Internet Health Information Pros Cons Health And Social Care Essay

Internet Health Information Pros Cons Health And Social Care Essay After becoming an essential part of life in less than two decades, the internet has fundamentally changed the way of information seeking and providing, and the nature of communication in many fields, including healthcare system. Nowadays we can see patients and carers search for health information through web-surfing, receive advice or education from on-line based health information providers, and communicate opinions on specific symptoms or newly developed treatments by exchanging e-mails, posting on the on-line message board, participating in the chat rooms (Servellen and Marram 2009). Though there are a myriad of merits on using the internet in health area, some have raised concerns about its negative effects on the vulnerable users and the relationship dynamics of face-to-face health consultation, especially with advent of the most informed patients ever. This report presents four internet sites on health information, describe positive and negative aspects of using the internet a s health information source, and discuss how so-to-speak impersonal nature of the internet has affected the relationship between patients and health professionals. Examples of health internet sites and their primary goals Department of Health and Ageing, Australian Government The Department of Health and Ageing(DHA) is a Department of State of Australia, operating under the Public Service Act 1999 and the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997(2009). Its homepage provides information for both health consumers and professionals. For example, the major part of the DHA web pages consists of extensive subjects such as ageing, chronic diseases, quarantine and travel health, communicable diseases, organ donation, patient education, maternal and infant health, Medicare benefits, health product and medicines, health and ageing thesaurus, etc., which aim to support the sick, teenagers, seniors, their families and health care workers. In addition, the DHA also render information on other related web sites and useful links. MoodGYM The MoodGYM is a web-based interactive tool for general public, assisting identification and management of anxiety and depression. Developed by the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University, it is known as one of the most widely investigated psychic therapy application(Bell 2007). After registering ones basic profiles, users can try its programs for free and approach to step by step questionnaires and exercises on emotions. According to the web site of MoodGYM, its therapeutical foundation derived from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, which claims that the way a person recognise the exterior environment eventually influences his behaviour, and Interpersonal Therapy, which was designed to provide solutions on conflicting roles, to improve relationship with other people, to give consolation over deep sorrow. Sibs: For Brothers and Sisters of Disabled Children and Adults The Sibs is a UK rooted, not-for-profit organisation helping siblings of disabled people. While many other internet sites pertaining to the disabled conditions are focusing on the information directly relevant to the handicapped people, this charity particularly acknowledges and addresses the special needs for brothers, sisters and parents of them. Through its internet homepage, young people and adult can assess to the practical tips as to being a family member of the physically challenged. It also contains information on workshop and training run across the UK for health care professionals and supporting siblings. Royal College of Nursing, Australia The Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) is a national nursing membership organisation, established in Melbourne in 1949, now moved to Canberra to concentrate on the professional development and policy analysis. Its official web site provides a variety of information for nurses and nursing students, including notices on upcoming conferences, expos, and workshops. Besides, 3LP, the RCNAs life-long education scheme, supports practice nurses with free e-training handling chronic disease, cultural variation, care plan management, self-management, and support strategies. Pros and cons for internet health information Through the internet we can be in contact with large volume of health information for 24/7 basis, even across national borders, by paying relatively low expense. Virtually every kinds of health information for every level and format is flowing over the internet, which means it is quite possible for you to select the very information you have searched for with little effort(Lee, Park et al. 2009). This kind of electronic accessibility is especially meaningful for some underserved groups such as the physically challenged and the scattered population in rural areas (Abrahamson, Fisher et al. 2008). In most cases the traditional mode of intervention or education hardly delivers such subdivided information conveniently with the constraints of cost-effectiveness, time and place. The anonymous nature of the internet also plays a positive role in providing health information for the vulnerable groups such as the mentally-ill or the disabled. For example, some patients from these groups might prefer not to reveal their personal details to others while craving for the necessary knowledge about their condition. In that case, the internet makes the most desirable solution they can approach the health information or exchange experience about illness conditions, remaining unidentified people. To sum up, the internet is seen to have great capacity for supplying versatile health information to both the general public and minor groups rapidly, widely and easily, which presumably lead to reduction of effort and time for health professionals while educating their clients. However, the promising feature of the internet could lead to the unexpected results. Due to the extreme variety of the web-based health information, it is often pointed out that the ability to correctly understand the medical terms and context, referred to as health literacy, sometimes impedes the right use of the health websites (Abrahamson, Fisher et al. 2008). And for the underserved, the problem could be much bigger. The vulnerable including the disabled, the elderly, etc , may be less health literate and less educated about judging the quality of information (Eng, Maxfield et al. 1998), and might be at a riskier status of becoming suffered by erroneous use of the on-line health information. Besides, the anonymity of the internet that enables rather free communication between the unidentified could result in destructive or unethical outcomes particularly for mentally weak patients. For instance, it is suggested that anonymity in a peer support website for the mentally ill might make it hard to identify whether the contents of posting of suicides and suicide attempts are real ones, therefore the members could be influenced by hoaxes to a greater extent(Hsiung 2007). In conclusion, the more information presented via the internet, the more sensitive approach and evaluation process are required, especially for the vulnerable groups lacking sound judgement capacity. How impersonal nature of the Internet affects the relationships between patients and health professionals Contrary to the traditional mode of providing health information, which involves direct communication and interactions between patients and doctors, the contemporary cyberspace generally offers one-way, impersonal communication. And this feature sometime motivates patients to search for the internet health information, because the internet seems more collectively objective source than the human being. For instance, the indirect interaction involving many unknown people lacking personal relationship, like the internet communication, may be seen to help find the impartial information(Robinson and Turner 2003). However, after surrounded by a large volume of one-way information and feeling the need to interpret or confirm them from the perspective of personally believable sources, patients are found to seek discussion with doctors about the internet health information found. Many patients are visiting GPs with print out of internet information. Some have argued that the internet might be a threat to the role of physician as a source of health information, as the internet would narrow the disparity of medical knowledge between patient and doctors(Hein 2001). But recently it is figured out that the health consultants remain the fundamental and essential authorities in selecting process of the information from the internet (Kivits 2006). Patients indeed have needs for integrated emotional support and personalised direction to get through the complex labyrinth of medical world. In summary, as the internet has become a convenient source of health information and substituted health professionals role in a degree, doctors and nurses are now required to be prepared to guide patients to choose more desirable health websites, answer their questions about the information found, and personally encourage patients willingness to learn and overcome their diseases, which would eventually make a substantial shift from traditional health care professional-patient relationship. Conclusion The internet educates patients and their carers in versatile levels, enhances accessibility to the health information for the underserved effectively, and assists health professionals to save effort and time to teach basic health information to the public. But there are also possibilities for some vulnerable subgroups to misuse the internet health information, due to lack of proper understanding of medical terms or appropriate capacity to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Even the patient with sound common sense and good educational backgrounds often find the information from the internet is confusing or untrustworthy. On top of that, the internet cannot provide the interactive personal communication by which patients can understand their specific conditions in the whole context. Therefore the roles for the health professionals now in demand are to actively accept the fact that they are not the only source of health information, help patient filter the internet health informat ion and support patients to take responsibility in understanding and conquering ones own disease. (2009). Annual Report 2008-2009. Canberra, Department of Health and Ageing, Australian Government. Abrahamson, J. A., K. E. Fisher, et al. (2008). Lay information mediary behavior uncovered: exploring how nonprofessionals seek health information for themselves and others online. Journal of the Medical Library Association 96(4): 310-323. OBJECTIVES: This research studied motivations for, barriers to, and effects of online health information seeking and explored lay information mediary behavior (LIMB) characteristics in the consumer health information domain. Lay information mediaries (LIMs) seek information on behalf or because of others, without necessarily being asked to do so or engaging in follow up, and have represented more than 50% of health information seekers in prior studies. METHODS: A web-based survey was posted on NC Health Info (NCHI) with 211 respondents, self-identified per the information need that brought them to NCHI as 20% LIMs (n = 43), 58% direct users (n = 122), and 22% health or information providers (n = 46). Follow-up telephone interviews were performed with 10% (n = 21). Interview analysis focused on lay participants (n = 15 LIMs and direct users combined). Interviewees were reclassified post-survey as 12 LIMs and 3 direct users when studied information behavior extended beyond NCHI search. Interview data were analyzed using grounded theory approach. RESULTS: Surveyed LIMs were 77% female (n = 33) and searched on behalf or because of family members (81%, n = 35) and people they felt extremely close to (77%, n = 33). LIMs reported various information seeking barriers sometimes to often. LIMs searched mostly without prompting (51%, n = 22). Interview results triangulated survey findings regarding gender, tie strength, and prompting. CONCLUSIONS: LIMB may be related to gender and relationship tie strength and appears more internally than externally motivated. Further LIMB research is warranted. Bell, V. (2007). Online information, extreme communities and internet therapy: Is the internet good for our mental health? Journal of Mental Health 16(4): 445-457. Background: Questions have been raised about the internets effect on mental health, although no principled review has yet tackled the issue. Aims: To examine the effect of the internet on mental health. Method: Literature review. Results: The internet is typically discussed as if it were a set of activities when it is actually a medium upon which various activities can occur. It is, therefore, neither good nor bad for mental health, although specific activities may have an influence. The standard of mental health information on the internet is probably equivalent to the mainstream media, although overall it still remains poor. The concept of internet addiction looks increasingly invalid, although it is likely that depressed or isolated individuals are more likely to focus on certain activities to excess. A number of extreme communities have formed online, such as pro-anorexia, pro-suicide, pro-amputation and likely-psychotic groups. These serve to provide support, outside a medical a nd social mainstream that finds their beliefs and behaviours unacceptable. A review of preliminary randomized controlled trials shows online therapy to be effective for many disorders. Conclusions: Mental health professionals are advised to lead the creation of online treatments and information. Clinical recommendations for the use of the internet are offered. Declaration of interest: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Mental Health is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holders express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) Eng, T. R., A. Maxfield, et al. (1998). Access to health information and support: a public highway or a private road? JAMA: The Journal Of The American Medical Association 280(15): 1371-1375. Information and communication technologies may help reduce health disparities through their potential for promoting health, preventing disease, and supporting clinical care for all. Unfortunately, those who have preventable health problems and lack health insurance coverage are the least likely to have access to such technologies. Barriers to access include cost, geographic location, illiteracy, disability, and factors related to the capacity of people to use these technologies appropriately and effectively. A goal of universal access to health information and support is proposed to augment existing initiatives to improve the health of individuals and the public. Both public- and private-sector stakeholders, particularly government agencies and private corporations, will need to collaboratively reduce the gap between the health information haves and have-nots. This will include supporting health information technology access in homes and public places, developing applications for the growing diversity of users, funding research on access-related issues, ensuring the quality of health information and support, enhancing literacy in health and technology, training health information intermediaries, and integrating the concept of universal access to health information and support into health planning processes. Hein, E. C., Ed. (2001). Nursing issues in the 21st century : perspectives from the literature Philadelphia, Pa., Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Hsiung, R. C. (2007). A suicide in an online mental health support group: reactions of the group members, administrative responses, and recommendations. Cyberpsychology Behavior: The Impact Of The Internet, Multimedia And Virtual Reality On Behavior And Society 10(4): 495-500. Suicides in online mental health support groups are inevitable. This case report of such a suicide describes the responses of the group members and the moderator and makes recommendations. Members of a large, public, mental health message board supported each other, and the moderator, a mental health professional, managed the milieu. A member joined in February 2001 and killed herself in April 2002. The initial response of the members was grief. The moderator attempted to minimize suicide contagion by not making any special announcements and to facilitate mourning by starting a memorial thread. There were no reports of self-injury in response to the suicide, and the online ventilation of grief may in fact have had some preventative effect. One member went to the funeral, and gradually, the group moved on. The moderator later implemented a memorial page. The responses of online groups to suicide may, like those of real-life groups, have resuscitation, rehabilitation, and renewal phase s. Diffusion of dependency, a searchable archive, and threaded, asynchronous discussion may facilitate mourning, but anonymity may increase vulnerability to false reports. A thread started in memory of a deceased member may function like a virtual memorial service. A memorial page may function like a virtual cemetery. Preliminary recommendations can be made regarding suicide prevention and responding to suicide in moderated online mental health support groups. Kivits, J. (2006). Informed patients and the internet: a mediated context for consultations with health professionals. Journal Of Health Psychology 11(2): 269-282. This article investigates how individuals use of the Internet for finding health information may affect the relationship between health professionals and patients. It explores peoples rationales for searching for information online, the information selection process and the implications for doctor-patient interactions. Qualitative interviews were conducted by email with 31 health information seekers. Study findings show the importance of the everyday in orientating health information searches and of personal experience in navigating a multiplicity of online sources. Interviewees emphasize the primary role of the doctor-patient relationship for delivering health and medical information, their Internet searches complementing rather than opposing professional expertise. Lee, Y. J., J. Park, et al. (2009). Exploring antecedents of consumer satisfaction and repeated search behavior on e-health information. Journal Of Health Communication 14(2): 160-173. E-health information has become an important resource for people seeking health information. Even though many studies have been conducted to examine the quality of e-health information, only a few studies have explored the effects of the information seekers motivations on the perceived quality of e-health information. There is even less information about repeated searches for e-health information after the users initial experience of e-health information use. Using an online survey of information seekers, 252 e-health information users responses were collected. The research examines the relationship among motivation, perceived quality, satisfaction, and intention to repeat-search e-health information. The results identify motivations to search e-health information and confirm the relationship among motivation, perceived quality dimensions, and satisfaction and intention to repeat searches for e-health information. Robinson, J. D. and J. Turner (2003). Impersonal, interpersonal, and hyperpersonal social support: cancer and older adults. Health Communication 15(2): 227-234. Although cancer occurs throughout the life span, many of the most frequently occurring types of cancer increase as we grow older. In fact, only cardiovascular disease accounts for more deaths in adults 65 years of age and older. One of the ways that cancer patients cope or adapt to their illness is through socially supportive communicative interactions and relationships. Cutrona and Russell (1990) argued that social support is multidimensional and suggested that social support is most effective when the support needs of the individual are consistent with the type of social support being offered by the support provider. From the communicative perspective, the notion of optimal matching between the types of social support desired and the type of social support offered is extended to include the type of relationship between the communicants. In addition, it is argued that computer-mediated social support can be superior to face-to-face social support. This article attempts to identify s ome of the conditions under which this is true. Servellen, V. and G. Marram (2009). Communication skills for the health care professional : concepts, practice, and evidence. Sudbury, Mass, Jones and Bartlett. Hasman, L., Zafron, M. L. (2010). An Analysis of Online Resources for Parents, Siblings, and Other Caregivers of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of Consumer Health On the Internet , 33-41.

Languages Essays Italian Economic Miracle

Languages Essays Italian Economic Miracle The Italian Economic Miracle Exposed: The Use of Comic Effects and Irony in Calvinos Marcovaldo. The Economic Miracle that is said to have swept across post-war Italy in the 1950s has been attributed by many scholars to the decision to open up the economy. This, in turn, gave Italy the chance to undergo a growth spurt that would help it keep pace with the rest of the world. According to Foot, the decision, made in the 1950s, to open up the country to trade and to let it integrate into the world market allowed it to catch up rapidly with the leading economies (2001:110). The growth spurt in the economy had wide-reaching effects. It changed the lives of the Italian people, many of whom found themselves transplanted from familiar rural areas to modern urban environments essentially a brand new way of life. As Foot asserts, Italys economic miracle transformed the countrys cultural landscape (2001:19). This is the world that was the setting for Italo Calvinos collection of stories, Marcovaldo, ovvero,Le stagioni in città   (Marcovaldo, or The Seasons in the City). The protagonist of these stories, Marcovaldo, appears to be a good-hearted, hard-working man. He ekes out a living as a day laborer, providing for his wife and children, but it is clearly a marginal existence. The struggle of his daily life is eased by his imagination, which leads him to become entangled in a number of amusing adventures. Marcovaldo has been described by one scholar as a man with the heros nostalgia for nature and open spaces,   whose sensitivity to the changing seasons in a cityscape polluted by all kinds of objects and living things, make sense only within the context of an urban setting (Jeannet 1977:26). These stories, or fables, as they are sometimes called, can be read on a surface level as a delightful collection of misadventures by a well-meaning but misguided individual. However, when considered in the light of this stark urban setting, they stand out as comical and ironic, a vehicle used by Calvino to expose the negative sides of this so-called economic miracle. It has been suggested that alongside the depiction of urban corruption and pollution, Calvino also, through the lovable but haplessly inept protagonist, undermines the Romantic notion of a return to nature' (Gabriele 1994:21–22). Thus, it seems that Calvino has transplanted Marcovaldo this high-spirited, though misguided, representative of rural life into the hostile new terrain of urban life. In so doing, he wrote a book that can be read as a volume of entertaining tales, and at the same time an ironic critique of the results of the economic boom. Calvinos use of comedy and irony is present throughout the book, and starts at the beginning. In the initial story, Calvinos description of Marcovaldo is wry and amusing, and it sets up the contrast between Marcovaldos simplistic nature against the backdrop of the strange new city: Aveva questo Marcovaldo un occhio poco adatto alla vita di città  : cartelli, semafori, vetrine, insegne luminose, manifesti, per studiati che fossero a colpire lattenzione, mai fermavano il suo sguardo che pareva scorrere sulle sabbie del deserto (7). Apparently, Marcovaldo is oblivious to the eye-catching distractions of the modern city; to him, they are non-existent. Instead, he is alert to the signs, however few and however bleak, of the natural world. In fact, he spends his time searching them out. The paucity of these signs does not deter him or detract from his enthusiasm. This suggests that he longs for his former, simpler life, and that he misses the rural background that he knows best. The search for signs of the natural world is rewarded when Marcovaldo discovers, to his delight, the first mushroom: Si chinà ² a legarsi le scarpe e guardà ² meglio: erano funghi, veri funghi, che stavano spuntando proprio nel curoe della città   (7). The discovery of the mushroom fills him with hope. Suddenly the drab grayness of the city melts away, and the drudgery and struggle of his daily life becomes less oppressive: A Marcovaldo parve che il mondo grigio e misero che lo circondava diventasse tutta un tratto generoso di ricchezze nascoste, e che dalla vita ci si potesse ancora aspettare qualcosa, oltre la paga oraria del salario contrattuale, la contingenza, gli assegni familiari e il carpane (7). The exaggerated happiness at the discovery of a mushroom serves to highlight the stark contrast of the urban world with his rustic background. The double reversal that follows the discovery of the mushrooms is another example of the comical irony that Calvino employs to expose the negative aspects of the economic boom. We note that Marcovaldo carefully guards the location of his discovery until Sunday, when, wife and children in tow, he heads for the mushroom site to pick them only to learn that there are bigger, better mushrooms, and that he is not the only one who is gathering them. This is the first disappointment, followed by an evening in the hospital, because it turns out the mushrooms are poisoned! Although Marcovaldo here may simply appear to be a bumbling fool, it seems plausible that Calvino is demonstrating the potential for disaster that is a result of uprooting people from the country and setting them down into a new and unfamiliar environment. Gabriele asserts that Marcovaldo knows nothing about the natural world, as is evidenced by his mishaps with the mushrooms and the pigeons. Marcovaldo has not been transplanted from a rural environment into an urban one; rather, he chases a rather indefinite dream of paradise (Gabriele 1994:21–22). Calvino might also be suggesting here that the time Marcovaldo has lived in an urban environment may have obliterated the common country logic he once had. Alternatively, perhaps this incident is used to demonstrate that Marcovaldo is, after all, a simpleton who simply does not know a good mushroom from a poisonous variety. Another possibility is that Calvino is trying to say that Marcovaldo, now an urban dweller, has taken on the greed associated with the rise of the city, and that this greed overpowers his natural instincts. The move from country to city, then, is portrayed as having deleterious effects on new urban dwellers. As Olken suggests, Calvino implies here that all growing things undergo corruption in the noxious atmosphere of the city (1984:121). Starting with the first story and continuing throughout the book, Marcovaldo embarks on a variety of ill-fated adventures, and each of them ends with a reversals or double reversal. Thus, it appears that Calvino reinforces the message albeit in a comical way that the financial prosperity that has been called the economic miracle is not a miracle for everyone indeed, it has a dark side. The final story has a twist that goes beyond this, suggesting that although Marcovaldos integration into urban life has been less than successful, that the lives of his children show a level of promise. Calvino describes a typical urban Christmas with clear irony: Tutti erano presi dallatmosfera alacre e cordiale che si espandeva per la città   festosa e produttiva; nulla à ¨ pià º bello che sentire scorrere intorno il flusso dei beni materiali e insieme del bene che ognuno vuole agli altri: e questo, questo soprattutto come ci ricorda il suono, firulà ­ firulà ­, delle zampogne, à ¨ cià ² che conta (118). Rampant materialism is juxtaposed with the feeling of good will it supposedly inspires, and the ugliness of the city clearly debases the sentiments of good cheer. In this story, Marcovaldos children must complete a school project that requires them to bring gifts to a poor child When Marcovaldo comes upon them in the midst of their preparations, he asks what they are doing and they respond Dobbiamo cercare un bambino povero e fargli dei regali (119). It occurs to him to remind them that they are poor children themselves, but apparently the spirit of materialism overcomes him and he responds Bambini poveri non ne esistono pià º (119). When the children do eventually find a poor child upon whom to lavish their gifts, it turns out to be none other than the child of   the president of the Union for the Implementation of Christmas Consumption (il presidente dellUnione Incremento Vendite Natalizie). This very spoiled child, dissatisfied with the hundreds of toys he has already amassed, is delighted by the gifts of Marcovaldos children, and he embarks on a wave of destruction that culminates in the burning down of the family home. Calvino turns the horror and humiliation that Marcovaldo feels when he learns of this incident into a clever and telling reversal. When Marcovaldo shows up for work the next day, he is certain there will be repercussions from the exploits of his children. After all, it was their actions that led to the mischief of Gianfranco and the ensuing destruction. In addition, although Marcovaldo is correct in his assumption that there will be fallout to contend with, he is wrong about the nature of that fallout. Therefore, when approached by high company officials the next day, he is not surprised, and girds himself for the worst-case scenario. However, when he arrives, he is told by the officials that there has been a change in the gift-giving program. Apparently, Gianfrancos destructive deeds have been seen in a far different light by his father: in the act of destroying everything in his wake, Gianfranco finally appeared, for once, to be happy. This has inspired the president to change the course of the gift-giving campaign. The officials inform Marcovaldo of this, exhorting him to hurry, because   LUnione Incremento Vendite Natalizie ha lanciato una campagna per il lancio del Regalo Distruttivo (123). Thus the actions of his children, for which he expected a certain and swift punishment, have actually turned around into a new commercial venture based on destruction. Calvinos portrayal of Marcovaldo as a bumbling peasant in the city can be seen as a vehicle through which he presents the negative aspects of the Italian economic miracle. He does this by setting this transplanted character into the foreign and often hostile urban environment. This volume is versatile: the adventures of Marcovaldo can be read as a series of delightful childrens tales or as a treatise exposing the dark side of the miracle. Cannon points out that Calvino had high aspirations for a literature autonomous but not divorced from political concerns (1989:33). The duality of Marcovaldo suggests that was his intention with this book. The image projected b the fiction of Calvino, suggests Cannon, seems to have become that of an increasingly indecipherable world (1989:38). She discusses the crisis of reason that is a recurrent theme in Calvinos fiction (1989:39). Oaken suggests that Marcovaldo represents the modern immigrant who tries desperately to adapt and conform. He will never really succeed, as his children may do; he is too divided between the two worlds, ill-prepared and therefore victimized (Olken 1984:122). The victimization of Marcovaldo, however amusing and ironic, is a tool Calvino uses to bring to light the negative repercussions that the sudden growth of prosperity brought with it. The final chapter does offer a glimmer of hope, in that the adaptability of Marcovaldos children, and of children in general, will better equip them to integrate into the new world. They have already done so, in fact, and with much more facility success, even than their parents. Whether Calvino believes this is positive or negative, he does not indicate here, perhaps because that has become a moot point. Change, for better or for worse, is inevitable. References Bloom, Harold, ed. 2001. Modern Critical Views: Italo Calvino. Broomall, PA: Chelsea   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   House Publishers. Calvino, Italo. 1963. Marcovaldo, ovvero,Le stagioni in città  . Giulio Einaudi editore s.p.a.,    Torino. Cannon, JoAnn. 1989. Postmodern Italian Fiction: The Crisis of Reason in Calvino, Eco,    Sciascia, Malerba. London: Associated University Presses, Inc. Foot, John. 2001. Milan Since the Miracle: City, Culture and Identity. Oxford: Berg. Gabriele, Tommasina. 1994. Italo Calvino: Eros and Language. London: Associated University Presses, Inc. Jeannet, Angela. 1977. Italo Calvinos Invisible City. Pp. 25–36 in Bloom, Harold, ed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2001. Modern Critical Views: Italo Calvino. Broomall, PA: Chelsea House   Ã‚   Publishers. Olken, I.T. 1984. With Pleated Eye and Garnet Wing: Symmetries of Italo Calvino. Ann   Ã‚   Arbor, Michigan: Universit of Michigan Press. Signorini, Luigi Federico. 2001. Italys economy: An introduction. Daedalus, Spring. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3671/is_200104/ai_n8929681

Essay example --

The NFL contract was pretty reasonable but indeed long. It states various considerations of promises for each party before a signing shall take place. It is enforceable because it states promises, valuable consideration, and offer and acceptance. As a member, you must meet all promises stated on contract. Your responsibilities are such things as obeying rules, maintaining performance/skills, and maintain physical conditions. Also, some damages/liabilities could be injury, deductions and termination. I felt that the contract states possible damages clearly to all parties. If these were not states clearly, and agreement between the two parties would not have been reached. Breach of contract can be defined as a broken contract, stemming from failure to fulfill any term of a contract without a justifiable, lawful excuse. A possible breach can result in a possible law suit or even a termination. That is why it is important for both parties to understand all promises and to reach an understandable agreement between the two parties. Contract breaches have a bad impact on small busi...

J.B. Priestleys An Inspector Calls :: Priestley Inspector Calls Essays

J.B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls" The play is set at the turn of the century and is centred on a wealthy family who are successful and prosperous at a time of poverty for many. They are oblivious to this, and given the fact that the play was written many years later the play contains much irony about the future, but not only does it make it question our history but also our future. The inspector is portrayed as being the champion of socialism, he is there to symbolise Priestley’s views. Essentially Priestley uses biased representations of capitalism, and socialism, reflected with Birling, and inspector Goole, to prepare the reader for his conclusive message. Priestley conveys this message of responsibility towards others in many ways throughout the play. He also criticises his views on the society at the time by using each of the other characters as dramatic devices to, symbolically, convey his message. Priestley was writing in 1945, while the play was set in 1912 even before the war. Priestley introduces the play right after the world war hence reminding the readers and viewers of the situations before the war. He compares these social situations of 1912 with 1945. His message contrasts these two periods of time with the help of inspector Goole. During 1912 there were a lot of differentiation between the upper and lower class, and very few belonged in between. He uses the inspector indirectly to point out the serious flaws in society which allowed disadvantaged Eva Smith to exist alongside the privileged Birlings. Due to the war the class society had been nearly wiped out. During 1912 almost every lower class family lived in houses rented from private landlords, very few had their own houses. Arthur Birling is shown in 1912 predicting that there will be no war, â€Å"I say there will be no war†, and this prediction was obviously wrong. This technique was used so that Priestley can again give comparisons between the two time periods. In 1945 Priestley tries to make the unaware percentage of people aware of the cruel society that existed in 1912. He shows that the war mixed people up, it broke down the class and occupational barriers that existed before and that a value was given to all men and women, therefore, in that sense there was equality. In the play the inspector is portrayed as an enigmatic figure, never revealing his true identity. His dramatic power lies in this, where revealing his identity would consequently affect the tension and suspense that is built up as the story progresses. To do this effectively, Priestley leaves several interpretations on the identity of the inspector.

Alias in Philippine Province Essay

Aklan – oldest province Angono, Rizal – town of artists Antipolo City – picnic area Apalit, Pampanga – tapayan capital Baclayon Church, Bohol – oldest stone church Bacolod City – city of smiles Bacolor, Pampanga – country’s capital in 1762-1763 Baguio City – summer capital Balabac Island, Palawan – land of Philippine mouse deer Baliuag, Bulacan – the first town to have election Banaue Rice Terraces – stairways to the sky Barasoain Church – headquarters of the Malolos Congress Basey, Samar – town of mat festival Batanes – smallest province; northernmost province Bataan – last stronghold during Japanese occupation Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan – site of the Biak na Bato republic Binondo – known for Chinatown district Bocaue, Bulacan – firecrackers’ capital Bohol – land of chocolate hills Boracay Island – world’s finest beach resort Bulacan – land of heroes and beautiful women Bukidnon – pineapple country Calamba, Laguna – birthplace of Jose Rizal Calamian Islands – land of Calamian deer Calauit Island, Palawan – animal sanctuary Camiguin – land of volcanoes Capiz – seafood capital Catanduanes – land of howling winds Cebu City – premiere city in the south Central Luzon – rice bowl Corregidor Island – island fortress; the rock Crisologo Street, Vigan – kamestizoan district Davao City- world’s largest city; durian capital Davao Oriental – easternmost province Divisoria – bargain capital Donsol, Sorsogon – sanctuary of whale sharks Gapan, Nueva Ecija – newest city General Santos City – most competitive city; tuna capital Guiginto, Bulacan – cutflower capital Guimaras – mango capital Hundred Islands, Pangasinan – actually composed of 400 islets Iligan City – land of waterfalls Intramuros, Manila – walled city Kabayan, Benguet – land of mummies Kalibo, Aklan – land of ati-atihan Kawit, Cavite – first independent town Laguna – resort province Laguna de Bay – largest lake Lanao del Sur – center of Islam Las Pinas City – land of the bamboo organ Lipa, Batangas – coffee capital Lubao, Pampanga – the birthplace of Diosdado Macapagal Lucban, Quezon – Pahiyas town Luzon – world’s 17th largest island Magallanes, Agusan del Norte – site of the oldest tree Makati City – financial center Malolos, Bulacan – site of the First Philippine Republic Manila – capital city Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City – mother of industry Marikina City – shoe capital Mexico, Pampanga – formerly known as Masicu Meycauayan, Bulacan – jewelry capital Miag-ao Church, Iloilo – fortress church Mindanao – world’s 19th largest island Mindoro – land of the tamaraws Mount Apo – highest peak Mount Arayat – legendary home of Mariang Sinukuan Mount Mayon – a volcano with nearly perfect cone Nayong Pilipino – Philippines in miniature. (The theme park was opened in 1972 and closed on June 25, 2002. ) Negros Occidental – sugar capital; sports capital Pagsanjan Falls – Philippines’ el dorado Palawan – the last frontier; largest province; westernmost province Pampanga – culinary capital of Luzon Paete, Laguna – town of wood carvers Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte – earthquake baroque Paombong, Bulacan – vinegar capital Philippine Deep – world’s second deepest spot Philippines – pearl of the orient Rio Grande de Cagayan – longest river Romblon – marble country San Agustin Church, Intramuros – oldest church in Luzon San Fernando, Pampanga – lantern capital of the world San Juanico Bridge – longest suspension bridge San Sebastian Church – the only steel church in Asia Siargao Island – perfect waves island Spratleys – the islands claimed by six countries Sta. Maria, Bulacan – egg nest of the Philippines Sta. Maria Church, Ilocos Sur – outstanding example of Spanish baroque architecture Subic Freeport – American town Taal Volcano – world’s smallest volcano Tagaytay City – the next summer capital Tangub City – Christmas symbol capital Tawi-Tawi – southernmost province Trinidad Valley – land of strawberry and vegetables Tubbataha Marine Park – world’s richest bio-geographic area   Unisan, Quezon – oldest town University of San Carlos, Cebu City – oldest university Vigan, Ilocos Sur – Spanish colonial town Zamboanga Sibugay – newest province

A Coral Competition at the Port Dickson Beach Essay

Last Summer Holiday was a splendid day to go to the beach, it was a hot sunny day. That afternoon while me and my sister were having ice-cream under a tall tree. Out of the blue, my father pop out in front of me holding a newspaper which gave me a big fright! My father say that he has great news! Which that he wants to bring us to Port Dickson, He showed us the news that referring to today Port Dickson is organizing an annual seashell collecting competition. Soon, we pack our stuff and head to Port Dickson as soon as possible! On the way to Port Dickson, I was watching the view of the sky. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, birds was flying out and about. Wow! Such Great View! After a few hours, we finally reach our destination. On the moment I stepped on the sand, I can feel the wind blew across me, I can hear children screaming and playing, I can smell the saltyness of the seawater. Later, father chose a nice spot to put our things while me and my sister beganing to change our clothings and headed to the waters. We have so much fun in the water. After an hour, it was time for the contest to begin. Me and my sister started to collect seashells around the beach. After a few hours of hardwork, we soon gather 10 buckets of seashells! Dad was so proud of us. When the marks have been pronounce, the judges spoke our names in 1st Place! Were so happy! We got a Beautiful Hamper and a trophy! In was evening, the sky had became orange pink. After we watched the sunset, we then packed our things and headed home. It was the best day I ever had in my entire life!

A Cristmas Carrol Essay

After visiting the Cornish tin mines in 1842 Charles Dickens wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’ during the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution made a big change in people’s life because this was the introduction into machines in the workplace. In the Victorian times there were lots of poor and rich people, but the rich didn’t talk to the poor and saw them as worthless slaves and did not talk to them. ‘A Christmas Carol was aimed to teach the rich in 1842 a lesson ‘people are more important than money. ‘ Dickens knew what it was like to be poor as he lived in poverty as a child. In ‘A Christmas Carol’ the main character is Ebenezer scrooge, he is the meanest, most self-centred man in London, dickens describes his personality â€Å"The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue† this gives the impression that scrooge has no warmth and will always be lonely. The key words that show this are â€Å"The cold within him. † This makes the reader feel scrooge is old, frozen and has no love at all. Dickens wanted scrooge to represent the worst of the rich in 1842, he wanted to change there ways. Scrooges looks reflect his personality, scrooge is unfriendly to everyone even his family and employees like his book-keeper Bob Cratchit. The way scrooge lives also reflects his personality Dickens shows this by using personification â€Å"They were a gloomy suite of rooms, in a lowering pile of building up a yard, where it had so little business to be, that one could scarcely help fancying it must have run there when it was a young house, playing at hide-and-seek with other houses, and forgotten the way out again. † This reflects the opposite of scrooge’s childhood and is stuck just like scrooge. The key words that show this are ‘forgotten the way out again’ this makes the reader feel that scrooge is lost and so is the house. The people in dickens time were very religious, they believed in heaven and hell, angles and ghosts. This would have shocked them. The ghost of scrooges old work partner Jacob Marly visits scrooge to warn him that he with have three spirits visit him. Scrooge is visited by the three ghosts of Christmas. The ghost of Christmas past, present and yet to come. The ghost of Christmas past visits scrooge first and shows him shadows of his childhood. Scrooge loves money more than people, he lost his girlfriend because of this â€Å"He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog days† this shows that scrooge wants to be isolated. The keywords that show this are â€Å"He carried his own low temperature always about with him† this makes the reader feel sorry for scrooge but also that he pushed her away and now he regrets it. Dickens wanted the reader to learn about childhood in the Victorian times and how the rich always seamed to look down on them.