A Maya Village: The Folk-Urban Continuum Essay

The â€Å"folk-urban continuum† model elaborated by Robert Redfield continues to reappear from time to time in various guises. The concept of the continuum has been attacked as being simplistic, and overgeneralized, not least because many geographers have detected village-type communities within large cities. Redfield’s speculations about what he saw as the significant changes from the folk to the urban end of the continuum are based on studies conducted in the Yucatan during the early 1930s. It’s essential elements focus on the fact that as a community moves from the folk to the urban end of the continuum, there occur shifts from cultural intimacy and organization to disorganization. Along with this there is collective or community orientation to individualization; and the sacred to the secular. Folk cultures are borne by small, closely-integrated social units or by aggregates of such units which have already worked out satisfactory mutual adjustments. Redfield characterized the folk societies he had been studying as traditional, spontaneous, and uncritical where men follow similar lifestyles. These patterns remain clear throughout the generations. In sum, the folk society holds its traditions to heart and doesn’t question their way of life. These lifestyles are practically sacred. In modern civilization, on the other hand, the small social units are being broken down, giving place to masses of individuals who are much more loosely interrelated than the members of the former local groups and classes. In modern civilizations, culture is being reduced. Our own civilization is simply a blend of differences which he must choose. The concepts of folk religion and folk belief–at least when filtered through Redfield’s categories–are descriptive anthropological categories meant to aid in the attempt to understand the conditions and development of certain kinds of society. In part, Redfield’s concept of folk or peasant culture was meant to provide an alternative to the division of societies into primitive and modern categories. The concept relied on a distinction between â€Å"an isolated primitive community, which has for context only that community and its local and immediate culture,† and the peasant community and its culture, where â€Å"the context is widened to include the elements of the great traditions that are or have been in interaction with what is local and immediate.† Folk beliefs referred to a body of belief and practice forming part of a community’s local knowledge. As a result, they tended to occupy a region close to the cosmology and common sense of the group, rather than the domain occupied by a consciously accepted creed. Redfield wants to look at cultural change, in the ways that varying degrees of contact with â€Å"civilization† differentially affects â€Å"folk culture† throughout the Yucatan. The Chan Kom study was the first step in a project funded by the Carnegie Institution to look at the question of culture change. The project was to begin by studying † a community where folk culture was complete†. This is Chan Kom. Then, for comparison, the study was to go on to look at â€Å"communities where that culture is in disorganization or conversion into something else†. Eventually, this project would encompass four towns and would place them in a â€Å"folk-urban continuum†.

Ethical Decisions Scenario

Assignment: Ethical Decisions Scenario Analysis Melissa McClellan Appendix C Ethical Decisions Scenario Analysis For each of the following scenarios answer the questions and explain whether your answers fit with traditional or modern ethical thinking. After you have finished responding to the scenarios, discuss whether you generally make ethical decisions using a traditional or a modern ethical model. Provide an example using an experience you have had in your daily life.    | |Scenario One | |You are a manager at your current company. You receive a call requesting a character reference for an employee you know to be | |unreliable and dishonest but who has not broken any rule directly. | |a. What should you tell the prospective employer? | |b. What type of information would you tell the prospective employer? | |c. How would what you share be to your advantage or disadvantage? |   | |   | |Response to Questions | | | |a) As manager of this employee, I would have to tell the pros pective employer only what is factual and not elaborate on my | |suspicions.Meaning that I could not state my personal opinion about the employee being unreliable and dishonest if no rules were | |broken and the employee was never reprimanded for bad behaviors. | |b) Since this is a character reference then only character type information may be given. In this case the character reference may | |include what good qualities the employee has, a good team worker, learns quickly, etc. If there were no good characteristics, then a| |polite no thank you would have to do. |c) The advantages come in the form of not being sued by anyone for badmouthing the employee and maybe the employee will actually get | |the other job, therefore not your problem anymore. This is really a damn if I do or do not situation and has to be handled in a | |competent manner. | |The only disadvantage I can see with this situation is not being able to warn the prospective employer about the bad characteristics | | of this employee but without any reprimands or facts to back up the words it is not an option. | | | | | | | | |   | |   | |   | |Scenario Two | |   | |Mike is currently enrolled in a challenging course. His personal life is also unusually complicated by his seriously ill mother who | |lives out of state. Mike receives an e-mail from an individual who has taken this course previously and whom Mike knows did | |reasonably well in it. In the e-mail, the individual offers Mike, for a fee, all the course assignments, discussion question | |responses, and Checkpoint answers. | |a. How should Mike reply to his friend? | |b. What are the positive and negative consequences of accepting this offer? | |c. What are the positive and negative consequences of refusing this offer? |   | | | |Response to Questions | | | |a) Ethically, it would be wrong for Mike to accept his friends offer and he should decline the offer with a prompt thank you but no | |thanks. | |b) The positive conseque nces are obsolete if Mike has a conscience or a sense of right and wrong. The negative perhaps come in | |greater numbers by accepting his friends offer. First, Mike would not learn much from his course and he would not gain any knowledge | |about course material.Second, school policy indicates that we should do our own work and there is a chance Mike would plagiarize or| |be expelled from school for using another’s work. | |c) The positive consequences of refusing his friends offer comes in the form of self-satisfaction and knowing he accomplished his | |work even though other areas of life are tough. In addition, Mike can be spared any bad situations with the school if he were caught| |using another’s work. The negative consequences for Mike may be minimal after refusing his friends help if he deals with each of his| |problems one-step and day at a time. Mike may have to take a temporary break from school to deal with other things but that is only | |a sacrifice that is required in life to see positive outcomes. |   | |   | |Scenario Three | |   | |You are a politician involved in a hotly contested race to retain your  seat on the city commission. The political issues are | |important to you, but allegations have been raised that your opponent is leaving his wife for a younger woman. These allegations are | |unproven. Your campaign advisors have urged you to release this information to help your campaign. | |a. What moral and ethical considerations come into play when making this decision? | |b. What are the positive and negative consequences of using the information? | |c. What are the positive and negative consequences of not using the information? |   | |   | |   | |Response to Questions | |   | |a) The moral and ethical considerations center on what is right and what is wrong when it comes to serving those that vote for me as | |a politician. If the political issues are important to me then I would want to run the race as le gitimate as possible. Ethically it | |would be wrong to exploit the other opponent in such a way that says I would stoop to any level to maintain my seat on the city | |commission. | |b) I really don’t see any positive consequence if I use the derogatory information because I will know what I did was wrong. The | |negative consequences would be various.Using the information could affect any respect my staff had for me, it could backfire and | |cause me to lose the race, and I would know what I did was wrong and it would play into future decisions. | |c) I can only relate the positive consequences of not using the information as the negative are obsolete. Sure, I could lose the | |race to my opponent by not using the information but that is not really a negative consequence because I know I did things right and | |morally. The positives know I ran the race honestly without hard balling anyone and possibly ruining my own credibility. This sort | |of behavior can follow an indiv idual for the rest of their career so it is always better to do things honestly. | Reflection Question: Discuss whether you generally make ethical decisions using a traditional or a modern ethical model.Provide an example using an experience you have had in your daily life. I truly think I am more of a traditional type decision maker where treating others with respect and honesty is most important for good outcomes. I also feel some of the modern way of thinking is helpful especially when dealing with work issues. My ethical decisions are made based on what I feel is right and wrong, which is something that has always been a strong force within me. An example of an experience I have had is recent and is something I have always taught my child. My son and I were visiting the park a few weeks ago and we found a wallet with everything intact including money.My first instinct was to look in the wallet for some sort of identification (possibly a phone number) and contact the owner. This information was available so I used my cell to call the individual and they came right down to pick the wallet up. They were so relieved that someone would actually call and return their property. I simply replied that I hoped if it were my wallet that the same would happen for me because that is the right thing to do. Not only did I make someone’s day better but I also set a very good visual example for my two-year-old son. While he may not understand what I did, he will have an example of respect and honesty which are two values and ethics I want to instill in him.

Windshield Survey

According to Stanhope and Lancaster (2008) defines a community as: â€Å"A social group determined by geographic boundaries and/or common values and interests. Its members know and interact with one another. It functions within a particular social structure and exhibits and creates norms, values, and social institutions† (World Health Organization [WHO], 1974, pg. 7). Stanhope and Lancaster (2008) defines community health as having: â€Å"three common characteristics, or dimensions: status, structure, and process. Stanhope & Lancaster (2008) also go on to say: â€Å"Each dimension reflects a unique aspect of community health: (pg. 45). Community health in terms of status, or income, is the most well known and accepted approach; it involves biological, emotional, and social parts. The biological (or physical) part of community health is often measured by traditional morbidity and mortality rates, life expectancy indexes, and risk factors profile† (pg. 345). The communit y is the client if a nurse is helping individuals even one at a time in the community. Stanhope and Lancaster (2008) states: â€Å"The community is the client only when the nursing focus is on the collective or common good of the population instead of on individual health† (pg. 44) and â€Å"Although the nurse may work with individuals, families or other interacting groups, aggregates, or institutions, or within a population, the resulting changes are intended to affect the whole community† (Stanhope and Lancaster, 2008, pg. 344). One Healthy People 2020 health indicator that applies to this particular area, which is Oklahoma City, would be â€Å"Quality of life and well-being† (Healthy People 2020 at a glance. (2010). There is a large population of poverty level residents. Many people in the community of the south side Oklahoma City are living in homes that are not safe or are unclean. Additional aspects will be discussed in the Window Survey of south Oklahoma City. The boundary for the north part of Oklahoma City runs almost parallel to interstate I-44 from the east to the west. It is located in the central metro area of the state of Oklahoma, with boundaries east of the cities of Mustang and Yukon, and west of the cities of Spencer and Del City. The southern boundary of Oklahoma City overlaps interstate I-240 that runs from east to west and is north of the cities of Moore and Norman. The economic boundaries for the southern part of Oklahoma City can run the ambit from residents below poverty level to those that would be considered to be upper-class in their monetary value. There are neighborhoods that many would not feel comfortable after dark because there has been a rise in crime to those areas. The zoning of these homes are single story, quarter acre lots that are approximately one thousand to fifteen hundred square feet. These impoverished areas have small, o lder homes that are two to three bedroom homes that are unkempt and, at times, are cockroach infested. The houses are built closely side by side and do not have much open space throughout the neighborhood. Most of these homes show signs of decay related to the amount of repairs that need to be made to the home. Many of the residents are renting and cannot afford to make the necessary repairs or have landlords that are unwilling to comply with the safety of their occupants. The stores in the south part of Oklahoma City are ones that cater to a lower income, such as, Payday loans, Buy For Less, Ross, Payless shoes, Wal Mart, etc. Race representation in this area of south Oklahoma City is a majority of Hispanic, black, white, and Native American. When driving through this community, there are men and women who can be seen each day standing on the corners of busy streets holding various cardboard signs which ask for help and state they are out of work. The houses have children’s toys laying in the front yards and dogs can be seen in the backyards roaming or on chains. The transportation for many, are cars that range from 1980’s to the 2000’s. They appear to be in need of repair in many cases. Since many of the residents in this area have little money, there are service centers, such as Auto Zone, and Midas that aide in â€Å"do it yourself† repairs. However, there is a divide in the income level because within five to ten miles there are neighborhoods with homes that are valued from a quarter of a million to half a million dollars. These upper class neighborhoods are surrounded by brick walls with gates that require codes for entrance. One higher class neighborhood is called Rivendale. Surrounding these areas are higher end shopping centers, such as Chasity Square. This particular shopping center has stores called Mann’s Best Friend that provides all natural dog food and baked goods for pets. In both of the low income areas and higher income areas, there are many churches of various religions that are represented, including Catholic, Baptist, Non-denominational, Methodist, Lutheran, and Jehovah’s Witness. These are common meeting places for many in both communities. Aspects that would affect the health in this community, would be alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse. For those in the low income areas, stress of everyday life in which they struggle would draw them to these vices, for those in the higher income areas, it would be the stress of working to maintain their lifestyle. Other health concerns would be obesity of those who cannot afford healthy eating habits, high blood pressure affects both low and high incomes for different reasons, diabetes, and for the low income, lack of preventative care. There is Planned Parenthood for well woman checks, organizations that provide blood pressure checks and diabetes screening, and the YMCA works on a sliding scale of income for membership to the gym to help prevent obesity. Media is covered by local news stations and the Daily Oklahoman. ? References Healthy People 2020 at a glance. (2010). PT in Motion, 2(6), 22-23. Retrieved From EBSCOhost. Stanhope, M. & Lancaster, J. (2008). Population-Centered Health Care In the Community. (7th ed. ). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier. World Health Organization: Community health nursing: report of a WHO expert committee, Geneva, 1374, World Health Organization. Windshield Survey A windshield survey is an assessment and evaluation of a community performed by traveling throughout the community in a car or public transportation to make observations about a community. The data gathered will help identify health care strengths and weaknesses in the specified community. A community is a social group established by geographic boundaries or common values and interests. Its members know and interact with one another and function in a particular social structure and exhibit and create norms, values and, social institutions (Stanhope, 2008). Community health has three mutual traits, or aspects: status, structure, and process. Community health in terms of status or outcome, is the most familiar and received approach; it involves biological, emotional, and social parts (Stanhope, 2008). The biological or living part of community health is often measured by established morbidity and mortality rates, life expectancy indexes, and risk factor profiles. The emotional part of health status can be measured by consumer satisfaction and mental health indexes. Crime rates and functional levels refl ect the social part of community health. Other status measures, such as worker absenteeism and infant mortality rates, reflect the effects of all three parts. Community health, when perceived as the structure of the community, is commonly explained in terms of services and resources. Measures of community structure incorporate demographics, such as socioeconomic and racial distributions, age, and educational level. (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008) The community is the client only when the nursing emphasis is on the common good of the population instead of on an individual’s health. When focusing on the community as client, direct clinical care can be a part of population focused community health practice. This type of care decreases the risk of an epidemic in the community. The community client also highlights the complexity of the change process. Implementing changes which, will improve the community client often occur at a number of levels, extending from the individual to society (Stanhope, 2008). Healthy People 2020 maintains tradition with the launch on December 2, 2010 of it’s 10-year agenda for improving the Nation’s health. Healthy People 2020, 2011) A society in which all people live long, healthy lives is the mission statement of Healthy People 2020. (Healthy People 2020, 2011) A health indicator that applies to my specialty area is substance abuse. Substance abuse produces control on an individuals life and creates havoc among the families and communities. The effects of substance abuse are increasing, drastically contributing to costly social, physical, mental, and public health problems(Healthy People 2020, 2011). According to Healthy People 2020, (2011) some problems include:teenage pregnancy, Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), domestic violence, child abuse, motor vehicle crashes, physical violence, crime, homicide, and suicide. A role nursing would perform in affecting this indicator would be education in the community. Adolescent abuse of prescription drugs, such as prescription pain relievers Vicodin and OxyContin, has remains on the rise and continues to devastate lives and families involved (NIDA InfoFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction, 2011). The accessibility of prescription drugs is growing from several places, including the family medicine cabinet, the Internet, and doctors. Drug addiction is a needless disease. Results from NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs including families, schools, communities, and the media are successful in decreasing drug abuse. Although countless events and cultural influences affect drug abuse trends, when youths sense drug abuse as harmful, they reduce their drug taking. NIDA InfoFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction, 2011) Education and outreach programs are essential in assisting communities to understand the risks of drug abuse. This is a Windshield Survey of Philadelphia, PA, 19154 completed on June 16, 2010. The information collected in this survey displayed basic ideas about this community and identified needs for a certain population in the community. Housing and zoning- The homes and buildings were builtafter 1950. The homes and buildings are constructe d from brick, vinyl siding and are a mix of row and single homes and the homes are in excellent condition. These homes vary in size and land. | Transportation- The most common means of transportation 19154. area include driving a car alone, carpooling and public transportation SEPTA(Southeastern Public Transportation Authority)During observations in the community, many bus stops werehad 6-8 people waiting. Somewere in their school uniforms, some work attire, and others were casually dressed. Theconditions of the roads need minor repairs most are newly paved. | Race and ethnicity- The chief ethnic group in the 19154 is a heavily populated, urban zip code in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The population is largely white, and mostly married couples. Total Population: 35,606 White Population: 31,896 Black Population: 1,678 Hispanic Population: 1,030 Asian Population: 812 Hawaiian Population: 13 Indian Population: 48 Male Population: 17,313 Female Population: 18,293 Median Age: 36. 2 Median Age of Males: 34. 9 Median Age of Females: 37. 6. (Neighiborhood Link National Network, 2011) . | Open space- There is not much open space, but the areas around the Dunksferry Rd and Academy and Knights roads are designated for the athletic teams and school sports. | Service centers-19154 has several service centers. On Southampton Rd there is the VA. Community Center, S. P. I. N. (Special People in the Northeast, mentally challenged individuals), W. I. C. offices and Social Security center. There are many schools, High school, grade school (public and Catholic) and headstart programs in our community. Also off Academy Rd. there is a health center and a dental facility. There are 3 major hospitals and several medical facilities in the community. | Religion and politics- In our community the primary religion is Catholic with a mix of protestant and Jewish. The primary party is republican. | Boundaries- The geographical boundaries for 19154 include Interstate I-95, Route 1 and the PA Turnpike. The income is middle class. The estimatedmedian income is $60,000 per year. Theneighborhoods are named and identified by street names. Some of theneighborhoods include Parkwood, Liberty Bell, Chalfont, Comly, Somerton, Morrell Park and Bustleton. | Stores and street people-Major stores in the community are Kohl’s, Target, and Wal-Mart, many grocery stores such as, Pathmark, Reddners and Acme Markets. There is not any type of street people as in homeless in the community. The community is primarily devised of law enforcement, fire fighters, teachers and healthcare providers. Health and morbidity-Substance abuse is increasing by our youth and adults in this community. There are no obvious drug dealings going on in the community but, there are dealers. Observations made were several people smoking on the bus stops, very young looking, and other smokers of appropriate age. There are several fast food restaurants in the area as well as finer restaurants, which may have resulted in the large number of people living in this area living with cardiac issues. Other observations made were the adolescents in the streets during school hours and some looking as if they were under the influence. Commons-In 19154 there are several churches, the park and recreational facilities restaurants and clubs. off Southampton Rdis the Community College of Philadelphia and off Street Rd there a several tech schoolsLocal eateries such as Chickie & Pete’s. Chili’s. Carraba’s, Outback Steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse, Friendly’s, Applebee’s, Nifty fifties and TGI Fridays. There are a number of fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, KFC, and Burger Kingwhere many people like to hang out. There is also a few -11, Wawa and playgrounds that teens usually hang out. These gathering areas are easily identified by signs. They are open to everyone and usually people with the same interests gather in these areas. | Signs of decay- There are no evident signs of decay, although at some playgrounds there were several graffiti tags on the buildings. | Media- The local newspaper is the Philadelphia Inquirer and the community newspaper is The Northeast Times. The TV news stations are ABC 6, Eyewitness News and NBC 10 news. The internet is a source of the major attributes of the media and the common providers are Verizon and Comcast and the cable providers are Comcast, Verizon Fios, The Dish and DIRECTV. References: (2011). Retrieved June 18, 2011, from Neighiborhood Link National Network: http://www. neighborhoodlink. com/zip/19154 Healthy People 2020. (2011, February 22). Retrieved June 18, 2011, from Healthy People: http://www. healthypeople. gov/2020/about/default. aspx NIDA InfoFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction. (2011, March). Retrieved June 18, 2011, from National Institute of Drug Abuse: ht tp://www. drugabuse. gov/infofacts/understand. html Stanhope, M. L. (2008). Public Health Nursing. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier. Windshield Survey Keyes, California is a census-designated town in Stanislaus County. Keyes is located off Highway 99 in the California Central Valley. This small town is unknown to many due to its 2. 8 mile radius (â€Å"City data†). Numerous health concerns plague this small town due to its size and population. A windshield survey and internet research provides information on the people, the land, and the health of those living in this small community. The People According to the 2010 census, Keyes has a population of 5,601 residents with a 50/50 male to female ratio (â€Å"City data†).The median age of these residents is 29. 5 years old. The majority of the Keyes population has a household annual income of $29,943 for a family of 4. Annual income is just above or right at the poverty line. In 2011 it was recorded that 32. 1% of the population was living in poverty. A staggering 12. 9% of Keyes residents are unemployed as of July 2013. About 18% of Keyes residents work in construction, agriculture, or retail. Keyes is a predominately Hispanic community accounting for 60. 9% of its residents.Whites average 34. 3% of the population followed by 2% Asian and 0.4% Black. The residents of Keyes are 54% Catholic in faith followed by 5% Baptist and 5% Mormon. Keyes lacks a municipal government but is a part of Stanislaus County (â€Å"City data†). The Land Keyes, California is located between Ceres and Turlock off Highway 99. The town’s appearance is unattractive at first look. No landscaping or sidewalks are provided in most of the community. The majority of homes are enclosed by a fence and most do not have a driveway. Although the homes are aged and tattered, many of them have nice yards with minimal refuse.Homes in this location were built in the 1980’s. The average price of a home located in Keyes, Ca is $89,952 (â€Å"Zillow†). Few people were out walking in the community. The residents of Keyes had a wide range of dogs in almost every y ard. A large park is located in the eastern part of the town. Hatch Park has a walking path and a playground for children. The park is relatively new, according to its residents. Safety does not appear to be an issue before dark. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, although, it is not patrolled by police.There is no police department located in Keyes. Stanislaus county sheriff responds to calls for this small town. The fire department is located in the southern end of the city. According to Paramedic Rhodes of the Keyes Fire Department, there are an average of 20 calls per week 85% being medical, 10% motor vehicle accidents, and 5% fire. Most medical transports are sent to Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock located 5 miles southeast of the town. There are no doctors offices or urgent care’s located within Keyes. There are no pharmacies or dentists located in the immediate area.Neighboring cities have these services within five to eight miles. Stanislaus Regional Transport (START) provides bus services to Keyes (â€Å"Stanislaus regional transport†). There are four bus stops in Keyes all located near the freeway and the schools. The buses stop about every two hours from 5 am to 9 pm (â€Å"Stanislaus regional transport†). The bus stops had several people waiting and appeared to be used in the community by various age groups. There is a local post office with P. O. Boxes. Keyes does not have a postman to deliver mail to individual homes (â€Å"USPS†).Stores located in this little community consist of two convince stores and one grocery store consisting of a limited supply of fresh fruits and vegetables. The nearest full service grocery store and pharmacy are located 3. 8 miles away in Turlock, California (â€Å"Google maps†). No chain fast food restaurants were note during the survey however there are several taco trucks located in the area. Minimal businesses are present. Local businesses consist of construction companies of various sorts. Schools are present in this community. The local Elementary school teach students years K-8.Keyes to Learning Charter School instructs students K-12. The Stanislaus County Library has a branch located in Keyes for students of all ages. The Health Overall health is a concern in this community. No access to medical, dental, or pharmacies directly affects these residents. Locals may have access to healthcare but they may not have access to transportation to and from doctors appointments in neighboring cities. Low socioeconomic status prevents many from seeking necessary treatment for medical conditions. The inability to pay for prescribed medication can lead to worsening health conditions.Limited access to a full service grocery store can limit the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by these residents. In Stanislaus County the rate of diabetes is 1. 6% greater than the California average and the rate of obesity is 6. 7% greater (â€Å"City data†). D iet and exercise plays a role in these statistics. Although there is a local park it is not widely used. A sedentary lifestyle is common in this community. It is concerning to have such high incidents of obesity and diabetes in a town where the average householder is younger than 30 years old.A large percentage of the community is considered vulnerable (â€Å"Cdc†). The community health status indicators displays that Stanislaus County has a large vulnerable population. A vulnerable population includes 39% of individuals without a high school diploma and a 12. 9% unemployment rate. The county has a total of 23,378 people diagnosed with major depression and 38,337 involved with drug use in the last month (â€Å"Cdc†). Many other factors are affecting this town’s health including; smoking associated heart disease, cancer and respiratory illnesses (â€Å"Cdc†).As a goal, Healthy people 2020 is seeking to improve maternal, infant, and child health. Education is a crucial aspect in improving health in all stages of life. Mothers who are educated about their health and the health of their families can in turn make choices that can positively affect their families future. Nurses in the community could arrange classes at the local schools after hours to provide education on diet, exercise, and disease prevention. These classes could be taught in English and Spanish to better meet the needs of the community.Keyes, California is a small community with no access to many basic needs. The health of the community is deteriorating due to the lack of proper nutrition and healthcare. This town is living at or below the poverty line. The needs of the community outweigh the resources made available by Stanislaus County. More research should be conducted within the central valley to determine the needs of this vulnerable population. Keyes can become a healthier place to live in the future with help from the surrounding cities, local governments, and he althcare providers.

The personal story about uncle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

The personal story about uncle - Essay Example Thus my uncle molded his life in such a manner that would provide him solace and peace of mind whenever he was in hot waters and nothing right came to him. He has seen financial losses that took away quite a huge sum of his bank balance in the late 1980s when he was doing a roaring business of textile designing yet he did not succumb under pressure from people related to him and the near and dear ones advised him to divest whatever was left in the business. He continued and marched along at the same speed, so much so that now he has his own textile factory located on the outskirts of the city. He has been a model of inspiration for one and all and I can safely call him my mentor whenever I run into any problem in my day to day life. His advice is always that has brought a new lease of life in me and helped me see things in a more positive fashion rather than just sitting and sulking over the whole issue every now and so often. His mental growth has been steady and can be easily said as being tough as he has witnessed many patchy situations, only for him to come out clean and clear in the very end. He does not take pressure rather he cools the whole situation down to his mental level and then with a sense of easiness attached with him, solves the matter in the most gentle and balanced manner possible. Physically, he has been an athlete ever since he was young. Cricket, as said before is his pastime. Though he has also liked the athletic games like running, squash and tennis to name a few.

AS Unit F911- Communication in care settings Coursework - 2

AS Unit F911- Communication in care settings - Coursework Example In elderly healthcare facilities, this idea of interpersonal communication is especially important. Many people who work in nursing homes have had experience or taken courses in the field of gerontology, which is the study of the process of aging from a psychological, biological, and social perspective. In the case of an elderly woman who has become reserved with a resulting change in eating behavior, there may be more than a few dynamic forces at play, which have to be considered when discussing the problem on a personal level. Vital communication means being able to understand the individual’s needs, form a relationship with the client and showing respect for the individual (Windsor, & Moonie, 2000). The first important part in ensuring proper communication is the setting that is chosen. The environment in which to conduct effective communication, especially in the case of the elderly, means creating an environment in which they feel comfortable. In this case, for a one on o ne approach, the room of the person would be the most effective place to effectively communicate. This is because it will allow the person to feel like they are on â€Å"home turf†. This is because in unfamiliar locations and interacting with people they are not typically close in can hinder communication efforts (Russell, 2005). In addition, it is a room that can be closed off from the rest of the public. This gives the person the additional privacy that they need. By taking these measures, the person is more likely to open up as they build a relationship with the health care professional. Communication is a two-way approach, which involves interaction with the health care worker and the client (Russell, 2005). The first thing I would focus on is breaking the ice by asking questions about her personally. I would not attack the issue directly due to the fact that it might cause anxiety in which would lead to her defense mechanisms kicking in. By asking broad questions at firs t, I can get a better idea as to what kind of questions need to be asked to get to the issue. Once the relationship has been established and the conversation has been going on, I would start off with telling her that I have noticed some changes in behavior and ask if anything is wrong. This allows her to open her consciousness and tell me whatever she feels comfortable in telling. It is important to not try and force the information out as it might be a sensitive issue and the last thing that needs to happen is to cause further anxiety. Information from the session does not need to be all-verbal. The way in which she answers the question and nonverbal cues such as posture, eye movement, etc. all give glimpses into what she is actually thinking. After getting the required information, the biggest part is making sure to show empathy and to offer assistance in the situation. By showing care and compassion, it gives her someone to look to for assistance having spent the time to communic ate effectively, build the relationship, and figure out what the problem is. In the case of devising a checklist, I would definitely first look at the DSM-IV-TR, Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, in order to see if this is a psychological related problem. The DSM gives criteria for all known mental disorders as well as assessment scales. Based on the removal of her from daily activities, isolation, and change in eating habits, it

Case study draper Manufacturing Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Project - Essay Example Antibiotics use in United States meats is prevalent and this has raised serious health concerns (WGBH Educational Foundation para 1). There is a prevalent about the way the country’s meat is raised today, particularly in regard to the frequent use of antibiotics to keep livestock disease-free in feedlots. Also, antibiotics use in United States meats is used to help livestock grow faster. In order to understand this issue, this paper will investigate the issue and provide analysis of the situation. A federal study by the Federal and Drug Administration in February, 2013 found out that over half of samples of pork chops, ground beef, and ground turkey tested positive for anti-biotic-resistant bacteria strains and therefore adding to the fears that heavy use of antibiotics in livestock is leading to superbugs. The FDA tested 480 samples of these products all collected from United States supermarkets in 2011. These findings confirmed the recent discoveries about antibiotic use in livestock (Valentine para 3). The meat industry in the United States consumes about 80 percent of antibiotics used in the country. This amount is over four times of the amount of antibiotics used by sick Americans. ... The use of antibiotics in livestock is getting out of hands as more and more antibiotics is used in poultry and meat production. It is estimated that about 30 million pounds of antibiotics were sold for poultry and meat production in 2011, compared to about 8 million pounds sold for human use. The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) reported in the Retail Meat Annual Report that antibiotic-resistance bacteria were found in some 39% of chicken, 55% of ground beef, and 69% of pork chops (Christensen para 2). It has also been found out that antibiotics are fed to sick animals and this is completely appropriate. However, antibiotics are put in their feed and water in order to help them compensate for unhygienic conditions and to grow faster (Christensen para 7). This situation is of great health concern because the non-judicious use for feed efficiency and growth promotion poses great public health risks. Antibiotics use in livestock is critically important for tr eatment, control, and prevention of diseases in livestock and not for other purposes. As such, medically important microbial drugs should only be restricted to situations necessary for ensuring animal health and should only be used under supervision of veterinary professionals. It is clear that available and credible data that antibiotic use in the meat industry is on the increase and has hugely overtaken the usage by humans for medical purposes. While it is important to keep livestock healthy, it is more important to ensure humans are healthy. However, it is of grave concern that the meat industry is churning out meat products that are

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In what ways could a researcher manage and organize the data - Essay Example Study notes can also be created to summarize the important aspects of the data without perusing the entire data another time. To avert a confusion in organizing data, researchers can develop a method of cataloging that categorizes data in a unique way that the researcher understands (Polit & Beck, 2010). The motive is to ease retrieval of the data and identify any missing information that would be relevant in the analysis section. Loss of data is a common issue in qualitative approaches, thus, cataloguing documents can reduce these losses. The catalogue is then stored in a safe place awaiting analysis. Despite the complexities associated with qualitative data, the above discussion proves that researchers can control and manage qualitative data. An efficient sorting and filing system is all a researcher needs to sort out information, detect missing information and also ease the retrieval of the information for

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Congress - Essay Example Within the website America.gov, it can be seen that Congress plays a role in enacting the national form of government within the United States. Article 1 begins by stating that Congress shall be divided into two sections, the Senate and the House of Representatives. This article also describes the duties and privileges of Congress as well. Congress is allowed to levy taxes allowed tax statutes must first be introduced by the House of Representatives first. Congress also creates laws and regulations that control commerce, and create a standard of measurement for the entire country. In times of war, Congress is authorized to declare war, create armies, produce a navy, and make certain that all the laws are followed by the militia. Within everyday matters that are seen within today’s society, Congress is given the right by the Constitution to create and maintain post offices along with the national roads. Money is standardized by Congress as well. In regards to immigrants and oth er foreigners, Congress forms these laws as well to regulate the naturalization of foreign citizens along with a keen eye towards international fraud and bankruptcy that may occur by foreigners. Confirmation of high-ranking officials may only be done by the Senate. One of the most important powers of Congress stated within the Constitution is that with a two-thirds vote, Congress may nullify a bill signed by the President. Congress also has the important role of carrying out fields of investigation. America.gov goes through the details of investigation trials done by Congress. This occurs through the formation of committees that research laws, look into their functionality, and possibly look into further areas of impeachment in rare occasions of the President. During the impeachment process, the House of Representatives has the power to bring about the charges of the President. The Senate

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Business Decision Making - Coursework Example Decisions range from smaller and simple ones to complex ones which require great effort to facilitate the arrival to a reliable conclusion. The overall process of decision making needs to be executed in a logical and systematic manner that will allow the evaluation of all relevant elements before adopting one of the available alternative courses of actions. Therefore, decision making has to be carried out with an organized approach that will facilitate the consideration of all factors. This is according to Baker (2010). Williams (2007) agrees that academic experts in the business sector have devised models that can be employed when developing a decision. These models advocates for the adoption of various requisite steps in building the decision. The essential steps applied in making decisions at all contexts starts from then definition of a problem, identification of the alternative, evaluation of the available options, selecting the best alternative, appraising the feasibility of th e decision and presenting the proposed decision for approval by the relevant authorities. All major decisions are carried out systematically using these steps without omitting even one. In the business context, once the underlying problem has been defined rationally, the next step will entail the identification of the available solutions. The first two steps of decision making require the application of information concerning the problem situation. The third step on evaluation of the options also needs the appraisal of the situation’s information. At this juncture, one should be in a position to interpret the collected information appropriately using a suitable interpretation technique. Upon interpreting, the decision maker will pick the best alternative course of action, based on the validity of the findings depicted by the interpretation. This is according to Williams (2007). Baker (2010) asserts that information on a situation needs to be acquired before initiating a decis ion making process. The data collected from the sources will supplement the values needed to develop a body of information concerning a situation. At this juncture, it is logical to state that the practical part of a decision making process begins from the collection data on the concept under consideration. Data collection can be carried out using the suitable methods. The data can be obtained from either the primary or the secondary sources. Primary sources data collection entails the process of obtaining information from first hand respondents especially in the field by exercises like surveys and administration of questioners. In our discussion, the decision making process concerning Exchange Partnership Team (EPT) will start from the development of an outline illustrating the data collection exercise. Question 1 In the context of the West London Exchange company, the Exchange Partnership Team (EPT), data can be obtained with respect to the outline below; 1) Primary Data sources a ) Administering Questionnaires b) Observations c) Case studies d) Portfolios e) Interviews f) Evaluation of critical incidences 2) Secondary Sources a) Internet Databases b) Internal business records c) Government agencies records d) Business directories Question 2 Questionnaire According to Baker (2010), the most appropriate research methodology

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Rome – The Heart of Culture Essay There are many beautiful and exciting places to visit in the world – Venice and Paris impress your emotions and the hidden feelings, whereas Egypt and Thailand impress your attitude towards cultural heritage. Nevertheless, my favorite city is Rome and I can return to its ancient-looking streets and romantic atmosphere as many times as I can afford. However, Rome for me is not a city to live in as it will loose its romanticism. It is a place to visit and there are many reasons why. The first reason is, of course, to see the Vatican – the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican is known to attract visitors due to its spiritual power. The Vatican is the smallest independent state and the richest country in the world. I think everyone should visit it when visiting Rome. There you can see collections of priceless treasures and fantastic views on Rome. The second reason is art and architecture. It is known that Rome is the center of the most famous sculptures and painting. Throughout the city you can find buildings which belong to different historical eras. For example, the ancient Roman forum and Colosseum are really worthy of seeing. I am really impressed by the Trevi Fountain and tradition of throwing a coin into it is very nice. One of the architectural wonders – Pantheon – is also found in Rome. The third reason is food and drink as Rome invites you offering wide range of restaurants. I am fond of visiting Pizzerias where I always enjoy homemade pizza and fresh pasta. Finally, the fourth reason is shopping. Shopping in Rome can suit every, even the smallest budget. There you can find modest stores and such names, as, for example, Fendi, Valentino, Laura Biagotti, etc. In conclusion I’d like to say that Rome is one of the most exciting and romantic places in the world. In Rome you enrich your spirituality and cultural heritage by visiting the Vatican and famous churches; you can spend time in comfortable restaurants with your beloved person. Rome is a perfect place anyway!

Threats To Forests. A conifer forest in the Swiss Alps Essay Example for Free

Threats To Forests. A conifer forest in the Swiss Alps Essay Mixed deciduous forest in Stara Planina, Serbia A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending on various cultural definitions, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have different classifications according to how and what of the forest is composed. These plant communities cover approximately 9.4 percent of the Earths surface (or 30 percent of total land area), though they once covered much more (about 50 percent of total land area), in many different regions and function as habitats for organisms, hydrologic flow modulators, and soil conservers, constituting one of the most important aspects of the biosphere. Although forests are classified primarily by trees, the concept of a forest ecosystem includes additional species (such as smaller plants, fungi, bacteria, and animals) as well as physical and chemical processes such as energy flow and nutrient cycling. A typical forest is composed of the overstory (canopy or upper tree layer) and the understory. The understory is further subdivided into the shrub layer, herb layer, and also the moss layer and soil microbes. In some complex forests, there is also a well-defined lower tree layer. Forests are central to all human life because they provide a diverse range of resources: they store carbon, aid in regulating the planetary climate, purify water and mitigate natural hazards such as floods. Forests also contain roughly 90 percent of the worlds terrestrial biodiversity. Contents * 1 Etymology * 2 Distribution * 3 Classification * 3.1 Temperate A typical forest is composed of the overstory (canopy or upper tree layer) and the understory. The understory is further subdivided into the shrub layer, herb layer, and also the moss layer and soil microbes. In some complex forests, there is also a well-defined lower tree layer. Forests are central to all human life because they provide a diverse range of resources: they store carbon, aid in regulating the planetary climate, purify water and mitigate natural hazards such as floods. Forests also contain roughly 90 percent of the worlds terrestrial biodiversity. Etymology The word forest comes from Middle English forest, from Old French forest (also forà ¨s) forest, vast expanse covered by trees; first introduced in English as the word for wild land set aside for hunting without the necessity in definition for the existence of trees (James 1981;Muir 2000,2008). Possibly a borrowing (probably via Frankish or Old High German) of the Medieval Latin word foresta open wood, foresta was first used by Carolingian scribes in the Capitularies of Charlemagne to refer specifically to the kings royal hunting grounds. The term was not endemic to Romance languages (e.g. native words for forest in the Romance languages evolved out of the Latin word silva forest, wood (English sylvan); cf. Italian, Spanish, Portuguese selva; Romanian silvÄÆ'; Old French selve); and cognates in Romance languages, such as Italian foresta, Spanish and Portuguese floresta, etc. are all ultimately borrowings of the French word. The exact origin of Medieval Latin foresta is obscure. Some authorities claim the word derives from the Late Latin phrase forestam silvam, meaning the outer wood; others claim the term is a latinisation of the Frankish word *forhist forest, wooded country, assimilated to forestam silvam (a common practise among Frankish scribes). Frankish *forhist is attested by Old High German forst forest, Middle Low German vorst forest, Old English fyrhà ¾ forest, woodland, game preserve, hunting ground, and Old Norse fà ½ri coniferous forest, all of which derive from Proto-Germanic *furχà ­sa-, *furχà ­Ãƒ ¾ja- a fir-wood, coniferous forest, from Proto-Indo-European *perkwu- a coniferous or mountain forest, wooded height. Uses of the word forest in English to denote any uninhabited area of non-enclosure are now considered archaic. The word was introduced by the Norman rulers of England as a legal term (appearing in Latin texts like the Magna Carta) denoting an uncultivated area legally set aside for hunting by feudal nobility (see Royal Forest). These hunting forests were not necessarily wooded much, if at all. However, as hunting forests did often include considerable areas of woodland, the word forest eventually came to mean wooded land more generally. By the start of the fourteenth century the word appeared in English texts, indicating all three senses: the most common one, the legal term and the archaic usage. Forest near Rajgir, Bihar, India Other terms used to mean an area with a high density of trees are wood, woodland, wold, weald, holt, frith and firth. Unlike forest, these are all derived from Old English and were not borrowed from another language. Some classifications now reserve the term woodland for an area with more open space between trees and distinguish among woodlands, open forests, and closed forests based on crown cover. Distribution Amazon Rainforest in Brazil Temperate rainforest in Tasmanias Hellyer Gorge Forests can be found in all regions capable of sustaining tree growth, at altitudes up to the tree line, except where natural fire frequency or other disturbance is too high, or where the environment has been altered by human activity. The latitudes 10 ° north and south of the Equator are mostly covered in tropical rainforest, and the latitudes between 53 °N and 67 °N have boreal forest. As a general rule, forests dominated by angiosperms (broadleaf forests) are more species-rich than those dominated by gymnosperms (conifer, montane, or needleleaf forests), although exceptions exist. Forests sometimes contain many tree species only within a small area (as in tropical rain and temperate deciduous forests), or relatively few species over large areas (e.g., taiga and arid montane coniferous forests). Forests are often home to many animal and plant species, and biomass per unit area is high compared to other vegetation communities. Much of this biomass occurs below ground in the root systems and as partially decomposed plant detritus. The woody component of a forest contains lignin, which is relatively slow to decompose compared with other organic materials such as cellulose or carbohydrate. Forests are differentiated from woodlands by the extent of canopy coverage: in a forest, the branches and the foliage of separate trees often meet or interlock, although there can be gaps of varying sizes within an area referred to as forest. A woodland has a more continuously open canopy, with trees spaced farther apart, which allows more sunlight to penetrate to the ground between them (also see: savanna). Among the major forested biomes are: * rain forest (tropical and temperate) * taiga * temperate hardwood forest * tropical dry forest Classification Biogradska forest in Montenegro Spiny forest at Ifaty, Madagascar, featuring various Adansonia (baobab) species, Alluaudia procera (Madagascar ocotillo) and other vegetation Even, dense old-growth stand of beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) prepared to be regenerated by their saplings in the understory, in the Brussels part of the Sonian Forest. Trees on a mountain in northern Utah during early autumn. Forests can be classified in different ways and to different degrees of specificity. One such way is in terms of the biome in which they exist, combined with leaf longevity of the dominant species (whether they are evergreen or deciduous). Another distinction is whether the forests are composed predominantly of broadleaf trees, coniferous (needle-leaved) trees, or mixed. * Boreal forests occupy the subarctic zone and are generally evergreen and coniferous. * Temperate zones support both broadleaf deciduous forests (e.g., temperate deciduous forest) and evergreen coniferous forests (e.g., temperate coniferous forests and temperate rainforests). Warm temperate zones support broadleaf evergreen forests, including laurel forests. * Tropical and subtropical forests include tropical and subtropical moist forests, tropical and subtropical dry forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests. * Physiognomy classifies forests based on their overall physical structure or developmental stage (e.g. old growth vs. second growth). * Forests can also be classified more specifically based on the climate and the dominant tree species present, resulting in numerous different forest types (e.g., ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forest). A number of global forest classification systems have been proposed, but none has gained universal acceptance. UNEP-WCMCs forest category classification system is a simplification of other more complex systems (e.g. UNESCOs forest and woodland subformations). This system divides the worlds forests into 26 major types, which reflect climatic zones as well as the principal types of trees. These 26 major types can be reclassified into 6 broader categories: temperate needleleaf; temperate broadleaf and mixed; tropical moist; tropical dry; sparse trees and parkland; and forest plantations. Each category is described as a separate section below. Temperate needleleaf Temperate needleleaf forests mostly occupy the higher latitude regions of the northern hemisphere, as well as high altitude zones and some warm temperate areas, especially on nutrient-poor or otherwise unfavourable soils. These forests are composed entirely, or nearly so, of coniferous species (Coniferophyta). In the Northern Hemisphere pines Pinus, spruces Picea, larches Larix, silver firs Abies, Douglas firs Pseudotsuga and hemlocks Tsuga, make up the canopy, but other taxa are also important. In the Southern Hemisphere, most coniferous trees (members of the Araucariaceae and Podocarpaceae) occur in mixtures with broadleaf species that are classed as broadleaf and mixed forests. Temperate broadleaf and mixed Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests include a substantial component of trees in the Anthophyta. They are generally characteristic of the warmer temperate latitudes, but extend to cool temperate ones, particularly in the southern hemisphere. They include such forest types as the mixed deciduous forests of the United States and their counterparts in China and Japan, the broadleaf evergreen rainforests of Japan, Chile and Tasmania, the sclerophyllous forests of Australia, central Chile, the Mediterranean and California, and the southern beech Nothofagus forests of Chile and New Zealand. Tropical moist There are many different types of tropical moist forests,although most extensive are the lowland evergreen broadleaf rainforests, for example và ¡rzea and igapà ³ forests and the terra firma forests of the Amazon Basin; the peat swamp forests, dipterocarp forests of Southeast Asia; and the high forests of the Congo Basin. Forests located on mountains are also included in this category, divided largely into upper and lower montane formations on the basis of the variation of physiognomy corresponding to changes in altitude. Tropical dry Tropical dry forests are characteristic of areas in the tropics affected by seasonal drought. The seasonality of rainfall is usually reflected in the deciduousness of the forest canopy, with most trees being leafless for several months of the year. However, under some conditions, e.g. less fertile soils or less predictable drought regimes, the proportion of evergreen species increases and the forests are characterised as sclerophyllous. Thorn forest, a dense forest of low stature with a high frequency of thorny or spiny species, is found where drought is prolonged, and especially where grazing animals are plentiful. On very poor soils, and especially where fire is a recurrent phenomenon, woody savannas develop (see sparse trees and parkland). Sparse trees and parkland Taiga forest near Saranpaul in the northeast Ural Mountains, Khanty–Mansia, Russia. Trees include Picea obovata (dominant on right bank), Larix sibirica, Pinus sibirica, and Betula pendula. Sparse trees and parkland are forests with open canopies of 10-30% crown cover. They occur principally in areas of transition from forested to non-forested landscapes. The two major zones in which these ecosystems occur are in the boreal region and in the seasonally dry tropics. At high latitudes, north of the main zone of boreal forest or taiga, growing conditions are not adequate to maintain a continuous closed forest cover, so tree cover is both sparse and discontinuous. This vegetation is variously called open taiga, open lichen woodland, and forest tundra. It is species-poor, has high bryophyte cover, and is frequently affected by fire. Forest plantations Forest plantations, generally intended for the production of timber and pulpwood increase the total area of forest worldwide. Commonly mono-specific and/or composed of introduced tree species, these ecosystems are not generally important as habitat for native biodiversity. However, they can be managed in ways that enhance their biodiversity protection functions and they are important providers of ecosystem services such as maintaining nutrient capital, protecting watersheds and soil structure as well as storing carbon. They may also play an important role in alleviating pressure on natural forests for timber and fuelwood production. Forest categories A temperate deciduous broadleaf forest, the Hasenholz, southeast of Kirchheim unter Teck, Baden-Wà ¼rttemberg, Germany Redwoods in old growth forest in Muir Woods National Monument, Marin County, California 28 forest categories are used to enable the translation of forest types from national and regional classification systems to a harmonised global one. Temperate and boreal forest types 1. Evergreen needleleaf forest Natural forest with 30% canopy cover, in which the canopy is predominantly ( 75%) needleleaf and evergreen. 2. Deciduous needleleaf forests Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, in which the canopy is predominantly ( 75%) needleleaf and deciduous. 3. Mixed broadleaf/needleleaf forest Natural forest with 30% canopy cover, in which the canopy is composed of a more or less even mixture of needleleaf and broadleaf crowns (between 50:50% and 25:75%). 4. Broadleaf evergreen forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, the canopy being 75% evergreen and broadleaf. 5. Deciduous broadleaf forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, in which 75% of the canopy is deciduous and broadleaves predominate ( 75% of canopy cover). 6. Freshwater swamp forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, composed of trees with any mixture of leaf type and seasonality, but in which the predominant environmental characteristic is a waterlogged soil. 7. Sclerophyllous dry forest Natural forest with 30% canopy cover, in which the canopy is mainly composed of sclerophyllous broadleaves and is 75% evergreen. 8. Disturbed natural forest Any forest type above that has in its interior significant areas of disturbance by people, including clearing, felling for wood extraction, anthropogenic fires, road construction, etc. 9. Sparse trees and parkland Natural forests in which the tree canopy cover is between 10-30%, such as in the steppe regions of the world. Trees of any type (e.g., needleleaf, broadleaf, palms). 10. Exotic species plantation Intensively managed forests with 30% canopy cover, which have been planted by people with species not naturally occurring in that country. 11. Native species plantation Intensively managed forests with 30% canopy cover, which have been planted by people with species that occur naturally in that country. 12. *Unspecified forest plantation Forest plantations showing extent only with no further information about their type, This data currently only refers to the Ukraine. 13. *Unclassified forest data Forest data showing forest extent only with no further information about their type. Those marked * have been created as a result of data holdings which do not specify the forest type, hence 26 categories are quoted, not 28 shown here. Tropical forest types The Fatu Hiva rainforest in Polynesia. 1. Lowland evergreen broadleaf rain forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, below 1,200 m (3,937 ft) altitude that display little or no seasonality, the canopy being 75% evergreen broadleaf. 2. Lower montane forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, between 1200–1800 m altitude, with any seasonality regime and leaf type mixture. 3. Upper montane forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, above 1,800 m (5,906 ft) altitude, with any seasonality regime and leaf type mixture. 4. Freshwater swamp forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, below 1,200 m (3,937 ft) altitude, composed of trees with any mixture of leaf type and seasonality, but in which the predominant environmental characteristic is a waterlogged soil. 5. Semi-evergreen moist broadleaf forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, below 1,200 m (3,937 ft) altitude in which between 50-75% of the canopy is evergreen, 75% are broadleaves, and the trees display seasonality of flowering and fruiting. 6. Mixed broadleaf/needleleaf forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, below 1,200 m (3,937 ft) altitude, in which the canopy is composed of a more or less even mixture of needleleaf and broadleaf crowns (between 50:50% and 25:75%). 7. Needleleaf forest Natural forest with 30% canopy cover, below 1,200 m (3,937 ft) altitude, in which the canopy is predominantly ( 75%) needleleaf. 8. Mangroves Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, composed of species of mangrove tree, generally along coasts in or near brackish or seawater. 9. Disturbed natural forest Any forest type above that has in its interior significant areas of disturbance by people, including clearing, felling for wood extraction, anthropogenic fires, road construction, etc. 10. Deciduous/semi-deciduous broadleaf forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, below 1,200 m (3,937 ft) altitude in which between 50-100% of the canopy is deciduous and broadleaves predominate ( 75% of canopy cover). 11. Sclerophyllous dry forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, below 1,200 m (3,937 ft) altitude, in which the canopy is mainly composed of sclerophyllous broadleaves and is 75% evergreen. 12. Thorn forest Natural forests with 30% canopy cover, below 1,200 m (3,937 ft) altitude, in which the canopy is mainly composed of deciduous trees with thorns and succulent phanerophytes with thorns may be frequent. 13. Sparse trees and parkland Natural forests in which the tree canopy cover is between 10-30%, such as in the savannah regions of the world. Trees of any type (e.g., needleleaf, broadleaf, palms). 14. Exotic species plantation Intensively managed forests with 30% canopy cover, which have been planted by people with species not naturally occurring in that country. 15. Native species plantation Intensively managed forests with 30% canopy cover, which have been planted by people with species that occur naturally in that country. Forest loss and management Main articles: Forestry, Logging and Deforestation Coastal Douglas fir woodland in northwest Oregon Redwood tree in northern California redwood forest, where many redwood trees are managed for preservation and longevity, rather than being harvested for wood production The scientific study of forest species and their interaction with the environment is referred to as forest ecology, while the management of forests is often referred to as forestry. Forest management has changed considerably over the last few centuries, with rapid changes from the 1980s onwards culminating in a practice now referred to as sustainable forest management. Forest ecologists concentrate on forest patterns and processes, usually with the aim of elucidating cause and effect relationships. Foresters who practice sustainable forest management focus on the integration of ecological, social and economic values, often in consultation with local communities and other stakeholders. Anthropogenic factors that can affect forests include logging, urban sprawl, human-caused forest fires, acid rain, invasive species, and the slash and burn practices of swidden agriculture or shifting cultivation. The loss and re-growth of forest leads to a distinction between two broad types of forest, primary or old-growth forest and secondary forest. There are also many natural factors that can cause changes in forests over time including forest fires, insects, diseases, weather, competition between species, etc. In 1997, the World Resources Institute recorded that only 20% of the worlds original forests remained in large intact tracts of undisturbed forest. More than 75% of these intact forests lie in three countries the Boreal forests of Russia and Canada and the rainforest of Brazil. In 2006 this information on intact forests was updated using latest available satellite imagery. Canada has about 4,020,000 square kilometres (1,550,000 sq mi) of forest land. More than 90% of forest land is publicly owned and about 50% of the total forest area is allocated for harvesting. These allocated areas are managed using the principles of sustainable forest management, which includes extensive consultation with local stakeholders. About eight percent of Canada’s forest is legally protected from resource development (Global Forest Watch Canada)(Natural Resources Canada). Much more forest land — about 40 percent of the total forest land base — is subject to varying degrees of protection through processes such as integrated land use planning or defined management areas such as certified forests (Natural Resources Canada). These maps represent only virgin forest lost. Some regrowth has occurred but not to the age, size or extent of 1620 due to population increases and food cultivation. From William B. Greeleys, The Relation of Geography to Timber Supply, Economic Geography, 1925, vol. 1, p. 1-11. Source of Today map: compiled by George Draffan from roadless area map in The Big Outside: A Descriptive Inventory of the Big Wilderness Areas of the United States, by Dave Foreman and Howie Wolke (Harmony Books, 1992). By December 2006, over 1,237,000 square kilometers of forest land in Canada (about half the global total) had been certified as being sustainably managed (Canadian Sustainable Forestry Certification Coalition). Clearcutting, first used in the latter half of the 20th century, is less expensive, but devastating to the environment and companies are required by law to ensure that harvested areas are adequately regenerated. Most Canadian provinces have regulations limiting the size of clearcuts, although some older clearcuts can range upwards of 110 square kilometres (27,000 acres) in size which were cut over several years. China instituted a ban on logging, beginning in 1998, due to the destruction caused by clearcutting. Selective cutting avoids the erosion, and flooding, that result from clearcutting. In the United States, most forests have historically been affected by humans to some degree, though in recent years improved forestry practices has helped regulate or moderate large scale or severe impacts. However, the United States Forest Service estimates a net loss of about 2 million hectares (4,942,000 acres) between 1997 and 2020; this estimate includes conversion of forest land to other uses, including urban and suburban development, as well as afforestation and natural reversion of abandoned crop and pasture land to forest. However, in many areas of the United States, the area of forest is stable or increasing, particularly in many northern states. The opposite problem from flooding has plagued national forests, with loggers complaining that a lack of thinning and proper forest management has resulted in large forest fires.[ Old-growth forest contains mainly natural patterns of biodiversity in established seral patterns, and they contain mainly species native to the region and habitat. The natural formations and processes have not been affected by humans with a frequency or intensity to change the natural structure and components of the habitat. Secondary forest contains significant elements of species which were originally from other regions or habitats. Smaller areas of woodland in cities may be managed as Urban forestry, sometimes within public parks. These are often created for human benefits; Attention Restoration Theory argues that spending time in nature reduces stress and improves health, while forest schools and kindergartens help young people to develop social as well as scientific skills in forests. These typically need to be close to where the children live, for practical logistics.

History And Formation Of Newtons Rings

History And Formation Of Newtons Rings In this experiment the physical property of interference of light will be used to determine the wavelength,, of a light source. The interference fringe system here is a pattern of concentric circles, the diameter of which you will measure with a travelling microscope (which has a Vernier scale). If a clean convex lens is placed on a clean glass slide (optically flat) and viewed in monochromatic light, a series of rings may be seen around the point of contact between the lens and the slide. These rings are known as Newtons rings and they arise from the interference of light reflected from the glass surfaces at the air film between the lens and the slide. The experimental set-up is shown in figure 1. History of history of Newtons ring The phenomenon of Newtons rings, named after sir Isaac Newton who first studied them in 1717, Newtons rings is a pattern of interference caused by two surfaces after reflection of light a sphere surface and an adjacent flat surface. When view with monochromatic light its appears as a series of concentric, alternating bright and dark rings centered at the point of contact between the two surfaces. When we see with white light, it forms like a rainbow colours concentric ring pattern because the different wavelengths of light interfere at different thickness of the layer between the surfaces. The light reflected from both surfaces caused by constructive interference, while the dark rings are caused by destructive. Perhaps, the outer rings are more closely spaced than the inner. So the above phenomenon was first described by Robert Hooke in his 1664 book Micrographia although its name derives from the physicist sir Isaac Newton, who was the first to analyze it. Newtons rings The term Newtons rings is a ring formed by the glass of curved, typically a convex lens, is put in contact with a glass of a plan surface. The curved glass kept on the plan glass, forming a film of air between them is increasingly larger along the length of the curve. When light is directed into the curved glass, a many of concentric circles appears. That is why the rings are referred to as Newtons rings. Which was the first to observe the phenomenon by Sir Isaac Newton? The Newtons rings formed will be phenomenon typically is dark alternating with bright, with the dark beginning in the center. It is formed as a result of interference between the light reflected by the two surfaces. Towards the application, Newtons rings can be used by lens makers to find out the quality of a lens. In a well-made lens, the rings should be uniform. When a convex surface with its Plano-convex lens is placed on a glass sheet, an air film of gradually increasing thickness outward is formed between the lens and the sheet. The thickness of film at the point of contact is zero. If light is allowed to fall on the lens, and the film is viewed in reflected light, alternate bright and dark concentric rings are seen around the point of contact. (Source google.com) Newtons Rings, it is visible a pattern of light and dark circles when a convex lens is placed, curved side down, on top of a flat piece of glass. The pattern was first observed by Sir Isaac Newton. The rings are caused by interference of light waves. When a light is falls downward onto the two pieces of glass, two overlapping beams of light are formed-one from light reflected by the lower surface of the curved glass and the other from light reflected by the upper surface of the flat glass. The light reflected from the plane glass moves farther than the light reflected from the curved glass. It depends on the distance between the two surfaces, light waves in the two beams may be in phase, and reinforcing each other or they may be out of phase, canceling each other out. Since the distances between the two reflecting surfaces increases with distance from the point where the lens and flat glass make contact, the areas where the waves are in phase and out of phase occur in concentric bands around the center of the lens. If the beam of light falls at the two pieces of glass is of a single wavelength i.e. monochromatic, the rings are thin circles of a single color. The rings are fewer in number, but highly colored when white light is used Formation of Newtons Rings Newtons rings are formed as a result of interference between the light waves reflected from the top and bottom surfaces of the air film formed between the lens and glass sheet. The phenomenon of the formation of Newtons ring can be explained on the basis of wave theory of light i.e.: An air film of varying thickness is formed between lens and the glass sheet. When a ray is incident on the surface of the lens, it is reflected as well as refracted. When the refracted ray strikes the glass sheet, it undergoes a phase change of 180 on the reflection. Interference occurs between two waves which interfere constructively if path differences between them is (m+1/2) 1 and destructively if path difference between them is ml producing alternate bright and dark rings. Radius of Newtons Ring Let the radius of curvature of the convex lens is R and the radius of ring is r. Consider light of wave length l falls on the lens. After refraction and reflection two rays 1 and 2 are obtained. These rays interfere each other producing alternate bright and dark rings. At the point of contact the thickness of air film is zero and the path difference is also zero and as a 180O path difference occurs, so they cancel each other and a dark ring is obtained at the centre. As we move away from the central point, path difference is also changed and alternate dark and bright rings are obtained. Let us suppose that the thickness of air film ist. By using the theorem of geometry, x = x r x r = t (2R t) = (2Rt -) Sincet is very small as compare to r, therefore neglecting = 2Rt r2 = 2Rt.. (1) In thin films, path difference for constructive interference is: 2nt = (m+1/2) l Where n= refractive index for air n = 1 Therefore, 2t = (m+1/2)l .. (2) For first bright ring m = 0 for second bright ring m = 1 For third bright ring m = 2 Similarly For Nth bright ring m = N-1 Putting the value of m in equation (2) 2t = (N-1+1/2)l 2t = (N-1/2)l t =1/2 (N-1/2) l .. (3) Putting the value oft in equation (1) r2 = 2Rt r2 = 2R. 1/2 (N-1/2) l r2 = R (N-1/2) l = Where N is the bright ring number, R is the radius of curvature of the lens the light is passing through, and ÃŽÂ » is the wavelength of the light passing through the glass. Working of Newtons Ring When convex surface of a long focal length lens is placed in contact with a plane glass disk and clamped together, as shown in cross section below. Adjustment screws are tightened to secure intimate contact at the center. Between the two surfaces of glass a thin film of air is formed and when this band is viewed under reflected light from an extensive light source. We ignore reflections from the top (Plano-convex lens) and bottom (plane glass disk) as these reflections just contribute to the overall glare. Since the wave is going from a higher to lower refractive index medium, there is no phase change at the glass air surface of convex lens. Whereas at the air-glass surface of the plane disk suffers a half-cycle phase shift due to reflection. Let R be the radius of curvature of the convex lens, r distance from center and the t air film thickness. Then, = 2Rt And the radius of the bright ring is given by: = [(N +  ½) ÃŽÂ »R]  ½ Here the two glass surfaces are in close contact and there is no reflection because it is as if there were no surfaces. The reflected light is almost white in colour for first maximum, this is because the distance between the two glass surfaces is such that its almost () ÃŽÂ » for the entire spectrum. Similarly succeeding rings exhibit more and more colour. Where the thickness is odd number N of (1/4) ÃŽÂ » for green, and where blue is about (N+1) (1/4) ÃŽÂ » and red is (N-1) (1/4) ÃŽÂ » will be most monochromatic ring. Therefore blue and red at reflection minima while green is at a reflection maximum. The experimental procedure to find the radius of Newtons bright ring is as follows. The convex surface of large radius of curvature is placed in contact with a plane glass disk and clamped together Adjustment screws are tightened to secure intimate contact at the center A thin film of air is formed between the 2 surfaces of glass The thin film of air is viewed under reflected light from an extensive light source Reflections from the top ( Plano-convex lens) and the bottom ( plane glass disk) are ignored, since these reflections just contribute to the overall glare The reflections of interest involves where the surfaces in contact Since the wave is going from higher to a lower refractive index medium, there is no phase change at the glass-air surface of the convex lens Whereas at the air-glass surface of the plane disk suffers a half-cycle phase shift due to reflection. Taking R as the radius of curvature of the convex lens, the relation between the radius of the ring r and the air-film thickness t is given by r2 = 2Rt . Then radius of the nth bright ring will be given by = The Newtons ring is used to;  · Illustrate the interference fringes formed in the air film between optical surfaces.  · Newtons rings are used to determine the radius of curvature of the bi convex or Plano-convex lens  · Measure the refractive index of a substance placed beneath the same lens.  · Determine the wavelength of sodium light

Red Bull Energy Drink Essay -- Business Marketing Case Study, solution

Red Bull is an energy drink that doesn’t do well in taste tests. Some say it’s too sweet. Others just shake their heads, saying, â€Å"No.† Its contents are not patented, and all the ingredients are listed on the outside of the slim silver can. Yet Red Bull has a 70 to 90 percent market share in over 100 countries worldwide. During the past 15 years, the drink has been copied by more than 100 competitors, but such companies as Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch have been unable to take market share away from Red Bull. Says Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, â€Å"If we don’t create the market, it doesn’t exist.† Mateschitz’s secret to creating a $1.6 billion worldwide stampede for Red Bull lies in a highly ingenious â€Å"buzz-marketing† strategy that herds consumers to exclusive and exciting events that get high media coverage. Red Bull supports close to 500 world-class extreme sports athletes that compete in spectacular and often record-breaking events across the globe. Mateschitz explains, â€Å"We don’t bring the product to the consumer, we bring consumers to the product.† Today Red Bull is a powerful global brand and very few customers know the story of the highly talented, creative and determined salesman, publicity-shy Dietrich Mateschitz. Tiny Austria’s only billionaire, Mateschitz located his office in the quaint lakeside village of Fuschl, near Salzburg, Austria. His architect is currently building a new office building in the shape of two volcanoes. His collection of 16 airplanes is located in a steel and glass hangar, which serves as an aviation museum and the home of the Flying Bulls at Salzburg Airport. He tries to keep it down to working three days a week. He likes to keep things simple. The size of his headquarter staff is only 200. Mateschitz farms out the production and distribution of the 1.5 billion cans sold worldwide. The total number of employees worldwide is only 1,800, which brings the sales volume per employee close to a million dollars. Mateschitz not only generates brilliant sales and marketing ideas, he is equally talent ed in the execution of the biggest and boldest business ideas. His latest project involves a $1 billion motor sport and aviation theme park in Styria, Austria. Dietrich Mateschitz founded the Red Bull company. According to company legend, the idea for Red Bull came about as Mateschitz sat at a Hong Kong hotel bar in 1982... ...key to remaining market leader in the energy-drinks business. Last year, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Anheuser-Busch, an American brewer, each launched an energy drink, attempting to get a slice of the market in which Red Bull currently has a 70-90% share. Mr Mateschitz is not worried. â€Å"The market isn't generic; it doesn't exist if we don't create it. It's a branded market,† he says. Keeping cool Mr Mateschitz now plans to spend two days a week coming up with wacky ideas to promote Red Bull. Already, the company sponsors an annual Flugtag, when contestants build their own flying-machines and leap off a parapet into water, true to the Red Bull slogan: â€Å"It gives you wings†. His latest project is to build a huge glass hangar at Salzburg airport to house his collection of ancient aircraft, including a DC-6 that once belonged to Marshal Tito, and to host airshows.  £Ã‚ £ That will change. â€Å"We have to go for diversification and acquisitions, and we are investing lots in R&D. We already have concepts and brand formulations for five years' time,† says Mr Mateschitz. But if Red Bull becomes a sort of Austrian Coca-Cola, that carefully cultivated ethos will vanish like bubbles in the brew.

Medicinal Marijuana Should Be Legal :: Legalization of Marijuana

Any randomly chosen group of people asked to list the most dangerous of these, would include among their immediate answers: â€Å"The Drug Problem†. By the â€Å"Drug Problem†, do they mean the proliferation in our communities of all illicit, mood-altering, physically dangerous drugs? Or do they really mean the accompanying problems bought on by these proscribed substances: crime and the threat of crime, violence, disease, the growing number of users on public welfare, the loss of productivity to the country’s industry, the congestion of the court system, the over-crowding of our penal institutions, the diversion of our tax dollars from more productive areas, the corruption of our law enforcement agencies, and directly and indirectly the erosion of our civil rights? Since I am confining this paper to discussing the laws prohibiting marijuana use, I will concede that it fits the first two categories above; i.e. it is by law, illicit, and by its nature, mood-altering. With the third category we enter upon shaky ground. There is no scientific proof that the prolonged use of marijuana exacts a greater physical toll on the user than the equivalent abuse of nicotine or alcohol. Under the name Extract of Cannabis, marijuana was once widely used medicinally in the United States, and still has minor medicinal uses in other countries. There is only one species - Cannabis Sativa - which yields both a potent drug and a strong fiber long used in the manufacture of fine linen as well as canvas and rope. The seeds are valued as birdseed and the oil, which resembles linseed oil, is valuable because paints made with it dry quickly. A Chinese treatise on pharmacology alleges to date from 2737 B.C. contains what is usually cited as the first reference to marijuana. Through out the history of man in just about every culture the mention of this substance is found used both as a fiber and a drug. The first definite mention of the marijuana plant in the New World, dates from 1545 A.D. when the Spaniards introduced it into Chile. The Jamestown settlers brought the plant to Virginia and cultivated it for its fiber. In 1762 â€Å"Virginia awarded bounties for hemp culture and imposed penalties on those who did not produce it.† George Washington was growing hemp at Mount Vernon three years later – presumably for its fiber, though it has been argued that Washington was also concerned in increasing the medicinal or intoxicating potency of his marijuana plants.

Computers Reshaping Society :: Technology Computers Essays

Computers Reshaping Society The emergence of computers in our society as a means of the gathering and processing of information for the sorting of it has played a major role in reshaping the society it exists in. After the introduction of computers as a business, and later personal, tool, and the large-scale assimilation of such for both purposes, the computer proceeded to shape our society by its own â€Å"needs†. This reshaping took the form suiting all business and personal life of humans around the elementary component of the computer -- information. Information has become the one most important entity in our lives, far more important than most other needs, thanks to the efforts of gathering and organizing the vast amount of information that was brought about by the introduction of computers. The next obvious issue is privacy. Privacy is by definition the withholding of certain information which is of some importance to the group or individual exercising this right. It has now become however an activ e battle with the computers seeking to organize and index all aspects of our life, while we cling to the last bits of this information, to privacy, to the frontier of battle over information. It is not surprising that privacy has become the central issue in today’s â€Å"digital age†. The following is an excerpt from the US government report â€Å"Cryptography’s Role in Securing the Information Society† by the National Research Council. Today's information age requires U.S. businesses to compete on a worldwide basis, sharing sensitive information with appropriate parties while protecting that information against competitors, vandals, suppliers, customers, and foreign governments. Private law-abiding citizens dislike the ease with which personal telephone calls can be tapped, especially those carried on cellular or cordless telephones. Elements of the U.S. civilian infrastructure such as the banking system, the electric power grid, the public switched telecommunications network, and the air traffic control system are central to so many dimensions of modern life that protecting these elements must have a high priority. The federal government has an important stake in assuring that its important and sensitive political, economic, law enforcement, and military information, both classified and unclassified, is protected from foreign governments or other parties whose interests are hostile to those of the United States. As you can see, the federal government is showing great concern over the misuse of information which it hopes to try to protect by enforcing stricter guidelines on the respect of privacy (by methods of encryption). This is a clear reflection of the cultural mindset that was developed by the presence of computers.

The Indigo Spell Chapter Eight

I THINK ADRIAN WOULD'VE gone hunting Ms. Terwilliger's sister with me then and there. Amberwood's curfew wouldn't allow it, and besides, it was something I wanted to do in daylight. To his credit, he did heal Marcus without them getting into a fistfight, so that was progress. Marcus lost a little of his animosity and tried to engage Adrian in conversation about what spirit could do. Adrian gave wary responses and looked relieved when Sabrina showed up to take Marcus away. He gave me a mysterious farewell, simply saying he'd text me soon about the â€Å"next stage.† I was too tired to ask for more details and headed back to my dorm to sleep off what had been a pretty crazy day. I was awakened at the crack of dawn by heavy pounding at my door. I squinted at the clock, grimacing when I saw that it was an hour earlier than I usually got up. I stayed in bed, hoping whoever it was would go away. If there was something really urgent happening, someone would've called me on my cell phone. The display showed no missed calls, however. Unfortunately, the knocking didn't stop. With a feeling of dread, I finally dragged myself up, half-afraid of what I'd find outside my door. It was Angeline. â€Å"Finally,† she said, inviting herself into my room. â€Å"I thought you'd never answer.† â€Å"Sorry,† I said, shutting the door behind her. â€Å"I was busy sleeping.† She walked right up to my bed and sat down like she owned it. I really didn't know her schedule, but she always struck me as a late riser. Apparently not today. She was dressed in a school uniform, with her brilliant red hair pulled back in what was, for her, a rather tidy ponytail. â€Å"I have a problem,† she said. My feeling of dread grew. I turned on my coffeemaker, which I always had ready with fresh grounds and water. Something told me I was going to need a cup to get through this. â€Å"What's going on?† I asked, settling into my desk chair. I made no attempt at even guessing. When it came to Angeline, her problems could range from throwing a desk in rage or accidentally spilling hydrochloric acid on another student. Both had happened recently. â€Å"I'm failing math,† she said. This was unwelcome but not unexpected news. Angeline's mountain community, while still educating its children, didn't quite match the standards of Amberwood's elite curriculum. She struggled in a number of her classes but had managed to scrape by so far. â€Å"I'm already in trouble in my Spanish class,† she added. â€Å"But that pinata I made got me some extra credit, so I'm hanging in there okay for now.† I'd heard about the pinata. It had been for her class's cultural day, and she'd been so thorough with her papier-mache that none of her classmates had been able to open it through normal means. Angeline had ended up beating it against a wall and had to be stopped by her teacher when she'd produced a lighter. â€Å"But if I slip there and in math, I could get expelled.† That dragged me away from the flammable pinata and back to the present. â€Å"Ugh,† I said, having no better way to articulate my thoughts. The problem with a school that had high standards was . . . well, it had high standards. Trouble in one class might be tolerated, but not two. And if Angeline got kicked out, we'd be down one level of security for Jill – not to mention the fact that I'd probably get blamed for it all. â€Å"Ms. Hayward told me I need to get a tutor. She says I either need to get better or at least show I'm trying.† That was promising, I supposed. Even if a tutor couldn't help, hopefully the school would be lenient with her good faith effort. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"We'll get you a tutor.† She frowned. â€Å"Why can't you do it? You're smart. You're good at math.† Why couldn't I? Well, first I had to stop an evil sorceress from sucking the youth and power from innocent girls. Then I had to crack the secrets and lies that the organization I'd been born into was telling me. Instead I said, â€Å"I'm busy.† â€Å"You have to do it. It'd be easy for you,† she protested. â€Å"Really busy,† I said. â€Å"I'm surprised Eddie can't do it.† His name brought a smile to her face. â€Å"He offered, but his grades are just average. I need someone really good.† â€Å"Then I'll get you someone really good. I just can't do it myself right now.† Angeline didn't like that answer, but at least she didn't flip over my desk. â€Å"Okay. Fine. Just hurry up.† â€Å"Yes, your majesty,† I muttered, watching her strut out of my room in a huff. At least Angeline's academic problems were something a little easier to deal with than the other supernatural intrigues occupying my time. Since I was already awake and had coffee, I decided there was no point in going back to sleep. I showered and dressed, then caught up on some extra homework while I waited for breakfast. When the serving time started in our cafeteria, I headed downstairs and lingered near the entrance. It only took about five minutes before my friend Kristin Sawyer came by. She always went running before class started and was usually one of the first in line for breakfast afterward. She was also in AP calculus with me. â€Å"Hey,† I said, falling in step with her. â€Å"Good run?† â€Å"Great run,† she said. There was still a little sweat on her dark skin. â€Å"A lot nicer now that the weather's cooler.† She eyed me curiously. â€Å"I don't usually see you here this early. I don't usually see you eat breakfast.† â€Å"It's the most important meal of the day, right?† I selected oatmeal and an apple. â€Å"Besides, I have a favor to ask you.† Kristin nearly dropped the plate of scrambled eggs one of the servers handed to her. Her brown eyes widened. â€Å"You have a favor to ask me?† While I wasn't responsible for my human friends in the same way I was the Moroi and dhampirs, I still had a tendency to look after them. I'd helped Kristin a number of times. â€Å"Yeah . . . my cousin Angeline needs a math tutor.† There was an expectant look on Kristin's face, like she was waiting for me to finish my story. Then understanding hit. â€Å"Who, me? No. No way.† â€Å"Oh, come on. It'd be easy.† I followed her to a table, having to hurry to catch up. I think she thought that if she walked quickly enough, she might be able to escape my request. â€Å"She's in remedial math. You could tutor her in your sleep.† Kristin sat down and gave me a long, level look. â€Å"Sydney, I saw your cousin punch a grown man and throw a speaker at someone. Do you really think I'm going to sign on for a job that makes her do work she doesn't want to do? What if she gets frustrated at what I'm telling her? How do I know she won't stab me with a compass?† â€Å"You don't,† I admitted. â€Å"But I think it's unlikely. Probably. She really wants to improve her grade. Otherwise, she could get kicked out.† â€Å"Sorry.† Kristin actually did look legitimately apologetic. â€Å"You know I'd do almost anything for you – but not this. You're going to have to find someone who's not afraid of her.† I thought about her words over and over as I headed off to history class. She was right. But the only people completely at ease around her were Eddie and Jill, and they were off the list as tutors. I wondered if maybe I should offer up money to someone when I went to calculus later. â€Å"Miss Melbourne.† Ms. Terwilliger was back in her classroom, no doubt to the relief of yesterday's sub. She waved me up to her messy desk and handed me a single sheet of paper. â€Å"Here's the list we discussed.† I scanned it. It contained the names of six girls as well as their addresses. These must be the ones she'd mentioned, girls with known magical aptitude but no coven or teacher to look out for them. All the addresses were in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. â€Å"I trust Mrs. Santos got you the other information you needed for your project?† â€Å"Yes.† Mrs. Santos had emailed me the historical neighborhoods she knew about, and I'd narrowed them down to a couple likely candidates. â€Å"I'll start working on the, uh, project this weekend.† Ms. Terwilliger arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Why are you putting it off? I've never known you to procrastinate on an assignment.† I was a little startled. â€Å"Well . . . normally I don't, ma'am. But this is going to take some extra time – travel time – and I don't have enough of it on school days.† â€Å"Ah,† she said, realization hitting her. â€Å"Well, then, you may use your independent study for it. That'll give you extra time. And I'll tell Mrs. Weathers you may be coming in after curfew. I'll make sure that she's accommodating. This project is of the utmost importance.† There was no protest I could make. â€Å"I'll start today, then.† As I was walking back to my desk, a voice said, â€Å"Jeez, Melbourne. Just when I thought that independent study you had with her couldn't get any easier . . . now you don't even have to show up for class?† I paused to give Trey a smile. He was Ms. Terwilliger's assistant during this class period, meaning he did a lot of filing and photocopying. â€Å"It's a very important assignment,† I said. â€Å"I guess. What is it?† â€Å"It'd bore you.† I did a double take as I looked him over. I didn't even have to grope for a change in conversation. â€Å"What happened to you?† His eyes were bloodshot, and the unkempt state of his black hair suggested he hadn't had a shower this morning. There was a sallow, almost sickly hue to his normally tan skin. He gave me a weak smile and lowered his voice. â€Å"Craig Lo's brother scored us some beer last night. It was from some microbrewery I guess that's good.† I groaned. â€Å"Trey, I thought you were better than that.† Trey managed as much of an indignant look as he could in his hungover state. â€Å"Hey, some of us like to have a little fun now and then. You should give it a shot sometime. I already tried to help you with Brayden, but you messed that up.† â€Å"I didn't mess anything up!† Brayden was a barista who worked with Trey, one who rivaled me when it came to a love of academia and random knowledge. Our brief relationship had been full of facts and low on passion. â€Å"He broke up with me.† â€Å"You wouldn't guess it. Did you know he writes all this lovesick poetry about you on his breaks?† I was taken aback. â€Å"He . . . he does?† The reason Brayden had broken up with me was because my various duties to my vampire family had constantly interfered with the two of us, forcing me to neglect him and cancel a lot. â€Å"I feel kind of bad he took it that hard. I'm surprised he'd have such a, I don't know, outburst of passion.† Trey snorted. â€Å"I don't know that it's that passionate. He's more concerned about form and sits around with books detailing iambic pentameter and sonnet analysis.† â€Å"Okay, that sounds more like him.† The bell was about to ring, so I had started to return to my seat when I noticed something on Trey's desk. â€Å"You're not done with that?† It was a big homework assignment we had for our chemistry class, involving a number of complicated acid and base problems. It was due in our next period, and it seemed unlikely Trey would finish in time since all he had on the paper so far was his name. â€Å"Yeah . . . I was going to finish it last night, but . . .† â€Å"Right. The beer. Having fun.† I didn't even bother to hide my disapproval. â€Å"That's a huge part of our grade.† â€Å"I know, I know.† He looked down at the papers with a sigh. â€Å"I'll finish as much as I can before then. Partial credit's better than no credit.† I studied him for a moment and then made a decision that went against many of my basic principles. I reached into my messenger bag and handed him my completed homework. â€Å"Here,† I said. He took the pages with a frown. â€Å"Here what?† â€Å"It's the assignment. Use my answers.† â€Å"I. . . .† His jaw dropped. â€Å"Do you know what you're doing?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I don't think you do. You're giving me your homework.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"And telling me to pass it off as my homework.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"But I didn't actually do the work.† â€Å"Do you want them or not?† I asked in frustration. I started to take the papers back, but he pulled them close. â€Å"Oh, I want them,† he said. â€Å"I just want to know what you want in return. Because this doesn't really make up for getting me ostracized from my family and friends.† He kept his tone light, but I heard the edge of bitterness. There it was. No matter how friendly he and I were, our respective allegiances to the Warriors and the Alchemists would always be between us. Maybe it was a joke now . . . but someday it wouldn't be. â€Å"I need a favor,† I explained. â€Å"A small one, really. Has nothing to do with any of that . . . stuff.† Trey looked understandably wary. â€Å"Which is?† The bell rang, so I spoke quickly. â€Å"Angeline needs a math tutor or else she'll fail. And if she fails, she'll get kicked out of school. It wouldn't be hard for you at all. And it'd look good on your college applications.† â€Å"Your cousin's a little unstable,† he said. But he didn't say no, so I thought that was a good sign. â€Å"You used to think she was hot,† I reminded him. â€Å"Yeah, that was before. . . .† He didn't finish, but I knew. Before he found out she was a dhampir. The Warriors had the same taboos the Alchemists did about relationships between the races. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"I understand. I'll just take my homework and go.† I held out my hand, but he didn't give the papers back. â€Å"Wait, I'll do it. But if she injures me, I hope you'll feel really bad. Basketball season just started, and the team will fall apart if I'm sidelined because of her.† I grinned. â€Å"I'll be devastated.† Angeline was not so thrilled when I told her at lunch. She flushed with rage and looked like she was about ready to throw her tray across the cafeteria. â€Å"You expect me to work with that . . . that . . . vampire hunter?† she demanded. I wondered if she'd had another name in mind but had held back in some remarkable show of restraint. â€Å"Especially after what they tried to do to Sonya?† â€Å"Trey's not like the rest of them,† I said defensively. â€Å"He refused to kill her and even went through the trouble of getting me in to help her – which ended up severely messing up his life, I might add.† Eddie looked amused, despite the grim subject. â€Å"You should also add that he wants very, very badly to get back to that old life.† I pointed at Eddie with my fork. â€Å"Don't tell me you think Trey's a bad choice too.† â€Å"For tutoring?† He shook his head. â€Å"Nah, he's fine. I'm just saying you shouldn't be so quick to assume everything's happy and bright with him. It seems pretty likely his group's working against us.† â€Å"He's my friend,† I said, hoping my firm tone would put an end to the discussion. After a few more assurances, Eddie convinced Angeline to work with Trey, reminding her she needed to keep her grades up. Still, Eddie's words haunted me. I believed absolutely that Trey was my friend but again wondered when that rift between us would rear its ugly head. When Eddie and Angeline left to go to their afternoon classes, I asked Jill to hang back at the table for a minute. â€Å"What's Adrian doing right now?† â€Å"He's in his painting class,† she said promptly. â€Å"The bond must be running strong today, huh?† I asked. Sometimes her view of his mind and experiences was clearer than others. She shrugged. â€Å"No, but it's eleven on Tuesday.† â€Å"Right,† I said, feeling foolish. I knew everyone's schedules; it was necessary for my job. â€Å"I should've realized that. Do you think he'd be able to meet up with me after school?† â€Å"To go on that witch hunt? Yeah, he'd probably leave right now.† Jill knew what Adrian knew, so she'd also been briefed about my search for Veronica. While I'd learned to accept Jill's knowledge as part of confiding in Adrian, it was still a little shocking for me to hear these forbidden topics discussed openly. Seeing my stunned reaction, Jill smiled a little. â€Å"Don't worry,† she said. â€Å"I keep Adrian's secrets. And yours.† The bitterness in her voice also caught me off guard. â€Å"Are you mad at me?† I asked, puzzled. â€Å"You're not . . . you're not still upset about what happened between Adrian and me, are you? I thought you'd eased up on that.† Although Adrian's proclamation of loving me against the odds had been unsettling, his more relaxed attitude had come through in her until now. â€Å"Adrian has,† she said. â€Å"He doesn't see the danger of you running around with another guy.† I was lost. â€Å"Another guy? You don't mean . . . Marcus? That's crazy.† â€Å"Is it?† asked Jill. The bond was so strange at times. Jill was jealous on Adrian's behalf. â€Å"He's human, you're human. You've both got this rebel Alchemist thing going on. And I saw him. He's pretty cute. There's no telling what could happen.† â€Å"Well, I know what could happen: nothing,† I said. Even through a psychic bond, Marcus could win over girls. â€Å"I just met him. I don't even know if I can entirely trust him, and I certainly don't have any feelings for him. Look, I get that you want to help Adrian, but you can't be mad at me about what happened. You know why I turned him down – especially after Micah.† Micah was Eddie's human roommate, and even though she knew human-vampire relationships couldn't get serious, she'd still been surprised at just how complex and difficult the situation had been. â€Å"Yeah. . . .† She frowned, no doubt conflicted over Adrian's feelings and what she knew was true. â€Å"But maybe with Adrian, I don't know. Maybe things could be different. Or maybe there's at least a way to make them less painful for him.† I looked away, unable to meet her eyes. I didn't like to think of Adrian in pain, but what else could I do? What did either of them expect me to do? We all knew the rules. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I said, picking up my tray and standing. â€Å"I never asked for any of this. Adrian will get over me.† â€Å"Do you really want him to get over you?† she asked. â€Å"What? Why would you even ask something like that?† She didn't answer and instead made a great show of stirring around her mashed potatoes. When I realized she wasn't going to elaborate, I shook my head and walked off toward the exit. All the while, I could feel her watching me as that question echoed in my mind: Do you really want him to get over you?