How to Tell if You Are in a Toxic Relationship

How to Tell if You Are in a Toxic Relationship â€Å"Toxic† is not just the name of a famous song by Britney Spears. It’s also a definition of a relationship that brings destruction and sadness. A toxic relationship is something that people often fall into without realizing how bad the situation is. They usually dont even try to escape this cage. Why? Because of love, affection, or fear. But if you feel unhappy with your relationship, its time to change something, and this article will help you understand if you are in a toxic relationship. Why Is It Important to Exit a Toxic Relationship? We all love love, and we all love being loved back. Thats why sometimes people prefer not to pay attention to little details that might ruin the magic of the world that this person has made up. He or she might not see the influence of the partner and their bad attitude because of a subconscious (or conscious) fear of loneliness. This is what makes a toxic relationship even worse – not all people are ready to end this nightmare. A toxic relationship often causes various mental problems – depression, neurosis, and anxiety alongside with low self-esteem or even suicidal thoughts. A relationship should bring joy, a sense of protection, care, and stability. A toxic partner takes all this away, creating an unhealthy atmosphere. The following are the most common signs that your relationship is slowly destroying you. 1. You Always Feel Guilty Guilt, in general, is a healthy emotion that we face throughout our lives. It helps us understand whats right and whats wrong or how to avoid making mistakes in the future. However, a constant sense of guilt is unnatural and unhealthy as it has a bad influence on your self-esteem and your psychological balance. Does your partner always comment on your actions or the way you look, making you feel like you do everything wrong? Then you should make it stop. 2. You Feel Lonely Even When You Are Together A great relationship means that your partner is also your best friend, someone whom you can talk to about anything in the world, who supports you and cares about you. However, if you feel like you are lonely and not understood even after trying to communicate with your partner, you may be involved in a relationship with the wrong person. If being together with your partner doesnt bring you any joy (and especially if it makes you feel worse than being alone), consider ending this relationship. 3. You Dont Share Much with Your Friends and Family Some partners are just too jealous. It can get so extra that it makes you talk less to the people closest to you. Toxic relationships make people distance themselves from their families and friends, which results in losing the chance to get help from people who know you the best. If your partner presses you to give up contacts with your friends and family, it is truly a bad sign. Ask yourself, why does your partner do that to you? Maybe he or she understands that this way you will become more dependent on your relationship. This is a manipulative move that ties you down and limits your freedom. 4. You Feel Emotionally Drained Not all vampires look like Edward from Twilight. Some of them look just like regular people. Of course, we are not talking about the ones who crave blood but about the ones who actually take your energy and will away. Emotional vampires might seem like a myth, but they do exist. They dont have fangs and dont make you fall into some hypnotic sleep. They just exhaust people around them and make people emotionally weak, suppressed, and dependent. By taking your inner calmness away with scandals, blaming, suspicions, and insults, they make you do what they want. Energy vampires might not look as scary as Dracula, but their toxic influence is as dangerous as sharp teeth of any bloodsucking immortal. 5. You Are Careful with What You Say and Do Are you always afraid of making your partner angry with what you say or do? Do your conversations feel more like tipping on your toes? If instead of expressing your thoughts and feelings genuinely, you have to be very careful with your words, that means that you dont have the kind of emotional bond that has to exist in a really deep relationship. Being with someone means understanding the needs of your partner and their experience. If you cant share what bothers you with your significant other, ask yourself if they are really the one who you should be with. 6. You Give up Things that You Like for Your Partner It doesnt matter what it is that your partner makes you give up (a hobby, a friend, a job), its not a good sign. If you like to dance, sing, meet with your friends, visit galleries, or if you have some other hobbies etc., but have to avoid doing it in order not to annoy your partner, this is one of the surefire signs of being in a toxic relationship. 7. You Dont Have Privacy Does your partner check your phone and emails? Does he or she want to spend all your time together? Is he or she against you spending quality time with your friends? If you can recognize your partners behavior in these questions – consider ending this relationship. If there is no trust in a relationship, there is no future for the couple at all. Think about the joy that you are forced to give up when you are not allowed to do what you want. You are in a relationship where you both are equal in rights, so there can be no â€Å"I dont allow you to do that.† Come on! 8. You Are Forced to Do What You Dont Want To A lot of toxic partners are really demanding, especially when it comes to plans, activities, etc. They usually consider your opinion irrelevant and decide everything for you. For example, if you are going to see a movie together, you might suggest some particular film, but in the end you always go see what you partner wanted. It also might be applied to other spheres of life. For example, sexual, social, professional, etc. If you feel like you have no voice in this relationship, its the time for changes. What to Do if You Are Trapped in a Toxic Relationship? Toxic relationships can rarely be fixed, as there is little to no understanding and willingness to change something. If you feel unhappy with your relationship, try to talk to your partner about your feelings. Comminucation is the key! However, if all of your efforts end up a disaster and your partner stays indifferent, dont blame yourself. Basically, what you have to do in this case is end the relationship with the least amount of damage as possible. Its not always easy, as toxic partners usually are afraid of losing the power they have over another person. Sometimes this might lead to aggressive behavior. So, be careful and try to distance yourself as much as possible. Dont fall for provocations and be strong – they might tell you that you wont find anybody else, that they love you like nobody ever will, or that they cant live without you. Your happiness should be the priority #1, and you can be happy, just believe it.

16 Substitutes for Because or Because Of

16 Substitutes for Because or Because Of 16 Substitutes for â€Å"Because† or â€Å"Because Of† 16 Substitutes for â€Å"Because† or â€Å"Because Of† By Mark Nichol Many words or phrases can be used to set up an explanation. The most common is because (or â€Å"because of†), but others have their uses. Here are alternatives and a discussion of their uses and their merits. 1. As: As is a direct synonym for because (for example, â€Å"He opted not to go see the movie, as it had gotten poor reviews†), but it’s inferior. 2. As a result of: This phrase is a substitute for â€Å"because of,† not because, as in â€Å"As a result of his intervention, the case was reopened and they were ultimately exonerated.† 3. As long as: This informal equivalent of because is used to express the thought that given that one thing is occurring or will occur or is true, another is possible, in such statements as â€Å"As long as you’re going, could you pick some things up for me?† 4. Being as (or being as how or being that): This phrase has the same sense and the same formality as â€Å"as long as.† 5. Considering that: This phrase is essentially identical in meaning to â€Å"as long as† and â€Å"being as† and its variants. 6. Due to: Like â€Å"as a result of,† â€Å"due to† is a preposition, rather than a conjunction like because, and is used in place not of because alone but instead of â€Å"because of.† It applies specifically to an explanation of why something occurred or will or will not occur, as in â€Å"Due to the large number of applications, we cannot respond individually to each applicant.† 7. For: This substitute for because is reserved for poetic usage, as in â€Å"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.† 8. Inasmuch as: This phrase is a very formal equivalent of because, as in â€Å"Inasmuch as his account has been discredited, I wouldn’t believe anything else he says.† 9. In view of the fact that: This phrase is identical in sense to â€Å"inasmuch as.† 10. Now that: This phrase informally connotes cause and effect, as in â€Å"Now that you’re here, we can proceed.† 11. Out of: This phrase applies to explanations of emotion or feeling for example, â€Å"She asked out of compassion† or â€Å"Out of spite, I refrained from passing the message along.† 12. Owing to: This phrase is equivalent to â€Å"due to†; the two choices are more formal than â€Å"because of.† 13. Seeing that: This phrase is identical to â€Å"considering that.† 14. Since: This alternative to because is informal and is considered inferior because since primarily refers to elapsed time and the usage might be confused, as in â€Å"Since it had rained, we didn’t need to water the garden†; the reader might not realize until reading the second half of the sentence that the sense is causal rather than temporal. 15. Thanks to: This equivalent of â€Å"because of,† despite the wording, can apply to either a positive or a negative outcome; â€Å"Thanks to your meddling, we’re receiving much unwanted attention† demonstrates the latter sense. 16. Through: Through is a preposition; it takes the place of â€Å"because of,† as in â€Å"Through the efforts of these charities, the city’s homeless services have been reinstated.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a UK Business LetterExpanded and Extended6 Foreign Expressions You Should Know

Health and sefteay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Health and sefteay - Essay Example 2. Declining Balance Depreciation Method. This is an accelerated depreciation technique that calculates twice the value of the asset every year as an expense as compared to the straight-line method. The method is precise when the asset is expected to generate large revenues in its early life. The book value used in this method at the beginning of the depreciation year is the original cost of the asset while later in the year it is equivalent to the original cost less the accumulated depreciation. 3. Sum of the Years Digits (SYD) Method. This is also an accelerated technique for calculating the depreciation of an asset. It involves summing up the expected life of the asset for each consecutive depreciating year. For n years, the formula would be SYD = n (n + 1)/2. The depreciation is then calculated by multiplying the total depreciable amount of useful life of the asset by the remaining useful life divided by the SYD. The straight-line method is different from the other two techniques in that the amount of the deduction for depreciation is similar for each year of the life of the asset. This ensures that the method prevents bias in situations in which the depreciation pattern or the economic benefits of the asset are difficult to estimate. Hence it is most applicable where the useful life of the asset is long and when the economic benefits of the asset are difficult to estimate. The declining balance depreciation method is also referred to as double declining balance rate and it varies from the other methods in that it allows for larger amounts of depreciation during the early life of the asset as compared to later. It is most applicable when the asset is expected to generate a greater income during its early useful life. The Sum of the Years Digits (SYD) Method is different from the other two methods in that the numbers assigned to the consecutive useful years of the asset are summed up. For ‘n’ useful years, the sum of the

Working with children and families case study Essay

Working with children and families case study - Essay Example The different aspects of intervention in the families are historical, social, psychological and legal in nature. These aspects are incorporated in the guidelines that are being followed by the social workers to resolve the case specific problems of the clients (Hepworth et. al., 2009; The historical aspect is one of the facets in the implementation of family intervention. This aspect is important to be able to determine the possible causes of the situation wherein intervention is required as well as the background information for assessing the needs of the person. Included in the historical aspect are the family members in the household and the relationship to the person in need of assistance. Another factor included in the said aspect is the experiences of the parents and the events that had happened in the family that may have triggered the problematic situation. The interactions and interrelationship between family members that may have directly or indirectly affect the perspective and disposition of the person in focus. In addition, the strengths and the weaknesses of the parents that can trigger the changes in behaviour and way of thinking of the person are also included in the fundamental historical components of the family intervention (Horwath, 2000, p.56 , 80-82). For the child Debbie, the members of her immediate family are in the household, her parents and her siblings. Historical aspect of the intervention includes the relationship between the family members and their effect on the child. Her mother Irene is agoraphobic and her brother is severely disabled. Other issues make matters worse such as the situation of the father John who is not employed. The conflicts within the household are having effects on Debbie and Hannah who are exhibiting violent behaviours and problems in learning. The social aspect of the intervention in the family is another area of importance. This can be

Hispanic Groups Living in US Essay Example for Free

Hispanic Groups Living in US Essay It is very common for someone walking down the streets of any American city and hears Spanish spoken. The federal government of America coined this term ‘Hispanic’ way back in 1970’s to refer people tracing their origin in Spanish speaking countries which were former Spanish colonies or those who can trace their origin to Spain or its territory. This represents a varied range of countries and ethnic groups with different social, political and emotional experiences. A large part of Hispanics still try to characterize themselves in terms of their individual ethnic identity as Mexican, Cuban, and others rather the whole term ‘Hispanic’. Hispanic Americans, n. d. ) The wide range of the Hispanic group includes Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, El Salvadorians, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans, Columbians, Central and South Americans among others. The Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and Cubans form the largest part of the Hispanics living in America. (Tienda and Mitchell, 2006) America’s cultural canvas is very vivid as each group brought their respective culture’s specialty with them which has totally mingled in the main force. The Hispanic community has left their mark over traditions, customs and cultures throughout the country and the bilingual education structure of America displays the growing importance in the country as they are the largest minority community. It has been noticed that people from the Hispanic groups have done well in various fields and their progress is something to be watched. The 2002 census showed the Mexicans forming the largest part of the population with 66. 9%, followed by Central and Latin Americans at 14. 3%, third position held by Puerto Ricans, others 6. % and last Cubans at 3. 7%. (The Hispanic Population, 2002) Majority of the Hispanics are native born neutralizes citizens or have acquired legal residency status. They are largely concentrated in the west part of the country especially the urban areas of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and Texas. There is a tendency among them to live in family units which are generally large in size unlike the non-Hispanic Whites. In comparison to Whites communities, the rate of unemployment and poverty is much more in the Hispanic groups. Mexican Americans are the one to form the largest part of the Hispanic population living in America and they are also the largest group of White Hispanics. The Mexican immigration could be traced in the past decades as they started establishing themselves in the 1600s in southwestern parts of the country who later became New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas. (Stacy, 2002) The work at railroads and steel industry of the Midwest America attracted them in the 1800s and this immigration is still continued to the present time. Today majority of Mexican Americans are U. S. born citizens. The major causes behind the migration of Mexicans to America are self-liberty, quality education, modes to improve economic condition and achieve good living standard. Spanish is the main language for Mexican Americans, some of them are monolingual. But most can fluently speak both English and Spanish. The attitude of the Mexican Americans is something to be watched as more than 90% of them are literate. Their respect towards others is also acclaimed as their communications are respectful in manner. They are one of the strict believers in the concept of familism (Nash, 2007) and value family considerations over individual as well very much rely on family in times of crisis. Patriarchy is the trend of Mexican American family. Earlier, they used to neglect family planning but at present time they have been active in that. Largely they are the followers of Roman Catholicism. They look at churches as powerful source of hope, faith and strength while spirituality and religion play significant role in times of illness, health and life. Their housing conditions are really bad as they live in colonies not appropriate for living to low-income. Central and South Americans stand second in the American Hispanic population. They owe their origin to different countries such as Guatemala, Venezuela, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, and Argentina among others. These groups of people display a vast diversity due to their different origins. Most of them migrated from their respective countries in the period of 1970s and 1980s when the region was going through political turbulence. Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala were suffering from civil wars that made their people to flee in search of stable life. In the present time too, the immigration is on due to different causes. Although many of them arrived in U. S. as refuges, gradually they acquired political asylum from the state. Cheap accommodation and easy immigrant services made most of the Central and South Americans settle in California. They speak other languages rather than Spanish, which is a main language, such as French and Portuguese. Though Catholicism is the main religion, Protestants and Jews as well as other beliefs are followed by this group. They have high religious values. Males are treated as the head of the family. Due to intermarriage among this group and other Hispanics or Europeans, they have become much diversified. The education level of Central and South Americans is much appreciable than other Hispanics but still they lack behind in employment tin respects of other groups. Third largest group belonging to Hispanic community are the Puerto Ricans as they became U. S. citizens after Jones Act of 1917. (Stacy, 2002) But they are not allowed to vote in U. S. Presidential elections. They are mainly settled in industrial areas such as the states of Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, and New York due to the availability of employment opportunity. Wherever they settled, they tried to hold on their tradition and culture and formed various groups and organizations to support them. Puerto Rican Americans pay huge respect to education but still they maintain a low level than other Hispanics which makes parents encourage their children to pursue good education for better future. They are bilingual speaking both Spanish and English. The expressive nature of Puerto Ricans and their hospitality is well known. They possess high respect for women, parents and elderly people and family units that they even allow more than one family living together. Puerto Ricans are followers of Catholicism and seek support from religion and spiritualism in tough situations. Their approach to health and illness is based on these beliefs. Cubans too comprise a significant part of the Hispanic community. Cuban immigration to America can be traced back to history but the major wave was created during the political turmoil of 1959 which still continues today. They have their bases at Miami, Florida and New Jersey. They can be considered as the most affluent among all the Hispanic groups due to their well performance in education, which led to better employment opportunities and a good quality lifestyle. Till recent past they faced problem in speaking English, but nowadays they have overcome that. The Cuban Americans are very much into their culture that they most often do not show much interest in the Anglo culture. They hold a rather conservative outlook towards politics due to their experience in their native country. They possess diverse beliefs of religion; still Catholicism is more prevalent among them. They stand against communism holds much important place in U. S. The Hispanic groups in spite of their various origins share some commonalities as well some major differences among them. Spanish is a bond that binds all of them, while most of them are bilingual. Approach towards education is another common factor between them as all the groups show very much respect to education as they know it is the only key to good living. Religion too makes them stand on a common platform as most of the Hispanic Americans are followers of Catholicism. Political perspective is one thing that creates differences among these groups as each of them has their respective political idea. Cuban Americans support Republicans as they are inclined towards conservative idea of politics whereas Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Central and South Americans have a liking for democrats. Still, Catholic faith, language and belief in their respective culture make them stand on a single platform.

Essay --

Fantasia Goodwin is junior at the University of Syracuse and a starter for the varsity women’s basketball team. Fantasia finds herself in a precarious situation upon learning she is pregnant during the 2007 basketball season. Faced with many uncertainties, Fantasia encounters what is undoubtedly one of the biggest ethical dilemmas she has faced thus far in her life. There are many layers to her dilemma and they all need to be carefully taken into consideration. In order to help Fantasia make an informed decision she must first identify all of the ethical issues surrounding her pregnancy and the cause-effect relationship they will certainly have. First and foremost if she remains silent and continues to play through the season she faces the consequences of potentially damaging her unborn baby to the extent of birth defects, injuring herself and/or miscarrying. On a tertiary level, Fantasia is also faced with the consequences that disclosing her pregnancy could bring, such as, losing her scholarship, losing her eligibility, losing her position on the team and/or being pressured to abort the baby. Stakeholders in which Fantasia must take into consideration before making an informed decision include Fantasia. As the mother of the baby she is the primary stakeholder in this situation. The decision she makes could potentially have profound effects on the outcome of her future. The Syracuse department of athletics, teammates, the University of Syracuse and other Universities team members should be taken into consideration. Finally, regardless whether or not the father is involved in the decision making process, consideration of his thoughts and feelings must be given proper attention in this matter. Before a final decision ... ...thletes that became pregnant. Syracuse University at the time did not have guidelines nor did they have their female athletes sign any formal documentation to the effect of mandatory disclosure or a promissory note indicating scholarship funding would be pulled as a result of pregnancy. However, also in 2007 a track and field star from Clemson University set the stage for many Universities to address and add provisions as it pertained to pregnancy. Clemson University did have their female athletes sign promissory notes indicating funding and eligibility would be suspended as a result of pregnancy. Upon learning that their track and field star was pregnant her scholarship funding ended immediately as did her place on the team. Interestingly enough, there are absolutely no guidelines for male athletes that are fathers and this disparity has yet to be addressed.

Role of Banks

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS NAME : TRANG THI KIEU HO STUDENT ID : 1613946 CLASS: TUTORIAL 13 (12339) Banks play a central role in the economy, they create and maintain the flow of money between surplus and deficit unit and by this facilitate the process of production, distribution, exchange and consumption of wealth. If there were no bank activities, a large of amount of capital of the economy would be idle. Hence, banking activities are vital for the development of an economy.Another function of the bank is risk spreading. They transform risky asset ( loans) to less risker liabilities ( deposits). They also conduct maturity transformation or liquidity providing function. Banks pool of short-term deposits and then give out long-term loans. They can do this base on the theory that different investors have different liquidity preferences. Hence, when banks do not work properly, it will affect the whole economy. In conclusion, a strong banking system is very important for an economy.I think it is necessary to regulate the banking system because lack of regulation can result in some banks taking excessive risks and getting into trouble. A problem in banking system can affect the whole economy. In fact, some economist said that one of the reasons that led to the global financial crisis is the lack of regulation in financial system. Hence it is necessary to have more regulation to keep the banks working properly. Too much regulation, however, will decrease the competition in financial sector, the big will get bigger and the small who cannot compete will not be able to survive.Competition between banks forces them to keep the interest margin low to compete. It also helps banks to have incentives to create innovation to work better and make more profit. This will bring much benefit to investors and borrowers. For all of these reasons, I think that we should have enough regulation to keep the banks working properly and avoid another crisis but not stri ct regulation so that not to decrease competition in financial system.

Caring of Parents

Caring for Elderly Parents How to care for elderly parents is a major concern of many Foreign Service families. Our concerns mirror those of other American families, but how to ensure good health care, find the right living situation, and handle legal questions is often complicated for Foreign Service families by being posted abroad. The distance involved makes it harder to get information and help so contingency planning is essential. Often Foreign Service families only have short visits during R & R or on home leave and hate to spend the precious time with their parents talking about serious business or unpleasant possibilities. Or we may be caught up in hectic preparations for an overseas assignment and not want to take the time to do contingency planning with parents. While it is difficult to discuss the issues of aging, the family who has discussed the options and agreed on plans will be better able to handle whatever happens. It will be worth the time taken, if there is an emergency. The ideal situation is when the parents take control of their own situations and make decisions in advance of an emergency. They should investigate the types of retirement options and decide which is most appropriate, make informed decisions about life-sustaining medical care, and make sure that documents, instructions, and powers of attorney are available to those who must take responsibility in an emergency. The American Association of Retired Persons recommends that elderly people use a document locator list (scroll to bottom of this page) to make sure their papers are in order. This list can then be given to the person(s) who will be responsible for them should an emergency arise. Going through the list with your parents should ensure that their wishes are understood. Communicating with Elderly Parents Talking with our elderly parents about their living situations and the possible need for change is not always easy. A successful conversation depends to an extent upon the relationship we have with the parent, as well, of course, as on the parent's mental, emotional and physical condition. While many people put off serious conversations to avoid conflict or awkwardness, both parent and adult child may lose an opportunity for closeness, understanding, access to information that may affect the decision, and optimum peace of mind. To the extent possible, talk with your elderly parents gently and honestly about their wishes, their abilities and their options. Far more often than not, these conversations are helpful and put the adult child in a better position to make decisions later when the parent may not be able to do so. The following are suggestions for conversations with your elderly parent: * Share your own feelings, and reassure the parent that you will support them and can be depended upon to help them solve their problems. * Help the parent to retain whatever control is possible  in making his or her own decisions. Respect and try to honor their wishes wherever feasible. * Encourage the smallest change possible  at each step, so that the parent is more able to adjust to the change. Educate yourself on legal, financial and medical matters  that pertain to your parent as background for your conversations, including current knowledge on the aging process. * Respect your own needs  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ be honest with your parents about your time and energy limits. If this kind of conversation seems impossible or the situation and relationship with the elderly parent become overwhelming, professional counseling may be very helpful. You may also consider using the Department of State's resources to appro ach this delicate issue somewhat indirectly. Filling out FIVE WISHES for yourself and sharing your decisions with your parents may encourage them to open up on the subject. You may also wish to raise the subject of long-term care insurance as a practical matter. (For more information about FIVE WISHES and Long-Term Care Insurance, see below). When a Lifestyle Change May Be Necessary Physicians and geriatric social workers warn that there are a number of danger signs that indicate an elderly person needs extra help or a change in living arrangement. Any marked change in personality or behavior should be heeded. However, no change in lifestyle should be made without discussions with the elderly person, other family members, and doctors or other health professionals. Danger Signals * Sudden weight loss  could be an indication that the elderly person is simply not eating or not preparing foods. * Failure to take medication or over-dosing  may indicate confusion, forgetfulness, or a misunderstanding of the doctor's instructions. * Burns or injury marks  may indicate physical problems involving general weakness, forgetfulness, or a possible misuse of alcohol. Deterioration of personal habits  such as infrequent bathing and shampooing, not shaving, or not wearing dentures could be the result of either mental or physical problems. * Increased car accidents  can indicate slowed reflexes, poor vision, physical weakness, or general inability to handle a vehicle. * General forgetfulness  such as not paying bills, missing appointments, or consistently forgetting name, address, phone number, and meal times could be a signal. * Extreme suspiciousness  could indicate some thought disorder. Your parents thinking that their neighbors, friends, family, doctor, and lawyer are all conspiring against them would be an example. Intense ungrounded fears about dire consequences may be a danger signal. * A series of small fires  could be caused by dozing off, forgetting to turn off the stove or appliances, or carelessness with matches. They may indicate blackouts or dizzy spells. * Bizarre behavior of any kind  could be a warning sign. This behavior could be dressing in heavy gloves and overcoat in 90 degree weather or going outside without shoes when it's snowing. Watch for uncharacteristic actions or speech. Disorientation of a consistent nature  may indicate a need for help. Examples include not knowing who one is, where one is, who the family is, or talking to people who are not there. Elder Care Options If you see danger signals in your parent's behavior, it is important to discuss the changes and do some research. (See IQ: Information Quest below for information about the Department of State's free resource referral service. ) There are many housing options available to the elderly. Choosing the best one will depend on the elderly person's preference, age, health, and financial condition. Aging in Place Under this option, the elderly person continues to live in his/her own apartment. Many elderly people live in Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), apartment buildings, condominiums, or cooperatives not designed as retirement communities but where at least 50 percent of the residents are 62 years old or older. These buildings often have amenities such as grocery stores, pharmacies, limousine service, or shopping services. Recent technological advances often make aging in place easier: Velcro asteners, lightweight wheelchairs, devices to control appliances and dial telephone numbers. There is even a â€Å"walk-in bathtub† for people who have difficulty climbing into an ordinary bathtub. Many services are available to help the elderly person stay in his/her home. Information about them can be obtained from contacting IQ: Information Quest (see below) or  your local Area Agency on Aging. * Home care services  are available in many communities, pro viding appropriate, supervised personnel to help older persons with either health care (giving medications, changing dressings, catheter care, etc. or personal care (bathing, dressing, and grooming). * Meals and transportation  are available to older people to help them retain some independence. Group or home-delivered meal programs help ensure an adequate diet. Meals-On-Wheels programs are available in most parts of the United States. A number of communities offer door-to-door transportation services to help older people get to and from medical facilities, community facilities, and other services. * Adult day care  is similar to child day care. The elderly person goes to a community facility daily or 2 or 3 days per week. Activities include exercise programs, singing, guest lectures, and current events discussions. Cost varies and there are often long waiting lists at such centers. * Respite care  brings a trained person into the home to give the full-time caregiver time off to get a haircut, visit the dentist, or take a vacation. Service is generally offered through area Departments of Social Services and is based on a sliding fee scale. Other Housing Options There are several types of retirement communities that provide living arrangements and services to meet the needs of both independent seniors and those who need assistance. Large hotel corporations are in this field and other facilities are set up for members of a certain organization (retired military, Elks, etc. ). It is important when investigating these housing options to understand completely the services provided and the cost. * Adult congregate communities  are designed for the fully able-bodied, 55 and older. Residents buy co-ops or condominiums and pay a monthly fee for grass mowing, leaf raking, and snow shoveling. A pay-as-you-go medical center is on site and a nurse is on duty 24 hours a day to make home visits in emergencies. Leisure World is the most famous example of an adult congregate ommunity. * Assisted living communities  are rental retirement communities for independent seniors who need some assistance. A homelike atmosphere, three meals a day, maid, linen, and laundry service, availability of a registered nurse, and many personal care services are provided in the all-inclusive rent. * Rental retirement communities  with fee-f or-service nursing units charge residents an entrance fee plus a substantial monthly rent. When the need for nursing care arises, residents pay an extra daily fee and stay in a nursing unit, usually located on site or nearby. Life care or continuing care communities  provide a continuum of care from independent living to nursing home care on the premises. The individual must be independent when s/he enters the community. These communities require a substantial entrance fee and monthly service fee. Residents get one meal a day in a dining room, maid service, linen service, maintenance, transportation to shopping and cultural events, travel planning, and a pull cord to an emergency nurse. If nursing care is needed, it is provided at no extra cost. Personal care homes (board and care)  are licensed in many communities to provide shelter, supervision, meals, and personal care to a small number of residents. * Subsidized housing for the elderly  is an option for the elderly poor in reasonably good health. Subsidized by Department of Housing and Urban Development, income limits apply. No round-the-clock care is provided but nurses come in to check blood pressure and assess a resident's functioning. Residents take meals in a dining room and may have use of a library, recreation area, or beauty shop. Nursing Facilities If the elderly person is not capable of independent living, a nursing home may be the appropriate option. Nursing homes offer two levels of care – skilled nursing and intermediate care – depending on the patient's needs. Most nursing homes offer both levels of care on a single site. * Skilled nursing facilities  provide 24-hour nursing services for people who have serious health care needs but do not require the intense level of care provided in a hospital. Rehabilitation services may also be provided. * Intermediate care facilities  provide less extensive health care than skilled nursing facilities. Nursing and rehabilitation services are provided but not on a 24-hour basis. These facilities are for people who cannot live alone but need a minimum of medical assistance and help with personal and/or social care. Paying for Long-Term Care It is important to understand the different types of insurance that are available to older people. Many people believe that Medicare will cover long-term care needs. It will not. Medicare Medicare is a Federal health insurance program which helps defray many of the medical expenses of most Americans over the age of 65. Medicare has two parts: (Part A) Hospital Insurance  helps pay the cost of inpatient hospital care. The number of days in the hospital paid for by Medicare is governed by a system based upon patient diagnosis and medical necessity for hospital care. Once it is no longer medically necessary for the person to remain in the hospital, the physician will begin the discharge process. If the person or the family disagrees with this decision, they may appeal to the state's Peer Review Organization. Medicare  does not  pay for custodial care or nursing home care. It will, however, cover up to 60 days in a nursing home as part of convalescence after hospitalization. (Part B) Medical Insurance  pays for many medically necessary doctors' services, outpatient services, and some other medical services. Enrollees pay a monthly premium. Medicaid Medicaid is a joint federal-state health care program for people with a low income. The program is administered by each state and the type of services covered differs. There are strict income requirements so it is necessary for the person to â€Å"spend down† all income and assets to poverty levels before becoming eligible. Medicaid is the major payer of nursing home care. The Medicaid requirement to â€Å"spend down† all income and assets created a great hardship for the spouse of a person needing nursing home care. Changes in the Medicaid rules now allow the spouse to keep a monthly income and some assets, including the primary residence. The amounts allowed change, so you must check for current levels. Other Insurance Why buy other insurance? The purchase of additional insurance gives the policy holder access to a greater choice of facilities without dipping into additional financial resources. Medigap  is the name given to rivately-purchased supplemental health insurance. It is designed to help cover some of the gaps in Medicare coverage but does not cover long-term care. Study Medigap policies carefully to be sure they provide the protection needed and do not duplicate other health insurance. Long-Term Care Insurance  is a private insurance that is usually either an indemnity policy or p art of an individual life insurance policy. An indemnity policy pays a set amount per day for nursing home or home health care. Under the life insurance policy, a certain percentage of the death benefit is paid for each month the policyholder requires long-term care. Policies are priced differently depending on the age of the policyholder, the deductible periods chosen, and indemnity value or duration of benefits. Information about other long-term insurance policies are available from: The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) Retiree Liaison 2101 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 Tel:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  202-338-4045  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  , ext. 528 Fax: 202-338-6820 E-mail:  [email  protected] org http://www. afsa. org American Foreign Service Protective Association (AFSPA) 1716 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 Tel:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  202-833-4910 Fax: 202-883-4918 ttp://www. afspa. org As with Medigap health insurance, it is important to read the policy carefully and understand its restrictions before purchasing. Who Can Help? IQ: Information Quest (formerly LifeCare? ) IQ: Information Quest is a free 24-hour/ 7 days per week counseling, education and referral service t hat can help Department of State employees find the programs, providers, information, and resources they need to manage personal and professional responsibilities. IQ: Information Quest makes referrals, not recommendations. IQ: Information Quest counselors will help etermine what services are needed and available in any U. S. locality and refer to appropriate providers. In addition to other services, they provide referrals in the area of adult care services (anywhere in the U. S. ), including case management, emergency and respite care, home health care, long-distance care giving and legal and financial issues. Their web site features information on caring for an aging loved one, discussing caregiving options with your loved one, adult care information worksheet, caregivers of older adults, managing work while caring for your loved one, and geriatric care management services. IQ: Information Quest will also provide an â€Å"Eldercare Kit† upon request which features caregiving guidance, checklists, and resources information, as well as a few useful practical items such as a pill sorter, night light and jar opener. Permanent employees of the Department of State, The U. S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and FMAs overseas are eligible to use IQ: Information Quest. For the Department of State, this includes both Civil Service and Foreign Service employees serving at any Department assignment location nationwide and worldwide. Other employees working for the Department are not covered at this time (contractors, Foreign Service Nationals, PITs, PSCs). Spouses, children or others who are members of the employee's immediate household may use IQ: Information Quest. They verify eligibility by providing the name and date of birth (month and day) of the eligible employee. Employees of agencies other than the Department of State should check with their headquarters for guidance in how to contact and use IQ: Information Quest services. IQ: Information Quest Tel:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1-800-222-0364  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  or  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1-888-222-0364  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  for the hearing impaired http://www. worklife4you. com For access to the passworded area of the site, contact your agency's HR Bureau. The Employee Consultation Service (ECS) The Employee Consultation Service (ECS) at the Department of State should be the first stop for Foreign Service members with eldercare concerns. The clinical social workers offer brief counseling and help in coordinating an evaluation and assessment anywhere in the United States. ECS social workers act as a liaison in providing appropriate and necessary services for the elderly. All services are free and confidential. In Washington, make an appointment for a personal consultation; from overseas write or cable for advice. ECS also conducts support groups for employees and their families who are responsible for an aging relative. The groups meet at the State Department to share issues, resources, and approaches to the problems that arise as an elderly person declines, including the issue of emotional stress that occurs for family members watching such decline. Employee Consultation Service (M/MED/ECS) Columbia Plaza, Room H246 Washington, DC 20520 Tel:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  202-663-1815 FAX: 202-663-1456 Email:  [email  protected] gov The Administration on Aging (AoA) The Administration on Aging (AoA) is part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was set up to â€Å"remove barriers to the economic and personal independence of older persons and to assure the availability of a range of appropriate community and family based services for older persons in social or economic need. AoA supports a network of the state and  Area Agencies on Aging  that reinforce and supplement the daily support that the elderly receive from family, friends, and neighbors. Administration on Aging Department of Health and Human Services 330 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201 Tel:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  202-619-0724 http://www. aoa. gov To get information on eldercare servi ces in a particular community, contact the Area Agency on Aging. One can locate a specific state agency on aging through the Eldercare Locator Service via telephone (  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1-800-677-1116  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ) or the website at  http://www. ldercare. gov. The  Eldercare Locator Service  is sponsored by the AoA and operated by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. National Association of Area Agencies on Aging 927 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Tele:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  202-296-8130 http://www. n4a. org Services provided by Area Agencies on Aging include information and referral, homemaker/home health aides, transportation, congregate and home delivered meals, chore and other supportive services. Types of services available vary in each community based upon needs and resources. Private Geriatric Care Managers Private geriatric care managers are professional social workers and nurses who assist the elderly and their families by assessing need, coordinating services, and monitoring care for a fee. They are particularly helpful when long-distance care giving is necessary. Fees vary and are sometimes covered by Medicare or private insurance. The Department of State's Employee Consultation Service or IQ: Information Quest, the local Area Agency on Aging, and community agencies can provide referrals nationwide. If the older person has been hospitalized, hospital discharge planners can also provide information and referrals for after-care. Services Offered by the Private Sector Some private companies have set up programs to help their employees with eldercare. Foreign Service spouses who work in the private sector should investigate any eldercare options offered by their employers. These programs can include seed money for eldercare services, flexible work schedules for caregivers, subsidies for eldercare expenses, unpaid leave for up to a year, referral services, inter-generational day care centers (for both the elderly and children), geriatric assessment and case management, and group rates for long-term care insurance. Unfortunately, many of the services provided by companies require that the elderly person meet the tax-law definition of a dependent. This increases the burden for families whose elderly relatives are not financially dependent or who are not living with the employee. Eldercare in the Foreign Service Putting Parents on Your Orders Foreign Service employees may request that their elderly relative(s) (including step parents and legally adopted parents) be approved as an eligible family member and added to their Post Assignment Travel Orders for an overseas assignment. The employee must complete an OF-126 Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report. This form can be found on the Department of State Infoforms with instructions on completion. Each new OF-126 replaces the old OF-126, therefore all blocks must be filled out each time a new OF-126 is done. The new OF-126 must be forwarded to the employee's personnel technician in HR/CDA/ASD, Room 2419, Truman Building (Main State). Travel orders can not be authorized for newly-acquired eligible family members until the personnel technician receives the OF-126 form. Along with a completed OF-126 form, the officer must prove that the relative is at least 51 percent dependent for support (subject to review and approval per 6 FAM 117; USAID employees should also see Supplement 1B to HB 32, Chapter 1). The officer must quantify that he/she has provided more than 51% of support by submitting an affidavit or notarized statement testifying to that fact. This is termed passing the â€Å"financial support test. † An explanation regarding the parent's residency is also required, with an explanation as to why the application is being made to add the parent to the travel orders. Other documentary evidence may be required by the employee's agency. These documents are attached to the completed OF-126 form and sent to the officer's agency as specified on the forms. Requests are reviewed for approval by a Personnel OF-126 Committee. Employees of the Department of State can obtain advice on how to put your parents on your orders through the Career Development and Assignments (CDA) division of the Bureau of Human Resources. Ask for an Assignments Support (CDA/AS) officer. Employees of other agencies should contact their HR representative. See section below, Taking an Elderly Relative to Post, for details regarding official government support. Bringing Parents to Post Who Are Not on Your Orders If your relatives are not financially dependent on you, they may come to post as members of the employee's household, but will receive no official support from the U. S. Government. No official support translates into no access to the U. S. embassy health unit, no airfare or allowance payments in the case of evacuation from post, and no diplomatic status with the host country. Parents who come to live overseas for an extended period of time should consider having additional medical insurance (Medicare does not cover costs related to care overseas). In addition, parents should also maintain Air Medical Evacuation Insurance. A list of companies that provide this insurance can be found on theDepartment of State Consular Affairs  web site. Family Medical Leave Act and Family-Friendly Leave If you think you may need to care for an elderly relative, be sure to check the provisions of the 1993 Family Leave Act on taking leave for this purpose and contact the a leave specialist in your agency. Department of State employees can contact a Department leave specialist in the Office of Employee Relations (HR/ER/WLP) about paid and unpaid leave at  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  202-261-8180  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  . Eldercare Emergency Visitation Travel (Eldercare EVT) In January 2001, the Eldercare Emergency Visitation Travel (Eldercare EVT) provision was implemented, permitting travel at government expense for employees and eligible spouses serving at an overseas post who need to assist parents in declining health. Eldercare EVT allows an employee two trips over a career to visit his or her parents. It is meant to support one mother and one father of the employee and of the eligible spouse. It does not mean a couple may pool their four eldercare visits to assist the parent(s) of only one member of the married couple. For more information, email the Family Liaison Office ([email  protected] gov) for a copy of â€Å"Questions and Answers on Eldercare Emergency Visitation Travel. † Taking an Elderly Relative to Post If elderly relatives are classified as eligible family members, they travel on diplomatic passports and have the same diplomatic immunity as a spouse or child. If not classified as such, elderly parents use tourist passports and do not have diplomatic status. Housing assignments are based on the number of official eligible family members the employee brings to post. Travel to and from post (with the exception of medical travel) is also available to all elderly parents designated as eligible family members. Elderly parents, regardless of their status, are  not covered  by the Foreign Service medical insurance program. While the use of post's health facilities is not promised as a benefit, these limited facilities are sometimes available depending on the location and an authorization by the Ambassador. The medical officer has the authority to refuse to provide services should a patient have a complicated problem that the physician is unable to treat. Employees may, however, ask the Health Unit for names of local physicians who can provide medical services for their elderly parent. This kind of assistance from the Health Unit may also be requested during the bidding process, to determine if a post has adequate local heath care providers to meet the medical needs of a parent. The Department of State Office of Medical Services has a brochure entitled  Medical Questions and Answers about Taking Your Parent Overseas. The brochure addresses the questions of obtaining prescription medicines overseas, high altitude climates and the elderly, health unit access, hospitalization overseas, and more. For a copy of the brochure or more information about medical questions related to taking your parent overseas, contact the Office of Medical Services, Foreign Programs (MED/FP). Because elderly parents are not covered under the Foreign Service medical insurance program, they also do not have access to embassy medical evacuation (medevac) services. Therefore, all parents coming to post for either a short or an extended period of time should purchase (and maintain) Air Medical Evacuation Insurance. A list of companies that provide this insurance can be found on the  Department of State Consular Affairs website. Medical Insurance It is essential that a parent going overseas, either officially or unofficially, have adequate medical insurance. Medicare only pays medical expenses in the United States, and in Canada and Mexico under certain very limited circumstances. The insurance companies listed below provide a variety of coverage and can be contacted for more information. Pay special attention to â€Å"age limit† noted in the policy. Clements and Company Under its GlobalCare Plus program, Clements and Company provides overseas major medical insurance, including full world-wide evacuation services. Coverage is offered for individuals as well as families. Substantial coverage is available at a reasonable cost. GlobalCare Plus is for policies lasting 6 months to one year. Clements also write policies for shorter-term travel (15 days to 4 months) through Patriot Travel Medical Insurance.

The History of Photography †Art History Research Paper (300 Level Course)

The History of Photography – Art History Research Paper (300 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers The History of Photography Art History Research Paper(300 Level Course) What is a portrait? This is a difficult question to answer in photography. John Gere defined a portrait as â€Å"’an image which the artist is engaged with the personality of his sitter and is preoccupied with his or her characterization as an individual’† (Campbell 1). The common perception of a portrait is the representation of the subject’s likeness, however, this statement is comprehensive with deception. In this essay I will explore the meaning of the portrait in order to understand what a portrait is in photography. What constitutes a portrait? In order to understand the meaning of a portrait, we must define what makes a portrait. The dictionary defines the portrait from a historical perspective: â€Å"por’trait, the likeness of a person painted or described from life† (Highroads Dictionary 382). Similarly, I always believed a portrait is a picture of a person. Simple as it may appear to be, it is not true, it is far too complex. There may be a person in the picture but it is not necessarily a portrait of that person. The portrait is not restricted to facial features and could embody the essence of an individual through bodily gestures. The image may appear to be a portrait but lacks the essence of the individual. A portrait is a deliberate attempt to capture something of that human being (Sliwinski). As long as there is an essence the person is emitting from the photograph, it may be referred to as a portrait. If there is an absence of characterization from the person, the portrait of that person does not exist. Typically the face coincides with the portrait because â€Å"the head, and especially the face, are of paramount importance in recognition, and the eyes, nose and mouth are particular interest† (Campbell 10). The face is what defines us from each other and allows us to easily show expression by externalizing the internal. A portrait is a â€Å"mirror-image – not as we see ourselves, but as others see us† (Clarke 103). This is a difficult concept to accept because humans want to be in control in how others view them. A portrait, therefore, is a portrayal of our essence through our physical beings. The aim of a portrait is to capture a true representation of a person without personal interference from the artist or the sitter. This is an idealistic goal. It is unlikely that the sitter will not portray his or her own desired perception of himself for the camera nor is it likely that the artist will not unconsciously portray an image of themselves unto the subject. Everyone has an image of how they view themselves that contradicts how they are seen by the world. The camera conflicts with this personal battle of revealing. In Campbell’s article questioning what a portrait is, she notes that a person adjusts their features prior to viewing their own reflection which denotes a poor indication of their appearance. She continues this analogy to â€Å"someone facing a camera will normally assume an artificial expression, a ‘camera face’, and the degree of success with which he does so will determine whether or not he may be called photogenic† (8). We have all encountered the ‘photogenic’ term and the connotations that are attached to this loose definition of the ability to fool the camera. Either you are photogenic or you envy those who are photogenic. People often personify the camera in comments such as ‘the camera doesn’t like me’ or ‘the camera lies’ if they fear that the camera will not satisfy how they want to see themselves. In doing this, they are manifesting their own frustration for not being able to fool the camera into showing them how they want to look and not as they look. Photogenic people are too being fooled because it is not necessarily how they are seen by others. In viewing their beautiful portrayal of themselves, they are encouraged to believe that is how they are at every moment. The camera lies indeed. It is difficult to say one has captured the true likeness of someone once they have taken their photograph. A portrait is the physical manifestation of vanity. People want to be seen at their very best even if it goes beyond who they truly are. If it is not in their physical appearance, it is in their possessions, in their occupation, in their social status, or in their wealth. This was apparent in portraitures of the past. Only those of great wealth, status, or close association to the artist had their portrait painted. Their idea of themselves consumed the painting and distorted the likeness of the individual. People were painted to show power, beauty, and status. Any aspect they despised of themselves, or they wished upon themselves, were altered for their satisfaction often to the point where they were unrecognizable. Graham Clarke wrote: â€Å"’at virtually every level, and within every context the portrait photograph is fraught with ambiguity’† (Clarke 101). The truthfulness of photography is further challenged in portraiture where even the subject is deceptive t o the truth. We pose whenever the camera appears assuming to be something we are not (Sliwinski). The desire to control how one is seen is continuously a part of human nature. We want to be seen at our best at all times, so we camouflage our flaws and hide our weaknesses. We, as humans, do not want to be perceived as anything less than we think of ourselves. It is in human nature to be sensitive to the judgements of others and vanity allows us to guard ourselves against ridicule from ourselves. Not only are we conscious of how we look physically, we are conscious of how we are represented: â€Å"just as sitters may be idealized to make them look more beautiful than they really are, so they may be falsely characterized as more successful, discriminating, heroic, intelligent or virtuous than they may in fact be† Everyone wants to be perceived by others as the ideological image they have of themselves. It is this desire that causes us to sit tall in front of the camera, pull back our shoulders, suck in our stomachs, open our eyes wider, or countless other techniques to wilfully control the outcome of the camera’s eye. We are all guilty of trying to fool the camera from capturing us as we are, whether it would be fixing our hair or tugging at our clothes to get that perfect image. We are vain creatures who are fully aware of the camera. Digital photography is an improvement to the portrait. People are now able to control how they are seen and remembered by others. They can delete and alter their images until they have collected the perfect depiction of how they want to see themselves. In other words, digital photography is a tool for vanity discretely disguised as a tool for photography available for everyone. I too am guilty of deleting the â€Å"bad† pictures of myself that did not meet the expectations I have for seeing myself. Digital photography has made it possible to eliminate or retouch photographs to elude perfection. It poses a greater risk of likeness distortion in the future because the ever-so-perfect captions of the self has been through a screening process and does not resemble the true likeness of the self. The way we will be remembered is not how we were but how we wanted to be remembered, a false likeness of ourselves. Photographs of people presented by the media are not portraits. They may fulfil the requirements of a portrait but the essence of the person is absent. In fashion photography, the personal self is empty because the public expectations of how this person is desired to look overrides and destroys the essence of the subject. Celebrity portraits are an offspring of fashion photography: the portrait becomes how we want to view this person from an idealized perspective, not how they are viewed. Campbell emphasizes that â€Å"images of beautiful people continually present problems of classification† (Campbell 2). The reason for this is that the beauty of the person is idealized to the point of surrealism and â€Å"these can become difficult to distinguish from true portraits† (Campbell 2). The problems that arise from this are that people become easily fooled as to what beauty is and try to conform themselves into that depiction of beauty. This causes them be conscientious of their appearance at all times and robs their essence from being imprinted into their own portraits. They are both deceiving themselves from their true likeness and deceiving others into believing that it is their own likeness. In portraits â€Å"it is difficult to know exactly what one looks like or to judge a likeness of oneself† (Campbell 8) because there is a false presentation of oneself. There is an awkward relationship between the viewer and the subject in the photograph when looking at portraits without a sense of the internal. There is an invisible barrier established when the subject is aware of the camera and distorts his or her physical appearance to resemble the likeness of themselves in their mind, not the likeness they actually are. One would â€Å"need to probe the images for any hint of an internal, and private self† (Clarke 114). If the viewer needs to hunt for the sense of self from the individual, the artist has not done their job. It is the job of the photographer to capture a piece of the person that defines a part of their true self. Inge Morath underlines the purpose of a photographic portrait and the role of the photographer: a good portrait â€Å"catches a moment of stillness within the daily flows of things, when the inside of a person has a chance to come through† (Clarke 101). It is one of the most difficult things to do because people do not trust the camera to reveal themselves in a flattering manner they wish to be portrayed. It takes great skill both artistically and socially to produce a portrait that satisfies all definitions of what a portrait is in photography. What is a portrait? A portrait is a moment of time where the true essence of a person can be revealed without distortion from the subject or artist. Campbell, Lorne: ‘Portraiture’, The Grove Dictionary of Art Online, (Oxford University Press). Clarke, Graham. The Photograph. New York: The Oxford University Press, 1997. Sliwinski, Sharon. â€Å"The Portrait in Photography† Portraits. Ontario College of Art and Design. October 14, 2004. Highroads Dictionary: Pronouncing and Etymologogical. Toronto: Thomas Nelson and Sons ltd, 1951. ed. 1960. Research Papers on The History of Photography - Art History Research Paper (300 Level Course)Analysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementTrailblazing by Eric AndersonEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West MeetUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThree Concepts of PsychodynamicComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements

Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements The University of Wisconsin System has a holistic admissions process that includes at least one personal statement. The flagship campus in Madison requires two essays. Applicants can apply using either the Common Application or the University of Wisconsin Application. This article addresses strategies for responding to the essay prompts.   Personal Statements for the University of Wisconsin-Madison The main campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison is the most selective of all the UW schools, and it has an application separate from all the other campuses. It also asks for two personal statements. If you apply using the Common Application, you will need to respond to one of the seven essay prompts. This gives you the freedom to write about anything you choose, for not only do the prompts cover a wide range of topics, but option #7 allows you to write on a topic of your choice.   If you use the University of Wisconsin application,  the first essay prompt asks the following: Consider something in your life you think goes unnoticed and write about why its important to you. You have so many options here that you might find the essay prompt daunting. As you figure out what the something in your life is that you should write about, keep in mind the reason why UW-Madison is asking this question. The admissions process is holistic, so the university wants to get to know you as a whole person, not just as a set of empirical data such as grades, class rank, and standardized test scores. Your extracurricular activities and employment history are part of the holistic portrait, but they dont tell the whole story.   Use this prompt to explore something that isnt obvious from the rest of your application. If one of your jobs or extracurricular activities is particularly important to you, you could use this essay to explain why that is so (much like a typical  short answer essay  on the Common Application). Or you could use this essay to present a side of your personality that doesnt appear on your application at all. Perhaps you like rebuilding motorcycles, fishing with your younger sister, or writing poetry. Almost anything thats important to you is fair game here, just make sure you follow through and explain  why  its important to you. If you fail to address the why of the question, youve failed to present the admissions folks a full window into your passions and interests. The second essay prompt is the same whether you use the Common Application or the UW Application. It asks the following: Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, share with us the academic, extracurricular, or research opportunities you would take advantage of as a student. If applicable, provide details of any circumstance that could have had an impact on your academic performance and/or extracurricular involvement. UW-Madison has packed a lot into this essay prompt, and it might be best to view it as three essay prompts, not one. The first- why UW-Madison?- is typical of the supplemental essays for many other colleges. The key here is to be specific. If your answer could be applied to schools other than UW-Madison, then youre being too vague and generic. What  specifically  about UW-Madison appeals to you? What unique features of the university distinguish it from other places youre considering? Similarly, with the question about academic, extracurricular and research opportunities, be sure to do your research. Make sure you know what the university offers so that you know what opportunities you can take advantage of should you be admitted. UW-Madison is trying to make sure applicants are familiar with the university and can imagine themselves being active and engaged members of the campus community. When it comes to explaining circumstances that may have had a negative impact on your grades and extracurricular involvement, keep in mind that this part of the prompt is optional. As the article Should You Explain A Bad Grade? notes, youre not always doing yourself a favor if you make a big deal out of slightly off semester in high school. That said, if you did have a major disruption in your life- a significant injury, a death of a parent or sibling, divorce of your parents, or an ill-timed move to a different school- it can be a good idea to comment on the event if it impacted your academic or extracurricular record in a significant way. The Personal Statement for all Other UW Campuses For all of the other University of Wisconsin campuses, youll be asked to respond to this personal essay prompt: Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments and/or interests you will bring to our specific campus that will enrich our community. The question is refreshing in its directness, for, in truth, it is asking what every college admissions essay asks- How will you enrich our community? Colleges want more than students with good grades and high test scores; they also want students who will contribute to campus life in a positive way. Before you write your essay or take part in a college interview, youd be wise to figure out your own answer to the question. What is it that you will contribute? Why will the college be a better place because of your presence? Think about your hobbies, your sense of humor, your quirks, your academic passions... all of the features that make you you. Each of the Common Application essay options  is really getting at this very issue. Whether you are writing about a a challenge youve faced, a problem youve solved, an important accomplishment in your life, or an important dimension of your life experiences, a good essay shows that you bring to campus the type of passion and personality that will enrich the university community. Make Your University of Wisconsin Essay Shine You have lots of breadth in choosing what to write about, but youd be wise to steer clear of bad essay topics that often go astray. Also, dont just focus on what to write, but also how you write it. Pay attention to the style of your essay so that your narrative is tight, engaging, and powerful.   Also be sure to follow the tips on the UW website. One important tip relates to your essay length. While the application allows you to write essays that are up to 650 words, UW recommends essays in the 300-500 word range. While you may be tempted to use the entire available space, youd be wise to heed the universitys recommendation and exceed 500 words.

User Fees Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

User Fees - Coursework Example This paper identifies the four major user fees that are collected in the state of North Carolina and compares their charges. Just as any other state in the United States of America, North Carolina also relies on user fees as one of its major source of revenue. The major user fees collected by the state of North Carolina include recreational and cultural activities fees, solid waste collection and disposal fees, parking fees and highway tools (Lawrence and Millonzi, 2008). This fee is charged by the local government for the collection and disposal of solid wastes. The fees charged under this include basic service fee, additional or special service charges, solid waste container fees and collection bag charges (Lawrence and Millonzi, 2008). These are fees charged on those who visit recreational and cultural programs such as art galleries, museums, parks, coliseums and libraries. The main fee charged in these programs is the admission charge. However, in public libraries the residents are not charged the admission fee but penalty fees for overdue materials. The state uses these charges or fees to maintain these programs (Lawrence and Millonzi, 2008). Parking fees are charged on all parking spaces provided by the state of North Carolina. The fees are either charged on long term or short basis and vary from one county to another. The revenue obtained from these charges is used by the state to support all operating costs (Lawrence and Millonzi, 2008). Highway toll fees are charged on every vehicle that uses highway state roads. The charges vary depending on time, collection point and the size of the vehicle. Revenue collected from this charges are used by the state for the maintenance of these roads (Lawrence and Millonzi, 2008). Although this paper has only discussed four user fees collected from the public by the state of North Carolina, there are several of them. The fees

Logistic and Supply Chain Management Research Paper

Logistic and Supply Chain Management - Research Paper Example There has been a shift of environmental responsibility from the consumer to the manufacturer. Also, the retailers have become more dominant as compared to manufacturers in the supply chain relationship and they are generally the drivers of a sustainable and green supply chain (Business Guide, 2003). A block diagram of a green supply chain is shown in Figure 1.1(Fortes, 2009). The government owns the primary responsibility to influence supply chain sustainability. The government can achieve progress on this by effective use of bans, subsidies, and incentives. The government can come up with measures such as environmental labels, licenses and product design guidelines (Business Guide, pp. 42). There are already a number of regulations in place for sustainability. These include U.S. Farm security and rural investment act (2002), European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), China ROHS, E.U. Cosmetics directive, E.U. Packaging Directive, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and REACH. In addition, there are International Standards such as WRAP, FLA, ICTI CARE, ISO 14000 and ISO 26000 for addressing environmental causes (Business for Social Responsibility, 2007). The relationship between brand owners and retailers is changing. Big retailers such as Walmart have a huge clout over the manufacturers and control the types of products they want to keep on their shelves. In addition, the retailers and brand owners are also under tremendous pressure from NGOs and other organizations working for environmental causes. This pressure comes from the opportunity cost due to a risk of reputation loss among the stakeholders. Some of the well known non-profit organizations working in collaboration with companies for environmental sustainability are Carbon Trust, Ceres, Clinton Climate Initiative, Conservation International and Earth share (Tilde, 2010).  Ã‚