Veterinarians in Society Essay Example for Free

Veterinarians in Society Essay Contemporary patterns in American culture obviously exhibit the critical requirement for veterinarian calling. Little and huge urban areas, urban and country zones observer the improvement of veterinarian private facilities, creature care workplaces, creature instructing and showing focuses, and at the same time an ever increasing number of Americans perceive the estimation of quick and able veterinarian help for their pets. On the national level the job of veterinarian assets gets priceless. Along these lines, the US Congress ought to think about a rising interest for veterinarian calling, and keeping away from potential work deficiency, create enactment that would expand the quantity of veterinary alumni. The work showcase for veterinarians is tremendous, since pointedly increasing expenses of creature care invigorated enormous markets for pet medical coverage and pet wellbeing upkeep associations. As the American Animal Hospital Association shows 5% of pet proprietors, which includes around 3. 2 million Americans, have pet medical coverage. The number is multiple times more than for the year 1995. As indicated by insights, the normal American pet proprietor is prepared to spend from $250 to $1,000 so as to spare the family creature from willful extermination (Ramsdell, 1). This number has quadrupled in the course of recent years. Despite the fact that there are numerous explanations behind the quick turn of events, including financial matters and socioeconomics, as far as developing number of void family units, the requirement for qualified veterinary work assets is apparent. Most of Americans definitely change their mentalities towards pets, from viewing them as property, to seeing and regarding them as evident relatives. Pets give extraordinary physical and mental advantages to people, in this manner veterinarians giving qualified and convenient clinical consideration in a roundabout way sway the strength of their American individual residents. On the national level the job of veterinarian is viewed as increasingly more essential in the light of contemporary patterns in food industry. From the reasonable point of view, veterinarians keep up the wellbeing of people through the soundness of food-delivering creatures. For example, frantic cow illness establishes the squeezing clinical and social issue, particularly for the country with biggest hamburger industry and meat utilization on the planet. The US government centers around testing cows giving indications of a sensory system issue since they are at the most noteworthy danger of having frantic cow illness. Utilization of meat from contaminated creatures can trigger an uncommon however consistently lethal neurological illness in people (Kilman, A6). Under the present program, veterinarians from the Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service police meatpacking plants and assess dubious creatures. Veterinarians from another part of the division, the Animal Plant Heath Inspection Service, gather mind tests and direct research center testing. Field veterinarians examine reportable sicknesses, for example, rabies or tuberculosis, and forward the examples to research centers. It is important to stress that because of veterinarian calling such sicknesses as encephalitis, Bacillus anthracis, and botulism, are presently notable in the US Congress and government. It is hard to overestimate the job of veterinarian for contemporary society. Today, veterinarians work with meat makers to decide savvy deterrent measures for their domesticated animals, break down new strategies to distinguish malignant growth in the two people and creatures, direct the country’s food gracefully, lead creature helped treatment projects or routine tests on Americans’ family pets. What's more, their imperative job keeps on developing. Because of veterinary solid scholastic preparing in territories, for example, physiology, pathology, life structures, microbiology and histology, veterinarians are researchers that can give important commitments in many differentiated zones. Be that as it may, the calling needs new qualified work asset to substitute resigned experts and achieve advertise developing chances. The US Congress ought to create enactment that would expand the quantity of veterinary alumni. Book index Kristin Ramsdell. Pet pattern: Anthropomorphism, Growth Strategies. Santa Clause Monica: Aug 2002. , Iss. 944 Scott Kilman U. S. Affirms A Failure to Use Mad-Cow Test. Money Street Journal. New York, N. Y. : May 4, 2004

Torvald Helmers Monologue From A Dolls House

Torvald Helmer's Monolog From 'A Doll's House' Torvald Helmer, the male lead in A Doll’s House, can be deciphered in a few different ways. Numerous perusers see him as an oppressive, pretentious control crack. However, Torvald can likewise be viewed as a fearful, misinformed yet thoughtful spouse who neglects to satisfy his own optimal. In either case, one thing is for sure: He doesn't comprehend his better half. In this scene, Torvald uncovers his obliviousness. Minutes before this monolog he pronounced he not, at this point adored his significant other on the grounds that she had carried disgrace and legitimate catastrophe to his great name. At the point when that contention out of nowhere dissipates, Torvald abnegates the entirety of his frightful words and anticipates that the marriage should return to â€Å"normal.† Unbeknownst to Torvald, his better half Nora is getting together her things during his discourse. As he talks these lines, he accepts he is fixing her injured emotions. In truth, she has grown out of him and plans to leave their home for eternity. The Monolog Torvald:(Standing at Nora’s entryway.) Try and quiet yourself, and make your brain simple once more, my startled small singing-winged animal. Be very still, and have a sense of safety; I have wide wings to protect you under. (Strolls all over by the entryway.) How warm and comfortable our house is, Nora. Here is a safe house for you; here I will secure you like a pursued bird that I have spared from a falcons hooks; I will carry harmony to your poor thumping heart. It will come, gradually, Nora, trust me. Tomorrow first thing you will view everything in an unexpected way; soon everything will be similarly as it was previously. Very soon you wont require me to guarantee you that I have excused you; you will yourself feel the conviction that I have done as such. Would you be able to assume I ought to ever consider such an incredible concept as renouncing you or in any event, reprimanding you? You have no clue what a genuine keeps an eye on heart resembles, Nora. There is something so unbelievably sweet and fulfilling, to a man, in the information that he has pardoned his better half excused her uninhibitedly, and with his entire being. It appears as though that had made her, so to speak, doubly his own; he has given her another life, in a manner of speaking, and she is in a way become both spouse and youngster to him. So you will be for me after this, my little terrified, powerless sweetheart. Have no uneasiness about anything, Nora; just be plain and open with me, and I will fill in as will and soul both to you-. What is this? Not hit the sack? Have you changed your things?

Should We Teach RE in Schools

Should We Teach RE in Schools The OE Blog The recent speech in which Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams warned against the “downgrading” of religious education in schools has provoked a vigorous debate over the principles of teaching religion as part of the UK education syllabus. Those in favour of religious education want RE to be included in the English Baccalaureate; the new set of core subjects the Coalition Government has introduced to assess schools on academic achievement. Their argument is that the subject should be included in the humanities section, alongside subjects like geography and history. However other commentators have spoken out to argue that, given the increasingly secular nature of British society, RE should not necessarily be included on the syllabus at all. The subject currently forms part of the National Curriculum, making it compulsory for all students to study it for some part of their education, but it is not a compulsory GCSE subject like maths, English and science. Those arguing against the inclusion of RE in the National Curriculum claim that whilst it could still be taught as an optional extra subject at faith schools, it is no longer relevant or useful to a wide (and ever widening) sector of the general public, who grow up in secular homes and might feel uncomfortable about the compulsory study of religious methods and beliefs. However, in a society facing ever-increasing fractures, violence and unrest such as the recent riots across UK cities, and with racially and culturally motivated crime sadly still prevalent, it has surely never been more important to include an awareness and understanding of diverse religious and cultural beliefs and traditions in our children’s education. Not, as Williams argues, because of the importance of supporting religion itself, but because of the desperately important need for understanding and knowledge of all different ways of life and belief systems if we are to end the problems of hatred and fear born of ignorance. Not only does religious education foster understanding and tolerance of different belief systems, it also provides a healthy opportunity for children and teenagers to engage in debate and discussion about important social issues related to cultural difference and perceived social barriers. Allowing a safe and supported space for such discussions to thrive can be essential in preventing frustration from flaring into violence later on.

Learn About the Difference Between Corporate Ownership and Management

Today, many large corporations have a great number of owners. In fact, a  major company may be owned by a million or more people. These owners are generally called shareholders. In the case of a public company with a great number of these shareholders, a majority may  hold fewer than 100 shares of stock each. This widespread ownership has given many Americans a direct stake in some of the nations biggest companies. By the mid-1990s, more than 40% of U.S. families owned common stock, either directly or through mutual funds or other intermediaries. This scenario is a far cry from the corporate structure of but one hundred years ago  and marks a great shift in the concepts of corporation ownership versus management. Corporation Ownership Versus Corporation Management The widely dispersed ownership of Americas largest corporations has to lead to a separation of the concepts of corporate ownership and control. Because shareholders generally cannot know and manage the full details of a corporations business (nor do many wish to), they elect a board of directors to make broad corporate policy. Typically, even members of a corporations board of directors and managers own less than 5% of the common stock, though some may own far more than that. Individuals, banks, or retirement funds often own blocks of stock, but even these holdings generally account for only a small fraction of the total of the companys stock. Usually, only a minority of board members are operating officers of the corporation. Some directors are nominated by the company to give prestige to the board, others to provide certain skills or to represent lending institutions. For these very reasons, it is not unusual for one person to serve on several different corporate boards at the same time. Corporate Board of Directors and Corporate Executives While corporate boards are elected to direct corporate policy, those boards typically delegate day-to-day management decisions to a chief executive officer (CEO), who may also operate as the boards chairman or president. The CEO supervises other corporate executives, including a number of vice presidents who oversee various corporate functions and divisions. The CEO will also oversee other executives like the chief financial officer (CFO), the chief operating officer (COO), and the chief information officer (CIO). The position of CIO is by far the newest executive title to American corporate structure. It was first introduced in the late 1990s as high technology became a crucial part of U.S. business affairs. The Power of the Shareholders As long as a CEO has the confidence of the board of directors, he or she is generally permitted a great deal of freedom in running and management of the corporation. But sometimes, individual and institutional stockholders, acting in concert and with the backing of dissident candidates for the board, can exert enough power to force a change in management. Other than these more extraordinary circumstances, shareholders participation in the company whose stock they hold is limited to annual shareholder meetings. Even so, generally only a few people attend annual shareholder meetings. Most shareholders vote on the election of directors and important policy proposals by proxy, that is, by mailing in election forms. In recent years, however, some annual meetings have seen more shareholders—perhaps several hundred—in attendance. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires corporations to give groups challenging management access to mailing lists of stockholders to present their views.

Social Media And Democracy - 1665 Words

Social Media and Democracy: From King Street to Wall Street and from classrooms to boardrooms, there is a revolution happening and it is being driven by how we communicate with each other and by the unprecedented rise of what is commonly called â€Å"social media†. (Dictionary.com, 2014) Social Media is the use of dedicated websites and applications to interact with other users, or to find people with similar interests to one s own. (Dictionary.com, 2014) A business, also known as an enterprise or a firm, is an organization involved in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. The historic invisible walls of the Internet are being broken down daily, locally and globally. Social media touches nearly every facet of our personal and business lives so it’s imperative for social media to be an integral part of a company’s overall strategy, a business’s overall success will be partly owed to the success of their social media use. Social media will be a business’s customer today, tomorrow, their employees and others. The currency in social media isn’t dollars or euros; it’s meaningful engagement, participation and value that rule a business’s day. The World Wide Web is being categorized by billions of users across the world and if businesses want a say in how they want to be categorized they need to participate with the appropriate currency. (Forbes, 2014) In April 2009 the Ford Motor Company launched an ambitious new marketing campaign called the ford fiesta movementShow MoreRelatedSocial Media And Democracy :1665 Words   |  7 PagesSocial Media and Democracy: From King Street to Wall Street and from classrooms to boardrooms, there is a revolution happening and it is being driven by how we communicate with each other and by the unprecedented rise of what is commonly called â€Å"social media†. (Dictionary.com, 2014) Social Media is the use of dedicated websites and applications to interact with other users, or to find people with similar interests to one s own. (Dictionary.com, 2014) A business, also known as an enterprise orRead MoreDemocracy Is Not An Exception1681 Words   |  7 Pagesbirthplace of modern democracy, is not an exception. As Peter Dahlgren mentions, democracy is for and about its citizens, and therefore a certain degree of civic involvement is a necessary and sufficient condition for its prosperity (2009, 14p) If the lower level of participation in democracy continues, the word democracy, originated from demos (the people) in Greek, should be changed to elite-carcy or pauci-cracy. In order to retain a higher lev el of participation in democracy, some Habermasian scholarsRead MoreThe Positive And Negative Effects Of Social Media991 Words   |  4 PagesWhen someone says the words â€Å"social media†, many people immediately think about posts and likes, comments and messages, a way to connect with your friends from far away and other positive thoughts. However, some of our political leaders have been using social media to their advantage, using sites such as twitter to influence people to vote for their party. Fake news also is very easy to spread on social media, causing propaganda to increase in our society. In our democratic society, we believe thatRead MoreDemocracy And The Age Of Information Abundance Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesDemocracy in the age of information abundance: The impact of new technologies to our democratic political system Introduction Never before, in the history of time, has our ability to collaborate and communicate on a massive scale been so achievable. (Papay Timby, 2014) With the emergence of new technologies, there are more individuals that can have better access to media and information. Experts believe that to some extent it strengthens democracy as there are more numbers of individuals takingRead More Implications of Capitalism on Objective News Content1397 Words   |  6 Pagesit can also have a detrimental impact. Inaccurate news stories, sensationalized material, and manipulation through the media are all repercussions of the effects of capitalism. Capitalism’s influence in the media skews content in favour of the market, preventing the public from access to democratic, objective news content. Too often, capitalist influence dominates the media market through conglomerate control, structured by the ever-growing desire to gain capital, treating the audience as a commodityRead MoreThe s Criteria Of Voting Equality And Effective Participation1400 Words   |  6 PagesThe United States of America is one of the oldest contemporary democ racies, is currently the second largest democracy, and is ranked the 16th best democracy in the world (Campbell et. Al, 2014). Yet there is a legitimate question over whether or not the United States can still truly be considered a democracy, with some studies even suggesting it has begun to resemble an oligarchy (Chumley, 2014). In this essay, I will use Dahl’s criteria of voting equality and effective participation to determineRead MoreSocial Media and Democratic Reform868 Words   |  4 Pages Social Media and Democratic Reform I) In this paper I prove that the TedTalk related to Political and Cultural Globalization by focusing on social media use in The Pro-democracy Revolution and how it has affected democratic reformation. A) A comparative essay between the Jasmine Revolution of Tunisia and the Jasmine Revolution of China. B) How social media affected the outcomes of both of the revolutions. 1) Social Media was the leading force in Tunisia 2) Social Media did not win the ChineseRead MoreTraditional Media And New Media891 Words   |  4 Pagesis online. New media such as blogging, social media and the internet creates this possibility. However this has introduced an argument where the new media appears as a space for every citizen in a democracy to participate in the public conversation. The internet is deploying political influence, elevating political involvement and questioning the monopoly of traditional elites. The main idea being that new media is able to generate dissenting voice of every citizen. Hence new media appears as somethingRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Democracy1317 Words   |  6 PagesThe Media’s Influence on Democracy Media is an extremely popular tool of communication this most of the world use often. Media has many different forms that makes it easy for people to gain access to it. Media can be seen on used on internet site such as twitter and news websites, on television, radio, and newspapers. The public doesn’t have to look very hard to get in contact with some form of media. Media can be a powerful tool because of the involvement it has when many people’s lives. ThisRead MoreThe Main Components Of A Democratic Political System1388 Words   |  6 PagesAbraham Lincoln perfectly touches upon the essence of democracies. In this essay, I will describe the different types and aspects, as well as the components of a democratic political system. Then, I will explain how they can be undermined through the abuse of power, money, inequality, and, of course, the media. The purpose of this list is not to be exhaustive, but for the sake of this essay, I will limit myself to the above. The term Democracy comes from the Greek language, and means ruled by

ALS Disease Psychological Aspects Free Essays

This paper explores the psychological profile of patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Aside from the physical challenges experienced by patients, they also have to endure psychological changes such as depression and denial. There are several factors that may contribute to the psychosocial profile of a patient such as degree of severity, age, onset of disease, time span, and dependence on machines like respirator. We will write a custom essay sample on ALS Disease Psychological Aspects or any similar topic only for you Order Now This paper examines the psychological features of ALS patients and how it affects the family and support team. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease is a progressive degenerative disease attacking the brain and spinal cord. The destruction of the nerve cells, called neurons, in the body’s upper and lower motor neurons leads to the inability of the voluntary muscles to function normally (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2008). With the death of the muscles, ALS patients will have impaired use of their arms and legs. Loss of control is the trademark of ALS. As the disease progresses, the patient will have trouble accomplishing day-to-day activities like eating, tooth brushing and putting on clothes (Olney, 2005, p. 8). Furthermore, the patient’s breathing will suffer and in the end, a ventilator will be needed (2005). Although the disease is debilitating, it does not impinge on the patient’s senses- sight, taste, and smell, hear and touch (2008). There are three diagnostic factors in ALS: clinical features such as â€Å"weakness and involuntary muscle contractions†, having positive results of electromyography (EMG), MRI and blood tests) and ruling out other disorders (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Canada, n. d. p. 1). Not only is the etiology of ALS unknown but there is also no cure for it, which makes the disease more frustrating. The drugs and treatments currently available are targeted only to mitigate ALS symptoms. Given the complexity of the disease, it is not surprising to find that ALS-afflicted patients endure physical symptoms as well as cognitive and behavioral changes like memory and speech problems and emotional distress (Levine, n. d. ). Another study reports the onset of depression and denial in ALS patients (Houpt, Gould, and Norris, 1977). Given the grim prognosis that accompanies the disease, there are ALS cases when the patient undergoes severe psychological/ social/ spiritual distress. After all, ALS is a â€Å"life-changing event for an individual and his/her loved ones† (Ciechoski, 2002, p. 9). Typically an individual facing the end of life undergoes what psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross the five stages of dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance (Morris and Maisto, 2002, p. 437). The same phases may also apply in patients with ALS (Ciechoski, 2002, p. 12). In an ALS Patient Profile project, it was found that ALS patients experience greater bouts with depression- 60% compared to the 16 -20% exhibited by the normal and fit population (McDonald, 1992). This can be construed as a sign that the ALS patient is overwhelmed with sadness, apathy and feelings of worthlessness. Depression, after all, is a normal reaction in individuals diagnosed with a life-threatening disease (Ciechoski, 2002, p. 15). Another study concurs with finding, adding that aside from depression; ALS patients are also more to go through denial as a response pattern (Houpt, Gould, and Norris, 1977). Denial, as Kubler-Ross suggests, is the first in a sequence people undertake as they await death. It means that the individual refuses to accept the diagnosis and swears that everything is all right. The study conducted by Drs. Houpt, Gould, and Norris reports that 22. 5 percent of ALS patients are â€Å"major deniers† (1977). Again, this is something common to an individual coping with changes. For example, an ALS patient may refrain using a wheelchair even though he/she is clearly demonstrating difficulty being mobile. It may take some time before the patient finally accepts the situation and resorts to using a wheelchair. However, this does denote giving up or succumbing to the disease but merely a sign that the patient is looking after his/ her well-being. In doing so, the patient will have a â€Å"sense of control† (p. 17). Yet, another research shows that ALS-afflicted patients suffer from behavioral instability- displaying polarity in emotions, from being overly reactive and exaggerated to being extremely reticent and dull (Levine, n. d. ). There is also an increased chance of the patient becoming withdrawn, becoming less interactive and shying away from interaction with others, as well as professing â€Å"lack of insight† (n. d. ). Likewise, the patient may start having troubles making decision. Decision making in a serious ailment such as ALS is crucial, thus is requires a great amount of â€Å"flexibility and creativity† (Ciechoski, 2002, p. 18). Among the issues that need to be addressed by the patient are living accommodations, employing caregiver services, use of ventilator and feeding tube, family and work life, and even the subject of creating a living will (p. 21). Decision making should be consulted with the family, medical and support group but ultimately it must be stressed that it is the patient that makes the final decision (p. 22). Despite the torrents of emotions experienced by the patient, it is not suffice to conclude that ALS patients have a predictable psychosocial profile. There have been studies indicating that some ALS patients only go through mild depression or none at all (McDonald, 1992). There are several factors that contribute to the psychosocial profile of an ALS patient- the onset of the disease, age of acquisition, seriousness of ALS, extent of the disease, reliance on respirator and other medical machines, and rate of deterioration (1992). It was found that the onset of the symptoms do no factor in the patient’s psychosocial status (1992). It will also be a factor when there are unresolved issues on the patient’s part prior to diagnosis. On the other hand, age contributes to the patient’s well-being. ALS patients that are diagnosed during late adulthood (over 65 years old) tend to be more depressed and hopeless than those diagnosed in their younger years (1992). While ALS may not primarily be the root of depression, if one is to follow Kubler-Ross’ stages of dying, depression is a normal reaction when the subject of end-of-life id talked. An ALS diagnosis will only aggravate the fear. In addition, when a patient exhibits an acute presentation of ALS, the probability of it affecting the individual’s psychosocial status intensifies. The same assumption, on the other hand, does not apply to the length of ALS. When one is faced with ALS, the prognosis is grim, giving the patient a time life of 3-5 years (1992). However, current data shows that there are ALS patients, roughly 18-42%, outliving the five year mark (1992). Thus, it can be deduced that it is not age but the patient’s will and family support that help him/her uplift his/her psychosocial welfare. When an ALS patient suffers rapid deterioration, his/ her psychosocial profile is also affected. Furthermore, it was found that the longer the patient has been diagnosed with ALS, the more distressed he/she can be (1992). The same is applied to patients whose symptoms have worsened, thus have the need to rely on respirators and other machines. Such individuals may feel more helpless, affecting their attitudes and behaviors. As with any illness, ALS affects relationships- between spouses, siblings, children, friends, family, colleagues and other support system. Family, especially first-degree members are inclined to report periods of depression and denial (McDonald, 1992). One study reports that an astounding 47% of spouses experience stress during an ALS diagnosis (1992). An ALS diagnosis changes the role play in a family, sometimes the wife become the breadwinner or the children take on the role of main caretaker, depending on who gets ill. Aside from family, the patients’ relationship with friends and work colleagues may also suffer, depending on the degree of closeness experienced. Furthermore, the patient’s relationship with the health care professional is important. The better the line of communication between the patient and the health care team, the better outcome there will be. The health care professional may help the patient deal with depression by prescribing medication and counselling, whichever is appropriate. The psychological characteristics of ALS patients vary in patients. Some may be depressed while others may be hopeful. Coping with a difficult illness like ALS is difficult not only for the patient but the family and support group as well. Worsening of symptoms may hinder their psychological well-being. Thus, it is important for everybody concerned to remember that ALS is a disease not to be battled alone. With help and support from everyone involved, patients will be able to live full lives. References Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Canada. (n. d. ). A guide to all ALS patient care for primary care physicians [PDF file]. Retrieved Mary 12, 2009 from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Canada Website: http://www. als. ca Ciechoski, M. (2002). Coping with change [PDF file]. Retrieved May 12, 2009 from The ALS Association Website: http://www. alsa. org/files/cms/Resources/ALS_manual2. pdf. Houpt, J. , Gould, B. and Norris, F. (1977). Psychological characteristics of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) [PDF file]. Retrieved May 12, 2009 from Psychosomatic Medicine Website: http://www. psychosomaticmedicine. org. Levine, S. W. (n. d. ). Neurocognitive, behavioral and psychological changes associated with ALS [PDF file]. Retrieved May 12, 2009 from ALS Connection Website: http://www. alsconnection. com/Neurocognitive_Testing_vers_2. pdf McDonald, E. (1992). Psychological aspects of ALS patients and their primary caregivers. Retrieved May 12, 2009 from American Holistic Health Association Website: http://www. ahha. org/articles/McDonald2. htm Morris, C. and Maisto, A. (2002). Psychology an introduction 11th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2008). NINDS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis information page. Retrieved May 12, 2009 from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Website: http://www. ninds. nih. gov/ Olney, A. (2005). Daily activities made easier for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [PDF file]. Retrieved May 12, 2009 from The ALS Association Website: http://www. alsa. org/files/cms/Resources/OT_Manual_2006. pdf. How to cite ALS Disease Psychological Aspects, Papers

The Pardoners Tale

Introduction: Repentance as the Ultimate Choice Of all the stories in Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer The Pardoner’s Tale and its Prologue must be the most famous and by far the most memorable of all the â€Å"tales†. Setting a challenging plot and developing a rather unpredictable twist, Chaucer wrote a unique work which deserves taking a closer look at. Despite the fact that the Tale and the Prologue revolve around the issue of morality most of the time, the two stories manage to touch upon a range of other issues, among which the one of repentance takes a good chunk of the poem, which makes The Pardoner and its Prologue display certain similarities with the Middle English penitential lyrics.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Pardoner’s Tale specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Calling for the Lord Almighty: Pater Noster and The Pardoner To start with, The Pardoner’s Tale and the Middle English penitential lyrics touch upon the issue of the relationships between a man and God. While in the Middle English penitential lyrics, the idea of a man establishing relationships with God is obvious. Indeed, according to Luis Alberto Là ¡zaro, The Pardoner’s Tale offers a lot in terms of revealing the specifics of the Christian belief and the ways in which people speak to the Lord, contrasting it sharply to the ways offered by the Medieval church: â€Å"Chaucer himself recited his lines in front of a courtly audience, entertaining his listeners with · biting stories about unscrupulous clergy or dissolute women† (Là ¡zaro 147). Indeed, if considering Chaucer’s poem closer, one will see that the author tries to convey the idea that people should remember about the words of wisdom that the Bible says and let God into their souls and minds: â€Å"Now for the love of Christ Who died for us, forsake / your oaths, great and small† (Chaucer) . Comparing the given feature of Chaucer’s poem, it is necessary to mention that the Middle English penitential lyrics by Patterson actually manages to get the same message across, though in quite a different way: â€Å"Une fader in hevene riche, / Thi name be hallid ever i-liche† (Patterson 108). It should be mentioned though, that, in contrast to the Middle English penitential lyrics, in which the author addresses God in a direct manner and with a certain message to get across, whether it is a plea or appraise: â€Å"Ne lete us falle in no fondinge† (Patterson 108) the characters in The Pardoner’s Tale mention the name of God rather as a way to make sure that the Lord will keep them from certain harm: â€Å"Now for the love of Christ Who died for us, forsake / your oaths, great and small† (Chaucer) seems an exclamation than a plea; moreover, it seems that the manner of mentioning God’s name I rather a habit than a conscientious attempt to address the Lord. Hence, the constant mentioning of the Lord’s name in The Pardoner’s Tale and The Prologue can also be considered a specific satire which Chaucer used in his works, as it has been mentioned above. As a matter of fact, satire is the key word that depicts Chaucer’s The Pardoner’s Tale, which also makes the poem differ from Patterson’s Middle English penitential lyrics.Advertising Looking for term paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More While The Pardoner’s Tale portrays the people in the poem in a rather satirical way: â€Å"My holy / pardon will cure you all, provided that you offer / nobles and other sterling coin, or else silver rings, / brooches, spoons† (Chaucer), the character in Patterson’s Middle English penitential lyrics are depicted in a much more serious manner: â€Å"Jhesu cryst whane he sculd dey† (Patterson 102). Nevertheless, both authors touch upon the same issue, i.e., faith and a man’s relationships with God, with Chaucer revealing the most despicable sides of human nature: â€Å"â€Å"O / Lord,† he said, â€Å"if only I could have all this treasure / to myself† (Chaucer), and Patterson describing the fear and awe that a sinner feels when speaking to God: â€Å"I am duclus sum in to my bed, / terribilis mors [conturbat me]† (Patterson 103). Pater Noster in Anglico and The Pardoner: The Similarities Much like Pater Noster, Pater Noster in Anglico has a number of issues in common with Chaucer’s The Pardoner’s Tale, i.e., the topic, the theme, the metaphors, to name a few. Despite a comparatively small size, Pater Noster in Anglico yet manages to convey a lot of ideas which Chaucer also offers the readers to consider in his poem. To start with, Pater Noster in Anglico begins with addressing to God: â€Å"Une fader in hevene riche† (Patterson 108) and is altogether devoted to praising the Lord’s name. Likewise, The Pardoner’s Tale is also filled with the lines in which people address God in a certain manner: â€Å"‘By God’s precious heart,’/ and ‘By His nails’ and ‘By the blood of Christ in the / abbey of Hales† (Chaucer). Filled with references to Lord Almighty, Chaucer’s poem, however, contrasts with the naivety of the prayer mentioned by Patterson. While the latter is written for the sake of glorifying the name of God, the people in Chaucer’s poem mention the Lord’s name and the names of saints in vain, which is already a sign that they do not take their beliefs too seriously: â€Å"By St. John, you / shall not depart so easily!† (Chaucer). In addition, while the overall tone of Patterson’s poem is uplifting and high-flown, Chaucer’s characters mention the Lord’s name when talking about the most despicable thi ngs, which also adds to the contrast between the two books: â€Å"Nay, old churl, not so fast, by God† (Chaucer). Perhaps, the message which both The Pardoner and the Middle English penitential lyrics works so well because neither of the works uses actual people or even their credible impersonations to convey the key idea. It is not secret that in both cases, the characters are exaggerated versions of themselves.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Pardoner’s Tale specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Each of the characters in the Pardoner’s Tale is a classic stereotype. In other words, the character in Patterson’s poems is a generic image of a praying man, which makes the given image a typical generalization. Hence, the characters in both Chaucer’s and Patterson’s poems are generalized, which serves to make the chain of authors’ arguments even more impressive: â €Å"It would be strange indeed if Chaucer had intended his characters to be recognizable as particular living individuals, or as scientific phenomena, and nothing more† (Miller). Hence, in both poems, the characters are easily identifiable, yet hardly relatable to any particular person, which makes the argument concerning faith and church all the stronger. Asking for Forgiveness: When Timor Mortis Is Stronger than Ever Another issue which the two works both touch upon is the one concerning forgiveness. One of the major themes in Chaucer’s poem, the given issue helps draw the line between the Kingdom of God and the church; the author obviously stresses that there is a considerable difference between the faith in God, and its representation in the form of a church and its clergy. It is quite peculiar that Chaucer depicts the clergy in a rather unpleasant way. As a matter of fact, Patterson does not mention any clergy or even church in his poems whatsoever – there is only the Holy Trinity and him, a portrait of an average sinner praying to the Lord. As Hicks stresses, Unlike Augustine’s Christian teacher who exercises dignity, restraint, and moderation when he delivers his homily, Chaucer’s Pardoner inverts Augustine’s precautions on action in his sermon. He speaks in an unpleasant, irritating voice and displays unnecessary, distracting gestures when he presents his moral tale; thus, he inverts Augustine’s standards of homiletic decorum. (Hicks 83) When the Heart Breaks in Three Parts: The Holy Trinity Along with the rest of the Middle English penitential lyrics, the poem by Chaucer shares a lot of similar issues and ideas with the poem named in Patterson’s book as â€Å"Alas, My Hart Will Brek in Thre.† However, as it has been mentioned before, Chaucer’s poem is a satire; hence, the mentioning of the Christ, the Holy Spirit and God is a parody on the then idea of the Trinity: â€Å"The oath o f the three ‘To lyve and dyen ech of hem for oother’ (703) parodies the mutuality of the divine Trinity. If successful, this drunken effort to ‘play God’ would of course spell disaster for the race† (Hatcher 247). Like Chaucer, Patterson also mentions the Holy Trinity, yet does so to create the atmosphere of spirituality: â€Å"Alas, my hart will brek in thre† (Patterson 103).Advertising Looking for term paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Comparing the above-mentioned idea to the one conveyed by Patterson in his Middle English penitential lyrics, one must admit that Patterson’s poems are completely deprived of the bitter irony which Chaucer’s lines are shot through. While the latter manages to develop the idea of faith with the help of the most noble and uplifting images of repenting poor sinners and the Lord Almighty taking care of their lives, Chaucer offers a bitter reality where indulgences are sold as a token of forgiveness from the havens above. Thus, the two poems provide a rather sharp contrast when compared. Even though Besserman and Storm claim that â€Å"That Chaucer held some views in common with the Lollards does not mean that he necessarily held all, and to attribute to him condemnation of Canterbury pilgrimage must surely strain credulity† (Besserman and Storm 406), it is still obvious that Chaucer makes an attempt to remind the readers about the Holy Trinity and make them forget a bout the power of the corrupt clergy. Facing the Dread of Death: Forgiveness as a Way to Overcome It Another recurrent theme that one can find in both The Pardoner and the Middle English penitential lyrics is the idea of forgiveness. Again, offered in a rather subtle way in The Pardoner’s Tale, in Patterson’s lyrics, it is rather on the nose. Anyway, it cannot be denied that the issue is in the spotlight of discussion in The Pardoner’s Tale as well as in the Middle English penitential lyrics. Again, while in Patterson’s poems, the idea is considered from a viewpoint of redemption, Chaucer takes the examples of how the issue of guilt is handled by the lowest of the low: â€Å"Here in / my bag I have relics and indulgences, as fair as any / man’s in Britain, which were given to me by the / pope’s own hand† (Chaucer). Indulgences, one of the worst ideas that have ever occurred to the clergy, as the means to buy one’s innocence, re present the scale of the moral lapse of the given time slot. Likewise, Patterson also talks about forgiveness, yet his idea of forgiving one’s sins is way more devout: â€Å"God graunte vs grace hym for to seure† (Patterson 103). It is also quite peculiar that The Pardoner offers the idea of forgiveness, and, to Chaucer’s credit, rather subtly, one must admit: â€Å"God forgive you your trespasses / and guard you from the sin of avarice† (Chaucer) is, perhaps, the only line in which the word â€Å"forgiveness† is mentioned. However, the idea of looking for repentance is definitely there in Chaucer’s poem. The poem even begins with a cry for forgiveness and the need to repent: â€Å"Our Host began to swear as if he were mad; â€Å"Help! / Alas! By the nails and cross of Christ, this was a false / churl and a false justice!† (Chaucer). Compared to Chaucer’s work, Patterson’s poems seem to be more explicit in their idea of forgiveness, like prayers are supposed to be: â€Å"Semper in sinnis I ete my bred† (Patterson 103); it is quite important that the author of the poem does not even beg for forgiveness – like a mere mortal in front of God, the author knows that he will be judged like a sinner is supposed to. However, Patterson’s â€Å"Alas, My Hart Will Brek in Thre† also touches upon a very interesting thought which is not developed by Chaucer, yet can serve as the continuation of the idea of forgiveness. According to Patterson, death can be viewed as a logical ending to the life full of sins. The author starts with the fact any human being is a sinner by default, which is why in the end, terribilis morttis awaits for him/her: â€Å"Infirmus sum, I may not Rise. / Terribilis mortis conturbat me† (Patterson 103). However, in the final lines of the poem, Patterson makes it clear that for a sinner who is waiting for his earthly suffer it end, death can be considered as a way of salvation: â€Å"In Celum ther is Joy with the! / terrbilis mortis conturbat me.† (Patterson 103). Therefore, Patterson suggests that death is already repentance for the sins made during one’s earthly life, while Chaucer insists on the fact that guilt cannot be washed away either by money, or by the sands of time: â€Å"The Pardoner may have made a mistake, but Chaucer did not† (Swart 47). Seized by the Fear of Death: Timor Mortis in The Pardoner Finally, the fear of death as the central theme in The Pardoner’s Tale and its prologue must be discussed. At the given point, the connection between Chaucer’s and Patterson’s works seems obvious; while in Chaucer’s work, the characters decide to defeat the fear of death and, thus, kill the Death himself, in Patterson’s Middle English penitential lyrics, the fear of death is described as a phenomenon. It is also quite peculiar that the descriptions of death as Chaucer and Patterson see it also differ. Chaucer depicts death as the force that comes out of nowhere and takes people away, leaving their relatives and bellowed one mourn in grief: â€Å"A / stealthy thief that men call Death, who slays all the / people in this country-side, came with his spear and / struck his heart in two, and went his way without a/ word† (Chaucer). Patterson, however, in his penitential lyrics described death as something that is quite natural to fear; the character in his poem fears the death despite his age, belief, or experience: â€Å"In August whan the levis falle [†¦] timor mortis conturbat me† (Patterson 107). Thus, Patterson not simply depicts death as The Grim Reaper, but also makes it obvious that it is natural or a human being to be afraid of death. Hence, the poem somewhat contrasts with the theme of Chaucer’s poem, in which the three men decide to oppose the death and, therefore, defeat their fear of it to a certain extent; at least, they no longer stay motionless in fear, but decide to do something to get rid of death instead of waiting for the day when it strikes them. However, it cannot be denied that the manner in which the three overcome the fear of death seems rather a parody of the Biblical redemption. As Hatcher explains, When they have slain Death, no one will ever die again – and the world will therefore be perfect. Conceived on a binge, this plan parodies Christ’s redemptive act: his was self-sacrificial whereas theirs is murderous; his overcame the death of the soul whereas theirs aims to overcome the death of the body; his preserved but transcended the natural mortality of individuals whereas theirs aims to subvert the state of nature. (Hatcher 247) Finally, the development of the characters’ attitude towards death must be mentioned. In Chaucer’s poem, there is a logical development of the idea of death, which starts with sin and fear: â€Å"They made the devil’s sacrifice / Within that devil’s temple, wicked wise, / By superfluity both vile and vain† (Chaucer) and ends with an acceptance of the fact that a human is mortal: â€Å"And therefore I must / keep my old age as long as it is God’s will† (Chaucer). In contrast to Chaucer’s characters, the character of Patterson’s lyrics does not evolve – he is fixed on the idea that death is something to be feared: â€Å"Thanne ofte thynke on cristes passion / Whan timos mortis conturbat me† (Patterson 108). Hence, in a certain aspect, Chaucer’s work is stronger than Patterson’s preachy tone: â€Å"And Pardoner, I / pray you draw near again, and let us laugh and make / sport as we did before† (Chaucer). Conclusion: When the Pardon Is Finally Given Taking the above-mentioned into account, one must admit that there is a considerable range of similarities between the Middle English penitential lyrics and the poem written by Ch aucer, especially when it comes to discussing The Pardoner’s Tale. Even though the works by Chaucer and the ones by Patterson belong to completely different genres and have considerable differences in their topics and styles, they still discuss the same issues. Hence, it can be considered that, much like the Middle English penitential lyrics, the poem by Chaucer is shot through with the idea of guilt and repentance. Works Cited Besserman, Lawrence and Melvin Storm. â€Å"Chaucer’s Pardoner.† PMLA 98.3 (1983): 405-406. Print. Chaucer, Geoffrey n.d., The Pardoner, His Prologue, and His Tale. Web. Hatcher, Elizabeth. â€Å"Life without Death: The Old Man in Chaucer’s ‘Pardoner’s Tale’.† The Chaucer Review 9.3 (1975): 246-252. Print. Hicks, James. â€Å"Chaucer’s Inversion of Augustinian Rhetoric in ‘The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale’.† Essays in Medieval Studies 3 (n.d.): 78-95. Web. Là ¡zaro, Luis A. n.d., Orality and the Satiric Tradition in The Pardoner’s Tale. Web. Miller, Robert P. â€Å"Chaucer’s Pardoner, the Scriptural Eunuch, and the Pardoner’s Tale.† Speculum 30.2 (1955): 180-199. Print. Patterson, Frank Allan. The Middle English Penitential Lyrics. Norwood, MA: The Columbia University Press. 1911. Print. Swart, Jacobus. â€Å"Chaucer’s Pardoner.† Neophilologus 36.1 (1952): 45-50. Print. This term paper on The Pardoner’s Tale was written and submitted by user Cailyn Cruz to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Misperception of Iraq essays

Misperception of Iraq essays One of the most blatant and significant misperceptions floating around in the world today regards the war in Iraq. In spite of official findings to the contrary, including some admissions on the part of the Bush administration, many American citizens continue to believe both that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and that the nation was somehow linked to the terrorist attacks of September 11. Even though weapons inspectors and other investigators found no corroborating evidence to these claims, millions of citizens hold on dearly to this misperception, believing strongly that President Bush was correct to have invaded a sovereign nation. Many mainstream media sources have published articles or broadcasts on the fact that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction and that Iraq cannot be linked to September 11. However, many people continue to believe the misperception that both these myths are true. The misperception thrives in large part because of the clever wording or spin of the Bush administration. Furthermore, for many people around the world, the misperception that many Americans hold is ridiculous and frightening. Regardless of how people feel about the President and whether or not he should be re-elected, the Iraq issue remains an important, relevant misperception on the part of the American people, a misperception that can No one will argue reasonably that Saddam Hussain was a good leader. He killed and persecuted numerous people and suppressed the citizens of Iraq for many years. He deserved to be removed from power. Therefore, Saddam Hussain's failure as a leader is not a misperception. However, the means by which the United States invaded Iraq resulted in countless civilian deaths and American soldier casualties and was also counter to the basic rules of international politics. After all, few nations in the world offered their ...

About the Speaker of the House of Representatives

About the Speaker of the House of Representatives The position of Speaker of the House of Representatives is created in Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution. It states the House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers... Key Takeaways: Speaker of the House The Speaker of the House is designated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution as the highest-ranking member of the House of Representatives.The Speaker of the House is second in the line of presidential succession, after the Vice President.The election for Speaker of the House takes place at the beginning of each new congressional session.While the Speaker is designated as the presiding officer of the House, this day-to-day duty is usually assigned to another representative.The 2019 annual salary of the Speaker of the House is $223,500, compared to $174,000 for rank-and-file Representatives. How the Speaker Is Chosen As the highest-ranking member of the House, the Speaker is elected by a vote of the members of the House. While it is not required, the Speaker usually belongs to the majority political party. The Constitution does not require that the Speaker be an elected member of Congress. However, no non-member has ever been elected Speaker. As required by the Constitution, the Speaker is elected by a roll call vote held on the first day of every new session of Congress, which begins in January following the November midterm election thats held every two years. The Speaker is elected to a two-year term.   Typically, both the Democrats and the Republicans nominate their own candidates for Speaker. Roll call votes to select the Speaker are held repeatedly until one candidate receives a majority of all votes cast. Along with the title and duties, the Speaker of the House continues to serve as the elected representative from his or her congressional district.   Speaker of the House, the Role, Duties, and Powers Typically the head of the majority party in the House, the Speaker outranks the Majority Leader. The salary of the Speaker is also higher than that of the Majority and Minority Leaders in both the House and Senate. The Speaker rarely presides over regular meetings of the full House. Instead, they delegate the role to another representative. The Speaker does, however, typically preside over special joint sessions of Congress in which the House hosts the Senate. The Speaker of the House serves as the presiding officer of the House. In this capacity, the Speaker: Calls meetings of the House to orderAdministers the oath of office to new membersEnsures that order and decorum are maintained on the floor of the House and in the visitor galleriesMakes rulings on disputed House procedures and parliamentary issues As any other Representative, the Speaker may take part in debates and vote on legislation, but traditionally does so only in exceptional circumstances - such as when his or her vote could decide very important issues (like resolutions declaring war or amending the Constitution). The Speaker of the House also: Appoints the chairpersons and members of standing House committees and select and special committeesAppoints a majority of members to the important House Rules CommitteeExerts power over the legislative process by setting the House legislative calendar determining when bills will be debated and voted onOften utilizes this power to help fulfill his or her responsibility of making sure bills supported by the majority party are passed by the HouseServes as chair of the majority partys House steering committee Perhaps most clearly indicating the importance of the position, the Speaker of the House stands second only to the Vice President of the United States in the line of presidential succession. The first Speaker of the House was Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania, elected during the first session of Congress in 1789.   The longest-serving and perhaps most influential Speaker in history was Texas Democrat Sam Rayburn, who served as Speaker from 1940 to 1947, 1949 to 1953, and 1955 to 1961. Working closely with House committees and members from both parties, Speaker Rayburn ensured the passage of several controversial domestic policies and foreign aid bills backed by Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. The 2019 annual salary of the Speaker of the House is $223,500, compared to $174,000 for rank-and-file Representatives. Source The Constitution of the United States of America. Constitution Center.

Performance Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Performance Management - Essay Example Performance management systems make use of the fact that performance is increased on the part of all concerned and there is no shortfall as concerns to commitment, dedication and devotion when at work. What this performance management system does is to ensure that the right people get the bonuses, incentives and so on as well as point out the ones who have fallen short on the company’s expectations over a period of time. This would help in giving them rewards and incentives which will eventually make one and all happy at the end. Also this will continue their desire to achieve more and more within a specified period of time and thus come into the good books of the company. In return, they can be given all these rewards so that they could be encouraged in line with their work attitudes. Moreover, the people who lag behind with regards to their work schedules and dedication levels will stand up and take notice and thus would want to be counted as the effective and efficient ones within the company as well. The role of organizations in the maintenance of these systems is also very paramount. The difference from the annual appraisals and so on lies in the fact that the traditional manner of doing things relies more on the basis of paper work where a lot of time, effort and money is rather wasted to state the least. The role played by the organizations in advancing their performance management systems is immense since a lot of the population depends on them for their needs and wants. This is met in a fair manner courtesy the E-government initiative adopted by several different companies and organizations. All such innovations which help and facilitate the related process must indeed be given thumbs up since these try to solve the miseries of the people and it is because of these people that the performance management systems are put into place originally. This further pinpoints the fact that the deployment of an efficient performance management

Research paper about legalizing cannabis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Research paper about legalizing cannabis - Essay Example rlands, cannabis is openly tolerated and can be both purchased and consumed in one of several Amsterdam ‘coffee houses.’ Inexplicably, the city has not been thrown into anarchy which, evidently, is what the opponents of cannabis legalisation are afraid of. The evidence demonstrates that legalizing cannabis would prove a benefit to society, evidence which is well-known throughout the scientific, political and public arena but this collective knowledge has yet to be acted upon. This discussion will examine the issue of legalisation drawing from European, British and American experiences. In addition, because cannabis is often associated with harder forms of drugs by legalisation opponents, it will briefly discuss plausible reasons why all drugs should be at least decriminalised if not made fully legal. A report created by Transform1, a non-profit UK drug policy think tank, demonstrates how criminalization of certain drugs has created crime, undermined public health and promotes social exclusion while proving ineffective in eliminating domestic markets. The foundation recommends instead a society in which all drugs are regulated and controlled through the use of specialized pharmacies and licensed retailers instead of black market street vendors and an uncontrolled clientele. The reason for this, they say, is that the war on drugs has led to an uninformed hysteria among the general population, an irrational opposition to less harmful substances, a spike in organised crime and associated criminal activity. By regulating and controlling drugs, Transform suggests that prison populations could be cut in half, considerably reducing the funds spent on maintaining and sustaining these populations. In addition, crime factors would be reduced as the primary activity of organised crime would now be regulated, crime wars would become obsolete and crimes associated with drug use such as prostitution and burglaries for drug money would be further reduced as the price

A case study of NPower, a leading energy supplier in United Kingdom

A case study of NPower, a leading energy supplier in United Kingdom In the past the training and development approaches were not followed by many organizations. It was believed that the managers or leaders are born not made. Activities of training the employees were considered the wastage of time and resources. However, with the passage of time it was understood by the theorists and the organizations themselves that training and development is very important for human resource building. Now training and development is one of the important functions of human resource management. Training is not considered as a cost rather it is considered as investment on the employees which ultimately become the assets of an organization (Beardwell, 2004). Different methods and techniques are available to train and develop the human resource and those methods and techniques are modernized with critical analysis and their effect on human behaviors. There is one way to train the employees is to give them theoretical knowledge about the skills and give them an understanding of theories and procedures developed by different big organizations and theorists. This type of training and development comes under cognitive approach which majorly focuses on lectures, discussion, demonstrations etc. However the case company, npower does not follow this approach as they believe more in practical training rather than verbal or written training. Npower train their employees in real time working conditions where they understand the skills and adapt them and implement them on their job in the same time. This allows more sold grasps on the concepts and techniques as bookish knowledge might be different from the practical knowledge. And this also does not allow the generation of any conflict between the bookish knowledge and its practical implementation. This type of training and development comes under behavioral methods. Npower puts the responsibilities on the employees shoulders and delegates the decision making power to their employees which give them a sense that they are the part of the organization. In this way the employees feel more responsibility on their shoulders and this enhances their leadership skills and capabilities. The company involves the employees of all levels in the decision making process as they trust the competencies of their staff. The decision making power is delegated to all levels depending upon the criticality of the decision and the risk associated with it. The strategic decisions which involve high risk are the responsibility of the top management. As designing and implementing the strategies gives a direction to all the organization and it is very important to show a right direction to the organization otherwise the whole venture will be a complete failure. After the strategically decision, comes the tactical decision which is required to be made for the proper implementation of strategies decided by the top level executives. Tactical decision is at the discretion of the managers. This is because it involves fewer risks as compared to the strategic decisions. Managers are in a better position to take such decision because they understand the strengths and weaknesses of their team members. This allows the managers to learn the analytical and managerial skills and furthermore the skill of taking strategy in to implementation phase. The next level of decisions is the operational decisions which are delegated to the low level employees. For instance an employee does not have to wait for the approval of his manager if he finds that a part of a machine is required to be changed. Such type of operational decision is taken by the employees themselves and this increases their operational skill and knowledge. In this way npower delegates the decision making power at different levels and provides a platform of learning and development of the skills of their employees. This enables the organization to build a force of skilled human resource that gives them a competitive advantage over the others in the market. Training and Development Theories and Npower Approach Competitive advantage is referred to that ability of an organization which is not possessed by the other organizations and it is a competitive advantage which leads the organization to the top positions. There are many organizations in the world who are leading the markets by gaining competitive advantage in different fields of their business activities. One of the way in which a firm can attain a competitive advantage over the competitors is by building a force of superior human resource (Beardwell, 2004). Now the question arises that how this force of superior human resource can be build. The answer lies in a very important function of human resource management i.e. training and development. It has been observed that the employees or labor working in a competitive environment of market always welcome the training and development programs which can enhance their skills and knowledge (Davis Bostrom, 1993). Now days every job holder understands that to sustain and grow in the career it is very important to polish their skills. It is not that time where one degree or diploma is sufficient for the whole life. Employees actively participate in several programs which are organized by their organization and it has been observed that in some organization employees demand from their human resource department to arrange such training and development programs. Successful organization of today has built their human resource work force over the passage of time. There is no doubt that this work force is a highly valuable asset for any organization and the only possible way to build this workforce is training and development (Barney, 1986). There are several theories available in literature which emphasize on the importance of training and development in the organization and provides different alternative methods for training and development. A discussion of four major theories of training and development is given below. Theory of reinforcement This theory emphasizes on the learning behavior of a person and suggests that the learner will repeat that behavior which is attached with a positive outcome or result. Skinner an economist of behaviorist school of thought proposed the theory of reinforcement and suggested that the training and development programs should be aligned with the organizational objectives and a positive outcome should be expected with such training and development programs. Further elaborating this concept suggested in reinforcement theory, it can be argued that there are several techniques available in human resource practices which can be associated with the training and development programs and the required suggestion by this theory can be fulfilled. Different types of rewards in the form of bonuses, salary raises, promotion and awarding of certificate after the training program can be associated with the training and development activities and these rewards will definitely gen erate a positive outcome. If this is done by an organization then according to the Skinners theory of reinforcement the trainer i.e. the employee will show more interest in the training and development programs held by the organization. Theory of Learning Types The theory presented by Gagne emphasized on learning of intellectual skills. These are such skills which are found rare among the persons. He suggested by different learning types in his theory and each learning type contains some external and internal conditions. The five categories of learning which Gagne defined in his theory include intellectual skills, verbal information, attitudes, cognitive strategies and motor skills. Theory of Experiential Learning Experiential and cognitive types of learning are differentiated by experiential theory of learning presented by C. Rogers. According to Rogers, the wants and needs of the learner are addressed by this type of learning. Experience gives the person a maturity and increases the learning power along with the knowledge. Due to the personal involvement, the learner is able to conduct a self-evaluation test, which allows him to understand the effect of learning on his/her attitude. The case company npower seems to follow this theory as the company puts an engineer in different working conditions and allows him to understand different fields of work. This helps the employee to gain experience and that person skills grow by gaining experience with the passage of time. Theory of Social Learning Social theory presents a new view of learning i.e. social. According to the presenter of this theory, Albert Bandura, direct reinforcement cannot address all types of learning. Here by direct enforcement means the training and development programs that is organized to enhance the skills. According to this theory such programs are not address all learning types as there are some social elements which cannot be taught. Those elements are learned by the leaner from his/her surroundings. Such type of learning is called observational learning and this learning is associated with the understanding of different human behaviors. The first type of learning defined in this theory is through observation. In an organization the environment and the surroundings plays a very important role. The environment should be very professional and the surroundings should be in such a way that the people (employees) learn from them. This theory also suggests that it is not necessar y that the behavior is changed after learning something. It is expected that a persons behavior changes after learning something, but it is not in all cases. Furthermore the theory also explains about the mental states which play a vital role in learning process. If the mental status of the person is negative regarding any learning activity then he will not take part in that learning process and even if he is forced to do so, he will not gain any positivity from that process. In organizational training programs the mental state can be made positive regarding the training and development programs by associating the rewards and benefits with such programs which will motivate the employees and help to build a positive mental state. The case company also follow this theory as it allows the employees to learn from the surrounding and provides an environment where they can learn from their supervisors/managers and coworkers. Change Management and Human Resource Management For the organizations throughout the world, constant change has become a necessity for the success and growth. Due to the intense competition in the market organization find them in a continuous process of change in order to cope up with the market and customer needs (Chandler, 1992). In this way change management has become a permanent function or activity of any business. Many organizations increase their effectiveness by using change strategically. However, for an effective change in an organization it is required that proper thoughtful planning is done and the employees acceptance is taken by properly communicating the benefits of change to the employees. Human resource department should be involved form the initial phase of change process (Beardwell, 2004). Change in the organization brings the impact on the minds of the employees and the change in employees attitudes cannot be neglected in this process which should be the prime responsibility of HR department to manage and to m ake that impact on the minds of the employees positive (Buchanan Hucczynski, 1991). It has been observed in different organizations where the change has been brought by the management, that many of the people are uncomfortable with the change. So human resource management functions should be facilitating the change management in the organization and should focus on the removal of those discomforts among the employees brought by the change process. Human resource department should ensure that the reasons and benefits of the change process are properly communicated to all the employees and all the employees are clear about the change process. For effective change process implementation it is very important that employee resistance should not be there and employee resistance majorly occurs when they are not clear about the process and the benefit of the change (Buchanan Hucczynski, 1991). Simply imposing the change in the organization will not result in the effective and successful c hange implementation. Furthermore, this will impose a bad impact on the employees mind and will affect the performance of the employees as the employees will have to work in the new changed environment forcefully and it is very much understood that desired outcomes and results cannot be taken by force. Human resource should be actively involved in the change process and this will bring a real change in the organization. The case company npower, engages it employees in all the decision making process. In the case study Strategic Spare Parts Project is discussed, which is an example of the employee involvement in the business decisions and polices. So the company considers the employees thoughts and suggestions which are very important for bringing change in the organization. Npowers HRM PESTEL Analysis To identify and evaluate the external forces that can affect the organization directly or indirectly, PESTEL analysis is sued. This tool helps to examine and providing an in-depth analysis of all those forces under different heads which can potentially or currently affect the organization. PESTEL analysis is not only to evaluate the forces that can affect the whole organization; this analytical tool can also be used to identify the forces which affect the specific business units or functions of an organization. The human resource polices of the case company npower are under discussion and a PESTEL analysis is conducted of those external forces or factors which can affect the human reduce policies , practise and procedures of the company. Political Forces RWE npower is a leading organization in United Kingdome providing the energy services to the UK market. At United Kingdome there are different legislations which protect the consumer and employee rights. Furthermore there are laws which are used to maintain a fair competition in the market. So, the change in any kind of law and procedures will affect the human resource policies and practices directly. Furthermore, RWE npower is not only operating in UK, it is a German based organization and operating in different countries. So the changes in the laws and procedures in any country will affect the internal human resource policy of the organization. For a clearer understanding lets consider an example of a law in United Kingdome where the minimum wage rate of a labour is 3.59 pounds per hour. If at any time UK government increases it to 4 pounds per hour or more then HR polices of the company will be affected directly and immediately. Economic Forces Economic factors which can affect the HR policies of the case company can involve the change in inflation rate and the global economic condition (Beardwell, 2004). The change in inflation rate will force the company to follow the laws which suggests the organization to increase the salaries and other benefits according to the inflation rate. On the other hand the economic condition of the country as well as the world also affects the businesses (Kelly, 1999). In the recent global economic recession several organizations were forces to reduce their workforce and a downsizing trend was scene in many big multinationals. Due to globalization where the organizations have to expand in different location across the globe the economic forces and their impact also changes (Rioux, Bernthal, Wellins, 2008). For instance the economic condition in Europe will be much different as compared to economic condition in Asia. So, globalization gave birth to the need of managing several economic factors at different geographical locations. Social Forces Several social factors are there which affect the npowers human resource strategies and polices. To provide the employees and labours with a safe and healthy environment is necessary for every organization operating in United Kingdome. There are several legislations that ensure that each employee or labour is fully insured. So, changes in such legislations and laws immediately affect the human resource policies of the organization operating in United Kingdome. In social factors there is also a factor of globalization that affects the organizational HRM policies. As due to globalization the world is becoming a smaller place to operate. Several organizations are operating worldwide which include several cultural and geographical differences. The organization has to manage those cultural and geographical differences. It is not possible for a multinational cooperation such as npower to maintain a static HRM policy for all it business units across the globe. Each geographic al location has its own norms, believes and culture which have to be recognized by the organization. The human resource policies and procedures should support and correspond to the local employees and market needs (Rioux, Bernthal, Wellins, 2008). For the case company which is operating in different geographical locations the human resources management has to be a strategic function rather than simply an administrative function. The company has to consider the local requirements of the labour and employees and haver to focus on utilizing the exiting local talent in order to save the operational and administrative cost of the organization. Technological Forces Technology is changing very fast. It is very important for an organization operating in competitive business world to automate the human resource function (Beardwell, 2004). The manual working and the procedures are now obsolete as it wastes a lot of time and resources. To be quick and dynamic organization must have to automate their processes. Npowers human resource policies and practices will be affected with the change in the technologies. With the introduction of new technology the demand of the employees and the market increase and if the organization does not match up with the new technology then it will face a problem to retain the experienced and skilled workforce. Environmental Forces The health and safety act of United Kingdom puts a binding on the organization to provide healthy and safe environment to the employees. Environmental forces include mostly the weather changes. Human resource polices are indirectly affected by the environmental changes. Due to the change in weather it is quite possible that the employees have to be provided with different protective suits or air-conditioned plants etc. Legislative Forces The government of United Kingdome have passed different laws and regulations and currently there are several laws and regulations which are to be considered by the case company while designing any human resource policy. United Kingdoms Legal Environment Through law the stability and security of the people is ensured and justice is provided according to it to the accused. Just like criminal and social laws there are also the business laws and legislations which are implemented by the state to ensure that the right of different stakeholders are protected. At United Kingdome several laws are there which protect the rights of employees, right of consumers and also there are laws which are to maintain the fair competition in the market and ensure that no organization manipulates the market. A fair and healthy competition is good for the industry as well as for the consumers, but to ensure this atmosphere in the business market the government has taken several steps towards this by implementing certain legislations. As discussed in the PESTEL analysis of npower, the legislative factors also plays and important factor and can affect the human resource policies of the company. Here, different legislation or acts implemented by the government of United Kingdome. For protecting the consumer rights the first legislation under discussion is the consumer Credit Act. It was implemented in 1974 by the UK government and according to this all such business who want to provide credit facility to their customers will have to take approval from Director General of fair trading. For the organization like case company it is not possible to work only on cash, so the organization have to give credit facilities to the corporate clients such as British Telecom, Wembley Stadium and Ford. The enterprise that is found to mislead the customer regarding the price through its promotions can be held accountable under the consumer protection act which was implemented in 1987. Under this act all the organization have to pre sent the actual price of the product or service and if there are any other charges or taxes with the price those should also be presented to the customer in the promotions. The equal pay act which was implemented in 1970, suggests the organization to equally pay the candidates without any discrimination of gender. Another act implemented in 1974 suggests the organization to provide the employees a safe and healthy working environment. The minimum wage act implemented by the UK government in 1998, bound all the enterprises not to pay less than 3.59 pounds per hour. Office of Trading (OFT) is responsible for maintain a healthy competition in the market and to ensure that no organization can create its monopoly. The fair trading act was implemented in 1973 under which Office of Trading can recommend that business to MMC (Monopolies Mergers Commission which is found to be chagrin high prices form the consumer or performing such activities which are against the interest of public. Office of Trading can also set the price ceiling in order to eliminate the monopolistic behaviour of the organizations.

Realism and Naturalism Essay

Throughout the history of theatre there have been many schools and styles. Theatre is ever changing as a reflection of society and what society wants. But out of all these styles, there are two which, when blended, produce a type of theatre that can always live and flow with society and not drastically alter to fit in with the world’s ever changing ways. These are Realism and Naturalism. When combined, they form a powerful, truthful and powerfully real theatre. The two men who have best managed to best combine these two elements are Konstantin Stanislavski with his â€Å"system,† and Anton Chekov with his dramatic writings and specifically, with his work in The Cherry Orchard The main beliefs of Realism and Naturalism are that the theatre needs to shun melodrama and spectacle and, instead, present something that is real and true to life. They believe that the most influential factors in a person’s life are heredity and environment, and they feel that the characters shown need to be more that two dimensional stock characters. They need to have real motives and emotions and possess all the complexities that go into making a true personality and a true person. Naturalists feel that plays should not be written in any sort of dramatic sequence or structure because that is not true to life. Realists embrace the desire for reality on stage, but also feel that dramatic structure follows the actual structure of life and structure and poetry should be integral parts of drama. Konstantin Stanislavski felt that same need for reality on the stage. He spent the majority of his life searching for how an actor can create truth on stage and, in doing so, he tapped into many of the same veins of humanity that Naturalists and Realists did. He expressed the same desire of Naturalists for a realistic theatre that shows life with its dramatic structure and intrigue. â€Å". . . I was beginning to look for genuine life in [the theatre], not ordinary life, of course, but artistic life† (Bentley, 220). And he went looking for it the same way that realists and naturalists did. He began to look for a natural order for things and to devise a systematic plan from that natural base. He went looking for truth. And, again, he found it in the same place as the Naturalists and realists did. He found that, for an actor to bring full life to a character and full reality  to the stage, he must both create a character with a real soul, and he must not rely on stage tricks t o do so. â€Å"An actor, [Stanislavski] thought, must have some sort of spiritual preparation before the beginning of a performance. Not only his body, but also his spirit must put on new clothes† (222). This type of acting blends perfectly with realistic drama, which contains characters whose souls are inherent to the script. He did not, however, feel that he was subscribing to either school of thought. He stated that he felt that realism and naturalism were not things that needed to be pushed onto the stage, but when a good actor takes on the role and fully builds his character from the inside out and truly lives the reality of the stage, reality will flow from it with out outside help. â€Å"As soon as [the realism] is justified, it becomes either unnecessary or it is not noticed at all . . .† (229). Stanislavski embraced the same ideas of the Realist and Naturalist thinkers, but he didn’t place the emphasis on them. Instead, he felt they would emerge as soon as the actor fully filled the role. And no one wrote better roles for this approach to theatre that Anton Chekov. Chekov was able to write plays that embodied the idea of true, artistic life, and The Cherry Orchard is a shining example of that. He takes a moment that has dramatic appeal and is emotionally charged, and recreates it in a way that is true to life and yet exaggerated at the same time. He creates a reality that is so real, it almost appears fake. However, it is this style of drama that is a perfect vehicle for Stanislavski’s system of acting. As Barrault says in his essay â€Å"Why The Cherry Orchard?.† â€Å"The Cherry Orchard is one of the few plays in which a whole cast could really get so profoundly lost as to cease to believe that they are in a theatre, and believe on the contrary that this family truly exists and that they are in real life . . .† That was Stanislavski’s goal for his actors. That was the ultimate peak to reach. So why is this not Naturalism if the actors create a full reality? Also, he creates this complete reality, yet it is a reality steeped in poetry and lyric. So why is it not Realism if he creates truth through poetry? As Barrault says, â€Å"This play belongs neither to the naturalism of the beginning of the century nor to realism, it belongs to truth, and truth always has two faces, a real one, and a poetic one.† And that is the true form that theatre should take. It doesn’t have to be one way or the other, as the Realists and the Naturalists seem to think. True reality is a blend of both. And Chekov was the master of that form. He so cleanly blended the two ideas that it is impossible to separate them into separate places. And through this masterpiece of dramatic writing, Stanislavski’s systematic method of creating truth can have a fighting chance at reaching the heights that it is capable of. So it is that through a mixture of the two schools of thought and the work of the two men who have mastered it that theatre can reach a point of beauty and truth and can display reality and drama in a way that doesn’t need to adapt with the changes of life because it is based in life. The theatre that emerges from this blend has its roots deep in the heart of humanity and what people truly want, and, consequently, will never die.

What Does It Mean When a Woman Is Called a Cougar

A cougar is typically defined as an older woman who is primarily attracted to younger men, often involving a sexual relationship. Although there are no precise ages, the woman is usually 35 years or older with the man more than eight years her junior. Some people consider cougar to be a sexist, derogatory term, but the meaning varies from offensive to empowering depending on the person. Key Takeaways: The Slang Term "Cougar" Cougars are defined as older heterosexual women (typically ages 35–55) who pursue sexual relationships with men who are eight or more years younger.  Cougar marriages are relatively rare—only about 1.7% of U.S. marriages in 2016 featured women 10 or more years older than their husbands. Nonpermanent relationships are much more common for cougars—a 2002 survey revealed that 13% of women in the U.S. ages 35–44 had had sex at least once with a man who was at least five years younger.Cougars can present both positive and negative images: They are independent, sexually confident women, or they are women who are striving to conform to the social norms of youth and beauty.   Popular Culture and the Cougar Dating Scene   The term cougar is an example of how modern culture defines and prescribes roles for (heterosexual) women and men in society; other similar stereotypes include sugar daddy and sugar mama. What these have in common—aside from an age difference—is an imbalance of power and wealth, with the wealth and power being held primarily by the older person. Other related terms of alpha cougar, beta cougar, and sweet or angry cougars appear to be categories invented by dating websites.   Cougar relationships have appeared in pop culture over the years. Celebrity couples made up of older women and younger men include Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, who were 42 and 30, respectively, when they started dating in 1988; Sheryl Crowe (41) and Lance Armstrong (32) in 2003; Demi Moore (48) and Ashton Kutcher (27) in 2005; Rachel Hunter (37) and Jarret Stoll (24) in 2006; and Ivana Trump (59) and Rossano Rubicondi (36) in 2008. History of the Cougar Term The earliest documented use for the term cougar as it pertains to a woman seeking such a relationship is said to have been in professional sports locker-room talk. In the 1980s, the Canadian ice hockey team the Vancouver Canucks used the term to refer to the older, single women who attended their hockey games to pursue players sexually. The Canadian dating site cougardate.com was launched in 1999 to assist in establishing relationships between older women and younger men, and in 2001, the website became the focus of a story in the Toronto Sun. Columnist Valerie Gibson leveraged her investigations into cougardate.com to write a 2002 self-help book titled Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men.   Since that time, there has been an increasing number of newspaper articles and blogs on the subject. Such relationships have been seen in television programs such as Sex and the City (1998–2004), Cougar Town (2009–2015), Lipstick Jungle (2008–2009), and Riverdale (2017–ongoing), and movies such as Prime (2005), The Rebound (2009), Adore (2013), and The Boy Next Door (2015). Seductive older women are also featured in pornography—cougars is a common subgenre in pornography websites. Many more cougar-specific dating sites have been launched as well, such as dateacougar.com, cougarlife.com, and datemrsrobinson.com, to name a few. Cougar Characteristics   The popular stereotype of a cougar is a heterosexual white or black unmarried woman between the ages of 35 and 55. She maintains a youthful physical appearance, either by exercise, cosmetics, cosmetic surgery, or a combination of these. She is comparatively wealthy, or at least financially independent, and she expresses her sexuality by publicly pursuing younger men for casual relationships or sexual encounters. She does so, she says, because she wants a partner who both appreciates and can satisfy a sexually assertive and financially independent woman. That stereotype also suggests that cougars are commonly looking for fun, temporary sexual liaisons. At the same time, they are perceived as women who strive to correspond to strict, ageist conceptions of female beauty, i.e. maintaining a youthful appearance and slimness well into middle age. Statistics Sociologist Milaine Alarie compiled statistics for her 2018 doctorate thesis on the subject of relationships defined by older women and younger men. She found that overall, and just as in the past, women typically marry men who are slightly older than they are. In 2016, the U.S. Census reported that women were older than their husbands by four years or more in only 7.9% of marriages, and by 10 years in only 1.7% of marriages. By contrast, men are older than their wives by four years or more in 31.8% of marriages, and by 10 years in 7.4% of marriages. Canadian statistics are similar. In terms of nonpermanent relationships, however, Alarie cites a National Survey of Family Growth that found that in 2002, at least 13% of women in the U.S. ages 35 to 44 had had sex at least once with a man who was at least five years younger, and 5% with a man who was more than 10 years younger. A third of the women said they had had sex with a man who was older than they were by five years, and 14% at least 10 years older. Thus, in both marriages and nonpermanent relationships, the trend is that men are typically older than their female counterparts. Though women are sometimes younger than their partners—entering cougar territory—, it is more likely that they will be involved with a younger man in a nonpermanent relationship, rather than a marriage. Social Norms and the Cougar Alarie proposes that negative reactions to cougar relationships are so strong because they violate long-standing social norms. For example, there is an assumption in Western culture that men value youth and beauty in a partner, while women value financial stability. Men are also understood to have stronger sex drives than women and are expected to make the first contact, while women are encouraged to wait passively for men to choose them. Finally, theres the idea that older women are expected to be asexual. Cougar behavior turns all of these norms on their heads. In Alaries qualitative study of 59 women who had participated in cougar relationships, results showed that women had different experiences of social norms depending on their age. For example, older women were less likely to be affected by the social discourse about cougar relationships, were less preoccupied than younger women were about how long the relationship would last, and were less worried about whether they would miss out on having children or losing their partners as they continued to age. Is Cougar a Derogatory Term?   The meaning of the term cougar seems to vary with the speaker. On the positive side, cougars are associated with gender equality, an outgrowth of the sexual revolution, and the availability of reliable contraceptives, which have given women more freedom when choosing a partner. They are also an explicit reflection that sexuality is not necessarily connected with childbearing. Moreover, an increase in status, education, and income means that a woman can establish herself as the more powerful party in a relationship (should an unequal power dynamic be desired by both partners). However, there is a considerable negative undertone prevalent in the media, particularly on internet sites such as askmen.com and Urban Dictionary, where cougars are often described as desperately aggressive or desperately clinging to youth. Surveys show that women generally feel that such behavior is ultimately dangerous for the men, themselves, or both. Cougars are seen as predators of unwary men or victims of the cultural imperative to find value in their physical appearance. Benefits and Drawbacks   There are many reasons why women might choose to enter into relationships that give them the cougar label. She may be less likely to have to eventually support her spouse (physically or emotionally) in their final years as his health declines, but would rather be cared for herself. Women still do live longer than men, so it may be a rational choice to select a younger partner. Women also say that younger men appreciate their financial independence, their interest in sex, and their freedom from stereotypes.   But the drawbacks are severe: There is a social stigma, and men are often pressured by their friends and family to find someone younger. In a cougar relationship, women are not likely to want (more) children when their partner does, and while many men say that their partners higher income is a benefit, some research shows that can also lead to conflict. Sources   Alarie, Milaine. Beyond the Cougar Stereotype: Womens Experiences with Age-Hypogamous Intimate Relationships. McGill University, 2018. Print.Alarie, Milaine, and Jason T. Carmichael. The Cougar Phenomenon: An Examination of the Factors That Influence Age-Hypogamous Sexual Relationships Among Middle-Aged Women. Journal of Marriage and Family 77.5 (2015): 1250–65. Print.Graf, Allyson S., and Julie Hicks Patrick. The Influence of Sexual Attitudes on Mid-to Late-Life Sexual Well-Being: Age, Not Gender, as a Salient Factor. International Journal of Aging and Human Development 79.1 (2014): 55–79. Print.Lawton, Zoe, and Paul Callister. Older Women–Younger Men Relationships: The Social Phenomenon of Cougars. A Research Note.  Victoria University of Wellington, 2010. Print.Montemurro, Beth, and Jenna Marie Siefken. Cougars on the Prowl? New Perceptions of Older Womens Sexuality. Journal of Aging Studies 28 (2014): 35–43. Print.Rowntree, Margaret R. ‘Comfort able in My Own Skin’: A New Form of Sexual Freedom for Ageing Baby Boomers. Journal of Aging Studies 31 (2014): 150–58. Print.Shpancer, Noam. The Cougar Conundrum: What Older Women Can Teach Younger . Psychology Today.  October 4, 2012. Web.  Weitz, Rose. Changing the Scripts: Midlife Women’s Sexuality in Contemporary U.S. Film. Sexuality Culture 14.1 (2010): 17–32. Print.