Don't Ask Don't Tell Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Don't Ask Don't Tell - Research Paper Example This helps in tackling with its limitations and at the same time enhancing its advantages. Therefore, in the below sections, the various phases through which a public policy passes are looked at, thereby analyzing the involvement of various stakeholders and the effects of the policy on each. This will help establish the effectiveness of this approach in relation to this case. The â€Å"Don’t ask, Don’t tell† (DADT) policy of the US military is studied (Harrop 1). The policy The 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy came into effect in 1993 when President Clinton signed it into legislation. The main clause of the law states that "the presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion which are the essence of military capability." While this constitutes the ‘don't tell’ clause of the act, the ‘don't ask’ clause is not really a clause, rather an indication to commanders in the military that they must not initiate investigation into the sexual orientation of other personnel. However, there is an exception clause to this which states that if the Secretary of Defense deems that such inquiries are required for the implementation of the policy or if the person being investigated is done so as a result of his behavior, then such investigations can continue. Therefore, the policy heavily weighs in favor of cornering people from the LGBT community by restricting their powers of freedom and enquiry. However, the policy as it was introduced was a compromise between the President Clinton's election promise to lift the ban on homosexuals and the position of the military which maintained that homosexuality is incompatible with military service and that personnel who declare themselves to be homosexual must be discharged from military duty (Feder 1). Agenda Building The su bject of homosexuality has long been a subject of contention in the US military. However, there has not been much debate until the latter half of the 20th century. A majority of the cases were dealt using the legislations Articles of War (AW) and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Both the laws did not tolerate homosexuality. In fact, sodomy was criminalized using through the AW. Homosexuality was seen as a psychological problem and hence people with the 'condition' were seen as sick. Expert psychologists and psychiatrists were used to build public opinion. The policy continued through the Second World War until the years of Ronald Regan during whose tenure the defense directive was issued stating that "homosexuality is incompatible with military service" ("History of 'don't ask, don't tell'" 2). However, this signified a change in the rationality of the policy. This was facilitated by a number of cases in federal courts which ruled against the policy implementation. For example, the Watkins v. United States Army case in which Sergeant Perry J. Watkins sued the Army after he had been discharged. Watkins case revealed that he had declared his orientation early on in his career and that he had made no attempt to hide it. Subsequently, after a number of years of court proceedings, the court found that the reasoning behind the provisions of the law was unsatisfactory. These developments forced the Army to

The efficiency of an eElectric motor Essay Example for Free

The efficiency of an eElectric motor Essay The efficiency of the motor in experiment 2 does decrease linearly with increasing mass as I predicted. Ideally the two graphs should follow each other since I used the same motor in each experiment. However from my graph you can see that my calculated efficiency for the second experiment is consistently about 9% higher than the calculated efficiency from my first experiment. This difference has probably been caused by the inaccuracy of the joule meter. This is inconsistent with my results from my calibration experiment. They showed that the joule meter always records more energy that it is receives and therefore if I correct my results for experiment 2 it would make the motor even more efficient. However the linear sections of the graphs have the same gradient and this shows that in both experiments the efficiency is varying in the same way. Extension: Aim: To measuring the efficiency of the electric motor as a generator and to establish if the system is time reversible. The experiment: See Diagram for circuit digarm. Experimental method: I will dropped a variety of weights a distance of 1. 12m and then I recorded the amount of electrical energy produced by the motor using the joule meter Acknowledged Errors 1. The inaccuracy of the joule meter-however I can use my calibration curve to correct for this 2. Friction in the pulley system 3. The weight has kinetic energy when I hits the ground and this energy is lost from the system thus reducing the efficiency of the generator. My Results: H=1. 12m load=10. 3 ohms Mass (kg) Average Time for full drop(s) Joules recorded Exp1x10 Joules recorded Exp2x10 Average number of joules recordedx10 %E. Energy Input (J) Graph: Explaining the graph: The energy I put in the generator is dissipated in three ways. 1. Useful energy is dissipated in the load 2. Energy is lost in the friction of the pulley system 3. When current flows through the internal resistance of the motor energy is lost 4. Energy is lost when the weight I drop hits the flaw It follows that because energy is conserved: The Potential energy of the weight= Power dissipated in load + Work done against friction +Energy Lost in the motors resistance +Energy lost as the weight hits the floor M=mass, I=current, F=friction force, R=resistance, V=final speed of weight In my analysis I have chosen to ignore the energy lost in the internal resistance of the motor. This is sensible since the energy lost in the internal resistance was insignificant compared to the energy lost in the load. To further simplify things I will also ignore the energy lost as the weight hits the ground. This factor was very small because my weights travelled quite slowly and they had small masses. Simplified formula for analysis: Efficiency If you assume that the work done against friction is constant this formula explains the 1-1/x form of my graph. For small weights the generator is inefficient since most of the weights potential energy is being used to overcome friction. For small the second term of the formula is large and the generator is therefore inefficient. This is shown by my graph. For large weights the work done against friction becomes insignificant and consequently the generator becomes more increasingly more efficient. For larger the second term would tend to zero and the efficiency should tend to 100%. My results do show that the efficiency increases for heavier weights however my results appear to approach an efficiency of 14% not 100%. This difference may be caused by the fact that for my larger weight the energy lost in the motors resistance and the energy lost as the weight hit the floor become significant. The inaccuracy of the joule meter may have also contributed to this difference. Is a the motor time reversible If my motor was time reversible it should behave in the same way irrespective of the direction of time. For example if you use electrical energy lift a weight with a motor if the system is time reversible you should be able to get the electrical energy back by dropping the weight. A motor is obviously time reversible to an extent since it can be used both as a motor and a generator. However my results show that for my experiment you are only able to retrieve a small fraction of the energy you used lifting when using the motor as a generator (about 2. 5 joules out of 150 or 2%). This inefficiency can be partially explained by considering the parts of the system that are not time reversible. This includes the friction in the system and the energy lost in the internal resistance of the motor. Here energy is lost as heat and sound that cannot be retrieved. Conclusion: In general my experiments went well and I was able to use my result to make some useful conclusions. I was very pleased with the accuracy of my results. If I had more time I would have taken more experimental reading so that I could get a more complete picture of what was happening. I would also have spent more time calibrating the joule meter since its inaccuracy had a large effect on my results. Bibliography: Sources used: 1) Nuffield Advanced Science Physics student guide 2 unit H to L, Published by Longman, ISBN=0-582-35416-1 2) Web page: Motors URL=www. srl. gatech. edu/education/ME3110/design-reports/RSVP/DR4/Motors. http 3) Encyclopaedia Britannica CD-ROM 4) Encarta 99 CD-ROM by Microsoft Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Electricity and Magnetism section.

Portfolios To Assess Professional Competence And Development Nursing Essay

Portfolios To Assess Professional Competence And Development Nursing Essay Portfolios have been recommended for the assessment of professional development. To stimulate engagement and assess professional development during laboratory training, portfolio assessment was proposed for the final year BMLS and DMLT programmes in Kampala International University. Work Done The students undergoing clinical laboratory training in teaching hospitals, and engaged in routine laboratory services under supervision of qualified Medical Laboratory Scientists, composed a portfolio detailing their daily experiences, work done, and lessons learned. Their supervisors and facilitators provided daily feedback and endorsed their entries. The portfolios were examined at the end of training by faculty staff and external examiner through oral presentation and interviews. Rating rubric considered quality of presentation, portfolio content, demonstration of progressive development, and ability to make professional judgment. Students and assessors acceptance of this instrument was determined with questionnaire. Results 72 % of the students and assessors accepted the method. Many students reported that it improved commitment to training, encouraged reflection, and allowed for frequent feedback. Many believed that it was a rational assessment, but it was time consuming. 88 % of the participants would welcome it as a supplement to the standard tests. Conclusions The portfolio assessment was well accepted, rational, and provided a valid assessment of student engagement and progression during professional training. Take Home Message The inclusion of portfolio assessment in Medical Laboratory Sciences Education provided valid assessment of students engagement in training and professional development over time. Introduction The use of portfolios in health professions education has increased dramatically over the years. The enthusiastic acceptance of this principle is in part born out of the ever growing interest in outcomes based education in all divisions of health science.1 The curricula of most health sciences schools now emphasize authentic experiences, promote self direction and reflection in learning, and outcomes based assessment. Portfolios not only stimulate professional development and reflective learning, they also provide opportunity for self direction, and avenues for feedback from faculty.2, 3 Portfolios have been recommended for the assessment of professional development in medical education,4 and several reports document their successful use in assessment of competence at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.5,6 To stimulate engagement and to assess professional development during clinical laboratory training, portfolio development and assessment was proposed for the final year Bac helor of Medical Laboratory Sciences and the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology students of the Kampala International University, Uganda in 2008. This article reports the experience of the use of portfolios to assess professional development in these programmes. Methods Institutional approval for the study was obtained from the IREC. Eighteen final year students who were undergoing clinical laboratory training in the teaching hospitals at the Kampala International University Teaching Hospital Ishaka and the Mulago Hospital in Kampala and participating in routine daily laboratory work were requested to compose and maintain a portfolio comprising details of their daily experiences, work done and lessons learnt during their training. Their supervisors and programme facilitators provided daily feedback on their work and endorsed all entries. At the end of their clinical laboratory training, the portfolios were examined by the four faculty staff and an external examiner. The students were also required to make a 15 minutes presentation based on the portfolio content, and take interview on lessons learned and overall impact of the training on their development. A rating rubric used for the assessment considered the quality of students presentation, portfo lio content, demonstration of students progressive development over time, and their ability to make professional judgment. Questionnaires were used to determine the students and raters views on the acceptability, convenience, and usefulness of this method of assessment. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Table 1: Rubric for the assessment of the students portfolios Standard met Standard not met 1 Presentation was complete in 15 minutes 2 Quality of presentation 3 Student showed progressive development over time 4 Student reflected on experiences and could make good professional judgment 5 Portfolio content was adequate 6 Overall assessment Pass Fail General comments: Results The result showed that seventy two per cent (72 %) of the students and assessors accepted the method as a valid and effective means of assessing professional competence. Many students (15 of the 18) reported that it improved their commitment to the laboratory training, and encouraged them to reflect on their daily experiences. Both faculty and students reported that it allowed for frequent feedback and more engagement in the programme. Many believed that it was a rational assessment as it captured development over time, but it was time consuming and quite tasking on both students and staff. Eighty eight per cent (88 %) were of the view that it should be a supplement and not a substitute for the standard written and practical tests. Discussion The evolution of portfolio as a tool for the assessment of professional competence and development offers several advantages over the traditional standard tests which to a large extent are reductionist and do not capture progression over time. Application of portfolio assessment in Medical Laboratory Sciences education is not widespread and only few reports are available in literature.7 This study demonstrated that portfolio development and assessment is well accepted by both staff and students in the medical laboratory sciences programme of the Kampala International University. An important aspect of medical education is the matching of assessment methods with learning mode, as assessment drives learning. Portfolio assessment aligns well with competency based education whose tenets include learner centeredness, formative feedback, developmental process, reflection, and multiple types and sources of assessment.3 This study demonstrated this clearly as it promoted student /staff engag ement in the clinical laboratory training programme, students ownership of their training, and reflective learning which are some of the advantages highlighted by similar previous reports of the use of portfolio in other programmes.8, 9 The study also showed that many of the study participants would not welcome this form of assessment as the only mode of student assessment. Rather it would be a valuable addition to the traditional methods of assessment of competence. The limitations of this study include the small sample size used for the study. It is recommended that a larger sample of students be included in a more elaborate study possibly over a longer study period. To ease the burden of assessment, using structured interview to assess the portfolio as recommended by Burch and Seggie 10 could be helpful. Conclusion: The use of portfolios to assess students progress and professional competence in Medical Laboratory Sciences is a welcome proposition. It should be used to supplement the standard written and practical tests. Its advantages include stimulation of student engagement, self direction, reflective learning, and monitoring of progress over time. It is however seen to be time consuming for the students. Its introduction extends the methods of assessment in Medical Laboratory Sciences.

Lupus Essay -- essays research papers fc

Lupus Definition of the Disease Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause that can affect virtually any part of the body. The medical term for Lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or better known as SLE. With Lupus there is a malfunction in some of the cells of the immune system. "In Lupus, the body overreacts to an unknown stimulus and makes to many antibodies, or proteins directed against body tissue. Thus, Lupus is called an autoimmune disease. †# Myth/Reality Statements Myth: Lupus is contagious. Reality: It is not contagious, it is not spread from person to person. Myth: It is uncommon in women to contact Lupus. Reality: "Between the ages of 15 and 45, close to 90% of diagnosed patients are women ." Myth: Caucasians are most apt to be diagnosed with Lupus. Reality: In the United States, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians have a greater incidence of SLE than Caucasians ." Myth: Lupus is a curable disease. Reality: Lupus is controllable not curable. Myth: The most common initial complaint is fevers, weight loss and fatigue. Reality: The most common complaint is pain in joints or swelling followed by skin rashes. # Overview Women are the most common to suffer from Lupus. Although men and Children can get Lupus, 80% of Lupus patients are women ." There are three times as many black women as white women affected by this disease. During the first ten years of life, girls will have Lupus three to seven more times often than boys. Three are about 1,400,000 cases of Lupus diagnosed at the present time, but there can be up to 2 million unreported cases since the disease in extremely difficult to diagnose. "Only 10% of Lupus patients will have a close relative who already has or may develop Lupus. Only 5% of children born to individuals with Lupus will develop the illness ." # The cause of Lupus is still unknown. Some doctors feel that there are some environmental and genetic factors involved. Some of the environmental factors include: infections, antibodies, especially those in the Sulfa and Penicillin groups, ultra violet light, extreme stress and certain drugs. There are an incredible number of symptoms that you can have with Lupus. There are general symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, low-grade fever, generalized aching and chills. These symptoms are most evident when the patient is i... ...ts with medications are not required at all. They should avoid the sun and take aspirin or other nonsteriodal antiflammatory drugs, for muscle and joint pain. Conclusion I feel that Lupus is a very peculiar disease. It shares many similarities with HIV in the fact that there is multiple organ involvement and potentially life threatening episodes. I do not understand how Lupus is not always a fatal disease if it attacks the immune system. Without an immune system, other diseases can not be fought off by the antibodies, which can cause someone to become very ill. I feel as though there needs to be a lot more research done for Lupus. It is a disease of high occurrence and the cause is still unknown. The cause needs to be found so that a cure can be discovered so that patients and their families can find a relief from this disease. Bibliography 1. Wallace, D. The Lupus Book. Oxford University Press: New York, 1995 2. Aldejem, Henrietta. Understanding Lupus. Charles Scribers Sons: New York, 1982. 3. Moore, Mary. Learning About Lupus. Mainline Desktop: Pennsylvania, 1991 4. Ferrante, C. 1995. Caring for Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus. Nursing 25: 66-7

Alice Walker Essay

This story is distinctive, however, in that Walker stresses not only the importance of language but also the destructive effects of its misuse. Clearly, Dee privileges language over silence, as she demonstrates in her determination to be educated and in the importance she places on her name. Rather than providing a medium for newfound awareness and for community, however, verbal skill equips Dee to oppress and manipulate others and to isolate herself; when she lived at home, she read to her sister and mother â€Å"without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice.† Mama recalls that Dee â€Å"washed us in a river of make-believe, burned us with a lot of knowledge we didn’t necessarily need to know. Pressed us to her with the serious way she read, to shove us away at just the moment, like dimwits, we seemed about to understand† (50). Dee uses words to wash, burn, press, and shove. We are told that the â€Å"nervous girls† and â€Å"furtive boys† whom she regarded as her friends â€Å"worshiped the well-turned phrase† and her â€Å"scalding humor that erupted like bubbles in lye† (51). It is not surprising, then, that Mama, mistrustful of language, expresses herself in the climactic scene of the story not through words but through deeds: she hugs Maggie to her, drags her in the room where Dee sits holding the quilts, snatches the quilts from Dee, and dumps them into Maggie’s lap. Only as an afterthought does she speak at all, telling Dee to â€Å"take one or two of the others.† Mama’s actions, not her words, silence the daughter who has, up to this point, used language to control others and separate herself from the community: Mama tells us that Dee turns and leaves the room â€Å"without a word† (59). In much of Walker’s work, a character’s dawning sense of self is represented not only by the acquisition of an individual voice but also through integration into a community. Mama’s new appreciation of Maggie is significant because it represents the establishment of a sisterhood between mother and daughter. Just before taking the quilts out of Dee’s hands, Mama tells us, â€Å"I did something I never had done before† (58). The â€Å"something† to which she refers is essentially two actions: Mama embraces Maggie and says â€Å"no† to Dee for the first time. Since we are told that she held Maggie when she was burned in the fire, and since Mama’s personality suggests that she would most likely hug her daughter often, she is of course referring not merely to the literal hug but to the first spiritual embrace, representing her decision no  longer to judge her younger daughter by the shallow standards Dee embodies–criteria that Mama has been using to measure both Maggie and herself up until the climax of the story. When Mama acts on Maggie’s behalf, she is responding to the largely nonverbal message that her younger daughter has been sending for some time, but which Mama herself has been unable fully to accept. Now Maggie and Mama are allied in their rejection of Dee’s attempts to devalue their lifestyle, and their new sense of community enables Maggie to smile â€Å"a real smile, not scared.† Significantly, the story ends with the two of them sitting in silence, â€Å"just enjoying, until it was time to go in the house and go to bed† (59). Ultimately, however. Mama has the last word: it is she, after all, who tells the story. Yet her control over the text is won gradually. Walker employs an unusual narrative structure to parallel Mama’s development as she strengthens her voice and moves toward community with Maggie. Rather than reporting the entire event in retrospect, Mama relates the first half of the story as it occurs, using present and future tenses up u ntil the moment Dee announces her new name. The commentary that Mama makes about herself and Maggie in the first portion of the story is therefore made before the awakening that she undergoes during the quilt episode–before she is able to reject completely Dee’s desire that she and Maggie be something that they are not. Prior to the encounter with Dee over the quilts, although Mama at times speaks sarcastically about Dee’s selfish attitude, she nonetheless dreams repeatedly of appearing on a television program â€Å"the way my daughter would want me to be: a hundred pounds lighter, my skin like an uncooked barley pancake,† wielding a â€Å"quick and witty tongue† (48). Mama’s distaste for Dee’s egotism is tempered by her desire to be respected by her daughter. In part, then, Mama has come to define herself in terms of her failure to meet the standards of what Lindsey Tucker calls a â€Å"basically white middle-class identity† (88)–the white-male-dominated system po rtrayed in the television show. When Mama holds up her own strengths next to those valued by Dee and the white Johnny Carson society, she sees herself as one poised always in a position of fear, â€Å"with one foot raised in flight† (49).

The Theme of Isolation and Loneliness In Talking Heads Essays

The Theme of Isolation and Loneliness In Talking Heads Essays The Theme of Isolation and Loneliness In Talking Heads Paper The Theme of Isolation and Loneliness In Talking Heads Paper Essay Topic: Literature Talk Most of Alan Bennetts characters in Part One of the Talking Heads Monologues, are lonely or they are threatened with loneliness, and this leads to alienation from society and the environment they live in. This essay looks at the effects of loneliness, illness, unhappiness and lack of self-knowledge and how this is portrayed in Bennetts works. It also shows how isolation and loneliness, are dealt with in different ways, by people of varying ages and backgrounds. A great number of people are unaware of being lonely such as Doris in A Cream Cracker under the Settee We were always on our own, me and Wilfred Mix, I dont want to mix Throughout their marriage, they never socialised. Doris had very definite views on cleanliness and avoided people for this reason. Later on in the story we learn that this could have stemmed from the stillbirth of their son and for Doris this is her defence mechanism. Doris, indirectly, reveals that she never got over the trauma of losing her son, possibly clouding her view of life. Wilfred, obviously did not understand or feel her emotions. I dont think Wilfred minded It was then he started talking about getting a dog It is easier to put up a barrier and hide away rather than reveal our true feelings. This can later lead to loneliness and isolation. By not showing our true selves we are in danger of hiding who we really are. In the case of Miss Irene Ruddock (A Lady of Letters) she is lost in a society that no longer cares. She is younger than Doris and is wrapped up in her own self. Again, she is unaware of this. In the past, neighbourly interest was welcomed. But in present society, personal contact is discouraged, either by her or by the young family who are her neighbours, so instead she spies on them. She is critical of her neighbours, who she feels do not meet her standards and who she watches in secret. I dont even know their names Irene is very judgmental even though she doesnt know their circumstances. Itll surprise me if they are married. He has a tattoo anyway When reading this quote the first thought I had was now how Alan Bennett had dated the monologue. As in todays society it is perfectly acceptable to have a tattoo and is no longer frowned upon. Miss Ruddock can no longer rely on the church to provide her order and security, as shown in the scene when she is visited by the vicar. He offers to prove his identity by showing her his cross, she dismisses the gesture by saying A cross doesnt mean anything. Youths wear crosses nowadays. Hooligans. They wear crosses in their ears It is no longer a symbol. She feels that she is being alienated by the way the church is structured. The only time she has structure to her life is when she is in prison. The letters Irene writes are her only contact with the outside world. In fact I wrote to the crematorium but I actually didnt know her all that well She went to the funeral because at least its an outing Irene feels she is a pillar of the community as she writes to the Council, the Queen and even the Archbishop of Canterbury. She feels they all take her seriously as a public spirited member of the community but she is unaware of what a nuisance she is. Although she has already been in trouble before, The court bound you over to keep the peace She carries on with the harassment. I feel this is because she has no family or friends to talk to. It is also about her self-esteem and making her self feel important. She eventually ends up in an institution because her state of mind is caused by her loneliness and egocentricity. She has no idea that this is of her own making due to her snobbery. However, she thrives on the regime of the institute, becoming institutionalised because it gives her life structure and she is able to form relationships. Although she remains a very formal character she becomes caring and compassionate towards others. Im so happy Both Iris and Doris harp on about the past, when they were less lonely and isolated. Doris remembers You could walk down the street and folk smiled and passed the time of day Both of these are good examples of a paradox. The problems that once stood in their way, has turned and changed their lives for the better. Irene recalls when everybody knew the occupants of every single house. Everybody could, once upon a time This quote is another good example of how Alan Bennett has dated his monologues as society has changed and moved on. Miss Ruddocks story does have a happy ending. When she is brought face-to-face with her actions and the reality that she is going to prison, she is able to exchange her life of isolation and have friends within the prison community. She is actually able to offer sympathy and help to others. At the beginning of the monologue she feels pain and loneliness like Doris in A Cream Cracker under the Settee but at the end she feels connected and part of something. Both these women seem to miss the days of contact with their neighbours. The times when you could leave your door open and nobody would walk in. Both characters crave what they used to have. Due to their natures, it would not occur to them to change with the times. It did not occur to them to form relationships, by making friendly gestures to their neighbours. Doris is different from the other characters as she goes to the extreme of isolating herself. This is illustrated by the fact she wants trees in her front garden but actually puts bushes to stop any intrusions. Susan is the vicars wife in In Bed amongst the Lentils and her unhappiness/loneliness is harder to analyse. Alan Bennett here show that Susan is a witty and complex character. She is not so helpless that she could not have avoided a loveless marriage and a role, tying her to the church in which she has lost faith. Her disappointment seems to relate to her whole world and she uses drink to mask her loneliness and as a means to escape the real world. Susan is younger than Doris and Irene and by the end of the monologues you are left with the feeling that Doris and Irene are her future. Susans cynical and often ironic remarks make the monologues quite humourous. Susans loneliness stems from her husbands fan club of church helpers. In the words of Princess Diana, she feels there are three of us in this marriage. We must cherish him Susans way of cherishing him is with some chicken wings and tuna fish sauce When the bishop comes to visit Geoffrey, she knocks a jug of Carnation milk over the bishop and when cleaning him down compares it to Mary Magdalene and the Nivea cream all over again Susan is secretly an alcoholic, which is another expression of her isolation. She drinks to make herself feel better for a while. Geoffrey knows about the problem but refuses to acknowledge it, which makes Susans isolation worse. This relationship can be compared to Doris and her husband. Marriage should be the closest of relationships but within it they feel alienated. The subjects never discussed Instead of changing her life with Geoffrey, Susan decides to have an affair with Mr Ramesh, who owns the local shop. She feels she needs someone to talk to and by having an affair feels she will be loved. This affair is also a distraction from her marriage and its problems. Even when she sleeps with Mr Ramesh she tells us Its the first time I really understand what all the fuss is about She tries not to bring her new feelings for Ramesh into her life with Geoffrey by detaching from her feelings, she only feels apathy towards Geoffrey. Even when Geoffrey is angry with her because of the missing communion wine she doesnt care and is even more interested in having a drink. Susan is persuaded by Mr Ramesh to seek counselling from AA. We get the feeling that this is a good thing for her to do for herself but when Susan admits to being an alcoholic to her husband he does not give her the emotional support that she needs. He uses the situation to his advantage. This is a good example of their breakdown in communication. I find myself transformed into a feather in his cap Susan tells about Asians and Mr Ramesh and their ability to build things up and move on. For example, with his local shop, he builds it up into a thriving business and then he moves on. Rameshs outlook on life excites her but he has the freedom to move on and she doesnt. Its a good thing. We ought to be like that She realises that her circumstances could improve but in her isolated state of mind she cannot put talking it through into practice. If she could, like Miss Ruddock, her situation might have got better, since Susan seems to be a humorous person. She survives her lonely life by mocking not only what she sees as the pointless activities of her life but of herself as well. In the last scene she seems like a different woman but we are left unsure of any future happiness. Bennett uses bathos throughout the monologues especially with Susan, who keeps her thoughts to herself. Its on the tip of my tongue to say that if Jesus is all hes cracked up to be why doesnt he use tap water and put it to the test She is unconsciously using her sarcasm to protect herself. Bennett is very moving and thought provoking. He sums up Susans life in general parked by a lay-by on the ring road wondering what happened to our life To me this provokes a wonderful use of imagery as it shows her life is going round but not ending up anywhere. Loneliness by these characters is brought on by their lack of self-knowledge. This may contribute to both their sadness and the comedy of the narrator. It is perhaps part of their strategies for survival that the narrators do not see themselves as pitiable and lonely. The main themes of Bennetts, Talking Heads, are loneliness and the failure to understand ones own life. He also pays respect and attention to the point that there is a Little Person inside us all sometimes, foolish, wilful, vain, mistaken and self-deluded. The narrators problems may be the problems of ordinary people and often, unfortunate people at a particular point in time. I found that the each narrator touches on everyday issues that effect us all and thats why when reading Talking Heads you dont know whether to laugh or cry at the issues raised. Bennett tackles things with a light-hearted view but gets his point across in a very meaningful way. In conclusion Bennett is showing us that loneliness can apply to anyone and in different forms. The way he has chosen to show loneliness may be a product of male domination within personal relationships. I personally feel he could have written from this perspective because he is male. Also, most of Bennetts plays make the audience aware of the organisations that are provided by the State to cope with the needs of the characters. These efforts are seen as a poor substitute for a family, friends and neighbours. These characters dont have this support and this may be the root of their problems.

Accent Marks and Indirect Questions in Spanish

Accent Marks and Indirect Questions in Spanish For beginning Spanish students, the rule theyre taught about orthographic accents may seem straightforward: Words such as quà © (what) and cuntos (how many) have accents on them when theyre used in questions but dont otherwise. But the use of such accents marks in reality is a bit more complicated, as the accent mark is retained in some types of statements. For example, heres one sentence you might see: El Banco Central no aclarà ³ cuntos dà ³lares vendià ³. (The Central Bank did not make clear how many dollars it sold.) Accents in Indirect Questions It is true that various words have orthographic accents- accent marks that affect the meanings of words but not the pronunciation- when they are parts of questions. The twist to the rule that questions can be part of statement, a statement that ends in a period, rather than as part of a question, a sentence that begins and ends in question marks. Such questions are known as indirect questions. For example, the sample sentence above indirectly asks the question of how many dollars were sold, but it doesnt do so directly. Some indirect questions are obvious, as in this sentence: Quisiera saber dà ³nde puedo encontrar algà ºn programa para convertir archivos de MP3. (I would like to know where I can find a program for converting MP3 files.) Often, sentences that begin in phrases such as quiero saber (I want to know) or no saber (I dont know) are indirect questions. But sometimes the indirect questions are more subtle. Here are some more examples of indirect questions that use orthographic accents: No sà © dà ³nde est. (I dont know where he is.)Saben quà © va a pasar. (They know what is going to happen.)Ella me dijo por quà © se cambià ³ su nombre. (She told me why she changed her name.)Es difà ­cil decir exactamente cuntos cadveres habà ­a. (Its difficult to say exactly how many corpses there were.)La comisià ³n va a investigar quià ©n es el responsable. (The commission will investigate who is the one responsible.) Words That Change Form in Questions These are the words that require the orthographic accent in questions, whether they are direct or indirect: adà ³nde (where to, where)cà ³mo (how)cul (which, what)cundo (when)cunto, cuntos (how much, how many)dà ³nde (where)para quà © (what for, why)por quà © (why)quà © (what, which)quià ©n (who) These are all known as interrogative words and include pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Sometimes, especially with quà ©, the accent is needed to clarify the meaning of the word that is being used, and the meaning changes without the accent. Note the difference between these two sentences: Sà © que va a comer. (I know that he is going to eat. Que here functions as a relative pronoun.)Sà © quà © va a comer. (I know what he is going to eat. Quà © here is an interrogative pronoun.) Similarly, when cà ³mo is functioning as a question word, it usually is translated as how. But in statements that arent indirect questions, it is translated as as or like. This is one way you can tell whether cà ³mo is being used in an indirect question. Quiero saber cà ³mo se hace. (I want to know how it is done.)Los nià ±os llegaron como una tormenta. (The children arrived like a storm.) Example Sentences Here are each of the interrogative words used as an indirect question: No sabemos adà ³nde vamos. (We dont know where were going.)Me gustarà ­a aprender cà ³mo escribirlo en inglà ©s. (I would like to learn how to write it in English.)No tengo idea cul es la receta para la felicidad. (I dont have an idea what the recipe for happiness is.)No me dijo cundo volverà ­a a casa. (She didnt tell me when she would come home.)No me importa cunto dinero tengas. (It doesnt matter to me how much money you have.)Es difà ­cil decir dà ³nde estamos en comparacià ³n con los otros. (Its difficult to say where we are compared with the others.)No comprendo para quà © sirve el cinismo. (I dont know what the purpose of cynicism is.)No sabà ­amos por quà © esto habà ­a sucedido. (We dont know why this has happened.)Quiero entender quà © me est ocurriendo. (I want to understand what is happening to me.) Key Takeaways Interrogative words in Spanish require accent marks when they are used in both direct and indirect questions.Common interrogative words include dà ³nde (where), cà ³mo (how), and por quà © (why).The unaccented que usually means that, while the accented quà © usually means what.

AP Euro DBQ essay Essay Example

AP Euro DBQ essay Essay Example AP Euro DBQ essay Essay AP Euro DBQ essay Essay TJ Long AP Euro DBQ Essay There were numerous responses to the plague, such as fear, greed, and looking for a cause. The plague is a zoonotic disease, one of the three rare types of diseases that is created from Yersinia Pestis, a part of Enterobacteriaceae. This was a devastating time for people in Europe from the late 1400s to the early 1700s and there were many responses about how the plague was affecting society during this time. This disease killed about 25 million people which caused all of these mixed reactions. Mixed responses and different point-of-views spread all throughout Europe. One response to the plague was fear. Fear was common in these times due to the mass killing caused by the plague. The plague eventually managed to slow business in schools down dramatically and some children never bothered coming again as shown in document 1. The Schoolmaster at Deventer said this because as a school teacher he was concerned for his Job. According to N. Versoris, the rich people ran from the plague leaving all of the poor people to die. As shown in document 5, drastic measures had to be taken to keep everyone safe from the plague. Boarding p a house that was infected with the disease was a way of creating a barrier between the uninfected people of society and the diseased society members. Most travelers feared the plague in Europe and stayed home instead of traveling to new places such as Italy (doc. 12). According to D. Defoe, no trading nations with Europe would trade with them because they feared they would bring the plague over to their country, infecting all of their people. As you can see, the plague sent a common fear through many nations including Europe. Another response to the plague was that people were looking for a cause. According to Erasmus of Rotterdam, the filth and waste in the streets was causing this infectious disease. Erasmus said this because he was a humanist, therefore he was always looking for a logical cause for things that were happening. As shown in document 4, spreading ointment on the bolts of the gates started to spread the disease faster which, in turn, gave people more money from inheritance. Johann Weyer said this because as a doctor, he was looking for a reason why people were getting sick. Some people believed that offending and sinful people caused the lague because a god punished them for their actions therefore releasing the plague (doc. 15). Obviously many people responded with causes for the spreading of the plague and tried to find out what created it. A final response to the plague was greed. Like fear, greed was a common response to the plague in Europe. According to N. Wallington, he would rather give up all of his family members to the plague first before he gives himself up. Nurses didnt really help the infected patients at all. Usually they Just killed them quicker so they could collect their money and leave (doc. ). According to S. Pepys, people were not buying wigs anymore, for they feared that it was made of other peoples infected hair. He was concerned about this because as a naval bureaucrat, he was concerned time Just trying to make a living off of other peoples misfortune. During the time of the plague many people were in fear, tried to find a cause, and were greedy. Europe suffered greatly from this extremely infectious disease and it took them a long time to recover completely. It was a devastating time of horror and disbelief. This is certainly an incident to learn from.

'HOW THE ASSISTANT PRACTITIONER SHOULD ACT TO RESPECT THE PATIENT OR Essay

'HOW THE ASSISTANT PRACTITIONER SHOULD ACT TO RESPECT THE PATIENT OR CLIENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND ALWAYS ACT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST' - Essay Example The assistant practitioner works along with qualified team support that is involved in managing and coordinating activities to carry forward health care. The authority is required to undertake certain physiological measures and observations, and then propose a remedial action accordingly. The assistant practitioner is also required to provide teaching and learning assistance to subordinates. It is also part of the assistant practitioner to undertake clinical review processes as per conditions and requirements. The practitioner under his/her capacity is further urged to assist and support the relevant staff during their development phase. The practitioners are required to abide by the Trust core standards and procedures, the staffs are further responsible for their personal awareness related to clinical and personal development. The practitioners are provided with an option to adopt and apply new technique of practice depending upon the circumstances and relevant practices. The practi tioners are urged to review professional clinical supervision to further enhance and improve their clinical practice. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to promote a healthy lifestyle in an active manner, and contribute towards the service development under limited capacity. The practitioners on the basis of their experience have the authority to participate and involve in the recruitment and retention process of their group. The practitioners are provided with an opportunity to undertake therapeutic activities, and if required should also undertake nursing procedures, after seeking relevance guidance and supervision of the registered professional in the clinical setup. It is mandatory upon the practitioner to guarantee safe and healthy environment to the patients, visitors and staff, the practitioners should be aware about the health and safety policies. The

Biological approach to personality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biological approach to personality - Essay Example The biography of Gretchen Wilson may start out as sad story, but her life evolved into country music phenomena since then. (Kassidy Emerson) Since then to date, Wilson has been performing as s singer where she appears before spectators in many places, singing and dancing, appearing to look very social, and entertaining her audiences. Thus, to my own point of view, she is extraversion based on Hans Eyssenck's theory of Personality. (Robert Plomin) has shown that many environmental measures in psychology show genetic influence and that genetic factors can mediate associations between environmental measures and developmental outcomes. This theory can have it roots from the evidence of Wilson's history, where it is categorically seen that she was influenced by the environmental factor which led to being moving and spending night in places away from home, while later, environment factor led her to becomes a musician, where she ought to entertains people. Some children adapt quickly and easily to family daily routines and get along well with their siblings. Others, especially highly active, intense and "prickly" children have a more difficult time adjusting to everyday demands, and their interactions with parents and siblings may lead to friction and stress. Consider how an active, impulsive child can bother an older sibling who is trying to complete a school project, or how a distractible child who is low in persistence can frustrate parents' efforts to get him to complete his homework or to finish a household chore. Thus, it is noteworthy to point out that Wilson does not inherit her behavior from her parents, nor they teach her such manners. But she was totally influenced by the condition she found herself shortly after her father could not be seen, as he skipped from his family. While her mother lacks all the capabilities whatsoever to shoulder her responsibilities. As such, she began going ups and downs, looking for all possible dimensions to earn her living. To this end, she found herself in the Musical Industry.References Carl Gustav Jung, 1934, what is Personality, http://wilderdom.com/personality/L5-1WhatIsPersonality.html Kassidy Emerson, August 15, 2006, The Biography of Gretchen Wilson, A red-neck woman who is proud of her heritage, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/50653/the_biography_of_gretchen_wilson.html Eysenck's model of personality (P-E-N, Hans Eysenck, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Eysenck#Eysenck.27s_model_of_personality_.28P-E-N.29 Robert Plomin,

Air pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Air pollution - Essay Example This paper will discuss air pollution and its various aspects. According to Lbl.gov, there are various major  kinds  of pollution, which produce renowned  effects on the well-being and health  of individuals and the environment as a whole. These pollution types include the discharge of such toxic gases as chemical vapors, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Once these gases get into the environment, they can become involved in advanced chemical reactions leading to the formation of  acid rain and  smog. Other serious implications include the development of holes in the ozone layer as well as greenhouse effect. The other type of air pollution, which results from fuel combustion for energy, involves the discharge of  particles  (particulate matter) into the air. These particles are tiny pieces of matter, which measures roughly 0001 inches. An excellent case in point of this  kind of particulate matter is diesel smoke. This kind of pollution is also kn own as black carbon pollution. Smoke from burning fuels in industries, homes, and automobiles, is a main source of air pollution. It is also believed that burning charcoal and wood in barbeques and fireplaces can as well discharge into the air significant amounts of soot. Liu explains that the common sources of air pollution include industrial facilities, motor vehicles emissions, household combustion devices, forest fires, mold spores, and pollen among others. According to him, these sources fall into two main categories, namely natural and human sources (15). The natural sources of air pollution include volcanic activity that lead to the production of ash particulates, chlorine, sulfur, carbon monoxide and smoke from wildfires; and dust from natural sources that are usually large areas with no or little vegetation (Chapman and Rob 23). Human sources of air pollution result from human activities that contribute to air pollution. One of the main sources of air pollution that results from human activity is from manufacturing facilities, waste incinerators, and power plants and other forms of fuel-burning heating devices (Gurjar 33). Aircraft, motor vehicles, sound equipments, and marine vessels are the other sources of air pollution from human activities. Military activities such as toxic gases, nuclear weapons, and germ warfare can be the other source of air pollution. Controlled burn practices and chemicals used in forestry management and agriculture are the other sources of air pollution resulting from human activity (Colls 27). Pollutants are the substances that cause air pollution. Pollutants that are of major public health and environment concern include ozone, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide (Liu 18). Pollutants are classified into two main categories: primary and secondary. Primary pollutants are those that are emitted directly from a process such as sulfur dioxide from manufacturing facilities, the carbon monoxi de from the motor vehicle, or ash from volcanic eruption (Gurjar 36). Example of primary pollutants include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, radioactive pollutants,

European business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

European business - Essay Example The advantages that the member states have are worth an elaborate description and this would be followed shortly. First however lets first mention the euro and the European Monetary Union. The Euro, which is a common currency shared among 16 out of the current 27 member states has had a significant impact onto the union body. Around five countries also generally accept the currency even if they do not recognize it officially. Naturally as European Union constitutes some of the most major countries of the world, their medium of exchange has a significant impact onto the exchange market. It is arguably, the second most traded and important currency of the world after the U.S. Dollar. Although accepted by all the euro accepting countries, the European Monetary Union constitutes of 12 countries out of the 27. They share policies and affects. The member states act as a unified economic body and their macro and micro implications and choices are termed and analyzed as one. The first and foremost advantage of the same currency policy is indeed the reduction in transaction costs. To do business, even with the neighboring countries, one has add on additional amounts to the host country so that one’s currency is received there. It was estimated that to do business, the member countries used to spend around 1.5 billion pounds every year to buy and sell foreign currencies so that the visiting people could have money at their disposal. This however was more problematic for the members were naturally inclined to trade with their neighboring countries so as to cut on the transportation costs. However, the cost of transaction eventually reduced the amounts of revenue generation and profits and left them less motives and inclinations to trade. The same currency policy however, by the introduction of the Euro, gave the members the liberty to practically go along the border and do business with the same money that was in his/her pocket

Coronary heart disease in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Coronary heart disease in the UK - Essay Example Cardiovascular diseases cause a lot of health problems in the UK. In 2011, the country experienced approximately 160,000 deaths due to these diseases. Majorities of deaths from heart diseases are brought about by heart attacks; the UK records around 103,000 heart attacks every year. The UK experiences approximately 152,000  strokes every year, which cause more than 40,000 deaths (Department of Health 2010). Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of deaths in the UK and around the world. The disease causes approximately 73,000 deaths in the United Kingdom every year (Mozaffarian et al. 2015). It is estimated that one in  a group of six men and one in  a group of ten women dies as a result of coronary heart disease. In the UK, there are about 2.3 million persons living with the disease. Around the world, approximately 2 million people are affected by coronary heart disease. As people grow old, they become more likely to get CHD; Men are more likely to suffer from the disease when they are much younger as compared to women (Mozaffarian et al. 2015). The high number of deaths caused by coronary heart disease requires immediate intervention in order to curb its spread. It is important to study the condition in order to know its causes, symptoms and establish how to treat it. The building up of fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries that directs blood to the heart causes coronary heart disease. The fat deposits cause the arteries to narrow leading to a reduction in the supply of oxygen to the heart (Shah 2006). The decrease in the supply oxygen causes pain in the chest or even heart attack. The heart is a muscular pump that moves blood to the lungs and the other parts of the body. The blood supplies the body with oxygen and other vital nutrients while taking away carbon dioxide and other waste materials. The heart gets a supply of blood through the coronary

Field Study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Field Study - Assignment Example The climate here is extremely similar to that in the coastal areas a long Mediterranean. Even though, temperatures are comparatively constant, there exist two distinct seasons, which are wet and dry with more than three quarters of yearly precipitation occurring between the month of November and March. Possibly the most outstanding characteristic of the typical weather is the banks of mist that can roll in off the ocean, covering several parts of the city within a short time and disappearing again quickly (Seiffert, 23). The fog is remarkably regular on summer mornings, arising from the cooler ocean and backing up adjacent to the hills, though it may also come from the colder local areas throughout the winter. The fog influences various elevations in different amounts, covering San Francisco in complex prototype of fog and sunshine. The latitude as well as longitude of San Francisco in California is 37Â ° 46' 30" N / 122Â ° 25' 5" W. It covers an area of 47 square miles (2000). Its elevation is 155 feet above the sea level. The average temperatures range between January, 52.3Â °F, August, 62.4Â ° F and an annual average of 58.6Â ° F. The average annual precipitation is also22.1 inches. The Sun is in the North facing slopes. According to my observation, in summer the circulation of temperature around the surface is determined in most of the areas by the result of degree of difference in heating between both land and water surfaces. The temperatures vary between coastal ocean water as well as land surfaces. Land surfaces, which are 15 to 20 miles, inland gets to 350F and even more on several afternoons. During the night, this contrast normally reduces to less than 100. During winter, the mean temperature maxima as well as minima reverse the summer one in that during the day the variations are exceedingly small. At the same time, mean minimum, temperatures reflect large variation and strong gradients. The sheltered valley has coldest temperatures, meaning str ong radiation inversions as well as inadequate vertical diffusion. There is evidence of the effects of wind such as the trees shapes and sand dunes. The trees are not straight in shape. The drifting sand caused by wind has created a number of dune lakes, of which Lake Merced is the largest. In addition, there are water bodies surrounding the San Francisco. The water temperature is warmer than the surrounding air. These temperatures differences are based on water depth. The deeper the water body, the higher the temperatures, and the shallow the water body the lower the temperatures. The city of San Francisco has several geographic features, which include the main landforms of coastal lands, deserts, mountains, as well as, the central valley. The San Francisco Bay is characterized by complex terrain comprising of, the coastal mountain, ranges, inland valleys as well as bays. The elevations of 1500 feet are usually common in the higher grounds of this area. It can obviously be seen tha t normal wind move, over the bay would be radically interrupted in the lowest areas. This is true when the air mass is constant, and velocity of wind is not strong. When winds flowing over the area are strong and unstable air masses, this distortion is lowered. The distortion is higher when there are low-level inversions present with the surface air, under the inversion, moving without the air above the inversion (Borzak 111). This condition is much common during the

European business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

European business - Essay Example The advantages that the member states have are worth an elaborate description and this would be followed shortly. First however lets first mention the euro and the European Monetary Union. The Euro, which is a common currency shared among 16 out of the current 27 member states has had a significant impact onto the union body. Around five countries also generally accept the currency even if they do not recognize it officially. Naturally as European Union constitutes some of the most major countries of the world, their medium of exchange has a significant impact onto the exchange market. It is arguably, the second most traded and important currency of the world after the U.S. Dollar. Although accepted by all the euro accepting countries, the European Monetary Union constitutes of 12 countries out of the 27. They share policies and affects. The member states act as a unified economic body and their macro and micro implications and choices are termed and analyzed as one. The first and foremost advantage of the same currency policy is indeed the reduction in transaction costs. To do business, even with the neighboring countries, one has add on additional amounts to the host country so that one’s currency is received there. It was estimated that to do business, the member countries used to spend around 1.5 billion pounds every year to buy and sell foreign currencies so that the visiting people could have money at their disposal. This however was more problematic for the members were naturally inclined to trade with their neighboring countries so as to cut on the transportation costs. However, the cost of transaction eventually reduced the amounts of revenue generation and profits and left them less motives and inclinations to trade. The same currency policy however, by the introduction of the Euro, gave the members the liberty to practically go along the border and do business with the same money that was in his/her pocket

Field Study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Field Study - Assignment Example The climate here is extremely similar to that in the coastal areas a long Mediterranean. Even though, temperatures are comparatively constant, there exist two distinct seasons, which are wet and dry with more than three quarters of yearly precipitation occurring between the month of November and March. Possibly the most outstanding characteristic of the typical weather is the banks of mist that can roll in off the ocean, covering several parts of the city within a short time and disappearing again quickly (Seiffert, 23). The fog is remarkably regular on summer mornings, arising from the cooler ocean and backing up adjacent to the hills, though it may also come from the colder local areas throughout the winter. The fog influences various elevations in different amounts, covering San Francisco in complex prototype of fog and sunshine. The latitude as well as longitude of San Francisco in California is 37Â ° 46' 30" N / 122Â ° 25' 5" W. It covers an area of 47 square miles (2000). Its elevation is 155 feet above the sea level. The average temperatures range between January, 52.3Â °F, August, 62.4Â ° F and an annual average of 58.6Â ° F. The average annual precipitation is also22.1 inches. The Sun is in the North facing slopes. According to my observation, in summer the circulation of temperature around the surface is determined in most of the areas by the result of degree of difference in heating between both land and water surfaces. The temperatures vary between coastal ocean water as well as land surfaces. Land surfaces, which are 15 to 20 miles, inland gets to 350F and even more on several afternoons. During the night, this contrast normally reduces to less than 100. During winter, the mean temperature maxima as well as minima reverse the summer one in that during the day the variations are exceedingly small. At the same time, mean minimum, temperatures reflect large variation and strong gradients. The sheltered valley has coldest temperatures, meaning str ong radiation inversions as well as inadequate vertical diffusion. There is evidence of the effects of wind such as the trees shapes and sand dunes. The trees are not straight in shape. The drifting sand caused by wind has created a number of dune lakes, of which Lake Merced is the largest. In addition, there are water bodies surrounding the San Francisco. The water temperature is warmer than the surrounding air. These temperatures differences are based on water depth. The deeper the water body, the higher the temperatures, and the shallow the water body the lower the temperatures. The city of San Francisco has several geographic features, which include the main landforms of coastal lands, deserts, mountains, as well as, the central valley. The San Francisco Bay is characterized by complex terrain comprising of, the coastal mountain, ranges, inland valleys as well as bays. The elevations of 1500 feet are usually common in the higher grounds of this area. It can obviously be seen tha t normal wind move, over the bay would be radically interrupted in the lowest areas. This is true when the air mass is constant, and velocity of wind is not strong. When winds flowing over the area are strong and unstable air masses, this distortion is lowered. The distortion is higher when there are low-level inversions present with the surface air, under the inversion, moving without the air above the inversion (Borzak 111). This condition is much common during the

Case Coca-Cola Essay Example for Free

Case Coca-Cola Essay Introduction Coca-Cola is one of the most respected companies in America. Here in the Philippines, Coca-Cola is still the patronized brand of soda. Coca Cola’s refreshing taste provides happiness to the people. Coca-Cola Neville Isdell is the new chief executive after Robert C. Goizueta died. Coca-Cola Company has a sole product line to offer in the market which is the carbonated soda like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Fanta. Coke operations take place in India, China, and other 14 country around the world to reach the target market in dispersed area and to increase their market share. Through the effort of Roberto C. Goizueta, Coca-Cola rapidly grows in the year 1980’s to 1990’s when they introduce the product in the market. Coca Cola bottling operations was given to Cola-Cola Enterprises Inc. which Coca Cola Co. owns 49% of the stocks that allows them have enough control on the operations. Coke has a control on the pricing of the products and the decision on how many vending machines Coca-Cola Enterprises will purchase that will be used in distributing the coke products. Coke rival competitor in the market is the Pepsi Co. which grabs all the opportunities for the company to widen their product line which are interrelated. The goal of PepsiCo is to capture the area where there is strong possibility that they will grow. PepsiCo outlays Coca-Cola in expanding their product line by acquisition and mergers. Background of the problem Statement of the problem †¢What strategy can Coca-Cola use to cope up to the changing environment to become a market driven organization? Analysis of the problem Coca-Cola basically does not adapt changes in the market. They are ignoring the fact that their product is not in trend today. The members of the top management are still thinking in the past and try to strengthen the company by using the tactic that the former CEO Robert Goizueta used long ago. By doing this the company will be customer focus Alternative courses of action †¢Coca-Cola’s top management must initiate the transformation of the company to become a market driven organization. He must influence his subordinates by serving as a role model so that the frontline employees will be encourage to exert more effort in providing satisfaction or delight to customers. †¢Coca-Cola must implement innovation to their products that would fit the customer demand. They can also produce a new line of beverages that are healthy like milk and tea which will be offered to those people who are health conscious and are old citizens of the country. †¢Coca-Cola must acquire or enter in a merge with a beverage business other than soda. By this they can widen their product line and they can have other source of income other than carbonated soda that the demands start to decline. This is cause by the health conscious individuals and the product is perceive as bad to the human body because it can cause acidity if there is too much consumption. â₠¬ ¢Status-quo Recommendation Learning †¢Company must be market oriented, customer focus and possesses competitor intelligence. These factors are very important in providing customer satisfaction or delight. Customer is the one you would think in running your business because without them your business and your concept is useless. †¢Company should be dynamic and are not afraid to adapt to the new trends today. Everything is dynamic or changing, so the company should also be flexible enough to survive in the market in the long run. †¢Top management must be open-minded in the changes in the market to avoid the growth of a business or organization. Once the top management are stock in the traditional mindset and don’t permit change the company will never grow because today nothing is permanent.

Spa and Wellness Trends in Tourism

Spa and Wellness Trends in Tourism The Impact of the Spa and Wellness Trends into the Tourism Industry Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 Growth of Spa and Wellness Spa and Wellness had become the main territory of wealthy women wanting to lose weight and look good by the mid-20th century. Its main focus was on prevention, healthy lifestyles, fitness, spirituality and relaxation. Numbers of people use spas more and more frequently to fulfill some of their most important lifestyle pursuits. Nowadays spa experience covers not only medical and spiritual programs, but also outdoor adventures and exotic travel. These spas are located in every global region, including Africa, the Middle East, and the former Eastern Bloc. The spa has turned into a popular culture, influencing everything from fashion and cosmetics, to architecture, home dà ©cor, and also cuisine. Propelled by the growing wellness trend worldwide, the spa industry is booming. European travelers number one consideration when making plans for their holidays is whether there is spa access. The growth of spa facilities and increased awareness worldwide has led to spa-inspired beauty products, as well as the opening and blossoming of groundbreaking spas and resort all over the world. 1.1.2 History of Spa and Wellness Spa- going has been practiced for many thousands of years dating back from the Mesopotamians, Egyptians and Minoans, to the Greeks and Romans and later, the Ottomans, Japanese and Western Europeans. Some say the word spa actually derives from the Latin verb spagere to pour forth. Other say the origin of the word spa comes from the Belgian town of Spa, known since Roman times for its baths. Other even claim that spa may be an acronym for the Latin phrase sanitas per aquas, which means health through water. 1.1.3 Definition of Spa The word Spa and the idea behind it derive from the time of the Roman Empire when a big number of soldiers tried to find a solution to heal their wounds. They looked for hot wells and used it as a kind of bathtub to be able to treat their aching and pain on their bodies, these places were named aquae and the bathing treatment Sanus Per Aquam (SPA), which means, health by or through water. After this incident SPA became famous throughout Europe starting in Belgium where it all started, from mineral water, to sea water and marine substances. Even until today, the ideas of these healing forms are the basis of the spa culture worldwide and hydrotherapy is seen as its major highlight. Well-being, as well as allowing you to relax, reflect, revitalise, and rejoice is the main importance in Spa. Mens sana in Corpore sanoA healthy Spirit lives in a Healthy Body 1.1.4 The West In 500 BC, the Greeks indulged in a variety of social baths, which included hot air baths. In 25 BC, the Roman Emperor designed and created the first, so called, thermae, which is a large-scale spa. Each subsequent emperor then built something new to this thermae, which made the people grow fonder of these baths. They progressively grew into large entertainment complexes offering not only sports, but also restaurants, and other various types of baths. After such baths, the next visit was to three increasingly warmer quarters, where the body was soaked, rubbed in with oils, massaged and finally exfoliated. The practice would end with a cold plunge in ice water. Besides the Roman combination of hot and cold baths, spa traditions kept growing spreading itself all over the world. For example in Japan, its first onsen (hot spring), and later the first ryoken (inns) which were built, offered exceptional food, accommodations, Zen gardens, outdoor baths as well as indoor soaking tubs.(http://www.topspahotels.com) In Finland saunas began appearing in 1000 A.D., inducting a rich Finnish spa-going tradition, which includes a treatment of sweating, as well as icy lake plunges, and to top it off plenty of beer or vodka. Nowadays these procedures still exists. And also the Ottomans were famous for their arched and beautifully mosaic hammam, the ultimate example is the Baths of Roxelana, which was built in 1556 and were equipped with the massive towering steam rooms, even containing private washing quarters, and extensive massage platforms. Roxelana became an important social center, mainly for Muslim women (http://www.topspahotels.com) After these times, Spas became famous all around, starting in Europe, namely Belgium, Germany, and England. It even stretched to the United States of America, because in 1986 New York opened the first travel agency specializing in spa vacations. Since that time, the spa industry has grown from a baby egg business into a booming billion dollar global industry. In the 19th century, Europes great spas were destinations for wealthy people, who went there to relax and rejuvenate. Until today, water treatments are still considered the heart of the spa experience in Europe. 1.2 Backgrounds This research attempts to examine strengths, threats, risks as well as opportunities and challenges Spa and Wellness Industries have to face, concerning on-going trends of the West and how they are influenced by Asian countries, as well as the changes of values and attitudes of tourists. Many people think or believe that Spa derives from Asia, due to all the marketing advertisements promotions and so on, but what they fail to realize is that, spa has also been in the west for a long period of time dating back centuries ago. Some tourists go to spa and wellness facilities to pamper themselves, relax and ease there minds as well as to get away from the hustle and bustle of their daily life style, but what they do not take into consideration, is that spas can cause more damage to their health, if they have specific pains or injuries which could worsen their condition. 1.3 Research Objectives The study can be used to have a better understanding of the Spa and Wellness Industry and the needs of consumers. It also provides strategies on how to improve Spa facilities. The specific objectives of this study are: to understand the spa and wellness market and the key factors to identify various treatments, including their benefits and risks to investigate requirements and necessities of spa- goers to recognize top spa trends that are booming to develop opportunities on how Spa facilities can progress in the future 1.4 Research Problems and Questions This research is trying to clearly respond to several questions that might be raised from this topic: 1. What are the benefits and risks of massage therapies and what could be done to minimize the risks at spa centers? 2. How did the value and attitude of tourists change, also concerning their age? 3. How was the West influenced by Asian countries, concerning the Spa and wellness industry? 4. What are top spa trends and what could be their opportunities and challenges? 5. What effect does the Spa and wellness industry have on men, since the majority of spa- goers are women? 1.5 Importance of Significance of the study Hotel industries as well as spa and wellness facilities could benefit from this study, because it points out facts like for example risks that have to be looked in further when running a spa making sure water supply is in order etc. This study also states the mentalities tourists have when it comes to their values and attitudes concerning spas and furthermore how men nowadays are more interested in going to spa facilities. This could benefit these industries to change, promote or add extra facilities for men or even open spas for men only. The importance of this study is to make sure hotels and spa facilities are aware of all these changes, challenges as well as risks and how they can benefit from the stated facts and solutions for improvement. 1.6 Scope and Delimitation of the study A major weakness of this research, which was beyond the control of the researcher, was that there was a big time constrain. There were also not that many plausible literatures available. Furthermore there are various websites and opinions of the correct definition of spa and wellness, and lack of statistics. 1.7 Conceptual Framework and Theoretical Framework This research is written in a way to explain different objectives in harmonic and well associated sentences to carry out the researchers intentions clearly. It explains how all the above listed points in Figure 1 relate to the Spa and wellness Industry. It describes the popular treatments with their risks and benefits and also states the factors that are important to a human body to feel at ease and be in a relaxed state of mind. Furthermore, the Alpine Wellness is explained and how Spas in the West are influenced by other Asian countries not only concerning their therapies but more in terms of colours, lighting, dà ©cor and ambiance. Moreover the perception of consumers concerning their values and attitudes are listed and how men are more and more becoming a part of the Spa and wellness industry. Lastly, trends of this industry are explained which also goes hand in hand with opportunities and challenges they might face in the future. II Review of Related Literature: 2.1 Alpine Wellness Before, wellness was only associated with well-being and relaxation. However, now wellness is also connected with health. That is why the Alpine region is especially suited for this type of wellness, because Alpine remedies, like fresh air, pure and healthy spring water, the mild, invigorating climate, mountain freshness, herbs, stone oil combined with traditional knowledge and a balanced life has meant Alpine wellness has become a new trend, also with its interior furnishing, alpine cuisine and different atmosphere. That is why today Alpine Wellness is a special form of wellness offering hay baths to herbal saunas, natural applications and products, surrounded by South Tyrols, Austria, fascinating mountain landscape. Alpine Wellness refers to nature, culture and life quality in the area. It displays an original charm of the alpine environment, which makes the special sensuality of the Alps a unique and exclusive experience.Therefore the Alps are promoted worldwide as one of the most attractive and effective regions for wellness. (http://www.alpinewellness.com) 2.2 Facial Treatments A facial deeply cleanses and maintains the skin by exfoliating dead skin cells. The goal is to maintain smooth, clear, well-hydrated skin. Its the second most popular spa service after the massage.Trying to stop our natural ageing process is not quite possible yet, but we can help our skins age with just a few simple steps. We need a lot of fresh air, enough sleep, relaxation, lots of water and a diet of fruits and vegetables so our skin stays free from blemishes. Nevertheless, there are companies that have even come up with gadgets, which can slow down premature aging.Slendertone, the British company behind the homonymous body trainers that tone the silhouette through electric stimulation of the muscles, has released a corresponding product for the face on Sept 9. As part of a 12-week plan, the Slendertone Face is supposed to help stimulate the muscles of the face through pads that, attached to the skin, receive small electric shocks (http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=38421) A facial is given by a licensed esthetician with special training in skin care; it involves a few basic steps: cleansing, skin analysis, exfoliation, massage, extraction of blackheads and other impurities, and application of products targeted to your skin type (dry, oily, mixed, sensitive, and mature). On the contrary of the West, the tropical Asian women have a head start on giving their skin all kinds of treatments, because the basic steps have always been a part of their traditional life style for centuries. They have easy access to the ingredients they need for the preparation of their facial treatments, because they can harvest them right off their botanical garden.The West does not have the same opportunities as Asians have and therefore use a night cream or neck cream and new oxygen creams. Asians on the other hand used and still use raw plant extract to get rid off dead skin cells, fight acne, replenish moisture or achieve an SPF.That is why a lot of women gather themselves in Asian spas, where they get traditional treatments, without any chemical input, but still giving them the softest skin and a very relaxed state of mind.They will most probably have their faces treated with some ingredients, which they will also be able to find in their refrigerator at home. Examples for these treatments are: Traditional honey- cucumber facial (honey, lime, cucumber) Traditional facial (corn, rice powder, cucumber juice, carrot juice.) 2.3 Factors of a complete well-being Although our bodies detoxify naturally every day most of us lead busy lives that make it impossible for our bodies to eliminate these toxins completely, which leads to a build-up in our systems. (http://www.mirrorreaderoffers.co.uk) Therefore the most important factors for a complete well-being are not only healthy and steady weight or solid relationships, but most importantly the rejection of tobacco, sparing of alcohol, managing stress and having a high knowledge level. Once one has fulfilled all of the points mentioned above, one will feel at ease, relaxed and out of worries, making it possible for a person to have a piece of mind. 2.3.1 Accommodation The accommodation of a Spa and wellness facility plays a very important role. The wellness hotels have to be located in a very heartwarming relaxing area, away from all the traffic, noise, pollution etc., where the guests have to be able to feel at ease and get their desired treatment in a dimmed room with a relaxing atmosphere and warm colors.For the guests it is also important to have a good choice of nutrition. The hotel has to offer light, healthy food, which also tastes excellent. They have to have a stunning, breathtaking view from their room, where they can watch and observe the scenery while having a glass of wine on the balcony.Of course facilities such as, swimming pools, whirlpools, sports club, fitness center, sauna, steam room, beauty salon, hairdresser, health center, bar and nightclub have to be put at the customers disposal as well. But of course wellness is not enough. The main relaxation of a guest to fulfill his or her stay is, hospitality, comfort, a homey ambianc e, personal care and many more comforting factors which are food for the soul. 2.4 Massage Therapy Massage therapy is seen as the oldest methods of healing, nearly 4000 years old. It is often referred to the use of many techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body. These therapies are usually done by using the hand, but other body parts such as elbows, forearms, or feet can be put into action as well. One applies fix or movable pressure, rocking, vibration, holding, kneading and compression. These massage therapies are a positive influence to the overall health and well-being of the person. Therapies are for example Acupressure (using fingers or even toes to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the bodys natural ability to heal itself) and Acupuncture (stimulates key points of the body by inserting needles) 2.4.1 Benefits of Massage therapy There are many beneficial aspects of a massage therapy to a human body. For example it relaxes the whole body, by relieving tired and aching muscles, at the same time it also loosens tight muscles, and it also increases flexibility and range of motion and diminishes chronic pain. Additionally it calms the nervous system, lowers blood pressure and heart rate. Moreover it enhances skin tone and assists in recovery from injuries and illness and strengthens the immune system. Furthermore this kind of therapy can reduce tension headaches and mental stress as well as improve concentration, promote restful sleep and lastly aid in mental relaxation.They can relieve muscle tension and pain in people who suffer from chronic back pain, or who have had an injury from sports or a car accident. Mental Benefits of Massage Therapy Fosters peace of mind Promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness Helps relieve mental stress Improves ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity Emotional Benefits Satisfies needs for caring nurturing touch Fosters a feeling of well-being Reduces levels of anxiety Creates body awareness Increases awareness of mind-body connection (http://www.holisticonline.com/Massage/mas_benefits.htm) 2.5 Spas for men According to the International Spa Association men are going to Spas more often, not just to get a sports massage and manicures, but also trying out new things, like cocoa butter rubdowns, body wraps etc. Men look for treatments that relieve shaving irritation or something that soothes the skin from dry weather conditions. They want to be given the impression that they do not have to be in the same room as a bunch women getting their nails done etc. so they look for a Spa that offers private rooms and other facilities like hot tubs and waiting rooms. Nowadays there are even Men only Spas like in New York City, the Nickel Spa for Men or in Washington D.C, Grooming Lounge and the Absolute Spa at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver. More over, according to a Malaysian Newspaper The Sun (28/09/2009), nowadays there is even extra nail polish only for men, referred to as male polish, which is supposedly to be the next big thing. Often used for filling and strengthening nails, there are also first product lines such as the one by hip Berlin label Uslu Airlines that focus on aesthetics. These nail polishes for men are ranging from RM 14 RM 105 each. Knowing that mens skin requires specific care, Nugeno Men has introduced an ultimate skincare range formulated especially for the modern men on-the-go. As healthy skin is the most important element of a great looking face, skincare solution is made easy to achieve and critical that one can do it at home on a daily fuss-free basis (http://www.sun2surf.com/section.cfm?id=24) 2.6 Body Treatments Body treatments are basically a facial for the whole body. It is just as important to wash and hydrate the skin on the body, as it is the skin of the face. Various Spa centers provide a wide variety of essential oils or scrub materials, such as orange blossom, peppermint salt glow, cucumber salt glow and many more. After the body scrub, one might want to make an additional body mask, which involves an application of mud, algae or seaweed over the entire body and afterwards wrapped in a thermal blanket, which is a treatment that stimulates the metabolic system, immediately fastening to carry away waste products. Another famous treatment is the so called body wrap , which originally was a treatment where bandages or plastic wraps was tightly wrapped around the body in order to induce weight loss through a process called vasodilatation. (http://www.populararticles.com/category160.html) . Now it is seen as a treatment used to treat or prevent cellulite. Afterwards the body wrap usually ends with an application of lotion. This treatment is also called a body cocoon or body mask 2.6.1 Benefits and threats of Body Treatments The benefits of a body wrap is to get rid off the body toxins through metabolic stimulation and softening the skin as well afterwards, by applying Shea butter and rich lotions which are hydrating treatments. On the other hand, there are different threats when it comes to a body scrub, for example one should not expect a body wrap to be a massage. You can get both treatments. Another common threat would be, that if a person has claustrophobia, body scrub, wrap or mask, may not be the right treatment. Furthermore one might be left alone during the treatment, so if there is uncomforting feeling due to that, then one should ask before booking the service. Yet, although there are some threats, there are also various positive aspects when looking at a body treatment. They are proven effective and safe for use in increasing blood circulation, improving appearance of skin, hair, and nails, as well as supporting the immune system functions, furthermore enhancing removal of toxins and waste products, also increasing the healing rate of soft tissue and finally helping relieve of discomfort and pain. Stress reduction and relief, soothing sore joints and muscles, and simply feeling better about oneself. (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/spas-the-risks-and-benefits) 2.7 Risks of Spas According to Elizabeth Heubeck, while spas promise to restore, refresh, and renew and some offer even more explicit health claims they generally dont warn you of the potential risks involved, which do exist.Certain spa treatments can worsen chronic and acute health conditions. All spas can establish risks to the general public, especially when operated in a state of uncleanliness.One can never tell how clean a spas water or supply is. But one can try to minimize the risk of becoming infected by contaminated water or supplies. (http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/guide/risks-of-spa-treatments) Poor water quality can transform into a breeding ground for microbes or germs, which could lead to skin boils from a chain of unhygienic whirlpool footbaths, which are used as part of a pedicure treatment. A report released by the CDC in 2004 showed that more than half of all public hot tub spas in the US violate public health safety standards. Of the 5,000 spas inspected, 57% breached at least one safety violation. Poor water quality was the most common violation. (http://www.littlespeck.com/content/health/CTrendsHealth-051218.htm) Some people find it extremely relaxing to sit in a sauna, a wooden room infused with dry heat that supposedly eliminates toxins as it opens pores and promotes sweating. But if you have the flu, the cold, a respiratory infection, or an asthma flare-up, you should not be sitting in the sauna. 2.7.1 What can you do to reduce your risk of infection at spas? One has to lurk around the spa area before getting some kind of treatment as well as observe the spa for general cleanliness and also listen to the people who have been there before (word of mouth). It is recommended to bring the own equipment to avoid the threat of contamination, when asking for special treatments.One should also be very careful if there are any open cuts or wounds one the body, one should cancel the appointment until they have healed, because any open area of the skin can stimulate infection.But knowing the risks that pertain to you and carefully judging the cleanliness of a spa before making an appointment, it can take a long time to ensure ones safety and satisfaction. If one is not sure about a certain treatment, which might affect ones wellbeing, then one should consult a doctor first. (http://www.littlespeck.com/content/health/CTrendsHealth-051218.htm) 2.8 How the West is influenced by Asia The interior designs of the western modernity are the influences of the Asian culture, an example of that would be the colour pink, which plays a big role in it. The best example for this is the Yi Spa in Berlin. Since 2006 the modern Spa with an Asian flare seduces its customers in absolute relaxation. On 130 square meters diverse far eastern healing methods are applied. The team is led by three Thai women with the motto of We know the way to 7th heaven. Asian massage arts like baths, packages, and peelings and so on are provided with natural products, relaxing music, small snacks and exotic drinks for long lasting stress reduction. The hectic big city jungle immediately recedes after entering a wellness oasis. Slate, stone and dark wood in combination with magenta lures one to let him or her be spoiled from head to toe by such a peaceful atmosphere. The western people who have been to Asian countries are inspired by the beautiful surroundings and therefore remember or look forward to their relaxing, enchanting and far eastern vacation experience. One Problem that is faced is that there are various Chinese herbal pharmacies in the West, which is living proof of the crossover between east and west. These pharmacies are usually run by western biologists and supply mostly to non-Asians, where they get Chinese medical diagnosis and are prescribed herbal prescriptions, which they bring to their house and make up into a tea.The only problem is that very often there is a language and cultural difficulty, which prevents customers from coming into such kind of shops. There are differences as well as similarities of the philosophies between Eastern and Western medical models. The biggest difference in philosophy between them is how each sees the body. Western medicine looks upon the body as being very mechanistic. In former times the beginning of the scientific study of the body through autopsy and the scientific method states that the mans physical body is separate from his soul. Traditional Chinese Medicine dates back to nearly 5000 years. It views the body as an ecosystem, a garden within a garden. Their philosophy comes from Taoist teachings and is one of integration and balance. They believe in a life force called Qi, which flows through the body giving life energy. When the flow of Qi is disrupted the body becomes out of balance. A diagnosis in Traditional Medicine differs from the Western medicine. The western people go to a doctor and complain about certain illnesses or pains. Afterwards a practitioner formulates a diagnosis and treatment of the symptoms. They believe that diseases develop from established causes, which are then treated by more or less fixed protocols. (http://www.uwosh.edu/eap/updates/docs/Fall%202001%20Vol.%205%202.doc) Whereas, the Chinese relies on the three basic methods of diagnosis, namely: Tounge Pulse. Patterns 2.9 Trends Why do people go to visit Spas? The trend to wellness is the product of various overall social trends. More and more people have the opportunity nowadays of decision-making- which was unthinkable in former times, where they were forced to follow certain political, economical or social statuses. A few examples of the changes are the age of getting married is increasing, and the education nowadays takes longer and a lifetime of learning is postulated. They also feel that they are responsible for their own health and therefore are ready to change their lifestyle for it. They would like to stay in shape and also at the same time away from any possible diseases. It has been proven that people with high blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol have a higher chance of getting ill. Therefore more and more people have the necessity to improve these risk factors by having a wide interest in exercise and nutrition. Exercise and nutrition is also part of getting old. Wide ranges of older people want to have a longer life and therefore there is a connection between the increasing life expectancy and the wellness trend. Here in particular we find a high interest in healthy nutrition, relaxation- and concentration techniques and also food supplements (Vitamins, trace elements etc.) Women have more and more influence in social development. The increasing educational level and the growing participation of women in the workforce lead to their having a higher salary and higher influence in politics and economy. In Austria respectively Germany, women bring as much money home as men.Women are the one that show more interest in these matters. Fitness and health magazines are mostly read by women, it is more likely for them to change their lifestyle to a healthier one.However Wellness is not only a trend for women. A lot of men are starting to take more interest in it as well and will in some degree- grow stronger in the future. Spiritual tourism adds to this education of people seeking for a meaning while on vacation. The increasing individualism of our society and the loss of common traditions have combined to expand the need to find something deeper and more meaningful.Bookstores have a lot of literature about self-healing, Buddhism or esoteric subjects. That is why more and more people are also starting to use their holidays to look for a new kind of inner peace. Spiritual tourism has become one of the fastest growing segments in the travel industry worldwide; even it might be one of the oldest forms of tourism. Examples for this are Muslims traveling to Mecca, or Sikhs visiting the Golden Temple and Christians and Jews visiting the Holy Land. 2.9.1 Top Spa Trends One trend is the Healthy Sleep at the Spa. With sleep comes exercise, nutrition and stress management. Hotels and resorts will put greater importance on creating ideal sleep environments, by minimal light and sound, aromatherapy, and ultra-relaxing spa treatments. Also Detox at the Spa became a trend. As culture continues to discover more toxins such as stress, environmental pollution etc, Spas look for more people to turn to spas for a range of detox solutions, which usually includes relaxation, all-organic diets, sweating, exercise, steams and saunas. The next trend is Spa Retreats at Resort Spas. For years destination spas have offered specialty weeks in yoga, sexual health, or medical concerns such as quitting smoking. Now resorts and hotels are getting into the retreat business, adding specialty programs or special accommodations that appeal to their past guests. Another trend is Medical Tourism. Western people are travelling to global destinations, often in beautiful, culturally rich Asian countries like Bangkok, South Africa and India, where treatments are more affordable than in their own countr