Friday, November 29, 2019

10 Free WordPress Widgets to Build a Better Sidebar

Widgets are one of WordPress most adaptable features. They make it possible to add a ton of different functionality to your WordPress sidebar, as well as other areas that accept widgets. Best of all, you can find plenty of free WordPress widgets so you wont even need to open your wallet to get their benefits.The only problem, though, is that WordPress doesnt come with very many widgets in its default state. ButAs is often the case, we can solve this problem using plugins. There  are a wide variety of widget plugins online, some of which enable you to implement impressive features.In this article, were going to talk about what widgets are, and explain why you might need more of them. Then well introduce you to ten free WordPress widgets to level up your site. Lets get the ball rolling! WordPress enables you to add widgets to your sidebar and footer sections with ease.Whats nice about widgets is that they enable you to add advanced features to your pages without having to customize them individually. Plus, you can micromanage your widgets locations, and add them to your sidebar or footer in any order you want.However, as we mentioned earlier,  WordPress doesnt ship with many options. The good news is that you can get access to tons of free WordPress widgets using plugins.10 free WordPress widgets to help level up your siteFor this list, we decided to focus on widgets that add new, useful features to your site. Well give you a brief overview for each one,  and help you determine which might be a good fit for your site.For all of these widgets, you can install them like you would any other WordPress plugin.1. Contact Widgets Contact Widgets Author(s): GoDaddyCurrent Version: 1.6.2Last Updated: May 6, 2019contact-widgets.1.6.2.zip 92%Ratings 1,129,518Downloads WP 4.4+Requires There are plenty of plugin solutions to set up custom contact forms, but they often pack more  features than you need. If all you want is to set up a simple contact section, th e Contact Widgets plugin is a great option. This tool enables you to create stylish widgets that include contact information, maps, and more.2. Testimonials Widget Testimonials Widget Author(s): AxelerantCurrent Version: 3.5.0Last Updated: May 15, 2019testimonials-widget.3.5.0.zip 86%Ratings 1,050,988Downloads 3.9.2Requires Testimonials are an effective way to increase trust among your customers, and the Testimonials Widget plugin provides you with an easy way to display your reviews using sliders, lists, and even videos. Plus, you can insert the widgets you create with it anywhere you want, using shortcodes.3. Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails Author(s): Martin StehleCurrent Version: 6.5.1Last Updated: June 13, 2019recent-posts-widget-with-thumbnails.6.5.1.zip 96%Ratings 1,720,789Downloads WP 2.9+Requires WordPress already packs a Recent posts widget of its own, but all it does is show a list of post titles. Thats a decent start , but displaying featured images as well is a  better way to catch your visitors attention. Fortunately, the Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails plugin enables you to do this with ease.4. Google Maps Widget Maps Widget for Google Maps Google Maps Builder Author(s): WebFactory LtdCurrent Version: 4.17Last Updated: August 3, 2019google-maps-widget.4.17.zip 94%Ratings 1,955,985Downloads WP 4.0+Requires If you have a website set up for your business, including a map is a simple way to help users locate it more quickly. Using a dedicated widget is often the most efficient way to add a Google Map to one of your WordPress posts or pages. The imaginatively named Google Maps Widget provides you with an easy way to do this. You can include a thumbnail of your  map, and even  add pins and captions to it.5. Rating-Widget Rating-Widget: Star Review System Author(s): Rating-WidgetCurrent Version: 3.0.6Last Updated: June 4, 2019rating-widget.3.0.6.zip 92%Ratings 990,717Downloa ds WP 3.0+Requires Detailed testimonials can be highly useful, but sometimes people just want to get a quick appraisal of the quality of your services or content. A star-rating system is an elegant way to let  your users provide you with feedback in a matter of seconds. Using the Rating-Widget plugin, you can add star rating systems to your posts, pages, WooCommerce products, and even individual authors.6. The Events Calendar The Events Calendar Author(s): Modern Tribe, Inc.Current Version: 4.9.10Last Updated: October 16, 2019the-events-calendar.4.9.10.zip 88%Ratings 19,102,609Downloads WP 4.7+Requires WordPress ships with a Calendar widget, but it  only keeps track of your latest posts. If you want to alert your users about upcoming events and important dates, youll need to use a plugin such as  The Events Calendar. Any event you create with this plugin can include info about venues, organizers, location maps, and more. Plus, you can import events from platforms suc h as Google Calendar and Facebook to make your life easier.7. Social Media Widget Social Media Widget Author(s): Noah KaganCurrent Version: 4.0.6Last Updated: March 4, 2019social-media-widget.4.0.6.zip 78%Ratings 1,975,911Downloads 2.9.2Requires Social Media Widget lets you easily add eye-catching icons to showcase all of your social profiles. It supports all of the major social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc. But it also includes tons of smaller networks like Vimeo, DeviantArt, Bandcamp, and more.If you just want a simple way to showcase your social media profiles, this widget is a good option.8. Feature a  Page Widget Feature A Page Widget Author(s): Mark Root-Wiley (MRWweb)Current Version: 2.1.1Last Updated: December 5, 2018feature-a-page-widget.2.1.1.zip 100%Ratings 142,579Downloads WP 3.9+Requires Sometimes you might not want to include a full-fledged Recent posts section in your sidebar, and instead feature a single page. The Feature a Page Widget plugi n enables you to do just that. With this tool, youll be able to choose a particular page or post to feature, pick a custom layout, and even customize its appearance.9. Easy Profile Widget Easy Profile Widget Author(s): Phpbits Creative StudioCurrent Version: 1.3Last Updated: January 5, 2017easy-profile-widget.zip 96%Ratings 17,851Downloads WP 4.0+Requires Providing your readers with a quick way to find out  more about you is a great way to increase trust. Plus, you can also use a biography as an opportunity to promote your social media profiles. If that sounds like a win-win to you, then the Easy Profile Widget plugin may be right up your alley. Its a simple tool that enables you to display a bio and social media links on your site.10. WordPress Popular Posts WordPress Popular Posts Author(s): Hector CabreraCurrent Version: 4.2.2Last Updated: December 6, 2018wordpress-popular-posts.4.2.2.zip 90%Ratings 3,510,683Downloads WP 4.7+Requires Last but not least, popular posts lists are one of the most effective ways to point visitors towards content they might be interested in. Using a widget to add this feature makes a lot of sense because  you can locate that  list conveniently within a sidebar. As it so happens, the WordPress Popular Posts plugin enables you to add this type of widget and refine the criteria for which posts should be featured.Popular posts lists enable your visitors to catch up with your greatest hits.ConclusionFree WordPress widgets are one of the easiest ways to add new features to your site, such as custom contact forms, upcoming events, and maps to your location (among many other options). Finding the right widgets can help your site look and work better by adding extra functionality. Dont be afraid to experiment with the free WordPress widgets weve introduced you to in this list until you find the combination that works best for you. Free guide5 Essential Tips to Speed Up Your WordPress SiteReduce your loading time by e ven 50-80% just by following simple tips.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Battle of The Rio Grande River essays

Battle of The Rio Grande River essays On February 4, 1860, Texas Rangers, under the leadership of Colonel John S. Rip Ford and U.S. Army troops defeated Mexican- Texan Juan Nepomucena Cortina and put an end to the Cortina Wars. According to this article Cortinistas were burning ranches, driving off horses and cattle. There were rumors that Cortina and his men were planning to attack a steamboat named Ranchero the boat was carrying $200.00 in gold also the military payroll for Fort Brown. As the boat made its way down the river, along the banks of the river were the Texas Ranger to protect her. An artillery attachment was aboard a well. As the Texas Rangers headed south they came across some Cortinistas they were swimming herds of cattle across the river at Zacatal Ranch, opposite La Bolsa Ranch that was located north side of the Rio Grande. A confrontation broke out and left one ranger dead and seven Cortinistas. The Cortinistas attacked the ranchers about half a mile down from where the first confrontation had taken place. The soldiers that were on board the ranchero fired back on the cortinistas. The Texas rangers charged the Cortinistas forcing them back into Mexico territory, The Texas rangers went into Mexican Territory after the Cortinistas, meanwhile back at the battle laid two Americans wounded and Twenty-nine Mexicans killed and forty wounded. The following day the ranchero continued its way to the Gulf undisturbed. The Texas rangers and the U.S. Calvary scouted the borders until the new commander of the department of Texas, Col. Robert E Lee arrived. Col. Lee met with General Guadalupe at Matamoros Garcia, a Mexican Commander agreed to stop Cortina from attacking the borders. Cortina had fled into the Mountains of Burgos he later returned and became a Brigadier General in the Mexican army and Governor of Tamaulipas. The History of this event fascinated me. I could not belie ...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Penetrating and Blunt Abdominal Trauma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Penetrating and Blunt Abdominal Trauma - Essay Example The author discussed, in detail, the various medical interventions done on the patients and their possible complications that arose during the duration of their hospitalization. As for the health assessment procedure rationales mentioned in this journal, Eckert discussed a flow of the procedures. Observation as to the patient's appearance upon encounter is to be done first. Presence and location of wounds as well as the depth and entrance and exits sites for penetrating wounds should be noted. Next, the author noted that auscultation is to be done prior to palpation as to prevent alteration of bowel sounds due to manipulation (p.53). Presence or absence of bowel sounds should be done comprehensively, covering all 4 quadrants. Nurses should check the quality, frequency and any abnormality in the bowel sounds. Auscultation over major blood vessels not only in the abdominal area but also in near regions that may be affected such as the femoral vessels should be checked. Palpation will e licit the presence of abdominal tenderness, rebound tenderness, guarding, texture of abdomen and any irregularities. Several organ injury scales were discussed by Eckert. Among the scales mentioned that were being used in the nursing practice were the 6-level Liver Injury Scale, the 5-level Splenic Injury Scale, 5-level Kidney Injury Scale, and 5-level Pancreatic Injury Scale. The Penetrating and Blunt 3 population discussed in this journal is the patients with abdominal trauma. Most, if not all of the cases in this journal were emergency or acute cases. I think that among the strengths of this journal is the comprehensiveness and practicality of this journal to nursing practice. Its use of case studies gives the reader a picture of what is to be encountered in the emergency rooms or intensive care units in the hospital setting. It was very thorough in explaining the different procedures done on the patient and each of its rationale. The journal introduces to the reader some information on the anatomy and physiology of some of the vital abdominal organs which are commonly affected in abdominal trauma. This is most helpful to nursing students who are still beginners in the field for them to have an idea of the interplay between these organs. This journal also gives information on the ancillary procedures usually done on the patients, highlighting the most pertinent or practical for each case or organ. For example, the author stated that the CT scan is the most sensitive diagnostic tool for most abdominal trauma injuries and between th e FAST scan and the diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL), the FAST scan is more utilized in most emergency cases because it is non-invasive and inexpensive compared to DPL. Also to be commended is the use of some visuals such as pictures of the different interventions. It also made use of some flow charts or concepts maps in nursing assessment in specific situations and included the indications for surgery and admittance to the ICU. This article was able to capture my interest because it is easy to understand and very thorough in explaining the various assessments, procedures and treatments involved in patients with

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Research Proposal on 'Development Aid and Governance' Essay

Research Proposal on 'Development Aid and Governance' - Essay Example Bibliography Background/Problem Statement The effectiveness or lack of aid has been a rather recurring issue/terminology in the glossary of the development aid industry in recent times. Contrastingly, two decades ago, development donors or aid donors would not hesitate to provide funding to governments and organisations for developmental purposes (De Haan, 2009). Among those who benefitted during this past period of improved donor and aid activities were third world and developing countries in regions such as Africa and Asia in which countries such as Zaire under Mobutu and Philippines under Marcos benefitted. With this level of funding, these beneficiary regimes started to mismanage these aids to hitherto unseen corruption levels. These high levels of bad governance and corruption have made donors such as financial institutions and industrial powers to refrain from funding development projects in excessively corrupt governments, countries, and groups (De Haan, 2009). Aid donors have since recognized and established that giving aids to governments with ineffective policies is a practice that is rather wasteful. Instead, more efforts and emphasis have been directed at countries and regions with sound domestic reform policies. Nonetheless, donors’ narrow political objectives still feature in most of the aid decisions in the contemporary society. There is, thus, the need for the official donor aid community to commit to the improvement of aid effectiveness by establishing more proficient and standardized coordination mechanisms. Fortunately, some forums such as the Aid Effectiveness High Level Forum (HLF) in Rome in 2003 and the Paris Declaration in the second HLF in 2005 were moves in the right direction for aid governance. Although these forums focused on donor coordination and harmonisation, the issues of governance, public management, and corruption also featured prominently during the deliberations (Stokke, 2009). In regard to aid management, the suppl y side featured prominently in relation to public finance management and country procurement systems. It was not only corruption, which was mentioned as a problem, but commitments were also made on transparency and accountability by both donors and recipients. Poor governance, corruption, and bad public management of finance and procurement are thus among the major challenges that the aid industry has encountered for quite some time and mechanisms and strategies to counter their influence are in order (Lancaster, 2006). Research Objectives This research, therefore, sets forth several objectives, including the need to address the rampant corruption and mismanagement that hamper the successful implementation and realization of donor aid projects. The research seeks solution to the derailing progress in realising mutual accountability by both donors and recipients in aid-project implementation. Addressing the issue of commitment by donors and recipients in the aid effectiveness agenda is the other objective of this research. An improvement on the wanting coordination capacity of recipient governments is the other objective of this research. Moreover, this research also seeks to emphasize the central role that commitment on transparency, in conjunction with sound governance and anticorruption, plays in the aid industry. Finally, this research aims at highlighting the effects of the failure by stakeholders to address the developmental aid problems associated with bad governance and corruption on aid management.

Monday, November 18, 2019

World Health Organization Ebola and Leishmaniasis Essay - 1

World Health Organization Ebola and Leishmaniasis - Essay Example 2, par. 2); least prevalent and least widespread is the Ebola, which since its discovery in 1976, has registered 1850 number of cases with 1200 deaths in Africa (Congo, Sudan, Uganda, Gabon), America (Virginia, Texas, and Pennsylvania) and Italy (WHO, Ebola haemorrhagic fever, sec. 8). These diseases are all acquired in an unclean environment, as they are caused either by bacteria, viruses, or parasites which live in unclean surroundings and thrive on humans and animals in order to reproduce (Zamora, par. 1). The causing organism for Ebola is ebola virus (WHO, Ebola haemorrhagic fever, sec. 1, par. 3), for Hepatitis B is hepatitis B virus (WHO, Hepatitis B, sec. 1, par. 1), and leishmaniasis is a protozoan parasite belonging to leishmania (WHO, Leishmaniasis, sec. 1, par. 2). These diseases spread easily primarily through person-to-person mode: Direct contact with the infected person’s blood, body fluids and secretions through unsafe injection practices, blood transfusion, sexual contact, and close interpersonal contact in the case of childhood infections. (WHO, Ebola haemorrhagic fever, sec. 5-6; WHO, Hepatitis B, sec. 5) These diseases are preventable by reducing harmful levels of these micro-organisms around the environment simply by having a clean environment to deny them a place to thrive in and by practising clean hygiene and sterilization to avoid transmission. However once infected, these infectious diseases are all dangerously harmful, especially so that except for Hepatitis B, there are no vaccines yet for Ebola and Leishmaniasis; worst, except for Leishmaniasis which can be treated with medicines called antimony-containing compounds (Dugdale, par. 9-10) and chronic Hepatitis B which can be treated with drugs, there are no specific treatment yet for Ebola and acute Hepatitis B (WHO, Ebola haemorrhagic fever, sec. 5, par. 2; WHO, Hepatitis B, sec.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Influences on American Politics

Influences on American Politics Question 1: What are the two major types of interest groups and examples of each? Which of these types of interest groups tend to be more powerful? Explain your choice. Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations. Selected Answer: In the United States there two main types of interest groups that actively work to influence public policy. The main differences between the two are how they are organized, funded, and what their main purposes are (Patterson, 2013). Economic groups are the most common, most funded and most influential. They are comprised of businesses, labor unions, professional organizations, and agricultural groups that seek public policy that provides monetary benefits to their members. The funding of economic interest groups comes from the members that willingly contribute money in hopes of receiving political influence and/or profit that only they will benefit from. An example of an economic group would be businesses. Business groups are the most influential of any special interest group and all large businesses lobby the government. Many smaller businesses band together to form associations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to promote their interests by seeking tax cuts, regulatory changes, and other pro-business benefits (Patterson, 2013). The second type of special interest group, citizens groups, is comprised of single issue groups that work toward a focused goal that they believe in. They fight for causes instead of economic or material gain and for the good of society as a whole (Patterson, 2013). Though the number of citizens groups as increased sharply over the years, the total number still lags behind that of economic groups. One of the main reasons for this is that citizens groups have not nearly the same access to funds that economic groups do. Citizens groups do not generate profits or fees from their daily activity and their only incentive for membership are ones that everyone can take advantage of, member or not. Because of this, many people take advantage of the benefits but do not pay for them. References Patterson, T. (2013).The American Democracy (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Question 2: How has the news media evolved from the nations founding to what it is today? Discuss the various functions the news media has in American society. How well do you feel the media carries out these functions? Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations. Selected Answer: The founding fathers felt that a free press was crucial to the health of a successful democracy. That is why they gave us the First Amendment protecting the rights of a free and unrestrained press. Some of our founding fathers were themselves involved with the printing of journalistic newspapers. They understood the importance of keeping the populace informed of the workings of their government. The first press and newspapers were initially closely associated with the days political parties and helped them muster public opinion (Patterson, 2013). This was partly done because without party support and/or subsidization, the newspapers would never have survived; the cost to purchase was prohibitory for the average citizen. The drawback to this was that the newspapers themselves very partisan in the information that they imparted. Eventually, as printing methods improved and the cost decreased newspaper moved away from such partisanship. The height of newspapers power came around 1890-1900; during this time, reporters and editors number one goal was to increase sales of their papers (Patterson, 2013). They did so by sensationalizing the news in order to drive up circulation. This period was termed yellow journalism and thankfully was relatively short-lived by the advent of a new style of reporting: objective journalism. Objective journalism emphasized fair and accurate information and accounts of events. This new approach to reporting was the method that began being taught at newly established journalistic universities and is what still governs the news reporting of todays traditional media. The newest form of media today comes in the form of radio talk shows, cable talk shows, and internet blogs. This type of media has made news more accessible than ever before and has greatly increased the choice viewers have to what they hear. The problem with these outlets, as Patterson points out in The American Democracy, however, is the many address information through a partisan lens. Talk radio is a growing format for political information but is often imparted in a conservative manner, internet blogs lean primarily liberal, and the cable new networks split evenly between the two ideologies. Regardless of the manner in which the information is disseminated, the media performs four basic functions (Patterson, 2013). First, is to act as a signal, alerting and communicating information on breaking events and news developments to the public. Second, is to act as a common carrier of information from political leaders to the general public. Medias third function is as a partisan advocate to influence public response to a particular party, leader, or issue. Lastly, the press acts as a watchdog to the government to expose deceitful and corrupt officials. In my personal opinion, the news media does carry out these functions fairly well. The problem lies in ensuring that, as a citizen, you listen to and pay attention to multiple news outlets in order to get the entire story, not one with a particular ideological bent. As they say There are three sides to every story, his, hers and the truth. References Patterson, T. (2013).The American Democracy (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Question 3: Discuss how the news audience has changed from the 1970s until now. Do you feel that Americans can still find unbiased news anywhere today? Why or why not? Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations. Selected Answer: News audiences have changed considerably since the 1970s. Though there is more diversity than ever, cable television and the internet now reign supreme for news information in the lives of the average American, while the daily newspapers and traditional broadcasters are losing audiences by the droves (Patterson, 2013) These new forms of media behave quite differently than the media of the baby-boomers and their parents. News was received in regulated segments, in the morning through your newspaper and then in the evening by the network news. It was all relatively similar as well, owning to the fact that they both received their stories from the same sources. The news reported was objective and fair with little political spin. People received the exact same message regardless of what their own ideology was; it is at that point that people form their opinions on issues. The emergence of cables 24-hour news cycle, political talk shows, and internet blogs, where information is handed out already with partisan spin has made it harder to get just the facts, and also makes it is easy for citizens to only receive their news through the specific ideological lens of their choosing. All of this is leading to more and more polarization in political society (Patterson, T. (2013). Another change that has occurred is an overall decline in consumers of media. Young adults are less likely than older ones to pay attention to any type of news and when they do, it is often from less than reputable sources like social media, a.k.a. Facebook. All of these factors combine to a current generation that is considerably less informed politically than prior generations. References Patterson, T. (2013).The American Democracy (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc Question 4: Do you feel that special interest groups have too much power in politics today? Why or why not? Do you think we should allow these interest groups to continue to function as they currently do? Why or why not? What do you think would happen to our nation if we did not allow interest groups to continue to operate? Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations. Selected Answer: Special interest groups are an important way for people to show support or discontent for governmental policies and are an effective way for the average citizen to influence politics. They help keep their members informed of the current political issues they identify with, make sure policies are carried out effectively, help organize member activities in a more focused manner, and some even offer its members legal representation in grievances against the government, However, in regards to our current political system, I feel that many have grown too powerful. For every case of a SIG promoting the common good, there are cases highlighting the corruption that has eroded the quality of our democratic process, generally through corruption. A good example of what interest groups can achieve is the NAACP brought and won the case of Brown vs The Board of Education of Topeka (NAACP, n.d.). While at the same time you have examples of SIGs buying influence such as when during the 1973 Watergate hearings it was revealed that the milk industry had donated money to President Nixons administration and to members of Congress in exchange for favorable decisions by the Department of Agriculture (Torres-Spelliscy, 2013). The issue comes down to political influence vs. political power. I, along with the vast majority of Americans (Gallup, 2011), feel that lobbyist groups have gone beyond just influencing politicians and politics, and have moved into the realm of over-whelming political power. References Gallup. (2011, April 11). Americans Decry Power of Lobbyists, Corporations, Banks, Feds. Retrieved March 20, 2017, from http://www.gallup.com/poll/147026/americans-decry-power-lobbyists-corporations-banks-feds.aspx milk industry had donated money to President Nixons administration NAACP Legal History. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2017, from http://www.naacp.org/legal-department/naacp-legal-history/ Patterson, T. (2013).The American Democracy (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc Torres-Spelliscy, C. (2013, October 21). Got Corruption? Nixons Milk Money. | Brennan Center for Justice. Retrieved March 20, 2017, from https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/got-corruption-nixon%E2%80%99s-milk-money

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Essay --

In Iris Murdoch’s â€Å"Morality and Religion† the author, an English novelist, makes many arguments that writers can either agree with or disagree. She talks about morality and religion and the philosophy behind the two. Murdoch’s main argument is whether there can be morality without religion. She asserts her view of morality and religion by defining religion, explaining the differences between the two while questioning both, and analyzing virtue and duty. By comparing and contrasting morality and religion she makes her view ambivalent and complex therefore letting her readers decide whether or not religion is necessary for morality. While some writers extend Murdoch’s claims other writers like Aristotle complicate her view of religion and morality. Iris Murdoch starts her argument by stating that â€Å"there is only one way to acquire religion and that is through being taught it as a small child† (363). She sees religion as something that can only be attained when one is a child. She then claims that â€Å"people who take up religion as adults are merely playing at it† (Murdoch 363). By stating this, the question of whether there can be morality without religion comes into mind. If religion is needed to have morals and religion can only be attained as children that would mean that adults who weren’t raised religious don’t have morals since they are only â€Å"playing at it†. But if religion doesn’t define whether people have morals then that shows how religion isn’t necessary for someone to be moral. Murdoch is basically stating that people who take up religion as adults don’t truly know the meaning of faith and religion yet that doesn’t necessarily mean they donâ⠂¬â„¢t have any morals. A writer that complicates Murdoch’s claim is Basil Mitchell, autho... ...iveness is important to religion and it is the duty of people to forgive in religion therefore there is a relationship between both. Murdoch separates religion and duty but Lauritzen complicates her view by explaining how duty comes from religion and forgiveness is an example of that. In Iris Murdoch’s â€Å"Morality and Religion† the author questions whether or not religion is necessary for morality. She is very ambivalent with her answer as she explains the similarities and differences between morality and religion but never specifically choosing one side. Many writers extend and complicate Murdoch’s arguments but only for readers to get a better understanding of both concepts. This is significant because it helps readers better understand morality and religion and they can decide for themselves whether religion is necessary for morality or if morality is just natural. Essay -- In Iris Murdoch’s â€Å"Morality and Religion† the author, an English novelist, makes many arguments that writers can either agree with or disagree. She talks about morality and religion and the philosophy behind the two. Murdoch’s main argument is whether there can be morality without religion. She asserts her view of morality and religion by defining religion, explaining the differences between the two while questioning both, and analyzing virtue and duty. By comparing and contrasting morality and religion she makes her view ambivalent and complex therefore letting her readers decide whether or not religion is necessary for morality. While some writers extend Murdoch’s claims other writers like Aristotle complicate her view of religion and morality. Iris Murdoch starts her argument by stating that â€Å"there is only one way to acquire religion and that is through being taught it as a small child† (363). She sees religion as something that can only be attained when one is a child. She then claims that â€Å"people who take up religion as adults are merely playing at it† (Murdoch 363). By stating this, the question of whether there can be morality without religion comes into mind. If religion is needed to have morals and religion can only be attained as children that would mean that adults who weren’t raised religious don’t have morals since they are only â€Å"playing at it†. But if religion doesn’t define whether people have morals then that shows how religion isn’t necessary for someone to be moral. Murdoch is basically stating that people who take up religion as adults don’t truly know the meaning of faith and religion yet that doesn’t necessarily mean they donâ⠂¬â„¢t have any morals. A writer that complicates Murdoch’s claim is Basil Mitchell, autho... ...iveness is important to religion and it is the duty of people to forgive in religion therefore there is a relationship between both. Murdoch separates religion and duty but Lauritzen complicates her view by explaining how duty comes from religion and forgiveness is an example of that. In Iris Murdoch’s â€Å"Morality and Religion† the author questions whether or not religion is necessary for morality. She is very ambivalent with her answer as she explains the similarities and differences between morality and religion but never specifically choosing one side. Many writers extend and complicate Murdoch’s arguments but only for readers to get a better understanding of both concepts. This is significant because it helps readers better understand morality and religion and they can decide for themselves whether religion is necessary for morality or if morality is just natural.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Evaluation of a multiprofessional community stroke team Essay

The study aims to conclusively evaluate how effective it is to employ a specialist community stroke team for the rehabilitation of stroke victims in a community based setting. This is clearly established at within the opening lines of the article. In the summary at the beginning of the article the author claims that the available evidence is inconclusive and his aim is to provide conclusive proof with regards to evidence based practise for the patient. A research article should state its’ aims clearly and should assume the audience has no previous background knowledge (Greenhalg, 2006). The literature reviewed in this article was from a variety of sources such as the Cochrane database and a selection of journal articles. On this basis the authors were able to deduce that previous research carried out provided contradicting reports. For example Roderick et al (2001) as cited by Lincoln et al (2004) found no significant difference in the effectiveness of rehabilitation which had taken place in the home to that which had occurred in a hospital setting. On the contrary Gladman et al (1993) as cited by Lincoln et al (2004) found a significant difference in a small group of younger patients. It was also suggested that there was a shift of focus from mainly hospital based rehabilitation to community based rehabilitation of stroke patients. According to Polger and Thomas (2008) a literature review should provide appropriate background information. That is, it should show the current knowledge level in that area of study. The author appears to have utilised much of his own previous work in the study and some are more than ten years old. This could possibly be an indication that indeed, there is a large gap in knowledge of this subject area. On the other hand it may indicate that the author has done a selective search of the literature. A quantitative approach was utilised in this study and the method used was a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT). The articles’ methodology was well documented. According to Sim and Wright (2000) an analytic study attempts to quantify the relationship between two factors, that is, the effect of an intervention or exposure on an outcome. A term used to describe the design randomized controlled trial according to Greenhalgh (2006) is Parallel group comparison. This is when each group receives a different treatment and both are entered into the experiment at the same time. By comparing the groups an analysis is provided. In the Lincoln et al (2004) study Participants were divided into two groups, A and B with the former receiving routine care while the latter received the intervention – rehabilitation with the multi-professional community stroke team. The question posed by the authors could have been answered using a qualitative approach. The question could possible state; Evaluation of a multiprofessional community stroke team: a phenomenological study. SAMPLE Altman (1991) states that a study should have enough participants recruited in order to detect a significant effect if one exists. The sample group consisted of patients referred to the Nottingham Community Stroke Team who had suffered a stroke within the last two years, who were over sixteen years old and needed intervention from more than one multidisciplinary team member. Patients who lived outside the geographical area and/or had been treated by the community stroke team in the preceding two years were excluded. Four hundred and twenty eight patients were randomly selected at the start of the trial and randomly allocated to either Group A or Group B. An error resulted in seven people being recruited twice. This error was corrected by including only the outcome of their initial recruitment when the results were being analyzed. The target population of this study is relatively clearly defined (patients who have had a stroke within last two years, over the age of sixteen, etc†¦ ) and lends credence to the external validity of the study (Payton, 1994). According to Sim and Wright (2000) the accessible population is the portion of the target population that is available to the researcher and the sample is then taken from this accessible population. The groups are similar to each other with regards to gender and age distribution; this also increases the validity of the study as this similarity reduces the variables of the study. The overall population was a convenience sample which was then randomized to two groups. Six months after randomization all the patients were sent a letter asking them to consent to being in a study to evaluate the input of a community stroke team. According to Lincoln et al (2004) the consent forms and outcome questionnaires were sent this late so as to reduce bias. It was thought that group A which was receiving routine care would have lower expectations if confronted with the realization that the alternate group may receive superior care. Some would possibly insist on being referred to the specialist community stroke team The Local Research Ethics Committee granted ethical approval for this study to go ahead. This indicates that the value of the research undertaken outweighed any harm that this consenting method may have caused as patients in Group A were still receiving routine care. However, the department of health has issued guidelines which state that participants must be consented and all pertinent information given prior to the start of any study. Data was collected via a questionnaire comprising of the Barthel Index, Extended ADL, General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12) and Euroquol. The participants were also asked to rate their knowledge of the expected extent of recovery from their stroke, and their overall satisfaction with the services they received from the community stroke team. The use of a questionnaire for data collection has both negative and positive aspects. Greenhalgh (2006) states that a questionnaire is an instrument used to measure human psychology, so whilst sending the questionnaire via post proves to be cost effective as the alternative would be to hold face to face interviews with the participants as focus groups or individually, it raises concerns about the reliability of the study. This is because the researcher is not present to interpret facial expressions and body language when the participants answer the questions. The alternative of conducting face to face interviews with such a large number of participants would prove to be costly and time consuming. However, according to Oppenheim (2003) long questionnaires are sometimes off putting and may generate low response rates, conducting these questionnaires via the postal service could possibly increase the likelihood of a low response rate. The results were shown as a table and diagram, the Mann-Whitney U-test which was used to compare the groups showed no significant differences on independence in personal or instrumental activities of daily living or on the patients’ mood. There was also no significant difference between the groups in their knowledge with regards to the resources available to assist them in adjusting to life after a stroke. There was also no difference between the two groups with overall satisfaction or in satisfaction with the practical helped received. However, patients in the Community Stroke Team were significantly more satisfied with the emotional care they received. (Lincoln et al, 2004) According to Wright et al (2009) the Mann-Whitney U-test is used when one group from the sample is larger than the other and when both samples are from the same population, as is the case with this study. There was no significant difference in carers’ mood between the two groups. However, the strain on carers of patients seen by the community stroke team was significantly less than that of carers of patients randomized to the routine care group. The carers of patients in the community stroke team group were significantly more satisfied with their knowledge of stroke and had higher overall satisfaction than the carers of those in the routine group. By utilizing the randomized controlled trial design the author lends credence to its validity as this design allows for the eradication of systematic bias. (Sim et al, 2000) This was done through the sampling process of selecting the participants from the target population and randomly allocating them to Group A which received routine care or Group B those in the care of the community stroke team. The collection of data by using a postal questionnaire helps to â€Å"blind† the researcher as he cannot influence the participants’ response. Although some participants did not respond to the questionnaire, others responded with incomplete forms, some died and a few were recruited twice, the author is cognizant of this and incorporates it into his findings. Crombie (2000) states that if the withdrawals and failures to respond can be seen as being consistent between both comparison groups then the results of the research will not be negatively impacted upon. This is because the results show that these failures are random among both groups and not specific to one. However one major fault is the fact that the services received by Group A were not collected due to impracticalities and unreliable recollections of the patients. Critical appraisal is not just an exercise in fault finding, it is the analysis of these faults and the assessment of their potential impact on the research which allows the reader to come to a decision regarding the strength or usefulness of the article being critiqued. In order for the research results to be utilized in clinical practice its’ reliability and validity are essential aspects which need to be covered. (Polger and Thomas, 2008) This article shows a research that was methodically sound and well designed. The sample was representative of the population being examined and attempts were made to minimize bias. The author was aware of the shortfalls of this research and attempted to incorporate this in his findings however, most of the issues identified did not affect the results of the study. The study if repeated would provide comparable results. However, the author states that the study provides evidence supporting the use of a community based stroke team to assist in the rehabilitation of stroke patients because of the increased emotional support for patients and greater satisfaction and reduced strain on carers. This statement would have been better justified on results from a qualitative study as this type of study aims to interpret people’s emotional and psychological response to the intervention or interventions being employed. The results from such a study would be closer to the patients’ and carers true feelings as the methodology behind that study would be different.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Coffee-The Supply Chain Essay

Nowadays, people use different methods of mass media to express their concern about which sources cause (the ) pollution, and which consequences will be lead from it. This essay will try TO FIND OUT ABOUT (learning) these causes and effects of the pollution. There are different sources, which badly affect our environment. Different kinds of car, trucks on THE street day by day not only cause (the) noise in cities, but also damage clean air. Industrial plants, factories throw into the air huge amountS of waste. Green forests in the past are being cut down for producing wood production or for new areas of land. Dirty water from living buildings/PEOPLE’S HOUSES, from industrial zones is soured/POURED directly into rivers. We now face different kinds of pollution: air, water, noise and lack of green areas. From THE reasons mentioned above, our environment is changing. The air become less clean than ever before, many people now wearing/WEAR maskS when THEY WALK IN THE STREETS going on streets. THE Temperature becomes higher, cities’ air/THE AIR IN CITIES becomes hotter, and water in oceans becomes warmer. Many old green forests are like a bald hill when looking/YOU SEE THEM from ANairplane. The effects cannot be good for the environment itself, as well as for the people. Floods are so dangerous, but they are now very popular/COMMON everywhere in the world and are mentioned daily on TV. At the same time, some green areas return into death/TURN BACK INTO DEAD deserts. Just only these things are capable to damage/OF DAMAGING our world. There are many efforts are begin held for environment protectionWHICH ARE BEING STARTED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. But there is one more important thing WHICH must be cared/CARRIED about: we must stop harmful to our /STOP CAUSING HARM TO THE EVIRONMENT BY OUR ACTIONSenvironment actions, before taking/MAKING any effort to protect it Nestlà © is a pioneer in purchasing coffee direct from growers. A growing percentage of the company’s coffee is bought direct from the producer and it is now one of the world’s largest direct purchasers. In countries where this is not possible Nestlà © operates in a way that takes it as close to the growers as possible. Nestlà © began its direct buying policy in 1986 and the amounts involved have steadily increased. In 1998, around 15 per cent of its green coffee purchases were bought directly. As an example, in the Philippines, farmers bring their produce to Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s buying centers situated in the coffee growing regions. Quality is analyzed while they wait and growers are paid on the spot. In 1998, direct purchases accounted for over 90 per cent of the green coffee destined for its two instant coffee factories in the country. Today, a jar of instant coffee can be found in 93 per cent of British homes and increasingly consumers are trying out different types of coffee, such as cappuccino, espresso, mocha and latte. The expanding consumer demand for product choice, quality and value has led to an increase in the coffees being made available to a discerning public. ‘Value’ is the way in which the consumer views an organization’s product in comparison with competitive offerings. So how does coffee get from growing on a tree perhaps 1,000m up a mountainside in Africa, Asia, Central or South America, to a cup of Nescafe in your home, and in millions of homes throughout the world? This case study explains why Nestlà © needs a first class supply chain, with high quality linkages from where the coffee is grown in the field, to the way in which it reaches the consumer. A supply chain is only as strong as its links. Different relationships exist between organizations involved in the separate stages of the chain – whether it is in the structuring of product distribution, arrangements for payment and arrangements for handling, or in storing the product. At the heart of these relationships is the way in which  people treat each other. Long-term business relationships need to be based on honesty and fairness – parties to a trading agreement need to feel that they are getting a fair deal. Creating wonderful cups of coffee is not only Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s business; it is the business of everyone involved in the supply chain. It is in everyone’s interest – the farmers’ and Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s – that farmers receive a fair income from their coffee. This ensures that they will continue to grow coffee, and to invest in increasing their yield and quality, and this in turn guarantees the supply of quality coffee which companies like Nestlà © require.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free Essays on Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky is the author of six symphonies and the finest and most popular operas in the Russian repertory. Tchaikovsky was also one of the founders of the school of Russian music. He was a brilliant composer with a creative imagination that helped his career throughout many years. He was completely attached to his art. His life and art were inseparably woven together. â€Å"I literally cannot live without working,† Tchaikovsky once wrote, â€Å"for as soon as one piece of work is finished and one would wish to relax, I desire to tackle some new work without delay.† The purpose of this paper is to give you a background concerning Tchaikovsky’s biography, as well as to discuss his various works of art. Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840 in Vatkinsk, a town about 600 miles east of Moscow. His father, Ilya Petrovich, earned a profitable living by working as a director in the metal working industry and as a mine inspector. His mother Alexandra was a bu sy housekeeper and mother of six, with Peter being the second oldest. Peter began his studies of music when he was just five years old. Music had became an important pastime to upper-middle class. It was only a short while before Peter’s talents began to shine. Peter, after taking some basic lessons, began to have a great feel for the piano. At the age of 10 he enrolled at a Russian boarding school called Jurisprudence in the town of St. Petersburg. There he would study the basic arts where he soon found a passion for music. Only four short years later Peter’s mother died in 1854. This tragic event, some say, sparked a great emotion in the young 14-year-olds life. His mother’s death had a lot to do with the drive and passion behind his music. This parting from his mother was quite a shock and very painful, because he and his mother were very close. The young Peter would enter a ministry of Justice as a clerk in 1859 (Mason 1). Tchaikovsky stayed there four years despite th... Free Essays on Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Free Essays on Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky is the author of six symphonies and the finest and most popular operas in the Russian repertory. Tchaikovsky was also one of the founders of the school of Russian music. He was a brilliant composer with a creative imagination that helped his career throughout many years. He was completely attached to his art. His life and art were inseparably woven together. â€Å"I literally cannot live without working,† Tchaikovsky once wrote, â€Å"for as soon as one piece of work is finished and one would wish to relax, I desire to tackle some new work without delay.† The purpose of this paper is to give you a background concerning Tchaikovsky’s biography, as well as to discuss his various works of art. Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840 in Vatkinsk, a town about 600 miles east of Moscow. His father, Ilya Petrovich, earned a profitable living by working as a director in the metal working industry and as a mine inspector. His mother Alexandra was a bu sy housekeeper and mother of six, with Peter being the second oldest. Peter began his studies of music when he was just five years old. Music had became an important pastime to upper-middle class. It was only a short while before Peter’s talents began to shine. Peter, after taking some basic lessons, began to have a great feel for the piano. At the age of 10 he enrolled at a Russian boarding school called Jurisprudence in the town of St. Petersburg. There he would study the basic arts where he soon found a passion for music. Only four short years later Peter’s mother died in 1854. This tragic event, some say, sparked a great emotion in the young 14-year-olds life. His mother’s death had a lot to do with the drive and passion behind his music. This parting from his mother was quite a shock and very painful, because he and his mother were very close. The young Peter would enter a ministry of Justice as a clerk in 1859 (Mason 1). Tchaikovsky stayed there four years despite th...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Argumentation with Rhetorical methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Argumentation with Rhetorical methods - Essay Example In an attempt, to have a clear understanding of this theme it is important to put into perspective various quandaries. First, considering if working in a dumpster is a solution for not working in a ‘sweatshop’ would be beneficial. Secondly, at the same time it is important to consider whether working in ‘sweatshops’ is a form of slave labor and lastly, if the improvement of ‘sweatshops’ would make them be accepted in society. Human rights organizations play a great role in giving shape in the matter of sweat shops. The organizations also ban governments from importing goods originating from factories with poor working conditions. Giving a shape to a problem is one thing and not giving a solution on it is a different thing. Talking out the government into stopping ‘sweatshops’ is possible, but stopping the people themselves from working in dangerous environments, without giving them an alternative is not possible. This is because individuals will take into slave labour as the only option. When dealing with this only two options take shape; make ‘sweatshops’ have favorable conditions for people to work in or let people face poverty due to their levels in society. As much as slave labor is inhuman, but with standards improvement of working conditions can lead to the acceptance of sweatshops. In an instance, where all ‘sweatshops’ are disguised as inhuman and shut down; and in another scenario, ‘sweatshops’ are provided with favorable working conditions, as a result, employment goes a notch higher. In the first scenario, poverty levels mostly in developing countries will by far increase. This is an interpretation of the fact that, even though, there are no poor working conditions, poor livelihoods are existent. In the second scenario, there will be good working conditions, in that the society will be alleviated out of poverty, and increased factory output from within the particular country. In this case study, I am

Saturday, November 2, 2019

European Union Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

European Union Law - Essay Example The French authorities wish to deport Derek and his family back to the Britain. Here it will be important to consider the rights of the European Union citizens though before doing that it is perhaps important to consider whether the actions complained of by the French authorities are legally objectionable, or otherwise. Does Derek or his family have the right to stay Is their right independent of each other's Are Derek and his wife to be considered as "workers" Naturally, it is the European Court of Justice (the ICJ) that has severally been called upon to apply its wisdom in cases where a party suspects that his rights have been violated, and those instances will no doubt be crucial in gauging the status of Derek and his family. It may be wise to recite the relevant the full provision here in order to be seized of its full implications. Thus Article 39EC of the Nice treaty provides;2 2.. 1. Freedom of movement for workers shall be secured within the Community. 2.. Such freedom of movement shall entail the abolition of any discrimination based on nationality between workers of the Member States as regards employment, remuneration and other conditions of work and employment. 3. It shall entail the right, subject to limitations justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public health: (a)to accept offers of employment actually made; (b) to move freely within the territory of Member States for this purpose; (c) to stay in a Member State for the purpose of employment in accordance with the provisions governing the employment of nationals of that State laid down by law, regulation or administrative action; (d) to remain in the territory of a Member State after having been employed in that State, subject to conditions which shall be embodied in implementing regulations to be drawn up by the Commission. A worker has been defined in the case of Lawrie-Blum V. Land Baden Wurttemberg as a person who for a time performs services for, or under a direction of another person, and receives remuneration in return.3 The ICJ has had to deal with cases where the rights of a migrant were considered. In the instant case, Hartley thinks that Article 39 on the freedom of movement of migrants is restricted in this aspect. A migrant has the right to cross borders once the offer is made before he leaves his country of origin, and as such, such migrant has no right to go to a member country to look for work4. This is premised on the fact that the Article 39 (3) (a) talks of "accepting offers of employment actually made." Thus I my advice to Derek is that his legal position as a migrant is already tenuous as he went to France to look for work. So unfortunately for Derek and his family, French authorities already have some legal ammunition they can use to deport the head of the family. For, Derek, the re prieve could come from a declaration made by the member states and recorded in the minutes meeting way back in 1968 that such migrants who crossed borders into other community member states could be allowed to stay for three months and if they have not been