Venomous Sea Snake Facts (Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae)

Venomous Sea Snake Facts (Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae) Sea snakes include 60 species of marine snakes from the cobra family (Elapidae). These reptiles fall into two groups: true sea snakes (subfamily Hydrophiinae) and sea kraits (subfamily Laticaudinae). The true sea snakes are most closely related to Australian cobras, while kraits are related to Asian cobras. Like their terrestrial relatives, sea snakes are highly venomous. Unlike terrestrial cobras, most sea snakes are not aggressive (with exceptions), have small fangs, and avoid delivering venom when they bite. While similar to cobras in many respects, sea snakes are fascinating, unique creatures, perfectly adapted to life in the sea. Fast Facts: Venomous Sea Snake Scientific Name: Subfamilies Hydrophiinae and LaticaudinaeCommon Names: Sea snake, coral reef snakeBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 3-5 feetWeight: 1.7-2.9 poundsLifespan: Estimated 10 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Coastal Indian and Pacific OceanPopulation: UnknownConservation Status: Most species are Least Concern Description Yellow-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis platurus), illustrating the body shape of a true sea snake. Nastasic / Getty Images Aside from analyzing its DNA, the best way to identify a sea snake is by its tail. The two types of sea snakes have very different appearances because they have evolved to live different aquatic lives. The true sea snakes have flattened, ribbon-like bodies, with oarlike tails. Their nostrils are on top of their snouts, making it easier for them to breathe when they surface. They have small body scales and may lack belly scales entirely. True sea snake adults range from 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 5 feet) in length, although a length of 3 meters is possible. These snakes crawl awkwardly on land and may become aggressive, although they cannot coil to strike. You can find both true sea snakes and kraits in the sea, but only sea kraits crawl efficiently on land. A sea krait has a flattened tail, but it has a cylindrical body, lateral nostrils, and enlarged belly scales like a terrestrial snake. A typical krait color pattern is black alternating with bands of white, blue, or gray. Sea kraits are somewhat shorter than true sea snakes. An average adult krait is about 1 meter in length, although some specimens reach 1.5 meters. Habitat and Distribution Sea snakes are found throughout the coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. They do not occur in the Red Sea, Atlantic Ocean, or Caribbean Sea. Most sea snakes live in shallow water less than 30 meters (100 feet) deep because they need to surface to breathe, yet must seek their prey near the sea floor. However, the yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus) may be found in the open ocean. The so-called California sea snake is Pelamis platurus. Pelamis, like other sea snakes, cannot live in cool water. Below a certain temperature, the snake is unable to digest food. Snakes may be found washed up on shores in the temperature zone, typically driven by storms. However, they call the tropics and subtropics their home.   The so-called California sea snake is actually the yellow-bellied sea snake. Auscape / UIG / Getty Images Diet and Behavior The true sea snakes are predators that eat small fish, fish eggs, and young octopuses. True sea snakes may be active during the day or at night. Sea kraits are nocturnal feeders that prefer to feed on eels, supplementing their diet with crabs, squid, and fish. While they have not been observed feeding on land, kraits return to it to digest prey. Some sea snakes host the sea snake barnacle (Platylepas ophiophila), which hitches a ride to catch food. Sea snakes (kraits) may also host parasitic ticks. Sea snakes are preyed upon by eels, sharks, large fish, sea eagles, and crocodiles. Should you find yourself stranded at sea, you can eat sea snakes (just avoid getting bitten). You can tell this is a krait because it has nostrils on either side of its snout. Todd Winner/Stocktrek Images / Getty Images Like other snakes, sea snakes need to breathe air. While kraits surface for air regularly, true sea snakes can remain submerged for around 8 hours. These snakes can breathe through their skin, absorbing up to 33 percent of needed oxygen and expelling up to 90 percent of waste carbon dioxide. The left lung of a true sea snake is enlarged, running much of its body length. The lung affects the animals buoyancy and buys it time underwater. The nostrils of a true sea snake close when the animal is underwater. While they live in the oceans, sea snakes cannot extract fresh water from the saline sea. Kraits may drink water from land or the sea surface. True sea snakes must wait for rain so they may drink the relatively fresh water floating on the seas surface. Sea snakes can die of thirst. Reproduction and Offspring Olive sea snake two days old, Reef HQ Aquarium, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Auscape / UIG / Getty Images The true sea snakes may be oviparous (lay eggs) or ovoviviparous (live birth from fertilized eggs held within the females body). The mating behavior of the reptiles is unknown, but it may be linked to the occasional schooling of large numbers of snakes. The average clutch size is 3 to 4 young, but as many as 34 young may be born. Snakes born in the water may be nearly as large as adults. The genus Laticauda is the only oviparous group of true sea snakes. These snakes lay their eggs on land. All sea kraits mate on land and lay their eggs (oviparous) in rock crevices and caves on shore. A female krait may deposit from 1 to 10 eggs before returning to the water. Sea Snake Senses Olive sea snake, Hydrophiidae, Pacific ocean, Papua New Guinea. Reinhard Dirscherl / Getty Images Like other snakes, sea snakes flick their tongues to gain chemical and thermal information about their environment. Sea snake tongues are shorter than those of regular snakes because its easier to taste molecules in water than in air. Sea snakes ingest salt with prey, so the animal has special sublingual glands under its tongue that allow it to remove excess salt from its blood and expel it with a tongue flick. Scientists dont know much about sea snake vision, but it appears to play a limited role in catching prey and selecting mates. Sea snakes have special mechanoreceptors that help them sense vibration and movement. Some snakes respond to pheromones to identify mates. At least one sea snake, the olive sea snake (Aipysurus laevis), has photoreceptors in its tail that allow it to sense light. Sea snakes may be able to detect electromagnetic fields and pressure, but the cells responsible for these senses have yet to be identified. Sea Snake Venom Sea snakes bear close observation, but may bite if threatened. Joe Dovala / Getty Images Most sea snakes are highly venomous. Some are even more venomous than cobras! The venom is a deadly mixture of neurotoxins and myotoxins. However, humans rarely get bitten, and when they do, the snakes rarely deliver venom. Even when envenomation (venom injection) does occur, the bite may be painless and initially produce no symptoms. Its common for some of the snakes small teeth to remain in the wound. Symptoms of sea snake poisoning occur within 30 minutes to several hours. They include headache, stiffness, and muscle pain throughout the body. Thirst, sweating, vomiting, and a thick-feeling tongue may result. Rhadomyolisis (muscle degradation) and paralysis ensue. Death occurs if the muscles involved in swallowing and respiration are affected. Because bites are so rare, antivenin is next to impossible to obtain. In Australia, a specific sea snake antivenin exists, plus the antivenin for the Ausatralian tiger snake may be used as a substitute. Elsewhere, youre pretty much out of luck. The snakes are not aggressive unless they or their nest are threatened, but its best to leave them alone. The same caution should be applied to snakes washed up on beaches. Snakes may play dead as a defense mechanism. Even a dead or decapitated snake may bite via reflex. Conservation Status Habitat destruction and over-fishing are threats to sea snake survival. Hal Beral / Getty Images Sea snakes, as a whole, are not endangered. However, there are some species on the IUCN Red List. Laticauda crockeri is vulnerable, Aipysurus fuscus is endangered, and Aipysurus foliosquama (leaf-scaled sea snake) and Aipysurus apraefrontalis (short-nose sea snake) are critically endangered. Sea snakes are difficult to keep in captivity, due to their specialized diets and habitat requirements. They need to be housed in rounded tanks to avoid damaging themselves on corners. Some need to be able to exit the water. Pelamis platurus accepts goldfish as food and can survive captivity. Animals That Resemble Sea Snakes Garden eels look a bit like snakes. Mark Newman / Getty Images There are several animals that resemble sea snakes. Some are relatively harmless, while others are venomous and more aggressive than their aquatic cousins. Eels are often mistaken for sea snakes because they live in the water,  have a serpentine appearance, and breathe air. Some species of eels can give a nasty bite. A few are poisonous. Some species can deliver an electric shock. The sea snakes cousin is the cobra. Cobras are excellent swimmers that can deliver a deadly bite. While they are most often found swimming in freshwater, they are at ease in coastal saltwater, too. Other snakes, both on land and water, may be confused with sea snakes. While the true sea snakes may be recognized by their flattened bodies and oar-shaped tails, the only visible trait distinguishing sea kraits from other snakes is a somewhat flattened tail. Sources Coborn, John.  The Atlas of Snakes of the World. New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications, inc. 1991.Cogger, Hal.  Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney, NSW: Reed New Holland. p.  722, 2000.Motani, Ryosuke. The Evolution of Marine Reptiles.  Evo Edu Outreach.  2: 224–235, May, 2009.Mehrtens J M. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp., 1987

4 Tips to Ensure Your Job Application Doesnt Get Tossed

4 Tips to Ensure Your Job Application Doesnt Get Tossed Job Application Essays Many job applications require that you answer an extensive set of essay questions, even before you get an interview. These questions might transport you back to the days of college essay applications – days you may have thought were safely behind you. Are you faced with a list of questions to answer on a job application? Read the following carefully: The absolute most important thing you can do – in fact you MUST do – on that application is to answer the questions. When I say â€Å"answer the questions,† I don’t mean write something in the box provided. I mean answer the questions. Tip #1: Answer Whats Being Asked Seems simple enough, right? But many of the job applications I review make a cardinal error. Sure, there’s an answer in the box provided, but it’s an answer to some other question than the one the company has asked. For instance, one company asked the candidate to speak of a measure an employer had set and to report how he had compared to that measure. The candidate wrote about the measure and then reported how he had measured up to other people in the company instead of to the standard itself. Red flag goes up – it sounds like this candidate is hiding something. And he was. I coached him to tell the truth, and we found a way to state it so that it still sounded impressive! Tip #2: Follow the Instructions I once gave a talk to a group of students applying to law school. I asked them, â€Å"If a school requested a 500-word essay, would you submit a 511-word essay?† One of the potential law school applicants said that he would have no problem doing so. Guess what? The admissions committee would be justified in choosing not to read a single one of those 511 words. If you were an admissions officer, would you want someone in your law school who could not follow instructions? Tip #3: Dont Go On †¦ and On †¦ and On †¦ Another common tendency is to provide more information than the company has requested. This tendency can get you into trouble. For instance, a newspaper asked how the candidate had become interested in the field of journalism. The candidate drafted almost an entire paragraph about why she did not want to be a lawyer even though she had attended law school. She had read into the question something that simply was not there. I made sure she wrote a great story about her path to journalism, instead of an apology about why she did not do something else. Tip #4: Get a Second Opinion It’s more difficult than you might think to answer questions and to answer them accurately and well. If you are working on a set of essay questions for a job or college application, get a second pair of eyes to make sure your answers have addressed the questions asked – no more and no less. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot! If you truly answer the questions, you will position yourself to possibly get an interview – where you will get to answer yet more questions, and maybe have a chance to elaborate on the things you were so smart to leave out of your essays. If youd like The Essay Expert to be your second pair of eyes, wed be happy to help you with your application essay. Click here to contact us for more information.

Nursing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nursing - Assignment Example Although there has been an influx in RNs born in foreign countries and nurses over the age of 50 returning to work, the fact is younger Americans do not consider joining the nursing profession. This presents policymakers with a big dilemma. It is a fact that the current staffing ratios and patient staffing requirement are inadequate. This paper will review this statement.  In a research jointly funded by the AHRQ, the Center for Medicare and Medical Services, the Institute of Nursing Research, and the Health Recourses and Service Administration done in 1993, over six million medical and surgical patients were reviewed. According to this research, it was found that in the 799 hospitals researched, higher RN staffing was inversely proportional to the adverse patient outcome and vice versa (Hospital nurse staffing, 2013). In addition, the probability of failure to rescue was higher in hospitals that had lower nurse staffing levels. Based on these findings, adverse patient events like pneumonia in hospitals with lower RNs to patient ration were associated with a bigger financial burden. For instance, the cost of treating pneumonia increased by between around $22,390 to $28,505 for the target audience researched. In line with this research, it is a fact that, the current staffing ratios in our hospitals must be addressed not only to preserve or increase the quality of life of patients.

An Insight into Berger's Analysis of Holbein's Ambassadors Essay

An Insight into Berger's Analysis of Holbein's Ambassadors - Essay Example He feels that the spectators should understand the difference between the art and the viewers that helps them to distinguish between reality and illusion. However, his understanding has given more meaning to the art. Thesis: Art is a form of representation of current life style. It means reflecting all the social aspects from social to political, is what Berger’s analyses. As far as Holbein’s Ambassadors is concerned, Berger is straight forward in clearly illuminating the notion of slave trade, colonialism and sexual domination. His observation also shows that he is not behind illusion. He clearly illustrates the truth of art that carries just the illusion. But the same art gives more implications apart from being a form of painting. Berger’s initial step in analysing begins with a hint about the oil painting tradition of the Renaissance. He then points out how the trend of art that took different meaning under the power of modern advertising and wealth of the ru ling class. Berger is keen in focusing on the individualism or male dominance, class bias, etc. He makes a remark that any work of art of any era tends to reflect the expectations and demands of the ruling class. Art history confuses the meaning of an art work then reveals its real politics. Due to this opinion he refers to the texture, flooring, clothing, objects as part of the wealthy and capitalistic class and their interest. At this point it appears true that the art of Ambassadors does not show any emphasis on the other common people, expect the skull that has been presented in an abnormal fashion. Berger would like to interpret the skull image as highly mystical. Mystical might also refer to the slave trade during that period. When content appears less important, the techniques used in the art justifies the commercial aspect, for example the texture of the cloth, instruments and books used by the Ambassadors etc. This quality isolates the work from other oil painting art. Diff icult explanation of surfaces and fabric in the painting focusing on the wealth is an indication of the demands made for the artist. So, the artist had to concentrate on the status of the men portrayed rather than pertaining to art. Aydemir supports this aspect by referring to the cool position of the men in the art as â€Å"a specific modality of the self-display of masculinity, of appearing as recognizably masculine without too hard, without the effort tainting the projected image† [p-60] When we look at the Ambassadors from the viewpoint of what it conveys about society, such as the look of men or what their eyes conveys, the relationship between them and the things surrounded by them will make a different impact to the readers. In such a condition, the inspiration to touch and feel will not dominate. Berger’s interpretation on the relation between the men and the rest of the world, says that they focus on something of which they are not interested. The objects betw een them were intended to explain their position in the world. When years pass by the tradition transforms to different standards. So our interpretation also changes according to the contemporary knowledge. This point too appears to be acceptable though the artistic features have not been interpreted here. Berger seems to consider the appreciation of art only as a transmission of emotion. The emotion is then provoked by the image from the perspective of past experience. Hence artistic appreciation is limited in his analysis. The pictures

Cbs Tells Sodastream to Revise Brand-Bashing Super Bowl Essay Example for Free

Cbs Tells Sodastream to Revise Brand-Bashing Super Bowl Essay Every year, the Super Bowl attracts some of the best and most high-priced advertising in the world. But it also lures a horde of publicity-seekers claiming their commercials have been censored or rejected by the host network. In nearly all cases, the complaining marketers never really had a shot at the Super Bowl, thanks to shoddy production values, truly objectionable content and, more often than not, the inability to pony up more than $3 million for an ad. And its a common occurrence for the network to ask event sponsors to tweak or edit the content for a variety of reasons (which also can yield a PR bonanza if a sponsor cries foul just ask serial offender GoDaddy. com). But SodaStream, a mainstream advertiser that some time ago purchased a spot in the games fourth quarter, said this wasnt a PR gambit. So whats the issue? The content of its planned commercial seemed to have concerned CBS because it was a direct hit at two other Super Bowl sponsors and heavy network TV advertisers: Coke and Pepsi SodaStream, which sells home soda-making machines, has already run afoul of authorities in the U.K. for a Bogusky-crafted spot indicating its product is more environmentally friendly than established sodas; the spot shows branded bottles and cans of soft drinks exploding into thin air. For the Super Bowl, it hoped to up the ante with a spot depicting truck drivers clad in clothing with Coca-Cola and Pepsi marks on them, according to Ilan Nacasch, SodaStreams chief marketing officer. We really tried to comply with the standards set by CBS, he said. At the same time, he added, We were taking it to a new level, and thats the level where they apparently judged to be going too far. Interestingly enough, Pepsi has scored big points with viewers over the years by showing Super Bowl ads with Coke deliverymen abandoning their employer wholesale for a sip of a Pepsi drink. Of course, Pepsi (and, for that matter, Coke) buys multiple ads in the Super Bowl each year, as well as spends millions of dollars on other broadcast-TV advertising. Another Super Bowl sponsor, Anheuser-Busch InBev with Pepsi this year for in-store displays and promotions. A CBS spokeswoman said network executives declined to comment. Bummed, Mr. Bogusky, famous for his work at CPB still in the game with an older spot we tweaked.

White Mans Burden :: essays research papers

â€Å"White Man’s Burden† The movie we watched in class was called â€Å"White Man’s Burden.† According to some sociologists the white man’s burden is an unwanted burden that white men, who are in the upper part of society, must bring the minority classes up to their status. For example, if it were applied today white folks would have to help bring black folks up into a higher class. While this theory was used many years ago, it is still in consideration today. This movie took a very unique approach. It separated two classes of people, whites and blacks. They were separated by, what I believe is the greatest degree of separation today, money. In the movie the only people in the upper class were black and the main family in the movie was white. In today’s society that is different, you would expect white people to have the money and black to be in the lower class. While that is not always the case, it is what is perceived in today’s society. The movie portrayed life in the inner city as we are conditioned to see it. Everyone in the inner city was of the same race. Everyone was poor and life was rough. There was some violence in the inner city but it was on only between the two classes. Also everyone in the inner city didn’t speak proper English. The movie almost implied that it was these people fault that they were poor and that they were bad people. It did not show the fact that these people of the inner city could have been dealt a bad hand. This point is shown when John Travolta is evicted from his house. When this happens his mother in law comes over to get his wife and kids. While she is there she yells at him and asks him what kind of husband he is that he can’t keep a job and raise his own kids and support her daughter. The fact that maybe he was dealt a bad hand was over looked. John Travolta is still a good person. There were stereotypes portrayed in the movie. One can be shown when John Travolta was beaten by some cops. He was beaten by cops because he â€Å"fit† a description of a criminal. The stereotype here is that all people who are of the lower class are criminals. John Travolta was not stopped and asked for identification, it was just assumed that since he was of a lower class that he the criminal they were looking for.

If girls should study separetly from boys Essay

This paper argues that single-sex public education brings more harms than benefits. The issue of single-sex public schooling in the U. S. has been in the centre of a heated debate recently. Some scholars and education practitioners argue that educating girls separately from boys results in healthier learning environment and psychological development of representatives of both genders. Along with presenting arguments and evidence in support of mixed gender education, this paper will also dismiss major theses put forward by the proponents of single-sex education. First of all, mixed gender education benefits both girls and boys since early encounter with persons of opposite sex helps children and teenagers shape healthier perceptions about gender roles and relations between genders. In the absence of information about representatives of different gender, various stereotypes and misperceptions develop. On the contrary, when boys and girls study together, they can observe peculiarities of male and female behavior and identity formation, thus learning to acknowledge and respect differences between genders. Secondly, single-sex education reinforces the notion that men and women are not fully equal as the participants of public life. If the differences between genders are regarded as too dramatic to educate boys and girls together, such approach presumes tat mean and women are too different to participate in other spheres of public life on equal grounds. However, the idea that has been consistently promoted throughout the 20th century was that women are also rational subject and are entitled to the same set of rights as men. Single sex education can thus be viewed as a step back in the historical development of our society. Thirdly, differences in learning styles are not necessarily an impediment to academic progress. Since boys and girls have different approach to educational process, coeducation can help to unleash the potential of the diversity of learning attitudes and experience. In such a way, ‘coeducation exposes all students to a range of male and female-oriented learning experiences. Importantly, boys and girls gain social maturity through valuable interactive play and shared learning’ (Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, 2007, para. 2). The proponents of single sex schooling disagree with the aforementioned statement. They believe that differences in learning styles are best addressed when boys and girls study separately. Under such scenario, they argue, teachers can choose the most effective way of presenting the material and assessing students’ progress, since they have an opportunity to tailor their teaching manner to the needs of representatives of a particular gender. In support of their claim they cite evidence of better performance in single sex schools as compared with coeducational schools. In dismissing this evidence, two factors need to be taken into account. First of all, these studies measured only short-term impact on academic performance without paying due attention to the continuity and integrity of learning process. There may be fluctuations in performance indicators across districts, regions, and years. The proponents of single sex education fail to prove that educating girls separately from boys bring long-term academic benefits: As opposed to concurrent indicators of academic achievement, any positive effects of SS [single sex] schooling on longer-term indicators of academic achievement are not readily apparent’ (U. S. Department of Education, 2005, ‘Summary of Findings in Each Domain,’ ‘Long-term, quantifiable academic accomplishment’). On the contrary, differences in learning styles may sometimes lead to higher performance indicators as coeducation encourages representatives of both genders to study better. Since psychologically girls are more inclined to learning and academic environment, they set a certain level of achievement. Naturally, boys in the same classroom are pressured to live up to the standard: ‘While girls might set the benchmark in standards, once boys understand the required level, their competitive nature encourages them to strive for mastery, often leading to achievement levels beyond the benchmark’ (Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, 2007, ‘Setting the bar’). As for the argument that single sex education raises self-esteem, especially in all-girls schools and classrooms, it can be contested, too. While short-term impact on self-esteem may be positive, long-term harms again outweigh all the perceived benefits. When boys and girls are educated separately, they get used to single sex environment and acquire social skills that helps them operate in such environment only. However, after graduation they are required to learn how to operate in mixed-gender environment, which can be stressful and diminish their chances to lead a full-fledged social life. In conclusion, it is necessary to say that the question of single sex v. coeducation should be further researched. It is one of the fundamental social policy debates that shape public life in our country – just like abortion, gun control, global warming, or euthanasia – and therefore it should be carefully considered and scrutinized before final decision on this issue is made.

Poverty no longer exists in Britain today

There is an argument that poverty no longer exists in Britain today. Many people would say that the days when people died from lack of food, shelter or clean water ended, in this country, with the introduction of the welfare state (Chinn, 1995). Poverty, however, can be defined in two ways and depending on which definition one chooses to employ, it can be contested whether the balance of evidence shows that poverty actually does exist or not. In this piece of work it will be argued that poverty does affect many people in our society and the lack of resources of poorer people in society is at the root of inequalities in health. Furthermore it will be shown that the discrepancy between the standards of living that better off people in society enjoy and the standards of living that poorer people endure can be something that is very difficult to alter. In conclusion there will be a discussion on the role that social care professionals may play in trying to reduce the negative effects suffered by some people as a result of poverty. The first of the two identified forms of poverty is absolute or â€Å"subsistence level poverty† (Thompson and Priestly, 1996: 207). Income falls below a set level so that a person does not have the means to be able to secure the basic necessities for living, in terms of food, drink, shelter and clothing. Stephens et al (1998) argue that for some people in society, like rough sleepers, poverty in absolute terms is very real and that when older people die from hypothermia because they can't afford to heat their homes adequately it is as a result of absolute poverty. Poverty in this sense however has certainly diminished since the advent of the Welfare State. The second definition of poverty, relative poverty, is defined in terms of a ‘reasonable' standard of living generally expected by the society in which a person lives. It identifies ‘needs' as more than basic biological requirements, taking into account social and emotional needs. It is also about being excluded from taking part in activities which are widely undertaken by the rest of society. In terms of resources, relative poverty is a higher standard of living than absolute poverty but it could be argued that many things that are not strictly essential for life nevertheless could be deemed as necessities by society in general. Thus whether you adhere to an absolutist or relativist definition of it, it is clear that there are certain people in society who suffer from poverty. Modern research into poverty combines both classifications. Stevens et al (1988: 266) maintain: â€Å"it's important to capitalise on the advantages of both definitions†. There have been several pieces of well-documented research into health inequalities, both by successive governments and independent bodies, for example, The Black Report in 1980; Margaret Whitehead's ‘The health divide' in 1987 (Stephens et al, 1998) and most recently the Acheson Report in 1998. This research underlines the correlation between poverty and ill health and the disparity that exists, depending on social class. Measurements and comparisons are made in terms of morbidity and in terms of mortality. Research shows that if a person is born into poverty his/her chances of suffering ill health and a shortened life span are greater than if he/she was born into prosperity. Some of the most recent research has shown, for example that children in social class five (where five represents the least well off and one represents the most well off) are five times as likely to suffer accidental death than their peers from social class one (Roberts I. Power C, 1996). Further studies show that a baby boy from social class one can be expected to live for more than nine years longer than a baby boy from social class five (Office for National Statistics, 1998). The British Medical Journal (1999) states â€Å"Social class differences in health are seen at all ages, with lower socio-economic groups having the greater incidence of heart disease, stroke and some cancers†. The rate of pre-natal mortality is hi gher for women from lower socio-economic groups. A poorer person is more likely to die in infancy, more likely to suffer ill health, as a child and as an adult, and more likely to die prematurely than someone who has greater access to resources. It has been stated that â€Å"the most significant factor [affecting health] in poverty is†¦ the fact that poor people are denied access to possessions and services that are available to their better-off peers† (Moore, 1997). This could include: preventative medicine, early treatment when sick, a healthy diet, access to ‘keep fit' leisure activities. Other factors which could have a detrimental effect on poorer people could include things like poorly maintained housing, stress related illness and smoking, which is more prevalent among lower income groups (Office for National Statistics, 1998). Explanations for poverty tend to fall into two categories. There are individualistic explanations for poverty. That people who are in relative poverty are so because they are in some way lazy, irresponsible or ‘feckless' and they could help themselves to escape poverty if they really wanted to. Some people vocalise this way of thinking by, for example, telling the unemployed to ‘get on their bikes' and find work. This type of argument can, and often is, applied to any ‘inappropriate' or ‘wasteful' use of resources for example, by criticising people for wanting to dress their children in more expensive clothes, or by condemning women for the number of children they choose to have. Another common reaction when confronted with arguments about poverty is to be reproachful when someone chooses to smoke instead of ‘spending their money wisely'. These arguments however fail to take into account the way that society is structured and the effects that this has on people's life chances. There is an element of victim blaming and consideration is not given to the fact that some people have far more power than others to alter aspects of their lives. Structural, as opposed to individualistic, explanations focus on â€Å"the political, economic and material environment in which people find themselves† (Howe, 1997: 173). A person who is born into poverty is more likely to stay poor and their children are likely to be poor. In this way a life or poverty can be a self-perpetuating cycle of deprivation which people have very little power to change. This deprivation is exacerbated by the fact that it can be combined with other inequalities, such as those based on gender, ethnicity, and age. The fact that some people suffer from multiple disadvantages is attributable to structural inequality, which is inherent in our society. Anatole France wrote: â€Å"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread. France (1894). Clearly there is no need for wealthier people ‘to sleep under bridges' whereas there may be a justification or even a necessity for a homeless person to do it. The concept of a society where everyone has the same opportunities and all are equal is a fallacy when viewed from a structural perspective. This does not however mean that people are absolutely powerless to help themselves and assumptions sho uld not be made that because someone is in poverty they will necessarily need the help of social care professionals. People can often make changes to make their lives better, to suggest otherwise would be to disempower people. Social care professionals should be aware of the effects of poverty and the relative powerlessness of some people but not to such an extent that the power imbalance is made greater by the workers inability to treat the client as an individual. Anti-oppressive practice is â€Å"a form of social work that addresses social divisions and structural inequalities †¦ by responding to people's needs regardless of their social states† Dominelli (1993). This argument is further developed by Dalrymple and Burke (1995) when they talk about giving the client access to records so that any information is shared. Ensuring inclusion and consultation can lessen the power imbalance between social care worker and client. Government policy is geared to combating inequalities, in light of the findings of the Acheson Report. In particular it recognises the needs of those who may have multiple disadvantages, for example women, children, people with disabilities, older people and people from ethnic minority groups. Social care workers should have an awareness of combined inequalities and should have a commitment to reduce them. â€Å"Many social workers invest considerable efforts to maximise the welfare benefits of their clients and search through charitable resources to alleviate some of their acute hardships† (Jones, 1997: 121). Social care workers can work in partnership with other agencies to ensure that they refer people to organisations who are able to help, when it is not within the social carer's remit. For example, referrals could be made to: agencies who advise on health matters, or work to increase benefits, or help people back into work, or give advice on housing matters. â€Å"The best way to get rid of poverty – absolute or relative – is to forge a more genuinely equal society† Stephens et al (1998: 258). This is something that is beyond the capabilities of any one profession. In conclusion, social care workers can help to reduce the negative effects of poverty to a certain extent but, for any major improvements to be made, there needs to be a radical change (through governmental policy) in the distribution of both power and wealth.

Condorcet Biography essays

Condorcet Biography essays The Historical Background of Prussias Unique Military Prussia was unique in that, more than in any other country, the army developed a life of its own, almost independent of the life of the state. The distinctive military history of Prussia was developed early on it its history from the origins of the Teutonic knights and brought to a level of perfection throughout the reigns of Frederick William the Great Elector, Frederick William I and Frederick II. These gifted strategists due to their individual history and the accomplishments of the previous generation achieved military innovations. The Teutonic knights were the German order of knights who were sent by Pope Gregory IX in 1225 to convert the Prussians after the failure of their attempt to conquer the Holy land. At that point in time Prussians were a people related to Lithuanians and Latvians, who were among the last remaining pagans in Europe. The Poles were pleased by the presence of the Teutonic knights, especially the Duke of Mazovia, to whom the Prussians were not only heathens, but also a constant militaristic nuisance. In a long war the Teutonic knights finally conquered Prussia by 1285, killing some, converting some and creating a feudal state. Two centuries later the order of knight succumbed to the growing power of Poland and Lithuania. Under the terms of the second Peace of Torun in 1466, the order cedes their territories west of the Vistula River to the Poles. In 1511 the knights elected Margrave Albert of Brandenburg from the Franconian line of the house of Hohenzollern as their grand master. In the time of the reformation, he introduced Lutheranism into his territory and dissolved the Teutonic Order. He headed Luthers advice to marry and secularize Prussia in order to save it from absorption by Poland. He married the daughter of the king of Denmark and was successful in his secularization of Prussia. His actions lead to Poland recognizing Margrav...

A Novel IS Fiction

A Novel IS Fiction A Novel IS Fiction A Novel IS Fiction By Maeve Maddox Ive noticed that some people talk about fiction novels. A novel IS fiction. One can talk about writing a novel OR about writing fiction. To combine the two is to wear a belt with suspenders. (Another example of reluctance to let the word do the work.) In writing terms, fiction is any non-factual narrative composition. It may be short or long. It may contain historical or scientific facts, and it may describe characters named for historical personages, but the conversations and treatment of events are understood to have been made up by the author. Fiction may be written in various lengths. Here are some guidelines. A short story is a fictional narrative of no longer than 20,000 words and no shorter than 1,000. Most short stories run between 3,000 and 10,000 words so that they may be read at a single sitting. A novelette is a fictional narrative of from 7,500 to 17,500 words in length. A novella is a fictional narrative between 17,500 and 40,000 words. A recent fad called flash fiction concerns itself with the writing of extremely short narratives. People disagree as to the length of flash fiction. The only point of agreement is that it is shorter than the traditional short story, no longer than 2,000 words. Most flash fiction is between 250 and 1,000 words. Various terms for these very short narratives are in use. The oldest is short short story. More recently one hears postcard fiction, micro-fiction, micro-story, and sudden fiction. Some websites now feature what are called one sentence stories. The ones Ive read dont appear to be anything more than well-crafted sentences one would expect to find in a conventional story. They tend to be descriptive and anecdotal, but not true stories. Finally there is the novel, a long fictional narrative that can be from 60,000-100,000 words. For some authors 100,000 words are not enough: James Joyce, Ulysses: 250,000 words (It only seems longer.) Victor Hugo, Les Miserables: 513,000 words. Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace: 460,000 words in the original; 560,000 words in English translation. Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged: 645,000 words. Samuel Richardson, Clarissa: 969,000 words. (English majors have to read this early example of an epistolary novela story told as a collection of letters.) AND THE WINNER IS Marcel Proust, A la recherche du temps perdu (In English Remembrance of Things Past/In Search of Lost Time): 1.5 million words published in 13 volumes. NOTE: the above Wikipedia quotation has since been corrected to read 1.5 million words published in 7 volumes. Proust was still working on this 7-volume monument when he died. The first English translation, by Scott Moncrief, was published in 12 volumes. Publishing history of A la recherche du temps perdu. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Homograph Examples40 Synonyms for â€Å"Lie†Plurals of Proper Names

Letter of Advice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Letter of Advice - Essay Example It is important to note of the barriers that hinder effective communication and relationships. Most barriers in communication stem from self-protection. However, there are unavoidable circumstances, especially, if partners come from backgrounds that possess disparity (Wood, 2012). The intensity of the situation regards the level of disparity. The crucial thing for partners is that they realize these differences. In turn, they should be aware of how the same affects their communication. Individuals possess fears and insecurities that hinder one from wholly experiencing the benefits of a relationship. The light thing about these fears is that people learn about the same. This comes from the fact that partners may fear judgment from the same. Besides, they fear ridicule and appearing stupid in front of partners. This fear is coupled comes with the view that someone is sensitive of being overpowered. In this sense, fear impairs communication in notable ways. To begin with, a partner woul d not communicate true thoughts because one preempts what the other partner would like. This creates a situation where an individual stifles one’s emotions and thoughts. Another barrier of proper communication concerns with the case of insensitivity. It relates to inadequate care for a partner’s feelings. In addition, it entails inaccurate perception and portrayal of one’s feelings (Allen, 2002). It relates to detachment of an individual in the relationship until one becomes only preoccupied with oneself. It articulates as a case of personal insulation. Insensitivity expresses in notable ways. For instance, it comes as a method of diverting others’ concerns. In typical instances, one would turn a mutual conversation towards oneself. It deviates from the person who engages in talking. This occurs when a partner does not have proper listening skills. In certain instances, it comes as