gosh, that persons experience tending a cemetery plot had my writing radar going off the chart! A great test is to take any moment, any instance, and scour it for writing ideas. Drill down into the minutiae or think big picture, how this situation may have a heavy theme attached. The ideas are in front of you, knocking on your brain. The skill comes in knowing how to answer the knock.

Abortion Laws And Ethics in Research Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Abortion Laws And Ethics in Research - Assignment Example Thirdly, with the parent’s knowledge, abortion should only be carried out in the 1st trimester. However, if the pregnancy is in the second trimester, abortion should only be carried out for medical reasons in order to save the life of the mother after considering the health of the mother. This also applies in the third pregnancy where the life of the child should come first in case of imminent danger. However, the case was not argued in favor of the doctor who performed the abortion since abortion is a crime except when the mother of the child is in a medical danger. Based on the proceedings of this case, the doctor’s decisions on whether to carry on with the abortion or not was only valid during the first trimester. However, abortion in other trimesters was dependent on the mother’s health meaning that pregnancy could be terminated only to save the life of the mother (Mcbride, 2007). Part 2 The Tuskegee Syphilis research, which was conducted some decades back cannot be conducted today because the research endangers the lives of the participants and also discriminates participants based on gender. The public, which knew about the study, should have protested given that they have activism power to do so. The research is totally unethical since research ethics demands that a research that endangers the lives of the participants is not ethically right. In addition, full consent of the participants should also be sought.

Corporate Governance Dilemma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Corporate Governance Dilemma - Essay Example The ‘shareholding’ paradigm involved the maximization of shareholders’ value while the ‘stakeholding’ paradigm involved satisfaction of stakeholders’ interests. This created the conceptual dichotomy over ‘individual liberty’ and ‘justice for everyone’ when making important business decisions (Sullivan and Conlon, 1997). A prime example of this decision making model is the successful multinational furniture manufacturer Ikea (IKEA, 2012) . While starting as a small family business in Sweden, it gradually became the world’s largest home furnishing retailer with a reputation of low prices and novel design. The company’s internal costs were attributed to the fact most of the products were manufactured in factories from Asian and eastern European countries. However, in early 1998 a scandal ensued stating that Ikea was tolerating appalling working conditions in its suppliers’ factories in Eastern Eur ope and quickly signed an agreement that would stop exploitation of the workers. Later that year, a TV documentary was shown depicting images of child labour and unhealthy working conditions in factories in India producing IKEA textiles and garments causing uproar in Sweden. Despite the subsequent debates and campaigns from the Socialist Party (SP), the company failed to acknowledge the problem and refused inspection by third parties. Ikea also didn’t adopt the Rugmark foundation label, which validated the eradication of child labour and was already adopted by many companies at that time. Customer complaints in the following year ensued and yellow cards were signed but in response the company still claimed that it would take measures for child labour but didn’t satisfy the SP’s demands for proper control. This in turn caused the intensification of the campaigns spreading to other European countries like Austria and Belgium, ultimately leading to the signing of 5 3.300 red cards on the 3rd of June 1999 which banned the purchase of any Indian rugs or textiles from Ikea. The result was the compliance of Ikea on the 7th of July 1999 with the terms of the SP, which involved stronger measures against child labour and hiring a third party firm to evaluate the process. Ikea also adopted a code of conduct in September 2000, called ‘The Ikea Way of Purchasing Home Furnishing Products’ (IWAY), clearly stating against forced labour and hazardous work conditions (IKEA, 2012). On one hand, Ikea’s practices displayed a non-professional approach to the company’s problems which was the cause of the subsequent campaigns and product sales ban. The denial of the problem’s existence significantly damaged company’s consumer market by raising questions and awareness of the manufacturing processes of the products. Additionally, the failure of taking initiatives and allowing third party evaluation, raised criticisms for ot her practices such as tax evasion, further damaging its reputation. The image of a child-friendly reputation was critically damaged which might affected the sales and market expansion of the company. On the other hand, despite the delayed response from Ikea, various initiatives were taken to restore the company’s image. In addition to introducing the IWAY code of conduct against forced la

Genetic Testing and Counseling in Pregnancy Essay Example for Free

Genetic Testing and Counseling in Pregnancy Essay For many women, pregnancy is met with excitement. However, for a few couples, the pregnancy can take a completely different turn when the fetus is determined to be afflicted with Tay-Sachs disease. This is a genetic condition, usually found in Caucasians, and primarily those of Jewish descent, and develops in 25% of cases when both parents carry the recessive gene (National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases [NTSAD], n. d. ). Genetic counseling is a relatively new concept in healthcare and â€Å"is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease† (National Society of Genetic Counselors [NSGC], 2005, para. 2). For the men and women facing a pregnancy involving Tay-Sachs, genetic counseling is a viable and important option to consider. However, to ensure quality care and education, genetic counseling needs to involve a team of healthcare professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Interdisciplinary Team Members and Their Roles in Genetic Counseling Appropriate members of a multi-disciplinary team for the Trosacks include a genetic counselor, a nutritionist or dietician, the high-risk OB-GYN physician, a registered nurse specializing in high-risk perinatal care, and a therapist specializing in marriage and family therapy needs. Each member of this team will add a unique perspective to the Trosack’s case. The genetic counselor has graduate-level education and experience in both medical genetics and counseling (NSGC, 2005, para. 1). Using her expertise and skills, she will review the medical history for Mr. nd Mrs. Trosack, and their families, identify other genetic risks that may exist and explain inheritance patterns. She will provide information and resources for further education on genetic disorders, so that they can continue to learn about Tay-Sachs and connect with other families facing the disease. In addition to this expert information, the Trosacks will benefit from a nutritionist or dietician. The nutritionist not only has special training in the area of nutrition, but also in educating patients about their options and making nutritious choices. In general, a nutritionist can â€Å"advise individuals†¦on the nutritional practices that will promote good health, [and] structure and recommend diet plans for whole families†¦including guides to the correct preparation of meals and shopping for the right foods (Princeton Review, n. d. ). He will perform a nutrition assessment, provide education on additional nutritional needs due to pregnancy, and even assist with meal planning to ensure a health pregnancy. He will continue to assess and make recommendations on Mrs. Trosack’s nutritional needs based on lab work throughout the pregnancy. The patient’s overall care is the responsibility of her OB-GYN, who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. A high-risk OB-GYN has a lengthy education, residency and fellowship history to gain knowledge in caring for older patients, patients with specific medical conditions and patients carrying a pregnancy that has been determined to need specialized care. The perinatologist is not only capable of making diagnoses other obstetricians may miss, but can also perform specialized procedures and administer medications across the placenta (Perinatologists, n. d. ). She will assess the medical needs of Mrs.  Trosack and the fetus throughout the pregnancy, monitor fetal growth and development, order diagnostic tests as needed, and provide referrals to other specialists as needed. Working with the physician will be a nurse specializing in prenatal clients. This nurse has chosen to expand on her nursing education, taking additional classes and obtaining certifications specific to perinatal care. He will assess the couple’s understanding of pregnancy and prenatal care at the first visit and make a plan to educate them on each stage of pregnancy and fetal development as well as options available during labor and delivery. Additionally, he will ensure the couple understanding for each test or referral suggested by the physician. Due to the nature of the diagnosis, the couple will also benefit from a marriage and family therapist on their team. The couple has already expressed exasperation over the diagnosis, and volley between denial and acceptance of the diagnosis. Additionally, Mrs. Trosack has already expressed guilt over her workload and its â€Å"affect† on the baby. Mr. Trosack has expressed anger, which can lead to resentment. The strong emotions felt by both parties need to be expressed in a healthy way to preserve their marriage, and a therapist specializing in family matters is an appropriate facilitator. She will meet with the couple together, as well as individually to assess their feelings about the pregnancy, the Tay-Sachs diagnosis and the feelings they have toward each other. The therapy sessions will continue after the birth of their baby, due to the nature of the disease and the stress the baby’s health will add to their lives. Teaching Plan for the Initial Visit  The teaching plan for the Trosacks’ initial visit at the high-risk pregnancy center will include the following:  ·Genetic diagnosis—The Trosacks need to understand the diagnosis of Tay-Sachs: how it is transmitted, the probability of other pregnancies testing positive, and what symptoms their child is likely to develop. This will help them to understand they have done nothing wrong and prepare for the special needs their child will have.  ·Treatment—No treatment exists for the disease itself, but the Trosacks will benefit from learning about the symptoms their child may develop and how those symptoms are treated. They will be informed of ways to keep their child safe and comfortable during the illness.  ·Prognosis as it applies to Tay-Sachs—The prognosis for infantile Tay-Sachs is poor, with most children becoming progressively worse until their death by age 4 or 5. The Trosacks need to be informed of this so that they can make preparations—for themselves and other family members. Because most children develop normally until around six months of age, the Trosacks need to know that an absence of symptoms does not mean an absence of the disease (NTSAD, n. d. ). They need to know that their time with this child will be limited and filled with doctor visits and difficult medical decisions. With this education and advanced notice, they can begin to discuss which treatments they may consider (medications) and those treatments they may not want to consider (feeding tube).  ·Support groups and appropriate referrals—With the Internet, the community of support for families with Tay-Sachs has greatly expanded. The Trosacks will be given information on local support groups as well as the internet communities available to them. They will be directed to the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Disease, March of Dimes and National Organization for Rare Disorders websites to connect with other families who are living with Tay-Sachs. This support will help the Trosacks connect with the only other people who know what they are going through, share their concerns without fear of judgment, and learn from those have gone through it all personally.  ·Pregnancy information—Information on pregnancy is necessary for any pregnant woman, especially during her first pregnancy. Over the length of the pregnancy, the Trosacks will learn about how pregnancy and fetal development progresses during each trimester, what changes Mrs. Trosack can expect—physically and emotionally, and ways in which Mr. Trosack can be of assistance to her. The first visit will specifically cover the development to date and through the end of the first trimester. They will view pictures of the developing fetus and the ways in which Mrs. Trosack’s body is changing to accommodate the pregnancy. Ethical Implications of Having Genetic Information Available While genetic testing is a wonderful addition to the vast array of diagnostics medicine now offers, it can bring about new ethical implications. In reference to autonomy, genetic testing can sometimes reveal information about one’s family that was not known. For example, a Caucasian family may be surprised to find they are carriers for Sickle Cell disease, a disease found primarily in African-Americans and can bring about questions regarding the family history. These discussions may lead to the ethical issue of perceived invasions of privacy for other family members. Another example would be the dilemmas that occur when there is a difference in societal believes and one’s personal beliefs. First, â€Å"persons with a genetic condition may prefer not to learn that their offspring is at risk for the condition, or they may prefer to have offspring with the same condition present in other family members† (Halsey Lea, Williams, Donahue, 2005, para. 15). Secondly, some people may feel it is unjust to bring a baby with anomalies into the world. The results of genetic testing in these instances may necessitate decisions about continuing pregnancy, selective termination and adoption. A third example of ethical dilemmas in regards to genetic information being available is in relation to beneficence and nonmalificence. For example, clinicians caring for a pregnant patient find the baby she is carrying has spina bifida. The patient states her sister had spina bifida and that she wants to deliver her baby in the community hospital with a midwife. The clinician now must balance her respect for her patient’s wishes with the concern she feels in allowing a baby with special needs to be born in an environment that cannot provide services that may improve the birth’s outcome (Halsey Lea et al. 2005). A fourth ethical issue is that of justice. For, some genetic disorders can be found with testing while others still cannot. For example, â€Å"the ability to identify carrier status for a mutation in the gene for cystic fibrosis is lower among Asian American and African American persons† than it is in Caucasians (Halsey Lea et al. , 2005). Thus, the results of testing performed on an Asian American or African American patient may not be a reliable indicator of their carrier status. Personal Thoughts, Feelings and Advocacy As a woman, this writer cannot begin to imagine the feelings felt by the Trosacks. After years of trying to conceive, they learn that they are finally pregnant only to find out their baby is likely to die by age five from a horrible, progressive disease. If in Mrs. Trosack’s shoes, would this writer be brave enough to continue the pregnancy, knowing the prognosis? I do not know. I am sure, however, that the Trosacks have a difficult road ahead of them. If I were Mrs. Trosack, I would expect to feel a constant state of grief—over the diagnosis and the life my child will not have, the loss of those milestones parents look forward to (first day of school, first dance, etc), the impending months or years of illness. I would hope that I could treasure the better moments I do have with my child—from birth to death, holding her as much as possible, trying to focus on the symptom-free moments, taking as many pictures as I can to record her short life. I question how angry a woman would feel in this situation. Surely, even those women with strong religious beliefs question the â€Å"why† of the diagnosis and circumstance. â€Å"Why, after all this time allow me to conceive if you’re going to give me a child so sick? What is the point of bringing a child into life if they are to suffer throughout? Why us? † Would a woman facing this diagnosis feel as if everyone pities her? While reading the case study, I found myself feeling pity for her, knowing that she would lose her child in such a horrible way after wanting a child so badly. Despite these feelings, the Trosacks’ choice to continue their pregnancy is just that†¦their choice. Many people think that being pro-choice means advocating for abortion. However, it is my belief that being pro-choice means advocating for people to make the best choice for themselves in particular situations. For, only those going through a particular situation know best how well or poorly they can handle a decision and circumstance. Their decision to continue a pregnancy after the diagnosis was made is a brave one and speaks volumes to their character and beliefs. The Trosacks’ case manager will work with each member of the interdisciplinary team to ensure they respect the wishes of the couple. The couple needs to know that they are supported and are being treated without judgment from the team members. She will meet with the team members to ensure they are able to continue treating with couple appropriately. If any of the team members express an inability to refrain from sharing their personal feelings with the couple, she will find suitable replacements. While the team members are entitled to their feelings, they are expected to keep those feelings to themselves when caring for patients. And, when patients are facing emotional and controversial decisions, the separation is even more important. Ethical and Legal Considerations When the Trosacks made the decision to continue the pregnancy after learning their baby has Tay-Sachs, they became bound, legally and ethically, to care for the child after the birth. Ethical considerations include the decision to bring a child into a life of poor health and early death after a progressive decline. Many people in society will judge them for this, and the child will be perceived in certain ways by others. Further, they will be faced with the decision to allow researchers to follow their child in an effort to gain more information about the disease in search for a cure. The child has no autonomy as a minor, and has no right to privacy when her parents are making the decisions. Another ethical question is who owns the genetic information? The genetic information is on the child’s DNA, but the parents are the ones making all the decisions. Legally, there are several areas of concern for the couple. First, they are now bound to provide healthcare to this child, despite the poor prognosis. They must provide food, clothing and shelter, and keep the child safe and comfortable as she declines. The child will eventually develop problems with swallowing, and at that time, will require further interventions to maintain life. Secondly, they are required to provide medical care for the child; and, with the poor prognosis, this is likely to involve many appointments, testing and medications or treatments. Third, they may have problems with insurance coverage, as some insurance policies may consider the child’s diagnosis to be pre-existing, denying coverage for any treatments associated with the disease. Though this is certainly not ethical, it is legal in this country, and may lead to financial problems and difficulty in continuing to obtain quality medical care.

Performance Enhancing Drugs and their Effects Essay -- essays research

Performance Enhancing Drugs and their Effects Sports are America's number one source of entertainment. We often love to see game-winning homeruns, hail marys, eighty yard runs, and records being broken. We want OUR athletes to be at their best. We do not care at whose expense this entertainment comes, we just want our money's worth. How do these athletes perform at such high levels day in and day out? Most of them go to the gym and hit the weights or go to the ball field and practice some hitting. But others take an easier way out. They decide to cheat themselves of becoming a truly better athlete. Those cheating athletes turn to performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids or androstenedione, a.k.a. andro. These players feel the negative consequences of these drugs are out-weighed by the positive consequences. Those players are wrong. As a fan of sports, I want my favorite teams or players to be at their best. I want them to win. No, not just win; I want them to be spectacular in doing it. I want my team to give me heart-stopping action. Whether it is a homerun in the bottom of the ninth to win the World Series or it is a buzzer beater from half court to win the game, either way my team has to be great. I do not care about their practice habits or what is going on in their household; I just want them to perform at their best every night. I know most of you are guilty of this too. We turn on the TV at the beginning of the baseball game and the announcer says, "Joe Schmo won't be playing tonight cause of a broken leg he suffered last night in a terrible car accident." At first you will be shocked and hope he is ok. Then you ask the TV, expecting to get an answer, "When is he gonna be back?!?!" Sports today have become so competitive that players will hurt others to win or at least get an edge. If they do not hurt others, they hurt themselves. Lately there have been many cases of players being caught with some type of performance-enhancing drug. It seems that the pressure for these players to succeed has pushed them to the level of "at all costs". Recently, ex-Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar Jose Canseco admitted to using anabolic steroids while he was in the pros. Canseco was one of the premiere hitters in his time. Canseco a... ...ve to enjoy it. Work Cited Associated Press. â€Å"FDA attempts to stem sale of andro.† 11 March 2004. ESPN. 15 April 2004. . Breeder, Craig E. â€Å"Oral Andro-Related Prohormone Supplementation: Do the Potential Risks Outweigh the Benefits?† Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology 28 (2003): 102-17. â€Å"Caminiti Comes Clean: Ex-MVP says he won award while using steroids.† 28 May 2002 Sports Illustrated.Com. 22 April 2004. . Community Drug Alert Bulletin: Anabolic Steroids. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Bethesda, MD. April 2000. Bechtel, Mark: Kennedy, Kostya: Swift, E.M.. â€Å"Bodies of Evidence.† Sports Illustrated. 14 April 2003: 25. Llosa, Luis Fernando: Munson, Lester: Wertheim, L Jon. â€Å"Jolt of Reality.† Sports Illustrated 7 April 2003: 68-76. Research Report Series: Anabolic Steroid Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institute of Health. April 2000. Rushin, Steve. â€Å"Big Man In The Big House.† Sports Illustrated 30 June 2003: 17-19.

A Visit to the Animal Kingdom in Florida Essay

English Reflective Essay Florida is portrayed as a fantasy land where Mickey Mouse greets you around every corner and where Cinderella actually lives, where days go by without a single drop of rain and the sky is consistently perfectly blue. However this was the farthest thing from my mind as I sat in an immense carbon-emmiting monster whose air conditioning has spluttered and died and while the heavens poured the air was so thick and mucky that flies were sticking to the windshield as we drove, only to be washed away by the drowning rain. As this was happening, my dad who was yet to figure out his left from his right had the near-miracle task of finding our hotel. Which was almost impossible because visibility was limited to about a yard and that requires great concentration, which was hard to find after the fiasco at the airport†¦. Day 2 To my great excitement, â€Å"Animal Kingdom† was our first theme park, rather disappointing though what was hyped up to be a splendour of animal based excitement turned out to be a zoo with the odd thrill. However my memory of the first day was largely marred by Dad; with his new and shiny American muscle car; forgot that when all four doors were shut the lock system was activated. All hell broke lose! With my mum muttering and rambling nonchalantly and quietly with the odd distinguishable, â€Å"God.. men† and my dad, the man of the household and the â€Å"decisive† being, who was spouting all sorts of obscenities and was spanking the car,lightly so no damage was done but gave the impression that somehow it was the cars fault, it was up to me (seeming the only level headed member of the family) to aqcuire the basic survival needs such as food and water. With out park tickets being used for the day there was no way of buying fresh water. Giving up on the task of survival and surrending to the fate of the great over-powering Florida sunshine that was gobbling up every ounce of liquid, I went to a little ledge at the very far side of the car park and with ironic timing the edge of my eye caught sight of a little pool. And just like an oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert the temptation to drink from this minor miracle was extreme. As I squatted and stared while heavily drooling with my mouth arid there was a conflict of conscience apparent in my head. The good side was reciting the well known fact that one of the locals had stated, â€Å"In every pool of water in Florida there is an alligator. † The other â€Å"evil† side accompanied by my sailva and most major organs, was willing to tempt fate yet my good conscience claimed noble victory and I was left to dessicate. And looking back on it, it was probably a wise decision, however the journey back to the apartment was like a front row seat between Mohammed Ali and Mike Tyson.

Emotions and Moods Essay

When we try to understand what makes a good leader, or behaviors from leaders that drive positive performance and results in an organization, traditional personal attributes such as intelligence, toughness, determination, vision and technical skills, though are very much required for success, it is not sufficient to be a truly effective leader. As employees go up the ladder emotional intelligence play more important roles on performance than other personal or technical attributes As a leader, it is of utmost importance that you manage and build relationships with many people, be well connected and be genuinely interested so that people want to help you in tough times or when in need of a critical resource or expertise. So the Social Skill of a leader helps a long way in building positive performance. A leader also needs to be self-aware of his behaviors and moods, it is a skill of knowing ones true self and how that could affect people around him, so that he can self-regulate himself and ensure that in any given situation, he always responds positively and does not react. This calmness and maturity the leader brings in to the team, will build confidence and trust in his subordinates and will make them work harder and smarter to not repeat mistakes and give their best to achieve higher results. A leader need to empathize with other people, this is extremely important when working with cross cultural teams where understanding of each other’s behaviors could make or break projects. This is a skill of treating people as per their moods, behaviors and reactions to specific situations. This can go a long way in avoiding conflicts, retaining talent and bringing in a sense of understanding with the superior which could lead to sharing new ideas, beliefs etc. and thus opening up a plethora of opportunities to tap in to their ideas and additionally help in good involvement from them which will feed growth. Human beings are biologically designed to be influenced by external environment. An upbeat manager makes everyone feel energetic, while a sour-spirited manager makes work grueling. A manager’s upbeat mood, which is optimistic, sincere and realistic, will be contagious and one erson’s energy transmits signals that can alter the overall wellbeing of others which would drive up their mood. Better mood always results in better performance if channelized in the right way which a good leader is capable of doing. The most effective leaders show mood which is apt for the given situation with a mix of optimism which enables the organization to drive forward with hope. The inner work life system, which is the combination of how our perceptions about things around could drive emotions, coupled with our motivation to work could drive positive performance in our everyday life and eventually lead to organizational success. Therefore it is very important as a leader to be aware of his reactions and approach to everyday work events, so that he doesn’t adversely affect any team members but always drive positivity and bonding which drives performance. Overall we can state that emotions and moods play a vital role in a behavior of a leader and if the leader wants to be successful, he needs to self-aware, drive positivity with his optimistic mood and be high on emotional intelligence, so that he can tackle any given situation in the rightful manner and in turn see his organization maturing and growing by leaps and bounds.

European Government in the 19th century1 essays

European Government in the 19th century1 essays During the twentieth century, Europe went through many changes in politics and trends. On June 28, 1914, Serbian revolutionaries assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian and Hungarian thrones, and his wife, Sophie. With Germany behind Austria-Hungary, Austria attacked Serbia on July 28th. The following day, Russia ordered full mobilization and in effect declared full all out war. Germanys plan was to knock out France by going through neutral Belgium and then taking out Russia. On August 2, 1914, Germanys plan to pass through neutral Belgium failed when Belgium refused to let German forces through. Germany intern attacked Belgium. On August 3rd,Great Britain joined forces with France, which started the First World War. A major social impact in Europe occurred during World War I. With almost all able-bodied men fighting in the trenches, this caused a great demand for workers. Jobs were available for everyone. This also brought about change for labor unions. The roll of women changed for the better during this time. Women basically took over the labor forces in Russia. In Great Britain, women were driving streetcars and buses. Women became more prominent in society. Showing up as mail carriers, bank tellers, and even police officers. In 1917, Russia went through two revolutions that cause Russia to with draw from the war. In March of 1917, the Duma declared a provisional government. A month later, Lenin returns from exile to denounce the provisional government. All social classes were in favor of this drastic move. It would create better wages for workers and more food. In 1920, Lenins Red army retook Belorussia and the Ukraine. In the spring of 1918, Germany launched its last attack on France. With the United States backing Britain and France, the triple entente finally crushed German forces. In January of 1919, in Versailles, The Treaty of Versailles was signed...

Irish Potatoes and Pennsylvania Dutch

Irish Potatoes and Pennsylvania Dutch Irish Potatoes and Pennsylvania Dutch Irish Potatoes and Pennsylvania Dutch By Maeve Maddox Here are some terms associated with places. In each case something about the term is misleading. German silver: A white alloy consisting of nickel, zinc, and copper originally obtained from an ore found at Hildburghausen. The product is German, but contains no silver. Hudson seal:   Muskrat fur that has been plucked and dyed to give the appearance of seal fur. The fur is from Hudson Bay, but its not from a seal. Jordan almond: an almond imported from Mlaga and used extensively in confectionery, or an almond coated with sugar of various colors. The almonds are not from Jordan and never were. Jordan in this expression is an altered form of French jardin, garden. Pennsylvania Dutch: people living mostly in eastern Pennsylvania whose characteristic cultural traditions go back to the German migrations of the 18th century. The German word Deutsch predictably became Dutch in American mouths, but at one time in English, Dutch referred to Germans in general. In the 17th century Dutch narrowed in meaning to of the Netherlands. Irish potato: the white potato (Solanum tuberosum). The white potato came to Europe from Peru. It became permanently associated with Ireland because of the dreadful Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852) during which a million Irish died and a million emigrated. Ireland wasnt the only European country to experience a potato blight at that time, but a third of the Irish population depended entirely upon the potato for food. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:35 Synonyms for â€Å"Look†Between vs. In Between20 Slang Terms for Law Enforcement Personnel

CROSS CULTURAL ENCOUNTER PROJECT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

CROSS CULTURAL ENCOUNTER PROJECT - Essay Example This helped us develop our friendship and learn more about each other’s culture. We discovered that we both love sports and enjoyed watching international football games among the teams that we support. We also found out that we enjoy playing football as we both played it in junior and secondary schools. We spent a lot of time playing various video games at the local village arcade and in our apartments. Our friendship was enhanced by the fact that we are both international students who share a similar history and similar dreams and ambitions. In addition to, we dined together on numerous occasions and got to enjoy traditional meals that taught us more on our cultures. While I am Muslim, Patrick is Christian and this has not stopped us from learning more about each other’s religions and cultures. For instance, he joined me for Jumma (Friday prayers) in a Mosque in Arlington, Virginia (House 55). I attended a Sunday service with him where he celebrated ‘Palm Sunday ’. I learnt that the difference between the two religions is not so pronounced as they both focus on preaching a positive message to its followers. We have visited various exhibitions that show case different cultures and we have learnt so much about our rich cultures and familiarized ourselves with our mutual heritage. Patrick and I share numerous mutual friends hence we spend a lot of time together. It surprises a lot of people that a Muslim and a Christian can share such a close friendships, we have a lot in common, than what meets the eye. Although Patrick has spent most of his years in the United States, he is interested in learning more about the Asian culture and the language skills by visiting the Asian region. Patrick intends to go back to Indonesia after completing his studies and constantly visits his family back his home country. This shows the level of dedication that Patrick has towards learning more about the Indonesian culture. Identified Differences. In spite of a close friendship, there are various clear differences between us. To begin with, there is a huge age gap between us as Patrick is 27 years while I am 22 years. Patrick has lived in the United States for 15 years while I have been in here for three years. Patrick described his family as originating from Indonesia where his paternal and maternal ancestors originated. While Bahasa Indonesia is widely spoken in Indonesia, Patrick and his sibling speak English fluently having lived in the US for fifteen years. On the other hand, my family comes from Saudi Arabia while some members of my family live in Syria and Egypt. I am fluent in both Arabic and English and therefore there are no communication barriers between us. We eat a variety of foods in our homes including rice, sushi, pasta and various types of meat apart from pork. This is because I am Moslem. Patrick is Christian and Indonesian and they have no reservations when it comes to different types of food. Patrick’s fami ly owns a food processing company that specializes in processing high quality rice that is sold across the country. The business’ performance has been exemplary over the years and the plans to expand its activities in the Asian market in future. My family owns a Textile industry in Saudi Arabia and is planning to open new branches in Dubai and Qatar. This shows that our families are involved in different lines of business. Our cultures define the size of our families. I come from a family of six children that is