Philip IIs relationship with the Papacy Essay

Philip was called the ‘most Catholic King’, however his relationship with the Papacy was never as good as his title may imply. Philip acknowledged that the Pope was God’s representative on earth, but he still kept control of the church in Spain. He could reject Papal Bulls and took a percentage of the church’s revenue. When Jesuits emerged to try and reconvert people Philip initially welcomed them but soon became annoyed as they swore allegiance to the Pope. He even arrested and imprisoned a Jesuit leader until the Pope demanded his release. The Pope, being an Italian prince, always felt threatened as he was surrounded by Philip’s possessions in Italy. The Pope even made an alliance with Philip’s greatest enemy, France, to try and drive Philip out of Italy. Philip acted first when he heard the plans and sent the Duke of Alva who led and army and surrounded Rome. Although Philip did no ask for any conditions for withdrawal, the relations with the Pope deteriorated further. Philip’s father Charles had already sacked Rome before in 1527, and these events led to the Pope increasingly fearing Philip. This fear of Spanish dominance led to the pope rejecting Philip’s claim to become protector of French Catholics after the death of Henry III, making matters difficult for Philip and worsening relations. The Pope and Philip did cooperate on occasions, such as when the Holy League was formed against the Turks. Philip, although reluctant, obliged to join the League and they achieved a great military victory at Lepanto, inflicting the Turks’ worst naval defeat. However the celebrations did not last as to the pope’s annoyance, Philip made peace with the Muslim Turks. Overall Philip’s relations with the Papacy were never very good, despite there being numerous different popes during Philip’s reign. However with their common faith the two were never in serious direct conflict, as they together faced the common enemy of Protestantism. ii) Philip’s reign saw two serious internal rebellions within Spain. These were the revolt of the Moriscos and Aragon, each partly caused by Philip’s actions but also by other factors. Moriscos were descended from the Moors who had been driven out of Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella. Moors were Muslims and Moriscos were converts who had converted to Christianity. However the people of Spain were still suspicious of them, and the vast majority of Inquisition cases were against Moriscos. Many Moriscos did secretly still practise their own religion and more and more laws were creating suppressing Moorish culture such as banning Moorish literature. The Moriscos were often seen as traitors with links to Turkey and Barbary Corsairs who raided Spanish coastlines. This meant they never fitted into Spanish society and felt alienated. The Moriscos were also experience economic difficulty. Their main trade, silk, was heavily taxed and also facing competition from other sources. They were also prohibited from owning slaves and after government investigation large areas of Morisco land were confiscated. This led to Moriscos feeling even more oppressed and in financial difficulty. These increasing tensions let to the Inquisitor General Espinosa being given control of the Moriscos in 1567 and by the end of 1568 the Moriscos were in revolt. Although Philip’s troops recaptured over 180 villages, trouble increased with news that Espinosa intended to deport all Moriscos from Granada. Philip then appointed his half brother Don John as commander of the army. This worsened matters as Don John’s undisciplined troops raped and murdered victims, causing the revolt to flare into civil war with 30,000 rebels. Some rebels dealt cruelly with Christians and Don John responded with massacres of some town. Philip finally realised that he could not win by force and cancelled the deportation orders. Instead he ordered Moriscos to be dispersed throughout Spain and free pardons were offered to those who surrendered. This was his first wise strategy and eventually brought the revolt to an end. However if the Moriscos Revolt can be seen as less of Philip’s personal fault and more because of tension building through the years, the Aragon was much more to do with Philip’s personal actions. Philip resided in Castile and did not visit other parts of his empire, which was resented by other provinces as they felt neglected and suspected Philip of trying to Castilise the whole of Spain. Philip had largely left Aragon alone, but in 1590 there was the announcement of government troops arriving to help secure the border with France in order to keep out Huguenots. The Aragon nobles feared for their freedom and began a small revolt. This was not serious but the situation changed when Antonio Perez fled to Aragon at his fall from power. He insisted on being trialled in Aragon as it was his native province. Whilst in Aragon Perez spread royal secrets including Philip’s involvement in the murder of Escobedo. Philip ordered his arrest to be tried in an Inquisition court but the Aragonese nobles saw this as breach of their rights and protests turned into uncontrollable riots. Philip quickly responded by sending troops to the Aragon border and demanded the handover of Perez. More riots broke out and Perez managed to escape. However the call for the Aragonese people to declare war on Philip received little support and Philip’s troops were able to crush the revolt. In both cases, Philip was partly responsible for the revolts. The Moriscos revolt was largely due to the build up of tension through the years, but Philip’s decision to appoint Espinosa did not help matters and his reliance on Don John worsened the rebellion. His main faults lay with the people he appointed and this contributed to triggering the revolt. The Aragon revolt was more personally against Philip as he never visited but still attempted to assume to control over the area. There had been resentment of Castile amongst the Aragonese nobles and Philip’s insistence in the capture of Perez sparked off the revolt, so in this case Philip was largely responsible for the revolt.

Lierary Response House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street written by Sandra Concerns, the vignette titled, â€Å"There was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn't Know What to Do†, may seem insignificant at first when Concerns begins to describe a woman with a lot of troubled children, a common scenario In neighborhoods such as Mango Street.Then as we delve deeper Into the passage, we begin to realize that the mother, Rosa Barras, Is neglectful, which may not be her fault; she Is troubled with the amount of children she has and plagued with the ruder of sadness that her husband left her with all of these children, alone and with no money to aid her. These children are starving for attention and by practically railing themselves. At first, members of the community attempt to help with their upbringing but eventually, because of the lack of results, the people become tired of trying and stop caring.They don't care when the children hurt themselves, even when Angel Barras falls from a great height and dies, â€Å"†¦ And nobody looked up not once the day Angel Barras learned to fly and dropped from the sky like a sugar donuts, gust like a falling star, and exploded down to earth without even an Oh†. Concerns seems to be playing off the old African saying, â€Å"It takes a village to raise a child†. This vignette is included to bear the question, who is to blame for Angel's death?Himself, because he behaved recklessly; his absent father, whose departure no doubt contributed to his lack of respect â€Å"for all things living, including [himself]†; his mother, who was not watching him but who at the same time was unable to do so effectively; or his neighbors, for not caring for or about his actions? Concerns chooses to include Rosa Barras in this vignette. Rosa also represents the challenges faced by single mothers.She has more children than she can count and is plagued with despair after her husband leaves her without a penny to help take care of all of her children or even a reason explaining why he left. She is troubled with all of these children and it is too many for her to keep her eye on. By the end of the vignette we can infer she has lost her son and now not only does she have to deal with the absence of her husband but now the loss of her son.

To Regulate or Not to Regulate (Pick an area to apply the question to Research Paper

To Regulate or Not to Regulate (Pick an area to apply the question to it, as per the instructions) - Research Paper Example Many say absolutely; while others say definitely not. It is the intention of this work to outline reliable viewpoints to determine if self regulation is even a feasible contention. It is the overall determination of this research that it is not. Regulation of the banking system is essential. Reforms are certainly called for, but completely â€Å"free banking† would be foolish and economically dangerous to the United States. Regulations were initially introduced to unify the banking industry, but, also, to protect the monies of the people and to encourage universal honesty in banking business practices. Today the regulations have been altered, reformed, and added to accommodate the changing times in comparison to the earliest appearances and the opinions about those regulations placed on the banking industry have been heavily debated and will probably continue to be so for a long time to come. There are viewpoints that stretch the entire spectrum of the topic. There are those that believe that there should be absolutely no regulations dedicated to banking. There are those that feel that the regulations need to be stronger and even stricter that they currently are. There are, also, those that remain somewhere in the middle on the issue. They feel some regulations are definitely in order, but are not certain if even more restrictions will actually solve the problems within the banking industry, or just ma ke things much worse. So which viewpoint is right? Can the banking system be self regulated? Will the viewpoints ever find a compromise that result in a solution that is effective and successful? Would anyone feel comfortable depositing their hard earned money in a bank that did not possess FDIC insurance? Without that insurance and the regulations involved your money could become leveraged while the bank takes financial risks. If something goes wrong and that money was lost banks would have little incentive or responsibility to you or that money.("Office

Saudi Arabian Dream and American Dream Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Saudi Arabian Dream and American Dream - Essay Example Therefore, Saudi’s economic model seeks to distribute wealth from one primary source to the citizens. Saudi’s economy depends at least to some extent to imported labor as opposed to american model whereby American citizens drive the economy. However, the most notable disparity between Saudi and America is the level of education. The model of education in Saudi makes it difficult even for graduates to find jobs in the country. Therefore, Saudi is yet to realize full benefit of education as key driver of the economy and therefore cannot follow the American dream model. Whereas Saudi shares similar problem of big gap between the rich and the poor, measures to address this issue are different and therefore Saudi cannot share the ideas of the American dream when it comes to the concept of bridging this increasing gap. Saudi is characterized by unique social and religious values that contrast the American society. Whereas Saudi is Islamic oriented, America is overwhelmingly d iversified. This makes it overwhelmingly difficult for Saudi to follow the American dream model. For instance, Saudi Arabia’s social problems stem from the fact that the country is founded on Islamic tenets. However, it can be argued that Saudi Arabia is borrowing the American dream when it comes to treatment of middle class people. There seems to be a lot of focus on middle class as potential economic driver. Saudi is trying to twist the economy to empower the middle-income earners in the efforts to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. However, low class people seem to have been forgotten. Considering the above stated issues, it can be safely argued that Saudi Arabia is certainly following a different model of development and may therefore, not borrow heavily from the American dream

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Globalization - Essay Example Kincaid and Black presented their views regarding developing countries being profusely pressurized with agony from developed countries. The problem faced by developing countries often arise due to financial reasons. Since developing countries are considered â€Å"young†, they need to make a lot of improvements in some aspect of society. In order to achieve it, developing countries will need a huge amount of money to support their development. Unfortunately, most of them do not have favorable financial situation. In Black’s documentary film, she also explains how developed countries with their huge and rude organizations - such as International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organization (WTO) - control the politic, economy, and life of the Jamaicans. After colonialism, Jamaica started her independence with the loan from IMF. The IMF has certainly helped many countries and this is a very good practice. IMF granted a loan with the requisite of short term borrowing co ntract and trading interest. With no other options, Jamaicans had to accept the condition and open their country to globalization. By then, there are many multinational corporations that followed along globalization, such as Mc Donald, Tacobell, Baskin Robins and many more. For many years, Jamaica had been dependent with the loan of IMF. In 1973, the banking system needed financial support to support the agriculture in Jamaica. Seeking a solution, the government of Jamaica came to IMF again for a loan. Beyond any expectations, the requisite that was given by IMF became stricter than before. IMF proposed the restriction to abandon local subsidy and any control of import product. Without any options left, the government of Jamaica had to accept the condition to help save their financial problem. The exploitation of laborers is very common in almost every developing country and this is unacceptable, it is high time to pay the laborers what they deserve and it is time to bring about a

American women's rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

American women's rights - Essay Example "The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man towards woman". The middle class elites felt ashamed of themselves of the social conditions of the poor and thus taken the social duty strongly from their long traditions for the progressives to be made in the sense of the poor. The impulse spread from farmers to politicians to put the effort to reform. Therefore Roosevelt became the first president to support the labor and assigned the government a direct role and duty to all the people. The new women’s colleges were opened and there the female reformers were educated. These females who were white middle class young women handled the â€Å"problem â€Å" of Immigrant, who constituted â€Å"dark skinned† Italians, peasant Jews and immigrants from southeastern Europe. The middle class women were barred to possess the professional educational qualifications pursue Consumer’s League, and â€Å"Americanizing† centers known as settlement houses. These organizations targeted to wipe off the corruption and vice bred by the men their career. So, the women formed into groups and had built themselves as associations to take active part in the public life. Some of the associations are Women’s Trade Union League, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and the National. Referred as â€Å"women of achievement†.The women succeeded in their campaign to get the right to vote. But their battle of suffrage lasted for as long as from 1848 to 1920, in the year 1920 nineteenth amendment granted 26 million women, half of the nations population, the right to vote. ... The Civil Rights Law of the 1960s was stepping stone for those who fought for America's promise of equal rights for all. "The making of the English working class and the rise of respectful society". "The Virginia Declaration of Rights was a document proclaiming that individual natural rights are inherent, and calling for American independence from Britain"5. The movement of women, for suffrage began at Seneca Falls. The American Society challenged severely the efforts of women that they cannot cross the threshold of men. But as the situation prolonged, the women got educated, and their movement turned out to be a respectable one. By 1910, the movement developed into a mass movement. In England too it was the same condition, the women were aggressive to sweep out their miseries and were carrying their movement for fundamental rights. In both the nations, by 1919, the Amendment Act was passed for women granting their right to vote. "Black history has been overshadowed by white interpretation for a very long time, even in locations where the majority population was black. Visit a Southern plantation and you will learn about the lifestyle of the owners, but very little about the slaves who made that lifestyle possible"6 Detroit, the city was known as the "arsenal of Democracy" during the Second World War. The city of Detroit required a large number of labors who came from Africa. They were not given accommodation and like this the riots erupted which turned to be the bloodiest in the history of he nation. This racial conflict has begun very long past in 1863 and lasted till 1941. The racial riots have a long history in Detroit.

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 33

Economics - Essay Example Macroeconomics focuses on the international and national economic trends. Neoclassical economics pursues economics through means of demand and supply models, which determine prices on the basis of subjective preferences of consumers and producers. Neoclassical economics depends on subjective preferences in determining prices. Sustainability is associated to the quality of life in a society. It determines whether the environmental, social and economic systems, which make up the society, are offering a productive, meaningful and healthy life for the current and future generations. Sustainable development is the growth, which satisfies the requirements of existing generations without compromising the capability of upcoming generations to satisfy their requirements. There are three features of sustainable development; economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. Environmental sustainability is described as sustenance of life supporting systems. Economic sustainability is described as sustenance of economic capital. It refers to the maximum amount of revenue, which may be spent without diminishing future consumption. Social sustainability is described as sustenance of social resources. Sustainable growth should integrate these categories of sustainability and employ them in ensuring that development is sustainable. There are developments of the new economic ideas in the modern economy. The world economy has experienced various economic conditions and new ideas are evolving, complementing the traditional economic ideas. The following are the alternative economic ideas in the modern economy. First, modern economies are considering shifting from outsourcing to in-sourcing. Economies are encouraging local production to enhance domestic employment. Another idea includes the accessing of wealth of the locals; information and communication technologies are changing

Leading Group Challenges Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leading Group Challenges Paper - Essay Example There have been a significant number of literatures covering the nature, theories and applications of leadership and its effect to job performance and satisfaction. The diverse patterns of behavior and actions that leaders exhibit over a period of time and perceived by followers have been identified as the dominant style of leadership. This style is developed utilizing an interplay of factors which shape leadership development. In this regard, the essay is written to proffer challenges of leading groups in a criminal justice organization. Particularly, a description of the challenges currently faced by criminal justice leaders would be included in the discourse; as well as predictions of the challenges that will be faced over the next 5 years. Leadership is the process of influencing people to work or act towards the attainment of specifically defined goals (Martires & Fule 2000: 569). â€Å"Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal† (Northouse, 2004). Authors Lussier & Achua (2004) define leadership as â€Å"the influencing process of leaders and followers to achieve organizational objectives through changes†. And Schermerhorn, Hunt, & Osborn (2008, 243) state leadership as â€Å"the process of influencing others to understand and agree about what needs to be done and how to do it, and the process of facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives†. All authors share the same conviction who perceived leadership as a process of influencing others. Further, all authors conform to the following factors as relevant components of the leadership process: (1) influencing people; (2) towards the achievement of a goal. There is the component of influence by exerting the ability to develop and communicate that vision to a group of people who would make that vision come true. According to McKinney (2008, par. 1),

Current Events Journal Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current Events Journal - Article Example The government claims that it needs this program to fight terrorism. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing those who have regular overseas dealings, took its case to District Court last March where it won its argument, but because of the stay requested by the government, surveillance is continued until the appeals process is complete. The government will submit its arguments to the court by October 13. The ACLU has a month to respond with a ruling expected to be rendered by the end of the year. Whichever side loses the appeal will likely appeal further to the Supreme Court. The ACLU contends that for the government to authorize the unwarranted surveillance of its citizens violates the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution which prohibits the use of general warrants and requires that probable cause be apparent. The National Security Agency (NSA) has had its surveillance program in place for five years in its global fight on terrorism but has not obtained the proper court-ordered warrants required by law in these monitoring activities. Judge Taylor ruled last August that this violates the civil rights of the Americans affected because the government is not presenting its justifications for its surveillance activities in court. Taylor had ruled that the NSA must stop this program but the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the stay of that ruling as requested by the government. The Bush administration continues to insist that the ‘Terrorist Surveillance Program’ is a necessary tool which ultimately protects American citizens. This program has been in existence since the September 11 attacks yet the public has only recently learned of it. There are concerns that civil liberties, which are supposed to be protected by the Constitution, are being eroded by a government that is overstepping its powers by wiretapping Americans without benefit of a court-ordered

Employee Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Employee - Essay Example ons and excellent criminal and disciplinary records are likely to respect the policies of our company than those whose records are questionable (Rees and Smith 43). More often than not, these records symbolize a potential employee’s character and ability to meet workplace expectations. For the five employees, we will also look for evidence of leadership ability and good moral and religious background. For example, employees who have held leadership positions in their previous places of work are more likely to understand the demands of confidentiality and high-level professionalism than those who are yet to demonstrate leadership ability. Good moral and religious background is usually indicative of a person’s character and commitment. For example, individuals with a sound religious foundation are more likely to show loyalty and respect confidentiality. Another factor that we will consider when hiring the five employees is age. Experienced employees are more likely to understand and respect requirements for strategic and information confidentiality. Experience also symbolizes professional acuity and flexibility, since older employees have probably encountered similar expectations at their previous places of work (Perkins and Arvinen-Muondo 28). Apart from the curriculum vitae, which is a prerequisite in any recruitment process, we will also require the five job applicants to have social security cards, birth certificates, identification cards, work permit, and academic documentation to verify the information provided in the resume. These documents are mandatory, and all applicants must have them or present them during the interview process. For applicants who are not US citizens, they must present original passports and legible copies of the appropriate pages indicating current immigration status. Applicants who are selected will be required to review and sign the employment contract and terms of conditions before commencing their tenures. Since the five

Chemical Policy Regulation Essay Example for Free

Chemical Policy Regulation Essay The European Commission’s Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) is a new system wherein manufacturers, distributors, and importers are required to sign-in their chemical inventories into a centralized database, along with information on physical and chemical properties, safe handling, hazards, and uses. Substances with carcinogenic, toxic, or mutagenic activity will require permission before being used, and any chemical whose risks are too unmanageable will be banned for use. REACH will thus be an aid in the management of information on chemicals, since it will demand that unknown data on chemicals currently in use be determined for registration purposes, and that new chemicals to be used by industry will now have a standardized procedure for the acquisition and distribution of information and control on their use. In detail, REACH will operate in the manner described in the following sentences. First, parties dealing in chemical products will be required to send a dossier of information on chemicals that they handle that are produced in excess of 1 metric tonne annually. Basic information will be required of chemicals dispensed in the range of 1-10 metric tonnes, while more will be asked of chemicals distributed in larger quantities. As an example of additional data that will be required, substances produced in excess of 10 tonnes annually should have an associated chemical safety report in which the hazard and risk assessment of the substance for specified uses must be outlined and how the risks posed by the chemical can be adequately controlled for these uses. One component of the assessment is an â€Å"exposure scenario†, a summary of the use(s) and appropriate risk management measures for the substance studied. All the safety data then submitted for â€Å"substances of very high concern† and chemicals used in bulk will be evaluated by a panel of experts, and any chemical whose use cannot be justified in terms of its risk of use being under control or its socio-economic value outweighing risks considered will be subjected to a phase-out and replacement with safer alternatives, if there are any. REACH in effect is an implementation of the venerable â€Å"precautionary principle†, one statement of which being that the burden of proof of a chemical’s ability to deal severe or irreversible harm should be foisted upon the advocates of the chemical’s use, in the absence of evidence that the chemical is safe for use. To illustrate the importance of the â€Å"precautionary principle†, one only needs to look at dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and the organochlorine pesticides that followed. At the time of their introduction, they were widely accepted and hailed as being much safer than the inorganic pesticides such as the arsenicals that were then the mainstays of pest control. It was only after many years of use that their deleterious effects towards human health and the environment became noticeable. In short, the tenet â€Å"innocent until proven guilty† is not to be applied to chemicals that may require years of use before exerting ill effects, and by then the damage done may already be too difficult or impossible to undo. REACH aims to address issues such as safety, the phasing out of â€Å"substances of concern†, and the encouragement of innovation in industry. In detail, REACH can address health issues because, by its very nature, it will prevent the unnecessary use and needless release into the environment of substances whose risk of use cannot be justified as against the benefits that can be accrued. In this respect, if it can be shown that a substance under scrutiny has no justifiable reason for its continuous use because of the availability of environmentally benign alternatives, its phase out will be implemented as soon as possible. Finally, industry will be spurred, in theory, to research possible replacements for the hazardous chemicals that they currently use due to the pressure exerted by REACH to limit or stop the use of   hazardous chemicals, paving the way for innovations. To facilitate the implementation of REACH, the European Chemicals Agency will be established in Helsinki, Finland. The Agency will serve to coordinate the majority of the work related to chemical regulation and evaluation. Members of the European Union still wield responsibility, however. A large portion of the data gathered through REACH will be publicly accessible. The legislation aims to protect human health and the environment, but the risk of negatively impacting the European economy has been brought up by concerned parties. Efforts to strike a happy medium have been going on for several years. One side has talked about increases in the incidence of cancer and disorders related to the malfunction of the endocrines, while the other side has focused on burgeoning red tape, rises in costs and loss of jobs as businesses move away from Europe. Groups with vested interests in the chemical industry have been accused of lobbying to water down REACH for their benefit. As such, there are groups that say that REACH has loopholes that can enable unscrupulous industries to persist in using substances of very high concern for their convenience. While industry has sought to have REACH’s requirements loosened, European trade unions and environmentalists have joined forces in arguing for strong legislation. It is said that one in three work-related illnesses in the 15 older EU member states is due to chemical exposure. REACH also enjoys the backing of consumer groups and medical associations. A limitation of REACH is that it only applies to chemicals manufactured in or imported into the EU, and therefore is not applicable to chemicals that are incorporated into finished products. So a product like a television, or computer or shampoo made outside the EU could contain chemicals that are not registered under REACH providing they are not banned under specific safety regulations (such as lead). Polymers (plastics, rubbers, and ilk) are excluded from the auspices of REACH for the time being, but monomers, or the chemicals used to make them, will still be covered by REACH. Pesticides, biocides and   human and veterinary pharmaceuticals are also exempt from REACH, the rationalization being that they are regulated under a different legislation from industrial chemicals. Industrial byproducts and waste are also not covered by REACH, but substances produced from waste or substances used in the processing of waste are covered by REACH. REACH defines what it calls substances of very high concern as substances that belong in any of these categories: substances that are cancer-causing (carcinogenic), mutation-inducing (mutagenic) or interfere with the bodys reproductive function (CMRs); substances that take a long time to break down (persistent), accumulate in the body (bioaccumulative) and are toxic (PBTs); substances that are very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvBs); and substances that have serious and irreversible effects on humans and the environment, for instance endocrine disrupting substances. Any new results in light of the effects of a chemical under scrutiny on the environment or human health can influence its retention or phasing out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As an example of the chemicals that can fall under these previously mentioned classes, the previously mentioned organochlorine pesticides will fall under the PBT category; Alar, a plant growth regulator that was pulled out from the market due to concerns about the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of one of its breakdown products will fall under CMR, and the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which, although nontoxic, tend to persist in the atmosphere to cause damage to the ozone layer will belong to the vPvB category. Note that a chemical only has to satisfy one of the set criteria of a certain category to belong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hazard triggers are an approach where â€Å"substances of high concern† are classified according to the hazards they present when tested in various models. Hazard triggers can be used as an adjunct or substitute for risk assessment since it is usually faster and cheaper to use such. However, extrapolating results of lab tests to what can happen when a chemical is used outside the lab is not always accurate. It has happened in previous times that there were chemicals that exhibited no injurious effects in lab tests and were subsequently shown to be unsafe when used in the field. Conversely, there have also been cases where a chemical that was initially shown to cause serious health problems in animal models was barred from further use even if subsequent tests demonstrated that its use poses no risk to human health. As such, the evaluation of a chemical’s safety based on hazard triggers should proceed on a case-to-case basis, and should be thoroughly scrutinized. Example hazard triggers include persistence (measured in terms of half life in soil or aquatic medium), long-range transport (quantified by the DT50), and ecotoxicity (of which the LC50 is the quantifying parameter). aims of REACH controversial issues associated with the legislation substances of `high concern` hazard triggers and risk assessment the implications of REACH for Environmental protection References BBC News (2005) QA: REACH Chemicals Legislation [online] accessed at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4437304.stm Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2004) Government Response to the Royal Commission on Environmental pollution Report on Chemicals in Products, Cm6300, HMSO [online] accessed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/ukpolicy.htm European Commission (2006) REACH in Brief, based on common position of the Council [online] accessed at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/reach/index_en.htm The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production (nd) REACH The New EU Chemicals Strategy: A New Approach to Chemicals Management [online] accessed at http://www.chemicalspolicy.org/reach.shtml REACH Compliance (2007) http://www.reach-compliance.eu/english/index.html

Memory Loss and Cognitive Impairment of the Elderly

Memory Loss and Cognitive Impairment of the Elderly CHAPTER V DISCUSSION, SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, IMPLICATIONS LIMITATIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS This chapter deals with discussion, summary and conclusion drawn. It also clarifies the limitation of the study, the implications and recommendations given for different areas such as nursing practice, nursing education, nursing administration and research. Memory loss is unusual forgetfulness. May not able to remember the new incidents, recall more memories of the past or both .Memory loss can be distressing for the person affected as well as for their family. Mild cognitive impairment is a syndrome defined as cognitive decline greater than expected for an individual’s age and education levels but that does not interfere notably with activities of daily life. Age related changes in cognitive function vary considerably across individuals. Some cognitive functions appearing more susceptible than others to the effect of aging. DISCUSSION: The present study was designed to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment for the elder peoples. The investigator adopted descriptive research design. The data collected for the study were analyzed statistically and discussed below based on objectives. i) Demographic Description: Demographic variables included Age , Sex , Education , Monthly income before coming to the old age home , Marital status , Occupation before coming to the old age home , Duration of stay in the old age home , Family history of mental illness , Source of income . Out of 60 elderly majority of the people 26 ( 43.33%) were between the age group of 76 – 80 yrs , regarding the sex 36 ( 60%) people are males ,regarding the educational status 50 ( 83.33 %) people had primary education , regarding the monthly income 46( 76.66%) people are getting RS ,3000-5000, 39 ( 65%) people married , 24 ( 40%) people are in private job , 30 ( 50%) people are staying 1-2 years in the old age home , 55( 91.66% ) people are not having family history of mental illness , 20 ( 33.33%) people are having source of income from the children. 1) The first objective of the study was to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elder people. Among 60 samples 1 (1.66%) of them scored between 61-80 (Mild memory loss), 19 (31.66%) of them scored between 41- 60 (Moderate memory loss), 40 (66.66%) of them scored between 21- 40 (Severe memory loss), and there is no people in very severe memory loss among elderly. This study was supported by Chips .J Pillai., et al (2009), conducted a early assessment of memory impairment in people over 65 years old . Tests used for the early diagnosis with memory loss are Wechsler memory scale. They recorded 74.5 % of memory complaints for old age people. Memory consultations were assessed at clinical settings and improve the access to early medical and behavioral support. Among 60 samples 3(5%) of them scored between 21-25 (Mild cognitive impairment), 56 (93.33%) of them scored between 11- 20 (Moderate cognitive impairment), 1 (1.66%) of them scored between 0-10 (Severe cognitive impairment) among elderly. This study was supported by Cynthia Thomas et al ( 2005 ) , conducted the study on cognitive assessment for elderly ; A brief screening test for mild cognitive impairment. Mini mental status examination administered to all the participants. 94 Participants meeting mild cognitive impairment clinical criteria. The study concluded that 55%people detect mild cognitive impairment. 2) The second objective of the study was association between the memory loss with demographic variables: The chi square value for the association of age and memory loss among elderly is significant 0.001 levels. Hence, a significant association between age and memory loss. There is no significant association between memory loss with sex , education , occupation before coming to the old age home , marital status , income before coming to the old age home , duration of stay in the old age home , family history of mental illness , source of income among elderly. This study was supported by Gary .J Kennedy (2008), assessed the age associated memory impairment. 160 participants were selected with the age group of 70 -80 years. Used 4 computerized 3 non computerized memory tests. The participants score was low on two memory test. The data suggest that 80 % subjects had memory impairment. 3) The third objective was to associate the cognitive impairment with demographic variables. There is no significant association between cognitive impairment with demographic variables such as age , sex , education , occupation before coming to the old age home , marital status , income before coming to the old age home , duration of stay in the old age home , family history of mental illness , and source of income among elderly. This study was supported by John .M Starr et al (1999) conducted a study on age associated cognitive decline in healthy older people. Results were the study fails to support the hypothesis that cognitive decline can be attributed to age alone in healthy older people. They detected 57% older people had moderate cognitive impairment. 4) The fourth objective was to assess the correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment. Mean value for memory loss is 38.3 and standard deviation value is 5.60, and mean value for cognitive impairment is 15.5 and standard deviation value is 2.89. Correlation of memory loss and cognitive impairment score is 0.407. It is evident that there is a positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. This study was supported by Noboru Habu., et al (2010). Conducted a cross sectional study on relationship between mild memory impairment and cognitive impairment. Results were the study there is a correlation of coefficient of memory loss and cognitive impairment(r = 0.391). There is a positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. SUMMARY The present study aimed to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly at ST. JOSEPH old age home in Coimbatore. The objectives were to: 1) Assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. 2) Associate the memory loss with demographic variables among elderly 3) Associate the cognitive impairment with demographic variables among elderly. 4) Correlate the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. Review of literature facilitated the investigator to collect the relevant information to support the study. The researcher adopted descriptive research design for conducting this study. The conceptual frame work was based on Modified bio psychosocial model 1999. The researcher to identify the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. 60 elderly were selected by convenient sampling technique .The tool used for data collection consists of Wechsler memory scale, mini mental status examination. The data was collected for a period of 6 weeks in ST. JOSEPH OLD AGE HOME Coimbatore. Based on the objectives, data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: According to statistical analysis, 1(1.66%) elderly had mild memory loss. 19(31.66%) elderly had moderate memory loss. 40(66.66%) elderly had severe memory loss. 3(5%) elderly had mild cognitive impairment. 56(93.33%) elderly had moderate cognitive impairment. 1(1.66%) elderly had severe cognitive impairment. Chi square value for the association of age with memory loss is significant at 0.001 levels. So these findings indicated that as age progress the memory will get decreased. Chi square value for the association of cognitive impairment with demographic variables is not significant. Mean value for memory loss is 38.3 and standard deviation is 5.60. Mean value for cognitive impairment is 15.5 and standard deviation is 2.89. The findings indicated that the Correlation value of memory loss and cognitive impairment is 0.407. It was evident that there is positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment. It can be assumed when memory loss get increased the cognitive impairment also will increase. CONCLUSION: That it is concluded that elderly are suffers from memory loss and cognitive impairment, there is a significant association between age and memory loss. As the age progress the memory will get decreased. And there is no significant association between cognitive impairment with demographic variables. There is a positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. IMPLICATIONS: The present study findings have several implications in nursing practice, nursing education, nursing administration and nursing research. Nurse can assess the problems of elderly and prevent further complication. Nursing practice: Increased attention towards family members regarding care of elderly. Nurses can provide memory training for the elderly. Nurses can advice the elderly to maintain the diary for remembering important matters. Nurses can provide counselling for psychological problems of the elderly. Nursing Education: Nursing educator plays an important role for preparing the nurses for caring the elderly and meets the psychological and physical needs of the elderly. Nursing educator Involve the students in memory training program. Nursing educator ways to improve and maintain cognitive health. Nursing Administration: Nursing administrator can plan and organizing community based classes to the community people regarding improving memory and cognitive impairment among elderly. Nursing administrator can encourage students to participate in health education and counselling programme for the family members. Nursing administrator can conduct in-service education, workshop, continuing nursing education to the nursing students and update their knowledge about needs (physical psychological) for the elderly. Nursing Research: This study can be baseline for future studies to build on. Nursing research provides evidence based clinical practice. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited to single setting. This study was limited to the sample size of 60 elderly. This study was limited to only assessment of memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. RECOMMENDATIONS: A study can be conducted to find out the needs of the elderly A study can be conducted in various settings. A study can be conducted to psychological and physical problems of elderly. A study can be conducted to compare the memory loss and cognitive impairment of elderly staying in old age home and staying in home. A study can be conducted in community settings. A study can be conducted memory loss and cognitive impairment can affect the activities of daily living and occupational functions of the elderly. ABSTRACT The present study entitled, study to ASSESS THE MEMORY LOSS AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AMONG ELDERLY AT ST. JOSEPH OLD AGE HOME COIMBATORE. The objectives of the study were to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly, associate the memory loss with demographic variables among elderly, associate the cognitive impairment with demographic variables among elderly, and correlate the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. Descriptive research design was adopted for this study. This study was conducted in ST.JOSEPH old age home, Coimbatore. The sample size was 60 elderly. The Conceptual frame work adopted for this study was Modified bio psychosocial model (1999). The study was conducted for a period of six weeks. The tools used to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment is Wechsler memory scale and Mini mental status examination. The results of the study were Among 60 samples, 1.66% elderly had mild memory loss, 31.66% elderly had moderate memory loss , and 66.66% elderly had severe memory loss. In cognitive impairment 5% elderly had mild cognitive impairment, 93.33% elderly had moderate cognitive impairment, and 1.66% elderly had severe cognitive impairment. There is a significant association between age and memory loss .There is no significant association between cognitive impairment with demographic variables. Positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. The study concluded that as the age progress the memory will get decreased.

Interprofessional And Interagency Working

Interprofessional And Interagency Working This assignment will critically analyse two examples of interprofessional and interagency practice using examples from my current practice placement. Relevant literature will be used to identify what factors support or constrain interprofessional and interagency collaboration (IPIAC). IPIAC is often described as a holistic approach to an individuals needs. When used effectively, a holistic approach allows for better service delivery to the service user. Hammick et al (2009, p.10) states that being interprofessional is learning and working or working and learning with others as appropriate, when necessary and sometimes both. Interagency working concentrates more on the organisational roles and responsibilities of those involved in collaboration (http://www.scie.org.uk). Interprofessional is relationships between individuals and interagency is relationships between organisations. IPIAC was a modernisation agenda introduced in public policy by the New Labour Government. Government recognition suggests that many social problems cannot be effectively addressed by any given organisation acting in isolation from others. That is, when professionals work together effectively they provide a better service to the complex needs of the most vulnerable people in society. New Labour also specified that there was a Berlin Wall type division between agencies and professionals and that there was a barrier to co-operation and this barrier should be confronted so that services worked in partnership with service users. However according to research conducted by Hiscock and Pearson (2002, p.11) several government reports have criticised the lack of coordination between health and social services in the community. So, in essence when professions work collaboratively the service user gets a better deal. Willing participation (Henneman et al, 1995, cited in Barrett et al, 2005, p.1 9) and a high level of motivation (Molyneux, 2001, cited in Barrett et al, p.19) have been stated as vital aspects of effective IPIAC. My current practice placement is within a voluntary organisation in a domestic abuse service. I am a project worker at a Refuge for women and children who are escaping domestic abuse. My role is to co-link work with permanent Refuge staff and co-ordinate each service users support needs whilst maintaining links with appropriate statutory and voluntary sectors. INTERPROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ONE The first example of IPIAC to be discussed and analysed within my practice placement will be a weekly meeting held between Refuge staff, health visitors and the play-worker from Womens Aid. The aim and purpose of these meetings is to share information so that identified needs of the families in the Refuge can be addressed and where possible be signposted to other services as required. The meetings are designed for professionals to share information and knowledge about the familys lives but not make decisions on their behalf (except where there are child protection issues). The meetings also aim to provide support to families according to assessment of need using professional judgement. Within these meetings everyone discusses and communicates the personal development and progress of the women and children in the Refuge so that all professions involved are kept up to date with the familys circumstances and situation. This supports IPIAC and is effective in that it is a chance for ever yone involved to gain further advice and guidance from other professionals in relation to their current level of involvement with the families. This in turn supports the families and assists them with their future goals and plans. However these meetings could be interpreted to some as secretive as they are held behind closed doors and it is a meeting in which the families are not involved in. This could be construed as an expert power relationship to some (Maclean and Harrison, 2011, p.31). For IPIAC and these meetings to be effective it is vital that all professionals involved support one another and are not be seen as self-interested or see themselves as higher than another profession. This is when problems occur as there is not a logical distribution of power. Unequal power distribution can be oppressive (Payne, 2000, cited in Barrett et al, 2005, p.23) and can limit participation for some professionals. Power in IPIAC should be shared and distributed and no hierarchy of power should exist. If some professionals see themselves as more powerful than another they are not meeting the needs of the service user. Sharing of information and knowledge about the families in the Refuge is the purpose of these weekly meetings so as to achieve the best possible outcome for the service user. A constraint of IPIAC is that some professionals are territorial and do not like to share information and knowledge. Molyneux (2001, cited in Barrett et al, 2005, p20) found that professionals who were confident in their own role were able to work flexibly across professional boundaries without feeling jealous or threatened. Professional adulthood was an expression used by Laidler (1991, cited in Barrett et al, 2005, p.20) to describe professionals who were confident in their own role to share information and communicate effectively with other professionals. These professionals do not feel territorial about relinquishing their knowledge and understanding to further enhance good IPIAC. Stapleton (1998, cited in Barrett et al, 2005, p.20) suggests that a combination of personal and professional confidence enables individuals to assert their own perspectives and challenge the viewpoints of others. Active listening is an important skill to maintain in order to achieve effective IPIAC. To be able to recognise and respond to what is being communicated is fundamental. Professionals working collaboratively should be able to demonstrate this verbally and non-verbally to each other. This is greatly helped if all concerned put aside the typical stereotyping of each others professions in order to hear and listen to what is being said. Effective open and honest communication is vital and probably one of the most important aspects of IPIAC. It requires professionals to take into account each others views, be respectful, dignified and to listen to each other without being highly critical of one another. Constructive feedback about the family needs to be undertaken alongside constructive suggestions and encouragement and should take place at a time when other professionals are receptive. However, being receptive to what is being said does not always occur during these meetings. At times, o ne professional does not like what another is conveying and this can create conflict within the professions. However the need here is to remember that it is the service user that is central to the process and that the goal is to achieve the best outcome for them and their family. There are elements within this example that both support and constrain IPIAC. To achieve the goal and not result in a poor outcome for the service user it is important for all professionals involved to communicate honestly and openly and for there to not be a significant power imbalance between the professions. INTERPROFESSIONAL PRACTICE TWO The second example of IPIAC to be discussed and analysed within my practice placement will be a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). A member of the Refuge staff attends these meetings on a fortnightly basis. A MARAC meeting is a community response to domestic abuse. Cases are referred to a MARAC by the Refuge as a result of completing a CAADA-DASH risk identification checklist (RIC) (see appendix one) with the victim of the domestic abuse. This checklist determines the victims level of risk/need. If the risk identification score is 14 or more on the RIC, the MARAC threshold for high-risk has been meet and a referral to a MARAC meeting is made. Cases can also be referred to the MARAC either as a result of a high risk domestic crime/incident recorded by the police or by a direct referral from a participating agency. Participating agencies attending the meetings can include representatives of statutory services such as the police, criminal justice, health, child protection, housing practitioners and Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs). The purpose of the meetings is for professionals to implement a risk management plan that provides professional support to all those at risk and which reduces the risk of harm. The aim is then to produce a safety plan for each victim of domestic abuse. The MARACs aim is to share information to increase the safety, health and well-being of victims/survivors of domestic abuse. They can determine whether the alleged perpetrator poses a significant risk to any particular individual or to the general community. According to Bowen (2011, chapter 5.) MARAC functions through meetings designed to facilitate multi-agency information sharing, with a view to implementing an agreed-upon risk management and victim safety plan. Effective communication and information sharing supports IPIAC as it can assist to build relationships between agencies across a much broader range. A MARAC with effective communication and information sharing between agencies can also promote IPIAC in developing much stronger relationships between the voluntary and statutory sector. Barrett et el (2008, p.21) states that communication competence contributes to effective interprofessional working and enables those involved to articulate their own perspectives, listen to th e views of others and negotiate outcomes. An effective MARAC meeting which supports IPIAC is when professionals work collaboratively to ensure that victims/survivors and/or their children are safeguarded from further abuse. The governments action plan Call to End All Violence Against Women and Girls states that we all have to work together to achieve our goal of ending violence against women and girls. It is not a task for central government alone. It suggests that agencies need to work together to meet the needs of their local communities and that agencies are held accountable. However, a constraint of a MARAC meeting that I witnessed was that not all professionals brought the appropriate information to the meetings which lead to an inefficiency and delay of the case which frustrated others professionals attending. Poor timekeeping was another avenue that at times would frustrate other professionals attending the meetings. This seemed to alienate them as I would hear comments such as we are all professionals here and should act as such and as professionals attending important meetings like this, we should always strive to be on time. I also found at the MARAC that some agencies only had snippets of information that on their own did not raise any particular concern. It was only when the jigsaw of information was pieced together that the risk factors could begin to be understood. This example shows that when MARAC meetings support and strengthen interagency working and is effective, it is IPIAC at its best. This approach to working more collaboratively is beneficial as all organisations are coming together for the purpose of a common goal, with that goal being the best possible outcome for the service user. However some of the MARAC meetings that I had attended were not always that effective due to the fact that not all key agencies or organisations attended the meetings when required to do so or did not have the appropriate information to hand. It is beneficial that all agencies have as much information to hand as possible to facilitate IPIAC and have a profound positive impact on the outcome for the service user. In conclusion, IPIAC has many elements and all these different elements require that the different professions adopt them so that effective outcomes are achieved for the service user. Although IPIAC has been around for many years and is not new, it still needs to be continued, developed and incorporated into the daily work of all professions. When organisations and professions from different disciplines truly understand each others roles, responsibilities and challenges, the potential of IPIAC could be fully realised and many of the barriers alleviated. This in turn will contribute to a more successful outcome to the service user which of course is central to effective IPIAC. If IPIAC is ineffective it can limit choice for the service user and also increase risk. Word Count: 1966

How Divorce Effects Kids Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If two people love each other enough to get married, and together choose to form a lifelong commitment, why are so many of these marriages ending? What does marriage mean to people nowadays and why do people decide to get married? Records show us that people have been getting married for as long as the earliest recorded history. There are many benefits for couples who have a successful marriage. When a marriage begins to fail it is usually due to a couple's inability to communicate, lack of a common goal, or a trust vs. mistrust issue; therefore, more so than not, these types of situations will ultimately result in a divorce. The most frequently asked question over the last two decades has been, â€Å"Does divorce effect children and how so?† Studies have shown that divorce affects children in many ways: affects their self-esteem, feels as thought they "lose" a parent, and takes away their sense of family. The divorce rate has quadrupled from 4.3 million in 1970 to 18.3 million in 1996 (quoted form census bureau’s release about its marital status and living arrangements). "The number of children living with both parents declined from 85 to 68 percent between 1970 and 1996. The proportion of children living with one parent has grown from 12 percent to 28 percent during this same time span (Quoted from Census Bureau's release about its report on marital status and living arrangements)". A person's first marriage, if it were to end in divorce, will most likely end in the firs...

Homecoming :: essays research papers

Homecoming â€Å"What kind of mother would leave her four kids in a parked car in a strange town and then just walk away? Maybe a mother who went a little crazy. But the Tilerman Kids—Dicey, James, Sammy, and Maybeth—couldn’t do anything to stop her. All they could do was watch as their mother blended into the Saturday morning mall crowd. It was their last glimpse they had of her. Now Dicey only thirteen would have to find an adult they could trust to take them ALL in so they wouldn’t end up in foster care. Those were Dicey’s hopes. But deep down Dicey was afraid that it was too much to hope for†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Dicey Tillerman: Strong, young, scared, and frustrated, but seems to stay completely sane and hopeful when all hopes are gone and reality is the only thing there is. Abigail Tillerman: Strong, stubborn, and confused. She wonders if she takes her grandchildren in will she be fit enough to handle them. Will they love her back if she loves them? The answer lies within her and she soon finds out its better to have someone than no one at all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"People say she crazy†. Said Dicey   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Crazy like a Fox†. James replied.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Describing their Grandmother) The conflicts in the book are a mixture of INTERNAL and EXTERNAL. Dicey has people she meets that don’t treat them very good but than she fights with herself to not give up and keep going, believing that there is someone out there that will take them in and love them. All of them. The theme the author develops about life is that not everything will work out but to keep looking and trying something eventually will work out. I would recommend this book because I found it to be very inspirational and comforting that there was someone who took them in and proved that there was still good to be had in the world.

A Defining Moment with Dad :: Personal Narrative Profile

A Defining Moment with Dad    My father is a gentle and polite person with an impressive career and decorated sporting background. However, he has had to endure a form of early onset dementia for well over a decade. His prime caregiver is my mother, who we believe has managed to slow my father's deterioration by keeping him mentally stimulated with a pre-arranged activity every day of the week. Of course, this strategy also cares for my mother, as it gives here peace of mind that my father has a reason to get up each day. Just as importantly, it buys her valuable personal time to do something for herself.    But each time the deterioration reveals another unexpected issue to face, my mother's determination becomes threatened, and needs it own caring. The most significant and recent issue was when my father began experiencing a mild form of alcohol abuse and associated deviant behavior. After a difficult but seemingly successful battle, my mother recognized that she needed a break. I took a week off from my life and took over the caring role at our vacation home.    Apart from wanting to help my mother, I also took on the role in the hope that my father and I could share a moment that bonded us. I would build him a wood shed that would help him with his continuing sense of responsibility to cut and store firewood. In 'true-blue' father and son style, our joint work would create a bond that opened a moment of reflection that I could treasure forever.   Well, we did occasionally work together, but dad's attention and physical ability wavered, and after a few minutes I would find him returning to his sun couch or sitting inside staring into space. Maybe there were moments where I felt a subtle bond, but I soon realized that my expectations were unrealistic.    Meanwhile, I cooked, cleaned and answered hundreds of questions such as 'where does this go', 'will I take the rubbish out' and 'when did you say you were leaving?' Each day I saw every channel of television news viewed back to back. I realized that without a reminder the same pair of underpants can be worn an infinite number of times, and that best clothes can be worn to mow the lawn and clothes covered in stains can be worn out to dinner.

Pnl Explain

P&L Explain – Bonds and Swaps Tony Morris antony. [email  protected] com MICS – DKS Manila Contents 1. Bond Pricing – basic concepts 2. P&L sensitivities of a bond i. PV01 ii. CS01 iii. Theta iv. Carry 3. Extension to interest rate swaps 1. Bond Pricing – basic concepts Let’s say you have a 4 year 10% annual coupon bond, with a yield (‘yield to maturity’ or ‘yield to redemption’) of 12%. From this information, the price can be calculated as 93. 93%. The price is calculated by pricing each of the bond’s cash flows using the yield to maturity (YTM) as a discount rate.Why? Because the YTM is defined as the rate which, if used to discount the bond’s cash flows, gives its price. We could picture it like this: Bond Cash Flows on a Time Scale Each fixed coupon of 10% is discounted back to today by the yield to maturity of 12%: 93. 93% = 10 + 10 + 10 + 110 (1. 12)1 (1. 12)2 (1. 12)3 (1. 12)4 All we are doing is obse rving the yield in the market and solving for the price. Alternatively, we could work out the yield if we have the price from the market.Bond price calculators work by iteratively solving for the yield to maturity. For a bond trading at par, the yield to maturity and coupon will be the same, e. g. a four year bond with a fixed coupon of 10% and a yield of 10% would be trading at 100%. Note that bond prices go down as yields go up and bond prices go up as yields go down. This inverse relationship between bond prices and yields is fairly intuitive. For our par bond above, if four year market yields fall to 9% investors will be willing to pay more than par to buy the above market coupons of 10%. This will force its price up until it, too, yields 9%.If yields rise to, say, 11% investors will only be willing to pay less than par for the bond because its coupon is below the market. For a detailed example of the bond pricing process, see Appendix 3. For now, note that the dirty price of a bond is the sum of the present values of the cash flows in the bond. The price quoted in the market, the so-called â€Å"clean† price or market price, is in fact not the present value of anything. It is only an accountants’ convention. The market price, or clean price, is the present value less accrued interest according to the market convention. . P&L sensitivities of a bond As we saw above, the price of a bond can be determined if we know its cash flows and the discount rate (i. e. YTM) at which to present value them. The yield curve from which are derived the discount factors for a bond can itself be considered as the sum of two curves: 1. the â€Å"underlying† yield curve (normally Libor), and 2. the â€Å"credit† curve i. e. the spread over the underlying curve The sensitivity of the bond price to a change in these two curves is called: i. PV01, and ii. CS01 respectively. Related essay: â€Å"Support Positive Risk Taking For Individuals†In terms of the example above, the discount rate of 12% might be broken down into, say, a Libor rate of 7% together with a credit spread of 5%. (Note, in the following, it is important not to confuse the discount rate, which is an annualised yield, and the discount factor, which is the result of compounding the discount rate over the maturity in question. ) In addition to the sensitivities described above, we can also consider the impact on the price of the bond of a one day reduction in maturity. Such a reduction affects the price for two reasons: ) assuming the yield curve isn’t flat, the discount rates will alter because, in general, the discount rate for time â€Å"t† is not the same as that for time â€Å"t-1† b) since one day has elapsed, whatever the discount rate, we will compound it based on a time interval that is shorter by one day The names given to these two sensitivities are, r espectively: iii. Theta, and iv. Carry Note that, of these four sensitivities, only the first two, i. e. PV01 and CS01, are â€Å"market sensitivities† in the sense that they correspond to sensitivities to changes in market parameters.Theta and Carry are independent of any change in the market and reflect different aspects of the sensitivity to the passage of time. i)PV01 Definition The PV01 of a bond is defined as the present value impact of a 1 basis point (0. 01%) increase (or â€Å"bump†) in the yield curve. In the derivation below, we will refer to a generic â€Å"discount curve†. As noted earlier, this discount curve, from which are derived the discount factors for the bond pricing calculation, can itself be considered as the sum of two curves: the â€Å"underlying† yield curve (normally Libor), and a credit curve (reflecting the risk over and above the interbank risk ncorporated in the Libor curve). The PV01 calculates the impact on the price of bu mping the underlying yield curve. Calculation For simplicity, consider the case of a zero coupon bond i. e. where there is only one cash flow, equal to the face value, and occurring at maturity in n years. Note, though, that the principles of the following analysis will equally apply to a coupon paying bond. We start by defining: P = price or present value today R(t) = discount rate, today, for maturity t FV = face value of the bond Then, from the above, we know:P = FV/(1+r(t))^n Now consider the impact a 1bp bump to this curve. The discount rate becomes: R(t) = R(t) + 0. 0001 The new price of the bond, Pb(t), will be: Pb = FV/(1+[r(t)+. 0001])^n Therefore, the sensitivity of this bond to a 1bp increase to the discount curve will be: Pb – P = FV/(1+[r(t)+. 0001])^n – FV/(1+r(t))^n Eqn. 1 The first term is always smaller than the second term, therefore: * if we hold the bond (long posn), the PV01 is negative * if we have short sold the bond (short posn), the PV01 is pos itive We can also see that: the higher the yield (discount rate), the smaller the PV01. This is because a move in the discount rate from, for example, 8. 00% to 8. 01% represents a smaller relative change than from 3. 00% to 3. 01%. In other words, the higher the yield, the less sensitive is the bond price to an absolute change in the yield * the longer the maturity, the bigger the PV01. This is more obvious – the longer the maturity, the bigger the compounding factor that is applied to the changed discount rate, therefore the bigger the impact it will have.To extend this method to a coupon paying bond, we simply note that any bond can be considered as a series of individual cash flows. The PV01 of each cash flow is calculated as above, by bumping the underlying yield curve at the corresponding maturity. In practice, where a portfolio contains many bonds, it would not be practical, nor provide useful information, to have a PV01 for every single cash flow. Therefore the cash f lows across all the positions are bucketed into different maturities. The PV01 is calculated on a bucketed basis i. e. by calculating the impact of a 1bp bump to the yield curve on each bucket individually.This is an approximation but enables the trader to manage his risk position by having a feel for his overall exposure at each of a series of maturities. Typical bucketing might be: o/n, 1wk, 1m, 2m, 3m, 6m, 9m, 1y, 2y, 3y, 5y, 10y, 15y, 20y, 30y. Worked example: Assume we hold $10m notional of a zero-coupon bond maturing in 7 years and the yield to maturity is 8%. Note that, for a zero coupon bond, the YTM is, by definition, the same as the discount rate to be applied to the (bullet) payment at maturity. We have: Price, P = $10m / (1. 08)^7 = $5. 834mBumping the curve by 1bp, the â€Å"bumped price† becomes: Pb = $10m / (1. 0801)^7 = $5. 831m Therefore, the PV01 is: Pb – P = $5. 831m – $5. 835m = -$0. 004m (or -$4k) Meaning In the example above, we have calcul ated the PV01 of the bond to be -$4k. This means that, if the underlying yield curve were to increase from its current level of 8% to 8. 01%, the position would reduce in value by $4k. If we assume the rate of change in value of the bond with respect to the yield is constant, then we can calculate the impact of, for example, a 5bp bump to the yield curve to be 5 x -$4k = -$20k.Note, this is only an approximation; if we were to graph the bond price against its yield, we wouldn’t see a straight line but a curve. This non-linear effect is called convexity. In practice, while for small changes in the yield the approximation is valid, for bigger changes, convexity cannot be ignored. For example, if the yield were to increase to 9%, the impact on the price would be -$365k, not -(8%-9%)x$4k = -$400k. Use The concept of PV01 is of vital day to day importance to the trader. In practice, he manages his trading portfolio by monitoring the bucketed yield curve exposure as expressed by PV 01.Where he feels the PV01 is too large, he will perform a transaction designed to either flatten or reduce the risk. Similarly, when he has a view as to future yield curve movements, he will position his PV01 exposure to take advantage of them. In this case, he is taking a trading position. ii)CS01 The basis of the CS01 calculation is identical to that of the PV01, only this time we bump the credit spread rather than the underlying yield curve. The above example was based on a generic discount rate. In practice, for any bond other than a risk free one, this rate will be combination of the yield curve together with the credit curve.At first glance therefore, we would expect that, whether we bump the yield curve or the credit spread by 1bp, the impact on the price should be similar, and described by Eqn. 1 above. What we can also say is that, bumping the yield curve, the overall discount rate will increase and therefore, as for PV01: * if we hold the bond (long posn), the CS01 is neg ative * if we have short sold the bond (short posn), the CS01 is positive From the same considerations as for PV01, we can see that: * the higher the credit spread, the smaller the CS01 * the longer the maturity, the bigger the CS01In practice, when we look at multiple cash flows, the impact of a 1bp bump in the yield curve is not identical to a 1bp bump in the credit spread. This is because, inter alia: * the curves are not the same shape and therefore interpolations will differ * bumping the credit spread affects default probability assumptions that will, in turn, impact the bond price In general though, PV01 and CS01 for a fixed coupon bond will be similar. The exception is where the bond pays a floating rate coupon. In this case, the sensitivity to yield curve changes is close to zero so, although the PV01 will be very small, the CS01 will be â€Å"normal†.Worked example: A worked example would follow the same steps as for PV01 above, only this time we would bump the cred it spread by 1bp rather than the underlying yield curve. Theta and Carry We now look at the two sensitivities arising from the passage of time (â€Å"1 day decay†, to use option pricing terminology). First, let’s calculate what the total impact on the value of a position would be if the only change were that one day had passed. In particular, we assume that the yield and credit curves are unchanged. Again, for simplicity, consider the case of a zero coupon bond i. . where there is only one cash flow, equal to the face value, and occurring at maturity in n years. Again, we note that the principles of the following analysis will equally apply to a coupon paying bond. Following the previous notation, the value (or price) today will be: P(today) = FV/(1+r(t))^n The value tomorrow will be: P(tomorrow) = FV/(1+r(t-1))^(n-1/365)Eqn. 2 There are two differences between the formula for the value today and that for tomorrow. Firstly, the discount rate has moved from r(t) to r(t- 1). Here, r(t-1) is the discount rate for maturity (t-1) today.We have assumed that the discount curve does not move day on day, therefore the rate at which the cash flow will be discounted tomorrow is the rate corresponding to a one day shorter maturity, today. Secondly, the period over which we discount the cash flows has reduced by one day, from n to n-1/365 (we divide by 365 because n is specified in years). Theta and Carry capture these two factors. P(tomorrow) – P(today) gives the full impact on the price due to the passing of one day. This impact can be approximated by breaking down the above formula into its two component parts i. e. he change in discount rate and the change in maturity, as explained below. iii)Theta As before, we define: P = price or present value today r(t) = discount rate, today, for maturity t FV = face value of the bond In addition, we define: r(t-1) = discount rate, today, for maturity t-1 (e. g. for a bond with 240 days to maturity, if the 240 day discount rate today is 8. 00% and the 239 day discount rate today is 7. 96% then: r(t) = 8. 00% and r(t-1) = 7. 96%) We now define Theta as: FV/(1+r(t-1))^n – FV/(1+r(t))^n We can see that, compared to the formula for the full price impact above (Eqn. ), this sensitivity reflects the change in the discount rate but ignores the reduction by 1 day of the maturity. In other words, Theta represents the price impact due purely to the change in discount rate resulting from a 1 day shorter maturity but ignores the impact on the compounding factor of the discount rate resulting from the shorter maturity. Note that the sign of Theta, in contrast to PV01 and CS01, can be both positive and negative. This is because r(t-1) can be higher or lower than r(t), depending on the shape of the yield curve.That said, in practice, given that yield curves are normally upward sloping, we would expect r(t) to be higher than r(t-1). Therefore Theta will normally be positive. In the same way, if th e yield curve is flat, then Theta will be zero. iv)Carry Using the standard notation, we define Carry as: FV/(1+r(t))^(n-1) – FV/(1+r(t))^n Comparing to the formula for the full price impact above (Eqn. 2), we see that this sensitivity reflects the change in maturity on the compounding factor to be applied to the discount rate but ignores the impact on the discount rate itself of moving one day down the curve.In other words, Carry represents the price impact due purely to the change in discount factor resulting from a 1 day shorter compounding period but ignores the impact on the discount rate resulting from the shorter maturity. Where discount rates are positive (r(t) > 0), Carry will always be positive since the first term will be larger than the second. Using the Taylor expansion, we can obtain a simplified approximate value for Carry. Remembering that: 1/(1+x)^n = 1 – n. x + (1/2). n. (n-1). x^2 – †¦ we have: Carry = FV. 1-(n-1/365). r(t)) – FV. (1-n. r(t)) = FV. r(t). 1/365 Note that r(t). 1/365 would represent one day’s â€Å"interest† calculated on an accruals basis since, in the case, the yield equals the coupon rate. (Note, where a position is accounted for on an accruals basis, and therefore valued at par, the yield will always equal the coupon. ) In other words, this definition ties in to the intuitive idea of carry that we have from, say, a deposit where the carry would be equal to one day’s interest, based on its coupon.We can also see that Carry is directly proportional to the yield. We have now seen that, between them, Theta and Carry attempt to capture the two components affecting the price move arising from the passing of 1 day, all other factors being kept constant. There will be certain â€Å"cross† effects of the two that will not be captured when performing this decomposition. In other words, Theta + Carry will not exactly equal the full impact (as per Eqn. 2). The difference, ho wever, will not normally be material.In general, for a long bond position, both Theta and Carry will be positive as, with the passing of one day, not only will the annualised discount rate be less (reflecting the lower yield normally required for shorter dated instruments) but the compounding factor will be smaller (reflecting the shorter maturity). Worked example: Assume we hold $10m notional of a zero-coupon bond maturing in 240 days and the yield to maturity today is 8%. Also, the yield today for the 239 day maturity is 7. 96%. Theta = $10m/(1. 0796)^(240/365) – $10m/(1. 08)^(240/365) = $23,159 Carry = $10m/(1. 8)^(239/365) – $10m/(1. 08)^(240/365) $20,047 Theta + Carry = $43,205 To compare, the full price impact of a 1 day â€Å"decay† is: $10m/(1. 076)^(239/365) – $10m/(1. 08)^(240/365) = $43,113 Summary We have now analysed the key sensitivities that explain the 1 day move in a bond’s mark to market value. To summarise some of the main featur es; for a long bond position: PV01 / CS01: * negative * for a fixed coupon or zero coupon bond, PV01 and CS01 will be similar * the higher the yield/credit spread, the smaller the PV01/CS01 * the longer the maturity, the bigger the PV01/CS01 for a floating rate coupon (with a Libor benchmark), PV01 will be very small but the CS01 will be â€Å"normal† Theta * positive * the flatter the curve, the smaller the Theta Carry * positive * proportional to the yield 3. Extension to interest rate swaps In essence, all the above applies equally to interest rate swaps (IRSs) when calculating/explaining daily P&L. We start by noting that an IRS is simply the exchange of two cash flows, one fixed and one floating. Extending the analysis we made for bonds, we can say: a) The PV01 of the floating rate leg will be close to zero. This is as noted for a floating rate bond.In both cases, as the yield curve changes so do the expected future cash flows but, at the same time, so will the discount rates at which they are PV’d. The two effects will broadly cancel out. (The PV01 will not be exactly zero because, once the Libor fixing occurs, the next cash flow becomes fixed and therefore effectively becomes a zero coupon bond, on which there will be PV01. ) b) The fixed leg is similar to the fixed coupon stream on a bond and can be considered as a series of zero coupon bonds. Therefore the exact same analysis as applied to bonds above will apply to the fixed leg. An IRS that ays floating and receives fixed will have a PV01 sensitivity similar to that of a long bond position. c) IRSs are normally interbank trades where it is assumed that there is no credit risk over and above Libor. Therefore, the CS01 will be zero. d) Theta and Carry may be either positive or negative. Appendix 1 : Date Conventions There are several methods for computing the interest payable in a period and the accrued interest for a period. A particular method applied to a transaction can affect the yie ld of that transaction and also the payment for a transaction. Counting the Number of DaysThe conventions used to determine the interest payments depend on two factors: 1) The number of days in a period and 2) The number of days in a year. The conventions are: 0 Actual/360 1 Actual/365 : sometimes referred as Actual/365F (seldom used now) 2 Actual/Actual 3 30/360 European: sometimes referred to as ISMA method (30E/360) 4 30/360 US (30U/360) The first three methods (Actual/360, Actual/365 and Actual/Actual) calculate the number of days in a period by counting the actual number of days. For each method the number of days in a year is different. Actual/365 and Actual/Actual are similar except: 1.Periods which include February 29th (leap year) count the number of days in a year as 365 under Act/365 and 366 under Act/Act; 2. Semi-annual periods are assumed to have 182. 5 days under Act/365 and however many actual days under Act/Act. Eurobond markets use the 30E/360 basis. This calculatio n assumes every month has 30 days. This means that the 31st of a month is always counted as if it were the 30th of the month. For 30E/360 basis, February is also assumed to have 30 days. If the beginning or end of a period falls on a weekend the coupon is not adjusted to a good business day.This means that there are always exactly 360 days in a year for all coupons. For example a coupon from 08-November-1997 to 08-November-1998 of 5% is a coupon of 5%, even though 08-November-1998 is a Sunday. There is no adjustment to the actual coupon payment. The various European government bond markets are described below: Country| Accrual| Coupon Frequency| Austria| Act/Act| Annual| Belgium| Act/Act| Annual| Denmark| Act/Act| Annual| Finland| Act/Act| Annual| France| Act/Act| Annual| Germany| Act/Act| Annual| Ireland| Act/ActAct/Act (Earlier Issues)| AnnualSemi-Annual| Italy| Act/Act| Semi-Annual| Luxembourg| Act/Act| Annual|Netherlands| Act/Act| Annual| Norway| Act/Act| Annual or Semi-Annual| Portugal| Act/Act| Annual| Spain| Act/Act| Annual| Sweden| Act/Act| Annual| Switzerland| Act/Act| Annual| United Kingdom| Act/Act | Semi-Annual| Appendix 2 : Calculating Accrued Interest Even though Eurobond coupons are not adjusted for weekends and holidays, the accrual of a coupon for any part of the year has to use the correct number of days. The difference between European and US 30/360 method is how the end of the month is treated. For US basis the 31st of a month is treated as the 1st of the next month, unless the period is from 30th or 31st of the previous month.In this case the period is counted as number of months: | 30/360 European| 30/360 US| Beginning DateEnding Date| M1/D1/ Y1M2/D2/Y 2| M1/D1/Y1M2/D2/Y 2| If D1 = 31| D1 = 30| D1 = 30| If D2 = 31| D2 = 30| If D1 = 31 or 30Then: D2 = 30Else: D2 = 31| The difference occurs when the accrual period starts and ends at the end or beginning of a calendar month: European and US 30/360 Examples Start| End| European| US| Actual| 3 1-Jul-01| 31-Oct-01| 90| 90| 92| 30-Jul-01| 30-Oct-01| 90| 90| 92| 30-Jul-01| 01-Nov-01| 91| 91| 94| 29-Jul-01| 31-Oct-01| 91| 92| 94| 01-Aug-01| 31-Oct-01| 89| 90| 91|Euro money markets: 0 Day count basis: actual/360 1 Settlement basis: spot (two day) standard 2 Fixing period for derivatives contracts: two day rate fixing convention Euro FX markets 3 Settlement timing: spot convention, with interest accrual beginning on the second day after the deal has been struck 4 Quotation: ‘Certain for uncertain’ (ie 1 Euro = x foreign currency units) U. S. Conventions Product| Day Count Convention| USD LIBOR| Act/360| USD Swap Fixed Rate in U. S. | Act/Act s. a. | USD Swap Fixed Rate in London| Act/360 p. a. | T-Bills| Act/360 discount rate| Government Bonds| Act/Act s. a. |Agency and Corporate Bonds| 30/360 s. a. | Appendix 3 : Detailed worked example of bond price calculation We can check the pricing of bonds in a more complicated example by using the following German governmen t bond (or Bund) : German Government Bund (in Euros) Coupon:| 5. 00%| Maturity:| 04-Feb-06| Price (Clean):| 102. 2651%| Yield:| 4. 43%| We are pricing this bond on 27/July 2001. It matures on 4 Feb 2006 and has a coupon of 5%. The table below shows that the bond price (the ‘dirty price’ or invoice price) is simply the sum of the present value of all of the coupons discounted at the yield to maturity.Pricing the German Euro Denominated Bund Dates| AA Days| Periods| Cash Flow| Cashflow PV| 04-Feb-01| | | | | 27-Jul-01| | | | 104. 6350%| 04-Feb-02| 192| 0. 5260| 5. 00%| 4. 8873%| 04-Feb-03| 557| 1. 5260| 5. 00%| 4. 6800%| 04-Feb-04| 922| 2. 5260| 5. 00%| 4. 4814%| 04-Feb-05| 1288| 3. 5260| 5. 00%| 4. 2913%| 04-Feb-06| 1653| 4. 5260| 105. 00%| 86. 2950%| The market convention uses the yield to maturity as the discount rate, and discounts each cash flow back over the number of periods as calculated using the accrued interest day-count convention.In the case of Bunds, the day -count convention is the Act/Act convention. Appendix 1 contains more details of date conventions – it is recommended that you read this at the end of the module. The part of a year between the settlement date (27 July 2001) and the next coupon (4 February 2002) is: Day Count 192/365 (ie Actual days/Actual days) = 0. 5260 The price of the first coupon can therefore be calculated in the following way: PV of First Coupon = 4. 8873% All of the other cash flow present values are calculated in the same manner. Adding them up gives us the price of the bond.Accrued interest is calculated from 04 February 2001 to 27 July 2001 (173 days) : Accrued Interest Accrued = 5% x 0. 47397 = 2. 3699% There is more detail on Accrued interest in Appendix 2. It is recommended that you read it at the end of this module. Notice that the quoted price of the bond (the ‘clean price’) is 102. 2651% not 104. 6350% (which is the ‘dirty price’ or invoice price – ie the pric e actually paid for the bond). The dirty price is the sum of the present values of the cash flows in the bond. The price quoted in the market, the so-called â€Å"clean† price or market price, is in fact not the present value of anything.It is only an accountants’ convention. The market price, or clean price, is the present value less accrued interest according to the market convention. Practitioners find it easier to quote the clean price because it abstracts from the changing daily accrued interest (i. e. it avoids a â€Å"saw-toothed† price profile). This publication is for internal use only by Deutsche Bank Global Markets employees. The material (including formulae and spreadsheets) is provided for education purposes only and should under no circumstances be used for client pricing.Examples, case studies, exercises and solutions may use simplifying assumptions that do not apply in practice, and may differ from Deutsche Bank proprietary models actually used. The publication is provided to you solely for information purposes and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument or product. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not necessarily complete and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

Percy Jackson book report Essay

The book is funny and witty, effortlessly matching old mythology and tradition with modern culture in a way that makes the book engrossing and unpredictable. There is talk of gods having affairs with mortals, and quite a bit of married gods having affairs with other gods. In the following book report, I will first introduce the plot of the story. Then, I will talk about the writing of the author and the strengths and weaknesses of the books. After that, I will talk about the main character and other major character in the books and talk about what I have learnt after reading. At the end, I will share my overall response to the book and my recommendation. Percy Jackson, the main character, is 12 years old. He is a kid who lives with his single mother and is unsure of his dad’s identity. He has ADHD. He has a rep for getting in trouble. With help from his best friend Grover and his favourite teacher Mr. Brunner, he finds out that there is a perfectly good explanation for all of it, that he’s not a bad kid, and that he comes by everything quite naturally. He is actually a half-blood of a demigod. His father is Posiedon, God of the Seas, and Percy has some control over water. After a creepy math teacher transforms into a monster and tries to eat him, Percy’s friend Grover takes him to Camp Half-Blood. Soon after, he must go on a quest with Grover and Annabeth, daughter of Athena, to take back Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods. On the basis of this short description, you can see that there are a lot of superficial similarities to the Potter books. â€Å"The Lightning Thief† is all a little Harry Potter in concept – an orphan, with supernatural powers, who has two friends (one brainy girl and one geeky sidekick), several envious rival students. He goes to a special school and he is highly skilled at the school’s favorite sport, chariot racing. He is personally charged with a quest that, should he fail, will result in the ruin of the world. The author, Rick Riordan, spends the first half of the book exploring the nature of Camp Half-blood and the various demi-god kids, as well as dropping hints about Percy’s parentage. Although, given the number of times he makes water misbehave, you would think someone would have guessed. Fortunately the plot picks up about halfway through, when the whole matter of the bolt and thieving gods comes into play. I think the author has done a great job. Rick Riordan almost seems to be teasing the audience with these similarities to Harry Potter. But he’s having fun with it, and his style and humor are refreshing, humorous, and quite different from Rowling’s. He gets to the point much faster. The action starts on page 1 and never stops! Riordan has a snappy fast-moving style, and he peppers the story with plenty of plot twists and monstrous action. And he has quite a sharp-edged sense of humor. The snarkiness is a bit annoying in the first chapter, but after that, he has produced some fun dialogue. Also, he does a good job with the concept of gods and monster surviving over the center of the western world, as well as spooking some fun at the gods’ behavior. For example, Dionysius whining â€Å"Father loves to punish me. The first time, Prohibition. Ghastly! † Besides, I found Percy rather annoying in the first couple chapters, but Riordan slowly evolves him from a rather bratty, rebellious kid to a reluctant hero. Annabeth is an excellent counterpart to Percy, smart and measured if rather haughty in attitude, while Grover is a likable little sidekick who is chewing his nails over the possibility of losing his job. And the supporting cast of gods and demigods is pretty well-drawn, especially the paternal Chiron and embittered Luke. After reading this book, I appreciate to Percy’s courage. Although he is only twelve, he is powerful and strong. Percy Jackson has to protect himself and also his friends from the many monsters that dared to attack him. He tries his best to prevent a war between the gods and take back Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt. It reminds me that we always suppose that we are too young to make some great accomplishments, but, actually, we can do it if we believe we can! Even though the book doesn’t express its message obviously, through reading the story, I learn that we have to know about our weakness and strength. Also, we can’t finish something if there are only you. Just like the book, Percy defeats all the Greek monsters and prevents the war successfully with the help and support from his friends, Grover and Annabeth. We need our friend’s pleased help to overcome difficulties. All in all, I was amazed at how much I enjoyed this book. The book is full of magic, and mystery, and adventure. At first, I only began to read the stories because I had watched this book’s movie version at the cinema. The movie is marvelous. And to me, a book must be worth-seeing as it has to be good enough to put into a film. As I went farther along in the book, it became more exciting. I was constantly desired to read this book more and I found it hard to put down. It has so much going on. You could revolve your entire curriculum around for quite some time. I would immerse myself in completely. In fact, I was in tears at the end of the book not because the ending was depressing which went deep into my heart. It leaves the door open for more adventures from Percy Jackson. Anyway, I like this book as it has a little bit of everything: danger, heroes, villains, action, mystery, and adventure. It’s funny sometimes, and scary sometimes, and powerful sometimes, and even sad sometimes, but it’s a story that will keep you turning the pages as fast as your eyes can read the words. It is a whole new and fun way of looking at the Greek myths. I highly recommend this book to all of you!

How The American Revolution Started Essay

The American Revolution was the colonists breaking from monarchy and switching to Democracy. The outcome of the movement lead to the Declaration of independence, and then the creation of America. There are several reasons why the American Revolution began, here are a few. The sugar act, or the American Duties Act was passed in 1764 for the sole purpose to raise money for the French Indian war. The Act forced a tax of three cents on sugar that was shipped to the new colony. The act also placed tax on Molasses to stop merchants from smuggling it in. Of course the tax was placed onto the colony while they were in a state of financial depression. In response, the Merchants refused to buy luxury British imports, but the rebellion didn’t start until the Quartering act and the Stamp act began. The Quartering act was created in 1765. Colonists were told to house, feed, and care for the troops as they came. The act backfired in 1766 when 1,500 troops appeared in New York. The Provincial Assembly refused to obey the law, and refused to provide the soldiers with any alms. Because they refused, Parliament said they’d suspended New Yorks Governor and Legislature until 1769, but never carried it out. Soon after, the Assembly agreed to accumulate money to quarter the troops. After that, the Quartering act was avoided in all states except Pennsylvania. The Stamp act began in 1765 when George Grenville raised the taxes on most things in the American Colony. Initially he wanted to raise taxes in Britain, but that was out of the question because of the hostile reaction after the Cider Tax. So instead decided to raise tax on the new colony without asking their permission. The colonists responded immediately by debating in the colonial legislatures, creating mob crowds, tarring, and feathering. All in all, the colonists finally showed their displeasure for all the new laws through â€Å"The Boston Tea Party†. The Boston Tea Party was a political protest against the taxes. A group, named the â€Å"Sons of liberty†, came up with the idea to dress as Indians (which didn’t fool anyone) and toss all the crates of Tea that came in, into the harbor. The British Government responded harshly, and it grew into the American Revolution as we know it. In the end, the American Revolution got rid of increasing restrictions placed on the colonies from Britain. It’s estimated that only one-third of the colonists were in favor of rebellion, one-third sided with the British, and the last third were all neutral concerning the rebellion and break from Great Britain.