Aid for Donor Interests Essay - 2684 Words

Lack of development in countries in the so-called `Third World has many political and economical reasons. Historians explain the inadequacy of developing countries with the early imperialism and the resulting colonization of the South. Exploitation of mineral resources, deforestation, slavery, and the adaptation of foreign policies shaped the picture of todays suffering and struggling civilizations and natural rich continents. The omission of concessions and equal negotiations between dependency and supremacy give rise to the contrast of enormous resources and immense poverty in developing countries is. In the last years the outcry of justice and the emancipation of the Third World became louder throughout developing and industrialized†¦show more content†¦Here the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, later divided into the World Bank and Bank for International Settlement, were established. To regulate the international p olicy economy these institutions become known as the Bretton Woods institutions and became operational in 1946. The IMF, founded to stabilize countries currencies in relation to each other, holds money in trust, which member countries can borrow according to terms set by the institution. The World Bank instead gives more long-term loans and sells bonds to corporations and governments, which bind the issuer to pay the bondholder the amount of the loan plus interest. However, the countries taking advantage of the opportunity to borrow money to improve their affected economy are obliged to launch a set of policies, known as the Washington Consensus, which was first presented in 1989. The reforms introduced by the Institute for International Economics include deregulation, privatization, currency devaluation, social spending cuts, lower corporate taxes, export driven strategies, and removal of foreign investment restrictions . More, these loans are only granted when the countries agree to the adoption to a comprehensive programme of macro-economic stabilization and structural economic reform. The reason for keeping aid alive by the United States during and after the early history of todays debt problem,Show MoreRelatedRelationship Between Foreign Aid And Migration1414 Words   |  6 Pagesand Lebland discuss two hypotheses explaining the relation between immigration and foreign aid. They hypothesis that (1) donor countries use this foreign aid to ‘aid’ or to further their own individual immigration policy goals, and (2) migrants, who have already moved, lobby their new countries for an increase in aid to their home countries. Anti-immigration parties and policies have come out of developed donor nations including Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands. This social unrest stems from immigrationRead MoreThe Disasters That Prove That Foreign Aid Has Done More Damage Than Good Essay1495 Words   |  6 Pages11 Disasters That Prove That Foreign Aid has done More Damage than Good in Africa From food aid to humanitarian aid and military assistance, foreign aid continues to flood Africa with the aim to enhance economic development and improve people s lives. But one of the questions that tangle curious economists like Cornell Ngare is that aren t there poor people in the west? And the obvious answer is yes there is. There are beggars on the streets of London, several homeless families living under theRead MoreThe Good Project Humanitarian Relief Ngos And The Fragmentation Of Reason1700 Words   |  7 Pagesmainly focuses on how organizations make decisions about how to allocate resources and the way to translate values and interests into practice. Relief is a form of production which is so-called a project, the project and the beneficiaries who helped by humanitarian relief agencies become a commodity. The exchange market exists since humanitarian relief agencies sell projects to donors in a quasi-market that givers and products in the business are symbolically differentiated to match receiver preferencesRead MoreInternational Aid Allocation : The Path For Global Success1151 Words   |  5 PagesInternational Aid Allocation: The Path to Global Success From the origins of large-scale international humanitarian projects in the post-World War I period to current global aid allocation programs, scholars in the field of international aid have focused on the motives behind countries’ generous donations to their underdeveloped counterparts. Myriad studies, regardless of the time frame they encompass, make reference to the moral obligation rich nations have to help the poorest countries. In thisRead MoreThe Beginning Of Foreign Aid Essay1505 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: 1.The beginning of Foreign Aid All human beings regardless of their background require a set of resources to survive. These are food, water, shelter and clothing in addition to this, healthcare, education and sanitation are also essential for a person’s wellbeing. In 1949 Truman’s Inaugural Address â€Å"we must embark on a bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas† raisedRead MoreEthical Considerations Behind New Alternatives to Abortion.1566 Words   |  7 Pagesissue of AID or Artificial Insemination Donor. Many questions arise due to this artificial donor, such as who is legally the father of the child? Should the father be allowed visitation rights to child? The questions all arise in different cases which shall be discussed. Another issue in regarding the AID is whether the donor is anonymous or through a chosen donor. In the case of RE Adoption of Anonymous in 1973, the ethical consideration of who is the legal father in a consensual AID case. TheRead MoreExplanation For Third Wave African Democracy After The Cold War1736 Words   |  7 Pages(depending on which definition of democracy one accepts) in only a span of six years (Diamond 1997, 2). This seemed unusual because, prior to this period, it seemed as though authoritarian regimes were a permanent fixture in African states, and Western donor states were perfectly happy to support those regimes (2005, 179). This period of rapid transition to democracy has been termed the ‘third wave’ of democracy (ibid). The mystery that has plagued many scholars through this time has been: why did thisRead MoreGlobal Institutions are the Solution to Global Poverty Essay1639 Words   |  7 Pagesultimately provide for the greater good in aid to prevent world poverty. The argument put forward by both philosophers against non-governmental orga nizations is challenging as they â€Å"can never be the primary agents of justice and aid in the long run for several reasons† (Brooks 435) because they are not accountable for their actions and aims, they are dependent on donor countries, and the aid they give is subject to what the ruler of the country receiving aid wants. Most rulers in developing countriesRead MoreForeign Assistance For Foreign Aid1523 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough foreign aid has been going on for hundreds of years, it still remains a controversial topic. Many people have debated whether or not it actually either helps or harms nations. Foreign aid can help undeveloped states by providing education and health care. However, a drawback to foreign aid is that it can cause countries to become dependent and lead to corruption. Foreign aid is effective when countries don t try to use foreign aid for their own benefit and when coordination and accountabilityRead MoreHumanitarianism Is A Complex Task958 Words   |  4 Pagesorganizations â€Å"must be in certain areas that the donors are paying attention to.† These organizations are essentially controlled by financial interests. MSF, a pure humanitarian organization, can operate in volatile regions. Certain donors might not see real value in placing their money in uncertainty that an unstable region presents. NGOs dependent on donor financing will not be able to adequately support the people of these regions who are in dire need of aid. In continuing to define pure humanitarianism

Video Analysis on the Long Walk Home - 749 Words

Sociology Midterm - Video Analysis 1. Summary: The film I chose for this analysis is The Long Walk Home, directed by Richard Pearce. This film is about Odessa, an African-American maid in the Thompson family’s household in Montgomery, Alabama in the 1950s. On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks ‘refused to obey bus driver James F. Blake’s order to give up her seat in the colored section to a white passenger, after the white section was filled.’ Ms. Parks was arrested and there followed the Montgomery Bus Boycott when the entire African-American population refused to ride any of the city buses. Odessa supports the bus boycott and starts walking to work. Miriam Thompson finds herself in the midst of the civil rights revolution when she†¦show more content†¦In another event, some racist white boys attack and hit Odessa’s daughter and son for having darker skin and being ‘idiot coons.’ This is one of many examples of racism being a factor. The ultimate clash of the subordinate (whites) and insubordinate (African-Americans) groups comes at end of the film with the mob seen at the carpool lot. This shows racism, discrimination and stereotyping all in one. It is amazing to me to see both how far and how little we have come as a society. Works Cited 1. â€Å"Rosa Parks.† Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. 24 February 2015. Web. 08 March 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks. 2. Kendall, Diana. Sociology in Our Times. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. 3. The Long Walk Home. Dir. Pearce, Richard. RBA, 1990.Show MoreRelatedRitual Analysis : A Wedding1445 Words   |  6 PagesRitual Analysis Many people in civilized cultures associate rituals with only religious or witchcraft settings. Although they are a big part of those two lifestyles, rituals take place in non-religious and non-spiritual manners as well. A specific, more complex definition was provided by John Skorupski where he describes rituals as â€Å"interaction ceremonies in which humans as agents interact with other agents by communicating in interaction code† (Eller 2015: 103). In a more general sense, a ritualRead MoreA Research Study Of Condition A Phobia Into A Young Infant1468 Words   |  6 Pagesbeen accepted now that little Albert had a neurological impairment at the time of the experiment, Which Watson kept from the public records. Little Albert was taken from the experiments to go home and was never deconditioned or scheduled for long term follow-up. Some people went as far as to analyze the videos to find matching features. Keywords: Little Albert, Almost all psychology students learn at some point that a Watson and Rayner tried to condition an infant (11 months) called â€Å"AlbertRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of I Am A Crisis864 Words   |  4 PagesRhetorical Analysis of â€Å"I am a Crisis† In 2012, the British Red Cross released a public service announcement called â€Å"I am a Crisis.† The short advert was about how â€Å"a crisis can happen to anyone.† (HelloImAPizza) It aired all across the United Kingdom and even social media. The advert has gathered thousands of views through the years, which means many have heard its important message. The public service announcement, â€Å"I am a crisis†, message is significant because it can relate to everyone. The advertRead MoreHow Technology Has Impacted Our Culture Essay1692 Words   |  7 Pagestechnology improved the quality of life, and so on. Cell phones in particular have been advancing ever so rapidly in our generation, and have been used to advance societies in many ways. Smartphones are a now a communication device, laptop, camera, video player, music player, and so much more in just a hand held device. The latest and greatest smartphone can become outdated in as little as a year. Smartphones h ave advanced immensely in the 21st century in many ways, ultimately, what are smartphonesRead MoreThe Community Of The Aboriginal Community Essay1697 Words   |  7 Pagesgood school consists of. Part 2: †¢ Hook question: What do you think school was like in residential schools? (Engages students in prior knowledge). †¢ Video → show them the video CBC Radio-Canada. (1955, March 13). A new future for residential school students. [Video file]. Retreived from http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2565484259 †¢ Based on the video, does it seem like a nice place? Would you like to go there? Discuss in partners, then as a whole class what you came up with. †¢ Have students closeRead MoreApplying A Stress Management Schedule1529 Words   |  7 Pagesout there to preform. Yoga was a way, for me, to work on relaxation and stress reduction, all while reflexing on my day or meditating. After awhile, I came up with some ideas using social media, articles, journals, Youtube videos, and more. I started out by altering between videos and then doing my own movements. From the start, consistently remembering to take time to relax and preform my yoga plan was a serious struggle for me. I felt the stresses of balancing a job with the start of school andRead MoreThe Jonbenet Case And The Six Year Old Beauty Queen1441 Words   |  6 Pagesdisturbed, photographs in its originality are taken, and then collected by the crime scene investigator. The Boulder police failed to remove every individual from the crime scene and allowed them to not only walk around freely but were allowed to remove items. Removing the items from the home further compromised the integrity of the scene. Items such as toys, jewelry, credit cards, and some of JonBenet dresses were removed from the house (Katz, 2010). By allowing the items to be removed it is undeterminedRead MoreMarketing Research At The Bureau Of Labor Statistics1482 Words   |  6 Pagesunderstanding diversity in the hospital from the surrounding communities. Learning and training in the language of caring to i nteract within the changing diverse culture. Being able to walk in someone else s shoes or at least understand what they are going through, will make a difference in the way employees treat others. Video Remote Interpretation (VRI), using Marti a two-way audio, that will assist with language interpretation and help make it possible for an institution to open up doors for greaterRead MoreAnalysis of the Canadian Computer Software Industry1243 Words   |  5 PagesCanadian Computer Software Industry: An Analysis Introduction The involvement has become so involuntary that it has now become a dependence and an addiction, to an extent that the absence of a computer makes someone completely dysfunctional, thus making the computer software industry an instrumental new force within the international economy (Kent Williams 1997 p 140). Our insatiable need for new and updated technologies to accompany us through almost all walks of life has been resulting in a rapidlyRead MoreRobyn Rihanna Fenty: The Game of Fame1699 Words   |  7 PagesIn today’s world, celebrities are often misunderstood, especially singer/songwriter Robin Rihanna Fenty, referred to as Rihanna. Rihanna’s sexual behaviors in her videos have been talked about in negative ways for some time now, but what [eople do not understand is that it is all for fame. Celebrities will do anything to keep their career going strong. If one really took the time out to take a deep look at Rihanna, they will notice how humble she really is. After going through the abusive relationship

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Argumentative Essay Example For Students

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Argumentative Essay Obsessive Compulsive Disorder And Its Effect On LifeObsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, involves anxious thoughts or rituals one feels and cant control. . For many years, OCD was thought to be rare. The actual number of people with OCD was hidden, because people would hide their problem to avoid embarrassment. Some recent studies show that as many as 3 million Americans ages 18 to 54 may have OCD at any one time. This is about 2.3% of the people in this age group. It strikes men and women in approximately equal numbers and usually first appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. One-third of adults with OCD report having experienced their first symptoms as children. The course of the disease is variable. Symptoms may come and go, they may ease over time, or they can grow progressively worse. If someone has OCD, they may be plagued by persistent, unwelcome thoughts or images, or by the urgent need to engage in certain rituals. They may be obsessed with germs or dirt, so they wash their hands over and over. They may be filled with doubt and feel the need to check things repeatedly. They may have frequent thoughts of violence, and fear that they will harm people close to them. They may spend long periods touching things or counting; and may be pre-occupied by order or symmetry; or may have persistent thoughts of performing sexual acts that are repulsive to them; or they may be troubled by thoughts that are against their religious beliefs. OCD is a very serious disorder that contains obsessions constantly being played out in ones mind, compulsions used to try and counteract these obsessions, and various treatments used to fight it. ObsessionsObsessions are unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in the mind of a person with OCD. These are thoughts and ideas that the sufferer cannot stop thinking about. A sufferer will almost always obsess over something which he or she is most afraid of. Common ideas include persistent fears that harm may come to self or a loved one, an unreasonable concern with becoming contaminated, or an excessive need to do things correctly or perfectly. Again and again, the individual experiences a disturbing thought, such as, My hands may be contaminated I must wash them or I may have left the gas on or I am going to injure my child. These thoughts tend to be intrusive, unpleasant, and produce a high degree of anxiety. Sometimes the obsessions are of a violent or a sexual nature, or concern illness. People with OCD who obsess over hurting themselves or others are actually less likely to do so than the average person. Obsessions are typically automatic, frequent, distressing, a nd difficult to control or put an end to by themselves. With these reoccurring obsessions continuously being played in the sufferers mind, they start performing repetitive acts that reassure them that their hands arent dirty, or the gas for the stove is turned of. This response to their obsession is called a compulsion. CompulsionsIn response to their obsessions, most people with OCD resort to repetitive behaviors called compulsions. Obsessive thoughts make people with OCD feel nervous and afraid. They try to get rid of these feelings by performing certain behaviors according to rules that they make up for themselves. The most common of these are washing and checking. Other compulsive behaviors include counting, repeating, hoarding, and endlessly rearranging objects in an effort to keep them in precise alignment with each other. Cognitive problems, such as mentally repeating phrases, list making, or checking, are also common. These behaviors generally are intended to ward off harm t o the person with OCD or others. Some people with OCD have regimented rituals while others have rituals that are complex and changing. Performing rituals may give the person with OCD some relief from anxiety, but it is only temporary. A lot of healthy people can identify with some of the symptoms of OCD, such as checking the stove several times before leaving the house. But for people with OCD, such activities consume at least an hour a day, are very distressing, and interfere with daily life. At their worst, these rituals can be

Organizational Design Behavior Essay Example

Organizational Design Behavior Paper If the organizational structure is meant to reflect its situation, the Limora Hospital and the Community Health Centres (LCHC) structures do not do this. The current structure does not reflect the complexity, dynamics, or the environment. There appears to be little consideration given to parameters of design. Organizational design is used to maneuver a series of criterion that determine the division of labor and coordination. The Limora Hospital and the LCHC have weaknesses in their design concerning the decision making system, the lateral connections between the superstructure, the format of the subunits and the individual job positions. These are integral parts of the structure and seem to be a weakness at both facilities. I would describe the structure of the LCHC as almost non-existent. Although the case study doesnt provide a lot of information about the actual parts of the for Limora Hospital or the LCHC, it does appear to be somewhat better at the Hospital then at the LCHC. As an initial step, it would help to combine some areas of the two facilities and better utilize its technostructure, support staff and operating core. The strategic apex is weak with no consistent, committed leadership or administration. We will write a custom essay sample on Organizational Design Behavior specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Organizational Design Behavior specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Organizational Design Behavior specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer There is confusion about the Bishops power of authority. He appears to have given his power away, yet some employees indicate otherwise. In fact, there doesnt appear to be any real management to apply managerial leadership and direction. This kind of confusion and conflict demoralizes the apex and the middle line entirely. A common vision, mission, and active interest in the future must be demonstrated by the Executives if they are to flow down into the core of the organization. This is lacking and is sorely felt by Dr. Macdonald who cannot pass down anything more than he is capable of, or more, than he is receiving from his superiors. There is a small technostructure in high demand, a large support staff, and an operating core that is clearly not well managed. Most evident is the lack of linkages between management and the operating core. Although not as evident are the weak linkages between the core and the supporting staff. A limited horizontal decentralization might work where the strategic apex shares some power with the technostruture that standardizes everyones work and some of these linkages. A well organized management team and employee links to them are necessary. A strong theoretical point is made in The Classical School of organizational theory by Henry Fayol, a French industrialist. He, and other theorists like Urwick, Gulick, Mooney and Reiley, emphasized the universality of the management function in all kinds of different organizations. Fayols theory worked from the board of directors and chief executives down through the organization. He stressed the importance of planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling the administration of an organization from the top down. The weakness in Limora Hospital and the LCHC can be found in the management of the Apex and he middle line, and the operating core. No serious attention has been given to these areas so they can achieve the leadership and administrative control they need. The parts of the organization do not support the coordinating mechanisms required, and neglect to meet the needs of either facility. They should reflect the configuration for a professional organization that relies on the trained professionals who have a high level of control over their work. It is safe to assume that the Doctors and nurses have all been trained and have standardized their professional skills before working at the either facility. Coordination is achieved by the virtue of doctors and nurses having learned what to expect from one another. So they do have this basic mechanism of coordination. What is lacking, is the necessary organizational glue to hold it together. Perhaps the standardization of norms as another coordinating mechanism. The nurses dont seem to be able to coordinate their activities based on their common goal of caring for the sick and standardizing norms would be helpful. There has been an attempt at coordination by Dr. Macdonald, but the organization has been without strong consistent control for too long. Although there doesnt appear to be a middle line, Dr. Macdonald has been left to promote coordination and proper design on his own. His leadership attempt is valiant but he needs the help of qualified middle line managers. The missing parameters of design are Behaviour formalization, Training, and Unit grouping. Behaviour formalization would provide work processes and job descriptions to reduce confusion about what work people should be doing and how they should be doing it. On the surface, one may question whether a group of professionals need stringent rules and regulations. Although these professionals know the essence of their roles, and have a lot of control over what they do, they lack a framework within which to work and make decisions. Behaviour formalization could outline the framework within which they can take control and, identify the boundary where they need the assistance and cooperation of others. Also very important, is to identify the communication linkages to others inside and outside this framework. This would eliminate much confusion, instill confidence into the operating core, and bring cooperation among managers and workers. It seems to me that when you are dealing with the life, death, and the health of others, the last thing you want is dissension and confusion among those who are caring for you. Aside from the professional skills applied by the doctors and nurses, the simplest procedures in administration of core workers could be a disastrous for the patient. As an example, how is a specific report completed, when is it completed, who are the critical receivers of the report, when must they receive it, and what must be included in it, all involve linkages and cooperation among professionals, staff and management. If these are broken in some way or done incorrectly, outside of the prescribed framework, they can impact a life. Chester Bernards book, The Functions of Executives, from the human relations school of thought, emphasized the need for clarity and cooperation among managers and workers to further the interests of everyone. Bernard said that organizations by their very nature are cooperative systems and cannot survive otherwise. He listed three forces to achieve this cooperation; executive leadership, subordinate acceptance of organizational goals, and the power of informal work groups. Clearly in a hospital there is room for strict rules and processes outlined by the leaders, but because there are also large areas of independent decision making, you must have a cooperation and a balance of both. Training, another parameter of design, can teach the professionals what the standards, processes, and procedures are, and clearly define the level of performance for each. The Limora Hospital must had some training on the hospitals procedures but when the nurses came over to work at the LCHC, they complained that they were not oriented to these properly. Training at LCHC is lacking in this area. The essence of the work done by the professionals is no different in either the Limora Hospital or the LCHC. What is different is the purpose for each facility and the level of output. One is a hospital that cares for the people who are already ill, and the LCHC is a community program that focuses on preventative health to try to keep people from ending up in the hospital. The hospital doctors and nurses would likely be prescriptive in their care for very ill patients over a shorter period. The LCHC would also prescribe but would likely be more descriptive in their care over longer periods of time in the community. Teaching these fundamentally different objectives to everyone, and what work is wrapped around them, would facilitate a clear direction for exactly what the jobs are in each facility. The Scientific Management theory advocates a systematic approach to job design, performance, and training. Not necessarily all of the theory components are applicable the systematic approach to training does apply to a health organization. There is a systematic way of applying medical tests to ensure there are no mistakes. Speed and efficiency are critical. There may be a departure from this theory as it relates to division of work and task specialization, but the scientific selection of training remains useful to our health care situation. Adam Winslow Taylor and Henry Gantt emphasized the need for systematic training of workers. Taylor particularly advocated that the role of management was to know their employees and to train them to do well. If this was done, it would produce maximum efficiency. Finally, both the LCHC and the hospital are dependent on the same resources. They both need analysts such as accounting and personnel, they both use the same nurses and doctors in their operating core, and both need the use of land rovers in their work. Conflicts have surfaced because the organizational structure does not leverage these like needs well. For example: Clear and accurate financial accounting for both areas They both need highly qualified doctors and nurses Their primary and supporting staff need similar training They are dependent on each other but the structure does not promote interdependency They both require processes and procedures to perform their jobs well Unit grouping would be the design parameter most required to help facilitate the mutual needs of each unit. Grouping these under the same supervision would encourage cooperation and help to promote a more efficient and cooperative working environment. Once the needs of each area are clear, you need to establish liaison positions, or roles that can coordinate the work of two units. These liaison positions are missing in the hospital and LCHC structure. Task forces are also missing. Task forces can plan meetings, bring the members of each unit together, and integrate mangers to coordinate what is important to the units. These initiatives would eliminate competition for the best nurses and doctors, and provide a fair an accurate financial accounting for both facilities. It is difficult to tell how much impact the support staff for either the Limora hospital, or the LCHC have on the operating core and the quality of care. Im sure the support staff could also be optimized by unit groupings. Unlike the scientific management theory that did not provide a theory of general organizational design, the classical school of organizational theory did. Henry Fayol, from this theory, suggested that all jobs should be regrouped on some common basis to achieve coordination or unity of direction. Henry Fayol also saw the importance of working from the board of directors down into the organization, different from the scientific management school of thought which worked from the bottom up. Both are useful for our purposes. This regrouping theory and focus on the top levels of the organization are very applicable to the Limora Hospital and the LCHC. There are also some situational factors such as age, size, technical systems, power, and environment that need consideration. Understanding the impact of situational factors can help identify the weaknesses in the structure and how to improve them. For example, the hospital and the LCHC are only 10 years old and there are only 280 beds. This means they are relatively young and small and that their behaviours arent yet formalized. The fact is there is a lack of organizational maturity. As the organization ages and grows in size, the behaviours will become formalized and the more homogeneous. Because the environment in a hospital is complex and decisions cannot be made by one person, one might decentralize the structure and push the decision making down. However, with the problems at the Limora Hospital and the LCHC, it would be wise to centralize some of its structure temporarily. Taking this action in the right areas would eliminate the current hostile environment. As the organization matures, selective vertical and horizontal decentralization can be applied where the power over different decisions is spread over different parts of the organization more readily. Finally we have the operating core, the key part of the organization that is composed of professionals. Although the basic coordinating mechanism of standardization of skills exists, standardization of processes, and outputs are weak. These together with the lack of leadership, have politicized the organization and the people are in conflict. Consequently, the structure of Limora Hospital and LCHC has become a professional bureaucracy, not uncommon in Hospitals. A view of Professionals is that they are attached to the organization, but still have extensive autonomy and freedom. This gives them the best of both worlds. From an organizational perspective, however, this environment is very difficult to control and measure. The hospital and the LCHC need to discover then prescribe, when and how the attachment to the organization is essential, and when autonomy is necessary. As stated earlier, as the organization matures, professionals will perfect their own skills and repeat what works for the overall success of their jobs. For right now, framework and guidance are required. Guidance, communication and leadership would maximize the professionals output, efficiency and morale. Another item that may be an issue for the hospital and the LCHC is professional incompetence in its core operations. Although incompetence is not indicated in the case study, it may be an undiscovered issue because it is difficult to identify it in a professional organization that has lots of autonomy. Hence one measure of control is to ensure you hire competent professionals, and you continue to upgrade and train them. The standardization of skills and norms will help, but does not address incompetence. In summary, the weakness in the organizational structure of the Limora Hospital and the LCHC are challenging, but fixable. It is important to step back and look at what parameters of control or freedom a health care organization requires. It seems a portion of a hospital operations needs a very stringent scientific approach to its organization, yet another portion demands that the professional skilled people to have the authority and power to assert their knowledge independently. Theoretically, I would apply Max Webers Bureaucracy theory as an approach. This structure would ensure that there are clear lines of power, orderly procedures and rules that would remove any randomness and unpredictability from the hospital system. The interactions are based on standards Vs the personal feelings of peers and managers. It would add fairness and equity of evaluation. It is a rational and formal-structural response to organizational problems. The immaturity must be aided by making some structural changes. The superstructure appears to need the least amount of work. There is an existing Apex (which needs some focus), a middle line (which needs to grow), a small technostructure (which should be combined for both facilities to use), and an ill managed operating core. I hesitate to say too much about the support staff. Unfortunately, the case does not provide enough information about this unit for comment.. I must assume there is a support staff functioning at the hospital since they could not possibly continue without the support of a support staff. Most of the organizational changes need to be done in the essential design parameters of the subunits. Standardization of skills has already been achieved and the remaining would include: Behaviour formalization to help standardize work processes and procedures Training to teach the standards and procedures and achieve standardization Unit groupings to group jobs under one supervision for maximum efficiency and cooperation The structural changes will also facilitate more effective communications, enhance the ability of the leaders to lead, and increase intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The complexities of organizational structure and organizational behaviour are huge. Because of these complexities, generally one theory, one behavioural model, or one method of structure does not always meet all the needs of the organization. There is no doubt, however, that guiding principles and basic fundamental models work and would work for Limora Hospital and the LCHC. 2. What are the effects on motivation, leadership and communication because of the weaknesses identified in your answer to Question #1 at the Limora Communication Health Centre? The weakness in the organizational structure at LCHC hampers leadership, communication, and motivation. In reverse, the lack of leadership, communication and motivation have impacted the organizational structure. The definition of each of these explains the importance of their interrelationship to one another. Leadership is based on the ability to influence others to achieve organizational goals. Formal leaders hold a high rank in the hierarchy and informal leaders are recognized for outstanding skills and abilities. Managing is sometimes mistaken for leadership. The difference is that a manager brings order to the employees, and a leader makes useful changes in the organization. Communication is the process of two or more people exchanging information. The sender is the initiator of the message and the receiver is the one that the message is direct to. Effective communication is achieved when the message from the sender is received as it was intended. Motivation can be understood as a force within us that is triggered by various needs. This force then drives us to satisfy an unsatisfied need. There are basically two different categories of motivation. One is intrinsic and the other extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation comes from inside ourselves and extrinsic from outside ourselves. All three of these are lacking at the LCHC. Some of them are highly impacted by the weaknesses in the organizational structure, and some are lacking in the individuals as skills. Motivation, leadership and communication are dependent on one another and cannot function very well in an organization on their own. Leadership generally deals with the complexities of humans and human behaviour. There are many approaches to leadership, each with theories and models. The Traits theories would look at leaders and explore their traits or characteristics. Behavioural leadership theories centre around the behaviours demonstrated by effective leaders. Lastly, the contingency approach puts forward the notion that it depends on both behaviour and traits. Situations can effect what traits and behviours are most useful.. The most suitable leadership approach for the LCHC would be the contingency approach since it offers ways to look at behaviour and traits. It also lends itself to approaches for leading tasks and people. There are task issues and relationship issues at LCHC that need leadership. Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchards situation leadership model offers different behaviours suited to either a task situation or a relationship situation. Some of the leadership weakness at LCHC are: The lines of authority for the division of labor between the apex and the middle line are not clear. This makes leadership difficult. The Bishop is not motivated to take on this leadership, or he does not have the leadership expertise to lead. It is the Bishop that should set forth the proper leadership characteristics, and develop the triggers that will motivate his organization. There seems to be no communication from him about the mission, strategy, or goals of either facility. If this is missing at the top, it cascades down throughout the organization very quickly. It is evident that the professionals in the operating core are confused, and dont have clear goals to follow. These goals would help pull all of them in the same direction. The middle line, where Dr. Macdonald is managing, needs qualified managers. When there are no qualified managers, and management systems are in chaos, leadership is compromised for the strongest of leaders. The above points in the structural weaknesses involve task and volatile relationships issues. The application of the Hersey / Blanchard model of leadership will help both the task and relationship concerns. . Regarding communications, the LCHC does not adequately provide the network for good communications among all its employees. Unit groupings are weak and management does not seem to have a lot of integrity in their communications. Its important to have a place that can determine what communications vehicle should be used to gain the highest impact for any given message. Rich communication demands face to face interaction, next is the telephone, and the poorest is via memo or letter. There are no liaison positions in place at the LCHC. These positions could determine communication vehicles, disseminate information and improve upward, downward and horizontal communications. A very large part of good communications is also about listening and knowing how to communicate. Communication involves giving and receiving feedback. These skills are generally part of a good training program. The LCHC does not have a good training program in place that could help them increase harmony, efficiency and mutual understanding. When good communications are in place, feedback is at an optimum, therefore, managers and employees could actively participate in formal and informal evaluations processes. If the managers and employees are involved in the evaluation process, they are most apt to be fair and equitable in their assessment of each other. The employees at LCHC are not motivated. The lack of motivation is a direct result of the lack of leadership and effective communications. It can also be linked to the organization of the subunits. Grouping different jobs under common supervision can pull them together to achieve similar goals thus triggering motivation.. Employees also need, and are more likely driven by intrinsic motivators. These can come from reaching personal career goals, making enough money to buy a new house, or simply feeling good when a patient gets well as a direct result of their care. Putting a Human Resources management in place could provide rewards programs in the form of money, recognition, and promotion. These are all triggers for employees to set themselves goals to reach these rewards. Lockes goal setting theory says setting clear, challenging, realistic and acceptable goals raises performance. Goals invoke motivations since our thoughts and actions are directed by our goals. It is much easier for the LCHC employees to set their personal work related goals if they have been given short term departmental goals or milestones and long term organizational goals. Each department would work in a cooperative setting to reach these goals. When employees dont see or feel a sense of purpose, there is often conflict, competition, and behaviour is based on the fear of not knowing where they are headed. Consequently, this leads to low morale and demotivated employees. The LCHC should consistently communicate the rewards and results of effort and hard work. This will encourage employees to expect a reward for their work. Vrooms expectancy theory supports this idea. He says that if you put effort in, you will get a positive outcome. Individuals will look at a given situation in this way. increased effort will lead to good performance, good performance will lead to certain outcomes, and then are the outcomes worthwhile. If they are, the effort will be put forth. In summary, leadership, communication, and motivation are a must for an organizations success. If the structure is aligned to support all three, there is increased productivity, high level of efficiency and high morale among the employees.

The Impact of Fuedalism essays

The Impact of Fuedalism essays There are many different views on how feudalism affected the Middle Ages. Some people believe it was genius while others think it was a disaster. There is only one thing that is truly certain about feudalism and that is that it had political, social and economic impacts. Feudalism was developed to secure the alliance between a feudal lord and an ordinary peasant. The feudal lord would give a section of land to a fief and in return, the peasant would pledge his full allegiance to the lord. In document, nineteen it is stated that, the principle means of securing the allegiance of the noble was by a gift of land. The only means that held the lord and the fief together was a mutual agreement. Document 22 supports this, ...the feudal relationship was essentially a contract between lord and vassals which was defined and enforced by mutual agreement.... Feudalism gave the power to the lords. They could control the peasants and expected complete obedience in return. In document four a soldier speaks of his lord. And so long as I live I ought to provide service and honor to you, suitably to my free condition; and I shall not during the time of my life have the ability to withdraw from your power or guardianship; but must remain during the days of my life under your power or defense. It is pointed out in document 17 that a person could be condemned if they did not follow through with their contract. ...the aforesaid court of Agen has unanimously pronounced sentence against you, and for these matters has condemned you to hand over and restore to us the chateau of Auvillars and all that land which you hold from us in fee.... Another impact of feudalism was that a commoner could never move up socially. By the ninth and tenth centuries...the upper classes had gained title to practically all of the land, and most of the common people had become serfs (Doc. 44...

Dont Name Your Character Mary Sue

Dont Name Your Character Mary Sue Don’t Name Your Character Mary Sue Don’t Name Your Character Mary Sue By Mark Nichol Are your lead characters a menagerie of Mary Sues? A Mary Sue is a walking clichà ©, unrealistically flawless and therefore flat and boring a hero in your story, but a villain in your efforts to create well-rounded characters. The label for this trope is from a character in a fan-fiction Star Trek parody featuring a winsome but tiresome teenage hero by that name. The story poked fun at the adolescent (or adolescent-minded) authors of fan fiction who create characters often idealized self-representations notably lacking in personality flaws and seemingly incapable of making mistakes. The result, invariably, is a dull Dudley (or Dolly) Do-Right. But wait, you protest some of the most memorable characters in storytelling traditions have been Mary Sues! What about all the heroes of folk tales and fairytales? What about the central figures in Horatio Alger Hiss rags-to-riches stories and the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries? What about icons of the small and big screens like Captain Kirk and Luke Skywalker? There’s no law against coaxing a Mary Sue to life in any creative medium. But recognize that the presence of a gosh-and-golly go-getter is an element that marks the framing narrative as pulp fiction. If you want to produce pulp, have at it; the demand for it is insatiable. But if you wish to be taken seriously as a writer, understand that realistic characters those with hopes and dreams and desires, yes, but also with doubts and faults and weaknesses are full of depth and dimension. Characters who always know what to do and what to say, who always do the right thing, are less appealing, because we are less likely to see our own imperfect selves reflected in them. A faultless character is, like a story free of conflict, a flimsy basis for a good story. Tales appeal to us because we empathize with people who fail but then get up, dust themselves off, and try again, because that’s what we do every day, and that’s what builds our character. If your name is Mary Sue, you never fall and you (and the story that surrounds you) can therefore never truly be admired. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comparative Forms of AdjectivesBody Parts as Tools of Measurement10 Tips About How to Write a Caption

Kristin Decides to Try Her Hand at Investing Research Paper

Kristin Decides to Try Her Hand at Investing - Research Paper Example Younger persons also tend not to be responsible for dependents, large assets, and, in many cases of young professionals, their own health coverage. An older person, however, is by his or her nature more risk-adverse, since there is a more limited time span in which to make up potential losses due to investments. Consequently, investing is more confusing for the younger investor like, in this case, Kirstin who is a 26-year-old female potential manager. Although Kirstin has to build for the future by selecting more secure investment options, she should also try to maximize her gains by taking on more risk than the average investor did. This is not to say that Kirstin should become a gambler with her money on the stock market; rather, she should look to expand her capital in a safe, prudent manner. Regardless of an investor’s age or level of risk-aversion, one should always seek diversification as a first principle (Melicher & Norton, 2008, p. 8). Even though Kirstin does not hav e a large asset pool to pull from in terms of seeking out investments, she ought to seek out holdings in as many asset classes as she can. This means that spreading her assets between equities (blue chip and growth), bonds (corporate and municipal), cash equivalents, and commodities. Spreading assets around to the different classes means that Kirstin is hedging her risk against sharp declines in any of the specific categories, such that the other categories can support her portfolio in tough times. The majority of this portfolio must be concentrated in areas with highest growth potential, but diversifying between these instruments is a good strategy. If Kirsten decides to put most of her savings into blue chip or growth equities, she is likely to see a satisfactory return on her investment if the overall market is bullish or relatively stable. Depending on how long she expects to hold these investments, she may see a return on investment (ROI) at a percentage higher than any percent age offered by a corporate or municipal bond holder, or any cash equivalent offered by her local bank. Assuming that Kirsten’s idea of a â€Å"satisfactory return† is greater than the 3 percent interest paid by her bank for a Certificate of Deposit, then she is more likely to see desired returns if she invests in equities as opposed to other kinds of cash equivalents and bonds. Because Kirsten can be certain that her CD with her local bank is insured (that is, she cannot lose the principle amount, like she can with an equity or bond), she must be willing to accept only a return greater than 3 percent. Depending on the nature of the bonds Kirsten investigates, she is likely to find bonds that have greater than 3% interest. Especially corporate bonds of companies with lower credit ratings, which are consequently more risky, Kirsten could find rates of return nearing 10 percent. Kirsten’s decisions about where to put her money could be driven by any number of facto rs, including but not limited to tips from friends, independent research, consultations with financial planners, developments in the news, or developments in her own personal life (Lim, 2010, p. 19). Most likely, Kirsten will decide what to invest in based on her risk-aversion and the principles of good investing. As already discussed, the principle of diversification may draw her to look at both equities and bonds, in addition to the cash equivalent in which she plans to invest $3,000. In addition, Kirsten

Costs of benefits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Costs of benefits - Essay Example This paper gives an analysis of the results obtained from StopNShop Today Inc especially on the competitiveness of its benefits package and the benefits it accrues from the package. As much as it is of a necessity for any organization to conform its benefits package to the prevailing ones within the economy it operates, it is also ethical that organizations make their packages more attractive and above their competitors so as to retain the best of human resource within the market (Barnow et al, 2013). The review report from StopNShop Today Inc study review of its packages reveals an interesting trend within the organization. More weight is given to wages and salaries as in forms the core of the organization’s incentive to its employees. This is followed by the total costs incurred on benefits to the employees with the rest given very little weight. Of more interest is the allocation to retirement and the savings that come with it. It is the least area over which the company allocates its resources. The trend within the U.S economy is of greater interest and explains further the recent decision by major organizations to review their benefits packages (Barnow et al, 2013). As of the year 2004 towards the year 2008, the general of cost allocation to benefits and remunerations was on a declining slope which gives a reflection of the economic times during such periods. Between the year 2008 and 2010 there was a steady increase in the general allocation of resources to benefits and remunerations. Such an action reveals that the companies were experiencing economic boom and thus could easily afford to increase the allocation of their resources to benefits. The general trend in the statistics available at the U.S Bureau of Statistics shows that most organizations do allocate between 40% and 47% of their resources towards the benefits of their employees with the percentage allocated to

Literature review Essay Example for Free

Literature review Essay A reasonable risk assessment of sex offenders, when combined with good parole supervision and a community-based treatment program aimed at relapse prevention, effectively reduces recidivism. This was the finding of a study conducted by Wilson, Stewart, Stirpe, Barrett, and Cripps in Canada. Published in 2000, the study covered 107 sex offenders who were released to the custody of the Central Ontario District during a period of eight years starting in 1990. According to the authors, their study outlined the general principles laid down by Motiuk, Belcourt, and Bonta in 1995, namely: careful and continuous evaluation of offender risk which ensures that highly dangerous offenders were not allowed to return to the community by sentencing them to life in prison; focusing on criminal behavior when conducting intervention programs with the help of qualified psychologists; effective monitoring of the returning offenders’ activities in the community by employing only competent parole personnel trained in the principles of relapse prevention; and an honest exchange of information among the relatives of sex offenders, the parole personnel, and the treatment staff in order to achieve the right mix of treatment intervention and parole supervision. Wilson et al (2000) found that the strategy resulted to a low 3. 7% recidivism compared to the 5. 4% cited by the study of Motiuk and Brown, and the 6.3% recidivism rate which came out of the study conducted by Barbaree, Seto, and Maric. Both studies were completed in 1996 (Wilson, Stewart, Stirpe, Barrett, and Cripps, 2000). In West Virginia, Gordon and Weldon (2003). Examined the effect of educational programs on recidivism. Studying the records of inmates who attended the General Educational Development (GED) and the Vocational training programs conducted from 1999-2000 at Huttonsville Correctional Center, they found that a recidivism rate of 8. 75% was recorded for those who completed the vocational training program. Inmates who went through both the vocational training program and the GED, on the other hand, reported a lower 6. 71% recidivism rate. Both figures were way below the recidivism rate of 26% which was observed on inmates who did not participate in either educational program. These results were comparative to the findings of a study made by Mace in 1978 of 320 inmates who were discharged from correctional institutions in West Virginia in 1973. Out of the 320, 76 were rearrested after four years, 21 (or 6. 56%) of whom were products of educational programs behind bars while 55 (or 17. 19%) did not attend any educational program while being incarcerated (Gordon and Weldon, 2003). Meanwhile, two cost-effective programs were the subject of an article authored by Harvey Shrum in 2004. Published in the Journal of Correctional Education, the article discussed two additional practices called logotherapy and intensive journal which, according to him, were better at reducing â€Å"future criminality† of both offenders and potential offenders than punishment and surveillance-based programs. Logotherapy, which means â€Å"health through meaning,† was developed by Dr. Viktor Frankl as an effective substitute to the 12-step program of rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abusers generally accepted by most parole boards. The program aims to provide inmates with a â€Å"purpose and direction in life. † Introduced forty years ago to inmates of a California Rehabilitation Center, program participants reported a recidivism rate of 5. 5%. When it was re-introduced to nineteen inmates of Folsom State Prison in 1998, the three participants who were released on parole reported a zero percent recidivism by year 2004. Intensive journal, on the other hand, was first introduced at Folsom State Prison in 1992. Created by Dr. Ira Progoff, it is a â€Å"method of self-development† that makes use of writing exercises. Inmates were made to write about their experiences, relationships with their families, their jobs and health, and the meaning that they give to their lives in a journal. These journals were reviewed and feedbacks were provided. By 2002, ten years after the program was introduced, no participant was ever rearrested (Shrum, 2004). The debate on the value of using recidivism to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of correctional programs continues and, in fact, polarized justice scholars. A dissenting opinion was voiced by Thomas in 2005 when he said that prison facilities and programs have no influence over the behavior of inmates once they return to their communities. He argued that communities are influenced by certain social, cultural, and economic factors which are beyond the control of prison facilities. Policymakers and academics, however, refuse to budge. They insist that there is no other, better measure than the rate of recidivism. According to these academics and policymakers, effective rehabilitation measures should be able to provide inmates with coping mechanisms necessary for them to deal with the â€Å"economic, social, and cultural stresses of post-release life. † In the same vein, they argue that effective deterrence programs should produce inmates who should have learned enough lessons during incarceration to dissuade them from returning to a life of crime. In both cases, they maintain that low recidivism should be the direct result. Although inclined towards the use of recidivism, Maxwell, in an article entitled: â€Å"Rethinking the Broad Sweep of Recidivism: A Task for Evaluators,† suggested that academics should not stop looking for less familiar methods of approaching the problem while policymakers should maintain an open mind so that like policy questions could be considered more objectively (Maxwell, 2005). References Gordon, H. R. D., and Weldon, B. (2003). The Impact of Career and Technical Education Programs on Adult Offenders: Learning Behind Bars. Journal of Correctional Education, 54, 4, 200-209. Maxwell, S. R. (2005). RETHINKING THE BROAD SWEEP OF RECIDIVISM: A TASK FOR EVALUATORS. Criminology Public Policy, 4, 3, 519-526. Shrum, H. (2004). No Longer Theory: Correctional Practices That Work. Journal of Correctional Education, 55, 3, 225-235. Wilson, R. J. , Stewart, L. , Stirpe, T. , Barrett, M. , and Cripps, J. E. (2000). Community-based sex offender management: Combining parole supervision and treatment to reduce recidivism. Canadian Journal of Criminology, 42, 2, 177-188.

Health Benefits Of Ergonomics Essay -- essays research papers

Ergonomics involves designing workplaces and work tools to be used easily, efficiently and effectively by people. The overall goal is to promote health and productivity in the workplace. Where ergonomic principles are not applied, chronic musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinitis of the arm and hand, eyestrain injury and back injuries may be common.Most people are concerned when they cannot use parts of the body like they know they should be able to use them. People are often unaware of ways to prevent injury, and ergonomics will introduce methods that will help reduce those injuries. Chiropractors recommend using ergonomics in a professional environment as well as at home. Following simple guidelines can help prevent injury to the arms and hands, eyes, and back. Everyday activities at work, home, or play can cause wear and tear on muscles, joints, tendons, and nerves. Problems can be a direct result of poor posture, repetitive motion, and excessive force or pressure to any part of the body.Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides ergonomic consulting services to companies, labor organizations and government agencies. In an environment where Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and the associated workers' compensation costs continue to increase, these services are directed to identifying the risk factors to such disorders and assisting clients in reducing the hazards created by these factors.INTRODUCTIONIncreased or constant productivity is a concern of every employer. Employers want to know that their employees are doing their best. Therefore, employers should strive to make the work environment suitable for productivity. The ergonomics program is designed to do just that. In most cases, a happy employer leads to happy employees.PurposeThe purpose of the ergonomic program is to make employers aware of injury prevention. Such awareness can to increased productivity, a decrease in the number of worker's compensation cases, and a decrease in number of lower back injuries.The information provided to you in this proposal will make you, as an employer, see the necessity of applying ergonomics to your working environment. Studies have shown that with increased computer use, the numbers of Repetitive Motion Disorders has tripled since 1979.ScopeThese ergonomic consulting serves are provided by trained and experienced industrial engineers and ... ... body movement: Try Yoga, Chi Kung, or Tai Chi.For reducing stress: Try meditation, visualization exercises, taking deep breaths, or going for a walkFor working through sore, stiff, or sensitive muscles: Try massage, physiotherapy, trigger point therapy, acupressure or shiatsuFor reducing inflammation and pain: Try ice or a package of frozen vegetables on the affected area.For relieving neck strain after sleeping: Use a cervical roll or a "contour pillow" and don't sleep on your stomach.For general well-being: Take frequent rest breaks (recommended is 5 minute rests every 20 minutes and get out of your chair at least once an hour), drink lots of water, exercise, stretch, and move around often.CONCLUSIONSThose are the basics. The most important thing to ask yourself is: Are you comfortable throughout a day's work? If it feels good and you tend not to shift trying to get comfortable, then you are probably less at risk of injury or possible reinjury. Remember, people are not robots. Move around. Get up. A good chair lets you have a little room to move so you can stay loose. Leaning and slumping is fine once in a while, just don't make that your continual working position.

Psoriasis

Yes, psoriasis can be treated This six-part KULIT article series by the Persatuan Dermatologi Malaysia aims to raise awareness of psoriasis. In this final article, PDM President Dr Allan K C Yee highlights an important message for people with psoriasis – there is no cure yet for psoriasis, but its symptoms can be effectively treated and managed. Be open-minded and willing to work with your doctor to find a treatment that will work for you. The object of treatment is to reduce the extent and severity of psoriasis – the red scaly stigmata, the tell-tale scaling on one’s clothes, the rough cracked palms that make handshakes awkward, painful joints that limit one’s activities. In short, the goal is to improve the quality of life which has been shown in studies to be as affected as much as other major diseases such as cancer, heart disease and depression. The good news is that with today’s medical armamentarium, much can be done to allow the sufferer a greatly improved quality of life. Treatments must be individualized Fortunately, only 20% of psoriatics suffer from severe psoriasis, and the site involved is so variable that the treatments must be individualized. Limited disease can be treated with topical agents but more extensive skin involvement will require oral systemic treatments, phototherapy with artificial UV light, or even injectable agents (biologics). Furthermore psoriasis can affect any part of the body, each meriting special measures. Site-specific treatments For instance, thick scalp psoriasis is often mistakenly treated with endless anti-dandruff shampoos with little results. Scalp psoriasis invariably responds dramatically to tar pomades under occlusion for one to two weeks, a tip that an experienced dermatologist would gladly share with sufferers. Similarly, thick and cracked scaly palms and soles that prevent working with the hands or sometimes even walking, can be significantly improved with special steroid-salicylic acid ointments used under occlusion. These soften and shed the thickened dead skin making the skin pliable and usable once more. Psoriasis affecting the face, body creases – groins, armpits and private areas can be improved with the udicious use of weaker topical steroids and the newer and safer nonsteroidal calcineurin-inhibitors. The problem is that these thinned skinned areas are often treated with strong steroid creams that are not meant to be used in these sensitive areas. The end-result is irreversible side-effects such as ugly pink stretch marks, easy bruising and skin infections. We see a lot of these unfortunate cases who are sold these strong steroids from errant pharmacies without a prescription, or are introduced to them by well-meaning friends and relatives. The Dermatological Society of Malaysia is working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that potent steroids are only available with a prescription. The treatment should not be worse than the disease! Hopefully with warnings such as in this article, the lay public will be better informed about the dangers of self-medicating with potent topical steroids. Topical Treatments Generally, when the extent of psoriasis is limited to less than 5 – 10% of the body surface area (BSA), it is best to use topical treatments in the form of creams, ointments, lotions. As a guide, 1% of the BSA is the area covered by one’s palm. The red, thickened skin in psoriasis is due to the increased multiplication of the skin, allowing the collection of the dead skin layer to be manifested as thick scales. Most effective treatments whether topical or systemic work by reducing the cell multiplication, and by removing the dead skin layers. Time tested agents are coal tar, and anthranols which are messy and brown-staining thus adding further to the stigmatization sufferers feel. More cosmetically acceptable topical agents are steroid creams, vitamin D analogues and calcineurin inhibitors. The latter two are more expensive than the ubiquitous steroid creams but with a superior safety profile. Most psoriatic lesions also tend to be dry and glycerin, urea-based or other humectant moisturizers help relieve soreness and improve recovery especially when used in conjunction with keratolytics – agents that soften and shed the abnormal dead skin layers. Systemic treatments When more than 10% of BSA is involved it becomes impractical to rely on topical measures alone. It may take more than half an hour just to apply creams on large areas of affected skin. Hence, oral or injectable medications are required. Many of these drugs are able to reduce the skin’s cell multiplication or maturation rate eg methotrexate, hydroxyurea, retinoids. However many others suppress the disease process at a more fundamental level by suppressing the activity of abnormal white cells (T-cells) or by neutralizing the T-cells inflammatory chemicals (eg TNF a) eg cyclosporine and the newer biologic agents licensed for use in Malaysia. With the proper use of these systemic agents singly or in combination, it is often possible to control even the most severe cases of psoriasis. However, these systemic agents should only be used by experienced physicians as many of them can have significant side effects. For example, persons with liver disease or gastric ulcers should not be treated with methotrexate; women of child-bearing age should not use retinoids as it can cause fetal abnormalities; persons with high blood pressure or kidney problems cannot use cyclosporine. If a person with severe psoriasis has liver disease, is a woman of childbearing age, or has kidney problems what options then are available for him/her? There are 3 options – oral salazopyrine which only works in 50% of Asians, the injectable biologic agents, or phototherapy (see below). Biologic agents are the new kids on the block. They have a much better safety profile than the above mentioned oral drugs and can be used in persons with liver, kidney disease and women but unfortunately their high cost means relatively few can afford them. Even in the west, where such expensive treatments are reimbursable, the psoriasis must be shown to be non-responsive to conventional oral drugs, or organ toxicities with these drugs are present. Some of them are very helpful in controlling psoriasis as well as the disabling arthritis that affects 10-30% of psoriatics. Phototherapy (PUVA, UVB, nUVB) This is an excellent form of treatment with artificial UV light which is relatively free from serious side effects apart from a small risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancers with prolonged use. This risk is probably not significant in the setting of Asian skin types especially with the newer types of phototherapy equipment such as narrow band UVB (nUVB), and the excimer laser or excimer light. Another advantage of phototherapy is that it is a clean form of treatment, nonmessy and can give a long remission period of up to one year. The main drawback is that it does require visits to the phototherapy centre 3 times a week for 2-3 months. The good news is that most states in Malaysia now have phototherapy units to treat not only psoriasis, but also vitiligo and severe atopic eczema. Alternative therapies In this day and age where the emphasis is on evidence-based medicine (EBM), alternative therapies must prove its worth with hard core scientific evidence from well-conducted clinical studies. Many people with psoriasis who have suffered from the condition for years are, not surprisingly, hopeful for answers, breakthroughs, and even a â€Å"cure† perhaps. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of charlatans offering â€Å"cures† for psoriasis, often in network marketing schemes. One has to acknowledge the fact that psoriasis has a genetic basis, and unless gene therapy becomes a reality, there cannot be a cure, even with accepted treatments such as climatotherapy in the Dead Sea. Diets for psoriasis are as yet unproven, although an FDA-approved healthy diet with at least 5-9 servings of fresh preferably organic produce may be of help in improving one’s general health. Stress reduction strategies may help insofar as stress precipitates and aggravates psoriasis. Prayer has been shown useful in several medical conditions, and a strong faith life can only help, if only to give one the equanimity to deal with the turbulence of modern life. The future of psoriasis treatments There is considerable optimism in the search for better and safer treatments for psoriasis in the near future. We now have a much better understanding of the genetics and underlying immune derangements in psoriasis. It is only a matter of time before the tremendous amount of ongoing research bears better fruit that is sweeter and without the bitter aftertaste of side-effects. Indeed here are promising smaller molecules in the offing that are cheaper to synthesize. Watch out for this space. Psoriasis affects 2-3 percent of Malaysians. This is the final article of a six-part series from PDM’s â€Å"KULIT – Living with Psoriasis† Campaign 2007. For more on psoriasis, treatment options and KULIT, visit www. dermatology. org. my or email [email  protected] com. This article is a guide to help you better understand psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Consult a suitably qualified medical practitioner before acting on any information contained above. KULIT is a community programme sponsored by Wyeth Malaysia.

Analysis of Hollow Men by T.S. Eloit

Analysis T. S. Eliot’s â€Å"The Hollow Men† to me represents several interpretations of death or â€Å"the end†. The poem is split into five parts, each part presenting a different point of view or idea of death. There are several â€Å"kingdoms† of death presented in the various parts, intertwining  within eachother throughout. I view each part as representing a different member of the hollow men looking at the different â€Å"kingdoms† of death.Part I’s  presents a dank, dark cellar and is associated with violence and darkness â€Å"Violent souls, but not only†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (16). Part II’s  presents death’s â€Å"dream kingdom† and shows a more beautiful side of death, comparing souls to fading stars. Part III  presents â€Å"dead land† â€Å"cactus land†. We imagine a desert setting, dying of thirst, praying for life. â€Å"The supplication of a dead man’s hand/Under the twinkle of a fad ing star. †(43-44). Part IV takes place within death’s twilight kingdom that is talked about in part II.The speaker talks of eyes or the lack thereof in a valley of once again, dying stars. â€Å"There are no eyes here/In this valley of dying stars/In this hollow valley/This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms† (53-56). Part V is presents a more broad view of the end, not just for one, but for all. It describes several emotions and actions that everyone takes within their life, inbetween each â€Å"falls the shadow†. One could view this as the shadow of death, ever looming closer in everything you do.The poem ends with â€Å"This is the way the world ends/This is the way the world ends/This is the way the world ends/ Not with a bang but with a whimper. â€Å"(75-78). Death is something that has always been around me in my life. I have had several family members die around me but this particular poem doesn’t really make me feel anything about them. It makes me think more about what will happen when I die, when everyone dies. The poem provides a bleak view of death but also has a strange beauty about it.I like the idea of death as various landscapes, something about that sounds strangely appealing despite the apparent lonliness of the hollow men. No one seems to be in pain or very sad, they are just†¦there. That is similar to how I have always viewed death, not neccessarily as a big experience, you just cease to be. This is exemplified in the final lines of the poem â€Å"This is the way the world ends/Not with a whimper but with a bang. † I don’t believe we are nearly as significant as we believe, when it all ends, it will simply be that. The end.

Concept Essay

Concept Essay Steps for Writing Concept Essays The aim of Concept Essays is to inform readers about a particular topic. The purpose of such an essay is to explain a concept without influencing your readers. When you write this type of essay, you do not adopt a stance or provide a point of view on the essay topic. Even if you write about a controversial topic, you need to explain all the sides of the controversy instead of taking one particular side. This type of essay can be written on any essay length. If you are writing a concept paper for the first time, follow these simple steps to get started: 1. Select a Topic You may be given a specific essay topic or you may be told to write your essay on a topic of your choice. If it is the latter, look for a topic that you find interesting. Writing about an interesting theme will lead to you writing your essay in a way that interests your readers. Keep in mind that topics for Concept Essays are more abstract than other types of essays. Examples of such topics would be racism, wisdom or communication. 2. Conduct Research Make a note of the information you possess on your topic and then start collating information on the parts that are missing. As you will be educating your readers on your chosen topic, it is important that you know all that you can find out about it. After carrying out all the research, decide what information you are going to use. You don’t have to write about your topic in extensive detail; however it should be detailed enough to provide thorough understanding of the concept. 3. Determine your Audience Before writing your Concept Essay, you must have an idea of who your target audience is. It is not possible to write an essay effectively without determining the type of readers you are writing for. Knowing who your readers are will help you decide what materials to include, the order of ideas and the best way to support the arguments made. 4. Create an Outline Creating an essay outline is a great idea as it will help you organise your thoughts and information. Once you organize your thoughts, you will get an overall view of how your essay will look. This will help you group similar ideas together and eliminate unnecessary ones. 5. Begin Your Essay The introduction to an essay is very important. The essay intro introduces readers to the subject of the essay and indicates the areas of importance. This opening paragraph must contain your thesis statement. This statement must be explained briefly in one or two sentences and must convey the main idea of your essay. Follow your introduction with the essay body paragraphs in which every paragraph discusses one main point. 6. Write Your Conclusion Conclude your Concept Essay with a paragraph that reminds readers of your essay’s main idea. This paragraph must summarize the main points in a fresh and interesting way. If you find it difficult to write this type of paper, you can buy an essay or read a couple of free sample essays online for guidance.

Create an Endothermic Chemical Reaction

Create an Endothermic Chemical Reaction Most  endothermic reactions  contain toxic chemicals, but this reaction is safe and easy. Indeed, this experiment requires no toxic chemicals   a rarity in chemistry studies. Use it as a demonstration or vary the amounts of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate to make an experiment. Materials Citric acid and baking soda are available at most grocery stores. Citric acid is used for canning, while baking soda is used for baking. Heres what youll need: 25 milliliters of citric acid solution15 grams of baking sodaplastic foam cupthermometerstirring rod Creating the Reaction Pour the citric acid solution into a  coffee cup. Use a thermometer or other temperature probe to record the initial temperature.Stir in the baking soda   sodium bicarbonate. Track the change in temperature as a function of time.The reaction is: H3C6H5O7(aq) 3 NaHCO3(s) → 3 CO2(g) 3 H2O(l) Na3C6H5O7(aq)When you have completed your demonstration or experiment, wash the cup out in a sink. Tips for Success Feel free to vary the concentration of the citric acid solution or the quantity of sodium bicarbonate.An endothermic is a reaction that requires energy to proceed. The intake of energy may be observed as a decrease in temperature as the reaction proceeds. Once the reaction is complete, the temperature of the mixture will return to ​​room temperature.

What Do You Think Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What Do You Think - Coursework Example For a businessman who derives his satisfaction by spending time with his family after a busy day’s work, this is something that cannot be bought with money. Money is merely a quantitative entity which cannot be defined in terms of happiness and sentiments. For money to play a bigger role this has to be amplified in magnanimous proportions and even then it will fall short of the expected levels. Even after immense research and personal examples, money always lags behind providing happiness within the relevant frameworks of human beings, in the past as well as in current times. Hence it has been proven time and again that money can’t buy the moments which provide glee, satisfaction and immense achievement. These can only be had when there is a dire effort to bring happiness through endeavors which ensure that it stays for a long period of time. This indeed is a given for every human being in this

High risk pregnacy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

High risk pregnacy - Research Paper Example First, she is overage. The risks of complications in pregnancy increase with age. Mrs. K is already past the safe age of 35 years. Secondly, she is obese. This complicates further her pregnancy due to the risks of conditions such as hypertension. In fact, she has already developed gestational diabetes and has to depend on insulin. It is also worth noting that her social history does not adequately support her health needs. This is clearly demonstrated by her inability to afford insulin, glucometer and glucometer strips. Besides, she cannot effectively maintain adequate bed-rest prescribed. Currently, the patient is out of hospital. She has been monitored for 37 weeks at what time her cerclage is released and delivery conducted. She delivers a six-pound, two-ounce baby spontaneously without many problems. The puerperium is normal with the mother and child discharged home after only 48 hours after delivery in good condition. The management has successfully controlled not only the risk of pregnancy but also helped retain the mothers’ hobby, knitting. This assists the mother to save money on the baby’s blanket and also keep her busy and away from junk foods. The patient is diabetic and obese. She has to depend on insulin injections to control her blood sugars. She also has a bad obstetric history, having lost seven of her last pregnancies. She has only one surviving child, 18 years old. She has had cramping and false signs of pregnancy which could be the cause of previous loss of pregnancy. For this, she requires close monitoring in a high-risk obstetric clinic to ensure that this pregnancy matures to term. During the early third trimester, the patient was diagnosed with urinary tract infection and placed on antibiotics in consultation with the physician. This case was handled by qualified community obstetrician. The case manager was able to identify and handle all the client’s health problems throughout the period of

UK Micro Environment Factors for a Tobacco Company Essay

UK Micro Environment Factors for a Tobacco Company - Essay Example [2] These variables affect the business and its operations to the core and a proper understanding of these is a necessary step to expand the product in a particular market. According to porter, there are 5 forces that act on a business in the Micro Environment. These five variables along with others variables proposed by different authors can be broken down as. [5] Cigarette is an additive product and that is a favorable point for the company as far its sales are concerned. Buyers are hooked to the brand of cigarette usually from the start so there is little bargaining that the customers can do. The buyers are also brand conscious and they don not change their brands rapidly and specially in UK. Even if the prices of the cigarette increases, the customers will continue to buy it because of its addictive nature. Retailers get a nominal amount on retailing the cigarette however they are in much demand so they keep it. Also the retailers usually get branded settings and are paid extra to keep shelf space for a brand. As substitutes for the products exist, retailers have a bit of power over the companies There are high barriers to entry. ... People trying to leave this habit usually revert to nicotine gum, counseling, or behavior modification. In extreme cases acupuncture needles are stuck in the bodies or the nicotine-averse images implanted in their minds however these are not that successful. Competitive Rivalry Among the four top brands of cigarettes in UK, Imperial Tobacco Group is the market leader. However, this has created intense rivalry amongst all the competitors. This is not a good sign for the company since this much competition can make it harder for the rest to come to the standard of these leading companies. Stakeholders The stakeholders such as the government, the media and the society play a major role in the business. Since smoking is considered a social evil, the society usually shuns the smokers. Laws, and deals such as the 'tobacco resolution' are the results of the anti-smoking society. The increase in taxes makes it harder for the company to sell their products. The UK tobacco sector is one of the most heavily taxed in the world, and UK cigarette prices are the highest in the EU, with taxes accounting for around 84.5 percent of the retail cost of a typical packet of cigarettes. [3] [4] Conclusion - Changes to the Company's Strategy and its Impact Micro environmental factors play as much a vital role in a business as other macro does. Maybe these are even more important since these factors are hard to investigate as they work on a hidden level. From the information gathered, it has been found out that a few dramatic changes to the company's strategy must be brought. First the company must be perceived as a "green company". Since awareness of the harms of cigarette smoking is increasing, the company must promote itself as a

Blake v DPP, a summary of criminal case law

Blake v DPP, a summary of criminal case law Introduction In addition to the general defences seen in criminal law (duress, coercion, diminished responsibility etc) the offence of criminal damage has a number of specific defences which are found in the Criminal Damage Act 1971. In particular section 5 (2) states that a defendant has a lawful excuse, if: He believed that the person whom he believed entitled to consent to the destruction or damage of the property would have consented, had he known of the circumstances; or he acted ‘in order to protect’ the property of himself of another, or a right or interest in property that the property, right, or interest was in immediate need of protection, and the means adopted were reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances. This defence has been used in a number of cases that will be dealt with below. The leading authority on the defence is Blake v DPP[1]. However, one must look at the law prior to this judgement and after it. Prior to Blake In R v Ashford[2] it was held not top be a lawful excuse for the defendants to cut the wire at an airforce base in order protest against the use of nuclear weapons even if they subjectively believed that they had a lawful excuse to act. Michael Jefferson states that the ‘defendants argued that the reduction of the risk of the use of nuclear weapons would protect property in England because the risk of retaliation would be reduced.’[3] It was an already viewed as an objective test that the courts employed. R v Hill[4] involved the defendants cutting a wire fence in order to prevent nuclear war. The Court of Appeal held that the act of cutting was too remote from the prevention of nuclear war and they confirmed that it was an objective test rather than a subjective test. Jefferson notes that the property was not in ‘immediate need of protection’ and so it did not matter that the defendants believed they were acting to protect ‘property belonging to another’. Blake v DPP The defence would apply if the defendant honestly believes X is the owner and consents, even though X is not the owner. However in Blake v DPP, the Divisional Court rejected the defendant vicar’s argument that he believed that God owned the property and had consented to the damage. The court acknowledged that his belief was sincere it was however impossible to produce any evidence other than the defendant’s own belief that the command was in fact given. If this defence was indeed accepted then the defence could be raised regarding murder where the accused could simply claim he was carrying out the intentions of God. His marker pen graffiti on the Houses of Parliament in protest against the Gulf war was held to be unlawful. The defendant also claimed that he had a lawful excuse under section 5 (2) (b) as he damaged the pillar in order to protect property in the Gulf States. The Divisional Court held that, even if the defendant had believed that he had a lawful excuse, the court needed to adopt an objective view, if on the facts believed by the defendant, what was done by him protected, or was capable of protecting property. Richard Card states that the offence was to protect the property in the Gulf States; as such protection was too remote from his conduct[5]. Card states that this objective requirement read into s 5 (2) (b) is not easily reconcilable with the words of the statute, which seem to be a clear expression of a test that is solely subjective. Post Blake The case of Chamberlain v Lindon[6] showed that the defence has some success. This case deals with a ‘right of way’ as the accused was held to be protecting it when he demolished a wall. This was held to be in an ‘immediate need of protection’ as it was being obstructed and it would continue until litigation resolved the case. R v Kelleher[7] involved a defendant who knocked the head off a statue of Baroness Thatcher in a protest regarding the policies of democratic governments (UK and USA). The defendant believed that these policies made the world a more dangerous place to live in and would lead to the destruction of the world. The defendant was convicted but then appealed on two grounds. First, he stated that the ruling of the judge that the defence of ‘lawful excuse’ was not available was wrong. Secondly, the judge wrongly directed the jury to return a verdict of guilty. Regarding the first issue, the court held that the trial judge was correct in deeming the defence of lawful excuse as unavailable to the defendant. Regarding the second ground for appeal, William Priestley states that as the jury was invited to retire after the judge’s direction, this showed that the jury had in fact acted independently as they then returned and delivered a verdict of guilty.[8] In Jones v Gloucestershire Crown Prosecution Service[9] the defendants relied on section 5 (2) (b) as they damaged property at RAF Fairford in order to protest at illegality of the war in Iraq. These acts were done in order to preserve the homes of their family and friends. It was held that none of the defendants could reasonably believe that their actions of cutting wire around an RAF base would protect their homes. Conclusion As we have seen the defence of s 5 (2) has been used by a number of defendants. Its use has been primarily used by individuals protesting against the policies of the government. With the Human Rights Act 1998 cementing the European Convention of Human Rights into the UK legal system, Article 10 and 12 will be relied on in order to give individuals the right of assembly and free speech. This right however does not extend to criminal acts of damage against property. The objectivity that surrounds s (5) (2) shows that defendants will find it increasingly difficult to rely on this defence however compelling and sincere these subjective thoughts may well be. Bibliography Books Ashworth, A. Principles of Criminal Law 5th ed. 2006. Oxford Card, R. Criminal Law 16th ed. 2004. Lexis Nexis. London Herring, J. Criminal Law: Text, Cases and Materials 3rd ed. 2008. Oxford. Jefferson, M. Criminal Law 8th ed. 2007. Lexis Nexis. London. Journals The Police Journal. Vol.76 (4) 2003 Footnotes [1] [1992] 93 Cr App R 169 [2] [1988] Crim LR 682 (CA) [3] Jefferson, M. Criminal Law 8th Ed. 2007.p.707 [4] [1989] 89 Cr App R 74 [5] Richard Card. Criminal Law 16th Ed, 2004. [6] [1998] 2 All ER 538 [7] [2003] EWCA Crim 2846 [8] Priestley, W. Lawful Excuse to the Offence of Criminal Damage. Police Journal vol.76 2003. [9] [2005] QB 259

Skylake :: Personal Narrative Writing

Skylake I think I learned how to swim before I learned how to walk. My family and I moved to Miami, Florida from Long Island, New York when I had just turned 4 years old. According to my mother, it was just too cold for her up north. We moved into a comfortable home, the same house we now live in fifteen years later. The house is on a lake, along with about sixty-five other homes. My brothers say that when we first moved in, I used to go down to the lake and just sit and stare at it for hours on end. My first girlfriend lived on my lake. Her name was Anat. I would take my paddleboat over to her house and then go around the lake with her for hours. It was easier to walk to her house, but more impressive to swing by on a boat. I had just turned twelve, and spent the summer with her on the lake. Our relationship came to an abrupt stop after six weeks. Apparently I was not spending enough time with her, and too much time with the fish. A year after we moved in, my father's best friends, Joe Haimson and his wife Bernice, came to visit us for a week or two. The two of them were pretty devoted fishermen. They went out and bought a couple of basic fishing rods and reels and taught my brothers and I how to fish. My brothers were not nearly as enchanted by fishing as I was. Their interest in it fizzled out shortly thereafter. Mine had just begun. I remember when I was about five or six. sitting at my dock, usually alone, putting little breadballs about the size of a marble on the hook, making short casts, and catching one bluegill after another. They weren't big fish, maybe a quarter to a half a pound, at the most. Not a real anglers trophy, but to me they were the most mesmerizing things I had ever seen, each one more beautiful than the next. On Friday evenings, when I was about nine or ten, I used to sit on my dock with my grandfather, Max, before Sabbath dinner. He used to love it when I pulled those things out o f the water.

Oedipus: Aristotelian or Formalist Theory Essay

Teiresias’s speech at the end of scene one of Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex is fairly short but it is in this encounter between Oedipus and Teiresias where the main conflict of the story begins to unfold. This is a pivotal speech in the play as it helps to develop some of the major themes in the play as well as begin to build up the tragic irony at the center of the story. When this speech is analyzed using either Aristotelian or Formalist theory key elements can be found that are effective in increasing the drama in the play and in tying together one of the play’s central theme. In the Poetics Aristotle outlines his vision of a successful tragedy and states that plot and character are the first two principle features of tragedy. Teiresias’s final speech helps to develop both of these key components of tragedy in Oedipus Rex successfully. During his conversation with the king Teiresias introduces the first source of conflict into the play as Oedipus tries to convince the old man to reveal what he knows about Laios’s murder. Aristotle termed this moment of the plot the â€Å"desis† which in modern literary terms is known as the complication which serves to build up the drama of a story towards the climax, and Teiresias’s speech here achieves that purpose. There is also an effective use of foreshadowing in Teiresias’s speech in which he reveals to the audience the twist of fate that Oedipus will experience even though the king at this point is unaware of Teiresias’s true meaning. The reversal of fortune and recognition contained in Oedipus Rex are praised by Aristotle as being characteristics of an ideal plot and the foreshadowing found in Teiresias’s speech help to build up the anticipation towards the revelation of Oedipus’s identity. In the perfect tragedy Aristotle stated that character should support the plot and Teiresias’s final speech was indirectly very effective in building Oedipus’s character. Until his meeting with Teiresias Oedipus was seen a considerate king looking out for the interest of his people in trying to discover Laios’s killer. In his conversation with Teiresias the audience gets its first glimpse of Oedipus’s anger and can begin to see him as capable of being the murderer they are searching for. Teiresias’s final speech also reveals to the audience Oedipus’s â€Å"tragic flaw† of not knowing who he truly is, which will eventually be his downfall. In revealing Oedipus’s genuine ignorance to his true identity through this speech the audience feels more pity for the king when the revelation occurs and this heightens the tragedy of the play. From a Formalist theory perspective of Teiresias’s speech two literary devices are used that effectively increase the drama of the play and tie in a central theme and those are symbolism and tone. Symbolism in Teiresias’s speech begins to build the tragic irony of the play and to establish one of the themes of the play of sight versus knowledge. Teiresias describes the killer as â€Å"a blind man, Who has his eyes now†, but he is also referring to Oedipus’s inability to see the truth (Sophocles 720). Teiresias himself is a powerful symbol as well in the play as he is blind but he can see the truth of better than Oedipus despite the king’s attempts to discover the truth so vigorously. In the end of the play when Oedipus blinds himself upon finally learning the truth he completes the imagery that was begun in Teiresias’s final speech. The tone of Teiresias’s speech is ominous and foreboding and it serves to change the tone of the entire play. At this point the audience is becoming aware that things will not end well for Oedipus and his valiant quest to find Laios’s killer is going to result in dire consequences. The graphic imagery in the line â€Å"Who came to his father’s bed, wet with his father’s blood† helped establish this ominous tone that serves to build the tension through the rest of the play (Sophocles 720). After his encounter with Teiresias Oedipus becomes increasing confrontational with other characters in the play and the tone set by Teiresias’s speech helps to establish much of that conflict. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is such a well-rounded piece of literature that regardless of what literary approach is used to analyze it the play will provide an endless vehicle for discovery. There are so many complex images, themes, and symbols weaved together that it is an ideal story to study.