Personal Response

Both of these videos were enjoyable to watch, I thought it was great to hear others love stories from their point of view. One of the first similarities between them was of course, they're both love stories. During both of them it is described of how much they love each other, and it truly shows through their emotion and compassion. In both their love is Just a quick shot of faith in that they will be together for the rest of their lives. The first one of the younger couple, she comes from another country and after eight short days together, he then realizes that he can't let her go home toBangkok and that they must get married. In the second one, the man sits down with her on a date and straight up tells her that he can't lose her and that they need to be married. All of these things that happen in these stories happen very quickly, in both it is as if they Just absolutely know for certain this Is their one true love and they very quickly decide to get married. Although these storie s are very similar In some aspects, they still have their differences. The story of the younger couple they come from opposite sides of the world, the man Is from Waco, Texas and the female Is from Bangkok, China.How they become acquainted Is from their names, somehow these two different people have the same exact name, and her work email ended up In his inbox one day by mistake therefore leading to their start In conversation. While In the second film they are from the same place, and they most definitely do not have the same name as In the first video. Finally, there Is a tragic flaw; In the second film the older gentleman ends up receiving terrible news of having terminal cancer so the woman ends up losing the true love of her life. Fortunately this did not happen to the younger couple that was In the first video. Personal Response By Dalton-SnowMIFF com I it is as if they Just absolutely know for certain this is their one true love and they very quickly decide to get married. Al though these stories are very similar in some from opposite sides of the world, the man is from Waco, Texas and the female is from Bangkok, China. How they become acquainted is from their names, somehow these two different people have the same exact name, and her work email ended up in his inbox one day by mistake therefore leading to their start in conversation. While in the same name as in the first video. Finally, there is a tragic flaw; in the second film younger couple that was in the first video.

Economical Factor

The reason for this is because chicken and park are a healthier option and they are low in fat products. Many large supermarket brand their own company names on different produces which have similar nutritional values. Access to shops is another economical factor, foods will be easy to consume it all depends on the way which the person is able to access shops. Many supermarkets provide the best value for money due to the competitive prices.Most of the supermarkets can be accessed by traveling in public transport. Also there are other ways which people can shop for example internet shopping has helped widely for many people to access foods but not many have the access to internet. Food supply is available to us in markets and some of the produces travel around the world in order to reach the supermarkets. This suggests that most fruit and vegetables are available for us any time of the year which has helped in developing menus.Due to this it has been a large affect on the foods which are being supplied for example food products like fish are easier to be supplied and bought by people. Socio-cultural issues : Diet can be influenced hugely by family. Our eating habits can be guided by our careers and they are the ones hen we are younger make choices such as what we should eat and what we should not eat. We can learn about various things such as healthy eating,religious rules or indirectly through the foods which we consume.Some people due to their religion they may fast or they might have beliefs that they are not allowed to eat certain animals because they believe that these animals are unclean, because children are bought up like this they are socialized into the values of their culture. Also eating meals together as a family could be important in some cultures. ISO some religions have religious occasions involve food as a ritual. Education- The amount of money which is sent on education population about healthy eating and food hygiene and things which influence the foods we eat are high.Public health is important. Environmental health is viewed by the could they make sure that they are monitoring anyone who is preparing food for the public to consume and they also ensure that the food is prepared in a hygienic way which the customers are able to buy it-elf there is unsafe food hygiene is identified then there will be notice which will be issued and the organization can be temporarily IR permanently closed down-The inspections are carried out with and with out the organization knowing .Also they are awarded with stars which are between O and 5 stars. Health Education has been promoted and campaigns has gone to show improvement in public awareness of healthy eating. For example the Five-a- day campaign began in 2003, this was when a huge amount of money was awarded by the big lottery in order to improve the consumption of fruits and vegetables in primary care trusts. There are many other campaigns such as Change 4 Life.Food hygiene is anoth er important factor which will benefit health. Even if the product is fresh or high in quality if the food hygiene is not good then the product would cause effects such as people getting ill or even killing them. Food labels are on many food products they allow the buyer to make choices about what food they are eating. If someone is choosing a healthier option then they will be able to read the label and see if there are high and low of certain nutrients which they might need.Many foods are found in the supermarket they are often marketed as they has health benefits. There are certain rules which are the manufactures cannot call foods as they are reduced calorie, the food has to be in the standard version in Order to be called as lower in calorie-However there are no legal definitions for the term low-fat, but produces cannot call foods which are high in fat as low in fat. Also if a food label has a ingredient displayed on the ingredient section then they must have it.There will be different roles for different health professionals. Dieticians has to work with patients who will need special diet and they try to make sure that the individual to eat certain foods within restriction due to their medical condition while they are trying to maintain a healthy balanced diet. Public health nutritionists does not work with individuals but they advise the government about healthy eating.Their advice can form the basis of public campaigns-Doctors are the in a ideal position which they are able to discuss paints diets during consultations-Many of the times people might go to the doctors more often-elf money is not in the correct weight and also if they are developing health issues such as high blood pressure. So therefore the doctor can advise to avoid certain foods such as saturated fat or high-salt foods. The doctor can also be referred to dietician if it is necessary. Nurses can also understand both healthy diets and also special diets.They also can suggest what foods to eat and what to avoid for a range of medical conditions-Also nurses also help with tube feeding and they can ensure that those who unable to eat independently receive correct amount of food and drink. Careers who work in both residential and community settings should be able to understand a healthy eating and special dietary requirements. Due to the lack of knowledge some cares have poor understanding in how to improve their ability to advise individuals on good diet.Sports nutritionist will work mainly with athlete to help them with their diet and to maximize their strength and fitness to make them to perform at their best ability. Also the nutritionist can prepare a diet plan that will have various nutrients and training which they will need to participate. Health and fitness instructors work at gyms and leisure centers and they also include personal training to maintain people's fitness levels but they are not athletes.They also have a good understanding of different diets and healthy eating as this is a part of their training. Social Policy – There are different ways which their are improvements to the diets of the population through social policy. There are different approaches to health education, and it also involves creating a lot of opportunities which will help people to choose healthy options for their diet. For example there were policies such as Nutritional Standards for School Lunches were agreed by the school Meals Review Panel and implemented in 2006.The standards require that: High- Quality meat,poultry or oily fish are regularly available , at least two portions of fruit and vegetables should be available with every meal, bread other cereals and potatoes are regularly available , deep- fried food is limited to no more than two portions per week, fizzy and other confectioneries are removed from school meals and wending machines , children and young people must have easy access at all times to free fresh ranking water in schools.

Exploring the theme of social class within the novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott. Fitzgerlard

In ‘The Great Gatsby’ the first instance of social class is when we find out that Nick is privileged. ‘haven’t had all the advantages that you’ve had.’ Nick is telling us about advice that his father had given him – from this we can clearly see that Nick is better off than some people. Nick also suggests that you are born into your class by saying ‘decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth’. This shows us that at the time the book was written people didn’t work their way up the social ladder and could not move through the classes very easily, instead they were born into and expected to stay in one class. The next significant mention of class, in my opinion, is ‘I wanted the world to be uniform †¦ I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses’. To me Nick is suggesting that he doesn’t want people to be divided by class, but that he wants everyone to be together and equal. To others this foreshadows that inequality between classes will play a big part in the story because Nick is saying what he wanted and not what actually happened. We also see that Nick is unhappy with the class difference when he says ‘well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre’. This shows that Nick is unhappy with the split between classes because he is privileged but cannot afford to live in the posher area of New York. Further into the novel we see again that Nick doesn’t like the class splits and how they have affected people. ‘I was confused and a little disgusted as I drove away’. Nick is not happy with the attitude and the way the upper classes behave. A reader may get the impression that he isn’t wealthy himself and is jealous of the rich or that he isn’t as rich as most people and doesn’t want to be because he is put off by the way that they come across. Another significant mention of social class is in the conversation between Nick and Jordan Baker. ‘I know somebody there’ ‘I don’t know a single-’. From this I can see that the classes don’t mix with one another because the people who live in East Egg – Daisy and Jordan – do not know many people from the West Egg; apart from Gatsby who is fairly well known anyway. This gives me a clear image of the way people in that time would have seen other classes – they knew that they shouldn’t mix with one another and that they should keep the classes as separate as they could. I can also tell that Tom thinks that he is at the top of society. ‘he reads deep books with long words in them’. Daisy is saying that he enjoys reading books, but by saying that he reads books with long words in and can understand them shows that he is educated and so it above a lot of people in society. When Tom says ‘It’s up to us, who are the dominant race’ it shows me that he thinks that the class of people of which he comes under is above everyone else. By describing himself as ‘the dominant race’ he is giving off the impression that he should have a lot of power and has the rights and ability to control everyone else. Another key instance, in my opinion, is when Myrtle is mocking the lower classes. ’These people! You have to keep after them all the time’. Myrtle is in lower class herself and when pretending to be upper class and mocking the lower classes, I can see that the classes don’t really like each other or get along. I can also tell that the classes do not have an understanding of each other as Myrtle doesn’t know how behave like a rich person. To some people this can also show that Myrtle doesn’t like the rich people, her mocking the lower classes could be an indirect way of mocking the upper class (of which she doesn’t fall under). We can also tell that the classes don’t really mix and understand each other because when they are talking about West Egg, Daisy is ‘offended’ and ‘failed to understand’. This clearly shows us that the upper class do not want to be associated with the lower classes and do not even attemp t to understand them. Further into the novel, chapter three opens with a description of Gatsby’s parties. ‘There was music from my neighbour’s house through the summer nights†¦while his two motor boats†¦Rolls-Royce†¦And on Monday’s eight servants’. This shows the reader that Gatsby is rich, and therefore could be considered part of the upper class. Nick is describing his neighbour showing that the people who live in West Egg can be part of the upper class because Gatsby is. Further into this chapter Gatsby is showing off his wealth at a party through the number of books he owns. ‘‘What do you think?’ he demanded’ after showing off his book shelf. Gatsby doesn’t read the books he just has them there to show that he is wealthy and can afford to waste his money. To some readers this can also symbolise that education is dividing the new rich from the old rich. It shows us that education can now be a factor into getting into the upper class whereas before you were born into class and only got an education if you were part of a high class. Further into the novel, chapter six, we find out that even before Daisy, Gatsby had thought that wealth was important. ‘I suppose he’d had that name ready for a long time’. The name Jay Gatsby comes from a materialistic conception which means to be successful. This shows the reader that Gatsby had always wanted to be successful and make something of himself and that it wasn’t Daisy that had caused him to want to be wealthy. From chapter six we can also see that being born into a high class and an education were not the only ways to move up the social ladder to be part of a high class. ‘drifted back to the Lake Superior and he was still searching for something to do. This quotation can show the reader that Gatsby is looking for a way other than an education to climb the social ladder because he leaves college and is searching for something else to do. Tom looks down upon the newly rich and thinks that they are all bootleggers. ‘some big bootlegger’ This shows us that Tom is not happy with the way some people have earnt their money. Again showing us that he thinks he is superior to others.

China in the World Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

China in the World Economics - Essay Example At the conclusion of his trip, the Shanghai Communiqu declared a statement of their shared foreign policy views. But following the suppression of Communist demonstrators in June 1989, U.S. suspended high-level official exchanges with the PRC and weapons exports and also imposed a number of economic sanctions on account of its absence of Human Rights policies. Following the September 11 2001 attacks, the U.S. and PRC commenced a counterterrorism propaganda that positively reflected in their joint ventures and wholly US-owned enterprises in mainland China. The 1969-79 years featured normalization of relations between the People's Republic of China and the United States. The economic and political maturity of China, coupled with new concerns over the nature of Chinese-American interactions (concerns that were prompted by several circumstances, including the Vietnam War and Nixon's surprise visit to the PRC), caused the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China. ... The PRC welcomed the visit for a variety of reasons, the most important of which was probably the perceived imminence of a Soviet attack on China. A second factor was Peking's concern that Japan's tremendous economic growth might serve as the basis for a revitalization of Japanese militarism until United States by virtue of its security treaty with Japan help prevent any such Japanese rearmament. The size of the Chinese economy, even measured in current U.S. dollar (USD) terms, is likely to have surpassed that of Britain and leapt to be the fourth largest economy in the world by the end of 2005. Since its re-entry into the world economy in the late 1970s, China has been a beneficiary of the international economic system. In the 1990s, more and more states pursue the strategy of entering into free trade agreements that offer preferential terms of trade among its members while discriminating against nonmembers. The establishment of the WTO in 1995, whose explicit intent was to strength en application of the principle of non-discrimination of its member economies, saw a growth in the number of FTAs. By mid-2000, one hundred and fourteen FTAs were in effect. Steve Van Andel, chairman of the US Chamber of Commerce and board chairman of the US-based Amway Company, during an exclusive interview with People's Daily correspondent Liu Aicheng stationed in the United States the Chinese markets potential and economic development to be very promising. He said: US Amway Company, founded in 1959, is a world-famous producer of household products for daily use. The company has been investing in China for seven years, with the total investment topping US$1 million, and it has planned to expand its investment

Ethnography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethnography - Essay Example Ethnography refers to a collection of qualitative methods usually utilized in social sciences. These qualitative methods in most cases focus on close observation of social interactions and practises. These methods used in ethnography enable a researcher to interpret as well as build on theories that outline the occurrence of a given social process, the reasons that underlie a given occurrence within the society (Andrew, 1988: p.45). Ethnography studies the social interactions of people within a given society, their perceptions, as well as, their behaviors in relation to particular communities, organizations, teams and groups. The roots of this study trace down to the anthropological studies of rural minute areas, usually from a very remote setting. The central aim of this policy is to determine the provision of a rich as well as holistic insight into the views and actions of people. In addition, this study also considers their nature such as the sights and sounds within their environ ment or the location of their residence. The collection of this information follows several outlined features about the cultures of a give society. As such, there are several policy issues outlining the ethnography tendencies within the society (Clifford, 2013). ... As such, ethnography entails a graphical representation as well as in writing of a particular culture of a group within the society. As such, the relevant authorities come up with different policies that follow the concept of ethnocentrism (Hoey, 2013). An understanding of ethnography enables these companies to trade properly in new areas with different cultures from those of their homeland. In addition, it enables these organizations to dispel ethnocentrism from leaders or management teams of their organizations. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to overlook the cultures of other groups or factions in the society. An ethnocentric person feels that other cultures are inferior to theirs, and as such, assumes that his or her culture is the best in the society. Furthermore, he or she ends up making critical management decisions based on their culture, irrespective of the cultures surrounding the communities within which his or her organization operates. For instance, an American company ope rating in Kuwait appoints an ethnocentric individual to head the delegation. Kuwait has a very different culture compared to the American culture. As such, it is very wrong for a manager from the United States to impose American cultures on Kuwait nationals when operating in their home country. On the contrary, this American manager should try to operate like a native from Kuwait (Egger, 2008: p.94). The most common policies of the study of ethnocentrism occur in the investment and expansion analysis of multinational corporations. Most of these companies that expand into foreign territories foe market expansions as well as exploitation of investment opportunities have to

Healthymagination at GE (General Electric ) Essay

Healthymagination at GE (General Electric ) - Essay Example Additionally, these quantitative measures and site certification is audited by GE’s audit staff and is obligatory for campuses with in excess of 100 employees. As the company grows, its goal is to reach every employee in spite of site size. The introduction of Electronic medical records came with the potential to revolutionize healthcare by calculating administrative costs through superior effectiveness, improved correctness and broader admission to the latest clinical data (Glader, 2009). With these features the workflow is streamlined, it allow doctors to share information steadily, GE’s Centricity EMR brings the newest technology to bear on the test of managing several patient records around the globe. What makes GE to act this way is its commitment to patient-centered innovation that focuses on safety, clinical solutions as well as a customized environment for even the youngest patients. 2 GE is more diversified compared to the past. The creation of the GE healthyma gination Fund shows GE’s commitment to improvement in healthcare as a means to promoting the objectives of visibly increasing access to healthcare at the same time improving the quality along with reducing the delivery cost (McGregor, 2009). The company also gives support to the development of companies with inventive technologies as well as business models that share in the broader healthymagination goals. A s a way to further diversify the company, it additionally on receiving growth capital in addition to expertise in investment, the fund’s investment partners have the opportunity to cooperatively work with a global leader in healthcare technology in areas with mutual interest, which includes technology development and global distribution What led the company to diversification was to combat the crisis of healthcare access. Healthymagination has a goal to offer Better Health for additional People around the world. While focusing on technologies that are simpler, eas ier-to-use and more portable devices, those who lack sufficient healthcare right now, may for the very first time get access to an adequate diagnosis, an opportunity at surgery, or the ways to save the child’s life (Glader, 2010). When we specifically focus on anesthesia equipment, GE committed a center team that focused on anesthesia products to work together with international hospitals Anesthesiologists for research along with development for use of GE ICU/anesthesia products geared to low-income countries. This has led the company to knowing its market and its business significantly better than any time in history. The company has put in place financial models and levers that it uses to drive our performance. It also has clear strategies with plans of action for all of it divisions. It also engages in investing in its people and has specific plans to increase accountable leaders that will drive change (Mark, 2008). 3 In 2009, General Electric publicized that in the next s ix years it would spend $3 billion in creating at least 100 health-care innovations that were intended to substantially lower costs, increase accessibility, and along with improve quality (Scott and Corporate Environmental Data Clearinghouse, 1992). The company highlighted two products at the time; a $1,000 electrocardiogram device and a PC-based ultrasound machine that

Works of Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet Essay

Works of Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet - Essay Example Gogh and Monet both had their own distinct styles of painting. Claude Monet was born in 1840 on November 14 in Paris. He grew up in LeHaver, near the sea. As a young boy he was a very good artist and his pictures were hung on the windows of art supply stores. Monet often traveled to France to paint. Monet had an impressionist style of painting. His favorite five things to paint were wheat stack, cathedrals, gardens, lily pond and Japanese bridge. Monet died in 1926 in Giverny. He was famous for French impressionist paintings. Many people came to his funeral. Unlike many artists, he was famous even before he died. His famous paintings include Morning Haze, Marine near Etretat and Lily Pond. Vincent Van Gogh was born in Holland in 1853. He worked at many jobs, such as at an art gallery, a school, a bookstore, as a preacher, and at last, he became an artist. His life was not much happy and he usually painted sad paintings with poor people in them. His paintings were always very dark until he saw some colorful Japanese paintings. After which he started painting happier paintings. He usually worked in postimpressionist style. But still his life was filled with sad events and his last painting was â€Å"wheat fields with crow† after which he shot himself. He is known as Dutch postimpressionist painter. His famous paintings include The Starry Night and Wheatfield with Crows. Claude Monet was an impressionist painter. Impressionist arts were painted as if someone just took a quick look at the subject of the painting. They were in bold colors and did not have much detail. The paintings in these styles were usually outdoor scenes like landscapes.

Company Analysis and Valuation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Company Analysis and Valuation - Essay Example This will be done by comparing the financial ratios to other companies within the same industry so as to get a feel for the true or normal performance of the company. Finally, the report will use the valuation models in trying to compute the intrinsic value of the company and then compares it with the current value of the company to decide if this stock is overvalued or undervalued. Ratio analysis refers to the systematic use of ratios to interpret a company’s financial statements in order to determine its weaknesses and strengths, financial health as well as its current performance and historical performance. The profitability ratios of Masraf Al-Rayan have been fluctuating, however, they shows an upward trend from 2012 implying that the profitability of the company has been increasing over the period. The net profit margin and ROA are relatively equal to the industry average value indicating that the company has the same profitability as other firms in the industry. However, other firms gives their shareholders more returns that Masraf Al-Rayan because their average ROE is higher than that of the firm. Management efficiency ratios indicates how well a firm is managing its liabilities and how effectively it is utilizing its assets. Efficiency ratios indicates the efficiency with which the assets of the company are working to generate sales revenue or income (Kapil, 2011). The company’s management efficiency ratios have been fluctuating throughout the period implying that Masraf-Al-Rayan’s efficiency has been changing over the period. In comparison to the industry average, the Company’s efficiency ratios are lower; this indicates that the company is relatively less efficient than other firms in the industry. The company’s leverage ratios have been fluctuating throughout the period implying that Masraf-Al-Rayan’s solvency has been changing over the period. From the ratios, the company is highly leveraged

Organizational Behavior and the Individual Essay - 3

Organizational Behavior and the Individual - Essay Example As stated above, studies of organizational behavior have gained immense prominence in the last few decades owing to globalization, cross cultural business settings and greater focus on increased employee productivity. Organizational behavior studies determine the context, environment and other factors which lead to successful desired behavior of employees that aligns with the strategies goals (McShane & Glinow, 2010). In anchoring a better understanding of the organizational behavior concept, MARS model is of special recommendation which points at four major determinants of individual performance- motivation, ability, role perceptions and situational factors (David Bourassa 2010). These four determinants take into account both personal and external factors that help determine the voluntary behavior and performance of employees. Weakening of any single factor result in a decline in the overall desired performance. Motivation is the drive which compels an employee to achieve the coveted goal. Various motivational theories have been propounded by eminent researchers stating the needs which work as facilitators for work encouragement. Maslow’s need hierarchy theory levels those needs on physiological, safety and self actualization criteria (David Bourassa 2010). It states that employees first look for fulfillment of general food, clothing and shelter needs and then climb up the need ladder to security and finally self actualization. This theory asserts that with successive levels of job and work, how needs change and alter the motivational perceptions of employees. Ability refers to the inherent talents and the acquired skills needed to accomplish the tasks given (David Bourassa 2010). Employees are found to demonstrate superior performance in areas where their competencies- values, skills and talents match. Also, with training and making them develop the required skill

Pump Characteristics Paper Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Pump Characteristics Paper - Lab Report Example The FM50 is an example of a centrifugal pumping system. The requirements of this pumping mechanism are an area which is clean, and where the fluid being transmitted is of a consistent viscosity. The design of the FM50 centrifugal pump is intended to convert mechanical energy into kinetic energy. This kinetic energy is transmitted to an impeller. The impeller transforms the kinetic energy into potential energy. The change in potential energy translates into a change of pressure in the fluid. The change in pressure in the fluid and the energy which is input enable the FM50 to provide work. Heat is a result of work. The transformation of energy results in an increase in internal energy and heat as a resultant effect. The characteristics of the FM50 pumping mechanism will be explored. These characteristics which will be measured are the following: Head height. Power input Efficiency. The first law of thermodynamics and its implications will be reviewed in this laboratory report. Introduc tion There are two types of pumps. One type of pump is a positive displacement pump. Another type is a roto dynamic pump. This research will examine the latter. Pumps and their components compose about 20% of the global energy demand. Pumping systems are responsible for 25% to 50% of the energy consumptions in a number of plant operations. Roto dynamics have two functions. These functions are: Movement of fluid from one place to another. Movement of fluid through a system in a lubricating or refrigerating function. The parts of a pumping system consist of the following components: Pumps. Prime movers. Piping. Valves Controls and assessment equipment. Pressure flow. The pump and the prime mover consume the most energy in a pumping system (Energy Efficiency Asia.org 2006). The First law of Thermodynamics which was proposed by Sir Isaac Newton mentions that energy can neither be conceived nor destroyed. Energy can only be transformed from one state to another or from one location to an other. Electrical energy is transformed into mechanical energy and its heat components. The FM50 pumping system is an example of a centrifugal pumping mechanism. The characteristics of this type of pumping system require that the situations are free of debris (Waukesha Cherry Burrell 2009). The FM50 pumping system is a relatively non complicated machinery item. The machine converts one form of energy into another. The electrical components transform the electrical energy into mechanical energy. In an internal combustion process, electrical energy is converted from chemical energy to mechanical and heat energy. In a steam and gasoline turbine, the mechanical energy of steam pressure converts to kinetic energy as the steam is forced out of a nozzle. A high speed configuration of steam particles from the nozzle of the turbines motor impacts a set of blades and causes the blades to exercise mechanical energy by means of the blade movement. In a pumping system, the pump transforms the en ergy which is derived from a turbine. This energy is transformed from kinetic energy. In the pumping system, the kinetic energy is transformed into potential energy. This potential energy causes the fluid in the pump to gyrate. The gyration of the fluid in the pump represents work. Lit Review The energy is conceived in the roto dynamic pump by rotary movement and its output. The impeller within the pumping mechanism exerts a force on the system. This force causes the energy to transform from mechanical energy which is the impeller exerting a force upon the fluid. The fluid gains kinetic energy in this process. In pumps which are employed for domestic

Discrimination Against Homosexuals in the Military Essay Example for Free

Discrimination Against Homosexuals in the Military Essay Since 1993 more than 14,500 service members were fired under the law of †Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† (sldn. org). In 1950, President Harry S. signed the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which set up the discharge rules for homosexual service members. People wanting to serve their country were being discriminated and discharged because of their sexuality. Then in 1982, Ronald Reagan proposed a defense directive that states â€Å"Homosexuality is incompatible with military service† and people who engaged in homosexual acts or stated that they were homosexual or bisexual were discharged. In 1992, Bill Clinton, as a presidential candidate, promised to lift the ban. Finally in 1993, when Bill Clinton was elected president, he proposed a compromise that he named â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†. This law issued a defense directive that military applicants should not be able to be asked about their sexual orientation (Washington Post). Homosexuals being discriminated in the military have grabbed the attention of people all around the world. The question on whether or not homosexuals should have the right to serve in the military was a hotly debated topic in politics for the past few years. Even after the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, will our society be ready to accept others? The research started with searching â€Å"Homosexuals in the military†. Then â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell† and personal stories of gays in the military was found. Unfortunately, no books could be found on this topic, but articles from top newspapers became a valid choice. Documentaries and podcasts were also looked at. Good sources were easy to find because the topic was so controversial in the US, so the news articles came in handy. The repeal of â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell† was all over US news websites, and news clips from YouTube were found. Last fall, a pentagon study was released that said a majority of the US forces, more than 70%, said that serving with homosexuals would have no negative effect on them. Forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan had a different response. 58% of combat marines said that they would prefer not to serve with homosexuals. Since the repeal in late September, the effect has been positive on quite a lot of people. The main people who are opposed to the repeal are the military chaplains. The majority of the 3,000 active chaplains are conservative Christians. A retired chaplain, named Brigadier General Douglas Lee, is one of the 66 retired chaplains that wrote a letter to President Obama, urging him to not go through with the repeal. In a video showing the effects (positive and negative) of the repeal, shows Brigadier General Douglas Lee talking about Don’t ask, Don’t Tell. He says, â€Å"Homosexuality is one of a multitude of sins. Chaplains help people wrestle with the sins that bisect them and their lives. The problem with this repeal is that this particular sin is being legitimized as being normal and okay†. The problem with the non acceptance of the chaplains is that many and most conservative Christians believe that homosexuality, like all of the other sins in the bible, is a lifestyle choice (Pbs. org). According to another Pentagon Study, thirty-five other countries allow homosexuals to serve openly with no negative effect (Sldn.  org). Consider two men, both wanting to serve their country, one is gay and one is straight. They get all of the same test scores, and pass, yet only the straight guy is let in, not because of anything else other than his sexuality. If the same circumstances had happened, instead with a man and a woman, it would be sexist. If one was white and the other was black, it would be racist. All of the victims of these situations would have protection under the law and could sue, except for the homosexual. The homosexual has no legal protection from the government (Library in a book: Gay Rights). The repeal could be the first step to changing this. September 20th 2011, Obama stated, â€Å"As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service†(UStoday. com). Military bases around the US have been holding sessions for service members to educate them on the repeal of â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†. They say, â€Å"You are not expected to change your religious or moral beliefs, however you are obligated to treat all others with dignity and respect† (Pbs. org). It seems as though that our society has been coping positively since the repeal. There are always going to be some people who will not stray from their views, but the percentages are going up and more and more people are willing to except homosexuals serving freely in the US.

The Marketing Strategies In The Toyota Company Essay Example for Free

The Marketing Strategies In The Toyota Company Essay Toyota Company for the past many years have been known for its quality products and reliability. But the very creativity of Toyota in its businesses and projects which touches every aspect of life was hardly seen by the people. It is when the company tried to create an image for themselves showcasing their eco-friendly activities like participation in motor sports and also practiced corporate philanthropic acts. Toyota managed to develop great principles and philosophies which helped in the manufacturing of the various exclusive models of the Toyota Production System. Toyota’s success of the tools and the technologies is due to the following 4 P’s model which they follow very rigidly. Philosophy à   The company philosophy states that they have to drive the market by satisfying the stakeholders of the company who are customers, society at large, community and its associates. Process à   Following the right kind of process will yield better results in the short term and long term improvement process. People and Partners à   More skilled and confident people who have the zeal to learn and grow in the company help and value the organization success. Problem Solving à   Organizational learning and experiences take place only if there is a control mechanism for solving the problems and the issues. Continuous improvement is still a better option which has been opted for. Toyota designs its strategies based on the concept of breaking down the jobs to develop specific work assignments which would be provided to the respective audience who will have the effectiveness in performing the task. Training processes needs to be sharpened by Toyota to meet up to its expectations. Toyota believes in developing the people by its rigorous and continuous problem solving mechanism which is in place. Toyota since 2003 has been considered as the world’s second carmaker lagging behind GMC. With the attractive designs in its technology, Toyota has been regarded as the best among the auto consumers across the globe. It has made the reputation and brand not only for its attractive designs in the vehicles but because of its affordable prices, branding process and the marketing techniques that have been followed. It has been successful in being different from other automakers because of the differential pricing mechanism. The segmentation and the targeting measures have been streamlined in way that each customer’s needs and wants have been effectively satisfied. Toyota uses a strong definition to describe its business entity by marketing its business line as being fuel efficient, environmentally friendly and having better quality products and also it marketed as being a funny and entertaining in terms of its promotional campaigns. Although Toyota gained enough revenue because of this unique selling proposition, still the masses considered it as only a fun company. Hence it decided to start up a new brand named Lexus targeting the luxury car market which it thought of marketing as a separate company with no relation to Toyota. This project was successful because of it better customer support services and a strong distribution network. Despite all the innovativeness shown, Toyota faced a crunch and a problem in their Demographic segmentation with reference to the age factor. It targeted an average age to be 47 as compared to the industry average to be 45 and hence choose to design a marketing campaign for the youth segment to influence them in buying Toyota products. Thus it started manufacturing and designing sports utility and youthful models to target the younger youth segment. To make this youth project a success it promoted its products on youth oriented media like MTV, sports channels; highlighting its brand philosophy on the websites in a flamboyant and a loud manner and by sponsoring various live programs. They were so practical and disciplined in their marketing tactics that they followed the concept of no negotiation in their prices and also providing no pressure on the customers to force their buying there by encouraging vehicle customization for its customers to enforce their purchase decision. The success of Toyota is regarded for its ability to identify the newer growth opportunities thereby achieving greater market development and product development thus capturing them in a timely phased manner. It also concentrated on downsizing wherever required so as to minimize on the resources which did not produce results. The unique characteristics of Toyota’s marketing strategies is that it has kept aside the traditional marketing tactics like surveys or focus groups or case studies but has adopted techniques like participating in parties, clubs, art galleries :thus helping in creating a balanced rapport with the youth. Toyota felt that the marketers shouldn’t use marketing gimmicks to attract the customers but to devise strategies which convey the messages in a straightforward, authentic and undemanding manner. Publicizing their product range in music CDs was another plus point for the company. Websites were the point of grievance handling and a focal point for providing feedback and suggestions in an interactive manner. Toyota thus has created a niche for themselves because of its economies of scale, global brand name and highly equipped and skilled engineers, all of which have been contributed in the best manner to showcase the company positively. References: Cina, M. (2002). â€Å"Toyota Uses Unique Marketing Strategy For Scion.† Retrieved on April 4, 2008, from Popular Mechanics Web site: http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/1270196.html Liker, J. Et al (2005). â€Å"The Toyota Way Fieldbook† 1st Ed, New York: McGraw Hill. Wittens, S. Et al (2006). â€Å"Toyota: Developing Strategies for Growth† Retrieved on April 4, 2008, from Life in Motion Web site: http://lifeinmotion.wordpress.com/2006/12/23/%E2%80%9Ctoyota-developing-strategies-for-growth%E2%80%9D/

Life Of Gladiators In The Roman Empire

Life Of Gladiators In The Roman Empire The name gladiator was derived from a Latin word gladiatores. Gladiators were both skilled and amateur fighters in ancient Rome who were regarded as expensive investments and fought to death in entertaining their spectators. Throughout the empire the matches took place in arenas with engagements pitying man against man or man against animals in combat. To the Romans themselves, the foundation of the arena was one of the significant features of their civilization. There was hardly any contemporary voice that was against the morality of staging gladiatorial combat in fact, the gladiators own epitaphs proudly talked about their profession without indignity, regret, or resentment. At present, the notion of gladiators combating to the death, and ideas of an amphitheatre where battle could be staged and watched by a passionate audience, epitomizes the extent to which the Roman Empire was capable of falling. The origin of gladiatorial combat originated from the Estruscan customs that sacrificed humans to appease the dead. The first gladiators were slaves who were forced to fight to the death at the funeral of an eminent aristocrat, Junius Brutus Pera in 264 BC. This spectacle was organized by the heirs of the deceased in honor of his commemoration. This concept of (the Munus) was that it kept alive the memories of important personalities after their death. The munus was held sometime after the funeral and were frequently repeated at annually or a five year intervals. This gladiatorial games or munera as it was locally referred were not made a regular part of public spectacle until the late first century. Gradually the gladiatorial exhibitions were separated from the funerary perspective and began to be staged by the affluent people as a way of showing of their power and influence in the society. The number of gladiators to be put on show was the main attraction, the bigger the number, th e more generous the sponsor was alleged to be, and the more thrilling the spectacle. Most gladiators were recruited from slaves, criminals and prisoners of war and had no choice if selected for such duty. Since they had lost their rights and some never had citizenship they had no option but to comply as they would have an opportunity of a renewed life in the arena as a respected gladiator. Surprisingly, a number of gladiators were not prisoners of war or slaves but free-born volunteers. They had never lost their rights as citizens but choose the profession voluntarily by pledging their allegiance to the owner of a gladiatorial troupe by swearing an oath to endure branding, flogging or die by the sword (UNRV History).The oath meant that the owner of the troupe had the final authority over the gladiators life, even assimilating him to the status of a slave. The key motivation was perhaps the down payment that a volunteer received after taking the oath as a gladiator. By the closing stages of the Republic, almost half of the gladiators were volunteers that took on the p osition of a slave for an agreed-upon duration of time, similar to agreed servitude that was widespread in the late second millennium. Throughout the Roman Empire gladiators were trained in exceptional and specialized schools called ludi that could be found as general amphitheatres. In these schools, the gladiators were subjected to a thorough training, fed on a high-energy diet and received expert medical attention, this made them an expensive investment that were not to be dispatched lightly. Rome itself boasted of four schools, the largest of which was named the Ludus Magnus and was connected to the Colosseum by an underground subway. The most famous training ground was the school of Capua where Spartacus sparked the gladiator and slave rebellion in 73 BC. In general, most of the gladiators would not battle more than two or three times a year but with the fame and fortune of the arena they would eventually buy out their freedom. However, some gladiators who had initially committed crimes were either anticipated to die within a year ad gladium, or might get their freedom after three years ad ludum, if they survive d in the arena (Coit 967). Matches involving gladiators took place in ampitheatres or colosseums and were often staged after the animal fights (Venationes) and open executions the noxii. In its original forms the equestrian status or persons of patrician often planned the matches in order to gain political favor on the part of the public and audience. The organizers of these games were commonly referred to as dominus, the editor or munerator and were privileged with the official status and respect of a magistrate. In case a gladiator dies in combat, the lanista or trainer received payment for compensation by the sponsor of the fatal and deadly spectacle almost a hundred times the cost of a gladiator who survived the battle. For this reason it was very much expensive for sponsors to supply the bloodshed that spectators frequently demanded, though if they did allow a gladiator to be slaughtered it was taken as a suggestion of their kindness(Bagnell 621). In spite of their servile, outlaw, legal and slavery status, gladiators commanded a wide-ranging following. They often benefited from great social prestige as even young Roman boys were fond of hanging out at gladiator schools and sometimes taking combat lessons by the gladiators, something their parents really disliked. In many occasions, Roman matrons in particular enjoyed having affairs with gladiators due to their celebrity status. Many tombstones of the gladiators had wall graffitis marked with comments such as, Celadus makes the girls swoon (Coleman). More so, there were cartoons that contained accompanying messages and headings scratched on plastered walls showing the tally of a gladiators records. It was the sanction of the sponsor, acting upon the wishes of the crowd in the coliseum, to make a decision whether to hand in official pardon for the defeated gladiator or consign him to the victor to be slain. The guiding rules for gladiatorial fights were almost certainly precise to different styles of combat. In the arena gladiators were armed individually in different combinations, each combination commanding its own fighting style and technique. It was uncommon to find gladiators being paired against an opponent in the same fighting style. For example, it was difficult to find the equites (horsemen) who entered the arena on chariots and horseback fighting against other horsemen. The most interesting pairing involved divergent advantages and disadvantages against each other the most favorite being combat between the fish fighter (Murmillo) and the hoplomachus or thraex. The fish fighter had a large shield that covered him from shoulder to calf giving him stout protection but was very heavy. The thraex carried a small squared shield in combat that only protected his torso while the hoplomachus had a small and rounded shield however; all of them wore leg protectors that stretched well abo ve the knee. Out of all the gladiators, the retiarius (Net fighter) was the most defenseless since he only had a shoulder guard on his left arm that acted as his protection. On regular combats he fought with the secutor who was heavily armed although virtually invincible, crumbled under the heavy weight of his armor. These gladiators were named according to their fighting styles, initially the various fighting styles emanated from the types of combat the Romans encountered with the natives who they fought and conquered. For instance, thraex literally meant inhabitants of Thrace the unfriendly land bordering the north and east by the Danube and notorious black sea respectively. Consequently, as styles in fighting became recognized and official gladiators were trained in a definite ethnic style that is totally different from his real place of origin. Interestingly there was also a category of women gladiators, this was widespread but never lasted for long as women fighting in the arena was outlawed by Emperor Septimius Severus in the third century, C.E. The Roman Empire had gladiatorial barracks that were marked by heterogeneity as membership and life of brotherhood constantly fluctuated due to betrayal and tours by troupes in the local circuit. Some gladiators survived up to retirement as fresh recruits were brought in to train as gladiators. Above all, gladiatorial combat was a demonstration of bravery and skillfulness.

Grammar Basics :: essays papers

Grammar Basics 1) Subject - The subject is the noun or the pronoun that performs the action of the verb in a sentence. In literary usage, the subject is the the idea about which something is being said. Predicate- The predicate of a sentence is the verb 2) Sentence - A sentence is a grammatical unit that is syntactically independent and has a subject that is expressed or, as in imperative sentences, understood and a predicate that contains at least one finite verb. ex. Joey ran to catch the elevator. 3) Phrase - A phrase is two or more words in sequence that form a syntactic unit that is less than a complete sentence. A collection of grammatically-related words without a subject or without a predicate is considered a phrase. 4) Introductory Phrase - a phrased used in the beginning of a sentence of paragraph ex. "Friends, Romans, countrymen....lend me your ears!" 5) Conjunction - A conjunction is the part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences...such as and, but, and because. 6) Clause - A clause is a collection of grammatically-related words including a predicate and a subject (though sometimes is the subject is implied). ex. I like to eat bagels Introductory Clause - An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a sentence. ex. Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz. Dependant Clause - A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence. ex. When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz . . . 7) Antecedent - The word, phrase, or clause that determines what a pronoun refers to. ex. The teacher asked the children where they were going. Relative Pronoun - A pronoun that introduces a relative clause and has reference to an antecedent ex. The child who is wearing the hat. 8) Introductory Conjunction - 9) I went to the movies with Joey, Andrew, Amy, and Michelle Julie, Sara, and I went to the grocery store last night.

short story :: essays research papers

A NEW PAGE by P. Ringon It’s been two weeks, and I haven’t made any real friends. It’s just that, I feel as if no one likes me. Sure, I’ve talked to a few people, like Jessica and this really hot guy Chase, but I’m starting to feel lonely again. I mean, I was captain of the cheerleading squad at my old school, and was one of the popular girls. Diary, I just don’t get it. Well, whatever, I’m way too tired to keep on writing so, let’s just hope tomorrow will be at least a little different from the norm, that I’m slowly getting used to. Until next time. Carissa woke up the next morning and carelessly stumbled out of bed. She looked in the mirror and thought no wonder no one’s really talked to me, I look like crap. Despite her morning thoughts, she and everyone else knew how gorgeous she actually was. With her hair done, face fresh, clean, made-up, and new clothes to show off, she headed out the door and jumped into her car. She sped down to the nearest Starbucks, just like she did every morning. She finally got to school, still getting used to how different things looked compared to her old one. Carissa was still not used to her dad’s line of work, even though it was the fourth time his company had transferred him. Following the same routine she had been going through for the past two weeks, Carissa sat in the courtyard and read one of her favorite novels, The Joy Luck Club, and sipped on her brand-name cappuccino with extra whipped cream, hoping that someone would take interest in her and maybe even spark a new friendship. Carissa was reading †¦water had turned a deep golden color, and then red, purple, when she was suddenly startled by someone who knocked over her cappuccino. Without even looking to see who did it she blabbed out, â€Å"Look! You need to watch where you’re going, Loser.† Carissa looked up and suddenly felt her heart sink and her face turn as red as an apple. It was Chase, and before she could even begin to apologize, he jumped in saying, â€Å"Oh, damn. Hey, umm, it’s Carissa, right? I’m so sorry, I was totally zoned out. Here, I have a Starbucks ‘ccino, too, and I didn’t even do so much as breathe on it yet.

OManjos Last Waltz Essay -- Creative Writing Narrative Essays

O'Manjo's Last Waltz It was another long week, and I was looking forward to the usual summer rituals of mowing lawns and hammering a few nails into any place they seemed to fit. I usually closed the auto parts store at 5:30 and stayed doing paperwork for another hour or so, but not on Fridays. Fridays were the finish line of a usually marathon week of complaining customers and dissatisfied employees. At 5:31, the place would be empty, dark, and eager for an echo. The old man knew this ritual, and when he came on Fridays, he usually blew in the door around 5:15. He had been coming in every week for about a year. We didn't know Joe's last name, we only knew him as "Old Man Joe." We call him "O'Mango," and he didn't seem to know the difference. His hearing was the least of his problems. He peppered his weekly visits over different weekdays, but it was always Fridays that he waited until 5:15. He makes the usual remarks every time he sits his old, marshmallow behind down at the counter. "Well, boy?" He'd ask. "What the hell are you looking at?" "I'm looking at the ugliest, most disgusting, onriest son-of-a-bitch I've ever seen!" Was my usual reply. "That's right, and don't forget it!" He would hold his dry, cracked hands in fists and shake them at me. "Keep it up, boy, and I'll whoop your scrawny little but right here and now." At some time in O'Mango's life, he was a prizefighter. His nose looked like it had taken more than its share of beatings, so I tended to believe the story. All the talk was, of course, our way of greeting each other. If he did intend to come after me, I'd most likely have him pushed out the door before he could get his oxygen tank over his shoulder. O'Manjo didn't really need ... ...opened. The neighbors didn't want money for them; they were just trying to sort things through, and knew Joe well enough to guess at our credit arrangement. They said Joe died peacefully in his sleep, without pain. I wondered if he just laid in bed listening to that tape over and over like it was some kind of drug and he was a junky. This didn't seem wrong to me. At least I'd know that he died happy. I imagined him waking up in heaven wearing his best dance shoes, and bouncing across the ballroom floor. There will always be another customer to fill Joe's stool and fire remarks at us, but none will replace Joe. When I think about it, I kind of feel guilty that he paid me ten dollars a month to be his friend. It was not a difficult job, but was merely human interaction that somehow becomes precious when it's lost. I just pray O'Manjo got his money's worth.

Better Community and Build a Healthier Life Essay

Better Community and Build a Healthier Life,† yesterday. Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, ecumenical Christian community, has been created to make adequate housing a matter of conscience and action. Since its creation in 1976, it has built and improved more than 300,000 houses, sheltering more than 1,500,000 people in thousands of communities in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Habitat’s work is made possible by affiliates or people who are dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. As of this writing there are 132 affiliates in the Asia-Pacific region and 2,291 worldwide. Habitat’s work is far greater than the current number of affiliates and supporters nonetheless. Hence as it continually strives to achieve its mission Habitat is likewise constantly calling more volunteers to take their part in re-building the world. Anchoring on a statement made by Dr. Stephen Post, a professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and co-author of the forthcoming book Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life that, â€Å"There is now a convergence of research leading to the conclusion that helping others makes people happier and healthier. So the word is out – its good to be good. Science increasingly says so,† former President and co-founder of Habitat for Humanity, Jimmy –more– relates volunteering to building a healthier life. For more details on how to participate to the Habitat’s action for a cause, please visit http://www. habitat. org/. Contact Name: Phone: Website: E-mail: ###

Huckleberry Finn Paper: Why the Ending Was a Let Down Essay

Throughout the novel, Huck and Jim are faced with problems and adventures. Jim teaches Huck the ‘right’ way to go about things and how to treat people. Most of the novel Huck grows as a person and matures. One might argue that it was because he was around other adults. But towards the latter part of the book, his old friend, Tom Sawyer arrives and Huck is up to his old tricks again. In the earlier parts of the book, Huck was very independent and thought of his own plans to get out of bad situations, but right after Tom wandered back into the story Huck just agrees with everything and anything that his friend suggests. He asks questions and tells Tom that it would be easier to perform the plan his own way, but Tom always puts his ideas down and disagrees with it. Clearly, throughout the first two-thirds of the novel, Huck’s character grows and Huck becomes more self-dependent, but every part of the story that Tom is involved in, he causes Huck to go back to his sam e old way. In chapter 16, there are two men that talk to Huck and ask if he’s seen any runaway slaves. At first Huck hesitates to answer because he’s had a southern upbringing which taught him to think that slaves are people’s property and if you see one trying to escape, you turn them in. But in another thought, Huck doesn’t really want to turn him in because he’s been having such a good time with Jim and they’ve become really good friends at this point. In the end, Huck makes up a story that his Pap is in the wigwam and that he has smallpox. The men in the canoe are put off by this information and feel sorry for Huck and his father, so they put forty dollars on a piece of drift wood and tell Huck to take it. â€Å"Then I thought a minute, snd says to myself, hold on: s’pose you’d ‘a’ done right and give Jim up, would you felt better than you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad—I’d feel just the same way I do now Well, then, says I, what’s the use you learning to do right when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong†¦?† (Pg. 91) This attitude towards Jim is very different from his earlier one, in a previous chapter Tom helps Huck sneak out of the Widow’s house and Jim hears them making noise in the bushes. The two boys wait in the brush until Jim falls asleep and before they leave Tom has an idea that Huck doesn’t really want to do because he thinks that they might get caught. Tom ends up doing it anyway though; he takes Jim’s hat and puts it in the branches and ties Jim to the tree that he fell asleep under. None of this was Huck’s ideas, which makes Tom the less mature of the two. This is the starting level of Huck’s character where Tom is able to tell Huck what to do and his friend does never protests for long because he believes that Tom is so amazing and he really looks up to him. Huck thinks that if he does what Tom says, then he will be just as cool as his best friend. Later on in the novel this changes and he starts to form a mind of his own. He even starts to stray from what he knows as ‘what is right’. In chapter 26, the duke and the dauphin try to con $6,000 out of the Wilk’s family. One of the daughters, Joanna, can feel that something is up and starts to question Huck to see whether they’re lying or not. At first Huck tries to lie to her, but as Joanna’s interrogation goes on, her sisters tell her to be courteous towards their guests. Huck felt bad about the situation because he knew that his trickster companions were going to take this family’s money. â€Å"I felt so ornery and low down and mean that I says to myself, my mind’s made up; I’ll hive that money for them or bust †(175). So he thinks of a plan to take back the money that the duke and the dauphin took from them. I believe that if he had not grown up from his previous adventures with Jim, he would not have cared that these men were taking all this money from these people, in fact he’d probably want some of it for helping out. But Huck was very sympathetic for the family and tried to his best extent to fix what the conmen had done. This is a situation that proves how far Huck has come from being told what to do and looking up to Tom. Huck is now able to form his own opinions about things and starts to think â€Å"Hey, I am able to do things on my own. I don’t need Tom, or conmen, or anybody else to tell me what to do any more.† In chapter 31, Huck discovers that Jim is sold to a family by the dauphin. After he learns this, he starts to write a note to Tom so that he can tell the Widow were Jim is so she can go get him, but then he decides that he doesn’t want to turn Jim in. He’s had so many experiences with him on the river; he’s practically his family now. He even cried earlier when he found out that Jim had been captured. If he had been the same kid that he was before the adventures with Jim, he would have thought that it was the right thing for him to do by turning his friend in. But throughout the novel he learned that Jim is a human too, he’s not a piece of property. Jim has feelings, thoughts, and even a family. Huck was brought up to think that helping slaves was a bad thing, but from now on he knew that he would follow his heart and decided â€Å"All right then, I’ll go to hell!† (214). Here is another example that proves that Huck’s character has been growing throughout the novel. It shows this because of everything that this boy has gone through he has learned that it’s not always best to do what society says is right, sometimes it’s even extremely wrong and should never be done. In chapter 35, the two boys think of plans to get Jim out. Huck thinks of a short and easy plan, while Tom thinks of something more complicated. Tom also complains about how his Uncle Silas should have a watchman, watch dogs, a moat, and a handful of other obstacles that make their task harder to perform. By this time, Huck is so mesmerized by Tom because he thinks that everything that his friend does is so great that nothing can go wrong if Tom’s doing it. Tom gets his way, as usual, and they start stealing things that they need from Aunt Sally. They spend weeks on getting Jim out, when Huck’s idea would have only taken a few days at the most; Tom probably would not have gotten shot either. At one point Jim even lifted his chain from underneath the bed and went outside to help the boys. They could have just left then and there, but Tom had to make Jim’s escape as difficult as possible. If it was just Huck and Jim, they would have just left! This part of the novel was extremely hard to read, there was no point to prolong Jim’s escape, at this time in the plotline everything that had been made before was just being erased and there was just no point to the rest of this particular adventure with Tom; it was certainly not helping Huck’s character out. This last section of the book took strides backwards from Huck’s development of maturity throughout the novel. It was like taking a few steps forward only to take twenty more backwards. And overall makes the ending of the book a bit disappointing, Huck is right back where he started, he’s now living in a house with another family that will try to strip him of his freedom and make him more civilized. In my opinion, the last adventure of the story ruined what the others had built up for Huck’s character. At the end of the story Huck had reverted back to idolizing Tom and falling for all of his manipulative lies just as before.

Community and Population Health Essay

Introduction I currently reside in Denver County, Colorado. I have chosen to assess and analyze this community for this assignment. Denver, Colorado is located east of the Eastern Foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver County is centrally located within the city of Denver, Colorado and includes the Denver International Airport located north-east of the city. The elevation of this county is 5,277 feet and therefore is nicknamed the â€Å"Mile-High City†. Denver County contains 154.9 square miles of land with a large amount of parks and rivers, of which 1.4 miles is water. (City and County of Denver, 2011). Population Economic Status According to the 2010 census, Denver County has a population of 600,158 people with a median age of 33.7 years old (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). Denver County’s population is approximately 50% male and 50% female (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). The ethnicity of Denver County is predominately White (52.2%), with Hispanic (31.8%) and Black (9.8%) ethnic groups comprising the next largest population groups (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). The median household income in Denver County from 2008-2012 was is $49,091; compared to $58,244 for the entire state of Colorado (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010b). From2008-2012, 18.9% of households were at or below poverty; compared to an average of 12.9% for the entire state of Colorado (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010b). The average reported unemployment rate for persons ages 16 + in Denver County was 8.6% (with a +/- 0.4% margin of error) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). Denver County has a high percentage of educated workforce. In 2008-2012, 36.7% of the population age 25 + had obtained their Bachelor’s Degree, or a higher level of education; compared 28.5% for the entire US (U.S. Census  Bureau, 2010b). Although Denver County has a large percentage of educated residents, it also has a high number of homeless residents. In a survey taken in January 2013, an estimated 11,167 people were homeless in Denver (including employed homeless) (Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, 2013). Of those individuals, 43% were women and 62% were adults with children (Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, 2013). The birth rate in Denver County in 2012 was 9,236 (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). This was average compared to the previous two years – in 2011 there were 9,431 births compared to 2010 where there were 9,584 births (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). Denver County’s death rate in 2012 was 4,220 (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). This number was average compared to the previous two years as well – in 2011 there were 4,156 deaths and in 2010 there were 4,210 deaths. The number one cause of death in Denver County from 2010 – 2012 was cardiovascular disease (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). The majority of deaths related to population was individuals age 85+ (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2012). Denver County offers two primary basic food assistance programs. These programs are called SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). For the fiscal year of 2013, Colorado had an average of 47,636,090 persons from a total of 23,052,396 households were signed up for SNAP benefits (USDA, 2014a). This number had increased by approximately 1,027,016 persons from 2012 fiscal year (USDA, 2014a). For the fiscal year of 2013, Colorado had an average of 8,662,591 persons (including women, infants, and children) were receiving supplemental nutrition from the WIC program (USDA, 2014b). This number decreased by 245,249 persons from 2012 fiscal year (USDA, 2014b). Cultural Assessment The population size and sex of the cultural group I interviewed was of twenty white women. Out of the twenty women I interviewed, ten women were between the ages of 20-29 years old and ten women were between the ages of  30-49 years old. All twenty women are currently registered nurses on the internal medicine/oncology floor at the hospital I am currently employed at. The amount of nursing experience these individuals have ranges from two years to 29 years of experience. All twenty individuals interviewed have health insurance. The attitudes toward age and aging of the twenty individuals surveyed varied with a similar goal of staying healthy to prevent the onset of diseases. The younger group interviewed felt it was important to eat healthy and exercise to promote internal health and longevity of life in general. The older group interviewed were more specific with their answers and felt it was important to maintain low stress lifestyles to promote good mental and physical health, to exercise to promote strong bones/balance, to perform mental exercises to help prevent the onset of dementia, and to regularly attend appointments. Both groups agreed that positive vs. negative attitudes directly affect physical health and one’s quality of life. When I asked both groups of their opinions regarding what age adolescents are considered adults, I received drastically different answers. The younger group felt as if ages 18-19 years old are considered adults related to society’s description of an adult, the independency promoted with high school graduation, and the onset of college. The older group felt as if ages 22-23 years old are considered adults primarily related to maturity, life experiences, and the beginning of an entry level career after completion of a college degree. Both groups felt as if college education was an expectation. All of the individuals interviewed currently have their degree in nursing with an active nursing license. Approximately one-third of those interviewed have their Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and several of those interviewed possess recognizable specialty healthcare certifications. As an entirety, the group interviewed is healthy. Over half of those interviewed have no prior diagnoses regarding their state physical of health. The most obvious physical characteristic that both groups share is being overweight with eleven out of the twenty women interviewed currently being overweight according to their projected BMI. The entire population interviewed shared the mental challenge of overcoming the stress presented at work regarding difficult/challenging patients and all women interviewed believed they have compromised their safety while caring for a patient at one time or another in their career. When I asked this group what the usual sources of stress are, work was number one for all twenty women interviewed. The younger population interviewed stated that children/family and educational goals are some of their secondary sources of stress. The older population interviewed stated that aging/retirement and the health of other family members are their secondary sources of stress. Both groups primarily use the mountains/nature and outdoor activities, such as skiing and hiking, to cope with stress. Five of the individuals drive nearly sixty miles to work (one-way) daily, related to owning a home in the mountains to escape the â€Å"rush and chaos† of the city and helping to find a â€Å"balance in life†. Out of all twenty individuals interviewed, over 3/4 of the woman are married and/or have a significant other. When asked what their number one priority in life was, family was consistently number one. Most all other interests and goals were related to benefiting or bettering the family. Some of the answers named were continuing educational goals, buying a new home, having a baby, planning retirement, and helping their parents with activities of daily life. Of the cultural group identified, all of them share a team attitude while still exhibiting individualist perspectives unique to personal preferences and opinions. Neighborhood/Community Safety Denver is divided into about 80 different official neighborhoods within Denver County (City and County of Denver, 2011). Those 80 different neighborhoods have been divided into seven police and fire districts; including Denver International Airport with has its own district (Denver Police Department, 2014; Denver Fire Department, 2014). The average response time for the Denver Police Department varied in 2013 from 14.9 minutes to respond to urgent, emergency calls (from the time a 911 call was received to the time an officer arrived on the scene) to 16.9 minutes for an officer to respond to a non-emergency call (Maass, 2013). According to Lt. Matt Murray from the Denver Police Department, these slow response times  have been directly correlated with a lack of officers (Maass, 2013). According to Murray, the Denver Police Department can have as many as 1,426 officers and as of October 3, 2013, the Denver Police Department had only 1,350 officers (Maass, 2013). A new class of 70 recr uits are currently in training in hopes to decrease the department’s response times in 2014 (Maass, 2013). The Denver Fire Department maintains 34 different fire stations that are strategically split into seven districts (Denver Fire Department, 2014). Firefighter’s each work an average of three 24-hour shift with an average of 180 firefighter’s on-duty per shift (Denver Fire Department, 2014). The Denver Fire Department responds to a variety of calls including Fire Suppression, Rescue Operations, Hazardous Materials Response, Technical Rescue, Urban Search and Rescue, Water and Ice Rescue, High Angle Rope Rescue, Confined Space and Trench Rescue, Wildland Firefighting, and Emergency Medical Services. They also perform thousands of building inspections annually, daily training and certifications, public and community education, school fire drills, and organize other special events (Denver Fire Department, 2014). According to the Denver Fire Department 2012 Annual Report, there were a total of 101,531 alarms/calls made in 2012 that required the response of the fire department team (Maass, 2013). Out of those 101,531 calls made to the fire department, 54,350 were for medical calls, 8,103 were for auto accidents, 2,248 were for fires, and approximately 37,000 calls required other services or rescues (Maass, 2013). Denver County has a significant amount of violence, crime, and gang activity within the community. In January/February 2014 there were a total of 7,268 crimes captured by the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) (Denver Police Department, 2014). According to this reporting system, the crimes are broken down into four categories; (1) crimes against persons, (2) crimes against property, (3) crimes against society, and (4) all other offenses (Denver Police Department, 2014). The top two offenses in Denver County per category included (1) simple assault and aggravated assault, (2) larceny and criminal mischief/damaged property, (3) drug/narcotic violations and prostitution, and (4) disorderly conduct/disturbing the peace and  criminal trespassing (Denver Police Department, 2014). These figures are slightly elevated from a total of 6,822 crimes in January/February 2013 (Denver Police Department, 2014). There is a variety of different gang activity in Denver County. In 2003, Denver police estimated that there were 14,000 gang members in Denver who were affiliated with 220 different gangs (Gang activity in Denver, 2013). The Denver Police Department has since created gang prevention programs including education, a gang hotline, outreach programs for former gang members, crime stoppers anonymous tips hotline, and the Denver Police Department Gang Bureau (Denver Police Department, 2014). Even with gang prevention involvement in the community and with these prevention programs in place, from January-September 2013 there was a total of 143 total crimes that could be directly related to gang activity (Gurman, 2013). These crimes included homicides, sexual assault, robberies, and aggravated assault (Gurman, 2013). Denver County is also populated with a high level of alcohol and drug abuse. The availability of marijuana with the recent legalization of recreational marijuana makes marijuana the most widely abused drug in Denver County (Mendelson, 2014). Alcohol, methamphetamines, heroin, cocaine, and prescription drugs are all found within the city limits of Denver as well (Mendelson, 2014). Denver County is centrally located between two interstates; I-25 and I-70. These interstates have many different entry and exit points to and from the city that provide easier access for drug trafficking and other illegal activities. Denver County has many different programs protecting its air and water quality. The Environmental Quality Division (EQD) is responsible for a variety of measures including conducting compliance inspections of air emissions, monitoring pollutant levels, issuing permits, and constructing models of air pollutant levels in the Denver area (Department of Environmental Health, 2014a). In February 2014 Colorado became the first state to regulate methane emissions from hydraulic fracking (Kroh, 2014). This new regulation will directly increase water quality and decrease smog in the Denver area. The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is responsible for monitoring the quality of water in Denver’s lakes and  streams. The DEH collects an average of 13,000+ water samples and conducts more than 50,000 tests annually to ensure that Denver’s drinking water is clean and safe (Department of Environmental Health, 2014c). The goal is for the city of Denver to have fishable and swim mable waters in all the lakes and streams by 2020 (Department of Environmental Health, 2014c). Denver’s Departments of Environmental Health, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation are all work together to ensure that the City meets this goal (Department of Environmental Health, 2014c). Denver’s current number one pollutant is trash and litter. Urban Drainage and Flood control district alone collects approximately 100 tons of trash from the streams and rivers in Denver annually (Department of Environmental Health, 2014b). There are several health risks living within Denver County. These risks include earthquakes, hazardous materials, winter storms, and severe thunderstorms with hail, lightening, tornados, and/or flooding (Office of Emergency Management, 2014b). Hit and run injuries have become an epidemic in Denver County with an increase in fatal crashes in Denver County. Denver police reported 18,662 hit-and-run accidents, both sustaining injuries and sustaining no injuries, during 2011-2013 (Hubbard, 2014). At least one person in Denver metro area is injured every day by a hit-and-run driver and nearly three times a month a pedestrian is fatally injured by a motorist who flees the scene (Hubbard, 2014). Colorado legislators have recently increased the potential prison sentence for hit-and-run cases resulting in bodily injury and/or death. They have also formalized an alert program to inform the public on suspects, vehicles, and/or license plate numbers in an attempt to help in track down perpetrators (Hubbard, 2014). Disaster Assessment and Planning The state of Colorado and city of Denver has worked hard to organize a variety of disaster and emergency preparedness plans within the community. One source of information, READYColorado, offers a variety of data sources for the community. Their website, READYColorado.com, offers awareness and disaster preparedness for a variety of natural disasters, technological disasters, and human caused disasters. The website also contains statistics, facts, and a calendar list of current events and training exercises. It offers links for volunteer opportunities regarding community involvement and educational classes and it also lists ways to stay informed of emergencies  from such sources such as radio, television, text, live twitter feeds, and blogs. Three critical facilities in Denver County include three specific venues; Coors Field with 50K capacity, The Pepsi Center with 19K capacity, and Sports Authority at Mile High Stadium with 76K capacity (City and County of Denver, 2011). The most vulnerable populations to these disasters are the 22.3% of households with children less than 18 years of age, the approximately 23,000 individuals 65+ that live independently, and the residents in 51 long term care facilities within Denver County (City and County of Denver, 2011). The primary disaster of concern for the Denver County is winter weather. Winter weather is an expectation living in Colorado. READYColorado contains information for home and vehicle preparation, emergency communications planning, proper dress for indoors and outdoors to protect the body from hypothermia, and hypothermia/frostbite warning signs. One can also find more information at Ready.gov, Colorado Department of Transportation, NOAA watch, and the American Red Cross regarding winter weather and the risks involved. Avalanches are of great threat to the mountainous regions of Colorado but do not pose a threat within Denver County. The risk of earthquakes is low in Denver County. However if an earthquake was to occur, the city would be very susceptible to extensive damage. Residencies and some of the older buildings in Denver are not made to withstand earthquakes and would most likely suffer damage to their structures (Office of Emergency Management, 2014b). Severe thunderstorms bringing hail, lightening, and tornados pose threats to the Denver County annually. Residents of the Colorado’s Front Range area are located in the heart of â€Å"Hail Alley† which begins mid-April and lasts through mid-August. The Front Range and Denver County receives a high frequency of large hail annually, averaging three to four hailstorms a year, and costing at least 25 million dollars in insured damage for each event (READYColorado and the State of Colorado, 2014b). Lightening poses the greatest threat to areas where the mountains and plains intersect (READYColorado and the State of Colorado, 2014b). Three deaths related to  lightning strikes have known to occur in Denver since 2001 (National Weather Service, 2011). Tornados pose a threat to all areas of Colorado; however tornados to not typically get high intensity ratings within Denver County (City and County of Denver, 2011). Flying debris from high winds cause most injuries. NOAA weathe r radio, telephone alerts, and television sources provide alerts severe thunderstorms and the destructive events that they bring. Denver County also has an outdoor warning siren system consisting of 76 electro-mechanical sirens that sound when there are tornado alerts and warnings (Office of Emergency Management, 2014a). Wildfire ignition by lightning is a bigger concern rural Colorado areas compared to the city. Respiratory problems can still result from the inhalation of smoke spread by wind. Wildfires burn thousands of acres and destroy hundreds of structures annually in Colorado. These fires are generally ignited by lightening or human causes and can easily be fueled by drought conditions, insect infestations, and heat. READYColorado offers information on risk assessment, home preparation, evacuation plans, and shelter information. More information regarding wildfires can be found at Ready.gov, Ready, Set, Go!, Surviving Wildfire, The Red Cross, US Fire Administration – FEMA, and Colorado State Forest Service websites. Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal is also a useful tool in determining fire risks. Currently, Denver’s fire risk is between lowest intensity and moderate intensity risk (Colorado State Forest Service, 2014). Flooding has a big impact on Colorado and in 2013 challenged many residents in the Denver area. NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, television, and internet sources provide information on flood watches and warnings, including flash floods in Denver County. Flash flooding along streams such as Cherry Creek, Clear Creek, and Harvard Gulch pose the greatest threats within the Denver area. The Corps of Engineers, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District websites provide 2013 flood information, current projects, and resources for flooding preparation and damage control in Colorado. Health risks involved from flooding include contamination from bacteria (ie. E.coli), parasites (ie. giaria), and viruses (ie. Hepatitis A), respiratory infections from mold and other irritants, and bodily injury from swiftly moving currents, electricity hazards, and hypothermia. It is very important for all Denver County residents to be up to date with Tetanus  vaccinations. Terrorism poses a rather unpredictable threat to Denver County. Denver County has a large metropolis population and houses both government buildings and military installations, contains large sports stadiums and an international airport. It is known that failure of the Cherry Creek Dam would cause catastrophic damage to both life and property within Denver County (City and County of Denver, 2011). There have been known international and domestic terrorist groups identified in Colorado during previous years (City and County of Denver, 2011). Education regarding the â€Å"eight signs of terrorism† can be found at multiple terrorism related websites including READYColorado.com. Denver also has specialized units including Denver Police Department Mounted Patrol, S.W.A.T.(Special Weapons And Tactics) who’s primary objective deals with hostage negotiation, drug busts and counterterrorism (City and County of Denver, 2011). Hazardous material spill have an increase potential in Denver County related to the many different companies storing hazardous materials within city limits. There are approximately 400 facilities storing reportable quantities of hazardous materials on properties located throughout the county (Office of Emergency Management, 2014). Each company is regulated by law to hold emergency plans that would go into effect if an accidental release of substance was to occur. The interstates bring added risk to Denver County related to the traffic along I-25 and I-70. These two interstates pass through densely populated areas of Denver County Denver fire and police have Hazardous Materials Response teams in place that are trained to respond to such an event(s). Denver County has nearly a dozen different hospitals with a vast amount of public transportation options such as bicycle, RTD bus and light rail services, taxi cabs, car2go, and Lyft services. Denver County has excellent communications and response teams in the event of a disaster with a vast amount of online education; however this information is published mostly in the English language. With such a large population of homeless in Denver County and 18.9% of all households at or below poverty level (U.S. Census  Bureau, 2010), the internet is not a good primary option for learning. Also, approximately 28% of all households speak a language other than English (City and County of Denver, 2011). Community Diagnosis Denver County is a very strong community regarding the number of educated workforce, median household income, number of hospitals, amount of public ground transportation, the protection of air and water quality, and the number of fire and police with specialty training teams and programs operating within the community. There is a very small percentage of residents 65+ who live independently and slightly over 1/5 of all households have children less than 18 years of age. The primary language is English and the community culture has a good overall team mentality. Denver County’s birth rate double the death rate with the leading cause of death cardiovascular disease in a primary death rate existing in the population 85+ (Colorado Department of Public Health, 2012). Denver County has many open avenues regarding opportunities and readiness attitudes within community. The population of Denver County is approximately 50% male and 50% female with a median age of 33.7 years old (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010a). This provides the community with the opportunity to explore young ideas and diversity among sexes. Denver County has a large number of homeless population with approximately 1/5 of the total population at or below poverty. These numbers exceed the national average. Denver County has two specific food programs being utilized greatly; SNAP and WIC benefits. There is a high number of crime, violence, and gangs within Denver County. There is a high level of alcohol and drug abuse within the community as well. Specialized police teams and community resources/programs assist with deterring these types of activities and assist in recovery efforts for those individuals. Colorado has recently legalized recreational marijuana which could be positive in terms of tax revenue for the state and future funding of programs and resources for the community. There could also be negative consequences regarding adolescent drug use and the increase of impaired drivers on the streets; however these statistics have not yet been measured and studied. Denver County is  contains a 100% urban population. This is both a strength and weakness to the city in terms of emergency evacuation. There are three critical facilities that exist in Denver County at specific venues with a capacity between 19K and 76K (City and County of Denver, 2011). Denver County is centrally located between I-25 and I-70 which can be an opportunity for evacuation or a barrier regarding avenues for drug trafficking and other illegal activities. There is a high ratio of hit-and-run injuries and fatalities within Denver County. Colorado legislators have recently increased potential prison sentences for hit-and-run cases resulting bodily injury and/or death. They have also formalized an alert program to inform and involve the public as an attempt to help track down perpetrators. The formulation of a city-wide educational program focusing on the prevention of hit-and-run occurrences may be beneficial in reducing these numbers as well. It is important for the Denver Police Department to have quicker response times to both emergent and non-emergent calls. Hopefully with the addition of new recruits for the force who are currently in training, Denver County will see quicker response time to all calls made. This will also hopefully decrease the amount of gang-related crimes and deter community activity in general. It is evident that Denver County has a large trash and litter problem. The initiation of more trash cans and recycle containers parallel with city-wide education would be beneficial in decreasing this problem. It would also be of benefit to the community and the court systems to enact a community service program that revolved around helping clean up the neighborhoods and streets. Denver County has good disaster and emergency preparedness plans within the community; however educational resources to the public need to be explored with a variety of different materials and other languages for maximum effectiveness. The primary educational method is by internet with most of the materials written in the English language only. Nearly 1/3 of all households in Denver County speak a language other than English. References City and County of Denver. (2011, Oct). Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. Retrieved March 8, 2014, fromhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source =web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.denvergov.org%2FPortals%2F428%2Fdocuments%2FDenver%2520Hazard%2520Identification%2520and%2520Risk%2520Assessment.pdf&ei=AvEtU6etF8OJogSh5oDwDw&usg=AFQjCNEEQhg_2-JDt_OVeX3pIyYSKGcx9g&bvm=bv.62922401,d.cGU Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. (n.d.). Health Statistics: 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s& source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chd.dphe.state.co .us%2FResources%2Fvs%2F2012%2FDenver.pdf&ei+I14tU9zPA-SNygGZ-IDYBw&us G=AFQjCNH_VbyYxdRvmxNekgRu-y0LhIgrzw&bvm=bv.62922401,d.aWc Colorado State Forest Service. (2014). Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.coloradowildfirerisk.com/map Denver Fire Department. (2014, January 7). In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_Fire_Department Denver Police Department. (2014, January 6). Reported Offenses In The City And County Of Denver By Month. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.denvergov.org/police/ PoliceDepartment/CrimeInformation/CrimeStatisticsMaps/tabid/441370/Default.aspx Denver’s Water Quality Program. (2014, February 14). Sampling Results. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from https://www.facebook.com/DenversWaterQualityProgram?sk=app_190322 544333196&app_data Department of Environmental Health. (2014a). Air Quality Program: Our Role In Protecting Air Quality. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://wwwdenvergov.org/environmental Health/EnvironmentalHealth/EnvironmentalQuality/EnvironmenatlAssessmentPolicy AirQuality/tabid/444649/Default.aspx Department of Environmental Health. (2014b). Water Quality Program: Trash and Litter. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://wwwdenvergov.org/environmentalhealth/ EnvironmentalHealth/EnvironmentalQuality/WaterQuality/tabid/444650/Default.aspx Department of Environmental Health. (2014c). Water Quality Program: Water Quality In Lakes and Streams. Retreived March 9, 2014, from https://wwwdenver.gov.org/environmental health/EnvironmentalHealth/EnvironmentalQuality/WaterQuality/tabid/444650/Default. Aspx Gang activity in Denver. (2013, August 17). In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_activity_in_Denver Gurman, Sadie. (2013, October 15). The Denver Post. Denver Police: Gang violence rises this year, involves more victims. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://www.denverpost.com /breakingnews/ci_24309448/denver-police-gang-violence-rises-this-year?source=rss Hubbard, Brent. (2014, Feburary 17). Rocky Mountain PBS. Hit-and-run fatal crashes rising in Colorado. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.coloradoan.com/article/201 40217/WINDSORBEACON01/302170069/Hit-run-fatal-crashes-rising-Colorado Kroh, Kiley. (2014, February 24). Climate Progress: Colorado Become The First State To Regulate Methane Emissions from Fracking. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http:// thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/02/24/3322651/Colorado-methane-fracking/ Maass, Brian. (2013, October 3). CBS Denver. Denver Police Response Times Worsen, Complaints Rising. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/ 10/03/denver-police-response-times-worsen-complaints-rising/ Mendelson, Bruce. (2014, Feburary). National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drug Abuse Patterns and Trends in Colorado and the Denver/Boulder Metropolitan Area – Update: Jan 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/work groups-interest-groups-consortia/community-epidemiology-work-group-cewg/meeting- reports/highlights-summaries-january-2014-4 Metro Denver Homeless Initiative and National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. (2013, January). The Gathering Place – Homelessness and Poverty Statistics. Retrieved On March 8, 2014, from http://www.tgpdenver.org/homelessnessfaq?printable National Weather Service. (2011, June 21). Colorado and National Lightning Casualty Statistics. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pub/?n=/Itg/Itg_stats_index. php Office of Emergency Management. (2014a). Alert and Warning Systems. Retrieved March 10, 2014, https://www.denvergov.org/AlertandWarning/tabid/391430/default.aspx Office of Emergency Management. (2014b). Potential Threats. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from http://www.denvergov.org/Redirect_404/tabid/391429/Default.aspx? READYColorado and the State of Colorado. (2014a). Retrieved March 10, 2014, from https:// www.readycolorado.com/ READYColorado and the State of Colorado. (2014b). Severe Weather/Thunderstorm. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from https://www.readycolorado.com/hazard/severe-weatherthunder storm READYColorado and the State of Colorado. (2014c). Tornado. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from https://www.readycolorado.com/hazard/tornado READYColorado and the State of Colorado. (2014d). Wildfire. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from https://www.readycolorado.com/hazard/wildfire