Alcoholism Essays - Alcohol Abuse, Twelve-step Programs, Free Essays

Alcoholism Essays - Alcohol Abuse, Twelve-step Programs, Free Essays Alcoholism Alcoholism is a disease of epidemic proportions, affecting 9.3 to 10 million Americans, and many professionals believe the figures are closer to 20 million (Weddle and Wishon). Alcoholism is a "physiological or physiological dependence on alcohol characterized by the alcoholic?s inability to control the start or termination of his drinking"(Encyclopedia Britannica 210). It consists of frequent and recurring consumption of alcohol to an extent that causes continued harm to the drinker and leads to medical and social problems. Alcoholism, however, does not merely cause harm to the alcoholic, but to the entire family as well, affecting an estimated 28 million children in this country (Weddle and Wishon). These children grow up in the unhealthy and abnormal family systems harmed by alcoholism, carrying the negative effects of this environment with them into adulthood. Consequently, adult children of alcoholics are the innocent victims of a disease which has shaped thei! r personalities and behavior as children and will, if not treated, promote their personal disintegration as adults. Most alcoholics don?t fit the stereotype of the lying in the gutter drunk. Alcoholics are likely to be persons of intense, if sometimes brief, enthusiasms. They often try to do too much too fast. They tend to demand perfection in themselves and in others. Frustrated, they may become painfully depressed or overly aggressive. There is a lack of inner stability with which to face life?s problems in a realistic manner (AL-Anon). As the disease of alcoholism sets in, the family is forced to make an unspoken decision?to leave the alcoholic or to stay and adapt to his illness. Because they do not want to disrupt their own lives or leave a love one, they deny the problem and try to adapt to the pressures and problems that alcoholism brings. Typically, as alcoholism takes over, the alcoholic becomes increasingly preoccupied with drinking. This can lead to spending less time at home, and neglecting their responsibility to the family. The following are symptoms of alcoholism (Alateen 5): Loss of control. The loss of control is usually progressive. At first the alcoholic can control his drinking most of the time. But he sometimes gets drunk when he doesn?t wants to. Eventually, he loses control more and more. Progression. The alcoholic may not drink more, but he gets drunk more often. He becomes less dependable. He becomes more and more obsessed with drinking and less and less concerned about his responsibilities. Withdrawal symptoms. When the alcoholic stops drinking he may suffer nausea and vomiting, headaches and the "shakes." He is usually is very irritable. He may even hallucinate. This is known as the DT?s (delirium tremens). Personality change. The alcoholic seems to have a Jekyll and Hyde personality. When he drinks, he is very different from the way he is when he is not drinking. Blackouts. These are a form of amnesia. The alcoholic really does not remember what has happened. Blackouts can even occur when the alcoholic isn?t drunk, lasting a few minutes or entire days. At first, we may think alcoholism is called a family disease because it seems to run in families. Most Al-Anon members are spouses of alcoholics. But they are often the children of alcoholics as well. They may have brothers or sisters who have the disease or are married to alcoholics. Doctors have observed that there are often more than one alcoholic in a family; for this reason they have said that there is a family tendency to develop alcoholism, just as there is a family tendency to develop diabetes ( Alateen 6). According to a recent study, if you are raised in an alcoholic home you have one chance in four of growing up to marry an alcoholic (Porterfield 120). The reasons are simple. Children of alcoholics learned to tolerate behavior that other people consider abnormal or bizarre; they have memorized how to live with an alcoholic. Most kids of alcoholic parents do drink, even if just socially. According to Coping with an Alcoholic Parent: Ninety-three percent of high school seniors have tried alcohol. Seventy percent use it once a month. One out every five high school seniors drinks daily. Some researchers think that as many as one third of the teenagers can

Mental Maps - How We See the World

Mental Maps - How We See the World A persons perception of the world is known as a mental map. A mental map is an individuals own internal map of their known world. Geographers like to learn about the mental maps of individuals and how they order the space around them. This can be investigated by asking for directions to a landmark or other location, by asking someone to draw a sketch map of an area or describe that area, or by asking a person to name as many places (i.e. states) as possible in a short period of time. Its quite interesting what we learn from the mental maps of groups. In many studies, we find that those of lower socioeconomic groups have maps which cover smaller geographic areas than the mental maps of affluent individuals. For instance, residents of lower-income areas of Los Angeles know about upscale areas of the metropolitan area such as Beverly Hills and Santa Monica but really dont know how to get there or where they are exactly located. They do perceive that these neighborhoods are in a certain direction and lie between other known areas. By asking individuals for directions, geographers can determine which landmarks are embedded in the mental maps of a group. Many studies of college students have been performed around the world to determine their perception of their country or region. In the United States, when students are asked to rank the best places to live or the place they would most like to move to, California and Southern Florida consistently rank very high. Conversely, states such as Mississippi, Alabama, and the Dakotas rank low in the mental maps of students who dont live in those regions. Ones local area is almost always viewed most positively and many students, when asked where theyd like to move, just want to stay in the same area where they grew up. Students in Alabama rank their own state as a great place to live and would avoid the North. It is quite interesting that there are such divisions in the mental maps between the northeast and southeast portions of the country which are remnants of the Civil War and a division over 140 years ago. In the United Kingdom, students from around the country are quite fond of the southern coast of England. Far northern Scotland is generally perceived negatively and even though London is near the cherished southern coast, there is an island of slightly negative perception around the metropolitan area. Investigations of mental maps show that the mass medias coverage and stereotypical discussions and coverage of places around the world has a major effect on peoples perception of the world. Travel helps to counter the effects of the media and generally increase a persons perception of an area, especially if it is a popular vacation destination.

Starting a Business Online Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Starting a Business Online - Assignment Example It is in this context that reselling of domain names to third parties, as mentioned in the case, is likely to increase the chances of fraudulent and miscommunication in the business process further leading to customer dissatisfaction. This can be considered as a legality constraint while selling a domain name (Clayton & Moore, 2011). In the referred case, the domain name of the organization can be identified playing a vital role to provide a professional appearance in the online business which can be more viable for the enterprise in its future conducts. However, the domain names also transmit some disputes along with it. For instance, the selling of domain names are often identified to increase the risks of subjectivity in terms that the future prospects of generating significant cash flows in future can raise confusions in calculating its proper valuation (Investopedia, 2012). Therefore, considering the future chances of generating larger cash flows and other constraints in terms o f subjectivity and legality, it would be a better decision not to sell the domain name at the quoted price. Answer 2 The catalog display in the e-commerce involve with the facilities to display the products or the features of providing services with regards to online sales. The concept of e-commerce entails with the visual communication about various products/services along with the different varieties, ingredients, and pricing options to the customers. The catalog display of e-business is one of the major tools which communicates and provides browsing options in order to assist the user in acquiring the desired products/services presenting additional and comprehensive information concerning promotional offers (Chopra, n.d.). Similarly, the shopping cart is also regarded as one of the major facets in the e-commerce business model. It assists the customers to maintain a track of the products purchased of those which have been selected for purchased through the electronic shopping car ts. It further allows the customers to check and recheck their purchases adding new items in the cart as well as, if wished, removing any products while making their ultimate purchases. This in turn can assist the organization to build up a productive relationship with its targeted customer group (King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, n.d.). Furthermore, the business transaction processing signifies the set of practice or actions of performed through online or e-commerce software. It is often regarded to act as a system which is performed as a base for other allied operations in the online e-commerce system and thus play a vital role in serving the customers in a better way. As customers are able to obtain superior quality assistance from the marketer through online sites owing to the virtues of transaction processing, organizational are also benefited in terms of enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty (Becherer & Halstead, 2004). Answer 3 In this present competitive sce nario, the online business entrepreneurs must need to look after various criteria to facilitate the customers rendering them ease in accessing the site. Therefore, building the online website as per the customers’ convenience is one of the crucial factors to accumulate and sustain in the current competitive e-commerce portfolio. The initial step of instigating an e-business model is the registration of a special domain which should reflect the registered name of the organization. The next step

Marketing Principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

Marketing Principles - Essay Example ncepts of IKEA, it has been apparently observed that the company has been fundamentally implementing the core marketing concepts of market driving and strong supplier base relationship approaches. From the perspective of market driving approach, the company focuses upon altering the existing circumstances of its overall business environment in several ways. Commonly, the ways include developing the exclusive internal business procedures, effectively shaping the structure of the target market creating strong influences on the industry structure and most importantly, offering products and/or services to the customers with innovative value propositions. For instance, with regard to strong supplier base relationship approach, the company was able to successfully identify the requirements of forming as well as maintaining strong interrelation with its different suppliers with the purpose of competing with the chief business market players and subsequently increasing the customer base in i ts targeted market (Tarnovskaya & et. al., n.d.). The different elements of marketing process of IKEA have been identified as offering inclusive product ranges along with attaining competitive pricing benefits through the effective utilisation of its valuable resources. In relation to analyse one of the imperative constituents of marketing procedure of IKEA, it can be observed that the company largely focuses upon producing better design and quality products at low prices. With regard to the effective utilisation of the available resources as another imperative element of its marketing process, IKEA emphasises upon maximising its required raw materials to satisfy the needs as well as the preferences of the customers by a greater extent (Inter IKEA Systems B.V., 2012). It is worth mentioning in this context that the company has earned a significant amount of revenue as well as attained huge business growth due to its effectual adoption as well as implementation of core marketing

Coursework Rates of reaction Essay Example for Free

Coursework Rates of reaction Essay Investigating the effect of concentration on the rate of reaction Skill(s) assessed: Topic C10 [Experiment 9 (in S4)] Investigating the factors affecting the rate of reaction IGCSE Coursework Skills C2, C3, C4 Some of the factors affecting the rate of a reaction that you have studied are:   Temperature   Concentration   Surface area Aim: Investigating the effect of changing the concentration on the reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid, by collecting the carbon dioxide gas given off. CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) Hypothesis: My hypothesis is that as we increase the concentration of the HCl, the rate of the reaction will be faster; this is because more collisions will be present Materials: Small calcium carbonate chips Dilute hydrochloric acid (1 moldm-3) Distilled water Delivery tube Bowl Conical flask (100ml) Beaker Measuring cylinder (100 cm3) Stop watch Balance Clamp Clamp holder Safety Glasses. Method: 1. Collect all materials 2. Fill the bowl and the 100 cm3 cylinder with water 3. Holding the end so that the water doesnt go out, turn the cylinder upside down and place it down the bowl, keeping it still with the clamp, put the delivery tube at the hole of the cylinder 4. Weight 3g of small size calcium carbonate chips 5. Put on your safety glasses 6. Add the 3g of small carbonate chips into the conical flask 7. Add the HCl acid in the conical flask 8. Quickly afterwards put a cork so that you shut all air entries in the conical flask 9. At the same time as you place the cork, start timing how much it takes to get 50cm3 of gas 10. Repeat this experiment using different concentrations of HCl acid by diluting the acid with distilled water, to make it a fair test use always the same amount of chips and always reach 25cm3 in the measuring cylinder so that only concentration and not amount will affect the rate of reaction. 11. Record your results in a neat and tidy table Results: Table: Volume of 1. 0 mol dm^-3 HCl (cm^3) Volume of H2O (cm^3) Concentration of HCl (mol dm^-3) Time (s) to reach 50ml Time to reach 100ml   Graph: Anomalous Results: In this experiment we were lucky to find no anomalous results at all, everything went on as we planned it was going to go like. Conclusion: As you can see in the graph, our hypothesis was right, as we increased the concentration of the HCl acid in out experiment, more collision were happening and therefore the time for it to reach 50ml was becoming smaller and smaller, meaning that the reaction was becoming faster. So we end up with the conclusion; more concentration of acid = faster rate of reactions = more collision. We could also see in the trend/pattern that at first, when we started increasing by only 0. 2 in concentration, the time for it to reach 50ml decreased from 38 to 17 seconds, almost half of what it was before!. After a while, as we increased the concentration, the difference between the two concentrations began to get smaller and smaller, it first started at decreasing from 38s to 17s, then from 17s to 9s, 9s to 7s and from 7 to five seconds. At this last 2 differences, at the change from 0. 6 to 0. 8, and 0. 8 to 1 in mol dm^-3 of concentration of HCl, the difference was in both only of 2s, showing off that if the acid was yet too concentrated, and almost getting to being fully concentrated, the difference in time to reach the 50ml will become smaller and smaller. Evaluation/Improvement: The experiment was carried out really well, there was no significant anomalous result which indicated that we were doing the right thing, the experiment fulfilled our hypothesis decision, it went on as we planned it would. We should have repeated the experiment, repeating the experiment would have given us much more accurate results, and we have used the same balance for each measuring of calcium carbonate, so that we make it a fair test.

understanding diabetes and its complications :: essays research papers

Understanding Diabetes and Its Complications   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An estimated 16 million people in the United States have diabetes-more than one third are not aware that they have the disease. This year alone, more than 798,000 cases will be diagnosed. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death by disease in the United States; this year alone, more than 187,000 Americans will die from this disease and its complications (CDC). Education about diabetes is essential to understanding the disease and preventing its complications.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, systemic disturbance in the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein, and fat (ADA, Medical Management 3). The term diabetes derives from the Greek word which means â€Å"to go through a siphon.† Thus diabetes refers to the overproduction of urine known as polyuria. Mellitus comes from the Latin word mel (honey) and describes the sweet odor of the urine. Diabetes occurs when the beta cells of the pancreas fail to produce or secrete an adequate amount of insulin. Diabetes also effects the vascular and nervous system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In order to understand diabetes, it is important to understand how we normally metabolize food. Our bodies are composed of millions of cells, and in order to function, these cells must create energy. This energy comes from glucose. Glucose is mainly obtained from food.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When we eat, food enters the digestive system and is broken down into glucose. The three components from which glucose is made are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Carbohydrates convert 100% into glucose; protein converts 50-60%; and fat converts 10%. Once food is broken down into glucose, it can be absorbed in the blood and carried to the cells of the body. However, for glucose to enter the cells, insulin must be present.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Insulin is a hormone that regulates the entire absorption process. It acts like a key that can unlock the doors of the cell. Cells have receptor sites, like keyholes, that receive insulin. When insulin attaches to a receptor site, a passageway is created that enables glucose to enter the cell. Once glucose is absorbed in this manner, it can be immediately used for the use of energy or it can be stored as glycogen in the liver and muscle cells for future use. Excess glucose is converted into fat. The normal fasting glucose level is 70-100 mg/dl; after meals is 70-140 mg/dl.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are two classifications of diabetes. These are Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 diabetes, individuals have no insulin secretion, therefore they are prone to breaking down fat and having high ketone levels, which requires insulin injections to maintain life.

Can leaders be flexible Essay

Yes, I do believe that leaders can be flexible in the way they interact with others, or change their behaviors or personalities so to suit the situation. Also, they might need to focus on followers needs/behaviors or their level of readiness by changing or shifting behavioral their leadership style. One theory might describe and support this concept is the situational leadership theory which requires leaders to center their leadership style or behaviors according to their followers level. This theory was initially created by Hersey and Blanchard (1969) and has approaches that concern for people productions as well as shows that there is no one best style of behavior for a leader (Norris, 1992). Most importantly, the situational theory require leader to adjust his behavior and leadership style to features of followers and situation. Therefore, it might be important to look at the four styles described by Hersey and Blanchard to identify the situations that any leader might have to change his style or behavior. There are situations where leader might have to be flexible with his followers by giving them less responsibly and delegation of tasks due to their lack of knowledge/experience, or if they are newly hired etc. the leader in this case might need to utilize the †telling style† whereby there is more of directing and controlling of leader to his followers. In this behavioral style, leader’s role involves telling his follower on what and how to perform their tasks step by step. In my working experience, for example, I tend to use this style when training people whom are newly hired or inexperienced and require a lot of assistance or hints when in doubt. I might sometimes need to †spill out the responsibilities† or duties for perform to make sure that they are still on focus. Knowing that differences between tasks and relationships behaviors as described in Hughes et al (1996), I agree that the telling style does have high task and low relationship with followers because followers in this stage are unable to perform any delegated tasks and that means should be giving detailed instructions. Another situational and behavioral style is the selling style whereby the leader is acting both as a director and supporter toward his followers. This style might be more effective if followers are delegated toward some responsibility and have an adequate knowledge of performing their tasks. The leader in this case is only giving directions and guideline when any deviation is observed. In term of skills and ability, the leader is also to promote his followers’ skills throughout. Because of that, it ca be said that in this behavioral style, the leader is †coaching† i.e. there is higher tasks delegation and higher relationship with followers. In the participating style, the leader exercises low tasks delegations but high relationship with followers. This is because in this style the main role of leader is to facilitate the delegated tasks to his followers by showing his knowledge or skills on †how best can this be done†. Bearing in mind the level of communication is high in this style which enables follower to share in the decision making process as applicable. This behavioral style might best be used is when followers are starting or completing a job (Hughes et al, 2006). The last situational style is the †delegating style† whereby there is little two side communication between the leader and his followers (low-task- low relationship). This style might be implemented when leader is aware of his followers’ knowledge, ability, confidence, experience and most importantly taking higher responsibilities. To this extend, followers are able to direct them selves with no control from their leader. Although, leaders in this style are like an observers whereby they have less influence on their followers’ and less control. However, leader might also need to consider followers development level/their readiness level and competence. Followers’ competence might include their knowledge, skills and ability to assess the work outcome. Therefore, leader might have to respond or change his behavior in such way that fits the situation. He can classify his people to stages such as: · People are able and willing to take tasks (competent).  · People are unable and unwilling to take tasks (incompetents) · People are unable but willing to take tasks (unskilled).  · People are able but unwilling tasks (unmotivated). So to summarize, it can be seen that the situational leadership theory presented by Hersey and Blanchard focuses on the followers behaviors and define what style is best to suit any situation. Also, it highlights the level of responsibilities delegated as well as the degree of relationship between leaders and followers. Put into practice, situation leadership theory is basically effective with any situation. Moreover, it seems that the situational theory answer the question that leader might need to change their behavior and be flexible with followers as that depends on situation and circumstances. In other words, leaders might need to adjust them selves all the time depending on the working environment and follower level of readiness (Norris, 1992). And as the Hersey and Blanchard theory, they should always change their personality or be able to identify clues in their environment and adapt their leader behavior to meet the needs of their followers in any particular situation (). Vecchio and Norris agrees that ,even with good diagnostic skills, leader might need to be flexible in changing their behavior and adapt their leadership styles that meet that demand of both the followers and environment. Reference: Norris, R., & Vecchio, R 1992 Situational leadership theory. Group & Organization Management. Hughes, R.L., Ginnet, R.C., & Curphy, G.J. (2006). Leadership: Enhancing the lessons of experience. 5th ed. New York. McGraw-Hill

Islam Worksheet Essay

When studying Islam, it is important to understand the essential elements of the faith, how they are practiced, and the distinctions among the three branches: Shiite Islam, Sunni Islam, and Sufism. Write a 1- to 2-paragraph response for each of the following directives and note where there are differences among the three branches of Islam. 1. Explain the meaning of the name, Islam. The literal translation of the word Islam is surrender or submission. The name Islam implies a complete surrender to Allah, and those who practice Islam are referred to as Muslims. The word Islam is derived from the Arabic word salam, which means peace or safety. Muslims believe that the reason for human existence is to surrender to the One True God, Allah (Molloy, 2010). 2. Explain the basic concepts of Islam. Islam teaches it followers (Muslims) that the Holy Quran is the literal word of God is an all-encompassing book and includes everything about Islam. One of the most fundamental concepts of Islam is the belief that only one God exists. Islam teaches many aspects about God that are similar to the teachings of Judaism and Christianity. Islam teaches that God has always existed, cannot be destroyed, knows everything, created the universe. Another basic concept of Islam is that God never had a son (Jesus); however, Islam does teach that Jesus was a prophet as was Muhammad, but Muhammad is believed to be the last of a number of profits, and he was sent to Earth by God to confirm the word of God to the world. The most fundamental beliefs or concepts of Islam are: †¢ There is only one True God †¢ No other being or thing is worth of worship, only the True God †¢ Muhammad is God’s messenger and the last prophet †¢ Every human who has ever existed will face God on Judgment day to account for his or her deeds and at this time, God will grant or deny admittance into Heaven. 3. Describe the practices of Islam. The main practices of Islam are concentrated in what are known as the Five Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars of Islam, as outlined in the Quran are thought to be mandatory practices that each Muslim must practice. The Five Pillars of Islam are: 1) Shahada (Profession of Faith) – Muslims must verbally acknowledge the existence of only one God and Muhammad is God’s messenger. The creed, â€Å"There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger,† is spoken daily in prayer, and inscribed on and in Mosques (Molloy, 2010). 2) Prayer – Muslims are required to pray five times every day of the week; the prayers are required every day before dawn, at midday, at midafternoon, at sunset, and at nighttime. Muslims typically undergo a ritualistic cleansing of the hands, arms, face, and neck before prayer, and face toward Mecca when praying (Molloy, 2010). 3) Zakat (Charity to the Poor) – Muslims are required to give a percentage of the total of everything they own to the poor each year. In addition to giving to the poor, Muslims are expected to be generous and charitable toward the poor when they encounter an opportunity in their daily lives (Molloy, 2010). 4) Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan) – Ramadan is the ninth month of the year according to the Muslim calendar and the month during which it is believed that Muhammad began receiving revelations from God. As with various other religions, fasting is thought to bring spiritual growth; for Muslims the month-long fast help to form a bond and unite Muslims. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, liquids, tobacco, and sexual activity from dawn until dusk. Ramadan ends with a feast to celebrate the Revelations given to Muhammad (Molloy, 2010). 5) Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) – Every Muslim is required to visit Mecca (Hajj) at least once in their lifetime. A pilgrimage, as with other religions, is believed to bring about new understanding and personal transformations based on the spiritual goals of the religion. Only Muslims are permitted to enter the city of Mecca (Molloy, 2010). 4. Describe the goals of Islam. The goals of Islam are similar to the goals of other religions in that the religion is believed to be a moral and ethical authority in a world that is in a constant struggle between good and evil. Framing the world as in constants peril and painting itself as the moral and ethical authority, Islam (like other religions) seeks to regulate human life through rules, rituals, and other dogma (Molloy, 2010). Staying in the realm of regulating human life, Islam attempts to provide guidelines to enable Muslims to life a life as close to perfection (God) as possible. Islam also has developed controls and bans on specific activities, things, actions, etc. as a means of creating and maintaining social order and increase the happiness of Muslims (Molloy, 2010). 5. Describe the view of authority in Islam. The Islamic view of authority began with Muhammad; Muhammad combined political (civil) authority with spiritual authority, which is essentially a theocracy. However, modern Islam has split into two main branches that differ on their view of authority. Sunni’s, which accounts for the largest percentage of the world’s Muslim population, recognize a real difference between religious and civil authority. The Shiite Muslims; however, maintain the belief that both religious and civil authority should be centralized. Shiite Muslims place give all spiritual and religious authority to one person (Flesher, n.d.). The Qur’an serves as the primary source of information and authority for Muslims, much as the Bible does for Christians. With this in mind, evaluate Islam’s historical influences on law, philosophy, and the arts in the Muslim world. Write a 1- to 2-paragraph response for each of the following questions. Provide examples to illustrate your thinking. 1. What is the legal ideal in Islamic law? How does the Qur’an inform and guide Muslims in attaining this ideal? The legal ideal of Islamic law, which is known as Sharia, are laws that continually bring day-to-day life into closer coherence with the rules set forth in the Quran. The Quran provides numerous rules and rituals that must be followed by Muslims and lays the groundwork for Sharia. Muslims believe that the Quran is the literal word of God; they also believe that God cannot be separated from any aspect of human life. Therefore, traditional Islam is theocratic and seeks to impose the laws and rules of God upon everyone to help ensure human spiritual fulfillment (Molloy, 2010). 2. What is the relationship between philosophy and theology within Islam? Is it acceptable for Muslims to hold separate philosophical and theological beliefs? The relationship of philosophy and theology within Islam is as complicated as it is old. Many of the early philosophic questions had to be answered to ensure a uniform understanding of the Quran and its laws. However, these early philosophical questions were not truly philosophical because the question mixed religious revelations with human logic and reasoning. Aside from the philosophical questions that were asked during the emergence of Islam, most of the philosophical and theological questions that have emerged have been the result of the expansion of Islam and its contact with other religions (Molloy, 2010). There is no clear answer to the question of whether or not it is acceptable for Muslims to hold separate philosophical and theological beliefs, because throughout the history of Islam the discussion if philosophy and theology changes from a liberal to a conservative approach, and back again. Generally speaking, Islam has two philosophical schools; a liberal view that values human reasoning and sees it as a gift from God, and a conservative view that believes reason is false pride and favors intellectual submission. Although Islam does have a somewhat liberal faction that values reason and logic, for the vast majority of Muslims it is not acceptable to hold different philosophical and theological views. The majority of Muslims reject rationalism and promotes complete submission to God, which includes intellectual submission (Molly, 2010). 3. What artistic themes are regularly expressed in Islamic art and architecture? How are these themes explored? How has the Qur’an influenced the development of art in the Islamic world? Several themes are apparent in both Islamic art and architecture, such as the serious and simplistic style and the use of negative space to direct an individual’s attention to a specific area. Mosques can be large or small, grandiose or modest, bur regardless of the specific mosque or building, Islamic architects place a high value on space. The shaping of a building and the space symbolizes God, who is invisible but everywhere (Molly, 2010). Islam prohibits images of humans or animals, but despite that restriction, Islam has a vibrant artistic past. As with architecture, negative space is also used in art, but the theme that is most apparent in Islamic art is paradise. Most Muslim art includes some aspect of paradise as it is described in the Quran. One can find images or symbols of paradise on prayer rugs, paintings, and building architecture (Molloy, 2010). References Flesher, P. (n.d.). Exploring Religions. Islam Religious and Political Organization. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/islam/iorg.htm Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

10 Amazing Fantasy Novels You Need to Read Now

10 Amazing Fantasy Novels You Need to Read Now From feminist fantasy to African mythology to Muslim writers inspired by ancient Arabia, weve compiled a list of some amazing (and wonderfully diverse) fantasy novels you need to read if you love the genre. Many on this list are new authors who have recently published their debut fantasy novel, or established authors who have made it to the New York Times Bestsellers list with a fresh foray into fantasy after publishing in other genres.Whether youre looking for a coming-of-age Young Adult fantasy story or an old-school dive into the Dungeons Dragons universe, there should be something on this list just right for your tastes. New fantasy authors are subverting and reinventing the genre, opening up a golden age in fantasy writing, so happy reading!New fantasy authors are subverting and reinventing the genre, opening up a golden age in fantasy writing. Photo by Matteo Kutufa on Unsplash.The Womens War by Jenna GlassPraised as an epic feminist fantasy for the #MeToo era, The Womens War is Jenna Glasss debut fantasy novel and is the tale of a revolutionary spell that gives women the ability to control their own fertility. Set in neighboring kingdoms ruled by kings and noblemen, the tale offers imaginative worldbuilding coupled with magic that only women can wield- magic which threatens to tear down the patriarchal structure in which women are nothing more than property and bargaining chips. When a young disinherited daughter of a king and a widowed mother of two adolescent children discover it, their world and experience as women will never be the same.Getting Wilde By Jenn StarkAs the first book in the 11-volume Immortal Vegas series, Jenn Starks Getting Wilde has been praised by critics as hilarious, sexy, and thrillingly high action. This urban fantasy series follows Sara Wilde, a magical artifacts hunter and rescuer of young psychics being sold on the black market. With the help of a Tarot deck, she helps clients find things- magical things, in fact. When a new job offers her a big payday, the stakes include breaking into the Vatican and getting too close for comfort to the Devil.Enter Saras most mysterious client, the wickedly sexy Magician, with a job that could yield the ultimate payday. All shell have to do is get behind Vatican walls... and steal the Devil himself. Complete with an ancient and mysterious magical Council, militant forces seeking to destroy all magic, demigods, twisting catacombs and Rome and Vegas rowdy nightlife, Sara confronts the underworld of magic in an exciting read that is hard to put down.We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah FaizalJust released this month, Hafsah Faizals debut fantasy novel, We Hunt the Flame, is hailed as lyrical and spellbinding and Paste Magazine listed it in its Top 10 Most Anticipated YA Novels of 2019. With its inspiration drawn from ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame tells the story of Zafira, a huntress who disguises herself as a man while braving cursed forests and feeding her people with her k ills.Living in the same kingdom is a young man known as the Prince of Death, who carries out assassinations for anyone who defies his father, the sultan, and whose compassionate nature must be hidden beneath a brutal exterior and family expectations. As war brews and danger finds them both, these young characters seek an ancient, magical artifact to achieve different aims. Its a story of bravery, self-revelation, and identity set in a lush world full of magic and mystery.Perfekt Order (The Ære Saga) (Volume 1) by S.T. BendePerfekt Order by S.T. Bende is another YA fantasy should be on your list of must-read books, especially if you enjoy witty, well-rounded characters and Norse mythology. It tells the story of seventeen-year-old Mia Ahlstrà ¶m, an engineering student at Redwood State University, who meets an arrogant, overprotective Tyr Fredriksen at her first college party. But Tyr is not what he seems- or rather, is much more than he seems. Hes actually the Norse God of War, on Earth to protect a valuable Asgardian treasure, and Mia, too, if shell let him. The repartee in this book make it a fast, fun read.Empire of Sand (The Books of Ambha) by Tasha SuriTasha Suris debut fantasy novel, Empire of Sand, tells the story of Mehr, an illegitimate yet privileged daughter born to a nobleman father and magical, nomadic mother who she never knew. Inheriting her mothers magical gifts of controlling the dreams of the gods, Mehr captures the attention of the Emperors mystics, who persuade her to use her magic to help build the Empire. This Mughal India-inspired novel contains a darkly woven story that is as original as it is impressive, prompting one reviewer to state, I am beginning to think that we are at a new golden age of fantasy literature.A Darker Shade of Magic: A Novel by V.E. SchwabVictoria V.E. Schwab is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen books and the first book in her Shades of Magic trilogy, A Darker Shade of Magic, is arguab ly her writing at its best. Lyrically compelling and haunting, A Darker Shade of Magic tells the story of Kell, a magician and smuggler with a rare ability to travel between parallel Londons defined by a color- Red, Grey, White, and Black. Each London has a varying relationship with magic, and those who practice it, and the book is equal parts fantasy, romance, inter-dimensional travel, and adventure combined with a strong female character who is intriguing from the start.Perdido Street Station by China Mià ©villeHaving won both the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the British Fantasy Award, China Mià ©ville, London-based author of Perdido Street Station, knows how to use equal parts magic and science to build fantastical worlds that are not for the faint of heart. For this novel, he weaves a dystopian society beneath towering ribs of an ancient beast, and inhabitants of it that include both humans and arcane races in a steam-punk inspired, cross-species filled setting. The main charact er is Isaac, a scientist who conducts experiments for a half-bird/half-human entity, and feeds a growing caterpillar hallucinogenic drugs only to soon discover its true, horrific intent. This novel includes gore, sex, immoral experimentation, and technobabble, but offers plenty for fantasy-lovers to digest (pun intended).The God Catcher by Erin M. EvansIf you are a fan of Dungeons Dragons, you should add The God Catcher by Erin M. Evans to your fantasy reading list. Set in the City of Splendors, part of the Forgotten Realms created by Ed Greenwood, this is a coming-of-age story about Tennora, a bookish yet renegade young lady who desperately wants to be a wizard. She finds the opportunity upon meeting Clytemorrenestrix, who claims to be a dragon, only to later be warned that the dragon woman is not all she claims to be. In fact, shes dangerous, and Tennoras life could be in peril by participating in her malevolent plans.Black Leopard, Red Wolf (The Dark Star Trilogy) by Marlon Jame sBlack Leopard, Red Wolf by Jamaican-born Marlon James is the first novel in Jamess Dark Star trilogy, combining African mythology and history with unforgettable and fantastical adventure. It is a non-linear narrative revealing the story of Tracker, noted for his hunting skills, who is hired to find a boy who disappeared three years ago. He finds himself in the company of a diverse group of unusual characters with the same purpose in mind, one of which is a shape-shifting man-animal known as Leopard. Questioning who is telling the truth and why the young boy is being sought after so desperately, Tracker learns that theres much more to life than his usual, solitary lifestyle.Empty Monsters (The Books of Oreyn) by Cat HellisenCat Hellisens Empty Monsters is a coming-of-age tale of family expectations and finding ones own path as much as it is about the family were born into versus the family we choose. After discovering a magical lineage- the very lineage his family has sworn to rid t he world of for generations- the main character, Aden, immerses himself in an experience that he was once taught to fear. In doing so, he learns a truth about who the real monsters are and his role in their collective story. One reviewer notes, This isnt your typical swashbuckling, sword-and-sorcery style fantasy. Its quiet and introspective, more character study than adventure.

How to Find the REAL Target Market for Your Children’s Book

How to Find the REAL Target Market for Your Children’s Book How to Find the REAL Target Market for Your Children’s Book The basic idea of marketing a book is pretty straightforward: find out who likes your book, discover where they ‘live,’ then sell your book there and make them buy it. And when you’re publishing a children’s book, the principle is the same - with one exception.In the children’s book market, the target audience isn’t made up of children but the bigs who purchase the books for them. That might be parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, teachers - whomever. Once you’re able to tap into what they want in a kid’s book, you’ll quickly realize that you couldn’t ask for a better target consumer:They have simple core desires: to get a book the child will love,Children go through a LOT of titles, so they always need new books,Once they find an author they like, they will read EVERYTHING they’ve written, andIt’s easy to find out where parents, teachers, and such ‘live’ online.With that in mind - weà ¢â‚¬â„¢re going to look at some ways that children’s authors have effectively targeted the people who buy children’s books. What's the REAL target market for children's books? Find out in this post Hit up social mediaBlogs, Instagram, Facebook Groups, Twitter, Reddit. These days, parents of young kids are almost always millennials - and, as a result, will rely on the internet for almost any kind of recommendation. And meeting your readers isn’t just limited to libraries...Plan school visitsâ€Å"Many children’s book authors don’t realize that many schools set aside an annual budget for paid author visits,† Jones says. And indeed, there’s a chance you could be eventually paid for your school appearances.The trick here is to be organized. Make sure you have a plan in place before you contact any schools. Tell them what age range the book is for, send over links, a cover image, a synopsis and anything else they might want to know about your book. "How to plan a school visit for your children's book" and more #selfpubtips Then as soon as the school agrees, send over a summary of your planned visit. At this point, Jones would also be sure to secure sales with their parents, if appropriate. (Remember who your target audience really is.)Jones finishes up her advice with this: â€Å"Follow up the email with a phone call to let them know that you visit local schools for free, in return for the school sending slips home, offering the chance to buy signed copies of the book.†And there are plenty of other tricks you can try to reach the children’s gatekeepers. You can try creating a trailer, you can guest post for parenting blogs. So long as you stay focused and direct your efforts to find where the buyers of children’s book live - you won’t go far astray.Have you tried any of these tips before? What's been your experience like marketing your children's book? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and we'll get back to you right away.

Hospital Robot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hospital Robot - Essay Example Robots refer to mechanical agents controlled by computer programs and used in completing tasks. They vary in sizes and used for specific purposes. Used with artificial intelligence the machines can perfume precise functions repeatedly without tiring. In healthcare, several hospitals and health facilities in the United States have begun using robots to aid complicated surgeries (Barker 33). The machines run on specific computer programs and follow instructions as fed to them through the computer. Additionally, they operate alongside humans during the operations thus improving the quality of services. Robots have improved the quality of surgical operations and their continued use in the industry will definitely improve the quality of life by improving effectiveness in hospitals as discussed in the essay below.Robots are cost effectiveUnlike humans, a robot is a capital and an asset bought once by a health facility and can perform several functions throughout the clock. Being machines, robots have minimal requirements provided they are in good condition and accurately programmed. They, therefore, function with minimal supervision thus making the practice less labor intensive.Doctors often tire after detailed operations; this makes the operations precarious as they begin making such mistakes as forgetting some of the equipment in the patients they operate. Additionally, they serve more for their services a feature that makes health services very costly thus unaffordable by many (Ichbiah 11).

Assessment & Special Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Assessment & Special Education - Essay Example According to the report findings Special Education is a multi-faceted domain and consists of a highly diverse population of both teachers and pupils. Teaching in the area of special education requires appropriate qualifications and experience as it can often prove challenging to engage with people having disabilities. As such, teachers often specialize in any particular category of special education or may instead gain experience in multiple disciplines based on the provisions of local legislation.From this study it is clear that the validity and significance of assessment in special education cannot be underestimated. Teaching children with disabilities requires a multi-faceted approach and depends on collaboration among a number of professionals in an appropriate environment. A typical assessment is thus undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team that examines a student from many different perspectives to identify the existence of any special needs and disabilities. The role of the te am is extremely important during an assessment as it helps evaluate the extent and progress of any identifiable disability and develop a suitable special education curriculum that can help the individual. As such, an evaluator must possess comprehensive, accurate and real-time knowledge on the evaluation in order to offer the best support to the student. These skills can only come with experience and must be supplemented with regular on-the-job learning. There are, however, some issues associated with current assessment methodologies. Critics like Giuliani (2009) have alleged that students identified as being at-risk (i.e., those not having any disability) are often pooled together with students having special needs (p. 34). They argue that combining students in this manner inhibits the progress of the latter group as they may not be able to develop the required confidence and motivation in the presence of other students with better learning capabilities. Pierangelo (2007) also blames curriculum