Vulnerability Scanning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Vulnerability Scanning - Essay Example On other hands, most comprehensive systems of vulnerabilities scanning utilize producing and poking systems in order to determine true vulnerabilities. Working of the vulnerability scanners is similar to antivirus software. Vulnerability scanners are only valid until the last updates as they rely upon the known vulnerabilities. Inferior or outdated vulnerabilities scanners provide a little solace against security threats and give false security sense. A perfect vulnerability scanner should meet the security solution purposes and a tool which can proactively identify the security issues and provides a solution before a hacker attains a chance to exploit these issues. Hackers always look for compromising networks and infiltration with the help of vulnerability scanners. Although vulnerability scanning has become a significant tool, but cannot provide the complete security for networks as it helps for detection of poor code and cannot substitute for the practices of a secure coding system. Vulnerability scanning at regular intervals can prove useful for securing the systems from security threats. An organization having the confidential data such as processing of credit card must have a regular vulnerability scanning.

Classical vs Modern Globalization Annotated Bibliography

Classical vs Modern Globalization - Annotated Bibliography Example In addition, he has also suggested a reform agenda to reshape globalization. Nadir Eroglu studied the impact of globalization of financial markets on economic policies of nations. By conducting this research, Eroglu aimed to highlight how globalization has reshaped the financial markets. Eroglu states that globalization of international finance has separated the financial capital from the state by separating the political control, economic activities, regulation and stability through financial deregulation and information technologies. Moreover, he also highlighted the increasing supremacy of financial commodities on the economic structure and the impact of this hegemony in making the implementation of nation states policies limited and ineffective. Jonathan Holter appears to be a major supporter of classic and neo classic globalization and an opponent of modern globalization in his research study, â€Å"The invisible hand: Failing on a global scale†. Holter has discussed the theory of invisible hand proposed by Adam Smith and analyzed its implications in the world economy. By quoting various examples, he has also explained reshaping of world economy and financial markets and highlighted the problems created by modern globalization. The crux of Holter’s research is that globalization has created a free trade economy and it has changed the world for the worse, because modern globalization has not promoted a global scale social welfare system, which it has promised, therefore, there is a need to establish powerful institutions devoted to poor economies and international finance and trade organizations should be also strengthened. Natalie Radovanovic in an article on â€Å"International Finance in the period of globalization: current trends† discussed the current practices of financial institutions including IMF and World Bank. Radovanovic has presented his view that debate

The Basque Country In Spain Cultural Studies Essay

The Basque Country In Spain Cultural Studies Essay Basque Country (el Pais Vasco in Spanish) is small enclave country located in the heart of Pyrenees Mountains, which divide Spain and France from each other, the northern coastline of the Country lies in the Bay of Biscay on the Cantabrian sea. The Basque Country is made up of 6 traditional regions. The three regions to the south, within Spain forms Hegoalde (south zone), while the three to the northeast, within France, form Iparralde (north zone). The three provinces in Spain side are Vizcaya, Alava and Guipuzcoa centered around the cities of Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastian. Perhaps surprisingly to some, the capital of community is Vitoria, even though it is only just over half the size of the somewhat better known Bilbao city. In some resources it shows that there are four provinces in south zone. The fourth province is called Navarre, a region which Basque nationalists want to incorporate into Euskadi, but whose people want to continue being a separate entity. Navarre is just one of the territories that the Basque nationalist parties claim as Basque territory; there are also two enclaves surrounded by Basque territory Trevino and Valle de Villaverde, which belong to fellow neighboring communities of Castile de Leon and Cantabria. In French side there are three provinces: Labourd, Basse-Navarre, and Soule. Basques call these territories collectively, Euskal- Herria (Land of the Basques) or Euskadi. The region covers nearly 21.000 square kilometers, of which about 3,000 lie on French side. The 18.000 square kilometers on the Spanish side constitute about 3.6 percent of Spains total land area. Basque region has a wonderful mild climate with few extremes of temperature or weather conditions when the seasons changes. The climate, the influence of the sea, and an attractive mixture of village, mountains, hills and abundant greenery, all makes Basque Country a place of natural surprises. Around 3 million people live in this community. Almost all Basques are Roman Catholic. Traditionally, an unusually high percentage chooses to become priests and nuns. The region operates as an autonomous region; today region has its own parliament and police force, controls education and collects its own taxes. The Basque Autonomous Community is currently the wealthiest region in Spain. About 20 percent of population is engaged in agriculture. Fishing is a significant Basque industry. The Basque country has long been known as a center of Spanish industry especially the city Bilbao. The regions history as the nations iron and steel capital has led to the development of automobile and machine tool manufacturing. Shipbuilding is another profitable industry. One constant tradition that has always been strong in the Basque country is the wine-making. The areas wineries produce some of the riches wines in the world for example Rioja or Alava wines. The Basque people have preserved unique culture, the jewel of which is its language, Euskera, a pre Indo-European tongue whose mysterious origin has never been established. The fact that it is not and Indo-European language, and shows no resemblance to languages in neighboring countries has led to formulation of varieties of hypotheses to explain its existence. Owing to some similarities with the Georgian language, some linguists think it could be it could be related to languages from the Caucasus. Other relates the language to non-Arabic languages from the north of Africa. Throughout history, the Basque language has taken up words not only from French, Latin and Castilian, but also from Celtic and Arabic. On the other hand some of the words in Castilian, French and English come from Basque language. Rural communities have kept the language alive for centuries. It is estimated, nowadays, that more than 600.000 people speak Basque in seven provinces. There are 520.000 Basque speaking people in the Basque provinces in Spain, which is 25% of their total population. The Basque language is extremely difficult and complex .In addition there are number of different dialects. The Basque language was not written until the 16th century .Things has not been easy for the Basque language. Apart from having to compete with two powerful neighboring languages like French and Castilian, Basque was forbidden language during the dictatorship that followed by Civil War. For decades children had to study in an unfamiliar language and were severely punished when they spoke in Basque, even at play time. At that time an important movement to open Basque schools started. And these schools are the only ones which provide teaching in Basque. Through centuries of storytelling, the Basques have evolved a rich and colorful mythology. Basque folklore also encompasses various rituals and dances. The Basques maybe are the oldest ethnic group in Europe. They are thought to have inhabited the southwestern corner of the continent since before Indo-European peoples came to the area approximately 5.000 years ago. Surviving invasions by the Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, French and Spanish, they resisted domination by outsiders until the Middle Ages (AD 476-1450). At that time much of their territory was seized by Spaniards, Gascons and Catalans. In 1516 the Basques on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees Mountains agreed to Castilian rules but won the rights to keep degree of self-government. By the 1876 all Basque land were divided between the France and Spain. During the regime of General Francisco Franco (1939 75) the Basque language was banned and culture in the Spain provinces were ruthlessly suppressed, the Basque activists and intellectuals imprisoned and tortured for their political and cultural belief. By the 1950s, resistance groups had formed, most notably the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) Basque Homeland and Liberty. ETA was founded in 1959 by young national activists. ETA is a Basque separatist organization. Since the creation of ETA in the Franco dictatorship, for fifty years ETA has tried achieve full independence from the Spanish country for the four Basque provinces Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa, Alava and Navarra in the eastern area of Spain and the south western areas of France of Labourd, Basse-Navarra, and Soule. ETA has been trying to become an independent state through their tactics of bombing and assassinations. Since 1959 the group has been held responsible for a number of bombings, shootings and kidnappings or killings of high profile European government figures, and its activities have claimed over 800 lives in four decades. Though believed to be a small terrorist group (with approximately 20 main activists and several hundred supporters), in December 2001, the European Union declared ETA a terrorist organization. ETA members are believed to have received training in Lebanon, Libya, South Y emen, Nicaragua and as well as to have fled to Cuba. The group also allegedly maintains close ties with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) through the both groups political wings.

Caring :: essays research papers

Since I was a little girl, I have been giving care to others. It started when I was nine years old. My grandmother, who was a heavy smoker, developed cancer and became very sick.. It got to the point where she received home hospice care because nothing more could be done for her in the hospitals. â€Å"Hospice is a specialized type of medical care for people who have advanced or life-limiting illness. This care is provided by a team of individuals who care for patients and families in their homes† (1). It basically provides the patient with care in the comfort of their home. A hospital bed was set up in our home where she spent her last days. She was hooked up to an I.V. where she would receive daily doses of morphine, a strong drug ment to ease the pain of the terminally ill. I would check on her frequently, and even learned how to program the machine that released her morphine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Soon after my grandmother died, my mom started getting sick. When she was born, she was born with a heart condition. Her heart had a â€Å"hole† in it and it was positioned wrong in her chest. In fact, it was said by doctors that because of her abnormal heart condition, she wouldn’t live past the age of six. She was also partially blind in her left eye, which restricted her from driving. As she got older and older, her heart grew weaker and weaker. At the age of 35 years old, she had a pacemaker surgically implanted in her chest. A pacemaker is a battery-powered case that assists the heart in beating. An incision is made and a pocket is formed in the area overlying the muscle on the outside of the chest wall. â€Å"Most are placed to prevent the heart from going to slow. This happens because there is no cell in the heart that will beat fast enough to maintain proper function or because the electrical pathway, which allows impulses to spread to the necessary parts of the heart muscle is damaged.†(2). Eventually, even the pacemaker didn’t help. Her heart couldn’t handle the aging process, and it became more and more difficult for her to do simple, everyday activities. Even walking became a chore. I would do my part by helping out at home with the daily chores and push her around in her wheelchair whenever we went places.

RBC Analysis Essay

Executive Summary In today’s demanding market, it is essential to know how to make good investments. The following is an in depth qualitative and quantitative analysis of the Royal Bank of Canada. First, RBC and its subsidiaries will be introduced including information about its history and current situation. The qualitative analysis will consist of RBC’s general information, history, business segments, and corporate social responsibility. Secondly, ratios and other quantitative information pertaining to RBC’s investment situation will be analyzed. Finally, with respect to the qualitative and quantitative data, an investment recommendation will be made Investment Criteria A company’s ethics and proper management are just as important for their success as their financial data. In order to decide whether or not to invest in a company one must research the company inside and out starting with where the company has come from all the way to their current situation. A company’s history is of the utmost importance because it reveals management trends and past ethical decision making that could reoccur. Another important aspect of a company’s history is their international expansion and the companies they have done past business with. The industries companies choose to merge with are a good indicator of where they will invest their money in the future. More specific to the banking industry, sustainability has become one of the most important criteria for investment. Especially after the financial collapse of 2008, banks with strong sustainability stood out and gained ground on the high-risk high reward banks. From a quantitative perspective, data trends can help predict if a company is on a small skid or headed toward future collapse. Ratios can help determine how quickly a company can pay back their liabilities as well as how efficient they are being with their shareholder’s money. A company’s stock may rise or fall depending on their current situation and how the market is fairing overall. The amount of assets and acquisitions a company makes can lead a potential investor to believe they are expanding. Usually good financial data investment criteria are a current ratio >2:1 and an ROA >5%. Company Introduction The Royal Bank of Canada is Canada’s largest bank by assets and market capitalization. The bank has offices in Canada, United States and 49 other countries. Currently, there are 80,000 full and part time employees at RBC with close to 15 million clients worldwide. The company has a good balance between retail and wholesale banking with over two-thirds of their revenue coming from Canada. The other main geographical markets include U. S. (16%), while all other revenue is distributed internationally (17%). (See Appendix A) Qualitative Analysis History The history of a company, industry it is present in, and prior success are some of the main factors when considering investing in a company. RBC has been a leading Canadian bank since June 22, 1864 when it was incorporated as the Merchants Bank of Halifax. Its name was changed to The Royal Bank of Canada in 1901. Twenty-four year later it merged with the Union Bank of Canada on the basis of 1 share of Royal Bank stock for two shares of Union Bank stock. Since then, RBC has taken advantage of many international joint ventures and foreign acquisitions. Most notably in Cuba, Britain, and West Germany. Post-1980, the bank created joint ventures in China with China International Trust & Investment Corp. and began acquiring financial companies in North America. All of the sudden, RBC found themselves competing with large new international banks. During this time, the bank also made a larger commitment to their corporate social responsibility as their charitable donations reached 25. 5 million in 1999. Most recently, RBC has been striving to become a more broad-based financial services group rather than a traditional commercial bank. Although RBC wanted to keep with it’s main goal of being the #1 banker in Canada, they also wanted to build a stronger overall North American identity. Technology based products took the lead in the bank’s new American market strategy. In going along with this strategy, RBC acquired the world’s first Internet bank in order to take advantage of e-banking services. Finally, the bank has developed a new global brand strategy in response to their growing North American presence, which requires the RBC financial group banner to each business platform and operating subsidiary. Business Segments The Royal Bank of Canada has five main business segments. The largest of these segments is their personal and commercial banking segment, which makes up 56% of their earnings. RBC was named the largest and most profitable retail banking in Canada as well as the 2nd largest bank by assets in English Caribbean (†Corporate Profile†). The bank provides cross-border banking for Canadian clients and U. S. wealth management clients. Their second largest business segment is their capital markets sector. Their capital markets department deals with corporate and investment banking, equity and debt distribution as well as trading. This segment is recognized as the 10th largest global investment bank by net revenue and was also named the best investment bank in Canada across equity, debt, and M&A five years in a row (â€Å"Corporate Profile†). The third business segment of RBC, which makes up 11% of their earnings, is their wealth management division. Investment, trust, credit, and other wealth management and asset management solutions are all included in wealth management. The division was named top six global wealth mangers by assets as well as ranked #1 in Canada in both retail and asset management (â€Å"Corporate Profile†). Finally, their insurance and investor & treasury services make up the last 11% of the bank’s total earnings. The insurance segment deals with life, health, home, auto, travel, and wealth accumulation solutions. Achievements of the insurance segment include receiving high marks for â€Å"Likelihood to Recommend† and â€Å"Ease of Doing Business† (â€Å"Corporate Profile†). Their investor & treasury services provide global custody, fund administration, and asset servicing to institutional investors. (See Appendix B) SWOT Analysis Strengths: Leading Market Position: RBC is Canada’s largest bank measured by assets and market capitalization. Leading market position in Canada enables the bank to gain economic economies of scale. Significant Presence in the US and UK RBC is the sixth largest full-service brokerage firm in the US and operates in a network of 42 states. In the UK, RBC is considered a Gilt-edged market maker and actively trades in either conventional or index-linked gilts (â€Å"Welcome to ALADIN†). Strong Balance Sheet RBC has a strong capital ratio and common ratio that are much greater than those required under Canadian standards. Also, the bank’s operating leverage declined between the years 2008 and 2010 showing potential from raising new capital (â€Å"Welcome to ALADIN†). Weaknesses: Asset Quality Deterioration RBC’s asset quality has been deteriorating since 2007. More specifically their gross impaired loans to total loans and acceptances ratio has grown between the years 2008 to 2010. Growth and profitability concerns at US operations Although RBC realized an overall growth in revenue in 2009, they also experienced a loss of net income. The US is RBC’s second largest market and can deeply impact the companies overall growth as a whole. Opportunities: International Expansion RBC has a rich history of international acquisitions over the past 30 years. Continuing with this aggressive strategy paves the way potential increases in revenue and profit expansion. Canada’s Promising Economic Prospects Canadian GDP has shown positive growth within the past two years. Attributing to this growth has been an increasing demand for commodities and improving global financial market conditions. Threats: Increasing Interest Rates As Canadian interest rates rise, so does the potential for a decrease in demand for financial services. High Taxation Banks in Canada are taxed at a much higher rate than other countries. In addition to Canada’s high taxation, the bank also faces high tax rates in the US; it’s second largest market (â€Å"Welcome to ALADIN†). Corporate Social Responsibility RBC has a clearly defined community and sustainability mission as they have been contributing to building a better future since 1864. Emphasis is put mainly on investing in the future by delivering quality products, protecting the environment, and sustaining a productive workplace. In respect to the community, RBC invests millions of dollars in health, sports, and the arts. More specifically they created RBC Play Hockey, which provides hockey gear to under privileged children. RBC believes that the game of hockey can bring a community together and provide a fun, competitive atmosphere among kids. Twenty grants, each of which was $25,000, will be awarded across North America (â€Å"Corporate Profile†). In respect to the environment, climate change, biodiversity, and water are weighed heavily upon. The RBC Blue Water Project helps educate people about the importance of preserving clean water in order to have enough fresh water for the future. The main component of the program is a ten-year, $50 million donations program, which supports not-for-profit organizations that protect watersheds and ensure access to clean drinking water (â€Å"Corporate Profile†). In RBC’s workplace is built upon the notion of shared values, and a sense of responsibility toward others. They look to provide a safe and flexible working environment with career growth opportunities. Also, the bank provides short and long term savings and wealth accumulation programs for their employees. Quantitative Analysis (See Appendix C) Balance Sheet: RBC has realized a 14% increase in assets over the last three years. This growth in assets is an indicator for an increase in stock returns. However, many times a growth in assets leads to sluggish returns as too many assets weigh down the bank (â€Å"Welcome to ALADIN†). Basic accounting procedures require all financial information on the balance sheet to even out. Therefore since RBC’s assets grew by 14%, so did they liabilities and shareholders equity. This increase in the bank’s liabilities can be attributed to inventory being purchased, issuing bonds payable at a discount, retirement costs for current employees etc. Paid-in capital, the year’s net profits, or a new share offering can increase shareholder’s equity. Shareholder’s equity is especially important for banks such as RBC because of the amount of capital they are given to invest. Cash Flow: Net investments cash flow represents the gain or loss in cash flow from investments made in the financial market and operating subsidiaries. In 2009, RBC had a positive cash flow indicating they were not investing heavily at the time. However, in the next two years, huge investments were made which made their net investments cash flow to go far below zero. Having a negative overall cash flow is not necessarily a bad thing, but instead may be a result of heavy investments. Nevertheless, RBC has maintained sustainability and kept their overall cash flow positive despite their large investments. Income Statement/Retained Earnings: RBC’s total revenue has decreased by 5% over the last three years. However looking deeper will reveal a huge increase in the company’s revenue over the past five years. In 2007 and 2008 the total revenue was $22,462 and $21,582 respectively (â€Å"Welcome to ALADIN†). This data revels an overall increase in revenue of 22% between 2007 and 2011, which any company would be proud of. In addition, RBC shows their continued effort toward sustainability as their retained earnings increased by almost 20% in the past three years (â€Å"Welcome to ALADIN†). In effect, this increase shows that a healthy profit exists even after dividends are given out to the shareholders.

Margaret Thatcher – Emancipated Woman

Even today in the year 2009 the top political positions in most countries are still male-dominated. Emancipation has made a lot of progress during the last decades, but woman in the prime political positions such as the president or the prime minister are still a rare sight. For example when Angela Merkel became the first female Chancellor of Germany in 2005 it was regarded as a milestone in German politics; and the USA, the country of freedom and sophistication has yet to experience a female president. One of the exceptions in this context is the UK. Not because of the UK itself but because of Margaret Thatcher.She took office as the first female Prime Minister of the UK as well as the first female leader of the Conservative Party already 30 years ago, when women in such high political positions were basically non-existent. She was one of the forerunners for the emancipated women in today’s world. She was nicknamed â€Å"the Iron Lady† and the term Thatcherism was inve nted to describe her distinctive style and content of her politics. So what set her apart from the others; how was it possible for her to become Britain’s first female Prime Minister, a feat that no other woman so far could duplicate?One reason for her inimitable success was definitely her steadfast character. She had a strong opinion and did not let others dissuade her from doing her thing. A prime example for this is her behavior in October of 1984 when the IRA made an attempt on her life, which became known as the Brighton hotel bombing. In the night of October 12, 1984, the IRA detonated large bombs in the Grand Hotel in Brighton/UK, where many high-level politicians were staying because of the British Conservative Party Conference the next day.The bomb detonated at around 3 o’clock in the morning, when Margaret was in her hotel room, still awake preparing a conference speech that she gave on the same day. The bomb badly damaged adjacent rooms and killed several of her fellow politicians, but she came away uninjured, spending the rest of the night at a police station for security reasons. The IRA claimed responsibility the next day, part of their statement was: â€Å"Mrs. Thatcher will now realize that Britain cannot occupy our country and torture our prisoners and shoot our people in their own streets and get away with it.Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once. You will have to be lucky always. Give Ireland peace and there will be no more war. † (IRA, 1984). One would assume that she needed a day off to assimilate the shock of the bombing, but Margaret continued to do business as usual, attended the Conference punctually at 9:30 (a mere 6 hours after the attack) and gave her speech which included the following statement â€Å"†¦the fact that we are gathered here now†¦is a sign not only that this attack has failed, but that all attempts to destroy democracy by terrorism will fail. (That-cher, 1984) Besides her resolute character, the other key component of her success was her political and economic philosophy. Thatcher was a firm supporter of democracy. She was anti-communism and in favor of free markets with little government intervention. In January 1976, as the leader of the opposition (before she became Prime Minister), she criticized the Soviet Union in a speech that included: â€Å"The men in the Soviet Politburo do not have to worry about the ebb and flow of public opinion. They put guns before butter, while we put just about. verything before guns. † (Thatcher, 1984). Other key elements of Thatcher’s philosophy included entrepreneurialism, monetarism, opposition to trade unions and privatization of state-owned industries Margaret Thatcher really was of the precursors of today’s emancipated women. She is one of the most influential British politicians of the last decades and the fact that she is a woman makes this even more impressive. Her incredib le success was mainly due to her unwavering character and the content of her politics and economic policies.The fact that Thatcher’s politics had a long-lasting effect becomes especially clear in a statement of Peter Mandelson, member of Parliament belonging to the British Labour Party: â€Å"we are all Thatcherites now. † (Mendelson, 2002) ? References Taylor, Peter. (2001). Brits : The War Against the IRA. 265-267. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 0-7475-5806-X. Thatcher, Margaret. (1984). Speech to Conservative Party Conference, 12 October 1984 Mendelson, Peter. (2002). Mandelson: we are all Thatcherites now. retrived on April 7, 2009 from: The Guardian, Website: http://politics. guardian. co. uk/labour/story/0,9061,730718,00. html

How to Keep Your Dreams and Your Day Job

How to Keep Your Dreams and Your Day Job Kelsey Murphy from the Muse has advice for aspiring globe-trotters and self-re-inventors; she knows from experience the joys and perils of quitting her day job and hopping on a plane to explore a new career while traveling the world. One day,  she realized moving to London on a whim wasn’t necessary- there were plenty of opportunities to explore the greener grass much closer to home.   Embrace the Learning CurveFor every new job or challenge I’ve had, there’s been a moment about a week or a month in where I wanted to quit, where the things that stressed me out far overshadowed the things I enjoyed. I was convinced I wasn’t meant to be an editor, a teaching assistant, a writer, a dog-owner, or even a New Yorker.But in the beginning, nobody’s an expert or a pro, and even if you’re a wunderkind you’ve got plenty to learn on the job. Be willing to screw up, apologize, and learn a new way to do things. The learning curve is even easier to swallow if it’s not a full-time experience- use the security of gainful employment to explore something you’ve always wanted to do on the side in the evenings or on weekends. Don’t let fear of failing keep you from dabbling.  Harness the 15-Minute IntentionIf you’re getting swept up in the demands of the minute-to-minute, take some time  to refocus on the big picture to-dos. What are you prioritizing? What gets knocked off course by errands or someone else’s urgency?Try to set aside 15 minutes a day to check in with something important to you, outside your daily grind. Maybe you add it on in the morning, or partition your lunch hour, or have a few quiet minutes right when you get home. There are plenty of productivity apps that can help you mark off the time.  Find a Mentor (A Small One!)The idea of forging a mentor/mentee relationship from scratch is daunting; I can’t even watch the Karate Kid without my intimacy issues flaring up. But, what Murphy calls a â€Å"mini-mentor† can be someone to help you in a small way, with one specific area of your life.Find one thing you’d like to learn in service of your larger interests, and the right person to ask. It may develop into a larger relationship, or it may conclude with one simple interaction, but either way you’re better off for having sought and accepted help. Plus if you do decide to throw caution to the wind and quit job A in pursuit of passion B, you’ll have at least one potential networking connection!

How to Write a Comic Book, According to a Veteran Comics Editor

How to Write a Comic Book, According to a Veteran Comics Editor How to Write a Comic Book: A Beginner's Guide Rachel Gluckstern  is a Reedsy editor who has worked for over  ten years within the Batman Group. In this post, she gives her top tips for how to write a comic book, graphic novel, sequential artwork - whatever you like to call it.Comic books remain a mystery to the general public. Let’s face it. Understanding the relationship between the words and pictures, and how the art elevates the story, isn’t a code immediately cracked for a writer new to the medium.Writing a comics for the first time can be hugely intimidating, knowing that at heart, it’s a visual product. But like anything else, it all starts with the manuscript. And whether you’re writing a bombastic, superhero blockbuster or a deeply personal, intimate memoir, there are technical details you’ll find handy to remember as you tackle this task.Are you ready to get started, true believer? Here are 7 foolproof tips to get you started on your comic book.Do you want  to write a comic book and are looking for an artist or an editor? Check this page for our best illustrators, and this one for our top developmental editors!Have you ever thought of writing a comic book? Would you add any tips to the ones above? Let us know your thoughts, or any questions you might have for Rachel, in the comments below!

Birdy

# 8211 ; Psychological Aspects Of Characters Essay, Research Paper# 8220 ; Merely if we look profoundly into ourselves can we detect who we truly are? . ( Erich Fromm ) Birdy? at first may look to be a book characterized by its superficiality and simpleness, nevertheless it is within a field secret plan and construction that the existent values are hidden. Wharton? s narrative gives us the penetration into human qualities which are subjected to merely one aim: life itself. The book carries the reader into a wholly different world demoing how a male child creates and lives in his ain universe. Psychological portrayal of Birdy, which the writer presented, has a symbolic significance. Most significantly, it shows that the capacity to comprehend prevarications within the person. One of the psychological facets that Wharton deeply deals with is the lineation of two different characters: Al and Birdy. Those characters represent diverse qualities, however they seem to overlap to a certain extent. Al has a really rational position of life. His realistic attack enables him to step steadfastly through life, catch every chance of it. However, when he meets Birdy, he realizes that it wasn? t true at all, and all that clip he was merely walking with his eyes half-opened. Realism is what Birdy? s doctrine of life is missing, therefore that is why their characters seem to complement one another. A permanent relationship is created, on the footing of which the reader has the chance to detect what psychological alterations they undergo. Al wants to demo Birdy the universe that he has non discovered yet. On the other manus, Birdy tries to unveil the beauty of different world that he himself becomes fascinated with. Each of us has a nature of its ain, alone and exceeding. Wharton stresses it throughout the narrative. He skillfully crafts a psychologically intricate character? Birdy, who sees the universe in different colorss and sunglassess. He explores the universe through a wholly different world. Al? s friendly relationship on the one manus gives him a closer penetration into the existent universe, on the other one intensifies his compulsion. What really Wharton shows is how far can it truly travel. Birdy doesn? Ts have control over his ideas, he seems to be incapacitated. It is his desires that dictate all his actions. They become a beginning for his bizarre behavior. Passion to birds is so overpowering that Birdy becomes unaware of the very facts of the existent life. The existent universe is a labyrinth where he hopelessly seeks for issue. That is chiefly why he escapes to a small oasis of safety from the universe, where he can be certain of being admired when he is non admirable, and prai sed he is non applaudable. Birdy creates a universe of his ain, a topographic point were he could experience safe, proud and needed. He looks for some apprehension among others, but it is merely in the universe created by him that he can happen his kernel of life. A dream in which he becomes a bird has even a sexual intension. It invariably comes back at dark, and becomes so strong that he looses the ability to separate between the existent, and the fanciful universe: ? The dream is every bit existent to me now as my waking life. I don? T know where one begins and the other terminals. ? However, this different world that Birdy enters becomes a boundary line for Al. At the beginning of their friendly relationship Birdy tries to equilibrate between those two diverse universes, however his passion turns out to be stronger. Al and Birdy create a womb-to-tomb fondness # 8211 ; friendly relationship. It becomes the greatest sweetening of their lives. Merely few do detect what it means to be raised to the highest pitch of enjoyment of life. His religion in the possibility of winging helps him to? last? his unhappy childhood. Birdy lives in the head, in thoughts, in fragments. His passion gave him air to take a breath, otherwise he would smother. He does non give up and that makes him the victor. For Al, Birdy? s bizarre behavior is # 8211 ; as he states it? merely traveling excessively far? . He is afraid of it, as the universe that Birdy enters is an unknown measure for Al. He sees that his friend? s passion becomes unmanageable and hence Birdy? s behavior is more and more unpredictable. Al starts to understand that he can non make much about the state of affairs, and that the whole? outlandishness? is beyond his comprehension. That is chiefly why he turns his dorsum at Birdy, go forthing him entirely. Birdy is non capable of happening his ain topographic point in the surrounding world and in the eyes of others he is perceived as insane. ? There is no such an absurd thing that a adult male wouldn? t make merely to give life a purpose. ? ( Wharton ) When after war Al comes back to assist Birdy retrieve, he realizes the really true facts of life. His behavior in the infirmary for mentally handicapped reveals his fond nature. Al understands that Birdy became a portion of his life. However, the state of affairs that he has to get by with terrifies him. On the manner to Birdy? s mental recovery, which does non look to hold positive consequences, Al realizes that the universe they are populating in is full of ugliness, danger and corruption. One therefore should construct a universe of his ain, where all these jobs do non merely be. Wharton, when asked about the intent of psychological intricateness of some of his characters including Birdy said that it is # 8220 ; because there is some prevarication in this universe that I want to expose # 8221 ; . Wharton through psychological portrayals of characters shows the dichotomy of universes, a clang between the mimetic universe and the one created by friendly relationship and passion. F ictional universe crafted by writer suggests another impression of saneness in a universe that is obviously insane. Birdy creates his ain doctrine of life? a arm against the world. ? It takes 20 old ages or more of peace to do a adult male ; it takes merely 20 seconds of war to destruct him. ? ( Baudouin I ) Birdy is a mentally delicate character. He is capable of seeing things other people consider unimportant and meaningless. Those small things give him hope and something he can believe in. His whole life revolves around them. However, this is wholly changed by war. It puts an terminal to his delicate mind which is crushed under the load of what he has to travel through. All the agony, hurting, fright and the feeling of uncertainness destruct his belief in the universe he is populating in. That is why Birdy escapes into his ain world, nevertheless that is where he gets lost. His contact with the existent universe is handicapped, war brainwashes him into unreasonable manner of comprehending the world. Birdy? s attack to life reveals general truths of this universe. It shows that if we want to happen the right manner in our lives we can merely make it by looking for it in ourselves. The reader at some point may inquire about the psychological facets of homo? s behavior, inquiring such inquiries as: What is truly needed to continue one? s felicity, to be truly free? Is it really possible? Can we do us believe that everything has a intent? Al and Birdy have aims for their lives but they are non capable of seting to societal stereotypes. They invariably run off from them, seeking for something new. Wharton? s technique of portraying the fictional universe is a really specific one. The reader gets to cognize all the events from different positions. The universe is perceived through Al? s and Birdy? s eyes. The inside informations of the male childs? past life are shown by agencies of retrospection. Wharton # 8217 ; s authorship is frequently dark and incorporates phantasmagoric elements aggressively contrasted against splanchnic world. In his head, Birdy lives as a bird, and the description of that life has a dreamy, unreal quality. Through his friend Al, we see the world of his life: the grim veteran # 8217 ; s infirmary, the detached staff, Birdy # 8217 ; s hapless physical province. The differing elements suit together to organize a whole life, even if it is a life given over to madness. The narrative shows that in the hunt of freedom one has to travel through existent and metaphysical labyrinth. It is the lone thing Birdy needs to wing thought the deepnesss of life. He pr oves that the existent art of life is to do the impossible, possible. In many ways, Wharton? s position of the universe is true. By a characteristic manner of showing the fictional universe, the reader has the chance to introduce with the huge psychological portrayals of characters. We get to cognize non merely au naturel facts, but besides interior ideas and the emotions that accompany them. That is why the reader can comprehend the fictional universe through different positions and place with the characters. Wharton by agencies of field and straightforward linguistic communication expresses deeper ideas. Fictional characters? actions become symbolic and can be interpreted on different evidences.

Unification of Germany and Italy in the 19th century Assignment

Unification of Germany and Italy in the 19th century - Assignment Example During the year 1848 Europe was taken over by the democratic revolution and the German representatives in the unification were King Wilhem I (King of Prussian), who wanted to increase the strength of the army and elect a new Prime Minister. The second leader was Otto von Bismarck who was the Prime Minister, who had no room of idealism in his regime and was the leader of realism. During the year 1866 and 1877 there was a seven week war which provoked the Austria to call a war on Prussia, in which Prussia were successful and they took control over the northern Germany, which was followed by the Franco-Prussian War in which the Prussian army took over the northern France and took 80,000 French Prisoners. This war the final stages into the unification of the Germany and the southern region on accepted the Prussian as the leaders. There were many reasons that lead to World War I, few of the reasons were long pending and few of other arose near the war that made the decision more affirmati ve. Few of the long reason that forced the war was the Rise of Militarism, this was in result of the increase of use of power by the European in the late 18th Century. The Europe started to believe that the military powers were one of the most feasible and desirable reasons to resolve the increasing hostile and fragile political conditions in the world. Another long term reason that caused the World War I was The Arms Race, the excess use of military caused imbalance in the powers; this led to the innovation of technology with respect.

Movie Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Movie Analysis - Research Paper Example The second boss that is Dr. Julia Harris played by Jennifer Aniston lacks openness in the sense that she is often shown as resorting to a traditional top down approach towards leadership with her assistant Dale. Julia, like Dave is also an in-conscientious in the sense that she does not hesitate from blackmailing Dale to clinch sexual favors. The third boss that is Bobby is a cocaine addict and an immoral son of Kurt’s late boss Jack. Bobby turns out to be an incompetent leader who though being in charge simply has no idea as of what one is supposed to do. Bobby is shown to be pathetically, emotionally unstable. In his self inflicted delusionary approach towards reality, Bobby considers himself to be a gift to women, intellect, and humor and to the life in general. In reality he is a huge disappointment to his late father and vehemently envious of Jack’s relationship with Kurt. The movie is a moving depiction of as to how big five personality dimensions give way to personalities with varied behavior patterns. In that context, the article Attraction to Employment Advertisements: Advertisement Wording and Personality Characteristics by Stevens and Szmerekovsky does stress the tendency of the employees to gravitate to such jobs as are in consonance with their personality dimensions (2010). This study demonstrated that individuals with a conscientious personality were more attracted towards employment advertisements which stressed conscientiousness. Similarly, individuals with an open mindset were found to have a predilection for employment advertisements that laid stress on openness as an essential job requirement. In the context of the movie, the three employees, Nick, Dale and Kurt unluckily found themselves in a work environment that was starkly contrary to their set of personality dimensions, thereby pushing them to try to eliminate their bosses. One other article, Personality and

Design Specification for the Structural Health Monitoring System of Essay

Design Specification for the Structural Health Monitoring System of London Water Supply System - Essay Example The wireless sensor networks are responsible for collecting application data like hydraulic pressure transients, leak detection and monitoring of water quality parameters and levels in combined sewer outflows (CSO). Water supply and sewer networks are detected for leaks, water quality and contamination resulting from sewer overflows. 2. Introduction Most water distribution systems face the challenge of significant water loss through leakage that is translated to economic loss. Reduction in leakage through well strategized actions in water network management translates into economic benefits. Leakage of fresh water can cause severe damage while that of waste water lead to contamination of soil and environment. The clean up process may be very expensive. Catastrophic failures result to environment degradation, loss of human life and production of large masses of demolished waste. Building codes and design methods are used to produce structures safe for public utility. At times, structu res are exposed to harsh conditions through loads and the surrounding not planned for during the design process. These harsh conditions normally produce long-term structural deterioration. Structures, therefore, need continuous assessment through various techniques. The common techniques used are; Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). ... This technique is used to monitor fresh water mains and sewerage pipes. In the technique, the following are observed: a. Failure mechanisms b. Parameters to be measured c. Range, accuracy, resolution and sampling regime for preferred parameters and processes. 3. Case study- London Water Supply System The largest water project responsible for supply of water in London is the Thames Water Ring Main (TWRM). Five different treatment works supply drinking water to more than six million clients. Gravitational force forces the water to eleven pumping stations installed with shafts. The pumping stations are located at southern, central and north-western areas of the metropolis. Delivery is done directly to water supply zones or to service reservoirs. Objectives of water project were determined by many factors. The factors are; Satisfaction of average and peak demands for water in London to cushion leakage through control action plan effects Maintainan quality and acceptable service to client s in regard to pressure Control hazards related to water supply operations to the environment and social life. Maintain and improve water supply infrastructure in London Control cost at short and long term levels in relation to manpower and energy spent in pumping (Bensted, 1994 p.1-4). 4. Failure Mechanisms Damage refers to changes that occur to material or geometric properties of a structure and completely affects its performance. All engineering material used in construction of any system posses inherent initial flaws. Flaws generated from the environment and operational loading develop continuously and lead to component level failure. System level failure results with time due to continuous loading. The duration and time scales

American Imperialism and American Democracy Article

American Imperialism and American Democracy - Article Example The case of American regional imperialism is perhaps most evident when it comes to Latin America. Of course it remains quite obvious that American governments have always had a role to play in international politics even though they had been warned by their greatest leader not to interfere in the matters of other nations. Buschini (2000) notes the American influence over the Middle East as well as Latin America and notes that in historical terms, â€Å"Between the end of the Spanish-American War and the dawn of the Great Depression, the United States sent troops to Latin American countries thirty-two times (Buschini, 2000, Pg. 1)†. The consequences for such actions both home and abroad only became clear when the changes to the Latin American politics became evident. For the American people, intervention and the idea of sending soldiers to fight and die in a foreign land had to be given some explanation. This explanation came from the Monroe Doctrine as it was fed to the public by Roosevelt and other presidents who did not see imperialism as imperialism. In fact, American intervention was seen as necessary, a positive force for change and the American people were taught to see themselves as liberators as well as the protectors of democracy (Kinzer, 2006). As a consequence of having imperialist policies, America was made out in the media to be the defender of civilization in a world which was full of chronic wrongdoing and mischief done by others. The nobility of the American government was essentially a myth fed to the people and many of them gladly accepted it as fact. In this manner, even in a democratic society, a government which was hesitant to intervene in the matters of other nations would be seen as lacking the courage to make strong decisions (Kinzer, 2006). For governments willing to intervene, the idea of bringing democratic values to other

South Korea Leads the Way Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

South Korea Leads the Way - Essay Example Another advantage South Korea had over other nation is that their demographics consists of densely populated areas which lower the infrastructure investment required to provide high-speed internet. One of the amazing things about the South Korean case is that the country was able to become one of the leading nation in communication sector in a very short period of time. In 1995 only 1% of the population was online. By 2004 nearly 71% of the population was enjoying internet service in their homes. E-commerce in South Korea generates twice as many sales per capita in comparison with the United States. The gaming industry is one of the profitable and popular business sectors in South Korea. Since internet speeds are so high the new focus in South Korea is providing new exciting services. Innovation has become extremely important in the 21st century. It can be used by businesses as a tool to create new sources of revenue. We are living in a society in which people expect technology to pr ovide them with new products that attract their attention. Another lesson learned from the South Korean case is the importance of cooperation between the private and public sector. The government can provide incentives that lower the cost of doing business for corporations. Another element that allowed the telecommunication sector to thrive in South Korea was the introduction of new companies which created competition. Competition in business creates great benefits for the consumer such as lower prices, better service, and greater variety.

Analysis & Discussion about gold Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analysis & Discussion about gold - Essay Example People value gold and perceive it to a sign of purity and success. It is a metal used for jewelry, as investments and also as monetary exchange. Gold jewelers are considered to be the most successful business as they deal in something that has only seen appreciation in value most of the time. The value of gold is quoted in financial news and it fluctuates on daily basis. The gold rates are quoted for price in dollars for gold bullion which is the raw form of the metal. All countries publish gold prices in their respective currency on daily basis. Analysts link the value to the international gold rates quoted in the global markets. The market generally shows an upward trend of the gold prices but its fluctuations are based on the demand and supply of the metal itself. The sudden surge in the gold price is attributed to the shortage of this metal as compared to its demand. But some analysts argue that gold hoarders have led to artificial price hike at times. Although international laws and regulations keep a check on the gold prices and monitor its trading in a prudent manner. Gold was used as reserve currency for many decades. The use of gold coins and issuance of money equivalent to the gold reserve has been a very common in the past. In the second half of the nineteenth century an international gold standard was established. â€Å"The gold standard was created by the free market, the citizenry, and it operates to manage the supply of paper currency under self adjusting market system.† (Lewis 103) The use of gold as a monetary exchange was abolished and replaced by fiat currencies in the 20th century. Before currencies were convertible into gold but the declining gold reserves and the increasing international trading required currency interchange and thus currencies were made legal tenders by the government and were used for transaction and reserve purposes. â€Å"The price of a thing at any moment is determined by the quantity of money which has to be given for it, but ‘the quantity of money’ is a magnitude, which is in part determined by the nature of the unit of account employed.† (Gregory 4) The price of currencies previously was linked with gold and the purchasing power of the currency would be maintained in terms of gold. The same amount of currency, irrespective o f its metallic weight, whether it is a coin or a note, would be convertible to the same amount of gold. Thus the purchasing power in terms of the value of gold would be same and this determined the value of currency as well as the gold prices. But the scarcity of gold mines and deposits around the world has lead government to remove the gold and currency purchasing power equation and has made the paper currency a legal tender for all the transactions. The same amount of currency will have the same purchasing power or not cannot be guaranteed in the fiat - legal tender currency system. The gold has now become a commodity of exchange rather than i ts previous function of maintaining currencies purchasing power. â€Å"In today’s government controlled fiat money system, gold has lost its monetary function. However, gold has remained a kind of ultimate means of payment, protecting investors against financial crises and inflation.† (Belke & Polleit 13) People buy gold jewels, gold bars and gold coins from the investment point of view. The investment options may differ for

South Korea Leads the Way Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

South Korea Leads the Way - Essay Example Another advantage South Korea had over other nation is that their demographics consists of densely populated areas which lower the infrastructure investment required to provide high-speed internet. One of the amazing things about the South Korean case is that the country was able to become one of the leading nation in communication sector in a very short period of time. In 1995 only 1% of the population was online. By 2004 nearly 71% of the population was enjoying internet service in their homes. E-commerce in South Korea generates twice as many sales per capita in comparison with the United States. The gaming industry is one of the profitable and popular business sectors in South Korea. Since internet speeds are so high the new focus in South Korea is providing new exciting services. Innovation has become extremely important in the 21st century. It can be used by businesses as a tool to create new sources of revenue. We are living in a society in which people expect technology to pr ovide them with new products that attract their attention. Another lesson learned from the South Korean case is the importance of cooperation between the private and public sector. The government can provide incentives that lower the cost of doing business for corporations. Another element that allowed the telecommunication sector to thrive in South Korea was the introduction of new companies which created competition. Competition in business creates great benefits for the consumer such as lower prices, better service, and greater variety.

Attitudes to Language Essay Example for Free

Attitudes to Language Essay Language clearly plays a major role in all aspects of society. The most obvious is its social role of allowing people to relate to each other in all facets of their lives: to share information, emotions and ways of life. We use language as a means of navigating our daily lives and it plays an integral role in most of our interactions. Perhaps for this reason, French is regarded as an elegant and romantic language, while German is considered to be guttural. Additionally, ever since mankind evolved into different language communities, it is commonplace for people to adopt various attitudes towards the language(s) spoken by others, as well as towards the dialects of the language they speak. These attitudes are motivated by different factors, including pride in or shame regarding one’s own language, confidence or embarrassment about how one sounds, nationalism and a sense of personal dignity, one’s status and values as well as the prestige some languages are given in international interactions. A well known attitude is the desire for foreign speech patterns; another is the rejection of certain dialects. People form impressions of your personality, emotional state, geographic origin, education, experiences, age or socioeconomic status from the language you use and the way you use it. We often witness the amusement of an audience when someone speaks in the creole, for not only does the system of sound evoke laughter, but the assumption that the speaker is an uneducated serf is then made. Ridicule and contempt for the vernacular, creoles and dialects are common responses from some members of society, even within the Caribbean society, where dialects are rich, strong and the first language. Dialects develop under various circumstances as well as geographical locations and are varieties of languages. A creole could be a dialect within a language. Because of our history, people of the region tend to place a high premium on the standard languages (the language of power and economic might). Many  people believe that upward mobility is largely dependent on one’s ability to fit in with the predominant socioeconomic class, and language is the main signifier of this fit. Many Caribbean writers have described scenarios of people who went overseas, were generally expected to return with a new command of the target language and often demonstrated their new found ‘status’ by emphasizing their foreign accent of ‘twang’. While some might be impress ed by the ‘twang’, others view such pretensions with derision. Attitudes to language may vary from one sector of the society to another and some people demonstrate self-conscious behavior when speaking the standard language. This is largely a result of the fact that in most societies one is often judged on the basis of the variety of language that one speaks. This is even more prevalent in societies with a colonial legacy, like the Caribbean, where certain dialects are associated with the institution of slavery or conquest. Increasingly, educators are becoming aware that a person’s native language is an integral part of who that person is and marginalizing the language can have severe damaging effects on that person’s psyche. Many linguists consistently make a case for teaching native languages alongside the target languages so that children can clearly differentiate among the codes ( a term used synonymously with language or dialect but generally refers to a linguistic system of communication. A code can also be non-linguistic such as a dress code or code of conduct) and hence be less likely to mix the two. This approach has been adopted in Haiti, where schools teach both Standard French and French Creole (Haitian) and children are expected to be fluent in both. Additional prominence has been given to Caribbean Creoles with the publication of Creole dictionaries and with the translation of the New Testament from the Christian Bible into French Creole in St. Lucia. A similar project is under way in Jamaica. While attitudes to local dialects have been slowly changing, many people still associate the use of Creole with negative images and believe that its use should be relegated to specific circumstances and occasions. However, the fact that non-standard language varieties are the most widely spoken in the Caribbean makes them the choice of persons trying to get information to large sections of the society. For example, many advertisers use the Creole language to ensure that their message appeals to most people. At the same time, because of the prestige attached to the standard language, it tends to be the language of choice on formal occasions, like church services. A language variety is usually chosen because of its perceived social functions. You may have noticed that, the more formal the occasion, the more likely the use of the standard language, while for everyday interaction, popular music or emotional appeals, people tend to gravitate towards the non-standard varieties. You would have noticed that, even in a formal situation, non-standard dialect might be used for anecdotes, to inject humour or in a quotation. In the Caribbean, people switching from one code of language to another, often without thinking. However, there are times when the use of standard langue would seem totally out of place and would even interfere with semantics. For example, folk stories, folk songs and proverbs seem to lose a certain essence when translated into standard. The role of language as a vehicle for sharing culture is indisputable. Caribbean writers, singers and oral poets have played a major part in fostering acceptance of the Creole languages of the region, by incorporating them into their work and exposing them to the world. Nonetheless, negative attitudes to these languages persist in the minds of many.

Are Video Games Good For Children Children And Young People Essay

Are Video Games Good For Children Children And Young People Essay For that matter, are video games good for adults. Has anyone ever seen the effects of prolonged exposure to video games and the effects it has on someones family or the community? As a father, I have dealt with negative effects of video games first hand. There have been numerous studies and debates on the subject of video games and the effects, whether positive or negative, they have on children. Video games are not good for children because of the negative effects to a childs behavior and overall health. Violent tendencies Children that play violent orientated video games have displayed violent tendencies toward others. There have been numerous studies and research conducted, on violent video games played by children, which suggest that children may become more aggressive after playing (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2010) those types of games and the conclusion behind this reasoning, are three traits of the personality, which are high neuroticism, disagreeableness, and low levels of conscientiousness (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2010). Playing violent orientated video games cause children to act and think aggressively (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2010). These conditions may cause children to commit violent acts or behavior. Violent Behavior In addition to increased aggression, children who play violent video games are associated with increased violent behavior (Souccar, 2012). Because of this behavior, there have been multiple despicable acts such as the Virginia Tech shootings where a gunman killed over thirty people in 2007(Lee, Finley, 2011). In 1999, another devastating act in Columbine, Colorado, two teenage gunmen entered a school with weapons, killed twelve students and a teacher, before taking their own lives (Belanger, Wagner, 2011). Eric Harris and Dylan Kiebold were frequent players and program contributors to a violent video game called Doom (Lee, Finley, 2011). Children or teens, that do not commit violent acts, may still display pathologic behavior. Pathologic Behavior Children that play video games exhibit pathologic behavior. There are many warning signs of pathologic behavior, such as lying about or hiding how much time is spent playing or disobeying parental limits; losing interest in sports and hobbies; choosing the game over time with friends; and continuing to play despite plummeting grades(Wagner, 2008). This is a very touchy subject in my household. My thirteen year old step-son has exhibited pathologic behavior because of video games. When the neighbors kids come to ask him to play outside, he refuses and has continued playing his games. His grades at school have suffered because he does not concentrate on doing his homework and worries more about playing video games. He has told a few lies, thrown tantrums, kicked walls and our washing machine, and is constantly disrespectful to his siblings, my wife and myself. My step-son has also exhibits signs of video game addiction. Video Game Addictions Children with video game addictions, if left untreated, could have disastrous effects as adults. There are millions of people all over the world who love to play video games, either on game systems or online social media, but that love for the video games turns into tragedy for those with video game addictions. According to Lee and Finley (2011), a couple in Korea went to a local establishment to feed their video game addiction, only to return home over five hours later to find their four month old baby girl dead because she was left alone. Also according to Lee and Finley (2011), parents in Reno, Nevada were arrested after their obsession with video games caused them to neglect to feed their two young children. Increase of Video Game Addictions The increase of video games addictions has prompted the opening of clinics in countries such as the Netherlands, United States, China, and other countries around the world, to help combat the effects of video game addiction (Belanger, Wagner, 2011). Also stated, by Belanger and Wagner (2011), the Council on Science and Public Health recently proposed adding video gaming addiction to a list of formal disorders, such as drug addiction. Video game addictions and its symptoms mirror other addictions so closely, that it was almost classified as an official psychiatric disorder (Lee, Finley, 2011) by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 2007. With all of the negative effects of video games, such as addictions, there are good video games children can play. Good Video Games There are many video games that are good for children. Over the past few years, there have been many advances in good video games and game systems, such as the Wii from Nintendo and the EyeToy Kinetic from Sony, which engage the players with the game (Barros, et al, 2012). I and my family have played games on both systems, The Wii system controller is held by the player which controls the actions of the avatar on the screen. The Kinetic system is similar, but the player controls the movement of the avatar with his/her body movements through the use of a camera. One game that is used to induce physical activity, with both gaming systems, is a game called Dance, Dance, Dance (Barros, et al, 2012). The players are actively involved in the games that they are playing and are increasing their heart rate and physical activity. These Exergames (Barros, et al, 2012) are promoting exercise and physical fitness. Even though there are good video games, there are still other negative effects, su ch as inactivity from playing non-active games, which may induce childhood obesity. Childhood Obesity For children that do not have access to those types of games, cant afford the games, or just dont care to play them, often play the games that they have, for long periods of time, which leads to the lack of physical activity, and the onset of childhood obesity (Childhood Obesity, n.d.). A report, issued by the U.S. Department of Health Human Services, mentions a few reasons children may play video games for long periods of time. It may be the lack of parental control, being left alone by their parents for hours at a time, or just having to stay inside because of safety concerns (Childhood Obesity, n.d.). There is a growing concern, from parents such as myself, that children are becoming lazy from the lack of exercise because of video games. This lack of exercise contributes to weight gain and obesity. I have a personal connection with this subject because a member of my family was constantly playing video games, not getting any physical exercise, became a social outcast, and over a short period of time became obese. Video Games Are Not Good Video games are not good for children because some children exhibit too many pathologic behaviors and display violent tendencies because of video games. Children become addicted to video games which may carry over into their adulthood; they may lose all sense of reality, and their addiction to video games may become so severe, that tragedies happen because of that addiction. For other children, they may become obese because of the lack of physical activity. There are an abundance of good video games for children to play, but as a parent, I have been a witness to most of these negative effects for over 10 years and I am not going to let my step-son or any of my children play video games excessively. I will control how much time is spent playing video games; make sure that they take extended periods away from video games to get their homework completed and to get daily exercise.

Embryo Research :: Science Arguemtative Argument Papers

Embryo Research as a Paradigm of Ethical Pragmatics Research on the human embryo is one of the most obstinately controversial issues of international bioethical debate. There has not been enough of a consensus on this issue to allow for more than a formal compromise within Europe. I argue in this paper for a pragmatic approach to the problem which accords priority to "want-regarding" considerations but does not fail, as most utilitarian approaches do, to give due weight to the "morality-dependent harms" caused by the practice of embryo research to those rejecting it from other than want-regarding principles. I suggest that in deeply controversial bioethical issues a consistent want-regarding perspective should be prepared, under certain narrow conditions, to make pragmatic trade-offs between the inherent merits of the practice in question and the averse emotions of the public. These conditions are that the averse emotions are widespread, felt to be of existential importance, and stable under additional information, and that the costs in terms of reduced freedom and foregone humane progress do not seem excessive. Research on the human embryo is one of the most obstinately controversial issues of international bioethical debate. There has been not enough of a consensus on this issue to allow for more than a formal compromise even within Europe. In Germany, embryo research has been strictly prohibited since the Embryo Protection Act came into force in 1990. In other countries, such as Great Britain, research on the human embryo is permitted under certain narrowly defined conditions. But even in the countries with a ban on embryo research so much political pressure is exercised for a less rigid policy especially by medical and biological researchers that there is reason to doubt whether the ban on embryo research will be maintained in the long run. What is interesting about the debate from a philosophical point of view is the remarkable absence, for most of the time, of clear and stringent principles. Thus, there is some kind of consensus, at least in Europe, that human embryos should not be produced for research purposes. If embryos are made the objects of research at all they should be "supernumerary" embryos coming from in vitro fertilisations which have aimed at implantation in the maternal womb but which, for some reason or other, have not been used for this purpose. Even if there is an obvious moral difference between, one the one

Shakespeares Macbeth - Why does Macbeth Murder Duncan? :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Why does Macbeth Murder Duncan? In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the lead character of the same name is not sufficiently happy with the high social position he occupies and the honored status he has acquired. Viewing the play simplistically, one may conclude that Duncan is murdered due to the ambition of Macbeth. Ambition is a sin, of course, and therefore Macbeth is punished for his sins. If one does not care to probe more deeply, this evaluation of the play is almost entirely satisfactory, because it is very simple and neat. Yet, this approach converts the work from an extraordinarily complex study of evil into a straightforward morality play and closes off discussion of the most interesting aspects of the play.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Now, there is some evidence for the charge of ambition. Macbeth does want to become king, and he refers to that desire as ambition ("I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself/ And falls on th'other" (1.7.25-28). But we need to be careful here not automatically to take a character's own estimate of his motivation for the truth, or at least for a completely adequate summary statement of all that needs to be said. We need to "unpack" just what that concept of ambition contains in the character to whom we apply it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For a fascinating aspect of Macbeth's motivation is that he is in the grip of something which he does not fully understand and which a part of him certainly does not approve of. This makes him very unlike Richard Gloucester, who announces his plans with glee and shows no scruples about what he has to do (quite the reverse: he looks forward to doing away with his next victim and invites us to share his delight). Clearly a part of Macbeth is fascinated with the possibility of being king. It's not entirely clear where this desire comes from. The witches (whom we will discuss later) put the suggestion into the play, but there is a strong hint from Lady Macbeth that she and her husband have already talked about the matter well before the play begins ("What beast was't then/ That made you break this enterprise to me?" (1.7.48-49). In that case, the appearance of the witches may be, in part, a response to some desire in Macbeth.

Problems Facing United States Today Essay

It is now year 2008, and after Bush administration’s destructive decisions to humanity, America is now facing tremendous problems at home and abroad.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I consider moral standard as the problem which should be taken most seriously. Why? Because it has been in question since the Bush administration declared war against Iraq and violated not just the human rights but also the rights of the country and the rules of war. Justice was not given. Though there were a number of Americans that opposed these attacks, the effects violence has resulted to confusion on moral standards of most Americans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Next is, the problem arising now in medical and social security aspects. It is a problem that should be dealt with as soon as possible for the reason that the government is spending large amount of money and that health is considered a high priority for the benefits of the citizens. There are also issues regarding the inequalities in the medicare system. The government should protect its citizens through improving this type of services. The third problem I consider to be taken with high importance are issues between the Republicans and the Democrats which constitutes the political controversies covering all other problems America is facing. There are far more important issues than the rivalries between the two parties. With this, the politicians tend to focus on such issues and controversies, rather than solving the state’s problems regarding the government’s inefficient services. Following this is the failing value of dollar. As a result of this, the economy of US is under a critical condition. If not solved, this may affect their domestic and international trades. The prices of services and goods may also increase, that may result to revolutions or the failure of the standard of living of the Americans. When this happens, it may cause the less competitiveness of their market to foreign trade.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The fifth problem I considered is the lack of preparedness and actions for natural disasters. The whole planet is under climate change and the people are not aware of what is it all about. The natural disasters now and stronger and are not detected and reported accurately. One example is the typhoon that hit a state in US wherein hundreds of people died and the government was unprepared, so the rescue operation and the services were of low quality. Not only that, the spread of information and educating the people about natural disasters is very minimal. Next is the poor control of government spending. Like the war in Iraq which cost them millions of dollars, but they failed to give justice to both sides. Also the funds they provide for space exploration in order to compete with other countries that are advancing in that field like Russia. Another is the fund for war weapons which are not rationally used, and gives high risk to the citizens security and health.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The seventh problem on my list is the human rights violation abroad brought by the wars launched during Bush’ administration. The war violated the human rights of almost all the population consisting Iraq. Its effects are long term because it has caused and American citizens residing in Middle East can be in danger for attacks as the result of the war.   Next is the lack of help in restoring the environment which is I think is connected with the issue on lack of preparedness. This is a problem because the whole planet is experiencing climate change, and given that US is a first world country and has a high contribution in the world’s pollution, I think they should launch programs and lead other countries in restoring mother nature. The ninth on my list is the problem within family relations. There is an increase in the number of partners getting a divorce, though they have institutions to help these families, still it makes their moral standards low since children of broken families are the victims. The last problem is the illegal aliens inside their territory that may cheat taxes and commit crimes causing another set of problems to the nation. References The Real Problem Facing America. January 18, 2008 retrieved from http://gopublius.com/the-  Ã‚   real-problem-facing-america/ Some More Information on the National Healthcare Plan– How It Can Be Done. January 18, 2008 retrieved from http://www.blogs4me.com/johnnyangel/ Importance of Your Family History to Your Marriage. January 18, 2008 retrieved from http://marriage.about.com/od/familyoforigin/a/familyhistory.htm Top Ten US Natural Disasters. January 18, 2008 retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/environment/top10_naturaldisasterthreats_us.html

Vacant Chapter 17 Family

The last five years have been unbelievable in more ways than one. It's been a long, difficult road, no doubt about it. There's fighting†¦and making up, money problems and tears, but we always make it through, and we make it through together. We are, however, about to experience three of the biggest changes in our lives thus far. Margie is retiring and a new manager will take her place. I'm pretty sure I know a candidate who is a shoe-in. Ethan has taken his duties as assistant manager very seriously. Margie confided to me that it would be a proud moment to see Ethan take her place. The salary increase was nothing to joke about either, and this promotion was enabling us to finally buy our own home. It wouldn't be fancy or lavish, but it would be ours. Margie has been an enormous support system for both Ethan and me. She's stepped in as the mother figure we both needed as we transitioned to new parts of our lives. One could say that I should have been bitter about a â€Å"stand-in† mother, but I never saw it that way. She has been my savior more than once, but when I first met Margie, I wasn't sure what to think. â€Å"Can I help you?† â€Å"Well, I was looking for Ethan.† The woman was small, but spoke with assurance. â€Å"Does he still live here?† I hadn't known what to tell her. It flashed through my mind when I answered the door that perhaps this was the landlord and someone had reported us. Ethan wasn't supposed to have anyone living with him. I shouldn't have cared if he got in trouble after the way he up and left me after I spilled my guts to him, but I just couldn't be angry with him – no matter how hard I tried. â€Å"I'm Margie, Ethan's boss.† I stalled in answering her, debating whether I should invite her in. â€Å"Dear†¦?† â€Å"Oh, sorry – I'm uh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I didn't know whether to give my real name. My gut told me that this woman was harmless. â€Å"It's Emily.† My mother taught me to never give more information than necessary. â€Å"Well, Emily, it's a pleasure to meet you.† That day, Margie invited herself into the duplex and into my life. She was there to comfort me as I cried my eyes out and told her the events leading up to Ethan leaving. She hugged me and gave soothing words of encouragement; above all else, she assured me Ethan would return and that I just had to be patient. She spoke about Ethan that afternoon as if he were her own son. There was never a disapproving word, only compliments and work anecdotes from the years she'd known him. She was also there to support me through school. She insisted, along with Ethan, that I take full advantage of the scholarship I was given. She also wanted me to develop my interests and not just major in something so I could get a job. She told me to pursue what I loved; something I was passionate about. â€Å"I think I know what I want to major in,† I told Margie, the excitement of my revelation radiating in my tone. â€Å"That's great, sweetie. Tell me.† â€Å"This lady came in today with a little boy with autism, and it was so fascinating to watch her interact with him. I think I want to learn more about children and disabilities.† I was nervous about Margie's answer. Maybe she thought I was a little too ambitious or crazy even in regards to my career path. â€Å"What do you think?† â€Å"I think we are lucky to have you, one of God's angels here on earth. You warm an old woman's heart, Emily. I can't think of a better career choice.† I finished school three years later with a degree in Early Childhood Special Education. Margie was there with Ethan on graduation day, and I think she was the loudest cheerleader in the auditorium. â€Å"So, you really want to do this?† I used to be the one that was so unsure of everything and looked to Ethan to be the decision maker. Now, it seems, the tables have turned. He's always looking to me for reassurance. â€Å"I do. I know there will be a lot of work to be done on it, but I have the summer off. There is a lot I can do during that time.† I'd yet to tell him he'd be doing all the painting, but I think – all things considered – he'll be just fine with the tradeoff. â€Å"This house is in a better neighborhood and is a bit bigger. There is room for us to have a home office and a couple spare bedrooms.† The realtor was anxious to make a deal. The house had been on the market for several months due to the â€Å"as is† sale. She's hovering, not wanting this potential sale to slip away. â€Å"Do you have any questions, Mr. and Mrs. Parker?† Despite hearing Mrs. Parker every day, hearing it still brings a smile to my face. I grabbed Ethan's hand and led him back down the hallway. â€Å"I think we'll take another look around and meet you back out front.† I answer, desperate to get a few moments alone with my husband and away from the hovering realtor. â€Å"Will you marry me?† Those were the first words out of Ethan's mouth. Not, â€Å"Good morning, Emily. How did you sleep?† Stunned didn't even begin to capture what I was feeling. My brain wasn't fully awake, and I hadn't registered the small diamond on my left hand. Ethan had placed it there in my sleep and had yet to bring it to my attention. The two years before Ethan's proposal had been perfect. Our new apartment was a dream come true, and we'd even made friends with our neighbors Garth and Kim. The guys loved to barbecue, and Kim loved to talk about kids and literature, two of my favorite things. â€Å"Emily? Come on! You're killing me here!† His desperation made me giggle a bit, as if I'd ever tell him no. â€Å"Yes!† â€Å"Thank God! I was so nervous.† Three weeks later found us at Powell Gardens in the Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel. We had the ceremony on Friday evening, then a picnic in the nearby fountain courtyard. It was small, just Margie and her husband, Garth and Kim, and me and Ethan. We didn't have a honeymoon, but that was okay. Someday, we'd get there. â€Å"So what are you thinking we can do with this room?† Easy, Emily, don't rush it. Make it perfect, I tell myself. â€Å"I'm sure you'll want a place to set up shop at home to work on your lesson plans and stuff.† Ethan walks into the room and steps to the large bow window. â€Å"This window will give you a lot of natural light to work by,† he finishes. â€Å"Yeah, but I think the smaller room down the hall will be good for an office space.† Deep breath, this is it. â€Å"I think this room would be perfect as a nursery since it's right next to the master and has its own quarter bath.† Wait for it†¦. It takes longer than I think it should for it to sink in. I've counted to thirty before he turns around and stares at me blankly. I move my hand down to rest on my still flat stomach. His eyes widen and his mouth falls open. After a long pause, I give him a nod of confirmation and my eyes flutter closed for a couple seconds. â€Å"You're†¦?† I simply nod again. â€Å"Seriously?† â€Å"Seriously.† I don't even think my reply is completely out of my mouth before he's crossed the room and picks me up. He swings me around, hugging me tight. He's mumbling, â€Å"Oh my God, oh my God!† over and over into my breasts. I half expect him to sneak a motorboat in there while he's at it. I just grip his head tighter, relishing the moment. He finally sets me down and kisses me. This is the happiest I've ever seen this man†¦the man I love and worship and would do anything for. â€Å"Thank you, Emily. Thank you for giving me everything I've always wanted, a family.†

A Letter of Advice to Nhs Litigation Authority on Clinical Neglgence Case of Missed Fractured Scaphoid Bone

To: NHS Litigation Authority, Re: Chandler Bing v Friends Health NHS Foundation Trust Dear Sir/ Madam, Thank you for your referral of the case concerning Mr. Chandler Bing’s missed fracture scaphoid bone received on 31 August 2010. The following is the Letter of Advice to the NHSLA concerning the above-mentioned case. The Claimant: 1. The Claimant was born on 8 April 1969. As a result of the events referred to in their particulars of claim the claimant is now represented by Bloomingdale Solicitors to launch to launch a civil action against Friends Health NHS Foundation Trust on 31 August 2010. The Defendant: 2. The Defendant was at all relevant times responsible for the management control, and administration of Friends Health NHS Foundation Trust, and for the employment of doctors, nurses, and other medical specialist s including emergency medicine, radiology and orthopaedic surgeons at and for the purpose of the said hospital. Duty of care: 3. Each of the doctors, nurses, and other staff employed at the hospital who treated the Claimant at the hospital owed the Claimant a duty of care. This duty included a duty in respect of: a. The advice given to the Claimant; . The diagnosis made in respect of the condition of the Claimant; c. The treatment prescribed for the Claimant and advice as to the effect of the treatment; d. The monitoring of the Claimant whilst treatment was given to the Claimant. 4. The Defendant is vicariously liable for any such breach of duty on behalf of any of its employees. Procedural Steps: 1. Protocol Steps: a. Obtaining health records: to provide suf ficient information to alert the Healthcare provider where an adverse outcome has been serious; to request for specific medical records involving the case. . Request for copies of patient’s clinical records with approved standard forms. c. Make sure the copy records to be provided within 40 days of the request and for a cost not exceeding changes permissible under the Access to Health Records Act 1990. d. If the Healthcare provider fails to provide health records within 40 days, their advisers can then apply to Court for an order for pre-action disclosure. e. If Healthcare provider considers additional health records are required from a third party, these should be requested through the patient. Third party Healthcare providers are expected to co-operate. 2. The response: Letter of response: a. Provide requested records and invoice for copying. b. Comments on events and/or chronology. c. If breach of duty and causation are accepted, suggestions for resolving the claims and request for further information offer to settle. d. If breach of duty and/or causation are denied, outline explanations for what happened by Healthcare provider suggests further steps like further investigations, obtaining expert evidence, meetings, negotiations or mediation, or an invitation to issue proceedings. e. Healthcare provider should acknowledge receipt of letter of claim within 14 days of receipt. f. Healthcare provider should, within 3 months of letter of claim, provide a reasoned answer. g. If claim is admitted, then the Healthcare provider says so. h. If any part of claim is admitted, then Healthcare provider makes clear which issues of breach of duty and/or causation are admitted and which are denied and why. i. If claim is denied, include specific comments on allegation of negligence, and if synopsis or chronology of relevant events provided and is disputed, Healthcare provider’s version of events provided. . Additional documents, for instance, internal protocol, copies provided. k. If patient made an offer to settle at this stage as a counter-offer by supporting medical evidence, and/or other evidence in addition to claim in healthcare provider’s possession. l. If parties reach agreement on liability, but time is needed to resolve claim, then aim to agree a reasonab le period. Witness Evidence: The witnesses concerned in this case include: 1. Claimant’s family members and colleagues concerning the accused loss of function in daily activities of living. . Healthcare providers beside the medical doctor in Accident and Emergency Department, including accident and emergency doctors and consultants, radiologists, orthopaedic specialists, nurses, family doctors, etc, who have treated the Claimant. 3. The Claimant himself. Where a witness statement or a witness summary is not served, the party will not be able to call that witness to give oral evidence unless the Court allows it. Matters to be covered in the witness’s statement will include: 1. Occupation and working ability of the Claimant, if this has changed, since the injury, previous occupation of the Claimant. 2. Brief description of marital and family circumstances including dates of birth of all the family members of the Claimant. 3. The Claimant’s amount of the sequence of events relating to the treatment in question. Care should be taken to avoid importing text and phraseology from medical records or reports that the Claimant would not use in the normal course of discussing the case. 4. If the witness’s factual recollection of events differs in any important respect from the medical records, or from the version of facts set out in the Defendant, the statement should acknowledge this and comment upon these differences. 5. The witness should describe the effects of the injury; this will include the effects on his physical condition, emotional condition, the practicalities of everyday life, the Claimant’s financial affairs, family life, and future plans and projects. Additional witnesses should state their relationship to the Claimant. If a amily member is providing a statement which is collaborative of the Claimant’s amount of events, the witness should confirm that he or she has read the Claimant’s statement and state that he or she agrees with its contents, insofar as those within his or her knowledge. The statement should then deal with issues of which the witness can give primary evidence. Where a party is required to serve a witness st atement and he is unable to obtain such a statement, for example because the witness refuses to communicate with the Defendant’s solicitor, he may apply to the Court for the permission to serve only a witness summary instead. This application should be made without notice. The witness summary is a summary of the evidence which would otherwise go into a witness statement, or if the evidence is not known, matters about which the party serving the witness summary will question the witness. Expert Evidence: 1. In clinical negligence disputes, expert opinions may be needed: a. On breach of duty and causation. b. On the patient’s condition and prognosis. c. To assist in valuing aspects of the Claims. The main expert witnesses to be considered include: a. Orthopaedic specialists. b. Accident and Emergency specialists. c. Radiology specialists. 2. The new Civil Procedure Rules will encourage economy in the use of experts and a less adversarial expert culture. It is recognized that in clinical negligence disputes, the parties and their advisers will require flexibility in their approach to expert evidence. Decisions on whether experts should be instructed jointly; and on whether reports might be disclosed sequentially or by exchange, should rest with the parties and their advisers. Sharing expert evidence may be appropriate on issues relating to the value of the Claim. However, this protocol does not attempt to be prescriptive on issues in relation to expert evidence. 3. Obtaining expert evidence will often be an expensive step and may take time, especially in specialized areas of medicine, where there are limited numbers of suitable experts. Patients and Healthcare providers, and their advisers, will therefore need to consider carefully how best to obtain any necessary expert help quickly and cost effectively. . Assistance in locating a suitable expert is available from a number of sources. Here the NHSLA has already supplied a number of experts for this case. 5. This is a case of missed fracture of the waist of the scaphoid, for a patient initially seen in the Accident and Emergency Department, is often a clinical diagnosis rather than a radiological diagnosis, because this fracture may not become apparent on an X-Ray until often a period of 10 days, and some times konger, has elapsed. . Tenderness in the anatomical snuffbox at the base of the dorsal aspect of the thumb, or pain produced by proximal pressuring on the wrist joint in radial deviation by comparison to the unaffected side, together with diminished power of grip, is an indication for the forearm to be put into a scaphoid plaster of Paris. 7. The patient must have the plaster checked the following day and will need to be X-Rayed again in 10 to 14 days if a fracture line was not initially visible. 8. When a fracture of the scaphoid is suspected, â€Å"scaphoid views† should be asked for. 9. The doctor at Accident and Emergency Department must ensure that 4 views have been carried out: Anterior-Posterior, Lateral, Supination oblique, and Pronation oblique. 10. If there is doubt about the diagnosis or the fracture is displaced, then a more senior or orthopaedic opinion must be sought forthwith, otherwise a scaphoid plaster must be applied, and the patient referred to the next Accident and Emergency review clinic or fracture clinic. 11. There is a component of contributory negligence by the Claimant who insists to remove the plaster in the follow up clinic despite he was strongly advised not to do so. The effect of this contributory negligence on the Claims should be further explored and evaluated. Quantum of damages: The means to calculate the quantum of damages made in this case of clinical negligence include various heads of the following damage: 1. Pain, suffering and loss of amenity; 2. Loss of earnings; 3. Care and assistance; 4. Travel and parking; 5. Miscellaneous expenses. The Claims on items (1), (3), (4) and (5) are measured quite subjectively by the patient affected. The calculation of loss of earning could be done by using the Ogden tables, which are involving a set of statistical tables for use in Court case in the United Kingdom. Beside the age of this patient (Date of Birth=08/04/1969) being 41 years old on the date of claim (that is 12-11-2010) is known, we still need to know about the patient’s earning per annum, what is his occupation, whether he had any disability resulted, his qualifications, and his planned age for retirement. In case where the period of loss of earnings will continue for many years into the future, it is particular important to ensure that amount is taken of likely periodic changes to the Claimant’s income. The Claimant will want to point to anticipated career progression. In such cases, the Court will either: 1. Determine the average multiplicand, based upon the likely earnings throughout the period of loss, which will be applied to the full period of the loss, or; 2. Use stepped multiplicands for each stage of the Claimants career. Generally, this will result in a lower multiplicand at the beginning and possibly at the very end of the period of loss, with one or more higher multiplicands to represent the likely career progression that would have been followed. There is a need to interview the Claimant in more details to decide these uncertainties for a more comprehensive evaluation. Last but not least, the importance of expert evidence in such a case is vital. Medical evidence can provide an indication as to what work the Claimant will be capable of undertaking, both at present and in the future. This, together with evidence of the Claimant’s employment prospective, will assist the Court in determining what will happen to the Claimant in the future. Another means to calculate for the approximate quantum of the damage in this patient is to look into common laws and journals for similar cases for comparison and a rough estimation of quantification of similar claims. In Johns v Greater Glasgow Health Board1, a 44 years old lady broke her scaphoid bones in both wrists in a fall. The fractures were only diagnosed three months later. As a result the fractures would not unit, causing continuous incapacity and pain. Bone grafting was contemplated, despite an earlier unsuccessful attempt. Held, that solatium was properly valued at 11,000 pounds with wage loss to date and for a further 4 years. In W v Ministry of Defence2, which is a case of failure to diagnose fractured scaphoid from Clinical Risk 2010; Volume 16: p. 198 (by Collier et al). The case was settled concerning damages awarded to the Claimant pursuant to the delay in the diagnosis of the fracture of his hand, without which the Claimant could have avoided undergoing surgery and regained his complete and normal wrist function. W made an offer to settle in the sum of 15,000 pounds. The amount awarded to the Claimant was reduced to 9,000 pounds after further negotiation. 1. Johns v Greater Glasgow Health Board (1990) SLT 459. 2. W v Ministry of Defence (2009) MLC 1652 In B v Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital3, the Claimant, a male nurse aged 29 years, had attended the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust after falling off his bike in July 2004. His left fractured scaphoid bone wad missed and a non-united scaphoid fracture with humpback deformity and associated ligament damage had occurred. The Claimant thus made a Part 36 Offer for the sum of 14,000 pounds that was agreed with the Defendants in March 2006. In N v Pontypridd & Rhona NHS Trust4, the Claimant injured his right wrist in a fall whilst ice-skating on March 14, 1998. He attended the Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department and was noted as having a tender scaphoid. An X-Ray of the wrist was taken which was interpreted as disclosing no fracture. Nonetheless the wrist was set in plaster of Paris and the Claimant released. On March 19, 1998, the Claimant re-attended the Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department still in pain. The cast was removed; no X-Ray was repeated. The Claimant was given tubi-grip dressing and told to exercise the wrist. On April 29, 1998, the Claimant attended a different Hospital complaining pain and swelling over scaphoid region. X-Ray showed a fracture of scaphoid bone in his right dominant hand. On May 29, 1998, the fracture showed sign of delayed union. As a result, a settlement of total damage of 12,500 pounds; general damage of 8,000 pounds, and special damage for income loss and care of 4,500 pounds were awarded. In P v United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust5, the Claimant was involved in a fracas at nightclub in Bristol and arrested for punching security camera. The Claimant attended Accident and Emergency Department at the Bristol Royal Infirmary on 27 May 2000 and he experienced problems relating to his right wrist. The SHO treated the injury as being a sprain and no X-Ray was taken. The Claimant’s GP then identified tenderness in anatomical snuffbox. An X-Ray confirmed fracture through scaphoid being missed by Accident and Emergency Department. The Claim was finally settled for 40,000 pounds with causation proved. 3. B v Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (2006) MLC 1350 4. N v Pontypridd & Rhona NHS Trust (2003) MLC 1031 5. P v United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust (2004) MLC 1159 QBD Settlement Where a Claimant has received State Benefits as a result of a disease and is subsequently awarded compensation, the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) will seek to recover these benefits from the Defendant via a system operated by the Compensation Recover Unit (CRU). The CRU is also responsible for collecting from a Defendant the cost of any NHS treatment that a Claimant has received following a clinical negligence. Notifying the DWP: Section 4 of the 1997 Act requires the compensator to inform the DWP not later than 14 days after receiving the Claim. The Notification should be made on Form CR1 which is sent to the DWP. On receipt of Form CRU1, the CRU will send Form CRU4 to the Defendant. The Claim then progresses to the settlement stage. When ready to make an offer of compensator, the compensator submits form CRU4 to obtain a Certificate. The CRU acknowledges receipt of form CRU4 within 14 days. The CRU sends the Certificate to the compensator- a copy will also be sent to the Claimant’s solicitor. The compensator will then settle the compensation claim and pay the relevant amount to the DWP within 14 days of the settlement. The compensator will also complete and send to the DWP Form CRU102 detailing the outcome of the Claim. The rules relating to recovery of benefit apply to clinical negligence claims. Due to their complexity, especially relating to causation, the CRU has set up a specialist group to deal with the claims, and makes a special request their compensators inform the CRU about clinical negligence claims as soon as the pre-action correspondence is received. Part 36 Offer: A party who wishes to make a Part 36 Offer must first apply for a Certificate of Recoverable Benefit from the CRU. Although Part 36 does not spell it out , guidance from case law suggests that the offer should therefore particularize the various heads of damage, and indicate the amount of benefits to be deducted against each head. Mediation: The parties should consider whether some form of Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedure would be more suitable than litigation, and if so, endeavour to agree which form to adopt. Both the Claimant and Defendant may be required by the Court to provide evidence that alternative means of resolving their dispute were considered. The Courts take the view that litigation should be a last resort, and that claims should not be issued prematurely when a settlement is still actively being explored. Parties are warned that if the protocol is not followed, then the Court must have regard to such conduct when determining costs. Mediation is one option for resolving disputes without litigation: it is a form of facilitated negotiation assisted by an independent neutral party. The Clinical Disputes Forum has published a guide to mediation which will assist, available at www. clinicaldisputesforum. org. uk The Legal Services Commission has published a booklet on â€Å"Alternatives to Courts†, CLS Direct Information Leaflets 23, which lists a number of organizations that provide ADR services. It is expressly recognized that no party can or should be forced to mediate or enter into any form of ADR. (Total: 3000 words) Bibliography: 1. Lewis: Clinical Negligence: A Practical Guide, 6th edition, Tottel Publishing. . Khan M, Robson M, Clinical Negligence, 2nd edition, Cavendish Publishing. 3. Powers and Harris: Clinical Negligence, 3rd edition, Butterworths. 4. Woolf S (1995) Access to Justice – Interim Report HMSO. 5. Woolf S (1996) Access to Justice – Final Report HMSO. 6. (1999) The Civil Procedure Rules HMSO. 7. â€Å"Making Amends†, at www. dh. gov. uk 8. †NHS Redress Bill† at www. publications. parliment. uk 9. Civil Litigation Handbook by Woolf, Lord Justice; Burn, Suzanne; Peysner John (2001), The Law Society. 10. A. A. S. Zuckerman, Ross Cranston (1995), Reform of Civil Procedure- Essays on â€Å"Access to justice†, Oxford University Press. 11. The Judicial Studies Board, Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 9th edition, Oxford University Press. 12. Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence: Tough Conditions – The Lawyer 10/10/05, www. lexisnexis. com 13. Opinion: Edwina Rawson: The Lawyer 26/09/05, www. lexisnexis. com 14. Butterworths: â€Å"Risk Assessment in Litigation: Conditional Fee Agreements, Insurance and Funding†, David Chalk 15. The Law Society: â€Å"Conditional Fees: A survival Guide†, Napier and Bawdon 16. 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