K-12 Program

Parents, Mentors, and Other Advocates As adolescents go through high school, they learn to take on more initiative, responsibility and independence. Parents and adults know that, in spite of their evolving maturity, many teenagers need support and encouragement as they begin take the initiative, act responsibly, and grow in their independence. Parents and mentors of youth with disabilities have unique opportunities to promote their successful transition to postsecondary education, employment, and full participation in adult activities.Families and mentors need to step in and assist in he transition process by providing adolescents direction in their exploration of interests, guidance in career and college planning, and encouragement and support. Employment Issues The number of students with disabilities entering and completing postsecondary education has increased dramatically in the last decade, yet people with disabilities are still underrepresented in the employment arena.Barriers to employment include lack of adequate support systems; little access to successful role models; lack of access to technology that can increase independence and productivity; and, most ignificantly, low expectations on the part of people with whom they interact. High school students may think they have plenty of time to decide on their career paths and acquire the skills they will need to market themselves successfully. They may also believe that completing a college or Job training program will guarantee them a Job. This is not true in every situation.Students with disabilities face unique challenges as they transition to employment. Like other students, they need to find a way to meet the specific qualifications of a desired Job as well as demonstrate transferable skills such as communication, roubleshooting, decision making, leadership, and problem solving. Unlike other students, they must be aware of accommodation strategies for specific situations and also know how to appropri ately disclose and discuss their disabilities as they relate to the performance of specific Job tasks.Work-based learning experiences allow students to develop methods for determining accommodations and practice disclosing and discussing their disabilities. Career planning and preparation should begin upon entering high school and occur throughout postsecondary studies. They do not need to settle on one area to pursue ight away, and they can change directions as they learn more about themselves and career options. They need to prepare for the long run-for a lifelong career or multiple careers.In today's competitive Job market it is essential that students possess skills and way students can start narrowing career interests and developing Job skills is through work-based learning experiences. Why should students with disabilities participate in work-based learning? Through the interaction of study and work experience, students can enhance their academic knowledge, personal developmen t, and professional preparation.Specifically, work-based learning opportunities can help a student apply practical theories from classroom work, clarify academic and career interests, develop human relations skills through interaction with co-workers, develop Job- search skills, develop resumes and cover letters, earn academic credit, gain contacts for employment after graduation, gain exposure to specialized facilities not available on campus, identify career assistance programs, and pay for your education. For students with disabilities, work-based learning offers additional benefits.Participating in work experience can give them chances to determine if they can erform the essential functions of particular Jobs with or without accommodations. In a Job setting, students can also practice disclosing their disabilities and requesting accommodations from employers. In addition, they can test which accommodations work best for them. These experiences help students with disabilities dev elop the confidence and self-advocacy skills needed for success in challenging careers. What are examples of work-based learning experiences?Below are descriptions of typical activities and services offered at many high schools: Cooperative Education Cooperative education programs work with students, school staff, and employers to help students clarify career and academic goals, and expand classroom study by participating in paid work experiences. Students work in trainee positions in fields of interest and may also earn academic credit. Independent Study Some academic programs allow independent studies as an optional program component.Students work one-on-one with individual teachers to develop projects for credit. Projects can range from research papers to work experience within their field of interest. Informational Interview Informational interviews help students gain personal insight into specific careers ask questions about occupations, Job duties, education requirements, qual ifications, and companies. Internship An internship is a time-limited, intensive learning experience outside the traditional classroom.Students work in a supervised learning situation, paid or non-paid, with an employer doing planned learning activities. Interns learn about occupational fields and specific Job tasks, while developing work-readiness. Job Shadowing Job shadowing provides students with a realistic view of one or more occupations. Students visit a business to observe the everyday functions of their occupational area of interest. Experiences may vary in time from one hour to a full day. Service Learning In service learning experiences students provide community service in non-paid, volunteer positions.These programs increase the relevancy of academic learning by giving students opportunities to apply knowledge and skills while making meaningful contributions. Students with service learning requirements should pursue opportunities related to their career interests. Provid ing Support Parents, family members, and mentors can help young people become self- determined and access career preparation resources. They can empower them and reinforce their plans for success. Here are some ways to provide support: Help students identify their vocational strengths and interests – look at hobbies, pastimes, etc.Educate yourself about adaptive technology, accommodations, and employment issues. Talk to students about self-advocacy, determining appropriate accommodations, and disclosing their disabilities. Encourage students to develop personal networks of family members, friends, and community contacts to open up pportunities for work-based learning. Parents and guardians should involve themselves in the Individual Education Plans (IEP) of their children and make sure employment-preparation activities are included.Learn about available adult services and start preparing students for the transition to independent adulthood. Assist students in accessing local support networks and disability services organizations, such as the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, which may be able to provide career preparation, Job placement, and referrals to community programs. Encourage tudents to visit the counseling, advising, or career center at their high schools. They may provide a variety of career preparation and Job search services.Students can develop career plans and Job search skills through individual counseling and workshops. Investigate School-to-Work programs, such as Tech Prep and High School/ beginning early in high school. Some Tech Prep courses may be articulated with coursework at local community colleges. Contact your State Governor's Committee on Employment of with Disabilities for information about High School/High Tech, a artnership that combines site tours, Job shadowing, internships, and mentoring to encourage students with disabilities to pursue careers in the technology industry.

Autobiography

My name is Andrew Windiest, I was born in Redding, California, a mid-sized city located in the most northern part of the Sacramento Valley. I have four brothers named Alex (14), Jordan (21), Nathan (25), and Tyler (28) along with two sisters, Courtney (29) and Samaritan(26). My Dad's name is Neil Windiest (60) and my Mom's name is Katharine Buchanan (49), they were never married and I don't remember them ever being together. Vie grown up most of my life in Dixon, CA where my mom lived up until three years ago when she moved to Elk Grove. Most of my friends that have known me since I was really young are in Dixon.My dad lives in Red Bluff, CA, up near Redding and that's where I spend most of my time right now. In the future I hope to get out of the valley, although I like some areas of it, I like mountainous areas a whole lot more. I am now attending Elk Grove Charter School as a senior and hope to gain on all my missing credits and graduate this year. I really enjoy the outdoors and it is where I like to spend my time whenever I get the chance. I love fishing and would fish everyday if I could, I have spent many, many hours on the river enjoying the peacefulness. Another thing I enjoy is working on cars, particularly my own.I like high performance cars and love the freedom of driving. I enjoy hiking mountains a lot and like adventures. I climbed Met. Lessen Peak when I was six years old. My Dad has a house on the Oregon coast in Coos Bay. We go up there and ride the sand dunes and it's a lot of fun. My dad bought me my first car it's a eagle's Talon. My dad has had two of these cars previously except his were all wheel drive. These cars have lots of horse power for how big the engine is because they are turbocharged. This a short story of my previous life and my life now and I hope to add many more memories to my life story. Autobiography I attended La Immaculate Primary School, Muffles College High School graduating with a Diploma in Academic Business, Muffles Junior College graduating with an Associate Degree in General Studies, university of Belize graduating with a Bachelor f Science Degree in English Education, and presently studying at Galen university to acquire a Master's Degree in Business Administration. I have always been a rather quiet individual at home, at work, and at school. Accustomed to being around primarily adults, I am mature for my age and most of my friends are males.My hobbies are reading, cooking, baking, and listening to music. Occasionally, I watch some television if I am bored. I did well in school, as I always read ahead and researched even before school opened. I spent my vacation reading all my school codebooks and highlighting the information I deemed Important, while my friends spent theirs traveling or enjoying themselves. In College, I used to spend more time with my friends. We woul d play cards and dominoes and eventually I became a great domino player.I have been encouraged to enter competitions, but I just play for the center of attention. I am more of a behind the scenes type of person, preferring to observe than step to the forefront. I was never one who saw myself with a family and did not want to be tied down by the constraints of a husband and children. Although I absolutely adored children, I assumed I'd never have any children or marry. However, as I grew older my mentality changed and I met someone whilst studying for my Bachelors.After three years of dating, I had a daughter. Shortly after the birth of my daughter, due to an accident, my partner died and I ended up becoming a single mother at the age of 21 . I found myself balancing being a mother, studying and working, always looking for a better job so to make more money to give my daughter a better life than I had. I'm proud to say this new role suits me. I'm driven, not only to do great things f or myself, but to spur my daughter on to even greater ones.What I achieve in life, I do it for my daughter. I do not consider myself a genius, but I study hard or seek help when I need it. I always attempt tasks first and then seek help when I realize that I really do not know what I'm doing, or I cannot do it on my own. I still have that independent nature strongly embedded. Presently, my goal is to graduate with honors and obtain a scholarship for a PhD. Furthermore, having met someone and getting engaged, I look forward to marrying and having two more children. Autobiography Inspirations come from many avenues. My inspiration came when I was 16 years old in the form of a 3 pound baby boy measuring the length of a ruler. Being a young adolescent myself, this was a very trying time for me. My son was born almost three months early and could very easily have not survived. The birth of my first child is what changed my life forever and shaped me into the person I am today.At the age of seventeen I was attending high school, being a mother to my son, and working away from home as a waitress; all the while missing my little boy beyond words. I knew right then what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to watch my son grow. I wanted to not only be his mother but also his teacher.As my life moved forward my family grew. I was lucky enough to have the privilege to stay at home with my children. During this time I decided that caring for children and helping them grow was what I wanted to do. I started doing child care for a few of my friend’s children and absolutely fell in love with it. This is what I have always done and is something that has always come completely natural to me. Being responsible for a child’s growth while watching them learn and mature right before my eyes is an amazing feeling and a blessing.My children are now all in school full time which has me feeling ready to share the passion I have in caring for, nurturing, and teaching children with others. After I complete my CDA coursework my goal is to become a preschool teacher. I feel with current education with child development and the love I have for watching children’s developmental growth this will be a great future for me.

Acts of Kindness. Paper

Someone dragged a coin along the bonnet of a car belonging to a friend of mine. He took it to a smash repair company near his work for the scratch to be touched up. When he went to pick up the car, he was surprised to be told that there was no charge. A little overwhelmed by it all, my friend mentioned that if he ever had an accident, he would bring his car to that establishment for repair. The owner replied, â€Å"Sir, I hope you never have an accident. † I have made it my goal to do something nice for somebody every day that I live.I find myself waking up each morning with new and exciting ideas of things to do for others, and the rewards have been wonderful. The afternoon was cold and windy as I walked through the shopping centre of my little suburb. A busker, perhaps in his late fifties, wearing clothes that had gone well beyond their ‘use by' date, played his guitar rather badly. â€Å"Don't encourage him! † called a passer by as I dropped a coin into the box . I crossed the road and entered a shop where I made regular purchases. I noticed the assistant would occasionally look out of the window at the busker.She turned to me and asked, â€Å"Would you mind the shop for a minute? † Surprised, I agreed, whereupon she took a pie from the warmer, ran across the road, and gave it to the busker. I have since learned that this was not an isolated example of her generosity. Recently my son, who is a regular user of public transport, caught the bus home from school. Unfortunately he got on the wrong bus, but instead of just being told to get off and wait for another bus to take him home, the driver phoned me and said he would look after my son until he could be placed on the next bus home.I received a call from the second driver, confirming my son had been transferred to his bus. He also told me the time my son would arrive home. Thank you to both of these men who took the extra effort to ensure the safe arrival of my son. The other day I fell on my way back from shopping. Fortunately all that was injured was my dignity, but I was touched by the actions of a passing motorist. When she saw me fall she stopped her car and waited until I had stood up again. Seeing I was OK, she drove off.Once when working at the Department of Social Security, I was talking to a coughing client on the phone, so when I sent her the requested claim form, I enclosed a couple of Allen's Butter Menthols in the envelope. She rang to thank me the following day, and said that my act had made her feel better than the cough lollies had! It made me feel pretty good, too. I have become involved in helping to run a small shop at a local aged people's hostel. We sell at cost items like biscuits, lollies, greeting cards, etc. , small luxuries that old folk can't get out and buy for themselves, and that are not provided by the people who run the hostel.I've noticed that some old people come into our shop, not to buy things, but simply to talk to someone from â€Å"the outside. † This brings home the to me that some old folks are just dumped in places like these, and are seldom visited by their loved ones. I think it vital that they should be visited, and to be shown that someone cares. During the next school holidays I intend to take my 9-year-old granddaughter into the shop with me, as I feel both she and the old folks would mutually benefit from the interaction.I was talking to my doctor recently, and was amazed to learn her act of kindness for Australia's National Kindness Day last year was to treat all of her patients she saw on the day for free! Standing in a long queue at the post office, I overheard one of the staff tell a woman at the counter that the parcel for her was heavy, and an awkward size. He invited her to go around to the side door where she could look at the parcel and decide what she wanted to do. A man in the queue overheard the conversation, and volunteered to drive the woman home with her parcel.The l ights turned green at the pedestrian crossing and the traffic had just begun to move forward when a stooped elderly lady, obviously unaware of the ‘don't walk' sign, stepped on to the crossing. The cars braked and waited patiently while the woman slowly made her way across the road, oblivious of the kindness of the drivers. Four years ago on New Year's Eve my husband had a serious hang-gliding accident and was airlifted off to intensive care in Melbourne. It was getting late at night by the time I learnt the details of the accident and by then he was far away in a Melbourne hospital, but which one I knew not.We were camping at Mt Beauty and knew no one in the camping ground, and I had a busy 5-year-old, as well as being pregnant! Our situation was made so much more bearable by the many acts of kindness from fellow campers. Money was given for the long distance phone calls to the hospitals, so I could find out where, and how, my husband was. Meanwhile neighbours looked after ou r little boy who was kept happy playing with their son. The next day, after an unsettled night, I began to prepare for the drive to Melbourne.Another neighbour rose early (and also woke his sons) to help me pack up the large tent and gear, and pack it all in the car. They even washed the car, and his wife prepared us a cut lunch! Not only that, she offered her home in Melbourne for as long as we needed, and asked if I'd like her to accompany us on the drive down, and said she would catch the train back (I had never met this wonderful lady before this day). The family minding our boy gave me their street directory with a line marking all the way to the hospital – I'd never driven to Melbourne before, so this was a great help.These two special families saw us off with hugs and best wishes and, I learnt later, both phoned the hospital to see how my husband was. He recovered and is looking forward to more (accident free) flying, and I will always remember these kind-hearted peopl e who helped me so much (Our little boy, too – he was so good during that time, I couldn't have asked for more). When my youngest child started school I returned to teaching. I made it a rule to praise every child every day. The happy smiles they gave me were reward enough.Six years ago I was left to fend for myself when my husband left me for my so called friend. I was sad, scared, but mostly lonely. After the news became common knowledge, one acquaintance of my husband began to ring me every evening at around 10. 30 pm to say, â€Å"Goodnight and God bless. † I finally asked him why he was doing this. His response was, â€Å"I can't stand to think of you being alone and sad without anyone to say goodnight to, so I want to do it while you are so sad. † This was a wonderful act of kindness from a man I hardly knew, but it made me feel cared for and not so alone.This man kept up the goodnight greeting for three months until I didn't sound or feel so sad, and then they stopped. I've never seen or heard from him since, but I bless his loving heart often. My current mission is to promote the Kindness Revolution with all the young people I come in contact with, so far with success. The idea of being kind appeals to my two special little friends Amy and Jessie. Jessie sends me monthly reports of her kindness activities which are really cute, especially the one about her 14 month old baby brother playing ‘Barbies' with her.Jessie considers this brother less important than a worm normally. I would love to tell you of a kind act I had the opportunity to participate in, because of a strong feeling to help someone, who was not in a position to help themselves. A lovely lady in her nineties is a very good friend of my daughter's Godmother. I made a winter basket for her with all sorts of goodies, including a warm hat for the winter. It was such a pleasure to receive her phone call, she was so thrilled. I went to a cake shop recently and was wait ing to be served. There was this little old lady being served, she was asking the price of this and that.I told the man who served me that I would pay for the lady's choice. He whispered this to the sales woman, and I paid for mine and hers. However, she wasn't finished, and ordered a large apple pie as well – oops! The man raised his eyebrows at me, I thought for a brief moment and nodded my head – what the heck! When I was given my change I got out of there as fast as I could, as I didn't want to get sprung. I wonder if people going about their normal duties realise they can brighten up someone's day. My children's favourite day is Friday – rubbish bin day.As soon as they hear the truck they race to the door to watch. When the driver waves to them it always brings a big smile to their faces. The wave doesn't cost him anything, but it means so much to them. Thank you to all the people who take the time to smile or greet others while doing their job. Doing my no rmal Saturday morning shopping, I was attracted by the sound of a flute. Casting my gaze about I spied a man of about 50 standing on a nearby corner. As I walked closer there was something about him that caused me to think I should donate more than the usual one or two dollars.I walked up to him and stuffed a five dollar note into the top pocket of his coat. He stopped playing and said, â€Å"Thank you very much, that's very kind of you. † As I walked away he began playing again, this tune was decidedly more up tempo than the previous one. After many years as a city dweller, the opportunity came to move to a small town. Without having any job prospects, I decided to make the move. I hadn't been there very long when I mentioned to someone that I was going to buy a pot plant when I had the money, and put it on the front porch of the house I was living in.The next day, much to my surprise and delight, I found a pot plant on the front porch! It is so lovely to be away from the me anness and bustle of the city, to be in a place where people have the time to talk, to be sympathetic and respond to people's needs. I'm sure all Australians are like that, it's just that the pressure to perform is so much greater in the city, and we seem to be sucked into the ‘rat race' all too easily. One of my friends in Melbourne suffers from an unpleasant illness which robs her of energy and leaves her severely depressed. Despite this, her capacity for appreciation has been highly developed.She asked me to share this example of kindness with you, a reminder that small actions can make a big difference to a person's day. My friend was seeking some refreshment but was deterred by the crowded cafe. Summoning courage a second time she entered the cafe, but felt daunted by the lack of available space. A man seated with a friend quickly perceived my friend's dilemma, and carried a chair to a table without seating, so she could sit down. My friend was greatly touched by the man' s awareness and swift response. She was able to enjoy a coffee and no doubt her faith in human kindness was strengthened.My husband and I have a stall at our local market selling fruit, flowers and plants. During the week I look around a couple of Op Shops and pick up the odd Teddy or toy, which we take along to the market. When an irritable child comes along with a stressed mother, we give the child a toy and distract them for a while in conversation. It's amusing how the child shuts up, and it brings a smile to the mother's face. I was standing in a long queue at Coles Supermarket. The woman in front of me approached the check out with three items – milk, bread and margarine. She paused as she hunted through her purse and pockets for money. I definitely had $5 here† she kept saying out loud to her husband, who merely scowled at her and walked off, leaving her with two little kids. In desperation, she tipped the whole contents of her bag onto the counter and looked thr ough it. Meanwhile, I was getting really upset for this young mother. I looked in my purse and decided I would have enough to pay my groceries and have $10 left over. So I just handed her $5 and said, â€Å"There you are, have a nice day, and don't forget to pass it on. † I don't need to tell you how she reacted, and I thought she was going to kiss my feet.Out of sheer embarrassment I said, â€Å"Go on, get out of here and have a lovely day. † The next thing I know the check out lady is handing me a bag full of free magazines and muesli bars. â€Å"Here,† she said. â€Å"I'm astounded and so touched by what you did. Never in all my years have I seen anyone do that before. † We have a stall at the markets on Sundays, selling flowers. We look for people in wheelchairs or the elderly, also mums that look really unhappy, and we hand them a bunch of flowers for free – it's wonderful to see their reaction. Only two people have ever refused to take them.A friend of mine was told he had cancer of the liver and had only a few weeks to live. I called on him and he was looking pretty crook, so I phoned for an ambulance to take him to hospital. At home I tried to think of our past conversations about his son, and where he lived. I remembered it was somewhere near Campbelltown in N. S. W. I dialled the operator and gave her the name I wanted, explaining my difficulties. I said, â€Å"Just give me anyone with that name and I'll try my luck. † I was told there was no one with that name in Campbelltown, but she said there was one in Picton. OK, I'll try that,† and the computer gave me the number. I dialled the number straight away. A woman answered and I asked her if her husband's name was Kevin. It was, and I told her to tell him to get to Bundaberg ASAP, as his dad was sick and needed him. Kevin rang twenty minutes later, and said he would catch the next available plane. I'm so glad he did, because 48 hours later, on Valentine 's Day, his dad died. I feel so good that Kevin was able to talk to his dad and hold his hand and say goodbye, and I feel even better that my friend died happy and loved.Was it just a coincidence that the operator looked in another area for the number – I wonder? Someone phoned recently and told me the following story. Many years ago a child was reprimanded severely by her parents for something she had done. The little girl (let's call her ‘Emma') was distraught, and was found wandering down the street, crying, by someone who lived near by. When the woman heard Emma's story, she considered that the punishment had been excessive, and out of sympathy took Emma to a shop and bought her an ice cream. This was a rare treat for Emma, as her family was destitute and there was no money available for ice cream.Emma maintained contact with the woman over the ensuing years, but this was lost when Emma was of an age where she was able to leave home. Years later, when Emma was in he r mid thirties, she chose to visit a nursing home in the hope of being able to bring some cheer to the residents. Much to her surprise and delight, Emma discovered one of the residents, now old and lonely, was the kind woman who bought her the ice cream. Emma became a regular visitor, and spent many hours bringing comfort and friendship to the old woman, until she passed away.Emma told the story to a mourner at the funeral, who in turn told it to the person who rang me. When I was fifteen, a man kidnapped me, attacked me and tried to take my life. I ended up with a shattered back and serious internal injuries. My family was fractured and were not supportive, but the kindness of strangers saw me through. A lady held my hand one night, and cried over me. The nurses wept, and cheered when I took my first steps months after my back was broken. A nurse called Tony made me laugh and took me out to the gardens, where we would talk for ages. A priest sat by my bedside at five o'clock each m orning.Then Tommy came into my life and showered me with kindness. These special acts and special people are never forgotten, and the memory of their kindness is conjured up, and is as new as freshly-baked bread. Sometimes we feel helpless, and wonder what we can do to help. While we may not have much money, time or resources, the simplest acts are often the most powerful [As a post script, the Tommy she speaks about later became her husband]. This week I suffered a home invasion. A bloke pulled off my security screen and smashed a large glass window in the middle of the night while I was at home in bed.I was lucky that only an empty handbag was stolen and that I wasn't bashed. The response from friends has been incredible. I am President of a 50+ Leisure Club, which has in excess of 100 members. Many of them have either rung me to make sure I am OK, or have passed messages of goodwill through other friends. Some have visited me, bringing gifts of flowers and Lotto tickets and (most important) hugs. One or two have offered me a bed for a few nights until I've got over the initial trauma, while others have offered to come and stay the night to give me a feeling of security.I have been given silent phone numbers, with instructions to ring any time, day or night, if I need to talk. Two people have even offered to give me a dog to deter intruders. I have received supportive emails and advice on how to better secure my home. All this wonderful kindness has touched my heart. How on earth can I say thank you? It seems such a hackneyed phrase for a very sincere feeling of gratitude. If friends were wealth, I'd be very rich indeed. I was waiting with a patient to see her Oncologist. A man walked by and offered us a chocolate each and we thanked him for his kind gesture.A few minutes later, he was called into the doctor's room, came out, and then it was our turn. The Oncologist then offered us chocolates, on behalf of his patient whom, he informed us, buys 12 chocolates every day and offers them to 12 people so that he can make 12 people happy, and be happier himself 12 times more! I am writing to you regarding an act of huge kindness toward me and my children that I considered worth sharing with you. I am a sole parent of three children aged 7 years, 4 years, and 10 months. My first partner died a few years ago, and the father of my youngest has gone his separate way.A couple of weeks ago I was unfortunate enough to get pulled over by the police doing roadside vehicle checks, on the way to school to pick up my children. The result was a yellow sticker for faults with my old but ‘faithful' Commodore. This presented a major problem for me as the car is an absolute necessity, and finances as a single parent don't allow for unforseen emergencies. I was very distressed by the whole situation. In steps my friend Jennifer, and her husband Paul, with an offer of assistance. They ended up spending the whole weekend working on my car.Paul then reques ted half a day off work on Monday to ensure the work was completed before the vehicle examination that day. Another act of kindness by Paul's boss, who was made aware of the situation and allowed him time off. As a result, my car went through the inspection with only minor things to rectify. And of course, Paul again helped with these. Further to this, some other very kind friends of mine, Caroline and Denver, gave hours of their time to work on the car. And while they were there they also pruned all of my big trees and took a trailer load of rubbish to the tip.The happy ending to this long story is that these wonderful people turned around a seemingly impossible situation. The sticker has been removed and the car is starting to look like new. The other day I was in a busy shopping centre car park with little room to manoeuvre large vehicles, when I saw a lady getting flustered trying to reverse her large ‘tank' of a car out of it's parking spot, without much success, and a qu eue of cars waiting for her. I stood in the middle of the car park and it took a while, but with me directing her, she eventually got out and was most grateful.It turned a tense situation into one we had a laugh about – and that's what life is all about. And in closing, one of the many gems I try to live by: â€Å"Happiness does not come from what you have, but from what you are. † I was in a supermarket recently, and an elderly man had bumped a vein in the back of his hand and it was bleeding. He said, â€Å"Oh, how silly of me,† and got his hanky out and blotted it. I was standing nearby, and stood there compassionately. He went on his way and came back a few minutes later with a packet of band aids.He asked me whether I could put one on his hand for him, which I did after it had stopped bleeding. He thanked me and went on his way. I smiled for the rest of the day, with joy in my heart. A friend of mine told me a story that recently took place at Woolies. She had noticed that the man behind her in the queue had only a few items in his shopping basket, and he seemed to be in a hurry – so she let him go before her. He was so touched that he bought her a chocolate bar from the display at the check out, and thanked her. She said that she and the check-out operator just smiled at each other in disbelief.Last October, we had to have our 16? year old much loved family dog put to sleep by our vet, who had cared for Mindy for most of her life. The week following, the vet sent me a lovely letter saying how sad we must have felt at our loss, and thanking us for our care of Mindy. I really appreciated this letter. The other week I was in one of those bargain shops. I saw a plastic file which I thought would come in handy to keep some documents in. The girl at the check out counter said they were good, and she would like to get one for school (she was working in the school holidays).She said she didn't have the money at that time and would get it later. I thought there might not be any left ‘later', so I bought her one. She was so pleased, and it was her birthday in a few days. It made me feel glad that I could help her. As I was waiting in the supermarket queue, I noticed the man in front of me had three tins of meat and vegetables, and I thought that they were probably were his next three meals. When the tins were scanned he presented a credit card and asked for $10 in cash. I thought that $10 was a small amount to ask for, and guessed he didn't have much money.The card was scanned several times, but the message â€Å"Refer to card holder† kept on appearing. The man, obviously embarrassed, told the girl he'd have to leave the tins. I told the person I would pay the six dollars and something, and the poor man, now highly embarrassed, mumbled a thank you and rushed away with his tins. In 1983, the Ash Wednesday bushfires destroyed homes in Mt Macedon, Victoria. My chiropractor came from Melbourne to Woodend (to our place), with his car loaded to the brim with goods for the unfortunate people who lost everything.He and his wife were the only ones who bothered to come visit us, who cared enough. Our house was filthy, but still standing. Four years ago my son was left with two kids (one just a baby), one teddy bear, and his car, plus all the outgrown kid's clothes, which were absolutely useless to him (his wife refused to let the kids have their toys or their clothes). A friend from my school days arrived with a car load of kid's clothes, books and toys for Steve's kids. My friend had spent every cent she'd earned that week (coaching) on the kids. It didn't finish there!She also gave Steve a single bed, cupboards, a bike, etc. The trailer was overflowing and so was the station wagon. I was in tears. There was an old lady in the supermarket queue in front of me. She had a tomato and a few other vegetables, and a tin of ham. When the value of the goods was totalled, she looked in her purse and told the check out person she didn't have enough money. The check out person said, loudly and rather rudely I thought, â€Å"Well, which ones can you afford to pay for? † The woman opted to leave the ham. I was tempted to pay for the ham, but didn't have the cash to hand over.I put my purchases through, trying to ‘think' the girl to move quickly before the woman had disappeared, and when I presented my credit card, told the girl I would pay for the tin of ham she had put to one side. â€Å"Why would you do that? † she asked. â€Å"Because it was probably for her next meal! † I replied. I ran out of the supermarket and fortunately she wasn't too far away. I caught up with her and gave her the tin of ham. â€Å"What's this? † she asked. â€Å"It's yours† I replied. â€Å"But I can't pay for it† she said. â€Å"You don't have to† I said, and hurried off, leaving her standing there staring at the tin.When I drove away she was st ill standing there, staring at the tin. I was driving along in the left hand lane when at the last minute realised it led only onto the freeway. The lane next to me started to fill up with cars stopping for a red traffic light. There was a car behind me so I couldn't go anywhere. Just then two cars in the lane beside me reversed to let me in, when they realised I was in the wrong lane. That just made my day! My youngest son (I am now a sole parent) and I were standing at the local supermarket check-out recently with a full trolley. I noticed an elderly man behind me with only a few items, so I told him to go first.He was very appreciative. After he had paid for his things he walked away, only to return a few minutes later with a beautiful bunch of pink carnations. He gave them to me and said, â€Å"Thank you. You've taught me to be giving. † I was stunned, as was the checkout girl. My son was so impressed he said to me, â€Å"You should marry that man. † What a sweet g esture! As a teenager I had a very bad time, lots of abuse and things like that. One day I decided that I'd had enough, and I was on my way to hurl myself off the bridge and into oblivion. As I was walking I was sort of in a dream, not really aware of anything, but a voice lifted me out of the fog.There was an old man smiling at me, a gentleman, as he'd been wearing a hat and he had removed it and was holding it in one hand above his head, like you see people do in some old movies. I said something like, â€Å"What? â€Å", and he said to me, â€Å"It's a lovely day – don't you think? † I said I suppose it was, and he put his hat back on and walked away. I watched this small elderly man with a sprightly step walk down the path for what seemed like hours, and I finally sat down on a bench nearby. Yes, it was a lovely day, I thought, and why was I thinking of taking my life on such a lovely day?I moved out of home as soon as I had finished school, got a job as a waitre ss and did a secretarial course part time. After completing the course I worked for a small manufacturing company as a secretary, married my boss, and we have three lovely daughters. That incident happened about 15 years ago, yet it is still so vivid in my mind. I remember every word that stranger said to me, and those soft blue eyes of his. I think of him as my guardian angel, who took on human form to save my life. I was on a teaching prac. recently, teaching a 4/5 class. I told them about the 12 Days of Kindness and they thought it was really cool.Anyway, for â€Å"Children's Day† I organised an activity where each child wrote his/her name on a piece of blank paper. All the papers were laid out on the table, with the name facing upwards. Then each child (and the teachers too) went around, turned over the paper and wrote a nice thing about each child. At the end of ten minutes, the children each had a piece of paper filled with compliments. They were so excited to read them , but I collected them to hand out the next day (I wanted to read them first, and add my own message to each one). The next day I handed them out.The atmosphere in the room was amazing, as it was the previous afternoon when they were writing down the compliments. Before they left the room, I told them that Sunday was â€Å"My Day† and that it's important to give yourself compliments, so they each had to write down one nice thing about themselves. Self esteem is so vital, and it has to be fostered when young! I work as a checkout operator at a large chain supermarket, which is a job that leaves me feeling quite anonymous at times. However, I always make an effort to be cheerful and greet all my customers with a smile and a pleasant â€Å"How are you? , which, I can assure you, isn't always easy some days! Recently, I had an enjoyable experience serving a very friendly, bubbly lady who smiled right back at me and engaged in pleasant chitchat the whole time I was serving her. A s many people simply ignore my efforts of friendliness, this was a lovely experience in itself. However, this lovely lady, unbeknown to me, then went on to see the manager solely for the purpose of complimenting me on my service and thanking him for employing such a friendly member of staff. The manager then bought me a box of chocolates as a thank you for my efforts.Well, as you can imagine, I was truly touched by this gesture, both from the customer and the manager. It really made me feel valued and loved, and I still feel teary when I think about it. It really doesn't take much to make someone feel so wonderful. I went into the bank today to draw out cash to tide me over the next two weeks. There was a woman at the teller next to me and I overheard snatches of the conversation between her and the teller. There was talk about her having a food voucher from Vinnies, and the teller informing her that her account was already overdrawn, so she couldn't withdraw any further funds.It se emed she was a visitor to Sydney, and would be going home in a couple of days. She asked the teller if there was someone else in the bank she could talk to about withdrawing money, but naturally was advised that there was nothing that could be done, bank policy and all that. I pulled one of my precious $50 notes I had just been given, said, â€Å"Happy Christmas! † as I placed it in front of her on the counter, and walked out of the bank. I then went to a cake shop across the road and just happened to glance through the glass door as she walked past. Our eyes met, she paused and mouthed a ‘Thank you! ‘ before hurrying off.There are times when life is good, and we need to cherish those moments, as their memories can surely help us through the not-so-good times. I recently had an operation on my leg for a damaged ligament. In my conversation with the anaesthetist prior to the operation, he said he noticed that the operation was self funded, and asked me about it. I told him that years ago I'd dropped out of the medical benefits system because of lack of money. He then asked whether payment would be a problem, and I said that it would be nice if I could pay the $500 fee in several smaller payments rather than in a lump sum.He squeezed my hand and said he would see what he could do. When I received his invoice after the operation, I was delighted to see that the $500 had been reduced to $380! We hear stories about people being ripped off by medical services, but it is nice to know there are doctors out there who have compassion and kindness. In a post-op discussion I had with the surgeon, he said that when the ligament had healed he would tell me about a natural remedy that would help prevent the problem

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 215

Assignment Example ible inconsistency between traits of God and existence of evil that people suffer has a solution and this clarifies the point that despite sufferings that people undergo, God is all-powerful and cares about people. While the omnipresent feature means that God knows everything that people go through and having authority and being a loving and caring God would mean that He foresees any calamity and can protect people from it, bad things still happen to people. While evil defines a bad thing that destabilizes a system, and this is evident in such phenomena as diseases and calamity, the concept of moral evil offers a solution to the problem of evil. Under the concept, a moral agent exist that causes evil and human actions identifies the agency. This, together with the fact that God gave human being authority on earth and the freedom of choice, means that God may foresee evil and have authority over it, but He grants human being the freedom to decide on acting as an agent of moral evil or not. If man chooses to act morally then God’s authority becomes effective and He protects people from evil. Otherwise, man causes evil (Klibengajtis 4- 6). God granted man freedom and authority in earth and human actions, in consistency with God’s authority, causes evil. People’s sufferings are therefore consistent with the belief that God is all-powerful and cares for people because God acts on people’s will to either allow of prevent evil depending on human

Accounting assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Accounting assignment - Essay Example ac, a portfolio of professional and consumer software applications, a variety of service, support and accessory offerings and the OS X and iOS operating systems. 2) Examine its Balance Sheet. Make a list of different accounts of Assets, distinguishing between Current and Non-Current (Tangible and Intangible), and Liabilities, distinguishing between Current and Long-Term Liabilities. Under this disclosure there are several items that are listed. These items include basis of presentation and preparation of financial statements. They prepared and presented under the U.S. GAAP. The company’s fiscal year ends on last Saturday of September and has 52 or 53 weeks period. The second item is revenue recognition, financial instruments and foreign currency translation. This shows the Company’ revenue generating activities and items. Under this note there are items such as Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities, derivative financial instruments and accounts receivables. The other disclosures include income taxes, long term debt, shareholder’s equity, comprehensive income, benefit plans, commitments and contingencies, segment information and geographic data and selected quarterly financial information that are not audited. 4) Calculate the gross profit percentage for each of the years shown in the company’s income statements. Evaluate the company’s trend in sales and gross profit. By what percentage amounts did net sales increase or decrease in each of the years reported? The company’s sales are increasing at a stable rate however the increase in cost of sales causes the gross profit to decrease. Gross profit increases in the year 2012 but decreases in the year 2013. In the year 2012 net sales increased by (156508-108249)/108249= 44.58 percent. In the year 2013 it increased by (170910-156508)/156508= 9.20 percent. The company reports both investments in short term and long term marketable securities. These marketable securities are carried ate their

Manets On the Beach and Vincent van Goghs The Sower Essay

Manets On the Beach and Vincent van Goghs The Sower - Essay Example Ordinary subjects are used. The painter uses small stokes, sometimes even using pointillism, to create the impression of their subject. The use of color is more vivid in these scenes. Movement is also a characteristic of Impressionism. Both Manet’s On the Beach and van Gogh’s The Sower use impressionism as a style. Manet’s On the Beach and van Gogh’s The Sower use everyday subjects. Manet’s subject was his wife and brother at the beach. Van Gogh’s The Sower depicts a field worker leaving the fields at sunset after a long day reaping wheat. Although Manet used his brother and wife, the beach scene could have been any two people. The ordinary subject did not matter as much as catching the moment in time on canvas. While Manet captured family members, van Gogh painted a random worker. The other difference is Manet captured people at leisure, while van Gogh painted a worker. The two scenes are polar opposite. One shows people that are well off en ough to go to the beach and relax, while the latter shows a worker. Both are ordinarily different. The technique and style used in both paintings make them Impressionism. Manet has smoother small strokes, but they are still small. Van Gogh’s picture has more visible small strokes. The contrast is Manet’s painting looks smoother than van Gogh’s rough picture. Although both are oil paintings, the blending method makes the visual impact different. This type of painting technique gives the impression, but no real detail in features.

To what extent might it be considered that a new aesthetic paradigm is Essay

To what extent might it be considered that a new aesthetic paradigm is emerging in the 21th century that makes the study of 'aes - Essay Example It is digital and born on the internet (Bridle, 2011). It is generally intelligent and it is diffuse and includes different smaller pieces which are loosely connected with each other. It is a collaborative desire to cover different elements of aesthetic activity, including music, painting, dance, sculpting, photography, and glitch imagery (Bridle, 2011). One of the major contributors to the idea of the new aesthetic has been seen in the establishment of the way in which digital activities and daily activities are gradually connecting with each other. The new aesthetic also secures a starting point in the assessment of Marx’s theories of machines (Sterling, 2012). It shifts from earlier discussions on machine labour being an extension of human actions, in the end, eliminating human barriers which is seen in designers and those who follow these designs. The New Aesthetic indicates a change in production different from Marx’s perspectives. As machines are dependent on huma n control according to Marx, those seen in the New Aesthetic work eliminate the human element (Bridle, 2011). They consider digitalization, and eliminate the human labour involved in the production elements. ... Such paradigms also do not invite other song and genre choices which are actually the more popular choices among the greater youth population. Popular music is not represented in the music education programs, and as a result, most of the materials which the teachers and students work with are irrelevant. The public and private sector teaching posts have decreased in terms of music teachers and musicians, including audience numbers (Abril and Gault, 2008). The current music educational system is actually not sustainable. The entire system is gradually being eroded on all sides, especially with teachers not being in touch with what is current, what is relevant in the music education system. The problem is very much extensive and complicated (Moore, 2011). It is therefore important to assess the music industry and the educational trends in order to understand the current issue. It is also important to evaluate how music relevancy can be utilized as the basis for securing flexible educat ion models and reviving the music programs in schools. Music education as seen from a music relevancy perspective would consider the music held relevant by the community (Abril and Gault, 2008). Such music education would be very much valuable to students especially as it would provide perspectives into the music that they are exposed to and are listening to every day. A music education curriculum which is strongly in line with the current music trends would be focused on current popular trends, including rock, R&B, country, Hip-hop and alternative music (Abril and Gault, 2008). Instructions in music instruments would mostly be on guitar, keyboard, drums, and other popular musical instruments. These new

Ethical dilemma Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical dilemma - Assignment Example In the field of health care, critical thinking is an ethical decision making process that I utilize a lot and thus it is my role to reason in a purposeful systematic manner. This implies that the nurse or any other physician has the role to get the outcome based on thinking and this will incorporate knowledge and other available information and ideas to get the way forward to a solution. On the other hand, there is the power of one as a nurse which must be obtained and practiced in an ethical manner (Eun-Jun, 2012). The power of a nurse incorporates communication skills and the knowledge for example, in a case where the patient is discharged and was suffering from pneumonia, the nurse knows the patient needs care but still if accommodated in the hospital, financial problem may occur. This illustrates dilemma with the nurses on the ethical issues. The power of the nurse come from the health care teams which depends on the knowledge and other expert skills which contribute greatly in the field of health care (Parker, 2008). The knowledge acquired must be respected since without respect he or she will not be motivated and thus no consideration of ethical principles and models. The power of the nurse again is gained due to consistent, excellent and holistic care that is provided to the patient. The power one has will help the nurse to come up with a solution in case of ethical dilemma for example I came across a patient who was suffering from pneumonia aged 50 years. Pneumonia requires medical care on regular basis and the patient considered the financial status since she was a single mother with a daughter. The patient was open to me and discussed what she has been going through and the reason why she acquired pneumonia. In addition, she talked about her financial status. Together with the patient, we had to talk to the doctor so as to settle the matter. I had to use the power of one as the nurse, alongside knowledge and be able

Commercial Property Management in Australia Essay

Commercial Property Management in Australia - Essay Example Paper begins with a brief analysis of the specific subject with an effort to explicate the reason for the interaction observed between the Commercial Property Management and the law (as distinguished between common law and statutory law). The characteristics and the consequences of this interaction are also a subject of analysis to the introductory part of the paper. Furthermore, the paper presents the key principles which operate in the Commercial Property Management sector of Australia trying to emphasize on two particular aspects: the influence of common law and that of the statutory law. At a next level, the key Occupational Health and Safety Provisions applied in the Commercial Property Management Practice in Victoria (Australia) are presented and analyzed to the best possible level in order to present their similarities and their points of differentiation. It has to be noticed that among the numerous Acts applied in the specific area the following two have been chosen for analy sis: the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulation 2001. A reference to the recent Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 is also being made in order to present the level of development of the legal rules regarding the specific sector. Finally, the role and the function of the Victorian Workcover Authority is presented and analyzed as of its contribution to the resolution of the problems appeared in the Commercial Property Management area. One of the most important sectors of modern economies around the world is property management particularly the one related with the commercial market. The specific field of activity seems to have common elements among the states of the international communities; there are however certain points and issues that tend to be

Marketing Plan of Fairmont Empress Hotel Assignment

Marketing Plan of Fairmont Empress Hotel - Assignment Example The marketing team has analyzed the market segmentation and is committed to improving the consumer perception of the brand. The company hopes to increase the market share by a minimum of 20 percent in two years. The management has invested in talent reward management and competitive remunerations to reduce staff turnover rates. The strategic and management team of Fairmont Express Hotels and Resorts is also committed to the overall wellbeing of the local communities through CSR.     The Fairmont Express Hotels and Resorts are located in multiple cities across North America and many parts of the world. They include New York in the US and British Columbia in Canada. The facility offers breathtaking views of natural beauty and rich heritage owing to the fact that it is roughly a century old. This has early the hotel respect and customer perception of high standards. The hotel offers convention rooms, culinary experiences, a variety of foods and family vacation facilities among other s. The management has had to keep evolving to meet the changing demands of the growing market. The hotel has over hundreds of refurbished rooms which are fitted with modern technological features. The brand is established to give a high-end luxury impression to the market. Market situation The role of hospitality the world economy has been on the rise. The industry has been one of the most profitable with unprecedented growth rate. However, the market situation indicates that the market can perform better. Economic decline has had a negative effect on the market performance with the hotel and tourism industry being coerced to scale down. The hotel industry is faced by acute staff shortage during the peak seasons (Wood & Brotherton, 2008). Therefore, the industry is using incentives and reduces staff turnover rates and to ensure that they remain competitive. Hotel industries should segment markets into consumer groups that are homogeneous. Hotels like Fairmont Express target their ma rket segments carefully through identifying the differentiating advantages that attract each segment (Wood & Brotherton, 2008). This includes offering competitive prices and choosing qualified personnel. Implementing marketing segmentation demands proper strategies. Model hotels have to implement market segmentation in complex organizational environments minimal resources and customer legacy (Shoemaker et al, 2007). Market segmentation addresses the market situation directly since its one of the most basic marketing concepts. The hospitality industry is divided into leisure and travel. Research shows that growth is forecasted to drive the hotel industry to reach $640 billion in the coming years. The economic stability in North America has been attributed to the success of the hotel industry in American and Canadian hotels. The market situation has been boosted by the significant growth as a result of a slight decline in the cost of travel (David, 2005). Changing lifestyle and availa bility of leisure time as an integral part of life has increased the market share.  Ã‚  

Mayan Civilization Essay Example for Free

Mayan Civilization Essay * Which of the three Mesoamerican civilizations is most significant? Explain. The most significant Mesoamerican civilization is the Mayans. The Mayans are the most important for many different reasons. They were a very intelligent civilization and their inventions and discoveries are what set them apart from the other Mesoamerican civilizations. The Mayans civilization was the most significant for multiple reasons. They were the only Mesoamerican civilization that had a written language. It was called Maya Script or Maya hieroglyphs. It is currently the only Mesoamerican writing system that has substantially been deciphered. Not only did they have their own system of writing, they were very clever mathematicians. They had a counting system that was represented by only a dot, a bar, and a symbol for zero. The Mayans were some of the only people to understand the meaning of the zero. This was a huge step in mathematics. Another major discovery was the calendar. The Mayans were most interested in astronomy. They made an astronomical observatory that consisted of 3 windows at the top to determine when the fall and spring equinox, 365 steps to resemble the 365 days on the calendar and a serpent head at the bottom of the stairs. On March 21st the body of the serpent would appear to slither down the pyramid and point towards their water supply. The Mayans were gifted people who made a substantial impact on their time. With their writing, mathematics, and their astronomy as only some of their greatest accomplishments, this proves that the Mayans were the most significant Mesoamerican civilization.

The Secret Operations Executive Essay Example for Free

The Secret Operations Executive Essay The Secret Operations Executive played an important role in the Asian region during the Second World War. This intelligence agency was crucial in supporting the British war efforts in Asia by inspiring the local people to oppose their occupation by the Japanese forces. They obtained valuable information in Asia and passed this information to the British military administration, which increased the strength of the British in the region. The Secret Operations Executive or SOE was the British agency, which was supposed to promote sabotage and subversion in the occupied areas. This function of SOE can be seen in the region of Asia and other parts of the world. At one point of time SOE had nearly six hundred employees and it used various weapons and instruments such as ships, air crafts, and radio communications. These instruments were used to infiltrate the agents, arms, and explosives of the enemies who were found in the regions beyond the control of the British administration. These operations can be seen in the region of Asia during the Second World War period. SOE, during the Second World War, emerged as one of the most popular intelligence gathering agencies due to the use of various techniques of obtaining information and supporting the local people to resist their subjugation by the Japanese forces. It has been argued by some scholars that SOE did not achieve that great of a success, as it failed to maintain close relations with British military and other intelligence operations. It is interesting to note, in this context, that although SOE performed various intelligence related tasks, originally it was not intended as an intelligence organization. It was also not intended to inspire anti-Japanese movements in the Asian countries. This indicates that the managers of this organization decided, in the middle of war, to change the function and aims of SOE in order to obtain support for the British war effort. SOE played an important role in inspiring the local people to resist against Japanese aggression in Burma, Siam, and Malaya. This local resistance against the Japanese forces assisted the British in getting extra time to obtain men and materials necessary to protect their colonies in Asia from the Japanese aggression. The fact that the British had to depend on the co-operation of their erstwhile colonies also indicates that Britain had become weak during this period. By using SOE, the British were able to resist their enemies including the Japanese in Asia. This organization was able to achieve success particularly in Burma due to the co-operation given by the anti-fascist organizations, influenced by communist ideology, and the Burma National Guard. With the participation of the local people, SOE was able to protect the lives of many British people in the region. This allowed the British to obtain control of Rangoon by the end of Second World War. However, the British failed to bring all the intelligence organizations under the banner of SOE, which was established in 1940 to sabotage and destroy the enemy power in the occupied countries. By November 1940, SOE had prepared a plan for the South East Asian region including China, Manchuria, French Indochina, Siam, the Philippines, Burma, Malaya, and Hong Kong. This plan was named Oriental Mission (OM), indicating the interest of Great Britain in South East Asia. The main aim of this mission was to create and develop a spirit of resistance in these countries, so that the British army could invade them and occupy them without taking greater risks. However, the fall of Singapore and Burma resulted in a need to change the original plan of this mission. Now, OM became known as the Indian Mission and concentrated on Afghanistan, India, and Ceylon. SOE leaders provided training and weapons to the members so that they could resist the Japanese in their regions. SOE faced delay problems due to the official policy, which postponed the operations of this organization in Siam and Burma. It has been claimed by SOE officials that due to this delay, these regions were invaded and occupied by the Japanese forces. With greater co-operation from the British administration, SOE would have claimed greater achievements. However, it is important to note that in spite of official delays, SOE was able to achieve at least part of its objective of destroying enemy power in the occupied regions. Nevertheless, when compared to other regions, the Chinese operations were not successful as this agency had to suffer many reversals in China. SOE played an important role in the recovery of prisoners of war in the region of Burma and Thailand. However, usually this task is given to the International Committee of the Red Cross. In this case, SOE was asked to recover the prisoners in order to achieve humanitarian and strategic aims of the British military. The Japanese administration decided to construct the railway line connecting Burma and Thailand. For this, the Japanese used local labour as well as the prisoners of war. By using white labour, the Japanese attempted to prove the racial superiority of the Asians. However, in the process of railway line construction, nearly 12,000 prisoners of war, and 90,000 local people died. Many prisoners of war died because of the difficult working conditions they were forced to endure. This included long hours in the rain without obtaining any medical attention. The British administration decided to take action against the Japanese, but it did not want to give publicity to these measures. Therefore, SOE was asked to move to this region. During this time SOE had maintained close contact with the Thai resistance movement, which allowed them to obtain the information regarding the movement of Japanese forces in the region. SOE was in the best position to gather necessary intelligence information in order to help the prisoners of war in Asia. SOE was given this task because â€Å"†¦only an organisation that was experienced in local intelligence gathering and working with resistance groups would be would be able to cope with the urgent demands of the task†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It was realized that SOE was the sole organization capable of handling this task, as it had prior experience working in the region. It was also important to achieve success against the Japanese within a short time span, which could not have been accomplished by conservative agencies. The Red Cross was not in a position to achieve the task of liberating prisoners of war because Red Cross simply did not possess ability to carry prisoners of war liberation exercise. The British government was also interested in keeping this mission a secret since it did not want the public to react to news of the worse working conditions the prisoners of war faced, especially considering many of them were British. SOE was considered an intelligence gathering agency. In order to release the prisoners of war in Asia there was the need to obtain information regarding the Japanese army’s movement. In 1941, it was decided to send SOE agents to Thailand in order to gather information regarding the activities of the Japanese troops in the region. Information was obtained by interviewing the prisoners of war who were given small microfilm questionnaires. These questions provided information concerning Japanese morale during the war period. SOE was able to obtain information regarding technological capabilities of the Japanese. For example, they could learn that Japanese had installed wireless stations every thirty miles along the Railway. While some regions were heavily guarded, remote regions were not given that much importance by the Japanese forces. SOE was able to give information concerning the state of the prisoners, and thereby the government could send the goods that were demanded by the war prisoners in the Japanese camps. This facilitated the relief work of the government, and saved the lives of a large number of prisoners. Another important reason for the keen interest showed by SOE to achieve success in the Burma-Thailand region was its rivalry with the U. S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The Americans were suspicious of the British interest in Thailand. This compelled the British intelligence agency to use its full energy in order to achieve success in this mission. This competition between the US and British agencies resulted in the lack of co-ordination between these two agencies as they competed to achieve their missions in these regions. SOE also noticed the problems that were faced by the prisoners of war. These problems were lack of proper food, malnutrition, lack of financial power to buy food in the market, and lack of medicines. Humanitarian concerns also forced this agency to take active part in this mission. Through its relationship with Thai national leaders, SOE was able to obtain evidence to prove that Japan had begun transportation of the war prisoners to Japan. This information allowed the British government to make right kind of decision while dealing with the Japanese threat in Asia. This implied that Great Britain could send its army to capture those regions where the Japanese had become weak. It was feared that war prisoners would be taken to Japan, and there they would be killed. SOE maintained close relationship with leaders of Free Siam Movement, and assured them its help in their struggle against the Japanese in Thailand. This agency was able to obtain the help of nearly 90,000 guerillas who played an important role in rescuing the prisoners of war from the Japanese camps. After the end of war, SOE maintained direct contact with the prisoners of war and obtained information regarding their problems, their personal details, and their immediate needs. Relief was given to the prisoners of war by conducting operation ‘Mastiff’. These details show that SOE was able to protect the lives of a large number of prisoners of war, many of whom had come close to death due to lack of medicine and malnutrition. In spite of the above achievements, SOE suffered from various internal problems such as competition with Secret Intelligence Services (SIS) which lost its dominant position after the emergence of SOE. This resulted in lack of co-ordination between SOE and SIS. In the end SIS had to concede its defeat at the hands of its sister intelligence agency, as the SOE proved its superiority in Asia.

Visiting Marrakesh, Morocco †The Red City

Visiting Marrakesh, Morocco – The Red City Marrakesh – The Red City As-salam alaykom! (Hello in Arabic) Marrakesh is the third largest city of Morocco and is situated at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. It is the most important of the four imperial cities of Morocco and has a rich history. A city of palaces, tombs, markets and myriad entertainments, Marrakesh is a treat for the senses. It is easy to get lost in its many alleys and markets, and the action packed Djemaa El-Fna square at the city center is enough to keep you occupied and intrigued for an entire day. The modern half of the city, Gueliz is a contrast and offers a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Old Town. Visiting Marrakesh is an exhilarating experience that is sure to leave a lasting imprint on all travelers, who will return impressed with its beautiful architecture and unique culture. Best Season to Visit Marrakesh Marrakesh, with its sunny weather presents itself as a year round destination. However spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) are the best months to explore this city, with lower temperatures and lesser crowds. The Easter Weekend is an exception and crowds throng the city as a getaway from their hectic schedules. While early summer can still be pleasant enough, the later months (July to September) can be unbearable if you are not used to the heat. In spite of this, summer is the peak tourist season and prices for everything skyrocket during this time. Many festive events are held during summer. Winter (December to February) brings along sunny days and cold nights, and there is snowfall in the nearby Atlas Mountains. Tourists visiting around this time can take off to the ski resorts in the mountains and enjoy the snow. Highlights (Special Things to Do in Marrakesh) Visit the La Mamounia for a buffet lunch by the poolside and be floored by the splendor and glamour of this spectacular hotel. Go back in history and view artifacts from the past at the Dar Si Said Museum that includes exquisitely carved cedar wood pieces that have been rescued from the ruins and monuments in the city. Soak in the pungent and medieval experience of Marrakesh by visiting the Tannery District and watch the tanners at work as they cure the animal hides with foul-smelling liquids that transform them into finished leather products ready for sale. Head to a luxury bath at one of the many Hammams for an authentic Moroccan experience of luxury and indulgence For a belly dancing performance, head to the Comptoir Darna, the first lounge dining restaurant in Marrakesh. Beautiful ambience, great food and wonderful performances make it a perfect place to soak in the true feel of Morocco. Immerse yourself into street food at the Djemaa El-Fna and feast on the many exotic varieties of meat available at the various counters. Indulge in some souvenir shopping and visit the traditional markets known as Souks that sell everything from handicrafts to antiques, spices to ornaments, carpets, cashmere and even items made of â€Å"cactus silk†! Head out on a city break to the nearby sand dunes of Erg Chegaga or Erg Chebbi for an exotic camel ride and desert safari. Ski in the snow in the nearby ski resort of Oukaimeden, situated in the Atlas Mountains where snowfall occurs in the winter months. Attractions in Marrakesh Medina: Djeema El-Fna: Originally a place of public executions (back in AD 1050), this is the main public square of Marrakesh. Filled with snake charmers and medicine men during the day, the square really comes alive as the day ends. Musicians, story tellers and entertainers fill up the square and the open air acts begin as a visual treat. Hundreds of food stalls also line up to provide exotic, hot, mouth-watering delicacies. Koutoubia Mosque: The mosque is made of red sandstone and is the largest in the city. It is most famous for its minaret, built in Almohad style and rising to a height of 70m. The minaret was an inspiration for many later towers including the La Giralda in Seville, Spain. Non-Muslims are not allowed inside, but a walk around its periphery may be enough to marvel at this masterpiece. El Badi Palace: Largely in ruins, this impressive palace was built in the 15th century and its name translates into â€Å"The Incomparable Palace† in English. It is easy to imagine the grandeur and luxurious lifestyle of its royal inhabitants as you walk through the large pavilions, sunken gardens and abandoned pools. El Bahia Palace: Built in the late 19th century, this grand building is a great example of Eastern Architecture. Lavish decorations and beautifully landscaped gardens are reasons enough to visit this palace. Almoravid Koubba: Considered to be the oldest building in the city, it is also the only surviving monument from the Almoravid era. Bab Agnaou: It is one among the 19 gates that serve as entry and exit points to the Medina and was constructed in the 12th century. Ben Youssef Madrassa: One of the largest madrassas in North Africa, it is home to some very beautiful artwork. Saadian Tombs: The tombs were constructed to hold the graves of the Sultan Ahmed Al-Mansur who reigned in the 15th century, and his family. Lavishly built with Italian marble, cedar woodwork and intricate decorations and carvings, the tombs are sure to inspire awe among the visitors. Gueliz: Majorelle Garden: This delightful garden is worth a visit for the extensive use of the Majorelle Blue colored walls and ponds, as well as the many colorful fountains and large variety of cacti that are found within it. Spread over 12 acres, it offers a respite from the heat of the city. Menara: Menara Gardens: Situated near the outskirts of Marrakesh at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, The gardens are spread across orchards and olive groves with a pavilion and a lake in the center. The snowcapped Atlas Mountains form a great backdrop to the beautiful gardens. Shopping in Marrakesh Shopping in Marrakesh can be an assault on your senses, as you take in the colors, the atmosphere and the vibrancy of the markets. Almost all shopping in Marrakesh needs to done in the traditional markets that are called Souks and it is possible to find anything- yes, anything, in the narrow lanes of the souks that you navigate, as you move from one shop to the next. The Souk Semmarine is the main lane that runs from the Djemaa El-Fna to the Ben Youssef Mosque and is flanked by a never ending array of souks that sell a wide variety of products. If it is spices that you are interested in, visit the Rahba Kedima (Spice Square) that has stalls selling a plethora of spices from saffron to cumin, cinnamon to mace and even Argan oil that is almost exclusively produced in Morocco. A number of stalls selling herbal remedies, cosmetics, essential oils are also to be found. For shoes and footwear, look no further than the Souk Smata, where brightly colored Moroccan slippers are a must-buy. Other leather items can be found at the Souk el Kebir and Souk Cherratin that specialize in camel leather goods like belts, wallets and purses. Visit Souk el Attarin if it is fragrances and perfumes that you are looking for. Souk Zrabia is the place to be if Berber carpets interests you, and for clothing and fabrics, stroll through the Souk Larzal and Souk des Teinturiers markets. How to reach Marrakesh Marrakesh is well connected to many European cities due to its popularity with the European tourists. The Marrakesh-Menara International Airport has direct flights that connect the city with destinations like Paris, London, Stockholm and Madrid, to name a few. Those flying in from North America, Asia and elsewhere will need to change flights at Casablanca. The airport is located at a distance 5km from the city and there are air conditioned buses plying every 30 minutes between the airport and the city. Marrakesh is also connected by train service to other major cities of Morocco. There are regular trains connecting Marrakesh with Casablanca and Rabat. Night trains are also available with sleeper cars for farther off destinations like Tangiers. A number of long distance bus services are also available for those wishing to take the roadways to travel between the Moroccan cities. How to get around in Marrakesh Marrakesh has a good bus service that can get you anywhere within the city. The Medina is small enough that everything can be covered on foot, although an umbrella is necessary to protect you from the sun. Taxis and horse drawn carriages are also available to explore the city. The Bus service is quite good and covers all parts of the city that tourists will want to visit. Most buses stop at Djemaa El-Fna in the Old Town and Place Youssef Ben Tachfine in the New Town. Fares are dependent on the distance, but most of the time you will be paying between 2-5dh. Airport buses run at frequencies of 30 minutes from early morning until 9:30 in the night. An Open Topped Sightseeing Bus is available that will take you around the city with headphones to provide commentary on the various tourist locations. You can get down anywhere to explore the location at your leisure and then board another bus to continue. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and cost 145 Dh. An alternate way to get around the city is the small horse-drawn carriages called Caleche. It is better to negotiate on a price before getting onto them. The Caleche offers a romantic way to explore the city. Taxis are generally not to be preferred, since they will try to rip you off with high charges for getting you to the destination. Some may even try to charge you for the bags that you are carrying. If getting into one, always ask them to use the meter. Petit taxis are smaller taxis that accommodate 3 passengers and can be boarded on a sharing basis. If you are inside the Medina, Walking is the best way to cover all the destinations. All places are quite nearby and easily findable by directions from the locals or by using GPS. Top Areas of Marrakesh Medina: The Medina is the older, historic part of the city and is centered on the main square, Djeema El-Fna. A lot of the stay options in this district consist of the Riads, which are basically furnished Moroccan houses with a courtyard. Gueliz: This is the modern, European half of Marrakesh that is characterized by upmarket restaurants, cafes and luxury boutiques. Hivernage: Situated quite close by to the Medina, the Hivernage Quarter is a quiet, residential part of the town characterized by broad, tree-lined avenues, rooftop restaurants and luxury hotels. Palmeraie: The Palm grove Quarter is an oasis situated outside of the city. A few luxury resorts are available here. Agdal: An area of recent development, it is situated outside of the city and is being built as a major hub for further expansion of the city. A number of shopping arcades and expensive hotels are coming up in this locality. Shukran! (Thank you in Arabic)

Vertical integration in studio system Essay -- Economics

Vertical integration in studio system The term "vertical integration" refers to the structure of a marketplace, which is integrated (rather than segregated) at a variety of crucial levels. In the case of the motion picture industry, the studio system established a market in which the studios owned production facilities, distribution outlets, and theaters. In other words, the studios controlled every level of the marketplace from the top down, from production to exhibition. "Vertical integration" began in the 1910s and inspired the postwar consolidation of the studio system as national distribution companies, such as Paramount merged with production companies, such as Famous Players and Lasky and subsequently began purchasing theater chains. All of the major studios in Hollywood (Paramount, MGM, Warner Bros., etc) owned theater chains; the minors, Universal, Columbia, and United artists, did not. The minors, distributed their pictures, by special arrangement, to theaters owned by the majors. The majors booked one another's films in their theaters. Vertical int...

Essay --

Multispeed vs reduced voltage control starter Mohammad Amin Hilal 60061058 CM 2181-2 Miss. Smith March 10, 2014 Table content: 1.0 Introduction Centrifugal pump is a type of pump which increases the pressure of fluid and solid atom mixture over centrifugal force. This is the pump used for slurry pumping. In addition, the pump is also capable of converting electrical energy into slurry potential and kinetic energy. Furthermore, slurry pumps are generally used to carrying corrosive or abrasive high concentration slurry in many industries. The purpose of the report is to compare two different starters for slurry pumping, namely, multispeed and reduced voltage speed control starter, and recommend one based on cost maintenance and efficiency. 2.0 Background The engineering department at KSB Company has assigned me as project manager and has given me the task of researching how to increase the efficiency of slurry pumping in our company. The objective of this report is to examine and select the best starter for the slurry pump based on the performance and the ability of the starter to save energy during the operation. Hence, this report discusses two starters, multispeed control starter and reduced voltage control starter, and analyses the main features of the two. 3.0 Technology This part will illustrate the functionality of both reduced voltage speed and multispeed control starters. Also, this will verify the main features of both the technologies and how these features will be useful in this type of application. 3.1 Reduced Voltage Speed Control Starter in Slurry Pump Energy consumption is one of most serious problem of a slurry pump. Roughly, 20 percent of energy is wasted during the startup of slurry p... ... 129(5), 5. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/218845405?accountid=12833 3. http://www05.abb.com/global/scot/scot216.nsf/veritydisplay/2205e72865c2c747c1257a620026d001/$file/Mining%20brochure_EN_lowres.pdf 4. http://www.soft-starter.co/reduced_voltage_start_comparison.html "Reduced Voltage Start." Reduced Voltage Start. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014 1. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/manufacturing/tech_assistance/pdfs/variable_speed_pumping.pdf 2. http://www.yaskawa.com/site/dmdrive.nsf/link2/SKUS-8GAL4E/$file/PR.AC.01.pdf Richardson, Scott. "Choosing Between Soft Starters and Drives." Choosing Between Soft Starters and Drives. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2010. 3. http://www.controldesign.com/assets/13WPpdf/eaton-soft-starter-vs-vfd.pdf 4. http://www.chempump.com/variable-speed-drives.html "Variable Speed Drives." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

Mental Health Community in the 19th Century Essay -- Exploratory Essay

Mental Health Community in the 19th Century Mental health is a relevant issue in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Not only is Kurtz’ mental health questionable throughout the novel, but Marlow also has to be examined by a physician, to check both his physical and mental status, before he starts on the journey to Africa. The mental health community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was not nearly as developed as it is today, but many developments during this time period had a profound impact on the way we analyze the human psyche and mental health today. Mental health patients were considered innately inferior and treated as the weaker portion of the human race due to the prevailing dominant theory of Social Darwinism in the 1800s. They were put in mental asylums, where conditions had deteriorated substantially from earlier in the century. (Floyd) The public’s interest about the unsatisfactory care of the mentally ill, championed by Dorothea Dix, led to some reforms, such as higher medical standards, more oversight into asylum practices, and more research into mental health. (Floyd) Nevertheless, the status of the mentally ill did not elevate much higher, and by the 1890s the repeated failure of asylum therapy convinced most that insanity and mental illness was incorrigible. Finding no alternatives, however, patients continued to be sent to asylums to attempt to cure them as much as to isolate them from the rest of society. (Roberts) Unfortunately, people also began to fear the proliferation of the mentally ill. When ste rilization became considered, unrealistic, more, cheaper asylums were built as a means of segregated them and preventing an increase in their numbers. (Roberts) ... ...h Care. 6 Oct. 2002 http://www.mind.org.uk/information/factsheets/N/notes/notes_on_the_history_of_menta l_health_care.asp> Floyd, Barbara. From Quackery to Bacteriology. University of Toledo. 6 Oct. 2002 Mills, Val. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) 6 Oct. 2002 Mustard, Ronnie. Listings: the history of mental health. 6 Oct. 2002 . Roberts, Andrew. Mental Health History Timeline. 6 Oct. 2000 . Sabbatini, Renato M.E. â€Å"The History of Psychosurgery† June/August 1997. Brain & Mind Magazine. 14 Jun.1997. State University of Campinus, Brazil. 6 Oct. 2002 http://www.epub.org.br/cm/n02/historia/psicocirg_i.htm>

Law and People Settings Essay

1.1 A duty of care in my own role is a legal obligation on me requiring me to adhere to a reasonable standard of care while performing acts of care. 1.2 I have a legal and professional duty of care. If I was to neglect someone and this caused them harm then a court of law could find me negligent and stop me working in care or impose sanctions on me and this is how duty of care contributes to safeguarding individuals. 2.1 There are a few potential dilemmas that can arise in care work for example individual’s rights, a person’s individual rights and dignity should be respected at all times so in a end of life situation I may wish to administer lifesaving support but can only do this with the individuals consent. Another example is if a carer does not believe in organ transplantation or blood transfusion because of their culture they would still be required to support a client who had been prescribed this type of treatment. 2.2 Conflicts and dilemmas should be dealt with by the most senior manager in charge at that time. The person in charge may delegate responsibilities to carers if appropriate but they will first identify and assess the issues and devise strategies to deal with them. 2.3 To get advice and support about conflicts and dilemmas you can talk to managers, senior carers, social workers, registering authority and other colleagues. CT236 Principles for implementing duty of care in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings. 3.1 In the event of a complaint I would follow procedures and try and put the matter right. Ask for the complaint to be put into writing to help us avoid the same situation arising again and look into the complaint thoroughly, fairly and honestly. Dealing with it with confidentiality and politely. Give an apology if required and explain how the situation will be put right. 3.2 Agreed procedures for handling complaints are to deal with the complaint fairly, honestly, confidentially, promptly and resolve the issues effectively and appropriately.

Personal experience

The light shone through the curtains emitting a soft peaceful glow from the designs on its fabric, with my head aching and my eyes barely open I peered through a carving on the curtain and squinted my eyes to see if the weather had changed from its usual continuous downpour, my expectations were drowned and revived for it was dry but frost had added it's touch to the scenery. Following the same routine each week, I threw on some old but very warm clothes and found my way carelessly downstairs, there was a reason for me to be happy today, but I was not fully awake yet to remember why. I passed through the kitchen avoiding the cupboard that I always seemed to knock into in the morning, sunlight shone through the window reflecting the brilliance of the kitchens woodwork, glasses lay shimmering in the light on the drying board beside the sink, I filled up the kettle to make myself a cup of coffee and watched as the steam implanted marks on the beige wallpaper. Looking through the patio while drinking my coffee I had a more broad view of today's weather, Frost had embedded itself on all solid objects in view. Trees, plants even the gravel of the driveway shone in brilliance with this white sheet of frozen dew. As I opened the patio door and hastily put on my slippers a soft, cool breeze blew across my body sending a shiver down my spine and causing the hairs on my arms to stand. I inhaled the cool, crisp air which was waking me better than my coffee, I walked alongside the garden admiring the view and took special interest in the way that the grass sparkled as I swept past which reminded me of jewellery such as diamonds or emeralds. As I went back inside I put down my cold mug of coffee and headed upstairs where I found a bundle of towels, half-wet, half-dry lying on the ground, this was the place they were thrown the last time they were used. Twenty minutes later after a warm refreshing shower I realised I was ready for breakfast, by this time I had realised that the reason for me to be happy today was due to the fact that I did not have to go into work and that later on two friends of mine Stephen and Scott were to come to my house. I threw myself on the couch and relaxed as the enormous cushions sank beneath my weight, I lay there reviewing the week's happenings in my mind and wondering what I should do today, time passed as I lay in this trance and was deeply frightened when I was aroused by the sound of knocking on the front door. I sat upright and headed for the door, on the way grabbing my wallet, keys and mini-disc player. I opened the door which gave a loud creak and slammed it shut with force while trying to fit my keys into the keyhole, I glanced briefly at Stephen and Scott, while saying â€Å"hi† I stroked the cat as I walked past the box from which it was emerging stretching it's legs, no doubtedly I had woken it up while closing the door. After we had conspired the decision was made that we would go to Curry's first as I needed a new pair of headphones for my mini-disc player. After a careful selection process for a pair that were of a good quality standard and cheap in price we headed outside to the car park so I could attach the newly bought product. After I had discarded of the plastic case in which the headphones were contained, I inserted the headphones into the player and wrapped the wire around the player itself, I put it in Scott's bag, as I did this however, I noticed that coming down the hill was a group of six unruly looking ruffians aged from around 17 to 19. I made it clear to Steve and Scott that we should go as the youths were pointing in our direction, as we were about to make off, to our misfortune, a jet black jeep with only two seats which were occupied by two passengers pulled by us. It held two women who were looking for directions, by now the gang who we had spotted had walked past us which came as a great relief to me. After we had helped the two women and they had figured out where their destination was they departed, and we ourselves thought we ought to do the same. With a quick turn I noticed that through the buildings see-through shutters that we were not alone, it turned out that the gang had waited there and started to follow us as we left. Steve and Scott started to quicken their pace quite fast leaving me behind them as they broke into a run and were followed by five shouting â€Å"there he is, get him† they were a good distance away from me so I thought of going back to curry's for help when suddenly I felt a great weight pound on the back of my neck, it struck shock into me as it had surprised me more than anything. One of the gang had stayed behind and strayed a little to clumsy behind me since I was the biggest of the three, unlike him, he was a tall, dark, rough looking character wearing what looked like a ‘hand me down' baseball cap and protruding from the cap was his thick black greasy hair which was curled from the tips upward. His muscular build summed up his attitude so I thought it best to run, and I did, but it wasn't long before I was stopped again. The greasy haired thug sprinted after me in a fit of rage and tripped me up, those few seconds of falling before impact with the ground made me think of the horror which may yet come to be. With a quick glance after a hard collision with the ground I noticed three other thugs were surrounding me, they had given up on the chase for Stephen and Scott and thought that it would be fun to take a kick at me, and they did they kicked me over and over again. They booted me in the back of the head laughing like schoolchildren with a new toy, I was surrounded with no way out, they had formed a circle where each person was able to get a kick in, I waved my arms in the air hoping to block blows that came to my face, I squirmed around trying frantically to escape this vicious circle of attacks while continually receiving kicks in every part of my body. I tried to scramble to my feet, tried to get away but was stopped my another fierce kick to the stomach which had winded me, at this point I hadn't realized that it didn't actually hurt, sure my arms were drenched with blood and my legs weren't functioning properly but with each and every kick I only heard, not felt, like sound vibrations off a pair of speakers each kick was like ripple of sound of a dance beat, maybe the shock of all this had suppressed the pain, or the adrenaline in the heat of the moment. With the attacks coming yet still to the stomach and arms I screamed out as best as I could â€Å"why, why are you doing this, I've done nothing† yet from saying this must have induced a renewed attack from members of the group who were seeming to ease off, laughter was the only reply from which I heard. Even now clearly, I am haunted by the look, from which I was greeted by one of the group, his eyes were filled with malice, hatred, malevolence, but why? Who was he? I didn't know him, â€Å"what have I done†. I screamed as loud as I was fit to, with my voice quivering during the end of the outburst still I relentlessly waved my arm in the air noticing that what was once a blue piece of clothing had turned to dark red with rips all over, at this they scattered, they ran why? I picked myself off the ground, I collapsed under my own weight, I tried again and yet I failed at this attempt, I crawled, squirming my body left and right trying not to put pressure on my arms. I got to the nearest wall and propped myself up against it, I inspected my injuries and only now realizing the pain I was in, when I looked around I caught sight of Stephen and Scott, apparently they had stopped someone on the road for help and were coming towards me, they helped me into the car which they had stopped and surprisingly it turned out to be a friend of my fathers. As he drove me home the increasing pain seemed overwhelming, I drifted away into deep thought as I sank into the seats of the car. Weeks have passed and a formal complaint has been made about the thugs but I have yet to hear from the police, it had turned out that the thugs were after Stephen and Scott because of their religion, they both were protestant. The thugs themselves were catholic and lived in a local estate area which is notorious for crime and supposedly uncontrollable to the law, they had mistaken me for a protestant and I had received the full beating intended for all of us. As I look back on this experience now it makes me wonder what these youths have gone through in their lives to make them capable of committing such an act and thinking in the way they do on the differences in religion, I am continually haunted by that piercing look I received on the day, that look, the look I got was from something not human, it was something else. These people care nothing about what they have done to me and to support their reasons the only response was the fact that they thought I was of another religion, their bias is so thin, so pointless.