Alejandro Flores Case Free Essay Example, 750 words

As mentioned above there are several Latino normative cultural values that may be applied in Alejandro s case (Phipps, n.d. ). These values are familismo, personalismo, simpatia, respeto, fatalismo, machismo and the belief in folk healers. Familismo can be seen in the Flores family, as shown in the extended family set-up; thus, the mother of Senora Flores still lives with them. Familismo is also observed when Senora Flores consulted her mother regarding the health concerns of Alejandro. The importance of personalismo is illustrated in Senora Flores reaction with how she is being treated in the hospital. She finds them rude and disrespectful which is not what she experiences with the Latin culture. Simpatia is what Dr. Jean and the other hospital staff lack in dealing with the Flores family s health concerns with Alejandro. Simpatia is expected by the Flores family because it is inherent in their culture. Another value that is observed in Alejandro s situation is that of respeto, which Senora Flores showed towards her mother when she followed her suggestion to see an espiritista. Senora Flores practice of giving herbal tea to Alejandro, lighting of a candle and praying over Alejandro is all part of their belief in folk healers. Fatalismo is seen in the view of Senora Flores that she is being punished by God that is why Alejandro is sick. Machismo, on the other hand, is exemplified by Senor Flores refusal to listen to Dr. We will write a custom essay sample on Alejandro Flores Case or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Jean because she is a woman and shown in his disgust over having to be with Alejandro in the hospital.

The Scholarship Boy By Richard Rodriguez - 2048 Words

Through the narrative â€Å"The Scholarship Boy† I find few turning points that I notice a shift in the demeanor of Richard Rodriguez as well as how I perceive the story. First of all, it is made apparent to me that people acknowledge him for his successes by making remarks such as, â€Å"Your parents must be proud† or â€Å"How did you manage it? According to the opening paragraphs Rodriguez is seen as a model student. Although this may be true, the first turning point I find suggests otherwise as Rodriguez conveys, â€Å"For although I was a very good student, I was also a very bad student†¦Always successful, always unconfident. Exhilarated by my process. Sad.† This quote changed my perspective of Rodriguez because of the negative emotion he expresses toward his family. By the same token, I recall my sister being an outstanding achiever throughout school, yet, she was similarly depressed as well as annoyed towards me and the rest of our family. This flas hback assisted me in relating to Rodriguez’s emotions towards his successes. In the same fashion, I am supplied a grasp of his shift in tone and direction in the narrative. The second turning point is like a surge of hope amongst the sadness. We are brought a new perspective of the scholarship boy from his reading of the book â€Å"The Uses of Literacy†. Rodriguez learns he is not alone in his feelings, â€Å"For the first time I realized that there were other students like me, and so I was able to frame the meaning of my academic success, itsShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Narrative Scholarship Boy By Richard Rodriguez932 Words   |  4 PagesIn the narrative called ‘Scholarship Boy’, by Richard Rodriguez. One can say that the biggest turning point is when Mr. Rodriguez himself realizes, at the age of thirty. The biggest attribute to his success and determination is schooling as a young boy. This is when Mr. Rodriguez had to live two separate lives. O ne as a young boy eager and willing to learn and develop, and another as a son and sibling to his family. At the age of thirty he finally is able to come to terms with this fact and be ableRead MoreThe Scholarship Boy And The Troubling Times1216 Words   |  5 Pagesthis paper, I will discover the difference between the two definitions of the scholarship boy and the troubling times Richard Rodriguez faces through his life in trying to balance school and work with his home life. Richard Rodriguez who is the author of the â€Å"Achievement of Desire† told readers both stories and experiences of scholarship boy and himself based off of Richard Hoggart’s the Uses of Literacy. While Rodriguez was writing the â€Å"Achievement of Desire† he went through many different phasesRead MoreEssay on Richard Rodriguez, The Achievement of Desire: Analysis1405 Words   |  6 PagesImagination† In his essay, â€Å"The Achievement of Desire,† Richard Rodriguez informs readers that he was a scholarship boy throughout his educational career. He uses his own personal experiences, as well as Richard Hoggart’s definition of the â€Å"scholarship boy,† to describe himself as someone who constantly struggles with balancing his life between family and education, and ends up on the side of education. In recognizing himself as a â€Å"scholarship boy,† he shows that he has gained what sociologist C. WrightRead MoreScholarship Boy or Not?885 Words   |  4 PagesScholarship Boy or Not? In the essay â€Å"Achievement of Desire†, Richard Rodriguez takes author Richard Hoggart’s, â€Å"Scholarship Boy†, and uses it as a reference point to capture his own life experiences as a scholarship boy. Growing up in a working class house hold, Richard was not the average product of his environment. Much like Hoggarts’ scholarship boy, Rodriguez was a very dedicated student that excelled in most of his studies. Although Rodriguez had the full support of his parents he was stillRead MoreCompare and Contrast Essay Gerald Graff’s article, â€Å"Disliking Books† and Richard Rodriguez’s800 Words   |  4 Pages Compare and Contrast Essay Gerald Graff’s article, â€Å"Disliking Books† and Richard Rodriguez’s â€Å"Scholarship Boy† are similar and yet different in many ways. The two articles describe the journey of two boys from different backgrounds through various stages in their education. A similarity in the two articles is seen in the desire of the parents to make their children acquire formal education. Rodriguez’s parents took him and his other siblings to parochial schools because the nuns, in their opinionRead MoreHunger Of Memory By Richard Rodriquez1268 Words   |  6 Pagesthat newcomers tend to face once on American soil. Anything from racial discrimination or bias at work, in neighborhoods, at school, etc., can all be challenges that people encounter when making a move to the U.S. Such challenges are described by Richard Rodriquez in his autobiography Hunger of Memory. In this passage, he explains how cultural differences between Mexican and American ways of life have shaped him into the person that he is today. He also chooses to highlights the problems that he facesRead MoreRichard Rodriguez : The Son Of Mexican Immigrants977 Words   |  4 PagesFrancisco 1944, Richard Rodriguez is the son of Mexican immigrants and lived two lives incompatible t o each other – his life at home and school. Rodriguez revered his teachers and aspired to be like them, mimicking many of their opinions and physical gestures. At an early age, Rodriguez realized there was a separation between his school life and home life. There were certain things that could only be shared at home or at school. When Rodriguez read The Uses of Literacy by Richard Hoggart, he encounteredRead MoreThe Achievement of Desire, by Richard Rodriguez Essay1228 Words   |  5 Pagesquestioning. In Richard Rodriguez’s The Achievement of Desire we are presented with a young Richard Rodriguez and follow him from the start of his education until he is an adult finally having reached his goals. In reference to the way he reads for the majority of his education, it can be said he reads going with the grain, while he reads a large volume of books, the quality of his reading is lacking. Richard Rodriguez states himself he was an â€Å"imitative and unoriginal pupil† (Rodriguez 516). He takesRead MoreThe Words Of Lev S. Vygotsky, Through Others We Become Ourselves Essay959 Words   |  4 Pagesthe generation we are born into, the family we share, and experiences we have, all shape our views of the world and the role we play within it. Author Joel Stein in the TIME Magazine article entitled â€Å"Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation† and Richard Rodriguez in his â€Å"Achievement of Desire† both use personal and real life reflections to suggest the ongoing search for one’s identity. Both societal and personal growth are made possible by examining the past (previous generations), with hopes to defineRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Achievement Of Desire By Richard Rodriguez1330 Words   |  6 PagesMorley Composition 110 September 6, 2014 In the essay, â€Å"Achievement of Desire†, author Richard Rodriguez, recalls the difficulties of balancing life as a thriving student and the life in a working class family. Growing up, Rodriguez was the exception to the stereotypical student coming from an immigrant/working class family. From an early age, he prospered in academics. He made school his top priority. Rodriguez spent time with his books rather than with family or friends. Initially, this approach

Lead and Manage People Team Building

Question: Discuss about theLead and Manage Peoplefor Team Building. Answer: Introduction Building creditability in team takes time, patience and dedication. First of all I need to recognize the core values of the team that I should not violate as individuals with strong personality stand-up for their values and beliefs no matter what challenges they have to face. Secondly, I have to promote integrity in my team to bring team creditability. I have to stand for what I have committed towards the team members and take charge of anything mistakenly done and correct it without delay. Authenticity and transparency among leaders is another quality which attracts team members (Dyer and Dyer, 2013). Overall to all other aspects it is important to achieve expertise in my job role so that my team members can easily trust and relies on me when they face challenges. Lack of expertise can harm my creditability as a leader. One of the most crucial factors for business success and sustainability is building core cultural value within the organization. First of all I have to consider the prospective changes that I want to make in the team culture. It is important to make a realistic and practical plan for change. To build a strong culture I should set employee goals for all employees to be involved in decision making in some level of organization. This will make them feel important and a vulnerable part of the organization. Secondly an effective team leader does not micromanage the team. As a team leader it is my duty to inform the team members to inform them about their basic job responsibility. I will have to leave them about how they are going to finish the job. Informed members are generally motivated and empowered and feel oneness with the team. The primary role of a leader is to motivate and engage employees. As an effective leader I have a prospect to inspire employees and in turn develop efficiency of the organization. Leaders should develop sense of passion among employees so that they feel oneness with the organization and find meaning of their job role (Goetsch, and Davis, 2014). It is the passion and inspiration that plays a significant role in employee motivation which can be developed by sound leadership. In the contemporary business environment, an effective leader should adopt a transformational leadership style to react and respond according to situational needs (Hackman and Johnson, C.E., 2013). As an effective leader, I would suggest to implement empowerment among my employees because well informed employees feels the responsibility of their job role and are more committed than delegate employee. I would adopt a transformational and participative leadership style to manage my team. The challenges I may face due to employee empowerment leadership style is that there can be confusion among employees as decisions may not be identical and optimized for business objective. There can also be confusion and conflict among employees because the decision making process is not centralized and are not the only responsibility of the management. One of the very first rules of effective team building is trust and loyalty among team members and towards team leader. As a team leader I should promote an integrated and equality work culture environment where every member will be given his due importance and their ideas and values will be considered and respected. I should also promote harmony among team members to reduce team conflict and this can be build by trust and cooperation among the members. Lastly, there should be proper and transparent communication among employees and also with the team leader. The primary consideration of effective team building is to generate successful flow of communication within the team for integration and harmony. I would like to promote a transparent and simple communication plan in my team so that the communication plan remains simple and effective. One of the most common mistakes that happen in effective communication is not recognizing the level of understanding and knowledge of the audience about the conveyed message. Also choosing wrong channels can also facilities miscommunication among employees. Lastly, to reduce communication barriers, the conveyed message should be evaluated to check if its massage has been conveyed to the right person or not. I can articulate the plan in expressions of actions. If the strategy plan states that low cost suppliers then I should strategize for cost cutting. By defining and allotting transparent and measurable goals to the employees increases the employee motivation and commitment towards work. Having an effective problem solving skill and taking effective decision is a boon for any business manager. There are basic four steps to encourage problem solving- identifying the problem, developing alternatives, selection of alternatives and applying solutions. To promote proactive management style I would like to upgrade my time management skills as it one of the most crucial factors against challenges. Also, encouraging employees to become expert in time management will save organizations time and money. Recognizing and management of risk is also very crucial. Lastly, I should evaluate the organizational performance for creating new opportunities. Reference: Dyer, W.G. and Dyer, J.H., 2013.Team building: Proven strategies for improving team performance. John Wiley Sons. Goetsch, D.L. and Davis, S.B., 2014.Quality management for organizational excellence. pearson. Hawkins, P., 2014.Leadership team coaching: Developing collective transformational leadership. Kogan Page Publishers. Hackman, M.Z. and Johnson, C.E., 2013.Leadership: A communication perspective. Waveland Press.

The Spanish Inquisition Officially Started In The Mid- To Essays

The Spanish Inquisition officially started in the mid- to late- fourteen hundreds. The Spanish Inquisition was a country wide persecution of Jews for which there are several different reasons as to why it began. The actual reason, or reasons, that motivated the King and Queen are not known at this time, and may never be known for sure. Depending on whom you ask, there are different reasons of that vary in importance for the start of the Spanish Inquisition. Most historians seem to stress three important reasons which are: Politics, Economics, and Religion. My own opinion as to which of these reasons is correct is that it was a combination of Religious and Economic reasons. This thought will be expanded on at a later time. Religion was one of the most predominant reasons given for the start of the Spanish Inquisition. The Jews and Christians already hated each other prior to the start of the Inquisition : It is inevitable that there has been disagreement between Jews and Christians: The Christians hating the Jews on account of the Crucifixion; the Jews contemptuous of a sect which had taken their Religion and grafted a new one on it. The Christians were angry because the Jews crucified Christ. The Jews were angry because the Christians took their religion, changed some ideas and principles, and called the outcome Christianity. The Jews and Christians were never friendly after the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and this was just the climax of their hate for each other. However, the Christians were the ones that were in the position to get revenge, and they did, by persecuting the Jews to a murderous extent, and calling it the Inquisition. Those who did the persecuting and the killing of the Jews were called Inquisitors. These people did not mind doing the killing or torturing. Some thought that the Jews were causing sicknesses and the Black Plague. Others thought that what they were doing was Gods work: It has been said that the zealots of the Inquisition, even in their greatest cruelty, believed themselves to be justified in what they did. We are asked to accept as a fact that they were deeply religious men who honestly and sincerely believed that they were serving God in what they did. We are told that they believed Jews were destined for damnation, and that it was their duty to save them from that no matter what pain they inflicted on the bodies of the Jews here on Earth. The Inquisitors believed that they were saving the Jews for a hideous fate in the Underworld. They believed that since the Jews were dying at the hands of one of Gods children who was a follower of God, that they would get the Wisdom and knowledge of this person, and therefore go to heaven. Although now, this may incomprehensible, at the time of the Inquisition, the Inquisitors were not educated in any manner other than a religious one, and had become highly religious individuals. This added up to what we would now call blind faith. This means believing in something for no reason other than religious custom or tradition. The Government and its religious officials wanted to maintain Limpeza de Sangre or Purity of Blood. They wanted to have a pure and unified Spanish-Christian race and community, and in order to do so, they founit necessary to prevent any more intermarriage between Christians and conversos or Jews that would destroy the possibility of Limpieza de Sangre. They saw that the only way of ahieving this goal through the Inquisition. They would kill or drive out all of the Jews from Spain, and therefore achieve Limpieza de Sangre, or so they thought. The killed many Jews, but after the three-hundred and fifty year period of the Inquisitionwas over, many thousands of practicing Jews were still living in Spain. Aside from religious reasons, there were also some very strong political reasons for the Spanish Inquisition. The main political reason for the Spanish Inquisition was that there was a threat to the monarchy. The Christians of Spain, who at the time were the majority, were outraged at the Jews for many reasons, some which refer back to the religious reasons. The Monarchs of Spain, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, began to realize that if the tension of the citizens increased a little more, riots and mass killing would break out, possibly leading to a religious civil war. The method they used to control the citizens was the Spanish Inquisition. Using the Inquisition, they were able to soothe and calm the majority of the Spanish citizens. At the same

Fashionably Loud Essays - Fashion, Television Advertisement, Model

Fashionably Loud Fashionably LOUD! Do you choose what you wear or does the media choose it for you? I am one of the million Americans who struggle with keeping up with the new trends of the season. The media works their hardest in trying to persuade us into buying new things for home, work, and family. The media today is the largest advertisements money can buy and many large companies spend millions of dollars for a one-minute commercial on one of the major stations. Television and Magazine elaborate not only on what to wear and when to wear it but also on what others are wearing such as movie stars, models, music artists. Television, one of the major mediums of the media world, gives us the gossip on who is wearing what and what is fashionable for the season. Television shows like Entertainment Tonight, The National Inquirer TV, and Fashion TV are few of the shows that give us information on new trends for all different types of people and in all different countries. Television commercials give us the backbone we need to fall into all the schemes for selling. Designers such as Calvin Klein, Levis and many others try to catch our eye with their cool and crazy commercials. Television influences the way we shop. It accents to each and every one of our wardrobes with telling us what is hot and what is not. Teenagers, especially, give a lot of their attention to these television programs and try to be just like the models on the runway. The commercials try to target the younger generation because they will have them in the palm of their hands for the rest of their lives. Also they are easily influenced by Television with the billions of dollars spent on advertisements they have them trapped. Fashion Magazines give us a very good look at the fashion world, also. In magazines like Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and Vogue we see many great and very sexy advertisements that are screaming out to sell, sell, and sell. Designers such as Dolce this is cool and hip for the season. Although lets not over look the face, make-up has a very large part in the fashion world. Magazines are constantly telling us what shades are in for the season and who sell them. The Magazines and designers of the clothing world work theyre hardest to get people to buy their stuff. They highly influence people into buying clothing. Kate Spade, now the number one designer of hand bags in the world, got her fame from advertising in magazines. The handbags selling no lower than $200, has become a must in ones wardrobe coming from Vogue In conclusion the media shapes our thoughts and minds in buying products that are not a life necessity. We are always finding ourselves trying to keep up with the new trends an d new styles of the 90s. Television is one of the major networks that keep businesses going. They give a need to buy to someone who is willing to listen. Magazines are also a wonderful medium in selling clothing and other things. With their outrageous advertisements who would not fall into their trap? In conclusion, the media shapes our thoughts and minds in buying products that are not a life necessity although it makes us happy, it is worth it. We are always finding ourselves trying to keep up with the new trends and new styles of the 90s. Television and Magazine are one of the major mediums that keep businesses going and designers coming out with new and more expensive trends. The media give the need to buy to someone who is willing to listen. Social Issues

The Talented Mr. Ripley essays

The Talented Mr. Ripley essays Directors often base their films on novels; however, directors many times will alter the characters, plots, and settings of their films to appeal to an audience more than the novel. Changing the overall image of a character and accentuating different elements of a setting for a film will alter an audiences perspective of the character. This new opinion of the character in the film usually portrays the directors feelings toward a particular character, whether the feelings are positive or negative. The Talented Mr. Ripley is a wonderful example of changing a character and setting so they will come across to an audience in the same way the character appeals to the creator. A good scene for comparison is when Marge finds Dickies beloved rings among Tom Ripleys possessions. This scene shows how the drastic differences in Marges character changes the relationship of Tom and Marge in the novel and film and also changes the audiences perspective of Marge because of the different ways Pa tricia Highsmith and Anthony Minghella wrote her character. The setting of the ring scene is different in the novel and film. Marge confronts Tom with the dilemma of Dickie having taken off his rings in a large, open room in the novel; an open room for an open mind. This open room instills a feeling of receptiveness on the part of Marge. Tom has been sitting on a sofa that has just been described as fitted his shoulders like someones arm, or rather fitted it better than somebodys arm... The cozy sofa also makes the reader aware that Tom is very vulnerable at this point in the movie because he is relaxed and drowsy. Highsmith is able to change the cozy feeling quickly though because she then draws attention to Toms nervous actions when Marge informs Tom that she has found Dickies rings. Tom stands up quickly; he bumps into on of his shoes and picks it up; he holds the sho...

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

Managment - Essay Example Compared to other graduates, I believe that my superior research skills and ability to organize myself and the team to face challenges puts me at an advantage. I bring the values of honesty, accountability and an ability to meet challenges head on to the table. I am transparent in my dealings and if I am given some responsibility, I ensure that I am accountable as well. Combined with the ability to rise up to challenges, these values make me an ideal person to lead a team. Further, I can subordinate my individual goals to the needs of the team making me a team player as well. Hence, this ability to be a part of the team as well as lead a team makes me versatile and skillful at my job. I will show my value to the prospective employer by telling him about the most significant challenge that I have faced in my life so far and recounting the details of how I overcame the challenge. The challenge being mentioned is about how I led from the front when faced with an intractable problem that required out-of-the-box thinking to arrive at a

Economics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economics - Term Paper Example 2.2 Economy of North America†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... 7 The topic covers opportunities for allocation of capital as a scare resource that has to be allocated in many ways. Others see prospects in monopolistic environment, while others perceived the pure and natural monopoly more advantageous for their particular intention. Economies of countries differ because of economies of scale. This results to differences in GDP of poor and rich countries. We also see that aggregate demand is affected by price levels that either lowers or raises income and eventually influences balance of trade. Also, we have come at a conclusion that capital is the backbone of any business, but there are several decisions needed before a business could be established. Economics is a social science that studies production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. By extension economics also studies economic system, human welfare the creation and distribution of wealth, and the scarcity and alternative uses of resource. Under this definition, this study looks at the different market structure in a monopoly environment, examines the economy of selected countries, and studies the capital structure of business in order to understand the process of distribution of wealth. A monopolistic competition is a form of an imperfect competition which results from the differentiation of products by sellers. Dean, J. (p. 51) describes monopolistic competition as a situation where there are many sellers and no one can claim of control of major part of the common commodity. For example, McDonalds cannot claim a monopoly of hamburger sandwich as many others are selling the same product. McDonald differentiates its product thru advertising and promotion. Chart below shows a monopolistic competition which shows that on a short run basis, profit margin is comfortable for

How to make it illegal for employers not to offer bike racks and Essay

How to make it illegal for employers not to offer bike racks and showers - Essay Example This research will begin with the presentation of the current state of workplace cycling campaign. The major benefit to employers is that healthy employees take fewer sick leaves and are more productive at the workplace. The health of employees is improved because cycling is a form of physical exercise which lowers blood pressure of people, improves weight control and improves the condition of the heart and lungs. Cycling employees are also very alert and they experience lower stress levels. Employees also arrive at work on or in time because cyclists are freed from traffic jams. Staff cycling also lowers direct costs of employers. Employees also travel cheaply using shared bicycles at the workplace; hence savings are made on bus fares, taxi costs and care to hire expenses. The organization also benefits from cheaper parking costs, this is because the cost of parking one car can adequately meet parking costs for more than 10 bicycles. Encouraging cycling also reduces company car expe nses because giving a bicycle and incentives make employees forego company car. Cycling also builds a greener corporate image; this is because companies encouraging staff cycling reduce effects of road congestion and associated air pollution. Employees also benefit from cycling in various ways. Staff cycling lowers the cost of employee travel; this is because the buying price of a bicycle is much less than the buying price of a car, cycling saves car parking fees, and employees incur fewer petrol bills and bus passes.

Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Diabetic foot disorders are the rated as the number one cause of hospitalisation for diabetic mellitus patients in the United States and abroad. Among these disorders are, foot infection, ulcerations, cellulitis and gangrene. It is estimated that a 100 people per week lose a digit, foot or a lower limb due to diabetes mellitus8. Diabetic foot disorders and its long term complications account for direct medical budget of hundreds of millions of dollars annually, including lengthy hospital stay of patients and lengthened periods of disability. In the UK, diabetes cost the NHS over  £5 million pounds per annum and the cost of diabetic foot complications including amputations was  £252 million in 2003. Figures show that 1 in 10 foot ulcers result in the amputation of a foot or a leg. The most distinguishing foot complication of diabetes is the ulcer, which is of course a major risk factor for amputation. Mortality rates after amputation are as high as 50 percent in diabetic patients. Although the primary pathogenesis is neuropathy, immunopathy and vasculopathy (ischemia), diabetic foot ulcer is attributed to a number of other risk factors. Early detection of these risk factors as well as the foot ulcers themselves is crucial in the general management of diabetic foot ulcers and amputation prevention. Therefore, immediate and aggressive treatment of all diabetic foot ulcers can prevent worsening of the complication and the need for amputation. The objective of treatment as a result should be prompt intervention to allow good healing of the ulcer and once healed, to prevent its recurrence. However, the optimum care for foot ulcers rest upon the treatment teams understanding of the pathophysiology associated with diabetic foot ulcers, familiarity with current methods of treatment and the concept that the multidisciplinary team approach is the gold standard in preventing limb amputation. And above all, prevention of foot lesions should be ranked highest amongst all priorities. EPIDERMIOLOGY There is no concrete data illustrating the true picture of the incidence and prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers. However, majority of the information gathered about its aetiology is based upon national hospital discharge survey (NHDS) data, which does not include a vast number of patients with ulcerations treated on the outpatient basis. Cross-sectional and population-based studies help to approximate the distribution and frequency of diabetic foot ulcers, while prospective cohort studies and retrospective case-control studies are instrumental in detecting associated risk factors for the foot lesions. According to Reiber et als epidemiological review, chronic ulcers represented 2.7% of all diabetes related admissions and 46% of all admissions due to any ulcer condition. The 1983-1990 NHDS survey also revealed that the highest ulcer rates were found in individuals aged 45-64 years, with male preponderance over the female. The average length of stay (LOS) for diabetes pat ients discharged with ulcers was 59% more than in patients without ulcers, around 14 and 8 days, respectively. Numerous population-based studies record a yearly incidence of diabetic foot ulcers in the magnitude of 2% 3% in both type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients, while the prevalence ranges between 4% and 10%. These studies also suggest a widespread trend for higher prevalence of ulcerations with increasing age and duration of diabetes. Once ulcerations have occurred, recurrence rate can get to 50% in 2 years and 70% in 5 years. Despite the fact that mortality linked with diabetic foot ulcerations has not been recorded, 70% to 80% of amputations of the lower extremity can be lead by foot ulcers. Amputation is one of the most common sequels in persons with diabetes mellitus now exceeds 100,000 per year in the United States and amputations involving the leg, foot or toe(s) are not uncommon. Approximately 15% of patients with diabetic foot u lceration will require amputations due to uncontrolled infection, gangrene or failure of the ulcers to heal. Unfortunately, there is a 3-year survival rate of 50% after the amputation of a lower limb, while the 5-year survival rate is approximately 40%. Subsequently, less than half of the patients who end up with lower extremity amputation (LEA) of one limb go on to develop a severe contralateral ulcer within a space of 2 years, thereby putting the future of the other limb at risk as well. AETIOLOGY/PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Several factors have been implicated in association with diabetic foot ulcers. These factors include the intrinsic complications of diabetes mellitus in affiliation with some extrinsic factors and together predispose the diabetic patient to the risk of developing foot lesions. The trilogy of peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease (ischemia) and susceptibility to infection (immunopathy) are the main predisposing factors for lesions on the foot. The impact of peripheral neuropathy may not be easily detectable, with little or no signs and symptoms. Notwithstanding, its pathology advances fast and the end stage of tissue necrosis quickly reached. Distal sensory neuropathy can be seen in 20% to 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes. This decreases the protective sensation in the feet, leading to abnormal spreading of foot pressure and shear stresses with subsequent callus formation. This in turn diminishes the patients ability to perceive minor trauma to the foot and this is de monstrable by vibration perception threshold (VPT) and insensitivity to a 10g monofilament, which conveys a 7-fold and 18-fold risk of foot ulceration respectively. Distal motor neuropathy precedes atrophy of the intrinsic and extrinsic musculature of the foot, with accompanying deformities of the toes and metatarsals heads on the plantar aspects of both feet and consequent bunions on the 1st and 5th metatarsal-phalangeal joints. However, these irregularities of the feet cause an increase in the foot pressures, particularly around the bony prominences, thus resulting in more calluses forming. These calluses then go on to further increase the local subcutaneous pressure, ultimately resulting into haemorrhage beneath the callus, a lesion known as the pre-ulcer is then formed. With progressive pressure mounting on the pre-ulcer, the overriding skin breaks down to produce an ulcer. In addition, distal autonomic neuropathy could as well spark a plantar ulcer directly by reducing sweating in the feet with consequent drying and cracking of the skin28.Peripheral arterial disease and impaired cutaneous circulation are also important risk factors for both ulcerations and LEA. Peripheral arterial ischemia sometimes produces ischemic ulcers, but these are rare occurrences i.e. (1% 2% incidence) than neuropathic ulcers (65%) or combined neuroischaemic ulcers (25%) 28. Transcutaneous oxygen tension (Tc pO2) levels less than 30mmHg and absence of peripheral pulses or past history of vascular surgery are strong separate predictors of ulceration. Diabetic foot infections often set in and complicate already settled foot ulcers. Although, infections play an integral part in the pathway to lower limb amputation, there is inconclusive data with regards to the position of susceptibility to infection in causing ulceration. Even though, most ulcers are caused by minor foot trauma, and in some cases the patient takes no notice of because of the sensory neuropathy. These minor injuries (i.e. extrinsic factors which include; wearing ill-fitting/brand new shoes, hot soaks occupational hazards and to a lesser extent self-induced trauma by cutting toe nails or calluses) constitute the leading cause of acute precipitant of diabetic foot ulcers. In addition, there are also a number of intrinsic factors which could predispose diabetics to developing foot ulcers and they include; longstanding diabetes, past history of ulcers or amputation, age, weight, retinopathy, nephropathy and structural deformities of the foot (i.e. Charcot foot) have al l been associated as risk factors for ulcerations. However, bad biomechanical function arising from the complications of diabetes generally leads to foot injuries in most diabetic patient. ASSESSMENT OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS A detailed and well organised evaluation of the lower extremities is crucial when commencing the treatment of a diabetic foot ulcer. Before carrying out the physical examination of the limbs, it is noteworthy to perform a quick inspection of the patients shoes for good fit, foreign objects and the wear and tear patterns. The clinical evaluation must include an appropriate assessment of the ulcers aetiology, its extent and depth, presence and severity of both local and systemic infection and peripheral vascular status. A comprehensive assessment of the patients general health and glycaemic control, extent of peripheral neuropathy, a careful, yet detailed dermatologic and musculoskeletal examination should also be included in the evaluation. These assessments determine the ulcers healing rate, potential progression to LEA, and the likelihood of reoccurrence. Therefore, they should be accomplished urgently in the ambulatory or hospital setting and require a multidisciplinary team approach, with possible consults to the infectious disease specialist, podiatry, vascular and orthopaedic surgeons. Bilateral lower limb pulses must be examined. When pulses are diminished or not palpable, Doppler segmental pressures to the toes or TcpO2 measurement are indicated and the vascular experts should be brought on broad. The neurological evaluation should assess the patients sensorium and deep tendon reflexes. The ankle and knee reflexes are tested with the aid of a simple neurological hammer, while the important aspects in the evaluation of the sensorium are: reduced sensation to pain, light touch, hot/cold and vibratory sensation. Pain sensation is easily assessed with a disposable needle. A piece of cotton ball, lambs wool or 10-g monofilament can be used to evaluate the light touch and a 128-Hz or 512-Hz tuning fork or biothesiometer are approved for vibratory evaluation. Cold perception is also assessed by submerging the metal arm of a neurological hammer into cold water and then placing it against the patients skin. Anatomical deformities such as hammertoes, previous foot amputation, or Charcot joints often produce high pressure areas which result in ulceration. The musculoskeletal evaluation cannot be done by visual inspection of structural findings alone, it must also include testing for muscle strength, weakness, atrophy and contracture. Assessment of joint range of movement and gait evaluation with computerised plantar pressure analysis will also be of great value in appreciating the abnormal dysfunction contributing to ulceration. Examination of the skin of both feet is also carried out with detailed attention to the quality and integrity of the skin around the interdigital areas. Changes in the colour of the skin often associated with spotted rashes and heel fissures are suggestive of a significant level of ischemia. Toenail changes and presence of subungual drainage are pointers to a proximal source of infection. Clinical assessment of the ulcer should include a detailed description of its appearance as well as the measurement of the ulcers diameter with a wound measuring guide. Outlines of the ulcer on a translucent film or plastic sheet can also promote this process. This must be documented and retraced at subsequent visits to assess the treatment process. The depth and extent of the wound should be carefully explored with a blunt sterile probe. Special care must be taken to probe for hidden sinus tracts and subcutaneous abscesses or to identify tendon, bone or muscle or joint involvement. Ulcer depth is a significant predictor of healing rate, possibility of concurrent osteomyelitis and the chances for amputation. The presence of infection is a huge cause of the need for hospitalization. Therefore, a general assessment with physical examination, laboratory investigations and radiographic studies is important in classifying infection as absent, mild, moderate or severe. This classification acts as a guide to determine or select the initial antibiotic therapy and to decide when to hospitalise the patient. Clinical signs of infection such as purulent discharge, odour, cellulitis, fever and leucocytosis must be documented. However, Leucocytosis and fever might not always be noticeable even in the presence of acute osteomyelitis. Approximately 54% of patients with diabetic foot infections had normal white blood cell count and no fever44. Bacteria cultures of anaerobes and aerobes (both gram positive and gram negative) should be obtained from the base of the ulcer, bone or blood or from all three depending on the clinical setting. This helps in clarifying the true hidden pathogens and may facilitate the decision to adjust initial antibiotic therapy. Physical examination of signs of infection in the patient centers on the presence or absence of systemic responses such as fever, tachycardia, sweats or hypotension and the appearance of the wound and adjacent tissues. Early signs of infection are evident by increased amount of exudates from the wound, base of the ulcer changes from pink granulation to yellowish- grey tissue, tenderness and induration around the ulcer. Infection should be considered severe when the patient present with systemic toxicity, signs of fascilitis or a rim of erythema around the ulcer greater than 2cm in diameter. Laboratory investigation to confirm the presence of infection should include white blood cell count and differential which could show leucocytosis or a shift to the left or both, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) which when elevated above 40mm/hr is a strong indicator of osteomyelitis28. In addition, glucose, bicarbonates and creatinine levels are tested to rule out possible hyperglycaemia, metabolic acidosis or azotemia from dehydration which strongly suggest the presence of a severe infection. Radiological evaluation should be obtained promptly to ascertain the presence of fractures, foreign objects or signs of osteomyelitis. Plain x-rays have a low sensitivity, thus they should be interpreted with caution as changes in the foot caused by Charcot foot could mirror those osteomyelitis when seen on a plain x-ray. However, a normal plain x-ray of the foot does not rule out osteomyelitis, a repeat should be requested 2 weeks later to exclude occult osteomyelitis. As indicated, other imaging modalities can aid in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis such as CT scans, magnetic resonance scan (MRI) or leukocyte scans and each having their own strengths and limitations. TREATMENT Management of the foot ulcer is mostly determined by its severity, vascularity and the presence of infection1. Recognition of its root cause will serve as a guide during the course of treatment. However, a multidisciplinary team consisting of specialist from podiatry, orthopaedic surgery, vascular surgery, the infectious disease service and diabetic education service should be involved in the management. The multidisciplinary team approach is due to the complicated nature of the disease itself as well as managing the various comorbidities associated with foot ulcers. In addition, the approach has been demonstrated in clinical trials to produce significant outcomes in terms of improvement and reduce the incidence of major amputations. The wound should be immediately relieved of all pressures, elevated and rested at first presentation. Effective local wound care must be carried out and ill- fitting footwear should be discarded and replaced with appropriate surgical or relief shoes for protection. And in cases where total nonweightbearing with crutches is impossible, a pressure felt padding or foam can be used in the surgical shoes. However, the total contact cast (TCC) is considered gold standard to protect neuropathic ulceration during ambulation due to its ability to eliminate high pressure areas under the foot. Adequate alternatives to the TCC are the Scotchcast Boot or removable walking braces. Treatment of hyperglycaemia, ketoacidosis, renal insufficiency and other comorbidities that may coincide in the ulcerated patient should be treated simultaneously with the foot lesion. Consultations to internal medicine, endocrinology and cardiology are generally frequent when managing acutely infected patient who need to be hospitalised. Such consultations are usually sought early in course of treatment to ensure good metabolic control. Diabetic foot infections are usually polymicrobial and as such initial antibiotic therapy should be broad-spectrum after obtaining good aerobics and anaerobic culture samples. Antibiotic therapy should be later modified according to the culture and sensitivity test and the patients clinical response to the initial therapy. Surgical debridement and drainage or local partial amputations are crucial adjuncts to antibiotic therapy. Underlying osteomyelitis usually present in moderate to severe infections and often requires aggressive bony resection of infected bone and joints accompanied by cultured -directed antibiotics for 4 6 weeks. Foot ulcer patients with underlying ischemia should undergo revascularization with angioplasty or vascular bypass procedure if its anatomically possible. Even with severe distal arterial obstruction, revascularization to return pulsation to the foot is a major part of the limb-salvage strategy and may be accomplished in such patients. However, where revascularization is not feasible or in cases of advanced infection or extensive necrosis, amputation at some level may be required. Wound care is also necessary after surgical or sharp debridement of all callus and necrotic tissue58. Practically, a warm, moist environment conducive for wound healing should be maintained.This can be arranged using saline wet/dry dressings or special dressings such as semipermeable films, hydrogels, calcium alginates and hydrocolloids. Tissue-engineering dermis is a more recent class of biologic dressing and has been tested to be more effective than saline dressings. There is little evidence to support the role of topical enzymes and should be avoided. Although the role of topical growth factors in the healing rate of ulcers is beneficial, however, they are expensive and should be limited to patients whose ulcers cease to improve after 4-6 weeks of adequate therapy. PREVENTION OF RECURRENCE AND AMPUTATION Prevention is regarded as a major aspect in avoiding ulcer relapse and diabetic lower limb amputation. Recurrence rate with diabetic foot ulcers and LEA are as high as 50% -70% over three years. Comprehensive intervention programs tailored to individual patients can lower these rates and can be accomplished with a multidisciplinary team approach. Control of both macrovascular and microvascular risk factors is also of great importance. Patient education and re-education plays a primary, yet active role in this program and involves instruction in foot hygiene, the need for daily inspection, proper footwear and the necessity of prompt treatment of new lesions. In addition, regular and frequent visit to a diabetic foot care program is crucial. The feet must be thoroughly inspected at every visit and should include debridement of calluses and ingrown toenails. This provides an excellent opportunity to back up self care behaviour as well as allowing early detection of new or imminent foot problems. Appropriate therapeutic footwear with pressure-relieving insoles and high toe box which protect the high risk foot are an essential element of the prevention program and have been associated with significant reductions in ulcer development. Subsequently, patients with major structural deformities may benefit from reconstructive surgery to prevent recurrent foot ulcers. Surgery may be especially suitable in patients who cannot be accommodated in therapeutic footwear. And because patients with healed ulcers are at risk for future ulceration, these preventive measures must be integrated into a long life strategy and treatment program. CONCLUSION Diabetic foot ulcerations, infections, gangrene and lower extremity amputations (LEA) are major causes of disability to patients with diabetes mellitus. And these often results in extensive periods of hospitalisation, substantial morbidity and mortality. Although not all such lesions can be prevented, it is certainly possible to reduce their incidence by proper management and prevention programs. A multidisciplinary team approach to diabetic foot disorders has been regularly proven to be the best method in achieving favorable rates of limb salvage in this high risk population. Foot care programs accentuating preventive management can reduce the incidence of foot ulceration through modification of self care practices, appropriate evaluation of risk factors and formulation of treatment protocols directed at patient education/re-education, early intervention, limb preservation and prevention of new lesions. The joint team of medical, surgical, rehabilitative and footwear specialist shou ld impart effective and coordinated services for acutely infected or ischemic inpatients as well as management for the outgoing patients. In general, the incidence and morbidity of diabetic limb amputations can be reduced if the above principles are embraced and integrated into everyday patient management protocol.

Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool Essay -- Health, Diseases

This assignment will discuss a trust adapted version of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). It will demonstrate an understanding of theoretical knowledge used to develop the assessment tool. The assignment will focus on three components within the tool; discussing the reliability and validity when used in a clinical environment. A reflection of my own experience using the tool will be included and linked to aspects of reliability. Any issues with reliability will be identified and suggestions given on how they can be corrected to aid future use. MUST is a five-step screening tool designed for healthcare professionals to identify adult patients who at risk of, or are malnourished. It includes guidelines on how to develop an effective treatment plan. The Malnutrition Advisory Group (MAG) in 2000 adapted and extended their community screening tool to include care homes and hospitals, in response to national concerns. (Department of Health, 2001). In 2003 MUST was designed by MAG and the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN). It was piloted across many care settings, to target patients who may be at risk of malnutrition. I have chosen this tool as it is widely used in healthcare; however malnutrition is often unrecognised and mismanaged. According BAPEN some three million people in the UK are at risk or are malnourished. Malnutrition can affect a patient physically, mentally and can also increase recovery time (Zellipour, & Stratton, 2005). This assignment will help me understand the theory and rationale behind the development of the MUST. The first component of the MUST involves measuring the patient’s height and weight to establish their Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is the’ relationship b... ...n or ulna length as-well-as the type of measuring device used to weight the patient for example chair or hoist scale. This would enable the assessment to be carried out each time using the same measurement and equipment, which would make the test fair and more reliable (Medical Education Division, 2007). This assignment has discussed the theory and development of a trust adapted version of the MUST. A rationale of my choice has been included and linked to specific learning objectives. A discussion regarding the three components of this tool has been included; these have been linked to validity and reliability. Finally a reflection of my experiences using the MUST in a medical care of the elderly ward has been included with regards to aspects of reliability and theories about how these can be overcome to aid future use-age in a clinical setting.

Behind the scenes of how coffee influences a girl, times three

Believe it or not, a good coffee can determine a girl's mood. We wake up in a bad mood until the coffee is in our hands. The first sip of coffee taken influences how girls will act throughout the day. A bad coffee results to a bad-tempered girl and a good one resulting in a more positive way. Girls will be pleasant to be around to say the least. Peoples moods play a huge role In how someone day will go. As well as Impacting the one's surrounding the girl. Needless to say, coffee controls a girls actions. Initially, a portion of caffeine motivates a girl to do many things.Some being; working hard, staying focused, and being able to multicast. The three to five hour span of stimulating the central nervous system, keeping someone focused is very helpful for the time being. One downfall to drinking coffee is the â€Å"caffeine crash. † Girls' look past the negatives, drinking it anyway to get things done in a timely fashion. An equally important reason as to why coffee is such an influential substance in a girls life when it comes to motivating is how it affects their grades. It alps many study and prepare wisely for a test.Motivation is an essential to a girls daily life. Coffee happens to be the key to success In most females eyes. Yet coffee may affect how girls act motivationally speaking and their attitudes towards the universe, the â€Å"look† of having coffee has a significance to girls. Society revolves around the word cool† In this generation. That being said, someone with a coffee In their hand walking down the school hallway or vigorously crossing the city street on the way to work. One feels superior to another that holds reams of power. A sensation of confidence rushes through your body.The one cup of coffee a girl drinks has more meaning than just loading up on caffeine to get a person through the day. It symbolizes confidence and power. On another hand, it can take a turn for the worse. â€Å"Addiction is characterized by the rep eated, compulsive seeking or use of a substance. † A physical dependence on something is what they would call an adaptation to a substance. Not always does the substance have to be something dangerous or Illegal. Coffee for example is not a harmful Item, but the consumption f coffee can advance to worse problems.Too much leads to heart palpitations and the Jitters. Feeling not so powerful or confident and more Like a zombie that TLD get enough sleep. The way people drink coffee can be crucial. Some girls drink It to be What they don't understand is that not receiving the correct amount of nutrients can slow down your metabolism, causing you to actually gain weight. Substituting coffee in for meals can progress into worse diseases. Taking care of your body is important. In today's life outer beauty means a lot more than it should to people.Causing girls to put themselves at risk in many ways. In conclusion, that drink made from coffee grounds has multiple significance's in a gi rls' role. Not only by controlling ones mood, to compel a persons actions and determination, or even indicate a sense of confidence while holding a cup of coffee. Coffee has its positive and negative influences on girls. Some females using coffee as an excuse to be thin or look superior to the world. Maintaining coffee supplements throughout the day is very important. Once you have had it, you can never go without.

ARAB-ISRAELI WARS Essays - ArabIsraeli Conflict, Western Asia

ARAB-ISRAELI WARS Essays - ArabIsraeli Conflict, Western Asia ARAB-ISRAELI WARS Since the United Nations partition of PALESTINE in 1947 and the establishment of the modern state of ISRAEL in 1948, there have been four major Arab-Israeli wars (1947-49, 1956, 1967, and 1973) and numerous intermittent battles. Although Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979, hostility between Israel and the rest of its Arab neighbors, complicated by the demands of Palestinian Arabs, continued into the 1980s. THE FIRST PALESTINE WAR (1947-49) The first war began as a civil conflict between Palestinian Jews and Arabs following the United Nations recommendation of Nov. 29, 1947, to partition Palestine, then still under British mandate, into an Arab state and a Jewish state. Fighting quickly spread as Arab guerrillas attacked Jewish settlements and communication links to prevent implementation of the UN plan. Jewish forces prevented seizure of most settlements, but Arab guerrillas, supported by the Transjordanian Arab Legion under the command of British officers, besieged Jerusalem. By April, Haganah, the principal Jewish military group, seized the offensive, scoring victories against the Arab Liberation Army in northern Palestine, Jaffa, and Jerusalem. British military forces withdrew to Haifa; although officially neutral, some commanders assisted one side or the other. After the British had departed and the state of Israel had been established on May 15, 1948, under the premiership of David BEN-GURION, the Palestine Arab forces and foreign volunteers were joined by regular armies of Transjordan (now the kingdom of JORDAN), IRAQ, LEBANON, and SYRIA, with token support from SAUDI ARABIA. Efforts by the UN to halt the fighting were unsuccessful until June 11, when a 4-week truce was declared. When the Arab states refused to renew the truce, ten more days of fighting erupted. In that time Israel greatly extended the area under its control and broke the siege of Jerusalem. Fighting on a smaller scale continued during the second UN truce beginning in mid-July, and Israel acquired more territory, especially in Galilee and the Negev. By January 1949, when the last battles ended, Israel had extended its frontiers by about 5,000 sq km (1,930 sq mi) beyond the 15,500 sq km (4,983 sq mi) allocated to the Jewish state in the UN partition resolution. It had also secured its independence. During 1949, armistice agreements were signed under UN auspices between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. The armistice frontiers were unofficial boundaries until 1967. SUEZ-SINAI WAR (1956) Border conflicts between Israel and the Arabs continued despite provisions in the 1949 armistice agreements for peace negotiations. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs who had left Israeli-held territory during the first war concentrated in refugee camps along Israel's frontiers and became a major source of friction when they infiltrated back to their homes or attacked Israeli border settlements. A major tension point was the Egyptian-controlled GAZA STRIP, which was used by Arab guerrillas for raids into southern Israel. Egypt's blockade of Israeli shipping in the Suez Canal and Gulf of Aqaba intensified the hostilities. These escalating tensions converged with the SUEZ CRISIS caused by the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egyptian president Gamal NASSER. Great Britain and France strenuously objected to Nasser's policies, and a joint military campaign was planned against Egypt with the understanding that Israel would take the initiative by seizing the Sinai Peninsula. The war began on Oct. 29, 1956, after an announcement that the armies of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan were to be integrated under the Egyptian commander in chief. Israel's Operation Kadesh, commanded by Moshe DAYAN, lasted less than a week; its forces reached the eastern bank of the Suez Canal in about 100 hours, seizing the Gaza Strip and nearly all the Sinai Peninsula. The Sinai operations were supplemented by an Anglo-French invasion of Egypt on November 5, giving the allies control of the northern sector of the Suez Canal. The war was halted by a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of all occupying forces from Egyptian territory. The General Assembly also established a United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) to replace the allied troops on the Egyptian side of the borders in Suez, Sinai, and Gaza. By December 22 the last British and French troops had left Egypt. Israel, however, delayed withdrawal, insisting that it receive security guarantees against further Egyptian attack. After several additional UN resolutions calling for withdrawal and after pressure from the United States, Israel's forces left in March 1957. SIX-DAY WAR (1967) Relations between Israel and Egypt remained fairly stable in the following decade. The Suez Canal remained closed to Israeli shipping, the Arab boycott of Israel was maintained, and periodic border clashes occurred between Israel, Syria, and Jordan. However,

Time Saving 101 Topics to Avoid Reading

Time Saving 101 Topics to Avoid Reading I read a lot of blogs, newsletters, magazines, and websites. As a fast reader and research guru, I can hardly resist to let some resource pass me First and foremost, give yourself credit for knowing what you need and what you dont. Not everyone is an expert and not every piece of expert advice is worth reading. Topics I will immediately discard: 1) Writers block. This is so dang personal that nobody can tell someone else what to do. I happen to be one who believes in either writing through writers block or taking a nap to wake up and start writing refreshed. I dont believe in it much, and I definitely dont want to hear about someone elses. 2) Self-editing. There are so many ways to self-edit, so many angles, so many levels. There isnt one right way. If you understand good writing and appreciate proper grammar, then figure it out. 3) The best way to market. Marketing depends on your extrovert level, your wallet, your tech savvy, your social media appreciation, your genre, your platform, your region, your experience in other arenas. The best way is to analyze your strengths, and the strengths of a handful of successful people you trust and admire, and just do it. 4) Outlining or pantser. I delete those instantly. Each writer has to test both ways and figure it out. 5) Religion or politics. Enough said. 6) Finding time to write. This isnt a secret. You make time, or you dont. You prioritize, or you dont. So many of these topics are the result of someone needing filler so they write about an evergreen subject. Some writers talk about these subjects because they are avoiding their more serious writing. Some want to sound experienced when they are not. Fact is, they are not unique topics. They are washing machine items, constantly spinning around in the tub. How do I know to discard them without reading them? I read the email subject lines, first lines in the first paragraph, and/or titles. Yes, I practice what we hear preached all the timeletting the opening hook dictate whether I read further or not. When I have 300-500 emails per day, I need some sort of gleaning mechanism, and why not that which we teachopening with a bang, or at least with enough meat to suck me in. And if the writer still wants to pick such a mundane topic, then they need to show me they have a new twist that will totally wow me.

Zappos Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Zappos Company - Case Study Example ution is one of the factors that can affect the revenue levels since it defines the number of customers that can be served over a specified period (Michelli, 2012). For example, the institution focuses on online purchases as the main source of revenue. Evidently, this is one of the success strategies of the firm since many people in the United States, United Kingdom and other European countries have resorted to buying via the internet (Gray and Vander, 2012). However, the capacity of the firm may not be well exploited since some customers may be left out of the equation. Thus, this paper highlights the importance of capacity to an institution as well as the approaches to be used to improve the situation. Notably, the company has many employees that serve the customers via the internet, but the capacity can be used to improve the revenue generated. Illustratively, a segment of the market may not have access to the internet at all times, and they may need a physical market for the products. In such a situation, the customers have to visit the shops so that they can make their informed purchases. Principally, this may increase the revenues collected by the firm. Additionally, some individuals choose to procure products after ascertaining the exact quality of materials used. In such a situation, the clients will feel the products and may as well fit in the clothes, shoes and other apparels. Resultantly, the customers can make additional purchases. Furthermore, prevalence of physical stores in different parts of the market increases the chances of the employees to make sales. A diverse niche market offers the firm an added advantage as the approach encourages impulse buying. Accordingly, studies about consumer behavior cite that some people create a need for a product after seeing it (Lussier, 2012). Thus, the company can improve its capacity through introduction of additional shops in more locations. Lastly, the amount of time used to place orders should be reduced

The film one flew over the Cuckoo's Nest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The film one flew over the Cuckoo's Nest - Essay Example During the first electro-shock therapy he was told the procedure would not be painful, but was not given a choice with regards to the therapy. Eventually he was lobotomized again without consent because he was a danger. The film makes one ask if it is wrong to forcibly give medication and electro-shock therapy with a keen understanding in the end that it is wrong. It is wrong on a basic level in that it violates human rights. Society believes there are inalienable and fundamental rights that cannot be overstepped because they are either natural or legal rights. In philosophy there is also the concept of human rights, which are considered universal and egalitarian. Forcing medications or electro-shock therapy on patients goes against these rights even if the patients may need help because the patient is not given a voice in the matter. It cannot be denied that some individuals may not understand what is being asked, but there are laws to protect an individual who is unable to speak for themselves. In this instance a guardian, not the mental institution staff, with their best interests in mind would be given the choice in determining medication. By forcing a person to undergo treatment without consen t, it becomes an abuse of power and control rather than actually helping the individual to overcome any issues they

Paternity civil case and calculation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Paternity civil case and calculation - Essay Example These include the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) markers used in DNA evidence. Butler (2006) indicates that markers were first described as an effective tool to ascertain human identity in the early 1990’s. Since then they have become important tools which have been employed in order to resolve numerous paternity testing cases. Identigene (n.d.) indicates that genetists developed this set of markers to ensure a level of consistency in identifying individuals and named them according to their chromosomal location. Each of the marker location shows two alleles (variation values) represented by the numbers in the table below. In this case Identigene (n.d.) indicates that the alleles are measures of short tandem reports (STR). One of the STR alleles is from the mother and one from the father. If at least one of the markers for each STR locus matches then there is assumed to be a high probability of a paternity relationship. On the oth er hand if at least one of the markers for each STR locus does not agree with the alleged father’s then this is an indication that there is no paternity relationship. A paternity index that is greater than 100 yields a CPI of 99.0000%; one that equates to 200, yields a CPI of 99.5%; and one that equates to 1000 yields a CPI of 99.9900%. Identigene (n.d.) indicates that immigration cases require a CPI value of 200 or better. The International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG) has a number of recommendations on biostatistics in paternity testing. These include: the importance of a statement of a hypothesis; information on how the calculations are done, considerations for the possibility of mutations whenever a genetic inconsistency is observed; guidance relating to the possibility of a single allele in a tested subject; as well as the details that should be presented in test reports. According to Gjertson et al (2007) the International

Course reflection Essay Example for Free

Course reflection Essay I have learned so much during this course that helped me get a better understanding of the writing process. A few of the concepts that helped me the most were keeping an error log, and reading my assignments out loud. The first concept I will address in this discussion is also the most important guidance I have received since starting at Ashford. My instructor, Dr. Wells, advised me in week 1, that I might want to keep an error log. What that is, is writing down the mistakes I make in my assignments, quizzes, and discussions. After writing these errors down, find the correct spelling or the grammatical rule I broke, write the correct answer, and then study and learn from these mistakes. This technique has helped me the most since starting at Ashford. As a writer, I have always been a big proofreader of my work. I would sometimes look over my papers several times before submitting them. Most of the times I would catch 90% of my errors, not all the time though. I learned that reading your paper out loud can also improve your proofreading. Sometimes just looking over a paper isn’t enough. When you hear the writing though, you can hear what others will be hearing. I would catch small errors because the sentence didn’t sound right or it was a run on sentence. These are things I would sometimes miss just reading my paper. Out of all the course materials I have read and studied, I believe 2 of the most valuable were chapters 4-3, Essentials of College Writing, and The Ashford Writing Center. In the Essentials of College Writing, 4-3 The Writing Process, showed me different techniques to use for writing an essay. Some of these ideas were plan, generate ideas, create a rough draft, revise, edit, and proofread and check format. This book taught me the value of making an outline and the importance of planning. It always helps to be prepared and have an idea of what you’re writing before you write it. The Ashford Writing Center has really made a big impact on my writing style. I was having so much trouble with APA formatting and how to insert citations, that I would lose percentage points on my work. After skimming through this text, I found in chapter 7-1 an instructional video that showed me step by step how to use APA format. In the same book, chapter 7-3, Citations and References, this taught me the proper way to insert my citations. There is also a thesis generator in this text in chapter 3-3, this has been one of the biggest helps to me in my writing process. The areas and that I believe have improved the most, and that I will continue to work on are my spelling and punctuation. The error log has helped with my spelling and punctuation but I still sometimes make careless mistakes. Though these areas have improved a lot, I will continue to work on these areas.

The Present Builds Upon the Past :: history

The Present Builds Upon the Past The world is far from perfect. However, through the years, it has improved in many ways. If I went back in time and changed the tiniest thing in history, it is possible for my life to be completely different today. If you don't believe me, read on because I've got hard proof. It's depressing to know there was a time when "blacks" and "whites" were seperated simply because of the color of their skin. We have moved forward, then stumbed backwards, but slowly we started building and here we are year 2001, where everyone, despite your race, have equal rights. I realize pejudice is still alive today, but you have to admit, things have improved. During the late 1800's "Jim Crow" laws or "Black Codes" were made offical. This law legally seperated "blacks" and "whites" in every day life. It was ridiculous, immature, and just flat out unreasonable. They used seperate public waiting rooms, restaurants, theaters, public parks, schools, hospitals, just to name the basics. We have every single abolitionists, civil rights activists, and all the other freedom-fighters who stuck up for their rights. You wouldn't believe how much one person can accomplish. It wasn't too long ago when women were denied some of the rights that men had, such as voting. People believed that women were better fit cooking, cleaning and taking care of the children at home, rather than going out to earn money. They also believed that men had a higher ability of learning than women, which was why their education was limited. In order to get all the rights women have today, it took much time, effort, and most of all, courage. Many brave women organized protests demanding for equal rights. It was a slow process but every little effort added up, and today, women can even run for President of the United States. Who knows? Many if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be writing this report, or be able to write at all. A more recent example in which we can more personally relate to, is the World Trade Center tragedy. The fact that we needed a tradegy to bring America togeather is sad, but at least we are here for each other when we really need each other. I know living thirteen years isn't much at all, but in that time, I have never seen America more united than in the last few weeks.

Reading Response Abel’s Island

Chessman, this Is my reading response on Babel's Island, It Is a Newbury Honor book by William Stein, a short, sweet, enjoyable story. This book have 117 pages, I love this book so much that I spend only one day to finish the whole book. This book Is about a little mouse, Babel's adventure story on the Island, he encountered many problems, but also learned many meaningful things, and he became a better person after he finally returned home.I love all the things In this kook, all the exciting adventures of Able, all the lovely Illustrations, and all the beautiful writing by William Steel, he use all the most beautiful words In the world and created an island in the dream. I believe no matter what age you are at, anyone who have a heart that contains dream will love this sweet story by William Stein. – Summary: Able, the elegant mouse live in the Impossible is enjoying a picnic in the forest with his wife Amanda, but they are interrupted by a fierce rainstorm and are forced to t ake shelter in a cave nearby.There is already many animals in the cave, so Able and Amanda must stand on the edge. A hard wind blows up Manta's scarf, Able bravely lump down and try to reach the scarf, he did reach it but the wind blows up Able into a river and he is swept downstream until he is stranded on an island. Able attempts to escape the island several times the day after the storm, even though he haven't do any work at Impossible. He build a wood ship, but failed two times for crossing the river, then he decide to make a bridge, he first made of piled up stone, and he tried o build a straw bridge, but both of them didn't work out.And finally realizes that he must survive on the island by himself. He finds a log and makes it his home in the winter. To ease his loneliness since he is the only animal that have wisdom on the Island, he creates his family out of clay and talks to them. Able also found a book called [Sons and Daughters] and a big pocket watch left by some big civ ilized creatures, these things give Able more fun and let him believe there will be some veiled animals to visits again and save him.In the harsh winter, Able has to live through the hardest times, including battling an owl, stores the food, and live under the darkness in the log. But everything became better when the spring comes, the owl Is gone, and another stranded volt from the river, a frog named Grower, comes and became best friends with Able. The had some really good times In the spring. Later, Grower leaves when the water of the river became warmer and promising that he will send for help when he gets back home.However, due to Grower's lack of memory, Able didn't receive any help after weeks passed. Able then decides to swim against the fierce river after the water level has dropped sufficiently, he think If he didn't go this time, maybe he will waited to next year again. Then Able swim across to Impossible. Able go back to his house, his wife Amanda haven't return, Able ch anged his best clothing and papered Manta's scarf, he will have many, many stories to tell her! – Connections: In the book, I read that

Personal life Essay

Living a â€Å"Good Life. † This is something most people strive for, but what we all question is, what is it that leads to a â€Å"good life,† or what does it really mean to have a â€Å"good life. † Most people would agree that whatever makes a person happy will lead to a good life, but happiness with each individual differs. Whether it be pleasure, wealth, or health many can disregard the virtue of true happiness, and their material desires leads to ignorance. Aristotle’s answer to this is that we must enjoy the proper things in life in order to be happy; and it is through proper activities that we are able to live the Good Life. I would have to agree with Aristotle’s beliefs, because of my upbringing, simple material things will not make me fully happy; one must live a just life filled with happiness. There is this woman named Janice, she s a manager for a major corporate office. Janice believes her happiness and the happiness of her children relies on her success in her career, and how much money she makes. She will do whatever it takes in order to rise up in the company to get any extra bonus or raise—even if it means stepping on other people to get there. Aristotle would say Janice is not living the Good Life by concentrating on the wealth and mistreating others for her own personal gain, because what she is doing is not a proper activity. I believe Aristotle may believe that the way Janice is living is irrational, and not the â€Å"good life,† because her happiness relies on her material wealth. According to J.L Ackrill from the Princeton university press Aristotle’s argument is as follows: 1) proper activities are those activities that best represent or fulfill the unique nature or purpose of humankind; 2) the unique nature or purpose of humankind is found in that particular quality which separates us from other species of beings; 3) that particular quality which separates us from other species of beings is reason; thus, 4) those activities that best express our reasoning abilities are those activities that will allow us to lead the Good Life; therefore, 5) some activities, like Janice’s activities, are not able to lead us to live the Good Life because again it is not a proper activity. Happiness isn’t simple, and living a good life isn’t easy. We can’t all just focus on the material; we have to focus on reason, on the virtue of our decisions. I was raise in a Christian home, so by default I was taught about being a servant to others, spreading the word of Jesus Christ, living a good life—according to what God has declared for me. But I believe that Aristotle’s belief of a good life coincides with some of what God has planned for me, by doing what is proper, and in my interpretation what is proper for me is following my path that God has laid out for me. We all have a purpose to life, everyone and everything. We are pieces to an order, a design t our universe, everything somehow fits together, we see the good and the truth through living justly with values and virtuous lifestyles, doing what makes us happy but only things that are â€Å"proper. † Aristotle believes that happiness is God given, and we need to live right by God.

Facts and History of North Korea

Facts and History of North Korea The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, is one of the most talked-about yet least understood nations on Earth. It is a reclusive country, cut off even from its nearest neighbors by ideological differences and the paranoia of its top leadership. It developed  nuclear weapons  in 2006. Severed from the southern half of the peninsula more than six decades ago, North Korea has evolved into a strange Stalinist state. The ruling Kim family exercises control through fear and personality cults. Can the two halves of Korea ever be put back together again? Only time will tell. Capital and Major Cities Capital: Pyongyang, population 3,255,000Hamhung, population 769,000Chongjin, population 668,000Nampo, population 367,000Wonsan, population 363,000 North Koreas Government North Korea, or the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, is a highly centralized communist country under the leadership of Kim Jong-Un. His official title is Chairman of the National Defense Commission. The President of the Supreme Peoples Assembly Presidium is Kim Yong Nam. The 687-seat Supreme Peoples Assembly is the legislative branch. All members belong to the Korean Workers Party. The judicial branch consists of a Central Court, as well as provincial, county, city and military courts. All citizens are free to vote for the Korean Workers Party at the age of 17. The Population of North Korea North Korea has an estimated 24 million citizens as of the 2011 census. About 63% of North Koreans live in urban centers. Nearly all of the population is ethnically Korean, with very small minorities of ethnic Chinese and Japanese. Language The official language of North Korea is Korean. Written Korean has its own alphabet, called Hangul. Over the past several decades, the government of North Korea has attempted to purge borrowed vocabulary from the lexicon. Meanwhile, South Koreans have adopted words such as PC for personal computer, handufone for mobile phone, etc. While the northern and southern dialects are still mutually intelligible, they are diverging from one another after 60 years of separation. Religion in North Korea As a communist nation, North Korea is officially non-religious. Prior to the partition of Korea, however, Koreans in the north were Buddhist, Shamanist, Cheondogyo, Christian, and Confucianist. To what extent these belief systems persist today is difficult to judge from outside the country. North Korean Geography North Korea occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. It shares a long north-western border with China, a short border with Russia, and a highly-fortified border with South Korea (the DMZ or demilitarized zone). The country covers an area of 120,538 km sq. North Korea is a mountainous land; about 80% of the country is made up of steep mountains and narrow valleys. The remainder is arable plains, but these are small in size and distributed across the country. The highest point is Baektusan, at 2,744 meters. The lowest point is sea level. The Climate of North Korea North Koreas climate is influenced both by the monsoon cycle and by continental air masses from Siberia. Thus, it was extremely cold with dry winters and hot, rainy summers. North Korea suffers from frequent droughts and massive summer flooding, as well as the occasional typhoon. Economy North Koreas GDP (PPP) for 2014 is estimated at $40 billion US. The GDP (official exchange rate) is $28 billion (2013 estimate). The per capita GDP is $1,800. Official exports include military products, minerals, clothing, wood products, vegetables, and metals. Suspected unofficial exports include missiles, narcotics, and trafficked persons. North Korea imports minerals, petroleum, machinery, food, chemicals, and plastics. History of North Korea When Japan lost World War II in 1945, it also lost Korea, annexed to the Japanese Empire in 1910. The U.N. divided administration of the peninsula between two of the victorious Allied powers. Above the 38th parallel, the USSR took control, while the US moved in to administer the southern half. The USSR fostered a pro-Soviet communist government based in Pyongyang, then withdrew in 1948. North Koreas military leader, Kim Il-sung, wanted to invade South Korea at that point and unite the country under a communist banner, but Joseph Stalin refused to support the idea. By 1950, the regional situation had changed. Chinas civil war had ended with a victory for Mao Zedongs Red Army, and Mao agreed to send military support to North Korea if it invaded the capitalist South. The Soviets gave Kim Il-sung a green light for invasion. The Korean War On June 25, 1950, North Korea launched a ferocious artillery barrage across the border into South Korea, followed hours later by some 230,000 troops. The North Koreans quickly took the southern capital at Seoul and began to push southwards. Two days after the war began, US President Truman ordered American armed forces to come to the aid of the South Korean military. The U.N. Security Council approved member-state assistance to the South over the objection of the Soviet representative; in the end, twelve more nations joined the US and South Korea in the U.N. coalition. Despite this aid to the South, the war went very well for the North at first. In fact, the communist forces captured nearly the entire peninsula within the first two months of fighting; by August, the defenders were hemmed in at the city of Busan, on the southeastern tip of South Korea. The North Korean army was not able to break through the Busan Perimeter, however, even after a solid month of battle. Slowly, the tide began to turn against the North. In September and October of 1950, South Korean and U.N. forces pushed the North Koreans all of the way back across the 38th Parallel, and north to the Chinese border. This was too much for Mao, who ordered his troops into battle on North Koreas side. After three years of bitter fighting, and some 4 million soldiers and civilians killed, the Korean War ended in a stalemate with the July 27, 1953, cease-fire agreement. The two sides have never signed a peace treaty; they remain separated by a 2.5-mile wide demilitarized zone (DMZ). The Post-War North After the war, North Koreas government focused on industrialization as it rebuilt the battle-torn country. As president, Kim Il-sung preached the idea of Juche, or self-reliance. North Korea would become strong by producing all of its own food, technology, and domestic needs, rather than importing goods from abroad. During the 1960s, North Korea was caught in the middle of the Sino-Soviet split. Although Kim Il-sung hoped to remain neutral and play the two larger powers off of one another, the Soviets concluded that he favored the Chinese. They cut off help to North Korea. During the 1970s, North Koreas economy began to fail. It has no oil reserves, and the spiking price of oil left it massively in debt. North Korea defaulted on its debt in 1980. Kim Il-sung died in 1994 and was succeeded by his son Kim Jong-il. Between 1996 and 1999, the country suffered from a famine that killed between 600,000 and 900,000 people. Today, North Korea relied on international food aid through 2009, even as it poured scarce resources into the military. The agricultural output has improved since 2009 but malnutrition and poor living conditions continue. North Korea evidently tested its first nuclear weapon on October 9, 2006. It continues to develop its nuclear arsenal and conducted tests in 2013 and 2016.   On December 17, 2011, Kim Jong-il died and was succeeded by his third son, Kim Jong-un.

Affirmative Aaction essays

Affirmative Aaction essays Affirmative Action was established to help overcome the affects of past societal discrimination by granting jobs and resources to members of specific groups, such as minorities and women. The policy was implemented by federal agencies enforcing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While many people believe it is a step in the right direction in stopping employment discrimination, it is taking jobs from qualified persons because they are not of a certain race or gender, in turn doing the same thing that was done to minorities and women for years. Affirmative action must be stopped in order to protect the rights of all citizens. It requires discrimination against a different group, strips merit and gives preferential treatment to those who benefit from it. Affirmative action is reverse discrimination. Affirmative action requires discrimination against a different group. It simply reverses the discrimination against minorities by enforcing discrimination on whites. This policy enables two people who apply for a job in an office building for the same position to be judged differently. One applicant is white and the other is black. The two applicants have the same exact education and work experience but, according to affirmative action, the black person is better qualified because the company needs to diversify their workplace. So, the only reason why the white person did not receive the job was because of his skin color. Eastland says that distinctions drawn on the basis of race inevitably lead to racial discrimination. As is well noted in this example, Affirmative action demands racial discrimination: discrimination against whites. Whites are being discriminated against in the same ways that blacks were discriminated against years ago. The consequences of Affirmative action can hinder the growth of those who the policy was intended to help as well. The very existence of the program strips blacks and other minorities of merit. B...

What Is a 401k Everything You Need to Know

What Is a 401k Everything You Need to Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Do you have the option of setting up a 401k plan? Does your employer offer a 401k matching benefit? Are you confused about what these words even mean? Don't worry! We'll explain everything you need to know about these accounts, but, first, what is a 401k, exactly? A 401k is a retirement savings account sponsored by an employer and designed by the government to give you tax benefits on your savings. Your money quietly grows until the time you can withdraw it in your late 50s. This guide will explain exactly what a 401k does, what you can and can't do with it, how to put money in it, and how it can set you up for a financially secure retirement. For anyone new to the world of 401k plans, let’s start with a quick review of terms. Saving for Retirement Terms: A Glossary Here are some terms you’ll see throughout the guide and a brief working definition of each: 401k: an employer-sponsored retirement account that allows your money to grow over time. Your company has to offer it, and it chooses the rules. Traditional 401k: this is the most common 401k account. You contribute money before it is taxed. Then, you pay taxes on your money when you withdraw after age 59 1/2 (or 55 if you've retired). Roth 401k: this is a newer 401k account where you contribute money that’s already been taxed. You don’t have to pay taxes later when you withdraw. IRA: this stands for Individual Retirement Account. An IRA doesn’t have to be employer-sponsored. You can transfer your 401k money into an IRA in the event you lose your job or your company goes under. Brokerage account: another option for investing your money independently. A brokerage account doesn’t offer the same tax benefits as a 401k or IRA, but your stock options are unlimited. Employer matching: many employers will match all or some of your yearly contributions to your 401k. Free money! While Roth 401k’s are gaining in popularity, most of us will still be offered a traditional 401k through our company. Therefore, we'll start by going more into detail about traditional accounts to answer our million dollar question: what is a 401k plan? Employer matching is the best. With both you and your company contributing to your nest egg, it can grow quite large over time. What Is a 401k? A 401k is an employer-sponsored retirement savings account. Not all employers offer 401ks, but those who do determine how it works. For instance, the employer chooses the various funds that make up your 401k portfolio. Since your employer has to offer it, you can't set up a solo 401k on your own. If you decide to open a 401k account, you’ll typically contribute money to it automatically each month or year. If so inclined, your company may match your contributions anywhere from 25% to 100% (some companies even go beyond 100% for the highest paid employees). Some 401k companies start by matching a small percentage of your contribution and increase this percentage the longer you work for them. There are lots of ways you can save money for retirement, including establishing an IRA or brokerage account or collecting bills in an old coffee jar. What are the advantages of putting money into a 401k as compared to these other methods? What Are the Advantages of a 401k? There are several advantages to a 401k, as well as a few limitations. Let’s start with the benefits. #1: Tax Benefits 401k plans allow your money to grow untaxed. Traditional 401ks let you contribute pre-taxed money. When you eventually withdraw the money, that’s when you’ll pay taxes on it. Roth 401k plans have you contribute already taxed money. When you take it out, you don’t have to pay any taxes on it. IRA and Roth IRA accounts also have tax advantages, but they often set restrictive limits on how much money you can contribute per year. Some only allow you to put in $5,500 a year, while 401k plans, as you'll read below, allow you to put up to $18,000, or even more if you're including an employer match. In a brokerage account that you can set up independently of an employer, your money would be taxed twice. In a 401k (traditional or Roth), your money is only ever taxed once. This tax set-up is a big benefit of 401k accounts. #2: Annual Compound Growth The second advantage of putting your money into a 401k as opposed to say, a coffee jar, is that it allows your money to grow over time. Thanks to the power of compounding interest, you could see your money grow significantly over decades. If you contribute $5,000 per year when you’re 25 and your money grows at a 5% annual rate, for example, then you would have an additional $30,000 more than you would if you started contributing ten years later. You’ll see significantly more money the earlier you start saving. You could bury your savings in your backyard, but the only thing your money would grow is mold. #3: Employer Matching Some, but not all, employers will match a percentage of your annual contributions. Employer match is essentially free money! Unless you really can’t afford it, you should strive to get the full employer match you can per year to make the most of this offer. #4: High Contribution Limits As mentioned above, 401k plans also have higher contribution limits than some independent retirement accounts. Some IRAs only let you put about $5,500 a year, while 401k limits are set at about $18,000, depending on the year. That limit doesn’t include any matching contributions made by your employer, so you could actually put a lot more per year into your 401k. We’ll get into the exact numbers below. All in all, 401ks are appealing because they offer significant tax advantages for your retirement savings, allow your money to grow over time, and they may involve significant contributions from your employer. That being said, there are some 401k limits that you should know about. Below are the three main limitations. What Are the Limitations of a 401k? Since your company offers the 401k plan, it also sets up certain rules and regulations. For instance, your employer chooses the stock options that make up the 401k. While you might have unlimited options with a brokerage account, you may only have a few with your 401k. This can actually be an advantage for some people, who would rather take a more hands-off approach to how their money gets invested. Secondly, some employers put in place a â€Å"forfeit law.† If you get laid off and have less than a certain amount of money in your 401k, then you don’t get that money back. Your company will set this amount and the details of any forfeit law. Make sure to ask whether or not your company has one. Finally, some companies also require you to work with them for a minimum number of years before you’re fully â€Å"vested† and can retain their matching contributions. If you leave or lose your job before that time, you can still keep your own savings, but any employer match contributions will disappear. Now that you know the advantages and limitations of a 401k, what do you have to do to set one up? Do you choose your investments, or does the company decide for you? Continuing with the nest egg metaphor, do you have to build the basket where your savings eggs will grow? What Steps Should You Take to Set Up Your 401k Plan? The first step in establishing your 401k plan is signing up with your employer. Typically, your employer or an HR professional should go over the steps with you when you get hired. If you chose not to sign up when you first started working at the company, you can still speak to your employer about how to sign up now. As you fill out the requisite paperwork, you’ll decide how much money you want to contribute. You can increase or decrease this amount if your circumstances change, but you won’t be able to withdraw money once you’ve deposited it (before retirement age) without a penalty. Once you’ve opened your account, you can take an active investing approach or put the 401k on autopilot. As mentioned above, your employer will choose the stock options, and you can choose how your money gets distributed among them. The majority of people, though, simply go with a â€Å"target-date† fund. With a target-date fund, you set the date you might retire, say, 2050, and the 401k does the rest. You won’t have to design your portfolio; instead, the account itself will adjust how your assets are allocated over time. If you do decide to take a more active approach, a good rule of thumb to follow is to have a diversified portfolio that can ride out the ups and downs in the market. With a diversified portfolio, you can help make sure that your savings will grow over time. While the amount of money you can afford to contribute to your 401k varies by individual, there are certain limits in place. Read on for the 401k contribution limits in 2016. How Much Money Can You Contribute to Your 401k? There are 401 k limits that determine how much money you can contribute to your account per year. These 401k contribution limits fluctuate a bit over time along with inflation. As of 2016, people under 50 could put in up to $18,000 per year. People over 50 could put in $24,000. The additional $6,000 is considered a â€Å"catch up† contribution for those who didn’t max out their limits in earlier years. Any company matching doesn’t count toward this 401k limit. The maximum combined contribution (yours plus your company match) can go up to $53,000. A good rule of thumb is to invest about 10% of your annual income, if possible. If you have employer matching, then you should also strive to get the biggest match contributions you can. Besides 401k limits, there are also rules about when you can take money out of your 401k. Read on to learn when you can make a 401k withdrawal. If you withdraw your money early to buy a four-day Bonnaroo ticket, you’ll pay a steep penalty. Better to let it sit until you retire. When Can You Get Your Money Out of a 401k? You can take money out of your traditional 401k starting when you’re 59 1/2 (regardless of whether you've retired or not) OR if you retire at age 55 or higher. If you try 401k withdrawal before that time, then you’ll incur a hefty 10% penalty fee. So far, everything discussed applies mainly to traditional 401k accounts. They let you contribute pre-taxed money and have penalties for withdrawing money before you reach a certain age. There is one other kind of 401k with different rules and regulations called a Roth 401k. Read on to learn more about a Roth 401k and how it differs from the traditional 401k accounts that most employers offer. The main difference between a traditional 401k and a Roth 401k has to do with when you pay the tax man. What Is a Roth 401k? In addition to a traditional 401k, some companies also offer a Roth 401k. A Roth 401k has a few differences from a traditional 401k. The most important difference is that a Roth 401k has you contribute money after it’s been taxed. When you withdraw money from the account later, you won’t have to pay taxes on it. The second difference has to do with 401k withdrawal rules. A Roth 401k plan lets you take out your money at any time without penalty after you’ve held the account for five years. You won’t have to pay a 10% penalty as you would on a traditional plan for Roth 401k withdrawal before a certain age or retirement. If your employer offers both traditional and Roth 401k options, which one should you choose? Traditional 401k vs. Roth 401k: Which One’s Better? If your employer offers both a traditional 401 k and a Roth 401k, then you have to decide which one to choose or, alternatively, whether to set up both types. Essentially, you want to figure out which type of 401k will help you save the largest amount of money in the long run. There are also some psychological factors that come into play. #1: Do You Want to Be Taxed Now or Later? As you read above, a traditional 401k taxes your money later while a Roth 401k taxes your money now. If you’re young, not making a lot of money, and not currently getting taxed highly, then a Roth 401k might be the preferable option. While you won’t be putting as much money into the account initially, you will be able to leave your money for many years to grow. If you’re older, make a high paycheck, and are in a high tax bracket, then you might want to go with a traditional 401k. That way, your money will be taxed when you retire and are in presumably a lower tax bracket than you are presently. Both traditional and 401k plans have great tax benefits. You should just need to decide which would benefit you more. #2: How Is Your Financial Self-Control? Beside figuring out the tax situation, there’s a self-control factor to think about. If you need all the money in your traditional 401k, then you’ll want to set aside other savings to pay the eventual large tax bill. Will you be able to set aside money to pay taxes later, or at least plan around the large chunk of your savings that will get taken away by taxes when you retire? On the flip side, if you open up a Roth 401k, will you have the self-control not to withdraw any of your savings after the five-year mark when you can withdraw penalty-free? Besides weighing the tax benefits, you should ask yourself these questions to figure out which option is better. Finally, you might not decide not to choose between them at all and instead opt for both types of accounts. Should You Choose Both a Traditional and Roth 401k? Some financial advisors suggest going with both a traditional 401k and a Roth 401k if you have the option. You don’t actually have to choose one or the other, but instead, can split your savings between the two. Going with both is similar to diversifying your stock portfolio to reduce risk. We can’t know what tax laws will come into play in the future, so choosing both a traditional and Roth 401k is a way to hedge your bets. Now that you know the ins and outs of both traditional 401ks and Roth 401ks, let’s go over the essential points that you need to remember about saving for retirement. What Is a 401k? Just the Essentials These are the key points you need to remember about a 401 k plan: A 401k is a retirement savings account that some employers offer. You can contribute a certain amount per year, and your employee might match your contributions (free money!) In a traditional 401k, your money is taxed when you withdraw, not now. In a Roth 401k, your money is taxed now, not when you withdraw. 401k tax policies are superior to those of brokerage accounts, where your money is taxed twice. Your money will grow over time thanks to the power of compounding interest. Start early to have the most amount of money saved for retirement! Now that you have a better understanding of what HR is talking about during new employee orientation, how should you proceed? Should you join in on the 401k fun? With a 401k, you can predict the future, at least the financial part. Should You Contribute to a 401k? Magic 8 ball says, â€Å"Most likely!† Unless you can’t cover your living needs, there’s no reason not to set aside some money for Future You. She’ll really appreciate it. Of course, your employer has to offer a 401k plan. If your company doesn't offer 401k benefits, then you can't set up a solo 401k. You could instead save money for retirement in an IRA, Roth IRA, or brokerage account. If you do have the option of a 401k, a good rule of thumb is to invest as much money as you can, perhaps about 10% of your income. If possible, try to max out any employer matching benefits so you get the most money you can from your employer toward your retirement savings. Start early to maximize the power of compounding growth. 401k accounts offer a simple, hands-off approach to saving for retirement. With just a little paperwork and rearranging of your daily expenses, you can save for retirement and reap huge financial benefits in your golden years.