Ramadan Celebration Essay Example for Free

Ramadan Celebration Essay Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, is considered as one of the holiest months of the year. In this month when the prophet Muhammad was said to have received the holy book (Quran). Each day during Ramadan, followers of Islam, known as Muslims, do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset; they are also supposed to avoid bad thoughts and bad behavior. Muslims break their daily fasts by sharing meals with family and friends. During Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. All Muslims who have reached puberty and are in good health are required to fast. At sunset, families get together to break the fast known as Ifatr. You start eating with two or more dates like the Prophet Peace Be Upon use to do. The Ifatr meals consist on milk, water, dates, and desserts. (A team of cardiologists in the UAE found that people observing Ramadan enjoy a positive effect on their lipid profile, which means there is a reduction of cholesterol in the blood) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan It is very important in Ramadan to pray 5 times daily, and recite Quran every day. Ramadan helps us become patient and washes away our bad deeds. It reminds us of the people that are starving and teaches us that how lucky we are that Allah-Tallah provided us with these benefits and help us become better Muslim. After the Ifatri you go to Mosque and pray Magrib and Isha to complete your fast. Thirdly, in Ramadan avoid bad thoughts and bad behavior. Respect your elder and listen to them, you are not allowed to use foul language or hit someone. Keep your mind away from the bad thoughts and the best way to do that is pray and keep saying Allahakabar, Alhumdullah, and Astagfirullah it will keep your mind away from bad thoughts. In Quran Allah- Tallah said if one does not abandon falsehood in words and deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning of his food and drink.

Spectrophotometer Essay Example for Free

Spectrophotometer Essay Spectrophotometry in chemistry is a quantitative measure of the reflection or transmission of material properties as a function of wavelength. It is more specialized than the term electromagnetic spectroscopy which is general in that spectrophotometry deals with near-ultraviolet, visible light, and near-infrared, but doesn’t cover the techniques of time-resolved spectroscopic . Spectrophotometer is used in Spectrophotometry. A spectrophotometer is a photometer that measures the intensity as a function of the wavelength of the light source. Important features of spectrophotometers are linear range of absorption or reflectance measurement spectral and bandwidth. A spectrophotometer is used commonly for the transmittance measurement or solutions reflectance, opaque solids or transparent, such as gases, or polished glass. However they can be designed to measure the diffusivity of any of the listed light ranges that which cover around 200nm 2500nm using different calibrations and controls. Calibrations are needed on the machine, within these ranges of light, using standards which vary in type depending on the wavelength of the photometric determination. An example for spectrophotometry experiment is used is the determination of the solution equilibrium constant. A specific chemical reaction in a solution may occur in a reverse and forward direction where products break down into reactants and reactants form products. At some point, this chemical reaction will reach a point of balance called an equilibrium point. In order to determine the respective concentrations of products and reactants at this point, the light transmittance of the solution can be tested using spectrophotometry. The amount of light that passes through the solution the concentration of certain chemicals is indicative that do not allow light to pass through. The use of spectrophotometers spans various scientific fields, such as materials science, physics, biochemistry, molecular biology , and chemistry. They are widely used in many industries including semiconductors, laser and optical manufacturing, printing and forensic examination, and as well in laboratories for the chemical substances study. Ultimately, a spectrophotometer is able to determine, depending on the control or calibration, what substances are present in a target and exactly how much through calculations of observed wavelengths. IR Spectroscopy Infrared spectroscopy (IR spectroscopy) is the spectroscopy that deals with the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is light with a longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. It covers a range of techniques, mostly based on absorption spectroscopy. As with all spectroscopic techniques, it can be used to identify and study chemicals. A common laboratory instrument that uses this technique is a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is usually divided into three regions; the near-, mid- and far- infrared, named for their relation to the visible spectrum. The higher-energy near-IR, approximately 14000–4000 cm−1 (0.8–2.5 ÃŽ ¼m wavelength) can excite overtone or harmonic vibrations. The mid-infrared, approximately 4000–400 cm−1 (2.5–25 ÃŽ ¼m) may be used to study the fundamental vibrations and associated rotational-vibrational structure. The far-infrared, approximately 400–10 cm−1 (25–1000 ÃŽ ¼m), lying adjacent to the microwave region, has low energy and may be used for rotational spectroscopy. The names and classifications of these sub regions are conventions, and are only loosely based on the relative molecular or electromagnetic properties. Types There are two basic types of infrared spectrometers. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers are single-beam instruments that use an interferometer to spread a sample with infrared light and measure the intensity of the infrared light not absorbed by the sample. The application of a Fourier transform converts the resulting time domain digital signal into a frequency domain digital signal. Dispersive infrared spectrometers use visible lasers, a grating, and charged coupled devices (CCDs) to collect data. The laser acts as a light source and irradiates the sample. Most of the radiation scatters elastically at the same energy as the incoming laser radiation. A small amount, approximately one photon in a million (0.00001%), scatters from the sample at a wavelength shifted slightly from the original wavelength. Techniques * Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy FTIR redirects here. FTIR may also refer to frustrated total internal reflection. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a technique which is used to obtain an infrared spectrum of absorption, emission, photoconductivity or Raman scattering of a solid, liquid or gas. An FTIR spectrometer simultaneously collects spectral data in a wide spectral range. This confers a significant advantage over a dispersive spectrometer which measures intensity over a narrow range of wavelengths at a time. FTIR has made dispersive infrared spectrometers all but obsolete (except sometimes in the near infrared), opening up new applications of infrared spectroscopy. The term Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy originates from the fact that a Fourier transform (a mathematical process) is required to convert the raw data into the actual spectrum. * Near IR spectroscopy Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a spectroscopic method that uses the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum (from about 800 nm to 2500 nm). Typical applications include pharmaceutical, medical diagnostics (including blood sugar and pulse oximetry), food and agrochemical quality control, and combustion research, as well as research in functional neuroimaging, sports medicine science, elite sports training, ergonomics, rehabilitation, neonatal research, brain computer interface, urology (bladder contraction) and neurology (neurovascular coupling). Theory: Near-infraredspectroscopy is based on molecular overtone and combination vibrations. Such transitions are forbidden by the selection rules of quantum mechanics. As a result, the molar absorptivity in the near IR region is typically quite small. One advantage is that NIR can typically penetrate much farther into a sample than mid infrared radiation. Near-infrared spectroscopy is, therefore, not a particularly sensitive technique, but it can be very useful in probing bulk material with little or no sample preparation. The molecular overtone and combination bands seen in the near IR are typically very broad, leading to complex spectra; it can be difficult to assign specific features to specific chemical components. Multivariate (multiple variables) calibration techniques (e.g., principal components analysis, partial least squares, or artificial neural networks) are often employed to extract the desired chemical information. Careful development of a set of calibration samples and application of multivariate calibration techniques is essential for near-infrared analytical methods. Applications: The primary application of NIRS to the human body uses the fact that the transmission and absorption of NIR light in human body tissues contains information about hemoglobin concentration changes. When a specific area of the brain is activated, the localized blood volume in that area changes quickly. Optical imaging can measure the location and activity of specific regions of the brain by continuously monitoring blood hemoglobin levels through the determination of optical absorption coefficients. Typical applications of NIR spectroscopy include the analysis of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, combustion products and a major branch of astronomical spectroscopy.

The Threat Of Nuclear Weapons Politics Essay

The Threat Of Nuclear Weapons Politics Essay Nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction which are capable of wiping out an unimaginably large number of people. Today, five member nations, the United States of America, Russia, United Kingdom, France and the Peoples Republic of China are internationally recognized as nuclear weapons nations by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and are thus permitted to possess nuclear weapons. Two non-signatory members, India and Pakistan also possess these weapons and have conducted nuclear weapon tests. In addition to these seven members, Israel is strongly suspected of possessing nuclear weapons although it has neither confirmed it nor denied it. There is also speculation the Iran might be running a covert nuclear weapons program. Finally, North Korea has publicly declared itself to be in possession of nuclear weapons but this fact has never been confirmed as it has not conducted any substantial nuclear tests. There is an urgent need to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons across the world as they pose a great threat to international security and their usage could lead to catastrophe. Today, this issue is especially relevant to North Korea and the Middle East where the lack of agreements and the prevalence of ambiguities regarding nuclear programs is becoming an issue of global concern. Countries associated with nuclear weapons3 Definition of Key Terms Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) The NPT is a treaty that came into force in 1970, in order to limit nuclear proliferation. It prohibits non nuclear weapon states from developing, possessing or acquiring nuclear weapons or explosives. The three pillars of the treaty are non proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Currently, it has not been signed by India, Pakistan and Israel. Nuclear weapons Nuclear weapons are extremely destructive and explosive weapons that derives its force through either fission reactions or both fission and fusion. Nuclear Proliferation Nuclear proliferation is a term now used to describe the spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information, to nations which are not recognized as Nuclear Weapon States by the NPT. 1 Nuclear weapons free zone A Nuclear weapons free zone is a geographical area recognized by the United Nations that has banned the use and development of nuclear weapon technology and has put measures into place to check its implementation. Nuclear Disarmament Nuclear disarmament is a proposal to dismantle nuclear weapons in order to reduce the possibility of the occurrence of a nuclear war. Background Information The first nuclear weapon was invented by USA, Britain and Canada during the Second World War. USA remains the only country to have ever used it. Soon after, during the Cold War, the world saw the beginning of the nuclear arms race. Following the Second World War, Korea was divided into two geographical regions: the northern controlled by the Soviets and the southern controlled by USA. Also, Israel is believed to have begun investigating the nuclear field soon after it was founded in 1948. In the 1950s the nuclear program in Iran was established for peaceful purposes under the supervision of the United States. The Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) was signed in 1963 which banned the test of nuclear weapons underwater, in the atmosphere or in outer space. This treaty was not signed by China and France who are both nuclear weapons states today. The conflict between the communist North Korea and the capitalist South Korea has been going on since 1950 and there have been repeated failures to consolidate the two as one unified nation. Even today, the two countries have not officially made peace. Hence, ever since the 1970s, North Korea began its pursuit of acquiring nuclear weapons. In 1967, a CIA report claimed that Israel had the materials required to construct a bomb. In 1979, a US satellite reported a flash in the Indian Ocean that was similar to a nuclear denotation and could have possibly been a nuclear test conducted by Israel. It is speculated to be one of the apparently few joint nuclear tests conducted by South Africa and Israel. Minimal progress was made in nuclear disarmament until 1991 and the Comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT) was adopted in 1996 which banned all nuclear explosions in all environment for military or civilian testing. It was signed by 182 countries and ratified by 153 and was aimed at stopping the nuclear arms race. Iran ratified the NPT in 1970s which subjected it to IAEA inspections. Today, the main reason for suspicion of Irans nuclear program is its failure to declare sensitive enrichment and reprocessing activities to the IAEA. In 1992, North Korea entered a safe guards agreement under Article 3 of the NPT which allowed IAEA inspectors to inspect North Koreas nuclear materials. In 1993, North Korea threatened to withdraw from the NPT which it had acceded to earlier. However, this did not ultimately happen as USA and North Korea came to an agreement by which North Korea would suspend all nuclear reactors in exchange for in exchange for alternative energy resources. North Korea withdrew from the IAEA in 1994 and launched a missile over the Sea of Japan in 1998 which caused USA to review its policies towards the country. Relations between the two countries remained turbulent. In 2002, the North Korean Deputy Secretary apparently acknowledged the existence of a covert nuclear-weapons development program. North Korea withdrew from the NPT in 2003 and in response; the US launched six way talks about the issue with North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia. North Korea, once again, agreed to abandon all nuclear weapon activities. However, like previous agreements, North Korea did not commit to it. It declared that it had nuclear weapons and withdrew from the six party talks in 2005. In October, 2006 North Korea announced plans for its first nuclear test. North Korea did conduct an explosive underground test but there are doubts as to whether it really was a nuclear test since the magnitude of the blast was less than expected. As far as Iran is concerned, in March 2010, Iran declared itself as a nuclear state and president Ahmadinejad announced I want to announce with a loud voice here that the first consignment of 20 percent enriched uranium was produced and was put at the disposal of the scientists. However, Iran reiterated that it will use this only for peaceful purposes. We have the capability to enrich uranium more than 20 percent or 80 percent but we dont enrich (to this level) because we dont need it. Evidently, there has been a great turn of events regarding the development and legitimacy of nuclear weapons in North Korea, Iran and Israel. A clear agreement in the case of all three countries has yet to be formed. General Overview Nuclear Deterrence The argument of those who possess nuclear weapons is that it enables them to ward off or deter nuclear or conventional attack through threat of disastrous retaliation. This could be incentive to possess nuclear weapons. DPRK has been accused of using nuclear weapons as a political tool to normalize relations with USA, Japan, and South Korea and to end the embargo against North Korea. North Korea will thus be unwilling to give up nuclear weapons without substantial concessions from USA and South Korea, among others. On the other hand, Iran has entirely denied seeking nuclear weapons for retaliation or nuclear deterrence. Transfer One of the greatest concerns with nuclear weapons is that it could end up in the wrong hands. Not only could countries possessing them sell them to others, thus encouraging nuclear proliferation, but nuclear weapons could also be sold to or stolen by non-state actors. If such a situation were to arise, it would have severe implications on the national security of several countries. For instance, DPRK has refrained from selling its nuclear weapons and materials. However, in the case of harsh sanctions being imposed on the country, it could retaliate and sell its nuclear weapons. Out of this fear, China has prevented the Security Council from authorizing the use of force or imposing truly harsh sanctions on the country. Similarly, in 1975, there were rumors that Israel offered to sell its nuclear weapons to South Africa. Israel has vehemently denied the claim. Israel-Iran Relations The turbulent relationship between Israel and Iran dates back to the Islamic Revolution in the 1970s. Both countries are suspected of having a nuclear weapons program and blame each other for threatening the security of the Middle East by doing so. Irans extreme hostility towards USA and Israel is probably the reason that has caused many to consider Iran to be the greatest threat in the Middle East. Iran itself is not a democracy and does not recognize the right to freedom of speech and expression. In addition, it refuses to acknowledge Israel as a country and refers to Israel as an occupied territory. However, many are angered at the fact that although there is no proof that Iran plans on developing nuclear weapons it is being faced with threats of dire consequences by the USA and Europe where as there is comparatively less pressure on Israel which is practicing opacity as far as its nuclear plan is concerned. On the other hand, seeing as Israel is a democracy, people believe that it can be trusted with its power. Israel also has a reputation of being relatively more reliable and predictable. It is considered less likely to misuse its nuclear weapons through and arbitrary attack. However, Israels intentional ambiguity regarding nuclear development in the country could be considered as a catalyst for the prospect of a nuclear arms race in the region. There are rumours that Israel may have up to 400 nuclear warheads. Egypt and 17 other Middle Eastern countries want Israels nuclear capabilities to be discussed with the IAEA since they have all signed the NPT and believe that Israels accession to the NPT is essential to establish regional peace. Israels current status is considered by some to be a provocation of nuclear proliferation. Israel refuses to sign the NPT without a comprehensive regional peace agreement as until then it requires its ambiguity about its nuclear weapons capability as a deterrent. It is important to note that although the world is split regarding who is to be blamed, both Israel and Iran are in a situation that can possibly lead to a destabilizing arms race in the Middle East and are key players in the possibility of establishing a nuclear free zone in the Middle East. Thus any agreement that does not involve the two countries will result in stalemate. Major Countries and Organizations Involved Israel Israel is the only country in the Middle East that is not a part of the NPT and is suspected by the IAEA to have nuclear weapons. Israel refuses to admit or deny possessing nuclear arsenal, or developing nuclear weapons and is using this ambiguity about its nuclear weapons capability as a deterrent. It is a good ally of USA and a hostile enemy of Iran. Iran Iran is a part of the NPT and strongly asserts that its nuclear technology, including enrichment is solely for civilian purposes but the IAEA has been unable to verify it. It is strongly suspected that the program is concealing the development of nuclear weapons. Iran claims that Israel is the only obstacle to establishing a nuclear weapons free zone and has stated its intentions to wipe Israel of the map. Iran has been subjected to four rounds of sanctions by the Security Council of the United Nation in order to urge it to halt its nuclear program. USA USA, today, has the largest quantity of nuclear weapons in the world but is trying to gradually cut them down under the Obama administration. It strongly condemns both North Korea and Iran for their nuclear program and is unwilling to accept either of the two as nuclear powers. China China has been reluctant to back the sanctions against Iran as it supports the Irans nuclear program for civilian use. It is believed to have helped Iran with its missile development programs. It is North Koreas most important ally, biggest trading partner and main source of food, arms and fuel. China has not expressed outright defiance against USA in order to protect its relations with the country and has supported some UN sanctions against Iran. Russia Russia believes that every nation has the right to self defense and therefore sees Irans nuclear program as legitimate. It has strong ties with Iran and has opposed unilateral sanction imposed on it by USA. However, Russia has urged Iran to change its stance. Russia has also been accused of assisting North Korea and Iran with their nuclear program. IAEA The IAEA is an international organization that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The IAEA believes that every nation has the right to an authorized and monitored nuclear program for peaceful purposes; however, nations should not attempt to pursue nuclear weapons in any form. Timeline of Events Date Description of event 1945 USA conducts its first nuclear test 1946 Russia conducts its first nuclear test 1952 UK conducts its first nuclear test 1964 China conducts its first nuclear test 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty 1968 NPT signed 1974 Indias first nuclear test 1985 North Korea accedes to the NPT 1990 Frances first nuclear test December 31, 1991 North and South Korea sign the South-North Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. March 6, 1992 US imposes sanctions upon North Korea for missile proliferation activities September, 1992 IAEA inspectors discover discrepancies in North Koreas initial report on its nuclear program and ask for clarification on several issues, including the amount of reprocessed plutonium in North Korea. February 9, 1993 North Korea denies IAEA inspections of two sites believed to store nuclear waste. 1993 North Korea threatens to withdraw from the NPT 1994 Agreed Framework June 13, 1994 North Korea withdraws from NPT 1996 Comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT) adopted 1998 Pakistans first nuclear test Feb 15, 1994 North Korea permits IAEA inspections in 7 of its sites May 24, 1996 The United States imposes sanctions on North Korea and Iran for missile technology-related transfers April 25, 1999 The United States, South Korea, and Japan establish the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group to institutionalize close consultation and policy coordination in dealing with North Korea 4 2002 President G W Bush names North Korea as a member of the Axis of Evil October 16, 2002 US announces that North Korea has admitted to possessing nuclear weapons January 10, 2003 North Korea withdraws from NPT October 9, 2006 North Korea conducts an underground explosive test 2009 North Korea conducts another test Previous Attempts to solve the Issue Sanctions on Iran The Security Council has imposed four rounds of sanction upon Iran in its resolutions 1737, 1747, 1803 and 1929. The UN Security Council began imposing sanctions on Iran since 2006, when it failed to comply with IAEA requirements and continued uranium enrichment activities. The sanctions have included bans on exports of nuclear, missile, and dual-use technologies; limiting travel by dozens of Iranian officials; and freezing the assets of forty individuals and entities, including Bank Sepah and various front companies.2 In addition, USA and EU have individually imposed further sanctions on Iran which have targeted its trade, finances and energy sector. Russia has supported the weaker Security Council sanctions against Iran but opposed the stronger ones imposed individually by the USA. It is against any unilateral sanctions and although a fourth round of sanctions was imposed, it faced resistance from Russia and China, both of which maintain strong economic ties with Iran. They opposed it due to their individual economic and political interests. According to critics, the lack of support from these two nations could have weakened the overall affect of the sanctions. The sanctions imposed are believed to have had limited success as Iran still holds an aggressive stance as to continuing its nuclear program and asserts that is it permitted to do so for civilian use as per the NPT. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said: The Iranian nation will not succumb to bullying, invasion and the violation of its rights.5 Talks with DPRK Several attempts have been made to establish a nuclear free Korean-peninsula but all efforts until today have been unsuccessful and DPRK has withdrawn from all treaties it has acceded to. This is probably because DRPK has only been signing treaties out of international pressure, not voluntarily. Agreed Framework The United States and North Korea signed the Agreed Framework on October 21, 1994 by which DPRK agreed to freeze operation and construction of nuclear reactors in exchange for two light water reactors and the relaxation of economic sanctions. The Agreed Framework resolved the ongoing 18 month crisis during which DRPK threatened to withdraw from the NPT. However, there were difficulties regarding the financing of reactors caused the plan to be behind schedule. Infuriated, DPRK violated the agreements which caused USA to persuade KEDO suspend shipments to the country. This marked the end of the agreement. In comparison to other attempts, this one probably had the greatest chance of success as it offered DPRK to end its nuclear program in exchange for realistic concessions made by other countries. Six Party Talks The six party concerning DPRKs nuclear program involved United States, North Korea, China, Japan, Russia and, South Korea as was a result of North Korea withdrawing from the NPT in 2003. Until today, six rounds of the six party talks have been held. Due to the conflicting aims of the members involved, minimal progress was achieved. During the third phase of the fifth round, North Korea agreed to shut down its nuclear facilities in exchange for fuel aid the normalization of relations with Japan and USA. These talks eventually ended when North Korea launched a satellite despite international pressure not to do so. It was believed to be a test of its prototype Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). In February 2005, North Korea declared that it had nuclear weapons for self defense and pulled out of the six party talks. DPRK expelled all nuclear inspectors and resumed its nuclear weapons program. Possible Solutions As evident from the past, Iran has been adamant about its position and the authenticity of its nuclear program. For any further progress to be made Iran and the West need to cooperate. Prior to creating any framework for agreements, Iran must be given recognition for its right to exist as an Islamic Republic, and its minimum security concerns must be acknowledged as legitimate. Thus, military strike either by USA or by Israel against Irans possible nuclear program would be disastrous as it would possibly cause Iran to retaliate which is a concern of global security and lead to regional catastrophe. The underlying problem in the Middle East crisis is the lack of trust and the increasing hostility between Iran and Israel. Solutions to resolve this issue should focus on reduce the fears of existential destruction that the two nations harbor towards each other. Iran must recognize the importance of moderating its bellicose stance whereas Israel checks its threats to attack Iran. In order to moderate any development of the negotiations between Israel and Iran, the Security Council should provide security guarantees to both countries and assess their concerns of security risks. Another way of addressing the issue would be to provide financial incentives to Iran; large enough to buy up the nuclear energy specialized for civilian use, if Iran completely halts its current nuclear program. One way of addressing the issue of North Korea would be to provide it with concessions such as providing it with substitute forms of energy for its civilian nuclear program and cutting back economic sanctions based on any agreement that has been reached upon. However, these are only possible if North Korea agrees to comply with any solutions reached upon. Although diplomacy is a great tool to resolve conflicts, many believe that as North Korea has repeatedly proved itself to be unreliable as far as agreements are concerned, a more aggressive option might be appropriate. However, it is important to note that any aggressive military action could possibly worsen matters. Constructive solutions would include measures to normalize relations between North Korea and all other states. As of today the most viable solution would be to establish a nuclear free zone in North Korea but it is difficult to implement. All problems that arise as a consequence of implementing such a solution must therefore also be addressed.

Easter 1999: The Day I Almost Lost Everything Essay -- Personal Narrat

Easter 1999: The Day I Almost Lost Everything The vibrant sun was shining its warmth upon the green, wet grass. There were puddles of water everywhere due to the past night’s rainfall. I was thirteen years old, short, and chubby at the time, with strawberry-blond hair and blue eyes. I was wearing a denim skirt and a blue t-shirt, which had a cute little bow at the top. My mom, with her curly red hair, blue eyes, and a constant smile that always lit up a room, came into my bedroom, which was purple with butterfly lights. She asked, â€Å"Are you ready to go honey?† I said, â€Å"Yes,† excitedly, as I loved Easter at my grandparent’s house. As my mom and I locked the black doors of our white house, we were greeted by my father, a big and bulky man standing 5’8’ tall with jet black hair and blue eyes. He was situating the back of the truck with fluffy pillows for Mom and me to lie down on. We had a glossy red medium sized four-by-four truck that we just bought a month before. It had an enclosed bed so one could lie down in the back. We hopped in and Dad got in the driver’s seat. He turned the key in the ignition and we were off. The road trip was going fine, but when we were about ten miles away from our destination, our lives changed. There was a tiny window measuring approximately 2’ by 2’in the middle of the truck bed and the driver’s area. I pushed the tiny black latch down with my right hand in order to open it, and asked my dad to turn the radio up because my favorite song had just come on. Then I shut the window back up. My favorite song at the time was Britney Spears’ â€Å"Hit Me Baby, One More Time.† To this day, every time I hear that song I feel as if something horrible is about to happen. This song came o... ...ut the world. Within that amount, 40,000-45,000 of the people killed are Americans. I found it hard to believe more Americans from 5-32 years old die as a result of an automobile accident than any other cause, but it is true (World Book Encyclopedia). Scary, huh? The thought that any person could one day become a statistic? I will always remember that Easter morning when I almost became one myself. I now realize that car accidents really do happen. I never thought that it would happen to my family. I heard about car accidents on the news all of the time, and I read about them in the papers. That Easter morning showed me that it could happen to anyone when they least expect it. I am thankful that my family and I lived through such a tragic experience. Works Cited â€Å"Automobile Accident.† World Book Encyclopedia. 22nd ed. 2004.

The Slaughter of the English Language Essay -- Collapse of the English

In George Orwell’s essay â€Å"Politics of the English Language†, Orwell argues that the English language is in ruins. What is to blame for the collapse of the English language? The answer simply lies within technology. Technology in many ways has a adverse effect on the English language. Young kids are now allowed to carry cell phones with texting being their main source of communication. Often times these kids butcher the English language through their text messages. They use improper grammar and often times do not punctuate at all. Technology such as texting, facebook and instant messaging work hand in had in the destruction of the English language. Technology has not made people more efficient, but rather has made them lazy. Text messaging is a technology that contributes to the great decline of the English language. The English language is often butchered through the use of text messaging. In Orwell’s essay, he states â€Å"An effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form† (446). Main stream society is too lazy to correct any grammar and punctuation in a text message, leading to the assumption that it is not important, after all it is only a text message. Thus, this shows the English language is in decline, when society is to lazy to take a few extra second to correct spelling and punctuation errors . One would not be able to write the same way in an academic essay as they would in a text message. If one would do so, that student would receive an F. No English teacher, or for that matter any teacher, would be thrilled nor impressed reading an essay filled with these common texting erors. Another way society is contributing to the deterioration of the English language... ...ine because of technological advances. As Orwell states in his essay â€Å"Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly† (446). These bad habit are speaking in text speak instead of proper English. In past centuries we have fought great battles, now we unite against new enemy, the enemy of improper English. Works Cited Brockenbrough, Martha. â€Å"Does IM Make U Dum.† The Concious Reader.Ed. Caroline Shrobes, Michael Shrugrue, Marc DiPaolo, Christian J. Matuschek. Longman: Boston, 2006.148-151. Print. Orwell, George. â€Å"Politics and the English Language.† The Concious Reader. Ed. Caroline Shrobes, Michael Shrugrue, Marc DiPaolo, Christian J. Matuschek. Longman: Boston, 2006. 445-447. Print.

people of 1970s :: essays research papers

The 1970’s are a decade of finding your self. In this decade, there were scandals, sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll. The years between 1970 and 1979 were very crazy. In this paper are people that helped shape the 1970’s   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Richard Milhous Nixon was born in 1913 in Yorba Linda, California. In 1946, Nixon was persuaded by the republicans to be their candidate, to challenge the democratic congressman, Jerry Voorhis. As a new member of the United States congress, Nixon gained valuable experience in international affairs, as well as serving on the committee that he committed, the â€Å"European Recovery Program†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦aka the Marshal plan. As the president of the United States, Nixon led us into the Vietnam War. It was said to be one of the most important issues that Nixon faced in his term of office. The war had begun in 1959 when communists tried to overthrow the government of South Vietnam. While running for president, Nixon had campaigned against war, saying that he would bring U.S. soldiers back home. However   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rutledge 2 The War only seemed to expand. In April of 1970, Nixon authorized the invasion of Cambodia, and the invasion on Laos in 1971. As the second half of the war came around, in 1972, Nixon traveled to Beijing and in May of 1972 he Visited Moscow. On both of these trips, he signed trade agreements with both countries, and a treaty with USSR to limit the deployment of the antiballistic missile systems. By the 1972 election, Nixon and Agnew were looking for re-election. The countries inflation had gone down, and the international position of the U.S. economy had improved greatly. The war was still raging in South Vietnam. At the beginning of Nixon’s second administration, the secret peace meetings resumed between Vietnam and the U.S. Nixon there declared a halt to all bombing, mining and artillery fire in North Vietnam. Nixon’s popularity would only increase with the public’s awareness of the Watergate scandal. By March of 1973, questions were aimed at Nixon about the tr ial of the burglars who had broken into the Democratic National Committee and the Watergate Complex in Washington D.C. These questions also raised questions about Nixon’s knowledge about the activities and his participation of the cover up of the Watergate Scandal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rutledge 3 In early 1974, a report released by the IRS stated that Nixon owed $432,787 in back taxes for the years 1969 through 1972.

The Primary Care Clinic

Discuss the key political, economic, and social forces that may have influenced the development of the clinic. Economic and social conditions that affect people’s lives determine their health. People who are poor are less likely to seek proper medical care, as opposed to people who are of middle-class status and above. Citizens with more social status, money, and education have a plethora of choices and control over things, such as the neighborhoods, their salaries, occupational opportunities, etc. Jin, Shah, & Svoboda, September, 1995, 153(5)) Dennis Raphael of the CSJ Foundation for Research and Education, reinforces this concept: â€Å"Social determinants of health are the economic and social conditions that shape the health of individuals, communities, and jurisdictions as a whole. Social determinants of health are the primary determinants of whether individuals stay healthy or become ill. † (Raphael, 2008) The development of clinics has become increasingly more imp ortant since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Politics influence clinics because when laws such as these are put in place, federal funds will follow. These acts will make healthcare more accessible to millions of people in the United States. (Hobbs, Morton, Swerissen, & Anderson, 2010) What would be a good mission statement? â€Å"To provide exemplary medical care to our patients, thus improving the health, wellness, and productivity of our community as a whole. Expect to receive the same level of service and dedication that we would provide for our own families. † At our clinic, we offer these tips for better health. We believe in empowering our patients with the knowledge to enable them to make better lifestyle choices. (Donaldson, 1999) 1. Don’t smoke. If you can, stop. If you can’t, cut down. 2. Follow a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. 3. Keep physically active. 4. Manage stress by, for example, talking things through and making time to relax. 5. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. 6. Cover up in the sun, and protect children from sunburn. 7. Practice safer sex. 8. Take up cancer-screening opportunities. 9. Be safe on the roads: follow the Highway Code 10. Learn the First Aid ABCs: airways, breathing, and circulation. Identify three (3) performance measures you would use to measure the clinic’s effectiveness and provide the rationale for each performance measure. The three performance measures that I would use are customer-client surveys, outcomes and efficiency, and operations. (L, B, & Xu, 2001) (R. & Griffith, 2010) Customer-client surveys are important, because we need to know if patients are happy with the care they are receiving from us. If they are not happy, it could hurt our bottom line. Word-of-mouth travels fast, negative or positive. Every tenth patient should receive a survey, since randomness yields better results. Bryant) I would ask questions, such as: * Was your appointment time adhered to? If not, how many minutes late? * Do you feel that you had enough time to express your concerns with your healthcare professional, or did you feel rushed during the appointment? * What are your thoughts on our check-in process? The outcomes and efficiency performance is extremely critical , because our goal is to decrease hospitalizations, and to manage illnesses. This will decrease healthcare costs overall. If too many of our patients are being hospitalized, then that means something needs to be fixed. The patients are either not following clinician directives, not coming for follow-up appointments, or we may not have enough physicians on staff. (R. & Griffith, 2010) There is a critical shortage of primary care physicians in this country, due to the lure of more financially lucrative specialties. (Herrick, 2010) Last, but not least, is operations. In order to know what is really going on in the organization, you must speak with the employees that are on the forefront. They can offer suggestions for streamlining tasks, such as customer check-in. They are usually the first people that hear raise or complaints from the patient, so their feedback is invaluable. How would you approach decisions regarding clinic expansion and annual plan approval? Due to the healthcare reform laws that were passed during the Obama Administration, there is a very real possibility that many people will be dropped from their employer-sponsored healthcare to the increased costs in 2014. (Diamond, 2010) Four major U. S. firms have come to the realization that millions, possibly, billions of dollars can be kept in the company coffers if they decide to cease healthcare benefits for their employees. The companies–AT&T, Caterpillar, Deere, and Verizon Communications—made announcements in March and April of 2010 that it would less costly to pay the government-imposed fines, as opposed to absorbing the increased costs of the overhaul. The bill reduces employers’ tax deductions. To accommodate these patients during their transition from traditional employer-sponsored plans to government-based plans (including, but not limited to, Medicaid, insurance through the exchanges, etc. ), more clinics need to be opened to handle the impending influx of people who will be seeking care. The federal government will provide funding to clinics as part of their primary care initiatives, which will provide capital to help cover the costs of expansion. We need to expand our practice, and have these additional clinics up and running before this legislation takes effect. We need to keep the continuity of care momentum going strong in our communities. How would you describe the role of the clinic as a component of the healthcare delivery system in your community? The clinic’s role in the community is of the utmost importance, especially in today’s financial climate. Many of our citizens are uninsured or underinsured. Due to the deterioration of the American economy, many people put cut healthcare from their tightened budgets. There have been reports of a decline in office visits since we have been in this recession. Clinics are needed to provide preventative and illness care, at an affordable cost, to the people. Due to the health reform legislation, which stresses preventative healthcare as one of its focuses, clinics will play a major role in the delivery of healthcare in this country, as they should. It is more cost-effective to utilize a clinic to manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes, instead of going to the emergency room due to uncontrolled diabetes. How has public healthcare policy influenced the formation of outpatient clinics in the healthcare system? The clinic’s role in the community is of utmost importance, especially in today’s financial climate. Many of our citizens are uninsured or underinsured. Due to deterioration of the American economy, many people cut medical services from their tightened budgets. There have been reports of a decline in office visits during this recent recession. Smith, 2010) Clinics are needed to provide preventative and illness care, at an affordable cost, to the members of the community. Due to health reform, which focuses on preventative care as a way to cut medical costs, clinics will play a major role in the delivery of medical services in our country. For example, it is more cost-efficient for patients to utilize a clini c to manage chronic conditions, i. e. diabetes, high blood pressure, etc, as opposed to going to the emergency room when symptoms escalate to dangerous levels.