Electronic Gadgets Essay

Every time you turn around, your children are requesting the newest version of a technological gadget. While one child madly texts friends in the back seat of the car, the other is scanning Facebook, admiring his 378 friends. You may simmer with frustration that their grades aren’t up to par, considering whether or not you should take their phones and/or computers away for a while. But then you remember the money you’ve spent on eBooks and learning games and you wonder, â€Å"Are electronic gadgets the problem or the solution?† The answer is, â€Å"Yes† and â€Å"Yes†. Therein lies the conundrum. As with most things in life, the true answer lies somewhere in the middle. see more:modern gadgets essay The Pros Research shows that eReaders, such as Amazon Kindle products, not only increase children’s interest in reading, but also promote their reading comprehension. In a survey of 1200 eReader owners, Amazon reported that the owners’ purchases of non-eBooks increased by 3.3 times. It appears that reading begets more reading – and with kids, that is a wonderful thing. Current education trends recognize that not everyone can read text and immediately comprehend the meaning. eReaders offer multi-media applications such as instant dictionaries, pictures, or graphics that help to illustrate examples. There are eGames that help reinforce what a student has just read. Math and vocabulary games have been proven to increase students’ interest in the classroom, as well as raising their test scores. But as Newton’s Laws of Motion illustrate; for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The Cons In the electronic gadget arena, the negatives can be an individual’s own lack of discipline. As you sit at your computer working on a project, how often do you notice you have a new email and instantly check it? You might even type out a quick response and then get back to work. Or perhaps you think about the event you are attending at the end of the month and quickly search a few online stores to see if you can find a gift for the host. Now picture that same scenario, but imagine you are your child. He or she is working on a homework assignment that requires analytic thought, but every fifteen seconds there’s another ding or beep indicating a text has come in, Facebook has been updated, and so on. It is impossible for a child’s mind to remain engaged on the task at hand if he/she is continuously interrupted by outside distractions. Even the most disciplined of children feel the strong pull of peer pressure, and saying, â€Å"I don’t respond to texts while doing homework,† is an unlikely response to friends’ queries. You Are The Solution Electronic gadgets can be tremendous learning tools. They’re able to reach a myriad of learning styles and create a forum where children can connect with the learning style that engages them in the learning process. They make people want to read more. But, they can also be the reason that your child didn’t spend adequate time studying for tomorrow’s math quiz. You can become a part of the solution by setting an example that work time is gadget free time. Unless your child is using his/her new Kindle Fire to read a book, or play a learning game under your supervision, homework time can be gadget free time. That goes for you too. Perhaps evenings at home can be gadget free while homework is completed and dinner is shared. With a little honest conversation with your children, and some reasonable boundary setting, your children’s gadgets can be both the perfect tool and the perfect toy. What are your thoughts? If you think (like we do) that gadgets and education can co-exist in perfect harmony, then let us know in the comments section. And to find out how we are using technology in our tutoring sessions, give us a call!

East of Eden by John Steinbeck Essay

Published in 1952, East of Eden is a novel written by John Steinbeck, a Nobel winner). It tells the story of the intertwined lives of two families- the Trasks and the Hamiltons amidst a backdrop of California’s Salinas Valley (Steinbeck, 2003). The novel follows the stories of these two American families from the Civil War to World War I (2003). It is said that the novel, which was published ten years before Steinbeck received a Novel, drew inspiration from the Bible and was dedicated to Steinbeck’s sons- Thom and John IV (Pearson, 1995). The title itself was culled from a Biblical verse, depicting Cain as he set out in the land of Nod, east of Eden (Genesis 4: 16 New International Version). Told in third-person point of view by a narrator who sometimes offers annotations, swings among characters’ vantage points and even suspends the story with snippets of human history, East of Eden tackles the universal theme of good vs. evil, the fall of Adam and Eve and the bitter enmity of Abel and Cain. Dramatizing the societal sins of Salinas Valley and the individual members of the Trask and Hamilton clans, the novel aims to resolve the dilemma on how evil may be overcome by choice. Spanning the period between the American Civil War and the end of the First World War, it dovetails the lives of two brothers- the gentle Adam and the rough Charles. Adam marries the scheming Cathy who deceives him and ran off with Charles on the night of their wedding (Steinbeck, 2003). After giving birth to twin boys, Aron and Cal, Cathy leaves her children to Adam and returns to a life of debauchery. The rivalry between the siblings reignites as they vie for their father’s attention and approval (2003). The story is beautiful and revolting as it unravels the universal problem man has to face: choose to be good or remain on the dark side. The tone is somber, philosophical and perhaps even propitious. Showing how illustrious as a writer should be, Steinbeck is able to create characters with various tempers, contrasting them realistically as possible, polar opposites as one may say. There is Adam, who may very well be the archetype of good intentions and Cathy, the scheming prostitute whom Adam fell in love with. It is also Adam who has been deceived the most, reminiscent of the betrayal of the serpent in the biblical Eden. The novel is peppered with shades of Cain and Abel. In the same vein, the agony of parental rejection, an issue touched with the story of the biblical brothers, is again explored in the novel, like the acceptance of Adam’s puppy gift and the rejection of Charles’ knife gift, reminiscent of Abel’s accepted gift and the rejection of Cain. Cyrus Trask favored Adam over Charles, for no distinct reason. Later on, Adam repeats the cycle with his own sons, favoring Aron over Cal. Throughout the novel, the tension is palpable, giving the reader the proper stimulus to continue reading. It also helps that the setting, Salinas Valley is actually a real place, giving a pragmatic voice to the novel. The words used by Steinbeck are easy to read and understand , and is not loaded with so many symbols that would make the reader spend 98% figuring out what the symbols stood for rather than letting the words flow and grasping its essence. There are no flowery words, either. This is a good sign on the part of Steinbeck, allowing the readers to comprehend the gist without resulting in a head ache. The flow of the story is also commendable, especially as it expands from 1860 to 1918. The incorporation of â€Å"timshel† is also appropriate, fortifying the theme of good winning over evil, of human making the power to decide. East of Eden is grounded in pragmatism and the handling of good and evil may be simple but it speaks one universal truth: that there is good and there is evil and that human beings are flawed, perhaps influenced by their genes or shaped by circumstances, but they have the choice whether to follow that footstep and repeat the mistake or make their own paths and break the cycle. References Pearson, P. (1995). East of Eden. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from National Steinbeck Center Website: http://www. steinbeck. org .html Steinbeck, J. (2003). East of Eden. New York: Penguin Books.

Evaluate technical security or privacy products for selection Essay

Evaluate technical security or privacy products for selection - Essay Example One of the best methods of dealing with visuses is by the use of antivirus software. These software are made by different companies and come with unique trade names. This paper is dedicated to analysing the suitability of two such software, Kaspersky and Panda, in fighting viruses. Karspersky anti- virus 2011 is a vital organ for the PC security system that offers protection on a range on information technology threats. It is designed to mostly offer services for the home and offices. No administration of special tools is required during the installation since it is faster in installing. It offers protection against viruses and spyware and scans the websites and emails to ensure that there are no malicious codes and through this one is assured of continued protection of his digital technology. It will provide the user with an easy access to the desktop. The karspersky anti virus 2011 for Mac offers the user an advanced updated security for his technology and does not impact negativel y on the computer. Panda antivirus pro 2012 is another antivirus product which can be installed in the safe mode where the safe disk has the CD that is bootable. With the optimal safe browser it is able to protect its privacy with the help of the web based malware, USB vaccine and the vulnerability scan (Axelrod, Jennifer & Daniel 45). It has several features that are present in a suite commonly referred to as the firewall. It is more effective in the actual malware protection in order to avoid future problems. It adds firewall protection, a parental control and antispam to its antivirus to make it effective. Despite its effectiveness it does not effectively clean all the malware when detected in the computer. Its main window has a dark appearance though it still behaves like other security products. Panda anti virus pro 2012 will display its features at a click and head on to the other features as you continue to click. One is able to access the configuration and reporting features present in it. It has statistics page breaks that are able to detect threats by their type while for the advanced statistics page they go to an extent of detecting threats in the email and the network threats too. Panda also does not take part in the virus bulletin’s VB100 testing since it has already been certified by the ICSA labs and West Coast labs as an antivirus that is good for detecting virus and removing it (Rannenberg 23). The latest online reviews indicate that it is the second largest rating and has gone further to come up with a measure that enables it to resist any infestation of the malware. Karspersky anti- virus 2011 will protect your digital life by checking the files and the mail attachments. It is therefore a safeguard to the life of an individual online. It blocks the threats as soon as it gets to know about them. Online reviews see it as very fast, effective an unobtrusive and can be used even in the most demanding applications. The quality of both tech nologies has been estimated with reference to their speed and ability to protect the computers from attack by threats. Karspersky has a familiar look like the normal applications and can be applied even in the most complex settings because of its speed. They are easy to install and they let you manage them because of the defaults that are not complicated. Panda offers a variety of anti virus from which to choose from as they are based on intelligence technology. The protection offered by the antivirus ensures privacy in the sense that

Strategy Development for Crossan et al Research Paper

Strategy Development for Crossan et al - Research Paper Example Two approaches to strategy have been discussed to elucidate the process of strategy development. As the purpose of the strategy in business is important and cannot be overemphasized, so much more is the process by which strategy is developed and identified. A manager must always deal with the four components of a strategy as identified by Crossan et al. (2002), and these are the goals, product market focus, value propositions, and core activities. How the manager tackles these four components in order to craft a strategy that aims to deliver the company bottom line represents how he approaches strategy development. Accordingly, there are many arguments about how strategy should be developed. Crossan et al (2002) observed two contentious issues surrounding strategy formulation, and these are whether strategy should be approached clinically, as in â€Å"a well defined, analytical process†, or experientially, as in â€Å"trial and error process† guided by a set of patterns from past experiences. Crossan et al (2002) referred to these approaches as â€Å"intended strategy† referring to the former, and â€Å"emergent strategy† referring to the latter.   It operates with some sort of precision to everything that it does, guided by rules and policies, and where decisions are centrally made by a select few. One can naturally expect that in organizations engaging in a planned approach to strategy, there is no room for spontaneous action and innovation, guided by creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. As has been discussed, Mintzberg (1998, cited by Crossan et al., 2002) has been mentioned to have seen problems in the operationalization of planned strategies.  

Media Torrent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Media Torrent - Essay Example In his article â€Å"Supersaturation, or The Media Torrent and Disposable Feeling†, Todd Gitlin states his observation and provides sufficient evidence supporting the fact that media has great influence on our lives. Right from the time of emergence of television and internet, media has been influencing the lives of individuals whether it is through print, television, films or social networking websites. However one may take into account the fact that the notion of media saturation has gone through several significant amendments since the time Gitlin’s article was published. There are many evidences illustrated by Gitlin that support his ideas of â€Å"super-saturation† and â€Å"disposable feeling†. The literal meaning of â€Å"super-saturation† is to increase the concentration of solution beyond saturation. The word â€Å"super-saturation† is used by Gitlin for defining the notion that how the modern society has completely absorbed the internet and media. The society is completely immersed in the images and gossips that are being displayed by media. There is no clear line present, which distinguishes living space from working space. Outer world has invaded the inner world of people. Gitlin uses the phrase â€Å"disposable feeling† because individuals today are easily switching from one feeling to another, one scandal to another, without making effort to actually find out the hidden truth. I completely agree with Gitlin’s idea that media has its impact on our lives through several means and its component have gr adually immersed in our daily. We can easily observe the amount of movies and TV shows being watched and quantity of CD’s and cameras being used in today’s modern world. Gitlin states that the extensive use of internet has not diminished the use of media but has affected the flow of unlimited media. I do support the fact presented by Gitlin that Internet has revolutionized the use of media. Our hyper-mediated world is affected by internet to a great extent converting us from media users to media producers (Gitlin). Gitlin’s article to some extent downplays the massive influence that internet had on the society at the time it was penned. Despite of this fact many of the points suggested by Gitlin are still valid in today’s world. The emergence of the social networking website â€Å"Facebook† is the example of the actualization of Gitlin’s observation. This website is known for providing its users with hyper-mediated experience as it allows th em to upload photos, videos, texts and provide them variety of ways through which they are allowed to express themselves. Facebook media is different from the inherent media as on this social networking website a mass population is acting of watching other people’s activities. 600 million Facebook users actively participate in this process of acting and watching. They create their own replicas through their profiles. People become kings, queens, demons, angels and adopt the character of their choice, which is far away from reality. These websites have created a virtual world that is far from reality. Gitlin has also stated that individuals today have the authority to create their own content. This proposition of Gitlin can be easily implied to the communicative quality of Facebook where individuals develop their original content and portray it in a way different from reality. The experience of their life is no

Race, Ethnicity and Slavery in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Race, Ethnicity and Slavery in America - Essay Example Takaki argues that multicultural education ensures a comprehensive understanding of American History (Takaki, 34). This is crucial in situations involving Americans going to work in other countries as it helps them identify well and understand those cultures. It is of critical importance to highlight that both the two authors concur that ethnicity and racism bring about several conflicts. These may be in form of conflict of perception, opinions, and inclusion within the society. This may disrupt peace enjoyed within that society. James and Heather Olson Beal concur that the issue of racism leads to erosion of the culture of a nation and conflicts (Olson & Beal, 10). These authors also concur that the issue of ethnicity may cause unnecessary discrimination on people. This may make some people land jobs whereas preventing others from securing such jobs. James and Heather Olson Beal argue that the issue of ethnicity is a monster to national development as is associated with inequality a mongst individuals. As such, this may at times disrupt the peace of the society as it can cause several conflicts (Olson & Beal, 11). However, America being a culturally endowed nation has the moral responsibility to ensure that its entire people are considered one. It aims at unifying the different races and ethnic groups so that they can effectively coexist and share the different skills, expertise, talents, and capabilities towards a common goal. However, even though these authors perceive race and ethnicity in a negative perception, there are some advantages associated with different races and ethnic groups coming together (Takaki, 34). Circumstances involving coming together of different races and ethnic groups may ensure poor people from one race being encouraged by other prominent persons from other races, thus, promoting development. The spirit of inclusion through multicultural education also leads to a feeling of unity and promote peace (Takaki, 48). Being an American enta ils a lot. One must be able to understand that America is composed of several races and ethnic groups. Since these people have different cultural beliefs, traditions, and customs, there is a need to provide a harmonious ground that can suit all these people, with all their cultural diversities. This is crucial in ensuring development in several sectors on several perspectives in America. The issue of different races and ethnic communities residing in America is quite advantageous since it brings a sense of development with regard to diverse expertise, experiences, talents, and skills from the different ethnic groups. Therefore, promotion of unity and peace in America more so, through the American national anthem is core towards harvesting all these advantages associated with diverse cultures. It is of critical significance to note that race and ethnicity have played major roles in the history of America. In order to fully expound on this matter, it is crucial enough to understand th e meanings of these two terms; race and ethnicity. The term race refers to the biological differences that distinguish a group of people concerning their physiology. Race may apply to the distinction in skin color, color of hair and facial features. However, on the other hand, ethnicity refers to the distinction of individuals concerning their culture, beliefs, and traditions.  

Cost Cutting Energy Efficiency Solution for Southern Wal-Mart Stores Research Paper

Cost Cutting Energy Efficiency Solution for Southern Wal-Mart Stores - Research Paper Example Description of the case study Description of the case study Ideally, Walmart has operations overseas and across borders but its primary operations are in the U.S. With significant nearly 25% of its stores and clubs operating in the Southern U.S, Wal-Mart is southern branches contribute significant revenue (Corporate.walmart.com). Wal-Mart sells various merchandize ranging from household items to electronics. However, the energy consumption points are its stores and club operations spread in Southern region. Investment on energy efficiency is a fundamental strategy in cutting the costs in an organization such as Wal-Mart. Energy efficiency is an excellent approach in saving costs for a business without compromise on customer product or service delivery. In the ever competitive business environment, commercial buildings consume an average of 14.1 Kilowatt-hours (KWH) of electricity per year per given facility according to the online statistics that published recently. The extensive cos ts are highly impactful on the financial statements and profitability of an organization. In retail industry, maintaining minimum costs is effective to sustain profitability. Wal-Mart stores in the south operate on an energy saving strategies that dictate sharing of light systems. Furthermore, the company has a culture that encourages its employees to use electricity when necessary. Additionally, the company uses solar systems in some of its stores to offer alternative source. Despite all the above strategies, gap still exist to improve efficiency.

Intelligent Design Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Intelligent Design Philosophy - Essay Example Moreover, the principle of separation of state and the Church has precluded its teaching in schools. Nonetheless, creationism never really disappeared especially for those who remained to abide by the principles of Christian fundamentalism. Today, creationism takes a different shape, a shape that promises to be more scientifically in sync by underscoring empirical evidence rather than the idea of a Divine Being to explain its thesis. The concept of intelligent design emerged in the latter part of the 20th century and was founded by experts in various scientific fields. The arguments underpinning this concept attempt to point out the inability of the Darwinian evolution to explain certain phenomena. The arguments underlying the intelligent design concept are discussed in the preceding paragraphs as well as the counter-arguments of those who opposed them. Background: History of Intelligent Design The intelligent design movement is assailed as being rooted in Christian fundamentalism, a religious movement that originated in the United States and was sparked by the rise of Christian modernism in Europe in the late 19th century. The fundamentalist came out with a series of 12 booklets called collectively The Fundamentals: The Testimony of the Truth that attacked, among others, Darwin’s theory of evolution (Flank 17-21). Darwin’s Origin of Species, which was published in 1859, began to be taught in US schools and the fundamentalists vehemently fought this. Christian fundamentalist, however, declined after the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925 where legal luminary Clarence Darrow acted as counsel in a test case that breached a law prohibiting the teaching of evolution. In this case, the fundamentalists were depicted as â€Å"uneducated hicks and backwoods country bumpkins† (Flank 21-24). In 1987, however, the final blow was dealt to creation science when the US SC itself invalidated an Arkansas law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in the case of Ed wards v Aguillard 482 US 578 (1987) (Young & Edis 2-3). With the death of creation science, intelligent design took its place as a theory that was foist to foil Darwin’s evolution. Conceived in the 1980s, it was the brainchild of some Christian intellectuals such as Phillip Johnson, who wrote Darwin on Trial, Michael Behe, a biochemist, and William Debski, a mathematician and philosopher, among others. Johnson subsequently established the right-wing think tank Center for Science and Culture and published a new book called The Wedge of Truth after the group’s wedge strategy, which has purportedly the overthrow of materialism as its goal. The strategy consists of the publication of books and technical and scientific materials within a span of five years to be incorporated into the public school system as well as to drum up support from their â€Å"natural constituency, namely, Christians† (Young and Edis 3). Intelligent Design: The Concept Intelligence design is a n origin-of-life theory that opposes the natural selection essence of evolution. Thus, this concept subscribes to the idea that there must be a grand ‘designer’ out there who directs the development of life because life and the universe are too complex to have merely come on their own without any entity or being guiding them. This theory directly conflicts with Darwin’

Analysis on All the pretty Horses Essay Example for Free

Analysis on All the pretty Horses Essay The title of Cormac McCarthys novel All the Pretty Horses, reflects the significance and variance of roles that horses play in this coming-of-age story, as they relate to John Grady Cole who is the focus of the novel. The horse, which was the social foundation of Western American culture then, is described as an economical and practical asset to the boys John Grady and Lacey Rawlins. However, the author also describes horses abstract qualities using idyllic and impassioned diction, depicting them as animals of a highly advanced spiritual nature, similar to humans in some ways. John Grady has an intimate relationship with all horses and understands the world of horses extraordinarily well. On his journey from Texas to Mexico, he learns that the world of men is very different from that of horses and is forced to rethink about the relationship between humans and horses. John discovers that his preconceived notions about men and human society are false. He finds that they do not live in a romantic world, as he had believed. Therefore, the title that McCarthy has chosen is ironic and symbolizes the change that John experiences. The author uses the title to represent Johns initial perspective on the world, which turns out to be the opposite later on. Johns life, like all of Western American society during the timeframe of the story, revolved around horses. In fact, I think that he is able to understand the horses more than he does about men. The horses in the novel represent strength, untamed passion, and most importantly, freedom of spirit. The veneration that the vaqueros have for horses is apparent in the tales Luis tells the boys. the old man only said that it was pointless to speak of there being no horses in the world for God would not permit such a thing (111). I feel that this quote demonstrates to the readers very well on the strong feelings of passion of the vaqueros, cattle-ranchers, that they value horses so highly that they are able to regard themselves as nearly divine. It also reinforces Johns romantic notion that horses are highly spiritual beings. Like the vaqueros, the boys respect the horses, and these animals play large roles in their lives. The boys use horses in many ways throughout the novel, such as companions and as means of transportation or escape. John even has dreams about horses, as his thoughts were of horsesstill wild on the mesa whod never seen a man afoot and who knew nothing of him or his life yet in whose souls he would come to reside forever (118). This style of expression used in referring to horses here wild and souls is idealistic and almost poetic. Furthermore, the fact that John dreams about horses in this way and that he wants to reside forever in their souls shows that he, like the vaqueros, thinks of them very highly. Throughout the novel, the author does not fail to use romantic and emotional language to describe horses and their connections to humans. By using venerating diction in describing the horses, the author portrays these animals as noble being with wild spirits. Besides that, with vivid imagery, the author is able to paint us a poignant picture of horses. The painted ponies and the riders of that lost nation came down out of the north with their faces chalked and their long hair plaited and each armed for war which was their lifeWhen the wind was in the north you could hear them, the horses and the breath of the horses and the horses hooves that were shod in rawhide (5). This introduction of horses in the beginning of the novel demonstrates the passion and dedication that the author attributes to horses. The mood created by words such as painted ponies and the breath of the horses is passionate and emotionally charged. The author also continues to describe the raw energy and life that f lows through the horses. John Gradywas holding the horsewith the long bony head pressed against his chest and the hot sweet breath of it flooding up from the dark wells of its nostrils over his face and neck like news from another world (103). These metaphors such as the dark wells of its nostrils and news from another world create a forceful likeness of mysterious animals with a nature that is foreign to humans. The horses hot sweet breathflooding up displays the life and energy that fill the horses. This mysterious energy is also apparent later, when the author writes, He rode the last five horsesthe horses dancing, turning in the light, their red eyes flashingthey moved with an air of great elegance and seemliness (107). This imagery of red eyes flashing and horses dancing is very mysterious yet still striking. The descriptive detail is very cinematic, and any of these scenes could easily be made into a movie. These extremely in depth  descriptions are so exaggerated that they are almost unrealistic, but they are able to create the desired effect in making horses seem mystical and bizarre. These are the romantic creatures that John sees, the pretty horses that can be taken off the title. John Gradys connection with horses is as mystical as the horses themselves. He is one way or another, able to communicate with all horses on a deeper level than any other character in the story. This is evident on the Hacienda in the scene in which John and Rawlins are breaking some new horses. John cupped his hand over the horses eyes and stroked them and he did not stop talking to the horse at all, speaking in a low steady voice and telling it all that he intended to do and cupping the animals eyes and stroking the terror out (103). Johns ability to stroke the terror out of the horses is just like in a case of a parent calming a frightened child. Obviously, he must have some natural tie with these animals if he is able to do this. Indeed, the author has already unambiguously stated that such a bond does exist between John Grady and the horses earlier on when he writes, The boy who rode on slightly before him sat a horse not only as if he had been born to it which he was but as if were he begot by malice or mischance into some queer land where horses never were he would have found them anyway (23). This passage shows that Johns relationship with horses extends into the metaphysical range, a view that is reinforced throughout the novel as more is revealed about John Grady and the horses. As Luis says, the horse shares a common soulif a person understood the soul of the horse then he would understand all horses that ever were (111). It seems like as if the author is trying to tell us that John Grady has this ability to be familiar with the soul of the horse, and that is why his relationship with horses is so unique. Johns reliance on his knowledge of horses as a guide in the world of men eventually reveals to him that the two species are actually very different. When John starts out on his journey, he has very little knowledge about the inner workings of the human society, but he has superficially assumed men and horses to be similar. As the author writes in the opening of the novel, What he loved in horses he loved in men, the blood and the heat of the blood that ran them. All his reverence and all his fondness and all the leanings of his life were for the ardenthearted and they would always be so and never be otherwise (6). John knows that horses are ardenthearted and believes that men must be the same too. He thinks that his journey will be a romantic and passionate one, like the horses he loves, and will strengthen his view of the world. However, he soon learns that his assumption is not what the reality is. Before anything unfortunate happens to him, John hears from Luis that among men there was no such communion as among horses and the notion that men can be understood at all is probably an illusion (111). The first doubts then began to creep into Johns mind, and eventually, he finds out about this personally. Instead of pretty horses, Johns journey is filled with murder and stealing, prison and broken hearts. His ill-fated journey proves clearly about Luis point, and totally destroys Johns belief that the world of men is at all an understandable thing. Finally, when it is all over, he returns home disappointed, only to find that both his father and his Abuela have died. Johns fanciful concept of the world of men now has been completely replaced by a world thatseemed to care nothing for the old or the young or rich or poor or dark or pale or he or she. Nothing for their struggles, nothing for their names. Nothing for the living or the dead (301). The world of all the pretty horses is nothing to him now but a distant memory. This reveals the titles irony, a story titled All the Pretty Horses would apparently never involve the death and violence that is included in Johns travels. Indeed, John has come full circle and realized that his original assumptions about men were false. The title of McCarthys novel All the Pretty Horses is not meant to be taken literally. Before he runs away, John Grady believes in the world of all the pretty horses, because he has never known anything else. However, his time in Mexico disheartens him and forces him to believe otherwise, that the real world is not so simple, carefree, or innocent. John learns that the romanticism that he ascribes to horses cannot be applied to men. John respects horses and experiences the praise of these animals in the folklore of the day. His relationship with horses exists on many levels, by being his  transportation, his friends, and his spiritual companions. Furthermore, the author illustrates the horses with emotional diction creating almost a motif of passion whenever horses are described. Johns unusual understanding of the fervent spirit of horses leads him to believe that men are the same. However, on his bleak and disappointing journey, he learns that men do not have the same passion of s pirit as horses. Instead, they are unpredictable, violent creatures, and their world is certainly not always pretty. I think that it is utterly important for us as readers to understand what the author is trying to tell us by looking at the title and try to understand deeper with the details that the author provides us. Initially I thought that this novel is just going to give details of various horses that man uses in many different ways. However, I was completely wrong on making the judgment by its cover title. This novel teaches us about the reality in human world that no one will be able to predict what is going happen. He illustrates the morals and ethics that have survived throughout the ages, while ending up with nothing else is left, leaving only memories to be reminders of the mysterious and naturally beautiful time period. I am sure after reading this novel, one would never be able to forget the pain, suffering, romance, and above all loyalty inscribed on its pages or in the memories of those who lived through it.

Health Belief Model Health And Social Care Essay

Health Belief Model Health And Social Care Essay One of the health promotion model adopted for the Swine Flu Project is the Health Belief Model (Becker 1974) and it aims in creating a physical environment that promotes choice of a healthier lifestyle (Ewles and Simnett 1999). This model suggests that people need to possess some kind of clue to take an action upon behaviour styles and health related decisions. But the individuals hardly implement healthy behaviour to prevent specific diseases unless they believe in a way that they are susceptible to the disease. Health needs Assessment is a systematic process of identifying the health issues, targeting the needs of populations and taking an action in a cost effective way. Within the present study, these assessments were categorised in to 5 major steps that aim in obtaining relevant information about the topic and suggesting an action course (National Institute of Clinical Excellence, 2005). This assessment helps in getting a good knowledge on local contextual factors which ensure that any proposed intervention fits exactly with the Oxford Brookes University area context. Additionally, the base line characteristics pertaining to the disease prevalence assist in understanding the extent of change after the implementation of strategies (Stevans, Gillam 1998). Nonetheless, this method is not suitable for the risk analysis study and thus without considering the possible barriers that may met in the long run, the success of this assessment programme seems to be highly questionable (Stevans, Gabbay 1991). Resource availability including funding, time and presence of other issues that compete for attention are the primary risk factors that need to be considered immediately. Besides this, the needs assessment is not effective in overcoming the behavioural changes of at intrapersonal level. Introduction Within the recent years, the United Kingdom has observed a notable increase in the cases pertaining to Swine Flu. Swine Flu (or Swine Influenza) is a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus (H1N1 strain) that infect the pigs respiratory tract and result in continuous nasal secretions, reduced appetite, barking-like cough and listless actions. World Health Organisation declared the virus affecting the disease process as pandemic (June 2009) and the period following this year was announced as a post pandemic period (August 2010). By the year of 2009, a total number of 400 deaths were recorded in England as a consequence of disease outbreak. Subsequently in the year of 2010, around 4.88 million doses of H1N1 vaccine was provided to specific priority groups in United Kingdom (especially in England). The incidence as well as the prevalence rates of the disease was observed to be higher within children of less than 5 years age. Before analysing the disease process, it is very importa nt to understand the concept of health promotion and its effective application in the disease process (Department of Health 2009). Anecdotally, to reduce the incidence of causative virus (H1N1 Influenza) the government must frame an action plan with an ultimate goal of improving the life quality and well being (Lipatov et al., 2004). The methods to enhance health associated behavioural changes, promoting environmental advocacy, providing more mechanical ventilators in communities and organisations (where in which the people accessibility is persisted at a higher rate), reducing the congestion and overfilling of areas with people and maintaining social distancing (another tactic) can be helpful. Usage of alcohol based sanitizers or foam hand sanitizers, covering face masks and wearing gloves (to reduce the likelihood of hand-to-eye, hand-to-mouth transmissions) need to effectively followed by all the individuals regardless of their age, sex and social class. Additionally, respiratory hygiene as a necessary intervention should be implemented and the awareness with relation to its benefits must be generalised to th e local public (Centre for Disease Control, 2009). The hygiene within toilets, wash basins and other related sanitary places need to be monitored on a regular basis. Lastly, the government and local health organisations must necessitate the introduction of Vaccine (2009 Flu Pandemic Vaccine) to all the individuals to gain protection against the virus and its deleterious effects (Food and Drug Administration 2009). The designed action plan framework may assist in a way by minimising the incidence and disease prevalence thereby promoting health and well being. Knowledge of pandemic influenza virus persists to increase at a higher pace and the majority of clinical guidance that existed seems to be valid. Health promotion (a process of facilitating people to enhance the control over their health) strategies with relation to Swine Flu must designed to focus on the disease behaviour and its deleterious effects upon the individuals (Wise, Signal 2009). Health promotion approaches to the disease process and the related efforts placed in to the education, community development, policy designing, legislation and regulation are equally legitimate for the prevention of this disease, its progression and associated problems. In addition, the health promotion strategies implemented also play an effective role in reducing the health inequalities or variations that persist at a higher rate in United Kingdom (Wise, Signal 2009). The present report provides an overview of the various methods targeted towards disease prevention in Oxford Brookes University. In addition, it highlights of models like Health assessment, Health Beliefs together with their usefulness and limitations.