Dealing with various types of emergency procedures Essay

The following sets out the principles for dealing with various types of emergency procedures within schools & is given as guidance only. Fire & other emergencies In the event of fire & other emergencies (such as gas leak, flood & bomb scare) buildings need to be evacuated quickly but safely. In all schools there should be clear, detailed procedures on evacuation which must be displayed in each area of the school. These procedures should give information on: How to raise the alarm in the event of an emergency. What to do if you hear the fire alarm. The nearest assembly point – this may be a playground, sports field or even a nearby evacuation centre/safety perimeter following instructions from police. Registers should be available so staff can account for the safety & whereabouts of all the children. The route you should take – this should include a plan of the route from each room or area of the school, detailing the nearest fire exits. No staff or children should be allowed to stop to collect personal belongings or put on coats. Must not re-enter the building until you have been informed it is safe to do so. Security There should be security in place in schools to minimise the risks to children. As a teaching assistant, you must know what these are & follow the procedures at all times. These procedures should include: Security locks on doors. Signing in procedures/visitor badges (you should be able to identify all visitors to the school by badges. If unsure about someone you see on the school grounds, always report your concern to someone higher). Procedures for collection of younger children. Registration. Missing children While security measures should minimise the risk of children going missing, it is vitally important that you follow the school guidelines. As a teaching assistant, you may be asked to accompany children on school visits & to supervise a group of children. All staff present on such visits should make regular checks that all children are present. Some schools may require all the children to wear hi-visibility vests or other items which make them easily identifiable during school outings. On discovering children are missing, you must take the following immediate action: Report to the teacher responsible. Ensure the presence & safety of the other children by checking the register. Check all surrounding areas from where the child/Children have gone missing, whether it is in the school grounds or during an outing. Inform the child/children’s parents.

Adults and ICT Essay

Ajesh Mehta is a normal employee who works in a pharmaceutical warehouse. This basically means he puts the boxes filled with medicines in the right places and inputs the number of what they are and their details in Microsoft Excel on a computer that he has at his work. He then makes a report on that and gives it to his boss and the other staff members. He uses many technologies. I will list them below and explain how he uses some of those technologies and how it has affected his personal and working life. TECHNOLOGIES THAT AJESH MEHTA USE:   Mobile Phones   CD Rewriters   Personal Organiser Internet Laptop. Email   Digital T. V. Microsoft Excel He says these technologies are a main part of his life and without them he wouldn’t have been able to do his work and enjoy easily. Microsoft Excel Although Ajesh Mehta doesn’t use Microsoft Excel personally but he mainly uses Microsoft Excel for work to do his reports. He says that Excel helps him to put his reports in their correct places very easily. Excel is like a spreadsheet and it is already set up in boxes; and unlike word in which you have to make tables and set them up in the size you want, which takes quite a lot of time, excel has everything ready for you. Before he started to use Excel, he used to have a lot of problems in a lot of different things. For example he always had to use scientific calculator to do all his calculations. But now as excel can do that quickly, he does it very fast. It used to take him about an hour to do all the calculation out the whole amount of time that he took to do his report, but now it only probably takes about fifteen minutes, out of the whole time. As he used to use word, he also had to make lots of tables and set them up in proper sizes. It used to take him about four to five hours just to do a single report as he had to do all the other things to make it ready just so he can do his report. But now the tables are ready for them, which saves him a lot of time and he can do his report in about two hours now. In excel we can also change the size and the colour, and we can also change the font like in word. It can also help you do bar charts like other seawares but very quickly and with easy processes. So in short it has also got the facility to do what other softwares do and plus its own unique ability. Now that he has started using Microsoft Excel, he can do his work quicker and doesn’t have to waste time. Despite all these advantages of Microsoft Excel, there are also disadvantages to this software. For example, there are lots and lots of different facilities that cannot be used by most people. Many people don’t have much knowledge in maths so they do not know how to use those facilities and as you know, Microsoft Excel was especially made for mathematical calculations. It would be quite hard for the user because he/she won’t be able to do those calculations. Another one of the disadvantages is that he feels is that the whole of Microsoft Excel is set up in tables. Then you can only write a little amount in certain places. Although you can spread the cells/boxes, you cannot write like other softwares like Microsoft Word. Ajesh Mehta finds this very annoying as he can’t write paragraphs in Excel. But he can do this by making it suitable but he is unaware of that. Therefore he has to write those things in Word and then copy them into Excel which takes a lot of time. So basically, although he has saved himself a lot of time by using Excel, he still wastes his time on other things. Now that he can complete his work faster, he always feels like doing more and more work. That basically means there is always work present for him. CDs Rewriters CD Rewriters are softwares, which allow you to write CDs on your computers. If you have two CD drives then you put your original CD in you first drive and a blank CD in the second drive and follow the process and the CD will be copied. There can also be CD Rewriters for the computers that only have one CD drive. This type of CD Rewriters copy the original CD on your hard drive and the when you put the blank CD in the drive, it puts that information onto that CD. Ajesh Mehta uses this software very often. He normally puts all information that he need to share with the other staff, onto a CD and then makes copies of that CDs and gives them to his staff. He does this about three times a week. He says it is very useful. He also think it is better than photocopying them lots of time on paper and then giving them out because he thinks that most of the time, the paper is lost before it reaches the person it is meant to be given to. The paper can also be torn before it reaches or it can be tore while in use. But he thinks that if everyone has a copy of the CDs with him or her then he or she can just print it when they need it even in future. Also, it takes very long to print a lot of copies, as they don’t have a laser printer. He would also need a lot of ink to print them of. But if everyone has their own copies then they could print it from their own computers, whenever they want. They can also look at it when at home on their own computers if they want to. On more of his problems with using CD Rewriters is that his company uses a lot of money to buy lots of CDs just so they can give a copy of the work they need to give to the other members of the staff. Another problems he thinks is very important is that after copying a lot of copies of the original CD then the CD gets really scratched which then goes useless. His CD drive also get very used up after using it a lot and they have to change it about every year, which costs a lot of money as well. There can be other ways that he can do this. For example he can use a network so that every person in his staff can have access to that file whenever they want. He could also attach those files via Email and send them to their email addresses. Al this would save their company a lot of time and money. This technology has affected his working life a lot. It saves him time because he can just start copying and then sit and do his other work. Although by using this brilliant technology, he thinks their company wastes a lot of money on blank CDs. But he thinks that even though they use a lot of money on blank CDs, it is useful as it can be used any time in the future as well. But as I said before, email could be very useful to him. Personally he uses CD Rewriters in a very different manner and also in many different ways. Mostly he uses it to make audio CDs of new songs so he can listen to them in his car. He likes listening to new songs very much. He said that he makes new CDs about twice a month. But the disadvantage of this is that when a CD is copied and as it is not original, it gets scratched very easily. So I would suggest that he could just buy a CD with don’t get scratched or he could always listen to radio. As Ajesh Mehta is very fond of keeping his computer up to date and not let it go slow, he re-boots his computer about once every year. So to keep the work that he has saved on his computer, he puts all his work on a CD. For this he uses a CD Rewriter, which he says helps him out a lot as he cant lose his work as after you re-boot a computer you lose all the work on it. But another alternative choice could be that he gets a virus protector which wont let his computer go slow very easily and so he wont have to re-boot his computer once a year. This way he will save time, money and so he will only have to re-boot his computer about once every three years. This is how CD Rewriters have helped Ajesh Mehta quite a lot in his both, working and personal life although he could use other options. This technology hasn’t affected his working styles a lot. But this does help him to take his work home and anywhere else when he needs to. Email Ajesh Mehta has an email account in Yahoo and Hotmail. He has had these accounts for more than four years. Email allows him to do his work very quickly and he also stays in touch with his friends and family. He only uses email for one reason at his work. When he has finished his work, he has to email his boss to say him that the work that he set has been finished and that he is waiting for further instructions. His boss then emails him back and then he does his further work. The problem for him by using this technology is that if he sends an email, it sometimes doesn’t go as the server might be down or there can be many people on that specific website. So he has to wait quite a long time. Sometimes the problem happens that he boss is not online. Even though this hardly ever happens, but it does happen sometimes. He gets very annoyed with this. Sometimes the same thing happens to his boss as well. Only other alternative for this could be to use a Telephone. This would be quicker than email, so it would save him time and he won’t have to stop every time he finishes his work. Although it would cost him money, it would at least be quicker. Personally he uses email to be in touch with his friends and relative. Every once a week he mails his parents and brother to ask how they and their family are. He emails them and gets a reply the next day, which is quite faster than snail mail. Although he keeps in touch with them via email, I would say Telephone would be much better for them. He could call them and talk to them in seconds while for email he has to wait a day for them to reply and sometimes the emails don’t even get through. But the thing is that phoning those costs a lot of money, so even better than Telephone would be Messenger. This way he could chat to them, talk to them and even see them if he wants to. This technology has affected Ajesh Mehta’s life a lot. He says if these technologies won’t there, then he would have had to waste lots of money which he can’t afford and so he won’t have been able to talk to his parents and brother every week. This technology is a very important part of his life. This technology has also affected his working styles. By the help of this technology, he can now send his little work files through files because there is no real point of writing CDs when the files are very small and only he needs it. But the bad effect is that when he gets his work home, he feels like working at home so he doesn’t get any time to socialise. Also by working at home, he doesn’t get any help or equipment that he uses at work. So he wastes his time doing his office work at home and he still doesn’t finish his work how it is supposed to be finished.

Berlin Art and Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Berlin Art and Culture - Essay Example Baroque style and art forms can be understood by going through its historical context. The first modern age began in the 17th century. In the early 17th century, the Catholic Church of Rome in Italy adopted Counter-Reformation style. Later it spread to all the Roman Catholic countries throughout all the countries of Europe. Baroque is considered as an era of artistic style, which made the most use of the motion, exaggerated, and drama was produced with the clear and easy to interpreted details. Paintings, sculptures, architecture, literature, dance and music were given rise in this era. The catholic Churches helped in promoting the Baroque style as they decided that the art should be connected to the religious themes. In this era, there can be seen a drastic change in the architecture and art. The Baroque art’s characteristics consist of a sense of movement, tension and energy (Norberg-Schulz 19). The International Style in architecture emerged in Baroque period. In the Baroqu e period the artists attempted to rid the art of its complications as they brought the principles of clarity, balance and monumentality in the art forms by avoiding the asymmetry and distortion trends. The artists such as Annibale Carracci and Michelangelo Merisi took the art forms towards simplification. The Baroque approach always exhibited the dramatic intensity, massiveness, theatrical adventure and combination of colors. The new form included the art, integrating literature, music, drama and paintings, etc.

An Orthodox Poem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

An Orthodox Poem - Essay Example These terms may be used interchangeably to pertain to money. Noticeably, Stevens uses simple, even slang terms to make his subject easy, thus implying address of the general public, or the common people. Stevens could have used other terms like banknote or currency but such terms would deviate from the purpose of giving the simplest terms for money in the introduction and then move on to the more complex meaning of the subject. . In the second stanza, Stevens mentions the ways to use money. The lines, â€Å"Chock it up,/fork it over, shell it out./Watch it burn holes through pockets.† (4-6) reveals what a person can do with money. There is a slight change in tone with the first two lines of this stanza still sounding slang, whereas the third line sounds figurative. Stevens gets deeper into his subject matter by using imagery and metaphor in the third line. He indirectly compares money with fire, making it capable of burning â€Å"holes through pockets† (6). The first tw o lines express how people can manipulate money, whereas the third shows a magnificent power that money has as it can â€Å"burn holes† or leave a person empty-handed. Stevens provides deeper meanings of the term money as the poem progresses. As such, the third stanza provides an even deeper meaning of money by giving implications of having money. The lines, â€Å"To be made of it! To have it to burn!† (7-8) could mean two things. Literally, it can mean that money can support a person when used for sustenance. Figuratively, it can also mean that depending on money can make one burn or go to hell. Considering this, Stevens does not only illustrate an orthodox style but even demonstrates Orthodox beliefs about hell and temptation. The terms in next line, namely, â€Å"Greenbacks, double eagles, megabucks and Ginnie Maes† (9) pertain to enormous amount of money, which could lead a person to make sins and later burn in hell due to temptation. Such infusion of belief about burning is allegorical in tone. The fourth stanza balances the meanings provided in the earlier stanza by giving the positive functions of money. â€Å"It greases the palm, feathers a nest,† (10) and so on. The words in this stanza pertain to the use of money in supporting or feeding a family or making a person survive. Stevens uses more images to illustrate his point, such greasing the palm with food to eat, feathering a nest to provide shelter to a family, and letting a person survive the depth of the water in a sea. On one hand, these descriptions strongly imply the role of money in human life. On the other hand, these words also show the dependency of people on money. Such connotations further imply the negative side of money, thus serving as anti-thesis to lines 10-11. The fifth stanza further illustrates the power of money and its presence in the world as the poem states, it is â€Å"always in circulation† (15). Stevens uses denotation and connotation agai n in this stanza. As for the denotation, money can gather people’s as it can afford a lot of things. For the connotation, money gathers the interest of many when a person with a lot of money is lavishly clothed. Furthermore, it implies that people with money become popular and are always in circulation. The last stanza bears the most negative implications of money. Once again, the author uses denotation and connotation. The persona warns the addressee about putting money in the mouth, despite not knowing where it comes

Culture and Family in Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Culture and Family in Nursing - Essay Example A vital objective for health care providers, as for instance, is established in the increasing acknowledgment of the family's value to a child's recovery and the influence of child's infirmity on the family. The importance of understanding the impact of culture on family health and nursing is related to a considerate practice of the family, as it establishes a realism that confirms the analysis that professional nursing perform which is crucial to health care. As realization increases on the influence of culture, concern is heightened in improving the efficiency of the involvement, given inconsistencies of cultural diversity, and the survival of children of minority families. (Radin, N., & Goldsmith, R. 1983 p 18) psychological needs for identity and sense of historical continuity. The ethnic background influences our way of thinking, our way of feelings, our way of working, and our way of relaxing, our way of celebrating holidays and customs, our way of expressing our anxieties, our way of belief about illness or life and death. Patterns of ethnicity, strengthened by family custom and community association, can function in delicate ways, normally outside of our consciousness; but their influence may however be extensive, deep and compelling. These patterns are capable to perform a significant responsibility throughout the family life series, though influence may differ among groups and within a group itself. In few families who cling to customary ways, adhering to groups from their spiritual or cultural background and apart from all others, ethnic values and classifications may be predominantly strong and probably to be kept for generations (Pleck 2000 p 48) Gender - a study shows that children at two and a half years of age practice gender classifications in negotiating their humanity and are possible to simplify gender classifications to several of activities, objects, and professions. Children yet refuse the truth of what they are perceiving when it does not correspond to their gender principles, such as the interpretation of a child that only men are doctors, when his or her mother is. Sons have a precise boundary concerning parental choices with regard to children; as majority of parents rather have male than female children, recognized all over the world. In the same manner, people who favor sons are more possible to apply technology for deciding on the sex of their child. This inclination for male children, furthermore, is accentuated by the ruling that parents are more possibly to maintain having children if they allow only girls than if they allow only boys. Explanations given by women for their choice for sons are to satisfy t heir husbands and to maintain the family name, and to be a companion to the husband. However, the reason for women desiring for daughters is their need for a companion for themselves and to have fun dressing a girl and doing her hair. 3 Parents influence their sons and daughters to get involve in sex-typed endeavors, as well as doll playing and managing housekeeping endeavors for girls and playing with trucks and participating in

Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 10

Education - Essay Example To me education means more than the custom representation of a room and someone giving the instructions, the teacher, while others takes the instruction, underlying the assumption that these instructions are supposed to be beneficial to the individual. For instance, how many days in the calendar year is someone supposed to attend school and how much of these new skills is one supposed to learn in a single day? This would purely lie on the definition of education and measure of its significance from the learner and the society’s point of view. The classical definitions of education will explain the subject and units one is supposed to take or guided through by an instructor within a given period of time. The time may take weeks, months or even years depending on the education structure of the country with scholarly terms such as terms and semesters in place (Education Review, 6). This would be the total sum of the subject the learner is taken through within the period which in most cases the monitoring of the progress is done through continuous assessment tests and the end of term or semester examinations. This does not give the quantifiable definition of what education is and the subjects of the assessment tests may not necessarily cover the â€Å"amount† the learner has acquired. So, what exactly is education and how much does the learner need to â€Å"absorb† so as to be termed as â€Å"fully educated†? Historians and theorists have come up with definitions in an attempt to holistically define origin of education and the measure to evaluate how much one needs to have achieved to be regarded as â€Å"educated†. They argue â€Å"education derived from Latin word â€Å"Educatum† which means the act of teaching or training†, while others claim â€Å"education originated from Latin word â€Å"Educere† meaning to â€Å"lead forth† or to â€Å"come out†. Some

Book report on the book One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick Essay

Book report on the book One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick - Essay Example Though other veterans f the Iraq war have covered similar territory (see box), the author, a captain in an elite Recon battalion, is a keen observer whose fine writing is distinguished by its intelligence and candor. The Marines in his command are vividly drawn and oddly endearing--perhaps because Fick neatly captures their deep, dark humor. (A seared enemy corpse becomes "beef jerky man"; another, flattened by several tanks, is "tomato crate man.") Though cool under fire, Fick sifts through the moral dilemmas in the field: Ignoring protocol, he allows his Marines to blow up an unexploded rocket-propelled grenade that threatens an Iraqi neighborhood. Fick's book is aptly named, as a good part f it is devoted to his training to become a Marine officer, and then a member f the elite reconnaissance group, the Marine equivalent f the Navy Seals or Army Rangers. The training was rigorous, tough and even brutal at times, but the author survived and feels it accomplished its purpose, making him capable f functioning professionally in combat. The book's title is an old Marine adage that a platoon sergeant is one bullet away from becoming the platoon leader, and the platoon leader one bullet away from becoming the company commander. All Marines should be able to step quickly into a position f higher authority with no loss f efficiency. His battalion had a relatively brief tour f duty in Af... Serving as a kind f memoir, or partial autobiography, the book is naturally subjective, all events are seen through the prism f the author's beliefs and experience. Although he held in esteem the Marine generals he had come in contact with, and respected his regimental commander and other field grade officers in his battalion, he had no confidence in his immediate superior, the company commander, who he felt made poor combat decisions for the wrong reasons. But even with this enduring friction, which could become intense when one's life was at stake, the author feels that his training and the training f the Marines under him kept his platoon on a high professional level. His attitude toward the war was basically apolitical. After surviving a botched ambush by a contingent f Syrians (so identified by the passports in their effects) he mused on their appearance. He felt that fighting in a foreign country, they were similar to his Marines in age and middle class background but were markedly inferior in combat ability. He does not, however, state the difference between their goals. The jihadists wanted a medieval theocracy which he could not possibly live under, and loathed the democracy he came from. After the fall f Baghdad his battalion was given various occupation duties which changed too rapidly for any lasting good. He points out the inadequacies f this planning and feels that if they had been left in one place long enough to establish a working accommodation with the residents the occupation would have gone more smoothly. In "No True Glory: A Firsthand Account f the Battle for Fallujah," Bing West tries to give us an accurate and complete picture f one f the most controversial episodes f the Iraq

Transfer admission essay for University of Pittsburgh

Transfer admission for University of Pittsburgh - Essay Example I have resided in Johnstown, Pennsylvania for the majority of my life. The small town charm and characteristics helped nurture me throughout the years. While the town’s features and residents have shaped my current lifestyle, I yearn to live among individuals from various cultures and backgrounds. These individuals are a pivotal part of Pittsburgh’s alluring framework. Since psychology is my desired major, being exposed to a motley of perspectives and behaviors is vital while performing research. Interaction with diversified groups will strengthen my psychological knowledge of human activity. Also, my peers at main campus are not only friends, but resources as well. Being part of a larger class means having more people to learn from. All in all, being a psychology student in Pittsburgh will allow me to evaluate the differing viewpoints of various individuals and will help me to discover ethical issues affecting society. The same will also be very intriguing as I have al ways wanted to involve myself in solving the ethical issues in the society and what better platform than the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to cultural diversity, the amount of educational opportunities at the University of Pittsburgh is unlimited. Seeing that psychology encompasses a vast domain, there are many aspects of which it is comprised. While the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown does offer the psychology major, I feel that the reputable main campus will offer more in terms of exploring subfields and research. While I have not yet decided upon which subfield strikes my interest, studying at the University of Pittsburgh will help direct me towards the proper subfield. Not only is the main campus renowned for its prestigious history, but the option for graduate studies are also imperative to my future. In addition to this, the University of Pittsburgh will also serve as an ideal platform for pursuing my further studies and I have always envisaged a

Energy Wedges Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Energy Wedges - Lab Report Example (Carbon Mitigation Initiative, 2006) This can be achieved by use of energy wedges to achieve a stabilization triangle. This triangle is to be made of eight wedges with each wedge representing a reduction of one billion tonnes of carbon emitted per year and hence a total of eight billion tones in reduction (Margolis, 2003). The four colors of the wedge pieces indicated the major category (fossil fuel-based (blue), efficiency and conservation (yellow), nuclear (red), and renewables and bio-storage (green). We choose a red, yellow, blue, or green wedge for our strategy andlabeled the wedge to indicate the specific strategy. For each of the 8 strategies chosen, we filled out one line in the Wedge Worksheet. After all 8 wedges had been chosen; we tallied total cuts from each energy sector (Electricity, Transport, and Heat) and costs. We then used the scoring table to predict how different interest groups would rate our wedge on a scale from 1 to 5. In the group discussion everyone contributed really substantially and significantly and we all agreed unanimously on the choice of wedges. The wedges selected as shown earlier in this report were due to the relative ease of achieving them. Also considering the effectiveness of each wedge we agreed that our choices were the best. Our group majorly based our choices on the relative costs as they were low cost and this would attract the political will as well as public will in general. (Hotinski, 2007) Each of the 8 strategies above has the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by at least 1 billion tons per year by 2054, or 1 wedge. A combination of strategies will be needed to build the 7 wedges of the stabilization triangle. In summary, No one strategy will suffice to build the entire stabilization triangle. New strategies will be needed to address both fuel and electricity needs, and some wedge strategies compete with others to replace emissions from the same source.

Asylum Rights in International Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Asylum Rights in International Law - Essay Example The right of asylum, otherwise known as political asylum, relates to an individual rejected by their own country being protected by another sovereign authority. The institution of asylum dates from the same time with the start of civilization. It is an international concept that still has not received apt considerations in terms of the inalienable rights in the international human rights charter. There exist setbacks in terms of interpretation where many states argue that they cannot put their sovereignty to test due to the international human rights stipulations. Asylum develops from persecution and many different forms of persecution can lead to application of asylum. There are specific persecutions that lead to an individual gaining the refugee status. Persecution on the basis of gender practices has been common in the recent years. This has advanced the claims for asylum among many people across the world. Persecution ranges on different factors which can include gender, religion and social status. An additional note is that the meaning of persecution may also comprise discrimination of persons opposing colonialism. Many states have incorporated their immigrant requirements and asylum allowance into the same legal structure. The decision of a granting a persecuted individual or a refugee asylum depends on the state. This paper seeks to analyze the status of asylum within international human rights law. ... The rights to asylum therefore, are well spelt out and cannot be enjoyed at the expense of a country’s security and derogation of the international law. It is apt to discuss the description and status of refugees who are different form asylum seekers. On the contrary, human rights work brings about challenges for asylum supporters. This field of international human rights has witness intense reforms since the mid twentieth century. This was the time when the principle normative frame for refugees was recognized. The gender based approach on understanding the fundamental rights has changed what counts as rights violation. This is on a scope that the violations are not only viewed as private or stately induced but political violations. Clearly this informs the description of asylum as political based (Gibney, 2005 p74). International human rights subject has thus transformed to incorporate issues linked to gender-based public issues, sexuality and sexual orientation. Internation al human rights are viewed on grounds of development, globalization and health. Home displacement has emerges as a key area of concern, shifting the dominance of a country’s sovereignty as a rationalization for non-involvement. These progress challenges asylum advocates to modernize the initial notions in refugee protection. This should be done while keeping grip of the old internationalist system in a situation where exilic defense of asylum seekers is in challenges. In international law, all contracting states to the United Nations should give sympathetic consideration to individuals who are unable to get travel documents from their countries. Under article 31, all these

Philosophical thinking Essay Example for Free

Philosophical thinking Essay There are many forms of philosophical thinking that humans tend to immerse themselves into. Sometimes, even the realm of self idolatry can be a subject of one’s happiness in pursuit of his own idea of what is satisfactory. In a more conventional identification of this act, vanity can become an obsession and may induce certain effects to one’s character. According to Wikipedia, vanity is a form of self gratification with regards to one’s belief about his or her attractiveness and abilities. Most of the time, people with this philosophy tend to excessively compliment themselves without entertaining any forms of negative perception from the people around them. In religious perspectives, vanity is a form of idolatry to oneself in which a person may become too overwhelmed with his characteristics that he tends to ignore any other beings superior than what he is supposed to be, bypassing the concept of god. In modern times, vanity can be easily spotted and may be identified to almost all societies in the world. One may identify a vain person by simply observing the way he acts with regards to how he projects himself to the public. For example, a person may always need to do make up retouching, consistently apply perfumes and even always engage in small acts of looking for runs and protruding fibers out of his clothes. In some cases, vanity can also be identified not only in physical perspectives but also in one’s philosophy. Vain people tend to always tell self proclaimed abilities about how they can handle situations which seem to be a problem for others. With such acts, some people may even interpret them as a form of arrogance. It would be a fulfilling experience if someone will tell you compliments about how you look and praise what you can do, but the aim to always look forward for this reactions from people can become an obsession and may lead to vanity. Works Cited Wikipedia. November 7 2007. Vanity. Wikipedia-The Free Encyclopedia. November 19, 2007 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Vanity.

Ireland Social Housing History and Evolution

Ireland Social Housing History and Evolution I. List of tables and Figures Table 1 Number of Private Families in Occupation of Tenements of One-Room (1911-1936) Table 2 Characteristics of Tenure among Irish Households Table 3 List of The top 10 AHBs by size Table 4 Vacancy rate by type and region in 2011 Table 5 2015-2017 Residential units minimum requirement Table 6 Additional HAP and RAS Units (2015-2020) Figure 1 Provision of Local Authority Housing 2007-2014 Figure 2 Breakdown of Social Housing Support in Ireland (Number of Units) Figure 3 House completions II. Abbreviations RAS Rental Accommodation scheme HAP Housing Assistance Payment AHBs Approved Housing Bodies CAS Capital Assistance Scheme PAA Payment and Availability Agreement CALF The Capital Advanced Lending Facility NESDO National Economic Social Development office The development of the Irish housing system from the iconic period of the 1840s to the 1970s, when a new era of development began in Ireland, laid the foundations for the system today. (CHAPTER 2. 2011, p.54). This literature review outlines the evolution of social housing in Ireland from the beginning to the present day. It comprises of seven parts. Part 1 provides a brief history of tenements in Dublin; Slum clearance and Dublins corporation housing schemes; ownership. Part 2 examines the Social housing providers in Ireland. Part 3 Funding for social housing. Part 5 analyzes Social housing Supply and Demand; Part 6 is about Social Housing Need; Part 7 describes what the sources of social housing supply in Ireland are. 2.1 Tenement life. Slums The origin of tenements in Dublin may be tracked back as far as the sixteenth century when the population probably did not exceed sixty thousand.'(Kearns, K.C.2006) Â   Â   The vast majority of the Irish population lived in rural areas. Great famine and industrialization in urban areas had led to a growth in slum housing due to increased population, as well as poor sanitation and the spread of disease. (Chapter 2. 2011). Between 1841 and 1900 Irelands population declined but Dublins increased from 236,000 to 290,000. Dublins slums were the worst in all of Europe for nearly 150 years. Between 1900 and 1938 there were over six thousand tenement houses in Dublin occupied by over one hundred thousand tenement dwellers. Those people had occupied spacious Georgian houses abandoned by their original owners who left into newly-built suburbs. House prices dropped and went into the hands of landlords who tried to fit houses with as many residents as they could. Dwellings that had once been single-family homes were increasingly divided into multiple living spaces to accommodate this growing population. It was a logical solution for the citys lower classes who were simply seeking space to sleep in and shelter. (Kearns, K.C.2006). Tenement dwellings were overcrowded, some areas had 800 people to the acre. In one house lived as many as a hundred persons. Accordingly, in a single tiny room lived fifteen to twenty family members. (Kearns, Kevin C.2006).Table 1 demonstrates how many people lived in a one room tenements. (Census of Population. 1936). Despite the fact that Dublins overall density was 38.5 persons per acre the density statistics were astonishingly high as for example: Inns Quay 103, Rotunda 113, Mountjoy 127, and Wood Quay 138. Massive population was concentrated in close-knit communities around the Liberties, dockland and Northside. Table 1Source: Census of Population 1936 The living conditions were hellish. The buildings were not properly maintained and therefore were decayed, dangerous, and sometimes collapsed, killing occupants. The greatest deterioration and decay that buildings suffered was the second half of the nineteenth century. Those tenement districts were known as slumlands. (Kearns, K.C.2006). The slums along Church Street, Beresford Street, Cumberland Street, Railway Street, Gardiner Street, and Corporation Street and on Marys Lane were particularly appalling. The worst tenement slums around Liberties were on the Coombe and Francis Street, Cork Street, Chamber Street, and Kevin Street. (Kearns, K.C.2006, p.8). Maintenance and repair of the buildings was very expensive, so only the remaining wealthy Georgian house residents were able to do so because residents had no financial resources to keep buildings in a prime form. As a result over 60,000 people were in need of re-housing. There was a critical housing shortage. Dublins slums existed until 1940s. (Kearns, K.C.2006) 2.2 Slum clearance and Dublins corporation housing schemes The first nationwide system of welfare was formed on The Poor Relief (Ireland) Act 1838. Unfortunately system was not able to manage such huge levels of poverty and homelessness. (Meghen. 1955, p.44) In the end of 19th century there were a lot of various schemes, and legislation acts such as Public Health Act 1848, Artisans and Laborers Dwellings Act 1875, Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890, etc.; Charitable trusts, Philanthropic trusts, Guinness Trust, Sutton Housing Trust and many others that had to provide affordable and good quality social housing and also housing for the working classes. (Chapter 2. 2011, p.21-25). Despite all efforts the housing shortages were growing and by the 1914 tenement housing situation was so desperate that a real solution was needed without delay. (Kearns, K.C.2006). First intentions to promote slum clearance was not successful due to high cost of slum sites and re-housing of households. (Chapter 2. 2011). Only with the creation of the 1913 Housing Bill and the 1932 Housing Act did attention focus on financing slum clearance schemes and the provision of local authority housing for the lower-income classes. For the first time local authorities were empowered to deal directly with the slum problem in a systematic way. Unfit properties could be officially condemned and acquired compulsorily to be renovated or demolished. (Kearns, K.C.2006, p.21). During the 1940s and 1950s the Corporation has set a target that was a part of slum clearance program, to build four and five-story blocks of flats across the city center. Also at the same time, new housing development projects have been implemented in Cabra, Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Glasnevin, Donnycarney and Marino. (Kearns, K.C.2006, p.21). According to the Kennys Report (1973) the Irish population had increased from 1,229,000 in 1961 to 1,556,000 in 1971. Migration and economic growth increased need for housing and White Paper (1969) estimated that 15-17,000 houses would be required by the mid-1970s annually. 2.3 Ownership In the nearly 20th century only 20% of all Irish population were the owners of their houses and the rest 90% have rented their accommodation. (Sirr L. 2014). Home ownership quelled agitation for three reasons: having improved living conditions removed a primary cause of protest and discontent; a regular income was needed in order to maintain the newly owned home in respectable manner, which implied the requirement to be in work; and home owners were less likely to strike or protest due to fact that they now had something to lose-their homes. (Sirr L. 2014. p3). There was a various sales and taxation schemes that encouraged and facilitated Home ownership. (Sirr L. 2014). Over the number of years Ireland become as a nation of home owners. (Goodbody. 2015, p.15). However there are new generation of renters, not forced, but wanting to rent for personal and professional reasons, and the private rented sector is now replete with people who choose to rent, not because they couldnt get a mortgage but because they do not want to own a property. (Sirr L. 2014. p6). The table 2 below shows the number of renters increased during decade. Goodbody states that in 2011, there were 29% of households rent, with 18.5% of those in the private sector. (2015) Table 2Source: Goodbody 2015 More people are now renting, while people on lowest incomes are squeezed out of the relatively small rental market and are at greater risk of homelessness. (Irish Times, 8 Oct, 2015) In 2011 the National Economic and Social Council stated that the main future providers of new social housing will be the housing associations. (2014). There are three main providers of social housing accommodation in Ireland: Local authorities are the largest providers of social housing that dominate for nearly 120 years and controlled approximately 137,000 dwellings in 2014. The provision of social housing units by local authorities which is evident from Figure 1. Figure 1Source: Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). There are some 500 in Ireland that manage approximately 27,000 homes. Until 2011 AHBs were 100% funded by government under Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). The top 10 are listed by size in the table 3 below. Table 3Source: Housing Agency, 2014 Private rental sector provides accommodation for 74,000 households supported by Rent Supplement. (Environment, Community and Local Government. 2014). The breakdown of housing support in Ireland is demonstrated in a Figure 2. Figure 2Source: The Social Housing Strategy 2020 According to Social housing newsletter published in 2012 there are the main grant funding schemes in Ireland: Local authority acquisition/construction program. By this programme local authorities buy or construct new housing units. Government provides 100% capital grant. Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). Operates since 1984. Funding up to 100%. Scheme is for AHBs that provide housing for people with specific needs i.e. elderly, homeless people, and people with disabilities. Payment and Availability Agreement (PAA). This programme is designed to assist Approved Housing Bodies that make their properties available for use as social housing for around 30 years. Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) Provides a long-term government loan for a 25 year period with a simple fixed interest rate of 2% per annum. Established in 2011. The Housing Finance Agency Provides loan to local authorities and AHBs social housing and other housing-related purposes. Established in 1982. Commercial lenders. Some interest in lending to the sector with a maximum duration of 7-10 years have shown Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank and Ulster Bank. (Fund Structuring Services Final Report, 2014) The Social Housing Leasing Initiative Launched in 2009. Properties are leased from private property owners. The purpose is to provide accommodation to those on social housing waiting lists. The Capital Advanced Lending Facility (CALF). This is along-term government loan, when 30 per cent of the total funding required is covered by government, and balance is covered from a financial institution. Introduced in 2011 and is for term of between 10 and 30 years. 5.1 Demand Demand for housing will continue to increase. According to new figures from the Housing Agency homes that were built in Dublin last year only met half of the demand. Irelands population increased by 30% in the last 20 years. At the moment approximately 4.6 million people live in a country. It is the highest population for 150 years. An increasing population and a declining household size will both increase demand for housing units. (2015). National Economic Social Development office (NESDO) defines the factors that stimulate housing demand: Economic growth; Demographic developments; Patterns of income distribution; The level and distribution of wealth; The cost and availability of finance; Fiscal policy; The level of housing stock. According to Goodbodys research, to meet demand the housing supply needs to increase. (2015) 5.2 Supply The Irish housing market experienced an oversupply due to an overbuilding in the 2000s boom years. As a result 11.5% of the housing stock was vacant in 2011. But at the same time there was significant supply shortages in Dublin standing at 5%. (Goodbody. 2015). Table 4 demonstrates vacancy rate by type and region in 2011. Table 4Source: Goodbody 2015 In recent years demand for social housing has been rising due to increased population. Table 5 below outlines that almost 21,000 additional residential units are required to be supplied each year over the next three years to meet demand. Table 5Source: Housing Agency. Outlook for 2015-17 Factors that may affect the slow supply: Construction sector capacity; The scale of price declines; Funding; Planning; Building regulations; There are now 100,000 people on the social housing waiting list. Government announced recently that it will supply 35,000 additional housing units over the next six years as part of its Social Housing Strategy. In 2014 Irish housing completions grew by 33% to 11,000 units (Goodbody. 2015) as the figure 3 shows below: Figure 3Source: Goodbody 2015 The Irish housing market has changed radically in recent years and the existing framework underpinning the supply and funding of social housing supports is no longer adequate to address housing need.'(Coffey, 2004). The Environment, Community and Local Government (2014) excludes six main groups in the Housing Needs Assessment: Renting with Rent Supplement (47%) Renting without Rent Supplement (26%) Living with Parents (18%) Emergency Accommodation for Homeless People (2%) People with Disability (4%) It is estimated that c.40% of households in the private rental sector are in receipt of some form of government support. (Goodbody. 2015, p.16). 7.1 Sources of social housing supply in Ireland: Rent Supplement was started in 1970s as a short-term housing or welfare support. (Sirr L. 2014, p.79). It has played a central role in the expansion of the private rented sectorp31 and has become increasingly important for low-income tenants. (Sirr L. 2014, p.31). Rent Supplement is paid to people who are jobless and whose main income comes from social welfare payments. In other words it is payable for those who cannot provide accommodation from their own resources. People who are in full-time employment cannot claim Rent Supplement. (Sirr L. 2014, p.80) Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) was established in 2004 for those who were getting Rent Supplement for long time (eighteen months or longer). If Social housing was not available, they were accommodated in a private rented dwellings which were leased by local government for four to ten years. (Sirr L. 2014p31). Contracts were drawn up between Local authorities and Landlords to provide housing for people with a long-term housing need. Rent is between 88 and 92 per cent of the market rent and is paid directly to the landlord. (Citizens information, 2012). Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a new social housing support that replaced Rent Supplement introduced in 2014. Rent is directly paid to the Landlord by Local authority. (Citizens information, 2015). Table 6 outlines the number of households that are expected to be accommodated directly under HAP and RAS during 2015-2020. Table 6Source: Environment, Community and Local Government (2014) Social Housing Strategy 2020 Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Alan Kelly said that Working together, and through combining public, voluntary and private investment, we can provide our growing population with the required level of quality, affordable homes. (2014) The strategy responds robustly to that challenge by providing a roadmap that will accommodate 90,000 households, the entire Housing Waiting List, by 2020. (Coffey, 2004). It has a new vision to provide an access to secure, good quality and affordable housing every household in Ireland. Over a period of six years should be provided 35,000 new social housing units, also 75,000 households should be supported through the private rental sector. (Environment, Community and Local Government. The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Report. 2014). Environment, Community and Local Government states that their plans should be delivered during two phases: Phase 1, building on Budget 2015, sets a target of 18,000 additional housing units and 32,000 HAP/RAS units by end 2017. Phase 2 sets a target of 17,000 additional housing units and 43,000 HAP/RAS units by end 2020.'(2014). Census of Population, (1936), [Online]. Available: http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/census1936results/volume1/C,1936,Vol,1.pdf [Accessed 6th October 2015]. Chapter 2, (2011) Outline of the Development of the Irish Housing System [Online]. Available: http://www.nuigalway.ie/media/housinglawrightsandpolicy/Chapter-2-Outline-of-the-Development-of-the-Irish-Housing-System-Housing-Law,-Rights-and-Policy.pdf [Accessed 6th October 2015]. Citizens information (2012) Rental Accommodation Scheme [Online]. Available: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/local_authority_and_social_housing/rental_accommodation_scheme.html [Accessed 7th October 2015]. Coffey, P TD Minister of State Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (2014). In Environment, Community and Local Government. The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Report. [Online]. Available: http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,39622,en.pdf [Accessed 30th September]. Environment, Community and Local Government (2014). The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Report. [Online]. Available: http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,39622,en.pdf [Accessed 30th September]. European Investment Bank (2014) Final Report for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Social Housing and Energy Efficiency in Ireland. Fund Structuring Services. [Online] Available: http://per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/EIB-Report-on-Financial-Instruments-and-Social-Housing.pdf.[Accessed 3rd October 2015]. Goodbody (2015) Irish Housing Market: A detailed analysis. [Online] Available: http://www.finfacts.ie/biz10/Irish%20Housing%E2%80%93Goodbody_via_Finfacts.pdf [Accessed 28 September 2015]. Housing Agency (2015) National Statement of Housing Supply and Demand 2014 and Outlook for 2015-17. Housing Agency, Dublin. Kearns, K. C. (2006) Dublin Tenement Life: An Oral History of the Dublin Slums. Gill Macmillan Ltd. Kelly. A TD Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2014). In Environment, Community and Local Government. The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Report. [Online]. Available: http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,39622,en.pdf [Accessed 30th September]. Kenny J. 1973 Committee on the Price of Building, Dublin Lorcan, S (2014) Renting in Ireland: The Social, Voluntary and Private Sectors Meghen, P.G (2011) Building the Workhouses, In Chapter 2, Outline of the Development of the Irish Housing System[Online]. Available: http://www.nuigalway.ie/media/housinglawrightsandpolicy/Chapter-2-Outline-of-the-Development-of-the-Irish-Housing-System-Housing-Law,-Rights-and-Policy.pdf [Accessed 5th October 2015]. National Economic Social Development office, Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy Background Analysis. The demand for housing in Ireland. [Online] Available: http://files.nesc.ie/nesc_background_papers/NESC_112_bg_3.pdf. [Accessed 5th October 2015]. Norris, M. (2014) Policy drivers of the retreat and revival of private renting: Regulation, finance, taxes and subsidies. In Lorcan, S. Renting in Ireland: The Social, Voluntary and Private Sectors OConnor, N (2015) Housing crisis: Ireland needs five to 10 new Ballymun as soon as possible. Irish Times, 8th October Redmond. D (2014) The private rented sector and rent supplement: The emergence and development of social housing. In Lorcan. S. Renting in Ireland:The Social, Voluntary and Private Sectors The Irish Council for Social Housing (2012) Social Housing Newsletter: Budget 2012 Report. Impact on Social Housing [online] Available: http://www.icsh.ie/sites/default/files/attach/publication/385/socialhousing-winter2011.pdf [Accessed 1st October 2015] White Paper (2011) Housing Progress and Prospects. In Chapter 2 Outline of the Development of the Irish Housing System [Online]. Available: http://www.nuigalway.ie/media/housinglawrightsandpolicy/Chapter-2-Outline-of-the-Development-of-the-Irish-Housing-System-Housing-Law,-Rights-and-Policy.pdf [Accessed 6th October 2015].

Problems with UK Glaucoma (POAG) Treatment

Problems with UK Glaucoma (POAG) Treatment CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Glaucomas are a group of diseases which have the potential of causing damage to the eye and are distinguished from other eye related diseases by the fact that they can cause an increase in intraocular pressure inside which in turn causes damage to the optic nerve and to the retina. Primary Open Angle glaucoma (POAG) is the second commonest cause of registerable blindness and partial sight registrations in the UK (Bougard et al 2000). It is particularly dangerous because of its progressive nature and ability to go unnoticed for years thereby preventing treatment of the disease until, in some cases it can be too late to rescue the vision completely. Therefore the only way to detect the disease before it becomes a serious problem is with a thorough screening program. Optometrists usually are the first in line to examine a patients ocular health and refer patients onto the hospital based on several risk factors. The prevalence of POAG increases with age. This was shown in the Framingham Eye Study which estimated prevalence to be 1.2% between 50 and 64 years, 2.3% from 65 to 74 years and 3.5% in 75 years and over (Leibowitz et al, 1980). Another study has shown that POAG is positively related to the levels of intraocular pressure. The Baltimore Eye Survey concluded that the prevalence of the disease was 1.18% in patients with IOPs less than 22mmHg and 10.32% above this IOP level (Tielsch, 1991). Hereditary links have also been associated with POAG especially African-Americans who are at higher risk of developing the condition than Caucasians and, if there is a family history of glaucoma, the risk is up to six times higher than for the general population. Also, patients who are highly myopic, have diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular problems are at high risk of developing glaucoma and so these are the individuals who need to be monitored and checked regularly. Thus, in the first instance it may seem appropriate to test all individuals who present as being at a (low) threshold risk of developing the disease at regular intervals for disease progression; however the numbers of patients who are referred for suspect chronic open angle glaucoma and then found to have no glaucoma is around 40%. These false positive referrals are thought to cause unnecessary anxiety to the patient, alongside adding to the volume of paperwork that is needed to be completed by the practitioner and also thought to be a waste of local hospital resources (Parkins, 2006). Hence, these matters alongside the increasing requirements for patient centered care and reducing the costs occurred by the NHS have led to the development of certain criteria which enables optometrists to refine their own referrals for glaucoma prior to deciding whether or not a patient should be referred. This can be made easier by carrying out simple procedures or following specific protocols, for e xample, repeating suspicious IOP measurements preferably at a different time of day by using a contact method (Perkins or Goldmann) and repeating visual field tests on a separate occasion. (Parkins, 2006). More importantly, further schemes have been introduced where referrals are directed to specially trained optometrists who then decide on whether to refer the patient to the hospital eye service (HES) or return the patient for management under primary care. This appears to have ultimately increased the role played by optometrists in diagnosing and referring patients thought to be suffering from POAG, increasing their abilities to reach and treat individuals within the community more effectively. This in turn reduces the number of cases of POAG observed within the population as individuals are able to gain access to primary or more conventional methods of health care, i.e. hospitals. By reviewing the literature which has been published regarding the treatment and management of patients with POAG by optometrists, this paper aims to look at the way new schemes and interventions will affect the treatment and management of the disease within the UK. In addition, the ability of optometrists to prescribe certain drugs and the potential benefits will be discussed. CHAPTER 2: GLAUCOMA IN THE UK. (EPIDEMIOLOGY) This chapter will focus on the distribution, occurrence and control of the disease within the UK population. Glaucoma, as described above is one of the most frequent causes of blindness, predominantly in the industrialized world and therefore accounts for a high proportion of blindness observed within the UK. (Coyle and Drummond, 1995) The disease accounts for 14% of blind registrations in the UK and many cases around the country present at an advanced symptomatic stage (Aclimandos Galloway, 1988). With the potential to cause blindness in both eyes glaucoma has a dramatic effect on the individuals who are suffering from it but it also has a severe economic burden upon the nation, including direct and indirect costs. Within the UK alone these were estimated to be  £132 million in 1990. (Zhang et al, 2001) The most frequently prescribed drug for treatment of glaucoma is timolol which is a non-selective beta-adrenergic receptor blocker. The drug is used to treat open-angle glaucoma due to its ability to reduce the aqueous humour production by blocking the beta receptors on the ciliary epithelium. However, beta-adrenergic receptors blockers are thought to have serious side effects on patients who are suffering from cardiovascular or pulmonary disorders. For this reason an additional drug, 2-4 Pilocarpine, which is a cholinergic agonist may be used. This acts on a specific type of muscarinic receptor (M3) found on the iris sphincter muscle which causes contraction of the muscle and therefore miosis. This widens the trabecular meshwork through increased pressure on the scleral spur which aids the aqueous humor to leave the eye and reduce intraocular pressure. However this drug also has its limitations which are primarily associated with the requirement for it to be administrated four times per day and its ability to cause miosis, myopia and occasionally in some patients, retinal detachment and progressive closure of the anterior chamber angle. Thus, new drugs which will be more effective and safer methods of treating open-angle glaucoma are required. There have been many agents suggested for use for the treatment of the disease, however they often fail on several counts, including their failure to control intraocular pressure. (Schwab et al, 2003) This problem is observed within the three non-beta blocker drugs: latanoprost (a prostaglandin F2à ¡ analogue), dorzolamide (a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor), and brimonidine (a Selective à ¡2 agonist). However, out of these three drugs, Latanoprost seems to be the most highly promising because of its comparable or, in some cases, better efficacy when compared with timolol. (Zhang et al, 2001) Risk factors, which are associated with the development of the disease, include individuals who are members of a family pedigree, which have suffered from glaucoma in the past. (OMIM, 2006) It is thought that a family history of the disease increases ones likelihood of developing the disease by 6%. This is suggestive of a genetic link or predisposing factor which may be associated with the development of the disease. Diabetes and being of African descent are also factors which are thought to increase the likelihood of developing the disease, and individuals with either of these factors, are three times more likely to develop the disease than the average individual. Asian populations have a dramatically higher risk of developing glaucoma than Caucasians, increasing their chances of disease development by a staggering twenty to forty percent. Men are also three times more likely to develop open-angle glaucoma than women due to the presence of wider anterior chambers in the eye. (Paron and Craig, 1976) Evidence is becoming increasingly available to suggest that the levels of ocular blood flow are involved within the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Fluctuations in blood flow are more harmful in those with glaucomatous optic neuropathy than those who experience a steady reduction in the blood flow to their eye through the optic nerve head. This also correlates with the damage observed to the optic nerve head and to the deterioration in the visual field acuity. (National Institute of Health, web Reference) There are also a number of studies which suggest that there is a correlation between glaucoma and systemic hypertension. This is linked with the fluctuations in blood flow mentioned above, as varying blood pressure can affect blood flow. There is however, no evidence that vitamin deficiencies play any role in the development of glaucoma. A survey carried out (Rhee et al, 2002) revealed that it is highly unlikely that vitamin supplements provide a useful treatment method for any individual suffering from the disease. CHAPTER 3: SCREENING FOR GLAUCOOMA IN THE UK. As we are now aware of the epidemiology of glaucoma within the population in the UK, it is clear that screening of individuals, particularly of those individuals at high risk of disease development is required. Many factors influence whether or not screening is considered a necessary precaution by ophthalmologists. However, it is perhaps first, most useful to provide an overview of what screening is and why it is a procedure invested in for treatment of open angle glaucoma. 3.1 Definition of screening Screening may be defined as the examination of a group of usually asymptomatic individuals to allow the early diagnosis or detection of those individuals with a high probability of having a given disease, (Collegeboard, 2008) and it is often carried out on individuals who are considered to theoretically have a high chance of inheriting or suffering from the disease, due to either genetic or environmental factors or even a combination of these issues. It is thought that screening is useful when it enables the diagnosis of a disease earlier than it would usually have been detected giving the ability to improve the patients outcome. However, there are several ethical issues surrounding screening processes as some individuals are of the opinion that it is only right to screen for some diseases when an individual is at an age to consent to such a procedure. This raises issues surrounding the onset of screening procedures, and whether siblings and offspring of individuals with a family history of open angle glaucoma should be screened for the disease because of certain opinions that suggest the patient themselves should decide whether or not to be screened. This is debatable because of the implications on the individuals life and the worry which is associated with the knowledge of perhaps developing such a disease which could eventually lead to blindness. However, due to the fact that the screening procedure gives the potential for treatment of the disease symptoms, it is likely that many ethical issues which surround some screening processes are not relevant to the screening of individuals at high risk of open angle glaucoma, particularly due to the fact that the genetic risk is minimal in comparison to the environmental risk factors and thus, genetic screening of parents and their offspring is not yet (and is unlikely to become) an issue. 3.2 Tests for glaucoma There are several tests that are used to identify those patients with glaucoma, however, there is no single test that can determine whether a patient has the disease or not. To start with a thorough eye examination is a prerequisite prior to undergoing the specific tests for glaucoma. Following this examination, the management of glaucoma involves serial tests which are carried out at regular intervals over several years allowing the practitioner to determine whether the pressure in the eye has become stable and hence further damage will be avoided. Good record keeping is vital as it is only possible to determine whether the pressure has worsened by using previous values and measurements as a comparison. The ‘Gold Standard tests for glaucoma are determination of eye pressure with an application tonometer, assessment of optic nerve head and visual field screening. In optometric practice these tests are carried out once every year under NHS regulation, however, a patient under hospital management will usually be seen at least 3 or 4 times to monitor their intraocular pressure. The established ‘Gold Standard for intraocular pressure measurement is the Goldman applanation tonometer. To carry out this procedure, the Goldman head is mounted on a slit lamp and a drop of anesthetic a dye (fluorescein) is placed in the eye. Then a gonioprism is placed in contact with the cornea through which practitioner is able to see green rings and make adjustments to arrive at the end point where the half rings overlap. The eye pressure reading (in mmHg) is recorded at this position. There are several other means of recording intraocular pressure using different types of tonometers, which include the air puff tonometer, Perkins tonometer, Pneumotonometer and Schiotz tonometer. In addition, there are tonometers, which allow the estimation of eye pressure at home. One such example is the ‘proview eye pressure monitor (Bausch and Lomb, 2001). The visual field is usually the first to be affected in glaucoma and by the time the central vision is affected, the disease is already far advanced with almost all of the vision in the periphery permanently lost (Parks, 2006). Perimetric threshold-measuring techniques are sensitive to the early progression of such glaucomatous field loss and full threshold screening programs are seen as the ‘Gold Standard. However, threshold tests can be lengthy and can induce fatigue within a patient causing them to lose fixation and overall lead to unreliable results. This lead to the development of SITA testing which reduced the testing time while maintaining the same quality of results as full threshold testing (Bengtsson, et al 1998). The computers, which are used to compute the visual field, are those such as the Humphrey or the Octopus perimeters. These machines use a light point that is presented in a predetermined fashion (location sequence) in a lighted bowl and the patient is asked to press a button when they see the light point. The patients responses are analyzed statistically and compared with a database of ‘normal responses. From this information, any deviations from normal are marked on a printout as black squares which represent visual field-defect areas. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨ Optic nerve head assessment is mandatory in all eye examinations performed and the ‘Gold Standard method is the use of a Volk lens with the patient dilated. The preliminary signs of the disease occur at the optic nerve head where nerve fibre loss is apparent. However, it only until the loss of fibres exceeds a certain threshold that visual field impairment is noticed. Evidence from histological studies and glaucoma modelling has shown that up to 40% of optic fibres can be damaged before a loss of visual function takes place (Quigley, et al 1982). Diffused thinning and localised notching of the neuroretinal rim (NRR) indicate early signs of the disease. The cup is affected due to the loss of fibres and it widens and deepens as a result. Also, the optic disc of a glaucomatous patient will not follow Jonas ISNT rule where the NRR is thickest at the inferotemporal sector, then at superotemporal, followed by nasal and temporal. Clinical examination using a Volk lens is, however, affected by inter-observer variability amongst optometrists. Another useful technique is stereoscopic optic nerve photography which is a cost-effective method for the detection of glaucoma and its progression. With the benefit of 3-dimensional and permanent data, practitioners can study the optic nerve features (disc cupping, vessel baring) over time (Tielsch et al, 1988). Under hospital management, comparison of these photos which have been taken over the course of the year is a highly effective method of following glaucoma progression. CHAPTER 4:HOW SUCCESSFUL ARE OPTOMETRISTS AT SCREENING FOR GLAUCOMA? A number of studies and clinical trials have been carries out on the effects of treatment on newly discovered primary open-angle glaucoma patients, and it has been noted on several occasions that immediate treatment leads to a slower rate of disease progression. (Bullimore, 2002) As one must first identify that a patient has the disease before the individual can be treated, this ultimately implies that effective screening procedures would be beneficial in the treatment of glaucoma. However, one question which this leads to is: how successful are optometrists at screening for glaucoma and are all patients who should be screened, being checked for disease progression or any clinical symptoms. 4.1 The Baltimore eye Survey The Baltimore eye survey (Tielsch, 1991) was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of population level screening procedures and evaluate the performance of the screening methods used to test for glaucoma. The research team noted that â€Å"†¦screening for glaucoma has a long history and is a well-established activity† (Tielsch, 1991). However, they also were aware that most screening organizations used tonometry as the screening technique even though it is known to have several limitations associated with its use. The efficacy of the other known screening processes were thought, by the research team, to have not received deep enough investigations into their effectiveness, and this was considered to be a reason why these methods were not being utilized in the screening processes. In research studies which had been carried out prior to this study, only small research groups had been used or the studies had proved to being biased towards individuals who have a family history of the disease and therefore highly likely to developing glaucoma themselves. (Leibowitz et al, 1980) Hence the studies were thought to provide false information about the usefulness of the analyzed screening methods. The Baltimore Eye survey looked at a total of 5,308 individuals who were forty years of age or older, including both black and white individuals and analyzed the success of screening each individual for glaucoma using â€Å"†¦tomometry, visual fields, stereoscopic fundus photography and a detailed medical and ophthalmic history.† (Tielsch et al, 1991) The survey was not limited to looking at individuals who were known to be at a high risk of developing glaucoma as this would influence the analysis of the success of certain screening methods. After the examination was complete, a diagnosis of glaucoma was made for any participant found to have indicative symptoms. Out of the 5,308 individuals participating in the study, 196 were diagnosed with glaucoma. (Tielsch et al, 1991) The research team then evaluated tonometry, cup to disc ratio, and narrowest neuroretinal rim width for their ability to correctly classify subjects into diseased or non-diseased states. There was no defined cutoff values at which these variables provided a reasonable balance of sensitivity and specificity, (separately or in combination) as this made the test more robust and thus allowed the screening method to only gain positive results if it was able to identify an individual who did indeed have glaucoma. The statistical analytical methods used to analyze the data obtained from the study included making logistic regression models of the results, which were then fit to the data. These models included demographic and other risk factors, to ensure that the analysis of the data was as accurate as possible. Sensitivities and specificities were then calculated for varying cutoff levels on the distribution of predicted probabilities. The research team came to the conclusion that there was no cut off for reasonable sensitivity and specificity and that the effectiveness of current techniques for glaucoma screening was limited. (Tielsch et al, 1991) The research said that although â€Å"at first glance, glaucoma fits the model of a disease for which screening could make a significant impact on the burden of disability in the population†¦unfortunately, objective assessments of the most commonly used technique for screening†¦demonstrate its ineffectiveness.† (Tielsch et al, 1991) The study identified that tonometry was a poor technique when it came to correctly classifying subjects as diseased or non-diseased. It also mentioned that despite intraocular pressure remaining as one of the strongest known risk factors for open angle glaucoma; measurements of this were not used as a criterion for referral in order to maximize the sensitivity of the screening examination. Tielsch et al (1991) identified only Only 215 subjects out of 1770 who were referred for further tests simply because of their intraocular pressure measurements and only four of these individuals actually had definite or probable glaucoma. This was a detection rate of 1.86 percent which is very low. Thus, the use of the intraocular pressure as a guide added little additional sensitivity beyond what was contributed by the other referral criteria. Other methods of screening for the development of glaucoma were also considered to be ineffective and cumbersome. Despite this study being carried out forty years after the initiation of screening programmes for glaucoma, the program still appeared to require extra work in order to develop a more successful screening programme. 4.2 Frequency-doubling technology study In contrast to the study carried out by Tielsh et al (1991) a study was carried out by Yamada et al (1999) with the aim to assess glaucoma screening using frequency-doubling technology (FDT) and Damato campimetry. The research group carried out a two day public glaucoma screening programme which was implicated at two different institutions. Each participant underwent the following visual field tests: Damato campimetry, FDT perimetry in screeningmode and Humphrey perimetry(24-2 FASTPAC). A full ophthalmologic examination, for each eye was also carried out. The data collected from this study was then divided into four categories, including normal, ocular hypertensive, glaucoma suspect and definite glaucoma. The sensitivity and specificity level of each test was then estimated with â€Å"receiver operating characteristic curves† (Yamada et al, 1999). The results of the eye examinations revealed that out of the 240 individuals who underwent testing, 151 were identified as being no rmal, 28 were classified as ocular hypertensive, 35 were described as having suspect glaucoma and 26 were classified as being definite glaucoma individuals when using the FDT perimetry screening mode. Out of the one hundred and seventy five subjects who underwent Damato campimetry, the numbers for the same groups were 118, 19, 19 and 19 respectively. The specificities for each test were 92-93% for the FDF perimetry and 53-90% for the Damato campimetry tests respectively, hence leading to the conclusion that FDT perimetry was superior to Damato campimetry in the screening for glaucoma within the study. (Yamada et al, 1999) However, these methods for screening are rarer than the usual tonometer and visual field analysis methods described within this paper. Despite the fact that they appear to be useful and effective methods for glaucoma screening in this case, the tests are rarely used in conventional practice and therefore the results of this study should be regarded with caution. 4.3 Burton Hospital screening study The aim of this study was to investigate the â€Å"referral practices to the outpatient clinic of a consultant ophthalmologist† and also to identify the current screening routines of optometrists and general practitioners in regards to glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy diagnosis. (Harrison, et al 1988) A total of 1437 patients were referred to Burton District Hospital, from 1 November 1986 to 31 December 1987, to be viewed by a consultant ophthalmologist. The patients were grouped into urgent, semi-urgent or non-urgent depending on their referral letters. Only 1113 patients were ultimately reviewed as the remaining 324 could not be seen by the end of the study. (Harrison, et al 1988) Selected biographical data was recorded from the case notes such as age, sex and more importantly the source of referral. Any symptoms as well as the reasons for referral were looked for in the referral letters. A classification system was used for the reason for referral; this was based on symptoms and bodily location. Furthermore, there was an analysis on the referral data for the procedures used by the referring source, in this case assessment of visual acuity, visual fields, binocular vision and the optic nerve head. Also, intraocular pressure readings as well as any fluorescein checks for corneal staining. (Harrison, et al 1988) The results showed that optometrists were responsible for 39% of the referrals (439 patients) in comparison to the 49% (546 patients) of general practitioners. The most important reason for referral was visual field loss which account for 31% (345) of cases, followed by suspected glaucoma which accounted for 13% (145). The reasons for referral were also different when comparing the two referrers. GPs referred 107 (84%) patients due to eyelid disorders and 66 (77%) patients with conditions on the outer adnexa. On the other hand optometrists were responsible for referring 118 (81%) of the patients on suspicion of glaucoma. (Harrison, et al 1988) In total there were 70 referrals for possible asymptomatic glaucoma and another 77 for symptomatic disease. In 33 cases glaucoma was confirmed (20 asymptomatic) and borderline glaucoma was found in 73 cases (48 asymptomatic). â€Å"The diagnosis was confirmed in 96 (80%) of the referrals from ophthalmic opticians but in only 10 (37%) cases referred by general practitioners.† (Harrison, et al 1988) This showed that optometrists were far more accurate in referring suspect glaucoma patients, i.e. a greater number of true positives. Using information from the referral letters, the diagnostic procedures undertaken by both referral sources was explored. Optometrists relied on intraocular pressure readings in 52 of the 96 referrals (54%). The rest of the patients were referred because of suspicious cup-disc ratios, visual field loss or other clinical aspects. However, GPs would refer mainly on the grounds of symptoms that are present. Also, the ophthalmologist did not confirm suspect glaucoma in 24 patients from the optometrists referrals and 17 from the referrals by GPs. The main conclusions from the report show that optometrist were far more likely to refer retinal or optic disc disorders. There was insufficient evidence to show that GPs screened for glaucoma â€Å"whereas ophthalmic opticians screened for glaucoma with considerable skill.† (Harrison, et al 1988). Several factors contribute to these differences between the referral abilities of both professional groups. Patients will normally visit an optometrist when they are experiencing visual loss because they are usually under the impression that they require new glasses. However, when patients have external symptoms they normally go to their GP. Due to the equipment available to optometrists they are also more likely to pick up on pathologies within the eye especially those affecting the retina and optic nerve head, hence â€Å"maintaining a high degree of vigilance for asymptomatic conditions such as glaucoma.† (Harrison, et al 1988) The suggested diagnostic accuracy, however, u ndermined the actual accuracy of the opticians examination. Any difference was due to the importance given to the findings of the ophthalmologist. The quality of referrals to the hospital is vital for maintaining an effective service, especially in Britain where many outpatients departments are overstretched. Improvement in the accuracy of referrals eventually leads to less false positive referrals, therefore enhancing the value of true positive referrals. One of the protruding reasons for false positive referrals in this study was suspected glaucoma but with â€Å"greater utilisation or development of community based screening programmes† the false positive referral rate could be reduced. Harrison, et al (1988) states that currently the closest approach to a screening programme is offered by optometrists. Harrison et al (1988) is also of the opinion that by establishing a planned screening service where ophthalmologists and optometrists work in conjunction on the basis of a fixed referral criteria, the progression of the disease in patients will reduce and so will the burden on HES. There is evidence from the data within the study to show that such glaucoma screening programme would have an influence. The 41 false positive glaucoma referrals would have been prevented and so would most of the 73 referrals for borderline glaucoma. A potential 100 outpatient appointments could have been saved with a community based screening strategy and this in turn would free up follow-up appointments. The study does show the benefit of current screening procedures and how optometrists are successful at accurately referring suspect glaucoma patients. Harrison, et al (1998) highlights that this is an invaluable skill which would prove more beneficial if used within a community based screening scheme. 4.4 England and Wales survey The objective of this survey was to investigate â€Å"the efficiency of referral for suspected glaucoma to general practitioners and consultants by optometrists.† (Tuck Crick, 1991) This survey involved 241 optometrists who represented areas clustered in England and Wales. Majority were enrolled through an interview procedure, but some responded to an advert in optometric publications. The scheme ran from November 1988 to February 1989 and each time a referral took place the optometrist would fill out a questionnaire on the individual patient. In total the respondents completed 275600 sight tests, which accounted for â€Å"about five per cent of the national total†. The actual number of referrals was 1505 for those suspected of glaucoma. For people over the age of 40 an estimated 0.9% referral rate was found. The end result of the referral was established for 1228 individuals. There were 125 patients were not examined at all and the remaining 1103 were examined by a consultant ophthalmologist. (Tuck Crick, 1991) An analysis was done on 704 cases to assess the accuracy of the referrals. Glaucoma was confirmed in 40.19% (283) of patients and 31.53% (222) of patients were further monitored. The data showed that in nearly all the confirmed patients the disease was at a chronic stage. Optometrists were further questioned to specify the key reasons for referral in each of the cases. There were 171 patients referred due to intraocular pressure in at least one eye being greater than 30mmHg. From these, 112 (65%) were positively diagnosed with glaucoma and only 20 were discharged as false positives. It was noted, however, that accuracy of referral in patients with lower IOPs (20-25mmHg) was much less. Only 7 individuals out of the 87 with lower IOPs were found to have glaucoma. Amongst them 50 patients who were released with no glaucoma. (Tuck Crick, 1991) When the optometrist recorded optic nerve head changes and visual field plots, the IOP referral accuracy was greater. However, when the referral was based on optic disc appearance and visual fields alone the accuracy was low. This category of referral accounted for 28 (10%) of confirmed cases. Furthermore, only 331 of the 704 patients had undergone a visual field test. This explained those cases in which visual field loss was not described as a reason for referral because the screening test had not been carried out in the first place. Even so, the analysis stressed â€Å"that field screening generally enables a case to be more precisely described and the risk of glaucoma thereby better assessed at the primary level.† (Tuck Crick, 1991) Gathering the evidence from th

Critical Thinking and Computer Logic :: Case Study, solution

With the PCLM solution came another set of problems, the largest being that of what to do with the existing personal computers. We had just assumed we could dispose of the outdated computers as you would any other item, by placing it in the trash. That turned out to not be the case, we had to obey all local, State, and Federal regulations regarding the proper disposal of personal computers and CRT monitors. The other unforeseen circumstance was compiling with Federal laws associated to properly destroying all sensitive customer information off the PC hard drives. HIPAA physical safeguard contain the following regulation; disposal, implement policies and procedures to address the final disposition of electronic protected health information, and or the hardware or electronic media on which it is stored; media re-use, implement procedures for removal of electronic protected health information from electronic media before the media are made available for re-use; accountab ility, maintain a record of the movements of hardware and electronic media and any person responsible therefore. (Phoenix Health Systems, 2006) With regards to disposing or recycling of old computer equipment there are very many key things that need to be considered. What are the fees for disposing or recycling of computer and other electronic equipment? Is disposing of electronic equipment equally as environmentally safe compared to recycling? What are the long-term effects of disposing this kind of materials? Can anyone benefit from the recycling of computers or other electronic devices? These are some of the things that should be considered when deciding to dispose of old or unwanted computer materials. Each company must see which option is best for them and their ideals. Usually there are nominal fees for companies to pick up and dispose of computers, monitors, and printers, the same can be said for recycling. There are even free options that are sometimes offered by non-profit or government agencies in order to help ease the land filling of this type of materials. Just last year the Michigan Department of Information Technology and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality teamed up with Dell, Inc. to host free computer recycling collections at three locations across Michigan to provide citizens with a better alternative for disposing of their electronic computer equipment (State of Michigan To Hold Computer Recycling Events, http://www.

Politics and its affect on the olympics :: essays research papers

Politics is the art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs. The Olympic Games is an event held every 4 years, which includes a variety of sport activities in which different countries compete against one another. â€Å"Sport is frequently a tool of diplomacy. By sending delegations of athletes abroad, states can establish a first basis for diplomatic relations or can more effectively maintain such relations† (Espy 3). One might think that politics and the Olympics have nothing to do with each other, but in fact they do have a lot in common. How did politics affect the Olympic Games in 1936, 1968 and 1972?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1934, the death of President Hindenburg of Germany removed the last remaining obstacle for Adolf Hitler to assume power. Soon thereafter, he declared himself President and Fuehrer, which means â€Å"supreme leader†. That was just the beginning of what would almost 12 years of Jewish persecution in Germany, mainly because of Hitler’s hatred towards the Jews. It is difficult to doubt that Hitler genuinely feared and hated Jews. His whole existence was driven by an obsessive loathing of them (Hart-Davis 14). In 1935, the U.S. decided to attend the ‘36 Berlin games, even though the United States knew how Hitler was persecuting the Jews. By July 1933, at least 27,000 people had been placed in what Hitler liked to call â€Å"detention camps† (Hart-Davis 16). In early 1932 at an IOC meeting in Barcelona, the committee decided to grant Germany the right to the 1936 Olympic Games, which allowed Germany to restore their athletic reputation that they lost because of the outbreak of World War I. All over the world, there was an outcry to boycott or at least change the location of the ‘36 Olympics. The IOC’s first response was that they had granted Germany the Olympic site before the Nazis’ came to power. All over Germany before the Olympic Games were signs that read Juden Unerwunscht, or â€Å"Jews not wanted.† â€Å"The racial discrimination- so obvious and deliberate- was more than some foreign sports organizations could stomach. Apart from being offensi ve to normal human beings, the Nazi attitude was also diametrically opposed to the principle of free competition on which the Olympics were supposed to based† (Hart Davis 62). More than anywhere else, action against what was happening in Germany mounted more quickly in the United States, especially in New York, where there were almost 2 million Jews living (Hart Davis 62).

Jeannine :: Personal Narrative Papers

Jeannine She had seen things and experienced a life that I only knew about through the movies. She acted as though she knew I would not be able to understand her, but I could see in her eyes that she hoped I could. e stood in the driveway, physically closer than we had been to each other in two weeks. Jeannine, my sister, did not stay at home too much anymore. She had dedicated her existence to her boyfriend Steven and chose to live with his family so that the two of them could be closer. My parents were supportive and open, but they would never have let their seventeen year old daughter sleep in the same bed under their roof with her nineteen-year-old boyfriend. So after countless years of tension and arguments, my sister had achieved what she had sought for years, independence from her family, but most of all from her older brother. Now standing in that driveway, our childhood playground, as I prepared for the long journey to James Madison University, we realized that the past five years of our lives had been wasted. Her constant struggles to get out of the house coupled with my harsh attempts to see that she met that goal consumed our adolescent years, the period where we needed each other the most. My parents told me that they were ready to leave, and I gave Jeannine a long hug. It was the first time in half a decade that I gave her a meaningful show of affection. I met her with the love that I had suppressed for so long, rather than the hate and loathing that was quick to my aid in the many years of confrontation that we shared. It was then, as her head rested on my chest and her arms wrapped around me, that I realized the wrongs I had done to her. All of a sudden, I did not want to leave. I had my sister back, how could I abandon her again? No one can really claim to have a perfect childhood sibling relationship, but we were still very close. At times, we could even be proud of one another. Yet, as in all sibling bonds, these good tidings never lasted. Our games of tic-tac-toe or kickball with our friends would go from friendly backyard, Little- House-on-the-Prairie type moments to screaming matches in a matter of days. Jeannine :: Personal Narrative Papers Jeannine She had seen things and experienced a life that I only knew about through the movies. She acted as though she knew I would not be able to understand her, but I could see in her eyes that she hoped I could. e stood in the driveway, physically closer than we had been to each other in two weeks. Jeannine, my sister, did not stay at home too much anymore. She had dedicated her existence to her boyfriend Steven and chose to live with his family so that the two of them could be closer. My parents were supportive and open, but they would never have let their seventeen year old daughter sleep in the same bed under their roof with her nineteen-year-old boyfriend. So after countless years of tension and arguments, my sister had achieved what she had sought for years, independence from her family, but most of all from her older brother. Now standing in that driveway, our childhood playground, as I prepared for the long journey to James Madison University, we realized that the past five years of our lives had been wasted. Her constant struggles to get out of the house coupled with my harsh attempts to see that she met that goal consumed our adolescent years, the period where we needed each other the most. My parents told me that they were ready to leave, and I gave Jeannine a long hug. It was the first time in half a decade that I gave her a meaningful show of affection. I met her with the love that I had suppressed for so long, rather than the hate and loathing that was quick to my aid in the many years of confrontation that we shared. It was then, as her head rested on my chest and her arms wrapped around me, that I realized the wrongs I had done to her. All of a sudden, I did not want to leave. I had my sister back, how could I abandon her again? No one can really claim to have a perfect childhood sibling relationship, but we were still very close. At times, we could even be proud of one another. Yet, as in all sibling bonds, these good tidings never lasted. Our games of tic-tac-toe or kickball with our friends would go from friendly backyard, Little- House-on-the-Prairie type moments to screaming matches in a matter of days.

Coach Carter Essay

I believe that this will be easier for me to understand what Is happening In the film and I think I will be able to understand the personalities of the characters whilst watching a film rather than reading a novel. I find that they are easier to analyze. Coach Carter Is based on a true story, Samuel L. Jackson portrays Ken Carter who has a legend status at Richmond high.At the beginning of the film Carter was offered a job at the school as head coach of the basketball team. He accepted the Job to attempt to bring change into the or neighborhood and to the student athletes who played for the basketball team. One theme that the film uses is teamwork, at the beginning of the story the team weren't playing as one unit but as a group of individuals, this resulted in the team losing most of their games in the previous years.When Coach Carter took over he taught them that teamwork will always beat a team of individuals, he taught them to pass the ball to each other rather than continuously shooting, he also punished the team as a group rather than singling out each Individual. This made brought the team closer and taught them some discipline. Another theme was winning Isn't always everything, this theme Is shown when Coach Carter locks up the gym, he does this because the team break their contracts with not all of them achieving a or higher after they promised they would all get their act together and pass their classes.He shows that he cares more about the boys passing their classes than winning which his main goal was to try to ensure a successful future for these students rather than winning championships, proving that he values education and a successful life over winning games. This theme is also shown in the last game where he team comes up short in the final, obviously them team was shattered but after the game they were in the change rooms singing because they were proud of their achievements. The boys were all proud of how far they had come and were very appr eciative of what the Coach had done for them and getting their lives back on track.One really big theme Is respect from one of the very first scenes the Coach talks about respect and how the team should refer to him as â€Å"sir† and vice-versa, In that same scene he talks about the â€Å"n-word† and how it is a derogatory term and he does not want to hear it anymore. At first the team didn't respect the Coach, but once they realized what he was trying to do and saw that he was respecting them they eventually showed respect back by sticking by him when his job was on the line after complaints about his coaching methods.During the team's first few game the boys would continuously taunt their opponents as they began to get overly cocky due to their winning streak, Carter then punished them as he did not want his boys to be perceived that way and wanted the boys to win graciously. Throughout the course of the film there were a few characters who developed their personalit ies, one being Time Cruz, at the beginning of the film he was a no good street thug who was a menace to society and was In a gang and he had no purpose In life, Coach Carter opened his eyes and showed him that there Is more to life than being a thug.In a later scene there was a drive by shooting in which his cousin was involved in, upon Carter for guidance. Cruz went on to follow Coach Carter's advice and he went on with his study and continued to play basketball. In the end this led to Cruz going to college and earning a degree. Coach Ken Carter is shown as highly unorthodox high school basketball coach. Coach Carter took the coaching Job and made his own rules.He believed that everyone in the team must receive a good grades and form a strong bond in the team or they would not play and he had everyone in the team sign a contract stating that they would get good grades or else not be able to play. The team was undefeated and on its way to the Championship, when Coach Carter received the low grades of his players he locked the gym and benched the team for not getting good enough grades. Coach Carter received some praise but much more criticism for his decision. Coach Carter taught his players that they must be committed and work art to excel.Whilst watching the movie I noticed that there were not many moments when the whole team was in the shot, instead the director really wanted to focus on one person at a time. They focus on individuals which shows their attitudes and expressions really well. However on the occasions that they were shown together they look like a united team, this shows the viewer the bond that they have created. This movie was filled with lots of Urn style music which fits well with a movie about basketball, this satisfies most viewers as many basketball players stereotypically sites to this music.Depending on the scene the music was more up-tempo or was slowed down, during a game the music was used to pump the viewer up whilst the sadder pa rts of the movie had slow emotional music, for example music about losing people was played when one of the players relatives died. In the end Richmond lost in the championship final, the players were distraught but shortly after they realized that they had won in another way, the players made friendships, learnt respect, got their lives back on track, earned college scholarships and ultimately became better people.