Mobile Computing in the Health Industry Essay

Computing in the Health Industry Michael Murillo CIS500 – Strayer University Professor Eve Yeates August 19, 2012 Introduction Over the years, the growth of the information technology industry has pioneered new developments in the field of mobile computing technology. Mobile computing devices has brought about change in several organizations around the world including the banking and financial industries. One of the industries that mobile computing has had the biggest impact is the healthcare industry. Health care providers and clinicians alike are constantly finding new and inventive ways to take advantage of the mobile computing technology to increase revenues, and to improve quality of service in terms of patient care and response. However, the use and implementation of mobile computing technology within the healthcare industry has not come without its source of problems. Laptop computers were bulky and the carts designed to tote these devices around the facility were very difficult to manage. According to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), â€Å"those solutions frequently failed in real-world healthcare environments, largely due to inconvenience. † The introduction of mobile computing technology in its infancy stage brought about cellphones and PDA’s which proved to be inconvenient as well. Now we come to the age of tablets and smartphones which has improved mobile computing technology for the healthcare industry immensely. Mobile Computing in the Healthcare Industry The mobile computing technology currently implemented in the healthcare industry has both its advantages and disadvantages. To summarize, the succeeding list of both pros and cons are as follows: Advantages: 1. Quick response to patients. Patient care questions and answers, remedies, prescriptions, and patient records are immediately available and accessible. 2. Patients have access to medical records, history, and information utilizing mobile apps. 3. Doctors and clinicians have access to patient data while on the go. 4. Eliminates the use of multiple devices to access patient medical records. 5. Applications in general are simple and require no or little technical knowledge. 6. Application development for mobile solutions can be realized within modest budgets. Disadvantages: 1. Technical emphasis can be a stress factor for patients as well as medical staff. 2. The input of data needs to be secured and stored. 3. The infrastructure may not be able to offer the same standards as with wired technologies. 4. The radiation issue still unclear and needs to be defined and clarified. 5. The industry overall must agree to a certain industry standard. The biggest issue regarding mobile computing technology is data security. There has however, been tremendous strides in the technologies formulated to secure patient data and to prevent eavesdropping, sniffing, active interception, or man-in-the-middle attacks. There have been many flaws found in older encryption protocols used to protect wireless networks. Improper cryptographic methods has left Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) vulnerable to attack, especially so in a healthcare environment where we are dealing with Protected Health Information (PHI). Since then, cryptographic methods have improved. Now we have WPA2 which provides a more sophisticated method of encryption by the use of Advanced Encryption Standards (AES) based on the Rijndael algorithm a symmetric block cipher that can process data blocks of 128bits using cipher keys with lengths of 128bits, 192bits, and 256bits. This is the highest form of encryption for wireless technology to date and there is no such method of hacking or cracking AES at this time. Another form of protection to wireless networks and the mobile computing industry is the introduction of the 802. 1x standard, which was developed as a means to face the challenges regarding wireless networks and wired networks from such vulnerabilities and threats. Port based authentication eliminated the threat of user intervention by unauthorized means of gaining access to an organizations network by providing a mechanism of authenticating the user at the point of connection (the port). Therefore, if an unauthorized person tried to gain access into an organizations network, he/she would have to be authenticated at the port level prior to gaining access to resources on the network or from the network servers. Another method of providing protection to an organizations network via wireless technology is through the use of MAC address filtering. Access points come with a built in feature that could allow the administrator to configure which devices can have access to the network based on the physical address of the device. These methods gave more flexibility to the network administrator in delegating control of network resources to authenticated users and preventing unauthorized access from malicious attack. The Power of Shared Experiences via Social Networking The power of social networking has proven to be a helpful tool in organizing assistance when dealing with a major illness. Carepages. com is a website designed to provide support to families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses. Patients can post updates on there condition, share thoughts about how they are feeling. They can also share multimedia contents such as photos or videos, and obtain a flux of support from individuals from around the world experiencing the same illnesses. The power of social networking call also be helpful in updating family and friends in an instant without having to take the time to make several phone calls or text messages. Amazon. com’s Universal Wish List is also a creative means to have family and friends help during a time of serious illness and financial crisis. This service allows the patient to post a wish list of things as simple as detergent to pricey dietary supplement drinks.

Crimes that deserve the capital punishment Essay

Nowadays when one hears about recent news, filled with constantly growing reports of crimes and atrocities he may wonder whether we live in a world where strong moral principles and justice fades. The causes of such situation may be diverse, ranging from weak and incompetent law or the state of society which promotes the pursuit of material wealth at all costs. It is often highlighted that punishment sentences are not adequate to the crimes and it’s not uncommon to see brutal and outrageous felonies penalized with a mere few years of imprisonment. That said, aside from whether these unlawful offenders manage to rehabilitate themselves, the fact that after the incarceration, the most hardened murderers and thugs are at liberty again raises doubts about the effectiveness of law and may lead certain individuals to think that they are practically unpunishable. This problem doesn’t concern prevailing part of the States of America, because in 32 out of 50 States the death sen tence is a possible method of dealing with the most ignoble cases of trespassing a law. Historically speaking the death sentence was a part of common English law and as such became a part of the English colonies law, but as soon as the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed and United States began to form, certain States had different views on this punishment. Offences that were penalized with it and methods of the executions also varied. The breakthrough in the judicial treatment of this matter was a case ruled in 1972, known as Furman v. Georgia. The defendant charged robbery and murder was sentenced to death, but the verdict was never carried out. That’s because the opinion of court was that the current death penalty is in this case a cruel and unusual punishment. This led to the mortification of capital punishment for 4 years, until the Greg v. Georgia in 1976 and unification of the death penalty. As for now, in almost every big state, death penalty is legal. Texas is currently known as having performed the highest number of executions, which is not surprising, as it has the second highest population rate. The debate over capital punishment is continuing to this day, but is very controversial. There is a definite tendency to abolish this penalty over introducing it, as seen in  Connecticut and Maryland. These states abolished death penalty in 2012 and 2013. The moral issue is whether it is possible for human to decide over the other human death or life, but also if certain crimes deserve the capital punishment. Again, is it really just for certain offenders to live in confinement at the expense of the taxpayers even for the rest of their lives? In my opinion the feelings of the family and close acquaintances of the victims should be taken into account. It is only natural for them to wish the dangerous murderers dead. Furthermore I think that notorious criminals and particula rly brutal killers should be sentenced to death. Another moral controversy stems from the fact that there were cases in which convicts were posthumously proven to be not guilty. The contemporary judicial process allows for such wrongful convictions but this number is statistically low. On the other hand a system which allows execution when there is even a doubt about the defendant’s guilt can be considered inhumane and barbaric for such advanced and progressive country as the United States of America. The recent case of Troy Davis, who was believed of being innocent of murder brought much attention to the subject in 2011. The Death Penalty Information Center reported much higher than anticipated opposition to the current situation, because the American society was seen majorly as in favor of capital punishment. From the economical viewpoint the death sentence has its benefits and drawbacks. Firstly, the most felonious offenders could spend a set number of years or the rest of their lives doing the hard labor, but there is possibility that they will not work or deliberately do a bad job. Currently in the United States the penal labor is not required, b ut the convict who refused to work usually gets smaller food rations, longer sentence or other restricting sanctions. It seems like it’s the good solution but would it be enough to compensate for their sustenance, particularly when they live to the old age and can’t work? Next issue is connected with the high costs of exceptionally long trials. If there is insufficient evidence about the defendant who is in the death row the law is in a fix. There is little to do in such situation unless the new methods of interrogation or criminal research become viable. To summarize, this topic offers a great number of controversies and has no easy and direct approach. In the past the capital punishment was a part of every society, but now in almost every country in the world it is abolished or under the moratorium,  which shows that we, the human kind are progressing as a sentient and civilized beings. The United States of America is one of the most industrialized and populous countries today that still practice the death penalty, others being for example China, Japan and India. This makes one wonder if these countries can be considered civilized, but the capital punishment still has a very strong support. One of the most reasonable argument is that under the threat of the most severe consequences people will not commit crime. In the end, whether it is justifiable to take the other’s life in the name of law or not, I am in favor of such possibility and America’s approach. In my opinion there are some crimes that deserve the capital punishment.

A Situation Analysis of a primary school of UK Essay

A Situation Analysis of a primary school of UK - Essay Example The ecological notion of ‘limiting factors’ is a useful concept with much relevance to the interaction of factors so as to facilitate or discourage good-quality learning. A situation analysis carried and represented here deals with the identification of learning difficulties in a primary school in UK which involves consideration of how factors like the curriculum, teaching strategies and school routines and relationships all of which affect children in different ways over a period of time. The aim would be to understand and respond to the educationally relevant individual differences which can create persistent obstacles to children’s learning in different contexts. A key aspect of this process is to give due weight to the interpretation and intentions of the people involved i.e. how does the professional interacts in the class. The tool which was used to derive efficient results was SWOT analysis. It was devised to identify the extent to which the current strateg y of an organization and its more specific strengths and weaknesses are relevant to and capable of dealing with changes in the wider environment. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The professional should identify the Opportunities and Threats provided by an external environment and Strengths and Weaknesses of the school as an institution.

Write a critical review (2500 words) of a health or social care issue Essay - 2

Write a critical review (2500 words) of a health or social care issue currently facing East London - Essay Example The East End of London is the East London’s subset, which corresponds to the regions that are nearer to the ancient city. Nevertheless, the development of the city towards the east was as a result of the growth of industries that were lined or associated with River Themes like the docks and the building of the ships. Since these industries started declining during the later part of the twentieth century, now the area of East London is a region of regeneration. This has actually reached the advanced stages in the London Docklands, however, it is still continuing in the East London parts that fall within the Thames Gateway, like the Stratford’s redevelopment which is linked to the Summer Olympics of the year 2012 (Barts and East London, 2011). The areas that fall further east were developed during the Edwardian and Victorian periods as a result of the railways expansion during the nineteenth century. The development of the suburban residences for the purposes of private sale later came to be matched by the offering of social housing on large scale in the 1920s at Becontree and Harold Hill after World War I. Nevertheless, we find that the constraining of the urban footprint was done by the protection or preservation of the Epping Forest in the year 1878 and later the Metropolitan Green Belt’s implementation. The intensity of development rose in the period of interwar and new companies developed in Dagenham like Ford. The population in the Tower Hamlets reached its highest in the year 1891 and then the population growth was limited to the outer boroughs. The population had peaked in each borough and the whole region was experiencing a fall in the population growth. According to the census of the year 2011, this was s een to be reversed and each borough has seen some increase in the population. The region of East London evidently has a rich history but has not lacked some setbacks in many aspects

Queering a film (Hotel Transylvania 2012) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Queering a film (Hotel Transylvania 2012) - Essay Example Firstly and most obviously, Doty discusses the means by which the word â€Å"queer† is â€Å"used as an attempt to account for the existence and expression of a wide range of positions within the cutlrue that are ‘queer’ or non-anti, or contra-straight† (Doty 3). In this way, the reader rapidly understands that rather than merely promoting a certain point of view, the use and inclusion of such a phrase as an overarching world view denotes as much of what is not as what is. For this reason rather than merely denoting that the queer lifestyle exists and is an alternative to the pervasive expressions of straightness that exist, both societally and culturally, this specific use of the term helps to engage the viewer with an understand of what specifically queer is not and how it attempts to differentiate itself from the mainstream. As a function of accomplishing such an end there are multiple ways in which a filmmaker could seek to â€Å"queer† a movie. ... However, as Doty notes, a more equitable and fair representation of the queer world view and lifestyle goes beyond a simple representation of â€Å"homosexuality†. In this sense, the filmmaker is greeted with a difficult construct in which to work. On the one she may wish to incorporate these more nuanced interpretations of queerness; however, on the other hand, she may find herself somewhat stymied by that such nuanced representations of queerness would necessarily reduce to artistic expressions of highly sophisticated stereotypes. As a means to avoid such a simplistic approach, this author would recommend that rather than focussing on indvidiual aspects of â€Å"queerness† within the movie Hotel Transylvania, a clear contrast could be drawn between characters that represented both straight and queer worldviews/perspectives. Although imperfect, such a representation would be able to have a stronger effect than merely representing a gay couple or uniquely and perhaps ch eap representation of singluarly queer point of view on a given issue/topic. Moreover, as the word itself has developed a life of its own, Doty uses it in ways that are not traditionally associated with a homosexual lifestyle or worldview. As such, the therm has come to represent the many multifacted ways in which a rebellion against normality and standard definitions of the world exist. As the author states in the article, queerness was as much about a clear renunciation of societal mores/norms as it was about the ability to fall in love with and be romantically or sexually involved with a member of one’s own sex. In this way, one of the best ways to â€Å"queer† the movie would be

The Marketing Strategies of Beauty Companies Like Lux Beauty Soap Research Paper - 10

The Marketing Strategies of Beauty Companies Like Lux Beauty Soap - Research Paper Example The marketer takes stock of the demographic forces in a market population in order to best tailor their marketing strategies to suit it. This is manipulation of the marketing environment whether or not it is for its good (Micheal). Marketers know that in order for the consumer to be manipulated into buying a product that they need to: â€Å"Remember a cultural sign gets its meaning from the system or code in which it appears†¦.the image it portrays†¦.the social context in which the image is accepted†¦.†(Maasik 81). That means that marketers have to stay ahead to consumers to be able to predict their wants and needs. In the case of Lux Beauty, soap this means knowing the need of women for beauty and acceptance in a society that adores the beautiful. It is not only important to understand wants and needs but also to comprehend consumers concerns and motivations. This will enable the producers of goods to properly adjust product specifications and tailor them to co nsumer’s needs. This means that marketers have to research and scan the market so that the continually acquires information on consumers and their response to their products. It is the job of marketers to monitor events that occur outside the product to identify trends, opportunities and threats to the product from competitors or changes in consumer needs. With the onset of globalization, these activities are carried out on a global scale. Lux Beauty Soap is a globally bought product. This has led the company to use different images to portray beauty according to the societal norms of beauty.

Managing Relationships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managing Relationships - Essay Example It all begun when I joined high school, this man came my way as I was looking for a place to print my documents. Being that I was new to this school, I asked him to show me where I could print my documents. The man gladly volunteered to deviate from his journey to where he was headed initially, just to make sure he takes me to the printing place. He directed me to a certain cybercafà ©, just by the gates of the school compound. Here, all services were offered at a student-pocket- friendly prices. I liked it, and after I was done, I asked the young boy to tell me who owns the cybercafà ©. At my surprise, the man told me he did. The man was the owner of the cybercafà © and he was a student as well. I had always thought of doing the same thing. So I told this young man my interest and he allowed me to join him in the business. It is now three years since we met and became business partners with John. Our business has expanded since we now have a wider customer base and a lot of cumulated assets. Our short-term attraction to work with each other each was dependent on interest. I was very interested and impressed with the fact that one can actually run a cybercafà © very well as they study. In addition, John did not have enough capital to expand his business, so he wanted a trusted partner to work with. On the other hand, after working for some time together, we acquired a lot of assets together with the money we jointly owned. This is a fact that made our relationship develop further and make it now to be a long-term one. We are long-term partners since we have established the business to a bigger one right now and even opened up a branch in a nearby town. Our relationship is one that is guided by several types of power. For instance, there is the use of reward power, legitimate power, expert power as well as referent power. In this case, reward power since we

Guitar Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Guitar - Research Paper Example Keywords: Guitar, Music, instrument Introduction Guitar is a stringed musical instrument commonly used in most of the production of music. It is a versatile instrument made of wood, and it enables the composition of complex harmonies and intonation (Hempstead & Worthington, 2005). The instrument consists of two parts; the neck from which the strings originate and the body on which the strings terminate (Wade, 2001). It is one of the most played musical instruments after piano. Most guitars have six strings, but there are some with four while others have twelve strings. Allan (2002) says that a guitar produces sound by the playing of its strings. The sound produced gets projected through electrical amplification or acoustically (for the case of electrical and acoustic guitars respectively). Playing a guitar involves plucking the strings with one hand while fretting the strings with the other hand (Hempstead & Worthington, 2005). It is one of the most fundamental musical instruments be cause of its convenience. It is easy to carry a guitar around because it is light and portable as compared with drums and piano (Wheeler, 1980). Types of Guitars There are several types of guitars, but all of them fall under two broad categories: acoustic and the electric guitars. The acoustic guitars depend on acoustic means as opposed to electronic means, to convert and amplify the energy of the vibrating strings to produce a sound (Kasha, 1998). This involves use of a soundboard that amplifies the vibrations of the strings. There are two types of acoustic guitars: classical and the steel-string. The classical ones have no nylon strings. Additionally, they have wider necks unlike to the steel-string guitars which have a metallic sound that is distinctive wide range of most popular music styles (Hempstead & Worthington, 2005). The body of an acoustic guitar is a hollow chamber, which makes the instrument has a deep tone. Its portability and ease of use is the quality that makes the acoustic guitars suitable to small concerts, churches and other functions (Tom & Mary, 1977). For stadium concerts and other large venues, some amplification is necessary. To do this using an acoustic guitar, the operator places the microphone a few inches from the sound-hole or alternatively by installing a pickup (Kasha, 1998). Electric guitars convert the vibration of its strings into electric impulses by use of a pickup by the principle of electromagnetic induction (Wheeler, 1980). The electric guitars differ from the others in two ways: one, they have solid bodies made from wood. The electric guitars must be amplified through electrical means in order to hear their sound (Wheeler, 1980). The use of an amplifier aims at obtaining implication of the electrical guitar. The electric guitar when amplified produces a metallic sound that does not decay fast, and this quality makes electric guitars suitable for pop, blues and jazz music (Ratcliffe, 2005). The strings of an electric gu itar are thinner than those of the acoustic guitars. The strings are also very close to the neck, therefore, pressing them down requires less force (Farmer, 1988). History of the Guitar The guitar is one of the man’s oldest and most symbolic musical instruments, and it is a major building

Learning Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Learning Methods - Essay Example A lecture is an exposition of a given subject given out before a class for the main purpose of learning or giving instruction. This is generally a method of teaching by formal discourse with the main purpose of offering an overview of a certain subject and delivering particular information on a specific subject. Lectures are of more importance in providing a synthesis of several researchers and textbooks or give out original or unpublished information. A lecture usually exists in four type’s i.e. participatory lecture, oral essays, problem-solving and textual exegesis. (Nunan, 1992, pg 56) 0728866156,072 However the oral essay, participatory and textual exegesis is more lecturers coordinated, controlled and they are closer to the traditional model in which a lecture is divided into specific topics and sub-topics and orderly covered. As the problem-solving and participatory varieties are conducted with apparently greater flexibility however it requires a tedious planning (Nunan, 1992, pg 57) Lectures being the mostly used methods of learning I found it vital in my learning ability but I was always challenged with a number of factors that would not easily allow me have the appropriate learning ability. For instance the big number of students always needed an early wake up in order to catch up with the population in order to have a front sit where u can easily have clear understanding of the lectures. Nevertheless my hard work to be the first among the front chair students inability to clearly understand the language of he lectures made my learning too harder. I would not clearly get the vital contents due to faster speaking lecturers. The large population greatly hindered the understanding ability due to different noises from every part of the room; with my inability to clearly getting the lecture’s fluency this added another burden on it due to message distortion. The most challenging part is when I came late in class.

Generational Differences in the Workplace Essay Example for Free

Generational Differences in the Workplace Essay PURPOSE This article attempts to describe the different age groups composing each of the categories of generations in the current U.S. workforce and their distinguishing characteristics. The piece also seeks to analyze how each group’s differing traits may impact an organization. The main purpose of the paper is to teach management how recognizing these differing views may help them to better motivate and satisfy the members of each group. QUESTIONS So who are these different generational groups? The author has broken today’s workforce down into three identifiable groups by birth year. These groups are Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. They will be described in more detail in the following paragraphs. The first, and oldest group, are the Baby Boomers. This category includes those born between the years of 1946 to 1964. The Baby Boomers are the largest group and many of them can be found throughout the managerial ranks. They are reputed to be self-absorbed and have a feeling of entitlement. This group is said to value success, teamwork, inclusion, and rule-challenging. They are open to change and loyal to their employer. Generation X is comprised of those born between 1965 and 1979. This group is concerned with career options and a balance of work and home life. They seek fulfilling work but are cynical of corporations and government. This cynicism leads themnto being less loyal than their predecessors (the Baby Boomers). Generation Xers are computer literate and demand fulfilling work while still craving a fun work environment. The third group is Generation Y. This includes those born from 1980 to present (per reports made in 2005 and 2006). According to the author this group is optimistic but realistic, globally aware, and inclusive. They are very technologically inclined and diverse in their attitude. They yearn for a work/family balance and independence though they need feedback from their employer. They are also curious and results oriented. This generation can become disenchanted with presented with entry level jobs for they seek challenges. INFORMATION The author used a number of other studies to reach his conclusions. The Rokeach Value Survey (RVS) seems to have been the main instrument in gathering information. This study allows participants to rank the measures they find most valuable. INFERENCES/CONCLUSIONS In the â€Å"Implications for Managers† section of the paper, the author makes suggestions for how a manager should treat each class. He has used the research to draw his conclusions. His suggestions seem based on the traits and behaviors each group tends to exhibit. For the Baby Boomers he states that they can be motivated with money, overtime, praise, and position. He enforces the idea that this generation is loyal. For Generation X he suggests making work fun and meaningful. He also thinks lending an understanding ear to this group could be helpful. Generation Y needs exciting and relevant work, says the author. Make sure they have opportunity for career advancement. Also a manger should be mindful of their need for feedback. CONCEPTS The main idea of this article is that the difference in values and beliefs of each generation can have an impact on the job. Understanding these differences and how to make the most of them is key to satisfying and motivating each group. The paper seeks to explain these differences, why they tend to occur, and how to use those differences to the employer’s advantage. ASSUMPTIONS One main drawback to the ideas set forth in this article is assuming everyone in each generation holds the same values and beliefs. In this vain, managers may be able to cater to a large majority of employees but can miss satisfying the wants and needs of certain individuals. Although the research may encapsulate certain behaviors and traits of most of the people, there will be variables that it does not take into account. IMPLICATIONS/CONSEQUENCES The author’s conclusions may serve managers well. His conclusions based on the research and following suggestions seem to be based in logic and geared toward getting the most out of and retaining employees. It probably does help to understand how best to motivate others if you understand why they feel the way they do. Although generation and age may not be the only mitigating factor in an employee’s attitude, it seems to be a good starting point. POINTS OF VIEW As stated previously, age (date of birth) can not account solely for a person’s values and beliefs. As in anything else, there are always variables that can skew data. Some variables that are not reflected in the data are financial status, marital status, locale, and a wide variety of other things. However, if it is possible to meet the needs of many while only having to concentrate on a few â€Å"one-offs† then these recommendations can only serve to ease a manager’s position. PERSONAL NOTE I am probably one of the â€Å"one-offs† but I’ve always marched to the beat of a different drummer. I have, however, been witness to many of these stereotypes. I have worked plenty of jobs where the generational differences were quite apparent. Sometimes the â€Å"old-timers† actually relish that name and take pride in it. The difference in attitudes and values can be glaring. I defintiely think it is good that there is information out there to help managers understand these differences and help to deal with them. BIBLIOGRAPHY Generational Differences In The Workplace: Personal Values, Behaviors, And Popular Beliefs. The Clute Institute, 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. .

Roberto Assagiolis Psychosynthesis: Role in Counselling

Roberto Assagiolis Psychosynthesis: Role in Counselling Murray Sheret Students will examine the ideas of one of the theorists introduced in class. They will relate these ideas to their own meaning-making process and their conception of the role of the counsellor and the practice of counselling. The essay will contain reference to the relevant body of academic literature, including both primary and secondary sources. Roberto Assagiolis Psychosynthesis â€Å"The mystical is not how the world is, but that it is.† Ludwig Wittgenstein This essay will explore the concepts and practice of psychosynthesis while relating these ideas to my own meaning-making process and my conception of the role of the counsellor and the practice of counselling. Psychosynthesis, the practical psychological approach founded by Italian psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli, integrates the wisdom of an eclectic array of psychological and philosophical traditions, including Jungian psychology, psychoanalysis, existential psychology, Buddhism, yogic traditions and Christian esoteric study (Brown, 1983, p. 30). Psychosynthesis recognises two fundamental dimensions of human growth which are the personal and transpersonal dimensions. The personal dimension is concerned with â€Å"the meaning and integration of our personal existence, with the experience of being significant and effective in the world† (Brown, 1983, pp. 30-31). The transpersonal dimension of growth involves â€Å"spiritual study and practices, artistic and creative expressions, contemplation and questioning of ultimate, universal meaning in which we seek the meaning and purpose of the larger reality† (Brown, 1983, pp. 31). Included in both the other dimensions is the interpersonal dimension which is integral to achieving balanced growth in both dimensions as it means â€Å"fulfilling interpersonal relationships within our families, our circles of friends, and our communities† (Brown, 1983, p. 31). Assagioli conceived of the individual as being a dynamic interrelation of ; â€Å"The lower unconscious, the middle unconscious, the higher unconscious or superconscious, the field of consciousness, the conscious self or â€Å"I†, and the higher self† (Assagioli, 2000, pp. 15-17). The attributes of these various aspects comprise of various psychological, emotional, psychic, emotional, sensate and spiritual functions. However, of most pertinence to mention here are the attributes of the conscious self or â€Å"I† which Assagioli asserts is â€Å"the point of pure self awareness, the centre of our consciousness which is not to be confused with the changing contents of ones consciousness (thoughts, feelings, sensations etc)† (Assagioli, 2000 p. 16), and the higher self which is â€Å"the conscious, permanent, ever present centre the true self† (Assagioli, 2000, p.16). Psychosynthesis works to discover sub-personalities which are considered to be â€Å"constellations of behaviours, feelings, and thought that are left over from a time when they were needed for survival, to meet lower level needs† (Brown, 1983, p. 27). Once discovered the work then becomes â€Å"assisting the â€Å"I† to disidentify from the sub-personalities enough so that one can then recognise and honour its initial purpose† (Brown, 1983, p. 27). A multi staged meditation style disidentification exercises are used to achieve this. Psychosynthesis teacher Molly Brown explains the larger aim of this exercise, â€Å"The â€Å"I† can then reclaim this purpose and its â€Å"Will† energy while letting go of the specific behaviours and attitudes that no longer serve† (Brown, 1983, p. 27). A range of psychotherapeutic methods are used to explore the depths of the lower unconscious in order to â€Å"uncover the childish images that silently domina te us, the â€Å"phantasms† and fears that paralyse us and the conflicts that waste our energies† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 19). The regions of the middle and higher unconscious that house our unknown abilities and higher potentialities are likewise explored. The first stage of the psychosynthesis process involves ascertaining the â€Å"unique existential situation of the client† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 5). The therapist and client work together to jointly gain a thorough knowledge of the clients personality. Then follows the activation of their latent aspects and functions along with the development of the weak ones through the use of the active techniques suitable for each task (Assagioli, 2000, p. 5). Psychosynthesis uses many techniques aimed at the â€Å"development and perfection of the personality and its harmonious ongoing unification with the Self† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 94). Among these are, Self-identification, disidentification, development of the Will, training and use of the imagination, visualisation, auditory evocation of other sensations, technique of ideal models and symbol utilisation and the technique for the use of intuition. Next the individual learns to gain control over the various elements of their person ality. The psychological principle this is based on may be formulated as: â€Å"We are dominated by everything which our self becomes identified. We can dominate and control everything from which we dis-identify ourselves. The question becomes then â€Å"to what extent can we identify ourselves with the true Self and disidentify ourselves from the non-self† (Gerard, 1961, p. 3). The work is then aimed at assisting one to become aware that their â€Å"conscious self is not their ultimate reality and identity, this then allows them to realise their true Self, the discovery of their unifying centre† (Gerard, 1961, p. 4). As psychosynthesis utilises a range of therapeutic approaches it is therefore capable of attending to symptoms at many different levels of consciousness, this approach means the therapist is less likely to interpret a deeper state of consciousness as pathological or to apply an inappropriate therapeutic technique based on such misinterpretation (Brown, 1983, p. 7). I appreciate Assagiolis therapeutic disposition here as this mode of therapy seems to conceive of the psychological and emotional struggles of the client as being symptoms of an existential difficulty with living rather than a pathology awaiting categorisation. The central purpose of psychosynthesis is brought about in concert with the work of developing and activating the various aspects and functions of the individual. Assagioli described this as â€Å"the harmonisation and integration into one functioning whole of all the qualities and functions of the individual† (Assagioli, 2000, p.5). What follows is the development and training of the Will, the concept of which is central to psychosynthesis. Assagioli defines the use of Will as, â€Å"the ability to develop that strategy which is most effective and which entails the greatest economy of effort, rather than the strategy that is most direct and obvious. The most effective and satisfactory role of the Will is not as a source of direct power or force, but as that function which, being at our command, can stimulate, regulate, and direct all the other functions and forces of our being so that they may lead us to our predetermined goal† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 47). Assagioli asserted that â€Å"The Will is that function which is most directly related to the Self- the individual generally is not aware of his Self, and consequently he is just as unaware of the direct function of the Self, the Will (2000, p. 111). The psychosynthetic concept of Will marries beautifully with my understanding of the human condition which I have arrived at through my own lived experience. Seemingly one remains a victim of circumstance when they are operating though old ways of functioning that have become ways of coping rather than living. When old wounds and outdated ways of being are sufficiently apprehended and integrated the individual is offered an opportunity to align themselves with their Will and their spiritual essence, the â€Å"conscious self† and the â€Å"higher self† as psychosynthesis refers to them. To be aligned with ones Will in this way is to have life live itself through you, the individual becomes more akin to hollow bamboo, a cond uit through which spirit may express itself. Though this is an ongoing process of unfoldment rather than a final destination to be arrived at. I feel we are indeed beings that tend towards ever increasing levels of integration and self-actualisation and as such, by denying part of our being or experience we subvert our potential and hinder our capacity for adaptive living. With sufficient attainment one may begin to live their highest purpose with creativity, spontaneity and love. Psychosynthesis teacher Molly Brown asserts that â€Å"The development of the Will involves the union of its various aspects, strength, skill and goodness which then becomes loving Will, the expression of love through our willed acts† (2004, p. 121). There are several stages for the development of the Will, the first consists of setting a goal or finding a purpose to be achieved and then setting an intention as to what purpose or goal towards which the Will is to be directed (Assagioli, 2000, p.113). Then follows valuation and motivation. The consideration of motivation involves â€Å"the uncovering of unconscious drives as the function of the Will is to utilise them and insure their cooperation in the attaining of the chosen purpose† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 113). Motivation inevitably implies valuation as the aim or purpose towards which the Will is to be directed must have an intense positive valuation (Assagioli, 2000, p. 113). This process is then followed by a period of deliberation and consideration of various factors relating to the value and attainability of the goal or purpose (Assagioli, 2000, p. 113). The next stage in the use of the Will involves making a volitional decision, a conscious choice to direct the Will at a particular purpose. Assagioli stresses that this is a difficult stage as it â€Å"involves choice and the difficulty in making a voluntary decision is that the individual, either clearly or obscurely, realises that decision involves responsibility, that decision is an act of freedom which inevitably involves responsibility† (2000, p. 114). The next step is affirmation which involves the cultivation of faith. Assagioli avows that â€Å"this is not simply a â€Å"belief† but a living dynamic faith, even more, an assured conviction† (2000, p. 114). He goes on to affirm that, â€Å"At the very least there must be a willingness to â€Å"attempt†, to take risks, in a spirit of adventure† (2000, p. 114). The affirmation becomes a â€Å"command or declaration made to oneself with intensity as the power of the affirmation determines the de gree of its effectiveness† (Assagioli, 2000, p. 114). Meaning is inherent in this embodiment of choice and responsibility. This is the act of consciously taking command of one’s power and asserting it in the world while perceiving one’s own actions as valuable, meaningful and worthy. The following stage of psychosynthesis is planning in which ones activity, the steps of which having been previously visualised, is organised in a clearly outlined program that is aimed at the realisation of the ultimate purpose or goal (Assagioli, 2000, p. 114). The final stage is the direction and execution of the action which requires two qualities in particular of the Will, firstly, the dynamic power of the Will (one pointed driving energy), and secondly, persistence or endurance (Assagioli, 2000, p. 115). The culmination of these processes results in one discovering their unifying centre, the realisation of their true Self. They experience psychosynthesis itself, â€Å"the formation or reconstruction of a personality around the newly discovered centre† (Gerard, 1961, p. 4). The process of psychosynthesis speak directly to my highest ideals of counselling as I was once pulled aside by a wise man who put me through a similar process. Aside from giving me the opportunity to face the limiting beliefs I had long held about myself he gave me permission to take myself seriously. This was a profound act. I was compelled to disidentifiy with many limiting sub-personalities and thought forms that had kept me from living my purpose. What more meaning could there be than to identify ones authentic path in life and set about dissolving that which is not in service to it. While the healing of emotional wounds is a worthy initial goal for counselling the directing of the newly integrated self towards its highest purpose is a much richer objective. To see people not only heal but to consciously expand and thrive is the raison detre of my work as a counsellor. As each has been shaped by their subjective experience, the therapist and client may have widely different ideas about the social meaning and function of therapy. A client may only recognise therapy as a service capable of little more than lessening the effects of troubling symptoms, though I would consider the lessening of ones symptoms to be a small part of their larger process of becoming or self-actualisation. However, such notions need not be made overt in the course of therapy if they are irrelevant to the contextual needs of the client. By its very nature, counselling confers an obligation on its practitioners to reflect on their own ideologies and refine their epistemology. A therapist must wrestle with the existential reality of being, to confront the nature of suffering, love, death, hope, emptiness, consciousness and transcendence. Assagioli argued that â€Å"a human psychology cannot be complete without including the so-called spiritual dimension, our relationship to the cosmos and to our highest ideals† (2000, p. 34). Constructivist psychologies orientation towards the exploration of human beings tendency toward â€Å"creating systems for meaningfully understanding their worlds and experiences† (Raskin, 2002, p. 1) is a positive element to be adding to my therapeutic approach, though the schism between differing constructivist positions must first be resolved. A therapy that values above all the primacy of the clients felt experience is able to transcend the dichotomy that exists between realism and idealism, epistemological constructivism and hermeneutic constructivism while still engaging the utility each unique perspective provides when it’s appropriate to the client’s needs. Whether or not we can know a thing independently of the mind or not matters little in the face of whatever the client’s felt experience happens to be. The meaning the client is making of their experience is primary to the therapeutic task. The question of; to what degree can constructions of rea lity be discovered through observation and to what degree are such discoveries â€Å"heuristic fictions† (Raskin, 2002, p. 3) is of far less concern than the lager question of; is the meaning thats being created or discovered by the client life enhancing or life negating? My own opinion is that there are indeed fundamental truths to be known and engaged with. Whether or not these truths exist independently of my mind or not is of little consequence for the purposes of my growth. What matters is that these truths are experienced as fundamental to me, my meaning making, my felt experience, and in this way they may well be, as philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said, â€Å"true enough† (1998, p. 43). The hermeneutic constructivist notion that â€Å"knowledge and truth are contextually verifiable rather than universally valid, socially negotiated rather than cognitively and individually produced† (Raskin, 2002, p. 4) highlights the lack of capacity human beings have to share â€Å"a truth† with one another should they stumble upon one. Philosopher Terence McKenna eloquently encapsulated this sentiment when he said â€Å"What hubris it would be to expect that the small-mouth noises of English could encompass being. No, these are lower dimensional slices of a reality that is ultimately unitary, ineffable, unspeakable, and dazzling† (McKenna, 1992). Assagioli affirmed his respect for the ineffable nature of transpersonal realities when he averred, â€Å"Psychosynthesis does not aim nor attempt to give a metaphysical nor a theoretical explanation of the great mystery- it leads to the door, but stops there† (Assagioli, 2000, pp. 6-7). Inspired therapy impels clients towards meaningfully understanding their lived experience as among its treasurers meaning offers understanding, a sense of locating oneself in one’s story and ultimately arriving at the empowering conclusion that they have taken a position of authorship. The practice of psychosynthesis beautifully honours the clients â€Å"inner world of subjective experience† (Bugental, 1987, p. 46) by ascertaining and working with the unique existential situation of each client. Psychosynthesis is an act of love which assists the client to identify with their authentic self while striving for the realisation of their highest aspirations that which is imbued with greatest personal meaning. The various experiential processes enhance perspective and catalyse inspired and adaptive living while connecting one to that function which is most directly related to the Self – the Will. Once sufficiently aligned with their Will a person may experience thems elves in a world infused with meaning and filled with purpose. There may even be, in the corner of their eye, beyond their confident stare, a flicker of knowing that they themselves are Willing their own reality into existence. Reference List: Assagioli, R. (2000). Psychosynthesis: A collection of basic writings. Massachusetts, USA: Synthesis Centre Editions. Assagioli, R. (1974). The act of will. New York, NY: Penguin. Brown, M. (2004). Unfolding self: The practice of psychosynthesis. New York, NY: Allworth Press. Bugental, J. (1987). The art of the psychotherapist: How to develop the skills that take psychotherapy beyond science. New York, NY: Norton Company, Inc. Gerard, R. (1961). Psychosynthesis: A psychotherapy for the whole man. Massachusetts, USA: Synthesis Centre Editions. McKenna, T. (Speaker). (1992). Hermeticism and alchemy. (Digital recording). Colorado, USA: Sounds True Publishing. Raskin, J. (2002). Psychology, radical constructivism, and social constructivism. American Communication Journal, 5 (3) 1-4. Wittgenstein, L. (1998). Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. New York, NY: Dover Publication Inc. Lyndon B Johnsons Great Society Programs: Analysis Lyndon B Johnsons Great Society Programs: Analysis Were Johnson’s great society programmes a failure? In 1969, President Lyndon Baines Johnson left office after having earlier declared that he would not seek, or accept the democratic nomination for the next presidential election. It was an acrimonious end for an administration that boasted greater social legislative achievement than any that preceded it and fundamentally altered the basis on which American social policy was formed. The primary debacle that can be said to account for the demise of the Johnson presidency was the protracted and costly US involvement in Vietnam. Although it was under the Kennedy administration that the US first became embroiled in Vietnam, it was Johnson who accelerated such developments and therefore has gone down in history as the primary protagonist in one of America’s most divisive conflicts. However, are such calamities enough to justify the claim that Johnson’s great society programmes were a failure? After all, the legislative vigor with which he attempted to address America’s pressing social issues was admirable. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed racial discrimination in public places, such as hotels, restaurants and public transport. It also developed significant political rights, in particular franchise extensions for America’s less advantaged. As a parallel drive, Johnson also announced his ‘war on poverty’ which was institutionalized with the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) and Economic opportunity Act of 1964. Following an overwhelming election victory in 1964 Johnson accelerated the great society programmes with a spate of legislative achievements. 1965 saw 115 presidential recommendations for legislation, with an above average 90 being approved. However, although in 1965 the great society programmes appeared to be a re sounding success, later assessment has cast doubt over just how much praise should be lavished upon the Johnson administrations legislative achievements. The overriding issue that dominates the discussion on the success of the great society is Vietnam. As Ira Katznelson has noted, both the great society programmes and the war Vietnam were formed on the same ideological basis. This basis was the establishment and conservation of democratic principles abroad, whilst simultaneously reinvigorating the democratic process at home. As such, she argues that the two drives were so interconnected and reliant upon one another’s success, that it was impossible to hope that the great society could be successful in light of the failure in Vietnam. This is an accurate assessment which is adhered to by a majority of writers on the subject and one to which I offer my own endorsement. However, leaving aside the volatile issue of Vietnam and its repercussions on the great society initiatives, is it possible to see successes if we look at the great society programmes in their entirety. Prominent amongst the voices of dissension is the leading academic George Gilder, who argues that above all the great society legislation (and the New Deal and Fair Deal that preceded it) created a situation that led to a reliance on state security benefits. Ultimately, the great society legislation was formed on an historical basis that had begun with Roosevelt’s New Deal and played a significant role in halting progress in terms of ‘societal betterment’. Gilder asserts that although Johnson’s war on poverty was well motivated, it nonetheless did more to prolong and exacerbate America’s poverty problem than alleviate it. A climate of dependency was therefore created that allowed people living in poverty to continue doing so, instead of achieving prog ress and betterment through their own endeavor. As such, Gilder argues that there developed a necessity, to reverse the great society legislation and the negative impact it had on US societal progress. The Reagan administration, along with its emphasis upon the individual was the inherent result of this situation and the overall failure of the great society programmes. However, although Gilder’s arguments present a coherent and systematic approach to the question, he still fails to highlight the groundbreaking nature of the great society programmes. Gary Gerstle, although operating from a point of view relatively similar to Gilders offers us a further detailed assessment. He argues firstly that the great society programmes failed to address the question of income distribution adequately and as such had a long term impact upon the problem. This impact was so widespread, affecting in particular black communities that even before the election of Ronald Reagan in 1981 there was a significant divide between rich and poor in America, which could easily be traced along racial lines. As such, Gerstle sees the inability to redress this imbalance as the primary failure of the great society. In conclusion, it is clear that there were serious flaws in the great society programmes initiated by Lyndon Johnson. Many of these deficiencies took years to present themselves and impacted greatly on the America that developed in the post Vietnam period. However, it is also the case that the great society heralded a new era in the relationship between the individual and the state. Just as with the post war Labour government in Britain, the great society ushered in a revolutionary way of conceptualizing state intervention and although the seeds for such a transition may have been sown much earlier, it remains nonetheless a marked achievement of the Johnson administration. It would be easy to conclude that such developments came to abrupt halt and even reversal in the 1980s with the Reagan administration. However, I feel it is short sited to view this era as one of rolling back the achievements of Democratic Party of the 1960s. It is true that significant revisions were made to the g reat society legislation; however the bulk of it remained unchanged. Therefore, it remains the foundation on which modern American democracy and equality stand. Bibliography Fraser, Steve and Gerstle, Gary. The Rise and Fall of the New Deal Order: 1930-1980. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1989. Katz, Michael B. Ed. The â€Å"Underclass† debate: Views from history. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1993. Schulman, Bruce J. Lyndon B Johnson and American Liberalism: A Brief Biography with Documents. Boston: Bedford Books, 1995.

Eulogy for Grandmother :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Grandmother With the little things. It's the little things that make up a year, and the years which make up a life. It's the little things that make up the memories. And I have an abundance of those. Sitting on the green couch listening to stories. Stories from her childhood, from the war years and beyond. Stories of playing with mice in the attic of the house -- her refuge as none of her siblings would go up there, stories of being tied up and gagged with a pickle in the mouth and shoved behind a cupboard by an exasperated older brother. Stories of shooting peas at the women in her father's factory. Of being found awake too early by her father one Christmas morning and being punished by having the presents taken away. Only she cried so much she was allowed to keep the doll. Of having some painful ailment and being carried kicking and screaming into the ocean by Sally because "Salt water will cure it." Of playing on a raft and having it sink. Everyone got off except May. They stood on the bank and watched it sink with May stubbornly repeating "I'm not going to swim". Grandma always laughed so much telling that story! Stories of the war. Protecting the patients from bombs by putting them under the stairs. But the mothers and newborn babies went under their beds. Of bringing corn back after a visit back home and carrying the two pieces round the wards so every soldier could have a bite. Of working with blind children. Of going out into streets full of rubble. ("Were you scared, Grandma?" "No. I was always too busy looking after others to be scared.") Of meeting an Australian soldier during a dance in England. Of getting married. I was fascinated by those stories. She told them so well. Over and over. She never seemed to get tired of me asking. Christmas time. Luke, Grandma and I, then later Chloà « and Laura. Lying in front of the fire writing letters to Santa and "posting" them up the chimney then racing outside to see the charred remains carried away by the breeze. Snooping around trying to find the Christmas stockings she made out of old orange bags. Pouring boiling water over almonds then "shooting" them out of their skins. They used to go all over the kitchen! Eulogy for Grandmother :: Eulogies Eulogy Eulogy for Grandmother With the little things. It's the little things that make up a year, and the years which make up a life. It's the little things that make up the memories. And I have an abundance of those. Sitting on the green couch listening to stories. Stories from her childhood, from the war years and beyond. Stories of playing with mice in the attic of the house -- her refuge as none of her siblings would go up there, stories of being tied up and gagged with a pickle in the mouth and shoved behind a cupboard by an exasperated older brother. Stories of shooting peas at the women in her father's factory. Of being found awake too early by her father one Christmas morning and being punished by having the presents taken away. Only she cried so much she was allowed to keep the doll. Of having some painful ailment and being carried kicking and screaming into the ocean by Sally because "Salt water will cure it." Of playing on a raft and having it sink. Everyone got off except May. They stood on the bank and watched it sink with May stubbornly repeating "I'm not going to swim". Grandma always laughed so much telling that story! Stories of the war. Protecting the patients from bombs by putting them under the stairs. But the mothers and newborn babies went under their beds. Of bringing corn back after a visit back home and carrying the two pieces round the wards so every soldier could have a bite. Of working with blind children. Of going out into streets full of rubble. ("Were you scared, Grandma?" "No. I was always too busy looking after others to be scared.") Of meeting an Australian soldier during a dance in England. Of getting married. I was fascinated by those stories. She told them so well. Over and over. She never seemed to get tired of me asking. Christmas time. Luke, Grandma and I, then later Chloà « and Laura. Lying in front of the fire writing letters to Santa and "posting" them up the chimney then racing outside to see the charred remains carried away by the breeze. Snooping around trying to find the Christmas stockings she made out of old orange bags. Pouring boiling water over almonds then "shooting" them out of their skins. They used to go all over the kitchen!

The Psychological Effects of Stroke in Older Adults Essay -- Psycholog

The Psychological Effects of Stroke in Older Adults Elderly people are continuously faced with the debilitating effects of the aging process. Age-related diseases are part of the aging process that put the elderly population at risks for physical, mental, and social incapacity in dealing with their everyday functioning. However, more than the external deleterious consequences of these diseases are the psychological ramifications that they have to older adults that are worth investigating. Cerebrovascular accident or stroke is one of the many age-related diseases that affect both the physical and psychological functioning of many older adults. To understand the extent of the effects of stroke to older adults, this research paper will enumerate various physical, mental, and social aftermaths of this disease. Furthermore, it will utilize the most recent studies to explain the consequences of these aftermaths to older adults’ cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning. Also, this paper will discuss the psychological effects of caregiver burden that a spouse or immediate family member may experience while caring for a stroke victim. To gain a better understanding of stroke, it is imperative to first get a closer look at the background information and underlying factors that surround this disease. Stroke is a serious and life-threatening disease that mainly affects the biological functioning of the brain. It is precipitated by an occlusion in the vascular system that supports and nourishes the brain cells with oxygen and other vital minerals (Welch, 2008). With the brain deprived of the necessary nutrients to maintain its fundamental metabolic processes, it is often times altered irreversibly to the point where it affects the... ... J. (2011). Differential aspects of stroke and congestive heart failure in quality of life reduction: A case series with three comparison groups. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 9, 65. Pohl, P. S., McDowd, J. M., Filion, D., Richards, L. G., Stiers, W., & Kluding, P. (2007). Task Switching After Stroke. Physical Therapy, 87(1), 66-73. Rogalski, Y., Altmann, L. J. P., Plummer-D’Amato, P., Behrman, A. L., & Marsiske, M. (2010). Discourse coherence and cognition after stroke: A dual task study. Journal of Communication Disorders, 43(3), 212-224. Thompson, H., & Ryan, A. (2009). The impact of stroke consequences on spousal relationships from the perspective of the person with stroke. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 18(12), 1803-1811. Welch, R. (2008). Considering the psychological effects of stroke. British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 2(7), 335-346. The Psychological Effects of Stroke in Older Adults Essay -- Psycholog The Psychological Effects of Stroke in Older Adults Elderly people are continuously faced with the debilitating effects of the aging process. Age-related diseases are part of the aging process that put the elderly population at risks for physical, mental, and social incapacity in dealing with their everyday functioning. However, more than the external deleterious consequences of these diseases are the psychological ramifications that they have to older adults that are worth investigating. Cerebrovascular accident or stroke is one of the many age-related diseases that affect both the physical and psychological functioning of many older adults. To understand the extent of the effects of stroke to older adults, this research paper will enumerate various physical, mental, and social aftermaths of this disease. Furthermore, it will utilize the most recent studies to explain the consequences of these aftermaths to older adults’ cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning. Also, this paper will discuss the psychological effects of caregiver burden that a spouse or immediate family member may experience while caring for a stroke victim. To gain a better understanding of stroke, it is imperative to first get a closer look at the background information and underlying factors that surround this disease. Stroke is a serious and life-threatening disease that mainly affects the biological functioning of the brain. It is precipitated by an occlusion in the vascular system that supports and nourishes the brain cells with oxygen and other vital minerals (Welch, 2008). With the brain deprived of the necessary nutrients to maintain its fundamental metabolic processes, it is often times altered irreversibly to the point where it affects the... ... J. (2011). Differential aspects of stroke and congestive heart failure in quality of life reduction: A case series with three comparison groups. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 9, 65. Pohl, P. S., McDowd, J. M., Filion, D., Richards, L. G., Stiers, W., & Kluding, P. (2007). Task Switching After Stroke. Physical Therapy, 87(1), 66-73. Rogalski, Y., Altmann, L. J. P., Plummer-D’Amato, P., Behrman, A. L., & Marsiske, M. (2010). Discourse coherence and cognition after stroke: A dual task study. Journal of Communication Disorders, 43(3), 212-224. Thompson, H., & Ryan, A. (2009). The impact of stroke consequences on spousal relationships from the perspective of the person with stroke. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 18(12), 1803-1811. Welch, R. (2008). Considering the psychological effects of stroke. British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 2(7), 335-346.

Monsignor Quixote: Unleashed

Graham Greene is known in recent years as the â€Å"old master† as a writer. He had already accumulated tremendous achievements which led him in having an expertise in writing. Because of the freedom that he exudes in writing, his subject matter, intensity and tone of writing style is quite extended significantly. Greene’s works were usually focused in pity, doom and the impenetrability of God’s will. In his work entitled â€Å"The Human Factor† (1978), he talks about the protagonist victim trapped in a twist of betrayal and spying. In his another book entitled â€Å"Dr. Fisher of Geneva, or The Bomb party† (1980), tells about he chilling story of a wealthy man who plays God sadistically with his poor assistants who tried to entertain him and humiliate and hurt them in return. However, another masterpiece from the old master, the gentlest among Greene’s works, has introduced a worthwhile read entitled â€Å"Monsignor Quixote†. â€Å"Monsignor Quixote† is an offshoot of Cervantes’s work (Greene, 1990). In this version, the readers are opened to the idea of Catholic faith and Communist sympathy conflict. The setting is in Spain in the late 1960’s were the end of the Second Vatican Council and of the end of the Latin Mass happened. This novel tells the story of a humble and kind priest who believes that himself that he was a descendant of Don Quixote, the famous Knight of the Sorrowful Countenance. After such belligerent, he was promoted as Monsignor and later forces Father Quixote from his parish in El Toboso wherein such promotion had been made by a powerful Italian bishop whom Quixote helped in fixing his car and providing him with a sumptuous lunch. Outrage of a local bishop in El Toboso arises and requested him of leave of absence to go to Madrid and buy purple socks and bib as the new Monsignor. Father Quixote’s cavalry will soon emerge. This book teaches valuable reflections about authority, hope and despair, love and selfishness (Greene, 1990). However, the rejection of dogmatic authority in the church and state is the focused of the book. Greene emphasizes the value of the spirit and not in the letter (system). Greene was said to be intertwined between two systems which requires utmost obedience and submission to the adherents. He delves onto the human weaknesses rather than uprightness. Doubt is seen as a paradox, which it is in human nature to doubt for humans are intrinsic and can control their instincts. Decisions made from incomplete information arises the matter of doubt. Greene’s inclusion of the Catholic faith as a background is hope in the most extreme situations. Monsignor Quixote and Sancho Plaza had congruent hopes on such event, thus, Monsignor hopes for Sancho, being a Communist to convert into being a Catholic while Sancho hopes for Monsignor to be a Marxist. And these hopes did not end triumphantly which lead to despair. In the book, their hopes arise through the books they read: Sancho’s preference in Marx’s works and Monsignor’s in religious books. Sancho is a materialist while Monsignor is selfless and do care for the world’s salvation. Considerably, the greatest virtue amongst all is Love. Greene knew that there is hope because there is love in it. In this regard, Sancho was faced in a conflict if he will rescue his friend from El Toboso or seek refuge form his fellow Communists. But because of love and loyalty, Sancho did not cross the frontier and instead went to El Toboso to save his friend. His loyalty and love for his friend is more important than his safety. In Greene’s works, usually there are borders which are not meant to be crossed. Love is eternal. Sancho’s reflections on the nature of love, that hate is finished through revenge, still love persists after death. Monsignor realized that Sancho would not abandon him, because he saw in him love and unselfishness (Greene, 1990) . â€Å"Monsignor Quixote† is an inspirational read, a book which greatly exemplified the humble characteristics of its author, Graham Greene. References: Greene, G. (1990). Monsignor Quixote (Reissue ed.): Pocket. Towers, Robert.   (1982, September 19).   An Amiable Graham Greene.   The New York Times on the Web.   Retrieved July 13 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/02/20/specials/greene-quixote.html      

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 4

â€Å"Can I call you?† The Sorta-Seth-Lookalike lay naked in bed, still worn out even though he'd come hours ago. I stood near the door, fully dressed, slipping on my shoes. It turned out he was actually here on business from Seattle, and he'd been ecstatic to learn we lived in the same city. â€Å"Mmm.† I pursed my lips as though I were giving this a lot of thought. â€Å"I don't think that's such a good idea.† â€Å"Really?† His brief, happy look faded. He'd turned out to be as vulnerable and shy as I thought. I was only the second woman he'd ever slept with. â€Å"But I felt like†¦well, I felt like we really connected.† I fixed him with a cold look. That smothering rage from last night no longer consumed me, but I was still angry at the world and needed to lash out at anyone I could. â€Å"Our bodies connected. That's about it. The truth is, I already have a boyfriend.† His eyes widened. I realized then I should have mentioned having a boyfriend before we had sex. It would have doubled his guilt and given me a stronger fix. Still, the agony he now felt over sleeping with someone else's girlfriend was undoubtedly blackening his soul even as we spoke. â€Å"R-really?† â€Å"Yup. Sorry. This was just a way to pass the time. And honestly, baby? You want some feedback? You've still got a lot to learn. It really wasn't that great.† I left before I could see the full effect of my words. It would hurt, I had no doubt about that. Devastating him didn't really make me feel better, but it had frozen me up enough so that I didn't have to process any real emotions. I was numb, which was about the best I could hope for. Kristin was waiting for me at a coffee shop down the street so that she could drive me over to the cult leader's house. Her mousy brown hair was pulled up into a neat French twist, and her crisp suit reminded me of something Grace or Mei might wear, save that this was navy as opposed to their usual black or-on daring days-red. She drank what looked like a cappuccino and picked over the remains of a bagel, her eyes lost in thought as she no doubt pondered the coming day's wheeling and dealing. I bought a white chocolate mocha and slid into the chair opposite her. â€Å"Good morning,† I said. She looked me over, noting the glamour. â€Å"And a good night?† I shrugged. â€Å"Okay night.† â€Å"You ready to meet the Army of Darkness?† â€Å"Sure. I-wait. What did you say?† â€Å"The Army of Darkness. That's what the cult calls itself.† â€Å"They know that's a movie, right?† She shook her head. â€Å"Honestly, it's hard to say. They may have named themselves after the movie, for all I know.† â€Å"This is so absurd as to be unreal,† I told her. â€Å"It all sounds like a joke.† â€Å"If only,† she muttered. â€Å"Believe me, I'll be glad when you get rid of them. Aside from the fact that Cedric makes me talk to them, I have to file a ream of paperwork each time they do something stupid. It's really stressing him out. I keep trying to get him to do relaxation exercises, but he won't.† Her tone sounded genuinely concerned, almost as though she worked for Cedric out of true loyalty, rather than the forced servitude the rest of us bowed to. â€Å"Well, I'll see what I can do. Don't you guys have a succubus up here? Why isn't she working this group over?† â€Å"She's busy seducing the premier. Cedric didn't want her distracted.† â€Å"Whoa,† I said. It had been centuries since I'd had the initiative to go after a major politician. â€Å"I feel like a slacker.† Kristin cut me a look. â€Å"Mostly I hear that you're a troublemaker.† â€Å"I like to think I'm just misunderstood.† She snorted. â€Å"We're all misunderstood. You have no idea how many times people try to use that as a reason to break their contracts.† Between mourning Seth and being the target of Jerome's annoyance lately, I'd had little time to think about much else. Kristin's words suddenly triggered a memory, one I'd tried to keep buried for some time now. â€Å"How many times do people try to break their contracts over an error?† When Niphon had been here last winter, he'd gone to great pains to complicate my life and get me recalled to Hell. Since he'd been the one to trick me into selling my soul so long ago, I had plenty of reason to hate him. But why he'd hate me and want to ruin me? That had been-and still was-a mystery. Hugh had speculated that when an imp went to that much trouble to mess with their acquisition, there was usually a reason-specifically, a potential problem with the original contract. My casual air didn't fool Kristin. â€Å"You think there might be an error in yours?† I kept my nonchalance. â€Å"Hugh-my imp-thought there could be. But he wouldn't look it up.† His refusal to help me still stung. â€Å"He's smart. Looking into others' contracts can get us in big trouble. The vaults of Hell are not a place you want to get caught snooping around in. It would take a lot to get an imp to risk that.† I had no proof, but something told me that Kristin was older and higher-ranking than Hugh and that she might have more access than he did. I smiled sweetly. â€Å"What would it take for you to risk that?† â€Å"Nothing you can offer.† She flashed me a wry grin and slipped on sleek Oakley sunglasses. â€Å"Come on. Let's get this over with.† We ended up at a house out in suburban Vancouver. It was a lower middle-class area, not particularly polished but not the kind of place you had to worry about getting mugged either. Kristin parked on the street and led me up the house's driveway, her heels clicking on the concrete. Along the sides of the yard, someone had recently planted marigolds and geraniums. She rang the doorbell, and a moment later, a man in his mid-twenties answered the door. He had messy black hair, like maybe he'd just woken up, and possessed the friendly, low-key feel of someone who worked at Home Depot or Circuit City. â€Å"Hey, Kristin,† he said, voice cheerful and blas? ¦. â€Å"Come on in.† She stepped just inside the doorway, and I followed, offering the guy a friendly smile of my own. â€Å"I can't stay,† she told him crisply. â€Å"I'm just dropping her off. Evan, this is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Kristin glanced at me, apparently waiting to see if I wanted to use my own name. I usually used different identities and shapes when seducing victims, but it didn't seem worth it for this. â€Å"Georgina,† I supplied. â€Å"Georgina,† said Kristin. â€Å"This is Evan.† He and I shook hands. â€Å"Georgina's one of the founders of a sister chapter in Seattle. She's here to see how things are done and possibly form some connections between the groups.† She tipped her head down, looking at him over the tops of her sunglasses. â€Å"I want you to show her every courtesy and involve her in your activities. It's very important.† He nodded, still looking mild and pleasant-but a little nervous at the strictness in her voice. â€Å"Absolutely.† Cedric had said Evan knew Kristin was a power player on Team Evil, and he clearly seemed to respect her. She supposedly didn't have the people skills to â€Å"deal with† this group, but from the way Evan regarded her, it didn't seem like it'd take much to get his attention. To me, Kristin said, â€Å"Call a cab when you're done. We'll expense it.† With that, she headed back out to her car, leaving me with the alleged general of the Army of Darkness. â€Å"You want anything to drink?† he asked, stifling a yawn. â€Å"I've got some RC in the fridge.† â€Å"No, thanks. I'm just anxious to learn how you do things up here.† He grinned. â€Å"Sure. I should probably show you the temple first.† I glanced around, taking in the flowered sofa and grandfather clock. â€Å"Temple?† â€Å"Yeah, it's in the basement. You sure you don't want something to drink?† There was nothing I wanted to drink that was under 80 proof, so I declined once again. He led me down some rickety steps, pulling a chain at the bottom that turned on a bare lightbulb. We stood in an unfinished basement with rough cement floors and brick walls. Fold-up chairs were arranged in a semicircle around a low bookcase about as high as my waist. On top of the case was a propped up painting with an angel's black silhouette set against a gray and purple nebula. It looked like it had come straight off a sci-fi novel's cover. Half-burned red and black candles were scattered around the painting, along with an inverted cross. Off to the side of the room, more candles sat on top of a washer and dryer. Evan walked over to a light switch and turned it on. White Christmas lights twinkled to life on the brick walls. â€Å"Wow,† I said. My astonishment was not faked. â€Å"We aren't finished setting up here,† he said modestly. â€Å"We have to change our location a lot to avoid discovery. You know how it is. So, there's still some stuff we need to unpack.† He pointed over to a cardboard box in the corner. I couldn't see all of its contents, but I did make out a black feather boa and a glow-in-the-dark plastic skull. On the side of the box, black marker succinctly declared: TEMPLE STUFF . I counted the chairs. Fifteen. â€Å"How many members do you have?† I asked. â€Å"About a dozen. A little less than that that are truly active.† He sat down in one of the chairs and gestured for me to do the same. â€Å"And how long have you been meeting?† â€Å"Oh, about a year now.† I smiled, turning on the charm in an effort to not sound like an investigative reporter. â€Å"I've heard about some of the things you've done. Pretty impressive. Like the Bibles and the, um, spray paint.† He beamed at the praise. â€Å"You heard about that? Cool. We do as the Angel of Darkness directs us.† â€Å"What other things have you been directed to do?† â€Å"Well, there was the one time this Methodist church was having an ice cream social. We broke in beforehand and left all their ice cream outside the freezer to melt.† â€Å"Uh-huh.† â€Å"Then, this other time, we went to the petting zoo and hung pentagram collars on all the goats. We also painted their horns red and black. Let me tell you, that wasn't easy. They don't like to stand still.† â€Å"Uh-huh.† â€Å"Oh, and then we made all the TVs show Rosemary's Baby .† â€Å"Uh-TVs?† â€Å"Yeah, I work at Circuit City, and we have these big walls of TVs, so I synced them all up. My boss never suspected who did it.† On and on the litany went. About ten minutes later, I interrupted, unable to listen to any more. â€Å"Look, Evan, this is really amazing stuff you've been doing. I mean, this is stuff my people in Seattle would never, ever dream of doing in a million years.† â€Å"Really?† he asked happily. â€Å"Really,† I said flatly. â€Å"But, although it makes a big statement, wouldn't it be more in line with the, uh, Angel's purposes to work on securing souls for him?† â€Å"Her,† corrected Evan. â€Å"Her. Right.† Lucifer, Satan, the Devil, whatever. There were lots of names for what humans regarded as the supreme entity of evil, and I'd heard tons over the years. Considering the popular idea of Lucifer being a fallen angel, this â€Å"Angel of Darkness† thing didn't surprise me, but the female part did. â€Å"Sorry,† I told him. â€Å"We know the Angel as male.† â€Å"It's okay,† he replied. â€Å"The Angel is all things to all people.† â€Å"Right. So, anyway, I mean, the ultimate goal is to convert as many people to her as possible, right? To lead them down the left-hand path. It doesn't seem like melting ice cream would do that-not that that isn't cool,† I added hastily. â€Å"I'm just wondering if you should be more focused on leading people into temptation instead.† Evan didn't seem bothered by my criticism in the least. â€Å"Maybe that's what your group is directed to do. But this is what ours is supposed to do. We all serve different purposes in the greater plan.† I was sure I had an idiotic look on my face, so I tried to shift back to the alluring, seductive mode that had landed me this job in the first place. Surely it couldn't be that difficult to sway him, particularly considering how fresh my succubus glamour was. Reaching out, I took his hand and delicately stroked it with my fingers. â€Å"You're doing amazing things,† I reiterated, moving closer. â€Å"Really amazing. But maybe it's time to move on to the next level, to truly bring darkness to the world.† His eyes studied my hand for a moment, then looked back up. His breath caught as the full effect of my glow enchanted him. He swallowed nervously. â€Å"Perhaps. But not now. This is our purpose for the time being.† â€Å"Only because you haven't tried something else. Maybe that's why I'm here, why the Angel sent me: to expand your influence.† I leaned my face close to his, lips only inches away from the side of his face. â€Å"I can teach you things. All sorts of things.† Zealous or no, I was definitely affecting him. He took another deep breath, trying to steady himself. â€Å"We're already doing what the Angel wants.† I ran my lips across his check, letting my tongue flick out. â€Å"Are you sure? Let me show you how we honor the Angel†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He shot up abruptly and put his back to me. After several deep breaths-honestly, he was in danger of hyperventilating-he turned around to look at me. Warring desires danced in his eyes. He still had that crazy yes-man zealot look, but he also looked like he was already envisioning me naked. It was intriguing that his devotion to a largely fictitious entity could stand up to my charms, but religious fanatics had a history of being tenacious. â€Å"You're very†¦sweet,† he said at last. â€Å"Very. But I can't-we can't. I mean, this is what we do. What the Army does. We can't change that, not without talking to the others.† Progress. I kept the smile turned on, wondering if I should keep pushing on him now or try to enthrall the whole group. I opted for the latter, largely because I could think of few things more unarousing than having sex on the black Ozzy Osbourne plush rug on the floor. Especially if Evan decided to turn on any black lights. â€Å"Of course,† I purred. â€Å"When can I meet them?† He raked a hand through his hair, still a little hot and bothered. â€Å"Well†¦you should come to our next meeting. It's Saturday at ten a.m. Over at the big Tim Hortons on Broadway.† â€Å"Okay, I'll be-† I blinked, my sultry fa;ade faltering. â€Å"Did you say Tim Hortons?† He recovered himself and returned to his upbeat nature. â€Å"Oh, yeah. You guys don't have them, do you? They're these donut shops and-â€Å" â€Å"No, I know what they are. I'm just surprised, that's all.† Aside from seeming like a mundane place for a Satanists' meeting, Canadians going to Tim Hortons was like the biggest stereotype ever. â€Å"Are you kidding? Their coffee's the best.† I left after that, my head reeling. These weren't Satanists. These were frat boys doing hazing pranks. They probably smashed beer cans on their foreheads at their dark ceremonies. Kristin wasn't at her desk when I returned to Cedric's office across town. Presumably she was off doing imp things. Or maybe she was at lunch. His door was closed, making me think he must be busy, but honestly, I didn't have time to pay much attention to that. Something else immediately caught my attention. There was a demoness in his waiting room. A full-fledged archdemoness, actually. I recognized her, even though we'd never formally met. Nanette, Portland's archdemoness. â€Å"Hi,† I said, too stunned for much more than that. I might backtalk Jerome, but other demons were an entirely different matter. She glanced up from her magazine like she'd just noticed me, though I knew she'd sensed me long before this. â€Å"Hello. Georgina, right?† I nodded, wondering if I should shake her hand or something. She didn't seem like she was keen to get up, so I simply sat in another chair. Why was Portland's archdemoness waiting to see Cedric? And why was she waiting, period? That wasn't in demonic nature at all. They were too impatient. Nanette wore a short, peach-colored shift dress that showed off long, shapely legs. Her blond hair fell just over her shoulders, smooth and sleek from a flat iron-or, well, from demonic magic. She was beautiful, but it was edged in the cold fierceness demons so often had, like the way a cobra or a katana is beautiful. I wasn't afraid to talk to people. Striking up conversation was part of what I did. But I wasn't entirely sure what to say to her. Demons were prickly about how they interacted with lesser immortals. Some were quite snobby about it. I didn't know too much about Nanette or how she might react. I knew she was less powerful than Jerome and that the two didn't have much contact. I'd never heard of her being particularly bitchy or trigger-happy, so I took that as a good sign. My concerns about what to say were put to rest when she spoke first. â€Å"Boy,† she said. â€Å"I wouldn't want to be you for the world.† â€Å"I-I beg your pardon?† â€Å"This.† She gestured toward Cedric's closed door with a French manicured hand. â€Å"All of this. I presume you've been out to see his little Army of the Night?† â€Å"Darkness,† I corrected. â€Å"Army of Darkness.† â€Å"Whatever. Those nuisances. Jerome sent you here to ‘help' because Cedric wanted an infiltrator?† â€Å"Something like that.† I wondered how this news had spread so fast. Nanette shook her head in mock sympathy. â€Å"You're going to be the one to take the fall if something goes wrong. If things go bad between Jerome and Cedric or if that cult won't play ball†¦well, like I said, I wouldn't want to be you. You're being played from every angle and don't even realize it.† â€Å"What's there to play? I just got here. And I don't see how things can go wrong,† I said slowly. â€Å"I mean, this group just does stupid stunts.† I recalled how even a little seduction had affected Evan. If I'd started stripping on the Ozzy rug, I was certain he wouldn't have been able to hold back. â€Å"They're no real threat to Cedric, and I don't think they're going to be that hard to rein in. And as for him and Jerome†¦I mean, they patched up their differences already, right?† â€Å"Come now. You're what, a millennium old? Millennium and a half? So young.† She smiled. â€Å"Georgina, demons never settle their differences. Even you should know that. Do you really think things are stable around here? With the way Cedric's let this cult run wild? And after the way Jerome's barely been able to keep control in Seattle?† I thought about Jerome booting me to Canada in less than twenty-four hours. â€Å"Jerome seems like he's got control to me.† She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, blue eyes gleaming. â€Å"Jerome has had three nephilim in his territory in the last six months. Three. Do you know how unheard of that is? I'm guessing you'd never even run into a nephilim your entire life before this. Not in all those years.† â€Å"No,† I admitted. Nephilim were the children of humans and angels-well, angels who had fallen and were now demons, seeing as having kids was a breach of Heaven's employment agreement. Considered abominations by both good and evil alike, nephilim were the scourge of the immortal world. They had a lot of power and were pissed off at the way greater immortals treated them. They were unruly, destructive, and given to killing sprees. Jerome had actually fathered two nephilim, twins who were among the three Nanette was referring to. One of them, Roman, had been my boyfriend for a bit while he secretly wiped out immortals on the side. I'd been instrumental in his undoing-something I was certain he was still pissed off about, particularly since it had resulted in the death of his sister. We hadn't seen Roman since then. Shortly thereafter, a nephilim named Vincent had come to Seattle, following an angel he loved. Vincent was actually a very sweet nephilim, though I wasn't sure how kind he was feeling these days since Heaven had kicked out his girlfriend when she killed another angel to save him. Vincent too had disappeared. â€Å"Three nephilim,† repeated Nanette. â€Å"And two got away. Sloppy, very sloppy.† â€Å"It wasn't Jerome's fault,† I said loyally, a bit unsure how you'd even assign blame in that situation. It had never occurred to me that our unexpected visitors could be seen as a sign of Jerome's weakness or his inadequacy as archdemon. â€Å"The angels could have done something. It's their territory too.† â€Å"Not in the eyes of our superiors,† she said slyly. I frowned, losing a bit of my timidity. â€Å"With all due respect, what are you doing here?† Her smile grew. â€Å"What do you think? I have two demons in my backyard who are in an arms race. Both are getting attention from demons outside the Northwest.† I didn't like the sound of that and recalled Cedric affirming as much. â€Å"You think I want to be involved in that? You think I want to be played the way everyone's playing you? My territory's small, and I'm weaker than both Jerome and Cedric. I don't want them to decide to annex Portland while they play their cosmic game of Risk. I want them to leave me alone.† Her voice was hard, but I heard a bit of worry in there too, and I realized what was going on. â€Å"You're here to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I considered â€Å"suck up† or â€Å"beg† but thought better of it. â€Å"†¦negotiate with Cedric. For protection. To keep you out of it.† Nanette looked away, unwilling to acknowledge this in front of a succubus. Just then, the door opened and Cedric stepped out. He glanced around. â€Å"Kristin's still gone? I wish she'd hurry up and bring back those donuts.† â€Å"Tim Hortons?† I guessed. He gave me an incredulous look. â€Å"Of course.† He turned to Nanette. She'd stood up, and he kissed her hand in a polite, antiquated way. â€Å"Sorry. Phone call with Tech Support. You know how that is.† To me he said, â€Å"We'll talk later.† I took it as a bad sign that he said â€Å"later† and not â€Å"soon.† Settling into my chair, I braced myself for patience. Ten magazines later, Cedric opened the door again. Nanette was nowhere in sight, so I presumed she must have teleported back to Portland. I took my same chair in Cedric's office, noting that his screen showed Match. com rather than Wikipedia today. When he saw what I was looking at, he hastily minimized his Web browser. â€Å"So, what have you found out?† I gave him a report of my morning with Evan. â€Å"They're ridiculous,† I declared as my final assessment. â€Å"I already knew that,† he said. â€Å"You think you can put an end to this? Soon?† The impatient sound in his voice made me wonder if he'd expected me to cinch things up already. I thought about it. â€Å"Yeah, pretty sure I can as soon as I meet the others. This guy looked like he might crack on his own. But I won't see them until Saturday.† Cedric tipped back in his chair, face thoughtful. â€Å"All right. They probably won't do anything before then anyway. Go to their meeting and work over the rest of them. In the meantime, you might as well head back home.† I straightened up in my chair. â€Å"Really?† He shrugged. â€Å"No point in you sticking around unless you want to sightsee. Just come back Saturday.† â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated. â€Å"Jerome sent me here because he was mad and didn't want to deal with me. If I go back and he doesn't want me there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Cedric snapped his chair forward and sat up. â€Å"He can take it up with me. I'll tell him I didn't want you here either.† There was something mischievous in his eyes, like he almost hoped Jerome might pick a fight. Uneasily, I remembered Nanette's words. You're being played from every angle and don't even realize it. â€Å"Okay,† I said finally. â€Å"Thanks.† Cedric glanced toward the door, his expression lightening. â€Å"Ah, Kristin's back.† A few moments later, I sensed the imp's signature as well. I stood up, and he gestured me to the door with a smile. â€Å"Have a good drive. And grab a donut on your way out.†

Brand Loyalty †Thesis Proposal Essay

The current financial crisis has spread around the world and no consumer has stayed untouched. In economic downturns, consumers are trying to better manage their expenses due to uncertainty for the future. In such cases, their brand loyalty might be shaken. Especially for UK consumers, whose purchasing power is lower than the other nations, the situation in the beginning of 2010 seems to be much more difficult. Hence, the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of the current recession on UK consumers’ brand loyalty. A quantitative method will be employed and the empirical data will be collected through questionnaire survey with a sample of fifty UK consumers from the area of Thessaloniki. The questionnaire survey will be distributed to different people regardless of age and demographic characteristics, backgrounds and attitudes. The results of the study will aim to show that not all consumers’ brand loyalty has been shaken the same by the recession but some types of consumers were more affected compared to others. Furthermore, the research will aim to indicate that brand loyalty varies over products so some product and service categories lost a big part of their market share. The findings might be interesting and useful to several companies that would like to be aware both of the profiles of the customers that are more likely to switch to cheaper brands and the products that will easily lose a part of their market share during a recession so that can formulate the appropriate marketing strategy. In the highlighted part right the name of the area where it will be easier for to distribute fifty surveys and get them back. What Influences brand loyalty towards cigarette brands in the UK market? Brand loyalty has been a one of the biggest issues in the world of marketing over the last years. The two topics of brand loyalty and cigarette smoking have rarely been linked. A possible reason for this is that researchers might feel that it is in some way unethical to provide managerial suggestions for tobacco producers. The aim of this study is to clarify that matter and get knowledge about which product-related, psychographic, health-related and demographic factors influence the brand loyalty among smokers and to what extent. By examining brand loyalty towards cigarette brands, those factors which in fact decrease brand loyalty can be identified. In the literature review, the necessary background will be referenced to answer the research questions. The research will be conducted on a quantitative basis. The main research method used will be questionnaire survey. It is the researcher’s belief that this study will provide new and interesting perspective on the topic of brand loyalty, as well as the researcher hopes that the results will be beneficial for social marketers in their fight against cigarette smoking. What effect does sponsorship have on brand loyalty: A case study of Vodafone customers An increasingly larger marketing budget is allocated to sponsoring in companies. This has triggered the attention of the academics to research what the exact effects of sponsorship on a sponsoring brand are. This study fills a gap in the sponsorship literature by focusing on both current customers and looking at sponsorship from both negative and positive perspective. It researches what the effects of sponsorship are on brand loyalty for current customers concerning a sponsored party. Prior literature on both sponsorship and brand loyalty is explored to establish a sound theoretical reference. The review will demonstrate that negative and positive incidences as the context has a negative and positive effect respectively on attitude change toward the sponsored party, which in turn influences change in brand loyalty. The established theoretical reference is tested by means on a questionnaire survey. The sample will consist of Vodafone customers, which are tested on the change in attitudes toward the sponsored team (McLaren-Mercedes Formula 1 team for Vodafone) and on the change in attitudes and behavior toward the sponsoring brand.