Nursing reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nursing reflection - Essay Example And, if I will be going home later today?† â€Å"Are they aware of complications that may occur in these limited hours? And, they may have to admit me to the hospital if complications arise?† â€Å"I am in tears?† I bet they think it is my depression. I cannot talk because I am still on the ventilation machine. â€Å"Can’t they have me write my needs down on a piece of paper?† Okay, perhaps me writing will not work with the IVs in my arms.† But, have not they heard of asking ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ questions with one blink of the eye lids for ‘yes’ and two blinks of the eye lids for ‘no’. â€Å"What am I going to do?† They zing in and out of my room faster than a honeybird. While most agree that there is a nursing shortage and nurses are at their wits end for delivering patient care, it is imperative that nurses use the basic rules in providing quality nursing care especially in the critical post operative nursing care. According to Surgery Encyclopedia: Postoperative Care (11/16/2008), postoperative care is management of a patient after surgery. Our nursing patient has many issues and she should. Presuming there is a Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), how long did she stay there and did she have any complications? She knows the goal of the postoperative nursing staff is to prevent complications within the first twenty-four hours. How can they do this? When she arrives to the area the nursing staff should do an assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and outcome evaluation, this sounds similar to SOAPIE with a couple of modifications. However, when you do your assessment, it would be advantageous to quote her on how she feels postoperatively including why she is crying. Did she feel pain during surgery? Remember that when you chart. On a scale from 1-10, one she is in awful pain and ten feeling no pain. How does she rate? Is she too sedated? Is she on a patient-controlled analgesia pump? Perhaps, you will have to put time in your schedule

Hallucinogen Use Among Teenagers Essay Example for Free

Hallucinogen Use Among Teenagers Essay Kaleidoscope perspective, strange sounds, indescribable feeling of love and admiration towards others, life in slow motion, and the feeling of floating in air outside ones body — these are just some of the things that can be experienced in the world of hallucination, a dream world that is marked by a deep state of unreality or imaginary perceptions. Many people today, most especially the youth, are discovering ways in which they can visit this dreamlike state without the sleeping process: by indulging into a special kind of illicit substance known as hallucinogen (Harmon, 2009). Because of hallucinogens capability to alter an individuals perception, more and more teenagers are becoming hooked into this form of drug without taking into consideration its impact on their health and well-being. Although it has been widely acknowledged that illicit hallucinogen use significantly decreased during the latter parts of 1990s, recent studies showed that teenagers are having a renewed interest in using this form of drug due to its availability, the perception of reduced risk, and higher peer support upon its usage. Various researches even revealed that a teenager as young as 12 years old has easier access obtaining hallucinogenic drug alongside other illicit substances. As such, parents and school administrators alike have a growing concern over the increasing number of teenage hallucinogen users. With the re-emergence of the use of hallucinogen among the youth, it is therefore imperative to take into perspective and analyze the impact of the pertained drug among its users, the factors that contribute to teenagers indulgence in this form of drug, and the drugs level of accessibility among this group. Hallucinogen: An Overview To give depth to the subject being discussed, it is highly important to understand its origin and nature. Hallucinogens, also commonly referred to as â€Å"psychedelics,† are a diversified group of drugs that have the capacity to alter an individuals mood, thoughts, and perception. As they are heterogeneous in nature, hallucinogens are notorious for their varying chemical contents, mechanism of actions, as well as adverse effects on the users. While hallucination is perceived as the instantaneous effect of using such drug, hallucinogens are also known for changing moods and thoughts as they disrupt the normal functioning of a persons serotonin system, which is responsible for controlling pain perceptions, moods, and sleep-wake cycle of humans (Richards, 2006). The proliferation of hallucinogen is not a new phenomenon as it has been used by humans for thousands of years for the purpose of both religious and mystical experiences. In the Hindu holy book, â€Å"Rig Veda,† the use of a substance known as â€Å"soma,† which is said to be capable of inducing high levels of consciousness, has been mentioned. This substance is extracted from the juice of a hallucinogenic mushroom known as Amanita Mascaria. Meanwhile, in the pre-Columbian era Mexico, Aztecs used â€Å"teotlaqualli,† a paste from â€Å"ololiuqui,† a hallucinogenic flower, during their religious ceremonies. Aztec priests and soldiers rub the hallucinogenic substance on their skin as it is believed to reduce fear and induce proper mental state needed while servicing the Aztec gods. Similar to this, aboriginals from Mexico were also noted for their long history of â€Å"peyote† usage, a hallucinogen containing mescaline that is also used for religious ceremonies. In Salem, Massachusetts, it was once believed that hallucinogens are the main cause of unlikely behaviors of the alleged witches during trials (Richards, 2006). Basically, there are two types of hallucinogens: the natural, which can be obtained from raw plants, and the synthetic varieties or man-made. Natural hallucinogens come from plants that grow in the wild or in â€Å"drug farms. † These varieties may include some forms of mushrooms and the cactus plant, peyote. Some flowers such as morning glories are also known for producing hallucinogenic chemicals. Marijuana, which comes from cannabis plants, is also identified as a comparatively weak form of hallucinogen. Technically, all of these are not considered as drugs as they are naturally occurring substances that contain hallucinogenic chemicals (Harmon, 2009). In contrast with natural hallucinogens, synthetic varieties of the said drug are produced in laboratories with variations of other substances to further enhance its effects. The very first form of synthetic hallucinogen is Lysergic Acid Diethylamide 25 (LSD), discovered by Dr.  Albert Hoffman of Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland during 1938. LSD was accidentally discovered while Hoffman was experimenting on drugs that have medical purposes. The doctor did not realize the drugs mind-altering effects until 1943 when he accidentally consumed the drug and experienced hallucination. Interest in LSD did not receive the attention of many until 1960s when Timothy Leary and his colleagues at Harvard University began experimenting the drug to themselves and advocating its use due to the alleged heightened feeling of intra- and interpersonal understanding, spirituality, and increased level of productivity it brings. As such, academics, artists, and students alike were swayed to use LSD. Also included in this group of psychedelics are phencyclidine (PCP) or â€Å"angel dust,† which is considered as the most dangerous form of hallucinogen that can be in powder, tablet, capsule, or beverage form; Foxy Methoxy; Dextromethorpan (DXM) or â€Å"robo,† a cough-suppressing ingredient found in over-the-counter cough and cold medications; and Ecstasy (MDMA) and Special K (ketamine hydrochloride), two other hallucinogenic drugs that are becoming increasingly popular among teenagers, to name a few (Harmon, 2009). Teenage Hallucinogen Use Figures  Abuse of drugs has been a major public concern since the 1960s, and it cannot be denied that it is still an ongoing societal issue. For the most part, teenagers played a significant role in the rise of drug abuse, as they are easily persuaded to engage in such activity. Perhaps, a few other points in history have been strongly related with hallucinogen use other than 1960s. For one, rampant experimentation with hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and peyote became an important part of the American pop culture, influencing aspects such as music, clothing, language, and art. Likewise, the said practive also served as a catalyst for the establishment of the counterculture known as the â€Å"hippie era. † Notable in this period of hallucinogen experimentation was the participation of teenagers who tried psychedelic drugs at an unprecedented rate. The first National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) in 1972 reported that 5 percent of Americans, most of whom are under 18 years of age, admittedly used psychedelics at least once. By 1980s, the use of psychedelic drugs dramatically declined due to the introduction of cocaine. However, in the early 1990s, the interest in hallucinogen resurfaced and was distributed even in the most unexpected places such as schools, targeting the student population (Travis, 1997). While a vast number of resources indicated that the figures have dropped during the mid-1990s, recent studies have shown that the illicit use of hallucinogens is once again reemerging. Alarmingly, the rates are much higher compared to the teenage active users during the 1960s and mid-1990s, and worse, these teenage hallucinogen users are much younger than expected. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2007, about 34. 2 million Americans at the age of 12 or older reported that they have tried using hallucinogen at least once in their lifetime, which can be translated to 13. 8% of the said age groups overall population. Similarly, in the 2008 survey carried out by â€Å"Monitoring the future,† it was indicated that â€Å"3. 3% of eight graders, 5. 5% of tenth graders, and 8. 7% of twelfth graders† admitted to a lifetime usage of hallucinogens. These figures are levels higher compared to the 2007 percentages of â€Å"3.  1%, 6. 4%, and 8. 4%† of the respective grades. In this respect, the statistics significantly reported a higher increase in the numbers of teenage hallucinogen users (Monitoring the future, 2008 cited in Office of National Drug Control Policy [ONDCP], 2009). Hallucinogen Drug Sources: The Internet and Club-Drug Scenes With the given figures above, one may wonder how the teenagers manage to gain access to these hallucinogenic drugs. There are various means that can be adopted in order to obtain such forms of illicit drugs that can bypass the traditional channels of doing so. The Internet as well as the urban club scene is identified as two of the major sources where hallucinogenic substances can be obtained. Internet: A New Vast Source of Illicit Drug Information The reemergence of illicit hallucinogen is prevalent among teenagers; it has been identified that this same societal group is also the heavy users of the World Wide Web or Internet. The Internet is known as a powerful tool that can provide unlimited access to various kinds of information. Due to such capability, the Internet is also considered as a breeding ground for the rise of unlawful practices that are within the reach of young individuals. In a 2001 study carried out by John Halpern and Harrison Pope Junior, they have concluded that by using the Internet, potential hallucinogen users can learn in great detail how to obtain hallucinogenic drugs. During the time of their research, Halpern and Pope, through the use of standard Internet search techniques, located 81 hallucinogen-related sites and categorized the information found on the said sources. Some of the sites they have found explain to its users how wild plants containing hallucinogenic substances can be identified. Some provided information where hallucinogenic plants are commercially available, while some sell strains of hallucinogenic plants that can be grown. They have also located sites that provide chemical recipes for synthesizing all of the hallucinogenic substances that are categorized in the Schedule I list and other non-schedule hallucinogen analogs. Additional sites that sell hallucinogenic plant materials were also located. They have also uncovered Internet travel industry that offers tours to countries where hallucinogenic potions can be ingested in the context of traditional rituals. Finally, the researchers also came across myriads of sites that are carrying hallucinogen-related information which include keyword-searchable database that offer information regarding personal hallucinogenic experiences, street pricing, scientific articles, and paper clippings related to hallucinogen drugs. Contrary to the thousands of pages available for underground hallucinogen information, limited linked sites were directed towards government agencies that caution users against the dangers of using hallucinogen drugs. Likewise, only few Internet users visit these federally funded databases which are in deep disparity with the number of visits that underground sites receive (Halpern Pope, 2001). With the constantly evolving nature of the Internet, the sources found by Halpern and Pope (2001) represent only a small margin of the overall hallucinogenic-related sites found over the Internet. However, this study only proves that teenagers, being the frequent users of the World Wide Web, can come across pools of hallucinogen-related information just by typing in keywords at the appropriate prompt. Automatically, links after links of sites that supply detailed information concerning botanical and synthetic hallucinogens can be followed by the teenagers. Most of the information found on these sites are unchecked for accuracy and have yet to be described in present addiction and psychiatry textbooks, clinicians as well as the legislative authorities (Senay, 1998; Miller, 1998; cited in Halpern Pope, 2001). In addition to this, as the Internet can serve as a ground for the perpetration of unlawful practices, phony prescriptions can be used by teenagers in order to avail of prescribed drugs that contain certain amount of hallucinogenic substances. Although many reputable online pharmacies require authentic prescriptions before giving out drugs, it cannot be discounted that with todays experienced online users, the authenticity of such prescriptions can be altered. In some instances, there are Internet sites that are made to look both legal and official when in reality, they are not. These sites provide teens with easy-to-fill-out online questionnaire and ask for money; within days, the teen can already receive the drug that he or she purchased online (Hutchinson, 2006). Club-Drug Scenes Adolescence is the period where young individuals usually go out and meet people of their same age to socialize. Various places have been created in order to cater to their needs, and these are the places where they can usually hang-out together and enjoy their lives away from the sight of their parents. Clubs are the most common hang-out for teenagers and adults; these are the venue where they can release their energy and at the same time meet various people. As the number of teenagers who patronize such environment continuously grows, so is the number of these clubs. Hence, the number of club-drug venues and the use of addictive substances have been notably increasing as well. The term club-drug commonly refers to the specific drugs used by teens or even young adults who frequently visit music or dance clubs that are especially geared for their age group. Hallucinogens are often reported as the most common form of substance used in club-drug venues, specifically LSD, Nexus, Ketamine, and Ecstasy. These hallucinogenic drugs are frequently used in a gathering known as â€Å"rave,† a large-scale party carried out in a temporary location that allows participants to dance in trance-like tunes, experience light shows and other special effects, and take drugs. The attendance and participation in these events serve as the affirmation of the individuals involvement in club drugs (Golub, Johnson, Sifaneck, Chesluk, Parker, 2001). Unlike other social events that use traditional media to advertise their future affairs, the promoters of raves do not use such medium in order to market their events to people. Instead, they use underground and semi-spontaneous advertisements, such as word-of-mouth, recorded phone messages, handbills, and the Internet, that are directed towards their desired clientele. As police intervention serves as a serious threat to this event, one technique used by promoters to avoid issues with the authority is to notify the participants about the date and time of the rave through the Internet, and phone numbers are given out for further information (Golub et al. , 2001). Once inside these venues, participants are then welcomed with a special genre of music that enables participants to release their restrictions. Such trance-like experience is further enhanced through the use of psychedelic drugs, which more often than not combine memories, associations, and hallucinations altogether, making the participant feel a sense of enlightenment (Golub et al. , 2001). Although present-day rave music and activities do not come in parallel with that of the hallucinogenic culture during the 1960s, there are still aspects of that period that manifest itself in the raves of today, such as the emphasis on attaining personal enlightenment and the promotion of non-violence through the use of hallucinogenic drugs (Travis, 1997). In addition to this, raves and other events where hallucinogen drugs can be easily obtained such as trance parties and dance clubs are appealing to teenagers because they often serve as a gateway for escaping the stifling apathy of mainstream society by offering a time-out through illegal yet leisurely activities (Golub et al. , 2001). Teenage Vulnerability to Hallucinogen Use One may wonder what makes these illicit drugs so attractive to teens. There are myriads of reasons that can be derived to address this simple question. First, teenagers are very susceptible to use hallucinogenic drugs due to their inquisitive nature as well as their inclination with experimentation. More often than not, the cycle of addiction begins with a mere curiosity. In order to give in to the call of their curious minds, teenagers would then experiment by taking in small amount of the hallucinogenic drug just enough to get them high. As a hallucinogenic substance gives a short-term psychedelic trip that is initially pleasant or more often euphoric, these sensations provide teenagers the false feelings of worry-free life or nirvana. Over time, they will then need more amount of the hallucinogenic drug in order to acquire the same effect and to get the same high as the ones they felt before, thereby launching the cycle of hallucinogen addiction (Hutchinson, 2006). Another reason for the vulnerability of teenagers to hallucinogen drug intake may be attributed to their perception of reduced risk. Because of the so called â€Å"mind expansion† capability of psychedelics that can be bought at a cheaper price compared to other drug counterparts, teenagers tend to overlook the adverse effects of such drugs. Various evidences showed that more and more teenagers consider both Ecstasy and LSD harmless, which perhaps explains the increase experimentation of young people with the said forms of hallucinogenic drugs. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not seen any therapeutic use for hallucinogenic drugs. Likewise, a variety of studies reported that current available psychedelics posit unpredictable effects and substantial risks that may harm the life of its users (Abraham et al., 1996 cited in Hanson, Venturilli, Fleckenstein, 2005). Similar to this is the fact that little media coverage has been devoted to hallucinogen use, and fewer opportunities exist in order to present the adverse effects of the said drugs, thereby contributing to the â€Å"generational forgetting† of teenagers about hallucinogen to the extent that it has even penetrated the school grounds (Johnston, OMalley, Bachman, 1995, p. 12 cited in Travis, 1997, n. p. ). Peer pressure also plays a significant role in a teenagers indulgence in hallucinogenic substances. As the need for acceptance is very much appealing for a teen who does not feel that he or she fits in and does not have high self-esteem, other teens can introduce the use of hallucinogen as a form of welcoming the other teenager. As such, in order to fit into the â€Å"cool† crowd, the teenager would eventually give in to the temptation so as to feel the belongingness that he or she is looking for. Conclusion Based on the facts and information presented in this paper, it is apparent that the illicit use of hallucinogenic drugs is a reemerging public health problem that could greatly affect teenagers. Because of the relatively inexpensive pricing and noncompetitive network of distribution of the hallucinogenic drug as seen in its availability over the Internet and club venues, more and more teenagers are swayed to take such drugs without taking into consideration its adverse health effects. Other factors that affect the consumption of hallucinogenic drugs among teenagers may be attributed to the perception of reduced risks that these drugs pose as well as peer pressure. While it may be true that the off-shoot in the number of teenagers using hallucinogen may not severely threaten law enforcement at this point, if this trend of hallucinogenic use among teenagers will persist, various issues may arise that could affect not only the individual user but the community as a whole. Concerns for public safety are deeply related to the use of hallucinogen. Such can be perceived with the upsurge of income-generating crimes and crimes of violence. It should also not be overlooked that the continuous existence of hallucinogenic drugs presents a great threat on the health and safety of these young individuals. As such, it is therefore critical to place stricter law enforcement efforts in disrupting the production and distribution of hallucinogens so as to avoid their adverse effects not only on the teenage users but the whole societal system as well.

A Postmodern Feminist View Of Political Power Politics Essay

A Postmodern Feminist View Of Political Power Politics Essay Modern political thought can be applied to any number of institutions, communities and situations in contemporary society because of the different range of perspectives that can be applied. One such perspective is especially important in defining the roles and women and the way in which woman can relate to and be situated within the modern word. Postmodern feminism is a particularly interesting perspective because it can be used to examine the gulf between women in various political systems: Many of the new rights that are being claimed by women or ethnic minorities are no longer rights that can be universalized. They are the expression of specific needs and should be granted to particular communities. (Giroux, 1991, p. 1). With this in mind, it is necessary to examine the particular communities in question within the context of postmodern feminism. This essay will examine the role of legal functioning within both a fascist dictatorship and a liberal democracy with a view to concluding that a legal system can most definitely be considered to be much more than a reflection of political power because no political system can be solely defined by its legal procedures alone. Postmodern Feminism Prior to examining the theories of postmodern feminism, it is essential to define and thus be fully able to understand exactly what postmodern feminism is and where it actually comes from. This can be difficult given the sheer number of definitions of this area of political thought that are out there at the moment. As critics and supporters all have their own theories in mind in relation to postmodernism and feminism, as well as the field of postmodern feminism, it is necessary to decide upon a definition in order to complete analysis of various political and legal institutions and systems within the rest of this essay. Taking feminism first: The most obvious way in which current usage is ignored when feminism is defined as an opposition to the sex-based injustices from which women suffer is in itself seeming to count far too many people among feminists. (Richards, 1980, p. 2). This definition is apt because it highlights the oversubscription to the notion of feminism. In fact, many women do not agree with feminist principles but that does not prevent those principles from applying to the individual women, whether they benefit from equality or are discriminated against because of gender differences. Postmodernism, on the other hand, can be traced to a heightened anxiety about what impact intellectuals have on a world that appears increasingly inimical to the values promoted in the arts and in intellectual work. ((McGowan, 1991, p. 1). This anxiety and intellectual perspective of the modern world does provide a unique viewpoint of the political and legal systems, especially when combined with feminism. Postmodern feminism combines the philosophies of postmodernism and feminism theories in order to provide political analysts and philosophers with a brand new perspective on society and a means of differentiating between different societies and communities as well. The definition below is perhaps one of the most apt out there: postmodern feminism does not focus on the category woman. Rather, it focuses on the situated realities of women, plural. Postmodern feminists question earlier feminist attempts to redefine the category woman. Any definition, even one articulated by feminists, is limiting and serves to tie the individual to her identity as a woman. (Weisberg, 1993, p. 243) This particular definition is an excellent one for application to the models of country X and country Y, as defined in the question. However, it can also be applied to numerous other situation and circumstances that women in particular find themselves in because it takes each situation on an individual basis, thus on its own merits and in relation to the collective gender and not the individual. This definition examines numerous factors in a set context with a view to determining just how important the factors are. For example, it examines identity in regards to politics as well as the individuals ability to define his or her own path through life. Feminism obviously implies the exclusion of men but within this particular definition and its theoretical postmodern combination, it can be used to determine the legal standing of an entire society in relation to equality as well. There is another factor that is closely associated with postmodern feminism and that is essentialism: The concept of essentialism, discussed above, is a manifestation of postmodern feminist thought. (Barnett, 1998, p. 195). This clearly defines essentialism as a major element of postmodern feminist thought, although some critics either disagree or fail to acknowledge it as an element. Although this is not always considered in relation to this particular theory, it has a major bearing on the way in which the individual legal system and political system is defined as in the question and so merits a comprehensive definition, which is also vital if one is to fully appreciate the theories of postmodern feminism in relation to various legal and political systems. The best possible definition is perhaps the following: Essentialism searches for the intrinsic nature of things as they are, in and of themselves. (Fuchs, 2005, p. 12). The nature of any political and legal system is incredibly im portant and thus the application of essentialism is vital to the very nature of this particular analytical examination of political power and whether or not the nature of society itself has an impact on the legal system of different countries. Now that all vital elements of this political theory have been examined and defined, the essay will examine the situation of jurisprudence in relation to postmodern feminism and the defined political systems as per the question. A coherent answer will be achieved via the deconstruction of the two distinct societies: Deconstruction, moreover, located originally primarily in the postmodern field of linguistics, becomes an accessible tool for the analysis of law and legal theory. (Barnett, 1998, p. 195) The Context of Jurisprudence Postmodern feminism fits into the context of jurisprudence well because its practical application is relatively straight forward regardless of the nature of the individual or society that is being examined. However, the notion of jurisprudence is often split into two distinct categories the male and the female: feminist jurisprudence demonstrates the need for law to recognise confirm and secure this emancipation. In the context of nurturing work, such law would spread the costs of nurturing work throughout the whole society so that women do not bear them all. (Stark, 2003, p. 127). As the postmodern feminist philosophy of the law in discussed here, it stands to reason that it actively examined the female side of the law in relation to how women function within society, what their roles are and whether or not they sought equality has actually been achieved in some measure. Many individuals argue that females are still considered to be subordinate in the context of dictatorships and t he governmental systems in place. However, whether the legal systems define feminism within the context of jurisprudence or the external factors that contribute to any given society can be questioned, particularly when placed in contrast with liberal democracies and the way in which postmodern feminist thought can be used to examine them. The interaction between postmodern feminism and jurisprudence is an integral relationship that is necessary for the extensive analysis of country X and country Y, and using examples is integral in defining exactly how the power structures interrelate is essential. The Political System, The Legal System And Postmodern Feminism According to Thornham, feminism, politics and theory are interdependent. But feminist politics have engaged as much with issues of culture and representation as in campaigns for social change. (2005, p. 24) However, in order to be able to apply the principles behind the theory of postmodern feminism, it is necessary to delve into particular countries and their legal systems with regards to the specific examples given. According to the question given, country X is a fascist dictatorship in which oppressive legal measures are used to deny people basic freedoms. Country Y, on the other hand, is a liberal democracy in which the legal system upholds capitalism and human rights. In short, the two are diametrically opposed and therefore analysis is vital to form a conclusion as to whether a legal system may be said to be anything more than a reflection of political power. Taking country X first, a fascist dictatorship that is characterised by oppressive legal measures denies its people their freedom, which is of course the whole point of controlling a country so completely. There have been many examples of this in the past century, all of which use a legal system to snatch and maintain political power. However, in the case of postmodern feminism, it is easy to find examples of rebellion that question the political system and its legal enforcement, which in turn affects the status of the legal system as a reflection of political power. A fine example is that of the women in Chile under Pinochet: During the Pinochet era, Chilean women rescripted the passive, non-agent role into which they were being maneuvered [sic] by certain Western feminisms and the Pinochet regime. Based on their particular experiences within the culture of marianismo those situated practices of which they were a part our subject Chilean women asserted their position as political subjects and rewrite the original script to reflect their status as political agents. (Warkentin Daly, 2003, p. 157) This particular analysis highlights the way in which Chilean women did exert their feminist rights as a result of the influences of the outside world, of liberal democracies, that made it through. This is done against pressure from political authorities and thus also the legal system as a direct result of the postmodern feminist principle of agency. Warkentin Daly highlight that the Chilean women embraced agency and thus carved out their own niche within the system despite the level of oppression that was occurring at the time. As such, this points to the fact that the legal system, regardless of how oppressive it is, is only successful should women and men alike choose to accept it. The Chilean women did not and thus completely altered their own role within society at the time. The change in attitudes could not be governed by the oppressive legal system and thus it automatically becomes more than a reflection of political power but also of political challenge as well. The nature of this rebellion against the political dictatorship by the women of Chile fits in well with postmodern feminist theory for a number of reasons. First of all, women became stronger and more coherent a group within society, but they did not try to revolutionise the country itself. Instead, they were aiming for smaller and more localised goals, which is part of the postmodern theory. Big questions and issues do not come to fruition under dictatorships but the smaller concerns that characterise postmodern thought do (Mansell Meteyard, 2004, p. 160). The nature of the people and the external influences that caused unrest are both important factors in explaining exactly why total political control does not always automatically lead to a society that will not grasp empowerment where possible. Furthermore, it is important to note that the feminist movement in liberal democracies is able to filter through all elements of society regardless of the current situation in individual c ountries. The characteristics that define feminism certainly have their own brand of power: conceptual distinctions, criteria of legitimation, cognitive procedural rules, and so forth are all political and therefore represent moves of power and also recognize that they represent a different type of power than is exhibited in, for example, physical violence or threat of force. (Nicholson, 1990, p. 11) Postmodern feminist theory is most definitely applicable to other political and legal systems as well. For example, it can be actively used to examine a liberal democracy, under which human rights are upheld by the legal system. This is the criteria for country Y and can be examined in relation to any number of countries. However, British politics and the relevant legal system are particularly favoured by postmodern feminist critics as a result of the measure of equality allowed to all sections of society at the moment. In this instance, the legal system is not only a reflection of political power but also of the nature and attitudes that are currently present within society. For example, postmodern feminist critics will undoubtedly allude to the level of topics that were previously taboo on a legal and social level but are now in the public eye: feminism has helped to bring a range of new issues, formerly perceived to be essentially private or social, onto the public political agend a, and thence into the purview of policy studies, such as domestic violence abortion, and childcare. (Randall, 2009, p. 146). Liberal democracies do actively consider the needs of every element of society by nature and the legal system is used to reinforce the values and rights that every free individual has, which is a far cry from the legal system within a dictatorship. However, it is the rights that the people demand that are covered by legal institutions. Under postmodern feminism, the relatively moderate issues of domestic violent and abortion are considered to be localised interests and not the big decisions that previous political theories considered. However, that is not to say that the legal system has not been used in order to exert limits on individual rights within a liberal democracy. An example of that is the issue of abortion within the United States, with particular reference to the presidency of George W. Bush. A womans right to choose was repeatedly questioned under the government because of the legitimacy of the human rights of a foetus. According to Crooks and Baur, Congress approved a ban on late term abortion in 2003, which was then signed by the president but several federal courts declared the ban unconstitutional and the ban was not enacted Bushs appointment of anti-abortion Supreme Court justices has given hope to far right anti-abortion forces that the Court will decide counter to all previous federal court decisions and uphold the first ever federal ban on abortion. (p. 305) As Bush could not constitutionally enforce a ban at local and federal level, he attempted to engineer the Supreme Court so that it would be possible to do so, thus removing rights that women had in regard their own bodies and placing them in the hands of men. This does not sit well with postmodern feminist theory in relation to a liberal democracy, but the nature of the system itself ultimately prevented those rights being removed. Furthermore, anxiety over morals within a liberal democracy caused a distinct difference of opinion, but one that the law could not preside over given the fact that the objections were largely religious and relate directly to human rights. In fact, with both sides arguing over human rights in relation to this, the legal system would not be allowed to uphold laws in breach of either side. As Tetreault points out, the most valuable resources leading to authority inhere in the individual. (2003, p. 276) In conclusion, the analysis here proves that it is possible to discount the theory that the legal system is nothing more than a reflection of political power within any given country, regardless of the social and political composition of that in question. The example of the Chilean women fits in well with specific elements of postmodern feminist thought because it actively proves that power to achieve small goals lies with the people, regardless of the pressure they are under from oppressive and somewhat brutal regimes. Furthermore, it implies that, whilst legal systems can be and often are defined in relation to the nature of the political system and the overt freedoms of the people, the individual cannot and thus the legal systems ability to keep attitudes and the evolution of thought in check is not always as straightforward as it seems.

The History of the Hard-Boiled Detective :: essays research papers

There are many sub-genres of detective fiction and hard-boiled fiction is one of them. What exactly is hard-boiled detective fiction? Hard-Boiled detective fiction is fiction that features tough, cynical, urban private eyes who expose corruption and frequently get injured in the course of their investigations (â€Å"Detective Fiction,† Literary).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hard-Boiled fiction is considered one of the more popular sub-genres of detective fiction; there have been numerous films and novels about urban detectives exposing corruption in the police force and in politics. The author credited with inventing the first successful hard-boiled story is Carroll John Daly. His character, Terry Mack, was quick to fight, was quick to shoot and he made plenty of wise-cracks (Marling). This character is what defined hard-boiled detective fiction and is the prototype for thousands of other detectives. To really understand what sets hard-boiled fiction apart from other type of detective fiction you need to know about the history of detective fiction up to when hard-boiled fiction was invented.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Characters that use logical reasoning and notice â€Å"clues† have been appearing in literature since the 6th century BC. The first appearance of a detective like character was the fox in Aesop’s fables. In one story the fox decided not to enter a hungry lion’s cave when he saw that there were many animal footprints going into the cave but none coming out (â€Å"Detective Fiction,† Literary). Another ancient detective was Daniel from the Bible. In one of the stories Daniel exposes a religious fraud by tracking the culprits’ footprints (â€Å"Detective Fiction,† Literary). In a different story Daniel uncovers a conspiracy by questioning two witnesses separately to reveal contradictions in their evidence (â€Å"Detective Fiction,† Literary).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The actual invention of detective fiction did not occur until 1841 when Edgar Allen Poe wrote The Murders in the Rue Morgue. In this novel Poe introduced Auguste Dupin, who was the main character of the story. In Poe’s story the detective was very intelligent and he had superior reasoning skills. Poe’s story set the basic plot for detective stories of that time. A crime, usually murder, is committed; a detective investigates the crime; a number of suspects are considered; the guilty party is discovered and imprisoned, killed, or allowed to escape at the conclusion (Detective Fiction,† 1 Twentieth Century).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The detective story was originally a competition between the reader and the writer. It was a game intended to challenge the intellect and stimulate though. The reader is challenged by the writer to attempt to solve the mystery with the clues provided.

Chapter 5 Quickbooks Key

Peterson is a manufacturer of industry-leading Whole Tree Chippers and Debarkers, Horizontal Grinders, and Blower Trucks and Trailers. Peterson Pacific Corp. has been an Oregon Corporation since 1981. The company began as Wilbur Peterson & Sons, a heavy construction company. Peterson expanded into manufacturing to develop equipment to suit their land clearing/construction needs. A portable chain flail Delimber-Debarker was designed first, the Model DD 4800. The Model DDC 5000, a portable Delimber-Debarker-Chipper, was developed next followed by the development of other portable equipment for the paper pulp industry.The A/P Clerk is responsible for the entire accounts payable function, petty cash management, and other accounting activities. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: †¢Represents Peterson in a positive and professional manner at all times. †¢Matching receiving and PO documents to vendor invoices. †¢Verifying & investigating discrepancies of PO/invoic e/receivers. †¢Price, units, terms, extensions †¢Maintain A/P tub file, vendor master files & all A/P filing records & reports. †¢Maintain Dynamics maintenance (Qtrly) & history purge. Maintain/manage A/P check stock & safepay (positive pay) transmittals. †¢Generate and distribute checks.†¢Maintain & file batch postings, transaction & check run postings †¢Accrue A/P at month end. †¢Posting A/P transactions to general ledger daily. †¢Generating A/P reports for month-end including A/P detail aging and year-end (including 1099's). †¢Process A/P Invoice Discrepancies forms. REQUIREMENTS: †¢Systems oriented (Microsoft GreatPlains Dynamics, Max Exact MRP, Excel, Word for Windows desired). †¢Minimum 3 years of previous A/P experience. Ability to handle high transactional volume workload †¢Strong interpersonal skills (interfaces with vendors and internal departments). †¢Detail and procedural oriented â € ¢Accurate †¢Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages.Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Emphasis placed on accuracy in transposing and accounting calculations. †¢Ability to understand basic accounting relationships between Assets, Liabilities and Equity. †¢Strong problem solving skills Strong filing and organizational skills †¢Communications Skills: Must be able to demonstrate skill in communicating with supervisors and co-workers. Must express criticisms ;amp; concerns in a way that promotes teamwork and a positive work environment. †¢Must be able to understand and maintain strict confidentiality For more information, or to apply now, please go to the website below. Please do not email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website. http://peterson. iapplicants. com/ViewJob-360933. html

Poetry appreciation “Fire the sun”

Basically the poem is divided into three parts. Each part identifies a specific task assigned to a woman. It is a very simple and straightforward poem, which does not beat around the bush. It is very easy to understand and candidly outlines the average woman's life, carrying out her daily duties. However in doing this, we get the impression that she seems to be giving up a part of herself – her senses become somewhat distorted.We are told of three certain tasks carried out by these women – doing the dishes, cleaning the floor and minding the children. The first stanza is dedicated to a woman doing the dishes. Every line is repeated as it says, â€Å"the woman doing the dishes has trouble hearing†. This could be due to the noise and clamour created by the dishes. The second stanza is dedicated to a woman cleaning the floor. This woman however cannot hear at all. A phrase is used: â€Å"Let us have a moment of silence For the woman who cleans the floor† which is usually used at funeral or memorial services when mourning the deceased. It is also ironic because this woman never has a moment of silence for herself in her busy life. This, together with the image of the woman always being on the floor, therefore low down gives us the impression that this woman is regarded as dead because like a dead person, she cannot hear at all. The third stanza is dedicated to a woman at home with the children. We are told that this woman is not seen at night as she is looking after the children. She also cannot speak up for herself or listen to what others think she might have said if she was there. In this poem, the women have been very stereotyped underlining their daily, tedious chores. An overwhelming impression of the lack of power of the woman is felt reading through the poem- she has the responsibility of a wife, a worker and mother and it is not in her strength to alter anything in the life that has been set for her. However there appears to be a deeper underlying meaning to the rather simple outlook of the poem. We get the impression that the woman always seems to be taken advantage of and has to put other things before her. She is like a puppet controlled and almost programmed to carry out menial tasks day in and day out. The first stanza emphasises this through the repetition stressing the monotony and routineness of the chores. It is also repetitive because we are told the woman has trouble hearing and things have to be repeated, as she doesn't understand the first time. The second woman cannot hear at all as she is continuously cleaning the floor and then the third woman is unable to speak for herself, as she never gets to go out at night and meet people. Great emphasis is put upon their sense of hearing – again the women are stereotyped in the way that the poet is saying, being a woman there is such intense concentration on a task that they become oblivious to other things around the m. It also ties in with the fact that they cannot also hear the voices of the husband which may be complaining; subsequently if women can't hear then they can't speak their minds. Open to interpretation could be whether the poem is about three different women each doing a specific chore, or about one woman who does all these jobs. FORM: There is no distinct form to this poem – there are three separate stanzas; in the first, every line is repeated twice. However the last two stanzas are written with no distinguishable rhyming scheme or any definite pattern. This poem is in the free verse form using simple language. This relates to the women in the poem who are also very simple. TONE: Keeping in mind that this poem, which differentiates chores for women and insinuates about their fixed way of life, is actually written by a woman. It could be looked at as the poet taking a general impression of most women or maybe even including her experiences in it, yet, if she was any of these women, she wouldn't have been able to write the poem. It might even be written in the persona of a man therefore bringing in the male factor; the opinion of a man on women. Nevertheless the tone, no matter how depressing, seems to be quite realistic, calm and assured. It is in a way pitying and sympathetic yet also submissive in that the poet seems to accept it as a fact of life that cannot be changed. The tone is aggressive in a gentle way, rather than attacking, for it states the facts as they stand using uncomplicated language, which is extremely effective as it hits one straight in the heart. IMAGERY: Although the language is very simple, certain images are evoked in our minds as we read the poem. The first image is created by the repetition in the first stanza. The image is of a woman at a sink, almost like a robot, washing one dish after another and drying them one by one. The monotony strikes us as being almost inhumane as it seems never-ending. Another image is created by the woman on ‘the floor' who ‘cannot hear at all' and is given a moment of silence. There is a strong image of death in this stanza as it seems that the woman is closer to her grave on the floor than to the people around her. It is as though she is dead to the world and therefore has to be mourned. As she is so out of reach, it could explain why she cannot hear at all. It also creates the image if not of being close to her grave then being low in society i.e. her body position reflecting her status in society. The third image is created by the 'empty space' mentioned in the last stanza that one has to stare into to imagine the woman who is in fact at home with the children. She has to be given an empty space, which creates a visual picture in which one cannot distinguish the separation between her and her kids as they are so much a part of her – the empty space is just as empty as she is. As ‘you never see her at night' we get the impression that she has no time for herself – the housework and children take up all her time. Although she may actually be able to hear, she is compelled not to because the image is created that the racket of the children overpowers her. Also, as she doesn't get to go out much, she cannot speak to defend herself or listen to other conversations. She might not be able to speak because she is uneducated and does not have the courage to defend herself. This night setting is realistic because at night men tend to go out more than women, especiall y at that time. As there are many aural images of hearing etc., aural devices have been used which play as sound effects i.e. assonance in the second stanza: ‘Another poem for a woman' This soft ‘o' sound can be tied to the image of death and graves which is noticeable in this stanza. Alliteration is also used in the third stanza: ‘One more poem for the woman at home' Again this is a fairly calm ‘m' sound which ties in with the whole tone of the poem. Deliberate use of these devices by the poet can be doubted for it is not a very elaborate poem and there are no other devices such as similes or metaphors- it is very basic. INTENTION I think the author's intention was to make people notice these jobs that women do, for although they are so obvious, no one acknowledges their importance. The woman are taken too much for granted for carrying out these chores and are not appreciated for what they do. It seems to contain greatly the male view and reflects the stereotype male attitude of a woman, emphasising where he sees her the most. she is always busy somewhere-washing, cleaning, looking after the kids etc, and she never really has time for him. Even at night when it is the time for the husband and wife to be together, she has more important things to tend to. This is a simple, heartrending poem which, due to its simplicity, allows deep thought.

Free Essays on The Digital Divide Theory

Digital Divide: Why is it an Issue? Digital divide is the perceived gap between those who have access to the latest information technologies and those who do not (Compaine 1). The idea of Digital Divide does not only consist of computers and the internet, but also regular technologies, many of which we may take for granted. One prime example would be the telephone. More than 80% of people in the world have never even heard a dial tone, let alone surfed the Web (Black, par. 2). Many in the world advocate the theory of Digital Divide, and we cannot deny that those who are not aware of today’s technology are truly in some ways disenfranchised. On the other hand those people who do not have access to these technologies do manage to continue living life, and do not require technology to do so. The fact that they do not have access to telephones, computers etc., does somewhat disable them to take advantage of the enormous opportunities that could be accessed. Many question as to why there is a divide; is it co st, inability, ignorance, or rather just a lack of interest? Today’s economically advanced countries are provided with access to the internet by means of personal home computers, libraries, schools, cafà ©s, and Rios 2 many others. These nations can provide their economies with the internet by providing them in public spaces. The LSTA (The Library Services and Technology Act) is a model federal program for funding libraries to increase the visibility and credibility of the public library as the â€Å"information place in their community (Bertot, McClure, and Ryan 3).† Because of such services anyone can access the internet for free. If there are free opportunities for the general public to utilize technological equipment, then why are there still many who don’t use it? According to Henry Louis Gates, black communities don’t find the content on the net of interest to them (Gates 500). He asserts tha... Free Essays on The Digital Divide Theory Free Essays on The Digital Divide Theory Digital Divide: Why is it an Issue? Digital divide is the perceived gap between those who have access to the latest information technologies and those who do not (Compaine 1). The idea of Digital Divide does not only consist of computers and the internet, but also regular technologies, many of which we may take for granted. One prime example would be the telephone. More than 80% of people in the world have never even heard a dial tone, let alone surfed the Web (Black, par. 2). Many in the world advocate the theory of Digital Divide, and we cannot deny that those who are not aware of today’s technology are truly in some ways disenfranchised. On the other hand those people who do not have access to these technologies do manage to continue living life, and do not require technology to do so. The fact that they do not have access to telephones, computers etc., does somewhat disable them to take advantage of the enormous opportunities that could be accessed. Many question as to why there is a divide; is it co st, inability, ignorance, or rather just a lack of interest? Today’s economically advanced countries are provided with access to the internet by means of personal home computers, libraries, schools, cafà ©s, and Rios 2 many others. These nations can provide their economies with the internet by providing them in public spaces. The LSTA (The Library Services and Technology Act) is a model federal program for funding libraries to increase the visibility and credibility of the public library as the â€Å"information place in their community (Bertot, McClure, and Ryan 3).† Because of such services anyone can access the internet for free. If there are free opportunities for the general public to utilize technological equipment, then why are there still many who don’t use it? According to Henry Louis Gates, black communities don’t find the content on the net of interest to them (Gates 500). He asserts tha...