What Is a Personal Health Record (PHR)?

A new study suggests that a change in the way we keep health records could save billions. The study found that providing interoperable PHRs to 80% of the US population would cost $3. 7 billion in startup costs and $1. 9 billion in annual maintenance costs. According to the report from the Center for Information Technology Leadership at Partners Healthcare System in Boston, widespread use of PHRs could save the US healthcare industry between $13 and $21 billion a year. (www. myPHR. com) This past year, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has come to realize that this diagnosis also comes with a lot of medical documentation that sometimes has not been forwarded to her oncologist or family physician. After having read about the PHR, it came to my mind just how important and convenient having a Personal Health Record could be. I decided to search the Internet to see just what developing a PHR would take and how difficult it would be. After searching the AHIMA website, I was forwarded to a unique site at www. myPHR. com and on this site I found very helpful information regarding the steps one person should take to develop their own PHR and the benefits it would serve. The definition of a PHR according to AHIMA, is The personal health record (PHR) is an electronic, universally available, lifelong resource of health information needed by individuals to make health decisions. Individuals own and manage the information in the PHR, which comes from healthcare providers and the individual. The PHR is maintained in a secure and private environment, with the individual determining rights of access. The PHR is separate from and does not replace the legal record of any provider. (www. perspectives. ahima. rg) There are many options when it comes to creating your own PHR. A person may create it on their own; they may be offered one by their Physician’s office or even by their insurance provider. One should study each of the vendor’s policies before choosing because they may be different. Each vendor or supplier should have policies in place for how they control access to a person’s PHR and who they will authorize to access the informatio n. Important points to remember about your PHR, according to www. myPHR. com are as follows: * You should always have access to your PHR The information in your PHR should be accurate and complete * You control how much information is accessed * The PHR maybe separate and does not replace the Physician’s legal medical record Information that is normally included in a PHR is Patient demographic sheet, problem list, MAR, history & physical, progress notes, consultations, physician orders, radiology reports, laboratory reports, immunization records, operative reports, pathology reports, discharge summaries, emergency room records and consent forms. Once I gathered all my mother’s medical records in one place, I scanned all her documents into her computer so that she had them all saved. I then transferred the information on a USB drive so that she could easily access the documents anytime she needed. We are now trying to decide whether to keep the information on her computer locally or to subscribe to one of the services that is mentioned on the myPHR website. If my mother did not have a computer available to her, it would also be beneficial for her to keep the information from her medical records that we had gathered in a folder in a safe place. Now my mother has her PHR at her fingertips and we can both focus our energy on her road to recovery rather than spending time tracking down medical records. The time I spent researching on www. myPHR. com was very valuable and made me very aware of how important having all your information in one, easily accessible place can be. I would recommend that everyone look into creating their own Personal Health Record.

Provide Support to Manage Pain and Discomfort Essay

Outcome 1 Understand approaches to managing pain and discomfort 1.1 Holistic care takes care of the whole person not just the physical needs (eg. Pain) but it also their mental and emotional needs (eg. Being afraid, not knowing what’s wrong), their social needs and their spiritual needs. This is important because the purpose is to ensure the individual is comfortable and brings peace and dignity as well as supports the individual’s family. 1.2 There are different approaches to alleviate pain and minimise discomfort which can include drugs, physical methods, self-help methods or alternative methods. Drugs can be used for pain relief, these can include analgesics such as asprin, paracetamol, opiates such as morphine, anti-infammatories such as ibuprofen, anaesthetic blocks such as an epidural. Drugs that are supplied on a prescription for pain relief are likely to be analgesics. In some extreme cases of severe or prolonged pain an individual may be given opiates. Physical methods to relieve pain may include massage (superficial or pressure), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens), repositioning. Self-help methods can help relieve pain and have been found to be effective this can include moving or walking about (if possible), having a warm bath, doing something to take their mind off the pain, doing recommended exercises. Alternative therapies can often help relieve pain. Alternative therapies can include using aromatherapy, reflexology, acupuncture, yoga and meditation. 1.3 The individuals care plan should have information about the best way to manage their pain also to enable them to rest and sleep. The care plan should always be checked before you start to work with the individual who you are supporting and making comfortable. It is important that you enter any new information into the care plan so that your colleagues can take appropriate action. It is important that you take the necessary steps to keep information confidential in line with the data protection act 1988. Outcome 2 Be able to assist in minimising individuals pain or discomfort 2.1 Pain and discomfort may affect an individual’s wellbeing and communication because pain and discomfort can affect the amount and quality of sleep that individuals can get. Sleep deprivation can affect individuals day to day  living, it can make people irritable which can affect the way they communicate with others. It isn’t always easy for an individual to express the discomfort they are in as everybody experiences pain in different ways. 2.2 It is important to encourage an individual to express their feelings of discomfort or pain so that you can ensure you are able to assist them in the most beneficial way. It is important that the individual doesn’t feel like a nuisance. A way to find out how much pain the individual is in, you could ask them to put it on a scale of 1-10 1 being mild discomfort and 10 being the worst pain that they have ever felt. That way you get an understanding o f the level of pain. Read more:  Provide Support to Manage Pain and Discomfort Essay 2.3 To encourage an individual to use self-help methods of pan control you could assist them too change the position that they are sat/ laying in or provide them with a hot water bottle. Sometimes encouraging an individual to take part in an activity or talking to them can distract them from the pain/ discomfort they may be in. Self-help methods can be beneficial because it give the individual control on how they deal with their own pain. 2.4 It is important to ensure that the individual is as comfortable as possible, pain can be a hindrance to an individual’s personal comfort. If an individual needs turning during the night then it is important that it is don with as little disturbance as possible. Everybody has their own preferred way to be positioned to sleep or rest. You should check the individuals preferred positions that they feel comfortable in to ensure that they have a comfortable sleep/rest. Some individuals may have to rest propped up or sitting in a chair due to m edical conditions. You should check their care plan to see if there are any positions they need to maintain. 2.5 The individuals care plan will include a plan for dealing with any pain that the individual may experience. It is important that you offer sympathy and support to the individual in pain. If the individual is suffering in pain because they have had an accident or got an injury then you will need to discuss it with your manager or senior who may need to request a medical assessment so that the appropriate pain relief can be prescribed. It is important that the individual who you are supporting is asked what help and support they would like to receive. Outcome 3 Be able to monitor, record and report on the management of individuals pain or discomfort. 3.1 An individual’s pain and discomfort  levels should be monitored regularly, this shows if there are any changes. It will also show if the pain relieving methods are effective or not. It is important that if you are have any difficulty assessing an individual’s pain then you should let your manager know. You should never guess because you may get it wrong. You could use a pain scoring sheet to get an idea of the level of pain. 3.2 When recording an individual’s comfort, sleep and rest it should be accurate and contain all the information so that other care workers can continue to support them. Never assume about an individual’s comfort or sleep levels. One way you could record an individual’s comfort or sleep levels is you could observe them or you could ask them. It is important that the correct information is recorded because how an individual has slept may affect the care and support that is required after periods of rest. It should be written clearly so that it is understood easily. Care records are legal documents, not completing a care record is just as bad as not completing it correctly. 3.3 It is important that if an individual is in pain it should be recorded especially if it is a different type of pain. You should record an individual’s pain is better or worse. If an individual is becoming reliant on pain medication then it needs to be recorded so that the doctor can review it. Some individuals may find it difficult to sleep, relax or rest this will also need to be recorded so that the issue can be resolved for the individual.

North Korean Authoritative Government Essay

In this paper, I will attempt to explain why authoritarianism regimes such as the one in North Korea, still continues to govern even though the government is one of the more corrupted types of government still in existence today. The word authoritarianism is defined as, â€Å"a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc. )†(Word Net) There are currently many countries in our world that are not democratic societies. There are authoritarian regimes that still exist today. Probably one of the more well known authoritarian regimes is the government in North Korea. North Korea gained its independence from Japan in the year 1945. Kim Jong Il is currently the leader of North Korea. The mismanagement of economics through the 1990’s has made North Korea rely heavily on international aid to feed its population. North Korea has expanded their resources to help develop a military of about one million soldiers. Central Intelligence Agency) â€Å"North Korea’s long-range missile development, as well as its nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons programs and massive conventional armed forces, are of major concern to the international community. † (Central Intelligence Agency) The government in North Korea is a big part to blame for the economic struggles. In President Bush’s first State of the Union Speech he declared North Korea as part of the â€Å"Axis of Evil. † President Bush also went on to say his goal was, â€Å"†to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends with weapons of mass destruction. He singled out Iraq, Iran and North Korea, claiming these states â€Å"and their terrorist allies constitute an axis of evil arming to threaten the peace of the world. † (Fact Sheet) â€Å"The United States must act against these regimes by denying them the â€Å"materials, technology and expertise† to make nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and provide them to terrorists, Bush said. † (Fact Sheet) North Korea is currently a communist-state one-man dictatorship. Under a communist-state one-man dictatorship elections are held but there is nobody to run against the leader. For instance in September of 2003 there was an election held in North Korea. Kim Jong Il and Kim Yong Nam were the only nominees for the positions and nobody opposed them. (Central Intelligence Agency) The government controls the people. The government rules a lot of what the people of North Korea can do or say. For the executive branch in this country, Kim Jong Il has been the ruler since July of 1994. Kim Yong Nam is the president of its Presidium and he also has the responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials. Central Intelligence Agency) As for the legislative branch, the ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition, but some seats are held by minor parties. (Central Intelligence Agency) The judicial branch of North Korea consists of a central court, and the judges are elected by the Supreme People’s Assembly. The way this government is set up is very different than the way the democratic states are set up. In a democratic society the people get to vote for leaders and high ranking officials. While in these authoritarianistic regimes, the people have no say in who is going to run their country. There have been many North Koreans that have tried to escape either to China or South Korea. Few people have made it across the boarders safely. However, if they fail to escape and they are captured by the North Korean military they will be tortured or even executed in some cases. (Pearson Education) â€Å"North Korea, one of the world’s most secretive societies, has been accused of egregious human-rights violations, including summary executions, torture, inhumane conditions in prison camps, which hold up to 200,000 prisoners, and denial of freedom of expression and movement. Access to the country is strictly limited and North Korea’s domestic media is tightly controlled, making it difficult to substantiate the accusations. † (Pearson Education) I believe a huge part of why North Korea is actually still in existence is because the military has so much control on the people. Of course no country wants to start a war with North Korea because of their military strength and their nuclear weapons. â€Å"A number of stabilizing elements assist the regime’s efforts to maintain internal order. The society seems united in popular support for the party, and the people have a strong sense of national pride. Kim Il Sung, by all indications, truly is admired and supported by the general population. † (Federal Research Division Library of Congress: Pg 275) It is difficult for people that are from a democratic government to actually understand why authoritarianism governments work. Most all of the authoritarianism governments that I know have a strong following from their people. Whether the masses like the leader because he is helping the economy or helping a food shortage situation is another story. Personally I think these people in these countries are so afraid of what the leader might do to them or their family that they just do what they are told. Of course these people have never had it any other way. They don’t know what it is like to have a democracy. They don’t know what it is like to voice their opinion. The people in North Korea didn’t get to choose where they wanted to be born. If we had a free world I’m sure when some of those people realized that there are better governments in the world that won’t control your every move then they would leave the country. It is just not that easy for anyone to just get up and go to China or South Korea. People born into democratic societies should be thankful that they can enjoy the freedoms that they have, because there are other parts of the world where the idea of having rights is completely out of their control. There is no possible way the people can over throw the government in North Korea. North Korea has too strong of a military. One way the government will get overthrown is if it is done internally. The second way it will get overthrown is if they go to war with another country and they lose their power. â€Å"Indeed, research on Korean communism has become the pursuit of an avocation, meandering off the mainstream of contemporary social science. Most students of Korean communism have come under the influence, in varying degrees, of the lingering legacy of Kremlinology and the advancing model of Chinese studies. Following the general lines of development in Chinese studies in the 1960s and 1970s, research on Korean communism has shown an uneven advancement. On balance, research and knowledge concerning North Korea’s domestic politics and economy have developed more rapidly and significantly than the study of its foreign policy, which has remained neglected and underdeveloped. (Kim Pg:282) The economy in North Korea is struggling. Due to flooding and the lack of arable land, the people in North Korea are at a food shortage. Massive amounts of international food aid have allowed people of North Korea not to starve. Central Intelligence Agency) Mal-nutrition and poor living conditions still exist heavily in North Korea. As with everything else in the country, the government has the right to control the food and economic conditions. The religions that are practiced in this authoritarianism government are traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, with some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way. ) â€Å"Autonomous religions activities now are almost nonexistent; government sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom. (Central Intelligence Agency) Like other authoritarianistic governments such as Cuba, Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq until not to long ago, the regimes will last until somebody does something about it. The United States ended the authoritarianism regime in Iraq because we had enough military power to overtake Sadaam Hussein. The U. S. troops are still over in Iraq trying to force the Iraqi people into having a democracy. The Iraqi people that have voted so far on the new leader of their country is not a man that the United States wants t o have them run their country. Sadaam Hussein would still be in power and have complete control of Iraq if the United States didn’t take him out of power. The military balance in South Korea is much stronger then North Korea. In case of another North Korean invasion, the South Korean military only has about 600,000 people while the north has around one million. However these numbers are misleading because of the fact that these numbers don’t include the superior training, equipment, and logistical support that the south has. Kang: Pg 262) â€Å"The South has outspent the North on defense in the last 15 years, if not longer. † (Kang: Pg 262) North Korea’s nuclear threats are a grave concern for South Korea and the rest of the world. The Soviets were building bombs in the 1950’s and China developed a nuclear bomb in the early 1960’s. North Korea didn’t start trying to assemble nuclear weapons until South Korea became a threat to them because they were overtaking North Korea in a lot of areas during the 1970’s. Kang: Pg 266) â€Å"North Korea’s significance to the world with a bomb is much greater than without a bomb. † (Kang: Pg 266)In conclusion, there are many reasons why the authoritarianism regime in North Korea is still up and running to this day. There is simply no way that anyone can overthrow the government unless it is done internally. The people located in these authoritarianism regimes usually like the leader, and agree to what he says. These people didn’t choose where they wanted to be born just like nobody in a democratic state had an opinion as to where they would like to be born. It is sad that most all of the money spent in North Korea is aimed toward building up a better military and not helping out with the economy or the food shortages. The only way these people know how to live is to be ruled by a dictator. Until the United States or some other world power takes down North Korea, the authoritarianism regime will continue to govern.

Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge - Essay Example Tall towers, long and thick cables, and the largest underwater foundation piers ever to be built were all part of the construction requirements for the bridge. There were many who considered this task impossible in the violent open seawater conditions in which the construction was to take place (Hemenway, 2009). In those days the fatality average in such constructions was one fatality for every million dollars spent and $35 million was spent on the construction, meaning that in these conditions the fatalities should have been more than 35 constructions workers. Yet, the bridge opened on time, with a much lower fatality rate (Hemenway, 2009). This was the result of safety precautions taken in the form of strict rules preventing dangerous behavior at the construction site and the use of protective head gear. However the stand out precautionary measure was the use of a safety net that was strung out underneath the bridge floor from one end of the bridge to the other, and was the safety lesson learnt from the construction of the bridge. In the first three years of the construction only one fatality occurred, and more importantly the utility of the safety net was demonstrated, when nineteen men accidentally fell during construction onto the safety net and survived the normally fatal fall. These men later came to be known as the Halfway to Hell Club.

Procedures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Procedures - Essay Example However, there are procedures followed before such an objection can be accepted. The employer, ABC in this case has various responsibilities under OSHA guidelines. These include providing a workplace free from recognized hazards and comply with OSHA standards among others (Melvin & Katz, 2014). Therefore, for OSHA to consider their objection, they have to comply with the current regulations so as to ensure their employees are safe. OSHA will consider their objection and they can perform parallel research on the alleged sections. However, under no circumstances can OSHA bend their regulations to befit a single company. The company is obligated to ensure its staff works in a safe environment and so the compliance fee should not be subject to bending of the regulations. Therefore, as much as the objection can be considered, ABC should ensure that it complies with the set guidelines and regulations to avoid legal steps by

Reseach Paper on Nursing Negligence Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reseach on Nursing Negligence - Research Paper Example New Jersey has the provisions for different nursing attorneys who are responsible of evaluating the negligence on the part of the nurses, and accordingly take the measures against such negligence. The trial lawyers are experienced in determining the rights of those individuals who suffer owing to the negligence on the part of nursing and thus take the necessary measures (Messa & Associates, 2010). These are reflected through the NJSA Act 45, Section 1-18 and Section 1-25 that clearly explain the roles of the attorneys as well as the penalties against violated acts respectively (New Jersey Uniform Enforcement Act NJSA 45:1.1 et seq., n.d.). The nursing standards represent the benchmark of the duties and responsibilities of the nurses as are desired by particular nursing homes and clinical organizations. These reflect on the understanding, ability, evaluation as well as attitude that are required in competent and successful nursing practice. It is necessary for the nurses to follow the standards that they are expected to since these standards outline the professional expectations from them, as are needed for the satisfaction of the patients (Nursing Standards, 2010). Hence all nurses are required to follow these standards and adhere to the legal system since it is their duty to perform their acts well and avoid cases of lawsuits against negligence. Case Study Discussion: Cases of Failure to Documentation: Case 1: Patient in US admitted with brain infection but positive Homans’ signs being discovered and not documented by the nurse. The patient died without treatment (Special Report: How to Properly Document to Reduce Your Liability Risk, n.d.). Case 2: 23 year old woman admitted with flu but detected with pneumonia. Proper documentation of medication doses, and heart rates were absent. The patient eventually died (Case Study: Medication Administration Error and Failure to Monitor, 2008). Case 3: Oncology patient in New Jersey suffering from uneasiness but nurse ignored documentation and sustained treatment enhancing the suffering (Extravasation Follows Chemotherapy Administration, Potential Complication or Nursing Negligence, 2000). Thus in all the three cases the loss has been caused owing to the documentation failure by the nurses. The damages were filled through penalties depending on the nature of the injury or loss as might have been decided by the legal systems (Factors Affecting Damaging Awards, 2012). Law Regarding the Cases: The US Law: In the first case, the victims were awarded a sum of $500,000 for the damages (Special Report: How to Properly Document to Reduce Your Liability Risk, n.d.). In the second case, the family of the dead sought $3,000,000 for the loss (Case Study: Medication Administration Error and Failure to Monitor, 2008). New Jersey Law: According to New Jersey Uniform Enforcement Act 45, Section 1-18 allows the attorneys to perform all necessary examinations of records and documents in case any violence is reported on the part of the nursing. Section 1-25 declares the amounts of penalties that can be applied, the amounts being a maximum of $10,000 for a single violation, and $20,000 for more than one such act (New Jersey Uniform Enforcement Act NJSA 45:1.1 et seq., n.d.). ANA Code and Provision Violence: Nine provisions of the ANA Code include:

Aggregational role of voting and majority rule Essay

Aggregational role of voting and majority rule - Essay Example Majority voting is a process that does not consider consensus during election. Its ideology is the majority number of people have a final say to determine the decision to be undertaken. Majority voting does not allow for compromise. This is a useful factor in decision making for such matters as those of technicality than just face reasons fuelled by emotion, impulse and personal interest (Emerson 1994). Majority rule inspires alliance building. It encourages challenges amongst these groups and brings out the best qualities in the final choice. This is because competition among coalition pushes for the most refined options compared to its alternatives. Challenges as these are useful in avoidance of situations where there is ‘tyranny by the majority’ to pursue their own personal interests. Alliances formed by the minority have been known to watch dog over the welfare of the society in frameworks like this. The election process requires that the community be informed on alt ernative sets than all other individuals. Final decisions made are resourceful and useful for incorporating collective ideas of aggregate persons. In economics, majority voting is especially popular for market creation. When consumers decide to cast currency votes for an item of consumption businesses are forced to produce more of it in order to make profit. The decision on such goods by consumers reflect their preference on products. Majority rule voting however, only applies in a few of market products. This is because it is not applicable where the market item in question is a public good due to the free riding problem. While majority rule is often associated with democracy, plurality is concerned with the large numbers as a sample of the population’s interest. Plurality considers ideas of the most population without taking into account the overall effect proportionately. Majority rule is therefore a creation of the population’s interest compared against standards o f quality so that more than half of the population agrees to the idea voted. Plurality on the other hand is a matter of the numbers whether less than half or more, this overlooks non-voters. Majority rule motivates the entire population to take part in a voting process and solidifies the final decision. To benefit from final decisions in majority rule, parties agree on the best outcome, whether the outcomes are favourable or not as long as they are outvoted. Majority rule does not provide an equilibrium decision. The concept of voting has inspired models with mathematical explanations to the given systems involved in the elections (Tideman, N 2006). In most situations, voters identify with characteristic qualities of the options in the set to be selected. When aggregate role in decision-making may de-motivate the will to participate in decision making for most of the members of the minority and the majority group, the final decision may as well be motivated by factors other than con tribution and the numbers. This will include reflective concepts of the parties voting on real need to deal with facts than just numbers during decision-making. Most of the population will therefore end up making a sober and weighted decision. Majority rule addresses contrasting preferences and often results in an arbitrary choice. This gives an advantage to democratic administrative policies in governance. Democratic Rule relates to the majority rule in a paternalistic manner but has implications that could lead to instability; therefore, the democratic governance is useful when it undertakes the least (Nitzan, S.2010). This again gives the advantage of ruling to the majority cause. Democracy should restrain majority

Lipids Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lipids - Essay Example Many of these important molecules are vital to our very existence, and without them we would not be able to survive. At the same time however, to many lipids has recently been proven to give rise to bad health conditions, so it is important to keep a proper balance of these molecules, as to few or to many of these vital molecules can be extremely harmful, even deadly. Our bodies need these fats in their system, and we also need them in our diet. Without these important fats, our body would not be able to function; our cells would not have the right layers needed for most of their processes, and we would eventually die. Lipids are extremely important molecules, that are vital to our existence, and we need to make sure to keep a proper amount of them in our body. Lipids are just one of the many molecules that help our body tick. Often unseen or unknown by the majority of the community, most people take these highly important molecules for granted, not even knowing what they are as they keep their body working properly. The lipid molecule is vital to human life, and without it we would not be able to function. Understanding this complex molecule is also important, so one can know exactly how this versatile molecule helps keep our body working, and how they help our body partake in many of its important life functions and reactions. By a scientific definition, lipids are â€Å"an amphiphilic class of hydrocarbon-containing organic compounds†( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipids). They have several important qualities that give rise to their importance in the human body and cellular construction. One of these qualities is the importance of the structure of lipids. Lipids have a long hydrocarbon tail, which is hydrophobic and does not like water. On the other end of the lipids however, is a hydrophilic head, which does like water.

Your Change Story Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Your Change Story - Assignment Example As a competitor, IBM marketed its products through the slogan â€Å"Think†. To position themselves above IBM, Steve Jobs created the slogan â€Å"Think Different† and removed the word â€Å"computer† from the company name. His vision in doing this was that it would remove the notion that Apple’s only specialty was computers, which brought in innovative products in other fields such as iPods, iPhones and iPads. The reason behind the success of such diversity was the creation of a new platform for mobile applications through the App store as well as music through iTunes. In particular, the iPad successfully captured the tablet market. This was a bold move away from traditions, where it would be expected that a company would identify a market segment and strive to meet that segment’s needs. Instead, Apple sought to serve a wide range of consumers in an approach that can be perceived as â€Å"something for everyone†. They have high-end computers for serious business people, fancy mobile phones for the youth, iPods for portable music for teenagers and iPads for travelling business

Atmosphere and setting in the 19th century stories Essay Example for Free

Atmosphere and setting in the 19th century stories Essay Consider atmosphere and setting in the 19th century stories you have read, and discuss how the authors have created fear and atmosphere. I am going to discuss how three Gothic stories written by authors in the19th century create fear and atmosphere. The three stories which I will be considering are The Monkeys Paw, by WW Jacobs, The Body Snatchers, by Robert Louis Stevenson and also The Signal Man, by Charles Dickens. The gothic genre was very popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries and was a very fashionable aspect of lives in that era. Almost all gothic stories included similar aspects which made the atmosphere spooky and scary. Most gothic stories included elements such as grave yards and dead bodies creating a sense of death and killing of people. The weather in gothic stories is often the kind that scares you for example thunderstorms, fog and almost all gothic stories are set in the dark of the night. Some gothic stories may include a supernatural aspect, curses, spells, wishes, ghosts , this was very popular in this era because the Victorians were very in touch with the supernatural side of their lives and believed strongly in the presence of ghosts and life after death. Gothic stories would usually include elements of surprise and realism to make the story more believable. A gothic story will always be full of suspense and tension to make the reader tenser and frightened as to what is going to come next. The setting of a gothic story was always very important, the setting would usually be in a remote, exotic or isolated setting for example the original story of Frankenstein which was written in the late 18th century by Mary Shelly was set in the Italian alps, a very remote setting which at that time was known to be haunted. Violence, bloodshed and goriness was always included in the gothic genre and was always a large aspect of the story. Gothic stories never included very many characters, this was a way of keeping the story not only short but also more frightening as it is always scarier when you are on your own or in groups of two or three rather than a large group. The Victorian era is famous for its fascination with death and the gruesome. The Victorians believed that people had a good death surrounded by their families, having made their peace with god and resigned themselves to their fate or a bad death, which was sudden. The Victorians also created a huge business around funerals. A grand funeral was a way of showing their wealth and respect. People even had jewellery made with the hair of their loved ones who had died as way of remembering them and to show that they would always be with them. In the late18th and earl 19th centuries medical science made huge advances. However, doctors in training needed corpses to learn from. Often the bodies of hanged criminals were used for this purpose. Despite hanging being a relatively frequent event, the number of bodies available was always too little and the demand for bodies was large. The resurrectionists found a way to make money here, by digging up fresh corpses and selling them to medical schools. This made the rate of bodies for medical use increase; however in 1832 the Autonomy act was passed which meant that any poor who died in the workhouses, and whose bodies remained unclaimed, could also be used for medical use. Until this act was passed people who could afford it would double or triple line their coffins or have strange devices to prevent the lid of the coffins being taken off. The 19th century saw an increase of death rate which meant that there was limited space in the graveyards particularly in the large cities. The church yards became over crowded as a result of this many people began building private walled cemeteries for their families and close friends. The Victorians were all very interested in the supernatural beings. Sà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ances became very popular and mediums developed increasingly outrageous techniques to dazzle and confuse their clients. In Victorian England, alongside the developing scientific principles of research and exploration, accusations of witchcraft were still routine and still taken very seriously. As we become more able to make sense of the physical and the touchable, the supernatural and indefinable becomes even more mysterious. One of the Gothic stories I am studying is The Monkeys Paw written by W.W. Jacobs demonstrates elements of the gothic genre. The Monkeys Paw is W.W. Jacobs most famous story and is considered to be a classic of horror fiction. The story opens with the White family spending a cozy evening together around the hearth. An old friend of Mr. Whites comes to visit them. Sergeant-Major Morris, home after more than twenty years in India, entertains his hosts with exotic stories of life abroad. He also sells to Mr. White a mummified monkeys paw, said to have had a spell put on it by a holy man that will grant its owner three wishes. Morris warns the Whites not to wish on it at all-but of course they do, with horrible consequences. Jacobs uses foreshadowing, imagery and symbolism in this story to explore the consequences of tempting fate. His careful, economical creation of setting and atmosphere add suspense to the tale, while his use of dialogue and slang (one of Jacobss trademark) help reade rs to feel that the characters are genuine. The setting of the story is the type which is considered in the elements of the gothic genre. The story is set when there is bad weather and when the wind is blowing very strongly THE NIGHT was cold and wet, showing us the weather is wet and cold, one of the main elements of gothic story writing. The house in which the story is set is in the middle of nowhere of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Telling us that the story is set in a remote and isolated setting with no one else around, they are alone in the dark of the night with the wind howling, Jacobs had set the story well and with detail to the weather and setting of the story, this immediately makes the reader feel as though there is something superstitious going on or is going to happen. When the man arrives at the door, the readers wonder who it is for a while, but that thought is soon put aside when the Monkeys Paw is introduced and we wonder why the man is so unsure about passing it on to anyone, is there something bad about the Monkeys paw? Does it bring bad luck? We never know until the monkeys paw is actually used and we are kept in suspense, not knowing what to expect, the element of suspense in gothic writing is portrayed well in this story. We are told that the monkeys paw must bring something bad when the sergeant major says but I warn you of the consequences. This shows that the monkeys paw must bring some sort of bad luck, some of the suspense is taken away but we are still wondering what these consequences are and what the monkeys paw will bring. Later in the story we hear of what the consequences are and of course they all as gory as each other and all include elements of the Gothic genre which Jacobs has included, Jacobs demonstrates all of the elements of the gothic genre in his story, shows a typical horror and all its elements. The Body Snatchers and The Signal Man are two other gothic stories which also portray the gothic genre and an insight into the history of the Victorians and the way that they treated the dead. The Body snatchers, written by Robert Louis Stevenson, is a story which is set very much around the Victorian era, it is based on body snatching which was largely popular in the 19th Century, and was in great need for medical reasons and research. Stevenson begins by setting the seen and introducing characters. The first paragraph of the story seems very cozy and a regular evening in the pub with the usual four men sitting down having a drink, it is an ordinary occurrence and those four men would always be there every night but blow high , blow low, come rain or snow or frost, we four would each be planted in his own particular armchair Stevenson begins the story on a very ordinary point which seems to be nothing out of the ordinary and the reader doesnt feel like anything suspicious is going on. The characters are introduced in detail, especially Fettes so presumably he is a key character in the story. He is described in a lot of detail and seems to be a man who everyone knows and is a necessity to the village and the pub, everyone knows who he is however we could be superstitious of him when the story states we had no knowledge of his character and antecedents this shows that many people knew of the man but not many people knew how he thought and his history. The only facts known about fettes are random ones e.g he has doctor knowledge, however they know nothing about his history. He doesnt seem trustworthy, he drinks, vices, infidelities. His special knowledge is vague this cold be dangerous. The characters in the story know each other in strange ways- for instance what they drink and how the drink it. What was happening is the pub was a cycle- it happened everyday. The setting in the first paragraph seems too normal something is going to happen. But the beginning of paragraph two One dark winter night sets the familiar Gothic scene, cold, lonely, winter , dark , scary, this builds up tension and we can tell that the story is about to be told and things will begin to become more irregular. There is a break in the routine of the usual nights it was the first time this suggests that something out of the ordinary is going to happen , we dont know exactly what this is but we know that there is a character that the men are unsure of in the pub sick man in the George however when the mans named is mentioned Fettes, who is drunk, suddenly wakes up after hearing it but at the last word he seemed to awaken Fettes and the man are linked how? shows panic , recognition of the name, the other characters and the reader do not know why which shows that fettes will be an important character, Fettes and the man are linked how? Fettes suddenly becomes sober and has sudden movements this shows that fettes is shocked, it is unusual for him to pay so much attention, and the name must have triggered some sort of memory or feeling in him. There is such a change in Fettes character as if a man had risen from the dead this is spooky and makes a connection with the supernatural, things which should no be talked about, this introduces death and fear and is the first part of the story which links to the title. Fettes wants to meet him so he obviously has some sort of connection with him apart from the fact that they are both doctors Doctor has an unknown past this shows that there are many thing which we dont know about Fettes. Fettes knows the doctor well enough to know that he is older than himself however he has led a good life with a good conscience and digestion. Fettes says himself that he has led a life of sin which makes him sound suspicious rum and sin we wonder what life fettes has led, we dont know much about him and nor do the characters, this makes the reader want to read on and find out fettes history and how he know this doctor who has just arrived in the village. The Signal Mans beginning is similar to the beginning of the body snatchers in the way that we are very supersticous of a certain character, the character being the signal man. The story begins in a pleasant way, again with nothing out of the usual happening or anything which could be portrayed as spooky. The location of where the story is set is slightly remote but apart from that there is no other elements of the gothic genre. However the behaviour of the signal man when he is politely question is slightly mysterious. When the narrator calls to him from above the signal man looks in the opposite direction from where the shout of the narrator are coming from instead of looking up looked down the line does this mean that the signal man is expecting a call similar to that of the narrator to come from the direction of the tunnel down the line, the behaviour of the signal mad is odd and makes the reader want to read on in order to find out why. There is a very detailed description of a train which passes, would this mean that part of the story is revolved around trains, how and when they pass the signalman? When the narrator walks down towards the signal man he describes it as unusually precipitate. Clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter as I went down this suggests that it is out of the ordinary and not what was expected it creates and atmosphere of superstition and makes us question what is going to happen next. Is the path created that way for a reason? Or is it just coincidence? The setting is set well and makes the reader intrigued as to why the signal man acted so oddly in front of the narrator, why did the signal man act as thought he expected something to happen, why was he so sacred of the narrator and why did he think the narrator was going to do something to him. Did he have some kind of experience that was similar to this one before? In the Body Snatchers the narrator is a regular in the pub, he knows everyone in the story apart from doctor MacFarlane. The narrators story is one sided, he could have exaggerated the story. He is also a character in the story and has been drinking which could affect the truthfulness of the story being told. The narrator is probably an old man, an alcoholic, who has lived in Debenham most of his life. He looks up to Fettes but is very curious and claims to be good at worming out a story and is also interested in Fettes past and tries to tell the story of Fettes past himself. The narrator doesnt seem to interact with the characters much, he sits and listens attentively, the story being told could be based on his opinion and we dont know his background. He has an over reactive imagination, we assume he is a man. Suspense at the end of the story builds up rapidly until it is released on the last word, but we find that the narrator jumps to conclusions by judging characters however he is quite well educated. The narrator in The Signal man is very much a main character in the story and is found slightly mysterious as well, to the point that no one knows why he was looking down on the signal man in the first place. The narrator seems to be a very curious character, he leads us to think that he had something to find out when asking the signal man questions because he is so interested and almost intrigued into the signal mans life story. The narrator seems to have some kind of supernatural connection with the signal man especially towards the end of the book when he some how knows that the train is coming and that the signal man has to get out of the way of the incoming train. We dont know why or how the narrator gets to talk to the signal man and we dont know any of his background apart from the fact that he has studied medicines and is well educated. He is a mystery to the audience. The characters featured in the body snatchers are slightly mysterious we dont find out much about each character, especially their backgrounds, we dont know whether we can trust them. One of the most mysterious characters in the Body Snatchers would have to be Fettes. We dont find out much about fettes character arent cant be sure whether we trust him or not. We are not given any background knowledge about him, although we find that he is known in Debenham as Doctor because he had some special knowledge in medicine. We find out that he drinks a lot and is known well in the pub, mainly for the amount that he did drink, most people knew what he drank and knew that the arm chair in the corner of the George was his spot. Although we know these small things about him he is still a mystery, as the narrator says beyond these slight particulars we had no knowledge of his character and antecedents, he is a mysterious character. He becomes even more mysterious when Doctor Wolfe Macfarlane enters the scenes we begin to think that there is a lot more to know about him than he lets on ..you would think I was some good, old, decent Christian, would you not? But no, not I; this shows us that there is in fact a lot more to be known about Fettes than we think and he is a very mysterious character we are led to think that he has some kind of deep secret that is maybe very sinful. We think that the secret could be sinful because he says people think he is a good Christian, followed by But no, not I; Fettes expresses little emotion throughout the first couple of paragraphs until he hears Macfarlanes name, when he suddenly becomes sober and shocked this shows that he has obviously got some hidden facts about him. He shows us that he is full of emotion when he is shown as getting very worried and anxious when he doesnt drink his usual five glasses of rum and couldnt even finish his third he proves be very serious. Fettes also turns out to be less wicked than Macfarlane, which is unexpected, when he begins to feel guilty about people being killed for their bodies, he finds himself feeling regretful and scared. He also shows horrified and panic feelings when he sees the corpse of some one he knew, this shows to us that he does have feeling and can show his emotions and express them, he seems to be more respectable person than we first imagined when the narrator begins to make us feel sorry for him, the narrator does this by talking about how fettes didnt realise what he was doing and what was happening and when he did find out, he was horrified and shocked. He also becomes offended when Wolfe offers him money this emphasised the fact that hes a very proud person and doesnt like to be pity and also the fact of how much he disliked Wolfe. We as the readers learn to trust fettes because he doesnt seem like a particularly bad person and he reacts t o events that happen in the way that wed expect a good trustworthy person to react. The undertaker in the story is a mysterious character as not much is told about him and he isnt talked about much, only in the beginning. He shows emotion (shock) when he hears that Fettes knows the doctor do you know him doctor asked the undertaker with a gasp. we know here that the undertaker is shocked and slightly taken back because it says that the undertaker gasped, showing that he was shocked to hear this and wanted to find out how and why fettes knew this man. We cannot completely trust the undertaker as we dont know anything about him; he could be anyone with any background, good or bad. Macfarlane is also a particularly mysterious character a snot much is said about him at the start and not much is said about his past, for this reason he also seems Un- trustful and when he is described as being bald, dirty, pimpled and wearing an old cloak he doesnt seem the sort of man who you could rust him seems like a bit of a freak and is probably seen as a bit of a threat to other characters in the story. He also portrays many of the characteristics of an evil man in the gothic genre which encourages us, the readers to feel that he is a threat and has come into the story to create a spooky atmosphere and prepare for what is ahead, he obviously lets us know that Fettes secrets would soon be reviled and the mysteries haunting the characters and questioning the readers would no longer be secrets or mysteries any longer. At the beginning when Dr MacFarlane first enters the pub Fettes reaction this leads us to believe that Macfarlane is not a good person and is probably going to ring bad happenings, Fettes reaction gives us a reason not to trust him and also brings more mystery about him into the story because he is obviously here for reason and this reason is most likely to be about Fettes as Fettes is the only person in the George who actually recognises him name. The doctor shows a lot of emotion when he first sees fettes but also acts in a weird way in a startled whisper,. as though he is trying to hide from someone because he keeps whispering and checking behind his shoulder, acting as thought he doesnt want anyone to know who he is, but is also happy to see fettes I am overjoyed, overjoyed to have this opportunity. He shows that he is offended when Fettes doesnt take the money which is offered a horrible, ugly look came .. this shows he was offended and gave Fettes a dirty look which he slowly got over and made the best of the situation by almost apologising but keeping the offer of money still open to Fettes I will leave you my address however did he says this in case fettes would need money later on? Therefore still leaving the offer open. The Narrator also affects our views on Macfarlane by making the reader dislike him even more by his sneering and growling like these were evil things to do also the way in which he is described makes us think that he is evil and just around to cause trouble. When fettes says that man Macfarlane is not safe to cross; those that have done so already have repented it too late this makes the audience feel that Macfarlane is a very dangerous person and that people should stay away from him. He is not trustworthy and doesnt seem like a nice person. Gray or the stranger is a mysterious character as he is described as strange all we know as the audience is that he is one of MacFarlanes friends, we cant trust him as he is described as course, vulgar and stupid which is an affect that the narrator has on the audience view of this character. He shows his emotion by being bossy and nasty to Wolfe which encourages Wolfe to be more angry and threatening than he is originally. The narrator describes him as a very loathsome rogue, making readers think he again is not trustworthy and not a nice or good person. In the Signal man there are only two main characters, the signal man and the narrator , the signal man and the narrator are both main characters in the story and both of there characteristics can be considered. The signal man is a very mysterious man, when the narrator who is a main character, comes to see him the signal man seems very uptight and worried; he also seems very suspicious and looks as though hes feeling guilty about something. We think this because as soon as the signal man here the narrator shouting to him at the beginning he doesnt look towards the narrator but towards the tunnel on the tracks as though something is there that he needs to keep an eye or to signal to whoever or whatever it was in the tunnel to go away, someone is here. The signal mans reaction to the narrator makes I feel very suspicious and worried for the narrator as the signal man was behaving so oddly. We could also have reason to be suspicious when the narrator states .something in the man that daunted me. This is off putting to the audience as they believe the narrator, there for think that the signal man is a threat and dangerous. Although we dont find out much about the signal man we do know that he was well educated and study science, however he wasted that chance. The signal man doesnt show much emotion towards the narrator, its only when he begins to talk about what he has been through and why he looked towards the tunnel when he heard the narrator calling when he shows the emotion of being scared and confused, he doesnt know what is going on so doesnt know what to do about it. We cannot trust the signal man because we dont know who he is and whether when he tells these stories he is telling the truth or lying to try and play the narrator into some sort of trick. However because the narrator is telling the story we are forced into believing in the same views as the narrator has. The narrator is a main character in the story and so is entitled to have a one sided opinion, if he were looking at the story from our own point of view of the signal mans point of view we may see the narrator and the signal man from a new perspective and from a different angle which could change our views dramatically on whether or not the signal man is strange and mysterious and whether he is trustworthy or not. The narrator in the story is also a mystery to us; we dont know anything about his background or his life. It is also mystery as to why he went to the railway track and wanted to speak to the signal man in the first place, does it have anything to do with the story line or is it just coincidence? We are forced into trusting the narrator because he is the one telling the story so we believe that he has the answers to everything but in fact we probably shouldnt believe him because he is just as much of a mystery to us as The signal man is, we dont know anymore about the narrator than we do the signal man in fact we probably know more about the signal than the narrator. The narrator shows quite a lot of emotion, especially the end of the story when the signal man is killed, the end shows us that the narrator really did care, not only because he was upset when he found that the signal man was killed but also because even from a distance, and not being able to see what was happening he knew what was going on, it was like something supernatural was going on and he subconsciously knew that the signal man was in trouble and that those words halloa! Below there! had been said one last time and the result this time was the death of the signal man. The setting in gothic stories is a very important factor, this is because the setting in a gothic story is what gives it its atmosphere, if the story was set in the summer in the day time on a bright cheerful day, not many people would find it frightening but if the story was set in the dead of night on a long cold winters night an audience would find the atmosphere a lot more spooky. In the body snatchers we are not immediately hit with a description of the setting which creates atmosphere but one which sets the scene, once the scene is set Stevenson begins to create a spooky atmosphere. At the beginning there is a mention of rain, snow and frost which indicate s a dreary setting, the setting cant just indicate the atmosphere but also the moods of the characters, this particular setting portrays the characters as rather weary and lethargic. Stevenson makes the event seem much more normal so he can build it up further and makes it more dramatic. one dark winter night creates and atmosphere and shows us that its no ordinary night it is one dark winters night making the audience think it is out of the ordinary, it had struck nine this emphasises the fact that it is late and getting dark. This shows a sense of mystery, which builds up suspense within the audience. It creates an eerie feeling and also highlights the fact the characters are in a dreary mood, a sense of insecurity that something is going to happen. An inn gives us an idea of normality and security, the loud of an inn highlights a friendly, welcoming place. There was not much light in the George which gave us a mysterious feeling, a gloomy and dreary sense of insecurity. The presence of so many witnesses at the George shows that there was a lot of people in the inn and the fact that there was a big red fire and candles gave a sense of warmth and security and makes the audience feel that they are in a cosy, safe environment this makes the setting seem less frightening, Stevenson could of done this so that when something big and frightening did happen it would seem a lot more dramatic. At four in the morning this indicates the beginning of a new story. The time gives a feeling of mystery, darkness and suspense; it leads the audience to feel curiosity. Later on in the story when things begin to pick up and settings are describe in much more detail which creates a lot more spookiness for the audience and makes the plot more frightening. Stevenson uses the settings to create a sense of insecurity and to make the story seem more dramatic and increase tension and fear. the lights, the fire, the beating rain upon the window, the cold incongruous work that lay before them this for instance emphasises the fact that it is winter and the wind is howling, it creates a gloomy atmosphere and makes the reader tense and in fear of what is to come next. The setting in the signal man is less spooky than that of the body snatchers although it also portrays most of the gothic story characteristics. The signal man is set in a remote place in the middle of the countryside in a deep trench where little people go or visit, the signal mans only company are the trains that pass him every so often. The fact that there is a very dark tunnel lose by adds to this sense of spookiness and gives the audience ideas and superstitions as to why he keeps looking at this dark, black hole. The setting in the signal man doest change in the ay that the body snatchers does and isnt focussed so much on making the story frightening by the atmosphere, settings and surroundings but by the supernatural presence which is in the air, this is what the author uses to make the story gothic and frightening, he know that this will scar the readers because at the time when the story was written supernatural beings and happenings were very popular and believed it to a large extent, this made the setting of the signal man that bit more believable and realistic, increasing how dramatic it was therefore making it more and tense and frightening. The language used in gothic stories is always very important because it describes things happening helping to build tension, suspense and fear to the stories. In the body snatchers the language is very formal, 19th century language, sometimes Archaic language is used in places e.g. begone, where I cast it, lucre this adds to the atmosphere of the gothic century. The verbs which Stevenson uses suggest strong emotions especially of fear and wickedness staggered, startled, dashed, fled, cried, despised and desecrate, forced, torn , leaped and terrified all of these make the emotions stand out more in a gothic way. Stevenson also tended to use descriptive and nominal groups often to suggest the terrifying or evil for example disreputable vices, fleeting infidelities, sudden emotion, gasp, awful pause abdominal ruffians. The language is always used to set the scene, for example, one dark winter night. It is written in formal language and there is no slang. The language used is very descriptive and appearances are described in detail his eyes awoke; his voice became clear, loud and steady. When a character says something, the author Robert Louis Stevenson describes how they said it and often uses other verbs such as cried or repeated this brings variety into the language which he uses and keeps the audience a lot more interested in the story. He uses lots of descriptive language. Theres more adjectives and descriptive writing than dialogue which heightens the suspense, also helping to create a picture in the readers mind. Stevenson uses lots of dramatic language to increase suspense, a horrible sense of blackness and the treachery of fate seized hold upon the soul of a unhappy student the language is also very complex which adds to the effect and makes the story more spooky. Gruesome language and alliteration towards the end makes the story more dramatic e.g. despise and desecrate, world of wet. Corpses are described in many different ways tragic burden, ghastly packages this adds variety and also makes it more gruesome than it already is. Stevenson seems to like using similes they make things more realistic as if a man had risen from the dead, as two vultures may swoop upon a dying lamb all of these also makes the story more personal and makes it easier to imagine. The language in the signal man is formal and not much slang is used, this makes the story more realistic. There is lots of descriptive writing for example . A clammy stone which became oozier and wetter as I went down Dickens tends to use rather complex language which could confuse the character but does show that it is a rather complex story line which it is and questions are left unanswered e.g. precipitate, terminating, barbarous, perused, and saturnine Not so much gruesome language is used in the signal man because it is not a tale of gruesomeness but one of the supernatural beings, there is no need for gruesomeness but for using the supernatural realm to scare readers and make them feel threatened, uptight and to build tension. Dickens chooses the words he uses to describe things very carefully as to get the full effect of what is trying to say into words. This helps the audience to imagine what is going on, dickens does this well as it is very easy for the audience to imagine what is going on in the story and picture what is going on in their minds. Overall I would say that both The Body Snatchers and The Signal Man create fear and suspense: The body snatchers is a story based on true people , Berk and Hare, which make it more believable and realistic and the way that it is written helps to create fear and suspense and to fit into the gothic genre of story writing. It successfully creates fear using its gruesome similes and metaphors, the story line and how the characters are so unpredictable and mysterious; you get worried as to what the characters are going to do next and what other dark secrets they are going to pull out of their closets. The way that Stevenson opens the story is good because it is innocent and creates a more dramatic build up, suspense making the audience tenser and making them want to read on in fear of what might happen. The Signal Man is very different to The Body Snatchers; this is because it is based on a completely different aspect of gothic writing, not the gruesomeness but the supernatural side of gothic writing. This could be seen as more frightening than the body snatchers because supernatural beings were know as being evil, the devil or for having powers which could not be defeated by any human being. The Victorian period was known for having a deep interest supernaturalism which makes the story more realistic to people of that time. Suspense is create well in the story because we as the audience know that the being is going to appear three times but the narrator doesnt so the audience are sat waiting for it to happen while the characters ponder on what is going on, it creates a lot of tension on the audiences behalf and also creates fear. I preferred reading the story of The Body Snatchers because I thought it was a lot more realistic and I could relate it directly to something that happened in history, Berk and Hare, I also thought that it was easy to understand and didnt leave so many unanswered questions like The Signal Man did, I like a story that has a direct, understandable finish, in the signal man you dont actually find out who or what it was that was calling the signal man because eventually the signal man is killed of and the story is left unanswered, I think it Is much more effective to finish a story with no lose ends because then the reader can be satisfied that a conclusion has been reached. The body snatchers was also a more thrilling read and I think that it created fear more successfully than The signal man this could have been because it was set in different places which were isolated and remote and was also set at night when it was dark, the weather was bad whereas in the signal it was set in the day still in a remote place but no reference to the weather was made. Overall I thought that The Body Snatchers had a better and more interesting storyline which one could relate to more easily.

Why is China Called the Sleeping Giant?

Why is China Called the Sleeping Giant? China is a huge nation that has been experiencing unprecedented growth over the past few decades an average annual GDP of well over 10 percent. While Chinas actual per capita income is still classified in the lower-middle category in global statistics, at about $3,200, it is still the third largest economy in the world after the United States and Japan with a nominal DFP of $4.3 trillion (Chinese Government, 2010). Contemporary China now participates in the global private sector. Her companies play a major role in the global economy, and companies in the developed world take Chinese manufacturing trends quite serious. Chinas view of her economy is Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, which is defined variantaely by scholars. Over 1/3 of the economy is state owned and controlled, and there is significant new foreign investment in the country. Key government industries are utilities, heavy industry and energy resources. China is the worlds largest producer of rice, and is among the top producers of cotton, corn, tobacco, soybeans, and peanuts. Industrially, it is also a world producer in cotton products, coal, crude oil, and its mineral resources are among the richest in the world, albeit only partially developed. All this developed has resulted in Chinas populace seeing a gradual improvement in their living standard, even in the rural areas, but it is the cities in which the most vital and burgeoning growth occurs. Like any developing country, though, China has growing pains. It remains more concerned with State economic development that per capita improvement. Chinas growth may not, in fact, remain sustainable unless there is a dramatic change in the infrastructure and a redevelopment of natural resources that matches the needs of the global environment (e.g. human rights, pollution control, trade imbalances, etc.). Even with the new face, china still has severe corruption issues in the government, huge environmental issues, and a rapidly aging population w ith limited capital resources to sustain an older, non-working, population (CIA Factbook, 2010; National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2010). One very telling example is the way China has merged the political with global economic independence, and its ability to negotiate environmental issues. For the past fifty years, the country has spent considerable resource modernizing, coalescing power, investing in other countries, and changing the way it utilizes its greatest resource its population. Indeed, much of Chinas current strategic and tactical foreign policy surrounds its rapid growth over the last several decades and the way it has extended itself in so many directions. China is still dependent upon Middle Eastern oil importing up to 8 million barrels a day. The vulnerability also extends past oil dependence into fears of an energy insecurity peak. The emerging trends in China are that its energy needs are going to continue to exponentially increase, while if something is not done, there will not be the rate worker base to handle this segment of the market. And, to top it off, such rapid development coupled with global warming and pollution issues threatens to damage Chinas agricultural markets some areas must pollinate their trees and fields by hand (Shirk, 2007). Indeed, what seems to be happening with China is understandable the Developed World had their Industrial Revolutions and decades of pollution without control. Now the developing world is trying for rapid industrialization but has the added conundrum of restrictions, issues with global warming, pollution, and world opinion. Citing both qualitative and quantitative governmental data, authors Chung, Fryxell and Lo (2006) maintain that while China is overtly committed to promote programs that have environmental conservation as part of their template, the stark reality is that the country falls quite short of even its own basic standards. This revelation is based on the number of permits authorized for construction versus the number of ISO 14001-4 permits and requirements met (473-6). We must also take into consideration both the vastness of Chinas geography and the complexity of their bureaucracy. Governmental regulations are not always translated into actualities at the local level, largely due to enforcement and logistical issues, all politically based. Chinas Path Towards Modernization China did not experience an Industrial Revolution and modernization in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries as did many European countries and even Japan, to some extent. Instead, throughout even the 19th century, China remained largely rural and controlled by a series of warlord governments. In fact, it was a series of civil wars, internal bureaucratic corruption, and imperialism that damaged the country and economy to the point that China was ripe for dramatic social and political change (China Country Profile, 2010). Once Japan had been defeated in 1945 another civil war erupted, this time between the Nationalists and the Communists. In 1949, the Communist regime, with the assistance of the Soviet Union, garnered victory and established The Peoples Republic of China on the mainland, with the Chinese Nationalist Party relegated to the island of Taiwan. Soviet influence was heavy, as it was in the conflict over the Korean peninsula in the early 1950s. Chinese leadership counted on Soviet aid for, even with a huge population they were in the midst of a serious economic decline. The Soviet political leadership had a vested interest in supporting the Maoist revolutionary group, not simply to export world communism, but to establish a communist state in Asia (Garver, 1988, 1-34). What followed were a series of rather disruptive socioeconomic movements designed to rapidly industrialize, collectivize, and change the landscape of China called The Great Leap Forward. Like the Soviet Union, peasant resistence and economic ineptitude resulted in an estimated 30-36 million deaths (Smil, 1999). Once the so-called old guard of the Communist Revolution died, though, it was time to rethink economic and political progress. By 1978 there was some relaxation of control, but the PRC still had iron-clad control over politics and society. Economic reforms were politicized and put into effect by Den Xiaoping decollectivization of the countryside, some political decentralization of control in the industrial sector and an amazing public pronouncement that the past few decades had been an appalling catastropheà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the most severe setback to the socialist cause since 1949 (Poon, 2006). Politically, it was important to quickly develop the consumer and export sectors of the economy, and create and buttress an urban middle class, increase living standards, and deal with such issues as literacy, life expectancy, personal rights, and most especially, agricultural output. Knowing that things move slow politically and socially in China, we can now trace an important step in opening up China to the West both politically and economically. In 1972, while Mao was still alive but Deng controlling most of the upper echelons of political power, U.S. President Richard Nixon visited China, The results of the week long visit, most of it orchestrated by Henry Kissinger, were vast: a political agreement that there was only one China and an agreement to settle the Taiwanese situation; to open trade and commerce between China and the West; and to reduce tensions between the two countries. Nixon himself commented, This was the week that changed the world, as what we have said in that Communiquà © is not nearly as important as what we will do in the years ahead to build a bridge across 16,000 miles and 22 years of hostilities which have divided us in the past. And what we have said today is that we shall build that bridge (1972 in Review, 1973). The Way of the Sleeping Giant- Unlike the West, which had 150-200 years to accomplish the technological and social revolution of transforming from rural to urbanized-industrial economies, China has had less than 50 years. However, a combination of traditional Chinese Values, the Maoist push, and post-Maoist political expertise has positioned the country to become the next global superpower. Since 1949, there have been 3-4 major shifts in overall philosophy within the elite; as globalism continues to develop, China wishes to be part of the global economic push with import/export and fiscal rewards, so small concessions have been made over the past decade to allow greater autonomy in business ownership and purchasing decisions. There is high political, economic, societal, and military cohesion since all are central controlled and there is no evidence of a lapse in the power base. Most recently, China has been under international pressure for its continued censorship program (television, motion pictures, and the Internet) (World Bank, 2010). This paradigm shift can best be understood by looking at a Chinese tradition dating back centuries. However, to understand modern China, we must also understand the basis for Chinese culture Confucianism. It was Confucianism, though, that dominated ancient Chinese history as a socio-religious philosophy. The trend towards philosophical underpinnings, too, was part of Ancient Chinas view of law, order, and state control. Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system based on the teachings of Confucius. It is a system that focuses on social, moral, political, and philosophical through, and stresses the important of education and the actualization of the individual. In combination, individuals then are able to govern the state by morality and virtue, rather than extreme coercion or violence (Sprunger). Unlike many religions, Confucianism expects to be part of the political/legal process and governance is part of the expectations of service by the populace. A basic sense of duty, honor, and bureaucratic hierarchy is part of the philosophy, as was a general view that people were generally good, wanted to exist within an orderly society, and only needed structure to remind them of the way of being good: This legalistic tradition is actually more of a political mindset that has been part of the way of Chinese politics for centuries. If we look at basic Maoism, we see that there are indeed some similarities, albeit with a Marxist bias. Maoism of course emphasizes the revolutionary struggle of the masses against exploiters, or a Peoples War. However, Maoism departs from Marxism because it is based on reforming an agrarian economy as opposed to an urban, industrialized state. The new communist leaders abandoned most Maoist practices by 1978, calling the new China which is a combination of ancient legalism, Maoism, and socialism, as Socialism with Chinese characteristics (Chung-Yueh Hsu, 1990, 168-72). Thus, the character and flavor of Chinese politics is shaped by a number of rubrics, all of which now combine to produce a country that may appear contradictory, but is in fact completely within character. This is illuminated given an overview of Chinas recent national goals and issues as they relate to both internal political stability and growth, and Chinas emerging position within the overall geopolitical landscape of the 21st century. These goals are broken down into three major parts; political, social, and economic, all interrelated to a political culture based on the past and moving forward. Political Harness nationalism in moderate and appropriate ways to retain control over divergent and large population. Political/Military Increase military spending and size of military structure -eventual goal is to field the most sophisticated Army in the world Political Cannot provide enough of its own energy needs, must use geopolitics to ensure development continues Political/Vulnerability Avoid, at all costs, a hostile world in which China is boxed in by USA/Japan/India/South Korea and Australia. Ensure Russian neutrality or support. Social Continue to support large domestic market and rising foreign investment. Social Manage rapid aging issues (32 years median age in 2010 to 45 in 2040) they will have the social burden of a rich country and the income of a poor country. Economic Manage Chinas vulnerability in production of goods to West in line with current economic crisis (e.g. smaller than needed orders for Holidays, etc.) Economic Diversify industry and become more self-sufficient in high-tech and other needed technological and industrial segments Economic/Political Improve infrastructure to ensure safety of population (e.g. earthquake proof buildings, higher building standards, etc.) Economic China shows no sign of slowing, and its overall strategic objectives were clearly stated in the Three Step Development Strategy of 1978: Step 1 -To double the 1980 SNP and ensure that the people had enough food and clothing to meet basic needs (attained prior to 1989). Step 2 To quadruple the 1980 GNP by the end of the 20th century (attained by 1995) Step 3 To increase per-capita GNP to the level of the medium developed countries by 2050, at which time modernization goals will be met (Mengin, 2002; Dahlman and Aubert, 2001). The trend that emerges, then, is a new China with clear ties to the old. With the aggressive nature of China in the global environment, many scholars, in fact, believe it will be China that dominates the 21st century the power base shifting from West to East. With 20 percent of all humanity, and a civilization with thousands of years of history and tradition, the new China is clearly poised to be the next global super-power (Jacques, 2009).

Solar Energy Versus Nuclear Energy Engineering Essay

Solar Energy Versus Nuclear Energy Engineering Essay The sun has been around since the beginning of time but only recently has it been used as a source of renewable energy. Approximately 120000 TW of solar energy is absorbed by the Earths surface which is equal to 10000 times the total global demand for energy. Only 0.1% of this energy would be required to satisfy the worlds present consumption of fuels.[1] Break down of solar energy[2] There are three main ways to harness the suns energy. These include solar cells which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar water heating where heat from the sun is used to heat water inside panels on roof tops. And lastly solar furnaces that make use of mirrors to concentrate the suns energy into a small space to produce high temperatures. There are close to 440 nuclear power plants in the world today which supply 16% of the worlds energy demand, however only 1% is useable energy with the rest being nuclear waste. If 1% of the area where there is recoverable energy utilised solar energy devices all the worlds energy needs could be met with solar energy alone. If 10% of the area were to be utilised then in two years the electricity produced would be equal to all known reserves of fossil fuels.[1] Cost problems with solar energy are the high capital costs involved in the installation of solar panels which can be very expensive. The need to store energy because of solar availability due to factors such as time of day and weather conditions is also costly. Countries at higher altitudes with daily cloud cover will have an economic disadvantage due to long distance transfer of energy. Maintenance of panels also has to be considered. Nuclear energy is presently cheaper than solar power however the construction of the facilities and the disposal of radioactive waste is costly and can affect the environment.[3] Solar power is relatively safe to use as long as you do not look directly into the suns rays or come into contact with hot solar panels. In the case of nuclear power it is also safe to use as the nuclear reactors are equipped with redundant systems to make sure there is no nuclear meltdown. This makes it a very stable energy source. Nuclear energy starts to get more dangerous in the form of spent fuel rods and radioactive waste. Even though nuclear energy is reliable and stable as a whole, when something does go wrong it can become very serious and very dangerous. Solar energy does not have any form of waste as replaced panels and components can be reused or recycled. Nuclear energy has two types of waste products, the spent fuel rods which if not stored properly in pools of water to cool down could become very unstable. The other form is radioactive gasses and other waste products that if released into the atmosphere can pose various risks. Solar energy produces no waste or pollution. Waste from nuclear power must be sealed and stored underground for long periods of time. This waste must be kept safe from external factors and from human contact in order to prevent a threat. Such a threat is currently under way at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan where a pool of spent fuel rods caught fire this year. Solar power is a renewable power source therefore it is environmentally friendly. It is silent and requires no fuel therefore there is no pollution. It even decreases the amount of harmful green house gasses. Although there are many advantages to solar energy there is still the fact that a large amount of panels is required to produce the needed electricity. This becomes very costly. It is reliable and has no risks that are associated with nuclear energy. Nuclear energy on the other hand is not a renewable source and if not handled in the correct way could impact the environment in a negative way. Even though it does not contribute to global warming like other fossil fuels, the waste gasses it does produce could potentially cause radioactive sicknesses and cancer in humans and other life forms. Advantages Solar Energy Nuclear Energy Renewable energy source Does not emit green house gasses Has no volatile waste Plenty of resources available Once panels are in place the energy is free Cheaper than solar power Disadvantages Solar Energy Nuclear Energy Does not work at night Radioactive waste Currently very expensive Long-term storage required for waste products Requires big fields in order to harvest a suitable amount of energy Some reactors produce plutonium which can be used to make nuclear weapons All around the world we require every energy source that we can get including nuclear. All energy sources have both pros and cons. Even though nuclear energy is portrayed as an unstable source of energy it is in fact one of the most reliable and stable types in the world today. The downside is in its waste that if treated incorrectly could land in the hands of terrorists. In the next 20 years there will be emerging economies throughout the globe that will require low cost, environmentally friendly alternative energy sources and Nuclear power is expected to satisfy this demand. [1] Botkin,B.Keller,E.A.2001.Enviromental Science:Earth as a living planet.4th ed.Santa Barbara:John Wiley and Sons. [2] Breakdown_of_the_incoming_solar_energy.[Online].Available: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ½http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Breakdown_of_the_incoming_solar_energy.svg[2011,March 23] [3] Solar Energy.[Online].Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy[2011,March 23]

The Youth Offenders Program :: essays research papers

The Youth Offenders Program   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To be honest, I was really pissed off that I had to enter the Zona Seca program to begin with. My so-called infraction was a simple case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am a full time student who works at least twenty-eight hours a week and is extremely pressed for time. The commute from Los Angeles was an extreme inconvenience. Just had to get that off my chest. Do not be fooled, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend this program. I just wish I could have took it here in L.A Surprisingly enough, the Zona Seca program was nothing like I expected. Going into the program I expected lengthy and boring lectures by condescending bureaucrats. To my surprise, the classes were interesting and informative. Our instructors both at the Rehabilitation Institute and the Zona Seca office were very understanding. More programs that are prevention orientated rather than reactionary like Zona Seca are needed. Before the first class session I viewed Zona Seca as a kind of punishment; afterwards more like a therapy/counseling session. The visit with the coroner really struck a nerve. When the coroner started talking about the way young adults drink alcohol as opposed to the way most adults do I could not help but think of all the times I have gotten belligerent. He made the statement that most young people drink to get to drunk. I could not agree more. Although I do drink because I like the taste of alcohol, that taste was definitely acquired. When I first started drinking it was for the sole purpose of getting drunk. Death as a result of to much alcohol was something I was completely oblivious to. Imagining how close to permanent unconsciousness I may have been is extremely scary. I can remember being so drunk in Rosa Rito Mexico that I woke up the next morning not remembering a damn thing from the night before. That includes puking up my dinner, the seven hundred and fifty-ml bottle of Bacardi Limon and the ten or fifteen other mixed drinks I had. If my friends did not tell me of the details from the previous night I would had never known what happened. The coroner’s report really made me look at the way I drink. I’m not going to stop drinking, but I am going to be a lot more responsible and careful when I do.

Existence of Reality in Christopher Durangs Beyond Therapy and Edward

Existence of Reality in Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy and Edward Albee's Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Growing up, I always assumed that my parents would grow old together. I fantasized about introducing my future children to their still-married grandparents and attending, if not personally planning, my parent’s fiftieth anniversary celebration. Although my parents fought and struggled with areas of perpetual disagreement, somehow things always worked out and in my naivety, I believed they always would. However, as time progressed, the unresolved, and in some cases unspoken, issues that had plagued my parent’s marriage since its conception festered and ultimately reached intractable proportions. As a messy divorce loomed, each parent explained his version of the events and â€Å"irreconcilable differences† engendering a separation. Although the facts presented in each account matched, my parent’s respective interpretations of the facts differed greatly. As I listened to my parent’s rationalize their inability to get along, I realized that although my parent’s stories did not match, neither party was actually lying. Each parent simply presented to me his or her version of the reasons for divorce. I knew that somewhere hidden in the subtext of my parent’s explanations laid the truth. As I sifted through the slightly convoluted information, I began to wonder, â€Å"Is reality a relative concept?† After reviewing my personal experience, Christopher Durang’s play Beyond Therapy, and Edward Albee’s Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?, I reached the conclusion that, as inherently paradoxical as it seems, reality exists as a relative concept. Ostensibly, in the complexities of a divorce, the true reasons necessitating a permanent... ...xtremes of denial and testifies to the true relativity of reality depending upon mindset. After overcoming her denial and admitting that no son exists, Martha lies prostrate as George asks her, â€Å"Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?†(242). Martha wearily replies, â€Å"I†¦am†¦George†¦.I†¦am†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (242). In other words, â€Å"Who’s afraid of the truth?† My parents, Stuart of Christopher Durang’s Beyond Therapy, and Martha and George from Thomas Albee’s â€Å"Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?†. Ceasing to rationalize reality to suit one’s needs entails dealing with the truth and experiencing pain. Therefore, it stands to reason that many smart, reasonable people fall victim to the allure of denial. However, as Martha demonstrates, the walls crumble eventually, and one feels the pain as acutely as ever. So, who’s afraid of the truth? The more appropriate question is who’s not afraid of the truth?