The Wall by Pink Floyd free essay sample

The Wall is a studio album by the English rock group Pink Floyd. Roger Waters created the album on November 30, 1979. The Wall is considered to be a rock opera. The album The Wall by Pink Floyd portrays feelings of isolation and uniqueness. The Wall is a creative production that shows blending of melodies, calming rhythms ,and unique sound effects. Syd Barrett, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Rick Wright are the five amazing and very talented musicians that are a part of Pink Floyd. The guitar, drums, bass, synthesizer, and keyboards are all the instruments that are used in this album. In this album there are a total of two CD tracks. On each CD there are 13 songs. The lyrics in the album are limited. Throughout the album there are several sound effects. These sound effects all have meaning towards where the meaning of each song is going. For example, in the song, Thin Ice, the vocals start with the sounds of a baby crying. We will write a custom essay sample on The Wall by Pink Floyd or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It switches quickly to a harsher vocal informing the listener of the jeopardies of thin ice or the hardships of life. The baby crying can show the sadness that life can present. Other songs like Mother show how mothers are protective and build a wall to protect their children and watch over them in life, â€Å"Mama’s gonna keep baby cozy and warm †. Pink Floyd is one of the most well known classic rock bands and their music is still performed through out the world today. I had the opportunity to see a lazer light show performed in downtown Denver with my father. I personally love to listen to their music. My favorite song by Pink Floyd is by far Another brick In the Wall, because everyone knows, â€Å"We don’t need no education†.

Of Mice and Men Questions for Discussion

Of Mice and Men Questions for Discussion Of Mice and Men is a famous and controversial novel by John Steinbeck. There have been many cases in which the novel was asked to be removed, sometimes successfully, from school curriculums due to profane language and dark themes such as murder, mental illness, and euthanasia. Given its controversial nature, there are many opinions and interpretations of Of Mice and Men, which makes it a fun novel to discuss and debate. Here are some questions that will get the conversation rolling. Starting From the Top: Where did Steinbeck get the title from? What is he referencing?   Themes and Symbols: What is the central purpose of the story?What are other themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?  Can you think of any symbols that represent one of the themes you just discussed?  How does the setting add to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?What types of conflict occur in Of Mice and Men? Are the conflicts  physical, intellectual, or emotional? Lets Talk About The Characters: Are George and Lenny consistent in their actions? Are they fully developed characters?  From the women in the velvet dress to Curleys wife, female characters have played a large part in changing Lennie and Georges life. What is the role of women in the text? And why does Steinbeck not give them names?How does John Steinbeck reveal character in  Of Mice and Men? What Are Your Opinions? Would you recommend this novel to a friend?  Do you think the book should be censored or banned?  Do you find the characters likable?  Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?

Attitudes of Health Care Providers to Persons with HIV/AIDS

Attitudes of Health Care Providers to Persons with HIV/AIDS Attitudes of Health Care Providers to Persons Living With HIV/AIDS in   Lagos State, Nigeria Sylvia Bolanle Adebajo1, Abisola O Bamgbala1 and Muriel A Oyediran2    ABSTRACT This study was conducted to examine the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of nurses and  laboratory technologists towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) and the factors  responsible for these attitudes. Information was elicited from 254 randomly selected  nurses and laboratory technologists from 15 government owned health facilities in Lagos  State with the use of a structured questionnaire. Results indicate that most of the  respondents (96.3%) had moderate to good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Respondents’ level  of knowledge was influenced by the level of formal education attained, length of practice,  gender and attendance at refresher courses on HIV/AIDS (p 0.05). Attitude towards PLWA was poor. Some (55.9%) of the health  workers felt that PLWAs are responsible for their il lness, while 35.4% felt that they  deserve the punishment for their sexual misbehaviours. Only 52.8% of the respondents  expressed willingness to work in the same office with a PLWA, while only 18.0% would  accept to visit or encourage their children to visit a PLWA, probably because of the fear of  contagion. It is, therefore, essential that health care providers be properly informed in  order to improve their quality of care for PLWAs. (Afr J Reprod Health 2003; 7[1]: 103-  112)    KEY WORDS: AIDS, HIV, attitude, health care providers, PLWA INTRODUCTION From the beginning of the pandemic in 1981 to date, HIV has continued to spread at the  rate of more than 10,000 new cases per day despite significant efforts made to contain its  spread.1 If this trend persists unchecked, a cumulative total of over 60 million adults  would have been infected by the end of the year 2000 with the largest number (63%)  emerging from sub-Saharan Africa.2 Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa is not spared, as the epidemic continues to  show a rapidly increasing trend with a median prevalence of over 5% and over two  million people already infected. With the increasing number of people living with HIV/AIDS, AIDS control and  preventive strategies must not only continue to encourage behavioural modifications by  all, but should also highlight the need to respect the rights to care of the increasing number  of people with HIV/AIDS. In addition, there should be full integration of these persons  within the context of their families and the society at large in the most appropriate ways  that would allow them to continue to live productive lives socially and economically. In reality, however, the fear of being infected at workplaces, educational institutions and  in the community has led to irrational and discriminatory treatment of people living with  HIV/AIDS (PLWA). Their rights to employment, housing, education and even health and  nursing care are being violated because of their HIV status.5-7 This practice unfortunately  exists despite strong evidence from research that has revealed that non-sexual contact with  HIV positive individuals carries little or no risk.5, 8-11 This is even more so if careful  precautions with blood products are taken, as this further protects people from contracting  the infection.    Health care providers, who are also members of the general community, are likely to elicit  similar prejudicial and fearful reactions to HIV/AIDS infected persons as members of the  community. The resultant effects of such negative attitudes include poor patient  management, with people being denied most needed treatment, care and support. This in  turn could affect their morale, self-esteem and self-determination to live quality lives  devoid of stigma, fear, repression and discrimination. Maintaining the desired quality of life of people with HIV/AIDS is poss ible mainly  through extensive, competent and compassionate nursing care. Yet, the provision of this  care raises health and occupational concerns for all levels of health care providers. There  is, therefore, an urgent need for all health care providers, particularly nurses who have  direct contact and spend more time with patients, to examine their personal attitudes  towards PLWAs, as this can compromise compassionate care. This study is aimed at determining the level of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of nurses  and laboratory technologists towards HIV/AIDS infected persons and to recommend  appropriate measures to address the deficiencies identified.   MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional survey of three hundred registered nurses and laboratory  health technologists was conducted between July and September 1999 in Lagos State, the  most populous state in Nigeria. It was conducted to assess their level of knowledge of the  causes, m odes of transmission and methods prevention of HIV/AIDS and their attitudes to  people living with HIV/AIDS using a well structured, self-administered questionnaire that  contained 44 items. With permission sought from all relevant authorities, selected respondents who gave their full consent to participate in the study were recruited. Prior to this, they were duly  informed about the general nature and purpose of the study and their right to withdraw at  any time without prejudice to their present or future employment. Respondents’ level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS was computed by judging their answers to  the causes, modes of transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS. A mark was awarded for  every correct response to a set of questions and no mark was awarded for incorrect  responses. The total mark obtainable was sixteen and the levels of knowledge based on the  highest scores attainable were as follows: 0-9 = poor knowledge; 10-12 = fair knowledge;  and 1 3-16 = good knowledge. Similarly, respondents’ attitude to PLWA was also assessed quantitatively judging from  the proportion of `yes’ responses to individual questions asked on how they would react,  relate or treat PLWAs. These responses were computed individually.   Sampling From a comprehensive list of government-owned health facilities in the Lagos metropolis,  fifteen health facilities were randomly selected by simple balloting. From each selected  health facility, a list of names of nurses and laboratory technologists was obtained from  the respective medical directors. From the list, respondents were selected by stratified  sampling method using a ratio of two laboratory technologists to three trained nurses. A  maximum of 20 health workers comprising thirteen nurses and seven laboratory  technologists were recruited from each health facility. To ensure anonymity and confidentiality, respondents in each health facility were  requeste d to drop their completed questionnaires devoid of personal identities into sealed  boxes provided by the study team. The questionnaires were administered and collected in  the boxes provided by the principal investigator assisted by four experienced and trained  interviewers. Two hundred and fifty four questionnaires (84.6%) were returned at the end of the data  collection exercise. Data obtained were crosschecked for consistency and analysed using  the statistical analysis software (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, C). RESULTS Two hundred and fifty four health workers comprising one hundred and four (40.9%)  laboratory technologists and one hundred and fifty nurses (59.1%) were surveyed. There  was a disproportionate sex distribution of 181 (71.3%) females and 73 (28.7%) males.   Many (56.7%) of them were aged between 30 and 39 years with a mean age of 36.0 years  (SD 6.42). Less than half of the respondents had practiced for 10-15 years with an average duration of 10.4 years (SD 5.64). Over three quarters of the respondents were  Christians and the majority of them had been sponsored by their health facilities to attend  at least one refresher course on HIV/AIDS. Levels of Knowledge of HIV/AIDS Two hundred and forty respondents (94.5%) claimed that they had seen at least one case  of AIDS. Based on a total of 16 marks, one hundred respondents (39.4%) had very good  knowledge, one hundred and forty five (57.1%) had fair knowledge, while only nine  (3.5%) had poor knowledge. A high level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS was displayed by  respondents who had higher level of formal education compared to those with lower levels  (p = 0.016). The longer the length of practice, the higher the level of knowledge (p =  0.0003); more males (40.6%) than females (37.5%) had excellent scores on knowledge (p= 0.009); and attending a refresher course on HIV/AIDS was associated with a higher  level of knowledge (p = 0.01). In contrast, age, occupation and religion did not  significantly influence the level of knowledge of respondents (p > 0.05). Although the overall level of knowledge of the modes of transmission and methods of  prevention was fair, there were some deficiencies and misconceptions. (Table 1)   Causes and Modes of Transmission of HIV Over ninety five per cent of the respondents knew the causes of AIDS and correctly  identified heterosexual intercourse, blood transfusion and sharp instruments as some  modes of transmission of HIV. However, in addition to these, some respondents believed  that HIV could also be transmitted through insect bites (15.7%), hugging or touching an  infected person (9.4%), sharing the same toilet and cooking utensils with an infected  person (9.4%), and by having skin contact with an infected person (27.1%).   High Risk Target Population People who indulge in prostitution, homosexuality and multiple sexual partnering were  correctly identified by ove r 90% of the respondents as groups of people at high risk of  contracting HIV. However, an appreciable proportion (50%) of the respondents failed to  identify commercial drivers, adolescents and drug addicts as other high risk groups. Likewise, the respondents had poor knowledge of the groups of people least likely to  contract HIV. For example, 72.4% and 92.1% respectively of the respondents incorrectly  identified patients in hospital and health care providers as groups also at high risk of  contracting HIV/AIDS. Areas of Misconception Identified    Some degree of homophobia was detected among the respondents. Over one third of the  them felt that all homosexuals have AIDS. A large proportion of the respondents (82.7%)  did not know that women are at increased risk of contracting or transmitting HIV during  their menstrual period. A few of the respondents (18.1%) felt that AIDS is curable if  treatment is commenced early. Although 94.5% of the respond ents correctly identified blood as a vehicle of transmission  of HIV, only 81.1% and 71.7% correctly identified vaginal and semen secretions  respectively. Furthermore, 69.9%, 78.0% and 76.4% of the respondents respectively  thought that HIV can be transmitted through saliva, tears and sweat.   Attitudes of Respondents to People Living with HIV/AIDS Two hundred and thirty eight respondents (93.7%) believed that HIV/AIDS is a serious  threat to health workers and 87% believed that treating PLWA puts them at increased risk  of contracting HIV. Many of the respondents (79.5%) believed that an HIV infected  person poses a great danger to others, 34.7% felt that HIV infected persons should be  isolated, over half (55.9%) felt that AIDS patients are responsible for their illness, and 90  (34.4%) felt that they deserve the consequences of their reckless life as a form of  punishment from God. Many (89.8%), however, felt that they do not deserve to die.  Majority ( 94.5%) felt that they deserve to be treated with empathy and understanding and  given the best medical care possible. Whilst many of the respondents felt that persons with AIDS should be allowed to live  their normal lives, i.e., to continue working or schooling, 44 (17.3%) believed that they  should be relieved of their jobs and 50 (19.7%) recommended that students infected with  AIDS should be expelled from school. The majority of respondents (91.3%) claimed that they would retain their friendship with  PLWAs, 154 (52.8%) expressed their willingness to work in the same office with an  AIDS patient and only 46 (18.0%) said they would visit or encourage their children to  visit an AIDS patient. Attitude of Health Workers towards Treatment of HIV/AIDS Patients Ninety three per cent of the respondents accepted that they are duty bound to treat all ill  ersons irrespective of their HIV status and agreed to treat persons known to be infected  with HIV/AIDS. A l ower percentage (87.4%) agreed to examine or touch them. Most of  the respondents (87.4%) advocated for the screening of all patients prior to admission into  the wards particularly those admitted for surgical procedures, but only 108 (42.5%) would  encourage the admission of PLWAs to the wards.    Respondents’ Level of Awareness of the Universal Precautions against HIV Two hundred and eight respondents (81.9%) were aware of and had read the universal  precautions for health workers, while only 66 (26.0%) were aware of its existence at their  workplaces. Only about half (52.4%) were privileged to attend a refresher course on HIV/AIDS, and when asked almost all the respondents expressed the desire to attend a  refresher course on HIV/AIDS if given the opportunity. Attitudes of Health Workers to HIV Screening Only seventy respondents (28.0%) had been screened for HIV. Of these, 31.4% were  screened prior to blood donation, 45.7% out of curiosity or for p ersonal interests, 17.1%  either on doctor’s advice or for routine antenatal check, and 5.7% for travel requirements.  Other respondents (72.0%) had never been screened because of fear (18.5%), high cost of  the test(s) (9.8%), and a strong conviction that they will never be infected (71.7%).   However, many of the respondents (83.5%) said they were willing to be tested if HIV  screening is provided free of charge. All the respondents unanimously agreed that HIV  screening should be made free for all health workers. More respondents aged 30-39 years (37.5%) had been screened for HIV when compared  with 11.1% and 16.2% of those aged 20-29 years and above 40 years respectively (p =  0.0001). More male respondents (46.6%) had been screened for HIV compared to 20.3%  of females (p = 0.0003). The longer the length of practice, the less likely it was for  respondents to have been screened (p = 0.03). Also, 34.6% of the laboratory technologists  were screen ed, compared to 23.3% of nurses although this difference was weakly  statistically significant (p = 0.049). In contrast, the level of formal education and religion of respondents did not significantly  influence whether or not they were screened for HIV (p > 0.05). DISCUSSION Until recently, HIV/AIDS control programmes in Nigeria had focused primarily on  preventing the spread of HIV through behaviour modifications. However, with the  growing number of PLWAs, there is increasing concern on the crucial role of the health  care delivery system in providing wide range of care and support. This has become  inevitable as almost every person living with HIV is bound to fall sick at one time or the  other, thereby requiring medical care from health workers who are well trained and  willing to provide such care. The study revealed that a significant proportion (96.5%) of the study subjects had  appreciable (moderate to high scores) knowledge of the causes and preve ntion of HIV/ AIDS. However, in spite of this, there existed many gaps in their knowledge of HIV and  they had various misconceptions regarding how HIV/AIDS can be transmitted. In  addition, a strong apprehension on how to handle the contagious nature of the disease was  revealed. Most of the respondents (96.0%) knew the causative agent of AIDS to be a virus and the  main modes of transmission to be sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, sharing sharp  objects and perinatal transmission. However, there were also erroneous beliefs by the  majority of the respondents that the HIV could be transmitted through insect bites  (84.3%), touching and hugging (90.6%), sharing of toilet facilities with infected persons  (90.6%), and poor levels of health and nutrition (92.9%). Okotie et al, in their study  amongst civil servants, reported much lower figures of 36.8% and 37.9% on the sharing of  utensils and casual kissing respectively as other modes of transmission.   Epidemiological studies throughout the world have reported only three main modes of  HIV transmission. One is through sexual intercourse with an infected person; second,  through exposure to blood, blood products or transplanted organs or tissues; and third,  from an infected mother to her fetus or infant before, during or shortly after birth.  Casual contacts such as touching, hugging and kissing an infected person with HIV/AIDS  do not result in HIV transmission.18 Respondents had varied knowledge of people at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Whilst a significant proportion correctly identified prostitutes (100%), homosexuals (93.7%), people with multiple sexual partners (94.4%), only 64.6%, 44.4% and 45.2% ofthe respondents respectively correctly identified intravenous drug users, commercial  drivers and adolescents as other high risk groups. In addition, many of them did not seem  to know groups of people who are least likely to contract HIV/AIDS. For exampl e, 92.1%  and 72.4% of the respondents felt that health workers and in-patients are at very high risk  of contracting HIV. Odujinrin et al reported much lower figures (51.5%) of health workers  who identified homosexuals as a high risk group. Studies have suggested that the risk of nosocomial transmission of HIV is extremely low  (0.3%) even after accidental parenteral inoculation.6,8,17,20-21 The incidence of HIV  infection resulting from needle stick injury is a rare event with only 41 cases reported  worldwide.

The Cost of Something Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Cost of Something - Essay Example I guess there’s more to gain. According to swlearning.com, decision-makers have to consider both the obvious and implicit costs of their actions. Based on Merriam-webster.com, obvious means seen, on the other hand, the word implicit signifies unexpressed idea but has the capability of being understood. Firstly, to have a better picture of it, $75 economic profit that I supposed to receive from watching the Hot Stuff’s concert is the obvious cost of my decision. On the contrary, the fuel and energy that I will save, plus the extra time I can go back to my lessons for the exam the following day are the implicit costs of a wrong decision. So, watching the Good Times Band give me a sigh of relief, there’s no more thinking of driving a long way home and I won’t cram anymore for a last-minute scanning of notes. Anyway, decisions like this are not an easy task as always. Without examining the cost, or without understanding the concept of economics by Gregory Mankiw, I might have chosen the Hut Stuff band because I value it higher than the other one. Simply analyzed, Hut Stuff is my favorite, but they are rather both the best bands. Consumers and decision-makers must be aware of the â€Å"seen† and â€Å"unexpressed† costs of their actions economically. What would be more than $75 gain? Or is it a gain or loss? Well, one can only tell if the unexpressed cost is disclosed. The latter has been defined as capable of being understood, although it’s hidden but it can be recognized in the point of making decisions. One must not be a genius of arithmetic, solving the costs entails the basic math equation which are addition and subtraction, together with the right estimates of value of the implied benefits. How can I value the fuel or the fare? Well, it’s getting obvious by now. How much is the gasoline right now? Or how much is the bus fare? How about the energy I can save for not spending much of it for a long drive or trip? What is the value of getting a good

UK REMEDIES AND RESTITUTION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

UK REMEDIES AND RESTITUTION - Essay Example serious litigants and habitual litigants would be discouraged and only genuine grievance would be catered to by the judiciary and in the process saving a lot of public money and precious judicial time that could be used somewhere else. Under Civil Law and specifically under the Tort of Negligence people rush to courts to sue the other party and seek compensation and off lately even the system has been encouraging it in a tacit manner. According to David Hooker, director of Claims at Norwich Union quoting the Institute of Actuaries (December 2002) figures said that every year  £10 billion in compensation claims is paid out. This ends up costing the average household  £500 per year. Bogus or excessive claims cost local authorities as much as  £117 million a year, according to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. There has also been a 48% increase in the number of claims being handled by the NHSLA (National Health Service Litigation Authority). He further said that as of 31st March 2003 there were 19,580 live claims against trusts. There is inevitably also a corresponding increase in the estimated value of claims against trusts, which in the year to 31st March 2003 rose 12%.( http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=123184 ) The rough estimated cost that the NHS paid as compensation amount in 2001 was near about  £900m, to LEAs it was around  £200m, and to the Police Deptt /MoD around  £800m (Source: Actuarial Report - The Cost of Compensation). The compensation claims in the cases of medical negligence have especially seen a phenomenal rise over a number of years. There have been genuine claims too but a significant number of preposterous claims have landed a number of medical professionals in soup over things that could have been explained in medical terms. Under the head of negligence in Law of Torts, compensation awarded due to the negligence of the defendant is the most effective remedy. The case is different if it is a case of

Foundation degree Essay Example for Free

Foundation degree Essay I am currently studying at West Lancashire College on the second year of a Foundation Degree in Computing, after successfully completing year one. After successfully completing a BTEC National Diploma in IT, I found that I wanted to further my knowledge of IT. I have not only found that I have a natural ability with computing, but it is something that I greatly enjoy. As a mature student I consider myself to be a hardworking, reliable and sensible person. I attend all classes regularly and I am always punctual. I take my studies seriously and treat all my coursework with the respect it deserves. I have completed all my coursework on time. My previous assignments have earned me seven distinctions and two merits. I particularly enjoyed studying the Database and Systems Analysis, as this is the route I would like to pursue as a career. I have also used Visual Basics which I have an excellent knowledge of, and at the same time this will help me in my chosen career as a System Analyst. I feel that my knowledge of databases will be of great benefit to me in the third year of my degree. I get on well with most people and work consistently well with colleagues and peers. I am hard working and consider myself to be a good team player, working well in group activities to which I bring strong organisational skills, confidence, and excellent time keeping. As a former employee within the retail sector for 10 years it has been a significant time in my life. I developed many interpersonal and social skills as I worked with a committed and professional team. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family; my partner and four children. We love being together as a family and enjoy camping, canoeing and walking. I also love to read and going to the cinema. I have been able to fulfil my role as a mum whilst also submitting assignments to an exceptional standard which demonstrates my ability to work under pressure. I am thoroughly looking forward to topping up my Fd. Sc to a full B. Sc and facing the challenge of Higher Education. I will give one-hundred per cent effort required to achieve my objectives.

National Westminster Bank Essay -- Business and Management Studies:

National Westminster Bank 1. Introduction The purpose of this report is to analyse the case â€Å"National Westminster Bank† (David Woodgate and Nigel Slack, 1992), in order to identify any existing and potential problems, then after careful consideration recommend possible courses of action to rectify them. During the review of the organisation described in the case, the key issues will be identified and then related to relevant theory. Analysis will then be made of all relevant factors and recommendations will be made after consideration of all factors. Overview of the Case The case study to be analysed focuses on the St James’s Square branch of the National Westminster Bank in London’s West End. The case gives a clear and concise representation of the bank’s structure giving detailed descriptions of the all the employees roles and functions and an organisation chart. The focus is then applied to the Records Section and account opening procedure, which is where the problems are found and complaints have been registered. The results of a survey are summarised in the case to show the apparent level of customer dissatisfaction with the account opening procedure, the importance of such factors are then highlighted with a brief description of the level of competition within the banking industry. The views of are also considered and suggest areas where current systems may be failing the organisation. 2. Problem Key Issues The location of the bank in St James’s square is both a blessing and a burden to the organisation. The sophisticated clientele resulted in the bank being the most profitable in its region, yet they also expected an extremely high level of customer service. This high level of expectation from the customers resulted in any lapses in service being highly scrutinised. The key issues to be addressed within this branch occur in or around the process of opening accounts which is the responsibility of the Records Section, they are as follows:  · Customers joining the wrong queue and requiring redirection because the enquiries desk was â€Å"neither well positioned or signposted†.  · Competition is â€Å"tough† within the banking industry, particularly in this branch’s immediate vicinity.  · 36 per cent of customers felt formalities were not properly explained.  · 76 per cent had not received the sta... ...nt a new system in the Records Section. After consideration of alternatives it is apparent that it would be possible and practical for the organisation to do this without major disruption to the organisational structure. 5. Recommendations The main recommendation from the findings in this report is for the St James's Square branch to implement a cell layout in order for the Records Section to handle its workload. This would enable them to carry out all their tasks much more efficiently and fulfil its duties while maintaining customer satisfaction. To implement such a system the bank will need to employ a process of windows in which customers are able to come in and open accounts or to arrange appointments on the phone. Possible drawbacks with such a service would be that customers would not be able to open accounts at their convenience and may become dissatisfied with this process but the quality of product they would receive is likely to be much improved. --------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] Statistics derived from a survey the branch carried out in 1989 on customer's views of their account opening procedures.

Cultural Event Paper

A cultural event that I have attended in the past that has had a memorable affect on my life was a Native American Powwow. This event takes place every year, Thanksgiving weekend in Tucson, AZ. I arrived in the late afternoon, as the sun was going down. I remember seeing many different types of people, from tourists to the different Native American performers. The physical setting of this particular celebration was outside, and based around, one main circle. Drums were beating so loud, you could feel the pound inside your chest. Different activities were going on all around, such as dancers, vendors, and a huge variety of foods to choose from. The circular dancing arena is known as the arbor, this area is blessed before any of the events begin (Schultz, 2001). This area is considered to be sacred ground, and is respected throughout the entire celebration (Schultz, 2001). The arbor was made of tree limbs and leaves. The four main entries into the festivities were used to resemble the four points of a compass (Schultz, 2001). The dancers entered from the east entrance, and the main announcer was located by the West entrance. Many spectators were sitting on blankets, and some on lawn chairs. The environment was relaxed, and a very friendly atmosphere. The activities included dance and drum contests, different ceremonies, and many different vendors. The crafts were all handmade and amazing. Each piece looked as if it were specially made from the heart. The Native American culture to me felt festive, warm, and very inviting. The dancer’s come from many different tribes. Their faces were painted, and their costumes consisted of beautiful festive colors. They were made of feathers, sequence, dye, and other natural fabrics. A powwow is a Native American gathering, or celebration that began with the Plains tribe, and continued to other Native American tribes through the years (Schultz, 2001). A powwow is also the oldest known public ritual of the Native Americans (Schultz, 2001). This culture considers this particular festivity, a celebration of the circle of life. They include much of their culture in their dance, music, art, food, and drumming, especially while performing these rituals (Schultz, 2001). In the past powwows took place around seasonal changes. This changed as non-natives began to join in celebrating these Native American customs (Schultz, 2001). Native American powwows earliest record dates back to July 4th, 1900 in a Missoula, MT newspaper (Schultz, 2001). Native Americans hold a type of esoteric concept that comes from their philosophy of preserving their environment as well as their kinship that ties them together (Access Genealogy, 2009). They not only have social ties, they are politically and religiously organized through their rituals, government, and other institutions (Access Genealogy, 2009). They work together to reside in a territorial area, and speak a common language (Access Genealogy, 2009). They are not characterized by any one certain structure (Access Genealogy, 2009). However, the society agrees on fundamental principles that bond together a certain social fabric (Access Genealogy, 2009). Different Native American tribes throughout the years have had different ideas, opinions, philosophies, which are not always predetermined by their past ancestors. The roots and customs of Native American tribes run deep. A feeling of respect and tradition is in the air. Every little detail has meaning and a certain level of pride and of importance to each individual taking part in the ceremony. According to Access Genealogy, 2009, â€Å"Humanities are studies of the human condition, whether it is the study of art, sociology, anthropology, literature, history, or any other human endeavor. † Humanities are the core of humanism, and are the product and creativeness of each individual society. Each culture’s has its own form of expression; in this case, it was the powwow. This was a way to entertain and promote awareness to the Native American culture. They are not afraid to show who they are, like other cultures, which can be more refined in the way they celebrate. Native Americans choose to embrace their heritage, and make it a part of their everyday lives. They are trying to hold on to a special place from their past, and not let it slip away. America is known as the â€Å"Melting Pot† with many different cultures, I believe that celebration is a way for each culture to hold onto their identity, and gain respect in a world that is constantly changing.

Pi Day

Justin Carlton PI DAY 3/14/13 * Definition of pi: Pi is the 16th letter in the Greek alphabet. It is equal to 3. 141592 when shortened, but never ends. * Archimedes-One of the major contributions Archimedes made to mathematics was his method for approximating the value of pi. It had long been recognized that the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter was constant, and a number of approximations had been given up to that point in time. Archimedes was the first person to calculate the value of pi. Ptolemy- Ptolemy was an observer and mathematician who had written on astronomical topics such as conjunctions. He devised proofs and theorems in which he was able to evaluate pi. His calculations were pi= 3+17/120=3. 14166. * William Jones- Jones was a mathematician, known for his proposal for the use of the symbol ? for pi to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. * PI Jokes Question: What do you get if you divide the circumference of a jack-o- lantern by its diameter? Answer: Pumpkin Pi!Q: What was Sir Isaac Newton's favorite dessert? A: Apple pi! Mathematician: Pi r squared Baker: No! Pie are round, cakes are square! * A transcendental number is a number that is not the root of any integer polynomial, meaning that it is not an algebraic number of any degree. Every real transcendental number must also be irrational, since a rational number is, by definition, an algebraic number of degree one. Ferdinand von Lindeman first called pi a transcendental number * Irrational number is a real number that cannot be expressed as a rational number.In 1761 Lambert proved that Pi was irrational, that it can't be written as a ratio of integer numbers. Web pages used: http://dictionary. reference. com/browse/pi http://itech. fgcu. edu/faculty/clindsey/mhf4404/archimedes/archimedes. html http://www2. stetson. edu/~efriedma/periodictable/html/Pm. html http://www. ualr. edu/lasmoller/pi. html http://math-fail. com/2010/03/pi-day-jokes. html http://mathworld. wolfram. com/TranscendentalNumber. html http://www. mathsisfun. com/definitions/irrational-number. html http://www. math. com/tables/constants/pi. htm

Amtrak Announces Half Price Fares for Students

Amtrak Announces Half Price Fares for Students Since 2003, Amtrak, the nations passenger rail service,  has offered 50% discount fares to high school juniors and seniors traveling to prospective college campuses. With the start of a new school year just around the corner, millions of American high school students visit colleges throughout the nation trying to decide where to continue their education. Amtrak hopes their Campus Visit Discount Coupon program will help make those often stressful trips more convenient and economical. Available to high school juniors and seniors traveling to prospective college campuses, the coupons provide a 50 percent discount on coach class travel for the student and up to two parents or legal guardians. The coupons are good for travel on most Amtrak trains nationwide. Choosing a university is a major decision, and a visit is an ideal way to sample college life and see a campus up-close, stated Barbara J. Richardson, Amtraks vice president of marketing and sales, in and Amtrak press release. Whether its a nearby state university or a parents alma mater thousands of miles away, chances are the school is near one of the more than 500 destinations served by Amtrak. With Amtraks Campus Visit Discount Coupon, high school juniors and seniors may visit a college or university and receive 50 percent off the best available fare on Amtrak. The coupon may be used with tickets purchased now through December 8, 2003 for travel through December 15, 2003. How to Get the Coupons To get a Campus Visit Discount Coupon, simply visit the Amtrak Campus Visit website, click on the Amtrak coupon link on the home page, download the file and print a coupon. Original copies of the Campus Visit Discount Coupon must be presented at the time reservations are ticketed. No copies will be accepted. After printing a coupon, students need to simply obtain their high school counselors signature on the coupon and make a train reservation by calling Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL. When making a reservation, students should tell the agent that they are using a Campus Visit Discount Coupon and mention discount code H178. Reservations for travel purchased with the coupon may not be made online. To ticket a reservation, visit any staffed Amtrak station or a local travel agent with the signed coupon. Complete instructions on redeeming an Amtrak Campus Visit Discount Coupon may be found at http:// www.campusvisit.com or by calling 1-781-431-7755. The coupon is also available from: bostonvisit.comhttp:// www.onebigcampus.com; andthecollegecity.com The Fine Print Reservations are required at least seven days prior to travel, and the student and parents or guardians must travel together on the same itinerary. Tickets may be upgraded to business class or to include sleeping accommodations upon payment of the applicable charges. The special fares are not available on Acela Express, Metroliner, Auto Train, Downeaster, peak departures of Amtraks Regional service in the Northeast or any departure requiring the purchase of a peak or unrestricted fare. Blackout dates and other restrictions do apply. The coupon may not be used in conjunction with any other discounts or promotions. Tickets are non-refundable once purchased, and no changes to the itinerary may be made once travel has begun.

Construction Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Construction - Term Paper Example The aim of this paper includes giving the information about the idea of what is Building Information Modeling and the benefits that it could offer on the part of the construction industry, to the people, and the government as well. This offers advantages of learning to anyone being interested about IBM and how it could be utilize from construction neophytes to architecture firms who has the desire of learning the subject. Strategies that leads to benefits Best strategies require flexibility in course between the inevitable internal problems to be able to proceed with the continuity and face the demands in the present changing world. There is a clear distinction between the difference of strategic action and strategic plans. Strategy should not just be like a statement of intent; benefit centered to the company but must be based on the needs, benefits, and enjoyment of the public as well as the government Legal Regulatory, Ethical and Customary Constraints As the Section 103 of the Ge neral Municipal Law defines, competitive bidding is required in all the public work construction and must settle all the permits as it is required by all the government agencies. Competitive bidding is also required to hold legal, regulatory, ethical and customary constraints, public report every five years and is expected to detail the projects with the application for exception if there is, the method of procurement, the procurement it self and the outcome or the result in the duration and costs. Traditional method of procurement as has been accepted by the public, as the general rule, was preserved by these amendments but extends the flexibility by some agencies in trying other methods if determined to be appropriate based on certain criteria that prevents favoritism and promote competitive competition. Regarding the method of procurement, requirements in the reporting gives way to the Legislature and the governor the evaluation with regard to the experiences of the agencies inli ne with the use of the alternate procurement methods. Benefits Offer Respective local government where the project is located often times is the stakeholder of most of the city projects. Although the success like in the use of the BIM are made by the interaction exchanges between the Engineers and the Architects, the final outcome of the project is always considered an asset value on the part of the Local Government being considered the biggest real state owners. Some of the benefits include the following. †¢ Facilitates the visualization of the entire Building Life Cycle Management †¢ High Accuracy †¢ Save Time and Money †¢ Risk Mitigation by timely conflict detection †¢ Ease in producing of high quality, accurate and precise construction documents †¢ Construction planning and Management by combination of design and construction I. Proposed Project BIM work Plan Requirement shall be asked to be submitted for approval f the project. Proposed project BIM Work Plans shall include the demonstration regarding the strategy using the Building Information Modeling in materializing project deliverables. 1. BIM Work Plan Design – The Design team, as a part of the proposal, will be designated to submit the BIM Work Plan that includes the Following: a. Proposed BIM Software that will be used in the project b. Proposed Trainings and Workshops regarding the BIM c. Compliance with the requirements of the project d. Integration on the BIM as per Design Document Submission Standards e. Filing of the formats that

Community Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Community - Research Paper Example 524 8,186,453 8,829,383 281,421,906 293,045,739 Source: http://oasis.state.ga.us/oasis/qryPopulation.aspx Population by RACE 2004 The newer books might have these listed as non-Hispanic, White etc. Feel free to change. (Newton) County Black Hispanic White Native Americans Asian Other # % # % # % # % # % # % 24,451 22.08 2,376 1.87 55,312 74.20 183 0.21 903 0.72 70 0.11 State of Georgia Black Hispanic White Native Americans Asian Other # % # % # % # % # % # % 2,612,936 28.48 598,322 5.32 5,862,978 62.65 27,457 0.22 229,741 2.10 11275 0.14 United States Black Hispanic White Native Americans Asian Other # % # % # % # % # % # % 2,349,542 28.7 35,305,818 12.55 194,552,774 69.13 2,068,883 0.74 10,123,169 3.60 467,770 0.17 LEVEL OF EDUCATION Age 25 + High School 13,601 34.75 1,486,006 28.65 52,168,981 28.63 Associates 1,610 4.11 269,740 5.20 11,512,833 6.32 Bachelors 3,715 9.49 829,873 16.00 28,317,792 15.54 Graduate 1,977 5.05 430,305 8.30 16,144,813 8.86 Source: http://quickfacts.census.g ov INCOME BY HOUSEHOLD (Newton) County Georgia United States Year 2000 2000 2000 # % # % # % 200,000 308 1.40 70,843 2.36 2,502,675 2.37 MEDIAN INCOME (Newton) County Georgia United States 2000 44,875 41,901 41,990 Source: http://quickfacts.census.gov HEALTH STATISTICS Legend: T=Total W=White AA=African American O=Other Ethnic Group Use the following two forms for Mortality and Morbidity rates that are specific to your target population. _ (Deaths and percent of deaths; SIDS) ____________MORTALITY RATE per 100,000 population ***Change years for your data if necessary!!!!** Georgia (Newton) County T W AA T W AA 2000 113 44 69 2 0 2 2001 112 60 51 1 0 1 2002 141 78 59 4 2 2 2003 104 50 54 2 1 1 2004 130 68 59 1 0 1 (Source: For US, Health United States, Statistical Abstract of the US, [will need several years], MMWR, Prevention Profile.) For GA/County, use Georgia Vital Statistics for the year requested. _ (Sexually transmitted disease cases and rate) ____________ MORBIDITY RATE per 1 00,000 populations Georgia (Newton) County T W AA T W AA 2000 52,642 5,006 30,015 216 38 124 2001 53,258 4,795 25,479 296 47 147 2002 55,347 5,916 31,868 347 62 175 2003 55,624 6,239 30,802 380 63 202 2004 52,388 5,277 26,340 371 42 157 (Source: For US, Health United States, MMWR, Prevention Profile, Local and State Health Departments, CDC) The focus of this paper is on AIDS as a community health issue in Newton County, the state of Georgia in the United States. There lacks a representative national system of surveillance of the prevalence of AIDS infections (Prachakul, Grant and Keltner,