Inferno By Dante Alighiery Essays - Divine Comedy, Inferno

Inferno By Dante Alighiery Throughout the years, people's views of sin have been changed. Today society view of sin is different than what Dante envisioned about sin at his time. During Dante's time, the worst sin that one can commit is rejecting the church. However, in the book The Inferno, Dante sees that rejecting the church is one of the least important sins. Other sins that were perceived as unimportant during Dante time are worse than rejection of the church in The Inferno. By doing so Dante tries to show that the magnitude of the sin does not matter. The most important thing he wants to point out is that people need to learn from their mistake and distinguish between good and evil. Therefore, after a long journey through hell Dante learned to avoid evil and become spiritually enlightened. By becoming spiritually enlightened and avoiding evil, Dante proceeds much closer to the salvation of God. In The Inferno, Dante loses all sense of direction, reason, and he wander away from the True Way and enters the Dark Wood of Error. He tries to find his way out of the Dark Wood of Error, but his attempts are unsuccessful. As soon as he tries to get out of this sinful place, he is confronted by all kind of beasts. They try to hold him back and attack him. However, after being force back into the Dark Wood of Error Dante see the shade of Virgil, who represents light, direction and reason. Virgil promises to lead him away from error. Dante is thankful for the guidance of Virgil, "For you are my true master and first author, the sole make from whom I drew the breath of that sweet style whose measures have brought me honor"(30). One of the things that Dante notices about hell is that most of the people are sent to hell not because they committed a sin against God, but because they committed a sin against themselves. The sin that interests Dante on his journey is the wood of the suicide, the hoarders, and the gluttons. These people committed a self -destructive act against themselves. The glutton, made no attempt to use their God given ability, all they cared for is food, drink, and excessively consumed goods. The more they consumed the worsen their punishment in hell. They produced nothing for their society. As a result, they will forever lie in the garbage they produced and act as a slave for Cerberus. From this particular circle of hell, Dante perceived the pain that these people go through, "I see new torments and new souls in pain about me everywhere. Wherever I turn away from grief I turn to grief"(65). When Dante spoke to Ciacco, a member of this circle of hell, he again expressed this feeling, "Ciacco, your agony weighs on my heart and calls my soul to tears"(67). Besides feeling pitiful, Dante has also learned a very important lesson from this circle of hell. In life one must use all the talent that god has given to him or her and use it for his or her own advantage. When Dante reaches the fourth circle of hell, his feeling toward the hoarders and the wasters remains the same. In life the hoarders and the wasters lack the ability to control their expenses. By not controlling their expenses, they forget every thing about the moral values God has given them, all they think about is their money. Therefore in death, their own dead weights serve to moderate them. With this weight they punish each other. From this circle Dante learns that money and processions in life will not buy him eternal happiness. As Virgil has said to him, "Not all the gold that is or ever was under the sky could buy for one of these exhausted souls the fraction of a pause"(74). Running after fortune and living under the control of money results in the destruction of man's soul. As Dante enters the wood of the suicides all he hears is the cries and the sounds of sorrow. The souls of this Circle destroyed their own bodies and denied human form. They can only express themselves through their own agony. In addition, they are only allowed to speak through their own blood because they chose to take away their life. Taking one life is not only limits the enjoyment of this beautiful world created by God, but it a crime against one own soul. Through this experience, Dante sees that he does not

Agent-Assisted Publishing An interview with IPSO Books

Agent-Assisted Publishing An interview with IPSO Books Agent-Assisted Publishing: Interviewing Robert Caskie from IPSO Books We started Reedsy around a year ago, thinking mostly about independent authors and hoping to give them, through our marketplace, access to a range of talent that has so far been exclusive to traditional publishing companies.Along the way, however, many different players have come to know about Reedsy, and agencies are one of them - and a very exciting one at that. While the role of the agent is often questioned in an increasingly disintermediated industry, we personally believe agents remain a key link in the publishing chain.Because agencies  are closest to the author, and have their best interests at heart, they are not afraid of the digital â€Å"disruption†. Some, like Peters Fraser Dunlop in London even see it as an opportunity to be seized. That is what agent-assisted publishing is all about.If you’re interested in digital publishing, this interview is a must-watch. It is, as of yet, one of the most innovative and thoroughly-developed propositions we have seen for a digital imprint. As usual, unconditional lovers of the written word will find the transcript of the key moments right below. Hi Robert, thank you so much for welcoming us in Peters Fraser Dunlop offices here in London, they’re really lovely! For our readers who don’t know about PFD, can you give us a bit of background on the agency?It’s lovely to have you, Ricardo. We’re one of the longest established and biggest agencies in London at the moment, and we represent a whole range of writers. We also have literary estates, which is one of the reasons we came towards digital publishing. We own and partially own mainly crime estates, and it’s through the interest of exploiting them further that we came to form IPSO.You’re a senior agent here at PFD and you’re also COO of the company, right?That’s correct, yes. I came to join PFD 8 years ago, and brought a list at that time a list of mainly journalists and fiction authors. Over the years I increased in seniority and four years ago I was made the COO, which basically means my role is to try to manage as effi ciently as possible the different roles of the company. I try to make sure everybody is happy, working hard, and generally try to create a positive work environment where everybody achieves the best they can.I try to do that too at Reedsy. But let me dive right into why we are here: PFD is about to launch their own digital publishing (or agent-assisted publishing) imprint: IPSO books. What was your thinking behind that?At the start of the year we were looking at these estates that we represent, like Eric Ambler, Margery Allingham and John Creasy, and we were seeing quite clear passion. There were traditional print publishers who, out of a collection of maybe 20 books, liked maybe 5, which they made into print, then they made 10 as ebooks, and then there’s a lot remaining which we believe is of equal quality. And still, I think, with print publishers, the ebook is the poor cousin of the print edition†¦So we thought we would take control of this, in a very agenting sort o f way, and we would be much more proactive. So we thought: why not, essentially, â€Å"assist† these estates in creating a higher profile for content that is not being exploited, but also so this can feed into the other print editions and other editions of the book. This is where I think we might be different from a digital publisher, because what we’ll be doing here (and we will be doing this for front-list authors as well), is we promote all books written in all editions.So we will have our digital publishing, or agent-assisted publishing arm called IPSO, and we will obviously promote IPSO books, but we will also promote other books by other publishers, even in print and in foreign language. We want to promote the brand of the author rather than just the books that we have.Obviously for the price promotions, we meet directly with Amazon, iBooks. We go in and talk about what we’ve got coming up. This week for example we’ve got Eric Ambler books as  "book of the week† both on Amazon and iBooks†¦ I think that because we have dealt with them previously through White Glove, which was the agent aspect of Amazon, we now have a good relationship with the retailers. That’s really important because I think iBooks, for example, are much more editorially-led so they like to choose books that they read and like.Alright, now to close this interview, I’d like to ask a more general question on the role of the agent moving forward. How do you see it, do you think it’s still going to be mostly about selling rights, or is there going to be more coaching, advising, or even publishing and marketing?I think for us the past few years have definitely redefined that author-agent relationship and made it much more symbiotic and much more equal. From what I see with IPSO we are actively and actually investing in an author before we make any money. I think that’s a very exciting prospect, and I am confident that th is will lead perhaps to much more interesting and much more varied content.Of course, we will continue to sell to publishing houses. Most publishers - all publishers - do certain things extremely well. But I think maybe the ebook is something that publishers have shied away from a little bit and don’t quite know what to do with, so I think that for agents, helping the author with that is a good opportunity. That will still potentially lead the author to a print publisher as well, and why not, we’d be very happy with that. So I think it’s just empowering the author at an earlier stage.I definitely think so, and that’s why I find this initiative so interesting. I think you’ve shown here at PFD a tremendous capacity to innovate and be creative about publishing, and I’m really happy to have been able to interview you for our blog, Robert.What are your thoughts about agent-assisted publishing initiatives? How does the IPSO  Books proposition sound? Let us know your thoughts, or any questions for Robert, in the comments below!

Why You Should Not Mix Alcohol and Bleach

Why You Should Not Mix Alcohol and Bleach Mixing alcohol and bleach is never a good idea, as the combination results in chloroform, a powerful sedative that can cause you to pass out. You should always be careful when handling these chemicals. Chemical Reaction Ordinary household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which reacts with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol to produce chloroform (CHCl3), hydrochloric acid  (HCl),  and other compounds, such as chloroacetone or dichloroacetone. Unintentional mixing of these chemicals could occur from trying to clean up a spill using bleach or from mixing cleaners together. Bleach is highly reactive and forms dangerous compounds when mixed with any number of chemicals, so its best to avoid combining it with other products. Dangers of Chloroform Chloroform is a dangerous chemical that irritates the eyes, respiratory system, and skin. It can damage the nervous system, eyes, lungs, skin, liver, kidneys, and other organs and may even cause cancer. The chemical is readily absorbed into the body through the skin and through inhalation and ingestion. If you suspect that you have been exposed to chloroform, remove yourself from the contaminated area and seek medical attention. Chloroform is a potent anesthetic that can knock you out. It is also the cause of sudden sniffers death, a fatal cardiac arrhythmia some people experience upon exposure. Over time, chloroform in the presence of oxygen (as in air) naturally degrades to produce phosgene, dichloromethane, carbon monoxide, formyl chloride, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen chloride. Even once the chloroform has broken down, you should avoid these chemicals. Phosgene, for example, is a notorious chemical agent. It was responsible for around 85 percent of the deaths from chemical weapons during World War I. Disposing of a Bleach and Alcohol Mixture If you accidentally mix these chemicals and need to dispose of the waste, dont try to neutralize it. First, use caution and do not enter the contaminated area if you smell chloroform, which has a heavy, sweet-smelling odor. Once the smell begins to dissipate, dilute the mixture with large volumes of water and wash it down the drain as quickly as possible. Acetone and Bleach Although this is a less common mixture, do not mix acetone and bleach, either, as this reaction also produces chloroform: 3NaClO C3H6O → CHCl3   2NaOH NaOCOCH3 Ultimately, mixing bleach with any chemical except water is an extremely bad idea. Bleach reacts with vinegar, ammonia, and most household cleaners to produce toxic fumes.

Problem solving Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Problem solving - Essay Example erience and judgement bias, facilitates easy assessment of situations, and allows the management to remain on the right track of organisational goals (Wilson 2000). There is a need to solve problems so that decisions can be made effectively. Young individuals between the age group of 16 and 24 years are valuable resources for a nations future. They are often overlooked instead of offered community support system to foster creativity, productivity and development. There is a misconception that youths are essentially bad whereas research indicates that (Godwin 1998) adolescents and youths of today come under much pressure from society such as stress, fast-paced lifestyles, responsibilities at home, emotional upheaval, victimisation, and peer pressures. This is why young people today more than before tend to engage in drinking alcohol, violent crimes, promiscuity, and offences against the law. The widespread risk behaviours have developed a generation of young delinquents who require extensive help from the community. Some of the risk factors include lack of education, poor parenting and drugs problems according to Adamsons report on youth crime (2003). The problem of youth risk behaviours can be analysed by using the Fishbone diagram (Wealleans 2001). In the following diagram one can observe that youth risk behaviours are caused by individual attitudes (man), poverty (material), lack of education (machine), poor parenting (management), and peer pressure and lifestyles (environment). These causes also have sub-causes such as the need to be recognised or to find excitement; lack of education may be due to dropping out of schools; poor parenting may be due to absent working parents or belonging to single parents; and peer pressure may include victimisation or gang bullying. As a result of these causes and sub-causes, youths engage in the above risk behaviours (effect). The Fishbone technique, a part of the cause-and-effect group, involves the identification of

Summary of article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Summary of article - Essay Example The article focuses on a comprehensive discussion of the market at the bottom of the pyramid. Unique characteristics of this market form a significant part of the explanation. According to Prahalad and Hart, bottom of the pyramid market segment has an estimated 4 billion people who live in abject poverty. Notably, the population in this market segment represents a potential market for goods and services. Active involvement of private firms at the BOP is a significant factor in generating inclusive capitalism (6). Private firms’ engagement in the BOP segment of the market enhances completion of the market will redirect attention to the poor as consumers. Prahalad and Hart assert that each group that gives close attention on poverty eradication such as the World Bank, developed countries offering aid, charitable organizations, federal governments, and private firms – has its an overriding justification. Prahalad and Hart explain that MNCs suffer the effect of strongly est ablished reason in relation to cost structure, consumers and BOP sector (12). As a result, donors view the private sector as malicious and exploitative of low-income society members. None of the well-known organizations perceive that market inclined solutions can result into poverty alleviation and economic growth. Prahalad and Hart turn to a discussion of products and services for the BOP. They assert that it requires an innovation perspective of product development and creativity in accordance with the realities of the BOP market. Based on this assertion, the writer identifies a number of principles that should guide innovations for the BOP market segment (9). The aspect is price performance. It is essential for quantum jumps in the price performance. The second factor focuses on hybrid solutions: advanced and evolving technologies that innovatively merge with available and increasingly developing infrastructure. Another important aspect is focusing on conservation of resources

Major Reflective Essay Example for Free

Major Reflective Essay I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the study of Business, Management and Economics concentrated in Accounting at Empire State College. I work full-time as private nurse assistance due to my present job. If I condense all my assumptions and expectations for the time being, I could say that my nearest and primary goal is to earn the degree and be a recognized expert in my chosen field. Here is how I narrated my goals in my previous paper; I have enrolled at the degree course with an aim to achieve my goals in the near future, to be well educated and knowledgeable in many areas, to restore my confidence to continue learning throughout my life, to open my own business preparing taxes in the next five years or be a controller of a company, and build a degree that will qualify me for many job opportunities, to increase my skills and broaden my abilities towards my future, to learn a variety of skills and techniques to help others as well, to work with people, as I enjoy working with them, and set a great example for my daughter which I had right after high school. I want my daughter to know that a college education is important to get what you want in life. As I advanced in my readings I realized that the list of my goals is huge, very obscure and not regulated. I repeated my goals in paraphrased sentences when I spoke about learning and development, I had contradicting concepts when I mentioned about opening my own business and still being qualified for many job opportunities, I related enjoyment with working with people, and I allocated very small portion to my daughter, again, linking my care towards her to my learning and hard working experience. I am undergoing serious reflections while grouping and formulating my goals into four sections; learning, working, family and social life. In my previous statements I had only learning and working in my mind, the words â€Å"family† and â€Å"social life† were uttered, but meant â€Å"working† and â€Å"learning†. At this stage I put the first three are on the same level, and still downgrade â€Å"social life†. I experienced a significant breakthrough during my readings on time management, correlations of work and social life, division of life between career and family. First of all the studies I read, the facts and figures from the history, the revolution in gender concept helped me to view the human life from a wide range of angels. (Kalleberg 2004) What does career mean for people? Is it for the well being of the family, or for the self? What is the secret of simple human happiness; in career advancement, learning, discovery, or love and warmth in the family? (Harvard Business School Press 2000)Those were the questions that I rose while reading information about increasing workload and learning needs, and decreasing marriage and birth rates in our society. The current economy rapidly changes, and this is the reason I wanted to be qualified in many job qualifications, which is practically extremely difficult. The background of this behavior is the insecurity in my future life. Shift of age groups in management greatly concerns me when I am doing a long term planning. Although I am open for learning, I can hardly imagine how I can accommodate myself in the employment market when I am over 40 and less capable of acquiring new knowledge and new skills. (Kalleberg 2004) I realized that my choices should be very limited and meet my learning and working expectations and abilities. I have to consider my career plans in the background of my social and family life. I should have in mind that in a few years I will have to reshape my routine day to day tasks in order to be physically more available for my daughter when she steps the path of learning and self-development. She will not be able to take my best example in learning and working, as she will not see me in the learning and working atmosphere, but will have an evening mother, tired and eager to get rid of her questions as soon as possible. The two time management exercises greatly helped me to experience extension of time (clock time) and full satisfaction after completing a task (event time). (Levine 1998) I am more likely to use the event time, but clock time is essential for the busy life I have already chosen. Although, it doesn’t mean I will not enjoy my weekends beyond any time. My ideal concept of life will be to master using the three categories in different circumstances, or even bind them all together and experience beyond-time feeling during 15 min. coffee breaks. I got very concerned when I assumed that I have put my family and individual values aside. I realized that in order to develop my long term plans I have to study other sides of human nature as well; how the endless working and learning atmosphere may influence on my physical and mental health, what personal problems may arise in my life, and how it my affect on my socialization skills. And finally, how the short and long term planning can be best practiced to contribute to a creation of self reliant and happy old age life? I feel the need to explore human nature and life stories, and get skills on how to save time for things that are more valuable for me. The final conclusion I had from this course is that I have to consider investing time as if I invest money. Investment in my professional development should have tangible outcomes in securing a dignified life for me and my family. This vision should guide me in any minor and major task I take over. Bibliography Harvard Business School Press. Harvard Business Review on Work and Life Balance . Perseus Distribution Services, 2000. Kalleberg, Cynthia Epstein and Arne. Fighting For Time. Russell Sage Foundation Publications , 2004. Levine, Robert V. A Geography of Time. Basic Books, 1998.

Media Advertising and Sex Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Advertisements are everywhere, combining images and words together to create a message to sell a product. The initial impression is that the advertisers are just trying to sell their products, but there often seems to be an underlying message. It is often heard that â€Å"sex sells.† So, many advertisers will use beautiful women and men in their advertisements to try to market a product. The hope is that â€Å"sex will sell,† and people will go out and buy what the ads are selling. There are many advertisements and commercials that use this approach. Prime examples of this are the advertisements for Orbit Gum and A Diamond is Forever. Also, the commercials for Levi jeans use sex to promote the sale of their brand. As a way to explain how and why the media uses â€Å"sex to sell,† many articles have been written concerning this. For instance, â€Å"Sex as Symbol in Fashion Advertising† by Arthur Asa Berger talks about the sexual undertones us ed in ads as a way to sell products. Similarly, Jean Kilbourne’s â€Å"Beauty†¦and the Beast of Advertising† discusses the portrayal of women in advertisements as sex objects. Finally, â€Å"Analyzing Signs and Sign Systems† by Arthur Asa Berger offers ways to analyze advertisements and their use of sex. No matter what the advertisement is for; although it may seem that an advertiser is only trying to sell a product, the ways the advertisements are presented often have a hidden meaning. For example, in the ads for A Diamond is Forever; although, the company is selling engagement rings, it portrays a couple in a sensual pose. In the ad, it looks as though they are naked. The man is bending over the woman with his hands creating the shape of an oval around her. Their faces are touching, and ... ...or a better lover if their products are used. With so many different advertisements out there, watch out for many ways that sex is being used to deceive people into buying products that cannot fulfill all the promises in the ads. Works Cited Berger, Arthur Asa. â€Å"Analyzing Signs and Sign Systems.† Reading Culture. 4th ed. Ed. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 2001. 192-193. - - -. â€Å"Sex as Symbol in Fashion Advertising.† Reading Culture. 4th ed. Ed. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 2001. 186-191. A Diamond is Forever. â€Å"Advertisement.† People. Aug. 2003: 64. Kilbourne, Jean. â€Å"Beauty†¦and the Beast of Advertising.† Reading Culture. 4th ed. Ed. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 2001. 193-196. Levi Jeans. ABC. Ch. 7. June 2002. Orbit Gum. â€Å"Advertisement.† People Aug. 2003: 72.

Electronic Health Records

In this paper this student will discuss the national mandate of electronic health records (EHR), and how this mandate is being implemented at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Also discussed are how Cleveland Clinic is progressing to achieve EHR, and what challenges this brings to patient confidentiality and self-determination. Lastly this student will provide information on the benefits of EHR in healthcare. According to Gunter & Terry (2005), â€Å"The electronic health record (EHR) is an evolving concept defined as a longitudinal collection of electronic health information about individual patients and populations. Primarily, it will be a mechanism for integrating health care information currently collected in both paper and electronic medical records (EMR) for the purpose of improving quality of care†. (p. 1). Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), and the American Health Information Community (AHIC) were created to oversee the EHR mandate that was set in place by President George Bush in 2004 (Simborg, 2008, p. 127) This goal has now transitioned to our current President, Barack Obama, who also is setting the goal for the year 2014. Electronic health records are set to take place of traditional paper records with the help of this initiative. The ability to have every healthcare organization operating with electronic health records serves numerous benefits for not only patients but healthcare providers. Some of the benefits include, additional patient safety, ability to communicate and collaborate with other healthcare providers, and the longevity of electronic health records. Patient safety is at the utmost importance to healthcare providers, and EHR enables providers to have an in-depth history of their patients, leading to better care and treatment. Due to patients receiving care from many different health care providers, this can act as a barrier when trying to maintain a collaborative process. By adopting EHR this enables all providers to participate in the care of the patient. When discussing the longevity EHR serves in our society Tang, Ash, Bates, Overhage, & Sands (2006), states â€Å"The 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster exposed the fragility of America's health information infrastructure. When confronted by a hurricane, an avian flu pandemic, or a bioterrorism attack, the public needs to be able to depend on reliable access to their health information† (p. 27). If healthcare corporations adopt EHR, there will be no threat of patient medical records disappearing. After stating the goals of EHR, and the benefits it serves, this student will now discuss how EHR is being utilized at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. One could say that the Cleveland Clinic were innovators in EHR, being one of the first institutions to ado pt EHR more than eleven years ago. According to Cleveland Clinic (2012), EHR is â€Å"enabling physicians to actively collaborate and exchange information to ensure appropriate coordination of care throughout a patient’s life†. MyChart has also been a large milestone in development as part of Cleveland Clinics adoption of EHR. MyChart gives patients access to medical records, test results, and physician notes through a portal on the internet that can be accessed at home online. â€Å"MyChart, Cleveland Clinic’s secure, online patient-centered recording tool, connects patients to personalized health information at any time† (Cleveland Clinic, 2010). One benefit MyChart gives to patients is the ability for them to participate in decisions and their care. While analyzing Cleveland Clinics utilization and plans for EHR, this student was able to evaluate strengths and weaknesses. Some strengths of the Cleveland Clinics plans for EHR include their development and growth of the EHR system, the innovation developed into the current plan, and the ability to incorporate patients into their healthcare. Being that Cleveland Clinic was one of the first institutions to start the process of adopting EHR, they in return have the biggest ability to grow, and develop their system. Cleveland Clinic has shown such innovation in their process that other institutions have sought help from them for development of their own system. In an article by the Plain Dealer (Kleinerman, 2013) the chief information officer at Glens Falls Hospital, Joan McFaul stated â€Å"Our relationship with Cleveland Clinic will advance information technology best practices at GFH, and we will benefit by having access to a broad base of knowledge and the expertise of one of the country's premier health systems†. When Cleveland Clinic developed MyChart, this plays a role in the patient self-determination act, being that the patients constantly have the ability to be informed about their healthcare, and to take part in any decision making. A weakness of the EHR system in place at the Cleveland Clinic includes the risk of confidentiality. Even though the ability to access health records online has numerous benefits, the ability that such records could become hacked always poses a risk. The health records are protected by a username and password through the Cleveland Clinic website. With all of the technological advances it seems as though it is becoming easier and easier for unknown people to access personal information. This student believes that more precautions should be taken when a patient’s confidentiality is at risk. This student also believes more information should be needed to access health records online, instead of just a username and password that provides little security. After reviewing the EHR mandate, and the benefits it serves to healthcare institutions, this student believes that if more institutions adopted this system it would ultimately give better patient care. Also after further research into Cleveland Clinics development of EHR, this student feels the growth of this system in endless. While there are some flaws to this system, with time EHR at Cleveland Clinic could ultimately become one of the nation’s leaders that other institutions wish to learn from.

Alzheimer’s Disease – Essay 2

Alzheimer's Disease Joy Pachowicz PSY 350 Professor Alina Sheppe Perez May 15, 201 Introduction Alzheimer's disease, despite being so widespread, is not really considered part of the aging process. According to Robert Feldman, author of the textbook, â€Å"Understanding Psychology†, only 19% of people who are ages 75 to 84 suffer from this disease. It is only once they pass the age of 85, that the elderly need to be more concerned about the possibility of developing Alzheimer's disease. ( Feldman, p. 446) Fifty percent of all people over 85 years of age suffer from Alzheimer's disease and researchers believe that if no cure for the disease is found by the year 2050; there will be 14 million people affected by this disease. (Feldman, p. 446) What is Alzheimer's disease and how is it diagnosed? What are its symptoms and who are most likely to develop this disease? The purpose of this paper is to explore what Alzheimer's disease is and offer some suggestions of how to approach it in the future. What is Alzheimer's Disease? According to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, Alzheimer's Disease is a â€Å"progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in the loss of memory, thinking, language skills, and behavioral changes† (www. alzfdn. org) With Alzheimer's disease, neuron cells are destroyed in the hippocampus, and this is what sparks the loss of short term memory; and as neuron cells die in the cerebral cortex, so too the functionality of language and clear thinking sees a marked decline in the person who has developed Alzheimer's disease (www. lzfdn. org) With Alzheimer's disease, there is diminished production of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that is very much involved with our ability to memorize and retain information; so, if there is a decrease in Acetylcholine; our memory's ability to function suffers greatly. (Feldman, p. 66) Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease How does one know to even consult with a specialist or seek out one's physician regarding Alzheimer's disease? There are some telltale symptoms that set up red flags of warning. If you see any of these symptoms, please see a physician to determine if you have Alzheimer's disease: 1. Memory Loss that disrupts Daily Life 2. Difficulties in planning events or solving problems 3. Difficulties performing familiar tasks or household work 4. Confusion with time or place. 5. Troubles interpreting visual images and spacial relationships 6. Problems with forming words or with communicating Losing items and not being able to remember what one recently did. 7. Failing and poor judgement 8. Withdrawal from work or social activities 9. Changes in Mood or Behavioral ( www. lz. org) Now just because you may have one or all these doesn't necessarily mean you have Alzheimer's disease. Time is very much a key element in acting on these symptoms. If these symptoms persist over a long period of time; then it's time to have a professional evaluation of the symptoms. . Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are several steps to take when try ing to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. First, one must consult with his/her medical doctor. When going, it’s important to take a copy of one's whole medical history. While at the consultation, one can be given a mental status test. Along with this test, a physical and neurological exam should be given. Blood tests should be taken to rule out other possible causes of memory loss. (www. alz. org) The specialists one could see to determine whether one is suffering from Alzheimer's disease and not some other illness are: Psychologists, Neurologists and Psychiatrist. (www. alz. org) Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease As with other diseases, Alzheimer’s has varying stages it progresses through as it develops in the body and affects the brain. The first stage consists of the mere manifestation of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, which we have already listed: memory problems, difficulty forming words, forgetfulness etc. ( www. nia. nih. gov) The next stage would be what doctors would label the mild stage of Alzheimer’s disease. During this stage, cognitive abilities are more impaired. There are difficulties with handling money or paying bills. Repeating things over and over again begin to be notice. (www. nia. nih. gov) The mild stage gives way to the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s disease. New symptoms appear and older ones worsen. Memory continues to decline in this stage. In this stage it becomes more and more difficult to recognize family and friends. In the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s disease there are hallucinations and paranoia. It’s more difficult to get dressed, wash and perform simple task. ( www. nia. nih. gov) The final stage of Alzheimer’s disease is the severe stage. People with severe Alzheimer’s disease spend most their time in bed, sleeping. Their body shuts down. ( www. nia. nih. gov) Treating Alzheimer’s disease Since Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a plaque buildup in the synapse that prevents the communication of neurons, one to another; researchers have found a way to allow these neurons to communicate despite this buildup. Donepezil is one such drug that has been released for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Another name for this drug is Aricept. What Aricept does is increases the memory’s capacity. ( Feldman, p. 229) There are other drugs being tested; but, right now the most popular treatment for Alzheimer’s disease is the use of Aricept. In the News Researchers of Banner Sun Health Research Institute have been studying the relationship that copper and cholesterol have to Alzheimer’s disease. They believe that dementia is caused by tangles and plaque in the brain. Copper has been implicated in the increased progression of Alzheimer’s disease in those who have the disease. Cholesterol, which is a major cause of plaque buildup in other parts of the body, therefore, it can be a contributing cause of plaque buildup in the brain. (redorbit. com) â€Å"In the BSHRI study, Sparks and his team performed a pilot study of long-term dietary cholesterol in four groups of rabbits. One group was administered normal food and water and three groups were administered increasing levels of a cholesterol diet for five months. Significantly, plasma levels of tau increased by 40 to 50 percent in each of the cholesterol-fed animal groups after five months of the experimental diet† (redorbit. com) In another research program being conducted by scientists through the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Indiana University and Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center; a certain protein: beta amyloid was singled out to be the cause of neurons malfunctioning that causes memory oss which is associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. (redorbit. com) â€Å"By identifying a brand new and extremely important target of the amyloid protein's toxicity, we can develop drugs for Alzheimer's disease that may protect the motors from inhibition and allow the brain to regenerate properly,† said principal investigator Huntington Potter, PhD, a prof essor of Molecular Medicine who holds the Pfeiffer Endowed Chair for Alzheimer's Disease Research. † (redorbit. com) Coping with Alzheimer’s disease â€Å"There are many ways to fight the adverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Below are some ways a person can cope with Alzheimer’s disease: †¢ Keep a notebook handy to record important numbers, appointments and dates. †¢ Use sticky note to help remember things of importance †¢ Keep important phone numbers next to telephone (in large print) †¢ Have a contact who will call to remind of meal times, appointments or other. †¢ Use a calendar to keep track of the day of week. †¢ Keep photos of important people around; have names of who these important people are somewhere on the picture. †¢ When going out always have another person to go along, to avoid getting lost. For Care Providers †¢ â€Å"Providing a healthy lifestyle is a must. Good nutrition, exercise and appropriate social interactions all help to develop a healthy environment for the Alzheimer’s patient. †¢ Have a planned daily routine .. so that Alzheimer’s patient can develop a sense of accomplishment and value. †¢ Choose proper tim es for activities. Many times night time is not a good time for Alzheimer’s patients. †¢ Encourage independence with the Alzheimer’s patient, let them do for themselves as much as possible. †¢ Speak slowly and calmly †¢ Make eye contact. Give simple instructions â€Å" (webmd. com) Conclusion Alzheimer’s disease is a widely spread disease that affects a great number of elderly people worldwide. While it is frequently associated with old age; it is not considered part of the aging process. Recent studies provided some hopeful ways to help stop the spread of Alzheimer’s disease, and also provided warnings of what can happen if a cure to Alzheimer’s disease is not found.. While a person may show many symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, only a medical doctor can confirm whether Alzheimer’s disease is present. Through various tests, doctors rule out other possible diseases before focusing on Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease has many stages and faces and the best approach is to arrest it while it’s in its early stages. Once Alzheimer’s settles in and brain cells start dying, the only thing left to do is to accommodate the limitations that come with the disease. Educating oneself about Alzheimer’s disease is a must for everyone. More than likely, every one of us will come face to face with it in one fashion or another. We will either be taking care of someone who has it; or, we will develop it ourselves. Alzheimer’s disease affects both the patient and those around him/her. Take time to become knowledgeable of this disease, id worth the effort. . References Alzheimer’s Disease: Special Tips for Maintaining a Normal life. Retrieved From. http://www. webmd. com/alzheimers/caregivers-09/memory-tips Coping With Alzheimer’s: Special Instructions for Care Providers. Retrieved From http://www. webmd. com/alzheimers/caregivers-09/caregivers-tips Feldman. R. F. (2008). Understanding Psychology. (8th Edition). NYC. New York. McGraw/Hill. National Institute On Aging. Care giver Guide. Retrieved from. http://www. nia. nih. gov/Alzheimers/Publications/caregiverguide. htm National Institute on Aging. Tips for Care Givers. Retrieved from. http://www. nia. nih. gov/nia. nih. gov Researchers Find Further Evidence Linking Alzheimer's Disease to Copper and Cholesterol Retrieved from. http://www. redorbit. com/news/health/2046137/banner_sun_health_research_institute_res earchers_find_further_evidence_linking/index. html

How to Land an Executive Position With Expert Wendy Enelow

How to Land an Executive Position With Expert Wendy Enelow Wendy Enelow is an expert on finding, and keeping, a job. Whether shes showing us how to get the perfect resume at Resume Writing Academy or leading thinkers on the cutting edge of recruiting and hiring at Career Thought Leaders, you wont find anyone whos more focused on careers. Wendy talked with us about finding an executive role in the modern day.When someone is looking to step into an executive role, whats the first thing they should do?Determine whether or not they have the requisite skills, qualifications and credentials for the positions they are targeting. If not, they should determine the best place to acquire those skills either through employment or an educational program. No need to apply if youre not yet qualified. Equally important is finding an executive mentor or sponsor who can work with you to promote your candidacy to the company and/or position that youre targeting.How does finding an executive role differ from finding another job?Savvy executives who are seeking new opportunities should engage in high-level job search activities, including online networking, in-person networking, blogging, target company outreach, recruiter outreach and direct mail/email. They might also respond to specific online job postings, although that should not be the crux of their search campaign, as its the least effective way to find a new position. Most other job seekers should engage in as many of these activities as are relevant to their career objectives. Perhaps the most significant difference is that executive job searches generally take longer since there are less positions available, the competition can be fierce and the hiring process itself takes a great deal of time.If an employer needs to fill an executive position, where should they start looking?Some employers will reach out to executive recruiters to handle the task of recruiting new management and leadership. Although the price tag is high, recruiters will find the candidates of choice and presen t them to the company. Alternative strategies, which can be just as effective and much less costly, include using LinkedIn to identify and connect with qualified candidates, searching groups of interest to the companys industry or profession to find group members with the qualifications the hiring company is seeking, creating a Facebook page and Twitter account to attract quality candidates to the company, and networking with company personnel, suppliers, business partners and others who know the people that they may want to hire.How important is the resume to finding an executive position, and why?The resume is any professionals calling card, giving enough important information and sharing the right achievements and success stories to entice the hiring company to invite the candidate for an interview. Just as important in todays world of online job search is the LinkedIn profile. In fact, LinkedIn can be more important when a company is doing their initial sourcing; then, the resum e comes into play after the candidate has been identified on LinkedIn, which is the primary social media platform for executives.What do you wish everyone knew about writing a resume?The most important thing to know about resume writing is that youre writing to the futureto the position and industry that youre targeting. Resumes are NOT autobiographical essays of everything youve done throughout your entire career. Rather, theyre career marketing communications designed to sell your distinctive qualifications, experiences, achievements, educational credentials and more. Resumes are the appetizers; candidates are the main course (once they get an interview)!What trends in executive hiring should we be watching for in the future?Perhaps the greatest trend will be in the specificity of expertise. Companies want to hire executives with very specific expertise in their industry, product or technology executives who can solve problems and overcome challenges, executives who can optimize opportunities and deliver results by leveraging what theyve already accomplished and who they know. And companies want virtually immediate results. They dont want the plan that will turnaround the business in two years; they want the turnaround now.

How to Become More Fun If You Think Youre a Boring Person

How to Become More Fun If You Think Youre a Boring Person In this post we’re going to go through a 5 step process that can quickly turn even the most boring person into a real lively individual. No kidding. We start by tackling your self-identity and then move on to your mortality and chasing fears with a big fat smile on your face. Sound fun? Yeah, that’s part of it. Let’s begin! 1. Step Outside Your Old Personal Narrative This is one of those quotes we all need to write down somewhere and look at regularly until we memorize it. If you want, just read it aloud ten times in a row and chances are you’ll never forget it (the beauty of propaganda): â€Å"I’m not what I think I am. I’m not what they think I am. I’m what I think that they think I am.† Get it? Keep reading it until you do and once that light bulb goes on above your head your life will instantly change. You’ll then realize you can be†¦anyone you choose†¦anytime you choose. Your old personal narrative is the elevator pitch you tell yourself when opportunity comes knocking that keeps you cocooned in a comfort bubble. You are not your past. You are not your future. You are right now. That’s it. That’s all you ever get at once. And, you can begin creating a new self-story as soon as you decide you’re good and ready. If it’s â€Å"I’m an incredibly fun person to be around† and you believe†¦it shall be so. 2. Add Some Spontaneity It’s pretty funny when you think about it, trying to be spontaneous. Here’s the deal, every single day of your life (when you’re not cave dwelling in your room) you’re confronted with tons of choices. Some more spontaneous than others. Those are typically the ones your old personal narrative tries to keep you away from (because they change who you are). Decide to be more spontaneous from this point forward. Decide that you’re going to become an amateur yes-man/woman and start chasing down those spontaneous leads that life keeps giving you. Sometimes just one is all you need to begin down a completely new path. 3. Remind Yourself of Your Mortality Often This always helps. Remember, you’re going to die someday. Really drink that in. Not just in a passing scared kind of way but a completely open and honest acceptance. Your life is going to end. You will one day cease to be and nothing you do or don’t do can change that fact. Period. Well, unless you opt to become a robot or something. But anyways, the next time you feel like a boring person living a boring life, remind yourself that you have a few figurative moments left to take advantage of. 4. Make Your Goals More Fun Maybe your goals are boring? Maybe your vision of the future and what you’re working towards are drab, generic and uninteresting. Not to say they aren’t awesome and great and all that, but perhaps they could use some freshening up around the rough edges? It’s hard to be a fun person when you lead a boring day to day routine. Start adding in the fun to your goals: relationships, business, education, etc. 5. Chase Your Fears Smile Even though this is step 5, these are probably two of the easiest things to understand and do. First, you chase your fears. What are you afraid of? I mean honestly. Are you afraid of success and popularity? Are you afraid of being liked by people? Are you afraid of being well-known or exposed? Once you write out this bucket list of fears, begin to chase them down (within reason, no burying yourself alive or anything). You get the idea. If you’re afraid of heights, go sky diving. Now, the second part is subtle. SMILE! Because we have no idea how we are perceived by others (see step 1), and because we have no idea what we look like while we live our lives, we really don’t take too much notice of the look on our face throughout the day. I tell you this, if you smiled 30% more for the next week you would notice an improvement immediately. Never, ever, EVER, underestimate the power of smiling. We’re drawn to it. Our minds love it. We want to smile more, whether we know it or not. Chase those fears of yours with a smile on your face, sporting fun goals, a new personal elevator pitch and a new sense of spontaneity. Cool? We’d like to hear back from you on this. What do you think?

Islam in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Islam in Business - Essay Example Fiqh muamalt is the study of financial and economic transactions from an Islamic outlook which is a branch of Islamic jurisprudence that is related with commerce and residual economic activities. For Islamic economic concepts, Arabic phrases are employed and shariah compliant financial products are very popular in the Islamic business circle. Shariah offers guiding norms for day-to-day living for a Muslim but following the same is a matter of belief and conscience and not of enforcement by governments. In the majority of the Islamic nations, Islamic banking is only a matter of preference and the only Muslim country in the World, i.e. Iran has made rules that all banks must adhere with fiqh muamalt under Usury Free Banking Law that was introduced in 1983. Fatwa refers to the rulings given by Shariah scholars and these are given through reasoning by scholars and endeavoring to apply fiqh to present financial and economic transactions and this process is known as ijtihad and in real pra ctice, this needs interpretation of contractual deeds concerning financial transactions and economic activities and making sure that it is unfailing with shariah. (Wilson 177). This research essay dwells into how Islamic practices apply in business, economics and banking (commercialism, profiteering, loans & interest, partnerships, etc) and how Islam dictates one conducts oneself in business in a detailed manner. Islam and Business Muslims are permitted to engross in trade and business as long as it is lawful and not detrimental to either society or the economy. Islam also permits to acquire wealth through business and however, a Muslim should not have any pride in his wealth. Further, in Islam, greed and miserliness are regarded as sins. A Muslim is considered to be only a temporary guardian of any wealth that he acquires as all wealth is the belongings of Allah. Islam expects that business is run on the moral principle, and it shuns fraud, dishonesty, misrepresentation and deceit in business. Dealing in illegal goods (haram) is prohibited in Islam. Islam also prohibits lotteries. Gambling and business linked with distribution and sale of alcohol. The following are some of the prohibited business activities under Islam. Price manipulation Price gouging and Hoarding by artificially reducing supply of products, especially food products. Government price control initiatives except in some unavoidable scenarios. Interference in the free markets Buying stolen property Cultivating plants like hashish and poppy and raising pigs. Business profits that are generated through halal (legal) business activities are permitted and not any haram (illegal) business activities. A Muslim is needed to respect his business debts. (Khan 1999). The fundamental principle is that Muslims are permitted to purchase whatever he needs like products that Allah has allowed from both Muslims and kaafirs. It is to be noted that Allah himself purchased products from the Jews. However, if a Mu slim avoids purchasing goods from another Muslim for no good reason like bad products, high prices or deceit goods , then that will be considered as harram. Doing business with Kaffirs mean reducing business with the Muslim and thereby obstructing Muslims to sell their products or to make the success in their business efforts. (Abdul -Rahman 7). The one who proscribes the goods of the Kuffaar mean that they are waging an endless war with the Islam, intending thereby to manifest the truth