Tuesday, August 25, 2020

United Nations AIDS Conference Simulation Essay

Joined Nations AIDS Conference Simulation - Essay Example This recreation movement included the United Nations General Assemblies. As indicated by Starkey, Boyer, Wilkenfeld, and Starkey (2010), the General Assembly is the deliberative group of the United Nations and is comprised of the United Nations part expresses each with a vote. The United Nations AIDS Committee is liable for proposing and arranging worldwide goals in the battle against the HIV and AIDS pandemic (Starkey, Boyer, Wilkenfeld, and Starkey, 2010). Starkey, Boyer, Wilkenfeld, and Starkey further clarify that these goals are then sent to the general get together for a last vote (2010). Understudies were doled out various jobs either as state delegates or non state delegates. The name of the board of trustees was the United Nations General Assembly. The support was the United Nations AIDS Committee who composed this goals. Pre mobile expressions were utilized to express the issues that the Committee was to talk about and resolve. These announcements expressed the purposes behind the Committee to determine the issues. The issues examined during the recreation incorporated the reaffirmation of those goals that the United Nations General Assembly had created in the past get together. The present and constant harm brought about by the plague was recognized. It was recognized that there was requirement for the board of trustees to rebuild the strategies that were at present being utilized to battle the plague. The board of trustees having understood the significance of country states contributions on AIDS goals endeavors invited their thoughts.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The Meth Epidemic free essay sample

The birthplace of methamphetamine in the U. S. begun the west coast in the province of Oregon. This is a man-made medication that is effectively â€Å"cooked† in kitchens over the U. S. Pseudoephedrine is the principle compound fixing in the medication and furthermore the key part of cold cures, for example, Sudafed. The Pseudoephedrine is joined with different synthetic concoctions promptly accessible in gas, scouring liquor, or channel cleaners. The impacts of the medication are of a particular breaking down impact. A few people have nicknamed it â€Å"meth mouth† where the user’s teeth have darkened and nailed because of absence of oral cleanliness. It makes the versatility in the skin leave so the skin droops making the client look decades more seasoned than they truly are. Injuries create on the body, since meth clients here and there observe visualizations of bugs creeping under their skin, thus they attempt to scratch something that isn’t there. We will compose a custom exposition test on The Meth Epidemic or then again any comparable subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Their safe framework isn’t what it used to be since they are harming the body, consequently it appears that the regular meth client consistently has an obvious sore or two on the body. Since the medication really makes the veins recoil, it causes an increase in vitality, causing the client to feel profitable or arrogant, I should state. It is said that meth is such a ultra-energizer, that clients frequently remain high the entire day away from work one hit. In 2005, it was accounted for that over portion of Portland, Oregon were meth clients. It made homes be part separated and subsequently, half of the child care gave by the state was kids whose guardians were associated with meth utilizing or meth making. Additionally, 85% of property related misdemeanors were submitted according to meth. Numerous homes resembled this on the west coast, anyway the east coast still couldn't seem to see this. The autonomous analytical writer that concentrated to meth enslavement in the U. S. was Steve Suo, from the Oregonian. He was worried about the insights of meth. He did an investigation and changed information into maps. In 1992, there was just Oregon concealed for meth. By 1997, the number expanded to conceal through the Midwest. By 2003, meth was arriving at the east coast. Somebody needed to take care of this plague. He discovered enormous spikes and fall offs over a time of years. He asked why they were so consistant. Suo talked on PBS in a meeting about meeting a multi year old young lady who had seen loathsome things for her age. She depicted the manner in which she would feel wiped out when smelling the cooking going on in the house. She needed to perform sex acts with the dad and different grown-ups when they were high on meth. These accounts are difficult to hear for Suo, he is a father too. The multiplication of meth production and dissemination in the U. S. started in the mid 1990’s when the Amezcua siblings (Colima Cartel) pirated 170 tons of pseudoephedrine into the U. S. , making around 2 billion hits of meth. Krebs Biochemical industrial facility in India fabricated ephedrine and pseudoephedrine and that is who the cartel was getting it from. Having no idea with respect to what was going on in the U. S. , the Indian organization remained in business with them until March of 1994, when a cardboard organization had 3. 4 tons of ephedrine on load. Presently the Indian association is gone, so what now? The immaculateness of meth plunged in measurements and lives. In mid 1996, meth virtue was most minimal it had been in years, at that point it rose again in 1996. Suo, the columnist, saw these themes and took incredible enthusiasm to settle the riddle of the ascent and fall of the meth pestilence. In 1986, Gene Haislip was the number three man with the DEA. He had a plan to pursue the substance parts that go into meth. The quay vulgar has left since they found Columbians couldn’t get their medication powder and it disposed of the issue. In this way, the possibility that they could do likewise for meth was out there. Bounce Dole acquainted bills in 1986 with I. D. each and every individual who wanted to buy pseudoephedrine. It was a bill that would contrarily affect the business, so it was killed. An intrigue was made to a more significant position authority, the lobbyist for the medication business and the proof and introduction was there, yet they needed to exclude cold medication from the law, as the synthetic when it was sold in type of a pharmaceutical. An understanding was made with the escape clause. In 1986, 4 out of 5 hits devoured by meth clients were in superlabs in the focal valley. The police hit labs that were gigantic and some were little. The perfect area for a lab would be in empty regions and they could cook and be gone in 48 hours. The police had a counter technique and planted cameras in the 1990’s. Organizations authorized by the legislature were utilized to gracefully the superlabs, yet it was past the point of no return. Haislip’s Act was wiped out by a demonstration of congress and that allowed everybody a year to modify and the trafficker’s a year to change in accordance with become more brilliant crooks. Robert Pennal talked in this film pretty much all the containers they were finding with French composition without any markings. Just 60 mg, white jugs with 1000 tally. It took two years to acknowledge they were being carried from Quebec, Canada. The â€Å"smurfing† impact started as meth makers were gathering at drug stores and purchasing the most extreme sum permitted and afterward doing it once more. At the point when they got the ideal sum, they would concoct it. In 2003, another proposition was made and cold medications were returned behind counters. Seventy-five percent was being occupied to meth. On 2004, Oklahoma was the main state to pass the law and Oregon took action accordingly. At that point the mainstream stores started to intentionally put the produce behind the rack, however the Mexican cartel found a superior source. The Mexicans pharmaceutical organizations legitimately imported 224 tons of pseudoephedrine which was twice as much than expected to make cold medication. Along these lines, in Mexico, you could just purchase three boxes at once, in spite of the fact that it was expressed that they didn’t truly care what number of you needed to purchase. They would cook extra into meth and sneak it to the U. S. In 2006 Combat Meth Act was Nationwide and purchasers would need to registers first. What's more, U. S. government persuaded Mexican imports to simply sum expected to make cold medication, which was nearly nothing, they prohibited it through and through. At that point the old â€Å"biker† technique for meth making returned once more. 70% held onto was half as strong as five years back and the more fragile the meth, the most drastically averse to get dependent. In 2004, under the steady gaze of the law change, there were 64 meth labs in Multnomah County, Oregon. In 2010, after law change, there was just one. Representative Bret King made mindfulness by utilizing when mug shots of individuals captured subsidiary with meth. The outcomes were bewildering and the battle got one of the most powerful outlines of meth’s perils and its desolating impacts. The pharmaceutical field improved their framework with remedy command. My response to this program was a tear. I know being in the nursing field, that I am going to encounter a great deal of things. I simply prefer not to see the loathsome way they care for just a brief timeframe of misuse. No maltreatment of any sort is any acceptable, obviously, I am trying to say that these individuals are still individuals and not so much given a reasonable opportunity to state in the event that they decide to do this medication since they have no voice once they endure that initially shot. I will never under any circumstance, ever attempt this medication, that is a guarantee. I found the data on this issue exceptionally educational and intriguing.

Ohio monologue from the play by Nick Zagone Essay Paper Example For Students

Ohio monolog from the play by Nick Zagone Essay Paper A monolog from the play by Nick ZagoneCAT: Hear that tune? I love this tune. It’s one of those tunes you generally hear, however no one can tell who plays it. I’ll most likely never know. I don’t need to know now. It would most likely destroy the inclination. At whatever point I hear this melody I generally feel there ought to be credits moving you know? Like it’s the finish of something. The finish of a film. It just raises so much†¦ that guitar. It’s closing something. It’s talking. The credits are turning over the lead actor’s dead body facedown in a canal. The camera dish back. The downpour is pouring down. And all that guitar can say is â€Å"Oh well.† â€Å"That’s Life. † â€Å"Whatever.† Every time I hear this tune starting now and into the foreseeable future I will recall this day and what occurred and what I did. Also, I will recollect this second in time, at the present time, this definite spot, the smell, everything†¦ and the scene will freeze and the credits will roll. I never need to realize who plays this melody. It would demolish everything.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Night Creature Crescent Moon Chapter 24 Free Essays

I saw again the wolf at the window †the wolf that had Adam’s eyes. â€Å"Diana?† Cassandra snatched my lower arm as Marie hastened away to capture her little girl in-law, and crushed hard. â€Å"I’m OK. We will compose a custom exposition test on Night Creature: Crescent Moon Chapter 24 or then again any comparable theme just for you Request Now † I wasn’t. Not so much. I needed to plunk down, perhaps rests, or stand up, possibly hurl. What I did was drag Cassandra away from the Favreaus’ and back to her place. Fortunately, it wasn’t a long excursion. Once inside the cool, shadowed inside, I sat at her kitchen table and put my head between my knees. â€Å"Don’t black out on me,† she snapped. â€Å"I contributor faint.† â€Å"You’re doing a damn decent imitation.† She sat, as well. â€Å"The wolf at the window?† Gradually I lifted my head and gestured. I’d disclosed to her my fantasy, that I’d seen a wolf with natural eyes, however I hadn’t referenced whose eyes they were. From the demeanor all over, she definitely knew. â€Å"When you saw the wolf, where was Adam?† â€Å"In bed with me.† I took a full breath, let it out gradually. â€Å"Must have been a fantasy after all.† â€Å"Or a premonition.† â€Å"I don’t have premonitions.† Cassandra went quiet. Still somewhat woozy, I was making some hard memories acclimatizing the data, having no karma at all deciphering it â€Å"You longed for a wolf with natural eyes before we realized that werewolves have them.† She looked toward me. â€Å"Human eyes, I mean.† â€Å"Probably only a coincidence.† â€Å"A occurrence is pursuing into somebody right you considered them. What you depicted to me isn't a coincidence.† â€Å"What is it then?† â€Å"No clue.† â€Å"Damn, you’re helpful.† She didn’t fall for the trap. Why I was goading her, I wasn’t sure. At this moment, she was the main companion I had, the main individual I trusted. I attempted to offer some kind of reparation by rationalizing. â€Å"Maybe I read something about werewolves previously and my psyche recollected. I read a great deal of bizzaro stuff.† â€Å"Could be.† â€Å"My spouse never referenced it, though.† Cassandra cast me a sharp look. â€Å"He saw one?† â€Å"So he said.† Out on the fields, D-child. A man turned into a wolf and afterward ran underneath the full moon. â€Å"I’m thinking he didn’t draw near enough to see the eyes.† Until that last night at any rate. â€Å"There’s one thing that bugs me,† Cassandra mumbled Excited to leave the memory of Simon and his passing behind, I hopped on the remark â€Å"Just one?† She didn’t trouble to recognize my endeavor at levity. â€Å"Why is it a wolf?† â€Å"Huh?’ â€Å"Or perhaps I ought to ask, how is it a wolf?† â€Å"Cassandra, what are you talking about?† â€Å"Marie Favreau said wolves make wolves.† â€Å"If we can trust her. On the off chance that she isn’t crazy.† â€Å"Do you think she is?† â€Å"If she is, I am.† I scoured my brow. â€Å"I don’t feel crazy.† â€Å"Crazy individuals never do.† â€Å"Har-har. Would we be able to return to the current theme, which I’m still not satisfactory on?† ‘If it takes a wolf to make a wolf, where did the primary wolf come from?† â€Å"Is that a riddle?† Cassandra disregarded me once more. She was getting awesome at it â€Å"No two-timers. That’s what got you here in the first place.† â€Å"There were wolves once. Red wolves.† â€Å"Is this a red wolf?† I shook my head. â€Å"Too huge, excessively dark, too timber wolfy.† â€Å"Which takes us back to the curse.† â€Å"According to you,† I mumbled, â€Å"man became mammoth with no gnawing involved.† â€Å"But why a wolf? Why not a croc, or a snake, or a panther for that matter?† Better believe it, why? I had a terrible inclination. Without asking authorization, I set out toward Cassandra’s office, began clicking endlessly on her PC before she even arrived. â€Å"What are you thinking, Diana?† she inquired. â€Å"Names have power,† I murmured. Seconds after the fact I perceived how much. † ‘Ruelle,'† I read.† ‘French for â€Å"famous wolf.†Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬  Cassandra attracted a speedy, sharp breath. â€Å"That’s why the revile made a wolf.† â€Å"We don’t know without a doubt †† she started. â€Å"Maybe not† I stood and began for the entryway. â€Å"But I intend to discover out† No big surprise he’d said there wasn’t a loup-garou. No big surprise he’d elected to be my guide. No big surprise he’d occupied me with an incredible sex. What better approach to ensure I never found what I’d come to discover? On the off chance that I was looking forward, I wasn’t seeing what was directly under me †had been directly under me time and again. â€Å"Wait† Cassandra called. â€Å"You need to take a weapon.† â€Å"I don’t assume you have any silver shots handy.† â€Å"No, however †† She rushed into the shop, mumbling to Lazarus when he murmured. As I ventured through the dots hanging in the entryway, she slapped her blade into my palm. â€Å"Silver, through and through.† Shoving a blade into Adam †â€Å"I can’t.† â€Å"Believe me, Diana, on the off chance that he develops teeth and a tail, you can.† â€Å"What on the off chance that he doesn’t?† I looked at the window. â€Å"It’s daytime.† â€Å"Touch him with the thing. Check whether he smokes.† â€Å"Terrific,† I murmured. â€Å"He’s going to think I’m insane.† â€Å"Good. On the off chance that this is crazy, at that point he isn’t the loup-garou.† What's more, we had a totally different arrangement of issues. In such a case that Adam wasn’t, who was? Cassandra bit her lip. â€Å"Maybe I ought to go, too.† â€Å"So he can murder both of us?† â€Å"He isn’t going to murder you.† â€Å"Nor â€Å"If he needed you dead, you’d be dead already.† â€Å"Great† â€Å"You could take Detective Sullivan along. He needs to converse with Ruelle anyway.† I thought about the idea, men set it aside. â€Å"Adam isn’t going to come clean with me on the off chance that I bring a cop. In addition, he hasn’t hurt me. He may hurt Sullivan.† â€Å"You need to tell me you’re good Tell me what occurred, what he said.† â€Å"OK.† â€Å"By †† She looked at her watch. â€Å"Seven o’clock.† â€Å"In the morning?† â€Å"Tonight!† â€Å"No. Morning.† On the off chance that I wasn't right about Adam, I may need to make it up to him. Thinking about the allegation, that could take some time. The most effective method to refer to Night Creature: Crescent Moon Chapter 24, Essay models

Monday, August 3, 2020

How to Create a ServiceScape Profile That Gets Results

How to Create a ServiceScape Profile That Gets Results When you enlist your services as an online freelancer in todays digital age, you have to go above and beyond to outshine the competition. With more than 35% of Americans participating in the gig economy to some degree, its safe to say that youre competing against some top-tier talent out there.Thats why it is important to optimally present yourself and your skill set so that clients can be convinced of your worth. We are going to focus on your profile, which is the starting point for every interaction on ServiceScape, and delve into how to clearly communicate what clients want to hear.Your ServiceScape profile contains the following information (in no particular order):DescriptionHeadshot PhotographPortfolioVideo IntroductionCredentialsUsernameRatings and ReviewsPricesThe more effort you put into each and every one of these profile elements, the more successful you will be at attracting clients.A shopping experience always begins with presentation. Think of it this way: when clients come to ServiceScape, their initial interaction is similar to going to a bookstore and browsing book covers that catch their eye. As design expert Sabrina Smelko puts it:They say not to judge a book by its cover, but who are we kidding? Its undeniable that the cover of a book affects your decision to either read on or put it back on the shelf. In todays visual culture, this can be even more true for anyone who runs any kind of business, whether online or brick-and-mortar.With so many visuals coming at us from our computers, phones and various feeds â€" let alone the world outside our doors â€" it seems were almost expected to have a cool logo and visually-rich branded content in order to even be noticed. And regardless of whether you want to succumb to this fact or not, as exhausting as it can be, its hard to deny that a first impression can have a huge impact and influence on your business; which, much like a book cover, can determine the number of customers who open the door.Sabri na Smelko, Tips Tricks for Creating a Customer-Catching Storefront DisplayEssentially, your profile is your book cover and is the first step for convincing clients to learn more about you and what you have to offer. We are going to break down each element of your profile, why it is important, and how to curate it to your personal advantage.Lets get started.DescriptionYour description is the brief paragraph that communicates who you are, what you can offer, and what clients can expect from working with you. Equipped with a character limit, its up to you to fit as much information as possible into a concise, witty, and informative blurb. If you are not a writer/editor, its worth considering editing services to ensure your description reflects proper grammar, syntax, and spelling.We recommend, at the very least, that you include the following:Three areas of your expertiseWhat you can promise clients every single timeYour own personal catchy tagline. Something like Lets get to work.Aft er writing your description, you should reread it from the perspective of a client. Is the description written with enthusiasm and energy? Does it connect with you and what you need as an imaginary client? In other words, would you hire yourself? If the answer is no, keep working on it until you are satisfied with the results.Tip #1: Check out other professionals descriptions. See whats working for them. Although you cannot plagiarize, theres no harm in getting a little inspiration from the other people in your field.Headshot PhotographNext, although your description will communicate exactly what it is you can offer clients, your headshot photograph will be the first piece of media they glance over when they discover your profile. Humans are visually oriented, which means headshots can make or break your profile.Here are our tips for what you should consider when picking a headshot:Every headshot must be high resolution; grainy quality automatically tells a buyer that you are unprof essional.Smile and look pleasant; relatability is important and no one wants to work with a grouch.Here is an example of a good headshot photograph. The photo is high resolution and the individual is friendly and engaging.Although headshots may vary depending on your area of expertise, its worth it to see a professional photographer and to get a real headshot taken. Blurry photos taken by phones and laptops will be noted, communicating to clients that you are not serious about how you present yourself or your freelance business.Be sure to check out the competition. What seems to be the best headshot move for the most successful professionals? This is a good indication of where you should go with the headshot.Tip #2: A little analytics testing is an easy way to find a photo that works best for you. Compare your inquiry results over a 3-month period, with a different photo each month. Which photo performed the best?PortfolioNow that you have a brilliant headshot and descriptive blurb in place, its time to focus on what demonstrates your skills and expertise. Compiling a portfolio that accurately reflects what you can offer clients will take time. Be sure you have approval from past clients to include their works in your public portfolio â€" its not always proper to go ahead and plaster business names from past projects.Remember: people dont have a lot of time today. They are going to sift through your profile quickly before they decide to choose you. That means that quality over quantity is what you want to focus on here. If you provide three different types of writing services, highlight just one piece from each area of expertise. Obviously, spend time reading over the piece extensively to ensure that there are no typos before you use it in your profile.Lastly, as time goes on, one, two, or three years can fly by while youre freelancing online. Update your profile to reflect your most recent work. If you keep showcasing work from a few years ago, clients will s tart to wonder if you are hiding something. Never get complacent!Tip #3: Remember, humans are visual creatures. Try and make your portfolio fun to look at, with eye-popping color and contrasting fonts. You dont want to make freelancer shopping feel like a mundane chore for clients.Here is an example of a great portfolio. You should make your portfolio stand out by uploading sample files that are captivating and attention-grabbing.Video IntroductionThis is a great place to let your personality shine through. In many cases, buyers might skip over the portfolio and description and go straight to the video. Why? Because they are on the go, hoping that you will speak to them so they dont have to read about you. Its just the way of the digital world today.Video introductions dont have to be Hollywood masterpieces. They can be you at a desk, providing a background on your services in just 30 seconds. Whatever you send over, well do our best to improve it on our end before we add it to your profile. Well edit your video and add music so that it is entertaining and informative. However, bonus points for those who can edit their own videos to create a more professional setting.At the very least, in your video introduction, try to include:A simple introduction: Hello, and thank you for looking at my profileWhat you can do for clients on ServiceScapeHow long youve been freelancing (only if you are not a new freelancer)A couple of interesting facts/tidbits that make you seem charismatic, funny, or interestingIts definitely worth investing in video production services to get this video introduction just right. An impressive video can boost your profile popularity tremendously.Hiring a video production service is a smart idea. High-quality video content will allow you to build trust by providing a face and a voice to your freelance venture within a professional setting.CredentialsIf a video introduction represents one side of the selling yourself spectrum in which charisma c ount for a lot, credentials definitely represent the other side. This is where clients will learn about what you have specifically done and how that specifically applies to what they need.A ServiceScape credential contains just the name of a position/degree and the institution where you held that position/received that degree. Nothing more and nothing less. This allows a client to quickly glance though your experience and expertise without any sales pitch and to get to the core of what you do best.You should select your credentials carefully, making sure that each one makes a case for why you are an expert in your field. The listed order of your credentials is also important. If you have a Ph.D., dont have your B.A. degree as your first credential.UsernameYour username is the brand name for your freelance business. This is going to be the largest piece of text within your profile, so making it stand out is a priority. The catchier and more creative your username is, the more likely it is that you will capture the interest of potential clients. As Arun Bhati, CEO of Orahi, stated in Entrepreneur.com:Good names, like good logos, evoke a strong passion for your brand, while bad names elicit distaste or worse still, indifference. A great brand name can be a solid competitive advantage for your company, especially when feature sets between two or more brands are roughly the same. A brands value is what it offers its customers and what it promises to do for them in the long run and must convey its uniqueness in a way that the customer is drawn to use it just by the mention of its name.Arun Bhati, Why Brand Name is Important for Start-Ups?Some professionals use their first names as their usernames. Though it does make your profile more personable, a username can also convey your professional capabilities. When deciding on your username, take a look at your competition first and see how they approach this issue.Tip #4: Coming up with a witty username can be difficult. Even if you find a username that you like, the idea could already have been taken by another ServiceScape professional. The best thing to do if you are out of ideas is to try a business name generator. There are many generators out there that you can try. After using a few of them, you should be able to find a username that is a unique and memorable representation of your services.Ratings and ReviewsThis is where your client interaction skills will shine through, whether you want them to or not. Thats why its so important to practice proper customer service with every single client, no matter how you feel about them. At the end of the day, they get to review you publicly, and that goes on your profile. Other clients will be able to read it. Go above and beyond, especially during your first few projects, to impress your clients. A stellar review can easily grab you another five projects.Review volume will give veteran freelancers an advantage. However, if you are new to ServiceScape dont worry. Building a client base takes time. With enough commitment and dedication, you can rack up the same number of reviews as those ahead of you today.PricesLastly, your profile is where clients can mull over your prices. If you dont know how to price a service, we recommend the following suggestion:Find five sellers in your field who seem to be dominating. Add up their rates and divide by five. Use that number as your initial rate for starting out.As time goes on, you can always increase your prices. You never want to come in so high that no one wants to buy from you, though. But, do be careful of coming in too low and giving off the impression that your work is sub-par or that you are desperate for clients.What you get out of your ServiceScape profile is entirely up to youNo, you dont have to cross your fingers and pray that a client comes your way. You can actually lure them to your services if you follow our tips for curating a professional profile. Spend some time, resea rch the competition, and remember to never get too complacent! Its normal to fine-tune things every few months.Need more help? Here are some great resources which I would recommend:Alex Fasulo â€" Learn How to Make Money from HomeDiana Marinova â€" Freelance Coach Marking ConsultantFreelancer Profile: 5 Steps To Making A Killer Impact

Thursday, June 25, 2020

The Life of Pi Story - Free Essay Example

â€Å"The Life of Pi† is an enthralling tale of a young boy and his troubles at sea. It’s about his fight for survival with a Bengal tiger. The boy also struggles with his religion and identity. Readers can take the messages presented to them in the story and apply them to everyday lives. They will fall in love with its colorful cast of characters and its deviation from usual story plots. Since the author, Yann Martell, has been through many life-changing experiences during his life, it’s fitting to say that â€Å"The Life of Pi† is also life-changing in its quality and style. Yann Martell was born on June 25, 1963 in Spain. He was born to Emile and Nicole, who were in Spain at the time when Yann was born due to his father’s pursuit of a doctorate degree. Martell did not spend a lot of time in his birthplace, as his parents soon joined the foreign service. He grew up in France, Costa Rica, and Mexico, before settling in Canada to go to college. These places where he grew up would have most likely influenced the setting of his literary works. In 1987, Martell graduated from Ontario’s Trent Univeristy with a degree in philosophy, which could have also influenced Martell’s style and the meanings of his books. From there, Martell worked as a tree planter, dishwasher, security guard, and many other jobs before becoming a writer at the age of twenty-seven. Even though he lived Canada, Martell still traveled, visiting many exotic places around the world. Such places include Turkey, Iran, and India, where Martell gained many of the ideas for h is future works, which would later capture the hearts of many people around the world. During his travels, Martell wrote his first book, called â€Å"The Facts behind the Helsinki Roccamatios† in 1993. It was actually a collection of short stories that dealt with themes such as grief and death. Many of these themes would reoccur in the Life of Pi, published about eight years later. Three years after the publication of â€Å"The Facts behind the Helsinki Roccamatios†, Martell published â€Å"Self†. â€Å"Self† was a cleverly crafted story of a young boy struggling with his sexuality and identity. According to Jeffrey Hunter, â€Å"The novel works as a study on subjectivity and identity, and Martel has been praised for his investigation of gender roles and the subjective nature of self† (Hunter, 2012). Five years later, Martell published his most well-known book, â€Å"The Life of Pi† in 2001. The book was so good that it was met with widespread acclaim from all across the globe. According to Hunter, â€Å" The critically acc laimed novel has been compared to the work of Jospeh Conrad and Salman Rushdie† (Hunter, 2012). He received the Booker Prize for his outstanding literary work. On top of that, he was asked to teach at a university in Berlin, Germany. â€Å" The Life of Pi† manages to break the mold of many stories that have preceded it. It manages to stray significantly from clichà © or regular adventure stories. The author of this amazing book, Yann Martel, blends together vivid feelings, colorful imagery, and inspiring messages into one uplifting journey. This creates an inspiring tale for many generations. Characters are deeply flawed and relatable, rather than perfect, flawless characters. The characters display raw, unfiltered, and pure emotions that have a very large influence on the reader. For example, in the story, sixteen year-old Pi Patel seems like another perfect character on the outside. He is smart, does very well in school, runs a zoo with his family, and is a deeply religious individual. However, Pi’s character flaws lie within his religious identity. He believes in three different religions. He has many flashbacks regarding his faith, such as being in a religious house or remembering previous journeys around the world that pertained to his faith. These conflicts always haunt him and he is forced to deal with them every day. On top of that, Pi has an avalanche of work to do every single day. Such things include running the zoo his parents own and keeping up with his work in school. This makes his problems about faith even more overwhelming. Being overwhelmed is so mething that many people experience daily, so this makes Pi’s situation more relatable to readers of all ages. However, Pi always makes the best out of every situation he faces, no matter how difficult it is. That is a lesson that everyone should live by. As the story continues on, Pi and his family must move to Canada. They pack their animals onto a boat called the Tsimtsum. However, the boat sinks killing everyone except Pi and a few animals including a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a tiger known as Richard Parker. Richard Parker eats all the animals except for Pi, who must fight for survival at sea. In order to stay alive, Pi creates his own section of the lifeboat that they are riding in. He must catch fish for food and depends on the rain for water. This struggle shows how fortunate many people around the world are to have lots of food and water and a roof above their heads. We take these things for granted and do not think about thousands of other people around the world who are suffering from lack of food, water, and shelter. The settings in the story are also key elements that bring the novel to life. The settings are so vividly described and seem so real that readers feel like they are actually in the story. Pi’s fight for survival at sea lasts for months, but during that time he also visits a beautiful island along the way, full of otherworldly life. He encounters lush, glowing vegetation and colonies of meerkats that span farther than the naked eye can see. However, after the sun sets, the island reveals its carnivorous true nature to Pi and Richard Parker, forcing them to retreat to the sea. The island shows how deadly nature can be at its worst times and how it can surprise you at any second. According to Pi, â€Å" I preferred to set off and perish in search of my own kind than to live a lonely half-life of physical comfort and spiritual death on this murderous island† (Martell, 2001, p. 283). Many more months pass until Pi and Richard Parker arrive in Mexico. Richard Parker then wanders into the jungle, leaving Pi to fend for himself. Pi is then interviewed about what happened in his ordeal at sea. When his interviewers did not believe the real story, he replaced the animals in the lifeboat with humans, asking which story they preferred, which then concludes the novel. Pi tells the reporters, â€Å" You can’t prove which story is true and which is not. You must take my word for it† (Martell, 2001, p. 317). The skepticism of the interviewers highlights the last message the story has to offer, which is pertaining how humans trust one another. While most of the book is of extraordinary quality, there are some parts of the book that are not worthy of praise. For example, part one of the story was slow and lacked the thought and emotion of the latter parts. Of course, this part was necessary because it set up the characters, setting, and other important elements of the story. Nevertheless, the boring part did not change the outlook of the story as a whole. It was still an enjoyable book to read. In conclusion, Yan Martel’s â€Å" The Life of Pi† is a heartfelt, inspiring, and entertaining tale that is sure to entertain readers of all ages. There are many things that made this story a success, but the most important was its characters and setting. Without these driving forces of the plot, there would be no story to begin with. Nevertheless, Yan Martell poured his heart and soul into writing â€Å" The Life of Pi.† His passion and dedication to his work truly shine through when you read it. Works Cited: Langer, Adam. The new paper tiger: Yann Martel. (Ten Who Made It Big in 2002). Book, Jan.-Feb. 2003, p. 37. Literature Resource Center, Accessed 27 Nov. 2018. Life of Pi. Novels for Students, edited by Ira Mark Milne, vol. 27, Gale, 2008, pp. 129-155. Gale Virtual Reference Library, Accessed 28 Nov. 2018. Stephens, Gregory. Feeding tiger, finding God: science, religion, and the better story in Life of Pi. Intertexts, vol. 14, no. 1, 2010, p. 41+. Literature Resource Center, Accessed 28 Nov. 2018. Yann Martel. Contemporary Literary Criticism, edited by Jeffrey W. Hunter, vol. 315, Gale, 2012. Literature Resource Center, Accessed 27 Nov. 2018.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

RAND Report Details 9-11 Victims Compensation

The original September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) was created under President George W. Bush and operated from 2001-2004 to provide compensation for individuals, or representatives of deceased individuals, harmed or killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Similarly, the VCF provided compensation for individuals, or representatives of deceased individuals, harmed or killed during the cleanup and recovery efforts that took place in the immediate aftermath of those attacks. The following article details how funds from the original VCF were expected to be distributed and how the VCF has been extended under presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.   The Rand Report A study released by the RAND Corporation shows that victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks — both individuals killed or seriously injured and individuals and businesses impacted by the strikes — have received at least $38.1 billion in compensation, with insurance companies and the federal government providing more than 90 percent of the payments. New York businesses have received 62 percent of the total compensation, reflecting the broad-ranging economic impacts of the attack in and near the World Trade Center. Among individuals killed or seriously injured, emergency responders and their families have received more than civilians and their families who suffered similar economic losses. On average, first responders have received about $1.1 million more per person than civilians with similar economic loss. The 9-11 terrorist attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,551 civilians and serious injury to another 215. The attacks also killed or seriously injured 460 emergency responders. â€Å"The compensation paid to the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania was unprecedented both in its scope and in the mix of programs used to make payments,† said Lloyd Dixon, a RAND senior economist and lead author of the report. â€Å"The system has raised many questions about equity and fairness that have no obvious answers. Addressing these issues now will help the nation be better prepared for future terrorism. Dixon and co-author Rachel Kaganoff Stern interviewed and gathered evidence from many sources to estimate the amount of compensation paid out by insurance companies, government agencies and charities following the attacks. Their findings include: Insurance companies expect to make at least $19.6 billion in payments, comprising 51 percent of the money paid in compensation.Government payments total nearly $15.8 billion (42 percent of the total). This includes payments from local, state and federal governments, plus payments from the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 that was established by the federal government to compensate those killed or physically injured in the attacks. The total does not include payments to clean up the World Trade Center site or rebuild public infrastructure in New York City.Payments by charitable groups comprise just 7 percent of the total, despite the fact that charities distributed an unprecedented $2.7 billion to victims of the attacks.Because of concerns that liability claims would clog the courts and create further economic harm, the federal government limited the liability of airlines, airports and certain government bodies. The government established the Victim Compensation Fund to m ake payments to families for the deaths and injuries of victims. In addition, the government funded a major economic revitalization program for New York City.RAND researchers found that businesses hurt by the attacks have received most of the compensation that the study was able to quantify. The families of civilians killed and the civilians who were injured received the second-highest payments. The study found that:Businesses in New York City, particularly in lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center, have received $23.3 billion in compensation for property damage, disrupted operations, and economic incentives. About 75 percent of that came from insurance companies. More than $4.9 billion went to revitalize the economy of Lower Manhattan.Civilians killed or seriously injured received a total of $8.7 billion, averaging about $3.1 million per recipient. Most of this came from the Victim Compensation Fund, but payments also came from insurance companies, employers and charities.Abou t $3.5 billion was paid to displaced residents, workers who lost their jobs, or others who suffered emotional trauma or were exposed to environmental hazards.Emergency responders killed or injured received a total of $1.9 billion, with most of that coming from the government. Payments averaged about $1.1 million more per person than for civilians with similar economic losses, with most of the higher amount due to payments from charities.​ Certain features of the Victim Compensation Fund tended to increase compensation relative to economic loss. Other features tended to decrease compensation relative to economic loss. Researchers say more detailed individual data are needed to determine the net effect. For example, the Victim Compensation Fund decided to limit the amount of lost future earnings it would consider when calculating awards for survivors. Administrators capped income the fund would consider at $231,000 per year in projecting future lifetime earnings, even though many people killed earned more than that amount. The special master of the Victim Compensation Fund had substantial discretion to set final awards for higher income earners, but data are not available on how he exercised that discretion. Extensions of the Victim Compensation Fund On January 2, 2011, President Barack Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (the Zadroga Act) into law. Title II of the Zadroga Act reactivated the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. The reactivated VCF opened in October 2011 and was authorized to operate for a period of five years, ending in October 2016. On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed a bill reauthorizing the James Zadroga Act extending funding for the Victim Compensation Fund until December 18, 2020. The law also included some important changes to the VCF’s policies and procedures for evaluating claims and calculating each claimant’s loss: Capped non-economic loss that results from a cancer at $250,000.Capped non-economic loss that does not result from a cancer at $90,000.Instructed the Special Master to prioritize claims for victims who are determined by the Special Master to be suffering from the most debilitating physical conditions.For purposes of calculating economic loss, capped Annual Gross Income (â€Å"AGI†) at $200,000 for each year of loss.Removed the $10,000 minimum award. On February 15, 2019, the VCF Special Master announced that the money remaining in the VCF would be insufficient to pay all pending and projected claims under current VCF policies and procedures. This announcement spurred Congress to consider enacting legislation making funding for VCF compensation virtually permanent. On July 29, 2019, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 1327, The VCF Permanent Authorization Act, which extends the deadline for filing claims for compensation from December 18, 2020, to October 1, 2090, and guaranteed future funding as may be necessary to pay all approved claims. Updated by Robert Longley