Role of the Regulatory Body Essay

The parents of Anjum a little girl who is new to your setting moved to England only 3 months ago. Yours is the first setting that they have used for 18 month old Anjum. They have very little understanding of the legislation covering home based childcare or the role of the regulatory body. Consider 4 pieces of legislation that are important for home based childcarers and how you would outline these to Anjum’s parents? How would you go about outlining the 4 different roles of the regulatory body to Anjum’s parents? Relevant Assessment Criteria: 1.1 Outline the current legislation covering home based childcare and the role of regulatory bodies Legislation The most influential legislation comes from the 2004 Children Act, this act arose from the Green Paper ‘Every Child Matters’, the most relevant parts of this legislation for yourselves with regards to Anjum are: Be healthy Stay Safe Enjoy and Achieve Make a positive contribution I will explain to you both how the above relates to Anjums whilst in my care. Be Healthy We will spend a lot of time outside this will allow Anjum to become more physically thus mentally healthy. All snacks and drinks will always be healthy, thus promoting a healthy lifestyle. Stay safe My home environment is safe for Anjum thus preventing accidents to the best that I can. It is a stable environment for Anjum to grow up in, he will be cared for in all regards. Protected from maltreatment, neglect, violence, sexual exploitation and safe from bullying and discrimination. Enjoy and Achieve I will prepare Anjum for school, she will be encouraged to achieve personal and social skills whilst enjoying recreation time. Make a positive contribution Anjum will be encouraged in decision-making throughout the day whilst considering her environment, an example of this would be not to drop litter when we are going for walks. All children in my care will be encouraged to form positive relationships, they will be guided with regards treating their peers on an equal footing to each other, and there will be no bullying and/or discrimination. I will develop self-confidence and good behavior. Role of the Regulatory Body (Ofsted) Ofsted are an independent and impartial service who report to the Government bodies. They inspect all services that provide education to children and young people. Ofsted help to improve our standards for you children. Registration / Inspection Ofsted undertake checks on my household members, such as police records, this is to protect you child from being around people that are a potential danger to children. Ofsted ensure I hold a valid first aid certificate, which shows that I have suitable training in first aid procedures if required at any point. I have signed to say I have agreed to meet a set of requirements set out by Ofsted. I will provide you with my certificate if you require me to, this will show you any conditions of registration that apply to myself. Investigation I will keep a record of any complaints and I will share the results of any investigations with any of my parents if requested by yourself or others. If you have any complaints or concerns that I am not meeting the requirements of registration, you can contact Ofsted directly. Enforcement Ofsted have the powers to ensure that I am providing the requirements and conditions that are stipulated, if I am not they can enforce further conditions and requirements, these are all in place to protect your child and provide the best care possible. If you have any problems with regards to the service I provide you, you can get in contact with Ofsted and report your concerns. Policies and Procedures Accidents Illness and Emergencies Policy Statement: It is my statutory duty to safeguard the children in my care, the safety of your child and any child within my care is paramount at all times. Every measure will be taken at all times to protect your child and any other child from injuring themselves or others. Unfortunately accidents, children become ill and a situation can arise that becomes an emergency and as such please find below the procedure that will be followed if a situation develops. Procedure As a registered child minder I will ensure the following points that relate to a situation are carried out: Once assessment of the injury has taken place I will seek medical help. If medical help is required they are then other requirements that I will follow; I will inform Ofsted under Standard 14.3 and inform my insurance company. If required I will carry out first aid for which I have got the nesseccary training for. Comfort will be given to the child at all times. Contact will be made with yourselves as soon as practically possible. A note will be entered within the accident book, I will ask you to sign the book and then provide you with a copy for your records. Current insurance that I am covered with allows me to carry out certain procedures. If I find myself in a situation which is unfamiliar to myself, I will either contact the child’s guardian/parent or seek medical advise via the doctors of the emergency services. Any procedures or requirements to administrate medication will require a signature from the guardian/parent. Unfortunately medication is required to be given, if this is the case I would ask you to keep me up to date, especially if you have to medical advice. Unfortunately accidents do happen, if this is the case I would ask you to keep me up to date, especially if you have to seek medical advice. Behaviour Policy Statement: It is my statutory duty to encourage children in my care to behave, showing respect to others and themselves at all times. Procedure As a registered child minder I will encourage the children follow the following points which will set a good standard of behaviour for all children: Children will be encouraged to say please and thank you. Children will be made aware of all boundaries and reminded when necessary. Children will be encouraged to listen, understand and follow instructions, I will also listen to all children, asking for their ideas. Children will be encouraged not use bad language. Children will be encouraged to respect each other and property. Children will be encouraged to help with planning the day and activities. I will give praise for all good behaviour. I will give 15 mins, 10 mins and 5 min warnings to end each activity. Parents will be asked to remind their children of the rules whilst in my care. Safeguarding Policy Statement: It is my statutory duty to safeguard the children in my care, ensuring their welfare and all other children. Procedures that I will follow are set by the local safeguarding Children’s board. Procedure: As a registered child minder I will: I will look out for signs of neglect, child abuse both emotionally and sexually. If I have reason to believe that any child in my care is being abused in any way I will report the matter to the Duty Social Worker for Leicestershire Social Services, Child protection Team. Under these circumstances I will not be able to keep information relating to your child confidential, but will need to share it with Ofsted, Social Services and the  Police if requested. Please see the Leicestershire Guidelines protection of child minders, this will be followed by myself on all accounts. I will undertake training via the local council regarding safeguarding and protecting children. Equal Opportunities Policy Statement: It is my duty to give all children in my care the opportunity to undertake all activities and encourage them to reach their full potential. I will encourage equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practices for all children. Procedure: As a registered child minder I will achieve this by: Adapting the activities if required for the children to reach their full potential. I will provide additional help and support if required for children to reach their full potential. All toys within my home will be for both sexes, toys will reflect positive images of children and people from different cultures and abilities. I will acknowledge all relevant legislation. No child in my care will be discriminated against in anyway, whether for their skin colour, culture, gender, ability or religion. I will challenge any remarks that I feel are inappropriate. I will teach children in my care about different cultures and religions, I will use books, puzzles and / or toys and I will cook with the children different types of food to relate to our learning. I will be looking at special festivals and dressing up to represent these. I will encourage children to respect each other, their differences and their needs. I will encourage children and their parents to collect any materials, take photos of any events they attend, this will enable a show and tell. I will not discriminate against any children or parents on the basis of race, age, sexuality, class and or family status. I will act if a child or parent uses any language that is inappropriate.

Briefly Describes the Difference Between Sans and Nas System Essay

Briefly describes the difference between Storage Area Networks (SANs) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) system? Storage Area Networks (SANs)| Network Attached Storage (NAS) system| A SAN is a dedicated network that provides access to various types of storage devices including type libraries, optical juke boxes and disk arrays.| Network Attached storage system are networked appliances which contain one or more hard drives that can be shared with multiple heterogeneous computers.| A SAN is a local network of multiple devices that operate on disk blocks.| A NAS is a single storage device that operate on data files| A SAN commonly utilizes Fibre Channel interconnects. | A NAS typically makes Ethernet and TCP/IPconnections.| Identify and briefly describe each of TCP/IP’S five layer? The basic structure of communication networks is represented by the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model. This model is structured in five layers. An end system, an intermediate network node, or each communicating user or program is equipped with devices to run all or some portions of these layers, depending on where the system operates. These five layers, are as follows: Application layer Host to host or transport layer Internal layer Network access layer Physical layer Physical layer: The physical layer covers the physical interface between a data transmission device and a transmission medium or network. This layer concerned with specifying the characteristics of the transmission medium the nature of the signals the data rate and related matters. Application layer The Aplication layer, determines how a specific user application should use a network. Among such applications are the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and the World Wide Web (WWW) . Host to host or transport layer The Transport layer, lies just above the network layer and handles the details of data transmission. Layer 4 is implemented in the end-points but not in network routers and acts as an interface protocol between a communicating host and a network. Consequently, this layer provides logical communication between processes running on different hosts. Network access layer: The Network layer specifies the networking aspects. This layer handles the way that addresses are assigned to packets and the way that packets are supposed to be forwarded from one end point to another. Internal layer This internal protocol(IP) is used in this layer to provide the routing functions across multiple networks. The function of the internal layer is to allow procedure to take in order for data traverse of multiple interconnected networks to take place. This protocol is implemented in both the end system and routers. Contrast the major characteristics of WANs with those of LANs & MANs? WANs| LANs| MANs| Its is wide Area Networks| It is Local Area Netwoks | It is Metropolitan Area Networks| It consist of a number of interconnected switching modes| Lan is a communication networks that interconnected a variety of devices and provides a means for information exchange among those devices.| It occupies a middle ground between LANs and WANs.| | | | How many quantization levels are needed to represent each of the following sets of symbols characters or states? a) The uppercase alphabet A,B†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Z 8*26 = 208 bits b) The digits 0,1†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.9 8*10 = 80 bits c) 256 different colours 8*256 = 2048 d) 10000 Han characters 8*10000 = 80000 e) Four billion computing devices 8* four billion = 32 billion Commonly, medical digital radiology ultrasound studies consist of about 25 images extracted from a full-motion ultrasound examination. Each image consists of 512 by 512 pixels, each with 8 bits of intensity information. a. How many bits are there in the 25 images? 25 Images 1 Image = 512*512 pixels 1 pixel = 8 bits 8*512 = 4,096 *512 = 2, 097,152 * 25 images = 52, 428, 800 bits in the 25 images b. Ideally, however doctors would like to use 512*512 * 8 bits frames at 30 fps (frames per second). Ignoring possible compression and overhead factors, what is the minimum channel capacity required sustaining this full-motion ultrasound? 512*512 = 262,144 * 8 bits = 2,097,152 * 30fps = 62,914,560 bits c. Suppose each full motion study consists of 25s of frames. How many bytes of storsge would be needed to store a single study in up comprossed form? 600 MB = 629145600 bytes *8 = 5,033,164,800 512*512=262144* 8 bits = 2,097,152 * 30 fps = 62,914,560 *25 sec = 1,572,864,000 5,033,164,800/1572864000 = 3.2 Do some online research on the characteristics of software as a service (Saas) platform as a service (Paas) and infrastructure as a services (Iaas) write a short paper describe the different between these services and identifying some of te major providers of each type? Saas- SaaS or software as a Service refers to the delivery of applications over the Internet as a service that can be accessed by users. Instead of users having to install and maintain software, they simply access this through the Internet. This frees them from the management of complex software as well as hardware and explains why SaaS in Australia continues to gain great popularity among users. The applications offered by SaaS are at times referred to as hosted software, software on demand or web- based software. The provider generally manages access to the applications, availability, performance as well as security. This relieves customers of the burden of installing, maintaining or updating hardware or software. To access these applications, all a user requires is an Internet connection. Some of the characteristics Software as a Service will offer you and which will help you answer the question what is SaaS are as follows: It is a multitenant architecture- this means that all users and applications make use of a single, common infrastructure as well as a code base that is maintained centrally. This enables vendors to innovate more quickly thus saving valuable time that would initially have been spent in maintaining different versions of out-dated codes. Allows for easy customisation – every customer is able to customise applications so that they can fit into their business processes and without necessarily affecting the common infrastructure. These customizations are rather unique to each user or company and are often preserved through making upgrades. Provides better access – SaaS improves access to data as you can access it from anywhere as long as you have an Internet connection. This makes it easier for members to collaborate with one another as they can access the same information irrespective of where they are located. Many organisations are turning to SaaS because it is easier to implement and does not require users to pay any up-front licensing fees. It is also inexpensive and hence its popularity with small and medium sized companies. In today’s economy, every business is out to save some money. SaaS seems to be working positively for many businesses and a good number has already embraced it. Although large companies have been a little hesitant to embrace it because of the limited functionality that comes with it, many others have already taken up this technology and only time can tell what its future will be. Major service providers of SaaS are NetSuite, Rackspace, Softlayer ,Go Grid, Microsoft, salesforce etc. PaaS: Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a way to rent hardware, operating systems, storage and network capacity over the Internet. The service delivery model allows the customer to rent virtualized servers and associated services for running existing applications or developing and testing new ones. Major service providers of SaaS are IBM, Orangescape, Google, OS33, Gigaspace. IaaS: Infrastructure as a Service is a provision model in which an organization outsources the equipment used to support operations, including storage, hardware, servers and networking components. The service provider owns the equipment and is responsible for housing, running and maintaining it. The client typically pays on a per-use basis. Characteristics and components of IaaS include: Utility computing service and billing model. Automation of administrative tasks. Dynamic scaling. Desktop virtualization. Policy-based services. Internet connectivity. IaaS is one of three main categories of cloud computing service. The other two are Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Infrastructure as a Service is sometimes referred to as Hardware as a Service (HaaS). Major service providers of IaaS are Gogrid, Hp. Logicworks, Amazon web services,

A comparison and contrast between American and European art Essay

A comparison and contrast between American and European art - Essay Example Allentown Art Museum displays artistic creations from all over the world. The two paintings that caught my attention are "Madonna and child enthroned" by Jacopo Del Casentino and "Mr. Darlington's Still Life" by George Cope."Madonna and child enthroned" is the only known work officially signed by Jacopo Del Casentino. The miniaturist piece was restored in 1992, and has since caused dispute about the date of the artist's work. Some historians date the painting around 1340, whereas recently it has been pushed back to 1325 by historian Miklos Boskovits. Casentino's Madonna and Child Enthroned is featured at the center panel of a miniature tabernacle triptych, which in total measures approximately 39 x 42 inches. Mary and Jesus are surrounded by four angels, as well as Saint Bernard and Saint John the Baptist. This panel measures 18 x 9 inches, and the texture is tempera on poplar wood. The painting both represents Gothic traits and traits that focus on humanism. The hierarchy of the fig ures in the paintings expresses religious symbolism - Mary and Jesus are above all else. Certain other qualities recall the Gothic style that was most often seen in Cimabue and Duccio's paintings. For instance, the Madonna appears larger than anything else in the triptych. Also, the divine halos surrounding the figures and the gold background of the painting are both indicative of the Gothic style. On the other hand, certain characteristics like Mary's protruding knees, drapery, and the symmetry and realistic features of the angels lend themselves to Casentino's interest in humanism. This piece is also reminiscent of Robert Campin's Merode Altarpiece without the humanistic symbolism. The similarity is that Casentino's could act as an altarpiece - the triptych fashioning portrays a continuous narrative where the baby Jesus and the crucified Jesus are shown in the collective piece. Mary also appears twice - once on the throne in the center panel, and then again on the right panel at t he crucifixion, both times wearing the same drapery and red cloth shirt. The background behind the throne as well as in the other panels is very decorative and Gothic. The presence of Saint Bernard and Saint John the Baptist as well as the angels around the throne shows the significance of the enthroned Madonna and Child. The saints are drawn with prayer books in hand, and looking up at Mary and Jesus as the vantage point - the perspective draws to Jesus and the center of Mary's head. (http://yelenasarsblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/jacopo-del-casentinos-madonna-and-child.html) Jacopo del Casentino, also known as Jacopo Landino, was a Florentine painter and miniaturist who lived during the fourteenth century. He was also one of the founders of the Academy of Saint Luke at Florence in 1349, which acted as a guild for painters and miniaturists like himself. Casentino specialized in small devotional altars commissioned for private worship. Along with artists such as Bernardo Daddi, Casentino helped popularize these altars throughout Italy. As with many of his contemporaries, he was influenced by the early master, Giotto (1267 - 1337), who Daddi was an apprentice of. Both Casentino and Daddi showed an influence from the Sienese style of painting in their works. It is noted that Casentino may have been in Giotto's workshop and was a pupil of another Giotto follower, Taddeo Gaddi (1300 - 1366). It has been mentioned that the later Gothic style Casentino painted in was also influenced by the Sienese painters Pietro Lorenzetti (1280 - 1348) and his brother Ambrogio (1290 - 1348). (http://yelenasarsblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/jacopo-del-casentinos-madonna-and-child.html) (http://www.virtualuffizi.com/biography/Jacopo-del-Casentino.htm) George Cope (1855-1929) was an artist who stayed close to home. He began his career painting the lush Brandywine River Valley landscape in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and its wildlife and architecture. He later explored realism in highly detailed

Britan Industrial Relations Sytem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Britan Industrial Relations Sytem - Essay Example In the 19th century Britain was at the peak of its power it ruled over a huge territory. In fact the whole world. It is the leading industrial and naval power of the 19th century; it led the way in developing parliamentary democracy and in advance literature as well as science. The British industrial relations system has a long history and has gone through much change in recent years. Industrial relations are also known as employee relations. Employee relation is are partly concerned with groups of employees who are represented by trade unions (Ed 2004 p 4). There are three phases in the evolution of employee relations since the end of the World War II, the third one being the partnership approach. Until 1979 (date of the election of the Conservative Party), work relations were based on collective bargaining and collective agreement aiming to determine and regulate, in varying degrees, the terms on which individuals will be employed (Flanders 1968 p35), with a strong voluntarism encouraged massively and informally. The trade unions (basically, it is an association of wage earners, totally independent of employers pressure, who struggle to improve work conditions) had a lot of power and everything was negotiated through deals. A Trade Union, through collective bargaining can force employers to deal with labour as a collective identity, rather than isolated individuals and so, secure better the terms and condition of employment. Nevertheless, in 1979when the conservative party won the election, everything changed. The new government used a lot measures to restrict the role of trade unions. In addition, it introduced an enterprise culture in which individuals and organisations, rather than government, were to be held responsible for economic performance. Thus, as well as rejecting the maintenance of full employment as a major policy objective, they in effect abandoned the commitment of their

Experiment 2 Resonant circuit Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Experiment 2 Resonant circuit - Lab Report Example However, this current if often affected by several other factors both from within the connection itself and from without i.e. from the external environment. Impedance, the vector sum of reactance and resistance, describes the phase difference and the ratio of amplitudes between sinusoidally varying voltage and sinusoidally varying current at a given frequency. Fourier analysis allows any signal to be constructed from a spectrum of frequencies, whence the circuit's reaction to the various frequencies may be found. This paper will look at the measurement/ the process of determining the amount of current flowing through an electric circuit by use of a resonator. This is done by analyzing the frequencies of the resonation reflected on the resonator. The level of current transmitted by different sources of power differs depending on the voltage capacity of the source. Sources with higher voltage will result in the increase in the amount of current flowing through the circuit when the loop is closed and the low voltage sources will as well result into low current flowing within the circuit. When the connection is terminated, the current ceases to flow and the charge stored in the capacitor is lost (as the capacitor discharges) (Hammond). Besides, the resonant is used to establish the amount of charge radiated into the capacitor during charging and the amount/ rate of loss of charges over time as the capacitor discharges. The experiment was carried out by setting up a circuit connection off with an AC power source as the source of current transmitted through the circuit and the two nodes X and Y connected to the resonator. These nodes reflect the frequency of the current flowing through the circuit as reflected in the wavelengths on the resonator. When the circuit is closed, current flows through it and the wavelengths of the current shown on the resonator, contrary, when the circuit is broken, the current cease to low and the waves ceases to be transmitted across the circuit. This is indicated by the cession in the projection of the waves on the resonator and the cession of the resonation capacity of the resonator. Certain physical factors are used to determine this variation in the flow of current. These include the amplitude, a, of the waves transmitted through the circuit and the wavelength, ?, of the waves produced as current flows through the connection. While the amplitude of the current shown on the resonator indicates the amount of current passed across at any given instance, the frequency of these wavelengths qualifies the voltage of the power source. The principles mused in this experiment is that of the flow of current in an electric circuit determined by the power source. That the higher the power voltage, the higher the amount of current flowing through the circuit and vice versa. The capacitance of the capacitors is then determined to indicate the amount of charge stored in the capacitors. This capacitance varies from time to time depending on the voltage strength of the power source. The total capacitance of the device that resonates with the inductance of the winding tested is the distributed capacitance; Cd. Experience shows that this result is considered axiomatic by many Engineers. (Hammond) This experiment id very important for electricians and engineers as it helps them the determine with rather accuracy the

Design Proposal for a Product or Service Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Design Proposal for a Product or Service - Essay Example Simple facts such as this necessitated the establishment of Dines Company to provide high level of standard services only when need calls for organizations and institutions of similar management/ operation styles. Depending on if your catering requirements are for a large gathering or something as simple as an intimate party, we will always handle your event with the delicacy and standards recommended. We have a special state of the art kitchen in Florida CBD, USA; and a completely outfitted catering convoy which is meant to serve as our ‘kitchen on the go’, when any needs call for. In case of no cooking facilities at you party venue, just a simple notification will enable us come along with all the necessary supplies, equipments, and the right personnel. As allowed by our professionalism and vast experience, our team is specialized in ensuring creative fusion cuisine and making best choices from a variety of food traditions. We provide any combination as required by the clients, ranging from the very simple party appetizers to higher five-course meals. At all levels of our service provisions, we will always be pleased to have you work with us in making any suggestions on the menu, or rather go by your choice as is provided on the list of menu that our staff have already designed. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are also available at all times for your events. All the necessary materials and requirements that are necessary in the provision of our services are at their best and healthy states with us. However, we may also work with the clients’ resources in case they require so. For any event, we always draw very close attentions to clients who may be having any special needs, their won samples to be used and ingredients’ specifications. In the event of our call by any the esteemed clients, we do provide very flexible platforms. Our

LAW2046 PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

LAW2046 PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW II - Essay Example The exact legal definition for what would constitute humanitarian intervention has a wide latitude of discretion in terms of interpretation. The variations in its application include distinctions on humanitarian interventions limited to instances where: there may not be any consent from the host state, in instances where the intervention is being used as a form of punishment, and where the intervention involves retaliation for actions where the UN Security Council is already acting on2. In general, humanitarian interventions include activities the application of military actions. It is an intervention which seeks to interfere with state authority through the deployment of military forces within the restricted land and airspaces of the violating state3. This intervention also usually involves situations which may not impact on state interests but on acts which have humanitarian overtones. The issue of humanitarian intervention has long been one of the main issues of international poli cy and related considerations, especially with various incidents of human rights violations perpetuated by states against their citizens and against other residents4. The principle of state sovereignty and non-interference in independent state affairs are principles and arguments often used by violating states in order to refuse humanitarian interventions. ... Without the UN authorization, any military attack is considered illegal, however, there may be moral and political support given to it under certain exceptional cases7. The intervening states would not likely be accused as lawbreakers, however there is a risk that the international legal courts would deem their actions to be legally or politically unjustified. There is a strong justification for military action in the face of human rights violations against people of another state because the foundations of human rights are not based on state borders8. The fact that the human right violation is being carried out by the state against its citizens and the international body sets up a logical and justifiable case of human rights intervention. This doctrine was built naturally from the history of European imperialists using religious justifications in order to suppress the rights of their colonies9. These actions do not anymore apply to current times, however, the roots for humanitarian intervention can be understood clearly under these considerations. Humanitarian intervention is justified for a variety of reasons. One of its main purposes relate to the prevention of genocide and the mass murder of citizens by government actors. Research reveals that since the 1900s, governments have been able to carry out killings totalling up to 169,198,000 of their own citizens10. This number is actually a greater total than the lives lost in this century’s wars11. Humanitarian interventions have been carried out in some of these mass murders in order to stop the significant number of human rights abuses. In the case of Idi Amin of Uganda,

Pregant Women with HIV Infections Research Paper

Pregant Women with HIV Infections - Research Paper Example Pregnant Women with HIV Infections Part A HIV/AIDS is a disease that has had its implications on society in a very vast manner especially over the last two decades. The disease came to prominence around the year 1987 and since then the number of infections have been on the steady rise. The disease is spread through very many distinct ways. There is the spread of the disease from having many sexual partners, the sharing of sharp objects with a person already infected with the virus and finally yet importantly, there is that of pregnant women transferring the disease to their unborn babies. This paper will be very clear in expressing the issues faced by pregnant women with HIV/AIDS and the various manners through which society observes and treats them. It is important to look at this issue because there is a lot of stigma around concerning these women. The United States views the problem of these women in various perspectives and offers the best that it can through the healthcare syste m to ensure that they receive the amount of care they require. The problems faced by these women are widespread and are all across the world but the different manners through which the healthcare organizations look at them is very important. One of the very important aspects of the issue that the United States health system focuses on is the counseling of these women so that they cannot feel left out or rather feel weird. The women receive treatment in a manner through which they receive the best medical care because there is also the focus on the health condition of the unborn child. The screening of the women is rather imperative for the research of other health issues that may make them weaker. When a person has HIV/AIDS, the white blood cells that are responsible for the guard of the body do not function correctly. It is for this reason that any other health condition is supposed to be given a priority to ensure that the women do not suffer a lot. This was study carried out by t he National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The United States also takes the issue rather seriously from the manner in which medical practitioners offer the required prophylaxis. The government has a major role to play in this because there are many countries that have bills that have the family of the HIV/AIDS infected patient carrying the burden of paying the bills for the medication. The medication is very important as it assists in the healing of Opportunistic Infections. These infections were reported to have killed around 37% of all pregnant HIV/AIDS patients in the United States over the period between 1990 and 2000. The analysis made it very important for the government to bring in a program that ensured that the deaths resulting from these infections reduced (Adams, 2011). The issue of HIV/AIDS is taken in a rather serious manner in the United States from the number of bills that are passed regarding the issue. One of the bills passed ensured that among all the necessary tests taken by pregnant women when being admitted to hospitals, HIV/AIDS becomes one of them (Adams, 2011). The first step taken is immunization that also assists in protecting the unborn child from contracting the disease. The reason as to why the government decided to make a priority while handling pregnant women is from the manner through which parents’

Awareness of Identity Theft among Mature Students Essay - 1

Awareness of Identity Theft among Mature Students - Essay Example Identity theft has been a serious issue. It has become one of the fastest-growing crimes in the US and in the UK. A 2007 report shows that in the UK, GBP 1.7 billion is lost annually and about 10,000 fell victims in 2006 (Staff Writer, 2007). In the US, though the figure has decreased, still about 8.4 adult Americans are victims of identity fraud (Javelin, 2007). Serious and rampant as it is, awareness of this type of crime was not immediately high. Identity awareness drives had to be conducted to inform more people of the danger of falling victim to the frauds. It is important that we become aware of their existence before they steal who we are. It is important, most especially for students, to know when and when not to give away certain personal information. But before giving precautions as to how to avoid identity thieves, it is necessary to have a figure as to what fraction of the population is actually aware that frauds like these exist. A look at the history of fraud cases migh t help measure the level of awareness that has come to arise throughout the years. The number of identity fraud cases in the UK has continued to rise since eight years ago. From a mere 9,000 cases in 1999, the number increased to 24,000 in the 2001, 46,000 in 2003, and almost doubled to 80,000 in 2006. As recorded, dealing with this crime has cost the UK government GBP1.5 billion in 2005 (CIFAS). In other parts of the world, particularly the US, fraudulent activities are more rampant and damaging. For instance, US lenders were reported to have lost about USD 1 billion. In Canada, a loss of about CAND 21.8 million was recorded in 2003 because of the 14,526 cases (Report on identity theft). Looking back at a 2005 investigation by the Which! Magazine, results showed that about one-fourth of UK adults had been victims of identity fraud. This has cost the UK government about GBP1.3 billion annually. The same investigation found out that awareness of the crime has increased, with two-thirds of the individuals now concerned with the crime. "Which found that 33 per cent of adults don't take any precautions to beat the ID thieves, while 18 per cent shred their documents but still use a single password for all online banking; a similar number don't shred documents but make use of several different passwords, while 31 per cent take both precautions" (Best, 2005). After looking at statistics of how the number of identity fraud cases has continued to rise, it is then important to take a look at how people usually fall victim to frauds, and how personal information are given away. There are several ways by which a fraudster can acquire information needed to steal your identity. For one, phishing occurs over the internet. This is an easy way for thieves to get away with important account numbers and such. This may be obtained through online dating services and even job applications online. Phishing scams happen when thieves pose as employees of legitimate companies verifying information over the phone or online. And as a study shows, 92 per cent of people in London will give information to a stranger (Thomson, 2005). Another way is by engaging in casual conversations. It may

Nation of Islam Essay Example for Free

Nation of Islam Essay Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. He was born to a minister father that was a supporter of Black Nationalist Movement leader Marcus Garvey, which resulted in Malcolm experiencing discrimination and racial hatred from an early age. His father was killed and his home burned when Malcolm was young, and Malcolm was jailed in his early twenties after several run-ins with the law following his father’s death. He joined the Nation of Islam in while in prison, and when he was paroled in 1952 he was named the national spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X was an outspoken, articulate, charismatic man that used television, radio, and every other form of media available to convey the Nation’s message. He preached for militant stance in the black community and for equal rights for African Americans, â€Å"by any means necessary†. This unwavering stance and militant attitude made some see Malcolm as a threat and he was followed under FBI surveillance until he was assassinated in 1965. He used his charisma and his steadfast beliefs to make the message of the Nation of Islam well known in America and to bring the issue of African American rights to the forefront of American consciousness. His mission later transformed from fighting for African American rights to fighting for equal human rights for every race, and he enforced the same militant stance with his new message. Mahatma Gandhi was a human rights leader like Malcolm X but he delivered his message in a very different way. Born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, he was given the name Mahatma because it means, â€Å"great soul†. He was born in British-ruled India and practiced law in South Africa which was also ruled by Britain. While in South Africa he began a twenty-year campaign for Indian freedom. Instead of X’s militant, unmoving approach, Gandhi practiced and taught the principles of non-violent resistance. He believed it was more honourable to be jailed for one’s cause than to create violence. He also practiced fasting as a way of conveying his message of peace and non-violence. He returned to India after twenty years and became the leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement. After India was declared independent in 1947, it was divided into India and Pakistan and the two countries rioted against one another. Gandhi began a fast to encourage the leaders to stop fighting. After he fasted for five days, the fighting stopped and the countries were at peace until Gandhi was assassinated shortly after. Until his death, Gandhi epitomized his message to, â€Å"Be the change you want to see in the world†. He saw no value in violence, and thought that the message of non-violence as a way of protest could bring tolerance, peace and unity more effectively than any violent act could. Despite the change in his place of residence and the political climate of his country he stayed true to his message of peace and unity.

The expansion of higher education

The expansion of higher education Analyse the historical development of Higher Education and the role which it plays in society. Compare and contrast recent developments with predecessors. Who were the main stakeholders? The 1900s was the start of the expansion of Britains, universities. University courses offered to students increased and so did the student body. The Universities Grants Committee 1919 administered central government funding of universities. Mass education was provided by universities in 1970 before this it was the territory only for the social elite; it was the 1807 Parochial School Bill that made provision for educating the laboring classes which led to the mass of education. Women attending university also increased greatly, and teaching provisions expanded which included a range of new subjects and specialties on offer. The Butler Education Act 1944 signaled the expansion of secondary education and therefore there was a greater demand for university places. Late 1950s, the higher education sector needed expanding as there was a shortage of university places due to the increasing number of students leaving school with an official qualification, entitling them to a chance to go to university. Classical education was questioned, and policy makers became convinced of the importance of science and technology and recommended the transformation of some technical colleges into universities, becoming institutes of technology, recommended by The Percy Report of 1945. The Barlow Report of 1946 recommended more university places for science students, funded by the state as they believed it would double the annual output of science graduates. In 1956 selected technical and further education (FE) colleges were updated to university status from being just Colleges of Advanced Technology. In mid 1960s most of these became the new universities. In the mid 1960s the chairman, Sir Geoffrey Crowther, of Central Advisory Council, reported that he was to raise the school leaving age to 16 years old, and compulsory part time education up until the age of 18 years old. In doing this it highlighted there was a need for more university places and to expand university facilities, as higher education was a universal provision now, for all with the necessary ability. In 1961, there were less than 15 per cent of applications going to university. Although there was major growth in higher education as the founding of the new institutions were in line with the expansion of existing universities. In 1962 the government outlined a plan to raise student numbers to 150,000, a 40,000 increase over five years, this was through the idea that an increase of funding from  £104 million to  £165 million per year would be given. In 1966, a white paper set out the Labour governments intention to establish polytechnics in England and Wales. Thirty were set up between 1968 and 1973. Courses were to concentrate on those with a vocational emphasis, offer part time and sub degree or full time and sandwich courses. These were run by local education authorities (LEAs). 1973, the Russell Report states that the number of people in adult education has grown by 750,000, so effectively enabling the laboring classes to have the opportunity to go to university showed more graduates, opening up more opportunities. The Education Act 1973 was the act that made the provision that postgraduates were no longer eligible for LEA grants, so this would have the effect that only those who could fund their education would be able to pursue their education further, after the completion of an undergraduate course. The Education Act 1975, extended provisions of the 1962 Act that stated, students at universities or in further education establishments had  £304 available to them in the academic year 1962/63 and  £346 in 1968/69, an increase of about 14 per cent, this student grant would therefore help in resources enabling more individuals to attend university. 1988 Student Support, white paper, proposed top up loans for students, yet the secretary of state education, Mr. Kenneth Barker, states We have the most generous system of student support in the western world, yet fewer of our young people enter higher education than in other European countries. HC Deb 09 November 1988 vol 140 cc307) The top up loan averaging over  £400 in a full year is not means tested like today but helped as it is available to everyone and individuals were allowed to take as much or as little as they want of that  £400. In 1990, Education (student loans) Act established the reduction of student grants as the introduction of top up loans that were available for all higher education students, meaning there would be less free money available and more loans to be paid. In 1991, the Conservative government made polytechnics grant university status. Polytechnics concentrate mainly on applied research; this is solving practical problems of the modern world, rather than to acquire knowledge for knowledges sake. Where as universities does strategic research, this being research conducted to produce specific applied programs. The status of polytechnics to be equivalent and the universities means that funding and grants are available and accessible to those students who at polytechnics. The White Paper on Higher Education 1991, recommended expansion of student numbers in higher education. The Prime Minister John Major said the end of the divide between universities and polytechnics would Build on our plans to transform education and training for 16 to 19-year-olds by removing the barriers between the academic and vocational streams. Where as, Marenbon, Medieval philosophy fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge, stated that conservative politicians, as much as Labour ones, believed in the nonsense about making vocational education of equal esteem to academic education. In 1992, Further and Higher Education Act unified the funding of Higher Education under the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCs), which introduced competition for funding between institutions and abolished council for National Academic Awards, which validated degrees outside universities since 1965, was to close and abolish the binary divide, The binary divide being the division of higher education into two sectors, the university sector and the polytechnic sector A study by Mr. Ramsden and Mr. Brown for the Universities UK, longer-term strategy group, shows that New university research income grew from 4.6 per cent to 5.8 per cent of total income in this period. Old universities with medical schools saw this proportion increase from 33.1 per cent to 39.1 per cent. Old universities without medical schools remained stable, the percentage going from 23.1 per cent to 23.3 per cent. This situation would hardly have improved if new universities had remained polytechnics Analysis: Mixed report for class of 92, Claire Sanders, (28 June 2002). The next change in higher education was after a four year gap in 1996, the Student Loans Act extended the provision of student loans, Be it enacted by the Queens most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same Education (Student Loans) Act 1996, CHAPTER 9, [29th April 1996] Dearing Report 1997 was the review of higher education. Higher education colleges as well as Universities educated 2.8 million students in 1996/97 (figure 1); this is less than a quarter of who were from the group which used to be the backbone of the old universities. 64 % of students were mature students perusing a qualification and 37 % part timers. Nearly one million of people enroll with higher education institutions do not to gain a qualification, but to meet a particular skill need (applied research) or fill a gap in their knowledge (strategic research), or just because they wanted to learn. Higher education is a key contributor to national, regional as well as local economic growth and regeneration. Also in 1997/98 statistics show how the United Kingdom attracted 209,000 international students to study in the U.K. (figure 2) In 1998, the Education (student loans) Act transferred the provision of student loans to the private sector this would allow the students to have protection as there would be fixed terms and no loop holes for debts to be recovered until the relevant time. The Regulations also provided new repayment terms for disabled borrowers, which meant they had separate terms from normal students as it would be harder for them to find a job under discrimination possibly. The terms were set at the discretion of the loans administrator. A major change towards the higher education institutions was also in 1998 the Teaching and Higher Education Act established the General Teaching Council (GTC) abolished all student maintenance grants and required students to contribute to tuition fees. Tuition fees paid by all, except the poorest students from 1998/9. Means tested loans/grants meant that about 30% of pupils did not have to pay tuition fees because their income or that of their parents/spouses is not enough. Students that had family incomes of less than about  £35,000 a year paid less, this was 30% of students, and they then had the maximum level for 1998/9 of  £1,000. Maintenance grants given to students towards living expenses with loans from 1999/2000 was replaced by loans, these repayments of loans were at the rate of 9% of a graduates income once it is above  £10,000. This is very similar to the way the students of today 2010 are surviving and also in the same way that the availability of a supplementary hardship loan of  £250 a year but terms of either being a single parent, having a disability, are in their last year and some other similar stories are entitled to this loan, which again has to be paid back. From the above paragraphs discussing the development of higher education from the early 1800 to 2000, I will now explore the most recent changes, developments, and controls of higher education, making notes of the impact of previous legislation, laws and reforms that determined the way of the higher education institutions and universities of today. Higher education today is open to all classes, religions, cultures, sexes, ages and societies as has changed from just the elite group, the upper classes. Nowadays it shouldnt only attempt to engage with students outside the elite circle, of powerful and wealthy parents but also attract those with the opportunity for higher education is denied by reason of funding. This is the process of widening participation; this is different from just opening the doors to university for the lower classes but also individuals from under-represented communities. There are organizations that prepare them for higher education, ensure success on their programme of study, improve their employment prospects and open possibilities for postgraduate study, and give them opportunities to return to learning throughout their lives. The value of higher education argued and there are many tensions between what students want and what staff want, for example, between the vocational and professional on one hand, or the more academic. There are a lot more vocational courses running at colleges and sixth forms, where students complete successfully which qualifies then to go to university if they please, so, nowadays there are courses from sports management to computer games design, all manner of vocational courses are on offer in higher education Andy Sharman, 2006, this is a very big social change. The British schooling system measures pupils achievements by having league tables, even higher education institutions and universities have a benchmark, and this seems to be the means towards higher educational achievement. In the higher education context a benchmark is used to measure a level of performance, resources, or outcome against which an institution or group might be compared too. The majority of Universities of today are competing for a world-class statuses, these statuses are given to the universities and higher education institutions by the contribution of the students perceptions (stakeholders), scholarly citations, research and also availability of facilities and resources. The United Kingdom, to gain first class status of its universities is to convey the impression of high standards in learning, teaching and research quality. So, ask some people question whether children at school are taught he test it can be argued whether lectures teach in the way they do for a sta tus rather then to handout knowledge within a specific topic area.

Preventing Teenage Smoking Essay example -- essays research papers

Today, there has been an increase in the amount of teenagers who smoke half a pack a day of cigarettes. The number of seniors in high school who have tried cigarettes has decreased over the years, but the number of those who smoke occasionally or half a pack or more a day, has increased. There are many factors as to why teenagers smoke including advertising and teen behavior. There are also a few ways we can stop teenagers from wanting to smoke. Therefore, we need to make teens aware that smoking is not good for you and it is not cool and we need to figure out why teens think it is cool. We need to find out why teens smoke and how we can make the stop and how we can prevent new teens from starting to smoke. Advertising and marketing of cigarettes are a big factor as to why teenagers smoke. There are promotions for different brands like Joe Camal and Marlboro Man. They’re some of the biggest marketing campaigns on T.V. Both companies have giveaways like T-shirts in return for coupons accumulated by buying their brand of cigarettes. Different cigarette companies make the...

Animal Farm Essay -- Animal Farm Essays

George Orwell’s political satire â€Å"Animal Farm† makes some interesting contrasts between the patriotic character of Old Major, an older majestic looking pig, and Napoleon, a pig who seems to bide his time waiting for the right moment to seize control for his own evil purpose. Old Major makes a patriotic speech to the assembled group, expounding the virtues of animalism (socialism) In effect he is calling for a utopian socialism in which the community must sacrifice for the collective well being of its members. He begins with the rhetorical question: â€Å"what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short. We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth†. (Ch I) The comparison (analogy) with the original concept of Karl Marx’s socialism is clear: â€Å"1) complete equality of all citizens, 2) abolition of private ownership of the means of production (factories, mines, railways, etc.), 3) the replacement of a market economy with one in which everyone got whatever they needed in return for such labor as they were able to give.† ...

J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings Essay -- Tolkien Lord Rings Ess

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings strikes a cord with almost everyone who reads it. Its popularity has not waned with the passing of time, nor is its appeal centered on one age group or generation. Book sales would indicate that The Lord of the Rings is at least as popular now as it ever was, if not more so. Some estimates put it at the second highest selling work of all time, following only the bible. While it is certainly an exciting and well written work of fantasy, which cannot help but grip the imagination, all this would be for naught except for the poignancy of the themes which serve as its backbone. Foremost of these is Tolkien’s determination to show the natural world as the measure of all things. His world revolves around nature, and his character’s affinity to it determines their place in Middle-Earth. The structure of the history of Middle-earth is based on the natural cycle of life. Tolkien’s chronicle, stretching back through the various ages of the world, is at its heart a simple story of good vs. evil. The balance of power does not swing chaotically however. Tolkien sets the world on a cyclical system. As Gandalf says, â€Å"Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.†(Fellowship, 76). Additionally, the world is also divided into various ages, declining in their greatness as time passes. The First age for instance, is filled with greater beings, both good and evil, who inevitably clash, often eliminating themselves in the process. In earlier days the elves were still numerous, the dwarves ruled their great holdfast of Moria, and evil beings such as Sauron and the Balrogs were but servants to the great dark lord Mo... ...uity through art, a link which would preserve some of the faded glory of the past. (Stanton, 93) Tolkien tells us â€Å"Farie contains many things besides elves and fays, and besides dwarfs, witches, trolls, giants, or dragons: it holds the seas, the sun, the moon, the sky; and the earth, and all things that are in it: tree and bird, water and stone, wine and bread, and ourselves, mortal men, when we are enchanted.† ( On fairy Stories, 9). This applies well to The Lord of the Rings. Farie, representing nature, is an intrinsic part of our lives. To ignore it or destroy it can only bring us trouble. With nature man finds art, beauty, abundance, and joy. All good things from nature, and all evil comes from its lack and destruction. To Tolkien, a world without nature was no world worth living in, and in The Lord of the Rings, he doesn’t let us forget it. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Essay -- Tolkien Lord Rings Ess J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings strikes a cord with almost everyone who reads it. Its popularity has not waned with the passing of time, nor is its appeal centered on one age group or generation. Book sales would indicate that The Lord of the Rings is at least as popular now as it ever was, if not more so. Some estimates put it at the second highest selling work of all time, following only the bible. While it is certainly an exciting and well written work of fantasy, which cannot help but grip the imagination, all this would be for naught except for the poignancy of the themes which serve as its backbone. Foremost of these is Tolkien’s determination to show the natural world as the measure of all things. His world revolves around nature, and his character’s affinity to it determines their place in Middle-Earth. The structure of the history of Middle-earth is based on the natural cycle of life. Tolkien’s chronicle, stretching back through the various ages of the world, is at its heart a simple story of good vs. evil. The balance of power does not swing chaotically however. Tolkien sets the world on a cyclical system. As Gandalf says, â€Å"Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.†(Fellowship, 76). Additionally, the world is also divided into various ages, declining in their greatness as time passes. The First age for instance, is filled with greater beings, both good and evil, who inevitably clash, often eliminating themselves in the process. In earlier days the elves were still numerous, the dwarves ruled their great holdfast of Moria, and evil beings such as Sauron and the Balrogs were but servants to the great dark lord Mo... ...uity through art, a link which would preserve some of the faded glory of the past. (Stanton, 93) Tolkien tells us â€Å"Farie contains many things besides elves and fays, and besides dwarfs, witches, trolls, giants, or dragons: it holds the seas, the sun, the moon, the sky; and the earth, and all things that are in it: tree and bird, water and stone, wine and bread, and ourselves, mortal men, when we are enchanted.† ( On fairy Stories, 9). This applies well to The Lord of the Rings. Farie, representing nature, is an intrinsic part of our lives. To ignore it or destroy it can only bring us trouble. With nature man finds art, beauty, abundance, and joy. All good things from nature, and all evil comes from its lack and destruction. To Tolkien, a world without nature was no world worth living in, and in The Lord of the Rings, he doesn’t let us forget it.

Ageplay

Gentry, Kristin Jennifer Cherry English 101. 04 Spring 2012 Ageplay: Emotionally Gratifying, Socially Taboo! Ageplay, or the often sexually- taboo act of role playing, where one consenting adult personifies a minor child, while the other serves as a caretaker for the â€Å"minor child†, is a highly common phenomenon that shocks and perplexes many, but serves as profound emotional fulfillment for those who participate in the lifestyle. Throughout the following pages it is my intent to explore the many facets of age play and especially dissect, with integrity, the â€Å"why† behind this unique subject matter.Overwhelmed with a wealth of information, I have broken down the subtopics, for convenience and ease in reading. I have incorporated a variety or research sources varying from books written by esteemed sexologists to personal interviews from age players right here in the community. To protect their identity some have chosen to anonymously contribute to the paper while others have allowed me to use and alias. What is this age play thing all about? Ageplay is type of role playing mostly practiced amongst the kink community.In some cases, ageplayers will limit â€Å"sceneing† or â€Å"play† to the â€Å"vanilla† world, sexless, or seemingly blase, 9-5, mundane life, but, it is far less frequent than the sexually- driven alternative. There are three common age ranges that are explored in this kink. The first is Adolescentilism, where a relationship is formed around a person who identifies as a young adult or high school aged person. Often, a â€Å"naughty school girl† fantasy falls into this category.Authors Gloria and William Brame and Jon Jacobs, educated Sexologists and experts in the BDSM arena, wrote about this in the candid, wildly-popular book: Different Loving: The World of Sexual Domination and Submission. On page 129 it reads â€Å"[in this type of ageplay] the fantasy is likely of only temporary duration. â₠¬  Paul Rulof, a lifestyle educator and conference presenter raises a good, supportive point in his writings that suggests why this might be true. On page 52 of his first book, he sheds a new perspective about this particular age range of role play.He notes the following: â€Å"The teenage years are often ones of exploration of the self-identity, interactions with others, and many different experiences. Many firsts often happen during this time: first kiss, first date and first romantic partner. † The attraction of new and exciting events is most likely short-lived once those first experiences have occurred. When prompted during an interview, â€Å"Draven†, a Bloomington-Normal based Daddy had to say this about the appeal of this age range. The naive instincts of a pre-teen appeal to the hero complex that most men possess. We like to be needed and especially when we can offer our insight about sexual discovery. I personally enjoy watching my baby girl grow emotionally and become a sweet young lady as a result of my influence. † The next age group fetish mentioned in the trio-penned â€Å"Different Loving† was the Juvenilism range. This includes littles who personify, or emotionally connect with 6-12 years of age.Punishment is a cornerstone of functionality in this age range. Littles who identify as a juvenile are typically more sensitive and require great emotional care. Most littles who have a bratty, or disobedient streak, fall into this group, thus the frequency in punishment for these preteen boys and girls. Brame, Brame and Jacobs had this to say about unique, therapeutic punishment tactics for littles in this age range, â€Å"The parent figure may ask embarrassing questions about the submissive’s personal or sexual habits.By stripping away the submissive’s privacy, the dominant exposes not only the submissive’s body but also her inner nakedness and vulnerability. In some juvenilist scenarios the dominant role plays as the erotic guide. † Surprisingly, despite the small amount of littles who fall into the pre-teen category, the Juvenilism age range is not the most popular. The last age fetish, Infantilism, or â€Å"ABDL†s (Adult Baby/Diaper Lovers), is the most commonly known age play fetish (Different Loving, p 137).This class of ageplayers is, by far, the most controversial and is what has been most depicted in the media, in documentaries, and even on reality shows since the 1980’s when a Phil Donahue episode practically turned daytime television viewers inside out with discomfort. The episode featured an adult baby, his Mommy and clips of footage showing his daily routines as an ABDL. Visions of an adult willingly soiling himself or fully relying on another adult to feed him, when he was physically capable to feed himself, shocked the studio audience, and home viewers, alike.Very young myself at the time, less than 9 years old, I had so many questions and the i mages burned into my memory, mostly from fascination and wonder. I was so very confused and yet, so afraid to ask my very judgmental and cynical grandmother why everyone was yelling at this big baby and his Mommy. I filed the images away into the back of my mind and, on occasion, when I hear stories of bigotry and discrimination surrounding ageplayers, that particular story comes flooding back to me.The controversy behind age play absolutely stuck me for over two decades. During my research for this paper I was surprised to find that two of the interviewees, a couple, not involved in the lifestyle in any way, for the Brames’ and Jacobs’ book referenced the same Donahue show in their testimonial: â€Å"We saw a [Phil] Donahue [show] about infantilism and were amazed at the outrage that some people felt about infantilists, who are engaged in something completely innocent.They enjoy being in baby clothes and get a certain amount of satisfaction from recreating their earl y childhood. Statistically, nobody knows whether it’s normal or not. The psychiatrist on the show was very clear on the fact that these people were doing nothing wrong. † (p137) The experts who scripted â€Å"Different Loving† had this to say about this controversial group of littles: â€Å"Many D&Sers ( BDSM participants) express discomfort with infantilism, as well, perhaps because it is difficult to understand why someone would wish to be as helpless as and infant. (p137) History has taught us that anger and fear are products of ignorance. I believe that this is a solid explanation for the public’s response to ABDLs in the media. The intolerance is most likely fueled, further, by the notion that most adult babies are typically of male gender, which contradicts, completely, the general standard of patriarchy in our society. Unfortunately, with minimal awareness and exposure I do not see a wave of acceptance and empathy any time soon from the greater pop ulation.Despite the negative talk about adult babies, and/or their caretakers, and the lifestyles that they lead, of the three categories, Infantilism offers one unique aspect that neither of the other two can offer. The ABDL model is the perfect erotic outlet for those that are afflicted with disabilities that affect fine and gross motor skills and mobility, as well as neurological conditions that may affect the ability to control bodily functions.In all age ranges the caretaker will make decisions and approach their relationship with their little as they would a person who is biologically the age that their little feels. This includes physical and emotional care. In my observation of a social setting, where several couples were gathered for a kinky birthday party for a local Daddy, I saw first-hand how this plays out between a top (the roleplayer of authority) and the bottom ( the role player with the least amount of obvious power), or in this case, a Daddy and his daughter.During the birthday party the little was feeling feisty and apparently a little bratty. Much like an over-stimulated, attention-seeking, sugary-cake-filled six year old would, the little aimed to be the center of attention and repeatedly was speaking over her Daddy and interrupting him as he attempted to make announcements about the food to his party guests. Excited, the little would bounce up and down in front of him in attempt to get him to listen to her not-at-all-related-to-birthday-cake story.Despite the Daddy’s firm verbal prompts to calm down and fully fueled by an adoring on-looking crowd, the little continued to be a nuisance. Finally, the Daddy grabbed the little by the arm, guided her to a nearby chair, firmly guided her bottom into the seat, bent over to her eye level and sternly ordered to her sit down, stop talking and to make no attempt to get up without his permission. It looked like a scene I have seen a million times myself as a parent and former preschool classro om assistant.The little was petite in stature and sported short, pink hair in a pixie styled haircut and natural looking make-up. It was certainly believable to the party attendees and understandably so. The little was acting like a typical child the age the same age of her inner little would act and her Daddy was acting like any loving parent would. For Bigs and littles, this relationship is not a scripted, â€Å"fairytale-esque† , theatrical experience. The bond between the pair and their interactions are easily solidified by a fascinating concept called â€Å"headspace†.Once a scene begins between a caretaker and a little, the reality and natural roles melt away and, almost like a person with multiple personalities, the emotions, thoughts, habits, preferences, and behaviors of the inner personality surfaces and the person that they function as during their vanilla life dissipates, even if for a little while. It is very much trance-like in some cases, and almost alwa ys, in sexual scenes. In order to best understand what age play is all about there are terms that one should become familiar with.These terms are pivotal to communicating with those who identify as minors or caretakers. The lifestyle breeds a whole new language of its own and knowing the lingo fosters a relatable nature when building trust amongst the kink community members. You will note new definitions and terms you have most likely not been introduced to prior to the reading of this paper. For example, the most common term is â€Å" a/the little†, referring to the person who identifies as the minor.The term â€Å"Big† is intentionally capitalized, and can refer to the little when they are functioning as their genuine, or â€Å"real life† age; it can also be used as a term to describe the caretaker, or counterpart to the little. Another popular word often heard in conversations about age play is â€Å"inner little†. This refers to the distinct feeling o f being â€Å"small†, or younger, than one’s true age, a separate entity, if you will, from who they are forced to be every day in their â€Å"adult life†. There have been great debates when it comes to phrasing the description of littles and their personal connection with their inner little.I recently surveyed a group of littles, in a discussion forum, online ( that shall not be named for the protection of the contributors), as to how they speak of their inner little. The great phrasing debate is typically split between themselves as â€Å"having a little† or â€Å"being a little†, while on a rare occasion, some will say that they â€Å"are little†. This particular description is the least common as very few people desire, or are able, to live the lifestyle 24/7. When I posed the question: â€Å"How do you refer to your relationship with your little? in a discussion forum, open only to littles, I was bombarded with an avalanche of response s. After filtering through and reading the ample list of opinions over 50% of the littles speak of ownership of their little, as if their body hosts a shell for their little to live and safely surface when the need strikes. Slightly over 25% of the all-female responders would represent their little by saying â€Å"I am a little â€Å", while the rest commented that they do not ever leave the feeling of being little therefore it is senseless to refer to it at all.Littles have preferences, much different than their Big (in this case I am referencing the vanilla person who â€Å"hosts† the inner little), in everything from hobbies, to fashion, to sleep habits, to comfort rituals, to sexual fantasies, to even how they talk, behave and relate to those around them. In most things ageplay when a debate arises, there is no consensus, as the ageplay community is still evolving. It is adaptable, based on personal preference and relationship history, to whatever extent the partners ar e comfortable with, in any facet that they so choose.There are no societal expectations with ageplay, as there are with traditional parent/child roles. There are no social norms to adhere to within the community. The world of ageplay is very pliable and the appeal is very transparent once you begin to take a close look at the logistics of ageplay. Who age plays? As someone who is rarely surprised by taboo or kinky concepts and ideas, I am generally taken back by the diversity of those involved in the ageplay community. No one is excluded from having unique sexual preferences and, certainly, no one is ever exempt from personal hurt and â€Å"baggage†.In ageplay, the egalitarian roles serve as unconventional, therapeutic tool for people from all walks of life. In my personal interviews and connections that were made with the local ageplayers I have met everyone from the college-educated, pre-med student all the way the blue collar, entry-level, fast food worker. Like profession or education level, other demographics do not limit who participates in such a lifestyle. I have met participants as young as 18 years old and as old as 72. Sexual kinks and taboos are not dictated by demographics and age play is no exception.Why age play? The beauty in this way of life is that it is customizable to individual needs. As an aspiring sex therapist I find immeasurable worth in personalizing what works for healing old hurts and sorting through hang ups with the tools you have before you. If someone is to grow from their pain and rise above it the method has to be something they believe in and trust will work. With ageplay, both partners steer the ship, so to speak, and the whole intent is to do so with their partner’s well-being in mind.The caretaker, also referred to as the â€Å"top†, â€Å"master†, â€Å"Daddy†, â€Å"Mommy†, or â€Å"Big†, depending on those involved and to what extent they interact, parents the little with loving guidance and reassurance while the little fills a need to almost â€Å"ego stroke† their Big and construct a confidence and self-esteem boost within them. There is a mutual understanding, and a simultaneous bond between the two, that buffs out the unfulfilled emotional needs of each other and brings great joy and liberation from those wounds. During an e-mail conversation with â€Å"Mr.Beck†, a local Daddy and leader in the BDSM social scene here in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois , that I have had the fortune of befriending, I discovered that the â€Å"why† is a sensitive topic that some choose not explore for themselves. In response to a question asking if he thought there was a direct link between trauma and eroticism (a personal attempt to deconstruct Sexologist Gloria Brame’s theory on the matter, stating that there is no direct link ( Different Loving, p127) he responded as follows: â€Å"I believe that every form of sexual expression exists o n a spectrum.Some people are gay with only one person. Some people are into the â€Å"lifestyle† only with younger people. So on and so on. There isn't a one size fits all with any form of sexual expression. There are littles working out issues, of course. I have been with a little who had been groped by her father but wanted to call me â€Å"Daddy† during sex. When I asked she was clear that her biological father and the â€Å"Daddy† figure of her fantasies were completely different people. I think that age play is, at the heart of it, about finding a role that makes sense and embracing it.There are â€Å"kittens† and experts are not rushing out to find out what role the family cat played in their upbringing. Those who are attempting to push age play out into the realms of the broken homes and disquieted minds are, in my opinion, wanting to push uncomfortable questions, about their own sexual landscape, out at arm’s length. † This particular Daddy is what is called a â€Å"24/7 Daddy†, or a Daddy who lives the lifestyle around the clock, at every opportunity. There aren’t many spaces where he would edit his words or interactions with his little. When questioned about his version of the â€Å"why ageplay? He seemed to be passive aggressive in his response, and evasive to a complete, personal answer. I would say that he was defensive in his wording and not at all comfortable in examining his personal motivation for entering a relationship of the age play nature. For some members of the kink community doing self-reflective exercises unveils some scary and uncomfortable truths that are too intense in nature to comprehend and deal with. This is a common issue when looking at most taboo practices. Many age players share in Mr. Beck’s mentality mentioned in his interview.The idea behind trying to understand the origin for the kink is usually â€Å"just go with it and embrace it†¦it is what it is. à ¢â‚¬  For those like myself and Paul Rulof, Chicago- based age play educator and Daddy, we believe that there is a certain, natural connection, through ageplay, to â€Å"righting the wrongs† of the past that children have no control over. Rulof speaks to this theory in his book: â€Å"Ageplay: From Diapers to Diplomas â€Å"when he wrote: â€Å"For many, ageplay is an opportunity to connect with an aspect of themselves that they have forgotten or set aside†¦some people like to explore alternate models of who they could have been with ageplay. p. 65) As a researcher of this social phenomenon I am on the fence about making a claim that 100% of ageplayers are motivated by deep, unmet, emotional need. I would still say that the majority of ageplayers are gaining a sense of control over an area in their life that they felt they lost early on, but I don’t ever care to categorize any group of people, in its entirety, and attach it to one label or judgment, no matter how concrete the evidence is proving that the label is justified.Rulof listed some of his thoughts on the reasons why people partake of this lifestyle, some sexually motivated, some not. His reasons were listed, as follows, on pages 19-34, the biggest chapter in the book: The participants get to: * Relive their childhood – â€Å"†¦ a great number of people have experienced childhoods that they look back upon as desirable or ideal times†. Paul goes on to write that adult life can be viewed as boring and mundane, whereas childhood is generally the complete opposite. Mr.Rulof paints this point as an obvious motivator for ageplaying. (p19) * Rewriting their childhood – â€Å"For littles, rewriting or re-envisioning their childhood is one reason that ageplay might be appealing. However, ageplay is not simply a reaction to one’s own childhood events. Some ageplayer’s own personal childhood or possible negative events may not influence their play mu ch at all†¦Everyone has something in their childhood that they would like to change: disappointments, lacks, incompletion and missed opportunities. (p19) I felt that the author seems to have waivered in his stance on this particular justification, however, at a closer look, and full reading of his book, his claim strongly supports that point I mentioned earlier about how subjective this lifestyle truly is. Sure! Some people do use the little part of themselves to mend the past through conscious actions as an adult while others may focus more on specific hurtful events and relationships. The third option is that ageplay benefits them in some way not at all linked to negative childhood experiences.This group of participants, I gather, based on my interviews, are the ones that are working to address something they would improve about themselves in their current phase of life, be it confidence, the ability to connect with others, building trust in intimate relationships, mastering discipline and will power issues, or just filling a need to be needed†¦which brings me to Paul’s next theory for reasoning. * Practicing Caregiving – â€Å"When caregivers play, they are able to explore the naturally ingrained caregiving traits that they have. (p23) I view this as playing â€Å"grown up house†, or maturing the favored childhood role play game to better hone in on nurturing skills in a less threatening way than what usually occurs in vanilla relationships. * Exploring Gendered Childhoods – â€Å"Especially for transgendered individuals, ageplay provides opportunities to explore childhood experiences as the gender they feel more closely associated with and different than their biological sex. † (p23) During my research I found a podcast whose subject matter is solely based on ageplay.One of the hosts, a lively and entertaining male, â€Å"scenes†, or role plays, as a female baby. Spacey, the host is one of three regular hosts of the show. He recently helped produce an episode of the podcast that completely focused on â€Å"sissies†, or male adults who roleplay as young, adolescent or baby girls. The guests on the show were two â€Å"sissies†, one of which who exercises his civil rights, even in instances of airport pat downs, to live his sissy life around the clock.The gentleman went by the name â€Å"Sissy Stephanie† and he spoke about some of the challenges he encounters living the lifestyle but felt that they emotional payoff is worth the attacks. The second guest, â€Å"Bunny†, talked about his transgendered ageplay and how his youthful, female persona serves as a mechanism to relate to others through a sweet and vulnerable personality, as his vanilla, male self struggles with connection, relatability and trust, typically. Taking Different Options – Much like rewriting your childhood, this theory talks supports the idea that there are particular details in the ageplayer’s childhood that they would like to â€Å"re-do†. Paul writes, on page 24: â€Å"For example, ‘good girls’ can be tease, tramps, or hang out with the â€Å"wrong type of guys†. He went on to offer that some littles appreciate the chance to earn praise for poor or disappointing choices from their past, or even a shot at living on the wild side and pushing boundaries that were obviously unsafe to do as children, such as actually going with the creepy neighbor who offers little kids candy. Shrinking Childhoods – This point was very interesting me, as I had never heard of such an idea about role playing as a minor, but Mr. Rulof wrote about how one might be dissatisfied with their timing of hitting developmental, social or emotional milestones in their childhood and ageplay offers them the a shot at restoring their self-image and confidence in their abilities. * Innocence – â€Å"†¦the loss of a childlike innocence and be coming jaded with the world seems to be a reoccurring theme with some ageplayers.The realization that there are not magical places, fanciful creatures, and happy endings is difficult for some to accept. The desire to regain innocence and escape adult responsibilities could factor in to a desire for ageplay. † (p25) * Relaxing and Enjoyable – Page 26 of Paul Rulof’s book highlights how ageplay encompasses the simplicity and carefree nature of childhood and how the escape from everyday adulthood is sometimes just enough reason, alone, to partake in a non-sexual form of age play. A combination of Popular Fetishes – Paul, not only an author and educator, is a creator of CAPcon, Central Illinois’ premiere ageplay convention. He has a wealth of knowledge on the subject matter and did fervent research, himself, while penning his book and the statistics he uncovered proved to be helpful in supporting this point. Page 27, in Ageplay, describes how this form of role playing is ranked 51st, out of the 100 top favored fetishes. Three of the main components that make for good role play are fetishes in themselves and were also ranked on the top 100 list.Upon reaching out to Mr. Rulof, I discovered that his statistics came from a kinky social networking site, much like Facebook; it is a hub, the high ground, for those in the kink community at large. The site listed role-play itself as the 23rd most popular fetish, followed by cuddling in 81st place and costumes barely squeezing in under the 100 mark as the 92nd most practiced kink. These items were ranked in order based upon serving as the number one kink choice for the site members. For example, Mrs.Smith may like to be spanked during intercourse but being bitten is her favorite fetish so biting would have been her vote. This supports how well age play involves three majorly ranked fetishes, out of thousands, literally, and wraps them up into one kinky, therapeutic ball of goodness. * Enhan cing Roles – â€Å"Ageplay presents a different mental framework through which you can view your partners or others. † Paul wrote for three pages examples that show how a dominant personality or a submissive personality can flourish in this type of role play.People who may not typically be drawn to this type of play just may participate because of the ability to fine-tune egalitarian roles in this medium. * Filling Psychological Needs – I am a huge fan of how the author referenced â€Å"Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs† to prove, what I personally see as the greatest motivator for role playing as a Big or little. There are essential human physical and emotional needs that human’s require fulfillment of to develop in a healthy and productive fashion. Much like ageplay, there is a parallel between the progression of human development from birth to adulthood and beyond.Many ageplayers will identify with multiple ages and, depending on their mood, re quire different things from their caregiver. Often, littles will not â€Å"morph†, for a lack of a better term, into a different age until they feel satisfied with their needs being met at their current age. In Maslow’s model, humans cannot progress or develop in the natural way without having their basic needs met at their current stage in life. * Playing with the Taboo – This idea hones in the basic human calling to be rebellious, or go against the grain, if you will.There is something engrained in us, as a society formed from hunters and gatherers ages ago, that tugs at our moral compass and prods us to be daring and bold and to break the mold of what is socially acceptable. Men especially are often deduced to a walking set of procreating DNA who lack in the ability to make ethically-upstanding choices without challenge. This set up allows all role players to abandon what is socially acceptable and what is defined as â€Å"normal† and escape to a place where it is ok to break the rules and enjoy it. Fetishes -Different from the supporting point earlier that highlighted similarly ranked fetishes, this last reason speaks to the flexibility for exploration into other, new kinks, that ageplay allows. Because of the disciplinary aspects of ageplay there are countless punishment-based fetishes that could be brought into a scene, as well breast-feeding, diapering, play date, schoolgirl, dollification, and many, many other adjacent fetishes for those who wish to dabble in new sexual discovery.Ageplay is often a starting point for kinksters who wish to slowly introduce themselves to harsher, less – nurturing-based fetishes. Though the BDSM pioneer took a seminal approach in analyzing the logic and motivation behind â€Å"sceneing† with ageplay principles, is all truly speculation and the reasoning varies for each individual. In addition to varied gains between top and bottom roles, personal needs manifest from each role play er, independently, and there rarely a clear understanding of why this is such a comforting, natural expression for anyone.The reasons for entering this lifestyle can be many and completely askew, much like rewards. The Power Exchange Book series, written by Dr. Bob Rubel, includes a book about ageplay. The Doctor shared first-hand accounts and experiences from fellow ageplayers that he interviewed during his research for the literature. The most profound and beautifully moving words were from a woman who goes by â€Å"Bethie Hope O. †. On page 70, the next to last page of the book, these words were composed what following her heart and investing in her Daddy has added to her life: I remember the first few times I visited my Daddy, looking at him or being around him, or even just talking to him on the phone felt like someone was shining a light into the world that was not there before. It was like the world was covered in clouds all the time and when he was around the clouds p arted and the sun came out and shone down on everything and I felt warm. I remember the days before my Daddy like a kind of dream, and really, that is how I lived, like I was sleepwalking. I got by, but I did not thrive. Now I feel like I truly live, like the sun is shining on me all of the time.Part of the reason for that is because I’ve learned so much about myself and I’ve found the freedom to just be me, and to do what makes me happy. Part of the reason is my Daddy and how he is with me and how he makes me feel. Part of it is how I love him and how loving someone so much makes me feel. People seem to think that it’s an unhealthy thing to have such strong attachments to just one person and maybe it is but my Daddy is my everything. He is my Daddy, my Master, My partner, my best friend, my confidant, my lover†¦I love him as if I were bore from his own body! †

Near death experience Essay

Life is a great surprise I do not see why death should not be an even greater one â€Å"Everyone knows they’re going to die†¦ but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently†¦. There’s a better approach. To know you’re going to die, and to be prepared for it at any time. That’s better. That way you can actually be more involved in your life while you’re living. † (Albom 82). Morrie feels that people refuse to believe that they will come one day die, and therefore, do not lives there lives as fully as they would have liked and also have many regrets as they become older and their death becomes closer. He feels that once we learn and accept that we are one day going to die, we learn to live our fully and without any regrets. Morrie repeats this quote frequently throughout the chapter to emphasize how important and helpful it is to accept death, and what a benefit it would be to living the remainder of our lives. Morrie wants Mitch to see how he able appreciates the smaller, more genuine things in life, knowing that his death is appropriate. Day by Day remind yourself that you are going to die later in life. So live a good a healthy life. Tuesdays with Morrie, author Mitch Albom allows the reader to experience that teaching of his dying professor, Morrie Schwartz. In the novel, Mitch is taught by Morrie once you learn how to die you learned how to live. Dying is a way of life, we was put on this earth for three reasons born, live, and die. The first aspect once life is known to be coming to an end, and the inevitable is accepted life is live moment to moment. No times is wasted on less important things because times become precious. Life is finally given its full value at the sight of death. Another aspect importance of relationships as well, in order to deal with life and death, family is key to providing the care and love needed to pass peacefully and securely. Learning how to live and cope with death also involved knowing how much to grieve for your own demise. The purpose of life is not to live but to die because life is a test where you going to go in the after life. The feeling to living life to the fullest is immediately thrown out knowing that some day an end to these experiences and lessons will inevitably come. Stress can be greatly decreased if a death is accepted; however, coping with death by refusing to believe one will die is psychologically natural. All combined Cancers rank as some of the highest causes of death, with cancer of the lungs as one of the largest. Strokes are also one of the highest in the world, accounting for 100,000+ deaths in the United States. â€Å"We want our lives to have meaning death suggest life adds up to nothing. †(Qtd Mchugh) This quote means we have to live to the fullest never know when your day can come to die. Life is too short to be playing around cant live forever. If you believe in the Bible, the meaning of life is Jesus Christ, because He is the only one that defeated death. To be hard working and serve God. To help out in fixing communities, you should not live only for fun but to help others and enjoy life too. â€Å"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. †(Albom 43) Mitch recalls this quote, that Morrie had once told him, at the beginning of the novel when he was describing his job and his lifestyle. Mitch was a very busy, career and success oriented sports reporter. He chased money, success, and materialistic things. He recalled that Morrie had once told him how so many people get caught leading a meaningless life; they become too involved in their job, money, and fall under the popular culture dictatorship. Morrie feels that so many people are mislead thinking all of these things are important and they are too busy chasing these things that their life passes right by them. Morrie says that to create meaning in our life, we must love and show compassion for others. This way we create our own meaning of life and do not waste our life chasing false and superficial dreams. Ironically, Mitch lives this exact life of â€Å"chasing the wrong things. Culture allows us to feel us if death is not approaching and distance ourselves from the inevitable to the point that we feel as if we cannot die. Similarities seen with many who have undergone â€Å"near death† experiences due mainly to advanced technology in which a person can be lost but still survive. Despite the recent founding of the term, it has been ascertained that near-death experiences are not at all contemporary occurrences. Neither are they exclusive to certain age, gender, occupation, ethnicity, or religious group. Such spiritual episodes have been in existence from the time of the ancient philosopher Plato who, in his republic, wrote about a B. C. Greek soldier’s brush with death. Portions of near-death elements are scattered in various medieval Christian writing. Mostly â€Å"revitalizing† event as stated by those that undergo it begins to take life with the value it truly possesses. â€Å"With a changed perspective about the importance of relationships compared to mere material gain. † (Qtd Inquiry) This quote explains that relationships is incredibly important, and not material gains, although this quote is stated that material gain is still existent and part of life. Today, with the influx of modern near-death experience accounts in books, journals, television shows, motion pictures and the internet, more and more people are familiar with the phrase â€Å"light at the end of the tunnel,† as the near death experiences of various individuals give humanity a deeper understanding of death and the afterlife. The near-death experience is an inspirational glimpse of a positive spiritual life after physical death. â€Å"Once you learn how to live you learn how to die. †(Albom 82) Throughout this quote, Morrie feels that people refuse to believe that they will one day die, and therefore, do not live there lives as fully as they would have liked and also have many regrets as they become older and their death becomes closer. He feels that once we learn and accept that we are one day going to die, we learn to live our lives fully and without any regrets. Morrie repeats this quotes frequently throughout the chapter to emphasize how important and helpful it is to accept death, and what a benefit it would be to living the remainder of our lives. Morrie also wants Mitch to see how he is able to appreciate the smaller, more genuine things in life, knowing that his death is approaching. Life is finally given its full value at the sight of death. Morrie stressed the importance of relationships as well, stating they are necessary in aiding one’s passage. In order to deal with life and death, family is the key to providing the care and love needed to pass peacefully and securely. Learning how to live and cope with death also involved knowing how much to grieve for your own demise. Death is biologically inevitable, however when it does finally come, it is seen to do so abruptly, even if it involves a terminal illness. Birth and Death are similar in a way because they are greatly important both emotionally and in the continued existence of humanity. They are opposites in a way too cause birth is anticipated and death is avoided. Immediate shock and disbelief followed by full impact of the death and last, the integration of the loss into daily loss. â€Å"Birth meant an invitation to a life of suffering and never ending work, and of the inevitable sickness and death of which there was no escape. † (Qtd Roman) this quote means birth is gift to life and death is like a surprise party and everybody invited because nobody knows when they going to die. People stress the true importance of family with many objects that are not important in their lives. Material possessions, mainly due to our cultural aspects on life, have ruled our notion on how life should be lived. The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it. †(Albom 42) This quote illustrates one of the themes in the novel: popular culture vs. self-created values. Morrie feels that we should reject pop-culture values and develop our own sense of values and culture. Morrie feels that the media creates a culture of greed, violence, and lacking satisfaction. Morrie developed his own culture long before he got sick. He appreciated such things like holding discussion groups, walks with friends and dancing. He read books, founded community projects and kept in touch with old colleagues and students. He never wasted time watching TV; instead he took more time enjoying nature, food, and human activities. Morrie also feels that if we are successful at rejecting pop-culture we will lead more meaningful lives, embrace aging, and live without regret. Many Americans put this aside to the point that the actual realization is far more stressful than it should be. People should stressed the importance of begin involved in day to day life and aiding in one’s community. This can be seen as living life to the fullest and taking in the positive aspects while we still have a chance. People should appreciate the natural surroundings. Simple things more than anything else, suggesting that true importance is left in the smallest of things. The purpose of life is not to live but to die. â€Å"Everyone knows they’re going to die, but nobody believes it. †(Albom 70) Morries’s words on this subject are very in depth in that he had to live the last months of his life with this fact looming over his head. He further revitalizes the sense that in our culture do not understand that death is truly inevitable to all of us. The purpose of life is to choose whom you will be loyal to. Either you will show yourself willing to live under the rule of God of the universe or you will choose to live as a slave to self and to sin. Life is a test we have to pass the right way for a reward in life hereafter. Works Cited Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie. New York: Doubleday Publishing Group,Inc. , 1997 â€Å"Death: An Inquiry into Man’s Most Mortal Weakness. † (Online) Available http://library. thinkquest. org/16665/cgi-bin/index. cgi April 22, 2007 Mchugh, Paul R. â€Å"Dying made easy. † Commentary. February 1999:13-17 â€Å"When the rains falls. † Publishers Weekly 29 October 2012.