Major Social Determinants Of Health - 1673 Words

Family Hardship This essay will use the Johnson family. The Johnson household includes a 35 year old single mother of a 15 year old son. Mother, Yvonne, completed a bachelor degree in the marketing field. Yvonne after graduation was unable to find a marketing job locally instead she works full-time as an administrative assistant for a larger company. Yvonne is currently unsatisfied with her position as she feels overworked, over qualified, and underappreciated at her current company. Yvonne’s 15 year old son, Randall is a grade 10 athletic, who had been accepted as a starting position on the high school baseball team. In-between school and extracurricular activities, has a part-time job. Randal’s have regular contact and visits with his father and step-mother as they live in a neighbourhood nearby. The health and well-being of the Johnson family has to do with economic and social conditions known as social determinants of health (Kozier et al., 2014, p. 132-133). This paper will discu ss three major social determinants of health that has affected the Johnson family which includes stress, and illness; employment and working conditions, and Health Services. The first social determinant of health that the Johnson family had to face was â€Å"stress, and illness†. Stress or rather then response to the stress can cause harmful effects on number of biological systems that can lead to illnesses. Stress can affect the personShow MoreRelateddeterminants of health Essay1371 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Health Promotion Essay- The Determinants of Health The determinants of health are economic and social conditions that affect people’s health status. These influence the living and working conditions that impacts people’s everyday living condition. Factors such as the place and the environment we live in, genetics, educational level or work status and income, as well as friends and family are some of the aspects that affects our health condition. On the other hand, the people that have an accessRead MoreDeterminants of Quality Healthcare1664 Words   |  7 PagesDeterminants of Quality Health Care Determinants 2 There are people from all walks of life in America. There are people of different races, cultures, different shapes and sizes and different ages. Sickness and disease can occur with anyone. A person’s lifestyle or who they are related to is just a couple of factors when it comes to what can make them sick. Not only can disease cause death but a person can even lose their life from a mere accident. The U.S. health care delivery system wasRead MoreThe Canadian Health Care System1306 Words   |  6 Pagesinternational practices, thus improvements are needed. More importantly, the Canadian health care system contains many different attributes and qualities differentiating it from any other system in the world. This can be seen when examining the systems’ orientation and design, and service delivery. Health inequalities is another impacting factor on our health care system, this becomes clear when examining Aboriginal people’s health. The Canadian healthcare system has been lagging behind other westernized countriesRead MoreSocial Determinants Of Health And How It Is And Will Further Effect Canadian Communities1183 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction This paper will discuss a particular social determinant of health and how it is and will further effect Canadian communities. The reason for this assignment is to critically examine the article â€Å"Confronting what makes us sick† by Ryan Meili that discusses the social determinants of health that tend to make Canadians sick, in the format of an analytic essay. The issue that is being argued is the inequality of rights among Canadians. The issue that will be the main source of multipleRead MoreThe Social Determinants Of Health1555 Words   |  7 Pagesthis contact decimated every aspect of the Indigenous way of life. The health and well-being of Indigenous people initiated to worsen severely not only in the physical aspect but also mental. According to National Household Survey conducted in 2011, 1,400,685 people have been identified as being a member of one of the Aboriginal groups within Canada. Within these Aboriginal groups, critical mental health issues such as major d epression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse disorder and post-traumaticRead MoreHealth Disparities Among African Americans893 Words   |  4 Pageshealthcare African-American men lack appropriate necessities when it comes to health care. Continuous efforts to bridge the gap among African American men with prostate cancer still remains high in the United States. Evidence shows how disproportionate this ethnic population leads in both incidence and mortality rate concerning social determinants of health, as well as health disparities. Major key factors that contribute to this health disparity among African Americans men are low socioeconomic status (SES)Read MoreThe Prevalence of Obesity in Industrialized Countries1060 Words   |  4 Pagesis also a major risk factor for obesity-related diseases, including non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2), coronary heart disease, hypertension, and various cancers. (Reidpath, 2002) This essay will examine the current state of obesity with a public health approach. Including social, cultural, environmental, individual and health service determinants. No, obesity is not just an individual problem the essay will outline how other factors including school environments, social-economic statusRead MoreSocial Determinants of Health Essay1139 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to the dictionary, the word health is â€Å"the state of being free from illness.† At a first glance, this defination seems to be very direct and simple, however the meaning of the word ‘health’ nowadays is much more complex. The above definition pretty much sums up our view of health in the first half of the 20th century. But over the past few decades, the definititon and concept of health has evolved to encompass more elements than just the physical well-being of a person. This is partlyRead MoreInfluenza Is A Serious Illness1291 Words   |  6 Pagesthat social determinants, such as income, education, occupation, social class, gender, race/ethnicity, may in fact be the root causes of many health outcomes. The World Health Organization defines social determinants of health as â€Å"conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, age, and the wider set of forces and systems† –including both economic and social policies and systems- that shape our daily lives and environment. 3 Although much of the research on social determinants of health hasRead MoreThe Social Determinants Of Health And Health898 Words   |  4 PagesMental health outcomes vary differently by socioeconomic location for women and men. It is important to critically analyze the various social locations that low-in come women living with mental health concerns are currently occupying. These women are occupying these social locations because of the structural inequities that they encounter in relation to their experiences with the social determinants of health. Explanatory frameworks are used to illustrate the relationship between the social determinants

Level 2 Essay - 1516 Words

UNIT 4222-264 THE PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL (ICO1/201) Outcome 1 understand roles and responsibilities in the prevention and control of infections 1.1 Explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection * To ensure that their own health and hygiene does not pose a risk to service users and colleagues. * To ensure effective hand washing is carried out when working with service users, giving personal care, handling/preparing food. * To ensure they use protective clothing provided when needed and appropriate. * Attend relevant courses * Report any hazards that could lead to infection 1.2 Explain employers†¦show more content†¦Employers are ethically bound to do all they can to ensure that employees do not suffer illness, serious injury or death. They are by law required to carry out risk assessments as any accidents and injuries occurred which have not been risk assessed could inflict significant costs on the company. Outcome 5 Understand the importance of using PPE in the prevention and control of infections 5.1 Demonstrate correct use of PPE * Have the responsibility to wear PPE appropriately to avoid contamination as far as possible 5.2 Describe different types of PPE * Gloves - protect hands * Aprons- protect skin and/or clothing * Goggles- protect eyes * Masks and respirators- protect mouth and respiratory tract from airborne infectious agents * Face shields- protect face, mouth, nose and eyes 5.3 explain the reasons for use of PPE * Personal Protective Equipment reduces, but does not completely eliminate the risk of acquiring or spreading an infection. It is important that it is used effectively and correctly. And at all times where contact with blood and body fluids of patients may occur. 5.4 State current relevant regulations and legislation relating to PPE * Employees are responsible to use PPE appropriately and as instructed by their employer. * Ensuring employees who store and handle dangerous substances are properly trained * Using appropriate precautions when handling substances, forShow MoreRelatedEssay Level 21468 Words   |  6 Pageshow it is used appropriately. There is no definite guide to the content of a first aid kit but as a guide you will expect to see: * 2 sterile eye pads * 20 individually wrapped sterile dressings * 4 individually wrapped triangular bandages * 6 safety pins * 6 medium sized and individually wrapped sterile and non-medicated wound dressings * 2 large sized and individually wrapped sterile and non-medicated wound dressings * At least 1 pair of disposable gloves * No tabletsRead MoreNvq Level 21583 Words   |  7 Pagesemployee has to wear PPE at all times when carrying out any personal care to help prevent any cross infection and to help prevent any. 2. Explain employer’s responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection. The employer is responsible for making sure all employees use PPE when it is required to help prevent and control infection Outcome 2. 1. Outline current legislation and regulatory body standards which are relevant to the prevention and control of infection. The healthRead MoreNvq Level 26498 Words   |  26 PagesUNIT 1 LEVEL 2 Introduction to Communicate in Health, Social care or children’s and young people’s settings 1. Give three reasons why people want to communicate. 1. People may want to communicate to express their wants or needs. 2. People may want to communicate to share their ideas or to teach others for example if i were taking a new carer out shadowing I would want to communicate effectively so i know I have done my best to let them know what and how to do the job. 3. PeopleRead MoreCounselling Concepts Level 21303 Words   |  6 PagesCOUNSELLING CONCEPTS LEVEL 2 ESSAY The decision to take this course was rooted in a deepening interest in psychotherapy, self–development, the welfare of other people and in a desire to gain a theoretical base to enrich my current arts and health practice. I understand counselling to be a helping practice that differs from other helping activities, such as teaching for example. Counselling requires professional training and is specifically contracted or explicitly agreed. It has a theoreticalRead MoreNCFE LEVEL 2 UNIT 2 Essay733 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿UNIT 2 1.1 My duties and responsibilities as a support worker are maintaining a high standard of care be it in personal hygiene, assistance with laundry and so on. Maintaining confidentiality and keeping records. Reporting immediately any incidents that may occur. Participating in courses that might help me improve my care. Being supportive and empathic towards everyone. 1.2 Maintaining trust and confidence in the patients by respecting the confidentiality norms. This is in protecting the rightsRead MoreEquaity and Diversity Level 2 Unit 21641 Words   |  7 PagesUnit 2 Assessment Hi Henry Well done! You have made a great start to this unit however some of your answers need to be amended and I have highlighted these for you. Could you please make the amendments, remove my highlighted text, proof read and spell check your work and re-submit this unit by 19/10/15. Don’t forget to keep updating your learner tracking sheet with the dates and times you have spent working on this unit as you will need to send me this completed document when you haveRead MoreUnit 1 Level 2926 Words   |  4 Pagesyou need to adjust your communication methods. Also it is important so that you can recognise any communication barriers such as language difficulties, hearing difficulties, visual impairments any physical difficulties affecting your communication. 2. Be able to meet the communication and language needs, wishes and preferences of individuals. 2.1 Find out an individual’s communication and language needs, wishes and preferences: You need to make sure that you are able to communicate with the peopleRead MoreCustomer Service Level 21009 Words   |  5 Pagesbelow with a description of the products and services for at least two commercial organisations, public organisations and third sector organisations. Please ensure you provide a description for each organisation, rather than a list. ï ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼Ã¯ ¿ ¼ 2. Complete the table below by describing the differences in customer service between commercial, public and third sector organisations. You should outline customer service roles in each organisation and highlight the differences in how customer serviceRead MoreEssay on NVQ level 25394 Words   |  22 Pageslevel 2 err worksheet ERR Unit Question 1 – List the aspects of employment covered by law (1.1.1) The law in the UK covers the following aspects of employment – †¢ National minimum wage †¢ Hours worked †¢ Discrimination †¢ Health and safety (work conditions) †¢ Holiday entitlements †¢ Redundancy and dismissal †¢ Training †¢ Disciplinary procedures Question 2- List the main features of current employment legislation (1.1.2) The main features of current employment legislation are: †¢ EmploymentRead MoreErr for Level 2 Childcare2526 Words   |  11 Pagesholidays. Company policies and procedures, this section explains that I will comply with the companies policies and procedures and those copies have been made available. training, this section explains that all employees are expected to train to the level of their job role, and need to hold several certificates within the first 6 months of employment.confidentiality, in this section it explains that I shall not during or after my employment disclose any information about the company or its clients.

Friendship for Concern - Trust and Respect -myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theFriendship for Concern,Trust and Respect. Answer: Humans are social animals. From the primitive times they prefer the living in groups. This led to the origin of tribes, colonies and societies. The gregarious nature of man served as a constructive support in hunting and for protecting their tribes. Since no man is self-sufficient on an individual level therefore he frequently requires someone to complement or supplement his strengths or to overcome his weakness. In other words, man needs society for his existence and welfare. In groups the work can be allocated as smaller tasks amongst members according to respective strengths. This task allocation is a strength multiplier which gives rewards. The existence in groups is only possible in friendly way. It is hence friendship that makes the building block of group bonding on larger level. While group is bigger block involving two or more person. Friendship is smaller group of two person. Friendship is characterized as relationship of common companionship among individuals. It involves a feeling of concern, trust and respect. A friend is hence an associate who is known, and liked and one who can be trusted. Theoretically, friends can be found in animals also but friendship in general implies friendship between two humans. Considering the level of bond associated, the friendship can exist at various levels from mere acquaintance to soul mate. The first can be acquaintances which are people we meet in our daily routine such as in school or locality or clubs or customers. These are basic level of friendship where we know little details of person and mostly meet with smile. There is another category of friends which is friends for gains. There is yet another category which should not be included as friendship but is sometimes erroneously done. This includes fair whether friends i.e. friends only till good times. These are strictly speaking not friends as friend is one who is friend in need and friend in deed. (Chopra, 2015) Another level of friendship can be play pal (or work pal) where we know more about person and our bonds are little deeper. The third level of friendship can be as mentor (or student) where we love to handhold someone. The topmost category of friendship is soul mate where one friend understands another friend as back of ones palm and he considers his soul mate as his very own self. The friends fulfill various needs which can be sharing of thoughts, supporting in game or endeavor, for relaxation and humor, for empathy, for encouragement, for fighting a common enemy or for protecting (watching back) etc. No wonder an average person can have over 150+ acquaintances. However, a person on average has close friends ranging between one to nine (with maximum people having close friends numbering three to five). The Facebook (social media) friends can be still higher at 300+. The numbers can vary from person to person. There is an idiom which says that road to a friends house is never long. Even if there are geographical divides, one would always find reason and ways to reach his friends. Because it is with our friends that we enjoy our smallest of happiness in the biggest ways. Friends amplify our happiness and lessen our miseries. (Kadu, n.d.) Friendship may arise because of similar likings (such as likings for particular sports or music or topic of discussion). However, friendship can very well exist amongst persons with different likings / preferences. Friendship is known to have existed even amongst people of different ethnicities a having different languages. History has instances of strong friendship amongst kings and paupers. Scientific studies have confirmed that when a person is in company of friends (also validated on monkeys in company of monkeys) endorphins were activated in brain. Experiments have shown that this enabled person to withstand higher level of pains. During experiments the pain was inflicted by asking person to keep her hand in ice bucket and duration for which she could withstand the hand in ice bucket was noted and taken as her power to bear pain. After a shared period of laughter with friends the capacity (duration) to hold hand in bucket increased. Hence, it is scientifically established that being with friends has positive physiological effects on persons. Some people can find friend in themselves and they may not require any external friends but such cases who find fulfillment amongst themselves are exceptions / rarity. Friendship bonds can turn better or worse over time with experience / inter relation. Care, trust, respect, selflessness etc. helps the friendship to grow while show of disrespect, vanity, selfishness etc. are detrimental to friendship. Friends have been known to have taken bullet for friends, while the biggest betrayals are also attributed to friends as these friends know the insider details. Friendship can be found in every nook and corner of the world but no two friendships are alike. Every friendship is completely different experience which cannot be replicated anywhere else in globe. (Chopra, 2015) A man is known for the company he keeps. Friends therefore should be carefully chosen. They should not be source of our downfall. They should not be source of negative energy or encouragement for our wrong acts. Friendship teaches you, shapes you and forms you. Friendships have direct impact on our development and choices we make. Friendship cannot work without trust. The trusts however should not be blind. At the same time friendship for pure material gains is not friendship. The base or root of friendship lies is selflessness, mutual enjoyment and support. Friendship may be earthly or divine but nevertheless the friendship adds hues to the life. Life without friendships is colorless. (Kadu, n.d.) With expansion of social networking (such as Facebook) the friendship levels are witnessing marginal but apparent shift. Social pressures are increasing and so are number of masked friends. This is another category which I would not like to treat within the definition of friends. For me the friends are ones with whom one can go on journeys and trips, with comfort of head and heart. Friend is one who will not do anything to hurt me or my feelings and would bring out best in me. He would support me in public and in private. My friends family is also my family. A friend is as good as family if not better in some ways. He is a gift that we choose to accept. References Chopra, A. (2015, May 27). Essay on True Friendship. Retrieved from Important India: https://www.importantindia.com/15481/essay-on-true-friendship/ Kadu, D. (n.d.). Friendship. Retrieved from Share your Essays: https://www.shareyouressays.com/13638/write-a-short-essay-on-friendship

What Makes Me a Skilled Internet Researcher an Example of the Topic Personal Essays by

What Makes Me a Skilled Internet Researcher? There is the undeniable fact that today's generation is well acquainted with the technology brought by the continuous developments in the field of technology and inventions. Today's generation or the so-called Generation Y lived in a society where information could readily be accessed. As such, facts and data could be easily obtained through the use of modern, high-tech tools. Need essay sample on "What Makes Me a Skilled Internet Researcher?" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed The invention of the internet is truly beneficial to mankind. It provides people with tools that are very useful and fun including games for recreational and relaxation purposes; as a communication tool which allows people to get acquainted with long distance friends and colleagues; and as a means of purchasing things online which saves more time for busy people (Children and the Internet, 2007). The familiarity of children on using the computer and exploring the diverse content of the internet is beneficial for them in working with their projects and homeworks. These benefits highly contribute in the improvement of the children's cognitive development and personal growth. College Students Frequently Tell EssayLab professionals: I'm don't want to write my paper. Because I don't have the time Professional writers suggest: Winning Academic Essay Writing Delivered On Time Buy College Papers Online Get Paid To Write Essays For Students Top Essay Writing College Essay Writing Service As such, people must learn to maximize the benefits of the internet especially its research benefits. Being a skilled internet researcher will be beneficial by becoming an expert or even knowledgeable on internet research (Delaney, 2001). Personally, I may be an average internet user because I really do not know very well the complex world of the internet. However, I view myself as capable of researching the internet for valuable and reliable facts amidst all the information that can be found in the World Wide Web. When looking for credible information on the web, I search for URLs ending with .org, .edu or .gov. These are the sites that most likely post reliable and accurate information. I also employ various search strategies such as the plus and minus signs affixed on my search keywords. This strategy helps to look for particular information or to either broaden or limit my search. References Children and the Internet. (2007, September 6). Parenting and Child Health. Retrieved March 6, 2009, from http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=301&id=1596. Delaney, S. (2001). Electronic Legal Research: An Integrated Approach. Albany, NY: Cengage Learning.

Mergers and acquisition

Mergers and acquisition Outline the economic arguments for and against British Home Stores (BHS) taking over Arcadia?British Home Stores has grown from a single store in South London to a multinational retail company with a major presence both in the UK and later on in overseas clothing markets. In 1986 they merged with Habitat/Mothercare to form Storehouse plc. Then in May 2000, Philip Green bought Bhs from the Storehouse Group. Green has been successful so far and has managed to turn the business around and increased the value of the business from 0m to an estimated 0m and raise operating profits by 257 percent. After a failed attempt to takeover Marks Spencer earlier this year Green continued his ambition to expand his empire by moving in to takeover the Arcadia group which has a large portfolio of brands including Topman/Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Evans. The deal would complete a horizontal takeover and, through external growth, create the biggest fashion retail group in the U.K.English: Marks and Spencer store, Birmingham High ...A combination of Bhs and the Arcadia, the UK's second largest retailer after Marks Spencer, would catapult Green's retail empire into pole position in the womenswear market, taking its share to 12.9%, ahead of Marks Spencer's 12.1%. This would in turn increase the buying power of the company and leave Green in a position to take control of the fashion market sector. With these points in mind there are both economic arguments for and against the takeover that I will evaluate and explain. Firstly it can be argued that the takeover will bring a number of benefits to the economy in both the short and long run however there are sometimes trade offs which, will lead to an economic argument against the takeover.Mr Green and Bhs will argue that the...

Writing to Your Reader

Writing to Your Reader Would you consider giving a speech to a group without first knowing who they were and what they expected from you? The same logic applies to the written word, from resumes and cover letters to romance novels and sales brochures.While oral presentations have the added benefit of facial expressions, hand gestures, listener feedback and even visual aids, written communications must rely solely on their words for the desired response or effect. For that reason, the most important research you must obtain for everything you write is the information about your audience.Whether the subject of your document is of your own choosing or a scholastic assignment, before you put pen to paper, you must first ascertain the purpose of your communication and the identity of your reader(s) by finding answers to as many of the following questions as possible:Is your audience primarily male or female? This is important in your choice of words and phrases, imparting feelings or opinions, drawing conclusio ns, etc., as depending upon your topic and your purpose, you might elicit more positive responses if your document is tailored toward one sex or the other.What native nationality is your audience? As an example, if you are writing in English as your second language to a group that is primarily English-speaking, you should definitely have an English-speaking associate review your document.What is the age group? From childrens books to advertisements for denture adhesive, always determine the probable age of your major audience so that your words are read, not ignored or discounted as either too difficult to understand or too childish.What is the average annual income? Even a guess will help you determine word choices, tone, and possibly subject matter if you know whether you are writing to college students on a limited budget or to business executives who fly First Class and drive a Mercedes.Are you writing to please, persuade, or inform your reader(s)? Your purpose may change depend ing upon your audience, but you should always begin your writing with an idea of what you want to accomplish based on the identity of your reader(s).Under what conditions will your document be read (i.e., at home, in a classroom, in a magazine or newspaper)? The length and content of your writing may depend on where you expect your audience to be when they read your document. A casual setting like the kitchen table lends itself to more casual wording and more detail, while a teacher may have many papers to read and may be looking for immediate positive or negative reasons for a grade.Does your reader want to read your document? You must determine if your audience is looking forward to reading your document (i.e., someone buying your novel), and if it is a requirement or necessity (i.e., a teacher grading your essay or a consumer looking for a low price).What response do you expect (i.e., a good grade, the sale of a product, a phone call)? No matter what you are writing - advertisin g copy, a short story, a personal statement, an essay - always keep in mind the end result you expect, and when you read your final draft, ask yourself, If I were my audience, would I respond as intended?Knowing your reader(s) actually makes writing easier, forcing you to focus rather than just throw words on a page, and ensuring that your final document has a much better chance of succeeding for any purpose. Before you begin to write, take a few minutes to explore your readers mind and environment; youll discover that your written communications will be better organized, more interesting and well-received.

Assessment Action Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Assessment Action Plan - Assignment Example To ensure the success of the Software Upgradation Project, it is important to partner with the best consultants in the Industry that have successfully implemented projects pertaining to migration from old versions of Windows to Windows Vista and from old versions of Word to Word 2007. It is understood that any software will never be 100% complete from the perspective of the Business Requirement Specifications and also the Word 2007 Application will serve as the lifeline of the business post implementation the way the current versions of Word are critical to business. The selected consultant is expected to have a sound track record, an experienced implementation & customization team, and a sound Project Management methodology. In order to assess if the consultants have genuinely worked upon such migration projects in the past, the following shall be verified: The process of verification shall be called the "Desktop Review". Overall such documents and records would be requested for verifications only and then returned back after the convincing exercise is completed. These documents & records are their intellectual properties and hence shall not be retained. The objective is to carry out an in-depth convincing exercise. ... (d) Does the consultant possess adequate documents & records that can be showcased to verify the in-house R&D efforts to build internal expertise and competencies The process of verification shall be called the "Desktop Review". Overall such documents and records would be requested for verifications only and then returned back after the convincing exercise is completed. These documents & records are their intellectual properties and hence shall not be retained. The objective is to carry out an in-depth convincing exercise. In addition to verifying these documents about the consultants, we plan to speak to the customer references provided by the consultants using a questionnaire. The consultants are expected to present a clear plan on what requirements are already mapped with their current competencies/track record and how the rest would be fulfilled. It is important to clearly identify the areas where a feasibility of implementation doesn't exist. The project management team of the consultant is expected to have adequate experience in bringing to table these finer details to enable the internal project committee to verify the acceptance by going back to the business requirement specifications and analyze the impacts on business of the infeasibility of certain requirements which cannot be met by the consultants. Detailed Assessment Action Plan: Before a contract is awarded to the final selected consultant, a number of parameters pertaining to the consultant and their competencies shall be evaluated. It is hereby proposed that the Project Committee would list down all parameters that can influence the decision, assign a weighting to each

Ways To Increase Return On Assets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ways To Increase Return On Assets - Essay Example Since both sets of figures show similarity in the total expenses at  £15,400 each, although Set B fails to present the break down of the expenses, then using the said expenses as criterion could not be deemed to indicate a material difference for purposes of inferring which of the two would or would not show a true and fair value. It is, therefore, the matter of the closing stock that will settle the issue of which set does or does not present a true and fair view since it is in the value of the closing where the two sets of figures materially differ. By taking the difference of  £14,000 and  £10,000, one will get a difference of  £4,000 which represents about 40% and which could be now considered by auditors as material misstatement in the financial statement. As to why it affects materially the financial statements will be seen in the income statement and the balance sheet. The income statement is affected because closing stock or inventory takes the nature of revenues in t he income statement as will be explained later. The balance sheet is also affected because the closing stock is part of the current assets and total assets which are parts the computation of liquidity using current ratio and the profitability using the return on assets. Since it affects the net income, the other ratios where net income is used will also be affected.  As to how the material misstatement will affect the profitability ratios may be illustrated as follows: First, the closing stock is important in the computation of gross profit ratio (GPR) which is computed by dividing gross profit by the total sales. It must be noted that the closing stock affects the value of the cost of sales to be deducted from total sales to arrive at the gross profit.

The Relationship between Working Parents and Children Socialization Essay Example for Free

The Relationship between Working Parents and Children Socialization Essay First Part The Problem of the Study and its Importance The importance of this study arises from its subject socialization, which hardly reflects many social, cultural and political problems that any society may live at any stage of its history, where during socialization process transferring the values and norms of society in which he wished planted in the hearts of its citizens to preserve the entity and deal with its problems. About Kuwaiti society it seems more important in this period of its history, which saw open to the world cultures out side Kuwaiti state and seek with global problems, that period also increased the degree of urbanization and complexity in the social systems that simple traditional Arab society, which was based on direct relations and Layout and tribal system, but now they have become the socialization process more difficult and complex and become dangerous, because women left for work and hiring nannies foreigners in the upbringing of children, which led to the shrinking role of the family in the process of generations socialization. The family is the first and the largest social institution that carry responsibility is rearing generations, but unique in some stages of its history. The family is the social association consists of a husband, wife and children or without children. may also consist of the husband alone with a children or wife alone, with their children. The family has expanded to include grandparents, and some relatives to be involved in one living with the husband and wife and children (Ogburn Nimkoff, 1995). The family may be defined as the smallest, organized, and most basic durable network of survival (Stackm 1996, P.31) we define family as any group of people related either biologically, emotionally, or legally. That is, the group of people that the patient defines as significant for his or her well-being (McDaniel et al., 2005, P.2). As the social environment in which the child relates to outside world, and responsible for giving the child attributes and characteristics of his personality and the styles parents in the upbringing consequent results reflected in the extremely important on the personality of children as well as the type of relationship that grows between parents and children and how the transaction is a significant factor included in the formation of the childs personality. (CM. Felming 1999, P26). The family is the first social unit, which carry the responsibility of upbringing children and trying to provide them with characteristics and attributes that help them to be good citizens in society, as well as prepare them socially to be able to confront live conditions and have the ability to face the problems met during their daily lives, also the family permissive atmosphere may satisfy children emotional needs, because if the child feel safe and trust in the family , it makes him adjustment with their people around him. The socialization process of preparing the individual from birth, to be a social and a member in society. The family is the first environment responsible this preparation by receiving child, learn him social behavior and learn native language and cultural heritage as customs, traditions, social traditions and take, it seems resistance to these specifications and values in the same ones arise as a viable member of society and the family in this would hardly have an environment in which the other. Young humans are the most helpless of all creatures: unable to feed themselves, walk, and talk for many months, and not fully independent for many years. Young children have the biological potential to learn human skills, but they cannot do so alone. The few known cases of children reared in isolation – children who survived with absolute minimum care – indicate that humans cannot even learn to walk without social contact.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The nature of early human interaction was of particular interest to the American Sociologists Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead, Cooley developed the concept of the â€Å"looking-glass-self† – the idea that we develop individual identity by how others see us, Mead elaborated on this idea with his notion of significant others – people whose judgments are important to us. Children first shape their behavior according to norms enforced by significant others. In time, they obey guidelines on their own. They have developed a conscience through a process that sociologists call internalization. Human learn the ways of the society from agents of socialization. The most important of these in a child’s early years is the family. Through it, the child acquires the first statuses and rules (son or daughter, brother or sister) and learns basic values and norms. (for instance – sex role socialization – the different behaviors expected of male and female). At an early age, at least, a child is also exposed to other agents – television. While tv entertains and communicates knowledge, it also imparts values such as competitiveness and violence as a solution to problems. Communities are different like social and educational institutions in the path taken by the methods and means of the practice of socialization of its members in an attempt to preserve its existence and transfer of their culture and their heritage to future generations, and families are different in the educational methods and ways of socialization, which parents deals with their children in the daily situations of for controlling their behavior and orientation and acquisition of the desired behavioral patterns derived from religion, language, values, traditions and knowledge of parents, and this difference is due to several factors, some of them related to parents themselves the educational and cultural level and the level of economic and social status of the family and other factors related to the construction of culture and circumstances of the family addition the parents acquired during their childhood and their educational and life experience, as well as the conditions of society itself and the degree of urbanization faced by the goals it seeks to achieve. The changes that have taken place in Arab Society in General and Kuwaiti society in particular led to the effects of direct and indirect on socialization process which, the Kuwaiti society is a homogeneous society has cultural identity and religious and nationality Kuwaiti society affected by global changes and the culture of the neighboring States, both in patterns Conduct or social practices, which led to changes in methods of socialization for social change undergone by the community must be taken into account in the study of socialization trying to understand the methods and the associated problems where family relations in general is linked to culture and prevailing conditions of society, so a social studies confirm a change in the pattern of relations prevailing in the Arab society in general and in particular the Gulf society and the Saudi society as one of the society that have undergone a period of rapid economic and social change over the past decades, what to call the peri od of economic boom. These socioecomic changes included cultural changes, including family pattern of dealing in particular with regard to the authority of the father in the family, which led to some sort of disagreement among some families in terms of decision-making in many things related to children. (Abd El Aziz El Shatry, 2004. P12).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Socialization is a learning process that begins shortly after birth.   Early childhood is the period of the most intense and the most crucial socialization.   It is then that we acquire language and learn the fundamentals of our culture.   It is also when much of our personality takes shape.   However, we continue to be socialized throughout our lives.   As we age, we enter new statuses  and need to learn the appropriate roles  for them.   We also have experiences that teach us lessons and potentially lead us to alter our expectations, beliefs, and personality.   For instance, the experience of being raped is likely to cause a woman to be distrustful of others. http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Looking around the world, we see that different cultures use different techniques to socialize their children.   There are two broad types of teaching methodsformal and informal.  Ã‚  Formal education  is what primarily happens in a classroom.   It usually is structured, controlled, and directed primarily by adult teachers who are professional knowers.   In contrast,  informal education  can occur anywhere.   It involves imitation of what others do and say as well as experimentation and repetitive practice of basic skills.   This is what happens when children role-play adult interactions in their games. http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Most of the crucial early socialization throughout the world is done informally under the supervision of women and girls.   Initially, mothers and their female relatives are primarily responsible for socialization.   Later, when children enter the lower school grades, they are usually under the control of women teachers.   In North America and some other industrialized nations, baby-sitters are most often teenage girls who live in the neighborhood.   In other societies, they are likely to be older sisters or grandmothers. http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   During the 1950s, Margaret Mead led an extensive field study of early socialization practices in six different societies.   They were the Gusii  Ã‚  of Kenya, the Rajputs  Ã‚  of India, the village of Taira  Ã‚  on the island of Okinawa in Japan, the Tarong  Ã‚  of the Philippines, the Mixteca  Ã‚  Indians of  central Mexico, and a New England community that was given the pseudonym Orchardtown.   All of these societies shared in common the fact that they were relatively homogeneous culturally.   Two general conclusions emerged from this study.   First, socialization practices varied markedly from society to society.    Second, the socialization practices were generally similar among people of the same society.   This is not surprising since people from the same culture and community are likely to share core values and perceptions.   In addition, we generally socialize our children in much the same way that our parents socialized us.   Margaret Mead and her fellow researchers found that different methods were used to control children in these six societies.   For instance, the Gusii primarily used fear and physical punishment.   In contrast, the people of Taira used parental praise and the threat of withholding praise.   The Tarong mainly relied on teasing and scaring. http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm As the shift from extended family to nuclear family in Kuwaiti society to maximize family responsibility of the couple, house wife, who become people to become directly responsible for the care of all the affairs, which doubled because of increasing demands of modern life and the consequent accumulation of burdens also economic and social changes in Kuwaiti society and increasing opportunities for education and awareness among women led to participate in bearing the burden of living life by coming to work. Increasing women coming to work led to a change of roles within the family and led to the women to do anther works and roles, which impact on the care and socialization of children. The woman going out to work has important implications for building family. Human infants are born in our world without any culture, tradition or religion.   They must be transformed by their parents, teachers, and others into cultural and socially adept animals.   The general process of acquiring culture is referred to as  socialization.   During socialization, we learn the language of the culture  we are born into as well as the roles we are to play in life.   For instance, girls learn how to be daughters, sisters, friends, wives, and mothers.   In addition, they learn about the occupational roles that their society has in store for them. We also learn and usually adopt our cultures norms  through the socialization process.  Ã‚  Norms  are the conceptions of appropriate and expected behavior that are held by most members of the society.   While socialization refers to the general process of acquiring culture, anthropologists use the term  enculturation  Ã‚  for the process of being socialized to a particular culture.   You were enculturated to your specific culture by your parents and the other people who raised you. http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm Socialization is important in the process of personality  formation.   While much of human personality is the result of our genes, the socialization process can mold it in particular directions by encouraging specific beliefs and attitudes as well as selectively providing experiences.   These very likely accounts for much of the difference between the common personality types in one society which is in comparison to one another.   For instance, the Semai  tribesmen of the central Malay Peninsula of Malaysia typically are gentle people who do not like violent, aggressive individuals.   In fact, they avoid them whenever possible. In contrast, the Yanomamà ¶Ã‚  Indians on the border area between Venezuela and Brazil usually train their boys to be tough and aggressive.   The ideal Yanomamà ¶ man does not shrink from violence and strong emotions.   In fact, he seeks them out.   Likewise, Shiite Muslim men of Iran are expected at times to publicly express their religious faith through the emotionally powerful act of self-inflicted pain. http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even try to make appropriate and balance between working inside and outside the family including the following: Womens work leads to a redistribution of roles within the family and its profound impact on husband and wife psychology as well as its impact on children. Often accompanied by womens employment and redistribution of roles within the family conflict in these roles, which is reflected negatively children social up brining who leave and the woman going out to work where their ambitions in education and desire to occupy the highest positions from the point of her desire to marriage and independence the second makes it confuse two different things so that one at the expense of the other spouse publicized that the family unit is losing its essential component and thus begin differences that lead to conflict. Womens work may lead to increase the divorce rate and complains the courts due to marital troubles and problems, which could be seen as a result of disagreement between traditional values that put in the hands of men influence power and authority the new circumstances that opens new horizons for women. Accompanied of womens employment some problems as crime and juvenile delinquent as due to children left for domestic and nannies to care weaken social upbringing. Weaken values and religious values in addition to the effective of control of the parents of children with a sense of vacuum, all that highlights the social problems that lead children to deviance (Rafaat Besher, 2003, P.24). As the women employment in Kuwaiti state, and in the absence of sufficient nurseries have qualified supervision, as well as the economic boom, led to the hiring nannies and servants who carry out social service and welfare of children and their development and it is further bad that these nurses and workers from foreign countries differ culture, customs, traditions and the culture of healthy habits and the Kuwaiti society which has had a negative effect, including. (Ministry Of Working And Social Affairs, 1983, P60). Feeling of alienation and loss of children due to parental negligence. Lack of strong correlation and ties with one or both parents. Distribution of children between parents and nannies. Conflicting methods of socialization. Wide spreading of western social values which are different from the Kuwaiti values. Exposure to educational methods wrong. Impact the natural language acquisition and false information. The effects of foreign nannies seem in spreading of many of the practices and habits of Western society, which negatively affects the behavior patterns prevailing. Newspapers have several and numerous ethical and behavioral problems that occurred and practiced by servants and nannies and their impact on the upbringing of children (Refaat Bacheer, 2003, P. 243). Second Part Objectives of the study and its purposes The present study aims at identify the nature of socialization process and important techniques and methods of socialization that used by the family with working woman and other without working woman, also identifying factors effect on the nature of socialization. Purposes of the study 1- Identifying techniques and methods of socialization that was used by Kuwait families with their children. 2- Disclosure of the great differences between socialization techniques and methods of families with working woman and others without working woman. 3- The impact of the use of foreign nannies on the socialization of Kuwaiti child. 4- Identifying the affected factors on socialization process of Kuwait child. Third Part Questions of the Study What are the techniques and methods of socialization used by Kuwaiti family with children? and is there any different between these techniques and methods in both families with working woman and other without working woman ? What is the impact of using foreign nannies on socialization process for Kuwaiti child ? What is the impact of working woman on socialization process for Kuwaiti child? What are the main factors that affect a child’s socialization process in Kuwait? Fourth part Methodology of the Study   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The present study concerns with collecting data by using multi approaches through literature review related to the study problem,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Interview, social survey by sample way, schedule for two samples of families one of them includes working woman while other without working woman. In the following, the researcher will address, in detail, the study methodology : Literature review : The first step to conduct the present study is to shed light on literature review related to the study subject whether it focuses on socialization process or focuses on working woman in the Arab Gulf societies in general and in particular in Kuwaiti society. This part literature review will form and help the quality and design the study methodology. Family survey and interviews: The present study depends on social survey method to answer the study questions and to achieve its goals, also social survey may aims at identifying techniques and methods used by Kuwaiti families to social up bringing their children. Also the effect of using foreign nannies on socialization process for children. Social survey also will provide with information and experiences about these subjects, and describe the current situation, design plan or program for social reform. Finally it helps to understand the study problem and factors caused it (Robert Barker , 1999, P, 32) Sample: The researcher will select about (200) family to conduct the present study from Kuwaiti society, (100) of them has working woman and (100) family has non working woman. Sample of working wives work in the Ministry of Educational , the researcher will select similar sample taking in considerations the following variables : Disclosure of the great differences of families with working woman and the other families without working woman. Duration of the marriage is not less than 15 years. The existence of children, so the family should consists of not less than (3) children and their aged not les than (12) years. Data collectors The researcher will collect data by himself; he will meet families by using schedule interview. Data collection instruments: Questionnaires Recorder Handouts and Guides The schedule of Interview It consists of: Primary data Techniques and methods used by families in bringing up their children. The impact of working woman in socialization of their children Family suggestions to meet social problems due to working woman. Data Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Data analysis will use quantitative analysis of certain transactions transact   such as statistical ratio / middle / standard deviations , K2 / correlations, as well as qualitative analysis of the study data. The first and most important consideration in designing a study is its objectives. Statistical inference in particular, tests of statistical significance may be of little interest, in which case statistical power need not be considered in determining the sample size needed. A researcher may instead wish to monitor a particular area mainly as a descriptive tool. If data are gathered in a standardized fashion (Ralph et al.1993), the data from one area can contribute to regional or national monitoring programs, which likely have statistical inference as an objective. In many cases the number of stations will be limited by available resources or by the physical areas of interest. Some researchers will be able to establish one, or at most, a couple of demographic monitoring stations. In those cases placement of the station will usually be constrained by the location and size of the place of interest, by the density of the people of special concern, or be centered on the location of the families or persons of interest. Power calculations and sample size calculations both rely on the presumed magnitude of the effect in question. Clearly, the greater the presumed effect, the greater the power will be to detect that effect, and, conversely, the smaller the necessary sample size to detect an effect at a parental power. The difficulty here is that the true difference between groups is unknown, and furthermore one cannot necessarily use the observed magnitude of an effect (e.g., observed difference between two groups) as the criterion for judging power. The following is a selective review of some statistical terms relevant to a researcher conducting a monitoring study. Our intention here is to re- acquaint the reader with terms and principles that may have rested dormant for many years. Accuracy An estimator is accurate if it produces estimates that are, on average, close to the true value, i.e., without bias or with a minimum of bias. Accuracy is independent of precision (below). An estimate can be accurate but not precise, precise but not accurate, or both accurate and precise. The difficulty is that often the true value is unknown and therefore accuracy is difficult to judge, except for simulated data where an investigator knows the true values. Bias The difference between the average estimate (more precisely, the expected value of the estimate) and the true value. Bias is not the same as à ¬errorà ®, rather it is one kind of error, systematic error. If an estimate is as likely to be an overestimate as it is to be an underestimate, the estimator in question is unbiased, even though there will always be error associated with an estimate. To minimize bias would, by de?nition, maximize accuracy. Precision Refers to the variability of the estimate: the smaller the variability (and thus the smaller the standard error) of the estimate, the greater the precision. As mentioned above, precision is independent of accuracy. An estimate can be very precise, but wildly inaccurate (i.e., strongly biased). Type I and Type II errors Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is correct is committing a Type I error. The probability of committing a Type I error is symbolized and is the significance level of a test of statistical inference. Duration of the study: It begins from selecting sample and collecting data; literature review and writing the final report of the study. Fifth part Time plan May Literature review June July August Identifying / selecting sample September October Design data collection instruments viability / validity November December Schedule test January Data collection February March April Data correction May Quantitative analysis Quantitative analysis June July Writing the research report August SIX PART: References Abd El Baset Mohamed Hassan, Social Research, Cairo , Wahba library, 1998. Abd El Aziz El Shatry , Family and its, Roles in Behavioral guidenc, ouet, Monhal Journal No, 563, 2001. B. Hurlock, Development of psychology, New Delhi , Mc Grow Hull , Publishing co, 1993. M, Felming, Adolesnt, social psychology , London, Rotelds kegan poul, 1999. Ibrahim Madkor, Social science Dictionary, Cairo, Publish institution for Books, 1990. Ministry of social Affairs on marking, the impact of foreign sisters , on the question family, Kuwait, 1993. McDaniel, S.H., Cambell, T.L., Hepworth, J., Lorenz, A. Family-oriented primary care (2nd ed). New York, NY: Springer , 2005. Stack, C.B. All our kin. New york, NY : Basic Books, 1996. Ogburn Nimkoff, technology and changing family, Cambridge , mass, 1955. Refat Besheer, social change in Arab gulf country , Dueit , Zot El salasl, 1987 Robert Barsker, Social work Dictionary, Washington N.A.S.W, 1999 Refe (united Nations Universal declaration of human rights. Retrieved July 11, 2005, From http://www.un.org/overview/rights.html , 1948.

Global Competitiveness Essays -- Economics Business Essays

Global Competitiveness As the world becomes a smaller place, economies are shifting away from national economies to global economies. Robert Reich, Ira Magaziner, and Michael Porter each offer a different view of how a company remains competitive in this global economy. Reich stresses the difference between American-owned corporations and American competitiveness. Magaziner highlights the growing need of innovation and the avoidance of national complacency. Porter focuses on his diamond of national competitiveness. While Whirlpool is an American owned company—the company’s headquarters and upper management all operate out of America—the majority of the company’s factories and production lies overseas in South America and Asia. Similarly, while Toyota is a Japanese owned company, it has increasingly manufactured its cars within US borders. Whirlpool is an American company but does not benefit American competitiveness. Reich maintains that â€Å"foreign-owned businesses that benefit national competitiveness most are those that commit their engine of competitiveness to the host country.† Whirlpool may be American run, but Toyota’s factories in America create American jobs and train an American workforce, both commodities in national competitiveness. Reich further emphasizes the importance of a skilled work force: â€Å"A nation’s most important competitive asset is the skills and learning of its work force†¦[and]†¦National policies should reward any global corporation that invests in the American work force.† Stressing the skilled work force, as Magaziner has noticed, is not just an American necessity. Magaziner gives two examples of countries who take national pride in training the work force: Korea and Singapore. Bo... ...ompanies cannot compete, Tonelson gives two credible reasons for trade barriers. First, infant industries will have a chance to develop and one day be able to compete on a global arena. Second, hurting industries will have a chance to revamp their productions, regain efficiency and once again compete with the foreign product. On the other hand, Krugman believes that most nations use trade deficit and international competitiveness as a political ploy to impose trade barriers. Each country’s economy depends on the population within the country, not on what other countries are doing. Nations should thus not impose any trade barriers so that the foreign competition could both stimulate and replace inefficient companies. Meanwhile, nations should upgrade their workforce to efficiently produce goods that ship to other countries, creating a mutually beneficial cycle.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Eleven

What Jack saw took his breath away. â€Å"No one comes here but me,† Grace said softly. â€Å"I don't know why.† The light, the ripple through the air as the sun slid through the uneven glass of the ancient windows†¦ â€Å"In the winter especially,† she continued, her voice just a little hesitant, â€Å"it's magic. I can't explain it. I think the sun dips lower. And with the snow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It was the light. It had to be. It was the way the light trembled, and fell on her. His heart clenched. Like a fist it hit him – this need, this overwhelming urge†¦He could not speak. He could not even begin to articulate it, but – â€Å"Jack?† she whispered, and it was just enough to break his trance. â€Å"Grace.† It was just one word, but it was a benediction. This went beyond desire, it was need. It was an indefinable, inexplicable, living, pulsing thing within him that could only be tamed by her. If he didn't hold her, didn't touch her in that very moment, something within him would die. To a man who tried to treat life as an endless series of ironies and witticisms, nothing could have been more terrifying. He reached out and roughly pulled her to him. He was not delicate, nor was he gentle. He couldn't be. He couldn't manage it, not now, not when he needed her so desperately. â€Å"Grace,† he said again, because that's what she was to him. It was impossible that he'd known her but a day. She was his grace, his Grace, and it was like she had always been there within him, waiting for him to finally open his eyes and find her. His hands cupped her face. She was a priceless treasure, and yet he could not force himself to touch her with the reverence she deserved. Instead, his fingers were clumsy, his body rough and pounding. Her eyes – so clear, so blue – he thought he might drown in them. He wanted to drown in them, to lose himself within her and never leave. His lips touched hers, and then – of this he was certain – he was lost. There was nothing more for him but this woman, in this moment, maybe even for all his moments thereafter. â€Å"Jack,† she sighed. It was the first time all morning she'd used his name, and it sent waves of desire pulsing through his already taut body. â€Å"Grace,† he said in return, because he was afraid to say anything else, afraid that for the first time in his life his glib tongue would fail him, and his words would come out wrong. He'd say something and it would mean too little, or perhaps he'd say something and it would mean too much. And then she would know, if by some miracle she did not already, that she had bewitched him. He kissed her hungrily, passionately, with all the fire within him. His hands slid down her back, memorizing the gentle slope of her spine, and when he reached the more lush curves of her bottom, he could not help it – he pressed her more firmly against him. He was aroused, and wound more tightly than he'd ever imagined possible, and all he could think – if he was thinking at all – was that he needed her close, closer. Whatever he could get, whatever he could have – right now he would take it. â€Å"Grace,† he said again, one of his hands moving to the spot where her dress touched her skin, just at her collarbone. She flinched at his touch, and he stilled, barely able to imagine how he would tear himself away. But her hand covered his, and she whispered, â€Å"I was surprised.† It was only then that he once again breathed. Fingers shaking, he traced the delicately scalloped edge of her bodice. Her pulse seemed to leap beneath his touch, and never in his life had he been so aware of a single sound – the quiet rasp of air, brushing across her lips. â€Å"You are so beautiful,† he whispered, and the amazing thing was that he was not even looking at her face. It was merely her skin, the pale, milky hue of it, the soft blush of pink that followed his fingers. Softly, gently, he bowed his head and brushed his lips along the hollow at the base of her throat. She gasped then, or maybe it was a moan, and her head slowly fell back in silent agreement. Her arms were around him and her hands in his hair, and then, without even considering what it meant, he swept her into his arms and carried her across the room, to the low, wide settee that sat near the window, bathed in the magical sunlight that had seduced them both. For a moment, kneeling at her side, he could do nothing but look at her, then one of his trembling hands reached forth to stroke her cheek. She was staring up at him, and in her eyes there was wonder, and anticipation, and yes, a little nervousness. But there was also trust. She wanted him. Him. No one else. She had never been kissed before, of that he was certain. She could have done. Of that he was even more certain. A woman of Grace's beauty did not reach her age without having refused (or rebuffed) multiple advances. She had waited. She had waited for him. Still kneeling beside her, he bent to kiss her, his hand moving down the side of her face to her shoulder, then to her hip. His passion grew deeper, and hers, too; she was returning his kiss with an unschooled eagerness that left him breathless with desire. â€Å"Grace, Grace,† he moaned, his voice lost in the warmth of her mouth. His hand found the hem of her dress and then slid under, grasping the slender circle of her ankle. And then up†¦up†¦to her knee. And higher. Until he could bear it no longer, and he moved to the settee himself, partially covering her with his own body. His lips had moved to her neck, and he felt her sharply indrawn breath on his cheek. But she did not say no. She did not cover his hand with hers and bring him to a stop. She did nothing but whisper his name and arch her hips beneath him. She couldn't have known what the movement had meant, could never have known what it would do to him, but that ever-so-slight pressure beneath him, rising up against his own desire, brought him to the very peak of need. He kissed his way down her neck, to the gentle swell of her breast, his lips finding the very spot at the edge of her bodice that his fingers had so recently traveled. He lifted himself away from her, just a bit, just enough so he could slide his finger under the hem and slide it down, or maybe push her up – whichever was needed to free her to his devotion. But just when his hand had moved toward his destination, just when he'd had one glorious second to cup the fullness of her, skin to skin, the stiff edge peaking in his palm, she cried out. Softly, with surprise. And dismay. â€Å"No, I can't.† With jerky movements she scrambled to her feet, righting her dress. Her hands were shaking. More than shaking. They seemed filled with a foreign, nervous energy, and when he looked in her eyes, it was as if a knife had pierced him. It was not revulsion, it was not fear. What he saw was anguish. â€Å"Grace,† he said, moving toward her. â€Å"What is wrong?† â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said, stepping back. â€Å"I – I shouldn't have. Not now. Not until – † One of her hands flew up to cover her mouth. â€Å"Not until†¦? Grace? Not until what?† â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said again, confirming his belief that those were the worst two words in the English language. She bobbed a quick, perfunctory curtsy. â€Å"I must go.† And then she ran from the room, leaving him quite alone. He stared at the empty doorway for a full minute, trying to figure out just what had happened. And it was only when he finally stepped into the hall that he realized he hadn't a clue how to get back to his bedchamber. Grace dashed through Belgrave, half walking, half skipping†¦running†¦whatever it was she needed to do to reach her room with the most equal balance of dignity and speed. If the servants saw her – and she couldn't imagine they didn't; they seemed positively everywhere this morning – they must have wondered at her distress. The dowager would not expect her. Surely she would think she was still showing Mr. Audley the house. Grace had at least an hour before she might need to show her face. Dear God, what had she done? If she had not finally remembered herself, remembered who he was, and who he might be, she would have let him continue. She'd wanted it. She'd wanted it with a fervor that had shocked her. When he'd taken her hand, when he'd pulled her to him, he awakened something within her. No. It had been awakened two nights earlier. On that moonlit night, standing outside the carriage, something had been born within her. And now†¦ She sat upon her bed, wanting to bury herself in the covers but instead just sitting there, staring at the wall. There was no going back. One couldn't ever not have been kissed once the deed was done. With a nervous breath, maybe even a frantic laugh, she covered her face with her hands. Could she possibly have chosen anyone less suitable with whom to fall in love? Not that this was the measure of her feelings, she hastened to reassure herself, but she was not so much of a fool that she could not recognize her leanings. If she let herself†¦If she let him†¦ She would fall in love. Good heavens. Either he was a highwayman, and now she was destined to be the consort of an outlaw, or he was the true Duke of Wyndham, which meant – She laughed because really, this was funny. It had to be funny. If it wasn't funny, then it could only be tragic, and she didn't think she could manage that just now. Wonderful. Perhaps she was falling in love with the Duke of Wyndham. Now that was appropriate. Let's see, how many ways was this a disaster? He was her employer, for one, he owned the house in which she lived, and his rank was so far above hers as to be nearly immeasurable. And then there was Amelia. She and Thomas certainly did not suit, but she had every right to expect that she would be the Duchess of Wyndham upon her marriage. Grace could not imagine how crass and overreaching she would appear to the Willoughbys – her good friends – if she were seen to be throwing herself at the new duke. Grace closed her eyes and touched the tips of her fingers to her lips. If she breathed deeply enough she almost relaxed. And she could almost still feel his presence, his touch, the warmth of his skin. It was awful. It was wonderful. She was a fool. She lay down, let out a long, weary breath. Funny how she'd hoped for change, for something to break the monotony of her days attending to the dowager. Life was a mocking sort of thing, wasn't it? And love†¦ Love was the cruelest joke of all. â€Å"Lady Amelia is here to see you, Miss Eversleigh.† Grace jolted upright, blinking furiously. She must have fallen asleep. She could not recall the last time she had done so at midday. â€Å"Lady Amelia?† she echoed, surprised. â€Å"With Lady Elizabeth?† â€Å"No, miss,† the maid informed her. â€Å"She is alone.† â€Å"How curious.† Grace sat up, flexing her feet and hands to awaken her body. â€Å"Please tell her I shall be right there.† She waited for the maid to depart, then went to her small mirror to straighten her hair. It was worse than she'd feared, although she could not be certain whether it had been mussed in sleep or by Mr. Audley. She felt her skin flush at the memory, and she groaned at that. Gathering her determination, she repinned her hair and left the room, walking as briskly as she could, as if speed and a set of squared shoulders could keep all of her worries at bay. Or at the very least, make her look as if she did not care. It did seem odd that Amelia would come to Belgrave without Elizabeth. Grace did not know that she had ever done so before. Certainly not to see her. Grace wondered if her original intention had been to call upon Thomas, who was, as far as she knew, still out. She hurried down the stairs, then turned to make for the front drawing room. But she'd not taken more than a dozen steps before someone grabbed her arm and yanked her into a side room. â€Å"Thomas!† she exclaimed. It was indeed he, somewhat haggard and sporting a nasty bruise under his left eye. His appearance was a shock; she had never seen him looking so rumpled before. His shirt was wrinkled, his cravat missing, and his hair had most definitely not been styled a la Brutus. Or even a la human. And then there were his eyes, which were most uncharacteristically red-rimmed. â€Å"What happened to you?† He put a finger to his lips and shut the door. â€Å"Were you expecting someone else?† he asked, and her cheeks grew warm. Indeed, when she'd felt a strong male hand close around her arm and pull, she had assumed it was Mr. Audley, trying to steal a kiss. Her flush grew deeper as she realized she had been disappointed to realize that it was not. â€Å"No, of course not,† she said quickly, even though she suspected he knew she was lying. She quickly glanced around the room to see if they were alone. â€Å"What is wrong?† â€Å"I needed to speak with you before you see Lady Amelia.† â€Å"Oh, then you know she is here?† â€Å"I brought her,† he confirmed. Her eyes widened. That was news. He had been out all night and was considerably worse for the wear. She glanced at a nearby clock. It was not yet even noon. When could he have collected Amelia? And where? And why? â€Å"It is a long story,† he said, clearly to cut her off before she could ask any questions. â€Å"But suffice it to say, she will inform you that you were in Stamford this morning, and you invited her back to Belgrave.† Her brows rose. If he was asking her to lie, it was very serious, indeed. â€Å"Thomas, any number of people know quite well that I was not in Stamford this morning.† â€Å"Yes, but her mother is not among that number.† Grace wasn't sure if she should be shocked or delighted. Had he compromised Amelia? Why else would they need to lie to her mother? â€Å"Er, Thomas†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she began, unsure of how to proceed. â€Å"I feel I must tell you, given the number of delays thus far, I would imagine that Lady Crowland would be delighted to know – â€Å" â€Å"Oh for God's sake, it is nothing like that,† he muttered. â€Å"Amelia assisted me home when I was† – he blushed then. Blushed! Thomas! – â€Å"impaired.† Grace bit her lip to keep from smiling. It was quite remarkable what a pleasant image that was – Thomas allowing himself to be anything less than perfectly composed. â€Å"That was most charitable of her,† she said, perhaps a little too primly. But really, it couldn't be helped. He glared at her, which only made it more difficult to maintain an even face. She cleared her throat. â€Å"Have you, er, considered tidying up?† â€Å"No,† he snapped, â€Å"I rather enjoy looking like a slovenly fool.† Grace winced at that. â€Å"Now listen,† he continued, looking terribly determined. â€Å"Amelia will repeat what I have told you, but it is imperative that you not tell her about Mr. Audley.† â€Å"I would never do that,† Grace said quickly. â€Å"It is not my place.† â€Å"Good.† â€Å"But she will want to know why you were, er†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Oh, dear, how to put it politely? â€Å"You don't know why,† he said firmly. â€Å"Just tell her that. Why would she suspect that you would know more?† â€Å"She knows that I consider you a friend,† Grace said. â€Å"And furthermore, I live here. Servants always know everything. She knows that.† â€Å"You're not a servant,† he muttered. â€Å"I am and you know it,† she replied, almost amused. â€Å"The only difference is that I am allowed to wear finer clothing and occasionally converse with the guests. But I assure you, I am privy to all of the household gossip.† For several seconds he did nothing but stare, as if waiting for her to laugh and say, Only joking! Finally he muttered something under his breath that she was quite certain she was not meant to understand (and indeed she did not; servants' gossip was occasionally risque, but it was never profane). â€Å"For me, Grace,† he said, his eyes boring into hers, â€Å"will you please just tell her you don't know?† It was the closest she had ever heard him come to begging, and it left her disoriented and acutely uncomfortable. â€Å"Of course,† she said quickly. â€Å"You have my word.† He nodded briskly. â€Å"Amelia will be expecting you.† â€Å"Yes. Yes, of course.† Grace hurried to the door, but when her hand touched the knob, she found she was not quite ready to go. She turned around, taking one last look at his face. He was not himself. No one could blame him; it had been a most extraordinary two days. But still, it worried her. â€Å"Will you be all right?† she asked. And immediately regretted that she had done so. His face seemed to move, and twist, and she could not be sure if he was going to laugh or cry. But she did know that she did not want to be witness to either. â€Å"No, don't answer that,† she mumbled, and she ran from the room.

Cold War Essay

Cold War was a period marked by political, ideological and economic rivalry that emanated from United States and Soviet Union after the Second World War. The animosity between United State and USSR lasted between late 1940s and late 1980s . Cold war was coined from the fact that the two sides feared the effect using weapons, instead they resorted diplomatic ideologies rather than force. The rivalry between these two supper powers was exposed through the weapons developments, military coalitions, advances in industrialization and technology. Cold war brought tension to international crises, for example the Berlin Blockade (1948-49), the Korean War (1950-53), the Berlin crisis in 1961, Vietnam War (1959-75) the Cuban missile crisis and the Afghanistan war which raised fear of a Third World War . The NATO exercise in 1983 patent the end such crisis. The collapse of the Soviet Union marked the end of cold war between late 1980s and early 1990s and the progress towards democracy began. The then president of United States, Ronald Reagan, came up with new policies. He increased economic pressure, military action and diplomacy on Soviet Union who by then was undergoing economic crisis . The clear cut regarding the origin of the Cold War is not well known. While some historians trace its origin to the end of world war 11, others argue that it began at the end of the First World War in the 19th Century with the United States, Russian Empire and the British Empire. The ideological differences between capitalist and communist started in 1970 with the coming out of Soviet Union from Russian Revolution as a communist state. This resulted to tensions between United State and USSR because of the changes that occurred. The change in political point of views after the Second World War ushered in the Cold War. The nuclear arms race brought differences between US and Soviet Union. Between 1960s and 1970s, both United States and the Soviet Union adjusted to a new pattern of international relations bringing unity in the world. From the commencement of the postwar era, Western Europe and Japan hastily recovered from the destruction of World War II and continued strong economic growth. The 1973 oil crisis, combined with influence of Third World alignments such as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the Non-Aligned Movement, less-powerful countries had more opportunity to affirm their independence. 2. 0 Effects of Cold War on the World Economy The cost of the Cold War was terrific; the military expenditure by United State during that period was estimated to have exceeded more than $8 trillion and nearly 100,000 American solders lost their lives in Vietnam and Korean War. The number of lives lost in the midst of the war by Soviet solders was hard to estimate. Millions of soldiers died in the superpowers proxy wars especially in the region of the globe, most markedly in the Southeast Asia. Following to the disbanding of the Soviet Union, post cold war become unpopular with the United States becoming the only superpower in the world. On 21st Dec 1991, the Commonwealth of Independent States was formed and it was viewed by many as a successor of Soviet Union. Russia slashed military spending after the end of cold war, leaving many unemployed . The financial crisis and recession affected Russia in 1990s when they tried to reform their economic capitalistic. The cold war also influenced the world affairs. It defines the united state political role in post-world war 11. In 1953, the US president Dwight D. Eisenhower reduced military expenditure by brandishing nuclear control while continuing to fifth cold war The U. S held military alliances with some countries estimated to 50 allied to them and had more than 1. 5 million troops abroad in 117 countries by 1989. Most of the local conflicts and proxy war ended with cold war. The ethnic wars interstate war, refugees and revolutionary wars declined sharply. Cold war conflicts legacy can not be erased effortlessly as numerous economic and social tensions exploited in third world are still fresh and acute. The struggle to control those countries they ruled by Communist government has twisted it course and produced ethnic wars and civil wars especially in Yugoslavia. T he ends of cold war soup a new era of economic growth and numerous liberal democracies in East Europe. Afghanistan attained independence but unfortunately their state failure. International conflicts The war between America and Iraq, the US claimed that Iraq was preparing biological, chemical and nuclear weapons of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein who was then the Iraq president denied the allegation. This war almost brought down the US economy. The soviet-Afghan war took nine years. It was a conflict between soviet forces supporting Marxist Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) government and Mujahedeen Resistance. The latter got support from United State, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan and other Muslim nation in context to cold war. The incomplete conflict in Afghanistan has heathen tension in the war like that of Vietnam War. The U. S president Jimmy Carter said that the inversion of Soviet was â€Å"the most serious threat to peace since the Second World War† he later placed trade ban on Soviet Union. The tension was high and the Soviet took thousands military troop to oil rich region in the gulf. International diplomatic retort was harsh, Leading to boycott of 1980 summer Olympic in Moscow. The invasion and revolution in Iran, the US captive that accompanied them, the Iran–Iraq War, the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, and the rise of Middle East-born terrorism against the West, contributed to making the Middle East an extremely violent and turbulent region during the 1980s. Capitalism The capitalism is a state of government whereby economic production system are controlled by private sector rather than government. It is a social system based on individual rights. The exchange and distribution of capital between private persons or profit seeking legal are protected, and pricing of goods, distribution, services, income, and investment are determined through opened market economy in which any one can take part in supply and demand rather than central economic system. In to the history, capitalism has met resistance throughout. Some critics consider economic regulation necessary because it reduces negligence, corruptions and other problems arising from free markets. Trends associated to globalization have increased mobility of people and capital since 20th century. This has made capitalism to be viewed today as a world system. In the last half century, economic growth has been steady, life expectancy increased and infant mortality rate dropped in developing nation. In 2008, America and other governments were seeing state intervention in global markets signaling free-market capitalism. The financial Markets and uproar in banking system resulting from supreme mortgage crisis was at the peak in September 2008, this was seen by liquidity in global market and ongoing threats on investment banks. Communism Communism is a distinct socio-political philosophy that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless society that is willing to use force to accomplish its goals. Communism believes in equality force. They also embrace atheism and dismiss religion as basis formed by the rich and superpowers to lock off the poor. During cold war, communism spread into many countries. The Soviet Army captured several nations in both Eastern Europe and East Asia and expand communism. The Soviet communist took control in Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany and Czechoslovakia. After the Second World War, Albania turned out to be independent communist nation. By 1950, Chinese communists controlled the majority of populous nation in the World. Whit rising control of the communism in the world, it led to fight through guerrilla warfare and conventionalism i. e. Korean War Vietnam War Middle East. Communists attempted to unite with socialist forces and nationalist against what they perceived as western imperialism in poor nations. The fear of communism was seen when Italian resistance movements and Chinas involvement in the Second World War. Western democrats and capitalist saw communist as a threat. This rivalry between the two superpowers was at the peak during the cold war. Their difference polarized the world into two camps whit each camp strengthening military power, developing new weapons and nuclear, fought each other through proxy client nations, and competed in space development technology. The U. S. feared communist spread hence spurred aggressive investigations deputation of suspected people, blacklisting and red-baiting. The economic critics of socialism was seen when they introduced free price system in market economy to guide economic activities. Free Market economist felt that controlled or fixed price will give inappropriate information about relative scarcity. The market economist sees that comparing the cost to sales revenue will enable business owners to evaluate their viability. Socialist reject market mechanism of pricing claiming that market system is tending towards monopoly or oligopoly to some key industries leading to prices distortion.

Profile of Idaho Teen Killer Sarah Johnson

Profile of Idaho Teen Killer Sarah Johnson Sarah Johnson was 16 years old when she shot and killed her parents with a high-powered rifle because they did not approve of her 19-year-old boyfriend. Victims Alan, 46, and Diane Johnson, 52, lived in an attractive home that sat on two acres of land in an affluent suburb in the small community of Bellevue, Idaho. They had been married for 20 years and were devoted to each other and their two children, Matt and Sarah. The Johnsons were well liked in the community. Alan was the co-owner of a popular landscaping company, and Diane worked for a financial firm. The Crime In the early morning hours of September 2, 2003, Sarah Johnson ran out of her home, screaming for help. She told neighbors that her parents had just been murdered. When police arrived, they found Diane Johnson lying under the covers of her bed, dead from a shotgun blast that had removed most of her head. Alan Johnson was found lying next to the bed, dead from a gunshot wound to his chest. The shower was running, and Alan’s body was wet. Based on wet, bloody footprints and blood splatters, it appeared that he had stepped out of the shower and was then shot, but managed to walk towards Diane before collapsing and bleeding to death. The Crime Scene The police immediately secured the crime scene including sectioning off an entire block around the house. In a trashcan outside of the Johnson’s home, investigators found a bloody pink bathrobe and two gloves. One was a left-handed leather glove, and the other was a right-handed latex glove. Inside the home detectives found a trail of blood spatters, tissue and bone fragments that went from the Johnson’s bedroom, into the hall, and across to Sarah Johnson’s bedroom. A .264 Winchester Magnum rifle was found in the master bedroom. Two butcher knives, with the tips of the blades touching, had been placed on the end of the Johnson’s bed. A magazine of bullets was also found in Sarah’s bedroom, which was located around 20 feet across the hall from the Johnsons bedroom. There was no evidence of forced entry into the home. Sarah Johnson Talks to Police When Sarah Johnson first talked to the police, she said that she woke up around 6:15 a.m. and heard her parents shower running. She continued to lie in bed but then heard two gunshots. Sarah Johnson ran to her parent’s bedroom and found that their door was closed. She did not open the door, but rather called for her mother who did not answer. Frightened, she ran out of the house and began screaming for help. The Story Changes Her story of what happened would change several times throughout the investigation. Sometimes she said her parent’s door was slightly opened and other times she said her door was closed, but not her parent’s door. Based on the forensic evidence found in the hall and Sarah’s bedroom, both her door and her parent’s door would have to have been opened. Sarah also admitted that the pink robe was hers, but denied knowing anything about how it ended up in the trash. When first asked about the robe her first response was to say that she did not kill her parents, which investigators found odd. She said she thought the killer was a maid who had been recently fired by the Johnsons for stealing. The Murder Weapon The owner of the rifle used to kill the Johnsons belonged to Mel Speegle, who was renting a garage apartment in a guesthouse located on the Johnson’s property. He was away over the Labor Day weekend and had not yet returned home on the day of the murders. When questioned, he told police that the rifle was kept in an unlocked closet in his apartment. Infatuation and Obsession Sarah Johnson was described by neighbors and friends as a sweet girl who enjoyed playing volleyball. But another Sarah had emerged over the summer months. One that seemed infatuated and obsessed with her 19-year-old boyfriend, Bruno Santos Dominguez. Sarah and Dominguez had been dating for three months before the murder of her parents. The Johnsons did not approve of the relationship because Dominguez was 19 and an undocumented Mexican immigrant. He also had a reputation for being involved in drugs. Close friends of Sarah’s said that a few days before the Johnson’s murder, Sarah showed them a ring and told them that she and Dominguez were engaged. They also said that Sarah often lied, so they did not completely buy into what Sarah was saying about her engagement. Days Leading up to the Murder On August 29, Sarah told her parents that she was spending the night with friends, but instead, she spent the night with Dominguez. When her parents found out, her father went to look for her the next day and found her with Bruno at his family’s apartment. Sarah and her parents argued, and Sarah told them about her engagement. Diane was very upset and said that she was going to go to the authorities and report Dominguez for statutory rape. If nothing else, she hoped to have him deported. They also grounded Sarah for the rest of the Labor Day weekend and took her car keys. During the following days Sarah, who had a key to Speegle’s apartment, was in and out of the guesthouse for various reasons. Both Diane and Sarah called Matt Johnson, who was away at college, on the night before the murders. Matt said his mother cried about Sarahs relationship with Dominguez and expressed how embarrassed she felt by Sarahs actions. Uncharacteristically, Sarah seemed to accept her parents punishment and told Matt that she knew what they were up to. Matt did not like how the comment sounded and almost called his mother back, but decided not to because it was so late. The next day the Johnsons were dead. DNA Evidence DNA testing showed that blood and tissue belonged to Diane on Sarah’s pink robe, along with DNA that matched Sarah. Gunshot residue was found on the leather glove, and Sarah’s DNA was found inside of the latex glove. Diane’s DNA was also found in the blood that was on the socks Sarah was wearing on the morning her parents were killed. Sarah Johnson is Arrested On October 29, 2003, Sarah Johnson was arrested and charged as an adult on two counts of first-degree murder to which she pleaded not guilty. Nancy Grace Helped Prosecutors One of the big problems that the prosecution had with a major piece of evidence had to do with the pattern of blood splatters found on the pink robe. Most of the blood was on the left sleeve and the back of the robe. If Sarah put the robe on before shooting her parents, how did so much blood get on the back? While the prosecution was struggling to put together a viable explanation for the location of the blood on the robe, Sarahs defense lawyer, Bob Pangburn happened to appear as a guest on the Nancy Grace Current Affairs program. Nancy Grace asked Pangburn about the blood on the robe, and he said it showed possible contamination of evidence and that it actually could help exonerate Sarah Johnson. Nancy Grace offered another explanation. She suggested that if Sarah wanted to protect her body and clothing from blood splatter, that she could have put the robe on backward. Doing that would act as a shield, and the blood would then end up on the back of the robe. Rod Englert and other members of the prosecution team happened to be watching the program, and Graces theory provided them with a reasonable scenario that would result in the blood patterns that were on the robe. Court Testimony During the trial, there was a lot of testimony about Sarah Johnson’s inappropriate behavior and lack of emotions about the brutal murder of her parents. Neighbors and friends who offered comfort to Sarah on the day her parents were killed said that she was more concerned about seeing her boyfriend. She also did not seem traumatized, which would be expected if a teen went through the experience that she had inside the house when her parents were gunned down. At her parents funeral, she talked about wanting to play volleyball that evening and any sadness that she displayed seemed superficial. Witnesses also testified about the troubled relationship between Sarah and her mother, but many also added that it was not that unusual for a girl her age to fight with their mother. However, her half-brother, Matt Johnson, gave some of the most insightful testimony about Sarah, although it also proved to be some of the most damaging. Johnson described her as a drama queen and a good actor who had the propensity to lie. During part of his two-hour testimony, he said that the first thing Sarah told him when he arrived at their home after finding out his parent’s had been murdered, was that the police thought that she did it. He told her he thought Dominguez did it, which she vehemently denied. She said that Dominguez loved Alan Johnson like a father. Matt knew this was not true. She also told him that at 2 a.m. on the night before the murders, that someone had been to the house. Her parents checked the yard to make sure no one was out there before they went back to bed. She had not provided this information to the police. Regardless Matt did not believe her but did not challenge what she was saying. In the weeks after the murders, Matt testified that he avoided asking his sister about the murders because he was afraid of what she might tell him. The "No Blood, No Guilt" Defense Some of the strongest points that Sarah’s defense team made during her trial had to do with the lack of biological matter found on Sarah or her clothing. Investigators found nothing in her hair, hands, or anywhere else. Experts testified that with Diane having been shot at such close range, it would be impossible for the shooter to avoid being sprayed with blood and tissue and yet none was found on Sarah who underwent two complete physical exams on the day of the murders. Her fingerprints were also not found on the bullets, rifle or the knives.  However, there was one unidentified print found on the rifle. The testimony of cellmates of Sarahs who testified about some of the damaging comments she made regarding the murders was challenged. One cellmate said that Sarah said the knives were placed on the bed to throw off the police and make it look like a gang-related shooting. The defense fought to have the testimonies thrown out because the cellmates were adults and the law forbids incarcerated minors to be housed with adults. The judge did not agree, stating that if Sarah could be tried as an adult, she could be housed with adult prisoners. The defense team also questioned Matt Johnson about the life insurance money he would get if Sarah were out of the picture, insinuating that he had a lot to gain if Sarah was found guilty. The Verdict and Sentencing The jury deliberated for 11 hours before finding Sarah Johnson guilty on two counts of murder in the first degree. She was sentenced to two fixed life prison terms, plus 15 years, without the possibility of parole. She was also fined $10,000, of which $5,000 was allocated to go to Matt Johnson. Appeals Efforts for a new trial were turned down in 2011. A hearing was granted for November 2012, based on the possibility that new DNA and fingerprint technology that was not available during Sarah Johnsons trial may prove that she is innocent. Attorney Dennis Benjamin and the Idaho Innocence Project took on her case pro bono in 2011. On February 18, 2014, the Idaho Supreme Court  rejected Johnsons appeal.