Thursday, October 31, 2019

Qualitative and Quantitative Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Qualitative and Quantitative Research - Essay Example This implies that the two methods are dependent on the data needed by a research and the subject of the research itself. In some cases, both of these methods can be used together. Pluralistic research is the term used to refer to a situation in which both the qualitative and quantitative approaches are mixed in one research project. The mixture of both of these research methods could result in a number of benefits and also come with costs or disadvantages to the researcher. This paper gives a review of the points of divergence between the two methods of research. Advantages and disadvantages of combining the two methods of research in one project are also given. From the definition of the two research method, significant differences are. This difference comes from the use of the method. While qualitative methods mainly try to give a justification of a phenomenon, the quantitative method aims at giving the amount of data to support or disapprove a hypothesis. This means that the data that will be obtained in a qualitative research is also of substantively different from the type obtained in quantitative research (Pierce 2008). In ordered to explain a fact or a phenomenon, reasoning is the only possible way to achieve this. The data that will be available, in this case, are descriptions of different processes or occurrence within a phenomenon. In the quantitative method, the data usually obtained gives a numeric value of the aspect being measured. This value can be the frequency of an occurrence or the magnitude of a phenomenon. As such these methods vary in terms of the data collected and the purpose of research. While the purpose of the quan titative method id to measure the numeric value of a phenomenon, the qualitative method aims ad delivering the meaning or the reason behind the occurrence (Bryman, 1988).

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

David Suzuki Foundation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

David Suzuki Foundation - Assignment Example y, protection of the climate, habitat and endangered species protection, future projects on energy and sustainability of healthy oceans and seafood among others. The David Suzuki Foundation is very strict when it comes to uploading ethics. Some of the ways it does this is by not accepting funding or donations from individuals or organizations that have a hidden agenda in mind. They care about their integrity and reputation so much so that it declines such gifts or funding despite their value. This is the reason it does not accept direct funding from the government as this will mean they are indebted or at the mercy of the government and hence will lose its ethical conduct. The only funding from the government it takes is that provided through the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. On environmental values, the foundation strives to uphold the human rights of people when still safeguarding the environment. They are guided by the United Nations Declarations on Rights of Indigenous People formulated in 2010 and which protects the indigenous people who rely on the environment for their survival. In their aim to protect the environment therefore, they avoid clashing with the Aboriginals and they always respect them. They even at times use them to safeguard their other environmental policies as these people have indigenous knowledge of the environment and have vested interests in the environment being safeguarded. Its environmental values are also upheld through having their offices heated and cooled by geothermal system, recycling of its products, planting native species in the roof, having automatic timers to shut off their electrical appliances to save energy, employees commuting to work through biking or walking and using teleconferencing to reduce air travel. Their suppliers are also green suppliers using organic and non-toxic biodegradable among others all aimed at protecting the environment. Its code of conduct demands that its

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Compare internship chosen with own professional goals Personal Statement

Compare internship chosen with own professional goals - Personal Statement Example I expect that this period will be a great learning experience for me, and will lay the foundation for the future that I see for myself as finance professional. I think that finance is the core sector of any business, because how finances are managed will be the key to whether a business makes a profit and prospers, or makes losses and dwindles. To begin with I shall need to learn the basics of how to use accounting tools, balance budgets and make accurate forecasts, taking into account future trends in markets and economies. The management of variances in actual and budgeted expenses and revenues, will be a challenge that I shall look forward to. I would like to gain an in depth understanding of how budgeting is done for various products, as well as how strategic goals are shaped and executed, and growth is driven through disciplined and efficient operations. Above all, I shall look forward to learning how processes and policies are put in place in order to drive growth, and improve the financial health of the company. In today’s world of global competition, I shall be particularly interested in learning how finance wizards work with fluctuating currencies, and the techniques they use to manage risks. The meeting and interaction with eminent Chief Financial Officers of various companies will be the icing on the cake. The seminars that I expect to attend as part of my internship will also help me hone my problem solving and communication skills. Interactions with people from varied walks of life, will give me insights into different ways of analyzing and addressing problems, and give me the confidence to put forward my own views and ideas. I hope also that meeting people will enhance my interactive and people skills. All in all I am expecting that this period of internship will be a big step forward for me in the direction of my ultimate goal. On my part I shall

Monday, October 28, 2019

Determinism vs Free

Determinism vs Free Will Essay Abstract In this essay I will define determinism, I will also define free will. I will answer question in a dialogue with and imaginary Socrates. In my dialogue I will give clear and conclusive answers and I will use the socratic method. I will also provide examples when possible, or needed. Determinism vs Free Will Socrates: What is the definition of determinism? April: Determinism is a belief in the inevitability of causation. Everything that happens is the only possible thing that could happen (Baumeister,2009). Socrates: What is the definition of free will? April: Free Will is the ability to freely choose one of several possibile alternatives, to make decisions the outcome of which is and cannot be known in advance (Voss,2007). Socrates: Do you agree that every event has an explanatory cause? April: Yes I do, Everything happens for a reason. Socrates: How do you define event? April: I would define even as something that happens. For example like a birth or a wedding. (Solomon,2010) Socrates: How do you define explanatory cause? April: An explanatory cause is the assumption that every event in the universe including our own actions, can be explained and understood. (Solomon,2010) Socrates: Do you agree that every human choice or event has an explanatory cause? April: Yes I absolutely agree, because every human choice and action has an explanatory cause. (Solomon,2010) Socrates: How do you define human choice? April: Human choice is the choice of humans to make a decision that is free of outside influences, because we (people) are the only ones responsible for the decisions we make every day. Socrates: How do you define human event? April: Human events are the things (events) that happens to human beings in their life, like getting married, having children, going to college, and even death. Socrates: Are they different? April: Yes, I think human choice and human event are different, because human choice is the decision you make, and human event is what will happen from your decision. For example you go on a date with this guy (human choice) and then you two fall in love and get married (human event). Socrates: Do you agree that to have an explanatory cause is to not be free? April: No, because that would mean that no human choice or action would be free and as a reaction to that there would be no choices or actions. (Solomon,2010) Socrates: How do you define free? April: Freedom means that we can deliberate about what to do, it means that the future seems opened, it also entails that we should be praised and blamed for our actions, since we have a choice. (Cuddy,2008) Socrates: Do you think that free will and determinism can coexist in anyway? April: Yes, I believe that free will and determinism can coexist, because even though we have free will and can do what we want, when we want, at the same time our freedom has rules (laws) that are there to guide us and let us know what is right and wrong. (Sturman,2013) Socrates: Is it possible to have external determinism and internal free will? April: Well, I think that maybe it is possible to have external determinism, but not possible to have internal free will, because no such thing as internal or external free will exist, however though external determinism does exist and it refers to the external influences that are out of our control. For example say that a successful and rich movie star has a child, that child will grow up and be a rich and successful movie star also. (Solomon,2010). In conclusion free will and determinism is something that will always be questioned by different people for years to come, but for now here is my beliefs in this dialogue with an imaginary Socrates. I defined determinism and free will and I also answered many questions from Socrates, and inconclusively yes determinism and free will can coexist and i have realized we are not complately free because we have rules (laws) to follow and abide by. For the most part we are the people we are because of determinism and free will. References Baumeister, Ray (2009). Cultural Animal. How we find Meaning in Life. Retrieved from https://www. psychologytoday. com Cuddy, Luke (2008). Determinism vs Freewill. Retrieved from https://www. neo-philosophy. com Solomon, R. C. , Higgins, K. M. (2010). The Big Questions. A Short Introduction to Philosophy. Retrieved from https://www. coursesmart. com Sturman, Henry. (2013). Freewill and Determinism. Retrieved from https://www. henrysturman. com/articles/freewill. html Voss, Peter. (2007). The Nature of Freewill. Retrieved from https://www.. optimal. org/peter/freewill. html.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Strategic Analysis of Manchester United

Strategic Analysis of Manchester United The Football Industry The Barclays Premier League The aim of this report is to undertake a detailed strategic analysis of the Manchester United F.C. with regard to its resource capability and competitive positioning, the organisations strategic fit with its environment and its management style with an emphasis on the cultural context of its strategy together (stakeholder expectations). To this end the mission, vision, goals and strategies of the Club will be taken into consideration while strategically evaluating and interpreting its management at business (competitive advantage) and functional (customer value) level. A variety of strategic analysis tools are going to be used in order to wholly evaluate both internal and external implications on the environment the Club operates within. These will primarily include SWOT and PEST analysis, Porters four corners analysis, and Value chain analysis. Market Environment Analysis Brief analysis of the market English football, and the FA Premier League (FAPL) in particular, is today a bigger business than it has ever been, generating record revenues both within its stadia and through the rising value of its broadcast rights. The game is on TV in more countries than ever before and watched by an increasing number of passionate fans all around the world. Despite the rising cost of attendance, football grounds are as full as they have ever been and FAPL matchday revenues have doubled in just eight years. But broadcast rights fees are expected soon to account for a majority share of income and younger consumers appear not to be inheriting the club ties that older fans were born into. Mintels research shows that footballs appeal to brands lies in its continued ability to reach mass mainstream audiences rather than in the value of its core audience, which is largely apathetic towards sponsors and their products (over half of fans claim not to pay attention to who sponsors what, while just 16% say the brand that sponsors their club matters to them). Football is well insulated against recession by the multi-year nature of its media and commercial agreements and by the fact that up to half of all seats are paid for before a ball is kicked through season ticket sales. However, the experience of the 1980s recession (where between 1978 and 1984 average attendances in the top flight collapsed from over 28,000 to under 19,000) shows that attendance is vulnerable in a downturn, so that matchday revenues in the 2009/10 season could be at risk. Barclays Premier League Roles and Objectives The mission of the Premier League is to effectively Manage, continually improve and be regarded as the worlds best league football competition and in this way Generate increased commercial value, using the resulting revenues to further enhance competitions and strengthen the long-term future of the Premier League and its clubs. Other objectives include: Increasing interest in the Leagues competitions, promote accessibility to live games and ensure that media exposure is used to optimum effect. Useing the Leagues power and influence responsibly to improve the game in the UK and abroad through partnership with the FA, UEFA and other bodies. Createing a quality of competition that provides a platform from which our member clubs can achieve unparalleled success in European or World competitions (source: Barclays Premier League official website). Relationship with the clubs The Premier League is owned by 20 Shareholders the member clubs, whose membership in the league is dependent on the performance of their football team in the Barclays Premier League. Another co-owner of The Premier League is the Football Association. While they have the right of veto in special occasions as the appointment of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, they are not involved in the decision making process regarding any other area of the Premier League work. The statutory company responsibilities are managed by the Board of Directors who are also running the day to day business. Relationship with other football bodies The Barclays Premier League is widely regarded as the most elite club competition in world football. The Premier League comes under the jurisdiction of the Football Association (the FA) and must submit its rules on yearly basis for approval. Along with its British partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the FA comes under the control of the European governing body the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Formed in 1954 and based in Geneva, UEFA works and acts on behalf of the member associations to promote football and ensure its well-being on the continent. The organisation is responsible for many high-profile competitions, some involving national teams such as the prestigious European Championships. UEFAs premier club competitions are the European Champions League and the UEFA Cup, in which Premier League clubs aspire to compete and succeed on a yearly basis. The FA and the 50 other associations of UEFA are all affiliated with the worlds governing body the Federation of International Football Associations, or FIFA. It was formed in 1904 and is now one of the biggest sports organisations worldwide striving to safeguard the good image of the game internationally and it is responsible for the Laws of the Game. FIFA can also boast the World Cup as its prized asset the ultimate stage on which a professional footballer can perform and a tournament which captures the imagination of the entire planet (source: Barclays Premier League official website). Manchester United Club Profile Manchester United plc operates as a professional football club in the United Kingdom. Its subsidiaries are Manchester United Football Club, Manchester United Catering (Agency Company), and Manchester United Interactive. In addition, the company through a joint venture with Manchester United PLC, Granada, and British Sky Broadcasting, operates MUTV, the companys official channel. The company owns 33.3 per cent in MUTV. Since the late 1990s, the club has been one of the richest in the world with the highest revenue of any football club, and is currently ranked as the richest and most valuable club in any sport, with an estimated value of around  £1.136billion as of April 2009. Manchester United was a founding member of the now defunct G-14 group of Europes leading football clubs, and its replacement, the European Club Association. (Source:Forbes.com) Manchester United are the most successfulPremier League club having won the title10 times With a start in 1993 when manager Sir Alex Ferguson ended a 26-year wait to lift thePremier League crown. Manchester United Strategic Analysis For the purposes of this report is will be assumed that Strategic Analysis fits within the descriptions below: the process of conducting research on the business environment within which an organisation operates and on the organisation itself, in order to formulate strategy. BNET Business Dictionary a theoretically informed understanding of the environment in which an organisation is operating, together with an understanding of the organisations interaction with its environment in order to improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness by increasing the organisations capacity to deploy and redeploy its resources intelligently. Professor Les Worrall, Wolverhampton Business School The market environment comprises a combination of the Barclays Premier League industry itself and the wider macro environment in which Manchester United F.C. operates. In addition, it highlights the market environments and critic success factors. The unique resources of Manchester United and the core competences of the Club are outlined in the analysis described below. SWOT Analysis In order to conduct a comprehensive market environment analysis and evaluate the conditions in the market environment that Manchester United F.C. occupies, a brief introduction of the Barclays Premier League and Manchester United F.C., summarizing the key aspects in a SWOT analysis Which will be the first step towards implementing a range of analytical tools (fig.1) The SWOT Analysis is the most popular instrument utilized in strategic planning and organizational problem solving. PEST analysis The purpose of the PEST analysis below is to briefly outline the political and legal, economic, sociocultural and technological issues together with their implications on the performance of The Club, hence describing the external environment within Manchester United operates (fig 2) Porters four corners analysis The four corners analysis is a useful tool for analysing competitors as it emphasises that the objective of competitive analysis should always be on generating insights into the future. In this case the model is used to develop a profile of the likely strategy changes a competitor might make and how successful it might be and determine competitors probable reaction to the range of industry shifts and environmental changes that may occur (Fig. 3) Quite straightforward, the competitors future strategy stems from the competitors motivation to exceed or overperform another Club and sets a variety of objectives pr actions to be completed with the implementation of their prospective strategy. However, these objectives should reflect on the Clubs capabilities as well as the skills of the individual players and staff at senior management level. Here it is essential to develop a clear assumption on what creates value for a specific team as well as what are the relationships and networks the respective business has developed. For instance, Manchester United is one of the most successful teams in the history of football resulting in average attendance higher than any other team in the UK and extremely high brand consciousness (fig. 4). This means that together with the Clubs financial stability, strength of the senior management team and proven ability to serve a variety of channels Manchester United PLC is well on the way of creating and implementing in a sustainable way a winning strategy. Value chain analysis Further to the description above, value chain analysis is based on the principle that organisations exist to create value for their customers. Furtermore it is a comprehensive technique for analysing an organisations source of competitive advantage. In the analysis, the organisations activities are divided into separate sets of activities that add value. The organisation can more effectively evaluate its internal capabilities by identifying and examining each of these activities. Each value adding activity is considered to be a source of competitive advantage. For Manchester United these include Manchester United Football Club, Manchester United Catering (Agency Company), and Manchester United Interactive, the joint venture with Manchester United PLC, Granada, and British Sky Broadcasting, that operates MUTV. These are run on the basis of primary and support activities, as Primary activities are those that physically create a product, as well as market the product, deliver the produc t to the customer and provide after-sales support and Support activities are those that facilitate the primary activities. Crucial for the organisation is the process of identifying the activities that are critical to customers satisfaction and market success, such as creating competitiove advantage in competitions, hence the ticket sales and merchandising activity regarded to the process. Strategic fit Analysis The foremost field of research that is required to be taken into account is the whole new product development and research concerning Manchester Uniteds existing product selection. This is required to be examined principally as if Manchester United requires guaranteeing that they are doing well in their present market prior to going into a new market. At first, Manchester United will require investigating into their existing product selection, however, with such broad variety of products, it is vital for Manchester United to assess which of their products are perforating well in the market. Conclusion Manchester United is in a very competitive spot at present Currently ranked as the richest and most valuable club in any sport, with an estimated value of around  £1.136billion. It has the highest average attendance than any other team in English football and receives a large amount of funds through sponsorships and agreements (merchandising). Nonetheless the Club requires to be cautious that they are not getting self-satisfied and that they are focusing on the market, and the requirements of their clients and followers. By implementing the research into their markets, it will allow them to build up products for the clients, which will bring about sustained support from the fans and success. References Dess G Miller A. (1998) Strategic Management, 3rd edition, McGraw Hill Johnson G Lynch R. (2003) Corporate Strategy, 3rd edition, FT/Prentice Hall Pettinger R (2004) Contemporary Strategic Management, Palgrave McMillan, Basingstoke Scholes K Whittington R. (2005,) Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases, 7th edition, FT/Prentice Hall Weeks, P. (2006), Managing People, Finance and Marketing, Pearson Education Limited, Essex http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/05/22/manchesterunited040522.html http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/attneng.htm. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/34/soccer-values-09_Soccer-Team-Valuations_Rank.html. http://www.manutd.com http:// www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4463534.stm http://www.premierleague.com http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_2972778,00.html Mintel reports Anglia Ruskin University Digital Library

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Japanese Media Overview :: essays research papers fc

Japanese media overview Physically, the mass media in Japan are quite similar to those in any developed nation, although perhaps somewhat more advanced. In organizational structure, however, Japanese media are unique. Individual elements of the Japanese media mix may resemble counterparts in other nations, but the combination is purely Japanese. The primary characteristics of Japanese mass media are the influence of the national daily newspapers and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (Nihon Hoso Kyokai, or NHK) and the relative lack of localism. The importance of newspapers Japanese media are dominated by five national daily newspapers. The Asahi, Mainichi, Nihon Keizai, Sankei and Yomiuri Shimbun (newspaper) all publish both a morning and an evening edition, with total circulation of more than 40 million copies per day (Cooper-Chen, 1997, p. 53). Of the world’s ten highest daily circulation newspapers, the top three are Japanese, with the fourth highest having a circulation of just over one-third of the circulation of the Yomiuri Shimbun (The United States is not represented in this list) (Cooper-Chen, 1997, p. 54). It is not surprising that Japan has the highest ratio of newspapers to people in the world, with 578 copies per day for every 1000 people (Cooper-Chen, 1997, p. 52). Local newspapers are smaller than the nationals, and many are published only once or twice a week, even in cities with populations above 100,000. However, the national newspapers all have regional sections. The national daily newspapers are also involved in other media. All of the commercial television networks are either affiliated with or owned by a national newspaper (Cooper-Chen, 1997, p. 115). They are also heavily involved in radio broadcasting, although their presence is less influential. Japanese book and magazine readership are also quite impressive. In addition, Japan has a thriving comic book, or manga, industry. Japanese comic books are for all ages and all types of people. One can see people reading manga in restaurants, coffee shops, trains, buses, even schools and offices. Sales of manga for 1984 totaled 297 billion yen (US$ 1.2 billion), although this figure does not include any of the income from manga-related products (Schodt, 1986, p. 138). Nature of television broadcasting There are five major commercial and two public television networks in Japan. The public networks, Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) general and education, are funded by annual license fees paid for every television set in the country. Although NHK is an independent entity, it enjoys a close and favored relationship with the government.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Ethical Issues of Human Cloning Essay -- Ethics, Human Cloning

The word "cloning" is commonly used in everyday communication to mean many different technological procedures. Cloning is more specifically defined as somatic cell nuclear transfer. Simply explained by Glenn McGee in his article Primer on Ethics and Human Cloning as "the starvation and subsequent implantation of DNA from one organism (e.g., cells specialized to make that organism's hair or milk) into an egg whose DNA nucleus has been removed. The resulting egg and nucleus are shocked or chemically treated so that the egg begins to behave as though fertilization has occurred, resulting in the beginning of embryonic development of a second organism containing the entire genetic code of the first organism," (........).This method was first harnessed in 1952. Further manipulation of the procedure provided the first mammal being cloned in 1996. A sheep named Dolly was created by Dr. Ian Wilmut form PPL Therapeutics and the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, Scotland. Several more mammals proc eeded Dolly including mice, cows, pigs, cats, rabbits, and a mule in 2003. While progressing leaps and bounds, cloning still provided many undesirable presentations. For example, Dolly was severally obese and died prematurely. Aged chromosomes during her creation is thought to be the cause of her unfortunate death. Many clones created have had complications with their immune system, lung, livers and like Dolly, many have been obese. Cloning has also proven to require nearly endless attempts to provide a full pregnancy resulting in a live mammal. In Dolly's case, she proceeded 277 failed pregnancies. Furthermore than physical complications, many other issues, both tangible and ethical, steadfastly accompany cloning. Cloning, still being entirely exp... ...in need of organ transplants. One needs a liver, another needs a kidney, two need a new lung, and another needs a heart. Should I justify therapeutic cloning, I would then have to justify the murder of an innocent local to provide organs to these five people in need. If my wife needs a kidney transplant and I can provide a match and giver her one of mine, I have the conscious ability to make that decision. However, and embryo, a premature child, does not have the voice to say that he or she is willing to give up his or her life to benefit research of medical advances. The idea of being able to use exactly compatible cells to safe lives sounds like a beautiful reverie. If there was a way to create this miracle without creating an embryo, without killing a life, I would be extremely supportive. Until that breakthrough occurs I will stand firm behind my beliefs.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Maternal Mortality in Somalia

II. Global Public Health Issue Somalia is a country that has suffered from many issues since the collapse of any sort of centralized government. The Somali people have suffered from countless diseases, poverty, conflict, environmental disasters, and constant displacement. For almost an entire generation the country has been without an effective central government, which in turn had major effects on the country’s health system. The Somali health system consists primarily of fragmented and privatized services that are insufficient and unequally distributed. The country’s public health system has very little central governance or management.Due to these factors most of the population do not have access to the most basic health services and definitely do not have access to higher level of services if needs arises. The lack of an overall adequate health system that is controlled by a centralized government has crippled the progress of reproductive health. Giving birth in Som alia is extremely dangerous and very unpredictable. Somali woman are among the highest risk women in the world with a Maternal Mortality (MMR) of 1,044-1,400 per 100,000 live births compared to a 12 per 100,000 in the United States. Even after a mother survives all these risks and delivers her baby, both mother and child continue to face constant risks. The under-five infant mortality rate is 225 per 1,000 live births2 compared to 8 per 1,000 live births in the US3, putting infants in Somalia in the highest risk category worldwide. A woman’s health and behavior during pregnancy affects the health of her unborn baby. A poor diet, certain environmental exposures, illnesses, medication, and other factors affect the baby’s development. Prenatal and antenatal care is extremely important in order to ensure the health of the baby and the mother.In Somalia only one out of every four pregnant woman gets antenatal care and for those lucky few that do, the service isn’t ev en good enough and they do not receive vital interventions. 4This missed opportunity to catch any complications that would arise contributes to the high MMR and IMR in Somalia. The lack of adequate antenatal care also increases the chances of pregnant women developing eclampsia during their pregnancy, a complication that is one of the major causes of maternal mortality in the country and could be easily prevented with a simple blood or urine test.Interestingly the amount of women that receive antenatal care differs across the region. Somaliland, a northwestern region of Somalia that has declared itself a sovereign state and enjoys a higher level of stability and governance, has the highest antenatal care coverage percentage according to the last survey done by MICS in 2006. Somaliland had 32% of its population receiving at least four antenatal visits, followed by Puntland that has 26% of antenatal care coverage. The lowest coverage in the country was recorded in the central south re gion, a pattern that is the same for most other health disparities in the country. Aside from the lack of proper antenatal care during pregnancy, traditional beliefs that are held by the Somali population affects the maternal mortality rate in the country. Most Somali mothers do not believe in prenatal health precautions, such as taking vitamins and attending checkups. They take on the motto of, â€Å"if one isn’t experiencing pain or bleeding there is no need to see a doctor until birth. The rest should be left to god†. This type of behavior greatly contributes to the high MMR. Infections due to unattended and unhygienic deliveries also contribute to the high maternal mortality rate in the country.For all the births that take place in Somalia only a mere 2% of births take place in a health care facility that is attended by skilled staff6. Most rural women do not have the resources or access to deliver in facilities with staff that are trained in child delivery. By the time they go into labor most are alone or with untrained family members and neighbors. They resort to unsafe traditional methods of delivery, using equipment that is unsanitary or harmful to the mother and child. These methods mostly result in postpartum hemorrhaging; a major cause of maternal mortality in Somalia.Also with the high number of deliveries outside of maternal facilities, the attentions that mothers would have received if complications arise are not available. Prolonged and obstructed labor leads to the death of the mother or infant, and in some cases the death of both. Aside from those mothers who do not deliver in health facilities, the few that do are not that much better off. Due to the high personal risk in Somalia aggravated by the violence, most hospital staff do not come to work in fear for their own personal safety. The health care system in the country uffers from poor healthcare workers retention, lack of medical supplies, lack of neonatal facilities, and ex treme lack of trained personnel on duty. For those mothers that do give birth at a facility most do not have access to an emergency obstetric referral care. A pregnancy complication called postpartum hemorrhaging is treated in emergency obstetric referral care. Most mothers that are suffering from this excessive bleeding only have a one to two hour window to be treated or else they die due to blood loss. Unfortunately many mothers lose their life in this timeframe in Somalia.Some other factors that also contribute to maternal mortality is a custom practiced by many Somali woman in the country. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the process of partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for whatever purpose that is not a medically prescribed surgery. It is a painful process that many young girls go through and most experience infections and in some worse cases death. During pregnancy women that went through FGM experience complications and have to go through a de-infibu lation process in order for her to even deliver vaginally.If this process of infibulation is not done properly and the woman attempts to do it without specific precaution, the death of the baby and the mother can easily results. Many young mothers, especially those that live in rural and nomadic areas, do not have access to health care facilities that can do this procedure and they are forced to do this procedure with unsanitary equipment and methods. Moving beyond the pregnancy and birth, mothers and children that survive this risky situation, have to deal with a lot more.According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) that was taken in 2006 the infant mortality rate (IMR) is at 86 per 1,000 live births. A survey collected by UNICEF in 2008 calculated the under five child mortality rate (U-5MR) to be at 135 per 1,000 live births. The lack of proper supplies and vaccination contributes to infants passing away due to polio or malaria. Subsequently since most mothers do not give birth in facilities and opt to delivering at home, infants do not receive postnatal care at all, exposing them to a deadly world with no defense mechanisms.Diarrhoea, disease-related dehydration, and respiratory infections are also the highest reason for more than half of infant death. The major reason for the contraction of Diarrhoea being the lack of safe water and poor food hygiene a child experiences during pregnancy or after birth. The countries harsh weather conditions and natural disasters in Somalia also affect maternal mortality rates and infant mortality rates in the country. Harsh famines that occur leave pregnant mothers and infants extremely malnourished with no access to food, clean water, or medication.Pregnant woman sometimes have to deal with no food or water for many days while they walked in the harsh weather to the nearest shelter. This results in miscarriages and stillbirths. Infants that are born into these situations mostly die of malnutrition and disease since they have no access to food, water, or medicine. Subsequently environmental health in Somalia is extremely lacking and services are concentrated in small towns and wherever security conditions allow. After the collapse of a centralized government, public health and environmental health services became almost non-existent.Due to the lack of regulation and monitoring by a strong government, the environmental and public health situation has declined tremendously. Somaliland and Puntland seem to have at least some adequate levels of public health and environmental services, but they too are only focused on small densely populated areas. As you travel out into the rural parts of these regions, any sort of health services becomes minimal. South and Central Somalia seems to be suffering the most, with large populations going without much health care and environmental services.One of the biggest environmental risks in Somalia is access to safe drinkable water. Only 29% of the populat ion has access to safe drinking water7. In the urban areas people depend on wells that are located on private property and are dependent on the purchase of water. In the villages people and animals use the same water source, sometimes causing the water to become contaminated. The situation has been worsened with the constant and massive movement of the population from rural areas to more stable cities, cities that do not have the capacity to provide safe water for their steady population rise.To aggravate the situation even more, due to the lack of national environmental services, most Somali households live in a situation where they do not have proper means to dispose of waste and excreta. This is felt more in places where people live close to one another and have their waste near where they dwell. Due to the poor hygiene and sanitary precautions, outbreaks such as cholera between woman and children become extremely common. Lack of a garbage collection system also affects environme ntal health and contributes to water pollution.Since there is not regulation to where garbage is dumped or any garbage collection system, it is normal to see trash everywhere. Whether it is the streets, inside buildings, or even in bodies of water, it is not uncommon to see garbage lying around. The smell that neglected garbage emits and the health risk it brings, not to mention the unsafe animals it attracts, is something that the population is left to deal with. III. Public Health Impact and Policy Reducing maternal mortality rates in Somalia has had a global affect on the public health world. Many campaigns were launched in order to reduce this staggering high MMR in the country.Whether big or small, each campaign primarily focuses on ways to support the pregnant women during pregnancy and transition her and her newborn into the world. One of the larger and more global campaigns Somalia is a part of is the launch of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At a sit down that occu rred at the end of he 20th century, governments from across the world came up with a set of goals for all developing countries known as the MDGs. These goals, which would be completed by the year 2015, would help cut world poverty in half, improve health standards across the world, and save millions of lives.The MDGs are time sensitive and have a set and pre-determined outcome. With connection to the MDGs pertaining to Somalia’s maternal issues, MDG1, 2,3,and 7 are closely related to reproductive health. While some progress has been made with some of the goals, most of the goals pertaining to maternal and infant health have seen little to no progress thus far. Somalia has shown a commitment to achieve all the MDGs, and has submitted the first report this year on the status of the MDGs since the campaign was launched.Although it is recognized that the progress reached is not as high as expected, with a country like Somalia that is extremely suffering in all categories, any pro gress is welcomed. In order to fully reach all the goals set by the MDGs, a commitment by the government to create a strong national health system with strong policies that will lead stakeholders in providing quality services is needed. Globally the MDGs pertaining to maternal health are showing a positive result. According to a report produced by the United Nations, the number of woman dying during pregnancy or childbirth has halved in the twenty years this program was launched.The report they submitted, called Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2010, show that between 1990 and 2010 the number of maternal deaths decline 47% annually. Even though progress has been made, many countries that are mostly in sub-Saharan Africa will not make the MDG goal of minimizing maternal death by 75% at the end of 2015. Thirty-six of the forty countries that have the highest maternal death rate are in sub-Saharan Africa. Ten countries have already reached the MDG goal of 75% reduction in maternal mortality. Those countries are Belarus, Bhutan, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Iran, Lithuania, Maldives, Nepal, Romania, and Viet Nam. Recently in 2010 at a UN Leaders Summit for the Millennium Development Goals, a Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health was launched with a total of US 40 billion for funding. The MDGs that are at target are MDGs 4 & 5; those that are aimed to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health. In Somalia the National Reproductive Health Strategy is aimed to reach the highest possible reproductive health for Somalis and reduce the amount of women and children that die from easily preventable diseases and complications. With just three years left till 2015, initiatives have to intensify in order to reach satisfactory progress.Malaysia and Sri Lanka are an example of successful implementation of the policies set by the MDGs. Both countries have succeeded in reducing maternal mortality to levels that are comparable to industrial c ountries. In Sri Lanka female literacy was expanded and with Malaysia’s strong economic performance, both succeeded in a steady decline of their MMR. All it took from them was a steady and modest investment in poverty reduction, providing maternal health services that were accessible, and improving access to quality emergency obstetric care. Both countries took step to remove inancial obstacles that pregnant woman face in order to receive maternal care. Both countries success was also aided with their increased skilled birth attendants that were vigorously trained in the art of child delivery. The more accessible skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care that a country has, the more chances for pregnant woman to have successful deliveries. Culture can either take on a role of aiding or impeding the implementation of public health practices. In the case of Somalia, the widespread practice of FGM in the past has caused great harms to public health practices.The repe rcussion FGM has caused to woman health is immeasurable. Even though FGM is so deeply woven into the Somali culture and has been practiced almost since the establishment of the Somali people, Somali woman have been working hard to eradicate it as early as 1977. The Somali Women’s Democratic Organization (SWDO) was formed in 1977, to become the implementation agency for the eradication of FGM. In 1988 a campaign was launched to eliminate the practice of FGM under the premise that it was unhealthy and completely unreligious.Shortly after a research center was opened solely to focus on the harmful affects of FGM and ways to eradicate this practice. Unfortunately, the fall of Siad Barre’s regime and the countries collapse in 1991 halted all progress made. Since 1996 UNICEF in Somalia funded series of awareness seminars attended by women organizations, religious leaders, government officials, and health professionals. In 1997, Somaliland’s government with the help of UNICEF organized a national seminar on FGM and established committee to develop policies in order to eliminate this practice.UNICEF also sponsored workshops in Mogadishu, Galgaddud, and Mudug regions in 1999-2000. Religious leaders have also been doing their own work informing the public that FGM is not a religious practice and is in fact prohibited by Islam. On November 1999, the Parliament of the Puntland administration approved legislation making the practice of FGM completely illegal. Since then there is no real evidence that this law is being enforced 9. Through many campaigns and initiative people across Somalia are actively talking about the discontinuation of FGM. More and more women are joining he fight against this practice, a feat that in of itself is huge. Talking about this topic publicly was a taboo for such a long time, and it is a huge progress for people to just be talking about it. Changes are gradually being seen in the Somali community. Recently, with the collab oration of an NGO called TOSTAN, UNICEF, and Somali community leaders, an awareness programme was launched in Somalia. This programme is aimed to create community awareness around many issues including FGM. So far a total of eighty-four communities already have been engaged and of those eighty-four, twenty-eight have declared abandonment of FGM10.IV. Costs: Economic and Societal â€Å"There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women. † This quote was said by the former General Secretary of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. In this simple sentence Kofi Annan explained the importance of women in our society. Women play a key role in improving the health, education, and economic productivities of their families and communities. Yet strangely, even though the health of woman is so essential to the wellbeing our society, they are the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. out of every 10 women dies in childbirth. All public health professionals and frankly everyone around the world should be very concerned about maternal mortality. When a mother dies she most likely leaves behind children. Those children become neglected because it is the mother who really takes care of the kids, ensures they are fed, well educated, and medically well. If those children lose their mother they either pass away themselves, or become unfit members of their community. A child that could have become a positive asset to his or her community is now part of the chain of poverty.Keeping mothers alive is essential part of helping end the chain of poverty. Most mothers that die during pregnancy or childbirth die due to an easily preventable disease or complication. In the case of Somalia where maternal mortality rate is at an all time high, most complications could have been easily preventable. Mothers face economic hardship, no access to healthcare services, and face harsh environmental risks. Also due to the lack of stability and a strong central government that has equally strong public health policies and procedures, their chances of survival while pregnant or giving birth is very slim.Major stakeholders on this public health issue in Somalia are: private sectors, NGOs, United Nations, Ministry of Health of Somalia, and Regional Ministry of Health in Puntland and Somaliland. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Health of Somalia has no real power due to lack of financing and resources. Its regional counterparts (Somaliland & Puntland) may fare a little better by they too have no major resources. That leaves this issue to heavily depend on private sector and Non Governmental Organizations. Groups such as UNICEF and WHO have launched many great campaigns, but the greatest challenge they face is in security.Due to the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and its terroristic activities, aid worker’s lives are at a constant risk when performing within the country. This forces these organizations to either work outside the country or wai t until conditions become more favorable. Working outside the country entails using local leaders an workers to implement projects, and due to the chaos in governance, corruption is inevitable. V. Proposed Resolutions In order to reduce MMR in Somalia there has to be many steps taken.Somalia must first develop and maintain a strong healthcare system that supports maternal health. There must be universal access to antenatal and prenatal care by every pregnant woman, with consistent checkups. These facilities should also be created in rural and urban areas where there is little to none in order to ensure the health of pregnant woman in those areas. Abundant supply of Trained Birthing Attendants need to be established that are skilled and have gone through training in safe and sanity birthing, and are equipped with all the supplies they need to carry out this procedure.Emergency Obstetric Referral Care must be developed and made accessible. Programme in family planning, use of contrace ptives, and reproductive health should be developed for woman and families to go through. Policies should be implemented for families that cannot afford maternal care, through free services or vouchers. Vaccinations and other preventatives measure must be taken during and after pregnancy to ensure the health of both mother and child. Campaign to eliminate cultural practices that bring harm to mothers must be created and advanced.Sexual health education programme should be provided to young girls in order to prevent young pregnancies. Somalia is a war torn country with little no to none stable governmental structure, and lacking in a strong health care system. All proposed solutions require a functioning government to implement and monitor these solutions. Until Somalia can develop this, it will be extremely hard to lower the maternal mortality rate. 1 http://www. unicef. org/somalia/health_53. html 2 http://www. unicef. org/infobycountry/somalia_865. html 3 http://www. unicef. rg/in fobycountry/usa_statistics. html 4 http://www. unicef. org/somalia/SOM_ReproductiveHealthReport-WEB. pdf 5 http://www. childinfo. org/mics/mics3/archives/somalia/survey0/outputInformation/reports. html 6 http://ethnomed. org/clinical/mother-and-infant-care/perinatal-profile-for-patients-from-somalia 7 http://intersos. org/en/countries/africa/somalia/somalia? page=1 8 http://www. un. org/apps/news/story. asp? NewsID=42013&Cr=maternal&Cr1= 9 http://www. asylumlaw. org/docs/somalia/usdos01_fgm_Somalia. pdf 10 http://www. unicef. org/somalia/reallives_7723. html

Instructions to Set Essay

The global community is plagued by increasing incidence of lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast and pancreatic cancers, prostate cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, liver, ovarian and esophageal cancers. Other types of cancer exist but are less frequent. What is the scientific community doing to attempt to eliminate the most common forms of cancer that are ravaging our society? 1. Be certain you’ve read your textbook’s chapter on cell division, specifically the last section on how cells become cancerous. This is context for completing Individual Assignment 3. 2. Watch the Presentation in Module/Week 4 entitled: â€Å"Ways to Fight Cancer†. Notice that the presentation outlines essentially 3 approaches to fighting cancer: a) reduction of cancer risks, b) correction of cancer genes, and c) destruction of cancerous tissue. 3. In the Individual Assigntment 3: 10 Discoveries in the War on Cancer document is a set of 10 scientists’ discoveries. Scan the discoveries briefly. Then open the assignment submission link in Module/Week 4. In the text box, number from 1 to 10 for the 10 discoveries listed below. 4. Now reflect carefully on the first discovery (#1). Would this discovery be more useful for (a) reducing cancer risks, (b) correcting/restoring cancer cells to normal, or (c) destroying cancerous tissue? After number 1 in your list, place in parentheses the letter representing the approach to fighting cancer that will best be served by this new discovery. (More than one approach may be served. But which is most likely to be helped most significantly?) 5. Now repeat this analysis for each of the remaining 9 discoveries. Return to the â€Å"Ways to Fight Cancer† presentation as needed for additional perspective. When finished, your entire text box should be simple: a numbered (1-10) list of letters a, b or c. That’s it! Assignment done. 6. Ten points are granted for each correct association up to 6 correct. If you get any 6 correct out of 10, you get a perfect score (60 pts.) on the assignment. Your assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 4.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Memory Project: Application to Learning & Study Habit Essay

Memory is the capability to learn, retain, store and remember information from previous experiences. Memories are accumulated from prior experiences and recollected, which can influence change of behavior or thought. This ability can assist with learning and adapting to new experiences. Memory is essential to our lives. Without a memory of the past we cannot operate in the present or think about the future. We would not be able to remember what we did yesterday, what we have done today or what we plan to do tomorrow. Without memory we could not learn anything. Short-term memory is information a person is thinking of at that specific time, it is also known as working memory (Morris & Maisto, 2014, pg.188-189). Short-term memory is the ability to remember and process information at the same time. Short-term memory acts as a kind of â€Å"scratch-pad† for temporary recall of the information which is being processed at any point in time, and has been referred to as â€Å"the brain’s Post-it note†. When trying to recall a telephone number or a small number of items needed at the grocery store, this information is held for â€Å"fifteen to twenty-five seconds and is known as short-term memory† (Morris & Maisto, 2014, pg. 194-195). The problem with short term memory is that only minimal amounts of information are remembered and for small periods of time. Long-term memory is anything you remember that happened more than a few minutes ago. Long-term memories can last for just a few days, or for many years (Morris & Maisto, 2014, pg.191). Long-term memories aren’t all of equal strength. Stronger memories enable you to recall an event, procedure, or fact on demand; for example, that Paris is the capital of France. Weaker memories often come to mind only through prompting or reminding. Long-term memory isn’t static, either. You do not imprint a memory and leave it as if untouched. Instead, you often revise the memory over time; perhaps by merging it with another memory or incorporating what others tell you about the memory. As a result, your memories are not strictly constant, and are not always reliable.

Sustainable Development – Integrated Solution

Biodiversity and conservation aims to establish the multiple values that biodiversity can provide, specifically in nations rich in biodiversity. Conservation is a way forward to develop in environmentally friendly manner and it works on basic concepts of ecosystem resilience and sustainable use. There is a need to strengthen the capacity of marginalized biodiversity managers (for example, local and indigenous communities and traditional farmers) to influence policy, seize political opportunities, and move forward policy debates. Conservation of Biodiversity and other natural resources is not enough to attain the goal of developing sustainable solutions .An integrated approach which incorporates the concepts of conservative and preventive methods is the solution and it can be provided by means of Sustainable development. Integrated Solution – Sustainable development Development is need of every generation but now our present scenario of a global economy & a flat world demands Sustainable development. Sustainable development starts with the idea that the most sustainable aim for all is a better quality of life for everyone, not only now, but for generations to come, so we can say that it reflects the pattern of resource use that aims to meet the human needs while preserving environment in such a way that carrying capacity of natural systems is utilized in an economic manner so that future generations would be able to meet there needs. It is not only about preserving environment but also it focuses on managing natural, social, & produced capital in a prudent manner & it is not recession to to pre-modern lifestyles as understood by many people which is a mis-conception.It is basically resolving conflict between various competing goals & involves simultaneous pursuit of eco-prosperity, environmental quality & social equity. We need to use natural resources at the rate at which they can be replenished within a proper time period, there is a need to change from old centered ways of doing businesses to new approaches that involve cross-sectoral coordination & integration of environmental & social concerns into all development processes. Also there is a need to provide delivery of competitively priced goods & services that satisfy human needs & bring quality of life while progressively reducing ecological impact. Proper legitimate & protected rights are also required to enable effective practice of personal responsibility & development of mechanisms to protect environment. Obstacles to sustainable development – Natural capital may not be substitutable, consumption may be irreversible (e.g. Ecosystem services) & multifunctionality of many natural resources which are difficult to replenish once the systems are degraded highly. What has been done & what can be done now- Today in world, large investments are going on in projects involving renewable resources e.g. – India Renewable Energy Development Agency(IREDA) will be investing US $ 3.39 billion dollars for development of renewable energy sector projects during 11th 5 year plan, Govt. has also formulated National policy on bio fuels. Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Gujarat government for setting up 5 solar parks. Similar initiatives are also going on in various nations but along with this there is a need for a Sustainable Business Model which not involves mass consumption & mass disposal models, which focuses on developing technologies to improve environmental conservation features of products, facilitate application of such features, as well as technology for innovative manufacturing processes that require less energy & this type of business model is required in every nation whether it is developed or developing but developed nations should work in this regards first as they have enough resource & capital to develop such technologies. Many small initiatives can be proved very helpful in sustainable development if implied in a nation – Buy fresh food rather than processed food(low carbon), develop retail stores in which solar roof tops are there, managing livestock operations in a prudent manner & reducing energy consumption there, developing & promoting products which can be recycled easily & developing software’s which can be updated easily etc. Many such initiatives can help a lot in sustainable development but a proper Sustainable Business Model is need of today for every organisation(profit or non-profit) in every nation.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How to Write a Great Process Essay

How to Write a Great Process Essay How-to essays, also known as process essays, are much like recipes; they provide instruction for carrying out a procedure or task. You can write a how-to essay about any procedure that you find interesting, just as long as your topic fits the teachers assignment. Steps for Writing a Process Essay The first step in writing your how-to essay is brainstorming. Here are tips to help you brainstorm: Draw a line down the middle of a sheet of paper to make two columns. Label one column materials and the other column steps.Next, begin to empty your brain. Write down every item, and every step you can think of that will be needed to carry out your task. Dont worry about trying to keep things in order yet. Just empty your head.Once youve noted every fact you can think of, start to number your steps on your brainstorming page. Just jot a number beside each item/step. You may need to erase and scribble a few times to get the order right. Its not a neat process.Your next job is to write an outline. Your essay could contain a numbered list (like you are reading now), or it could be written as a standard narrative essay. If you are instructed to write a step-by-step without using numbers, your essay should contain all the elements of any other essay assignment: an introductory paragraph, a body, and a conclusion. The difference is that your introduction will explain why your topic is impo rtant or relevant. For example, your paper about How to Wash a Dog would explain that dog hygiene is important for your pets good health. Your first body paragraph should contain a list of necessary materials. For example: The equipment you will need depends somewhat on the size of your dog. At the very minimum, you will need dog shampoo, a large towel, and a container large enough to hold your dog. And, of course, you will need a dog.The next paragraphs should contain instructions for following steps in your process, as enumerated in your outline.Your summary explains how your task or process should turn out if it is done correctly. It may also be appropriate to re-state the importance of your topic. Topics to Write About You may believe that you are not expert enough to write a process essay. Not true at all! There are many processes that you go through every day that you can write about. The real goal in this type of assignment is to show that you can write a well-organized essay. Read over the suggested topics below for a little inspiration: How to Make a Perfect Paper AirplaneHow to Dye Your HairHow to Wear MakeupHow to Survive a Weekend With FamilyHow to Play Basketball The topics are endless!

Salaries and Benefits of US Congress Members

Salaries and Benefits of US Congress Members The salary and benefits paid to the Senators and Representatives of the U.S. Congress is a constant source of public fascination, debate- and most of all- fake news.   For example, one massively-sent email states, â€Å"Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term.† Well, maybe many citizens do not have that idea, because it is just flat wrong. Another infamous email demanding passage of a mythical â€Å"Congressional Reform Act† claims members of Congress do not pay Social Security taxes. That, too, is wrong Salaries and benefits of members of the U.S. Congress have been the source of taxpayer unhappiness and myths over the years. Here are some facts for your consideration. As of 2019, the base salary for all rank-and-file members of the U.S. House and Senate was $174,000 per year, plus benefits. Salaries have not been increased since 2009. Compared to private-sector salaries, the salaries of members of Congress is lower than many mid-level executives and managers. Rank-and-File Members: The current salary (2019) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year. Members are free to turn down pay increase and some choose to do so.In a complex system of calculations, administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, congressional pay rates also affect the salaries of federal judges and other senior government executives. Congress: Leadership Members Salary  (2019) Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members. Senate Leadership Majority Party Leader - $193,400Minority Party Leader - $193,400 House Leadership Speaker of the House - $223,500Majority Leader - $193,400Minority Leader - $193,400 Pay Increases   Members of Congress are eligible to receive the same annual cost-of-living increase given to other federal employees if any. The raise takes effect automatically on January 1 of each year unless Congress, through the passage of a joint resolution, votes to decline it, as Congress has done since 2009. Benefits Paid to Members of Congress You may have read that Members of Congress do not pay into Social Security. Well, thats also a myth. Social Security Prior to 1984, neither Members of Congress nor any other federal civil service employee paid Social Security taxes. Of course, they were also not eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees Retirement System Act of 1986. Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation. Health Insurance Since all provisions of the Affordable Care Act or â€Å"Obamacare† took effect in 2014, members of Congress have been required to purchase health insurance plans offered through one of the Affordable Care Act-approved exchanges in order to receive a government contribution toward their health coverage. Prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, insurance for members of Congress was provided through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB); the government’s employer-subsidized private insurance system. However, not even under the FEHB plan was the insurance â€Å"free.† On average, the government pays from 72% to 75% of the premiums for its workers. Like all other federal retirees, former members of Congress paid the same share of premiums as other federal employees. Retirement   Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS. As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes. Members of Congress become eligible to receive a pension at the age of 62 if they have completed a total of 5 years of service. Members who have completed a total of 20 years of service are eligible for a pension at age 50, are at any age after completing a total of 25 years of service. No matter their age when they retire, the amount of the members’ pension is based on their total years of service and the average of their highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary. Can They Really Retire After Only One Term? Those mass emails also claim that members of Congress can get a pension equal to their full salaries after serving only one term. That one is partly true but mostly false. Under the current law, which requires at least 5 years of service, members of the House of Representatives would not be eligible to collect pensions of any amount after serving only one term, since they come up for reelection every two years. On the other hand, U.S, Senators - who serve six-year terms - would be eligible to collect pensions after completing only one full term. In neither case, however, would the pensions be equal to the member’s full salary. While it is highly unlikely and has never happened, it is possible for a longtime member of Congress whose pension began at or near 80% of his or her final salary could - after many years of accepted annual cost-of-living adjustments - see his or her pension rise to equal his or her final salary. Average Annual Pensions According to the Congressional Research Service, there were 611 retired members of Congress receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of October 1, 2016. Of this number, 335 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $74,028. A total of 276 Members had retired with service under FERS and were receiving an average annual pension of $41,076 in 2016. Allowances Members of Congress are also provided with an annual allowance intended to defray expenses related carrying out their congressional duties, including official office expenses, including staff, mail, travel between a Members district or state and Washington, DC, and other goods and services. Outside Income Many members of Congress retain their private careers and other business interests while they serve. Members are allowed to retain an amount of permissible outside earned income limited to no more than 15% of the annual rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule for federal employees, or $28,400.00 a year in 2018. However, there is currently no limit on the amount of non-salary income members can retain from their investments, corporate dividends or profits. House and Senate rules define what sources of outside earned income are permissible. For example, House Rule XXV (112th Congress) limits permissible outside income to salaries, fees, and other amounts received or to be received as compensation for personal services actually rendered. Members are not allowed to retain compensation arising from fiduciary relationships, except for medical practices. Members are also barred from accepting honoraria - payments for professional services typically provided without charge. Perhaps most importantly to voters and taxpayers, member of Congress are strictly prohibited from earning or accepting income that may appear to be intended to influence the way they vote on legislation. Tax Deductions Members are allowed to deduct up to $3,000 a year from their federal income tax for living expenses while they are away from their home states or congressional districts. Early History of Congress Pay How and how much members of Congress should be paid has always been a debated issue. America’s Founding Fathers believed that since congressmen would typically be well-off anyway, they should serve for free, out of a sense of duty. Under the Articles of Confederation, if U.S. congressmen were paid at all, they were paid by the states they represented. The state legislatures adjusted their congressmen’s pay and could even suspend it completely if they became dissatisfied with them. By the time the first U.S. Congress under the Constitution convened in 1789, members of both the House and Senate were paid $6 for each day there were actually in session, which was then rarely more than five months a year. The $6 per-day rate remained the same until the Compensation Act of 1816 raised it to a flat $1,500 a year. However, faced with public outrage, Congress repealed the law in 1817. Not until 1855 did members of Congress return to being paid an annual salary, then $3,000 per year with no benefits. Sources and Further Reference Brudnick, Ida A. â€Å"Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief.† Congressional Research Service (April 11, 2018).Feran, Tom. â€Å"Can members of Congress retire with full pay after just one term?† Politifact Ohio (January 11, 2013)

Monday, October 21, 2019

Ladies Detective Agency Essay Essays

Ladies Detective Agency Essay Essays Ladies Detective Agency Essay Essay Ladies Detective Agency Essay Essay Essay Topic: The Book Of the City Of Ladies 1. Conventional enigma novels normally contain one long and concentrating enigma throughout the class of the whole narrative. This may or may non be successful in many instances based on the author’s involvement in that one enigma. With this book incorporating many different enigmas and offenses to work out it allows readers to go more occupied in each one alternatively of one enigma transporting out through the whole narrative. This made the tempo of the fresh much more concrete and gratifying. The writer besides did a nice occupation on stressing one large offense that carried out throughout most of the narrative. This kept the readers engaged throughout the narrative. as they were able to resile back to that original narrative without acquiring bored of it. 2. Cherished Ramotswe is an highly warm and loving character. She is such a charming supporter because of her positive attitude and finding towards all of the obstructions thrown at her in life. She is so different from other investigators because she is a adult female. a individual that has gone through an tremendous sum of adversities in her ain life. and she is a investigator because that is what she loves. She doesn’t merely make it for the intents of doing money. She feels that all African people are her brothers and sisters and it is her occupation to assist them with their problems. 3. These instances that Mma Ramotswe trades with. are instances that constabulary can non work out. This factor drives suspense in the positions of the reader ad from Mma Ramotswe’s position. as she can non travel to the bulls for aid in these absorbing instances. The readers know how a police officer would manage certain state of affairss. but in this instance it was more of a enigma as we learned how Mma Ramotswe would manage these state of affairss. 4. Mma Ramotswe position on work forces was ruined by her first experience with a adult male. Ever since she got pregnant with her hubbies babe and so he left she has looked at work forces in a really stereotyped and our manner. Throughout this narrative. every bad quality Mma Ramotswe has said about work forces is proven to be valid in this book as most of her instances involve Snoopy and cowardly work forces who leave and cheat on their married womans. 5. It expresses her roots and sets the tone of her values and her civilization. It gives the reader an thought of how the people live in her country and throughout Africa. His life reveals a batch of history including apartheid and the inequality of inkinesss in South Africa. His narrative reveals that mines shorten your life span and it is sad how you work so difficult to do a life for yourself and your household. but in the terminal the mines will do you to populate less. 6. Most of Mma Ramotswe’s instances involve a individual lying about something that she needs to work out. She uses intuition and the people’s intuition to check those enigmas that they are concealing from her. She can work out this based on the behaviour of the individual. This played a immense factor in the first instance as she was seeking to calculate out whether a adult male was a girl’s male parent or a fraud. 7. She is right in many instances that adult females have more perspective in work forces. She is able to turn out this from the fact that most of her instances involve work forces making something to or concealing something from a adult female. In the novel she uses her adult female position and observation to check the secret from a adult male rip offing on his married woman. She was able to make this because of the experiences she had been through with work forces. She comically undercut’s the attorneies haughtiness by stating how she has observed more that he hasn’t observed like his fly being unzipped. 8. She is jointing that thought and acquiring worked up over something is non deserving it. People merely necessitate to travel on or repair these jobs that they have. This will break your life doing it easier to travel on. Even though Mma Ramotswe has an highly busy and tense life. that motive gives her peace and stableness because she knows she will repair it and travel on towards a positive way in her life. 9. Mma Ramotswe marries Note because she feels that he is an interesting adult male that you do non come around mundane. She besides feels that she can work out all of his jobs and do him a better individual. His smooth talk truly got her to fall for him. This makes her a much deeper and more complicated character because she brings so much contention and stupidity. This makes her deeper because she now seems more like a existent individual who makes errors merely like everyone. Her opprobrious matrimony with Note changes her mentality on work forces and the trust that she has in each 1. Equally bad as the dealingss were. it helped her in the long tally as the experience gave her position on many work forces she was covering with. It truly ruined her involvement in get marrieding any other adult male because of the fright. 10. Mma Ramotswe is non pigeonholing about white people when she says this. In the civilization of white people. some work and do money. but merely maintain on working to maintain delivery in the money. That’s how their lives work. She is wholly right when she says they don’t enjoy because these people do take the clip to bask it every now and so. but they can non merely halt what they are making because all that money will easy travel off. Mma Ramotswe lives her life to convey felicity to herself and to her household. Life to her is more than merely money. What is most bracing to her is happiness and the beauty of the universe around her. Other differences in white and black civilizations that are shown in the book are the relationships between work forces and adult females. In the black civilization. taking a married woman or a hubby is an highly fast procedure while in white civilization it takes a long clip to do that determination. 11. The facets of traditional Africa that contradicts her are the position and deficiency of power control that adult females have. They do non acquire a say in things like matrimony and household responsibility. There is such a contradiction with her and old Africa because her whole life style is based on the power that adult females are given in the modern epoch. Without that her whole calling and a immense facet of life would non be. 12. When Mr. J. L. B. Maketoni proposed to Mma Ramotswe the first clip. I knew that this relationship would come up once more in this book. I wasn’t surprised went she said no the first clip because of all she has been through but as the narrative went on and their relationship grew. I knew they were traveling to stop up acquiring married. It was the perfect stoping to that novel. 13. No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency draws upon this cognition through Mma Ramotswe’s observation accomplishments and actions while work outing a enigma. The tactics she uses are explained in-depth and are helpful in larning about detective work. In this book attorneies and the constabulary did non play a large function in this private detective work. They merely played a function when charges were being made and when the instance was about closed. 14. I do non believe that this is a feminist novel whatsoever as these narratives are obliging to all genders. I do non believe it depicts work forces. but gives many different illustration of true actions work forces take portion in. It doesn’t say that adult female are ever right and do non do errors because they do do errors and take portion in incorrect Acts of the Apostless every bit good. I believe the writer did a great occupation of stand foring Mma Ramotswe as I was shocked to happen out a adult male wrote this book. I felt like Mma Ramotswe was stating me the narrative. 15. This narrative shows basic narrative relation by the use of many different enigmas Mma Ramotswe solves in this book. It is sophisticated for her mentality on certain state of affairss and the power of observation of adult female. This book teaches you to non give up on a dream based on a certain restriction or societal status’ . It teaches you to prosecute your dreams and do the universe you’re involved in positive at the same clip. It besides teaches to care for felicity and what is given to you in this universe.

Alcoholism Research Paper

Alcoholism Research Paper Example research paper on Alcoholism: Alcohol’s importance in our social history is significant. Even more significant is the abuse of alcohol and the how alcoholism has effected modern society. However, before the word â€Å"alcoholism† was ever spoken, alcohol was used for many purposes such as settling battles, giving courage in battles, celebrating festivals and wooing lovers. The history of alcohol can be traced all the way back to the Egyptians. In Egyptian burials, it was used to help the dead’s journey to the afterlife. There is also evidence that the Babylonians, around 1600 BC, knew how to brew 20 different types of beer. It was also around this time that alcohol was tied to abuse. The Babylonians made their laws include punishments against drunkenness. The Greeks and the Romans drank mostly wine, and they loved it so much that they worshipped Dionysus, the god of wine. When they worshipped, the Greeks and Romans would become extremely intoxicated. Their writings are full of warnings against drinking too much. In 55 BC, the Romans introduced beer, right before alcohol become important in religious cultures. The Old Testament refers to alcohol numerous times, and wine plays an important role in the rituals of many religions. Wine was sanctified by Jesus in the New Testament, and many Roman Catholics still drink wine today as part of their worship. Some religions, like Judaism and Christianity, wanted to keep alcohol sacred, so they made drinking too much alcohol into a sinful act. But alcohol’s popularity grew fast, and by the Middle Ages, many monasteries were making beer to give to the monks and to sell to pilgrims. Soon, home breweries were showing up, and they became taverns and other public places where people could gather to drink. The making of alcohol, specifically beer, was not modernized until the time of the Renaissance. Science played an important role in forming breweries that could produce high-quality and large amounts of alcohol. The industrial revolution also brought along steam power and refrigeration, and technology soon allowed for much purer and stronger alcohol, likes gin, brandy and rum. Soon, other countries throughout Europe, like Germany and Britain, created their own unique alcohol. Russian vodka, Scottish whiskey, Mexican tequila and Italian sambuca are a few examples. Today there is even a wider selection to choose from. These new drinks helped to develop trade between Western Europe and the Far East. Also, as colonies developed in America, European nations produced alcoholic drinks to ship over to the new colonies. This became a very lucrative business. From this, we can trace the origins of alcohol and how our culture became familiar with it. People continue to use alcohol in rituals and traditions, just like hundreds of years ago. But it has turned into a disease that punishes those who enjoy it too much. The development of alcohol from religious rituals to today, where there are a wide variety of alcoholic drinks, shows how alcohol abuse has increased as well. Alcoholism has been a continuous problem for centuries due to its harmful effects. In moderation, alcohol is used by some to relax and considered safe. However, misusing alcohol can cause harm not only to the drinker, but also to anyone close to the drinker, and society in general. There are three stages of ingestion that happen once a drink is downed. First, it is quickly absorbed into the blood stream through the cell membranes of the digestive tract. As it passes through the digestive tract, some of is absorbed by the mouth and stomach, and most of it is absorbed by the small intestine. The amount of food in the stomach affects the rate of absorption. If a drinker has a pint of beer without having dinner first, the absorption rate of the beer will be much faster. The drinker will get drunk much faster, and maybe even vomit. Most of the alcohol is absorbed by the bloodstream within an hour of ingestion. The second stage is distribution. Once the circulatory system absorbs the alcohol, it is sent out to all parts of the body. Some parts, like the brain, liver and kidney receive larger amounts of alcohol than other parts of the body because they receive more blood. And the third stage is metabolism. As the alcohol travels throughout the body, enzymes released by the liver metabolize the alcohol. This breaks down the alcohol and turns it into a food source for the body. Most of the alcohol ingested is released through the liver. The effects of alcohol on the liver can be deadly. In large amounts, alcohol can damage major organs, particularly the liver. There are three different alcohol-related liver diseases: fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Fatty liver disease is one of the first signs that alcohol is being abused. Fat builds up due to alcohol metabolism. This hurts the liver’s ability to work at full strength. Fatty liver disease can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. When the liver is too damaged from alcohol abuse, scar tissue forms, causing cirrhosis, and eventually causing the liver to shut down. Symptoms include loss of energy, loss of appetite, upset stomach, weight loss and weakness. Cirrhosis is one of the ten leading causes of death by disease in the United States. The third liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, is the inflammation of the liver, the stage right before cirrhosis. Jaundice, mental confusion and swelling of the abdomen are common symptoms. Alcohol is known as a depressant, and its effects on the brain and central nervous system are serious. When intoxicated, drinkers experience a mild euphoria, or temporary â€Å"happiness†, and loss of inhibition. Alcohol impairs regions of the brain controlling behavior, judgment, memory, concentration and coordination. On the central nervous system, alcohol acts as a sedative. Large amounts of alcohol can cause respiratory failure, coma and death. Impaired vision, hearing, and motor skills also occur. The drinker may also experience numbness and tingling in the arms and legs caused by nerve damage. This results in the staggering walk often seen coming out of bars. Long-term drinking can cause brain damage (Korsakoff’s Syndrome) and drinking while pregnant is known to produce sick babies (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). Heavy drinking also has damaging effects on the stomach and intestinal system. Irritation of the stomach lining can cause peptic ulcers, bleeding lesions and cancer. Blood loss causes loss of iron, which can cause irritability, lack of energy, headaches and dizziness. Risk of pancreatitis is also increased. Other effects of alcohol abuse include irritation of the intestinal tract lining and the colon; nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating and loss of appetite; and increase in blood pressure, risk of heart attack and stroke. These symptoms develop over time. Alcoholism, however, can begin to develop after the first drink. There are many reasons why people start drinking, such as to increase self-confidence, relieve stress, escape from personal problems, overcome shyness, or to overcome a poor self-image. Abuse of alcohol is defined as the use of alcohol interfering with physical, social, academic, or economic functioning. The first stage of alcoholism involves the use of alcoholism as a way to deal with other problems. The abuser will drink more than the average amount and is usually preoccupied with partying or going out socially to drink. The abuser will also drink to cope with personal problems, have trouble stopping after one drink, and they’ll feel guilty about drinking so much. The drinker will usually deny that a problem exists. The second stage of alcohol abuse begins to interfere with daily activities like work. The drinker finds it typically hard to get through the day without a drink. It also becomes difficult to get the same good feelings from drinking, so more alcohol is consumed. The drinker will start drinking alone and in secret. Ambition and drive are lost and interest in family and friends goes away. This leads to the third stage where the alcoholism takes over. The drinker lives for alcohol and nothing else. They experience loneliness and continue to drink even with disastrous results, including financial and personal problems. The alcoholic will experience physical symptoms in this stage, including difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, malnutrition, the â€Å"shakes†, and sometimes blackouts and serious memory loss. Alcoholism is the most serious form of alcohol abuse. Once the drinker reaches this stage, serious treatment should be considered. By tracing the steps leading to alcoholism, it is natural to ask what causes the alcoholic to pick up a drink in the first place. Of course, it is the own personal responsibility of each individual who chooses to ingest alcohol. There are however, outside influences that can effect that decision. The power of the media and the messages it sends out can influence any impressionable person, especially teenagers, to consume alcohol. Characters in film and TV are seen smoking and drinking all the time. Signs and advertisements for alcohol use fun animals to pitch the drink, or they show a drinker looking sexy and cool. If everyone is doing it and having fun, then everyone else should do it too. That is the message advertisers want the teenager to pick up. Advertisers leave out the negative information on alcohol on purpose. As a result, teenagers often do not know what the health risks are when they use alcohol. A study done by Washington drug and alcohol officials in 1998 showed that the media has major influences in all outlets. Some of their findings show that almost all, or 98% of movies depict some form of alcohol intake. They also show that nearly 30% of all songs contained messages about drinking. On the other hand, negative effects of drinking were only shown in half of the movies and only one-fifth of the songs. American consumers are heavy consumers of movies, music and TV. So the government is targeting the entertainment and advertising industries in order to change the positive image of alcohol being put out. Anti-alcohol propaganda has proven to be not very effective. Advertisements promoting alcohol usually make you want to try the product. The ads convince the drinker to buy alcohol so they can feel glamorous, powerful and successful. The ads also use status symbols like cars, jewelries and mansions so that everyone will believe they can have the same lifestyle as long as they buy their products. Visual propaganda is very powerful. Unfortunately, people fall for it many times. When you see advertisements against alcohol, they’re usually trying to scare the drinker away from alcohol. Often times bloody pictures of drunk-driving car accidents are shown. Images of badly torn up bodies can persuade someone to stop drinking for the moment. However, an alcoholic’s disease is more powerful than a picture. While the bloody pictures may make the drinker think twice, the effects are not huge in preventing alcoholism. A lot of the anti-alcohol propaganda is about driving drunk. Drinking and driving is a combination that leads to horrible accidents. Driving while under the influence is a serious concern that has gained more and more attention. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds is drunk driving. Whether it’s New Year’s Eve, the prom, or a weekend pizza party, there is a good chance that alcohol will be served. Getting behind the wheel puts in danger not only the driver who is drunk, but any passengers and non-drinking bystanders as well. The government and police force have come up with several ways to prevent drinking and driving. One of the methods is through a blood test. This is the most difficult one to carry out because it usually requires the person to go to a hospital after being pulled over by the police. Another test police administer is a breathalyzer test. The policeman will make the driver breath into a tube that is able to read the level of alcohol in the blood. This is a valuable test because the police are able to do it as soon as they pull over the drunk driver. The third test is less scientific. The police have the drunk driver attempt to walk a straight line and then cross their legs in the format of a number four. If they have been drinking, then they will be unable to stand up straight, their eyes will be redder, and they will lose their balance. Even though there should be more tests and more instructive propaganda on the subject of drinking and driving, the steps policemen take now do help to save lives. Unfortunately, innocent people can be hurt by drunk drivers. But there are ways to prevent unnecessary accidents yourself. Some ways include volunteering to be a designated driver, trying to avoid driving on rural roads, using four lane highways, avoiding going on the road after midnight, and always wearing a seat belt. It is also helpful to recognize when friends may be in danger of drinking and driving. A good thing to do is to take away the car keys or simply call a cab. Preventing drunk driving is only one way of fighting alcoholism. To really treat it well requires long-term care in almost every case. There are several treatments today for alcoholics to choose from. Three of the major forms of treatment are Alcoholics Anonymous, psychological treatment, and substance abuse clinics. Through treatment, alcoholics can lead normal, productive and happy lives. The ultimate goal of alcoholism treatment is to enable the patient to achieve lasting abstinence. Immediate goals, however, are to reduce the drinking in steps. It is very difficult to quit drinking †cold turkey.† If an alcoholic chooses a treatment program, there are several options out there. A short-term treatment that is popular is the 28-day in-patient treatment. This involves the patient going to a treatment facility for about a month to detox their bodies. This method can be helpful as sort of a crash course in alcoholism treatment, but care must continue following the month-long treatment. Other methods last longer, some for 6 months. These treatments include residential therapy, where the patient is living at a treatment facility for an extended amount of time. Many severe alcoholics need this kind of structure to succeed. The Betty Ford Clinic is an example of a treatment facility that allows patients to live there until they overcome their addiction to alcohol. Another method to treating alcoholism is outpatient therapy. Outpatient therapy offers a wide variety of programs for patients who visit on a consistent basis. Almost all of the programs will offer psychological therapy of some sort, in the form of individual or group counseling. Often it is easier to talk about the addiction in a group of people with the same problems rather than alone. Out-patient therapy often is not effective by itself for the serious alcoholic. Usually this therapy is combined with another method. The third method is the most popular one. Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as AA, was founded in 1935. It is based on the premise of the 12 steps to recovery. AA thinks of itself as a community of recovering alcoholics. They share their common problems with drinking and help each other recover from the addiction of alcohol. The main purpose of AA is to help people stay sober. Alcoholics Anonymous consists of more than two million people all over the world. They meet in local groups that can be big or small, some having a handful of drinkers and others having hundreds attend a meeting. All of the meetings are free. Most Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are open to the public. However, some places have closed meetings in case members want to talk only about their alcohol problems and not be distracted by anyone there who may not be an alcoholic. The 12-step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous is a world-renown treatment method that’s used for all kinds of addiction, not just alcohol. Alcoholics are encouraged to work the 12 steps. The first step involves admitting the powerlessness over alcohol, how it takes over the alcoholic’s life. The second step has the alcoholic believe that there is a greater power working that will help the alcoholic stay sober. This step is an example of the religious influence on the 12-step recovery process. The steps continue to involve the healing process. One of them asks the drinker to go to any friends or family that have been hurt by alcoholism and apologize. Another step asks the drinker to take a sponsor. A sponsor is also an alcoholic who has been sober for a longer amount of time. The sponsor helps the recovering alcoholic make it through the steps. Throughout their recovery, alcoholics will also get chips. The chips are usually different colors, depending on how long the alcoholic has been sober. The final two steps of AA involve â€Å"taking inventory† of your life and understanding why you did what you did when drunk. These are called the drinker’s motivations. Step 12 talks about three major parts the alcoholic should have accomplished. They are having had a spiritual awakening, practicing the lessons learned in AA, and carrying the message of recovery to other alcoholics. The final step seems like a lifetime step. It is practiced by the drinker, along with the other steps for the rest of their life. It stresses the amount of work they must put in for the program to work for them. Once completed, the alcoholic has a lifetime of recovery. Alcoholism is a disease that most alcoholics will admit never goes away. Alcoholics need ongoing treatment and support. There is always a chance to fall off the wagon. Ideally, alcoholics should enter a long-term treatment facility, go through detox, and join Alcoholics Anonymous and attend meetings regularly. The longer an alcoholic receives treatment, the better the chances for becoming sober. The best way to stay sober, though, is simply through abstinence. It is the only true cure of alcoholism. Drinking is classified as a disease by doctors and psychologists. It is a disease because once the drinker is addicted, they cannot stop drinking. It is beyond their control. They cause physical harm to themselves and others. Their health declines and death by alcoholism is not uncommon. That is why it is better if someone who is more likely to drink and enjoy it to abstain all together. Drinking in moderation works for some people, but for alcoholics, there really is no other choice. For the sake of their own lives, for their family and friends, and for society as a whole, alcoholics should pursue the most effective treatment and help everyone fight the terrible disease of alcoholism.