Succubus Revealed Chapter 21

You would think the first moments of my new life, with a soul, would be magical and wonderful. Mostly, they just hurt. â€Å"Ow.† â€Å"Not quite the same without immortal healing, eh, sweetie?† I squinted into Hugh's grinning face. He stood in front of a huge window, backlit into blinding radiance. Turning my head, I slowly assessed the rest of my surroundings, taking in the familiar signs of a hospital room. I was lying on a bed, an IV in my arm, next to some beeping machines with indecipherable readouts. I glanced back at Hugh. â€Å"Can you close the curtains? Or move to the other side of me?† He shut the curtains partway, still keeping the room lit but no longer to eye-searing levels. â€Å"Better?† â€Å"Yeah. Thanks.† I shifted slightly, trying to assess my body's injuries. There was soreness in my ribs, a feeling of constriction when I breathed. Part of that was from whatever hurt they'd sustained and the rest was from the bandages tightly wrapped around my torso. All the better to keep me from making things worse, I supposed. â€Å"How . . . how long have I been in here?† Recent events were still kind of a blur. In some ways, the trial felt like it had happen seconds ago. Yet it also had the dreamlike quality of something that had occurred last century. It was hard to wrap my mind around. â€Å"Well,† said Hugh, â€Å"your body's been here for about four days. ‘You' on the other hand . . . oh, you came back to us about two days ago.† â€Å"You could tell?† I said. His smile grew wry. â€Å"You forget what I do for a living. When you were in Hell, you didn't have a soul.† â€Å"I didn't have a soul before then,† I pointed out. â€Å"I mean, technically it belonged to Hell, right?† â€Å"Yes, but even if you don't own it, you still possess it. You can't function or exist without it. Our souls are like . . . oh, I don't know. It's like they're encased in amber. They're there, and I can see them inside us. They're just inaccessible, in a way that's different from humans. When you were gone, you had nothing. Not even a tagged soul. There was just kind of a . . . hollow darkness within you while you lay here.† I shivered, not liking the image. â€Å"And now?† â€Å"And now?† Hugh's face softened, taking on a look of wonder that I'd never before seen on the usually gruff and snide imp. â€Å"Oh, sweetie. When you came back, I was here . . . and it was like . . . fuck, I don't know. I'm terrible at similes. It was like the sun, after an eclipse. You think that's bright?† He nodded toward the window. â€Å"That's nothing. You have your soul back, unfettered and unrestrained . . . and it's amazing. It's beautiful, so beautiful. I've never seen anything like it.† â€Å"Is it . . . is it tainted? I mean, I've done things . . .† â€Å"You get it back shiny and new. That's in clause 13.2.1. It's a sign of how confident Hell is about never having to give souls back. Don't worry,† he added. A goofy grin had started to spread over my face. â€Å"Even the best people have a few screwups. You'll break your soul in in no time. It's like a car. Loses its value when you drive it off the lot.† â€Å"Just hopefully not to the same degree as before,† I muttered. A new, panicked thought came to me. I was pretty confident of the answer, but I had to ask. â€Å"And my body? Which one is it?† â€Å"The same Georgina we all know and love. There are also stipulations about that, for succubi freed of their contracts. It would get messy giving you back your original body and figuring out what to do with you as far as location and time. So, you're simply reinstated with your soul into whatever body and location you were last in.† He paused. â€Å"I'm fairly certain it's never happened to any succubus before.† â€Å"Thank goodness I wasn't in the kind of body Tawny was when Jerome was summoned,† I remarked. She had been wearing a truly horrendous shape, but since we were all cut from our powers until Jerome's restoration, she'd been stuck in it. Although, to be honest, if it meant having my own soul, I would've taken that body. I would've taken my original body. I would've taken anything. The physical trappings were nothing. â€Å"Carter gave us a recap,† Hugh said. He shook his head, smiling. â€Å"I can't believe you gambled on both contracts. I would've run off with the sure thing.† â€Å"I couldn't,† I said, thinking back to the events of the courtroom. â€Å"Even if he hates me, I couldn't abandon Seth. I couldn't have enjoyed the rest of my life, knowing he was damned.† â€Å"He doesn't hate you.† â€Å"But he – â€Å" â€Å"I know, I know.† Hugh wouldn't let me finish. â€Å"I know what he said, but he was still in the throes of grief from that fucked-up hypnosis. That was too much for anyone to handle. Carter talked to him when you got back – explained what happened.† My heart lurched. Was that a good or bad thing? I was beginning to gain some glimpse of just how invested Carter had been in my situation (and Seth's), but had the angel really been able to fix everything so easily? â€Å"Did . . . did Carter change Seth's mind about me or something ?† Hugh shrugged. â€Å"I don't think he needed to. If things hadn't panned out like they had that night – with the car – I think you and Seth would've had a very interesting conversation. I think he'd started to come around. It's why he was there.† â€Å"No,† I said, disbelieving. â€Å"I talked to him, sweetie. Do you really think all that love could have just been thrown away so easily? And he was here, you know. He was by your bedside until . . . well, yesterday, actually. Then he had to leave for his tour.† â€Å"His tour . . .† I vaguely remembered Andrea mentioning that, how it had become a possibility with her recovery. Speaking of Andrea . . . if my contract was off the table, Hell would have no reason to continue messing with her. She could be left in peace to heal on her own. â€Å"He went yesterday?† â€Å"Somewhere on the East Coast,† said Hugh. â€Å"I'm sure you can find it on his Web site. You were the one who always encouraged him to update it, after all.† I smiled at that, thinking of how reluctant Seth had been about the digital age. I gestured vaguely at my prone body. â€Å"Probably just as well that he's gone. I need to heal up. Maybe . . . maybe we'll talk when he's back.† Hugh eyed me, staying silent. â€Å"What?† I demanded. â€Å"He's going to be gone two weeks,† said Hugh. â€Å"That much I know. You sure you want to wait that long?† â€Å"I've waited a long time already,† I pointed out dryly. â€Å"Exactly my point. Look, I don't have any delusions about my soul. I made my choice and am content with fate. But if I were you? If I had my soul and the potential for a new life? Fuck, Georgina. I'd go after Seth, wherever he is, the instant I could hobble out of my bed. You're mortal now. It's easy to ‘wait a little longer' when you've got all of eternity on the line. You don't anymore. You've wasted the time you have playing Hell's games, bickering back and forth with Seth and who he's been. End it. Go to him, as soon as you can, and fix this.† â€Å"You sound like Roman.† As soon as I said his name, a million memories came crashing down on me. â€Å"Oh my God. Roman. I can't believe what he did.† â€Å"I know,† said Hugh sadly. â€Å"Carter told us that too.† â€Å"Why would he do that?† I asked, knowing I'd never have a satisfactory answer. â€Å"Oh Lord, Hugh. I left him there. I abandoned him.† â€Å"You did no such thing,† scolded Hugh. â€Å"You had no choice in it. And it's not like he was conned or tricked. He knew for a long time he wanted to do this. After we filed the petition, he grilled me constantly about contract details and Hell's legal procedures. He wanted to do this. He prepared for it. He was just waiting for the chance.† I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid I would cry, as I remembered him defending me in Hell. A vague memory came to me, the night before the game. . . . Roman had had something to tell me but had held off. And when I'd floated above my body, just before I'd faded away, Carter had said he had to go get Roman. They'd planned on all of this. Roman had known what was happening and had been ready to depart. Hugh was right. Roman had wanted this. That didn't make it any easier. I opened my eyes. â€Å"What do I do?† Hugh's face was kind as he regarded me. â€Å"Don't make Roman's sacrifice be in vain. He wanted you to be happy. So go be happy, sweetie. Go to Seth.† Any response I might make was interrupted when a nurse came and discovered I was conscious. She scolded Hugh for not getting her and went to summon the doctor. Hugh gave me a sheepish look as she did. It was a carryover from being immortal, when I would've healed so fast that we could easily dismiss modern medicine's assistance. The doctor, a fortysomething woman named Dr. Addison, soon appeared and performed a few preliminary tests on me, as well as giving me the rundown on my condition. When she was finished, I asked, â€Å"How long do you think I'll be here?† â€Å"If everything progresses like it should?† she mused. â€Å"I'd say you can be discharged in three more days. And you're going to have to take it easy.† â€Å"Three more days,† I repeated mournfully. Being human was going to take some getting used to. As a succubus, I would've recovered from this in twenty-four hours. There wouldn't have even been any taking it easy afterward. Dr. Addison scoffed at my dismay. â€Å"Honestly, after getting hit like you did, a week total here isn't bad at all. You took some nasty hits, but really, this could've been a lot worse.† When she and the nurse left, I saw Hugh scanning his phone. â€Å"What are you looking at?† â€Å"Seth's schedule. In three days, he'll be in St. Louis.† â€Å"Hmm,† I said. â€Å"In four, he'll be in San Francisco.† â€Å"That's close,† I said. â€Å"Relatively.† â€Å"It'd give you an extra day in there to recover,† said Hugh. â€Å"An extra day, huh?† I teased. â€Å"What happened to not wasting a single day as a mortal?† â€Å"My point about not wasting time still stands,† said Hugh. He grinned. â€Å"But even I can be realistic. Take the extra day. You need it for the logistics of travel, if nothing else. But not a single day more.† â€Å"Get out and live life, huh?† â€Å"If you're up for it.† I thought about his words, thought about Seth. I nodded, not caring whether hopping on a plane right after being discharged was crazy. I was human now. Crazy was in the job description. â€Å"I'm up for it,† I said. â€Å"Book me a flight to San Francisco.† Hugh's attention was on his phone again. â€Å"Sweetie, I already am.†

Gender In The Middle Ages Essay

During the medieval periods, gender is a great measure defining the state of a certain person in a certain society. According to the Qur’an, the male gendered people are always considered as superior than that of the female figures because the scripture explains that it is as God created man first before creating a woman and that the man is the protector and provider of the woman. In the medieval period society, those people who acquire power are said to be all male gendered ones. A woman is never allowed to hold power because they are said to be subjected in doing household chores because they are believed to be inferior being than that of man. Females are believed to be basically serving their husbands as well as their children and also their parents. This kind of belief bloomed because it is written in the Holy Scriptures that God created man on his image and because God is believed to be a powerful immortal creator then therefore the man whom he created holds the power over everything that God created. The only position that a woman can hold in the society during the medieval time is; someone who will follow their husband as they are subjected to follow the man’s rule because the man are considered the authority. Woman are also not allowed to learn as they are not allowed to teach, they also can not be allowed as a witness, and nor are they allowed to give their judgement as well as their opinion over a certain matter. Women are never given the chance to excel beyond what they are, neither are they given the opportunity to speak out their thoughts. They are considered as servants who are chosen by the immortal creator to serve the man created as the holder of the power and authority above every creation. The society’s expectation of role towards the people came basically from the sacred scriptures. In Christian scripture, it is stated in the bible that Adam was made first in order to rule, protect and be the authority over God’s creation; in the Qur’an scripture from the Islamic religion, it has also been stated that man is made first in order to rule those who are made inferior to them. The medieval scenario on gender shows that the medieval period basically adopted the sacred scripture’s statement and implemented it as a basis on how they are going to treat such people depicted by their gender. This explains that the church has a great influence towards the people on the medieval periods; it generally makes people obey and base their social life under the words of the immortal creator. The people’s concern during the medieval period which is related to gender is that they give man all the respect due to the man’s gender. The respect that the society bestows towards the male figures is considered as a symbol of their love and respect to which they believe and they have faith into. Since the people believed that God is powerful and that God created man from his own image, therefore man as the society considers, is as precious and as respectful as God is who deserves authority, power, love, respect, and obedience as much as loyalty. On the contrary, there is an act in which the boundaries of gender can be altered. An example is the Chambermaid who is a servant employed by a certain master in order to do all the heavy and most filthy duties in a household. This kind of servant can be almost considered as an outcast or untouchable and therefore man are not allowed to get closer to her and worst is that man are also not allowed to marry them. The people during the medieval period are basically not allowed to rise into a higher status in the society. Since the medieval people have their idea in mind that women are not created through God’s image and likeness, they are then subjected to forever being servant of their master or of their husband. This includes their exception from learning as well as their exception from their right to teach what they know, the are also not allowed to become a witness in any matter or crime, they are even prevented from giving such guarantee, and thus they are also not allowed to witness such judgement nor give their own opinion regarding the judgement matters. The ideas and beliefs that the medieval people used to believe are cruel and unfair. It imposes that women are useless and all that women can be is a simple servant who tends to follow all that the man has to say or has to command. In addition, women are being treated like animals lacking of respect and losing their dignity as a human being who are too created by the almighty. Through the period that the female beings were disrespected, they’ve experienced torments, public humiliation; they are also unaccepted by the society to join any position or to excel at any other state rather than that of being a slave. If the medieval people really believed in God and thus respect and love him as they loved the male races, then therefore the woman also deserves such respect because they too are beings created by God and that what God said that â€Å"man should be the authority over woman† was taken exaggeratedly to the extend that the male race treated the women as â€Å"nothing† where what God meant by his word is that man should be the authority over woman in order to protect the female race from the temptations and tests of life which females are weak of. Class status added a conflict to the situation when women were disregarded and taken advantage of. Those who are rich or considered as powerful aristocrats during the medieval period tend to purchase women to e either their sex object or slaves. Those who are being purchased for slaves were being commanded to do ridiculous chores and those who were purchased to be sex objects were considered as source for past time pleasure. The women purchased to make love with by the socially stabled man will not be free even if somebody purchased them unless their present master will decide to let go of them. The example wherein people could see that women where given the opportunity to be treated fairly is in The Rule of St. Francis of Assisi wherein he said that man which he considers as his brothers should not dare to judge other people but rather they should be gentle or kind. In addition to the rules, it was stated that man should not have any verbal nor non-verbal connection with the women unless they were being allowed by the pope. The rules of St. Francis of Assisi show how people must treat women in a way that the women were being given proper respect. The nuns’ gender as a female deserves respect for they are holy as God had created them and as they were ready to serve God. In the middle or medieval period, gender treatments were not uniform. There were places where female were considered slaves and that they were being sold and purchased just like materials things and men act like God who holds power over women. On the other hand, in other places, men were treated like slaves as women were and they too experiences sufferings and torments and women where somehow treated fairly. Gender issues during the medieval or middle age is a historical fact that marked the perception of people towards the importance of the humanity’s difference and how they should be treated which made the people of this period time realize that women can be as useful, and as effective as men in any matter. It is not because man are made with God’s image that women should be taken advantage of but it is that because they are God’s like created figures, they should then treat the creations as a precious thing which is under their care. BIBLIOGRAPHY Sherman, Dennis. Western Civilization Sources, Images, and Interpretations. 7th ed. Vol. 1: McGraw Hill, Year.

Migration. Multiculturalism. Mobilization Essay

Migration. Multiculturalism. Mobilization - Essay Example Voltaire (quoted above), the French Historian and Philosopher, spoke about the concept of religious diversity centuries ago and reflected a prosperous society as a result of this diversity. Many years, wars and generations later, the world has become a much smaller place especially with the rise of globalization and constant travel of people. The last century on-looked the surfacing of a cluster of social, intellectual and political movements led by diverse factions as the indigenous communities, national minorities, ethno-cultural populations, old and new immigrants, feminists, gay men and women. These inhabitants symbolized distinctive practices, customs, lifestyles, views and ways of life that are different from, often disapproved of, and in varying degrees discouraged and criticized by the prevailing culture of the wider society (Parekh 2000). Ethnic and cultural pluralism that are the foundations of multiculturalism in Western societies, have been a cause of debate and considera ble criticism amongst the politics and general public. This essay studies the role multiculturalism has in the socio-political and economical context. Defining Multiculturalism The conception of multiculturalism symbolizes a relatively new approach to elucidate the age-old process of civilizations and re-settlement. Migration and multiculturalism have become critical points in political agendas across the globe. However, before dwelling into the details of political and sociological complexities of multiculturalism, it is important to understand what the term means and review its available definitions. In his book, Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights, Canadian philosopher and multiculturalism researcher Will Kymlicka has discussed upon the conundrum of defining multiculturalism (Kymlicka 1995). He debates that the term multicultural is either too vague, because it clusters multination and poly-ethnic, or is too broad as it can embrace non-ethnic social gro ups, like the disabled, gays and feminists, etc.   This argument over the coverage of the term stems from the scholarly disagreements over definitions of culture.  The following are a number of definitions for â€Å"multiculturalism† in peer-reviewed research: â€Å"Multiculturalism is a system of beliefs and behaviors that recognizes and respects the presence of all diverse groups in an organization or society, acknowledges and values their socio-cultural differences, and encourages and enables their continued contribution within an inclusive cultural context which empowers all within the organization or society.† (Rosado 1996) â€Å" Multiculturalism is the co-existence of diverse cultures, where culture includes racial, religious, or cultural groups and is manifested in customary behaviours, cultural assumptions and values, patterns of thinking, and communicative styles.† (IFLA 2005) â€Å" Multiculturalism can be defined as the challenging, the dismantl ing, the remaking of public identities in order to achieve an equality of citizenship that is neither merely individualistic nor premised on assimilation." (Modood 2005) â€Å"Multiculturalism is concerned with the representation, not of difference as such, but of cultural identities.† (Henry Louis Gates 1993). It should be noted that despite the fact that the term â€Å"cultural identities† is used in defining multiculturalism, the author argues against the inclusion of gender and sexual identities in a culture specific context. Author Dan Rodriguez-Garcia, in his paper on assimilation and multiculturalism, has defined a multiculturalist or pluralist society as â€Å"

What will be the effect on stakeholders of the proposed change in fees Dissertation

What will be the effect on stakeholders of the proposed change in fees and funding for UK undergraduate degrees - Dissertation Example Since the second half of 2010, dramatic changes have occurred in higher education (HE) policies in the United Kingdom (UK). Although recent policy reforms in higher education have not been totally unexpected, their impact has far-reaching consequences to various stakeholders. With the expansion of HE happening in most OECD countries, there has been increasing shift towards relying on fees from students and the increase in contingency student loans (Greenaway and Haynes, 2003). Government has realised the budgetary implications, and looked for solutions in countries like the United States (US) where HE is considered an individual investment. Thus, when Lord Browne pushed forward his ‘recommendations for sustainable funding for higher education’, the coalition government accepted almost all proposals (Secured Loans, UK 2010). Central to these is that the government must cease making HE part of the state’s welfare (Secured Loans UK, 2010). Trade unions lament that fu nding cuts in HE will have serious impact on the education of the students (BBC, 2010). They predict that as many as 200,000 students will miss out on higher education. Administrators also fear that quality of education will suffer, especially for taught courses in comparison with research-based universities (BBC, 2011). Question one is therefore, with all these points highlighted, why is government pushing for such policy reforms?

Personal Liberties Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Liberties - Essay Example Between January 2013 and December 2013, a total of 92.3 billion pounds of food were wasted in the United States. It is due to the capitalistic system in which all aspects of lifestyle and society require access to currency in order to procure products and services. Without this access, an individual will be homeless, have nothing to eat, and generally be at risk of death without adequate access to important health-sustaining resources. Businesses in the capitalistic system consider all of their assets to be associated with a pricing structure and government provides regulatory and legislative support for this system which continues to contribute to higher starvation rates across the country. To simply enter a grocery outlet, fill a shopping cart, and subsequently push it out the door without providing payment is considered a criminal act in the capitalistic system. This thereby prevents people in American society without access to high volumes of currency from having any quality life style as they have become, essentially, slaves to a system that favors the value of money over human life. I am supportive of a socialist system, one where resources are more fairly distributed to all members of society and where class divisions are broken down to provide equity in resource allocation. Even the ideological Communist system has merits in its doctrines as this type of system desires to completely abolish all forms of currency and return society back to a barter and trade type of system to ensure equity.

The cost of rising gas prices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The cost of rising gas prices - Essay Example â€Å"Chris Christopher, an economist at IHS, figures that for every $0.24 increase in the price of gasoline, employment is lower by 410,000†(Stiphen Gandal 2011). This unemployment that occurs due to rising gas prices affects the entire economy. It results in lower standard of living of those who lose their jobs and poverty prevails. The government also pays the price because its spending rises as unemployment befits have to be given to more people. Due to industrialization in the last century, every other commodity is produced by using machinery. Agricultural products, minerals, or manufactured goods, all the production processes use fuel at some stage. For instance, minerals are extracted using heavy machinery that consumes gas as fuel and crops have to be transported to retailers from farmers. Since gas is an essential component o cost o production, it pushes up the price o commodities. Study shows that due to rise in gasoline prices , the cost of production of consumer go ods increased by 0.8% in April 2011 and a rise in consumer price index of 0.5% in both February and March 2011. A comparison of prices in January 2010 and January 2011 showed how rise in gas prices resulted in huge rises in prices of other commodities. This comparison showed that corn prices increased by 58%, rubber prices increased by 78%, Aluminum by 9%, cotton by 131% and wheat by 37%. These are only a few commodities but the impact was not restricted to these only.(Micheal Kopoly, 2011) The entire cost o production increase due to rise in gas prices is not transferred to consumers only but in many cases it results in lower profit margins of firms and job cuts to compensate the costs. Hence it is the entire community that incurs the costs. Increased gas prices have altered spending and saving patterns. 21% of the households have reduced spending to great extent by buying economy sized packs o groceries and buying cheap brands. A large number of consumers are using loyalty cards a nd other promotional services offered by retailers to save money. Increased gas prices increase cost o living. Individuals have less money available to spend on vacations and leisure activities. According to Danita Blackwood , â€Å"The number of Americans making plans to take a vacation over the next six months has fallen to a 30-year low according to a leading business membership and research organization, The Conference Board.† (Doug Caverly, 2008). This means that the businesses that rely on tourists suffer a lot for instance resorts, museums, theme parks and so forth. 21% of the households say that they have reduced eating out. This means that restaurants and hotels have faced a decline in their profits.(Micheal Kopoly, 2011) Five out of six US recessions witnessed after 1970 were linked with rising fuel prices.(Berk, 2011) . High gas prices lead to higher cost of production, reduced profits and a decline in aggregate demand. Though the immediate response to the question of the effects of rise in gas prices would be the above mentioned, a few opposing views may also be found. A few businesses still benefit despite the increase in gas prices. These businesses are those which produce goods that have an inelastic demand. When cost of goods increases, the cost is transferred to the consumer and the businesses maintain the profit margins. Information technology industry is still flourishing despite the energy crises. When meetings have become more costly due to increased driving

Advertising promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Advertising promotion - Essay Example The business plan for the service is that the target market will hire Darla to perform weekly errands like picking up dry cleaning and grocery shopping, or do one-off errands, such as getting shoes or watches repaired or dropping off library books. The idea is that if Darla performs these tasks, these people will be able to relax and spend more time with friends and family, and enjoy other leisure activities. Issue with the Idea The main issue encountered for implementing this idea was to generate awareness about the service to the target people so that the idea could be implemented properly. Besides this, reaching out to the target customers efficiently was also major issue faced by Darla and her errand service. Solution To tackle this problem proper communication with the target market was essential and to actualise the same Darla had to spend a significant amount of money on advertising. In addition she had to take a call whether she would go for in-house advertising or hire an ag ency to do the job. The target market for â€Å"I’ll Run for You† comprised of a pretty large population in the area and mainly included the people who either led retired or busy lives. The elderly people who were too old for errands, and the professionals who had to travel because of work, had no time to do the errands. Before deciding on the type of advertising that Darla should have considered, it is important to analyse the pro and cons of both an in-house and an advertising agency services. In an in-house agency, the cost is relatively low and with improved technology actions ranging from direct mails to development of website, can be successfully executed by a marketer. Consistency and transparency can also be easily maintained by an in-house agency (Powers, 2012). The biggest benefit of an in-house agency is that it has total control over the provider’s time, quality and activity. Most of the organisations try to maintain the core operation in-house, whic h would differentiate the business (Traxler, 2012). However the in-house agency has a relatively low buying power of media, there are hardly any fresh views, lacks specialised knowledge, and also the stress related to work is more (Smith & Taylor, 2004, p.168). In other words, in-house agencies are less experienced, less flexible and less objective (Belch, Belch & Purani, 2010, p. 102). In case of advertising agency the biggest benefit is the expertise knowledge that the agency brings on board. The agencies work in groups, and so they are likely to pick the most innovative idea and act as per the requirements of the clients. Moreover, as the crucial part of advertising is handled by the agency, a lot of significant time gets saved for the organisation to involve in other related activities (Sharma, 2011). However advertising agency is a costly affair as they usually charge a high price for the variety of services and sometimes the clients end up paying for pretty trivial reasons. Th e money involved is relatively higher as compared to an in-house agency. Besides this less involvement with and understanding of overall marketing goals of the client, and longer response time taken by the external agencies also act as dampening factors of hiring an outside agency. Recommendation Analysing the pros and cons of both in-house and outside advertising agency, it is recommended to â€Å"I’ll Work for you† to hire an outside agency which would help it in generating awareness among the target customers. Although outside advertising agency has many disadvantages, but since the business is new, it will be beneficial

Is Total Quality Management Enough For Competitive Advantage Essay

Is Total Quality Management Enough For Competitive Advantage - Essay Example ers are becoming more and more aware, empowered, enlightened, and exposed to more products than anytime on the history of this planet (Tenner, & DeToro, pp. 123-159, 1992). They have substitutes for everything, businesses are being done at global levels and no part of the world is now isolated from the other parts (Ross, & Perry, pp. 78-96, 1999). This situation led the experts to come up with new ways to survive and magnify revenues. The concepts of total Quality Management and competitive advantage are a couple of them. This paper is devoted to the discussion that is total quality management enough for competitive advantage. Before the paper moves any further, it is important at this stage to understand and reflect on the basic concepts of Total Quality management and competitive advantage. Experts view total Quality management as a â€Å"Management or corporate philosophy that asks firms to strive for making the best use of all the available resources and integrating all organisational functions such as Research and development, Planning, Manufacturing, Customer Service, etc so that organisational goals of maximum profit and customer satisfaction could be attained in the best possible way† (Hakes, pp. 12-38, 1991) (Gummer, & McCallion, pp. 45-92, 2007). There are many other elements attached with it. Authorities in Management studies regard total quality management as process through which, companies can successfully move on to the road of continuous enhancement and expansion, enchanted customers, empowered workforce that lead to lowest possible costs and highest possible returns (Ross, & Perry, pp. 78-96, 1999). It is imperative to understand here that there is a huge amount of debate going on the scope and dimensions of Total Quality management and different scholars have different approaches towards it (Gummer, & McCallion, pp. 45-92, 2007). There are a number of ideas regarding total quality management; however, all diverge on the single point of

Australian Security in the New Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Australian Security in the New Century - Essay Example Although the attacks were targeted America, they proved that no nation and no people, were safe from this new threat. The tactics used were often suicidal in nature and thus, the attacks are extremely hard to control, once they have been initiated. The funding mechanisms and training cells for organizations that launch and support such terrorist activities are spread throughout the world and can not be routed out in a day. To deal with this threat in a comprehensive manner, vast and sweeping changes were required in the security policies of most nations that considered themselves at threat. The following areas that pose a threat to the security of the Australian nation and it's people can be identified: 1. Environmental Security: Though the global war on terrorism still dominates as the main security issue, Australia is currently analyzing and addressing its environmental security issues namely climate change and global warming. In addition, environmental security threats can be classified under two broad categories, firstly, natural threats such as volcanoes, earth quakes, tsunamis and bush fires and secondly, threats posed due to human activities, such as ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect. Australia's rising awareness of and commitment to combating environmental threats can be gauged from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC 2007) summit, which was held in Sydney, Australia on 8-9 September, 2007, where the Sydney APEC Leaders' jointly declared that they would be committed to taking wide-ranging and ambitious actions to address the issue of environmental quality and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. 2. Military focused security issues: After the year 2000, the focus of Australia's strategic policy was enhanced to look beyond the erstwhile narrow emphasis on the defense of the continent based on a reliance on US support to preserve a stable power balance in Asia. This carried two main implication for the Australian defence infrastructure, namely, the increase in land force capabilities for regional cooperation and a sustained investment in high-tech air and naval capabilities. The three main factors which influenced the Australian defense policy after 200 are : i.) The operations in Iraq raised questions about the balance between the size and weight of the Australian land forces. ii) Instability in the pacific raised the need to develop the capacity to

Global Education and Development in Africa Research Paper

Global Education and Development in Africa - Research Paper Example For a country to get developed it is necessary to have a stable political system. History tells us about Africa’s long history of oppression under the rule of English who came to the continent because of the diamond and gold mines. The English and the Dutch agrarian settlers imposed Apartheid and adopted the policy of segregation and rule over the natives of the land. The Africans were denied basic rights and had no part in the political system of their own country. Apartheid laws served to legalize this discrimination against the African blacks. The country itself saw economic prosperity as the white oppressors exploited the native Africans while suppressing and depriving them of many things. Therefore even at the end of Apartheid in 1990, the suppressed nation therefore was still a developing nation. Many international contributions are now being made towards the educational and economic development of Africa. Free education programs have been introduced all around the count ry and young Africans have now begun to realize the value of education. With the help of free education there is a hope for Africa to develop as well. Problem statement The researcher tries to find out the factors, which affect the education of Africa. The researcher focuses on the factors which make Africa have a low literacy rate and how education can get common at this part of the land. Literature review Education is the most important factor that contributes towards leading a society towards success. Education changes and affects not only the personality of the student but also changes their entire thought process, which eventually influences... According to the paper education is the most important factor that contributes towards leading a society towards success. Education changes and affects not only the personality of the student but also changes their entire thought process, which eventually influences positively on the society. According to Troy, education is important for the development of the nation as a whole. For the empowerment of nations and people, the most important thing is education. This paper makes a conclusion that education is the right of every human being. Education makes one capable of living a good life. It opens doors to better employment and quality of life. Education makes one think and work for the country and helps in making the nation get to know about the importance of jobs, technology and industrialization. It is basic human right and should be provided to both men and women. The education in Africa should be free of cost so that the poor can acquire knowledge and contribute towards the development of the country. Africa is rich in resources and minerals. Due to increased population there is a lack of food. Investment should be made in Africa to make it developed. There should be jobs available for people so that they can also earn out of it. The British capture over Africa can be regarded as the worth of Africa. Africa has diamond mines and that is why they were captured. Therefore, it is not a country which does not have resources. The real truth is that they were suppressed and therefore, they were not able to develop. The apartheid laws make one understand the intensity of the English rule and the oppression of the Blacks. A stable political system is obligatory for getting a developed country and continent at large.

Ratio Analysis on Literature of Review Essay Example for Free

Ratio Analysis on Literature of Review Essay I also declare that I have done my work sincerely and accurately even then if any mistake or error had kept in it, I request the readers to point out these errors and guide me to remove these errors in future. Presentation Incharge Signature of the Candidate Practical work experience is the integral part of individual learning. An individual who is learning managerial concepts has to undergo this practical experience for being a future executive. It is the result of various factors. Primarily because of rising cultivations of BT. cotton (Bacillus thuringnsis) and reduce the farmers input costs, while the yield as well as quality are substantially much larger compared to traditional varieties. In view of this development, the cotton cultivation acreage has been steadily going up in India. The farmers have become more knowledgeable to follow scientific methods to cultivate high yielding long staple cotton varieties. Besides individual mills are also simultaneously taking steps to improve the cotton production along with Technology Mission on cotton (TCM), the cotton development research Associations of organizations (CITI), South Indian Textiles Mills Association (SIMA) and Kerala State Textile Corporation (KSTC). The resultant factor is quality and quantity of raw material supply has substantially improved in the country. Due to globalization of our economy, the conscious of quality inputs and pricing have become competitive to the international standards and prices. Supply of quality raw material availability sources of raw material from major cotton exporting countries. Every organization is a deliberate and planned Endeavour of people whose common goal can be achieved through attainment of targets and goal by individual members in it. No organization can survive for long unless it takes care of prudent utilization of resources particularly human resources. In brief, good business is generally the result of good organization which can emerge only if it consists of good people who work together as a team. The textile industry occupies a unique place in our country. One of the earliest to come into existence in India, it accounts for 14 per cent of the total industrial production, contributes to nearly 30 per cent of the total exports and is the second largest employment generator after agriculture. The Indian textile industry is one of the largest in the world with a massive raw material and textile-manufacturing base. Indian economy is largely dependent on the textile manufacturing and trade in addition to other major industries about 27 per cent of the exchange earning are on account of export of textiles and clothing alone. In India organized textile mill sector has increased from 1787 in 2003-04 to 1789 in 2004-05. During the year 2003-04 the production of yarn was 3051. 07 million kg and it had increased to 3220. 59 million kg in 2004-05. The number of workers worked in textiles mills during the year 9, 18,000. India has the second-largest yarn-spinning capacity in the world (after China), accounting for roughly 20 percent of the world’s spindle capacity. India’s spinning segment is fairly modernized; approximately 35 to 40 percent of India’s spindles are less than 10 years old. During 1989-98, India was the leading buyer of spinning machinery, accounting 2003-04 was 9,28,000 and it have decreased during the year 2004-05 was for 28 per cent of world shipments. India’s production of spun yarn is accounted for almost entirely by the organized mill sector, which includes 285 large. Man-made fibers, wool and silk segment grew by modest 4. 5 per cent per annum during the 5-year period 2000-01 to 2005-06. During the first year of quota-free global trade, production increased leaps and bounds. Textiles production increased 10 per cent over 2004. The growth was fuelled by a 22 per cent rise in production of other textiles (including apparels). Cotton textile also posted an increase of nine percent. In the last six years, an estimated US$ 6. 7 billion has been invested in the textiles sector, aided by the Technology Up gradation Fund (TUF) scheme. The TUF scheme expires in March next year (2007) and the quotas on China will be lifted in 2008. Hence, companies will continue to add capacities over the next year. Also, according to CRISIL, the sector is likely to rise over US$ 3. 5 billion from the capital markets in the next few years. The cotton textile industry, one of the oldest and major consumer industries in India, has assumed national importance by virtue of size, investment, output and employment. The industry produces a wide range of fabrics to suit specific needs of consumers. Further, the cotton textile industry occupies a pre eminent place in the Indian economy by contributing a major share and to the countries industrial production and providing cloth to its millions. The industry also serves by providing direct employment to 60, 00,000 workers in several of its related activities. India is one of the largest textile producing countries in the world. The share of the industry in the export basket of India is around 20%. However, textile industry is vast developing sector and when the competitions are exorbitant especially in its design and quality we have to adopt modern technology management, machine so as to complete with other countries in the international market.

Care of a Confused Parent

Care of a Confused Parent I N T R O D U C T I O N The first FETAC Level 5 Assignment in Care Skills module requires that learners produce an assignment on the care of a confused person. This confusion can be the result of any number of causes – from an illness such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease or the long term use or an abuse of drugs and /or alcohol. The assignment must be completed answering very specific points (as outlined in the table of contents). This assignment was compiled using various methodologies including: Classroom lectures and feedback sessions Class notes and Manual, hard copy manuals and books One to one sessions with Work Experience Skills Coach Previous life experience of caring for an ill family member Online research and library research For the purpose of this assignment the author has decided to highlight one particular client who is in the Nursing Home in which the author is completing her work experience module. The clients name has been changed in order to respect her rights to privacy and dignity. The client in this example has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer (T4, N3) which denotes that she suffers from a malignant tumour which has invaded the oesophagus, epicardium, pleural cavity, T5 and T6 vertebrae with Metastasis to the supraclavicular lymph node. She also suffers from osteoarthritis of L2-L5 and S1-S5, Type 2 Diabetes and Psoriasis. She is currently on a variety of medications which are listed in her Care Plan, along with creams and ointments for the Psoriasis. Presently she suffers from severe bouts of confusion as a result of her pain medications and needs constant monitoring and care. In conjunction with her family, and a multi-disciplinary team Catherine has decided to move to a Nursing Home where she will receive the type of holistic care she requires. Catherine has also documented her specific wishes regarding her death and funeral arrangements and all of which has to be respected by all involved, the details are listed in her Care Plan along with the emergency contact details if her condition should suddenly decline. INDIVIDUAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT Initial assessment of Catherine’s needs using the Logan Roper Tierney model of assessment an individualised, client-centred holistic approach to Catherine’s care has been devised. Physical Catherine loves the outdoors and she should be encouraged to continue this through gardening – taking her out for walks, especially during spells of confusion. Ensure she has her walking stick and bring the wheelchair as she gets breathless very easily. Shower rails and chair must be available in her room and always ensure that the non-slip mat is on the ground. When she is confused she forgets how to wash herself properly and will need assistance. Intellectual Catherine loves to read and complete quizzes and cross words – these are very good for stimulation and they should be made available to her in her room and in the day room. The news and primetime are two of her favourite programs – ensure that they are on the TV in her room and the day room. Diversional therapy of card games and jigsaws are great for completing when she is confused. Emotional As a result of the illness and her pending death Catherine can become depressed – she must be encouraged, made feel wanted loved, needed and always try to support her decision to move into the nursing home Social/Spiritual Socially, Catherine has a lot of friends with whom she plays cards – they are going to come visit her once a week to continue this tradition, the other residents should be encouraged to join in also as it will help integrate her more. Her large family of 8 children and 63 grand-children/great-grand-children/great-great grand-children all visit her when she is at home and will continue to do so. It is amazing the Catherine remembers all their names and dates of birth – during spells of confusion though she does tend to forget them a little. Catherine is very religious and attends mass every Sunday when she is well – the angelus must be said at 12pm and 6pm and the rosary at 9pm. I D E N T I F Y T H E L E V E L O F A S S I S T A N C E R E Q U I R E D Catherine has very low level needs when she is not confused. She needs help sitting up in the bed and cannot use the remote control as her fingers are very badly damaged from the arthritis and as such will need assistance getting out of bed. She cannot manage small buttons when dressing and most days she just wears t-shirts but on Sundays she wishes to wear a blouse going to mass and will need assistance with that. Catherine dose not wear dentures and is on a chopped diet for now, she can manage to use cutlery but prefers to use a spoon. When she is confused she forgets when to eat and sometimes forgets that she has eaten so she will need monitoring when eating rather than assistance. MAINTAINING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT During confused spells Catherine likes to walk and as such walkways will have to be completely compliant with the Health and Safety Regulations for care as set out by the Health and Safety Authority. (HSA.ie, 2014) It would also be a good intervention to ensure that her walking aid is always within arm’s reach and that her shoes/slippers have rubber soles and are well maintained. For showering, the shower stool must be readily available and ensure that the hand rails are well maintained. The toilet in her room has a raised toilet seat and rail which must be cleaned and maintained regularly. Catherine will also use a commode, but when she is confused does not realise where she is when trying to urinate therefore she should be encouraged to go to the bathroom to protect her dignity. When going on outings with her family Catherine’s wheelchair must accompany her always and kept well maintained and ensure the wheels are pumped. PROMOTE CLIENT INVOLVEMENT IN SOCIAL EVENTS AND THERAPIES Catherine likes to play cards therefore she would enjoy it as part of the available diversional therapies. The HCA can have table quizzes added to the curriculum of activities by the activities co coordinator and help her participate by writing the answers to the questions and holding the cards – when she is confused one to one games such as Patience or Snap are very helpful. Catherine is quite a sociable person and will have loads of visitors – they will help to integrate her with the other residents and they play cards, tell stories, Irish dancing and play music some days she wishes not to have any visitors or participate in activities – in order to keep her from this depression the HCA could encourage her to attend the card game or maybe say some prayers with her as her strong beliefs will help to alleviate the depression. Catherine has refused to attend the Cuisle Centre in Portlaoise which has numerous activities and therapies available to cancer sufferers. The HCA could bring her more information on the services provided and explain what they are in detail and answer any questions she may have in order to encourage her to attend. They offer a Gardening Therapy workshop each week which would really benefit her along with the CranioSacral therapy and Holistic Massage would be beneficial for her also and she should be encouraged to go by bringing her down to the centre and having a talk with other clients that attend. (Cuisle Centre, Cancer Support Centre Laois, Cancer Support Portlaoise, 2014) MOBILITY INDLUDING FALLS AND PRESSURE AREA CARE FALLS The results from the Morse Falls Assessment in Catherine’s Care Plan show that on non-confused days she is at low risk, but during spells of confusion she is moderate risk and as such – should be encouraged to walk around more during lucid days and be accompanied outdoors for short walks if her breathing allows – allow her to push the wheelchair for a while will help and support her. The activities co-ordinator has a great curriculum for mobility and Catherine should be encouraged to participate in order to help keep her arms active. PRESURE AREA CARE As Catherine suffers from Psoriasis she is even more susceptible to pressure sore development. Her skin should be cared for as per her prescribed treatment – creams and lotions to be applied daily. At the moment she is fairly mobile and does not remain in the one spot for too long – if she suffers bad pain during the day she tends to stay in bed and will need assistance turning and should be encouraged to do so – a second HCA may be needed for this as she has had two hip replacements which have to be cared for also – a hoist may be needed on occasion. Gel cushions should be used when she is playing cards with friends as she could be in the one position for hours, to break this she should be encouraged to get up and walk around every hour – even if for a few minutes. EFFECTIVE VERBAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION WITH CLIENT AND HEALTHCARE TEAM Catherine has to attend various appointments for scans and pain medication updates. Any new developments need to be explained in full to her so she can make an informed decision as to what course of action she wants to pursue. Catherine must be kept informed at all times of any changes in her condition and has requested that she be told first so she can decide whether to tell her family. She has stated during meetings regarding her funeral wishes but may want to change these so ensure any changes are documented. All daily charts are to be kept updated immediately and inform the staff nurse of any noted changes in her condition at handover. As her cancer is rapid and fast progressing Catherine’s condition can and will change on a daily basis therefore food and fluid charts are vital. At the moment she is normal on the M.U.S.T scale, but as she tends not to eat when in pain this has to be carefully monitored and reported if she is refusing food or fluids. ASSIST CLIENT WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING Mobility Assistance Catherine needs assistance when getting in and out of bed. She can sometimes sit up on her own but during spells of confusion she forgets how to stand up and should be encouraged and supported to do it herself as long as possible without the aid of a hoist. She may also need assistance getting in and out of the shower and needs her hair to be washed as she can no longer raise her arms above elbow height. If the weather if favourable Catherine likes to go outside – she should be accompanied and ensure her wheelchair is in good working order. Allow her to walk as much as she can pushing the wheelchair but ensure she does not get too tired – encourage her to get into the wheelchair and continue until she wishes to return. Catherine’s pain medication is prescribed by the GP and monitored by the Palliative Care team. She has certain pain killers that are available to her without the nurses supervision – please record when and what she is taking and report it back to the nurse for monitoring. At the moment Catherine is normal on the M.U.S.T scale and we have to endeavour to keep her that way – she is on a chopped diet but needs to be monitored as the tumour is pressing on her oesophagus – it could cause a choking hazard – any noted changes to her swallow must be reported back to the nurse for further investigation by the MDT. When she is confused Catherine needs assistance eating as she forgets how to use the cutlery. PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF THE CLIENT TO DIGNITY, PRIVACY, INDEPENDENCE, POSITIVE SELF IMAGE As Catherine is very self-conscious about her body – every effort must be made to give her as much privacy as possible when dressing and showering. She will need assistance dressing on occasion especially when she is confused as she gets the order of clothing mixed up. The HCA can discuss her wishes with her and come to an arrangement regarding the assistance she requires. Catherine is very independent and likes to take her own medications and feed herself. She has expressed her wishes numerous times to all her family and multidisciplinary team regarding her funeral wishes and insists that she not be left alone from now on and even when she passes she does not want to be alone until she is buried with her husband. Catherine needs to feel in control of the disease and wants to be informed if there is any changes being made to her medications or if the multidisciplinary team think that she is declining in any way regardless of the news make sure she is kept informed and involved in all decisions – it is best practice to inform Catherine first and let her decide when and how much information he and the rest of the family is to be told. BIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.upledgerclinic.com/conditions_symptoms.html http://www.cuislecentre.com/therapies/ http://www.ahrq.gov/legacy/research/ltc/fallpxtoolkit/fallpxtool3h.htm http://www.clinicaloncologyonline.net/article/S0936-6555(08)00451-2/abstract http://www.nurse2nurse.ie/Upload/NA6762article.pdf http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19059769 http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/end-of-life-care-pro REFERENCES Cuisle Centre, Cancer Support Centre Laois, Cancer Support Portlaoise, (2014). Therapies Cuisle Centre, Cancer Support Centre Laois, Cancer Support Portlaoise. [online] Available at: http://www.cuislecentre.com/therapies/ [Accessed 19 Dec. 2014]. Knott, D. (2014). End of Life Care | Doctor | Patient.co.uk. [online] Patient.co.uk. Available at: http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/end-of-life-care-pro [Accessed 15 Dec. 2014]. 1

The definition of leadership and mentoring

The definition of leadership and mentoring Leadership and mentoring can be two different terms that are either related or unrelated. You can be a protà ©gà © and not be a leader at that time. You can be a mentor and be in an administrative position. You can be a leader and never mentor but that would be a shame. A quality of both a mentor and a leader is advising or training the next generation of librarians or retraining veteran librarians. Mentoring is a growth experience on both sides. What does leadership and mentoring mean? According to The American Heritage Dictionary, leadership is defined as the position or office of a leader or the capacity to lead. Mentoring means a wise and trusted counselor and teacher. Remember that librarians mentor a patron how to use online catalog or electronic database. We may not have the title of a teacher, but our profession is teaching. I believe leadership goes with mentoring. A mentor helps you to become a better leader at any stage in leadership. Leaders become mentors; and you can be mentored and be mentoring another person at the exact same time. You may not even be aware that you are mentoring. Until it was pointed out to me, I did not realize that I was mentoring another staff member. When she left her position, she told me how grateful she was that I encouraged her to get a Library Technical Assistant certificate and go on the finish her Bachelors Degree. She is now applying to graduate schools in Library Science. Does the dictionarys definition leave out some elements when defining leadership? Leadership means being able to lead, wanting to lead and teaching others to lead. A leader needs to have some key characteristics to be able to be an effective leader: the ability to write agendas, run meetings, set goals and objectives, create business plans and motivate followers and other leaders. Other qualities/skills that a leader needs are being able to manage people and processes: to be able to lend a hand when needed, knowing when an extra hand is needed, knowing when to push people harder, knowing when to slow people down. Are you lacking some of these? Do you really know that you do or do not have these qualities? How do you get these characteristics or skills to become a mentor or a better leader? Where do you find opportunities to be leader and to be a mentor? The primary opportunity that everyone thinks of first for mentoring and leadership skills is the workplace. However, there are many other settings, such as an adult civic organization, a youth/child civic organization, society/religious organization, and professional organizations, where leadership and mentoring opportunities exist. Where do you find these? Use the Internet, phonebook, town hall, a librarys bulletin board, a grocerys bulletin board, college newsletters and bulletin boards or just ask people in your community what organizations exist. Mentoring and leadership can happen in your daily personal life, work life and in your community. You can also be a leader and follower in the same situation. There are many organizations out there in the international community. The one that I know well is the United States Jaycees (part of the Junior Chamber International). My experience is with the Greater Hartford (Connecticut) Jaycees. We are the largest chapter in the United States as of February 2004. In my first years of being a Jaycee, I realized that I was a leader. I had the drive or ambition to lead. I learned through the Jaycees to be more organized, to plan events (timelines are good things), to develop relationship among members, and how to better relate to the office staff. I learned some amazing skills: how to publish a newsletter, to run computer software, to hammer a nail into a set for a Haunted House, to help build a house for Habitat for Humanity. I learned you need laughter in your daily life and time management skills. I learned about international food and cultures and how to write a chairmans planning guide (basically a business plan that the Jaycees use to run an event/project). In the Jaycees, there are State, National, and International Conferences. This has been a great opportunity for me to pick up or refine leadership skills, even learning Roberts Rules of Order, as well as to travel a bit. Remember, learning to be a leader or part of mentorship program can be done in a fun atmosphere. I have learned wonderful leadership skills while having fun and helping out the community. The Greater Hartford Jaycee website is http://www.greaterhartfordjaycees.org/ and the United States Jaycees website is http://www.usjaycees.org/. Opportunities for Leadership Skills Academic and Professional Committees Charitable Organizations (i.e. March of Dimes, American Diabetes Assoc.) Junior Chamber of Commerce Kiwanis Club Library Boards Lions Club (your Jaycees years of services carry over) Political Committees Rotary Club Sorority or Fraternal Organizations Opportunities for Mentoring Get involved with a professional organization that is in your specialty of library science, or in an area of library science that you want to work in the future. Some work-related organizations include American Library Association, Special Library Association, Association for College and Research Libraries and State Library Association. My experience again: I am on the CT Library Associations Committee Reference and Adult Services. These associations are places where you can find both leadership positions and someone to mentor you. CT Library Association has a wonderful mentoring program that I went through a couple years ago. American Association of Health Science Libraries The American Association of Health Science Libraries (AAHSL), in conjunction with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), has started a leadership program for its members. The program includes travel money to spend two weeks with a mentor, attend continuing education classes and more. AAHSL is in its second year of the program. The program is set up so that the emerging leaders learn the following: Introduce emerging academic health sciences library leaders to leadership theory and practical tools for implementing change at organizational and professional levels. Develop meaningful professional relationships between fellows and mentors that give fellows access to career guidance and support. Expose fellows to another academic health sciences library under the guidance of their mentors. Examine career development and provide models of directors to potential future academic health sciences library directors. Create a cohort of learners who will draw upon each other for support throughout their careers. Offer recognition to emerging leaders. The NLM/AAHSL Leadership Fellows Program comprises six components over a one-year time frame: a one-day opening Orientation Session, an ongoing Mentoring relationship, a half-day Leadership Institute, a two-week Library Site Visit, three short, self-paced Web-based Courses on selected leadership topics, and a two- to three-day Capstone Event. For more information about the NLM/AAHSL program, schedule and application go to http://www.arl. org/olms/fellows/. American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) The Mentoring and Retention committee plans and implements programs designed to provide a network through which the newer members of AALL, and members contemplating job changes or desiring career guidance, can establish personal contact with experienced law librarians who can serve as resources for information and advise on the profession and the Association. In addition, this committee plans, promotes, and presents the Annual Conference of Newer Law Librarians (CONELL). For a roster and other information about AALL go to http://www.aallnet.org/committee/menret_com.asp. Connecticut Library Association The Connecticut Library Association has a mentoring and protà ©gà © program. The CLA website for mentoring program is http://cla.uconn.edu/new/mentor1r.doc. The website explains why the mentoring program was started. It also defines the difference between protà ©gà © and a mentor. A protà ©gà © should expect: 1. a role model. 2. to learn how the library field functions. 3. to make contacts with other individuals in the profession. 4. help in defining career objectives. 5. specialized information and help. 6. the chance to learn from the mentors experience. 7. a way to gather information about other areas of librarianship. 8. more confidence and problem-solving skills. The mentor can expect: 1. new opportunities for challenge. 2. career enrichment. 3. enhanced self-esteem and reputation. 4. opportunities to share knowledge and expertise. 5. a revitalized interest in work. 6. professional satisfaction. The CLA website also list information about CLA committees, scholarships and calendar of programs. You can join a committee, such as Childrens, Reference and Adult Services, Support Staff, and College and University. A member can also assist with the annual conference. This is a wonderful way to ease into leadership roles. Check out your local and state library associations. CLA website is http://cla. uconn.edu. American Library Association On the ALA website, you can find the Spectrum Initiative section for a mentoring and networks. This is the formal training program. The website is http://www.ala.org/ala/diversity/spectrum/spectruminitiative. htm and then click on Mentoring and Networks under Diversity. Currently, the mentoring portion of the website is not available. Special Libraries Association If you are a member of SLA, there is a mentoring program for you. There are many state chapters that have mentoring programs. You can explore SLA website at http://www.sla.org. Association of College and Research Libraries The University of Georgia gives articles, websites, library organizations and associations, forum recommendations, and mentoring programs at specific libraries. I found out that Special Libraries Association has a mentoring program for librarians in the areas of physic, mathematics and astronomy. Take a look at http://www.libs.uga.edu/mentor/resources.html. Academic Libraries Academic Libraries has a bibliography of mentoring articles and websites at http://www.nsula. edu/watson_library/acrl/bonnetteAcademicBib.htm. There are many leadership and mentoring opportunities in our communities. Look within your library setting/organization. Explore your options in library associations, civic organizations, charitable organizations and community library boards. Use what is available to you to gain the necessary skills.

The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Essay -- Iliad Essa

The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Dr. Frost’s comments: With his clear explanation, illustrative quotes, and logical organization, the student easily proves his thesis, recapped and affirmed very well in the final paragraph. From the first pages of Homer’s The Iliad, Achilles is portrayed as vengeful, proud, and petty. As the book progresses, the image of Achilles as a spiteful child is sharpened dramatically. Towards the end of the epic; however, Achilles begins to exhibit qualities that are considered heroic even in today’s society. Once his loyal and trusted friend Patroclus dies, Achilles undergoes a drastic change in character. When he confronts the true horror of death, Achilles puts aside his immature ways to fulfill his duty to his friend, his compatriots, and his conscience. In this way, the progression of Achilles as a character is an analogy for the transition from youth to maturity. The first book of The Iliad, appropriately titled the â€Å"Rage of Achilles,† sets the scene for the remainder of the epic. Agamemnon seizes Achilles’ prize, the beautiful Briseis, to sooth his own wounded pride. Even though Achilles is correct to suggest that Agamemnon return Chryseis, the swift runner’s brash manner leaves Agamemnon feeling slighted. In return, Achilles vows that he will not fight in the Trojan War any longer. Once Briseis is seized, Achilles goes to the beach to cry to his mother. This is reminiscent of how a small child would act when denied something he wants. It seems that Homer is trying to compare Achilles’ actions in the early books to that of a child. Achilles implores his mother to go to Zeus and ask the god to crush the Greeks until they give Achilles the honors he ... ...les has been throughout the epic. His actions show that he has finally seen to the heart of his fury and found it pointless and destructive. He is ready to fulfill his duty to the Greeks, yet is willing to treat his enemies with respect and courtesy because they are humans as well. In conclusion, the progression of Achilles’ character in The Iliad can easily be viewed as an analogy for the progression of a child to an adult. From the spiteful rage in the beginning to the compassionate respect in the end of the epic, Achilles’ development mirrors that of a stereotypical human from childhood to maturity. The concepts that seem important to him in the beginning, his honor and glory, slowly become supplanted by more reasonable and mature ideals of duty, respect and compassion. Work Cited Homer: Iliad. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003. The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Essay -- Iliad Essa The Metamorphosis of Achilles in Homer’s The Iliad Dr. Frost’s comments: With his clear explanation, illustrative quotes, and logical organization, the student easily proves his thesis, recapped and affirmed very well in the final paragraph. From the first pages of Homer’s The Iliad, Achilles is portrayed as vengeful, proud, and petty. As the book progresses, the image of Achilles as a spiteful child is sharpened dramatically. Towards the end of the epic; however, Achilles begins to exhibit qualities that are considered heroic even in today’s society. Once his loyal and trusted friend Patroclus dies, Achilles undergoes a drastic change in character. When he confronts the true horror of death, Achilles puts aside his immature ways to fulfill his duty to his friend, his compatriots, and his conscience. In this way, the progression of Achilles as a character is an analogy for the transition from youth to maturity. The first book of The Iliad, appropriately titled the â€Å"Rage of Achilles,† sets the scene for the remainder of the epic. Agamemnon seizes Achilles’ prize, the beautiful Briseis, to sooth his own wounded pride. Even though Achilles is correct to suggest that Agamemnon return Chryseis, the swift runner’s brash manner leaves Agamemnon feeling slighted. In return, Achilles vows that he will not fight in the Trojan War any longer. Once Briseis is seized, Achilles goes to the beach to cry to his mother. This is reminiscent of how a small child would act when denied something he wants. It seems that Homer is trying to compare Achilles’ actions in the early books to that of a child. Achilles implores his mother to go to Zeus and ask the god to crush the Greeks until they give Achilles the honors he ... ...les has been throughout the epic. His actions show that he has finally seen to the heart of his fury and found it pointless and destructive. He is ready to fulfill his duty to the Greeks, yet is willing to treat his enemies with respect and courtesy because they are humans as well. In conclusion, the progression of Achilles’ character in The Iliad can easily be viewed as an analogy for the progression of a child to an adult. From the spiteful rage in the beginning to the compassionate respect in the end of the epic, Achilles’ development mirrors that of a stereotypical human from childhood to maturity. The concepts that seem important to him in the beginning, his honor and glory, slowly become supplanted by more reasonable and mature ideals of duty, respect and compassion. Work Cited Homer: Iliad. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003.

Recreating the Brain :: Biology Essays Research Papers

2001: Recreating the Brain Perhaps one of the most interesting and least understood aspects of neurobiology is human consciousness. For many, this "experience of self" (an aspect of consciousness which will be used interchangeably with consciousness in this particular paper) defines what it means to be human. Personality and emotion, and their connection to the experience of self, can yield insight into creating artificial intelligence that can mimic conscious human brain function. By discussing the implications of consciousness in computers with artificial intelligence, the significance of the experience of self within humans becomes clearer. The challenge of understanding personality may be more easily surmounted by studying the significance of personality in relation to something else, in this case alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease that affects millions of people and is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors (1). Low self esteem and abusive relationships can lead to alcoholism in individuals who do not show a genetic tendency towards the disease. However, it is not necessarily the alcoholic's fault, or his/her family's fault, that the individual displays alcoholism. No one is destined to become an alcoholic, but it is true that a tendency towards alcoholism can be inherited. Alcoholism is twice as likely to appear in homozygous twins than in heterozygous twins (1). Children born to alcoholic parents, but brought up by non alcoholic adoptive parents, are three times more likely to develop alcoholism than the natural children of the adoptive parents (1). However, many children of alcoholic parents never have to battle alcoholism themselves (1). Therefore, it should be viewed as a disease that individuals can be predisposed towards, much like diabetes or hypertension (1). Personality traits also seem to have a role in inheriting a tendency towards alcoholism (2). Some researchers believe that, using personality traits, they can predict with 80% accuracy which individuals have the capacity to develop alcoholism (2). This implies that individuals who manifest these personality traits are most likely genetically predisposed to develop alcoholism at some point in their life. So individuals are genetically predisposed toward personality traits as well. This interplay between genetics and personality traits brings up an important point, the exact definition of the word "personality". Careful inspection of the common use of the word "personality" illustrates that it holds different meanings at different times. When an individual refers to someone else's personality, they refer to that person's tendency to behave in a certain way.

Everybody wants to be thin Essay examples -- essays research papers

Unfortunately, Americans today are obsessed with losing weight. Everybody wants to be thin! Everywhere I go, there’s someone counting calories, cutting "carbs", and running themselves to death on a treadmill. Dieting can be beneficial, when done properly and with discussion with a doctor. Sadly, some people fall into these bad habits when the desperation to lose weight has become tremendous. Everyone wants to lose way quickly and more importantly very easily. Therefore, any fad diet will become the new obsession of the fad dieter. This person will eat grapefruit for a week, and when her stomach can’t take it anymore; she’ll try a brand new, state-of-the-art, magic pill that will enable her body to shed ten pounds overnight. Even though the magic pill does not produce the desired weight loss, he or she never gives up hope. Once again, this dieter is lured by advertisements of instant spot reduction-liposuction. She crosses over the safety line into a danger zone of unknown procedures, performed by unqualified physicians. Some dieters lose their lives in the search for a beautiful body. The stomach staple is another dieting tool that dieters try. The staple yields a large weight loss, but the dieter endangers her health because of excess loss of body fluids. The "fad dieter" is always listening for the newest cure on the dieting market. A wedding or a prom is a common reason for a someone to decide...

Major Problems In California History Essay

The major arguments in the two essays by Cletus E. Daniel and Devra Anne Weber revolved around the harsh working conditions and poor wages that the farm workers were subjected to in California. These injustices prompted reactions from the farm workers through strikes that were organized by their unions and mutual aid societies in a bid to negotiate for better wages and improved standards of living. The essays also highlight the fact that the farm workforce in California comprised majorly of Mexican workers and a minority of Filipino workers. Finally, the essays highlight the unsuccessful nature of the attempts by the farm workers to push for reforms in their working and living standards as well as negotiating for wage increase. However, there also exist some differences between the conclusions of the two essays. According to Devra, the Mexican union headed by the Mexican Consul, Terrazas was able to reach an agreement with the growers concerning the conditions and wages of the Mexican workers. The agreement included a wage payment of between twenty five to thirty five cents per hour and thirteen cents a crate. It also suggested guaranteed access to water to workers furnished by the growers. Devra also records that this agreement was reached without complete support of the union. According to her, the issue of communism was vital in the history of California labor. This comes to light with the agreement of the growers to give protection to their workers against the communist agitators (Weber, 295). Cletus however does not record any instance where such an agreement was reached between union members and growers. He concludes by showing the plight and helplessness suffered by the farm workers following the failure to procure better working conditions and higher wages. Cletus distanced capitalism as the cause of the problems experienced by the farm workers citing that they believed their problems to be as a result of low wages (Daniel, 288). As far as the difference in the conclusions of the two essays is concerned, the question on the accuracy of the California history of labor comes to mind. This is a problem that is brought about by the uniqueness of each author in interpretation of events and occurrences in history. This in the two essays is brought to light by the link created by Devra between the problems the growers were experiencing with the farm workers and communist agitators while Cletus explores this issue from a capitalist perspective and its link to the problems experienced by the farm workers. The Imperial Valley episode reveals a number of issues about labor and unionism in the US. To begin with, it highlights the frustrations of the farm workers in terms of poor working and living conditions as well as low wages which led to the surge in protests and strikes. It is these frustrations that necessitated the participation and formation of unions so as to fight for the rights of the workers following the realization that the only way that they could be heard was only if they acted collectively. Another issue that is revealed is the use of authorities to suppress the unionization attempts of the workers as well as to deny them their rights of assembly and strikes. The growers used city, county, state and federal authorities to quell strikes by the workers. There also was the unfair trial of the leaders of the unions for example the El Centro trial which were meant to intimidate future leaders of the unions. Finally, it appears that it is the communists that were actively involved in the fight for the rights of the farm workers as well as the unionization attempts. This is because it is the communists that came to head the unions and organize strikes against the growers who were capitalists. References Daniel Cletus E. Communist Organizers in the Imperial Valley Weber Devra A. Mexicano Farm workers on Strike

Water Pollution Is the Contamination of Water Bodies

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e. g. lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater). Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water; and, in almost all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities. Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.Millions depend on the polluted Ganges river. Water pollution is a major problem in the global context. It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases,[1][2] and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. [2] An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrheal sickness every day. 3] Some 90% of China's cities suffer from some degree of water pollution,[4] and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water. [5] In addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries, industrialized countries continue to struggle with pollution problems as well.In the most recent national report on water quality in the United States, 45 percent of assessed stream miles, 47 percent of assessed lake acres, and 32 percent of assessed bay and estuarine square miles were classified as polluted. 6] Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants and either does not support a human use, like serving as drinking water, and/or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its constituent biotic communities, such as fish. Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water. [edit]Water pollution categories Surface water and groundwater have often been studied and managed as separate resources, although they are interrelated. 7] Sources of surface water pollution are generally grouped into two categories based on their origin. [edit] Point source pollution Point source pollution – Shipyard – Rio de Janeiro. Point source pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway through a discrete conveyance, such as a pipe or ditch. Examples of sources in this category include discharges from a sewage treatment plant, a factory, or a city storm drain. The U. S. Clean Water Act (CWA) defines point source for regulatory enforcement purposes. 8] The CWA definition of point source was amended in 1987 to include municipal storm sewer systems, as well as industrial stormwater, such as from construction sites. [9] [edit] Non–point source pollution Non–point source (NPS) pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not originate from a single discrete source. NPS pollution is often the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area. The leaching out of n itrogen compounds from agricultural land which has been fertilized is a typical example.Nutrient runoff in stormwater from â€Å"sheet flow† over an agricultural field or a forest are also cited as examples of NPS pollution. Contaminated storm water washed off of parking lots, roads and highways, called urban runoff, is sometimes included under the category of NPS pollution. However, this runoff is typically channeled into storm drain systems and discharged through pipes to local surface waters, and is a point source. However where such water is not channeled and drains directly to ground it is a non-point source. [edit] Groundwater pollution See also: Hydrogeology Interactions between groundwater and surface water are complex.Consequently, groundwater pollution, sometimes referred to as groundwater contamination, is not as easily classified as surface water pollution. [7] By its very nature, groundwater aquifers are susceptible to contamination from sources that may not dire ctly affect surface water bodies, and the distinction of point vs. non-point source may be irrelevant. A spill or ongoing releases of chemical or radionuclide contaminants into soil (located away from a surface water body) may not create point source or non-point source pollution, but can contaminate the aquifer below, defined as a toxin plume.The movement of the plume, a plume front, can be part of a Hydrological transport model or Groundwater model. Analysis of groundwater contamination may focus on the soil characteristics and site geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, and the nature of the contaminants. [edit] Causes of water pollution The specific contaminants leading to pollution in water include a wide spectrum of chemicals, pathogens, and physical or sensory changes such as elevated temperature and discoloration. While many of the chemicals and substances that are regulated may be naturally occurring (calcium, sodium, ron, manganese, etc. ) the concentration is often the key in determining what is a natural component of water, and what is a contaminant. Oxygen-depleting substances may be natural materials, such as plant matter (e. g. leaves and grass) as well as man-made chemicals. Other natural and anthropogenic substances may cause turbidity (cloudiness) which blocks light and disrupts plant growth, and clogs the gills of some fish species. [10] Many of the chemical substances are toxic. Pathogens can produce waterborne diseases in either human or animal hosts. 11] Alteration of water's physical chemistry includes acidity (change in pH), electrical conductivity, temperature, and eutrophication. Eutrophication is an increase in the concentration of chemical nutrients in an ecosystem to an extent that increases in the primary productivity of the ecosystem. Depending on the degree of eutrophication, subsequent negative environmental effects such as anoxia (oxygen depletion) and severe reductions in water quality may occur, affecting fish and other animal po pulations. [edit] Pathogens A manhole cover unable to contain a sanitary sewer overflow.Coliform bacteria are a commonly used bacterial indicator of water pollution, although not an actual cause of disease. Other microorganisms sometimes found in surface waters which have caused human health problems include: †¢Burkholderia pseudomallei †¢Cryptosporidium parvum †¢Giardia lamblia †¢Salmonella †¢Novovirus and other viruses †¢Parasitic worms (helminths). [12][13] High levels of pathogens may result from inadequately treated sewage discharges. [14] This can be caused by a sewage plant designed with less than secondary treatment (more typical in less-developed countries).In developed countries, older cities with aging infrastructure may have leaky sewage collection systems (pipes, pumps, valves), which can cause sanitary sewer overflows. Some cities also have combined sewers, which may discharge untreated sewage during rain storms. [15] Pathogen discharges m ay also be caused by poorly managed livestock operations. [edit] Chemical and other contaminants Muddy river polluted by sediment. Photo courtesy of United States Geological Survey. Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances.Organic water pollutants include: †¢Detergents †¢Disinfection by-products found in chemically disinfected drinking water, such as chloroform †¢Food processing waste, which can include oxygen-demanding substances, fats and grease †¢Insecticides and herbicides, a huge range of organohalides and other chemical compounds †¢Petroleum hydrocarbons, including fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuels, and fuel oil) and lubricants (motor oil), and fuel combustion byproducts, from stormwater runoff[16] †¢Tree and bush debris from logging operations Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as industrial solvents, from improper storage. Chlorinated solvents, which are dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), may fall to the bottom of reservoirs, since they don't mix well with water and are denser. †¢Various chemical compounds found in personal hygiene and cosmetic products Inorganic water pollutants include:†¢Acidity caused by industrial discharges (especially sulfur dioxide from power plants) †¢Ammonia from food processing waste †¢Chemical waste as industrial by-products Fertilizers containing nutrients–nitrates and phosphates–which are found in stormwater runoff from agriculture, as well as commercial and residential use[16] †¢Heavy metals from motor vehicles (via urban stormwater runoff)[16][17] and acid mine drainage †¢Silt (sediment) in runoff from construction sites, logging, slash and burn practices or land clearing sites Macroscopic pollution—large visible items polluting the water—may be termed â€Å"floatables† in an urban stormwater context, or marine debris when found on the open seas, and can include such items as: †¢Trash (e. . paper, plastic, or food waste) discarded by people on the ground, and that are washed by rainfall into storm drains and eventually discharged into surface waters †¢Nurdles, small ubiquitous waterborne plastic pellets †¢Shipwrecks, large derelict ships Potrero Generating Station discharges heated water into San Francisco Bay. [18] [edit] Thermal pollution Main article: Thermal pollution Thermal pollution is the rise or fall in the temperature of a natural body of water caused by human influence.A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. Elevated water temperatures decreases oxygen levels (which can kill fish) and affects ecosystem composition, such as invasion by new thermophilic species. Urban runoff may also elevate temperature in surface waters. Thermal pollution can also be caused by the release of very cold water from the base of reservoirs into warmer rivers. [edit] Transport and chemical react ions of water pollutants See also: Marine pollution Most water pollutants are eventually carried by rivers into the oceans.In some areas of the world the influence can be traced hundred miles from the mouth by studies using hydrology transport models. Advanced computer models such as SWMM or the DSSAM Model have been used in many locations worldwide to examine the fate of pollutants in aquatic systems. Indicator filter feeding species such as copepods have also been used to study pollutant fates in the New York Bight, for example. The highest toxin loads are not directly at the mouth of the Hudson River, but 100 kilometers south, since several days are required for incorporation into planktonic tissue.The Hudson discharge flows south along the coast due to coriolis force. Further south then are areas of oxygen depletion, caused by chemicals using up oxygen and by algae blooms, caused by excess nutrients from algal cell death and decomposition. Fish and shellfish kills have been repo rted, because toxins climb the food chain after small fish consume copepods, then large fish eat smaller fish, etc. Each successive step up the food chain causes a stepwise concentration of pollutants such as heavy metals (e. g. mercury) and persistent organic pollutants such as DDT.This is known as biomagnification, which is occasionally used interchangeably with bioaccumulation. A polluted river draining an abandoned copper mine on Anglesey Large gyres (vortexes) in the oceans trap floating plastic debris. The North Pacific Gyre for example has collected the so-called â€Å"Great Pacific Garbage Patch† that is now estimated at 100 times the size of Texas. Many of these long-lasting pieces wind up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. This results in obstruction of digestive pathways which leads to reduced appetite or even starvation.Many chemicals undergo reactive decay or chemically change especially over long periods of time in groundwater reservoirs. A noteworthy class of such chemicals is the chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene (used in industrial metal degreasing and electronics manufacturing) and tetrachloroethylene used in the dry cleaning industry (note latest advances in liquid carbon dioxide in dry cleaning that avoids all use of chemicals). Both of these chemicals, which are carcinogens themselves, undergo partial decomposition reactions, leading to new hazardous chemicals (including dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride).Groundwater pollution is much more difficult to abate than surface pollution because groundwater can move great distances through unseen aquifers. Non-porous aquifers such as clays partially purify water of bacteria by simple filtration (adsorption and absorption), dilution, and, in some cases, chemical reactions and biological activity: however, in some cases, the pollutants merely transform to soil contaminants. Groundwater that moves through cracks and caverns is not filtered and can be transported a s easily as surface water.In fact, this can be aggravated by the human tendency to use natural sinkholes as dumps in areas of Karst topography. There are a variety of secondary effects stemming not from the original pollutant, but a derivative condition. An example is silt-bearing surface runoff, which can inhibit the penetration of sunlight through the water column, hampering photosynthesis in aquatic plants. [edit] Measurement of water pollution Environmental Scientists preparing water autosamplers. Water pollution may be analyzed through several broad categories of methods: physical, chemical and biological.Most involve collection of samples, followed by specialized analytical tests. Some methods may be conducted in situ, without sampling, such as temperature. Government agencies and research organizations have published standardized, validated analytical test methods to facilitate the comparability of results from disparate testing events. [19] [edit] Sampling Sampling of water for physical or chemical testing can be done by several methods, depending on the accuracy needed and the characteristics of the contaminant. Many contamination events are sharply restricted in time, most commonly in association with rain events.For this reason â€Å"grab† samples are often inadequate for fully quantifying contaminant levels. Scientists gathering this type of data often employ auto-sampler devices that pump increments of water at either time or discharge intervals. Sampling for biological testing involves collection of plants and/or animals from the surface water body. Depending on the type of assessment, the organisms may be identified for biosurveys (population counts) and returned to the water body, or they may be dissected for bioassays to determine toxicity. [edit] Physical testingCommon physical tests of water include temperature, solids concentration like total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity. [edit] Chemical testing See also: water chemistry anal ysis and environmental chemistry Water samples may be examined using the principles of analytical chemistry. Many published test methods are available for both organic and inorganic compounds. Frequently used methods include pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nutrients (nitrate and phosphorus compounds), metals (including copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and mercury), oil and grease, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and pesticide