Thorn Birds Essays - The Thorn Birds, Drogheda, Colleen McCullough

Thorn Birds The novel, The Thorn Birds, is a very well written story about a family living in a poorer section of New Zealand whose livelihood is shearing sheep. The money for the family depends almost solely on the sheep. In the family, there is Padraic Cleary (Paddy), the father of the clan. He is a likable man who commands respect from his children and from those who know him. His wife, Fiona Cleary (Fee), is a woman with a past who loves her children, respects her husband but is living in a world that she did not want, but accepted it as her only possible way of life. Then there are Fee and Paddy's children, Frank, Meghann (Meggie), Hughie, Jack, Stuart (Stu), Bob, and the twins, Jims and Patsy, but the story revolves almost entirely around their only girl, Meggie. When Meggie was about 10 years old, Paddy's older sister, Mary Carson, beckoned Paddy to come work for her on her very large, very wealthy ranch in New South Wales, Australia, Drogheda. The family fell in love with Drogheda, even though they had to put up with drought, fire, and a climate that they were not used to. The boys in the family lived for Drogheda, and were the main work force of the ranch, herding sheep and cattle from one paddock to another, and working very hard during the most profitable time of the year, the shearing season, and the most hectic, the lambing season. Paddy was an immigrant from Ireland to New Zealand and was a devout Catholic, along with most Australians. Upon arriving to Drogheda, the Cleary family met Father Ralph, a friend of Mary Carson, a constant visitor to Drogheda, and the local priest of the closest town to Drogheda, Gillabon. The rest of the story rotates around the relationship between Father Ralph who later became Bishop Ralph and finally, Cardinal Ralph, and Meggie. The Cleary family lived through one of the worst droughts in Australia, and the terrible fire that followed, destroying most of Drogheda's outer pastures and killing Paddy, and Stuart in the process. They also had to deal with the problem of rabbits. The rabbits were foreigners to Australia, and once introduced, reproduced out of control due to the fact that there were no natural predators in Australia to kill them. The rabbits, along with the kangaroos, were devouring most of Drogheda's grazing land. Through it all though, Drogheda remained a constant source of pleasure and money for the Cleary family. Meggie had two children, Justine and Dane. Both very different in personality, and in looks. Meggie marries a shearer turned stockman fo Drogheda, Luke O'Neill, and from their marriage, Justine was born. Dane was from another man, but, the father, nor Dane or Justine knew who it was, only Fee and Meggie knew that secret. The author of Thorn Birds, Colleen McCullough, is a highly talented writer. Throughout the novel, she describes the scenery with much detail. She should be an expert on the topic, since New South Wales, Australia is her home. The detail and description of the people and the places, which she goes deeply into, makes the reader feel as if she is actually experiencing the same things as the characters. She goes explains throughly as to how Drogheda is managed and how it looks. Mrs. McCullough definitely knows what she's talking about and her writing shows it. For work with the sheep never, never ended; as one job finished it became time for another. They were mustered and graded, moved from one paddock to another, bred and unbred, shorn and crutched, dipped and drenched, slaughtered and shipped off to be sold. Drogheda carried about a thousand head of prime beef cattle as well as its sheep, but sheep were far more profitable, so in good times Drogheda carried about one sheep for every two acres of its land, or about 125,000 altogether. Being merinos, they were never sold for meat; at the end of a merino's wool-producing years it was shipped off to become skins, lanolin, tallow and glue, useful only to the tanneries and the knackeries. Mrs. McCullough's purpose for writing The Thorn Birds is not entirely clear. She could have written the book to tell about the ways of the Australian people like the outback stockmen. She could have intended to explain what life in Australia is really like, the climate, the animals, etc. Another alternative is that she could have written this novel to talk about the Catholic Church and how man's

10 Mystery Writing Tips to Keep Your Readers in Suspense

10 Mystery Writing Tips to Keep Your Readers in Suspense From Agatha Christie to Parker Bilal, the best mystery writers know how to keep readers in suspense until the very end of the novel. If you are looking to write a bestselling mystery novel, here are 10 mystery writing tips to help you do the same:1. Start off with a bangWhether it is a corpse or a missing person, starting your mystery novel with a major crime is the best way to keep your readers in suspense. The first few chapters of your mystery should briefly introduce the protagonist while focusing on the crime that has taken place.The two most important scenes of a mystery novel are the scene of the crime and the one in which the perpetrator is revealed. Beginning your novel with the scene of the crime is a great way to engage your reader immediately and reveal the level of depravity or horror that the protagonist must confront throughout the rest of the book.2. Be creative with dyingIf your mystery begins with a corpse, make it a creative death. Dont just have your killer stab a victim- let the stabbing pattern be a word or a symbol. If your victim is poisoned, consider a poison that is hard to find or impossible to detect. If the victim was buried alive, have an odd array of objects buried with them that offers trails of suspicion that the protagonist must then follow.When the corpse is killed creatively, several things happen. First, not only do readers want to know who did it and why- they also want to know why it was done in that way. Creative deaths also provide clues to the killer and establishes greater character depth for your antagonist, particularly his or her intellectual level and motivation behind the killing.3. Do your research on crime proceduralsHowever you choose to begin your mystery- whether with a corpse or a kidnapping- be sure that you do your research on crime procedurals. The details you include when you describe these important opening moments of your mystery will set the tone for how believable your story is and how engrossing it is for your audience.Law enforcement handles crimes differently, depending on location and details of the crime. If you are writing an opening scene in which a small-town cop discovers a body, be sure that youve researched who will get involved at the crime scene besides the cop. Will there be other detectives who show up? Who takes the body in for an autopsy and where is this autopsy done? Do other government law enforcement agencies (like the FBI) get involved? The more realism you use to stage the finding of the corpse (or the moments after a kidnapping has taken place), the more likely you are to keep your audience turning pages.Photo by David von Diemar on Unsplash4. Give your main character a life outside of the crime/mysteryYou want your reader to feel empathy toward the main character as he or she is put in harms way to find out who the killer or kidnapper is. The more empathy your reader feels toward your protagonist, the more invested theyll be in what happens to that char acter as the plot progresses.This is the reason you need to show the life your main character has outside of the mystery. Whether its their family life with their kids, or a romantic interaction with a love interest- showing the protagonists life makes him or her seem real. It gives the character depth and allows you to use those relationships that happen outside of the mystery to add to the tension. For example, if the killer hunts down women and your protagonist is a man, his concern for his female significant other could play into the story and give him increased motivation to find the antagonist. Or if the protagonist has a family and children, the antagonist could threaten them, which serves to ramp up the tension and motivate the protagonist to solve the mystery quickly.5. Your setting should be more than just a settingIf youve ever read a novel about a haunted house, then you understand the importance of setting in a mystery. In fact, choosing a setting for your story is one of the most important choices you will make in planning your novel, as it can either add to the tension or distract from it.For example, a dark, tightly enclosed space can increase the fear your protagonist feels when hunting for the killer. Alleyways where someone can hide behind doors or trash bins, dark forests where no one can hear your characters scream, or naturally spooky locations like funeral homes or mortuaries are settings that help to ramp up the tension and feeling of foreboding that makes mysteries such exciting reads. Particularly if your mystery is a haunted house story, hidden rooms, cobweb-filled attic spaces, and basements where family secrets have been buried are great settings for maintaining tension in your story.6. Build tension with cliffhanger chapter endingsThink back to a book youve read that was nearly impossible to put down. This ability to thoroughly captivate readers is the mark of a great mystery writer and a goal you should aspire to as you write you r novel. While there are multiple methods to create this kind of story, ending each chapter with a cliffhanger is a great way to keep your plot moving forward and the tension heightened.There are multiple ways to create cliffhanger chapter endings. It could be someone opening a door and the reader needs to start the next chapter to find out who it is. It could be one of the main characters seeing something that makes them immediately afraid but the reader needs to start the next chapter to find out what it is that they saw. Or maybe its a scream in the distance that the main character hears but the reader needs to start the next chapter to find out who it is thats screaming.7. Know the end before you start writingAs with other genres, and especially for mystery, you should have your plot worked out before beginning the first chapter. This means that you should know who committed the crime, how they did it, why they did it, and how they eventually get caught. If you know these detail s before you begin writing, youll be able to scatter clues throughout the story to lead up to the big reveal.8. Make all suspects liarsAs with any great mystery novel, yours should have multiple suspects who could be guilty of the crime. Determining which of the suspects is guilty is part of the reason readers will want to keep turning pages, and there should be moments within your story that make each suspect seem like he or she is the guilty one.The easiest way to do this is to ensure that all of your suspects are liars (to some extent). Have them lie about their whereabouts- where they were last night, who they were with, and why they were there- to make them seem unreliable. Obviously, the guilty suspect will be a liar to cover up his or her crime, so having all your suspects lie helps keep the tension taut as your detective tries to sift through the untruths to find the truth.Photo by Aaron Mello on Unsplash9. Throw your detective (and reader) off track with incorrect suspicion Part of the thrill of reading a mystery is the guesswork involved with determining who did it, and why. Playing with this thrill is a great way to keep your readers invested in the story. Allow your protagonist to believe he or she has solved the crime, only to later find out it isnt solved at all. In most cases, this is best done with the most likely of suspects- the one readers believe is the culprit before the real killer is discovered. Playing with the emotions of your readers in this way maintains an element of unpredictability and tension mystery readers love to experience.10. Scatter clues (as well as red herrings) throughout the bookLeaving clues throughout the story keeps your reader guessing, and following them is part of the fun of reading a mystery, but its important to not reveal too much, too soon. In fact, the best mysteries are the ones that surprise the reader and end with a killer who seemed least likely to commit the crime.Your protagonist should follow clues to f ind the killer and some of these clues should be red herrings. In order to maintain the shock value of an unlikely suspect, some of your clues should point to other potential suspects and lead the protagonist away from the trail of the one who is guilty. This distraction increases the tension in the plot and allows you to end with an ah-ha moment that completely catches the protagonist (and reader) by surprise.

What a Fulgurite Is and How To Make One

What a Fulgurite Is and How To Make One The word fulgurite comes from the Latin word  fulgur, which means thunderbolt.  A fulgurite or petrified lightning  is a glass tube formed when electricity strikes sand. Usually, fulgurites are hollow, with a rough exterior and smooth interior. Lightning from thunderstorms makes most fulgurites, but they also form from atomic blasts, meteor strikes and from man-made high voltage devices falling onto the ground. Fulgurite Chemistry Fulgurites typically form in sand, which is mostly silicon dioxide. The melted sand forms a glass that is called lechatelierite. Lechatelierite is an amorphous material that is considered to be a mineraloid, similar to obsidian. Fulgurites come in a range of colors, including translucent white, tan, black and green. The coloration comes from impurities in the sand. Make a Fulgurite - Safe Method Fulgurites occur naturally, but there are a couple of ways you can make petrified lightning yourself.  Dont put yourself at risk of a lightning strike! The best way to make a fulgurite is to be safely indoors when its stormy outside. Check the weather forecast to find out when lightning activity is expected. Radar is good or refers to special maps for your area that record lightning strikes. You must complete preparation for a fulgurite several hours (or longer) before the storm arrives.Drive a lightning rod or length of rebar into the sand about 12 inches to 18 inches and extending up into the air. You can set up colored sand or some granular mineral besides quartz sand if you prefer. There is no guarantee lightning will strike your lightning rod, but you improve your chances if you select an open area where the metal is higher than the surroundings. Choose an area far from people, animals or structures.When lightning approaches, be far away from your fulgurite project! Do not check on whether you make a fulgurite until several hours after the storm has passed.The rod and sand will be extremely hot after a lightning strike. Use care when checking for a fulgurite so that you dont burn yourself. Fulgurites are fra gile, so dig around it to expose it before removing it from the surrounding sand. Rinse excess sand with running water. Rocket Fulgurites You can go the Ben Franklin route making a fulgurite by drawing the lightning down to a bucket of sand. This method involves launching a D model rocket toward a thunderhead that is estimated to be due to discharge. A spool of thin copper wire connects the bucket to the rocket. While said to be quite successful, this method is extraordinarily dangerous because the lightning doesnt just follow the wire back to the bucket. It additionally follows the wire and the area around it back to the trigger used to launch the rocket... and you! Simulated Lightning Fulgurites A safer, though someone expensive method, is to use an xfmr or transformer to force man-made lightning into silica or another oxide. This technique fuses the sand into lechatelierite, although it is much more difficult to achieve the branched effect seen in natural fulgurites.

Introduction to Communication-Cultural Sensitivity Coursework

Introduction to Communication-Cultural Sensitivity - Coursework Example President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had seen the need for people to live together in peace despite their differences and accept cultural diversity by advocating for â€Å"the science of human relationships.† This brief paper examines the value of cultural knowledge in fostering peace and goodwill. Discussion – the cultural theory of sociology and anthropology states that culture is the sum total of the way of life of a group of people; the individual inherits the social legacy of this group and is profoundly influenced by this cumulative legacy of experiences of prior generations (Kluckhohn 1985). This legacy consists of the beliefs, values, and norms of the particular group and it may be hard or difficult for a person to deviate from this upbringing by doing something else which contradicts the wishes of the group to which he or she belongs. A clear understanding of this premise is necessary to connect with this individual through interpersonal communication. The anecdote I am narrating here is about a new kid who emigrated from the Far East. He hails from Japan and is distinctively Japanese in his manner of speaking, dress, and behavior. However, he also speaks excellent English as he had been privately tutored while still in Japan as his parents were from the middle-class and could afford a tutor for a foreign language lesson. He seems friendly, outgoing, fun-loving, inquisitive, intelligent, and highly sensitive too. People from the Far East countries of China, Japan, Korea, and to a large extent also in other countries where Confucian values are prominent including Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have a humble and deferential attitude towards other people, especially of elders. In this regard, I knew my new neighborhood friend will always defer to the wishes of his parents. It is inconceivable or unthinkable for him to go against their wishes, unlike most of American kids who instead value personal freedom and individuality to

Financial analysis in healthcare Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Financial analysis in healthcare - Coursework Example First, there is likely to a shortage of health care facilities. This is because the central government controls the health facilities. With such a low gross domestic income, the country may not be able to set up adequate health facilities to serve the public. WHO recommends that the health facilities should be at least five kilometres from where people live, in this case, this may not be possible making the health care centres inaccessible (Torrance, 2009, p. 34). As a result, the health care in this country can be described as poor Secondly, there is a shortage of health workforce team. Since the government is the sole employer, with the meager resources it is earning, it may fail to employ adequate staff to attend to people. As a result, there will be pooling of people at the hospitals without adequate staff to attend to them. Besides, with this shortage the workers can prefer to work in the private sector where the salary is promising. This will make the few workers at the hospital to be overworked and unable to deliver the services. With the majority of the workers without proper orientation on how to manage the health care finances, they may fail to meet the demands of the government and that of the citizens. Citizens as the consumers of health care suffer from the poor health care. First, they do not have adequate finance to pay for the health care services. This is because first they do not have access to insurance that would have made it easy to pay for the health care bills. For the few who can pay from their pocket in the private market or hospitals, the services are given based on the user fees. This will make the users not to get adequate health. Secondly, the health insurance that is provided by the private sector is not accessible to all. This is because only a few can afford the said insurance either because it is expensive or inaccessible. Besides, there is no mandatory insurance scheme. Without any cost sharing, there is likely to be a

Poverty in the World Essay Example for Free

Poverty in the World Essay Many third world countries are faced by the challenges of poverty and unproductivity of land. The survival of the people who live in such nations depends mostly on aid from developed countries. There is a fact about the developed countries that needs to be addressed before the aid is delivered to the poverty stricken nations. The developed countries have gained that title due to the fact that they are way too ahead in terms of technology and industrialization. The returns they get from both domestic and foreign trade are redirected on further investment. Incase other nations faced by catastrophes; these returns are used to cover those in need of help. The intervention by these developed nations is a form of quick measures to calming situations down. Back at home, it is funny how the citizens from such nations struggle to make ends meet. Once foreign help is delivered to the nations that are faced by natural, human, or climatic catastrophes the people living in those countries assume that the aid comes from very rich countries. The truth of the matter of foreign aid is that once help is delivered from a certain country be it in form of money or food there are strings attached. If one country demands for help from another, there are possibilities that the national debt of that nation grows. On the other hand, if the help is in form of a donation through the international organizations it is likely that the help addressed the issue at hand and not the future. Going back to the issue of foreign aid and reduction of poverty; two crucial elements come to play. These include the issue being addressed and the type of aid being delivered. Foreign aid is mostly volunteered to suffering nations by developed nations. In other times, organizations and NGOs take responsibility to raise money that can be used to provide for the suffering lot. By assessing the nature of the issue that is being addressed, it can be told whether the form of aid aids in reducing poverty. Looking at the situation at the horn of Africa, the type of help that is being delivered to the starving communities in that region is food and medical supplies. Looking closely at the matter and others similar to that, it will be found out that foreign aid is not a form of borrowed capital but rather a last option. Foreign Aid cannot reduce poverty due to five reasons associated with the problems and the nature of help. First, foreign aid is delivered to rescue and not to prevent; second, it is given when the situation is almost escalating out of proportion; third, nations or parties that require foreign aid are marginalized and the living conditions don’t allow for any form of secondary benefit from the aid; fourth, starvation and disease outbreaks are mostly the problems requiring foreign aid to address the issue quickly; and finally, the nature of aid cannot be invested neither can it be used while other resources are redirected to other activities. The above reasons make foreign aid seem like some form of nutritional therapy’ whose importance is lengthening the period of survival as one witnesses the problems. The US and other nations have been donating relief food and vaccination to African nations and some Asian nations as well for a long time. However, it the aid is form of funds the situation changes from aid to assistance that requires repaying as times advances. Foreign aid d oes not come to the poor in form of basic needs but rather basic rescue. It would be otherwise if foreign aid was in form of compulsory jobs for the poor or mandatory quality education.

Male Menopause: Fact or Fiction? Essay -- Biology Essays Research Pape

Male Menopause: Fact or Fiction? "Male menopause is a lot more fun than female menopause. With female menopause you gain weight and get hot flashes. Male menopause - you get to date young girls and drive motorcycles." (11) While 'male menopause' has provided both sexes a variety of jokes and frustration, there are researchers and scientists studying the alleged condition with great seriousness. Those who support the existence of male menopause feel strongly that its affects on the male mind and body should be regarded with the same credence that society attributes to the female menopause. Male Menopause begins with declining testosterone levels and is eventually characterized by the following symptoms: hair loss, depression, a slower immune system, weight gain, less stamina for physical activity, forgetfulness, irritability, and loss of or reduced interest in sex. (5) Impotence may also occur. Usually this "change" arises between the ages of 40 and 55, although it has been known to transpire as early as 35 and as late as 65. (6) Several different clinical terms exist for the popularized term "male menopause" such as "andropause" or "viropause". (2) Andropause was named for the hormone "androgen" which is essentially testosterone. It is also the name of the therapy with which they treat a man suffering from male menopause. This treatment comes in the form of injection, skin patches or liquid gel. (5) In order to be diagnosed with male menopause, one must have reached the eligible age then endure a physical exam wherein blood samples will be taken. These samples are tes ted for hormone levels. If these blood samples demonstrate low levels of androgen and the patient seems to be suffering from the symptoms associated wit... ...althy.net/hwlibrarynewsletters/update/malemenopause.htm 7)Human Development Report, provides the average male life expectancy statistics for all countries http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/indicator/indic_199_1_1.html 8)Human Development Report, provides the average female life expectancy statistics for all countries http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/indicator/indic_198_1_1.html 9)ABC Science, short article by ABC questioning the reality of male menopause http://abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s112941.htm 10)ABC Interview, interview with Jed Diamond, author of Male Menopause, a 1998 best seller. who used to be a disbeleiver in male menopause but now firmly credits the possibility of a male 'change' http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/chat_diamond000614.html 11)Women Joke Page, Male menopause joke http://www.y2kwomen.com/recommended/humor2.html

Xerxes

Xerxes Debate – Prosecution Building Programs * Economic decline was related to his excessive building programs. * Even though his building programs were impressive he neglected other parts of the empire. * Olmstead: â€Å"Xerxes was more interested in completing the magnificent structures begun by his father than he was in testing the formidable military machine. † * Josef Wieshofer: Persepolis was one of his â€Å"favourite past times†, was â€Å"hardly independent† of Darius’ style, was an â€Å"imitation of standards. † * â€Å"Xerxes spent considerable time, energy and resources on massive construction programs. – Granger Foreign Policy * Failure to expand into Greece was a lack of military ability. * He sent a squadron of ships to blockade the channel before Salamis which resulted in the fleet being destroyed. * Battle of Salamis: lack of loyalty within his navy and land troops. * Regardless of how big and revolutionary the mili tary was, Xerxes still failed. * Didn’t actually get involved, sat and watched. Religious Policy * Sacrilege; destroyed temples (Egypt and Babylon), melted down the statue of Bel Marduk. â€Å"Xerxes was a religious fanatic who deviated from the religious tolerance of his predecessors†¦he has become a paradigm for religious bigotry, fanatically interfering in sacred matters where his predecessors had kept a distance. † – Granger * Wasn’t a pragmatic religious ruler; killed priests, took their land, melted down the statue of Bel Marduk resulted in the discontinuation of the New Year’s Festival. * Babylonian people resented the reign of Xerxes and did not consider him their king and archaeological evidence after this incident, Xerxes ceased calling himself the King of Babylon.Relationships * Weren’t strong with the nobility; was assassinated by a member of his nobility Character * Various ancient sources charge him with impetuosity, arrog ance, sadism, madness and gulibilty. * â€Å"small, blubbering, ruled by women and eunuchs, cruel in victory, spineless in defeat. † – Greek propaganda * â€Å"deeply flawed ruler, one to follow passion rather than reason. † – William Culican and Augustine Alletz Comparison to Other Kings * The Greeks liked to compare Xerxes with other Persian kings to highlight his faults.In their comparison with Darius and Cyrus, Xerxes is hardly the ‘hero among kings’ as he is named in Persian inscriptions. Rather, he is the bad king, the ruthless despot, not at all in the tradition of the good and just Persian kings of the past. * Xenophon: Describes Cyrus as modest, tolerant and wise and the hero of Persia. Whereas Xerxes is depicted as an ambitious, often cruel and despotic Oriental ruler, described as a courtly womaniser, concerned only with Persian expansion and greatness. Concluding Statement Greek sources agree on his bad rule, even though they are bias, this viewpoint is backed up by Roman and modern sources. * Rodgers: â€Å"as Xerxes had failed in war and in civil organization so also did Xerxes fail to surpass his great predecessor. † * His megalomaniac motives, his attempt to master nature and ignore the gods, the sacrilegious destruction of foreign temples, his apparent cold-blooded disregard for the lives of his men and his mutilation of Leonidas’ body, together with his love of luxury.

The Federal Hpv Vaccination Programme Health And Social Care Essay

There are a figure of ethical issues that arise in proviso of health care services. Although most of the health care enterprises are meant to assist the targeted population overcome wellness jobs they are meeting, proviso of these services has ever been ridden with ethical contentions. One of the recent health care enterprises that have been surrounded by a batch of contention is Federal HPV Vaccination programme. This programme was meant to inoculate all misss between the age of 12 and 26 to protect them against HPV that causes cervical malignant neoplastic disease and venereal warts. However, there are different ethical issues that arose in the class of execution of the school-based programme. It was argued that the plan was implemented as a consequence of increased advertizement by the pharmaceutical companies about the effectivity of the Gardasil vaccinum while there was no scientific study that backed the effectivity of the vaccinum. This was considered as indefensible response to moral issues because there was no adequate grounds back uping the usage of the vaccinums. However, the authorities still insists that the plan was meant to make good for the targeted population sing that cervical malignant neoplastic disease and venereal warts are going major public wellness concern. This is merely one of the health care initiatives that have led to great public tumult when scrutinized in different ethical positions. Healthcare services are meant to assist the population overcome major wellness jobs they face but at the same clip they attract a batch of contention due to struggle of involvement. In order to understand this job good, this survey will reexamine the Federal HPV Vaccine Programme and the ethical issues that arose as a consequence. The survey will first expression at the Federal HPV Vaccination Programme including its aims. The survey will so reexamine the ethical issues that arose from this programme and analyse one of the jobs through ethical positions. The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme Human Papillomavirus ( HPV ) is a group of viruses that are known to do skin warts, venereal warts and different types of malignant neoplastic diseases. There are different HPV that affects different parts of the organic structure with some of them infecting the venereal countries. Warts that are found on other parts of the organic structure like the custodies are known to be caused by different types of HPV. HPV types 6, 11, and 18 are known to do malignant neoplastic diseases with types 16 and 18 linked to cervical malignant neoplastic diseases while types 6 and 11 are linked to venereal warts ( Winer, Hughes & A ; Feng 2006: 2648 ) . Due to the increased prevalence of venereal warts and cervical caners, there have been concerted attempts aimed at developing a vaccinum to cover with the job. HPV is spread by direct contact or during sexual activities. It is estimated that approximately four out of five people are likely to hold venereal HPV infection at some times in their lives ( Parkin 2006: 3035 ; Australian Government, 2010 ) . This is the chief ground why HPV vaccinums have become of import for misss who are sexually activity. The major job with HPV is that it does non do symptoms that people can see ( Winer, Hughes & A ; Feng 2006: 2649 ) . This means that people can hold HPV and non cognize because there are no apparent symptoms. In 2007, the Australian Federal authorities began one of the most ambitious immunisation programmes. It began funding voluntary plan that made Gardasil available and adult females between the age of 12 and 26 old ages for free within a period of two old ages ( Christian 2006: 12 ) . The authorities besides ensured that there was an on-going inoculation programme that targeted 12 and 13 old ages old in schools. Australian authorities, in concurrence with PBS ( Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme ) approved the vaccinum for public usage and instantly began a national broad programme for school misss aged 7 to 12 old ages ( Poljak & A ; Gemman 2006: 9 ) . The plan has been run by the local councils but the support is provided by the authorities. However, it is argued that the subsidisation of the vaccinums by the authorities could hold been implemented under political influence. Even the curate stood up and said that the programme would be approved long before it received authorities blessing. In add-on, the authorities outlined that adult females between the age of 18 and 26 old ages could besides have the first dosage for free but they had to petitions it from their general practicians ( Christian 2006: 12 ) . However the programme was scaled down to 12 and 13 old ages misss merely after 2009. In add-on, the authorities had approved Gardasil for inoculation of male childs aged between 9 and 15 o ld ages although the authorities did non supply support for boys inoculation ( Christian 2006: 12 ) . The authorities besides directed that in the procedure of disposal of the vaccinums, general practicians should remind their clients that they should besides go on with the regular pablum vilification ( Parkin 2006: 3042 ) . It besides directed them to promote adult females who received the vaccinums to register with National HPV Register for supervising intent. The National HPV inoculation programme registry is used to roll up informations in order to measure the impact of the HPV inoculation on the rates of cervical caners. It is besides used to measure the success of the programme in coverage and if the contact vaccinum receivers required a supporter dosage ( Poljak & A ; Gemman 2006: 9 ) . The registry is of import in helping the authorities recognize its mark of cut downing the prevalence of venereal warts and cervical malignant neoplastic disease among adult females. Ethical issues Like other healthcare enterprises, there are different ethical issues that arise. In the class of history, there have been medical enterprises, particularly those that involve the mass, which have resulted to ethical jobs ( Zimmerman 2006: 4815 ) . Ethical contentions are likely to ensue every clip there is aggregate disposal of vaccinums to forestall spread of diseases. One of the chief issues that arise in such plans is safety. Although there are laboratory and research studies that confirms that safety of these programmes, issues of safety comes in the class of execution of the programme or long after the programme has been winded up. The chief issue of safety when it comes to disposal of vaccinums is that receivers feel that their safety can non be guaranteed because they have non been involved in preparation of the vaccinums or when there is no adequate informations that supports the safety of the vaccinums ( Shciller & A ; Lowy 2006: 1168 ) . Another job that arises in the clas s of public wellness programmes is the issue of informed consent ( Zimmerman 2006: 4815 ) . Although it may be outlined right from the start that the programme will be voluntary, there are propagandas that arise in the class of the programme that convinces the receivers that they have been forced to have the vaccinums. The other job that may originate after such a programme is the usage of options. In most instances, new vaccinums are introduced in such public programmes but the continued usage of the earlier health care services may be affected. For illustration it has been shown that in instances where HPV vaccinum has been administered, most receivers are likely to predate regular showing for malignant neoplastic disease ( WHO ) . The populace can non merely understand why they have been introduced to a new vaccinum and yet they are requited to go on utilizing the old methods of testing like Pap smear. There were a figure of ethical issues that arose in the class of execution of The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme. The first ethical issue was based on the fact that there was non scientific cogent evidence that backed Gardasil as an effectual vaccinum in bar of HPV ( Zimmerman 2006: 4817 ) . Two of the recent articles that were published by New England Journal of Medicine suggested that the vaccinums against cervical malignant neoplastic diseases was used without adequate grounds to shows that they were effectual in undertaking the disease ( Zimmerman 2006: 4815 ) . The writers of these two articles noted that despite the fact that there has been assuring consequences from clinical tests, there was still no sufficient evident to endorse the effectivity of the vaccinums against cervical malignant neoplastic diseases. There as so many indispensable inquiries that still need to be answered and the populace should be cautious when seeking these vaccinums. A recent study that was released in New York Times showed that these vaccinums have been studied for a short period of clip and long term effects are yet to be established The vaccinums was licensed in 2006 after clinical tests that lasted for more than six old ages but this did non bring forth any grounds to demo their effectivity ( Roden, Ling & A ; Wu 2004: 979 ) . Most of import inquiries that have non been answered sing the vaccinums is the continuance the unsusceptibility will last and whether extinguishing strains of the cancers-causing virus is likely to diminish the degree of bodyaa‚ ¬a„?s natural unsusceptibility to other strains of the same virus. Cervical malignant neoplastic disease normally develops after the persons have been infected with chronic HPV and there is no cogent evidence to demo that vaccinums will protect the organic structure against two strains of the virus that are known to do cervical malignant neoplastic disease ( Shciller & A ; Lowy 200 6: 1169 ) . One of major ethical issues that arise from the programme is that the authorities could be enforcing uneffective vaccinums on the population ( Colgrove 2006: 1390 ) . In most instances, medical programmes like The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme are perceived from a useful position in the sense that they are supposed to assist the population. The result of the programmes like The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme should assist the targeted population wellness wise ( Verweij & A ; Dawson 2004: 3126 ) . With this perceptual experience in head, the chief purpose of execution of The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme was to help Australian misss fight cervical malignant neoplastic diseases and venereal warts. However, the involvement of the authorities could non hold been good informed in visible radiation of the studies published in New England Journal of Medicine that shows deficiency of scientific cogent evidence to endorse disposal of this vaccinum in contending cervical malignant n eoplastic disease. Was Australian authorities justified in the usage of Gardasil to contend prevalence of cervical malignant neoplastic diseases in misss sing that there was no adequate scientific backup to turn out it? This is a inquiry that needs to be interrogated through different ethical positions but the involvement of the parties involved must be taken into consideration. Earlier, it was mentioned that the authorities determination to transport out The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme was influenced by political powers ( Haas 2009: 289 ) . There is all ground to interrogate the determination by the authorities to perpetrate more than $ 160 million of the taxpayeraa‚ ¬a„?s money on a vaccinum that has non been proved effectual. First, this meant that the authorities had to relocate financess from other health care plans into order to fund this programme, which led to less financess available for other critical health care disbursement like on of import herceptin and other bosom medicines. This can be considered as a misplaced precedence that was implemented on land of political influence. Closely tied to this issue is concern about increased advertizement of the vaccinum by pharmaceutical companies ( Yudin 2010: 56 ) ) . For many old ages, the pharmaceutical industry has been criticized for advertisement merchandises that have non yet be en proved. Hungry for immense net incomes, the pharmaceutical industry has been publicizing their merchandises long before they have undergone proper vetting process to declare them suit for human ingestion. This is an ethical issue when one considers the effects that such merchandises may hold on the population. In a nut shell, the pharmaceutical industry can be applauded for puting in R & A ; D to guarantee development of drugs and vaccinums to control lifting instance of malignant neoplastic diseases. However, their influence on the political category may take the authorities to take determination like the one taken by Australian authorities for the involvement of these companies. They understood really good that with the authorities backup of such a programme, there would be increased ingestion of their merchandises interpreting to immense net incomes they are seeking in the market ( Schwartz 2010: 1843 ) . Therefore, there is a likeliness that the determination taken by Austral ia authorities could hold been influenced by the pharmaceutical companies that had carried out extended advertizement on the effectual of Gardasil in contending cervical malignant neoplastic disease. Is it possible that the authorities has fallen quarries to strategies by pharmaceutical companies to publicize their merchandises? Did these companies influence the political category to approve the plan in order to function their ego involvement? These are many others are inquiries that need to be closely interrogated when sing the influence of the political category and the pharmaceutical companies on authorities determination to turn over out The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme. However, it is apparent that the increased advertizement on the effectivity of the vaccinums could hold had major influence on the authorities while implementing this plan. In add-on, there were moral issues that could be explored in visible radiation of The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme. The desire by the authorities to implement the programme could hold been elicited by the demand to protect 1000000s of immature misss in the state who a hazard of cervical malignant neoplastic diseases. In another position, it can be argued that through execution of this programme, the authorities assumed that Australian immature misss are prosecuting in sex, the most common method for transmittal of HPV. Australian parents were bullied into a medical response to one of the most controversial moral issue of sex. This was perceived as another programme by the authorities in its safe sex battle. It is acceptable that immature male childs and misss are prosecuting in sexual at a clip that is non appropriate but this does non vouch the authorities to pump false information about protecting immature people from such disease ( Verweij & A ; Dawson 2004: 3124 ) . The issu e of HPV is closely tied to sexual activities among the immature people and the best manner that can be used to cover with it is through plans that discourage immature misss from prosecuting in sex ( Roden, Ling & A ; Wu 2004: 980 ) . Alternatively of the authorities directing such financess to programmes that will assist kids cover with sexual issues during stripling, the authorities goes on to administrate vaccinums that tells immature people that they have license to prosecute in sex because they are aa‚ ¬Aâ€Å"protectedaa‚ ¬A? . Oppositions of The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme argue that due to increased public trust on the Gardasil vaccinums, there is likeliness of lessening in usage of Pap smear that has been proved effectual in diagnosing of cervical malignant neoplastic disease ( Zimmerman 2006: 4814 ) . Although the Australian authorities has directed medical professions administrating the vaccinums to promote adult females to travel for regular Pap vilification, there is high likeliness that most adult females are likely to abstain from seeking pablum vilification and rely on the vaccinums which has non been proved effectual in combating cervical malignant neoplastic disease. Another ethical issue that arose in the class of the plan is informed consent. This is one of the most of import ethical demands in biomedical programmes where the participants have to be informed of the purpose of the programme and objectives it will accomplish. The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme dealt with immature kids who were non in place to do their ain determination sing their engagement in the programme ( Verweij & A ; Dawson 2004: 3123 ) . Harmonizing to ethical theories, when covering with kids below the age of 18 old ages, parental consent must be sought before the kid participates in such a programme. By implementing The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme without affecting parents in blessing of the programme, the authorities violated one of the basic ethical demands. In this programme, parents should hold been involved in doing the determination whether to implement the programme or non. Although the ultimate purpose of the authorities was to protect immature misss fro m cervical malignant neoplastic disease, this does non vouch the demand to compromise the rules of informed consent and pick. Informed consent and The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme One of the ethical issues that arose from this plan was the issue of informed consent and pick. The issue of informed consent requires that participants in any medical procedure must be informed of their purpose of the procedure and they should give their consent to take part in the programme. This means engagement must non be compulsory. This rule requires that when covering with kids below the age of 18, who can non do their ain determination to take part in such plans, parental consent must be sought ( Verweij & A ; Dawson 2004: 3126 ) . This means that their parents must be informed of the engagement of their kids and give their consent. The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme was intended to cover with the job of cervical malignant neoplastic disease in misss. From a useful position, the programme should hold produced good consequence for those take parting in the programme. It was supposed to cut down the prevalence of cervical malignant neoplastic diseases among adult female in Australian and this was asses through HPV Register. All medical enterprises like The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme are assessed through useful position because they are expected to hold positive consequences to the populace ( Smart & A ; Williams 1973: 62 ) . A programme that produces negative consequences would be considered a liability to the authorities and the participants as good. The taking ethical rule for public wellness programmes is that they should bring forth good results for the mark population. However, this was non the instance in this programme because there were negative effects that were registered after The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme was implemented. In add-on, the useful attack to this issue does non vouch the authorities any right to go against basic rule of informed consent and pick ( Smart & A ; Williams 1973: 62 ) . There were different ways in which the authorities violated this rule. First, it was earlier highlighted that despite public concern, the Prime Minister had already indicated that the plan would be approved. This meant that the authorities was non ready to see any input from the mark population. The execution of the programme should hold involved the mark population and acquire their blessing whether to take part in the plan or non. Although the authorities had earlier indicated that engagement in the programme was voluntary, school based programmes did non adhere to this rule ( Verweij & A ; Dawson 2004: 3125 ) . Out of their artlessness, and possibly without any cognition of the possible consequence of the programme on their wellness, school traveling misss flocked to have the vaccinums. In such instance the authorities should hold called all parents foremost and informed them of the at hand programme so that parents could do their determination whether their kids should have the inoculation or non. If the authorities failed to affect concerned stakeholders, who in this instance were parents, during the blessing of the programme, parental blessing should hold been sought by the clip the programme was being implemented at school degree. In order to cover with this ethical job, the authorities should recognize the importance of the rule of informed consent and the pick of participants ( Verweij & A ; Dawson 2004: 3125 ) . They should esteem the liberty of Australian school misss and seek the consent of their parents before kids receive vaccinums. Although some may reason that the harm has already been done because a figure of kids have already received the vaccinum, this should non be a ground to disregard pertinence of this rule. Sing the negative effects that have already been registered with the vaccinums, the authorities should every bit good halt the vaccinum until its effectives has been proven. This will guarantee that the rights of Australian misss to do informed pick will be respected. Decision Most medical programmes that target the mass are sometimes loaded with many ethical issues. From the basic point of blessing of such plans, pick of participants, enlisting and disposal, these programmes attract different contentions. The Federal HPV Vaccination Programme is one of such programmes that have attracted ethical contentions. From a useful position, this plan was meant to cut down the prevalence of cervical malignant neoplastic diseases among adult females in Australian. However the pick of Gardasil vaccinums remains controversial because there is no scientific information that backs the effectivity of the vaccinums. In add-on, the blessing of the plan was besides controversial because parent involved was non sought at national or school degree, which means the rule of informed consent was violated. Sing the negative consequence of the vaccinums on those who have received it, the authorities should instantly hold the plan until the effectivity of the vaccinums has been app roved. In add-on, authorities should besides affect the populace in the hereafter when doing of import public wellness determinations because they are stakeholders.

Examples of Supply in Economics

Examples of Supply in Economics Supply is defined as the total amount of a given product or service that is available for purchase at a set price. This core component of economics may seem vague, but you can find examples of supply in everyday life. Definition The law of supply states  that  assuming all else is held constant, the quantity supplied for a good rise as the price rises. In other words, the quantity demanded and the  price  is positively related. The relationship between supply and demand can be illustrated like this: Supply Demand Price Constant Rises Rises Constant Falls Falls Increases Constant Falls Decreases Constant Increases Economists   say supply is determined by several factors, including: Price Buyers want to pay as little as possible for a good or service, while producers want to maximize profit by charging as much as possible. When supply and demand are balanced, price tends to be stable Cost The less it costs to manufacture a good, the greater a producers profit margin when that good is marketed at a specific price point. As the cost of production decreases, the more product a manufacturer can produce. Competition Manufacturers may be compelled to lower the price of their goods in order to match the price of similar products offered by a competitor, thus lowering profits. Likewise, producers will seek the lowest price on raw materials, which can, in turn, affect suppliers. Supply and demand do fluctuate over time, and both producers and consumers can take advantage of this. For example, consider season  demand on clothing. In the summertime, the demand for swimsuits is very high. Producers, anticipating this, will ramp up production in the winter in order to meet demand as it increases from spring into summer. But if consumer demand is too high, the price on swimwear will rise because it will be in short supply. Likewise, in the fall retailers will begin clearing out excess inventory of swimsuits to make room for cold-weather clothing. Consumers will find prices reduced and save money, but their choices will be limited. Elements of Supply There are additional factors that economists say can affect supply and inventory. Specific quantity is the amount of a product that a retailer wants to sell at a given price is known as the quantity supplied. Typically a time period is also given when  describing quantity  supplied For example: When the price of an orange is 65 cents the quantity supplied is 300 oranges a week.If the price of copper falls from $1.75/lb to $1.65/lb, the quantity supplied by a mining company will fall from 45 tons a day to 42 tons a day. A supply schedule is a table which lists the possible prices for a good and service and the associated quantity supplied. The supply schedule for oranges could look (in part) as follows: 75 cents - 470 oranges a week70 cents - 400 oranges a week65 cents - 320 oranges a week60 cents - 200 oranges a week A supply curve is simply a supply schedule presented in graphical form. The standard presentation of a supply curve has price given on the Y-axis and quantity supplied on the X-axis. Price elasticity of supply represents how sensitive quantity supplied is to changes in price. Sources Investopedia staff. Law of Supply. Investopedia.com.McIntyre, Shawn. Economics for Beginners. Owlcation.com, 30 June 2016.

Groundhog Facts (Marmota monax)

Groundhog Facts (Marmota monax) The groundhog (Marmota monax) is a type of marmot, which is a ground squirrel or rodent. It is familiar to Americans for its weather prognostication on Groundhog Day. The animal goes by many names, including woodchuck, groundpig, and monax. The name woodchuck refers neither to wood nor to chucking. Instead, it is an adaptation of the Algonquian name for the animal, wuchak. Fast Facts: Groundhog Scientific Name: Marmota monaxCommon Names: Groundhog, woodchuck, whistlepig, monax, siffleux, thickwood badgerBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 16-20 inchesWeight: 5-12 poundsLifespan: 2-3 yearsDiet: HerbivoreHabitat: North AmericaPopulation: Abundant and stableConservation Status: Least Concern Description Within its range, the groundhog is the largest ground squirrel. Adults average between 16 and 20 inches long, including their 6-inch tail. The relatively short tail distinguishes this species from other ground squirrels. Groundhog weight varies dramatically throughout the year, but averages between 5 and 12 pounds. The animals tend to be brownish in color with four ivory incisor teeth. Groundhogs have short limbs that end in thick, curved claws suited to digging and climbing. Habitat and Distribution The groundhog gets its common name from its preference of open, low-elevation land, especially well-drained soil in fields and pastures. Groundhogs are found throughout Canada and in the eastern United States. Other types of marmots are common worldwide, but they tend to prefer rocky and mountainous habitats. Groundhog distribution. Andreyostr, Wikimedia Commons Diet and Behavior Technically, marmots are omnivorous, but groundhogs are more herbivorous than most species. They eat grass, berries, dandelion, coltsfoot, sorrel, and agricultural crops. However, they will supplement their diet with fallen baby birds, insects, snails, and grubs. Groundhogs do not need to drink water if they can obtain it from dew or plant juice. The rodents store fat and hibernate to survive winter rather than caching food. Groundhogs are preyed upon by humans, foxes, coyotes, and dogs. Young may be taken by hawks and owls. Reproduction and Offspring Groundhogs are never found far from their burrows, which they dig in the soil and use for sleeping, escaping predators, raising young, and hibernating. Groundhogs mate after they rouse from hibernation in March or April. The pair remains in the den for the 31 or 32 days of gestation. The male leaves the den before the female gives birth. The usual litter consists of two to six blind pups that emerge from the den after their eyes have opened and their fur has grown. Near the end of summer, the young move off to build their own burrows. Groundhogs may breed the following spring, but most become mature at two years of age. In the wild, most groundhogs live two to three years and up to six years. Captive groundhogs may live 14 years. Baby groundhogs look like miniature versions of the adults. Manfred Kuster / Getty Images Conservation Status The IUCN classifies groundhog conservation status as least concern. The rodents are abundant across their range and have a stable population in most places. They are not a protected species. Groundhogs and Humans Groundhogs are hunted as pests, for fur, for food, and as trophies. Although the rodents eat crops, groundhog burrows improve the soil and house foxes, rabbits, and skunks. So, maintaining a controlled population of groundhogs is beneficial to farmers. February 2nd is celebrated as Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada. The premise of the holiday is that groundhog behavior following hibernation may indicate the approach of spring. Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen / Getty Images Research on groundhogs given hepatitis-B may further understanding of liver cancer. The only other suitable animal model for the disease is the chimpanzee, which is endangered. The groundhog is also a model organism for studies on obesity and other metabolic disorders and heart disease. While groundhogs may be kept as pets, they may display aggression toward their handlers. Usually sick or injured groundhogs may be rehabilitated for release back into the wild, but some do form bonds with their caregivers. Sources Bezuidenhout, A. J. and Evans, Howard E. Anatomy of the woodchuck (Marmota monax). Lawrence, KS: American Society of Mammalogists, 2005. ISBN 9781891276439.Grizzell, Roy A. A Study of the Southern Woodchuck, Marmota monax monax. American Midland Naturalist. 53 (2): 257, April, 1955. doi:10.2307/2422068Linzey, A. V.; Hammerson, G. (NatureServe) Cannings, S. (NatureServe). Marmota monax. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2008. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T42458A22257685.enSchoonmaker, W.J. The World of the Woodchuck. J.B. Lippincott, 1966. ISBN 978-1135544836.OCLC 62265494Thorington, R.W., Jr. and R. S. Hoffman. Family Sciuridae. In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 802, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.

Ryanair Marketing Mix Analysis Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Ryanair Marketing Mix Analysis - Case Study Example Rather than assume that its role was to 'steal' customers from other airlines, it determined that the customer base should be defined in a different way: those who were price-sensitive, but were looking for a scheduled airline approach (rather than charter airlines, which had no fixed schedule). Ryanair also defined the real 'competitors' included alternative modes of travel (bus, train, and car) and fairly inflexible 'budget' scheduled airline seats. Airlines have pioneered in the use of yield management software to increase their average revenue per seat-mile, starting with American Airlines in the early 1980's. New, low-cost airlines started with few of these yield management techniques, calculating that the leisure traveler was put off by the plethora of fares for the same trajectory. Ryanair assumed that passengers placed different values on their travel. The vacationer and displaced worker could count on long-term travel planning. They are price-conscious. For those willing to plan ahead, Ryanair could price significantly below scheduled airlines. As capacity filled and the date for flight departure approached, Ryanair could adjust its pricing online in a flash, helping to assure that most planes fly full. Whereas legacy carriers layered time constraints (greater than 21, 14 or 7 days, for example), Ryanair might price in the opposite direction, giving last-minute flyers a discount for booking. Again, Ryanair defined their customers differently than at the legacy carriers. Their last-minute flyers needed three key attributes: flexible in their flight schedule, price-sensitive and impulsive. Here are the thoughts of potential customers in this last-minute category: "Sure, I'd fly to Dublin to catch a play and quaff a Guinness, if the price were less than 20 return." This is an impulse customer. "I need to get back to Warsaw to handle some immigration papers." This customer is price-sensitive and flexible in his/her schedule. Distribution Channels and Their Importance to Ryanair's Marketing Mix Ryanair could not exist without the Internet. The key benefits and tools for Ryanair are all internet-based: 1. Ryanair's cost per transaction must remain low in order to keep down fares. By bypassing the travel agent (once novel, now commonplace), Ryanair reduced its transaction costs per passenger by 5-10% of airfare. 2. Related to the above, Ryanair was able to reduce labor costs by having the passenger perform much of the administrative work online (and obviating the need at the airport or on the phone). 3. In order to fill planes, Ryanair must have to-the-minute pricing flexibility. Empty seats make no money; the ability to fill the 137th seat in a 737, even if it only provides 20, is an extra 20 falling to the bottom line for that flight. 4. Internet booking allows Ryanair to control all aspects of the customer relationship. This information is invaluable for future promotions. If Ryanair knows, for example, that it has a London-based passenger who travels often to Warsaw, they can focus on that customer for future