The Effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Vietnam War Soldiers Essay

The Effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Vietnam War Soldiers - Essay Example exposure to a traumatic event, and is re-experiencing that traumatic event; also showing or exhibiting signs of avoidance to certain stimuli, an increased arousal in particular situations, and presenting with symptoms which are present for more than 1 month, of which there is clinical significance with a diagnosis of functional distress or impairment (Jenkins 2003, pg. 10). Vietnam Veterans have suffered for years with this disorder but there was a time where they suffered in isolation and received barely any recognition from the medical world with regard to having a legitimate mental illness and needing help (Beall 1997, pg. 917). Now however, in current day there is obvious attention to this type of mental disturbance and soldiers who have gone and not received therapy in the past are now getting significant amounts of quality care in order to try and bring back some sense of decency and good in their lives. There is still a lot of study that needs to be given to this mental illness but many questions have been solved through much of the research in the past and present that has been carried out. The history of PTSD was initially identified during the Viet-Nam era although instances of it existed before then. Both American soldiers and Vietnamese soldiers suffered and do still suffer with PTSD in their lives. Not only were the soldiers affected mentally by the brutality of the war but an estimated 50% of Vietnamese families, including children have been defined as showing signs of PTSD throughout the years, especially during the Viet-Nam War period. Young (1995) states that those who were directly exposed to much of the fighting in Viet-Nam, either due to being a Vietnamese female in a village or a child, it is feasible to assume that they still suffer with involuntary symptoms of traumatic stress that is related to what transpired in Viet-Nam. For the American soldiers there have been many signs and noticeable warning symptoms of the onset of PTSD

Interaction with a Group of Students from UAE Assignment

Interaction with a Group of Students from UAE - Assignment Example Though the young guys from the UAE did respond, they seemed to be a bit hesitant and restrained. It appeared that something was holding them back. In retrospect, now that I have accrued a little cultural literacy, I think that being from UAE, which is a nation with a high Uncertainty Avoidance Index, my initiating a conversation in a spontaneous and abrupt manner made them feel a little ambiguous and anxious (Geert Hofstede 2). In consonance with a their cultural dimensions, our friends from the UAE must have been a little startled to be accosted by a group of young strangers, who were trying to interact with them as if they were long lost friends. However, as our interaction proceeded, things became a little more relaxed and comfortable. We learnt that the young people were students from a reputed business school located at Abu Dhabi and the two mature gentlemen accompanying them were their professors. We showed a great interest in knowing as to how they found the academic environment at Abu Dhabi, the subjects they liked and the careers they intended to pursue after finishing their degree in business. They warmly responded to our curiosity and proceeded to talk about the topics they found really interesting. In the meantime, my friend Steven, who was also pursuing an MBA, asked one of the professors about his opinion regarding an international business issue. The professor proceeded to talk about the issue with a smile. However, as he was talking, Steven interrupted him and candidly contradicted the gentleman regarding a specific aspect of the topic being discussed. Suddenly we felt that a foreboding sense of seriousness too k over the entire group from the UAE. The professors seemed a bit irked and disturbed. Today, I think, UAE being a country with a very high Power Distance Index, the instance of Steven discernibly contradicting a senior professor, must have seemed disrespectful to our Arab friends (Geert Hofstede 2).

Representations of Ageing in the Media

Representations of Ageing in the Media Ageing, Society and Policy Take two types of media and critically examine the dominant representations of later life, noting key points of similarity and difference. Age is an issue of mind over matter, if you dont mind, it doesnt matter (Laham, 2015: para. 19). This quote resonates well when discussing the mass media and its dominant representations of later life. Particularly, because The Mass Media have long been critiqued by researchers for often representing seniors in a negative light. The Mass Media tends to portray the old as unhealthy, ugly and badly dressed rather than showing positive portrayals as healthy, productive and attractive (Rozanova, 2010:214). The impact of the negative stereotyping can damage the self-concepts of the elderly and disrupt the socialisation of young people with respect to the elderly which contributes to ageism (Miller, Leyell Mazachek, 2004:315). The most dominant representations of ageing are repeated across the media over time and so are the values. Therefore, to identify which are most dominant we will critically examine the key similarities and differences of ageing within film and magazine advertisement s and to what extent these representations of ageing have shaped society. Next, I will be discussing how the media representations add pressure for seniors to age successfully by fighting the ageing process. Lastly, Ill be examining how the media represents the third and fourth age in films and adverts. (Kriebernegg Maierhofer, 2013:107) maintain that Social realities of age and ageing are not primarily based on biological facts but on social constructions of what it means to be and grow old. Positive ageing encourages those who are healthy and productive known as the young old who are actively ageing but isolates those who are ill and must deal with the realities of ageing. The negative concept of old age refers to images of them being dependent and frail (Kriebernegg Maierhofer, 2013). Through using the Cultivation theory, we can understand how content released by the mass media has the power to shape the minds of society and their opinions of the world regardless of the effects the negative representation of later life has on others (Vickers, 2007). Through defining the most dominant representations of ageing we can determine if age is an essential factor in establishing ones identity and how they are regarded by others (Hatch, 2005). Ageing has come to occupy such a central p osition within Postmodern culture because there Is more age about than ever before, more varied resources to shape its experiences. This suggests that the arrival of pop culture has shaped the experiences of how we view later life (Gilleard Higgs, 2000:10). The most dominant representations of old age fall into three classifications. Firstly Old age as a Human Decline whereby the old are stereotyped as always suffering from either physical or mental decline (Kriebernegg Maierhofer, 2013). This idea is further developed by identifying the old as having to rely on others and incapable of being in control of their own lives due to physical limitations. Additionally, they are subjected to exploitation by criminals, care homes and are viewed by others as a burden particularly by family members. In other words, this leads to the old being lonely and isolated by family and society. Examples of these representations can be found frequently in the media in the form of an ad or a character in a film (Rozanova, 2010). Age as a human decline is demonstrated by Lewis, Medvedev, Seponski (2011) via Fashion magazines which tend to be ageist and portray age negatively, especially when discussing physical limitations. For example, In Elle and Glamour magazine the focus of the advertisements is on youthfulness and anti-ageing methods mainly featuring younger models. This representation echoes a culture which favours youthfulness and competent individuals over those ageing naturally by using younger models and encouraging cosmetic surgery to delay the ageing process (ibid). Similarly, Being physically attractive counts much more in a womans life than in a mans, but beauty, identified, as it is for women, with youthfulness, does not stand up well to age (Sontag, 1972:31). In Film, a mans success is determined by power and authority, a womans is determined by looks, they are expected to adapt to societies requirements of appearing youthful to others to obtain particular roles on the big screen (Lauzen Dozi er, 2005). In this case, there are similarities within the representations of older women in Films and Ads as a human decline in regards to beauty. The second classification of old age is Old age as a New Beginning, this is viewed more positively and encourages active behaviour in later life. Old age is viewed as happy and satisfying. It comes in three forms, the old being independent and the director of their own lives and how fulfilling it becomes. Being able to adapt and keep up with societies changes mentally and physically whilst copying the behaviours of their children and grandchildren, and the association of old age with an eternal sexless love (Kriebernegg Maierhofer, 2013). This is a new way of ageing which is promoted as inspirational and positive, an active way of maintaining ones youth and ageing well (Ylà ¤nne, 2015). This representation of old age is prevalent in films with an older cast but can be difficult to identify in magazines which usually focus on cosmetics as a way of maintaining youth. Vogue magazine are aware of the changes in demographics and try to support the ageing process, particularly because the positive portrayal of old age is usually in ads which promote food and health and rarely in Fashion which society have become familiar with. Up until 2007 Vogue had never paid attention to the older demographic, until their ageless style issue was released which endorsed old age as a new beginning with their sell in lines Ageless style: the best pieces at any age How to grow fashionably. This attitude affirms societies aim to look younger and remove any signs of ageing (Twigg, 2010). Similarly, films which try to support old age as a new beginning the message occasionally gets lost. For example, in the movie RED (Retired, extremely dangerous), the focus is on a Bruce Willis and his team of ageing retired black ops operatives who are no longer living a fast-paced life. Although the messages support living an active lifestyle and having a zest for life where by retire ment shouldnt be the first choice, it suggests that to remain youthful you must imitate the behaviour of the young. The Postmodern Life Course supports this way of living where theres a shift from the dark days of ageing to a postmodern time where seniors are urged to dress like their children and grandchildren, to live a similar lifestyle and enjoy the benefits of pop culture (Estes, Biggs Phillipson, 2003). However, this is difficult for those who cant due to physical limitations, the focus shouldnt be on the inescapable horror of age but what ageing means for one may differ for another (Cox, 2012). Equally, The Intern another film with a mixed message about old age concentrates on Ben, a Retired executive who applies to a senior citizen intern program after retirement has become too boring for him and is eager to learn how to use technology. This displays old age as a consumer market whereby the old are independent, competitive and willing to learn (Dhar McKinney, 2015). Moreover, these qualities suggest that not all people distinguish themselves as old and dont expect anyone else to either, they enjoy being identified alongside the young and be integrated. This is seen in Films such as Meet the Fockers with Barbara Streisands who plays a sex therapist who teaches sex exercises to senior couples, this is a positive reinforcement of old age as a new beginning because it removes the dominant stereotype that senior partnerships are sexless (Gatling, 2013). Therefore, it can be said that we are living in a third age demonstrated by self-realization and consumption of the elderly ( Twigg, 2010). The Third age concept captures an economic and demographic shift describing the emergence of a cohort of relatively healthy and financially secure older people who were entering the age of personal achievement and fulfilment (Laslett, 1987:135). This concept has crawled into the advertising industry and suggests a period of liberation from old age whereby older people are used for the promotion of products and endorsements (Marshall Rahman, 2014). Old age is understood to be a consumer market with competitive seniors in the advertising industry. This representation of the third age is comparable with old age as a new beginning hence a dominant representation of old age. Publications such as: Yours and Saga magazine, endeavour to remove the negative stereotype of age and encourage a more active lifestyle via educational and inspirational advertisements endorsing a healthier and vigorous standard of living (Ylà ¤nne, 2015). An example which further illustrates this dominant represent ation of old age as a means of self-realisation is the movie: The Best Marigold Hotel. The story engages with a group of retired seniors who travel for a holiday to India and embark on a journey where later life isnt a disadvantage but a chance of fulfilment, financially or romantically. The film suppresses the fear of ageing for seniors and the youth and acts as a guide for enjoying old age (Cox, 2012). The concept of the Fourth Age unlike the Third age, focuses on the fear of ageing. The Fourth age embodies all the fears of old age: it brings fragility, helplessness and loss of autonomy. Especially because not being in control of your own ageing process can be daunting compared to the third age which promotes successful ageing as a personal choice. Instead the fourth age describes the disabled as them and questions if this illustrates the real process of ageing (Kafkovà ¡, 2016:23). This description of old the ageing process comes under the third classification of Old age as Superiority where the elderly are an inconvenience and later life is an ageing horror (Kriebernegg Maierhofer, 2013). However, advertisements promote health issues in a positive light using the third age concept Leisure-oriented exercise benefits older people, reducing both their morbidity and mortality (Gilleard Higgs, 2000:80). Rather than instilling fear in the minds of consumers, advertisers use seniors to sell health products and encourage older people to live an active lifestyle to age well and by use of autonomy they can postpone the fourth age (Ylà ¤nne, Williams Wadleigh, 2009). On the other hand, health in films are a dominant representation of old age as a human decline and horror. Old age is presented by considering the fourth age in relation to dementia Ageing and disability are commonly assumed to go hand in hand (Kriebernegg Maierhofer, 2013:57). This can be seen in the Simpsons film where Grandpa Simpson has trouble remembering the names of family members and confuses items such as the phone for an iron. These representations of Alzheimers and Dementia are usually inaccurate and fail to bring awareness to the issue. Although the representation may be comical, for children watching it leads them to identify the old as a nuisance and helpless (Alexander, 2015). In other words, the representation of health concerns as an ageing issue in a magazine ad is not as negative as it is a film and doesnt have the same influence on the youth as films do. The major premise of cultivation theory is that the more time individuals spend consuming media e.g. watching TV, the closer their views are to the world created by media. In other words, repeated and extensive exposure to media images influences viewers perceptions of social reality in the direction of the world constructed by media (Zhang, 2006:265). This suggests the stereotypical images the youth have of the elderly is as a result of the media. They are represented as dependent, grumpy and disabled which cause the young to behave in a disrespectful way and shapes the interactions they have with older people (Magoffin, 2007). Film more than advertisements plays a big part in constructing the views of the youth even if the representation doesnt accurately reflect society. The dominant representations include grumpy old characters who refuse to adjust to the changes of modern society and believe the youth are impolite. For instance, the film UP features Carl a cranky, hard of hearin g and frail old man who accidentally injures a construction worker over damage to his mailbox. Carl is deemed a public nuisance, and the court orders him to be admitted to a nursing home, to get him out of the way, exhibiting age as a human decline. This is supported by children who restrain the old within two categories: Evil powerful and Benign but helpless which is where Carl is placed (Gatling, 2013). This aligns the image which the youth maintain of the old and influences communication ensuing a self-fulfilling prophecy. The old internalise those stereotypes and interactions causing low self-esteem and a need to slow the ageing process (Kriebernegg Maierhofer, 2013). Magazine advertisements publicise anti-ageing representations of old age more so then Films and particularly for women Anti-ageing attempts to slow, stop or reverse, rejuvenate the ageing process (Ylà ¤nne, Williams Wadleigh, 2009:56). Magazines promote anti-ageing practices including: cosmetic surgery, anti-ageing creams and hair dyes as solutions to the ageing process through concealing indicators of old age which is deemed unattractive. This process is not limited to the elderly, it is also used by those in their 20s and 30s who begin the staying young process at a young age (Gilleard Higgs, 2000). Using the example of an Olay magazine ad featuring model Twiggy promoting a beauty product, it was reported by consumers as misleading and extremely airbrushed with a slogan captioned Because younger looking eyes never go out of fashion. Although a mature model was used the promotion is selling how to achieve younger looking skin which not only gives false promises but has a negativ e outcome for those who endeavour to age naturally (Sweney, 2009). Ultimately, we can see how anti-ageing practices shapes the ageing process for older people where they view ageing as a human decline. Disney films create negative stereotypes which impact how kids perceive older adults and fear the ageing process. Using toothless characters and portraying them as evil for example, the old woman who tempts snow white to eat the poisonous apple (Robinson et al 2007; Gatling 2013). Children internalise the most widespread representations of old age when young which are usually negative in films and hang on to them which creates a fear of ageing. Although the mass media continues to be a popular discourse which shapes the representations of old age in society advertising does not have the power to alter or shape social values, but merely reflects the values of its target audiences, the same can be said for films (Miller, Leyell Mazachek, 2004:316). The most dominant representations of ageing are: Old age as a Human Decline and Old Age as a New Beginning which are shaped by the stereotypes society created. Although the representations in magazine ads and films have relevant similarities and differences individually they contribute to the interactions amongst the old and young. Despite this, can we suggest there been a trend from less negative to more positive portrayals consistent with a shift toward more favourable attitudes toward the elderly and the increasing size of the elderly population? (Miller, Leyell Mazachek, 2004:316). This suggests representations relating to old age are limited. Then again, should we educate so ciety particularly children that opposing depictions of strength and agility on one hand, and frailty and stiffness on the other stimulate the viewer to ponder that we all live somewhere along the weak/strong continuum. Some older people may be weaker than younger people, some may not (Gatling, 2013:77). Bibliography Alexander, S. (2015). Were tired of these stereotypes of older people in the media [online]. Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/goodlife/living/were-tired-of-these-stereotypes-of-older-people-in-the-media/ [Accessed 15 Jan. 2017] Cox, D. (2012). Why do films do such a bad job of portraying old people? [online]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2012/feb/28/films-bad-job-portraying-old-people [Accessed 15 Jan. 2017]. Dhar, A. and McKinney, S. (2015). 3 Ways The Intern Gets Older Workers Wrong [online]. Available from: http://www.nextavenue.org/3-ways-the-intern-gets-older-workers-wrong/ [Accessed 15 Jan. 2017]. Estes, CL. Biggs, S. Phillipson, C. (2003). Social theory, social policy and ageing. Open University Press: Maidenhead. Gatling, M. C. (2013) Representations of age and ageing in comedy film. PhD thesis, James Cook University Gilleard, C. and Higgs, P. (2000). Cultures Of Ageing: Self, Citizen And The Body, Harlow: Prentice Hall. Hatch, L.R. (2005). Gender and Ageism, Generations, 29 (3), p.19-24. Kafkovà ¡, M.P. (2016). The Real Old Age and the Transition between the Third and Fourth Age, Sociologia, 48 (6), p.622-640 Kriebernegg, U. and Maierhofer, R. (2013). The Ages Of Life. [Electronic Resource] : Living And Aging In Conflict?, Bielefeld : Transcript, Aston University Library Catalogue, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 January 2017 Laham, TS. M. (2015). This Is Really When Old Age Begins [online]. Available from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martha-ts-laham-/when-old-age-begins_b_8099004.html [Accessed 14 Jan. 2017]. para. 19 Laslett, P. (1987). The Emergence of the Third Age, Ageing and Society, 7 (2) p.135. Lauzen, M.M. Dozier, D.M. (2005). Maintaining the double standard: Portrayals of age and gender in popular films, Sex Roles, 52, p.437-446. Lewis, C.D. Medvedev, K. and Seponski, M.D. (2011). Awakening to the desires of older women: Deconstructing ageism within fashion magazines, Journal of Aging Studies, 25 (2), p101-109. Magoffin, D. L. (2007). Stereotyped Seniors: The Portrayal of Older Characters in Teen Movies from 1980-2006, All Theses and Dissertations. 977. Marshall, B.L. Rahman, M. (2014). Celebrity, ageing and the construction of third age identities, International Journal of Cultural Studies ,18 (6), p. 577 593 Miller, D.W. Leyell, T.S. and Mazachek, J. (2004). Stereotypes of the elderly in U.S. television commercials from the 1950s to the 1990s, The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 58 (4), p.315-340. Robinson, T. Callister, M. Magoffin, D. Moore, J. (2007). The portrayal of older characters in Disney animated films, Journal of Aging Studies; 21 (3) p.203-213 Rozanova, J. (2010). Discourse of successful aging in The Globe Mail: Insights from critical gerontology, Journal of Aging Studies, 24. p213-222. Sontag, S. (1972). The Double Standard of Aging. Saturday Review of the Society, 23, p.31. Sweney, M (2009). Twiggys Olay ad banned over airbrushing [online] https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/dec/16/twiggys-olay-ad-banned-airbrushing [Accessed 15 Jan, 2017]. Twigg, J. (2010). How Does Vogue Negotiate Age?: Fashion, the Body, and the Older Woman, Fashion Theory, 14 (4), p.471-490. Vickers, K. (2007). Aging and the Media: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 5 (3), p.100-105. Ylà ¤nne, V. (2015). Representations of ageing in the media in: Twigg, Julia and Martin, Wendy Handbook of Cultural Gerontology London: Routledge, p.369-376. Ylà ¤nne, V. Williams, A. and Wadleigh, P. M. (2009). Ageing well? Older peoples health and well-being as portrayed in UK magazine advertisements, International Journal of Ageing and Later Life 4 (2), p.33-62. Zhang, Y.B. Harwood, J. Williams, A. Ylà ¤nne-McEwen, V. Wadleigh, P.M. Thimm, C (2006). The Portrayal of Older Adults in Advertising, Journal of Language and Social Psychology 25 (3), p.265

Early America :: essays research papers

Everyone always talks about the early America, how it started the thinking of people today. Throughout this report you will understand more about early America. People always say America is a land of beginnings, well after Europeans discovered America, the New World became peoples hope for a new life. They tried to escape from poverty and just to start over. So we know that America started with hope but does the American writers? In order for something to begin there needs to have experiences. So the writers looked back on American history. They even had to go as far as before Christopher Columbus, and even before the year 1000. At that time the Native Americans lived here. They each had a tribe and their writings were very personal to how they lived their life and how they knew of America. They also had to think about all their fears and even the excitement in life itself. Some of the people lived and died horrible lives so the ones that survived it told others all about it. Some unforgettable and some hard to even believe, but that's how the people of the early America lived. The New World had lots of experiences for the new writers to tell. Some of the new writers included John Smith; he only spent two in a half years in America. Jonathan Edward's, he thought that a revolution would create a world of literature. He was the first major writer to be educated and lived his whole life in the New World. When he was eleven he wrote science essays on insects. Then when he was thirteen we went to Yale for religious experience. He wrote Sinners in the Hands of an angry God and still is one of the most famous literary monuments to the "great Awakenings" The first book published in America was the Bay Psalm Book; it was a translation of the biblical psalms. Many of the puritans kept journals to help they with their relationship with god. The journals and diaries were usually meant to be private. But somehow they got out to the public. Even when it did get out to the public the puritans said that none of it had ever happened. They did not write to entertai n the public they wrote for themselves, and for God. They wrote no fiction, and they didn't even want to read it.

Reign of Terror was during the French Revolution Essay

The immediate bloody aftermath , was a product of social, economic, and political forces. The spirit of idealism that gripped France during the early phases of the Revolution gave way to mass paranoia and extremism, culminating in Robespierre’s cruel regime. In the beginning of the French Revolution, Enlightenment of the French Revolution, known as the Reign of Terrorphilosophy seemed like a panacea for societal woes. Prominent philosophers like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Diderot contributed to a new mentality in France, one which instigated the mass revolt that caused the storming of the Bastille. The causes for the Reign of Terror in the 1790s cannot be isolated without examining first the leading causes of the French Revolution. Under the Reign of King Louis the XIV, France still maintained a basically feudalistic society in which the monarch ruled with divine and absolute authority. This â€Å"ancien regime† had persisted for centuries throughout Europe. A stratified social class structure dominated French culture and politics. The privileged classes, including the clergy and the nobility, were exempt from most of the taxes passed on to the poorest rungs of French society: the farmers, the common laborers, and the peasants. This system obviously benefited the wealthy, upper classes of French society, who were unwilling to sacrifice their economic and political privilege for a more just society. However, the monarchy and the â€Å"ancien regime† came under heavy criticism by Enlightenment thinkers, philosophers, and economists. Voltaire attacked the Church and its absolutism, criticizing the Church’s political and intellectual dominion. Denis Diderot advocated a new social order, while Montesquieu advocated the adaptation of an English-style constitution. Rousseau’s notion of popular sovereignty was perhaps the most influential political philosophies that influenced the beginnings of the French Revolution. Although the Revolution was spurned by these Enlightenment thinkers, the political philosophies they espoused failed to take root, leading to the Reign of Terror. The economic forces that led to the French Revolution also contributed greatly to the Reign of Terror in the 1790s. The Revolution started as a result of financial mismanagement on the part of the French government, who  was contributing to overseas efforts in the New World. Participation in the American Revolution caused national debt, and in an attempt to avoid national bankruptcy, the Assembly of Notables was formed in 1787 to attract donations from the wealthy classes. However, the privileged people were unwilling to offer financial support. King Louis the XVI and his government were forced to quickly adopt a plan of financial reform. The three class divisions in French society, the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners, held specific grievances toward the state. This generalized discontent and unrest led to the Revolution. The commoners, who were known collectively as the Third Estate, formed their own National Assembly amidst the political and economic turmoil in 1789. Some members of the other two estates, the clergy and the nobles, joined the efforts of the National Assembly, which called for a constitution. Their determination was solidified by the Oath of the Tennis Court, named after the meeting place they adopted after the King originally disbanded them. So influential was the National Assembly that the King relented to legalize the National Assembly, thus recognizing the grievances of the French common people. This small victory led to a mass outbreak of fervent idealism among not only the Third Estate of French culture but also among the clergy and the nobility, who were now willing to make the financi al sacrifices they needed to bond ideologically with the common people. The nobility abolished feudalism and linked hands with the commoners in their overthrow of the monarchy. The National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and in 1791 drafted a constitution that permitted a limited monarchy. The Church was hit hard by this early phase of the Revolution, as the National Assembly passed several measures opposing religious authority. Large numbers of nobles and princes, including the King himself, fled France in fear. The origins of the Reign of Terror can already be witnessed in this phase of the Revolution, in which a mob mentality took control of Paris and France in general. Although the political and social ideologies that underpinned the Revolution were admirable, the Revolution was fragmented and chaotic. Mobs, inspired by their victories, by their idealism, and their radicalism, turned revolutionary ideology on its back. In the early 1790s, several political clubs and groups formed in Paris to contend in the newly formed Legislative Assembly. Two of the more famous clubs, which would become influential during the Reign of Terror, were the Girondists and the Jacobins, who spread their ideology of â€Å"liberty, equality, and fraternity.† However, this spirit of liberty, equality, and fraternity would soon fall apart. First, the exiled nobility garnered international support for their cause and wanted to fight for their rights to regain control of France. Many revolutionaries and French Republicans also hoped that war would embolden the revolutionary cause and inspire other nations to their own popular revolutions. In 1792, the country engaged Austria in war, setting off a string of events that would eventually lead toward the Reign of Terror. Generally, an atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia fueled the Reign of Terror. The King, accused of treasonous actions against the Republic, became a focal point of anger. While it was understandable that the mass revolt against the old regime rested on the high ideals and aspirations of Enlightenment thinkers, the new regime that replaced King Louis XVI was no better. The National Convention scrapped their earlier constitution in favor of a new one in 1792, after the mass storming of the Tuileries. A massacre of thousands of prisoners, called the September Massacres, was an example of mob rule that gave rise to the Reign of Terror. The National Convention held a meeting in 1792, with the goal of completely abolishing the monarchy. As a result, King Louis the XVI was convicted of treason and executed. The execution of the King fueled royalist sentiments, which were supported by international support against the new Republic. France was still fighting Revolutionary wars abroad. The Republic became severely divided politically, as the Girondists and the Mountain party fought to gain power. The Girondists were basically centrists, while the Mountains were a far left leaning group who were affiliated with the Jacobins. The Mountains succeeded and summarily arrested and killed any persons who disagreed with their policies. The rise to power by the Jacobins in Paris marked the beginning of the Reign of Terror. Leaving aside the democratic ideals to which the original revolution ascribed, and which were summarized by the Declaration of the Rights of Man, the Jacobins instituted a militaristic dictatorship in Paris. Their aims were to destroy their opposition both at home and abroad. Abandoning their philosophical ideals, the Jacobins overtook all social and political institutions in the name of restoring order to their country. The Committee of Public Safety, the Committee of General Security, and the Revolutionary Tribunal were examples of the Jacobin organizations that were formed when they first rose to power. Still holding to the illusion that true democracy was possible, the Jacobin government believed that the Reign of Terror was necessary to first induce a sense of calm and order in France. Moreover, international opposition and war made the Reign of Terror seem like a wartime necessity. The terror tactics used were employed in the name of self-preservation. The Jacobins filled the j ails to capacity and ordered thousands of executions in order to assure the elimination of opposition forces. The leadership of Georges Danton and Maximilien Robespierre solidified the forces that enabled the government to practice its tyranny. Robespierre soon became the dominant force in the Reign of Terror and in 1794, Danton was executed because of his views espousing the abolition of the emergency measures that Robespierre was clinging to. Moreover, Robespierre ordered the execution of Jacques Hebert, whose glorification and deification of Reason became a popular movement. To counteract Hebert’s influence, Robespierre instituted the Cult of the Supreme Being, a perfect example of the fanaticism gripping the time. Interestingly, the government under Robespierre still proclaimed the economic equality of all citizens. Robespierre still believed that a just society in France was possible, but that the Reign of Terror was necessary in order to squelch any opposition. The government abolished slavery and enforced economic equality among the people by imposing wage and price caps and in troducing an artificially inflated paper currency called the assignats. Robespierre was clearly out of control and the National Convention finally arrested and executed him in 1794. The National Convention then drafted a new constitution and established the Directory. The Directory was designed to be a centrist political body that balanced the needs of the leftist  Jacobins and the right-wing royalists. Their initial economic reforms were beneficial in restoring the country after its being ravished by the revolution, but the Directory was wrought with internal and external political strife. Furthermore, international hatred for the Directory grew intense, which forced France to place Napoleon Bonaparte in power. Therefore, the Reign of Terror left a scar on French politics that would lead to the Napoleonic years. The original revolutionary ideals of reason, liberty, equality, and fraternity were now covered in blood. Basically, the Reign of Terror is an example of failed implementation of lofty democratic ideals. The Enlightenment idealism that sparked off the French Revolution was completely transformed into fear and paranoia. The Reign of Terror has some elements of a massive revenge campaign against the oppressive regime of the monarchy. However, the popular revolt that led to the righteous overthrow of the monarchy and feudalism had no clear focus. The ideals of democracy and equality were thwarted by the chaos and fear that gripped the nation once the monarchy was overthrown. The Reign of Terror was in part a response to post-revolutionary chaos, and was a concerted effort to restore social, political, and economic order. However, the Jacobins resorted to means as cruel, if not crueler, than those used by the monarchs they hated. Far from promoting liberty and justice, the Jacobins executed people without regard to their class and without permitting any victim to defend themselves. Instead of implementing a democracy, based on the true and original Jacobin ideals of â€Å"liberty, equality, and fraternity,† the Jacobins stripped French citizens from each of these rights. The Reign of Terror was a panic campaign, an example of what happens when a small group of men take control over a nation in a time of crisis. Ironically, Robespierre spoke out against tyranny and oppression and ascribed to Rousseau’s political philosophy. Robespierre held fast to the abstract vision of democracy, popular and self-rule, and political virtue. However, he resorted to means that were antithetical to his original vision of the Revolution.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Although the term cardiovascular disease refers to a disorder of the cardiovascular system, it is usually associated with atherosclerosis, also known as arterial disease. It is considered the leading cause of deaths in the world, taking 17. 1 million lives a year. There are only a few factors that are non-modifiable, these being the persons age, gender, family history and their race and ethnicity. Although there are non-modifiable risk factors, there are multiple multiple risk factors that are modifiable that anyone can use to prevent getting any type of cardiovascular disease. These people just need to have the motivation to be able to change themselves and their lifestyles in order to better themselves and their cardiovascular system all together. There are four non-modifiable risk factors when it comes to cardiovascular diseases. The first being age. Simply getting old is a high risk factor of cardiovascular disease, the risk or heart diseases increase every decade after the age of 55. A persons gender is also important; a man has a greater chance of getting a heart disease than a pre-menopausal woman. Once past menopause though, a woman's risk is just as high as a man's. Another risk factor is a persons family history. Once a person knows that their family history has some type of heart disease in it, it indicates that their risks are higher. If a first-degree blood relative has had a coronary heart disease or stroke before the age of 55 years old for a male relative, or 65 years old for a female relative, the persons risks increases. The last non-modifiable risk factor is a persons race and ethnicity. It plays a role because it has been proven that people with African or Asian ethnicity are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases than any other racial group. There are a lot more modifiable risks than non-modifiable risks for cardiovascular diseases. The first being hypertension, which is also known as high blood pressure. This is known as the single biggest risk factor for stroke. It also plays a major role in heart attacks, but can be prevented and treated , only if the person has it diagnosed and stick to their suggested plan. Tobacco use also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, whether it being smoking or chewing tobacco. The risk is particularly higher if the person started smoking at a young age, smokes heavily and/or if the person is a woman. No matter how long that person has been smoking for, stopping can make a major difference when it comes to cardiovascular diseases. Physical inactivity is also a modifiable risk factor, obesity is a big problem in many countries and it increases the risk of heart diseases by 50%. Obesity also leads people to diabetes, which is also a risk. 1% or coronary heart diseases and 11% of the strokes worldwide are due to a high diet in fats, this is a big deal in certain countries because high diets in fats are seen everywhere. Another factor is being poor. It is normal that low income will make people's lives lean towards a stressful one, one where there is social anxiety, isolation and depression, which are all reasons why a person can get cardiovascular disea ses. When someone abuses alcohol, drinking more than two drinks a day, it increases their risks as well. There are a few other modifiable risk factors, such as taking certain medications. The only behavior that is detrimental to my cardiovascular health that I would be unwilling to change would be smoking. The reason for this is because I had tried to stop smoking before and I realized that I started gaining weight. Once I realized this I started smoking again, only because I did not want to keep gaining the weight I was gaining when I wasn't smoking. After I started smoking again I realized that if I would become hungry and I would have a cigarette, I would no longer be hungry, which would stop me from eating for a lot longer. The areas in my lifestyle that I could change or improve that would promote my heart health would first of all be my lack of physical activity. I've been wanting to start working out for a while now but never got to it. The first time I went to the gym, my body was so soar the next day that I no longer wanted to do it, but I know that soon I will have to suck it up and start going to the gym, and maybe at the time I will stop smoking because I would realize that I am getting much healthier. Another area would be the alcohol abuse. People at my age love to drink, it is something that we do on the regular because we always seem to have something to celebrate. And when we feel like having one beer, it always ends up being more then that, but that is something that I am willing to change and would love to change in return for better health. All of these would affect my heart health because they are all modifiable cardiovascular disease risks. They would make me a healthier and happier person in general because I will know that my body has changed for the better. I am planning on making these changes in the future because I know myself that I need to do this to be a much healthier person, because I know that day by day I am getting less healthy. I want to see myself as a healthy person and really believe that I am that way, and know that I am the person who did that, I was motivated enough to change myself for the better. I realized that I need to stop making excuses and I need to take action in order to become healthier and to make my risks even lower.

Theres a Word for That

Theres a Word for That There’s a Word for That There’s a Word for That By Mark Nichol Why is that despite the fact that the English language has hundreds of thousands of words, we have no single-word term for many emotions and other concepts that are specifically represented in other languages and that would be beneficial for everyday use? For example, English has no word equivalent to gianxi, a Chinese term akin to but not the same as goodwill. (It refers to the social stock one accumulates by doing favors and bestowing gifts.) Nor is there any succinct translation of forelsket, the Norwegian word for the ecstasy of love in its early stages. (A concise definition is â€Å"the state of being enamored,† but even if enamoration were a word and why isn’t it? it doesn’t incorporate the context. Infatuation comes close but is not quite equivalent.) My conclusion, after a bit of research, is that English speakers just aren’t trying hard enough. It’s true that the parent language of English, Anglo-Saxon, lets us down in matching single words to concepts, but English is very receptive to new vocabulary. (One comment attributed to a dictionary, though I couldn’t identify the specific source, is that â€Å"English acquires new words with the delicacy of a vacuum cleaner.†) It is this adaptability that we must, for the most part, rely on. (I write â€Å"for the most part† because formation of new words is effortless: See enamoration above.) All we have to do is â€Å"borrow† from other languages. (I enclose borrow in raised eyebrows of irony because steal would be more accurate; we don’t give the words back.) Turn to any page of a dictionary, and you’ll find at least one word acquired from a foreign language: Souvenir, from French. Contort, from Latin. Gymnast, from Greek. More recent acquisitions abound as well: Honcho, from Japanese. Cafeteria, from Spanish. Trek, from Afrikaans. But our loanword word-hoard is woefully incomplete. From German, we have schadenfreude, referring to the enjoyment of other’s misfortunes. But why hasn’t English appropriated pena ajena, an expression from Mexican Spanish that denotes embarrassment about another person’s humiliation? That would certainly come in handy. The answer to my thesis question is this: There’s a word for almost everything, but it isn’t necessarily in the English lexicon yet. English is constantly enriched by the accumulation and integration of vocabulary from other languages, but the only reason you wouldn’t say to me, expecting others to understand, â€Å"You’re such a pochemuchka† that Russian word means â€Å"a person who asks too many questions† is because we haven’t (yet) decided that the word’s useful enough to assimilate. Start introducing more foreign words into your writing, and you’ll build gianxi with me. 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Punctuating â€Å"So† at the Beginning of a SentenceHow to Pronounce Mobile10 Types of Hyphenation Errors

President Nixons Foreign Policy Successes and Failures essays

President Nixon's Foreign Policy Successes and Failures essays Although President Richard Nixon is known more for the Watergate scandal and as the only US President to have resigned from office, he was responsible for introducing a number of bold and innovative foreign policy When Nixon took over the office of US President in 1969, the Vietnam War was the main issue in the country. During his election campaign, Nixon had promised to bring the American soldiers home. He started to implement a "Vietnamization" policy aimed at a gradual withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam while encouraging greater involvement of South Vietnam in the war. However, Nixon desired that the US should not be perceived as having lost the war and "peace should be achieved with honor." These contradictory aims led to his escalation of the War in April 1970 when the invasion of Cambodia was authorized, supposedly to pursue the North Vietnamese forces. By the time Nixon finally pulled out of Vietnam in 1973, thousands of additional Vietnamese and American soldiers had died. The US was also perceived to have lost the war disastrously and Nixon gained little by delaying the withdrawal. His handling of the Vietnam War can be considered Nixon was more successful in other foreign policy initiatives. By basing the US foreign policy on "realist" rather than "moral" principles, Nixon pursued a policy of dtente and developed more cordial relations with the Soviet Union. This resulted in signing of important anti-ballistic missile (ABM) and SALT treaties between the two super-powers and lowered the Cold War tensions. Nixon's greatest foreign policy success was the development of relations with Communist China. Until his historic visit to Mainland China in 1972, any dealings with the Communist Chinese regime were considered to be taboo in the United States; therefore Nixon's initiative ...

ENGLISH ESSAY WRITING SERVICE for Students

ENGLISH ESSAY WRITING SERVICE for Students Essay writing is important and mostly crucial part of education process. Through the essays students are able to demonstrate their unique capabilities. The primary goal of essay writing is to determine the ability to organize a well-structured essay in a logical and systematical manner. When the student is lacking such ability, actions must be taken at once. One of the options is to buy custom written papers from online English essay writing service. Professional writers with years of writing experience will write a paper you need including all personal requirements you wish to include. Every essay writing assignment is your chance to improve your paper writing skills. Explore and read more information do as much research as you can and continue writing. Your essay writing skills are promised to be improved. Good English is your primary objective. The second important aspect is proper essay structuring start with introduction and finish up with nice and logical conclusion. For all other assignment writing requests, use professional essay writing service.

Native American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Native American History - Essay Example For this essay, the period examined will be the 19th century and the event is the â€Å"Trail of Tears† which is an account of the forced eviction of members of the Cherokee native America communities from their ancestral lands in eastern America to create room for white settlers.1 Owing to the marginalization of the Native American community at the time there were few historians from the community and most of the written works emerge from white authors. However one of the most popular accounts of the trial is a narrative rendered by Michael Rutledge about his Cherokee grandfather Samuel Cloud who was nine at the time of the march, he vividly recounts how he (Samuel ) struggle to understand the atrocities that were occasioned upon his community and recounts very real and personal experience through the naive and innocent eyes of a child who suffers for a cause he does not understand. 2 He describes the way his family and neighbors were force to leave their village at gun point how some of them were not even given time to pack their belongings leaving with only the clothes on their backs. The people were led to stockades like cattle and they were forced by soldiers to remain there for several days and nights despite the freezing cold, Samuel’s father died and later on so does his mother both having succumbed to the brutal conditions. Many more people died and they were buried in shallow unmarked grave by the wayside as the march continued and Samuel recounts his bitterness and frustration which he felt as result of losing both his parents and yet he could not understand why. 3 On the road he describes the death by the hundreds and thousands of the Indians and their unceremonious burial by the roadside far from home. He could only feel a bitter hatred for the soldiers who he blamed for having put them in that situation. Notably, his is just one account and hundreds of children were orphaned and parents widowed and families broken either by death or separation by the cruel soldiers. The second account by Joan Gilbert who is not an insider nor actively involved in the lives of the Native American community also renders an account of the events of the march based on extensive research and interviews. She begins by giving a background of the events leading up to the removal such as the sale of Indian land by lottery to settlers even before they had been evicted, consequently some settlers moved in and took over Indian property. The book article discusses President Jackson and how he pursued a policy to eliminate Indians to provide more land for the speculating settlers.4 Although many American were against the decision, Jackson received little trouble as a result since he had the backing of the southern and western state that made up his biggest support base. Some of the communities tried to resist by going to back court or by violence while others cooperated and accepted the new lands. This ultimately divided the communities in t he long run since the collaborators were seen as traitors and many of them were later murdered by their own people as a result of working with the state. The Cherokees from Georgia had taken the matter to the Supreme Court and judge Marshall had found in their favor declaring that the settlers had no claim to their land. However the president had ignored the injunction and proceeded to

Somalia Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Somalia - Outline Example The World Bank and USAID have been involved in the water supply sectors of the given countries to a large extent; hence they provide credible and reliable data on the water supply situations in these countries and thus justify the use of these sources. Water provision is a serious problem in most developing countries, and it is even a worse scenario in Somalia. This is a country that has been war-ravaged for the last two decades. To generate effective recommendations for water provision in Somalia, it is first necessary to establish the water supply situation, and then compare water provision systems that are considerably effective in countries with a similar situation like Somalia’s. This study explores the water provision solutions that have been implemented in Mozambique and Ghana and use them to generate recommendations for the water supply crisis in Somalia. According to the Advanced Blue Revolution Initiative, Somalia lacks an official water supply and sanitation system (ABRI 2009, p. 1). A large population obtains water from boreholes and shallow wells. The shallow wells are usually located near settlements, and the condition of this water is alarming due to nearly latrines seeping health hazards to ground water; cholera and diarrhoea outbreaks are common, and ABRI statistics indicate that less than 29% of the population has access to clean and sustainable water sources. It might be necessary to point out that the urban water supply system that existed in Somalia before degeneration into conflict was already constrained, poorly funded and mismanaged, and became inoperable after the civil crisis. This is the basis that informs the choice of comparison countries; Mozambique has an experience of nearly 20 years in war, and Ghana is muted as a model for other developing countries in efforts to curb most of their challenging problems. A brief background on Mozambique’s water provision system indicates that it was rendered useless

Business Simulation Game (Individual Report) Essay - 1

Business Simulation Game (Individual Report) - Essay Example Fruits are starting to bear for the few steps already covered though we still have a long way to go. Strategic management planning and implementation has been in place for the six years. Our work in the office has been to implement these plans for the last three years and into the future in order to realize the full implementation. The next three years will be about much to do with consolidating the gains made in the last three years in order to maintain the market dominance that we have gained since. There is still room for improvement in our market segment we are pursuing. In internet marketing for example, we are relatively doing well but there are still a number of companies ahead in terms of these segment sales volumes. The same is true in private label and wholesale where competition is very high. Claude Footwear Company core business is the manufacturing of sports footwear. Our markets cover or divided into four geographical regions for ease of doing business; North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe-Africa. These geographic areas are covered and managed from divisional headquarters located in each. The world head office and manufacturing plant is located here in London United Kingdom. As part of the strategic plan in the future is to put up manufacturing plants in some of the regions if we consider that it might be a strategic low-cost measure. This could be implemented sooner in emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Specialty footwear still could be a factor to consider in putting up those plans if you consider country or region specialty sports like long distance running in East Africa, short distance, baseball, basketball, and American football in the Americas and football in Europe. The company in the medium term is implementing, as mentioned earlier a strategic plan which include product innovation, new product lines, marketplace scope expansion, and diversification and

Event Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Event - Essay Example However, last year out of shear spontaneity and maybe a little convincing from my cousin I decided to go sky diving in San Diego. A decision I regretted until the moment I ignored the violent palpitations from my heart, took a deep breath, spread my arms and soured into the open air. The whole event began with me at home one day chatting with my cousin about what was the most daring thing we had ever done. The conversation was pointless and yet it was entertaining and stimulated our brain cells to relive the moments which we dared not revisit on a normal occasion. Some of them were a bit edited as embellishment is a part of every discussion between my cousin and I. As the darkness slowly took over we began to talk about things we thought we could never do and then sky diving came up. My cousin, who is daring in almost everything he does said that he would gladly skydive as long as I joined him. Many thoughts ran through my mind as these words entered my ears and my brain processed them. I reluctantly agreed hoping to hear the something along the lines of â€Å"I was just joking†, but it never came. Instead a date and location was set; San Diego the following Friday. On the day I remember waking up with many different thoughts in my mind, however, all them leaning towards the question, â€Å"Am I really going through with this?† My cousin on the other hand woke up with the excitement of a three year old at Christmas or a bride before the day of her wedding. Everything I did from then on was nervy, my hands were shaking, my appetite was missing and my breathing seemed like that of a person who was suffocating. From all the moments in my life, this was definitely one of the most memorable due to the butterflies that colonized my stomach. I was a prisoner of fear without the option or possibility to appeal. This hour of my life seemed to take place in days as I prolonged the inevitable and

Understanding the business of fashion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Understanding the business of fashion - Essay Example Understanding the business of fashion Heading into 2012, retaliating industries will face a greater challenge. Many retailers are using the concept of Internet retailing to increase purchasing power. For most of human history, clothes were handmade, often by the woman of the household, or by female servants. Those who could afford nice material and expensive designs typically indulged those desires; however, most individuals did not put much consideration into their wardrobe. The emergence of a middle class in Europe and the United States made it possible for people to take more of an interest in how they presented themselves in clothes, and patterns of popular clothes were introduced for people to copy. With the industrial revolution, it became possible for clothes to be mass?produced, but there was still a desire among many individuals to have clothes that were considered fashionable and even unique in an era when mass production was increasingly the norm. Today, with advanced technologies, manufacturers are able to of fer mass customization in fashion. Haute couture, which continues to be regulated in France, often sets the design guidelines for a particular season. Major couture houses, including Christian Lacroix, use their haute couture not only for its own sake, but also to promote ready-to-wear designs, as well. In addition, many major design houses today sell multiple brands and also multiple product lines, so that a haute couture show may also be a showcase for perfume and accessories. (Waddell 21). Competitors of Haute Culture include major retailers like the Gap, which sells clothes worldwide, and Avicsar, CatWalk Enterprises, and First Impressions. All of these companies are European based and First Impressions is situated in London. All of these companies are showing the same trends—a decrease in sales relevant to the decrease in economic status. Therefore, heading into 2012, all companies are going to need to consider new ways of selling, and the Internet could certainly open up many avenues for them. Out of the companies listed above, Gap is currently most prevalent on the Internet, and this may be the reason they are performing better than the other companies, although economic issues have hurt them. The fashion industry is a global industry (Movius n.p.). Textiles may be produced in a country such as Thailand and transported to a low-cost labor market such as China to manufacture designs that were created in Europe or the United States for sale in r etailers around the world. This globalization works to keep costs low on the manufacturing side, which increases the normal profit. However, not all of the companies listed above work in this global context, Gap again being the only one listed that does. The use of outsourcing may be a consideration for these other companies in order to increase sales. At the same time, the various fashion collections and their shows can increase demand for a particular designer's goods. As designers become better-known, customers may be willing to pay more in order to have the distinction of owning a piece by that particular designer. In this way, the price of high fashion can be driven up not by value-added, but by customer valuation of a particular brand. While some might argue that this does, indeed, constitute value-added from a marketing standpoint in the sense that branding adds value, others would suggest that this is an artificial component that does not have intrinsic economic

PROJECT MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

PROJECT MANAGEMENT - Essay Example This necessitates a ‘leader’ to be appointed for the temporary team of different people, whose sole objective is to fulfill the client’s requirements. Section-1 of the report deals with the reasoning as to why a client’s project manager has to be appointed. Section-2 suggests the form of procurement method that is appropriate for this project. Finally, Section-3 shows a graphical representation of the schedule of the pre- construction phase. Successful project management is the process of planning, organizing, directing and controlling the elements of the project to meet the project needs (T. C. Cornick, James Mather, 1999). Managing the construction project is about managing the project information and communication flow. (The Evolution of Project Management in Construction Projects) Project managers can come from a variety of backgrounds, but will need to have the necessary skills and competencies to manage all aspects of the project from inception to occupation. This role may be fulfilled by a member of the client’s organization or by an external appointment (Pete McGarvey, 2002). The client’s project manager whether ‘in-house’ or externally appointed, is the person to take the role of directing and managing the temporary ‘organization’, the sole purpose of which is to fulfill the client’s project objectives (T. C. Cornick, James Mather). The importance of deploying competent personnel with the correct skills to manage projects cannot be over emphasized. It is a key issue in minimizing risks to successful project delivery. Management ability is a skill which is characterized of the following skills (Construction Works Procurement Guidance); Creating and distributing knowledge in construction projects is strongly depending on the project manager (Ingeborg Knauseder). The construction of an office development, like any other construction project, involves a lot of

Understanding the business of fashion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Understanding the business of fashion - Essay Example Understanding the business of fashion Heading into 2012, retaliating industries will face a greater challenge. Many retailers are using the concept of Internet retailing to increase purchasing power. For most of human history, clothes were handmade, often by the woman of the household, or by female servants. Those who could afford nice material and expensive designs typically indulged those desires; however, most individuals did not put much consideration into their wardrobe. The emergence of a middle class in Europe and the United States made it possible for people to take more of an interest in how they presented themselves in clothes, and patterns of popular clothes were introduced for people to copy. With the industrial revolution, it became possible for clothes to be mass?produced, but there was still a desire among many individuals to have clothes that were considered fashionable and even unique in an era when mass production was increasingly the norm. Today, with advanced technologies, manufacturers are able to of fer mass customization in fashion. Haute couture, which continues to be regulated in France, often sets the design guidelines for a particular season. Major couture houses, including Christian Lacroix, use their haute couture not only for its own sake, but also to promote ready-to-wear designs, as well. In addition, many major design houses today sell multiple brands and also multiple product lines, so that a haute couture show may also be a showcase for perfume and accessories. (Waddell 21). Competitors of Haute Culture include major retailers like the Gap, which sells clothes worldwide, and Avicsar, CatWalk Enterprises, and First Impressions. All of these companies are European based and First Impressions is situated in London. All of these companies are showing the same trends—a decrease in sales relevant to the decrease in economic status. Therefore, heading into 2012, all companies are going to need to consider new ways of selling, and the Internet could certainly open up many avenues for them. Out of the companies listed above, Gap is currently most prevalent on the Internet, and this may be the reason they are performing better than the other companies, although economic issues have hurt them. The fashion industry is a global industry (Movius n.p.). Textiles may be produced in a country such as Thailand and transported to a low-cost labor market such as China to manufacture designs that were created in Europe or the United States for sale in r etailers around the world. This globalization works to keep costs low on the manufacturing side, which increases the normal profit. However, not all of the companies listed above work in this global context, Gap again being the only one listed that does. The use of outsourcing may be a consideration for these other companies in order to increase sales. At the same time, the various fashion collections and their shows can increase demand for a particular designer's goods. As designers become better-known, customers may be willing to pay more in order to have the distinction of owning a piece by that particular designer. In this way, the price of high fashion can be driven up not by value-added, but by customer valuation of a particular brand. While some might argue that this does, indeed, constitute value-added from a marketing standpoint in the sense that branding adds value, others would suggest that this is an artificial component that does not have intrinsic economic

Our dreams Essay Example for Free

Our dreams Essay It is our constant pursuit to fulfill our dreams that captivates us to seek education and learning. We use this as instruments to satisfy the needed competencies to become capable in the responsibilities and roles our target profession may entail. Despite the occurrence of hindrances and obstacles along the way, each one must use this as an instrument to gain advantage and benefit from the process. This mindset together with the passion to learn has provided me the opportunity to apply for a degree in civil engineering at University of Massachusetts in Boston. At such a young age, I had always been fascinated in the way construction has helped man. These structures have constantly helped each one make their work easier by paving the way for access to roads and the creation of buildings to support both business and industrial objectives. Through this realization, I began to understand its relevance in society and clamored to learn the techniques and skills associated with engineering. This objective allowed me to find ways to enhance my current capabilities to fulfill this goal. As I took my education, I began to understand the relevance of gaining competency in my mathematics subjects as a foundation and preparation for my chosen profession. That is why I took extra effort in understanding and comprehending the subject. Though this may seem to be the case, I did not also look down or gave less priority on my other courses because I wanted to become a balanced student; eager and capable to withstand the challenges of academic life. Through this, I was able to benefit more in my high school education and further realize that my passion can be fulfilled. During my application to college, I had the privilege to go to Germany to seek education. However, I was not able to finish it due to some setbacks that I cannot prevent. However, this experience opened up my eyes to the realities in life. I must continuously struggle and work hard to achieve my dreams. I must be able to maintain my focus and target despite the obstacles that may come in the process. With my return in the United States, I spent 1 year with a host family and was tasked to take care of 3 boys in the process. By allowing myself to be in this position, I gained competence in organizational culture as I became acquainted and learned to communicate effectively with other people. I see this as an important stepping stone in my future career because it can allow me to gain my target clients together with the skills that I may learn during study. At the same time, during my travels in Las Vegas, I was fascinated in the construction present in the region. Due to these activities, I came to appreciate the relevance and roles of an engineer in these structures. I saw it entails a lot of collaboration, planning and effective implementation for these to become a reality. At the same time, it should adhere to specific standards and rules provided by each state. These experiences enticed me further to seek education, harness my skills as a potential engineer and create my own company that can make a difference to society which I believe that UMASS in Boston can give me. With all of these mentioned, I deem that the admissions committee consider my application and help me become trained and educated in my chosen profession. I feel that I had shown sufficient effort and dedication towards my craft. However, I feel that for these two tenets to be supplemented there must be a formal way wherein this can be actively facilitated. By allowing me to experience the education within the UMASS framework, I feel that I can actively become competent and recognize my dream of becoming an engineer in the future; a career that can help me realize my potential and contribute towards the improvement of my field and society.

Dipole Moment of 5- Fluorouracil Molecule

Dipole Moment of 5- Fluorouracil Molecule Computational Term Paper: Theoretical studies on 5- fluorouracil to calculate its dipole moment, and how the values compare with other pyrimidine analog (namely uracil and thymine) and that of literature. Name: Farzana Nushin Rezvi Abstract: In this experiment, the dipole moment of 5- Fluorouracil molecule was determined using the Gaussian software, and compared with literature values. The dipole moments of other pyrimidine analogs, namely Thymine and Uracil, were also calculated and compared with literature values. The experiment gave insight to typical dipole moment values of uracil derivatives, and how the dipole moment of aromatic molecules can be influenced in the presence of –F, or -CH3 substituent. Introduction: The purpose of this experiment is to calculate the dipole moment of the anticancer drug, 5- Fluorouracil, and compare the numerical value with that of two other pyrimidines, Thymine and Uracil. Fig 1: Molecular structure of 5- Fluoro uracil (drawn by ChemBioDraw). 5- Fluorouracil is apyrimidine analog (nucleoside analogs that mimic the molecular structure of pyrimidines) of uracil molecule that functions as an anti-cancer drug; it is used in the treatment of several types of cancer, including that of rectum, colon, head and neck cancer.10 5- Fluorouracil belongs to the family of drugs called theantimetabolites. Antimetabolite drugs function by impeding vital biosynthetic processes or by being assimilated into macromolecules, and inhibiting their normal functioning. The fluoro pyrimidine drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) does both.9Cancer cells often use more uracil than normal cells, which indicates that uracil metabolism is a potential target for antimetabolite chemotherapy.9 â€Å"The mechanism of cytotoxicity of 5-FU has been ascribed to the misincorporation of fluoronucleotides into RNA and DNA and to the inhibition of the nucleotide synthetic enzyme thymidylate synthase.†9 Thymidylate synthase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion o f deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) to deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP). dTMP is one of the three nucleotides (dTMP, dTTP, and dTDP) that eventually produce a thymine molecule. With inhibition of Thymidylate synthase, an imbalance of nucleotides results and increased levels of dUTP arise. Both of these factors cause DNA damage, therefore ultimately inhibiting cell replication. 5 FU is also seldom found in skin creams used for other conditions. However, it should be used in moderate/regulated amounts since the side effects of unregulated exposure can be severe.10 5-Fluorouracil is a derivative of Uracil. Another structural analog of Uracil is Thymine. As can be seen from the figure below, the molecules only differ in what substituent each has on C-5. Fig 2: Molecular structures of Uracil, 5-Fluorouracil, and Thymine. Thymine is one of the four nucleobases of DNA. Uracil is the RNA analogue of Thymine. Unlike Fluorouracil, these bases are regularly used by a healthy cell to construct new nucleotides (for multiplication, repair, etc.) The dipole moment is considered to be an elementary physiochemical property of a molecule. Interpretation of dipole moments by electronic charge distribution contributes to the understanding the molecular electronic structure and helps us gain deeper insight. The numerical values of the dipole moments also help us in evaluating the quantum mechanical calculations of electronic charge distribution, particularly in a series of homologous compounds, as in our experiment. Our experiment helps us understand the effects of substituents at C5 dipole moment of uracil. The dipole moment is a of these three molecules is an interesting study because in each case, the dipole moment is primarily influenced by the presence of electronegative atoms. The dipole moment of a molecule influences many of its properties and features (such as its colligtaive properties, how it interacts with other molecules, its behavior in compounds, etc.) In the molecules under consideration, the dipole moment(s) work as in the following figure (the dipole moment of uracil directed inbetween N3 and C4, with the substituent ‘X’ either strengthening, or weakening the dipole in the illustrated vectors)6: Fig 3: Vector scheme of dipole moments in uracil and in its derivatives6 (reproduced using ChemBioDraw) Experimental: For this Lab, the Gaussian software was used in calculating the dipole moment. At first, the molecule of concern was drawn using the software. Then ‘Edit’ option is selected to ‘Symmetrize’ our subject molecule. After that is done, we perform Gaussian Calculation Setup, by selecting Job Type as ‘Energy’, and under Methods changing the Basis set. The numerical value of the dipole moment is obtained from the ‘Results’ of the .chk file. The Gaussian calculation is repeated by selecting other Basis sets. The whole process is repeated for the molecules Thymine and Uracil. The molecule is drawn using Gaussian, and the Gaussian calculations repeated by selecting different ‘job types’ and ‘basis sets’. Results: The results obtained are represented in tabular form. The screenshots of the molecules as drawn in the Gaussian software are also given. Tables: Table 1: The theoretical and Literature values of 5-Fluorouracil dipole moment Table 2: The theoretical and Literature values of Uracil dipole moment Table 3: The theoretical and Literature values of Thymine dipole moment. Images obtained from Gaussian: 5-Fluorouracil Fig 4: Image of 5-Fluorouracil molecule as drawn using Gaussian software Uracil: Fig 5: Image of uracil molecule as drawn using Gaussian software Thymine: Fig 6: Image of thymine molecule as drawn using Gaussian software Discussion: The purpose of this experiment was to calculate the numerical values of dipole moments of the anticancer drug, 5- fluorouracil, and two other pyrimidines, thymine and uracil, and compare the obtained values with that of literature values. The dipole moment of a bond is defined as the mathematical product of the magnitude of the charges and distance between atoms under consideration11. The numerical value of the dipole moment can be calculated for each bond, as well as for the entire molecule. In this experiment, we use the Gaussian software for the calculation of dipole moments. The calculation of dipole moment is based on the allocation of atomic charges to the atoms in the molecule in a reasonable way.4 In the hands on experiment, this consists of assigning electronegativity values to the atoms and experimental structural information of the bonds. Topological methods, however, do not take in information about the molecular geometry or the conformational status of the molecule. The topological method currently in use is the Gasteiger-Hà ¼ckelmethod, which has the disadvantage of omitting the validation procedure. This renders the study impractical.11 The method of computation of partial charges employed in this experiment is based on the quantum mechanical calculation of wavefunction.11 For this report, wavefunctions were obtained using the ab initio method. Ab initio means based on first principles, these methods are based on quantum mechanics and attempt to solve the Schrà ¶dinger equation. â€Å"Ab initio methods use no experimental parameters in their calculations, although they use some mathematical approximations. The major disadvantage of Ab Initio quantum chemistry is the heavy demands on computer power.†12 The choice of basis set is one of the most important aspects of this computation, as our results depend vastly on the basis set employed. Basis sets are quantum chemical units of energy; basis set contains mathematical functions that can be used to determine the dipole moment, energy, and other quantum mechanical properties of an atom/molecule of study. Basis sets are considered to represent the wavefunctions of the electrons in the species.12 On the basis of atomic point charges, a molecular dipole moment can be calculated in a quite simple and fast way, and compared with literature values. To get reliable results using this method, one must select small and rigid structures.11 As the dipole moment is a property defined by quantum mechanics, wavefunctions can be used to directly calculate its values. Results derived with large basis sets (such as those reported in this paper) are in good agreement with experimental values. As we can see, our calculated values of the dipole moment align quite closely with the experimental values. One fact, however, stands out: the values of dipole moment get closer to the ‘literature values’ as the basis set is increased. However, quantum mechanical methods are not very useful when obtaining information about larger molecules.11 The dipole moments of uracil, as well as of its respective derivatives are listed in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3. First of all, it can be noticed that all these molecules have pretty high values for dipole moments, compared to other aromatic molecules.4 This increase seems to be mainly due to the large electronegativity of the O atoms (resulting in large numerical values of the dipole moments of carbonyl groups) which amount to 4 Debye units in thiouracils, according to Schneider and Halverstadt 13 This value can be contributed to the relatively high polarity of the secondary amide carbonyl group in these compounds, as compared with the generally observed value of 2.23 Debye units.4 A pronounced change in the dipole moment is observed only upon the introduction of a substituent of a different polarity, such as Fluorine and Methyl group. In order to examine the effects of substituent on C5 on the electronic charge distribution in greater detail, many factors have to be taken into consideration. The first is that of electronegativity. Halogens are famously electronegative, with F atom being the most. The electronegativity of Fluorine atom pulls away electrons towards itself (and away from the ring) (Refer to Fig 3). As the dipole moment direction of –F atom is directed towards itself, it somewhat cancels the dipole moment of N3. This explains why 5-Fluorouracil has a lower overall dipole moment compared to uracil. Thymine differs from uracil in having a methyl group (-CH3) on C5. The main chemistry to understand here is that of the inductive and mesomeric effect. â€Å"Methylation at C5 and C6 mainly causes changes in the polarity of the C5C6 bond by way of increasing the ~-electronic charge on the atom at which substitution takes place.†6 Due to the positive inductive effect of the –CH3 group, electrons are pushed towards the aromatic ring. This adds to the ‘electron pull’ of N3 and contributes to the overall polarity of the molecule. It can be noted that substitution at C5 does not alter the dipole moment of uracil as much as a substituent on C6 would. (Since the substituents at C5 and C6 are differently oriented). For uracil, the dipole moment is directed in the N atom inbetween the carbonyl groups (as shown in Fig 3). However, the dipole moment is a more complicated calculation than can be inferred from a diagram as simple, lots of other data (such as bond angles) also have to be taken into account. Conclusion: The purpose of this experiment is to calculate the dipole moment of the anticancer drug, 5- fluorouracil, and compare its value with that of literature, and two other pyrimidines, thymine and uracil. Based on the data obtained with 5 FU, the experiment can be deemed to be successful, as it contains about 1-2 % error with respect to literature. In summary, we have demonstrated that these Gaussian calculations is an easy and convenient way to determine many physical and spectroscopic properties of these molecules in solution and can give an additional insight into their in vivo properties.1 Citations: Theoretical DFT and experimental NMR studies on uracil and 5- fluorouracil , B. Blicharska, T. Kupka / Journal of Molecular Structure 613 (2002) 153–166 Frisch, M. J.et al. Gaussian Development Version, Revision D.02. In Gaussian Development Version, Revision D.02; Gaussian, Inc.: Wallingford CT, 2005 5-Fluorouracil and thymine form a crystalline solid solution, Sarah A. Barnett, Ashley T. Hulme* and Derek A. Tocher, Acta Crystallographica Section CVolume 62, Issue 7, Article first published online: 10 JUL 2006 L.A. Curtiss, M.S. Gordon Computational Material Chemistry: Methods and Applications, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004 Structures of the Molecular Components in DNA and RNA with Bond Lengths Interpreted as Sums of Atomic Covalent Radii Institute of Biophysics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Krà ¡lovopolskà ¡ 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic. Dipole moments of 2,4-diketopyrimidines: Part II: Uracil, thymine and their derivatives I. Kulakowskaa, M. Gellerb, B. Lesyngb, K.L. Wierzchowskia, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis Volume 361, Issue 2, 29 August 1974, Pages 119–130 Chapter chemotherapy cancer http://www.oncoprof.net/Generale2000/g09_Chimiotherapie/Complements/g09_comp11.php (accessed Nov 19, 2014) Cole Parmer http://www.coleparmer.com/Product/5_Fluorouracil_99_5g/EW-88244-97 (accessed Nov 19, 2014) 5-Fluorouracil: mechanisms of action and clinical strategies, Daniel B. Longley1, D. Paul Harkin1 Patrick G. Johnston, Nature Reviews Cancer 3, 330-338 (May 2003) Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorouracil (accessed 3rd December 2014) Hans-Dieter Hà ¶ltje, Gerd Folker, Molecular Modeling: Basic Principles and Applications, VCH Publishers, 1997 Vol. 5 Samakhvalov A, Lab Manual for Physical Chemistry I, Rutgers University Camden 2014 Schneider, W.C. and Halverstadt, I.F. (1948) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 70, 262626 1

Assessment Issue Rubrics Essay -- Teaching Education

Assessment Issue Rubrics This article takes on a bit of a different perspective when it comes to the issue of using rubrics as a tool of assessment. When the topic of rubrics has come up in the professional life of this writer, it has been followed with a negative connotation. This article speaks positively of the use of rubrics. The writer of the article Heidi Andrade uses rubrics not only to justify students’ grades, but also to assist the students in properly completing an assignment. What the author of the articles says makes a lot of sense. A rubric shows a student exactly what is needed to obtain a high score on any given assignment. A good rubric will effectively do this task. The rubric can also serve as a reminder to a student that might be having difficulty recalling an item for an exam or for a paper. The author refers to rubrics as Instructional Rubrics. According to the author; An Instructional Rubric is usually a one- or two-page document that describes varying levels of quality, from excellent to poor, for a specific assignment. It is usually used with relatively complex assignment, such as a long-term project, an essay, or a research paper. When an Instructional Rubric is used, a student is now given the knowledge of what is expected from them, all to often this does not occur. Sometimes educators, without meaning to do harm, just expect the student to know how to do a task without directions. This is almost certainly settin...

How Rococo and Neoclassicism Illustrate the Process of Deciding in thei

How Rococo and Neoclassicism Illustrate the Process of Deciding in their Paintings The artists Jean-Honore Fragonard and Jaques-Louis David both successfully embody their respective stylistic differences. Fragonard’s style of painting is Rococo, which is characterized by its softness, asymmetry and curviness. Contrasting these ideals is David’s style of painting, Neo-Classicism. Neo-Classicism is synonymous with strong gestures, symmetry, and solidness. Two works that best exemplify the ideals of each style of painting are Fragonard’s The Swing, 1767 and David’s The Death of Socrates, 1787. Although at first glance, it is easier to focus on how each work is different to the other, one can argue that they are similar in theme. Both The Swing and The Death of Socrates are works that deal with the theme of decision making. However, they differ in how each work portrays the theme of deciding. While The Swing focuses on infidelity and the process of deciding, The Death of Socrates makes it clear that loyalty to government is stronger than the ties of friendship or acquaintance. By examining use of light, form, subject matter as well as other artistic elements, one can see how each artist conveys a message by utilizing their style of art. Although both Fragonard’s and David’s work convey different ideals through their style of painting, they are still able to use light in a very similar form. The viewer’s attention is directed on a specific point in the painting through the use of light. Both artists cast a spotlight on the figure or action in the painting that they want the viewer to especially notice. It is what each artist decides to focus on that makes his work is different from the other. A young woman on a swing who enjoys the pleasures of life is clearly where Fragonard wants to direct the viewer’s attention. However, David focuses attention on a male figure, specifically Socrates. How does the use of light help the viewer understand the ideals of each form of art? While Fragonard chooses to focus on a female and David chooses to focus on a male, the viewer now understands how Rococo can be a feminine form of art and Neo-Classicism the opposite. In addition, other stylistic e lements like color and form depict how each art form differs from the other. By using all this visual evidence, we will later see how the concept of deciding... ...d is clearly weaker than the one handing Socrates the poison. This shows how one’s duty to the government is far more important than one’s own personal views or feelings. We can make the argument that there had to be a relationship between Socrates and this figure. By paying attention to elements such as subject matter, light, form, and placement of figures, we can see how these enhance the ideals depicted by each form of art. As a result, we can understand how Neo-Classical art is an attempt to counter the values of Rococo. Rococo is a form of art directly targeted to the privileged. Because not everyone in society belongs to the aristocracy, the Neo-Classicist wanted to impose order as an alternative to the frivolous life style. As a result, we have to works of art that challenge each other’s ideals. The theme of infidelity versus loyalty and how one arrives at the decision made is animated in the works of Fragonard and David. However, it is important to note that there is no right or wrong form of art, although it may seem that this was the common perception of the time. In conclusion, both works of are similar in one important aspect; they are both works of art.

The Bully – Original Writing

Susan stood sobbing quietly in a toilet cubicle. She waited for the pounding footsteps to die away before emerging. Cautiously she gazed out of the entrance and then turned to face the dirty mirrors in front of her. She gently prodded the skin below her swelling left eye and flinched with pain. On examining her face she saw that as well as the blotchy redness that appears on your face after crying the beginnings of bruising were also emerging. She heard footsteps approaching and ran quickly back into the cubicle and locked the door. â€Å"Susan! Susan are you in here?† called a voice softly, â€Å"It's me, Nadine.† The door to the cubicle opened slowly and Susan emerged. â€Å"Oh my God!† exclaimed Nadine, â€Å"I heard them laughing and talking but I didn't think they'd actually done anything! Are you ok? Does it hurt?† â€Å"I'm fine!† snapped Susan â€Å"It doesn't matter now anyway. Do you have any foundation? I can't let Mom and Dad see this.† â€Å"Yeah, yeah of course I do† murmured Nadine; she had given up trying to persuade Susan to tell her parents about the bullies a long time ago. Nadine delved into her bag and pulled out a stick of foundation. The two girls went over the afternoons happenings as Susan carefully applied foundation to cover the bruising which was now a shade of red on her pale face. By the time she was finished the bell had rung and it was lunchtime. Susan and Nadine said goodbye and Susan left for home. â€Å"Susan? Is that you?† she heard her mother's voice sing from the sitting room. â€Å"Yeah, I wasn't feeling too good so I came home.† Susan mumbled. You should have called and asked me to pick you up† her mother replied sharply, † We bought you that mobile phone for a reason.† Susan, who was still standing in the hallway, hadn't told her parents about the gang of girls who tormented her. Therefore they did not know that her new Nokia phone had been stolen from her bag last week and by now had probably been sold on to someone for half the price Susan's parents had paid for it. â€Å"Susan? Come sit in here with me and I'll make you a nice cup of camomile tea.† â€Å"No it's ok mom,† Susan wondered why camomile tea was her mother's answer for everything, â€Å"I think I'll just go lie in my room for a while I've got a really bad headache.† And with that Susan trudged upstairs. â€Å"Susan! Nadine's on the phone!† her mother called upstairs sometime later. Susan padded across the hallway and picked up the extension in her parent's room she spoke to Nadine and assured her that she was all right, whilst going over the day's events in her head. She had not gone down for dinner that evening but had called hello to her father from the top of the stairs when he arrived home from work so that he would not get suspicious. Half an hour later Susan had hung up the phone and was trying to do a little revision for the GCSE's she had coming up later that year but her thoughts continued to return to the bullies. She wondered what would happen if she told her parents of the suffering she had endured due to her persecutors. She could imagine her mothers reaction, a completely over the top drama queen act during which she would insist on going directly to talk to the headmaster in whose office she would continually sob about her daughter's anguish and demand justice as though it were a court room. Her father on the other hand would tell her to stand up for herself and fight back. â€Å"You're a big girl now.† He would tell her in that patronising tone of voice she knew so well, â€Å"You can't continue to rely upon your mother and I to fight your battles for you. You have simply got to stand up for yourself.† Yeah, a fat lot of good telling them would do she told herself before falling in a fitful sleep. The next morning she heard her mother come bustling into the bedroom, â€Å"How are feeling today dear?† she asked in that singsong tone of voice that got on Susan's nerves. Remembering what had happened the previous day Susan quickly drew her head under her covers and told her mother in a muffled voice that she was feeling no better but agreed to have some breakfast and asked for a head ache tablet. As soon as her mom left the room Susan clambered out of her bed and looked into the mirror that hung above her dressing table. The bruising was not as bad as it had looked like it was going to be yesterday although, it was dark under her eye and along the left side of her face. Susan scurried into the bathroom, foundation in hand. By the time she went downstairs for breakfast it was impossible to see the bruising. Susan took that Friday off and by the time Monday morning arrived the violent wave of purple bruising was almost gone. Nadine arrived at Susan's house at 8-30am on Monday morning so that the two friends could walk to school together. â€Å"I thought I was never gonna get out of there!† exclaimed Susan as she locked the front gate on her way out. â€Å"Did they not notice the bruising at all?† Nadine asked looking at Susan's face, Susan had covered it with foundation and you couldn't tell there were any marks on her face whatsoever. â€Å"Nope. And even if they did they didn't say anything to me.† The girls walked in silence until they reached the school. Susan froze outside. â€Å"It'll be fine. They won't say anything.† Nadine assured her. † Yeah, it'll be fine.† Echoed Susan, speaking more to herself then Nadine. Susan walked into her registration class and immediately she saw them, Lauren and Sophie glared at her as she marched purposefully to her teacher's desk, taking out the note her mother had written Susan handed it to Mrs. Fraeser and sat down at her seat beside Nadine. Susan felt that the next few weeks were fairly manageable, the two bullies did not go out of their way to intimidate her. Instead they stuck to small things, tripping her in hallways and throwing Polo's at her, but she was able to cope with all the little things that Sophie and Lauren did to put her down. Soon, Susan found that she was feeling better than she had done in a long while, the bruising had completely vanished and she and Nadine were getting along fine. One Friday morning about four weeks after returning to school Susan and Nadine arranged to go shopping in town. â€Å"I'll pick you up at about 10am tomorrow morning!† called Nadine as the bell signalling the end of the lunch break rang. â€Å"Ok!† was Susan's reply as she gathered her bag and made her way out of the toilets. She felt someone bump into her and glanced up to apologise when she saw Sophie and Lauren standing in front of the door. Susan straightened up and looked about her, the three of them were alone except for a girl who was applying make-up at the sink. Hastily Susan grabbed her things and headed for the door but before she got there she felt someone grab her roughly by the arm, spinning round she saw Sophie's leering face. â€Å"You!† Lauren called to the little girl at the sink, â€Å"Get out!† The girl looked up questioningly but left the bathroom anyway. â€Å"Long time, no see. Wouldn't you say so?† muttered Sophie, tightening her grip. â€Å"Let me go!† said Susan through gritted teeth. â€Å"Now, now.† Lauren chided sarcastically â€Å"That's no way to talk is it? Not very nice at all.† â€Å"Let me go! I'll scream if I have to.† Susan's voice was becoming high-pitched and her eyes were filling with tears. â€Å"Ooh! Poor ickle baby gonna have a cry. Here, I'll give you something to cry about.† Muttered Sophie letting go of Susan's arm and punching her. Susan tried to hit back but the two bullies wouldn't back off, Susan felt the punches and kicks rain down on her body. She sank to the ground but Lauren pulled her back to her feet. â€Å"No, we're going to do it properly this time!† she yelled banging Susan's head on the tiled walls. After that Susan could not tell how many times she was punched and she felt as if there were more than two people hitting her, suddenly she felt someone grab her throat and felt her head bang off something solid. She slumped to the ground and felt warm, sticky blood running down the back of her neck and the last thing she heard before slipping out of consciousness was the sound of laughter and running footsteps. It was a few hours later when she woke up in a hospital room and heard her father's voice, â€Å"Susan? How do you feel?† he asked. â€Å"I've got a headache.† Susan answered groggily, looking around her. Immediately a nurse bustled into the room and began fluffing pillows and checking Susan's pupils and pulse. After the nurse left Susan saw her mother sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed. â€Å"We're so sorry that we let this happen to you. But you've got a very good friend who told us what has been going on.† Said her mother with tears in her eyes. At that Nadine stepped in from behind the curtains and smiled at Susan. â€Å"They're going to be expelled, They're never gong to be able to get at you again.† Nadine said approaching Susan's bed and squeezing her hand. Susan nodded before finally falling into a much yearned for peaceful slumber.