The Rookie Chief Information Security Officer Term Paper - 1

The Rookie Chief Information Security Officer - Term Paper Example The introduction of IT in business has not only helped these industries to go global but has also facilitated people to get their desired products sitting in any part of the world. In the modern context, the word ‘IT’ plays a very important role as it is not only the businesses that are adapting the new method of storing data but healthcare industries and education sector as well are introducing new approaches of serving the customers with the aid of IT. Therefore, it is vital that adequate measures are taken as misuse of the resources stored in a database may result in causing considerable amount of harm to an individual. The main objective of this paper is to provide a well-designed IT security plan with modern security measures that would help in maintaining a proper database system in the organization (Stoyles, Pentland & Demant, 2003). Part 1: Organization Chart Fig: Organizational Chart With reference to the above mentioned chart, it can be viewed that the differen t personnel are divided according to the three values i.e. physical security professional, privacy professional and procurement professional. Part 2: Request for Proposal (RFP) Plan Request for Proposal (RPF) is a type of bidding solicitation in which an association declares that funding is obtainable for a particular program or project, where companies can place offers for the project’s completion. The RFP outlines the bidding process and contract terms to which the selected company must abide by during the contract. A RFP is typically open to a wide range of bidders providing the association to select the best from a wide range of options available. In the modern day context, RFP is considered to be one of the prime tactics of getting things done without wasting the resources of an organization. It is worth mentioning that every RFP contains qualifying criteria as they help in selecting the most appropriate vendors from the entire applicants (Window on State Government, n.d .). Two perspectives qualifying criteria that need to be carefully monitored while selecting the vendor for the new IT security in the organization are stated hereunder: Company’s Reputation and History The first criterion that is taken into consideration while choosing a vendor or an organization for the proposed RFP is the company’s reputation and the history. Assessing a prospective vendor company’s history and reputation in the current market helps the association in knowing the current capabilities and the future perspectives of the selected company. Another prime objective behind studying the goodwill of the vendor in the market is to calculate the performance of the organization in comparison with the competitors. It facilitates the association to estimate the time they may need to complete the proposed project (Sonoma State University, 2009). Quality Assurance Received By the Vendor: ISO Certified International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a non-government organization composed of associates from the national standards based bodies of 163 nations. The main task of this body is to certify it members with its different titles that help to identify them within a number of similar organizations. The next criteria that would be vital for any association to fulfill the requirement of the RFP are an ISO certificate in quality management. The reason behind accepting the vendor on the basis of the mentioned criteria is

English paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

English paper - Essay Example It showed how only a few privileged people can control the entire financial resources in a country with a capitalist structure. The sharks and the lambs of the stock market have been given human shapes and the movie shows how they let their lives be controlled with the single passion of becoming richer by the hour, with greed being described as a virtue in the big bad world of a capitalist society. The movie also shows how inner conscience can assist a person from doing the right thing when confronted with moral decisions. The Wall Street is the location of the New York Stock exchange which is the world’s leading hub of business activity where stocks are bought and sold and is an enigma for the common man inciting fear and awe among the uninitiated. Common people fail to understand the intricacy of markets and the way big business operates. The movie entitled ‘Wall Street’ was therefore the best way to introduce the common man to the intricacies of the business wo rld. It shows how ambition and greed can make a person a mere pawn in the juggernaut known as the stock market. Personal life takes a toll when a person gets involved in the highly demanding and competitive environment leaving no room for human desires and pleasures. Every facet of human values acquires a financial angle.

Examining The Yellow Ribbon Project On Offenders Criminology Essay

Examining The Yellow Ribbon Project On Offenders Criminology Essay Help Unlock the Second Prison, the tagline from Yellow Ribbon Project, describes that the ex-offenders, upon release from the prisons, will be locked up by the walls built up by the society. Because of the perception of the public towards these ex-inmates, they often found difficulties in seeking employment. Such prejudice and discrimination will result in ex-inmates receiving fewer benefits, not just affecting the ex-offenders, but also their families. Fi the situation does not improve, inequality will continue to exist in the society. We should then implement pragmatic solutions to alleviate the discrimination against them. Ex-offenders, also known as ex-convicts, are those who have been released from prison or those with a criminal record or history (Wikipedia). Every year in Singapore, around 11,000 ex-convicts are released back to the society (Singapore Prison Service). Some of the common offences are offences against persons such as assault, offences against property such as robbery, sexual offences, drug offences and white collar crimes (Criminal Law). Employment is one of the key indicators on whether these former inmates are able to successfully re-integrate into the society. Looking at some of the employment statistics, Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) expanded their database with 2,118 employers in their database and Industrial Services Co-Operative Society (ISCOS) has helped 3,000 ex-offenders to find jobs so far. In this essay, I seek to explore and compare discrimination on ex-offenders, especially employment opportunities, as well as its implications in Singapore with United States. After having knowledge about the issue, I will propose solutions across government, organisational and individual level. Many people would have known there are support programmes such as the Yellow Ribbon Project and other organisations such as Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), to help ex-offenders reintegrate into the society. Although these support programmes exist, we need to consider its effectiveness in helping ex-offenders to reintegrate into the society. The re-integration rate will therefore serves an indication of the level of discrimination against these ex-offenders. Furthermore, there is little interaction with between the public and former inmates as the public shun away and feel that they do not deserve all the benefits such as housing and tax benefits. It is therefore important that we recognize the existence of such stereotyping and raise awareness to reduce the degree of discrimination and to assist these ex-offenders. After these former inmates leave their physical incarceration, they are faced with the second prison, i.e. family, friends, employers and the community at large. Most of the offenders have tattoos on their body, which signifies status, power and belonging to a certain group. Because of stereotyping, we tend to group people who have tattoos as those who have committed crimes and thus, concluding that they are gangsters and criminals. We are often afraid that we might be the next victim of these gangsters and criminals that we stand a distance away from them or go towards a crowded area. On an organisational level, we can see that some employers are still unwilling to hire ex-offenders, because they believe that leopards can never change its spots. It is heartening to see the number of ex-offenders being employed have increased with the years but we cannot guarantee that they have been given equal employment rights as the others. For example, some employers resorted to background grounds before make decisions with regards to employment. From the papers, excited applicants applied for a job at the Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands casinos, but before the official opening, at least 30 employees had to leave their job. All of them failed the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA)s background checks and hence their contracts were voided. One of the affected employees had failed to declare his shoplifting offence. We realised that there is no difference on whether if those with criminal records declared or not, they still had their contracts terminated anyway. While we understand the concerns over criminal history as the amount of money handled in casinos are in large sum, we need to consider if these history are necessarily the best and sole predictors for future performance. Do we judge those have continuously erred and condemn that they do not deserve the chance to repent? For this case, suggestions would be to put those people who have a criminal record on a period of probation instead of sacking them. Some of the youths interviewed felt that the move by the casinos are not wrong, because we cannot guarantee that people will not be driven by greed and if there are any troubles, the public may complain and question on why the casinos were built in the first place and why were no precautions taken. Hence, it is only right to conduct background checks on them. Besides that, jobs can still be offered to them in the less risky areas. In addition, job applicants are often required to fill up the employment application form and declare that if they have been convicted in a court in any country before. Because this is usually a one-liner question, ex-offenders applications can be filtered out without considering the seriousness of the offences or even the recidivism rate of the offender. This may therefore provide an opportunity for employers to screen out ex-offenders and justify if there any inappropriate acts in the company in future. Generally, these applicants can expect that there will no reply from the company, and this may encourage them to lie about their background. If the ex-offender is caught lying, they will be automatically disqualified while declaration of their history may not be always disqualify them. We encourage all ex-offenders to be honest with the past. In the United States, the discrimination against ex-offenders is so great that they are deprived of the basic rights of voting. Without voting rights, this means that the policies and laws implemented could be against their rights. In 2008, the legislation amended the law to allow voting. Section III Why is it important for us to talk about it? The society plays a significant role in the reintegration of the ex-offenders. It is important that we recognise that these ex-offenders are human beings too. To err is human. Whether they have committed a great sin in the past or not, they still belong to the society. They are able-bodied and are eager to contribute to the society and economy. However, despite their eagerness, we shun and discriminate them, and assume that they will revert back to their old ways. In the end, the society is unable to progress as a whole. We need to prove that former convicts are assets to the society. Also, when these ex-offenders are not able to secure a job, even on short-term, to get their income, they will revert back to their old ways to get the money to survive. The recvidism rate in Singapore has remained at 25 % since 2006 (Prisons-SCORE Corporate Advance 2009) . This is much lesser than the recidivism rate in California, where 70% revert back to their old ways. It is expensive to maintain the prison as well as support rehabilitative programmes. The economic costs, which comes from tax payers increased further when these ex-offenders recidivise. The major prisons in United States, such as the one in New York, faced increased pressure to release their prisoners after minimum serving period or putting them through programmes rather than prisons. The state spends $2.5 billion a year to maintain its corrections department. Sudden surge of ex-offenders was too overwhelming and many recidivise due to insufficient and effective rehabilitative and support programmes. The revolving door is very expensive, it adds $1 billion a year to Californias overburdened penal system (Another By-Product of the Recession: Ex-convicts, TIME). Skeptical about safety, Section IV Where can we start to fix the problem? As mentioned previously, these former inmates faced discrimination in the public and most importantly, at the workplace. Without a job, they will not be able to survive and support their families, especially if they are the breadwinner of the family. When this happens, they are not able to afford basic necessities. Their families may also suffer as a result of poor education and may need to come out to work. Their spouse and children may grow up thinking why should life be so demanding and will then resort to crimes to get what they wanted. It is difficult for ex-offenders to live a better life when they are not given the same opportunities. This will continue as a vicious cycle. To reduce and even eliminate the stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination against these ex-offenders, it is important that we find out the root causes of this issue and implement various programmes and activities to encourage active participation as increased interaction may improve the perspective of the public towards ex-offenders. To begin with, organizations should organize more activities to bring ex-offenders a step closer to the public. It is hoped that through such activities, it provides both the public and ex-offenders an opportunity to interact and hence, develop a sense of trust among them. Such activities may be visit to the prisons and / or halfway houses, outdoor and indoor activities, community service projects or even, encourage ex-offenders to participate in existing events such as Yellow Ribbon Prison Run. Through interaction, it may change the perspective of the public towards them and therefore reduce the extent of discrimination. Many ex-offenders have low self-esteem and are afraid of rejection. Therefore, we should involve the ex-offenders in the planning and executing of events in the community. These events provide an opportunity for the former inmates to showcase their talents in various areas. The public are aware that it is difficult for ex-offenders to find and secure jobs. Also, from an interview with an ex-offender from Highpoint Community Services Association in 2009, I found out that employers often do not want to give ex-offenders a second chance. This outright act of non-acceptance already killed the only hope that these ex-offenders have to reintegrate into the society. As such, more organizations should start working on a campaign on hiring ex-offenders. These campaigns should focus on instilling the correct mindset of treating the ex-offenders and also their ability to work as well as any other ordinary person. As much as I acknowledge that nobody can be free from discrimination, including employers, research shows that provision work is important. In addition, more jobs seminars should be introduced to increase the employment opportunities available to ex-offenders. To enhance the public confidence in them, we can consider cooperating with companies to provide these ex-offenders transitional jobs as probationers, to start them off for several years so that they have relevant working experience, instead of merely skills acquiring in the rehabilitative programmes. After the transition period, these organizations can also help to recommend the employees to other companies. Besides the technical skills acquired from the support programmes, the programmes should also focus on soft skills such as interpersonal skills. These ex-convicts should also learn more about resume writing and interview skills, as these will help them to market themselves well. For the declaration of whether the job applicant has been convicted in court before, we should further improve on the question so that it allows the ex-offender to declare that they have convicted for which offences and also the year of conviction. In this case, the employers benefit as they can take note of the offences made, and be aware that these are not detrimental to the interests of the company and other stakeholders. This is because if the ex-offenders cause any troubles, the company will be the party that suffers the heaviest losses. Also, the job applicants gains from this as the employers are practising selective screening rather than a total elimination. There are also calls to ban the declaration box. However, I feel that the employers are right to protect their interests and the ex-offenders should be honest and convince the employers on their efforts to stay out of crime. As noted above, generally the society has the perspective that ex-offenders are likely to revert back to their old ways. Hence, it is important that we improve the rehabilitation programme to reduce the chances of such cases occurring. We need to note that the limitation of the rehabilitation programmes as decision to go back to old ways varies from the circumstances faced by the ex-offenders. If the solutions proposed above are being implemented on a long-term basis, we could see that less discrimination acts towards ex-offenders and the Singapore will move towards a much more forgiving society.

Water Transportation in the Jacksonian Era Essay example -- essays pap

Water Transportation in the Jacksonian Era Water travel assisted heavily with transportation of goods and people from the American north-east to the west, which would eventually create a separation from the south. Before any canals were even built, there was a great demand for better transportation to and from the west. During this time of exploration, something was necessary in order for settlement to progress. After the canals were built, people living in to north grew exceedingly wealthy from the trading benefits of the canals. This wealth would eventually create economic differences with the southern United States(Drago 178). During the Jacksonian Era, in America, there were many changes happening, one of which was western expansion. During this time, Louis and Clark had already explored the west, but people were dying to be able to trade, and live there. With the grueling journey that would effect anyone trying to reach the west, came a new notion, of a canal that reached from Lake Erie on towards the east. This canal could transport people, as well as goods back and forth from the newly explored territory. Eventually this dream successfully became a reality. The chief builder of the Erie Canal was DeWitt Clinton, a powerful man who was to become the governor of New York. In 1816, Clinton petitioned New York legislature to let him build the canal, which was a success(Erie). The construction of the canal took about eight years, however many hardships such as floods, and malaria plagued construction. Many people also said that the canal was too short, as it originally only stretched from the Hudson to Lake Champlain. People wanted a canal that would take them all the way from Erie to Champlain. Although this created even more problems, the canal was completed successfully in 1825(Bourne 118). While all of this was going on, the ideas for another major canal were just coming together. The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, was just beginning near the time the Erie’s construction finished up. The C&O canal would mostly be used to transport coal to Cumberland, Maryland. The building of the canal ended on June 11, 1850, at Cumberland. Although not the economic giant that the Erie was, the C&O canal reached it’s peak in 1870, during which tolls often topped $1,000(Drago 71). After the construction of the canals was finished, there was a gre... ...d many slaves, so they thought slavery was justified. In conclusion, water travel benefited many northerners, but did not help those living in the south. Eventually, this difference resulted in the south become less economically strong, ending a long trade relationship with the north, which would soon evolve into the War Between the States, or the Civil War. Bibliography Bourne, Russell. Floating West. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1992 Bourne, Russell. Floating West. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1992. page 76. Bourne, Russell. Floating West. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1992. page 83. Drago, Harry Sinclair. Canal Days in America: The History and Romance of Old Towpaths and Waterways. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1972. Drago, Harry Sinclair. Canal Days in America: The History and Romance of Old Towpaths and Waterways. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1972. page 48. Drago, Harry Sinclair. Canal Days in America: The History and Romance of Old Towpaths and Waterways. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1972. page 166. â€Å"Erie Canal.† Electric Library. 9 Jan. Hadfield, Charles. The Canal Age. New York: Frederick A. Praeger Publishers, 1968.

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 4

â€Å"Doug!† He shrugged. â€Å"It's not a big deal. I mean, it's pretty hot, really.† â€Å"But I didn't do those things. It's not really me.† â€Å"She sounds just like you. Her name begins with a Gtoo.† â€Å"But it's not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I swallowed, noting the similarities as well. Doug watched me appraisingly. â€Å"You can't really blame them. Description-wise, you two match, and everyone knows you and Mortensen are chummy – not to mention what a zealous fan you are and all. After they read the story, Casey even made the brilliant observation that you guys came in together yesterday. You should have seen the speculation that started.† â€Å"But†¦that was nothing.† No one at work even knew Seth and I were dating. I hadn't wanted that widely known. â€Å"We hadn't done anything.† Doug shrugged again, rising from the computer. â€Å"Too bad. I wouldn't have thought less of you if you had, you know. It's your business anyway.† I groaned. â€Å"Not when it's in print for everyone to see.† â€Å"I thought it was all fictitious,† he reminded me with a sly grin, putting on his coat. â€Å"It is! Doug, what am I going to do?† â€Å"Don't know, Kincaid. I'm sure you'll figure something out. Maybe start with asking Mortensen why he's putting his fantasies on display for everyone to see.† He tweaked my cheek, and I squirmed out of his reach. â€Å"As for me, I've got a rehearsal to get to. Big night tomorrow. Later.† My shift proceeded miserably after that. Now that I knew what the looks were for, the experience moved into a whole new realm of humiliation. I hated idle speculation, hated people thinking terrible things about me. I mean, it wasn't like I hadn't ever tied someone up before or had sex in an elevator, but come on. It wasn't the kind of thing I wanted people to consider publicly. I liked to keep my intimate affairs discreet. I therefore stayed in the office as much as possible, only going out to help when absolutely necessary, and to check if Seth had returned yet. Finally, a couple hours before closing, I saw him back at his table. I sat down opposite him in a rage, not even caring what others would think of us being together. â€Å"Why did you do it? Why did you write me in like that?† Seth looked up from his laptop, his expression clearly implying whatever writing he was working on still held his attention more than I did. For all I knew, I was at the center of an orgy in some novel now. â€Å"What?† â€Å"The story!† I threw American Mystery onto the table loudly. â€Å"You wrote me in. I'mGenevieve.† He blinked. â€Å"No you aren't.† â€Å"Oh yeah? How come both our names begin with a G? How come we look alike?† â€Å"You don't look anything like her,† he countered. â€Å"That's not what half the store thinks. They think she's me! They think you've written up a fling we had in an elevator.† Realization flashed across his face, and to my horror, he actually smiled. â€Å"Really? That's funny.† â€Å"Funny? It's terrible! They all think I'm a bondage freak.† â€Å"Thetis,† he began gently, still damnably serene, â€Å"I – â€Å" â€Å"Don't ‘Thetis' me. It won't work.† â€Å"I wrote that story, like, six months ago. Long before I met you. The publishing world doesn't move that fast.† â€Å"Well, the others don't know that.† I hovered on the verge of tears. â€Å"I'd never write in anyone so blatantly.† â€Å"Yeah? Well, they don't know that either,† I said, slouching back against my chair miserably, arms crossed. Seth sighed, his amber brown eyes compassionate as he regarded me. â€Å"Look, do you want me to say something? Tell them that it wasn't you?† â€Å"Lord, that would just convince them even more that it was me. Besides, what are you going to do, call a press conference to clear my name?† â€Å"I'm sorry,† he told me seriously. â€Å"I never thought anything like this would happen.† A hesitation. â€Å"Do†¦do you still want to go out tomorrow night? I mean†¦if you don't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The old adorable shyness fell over him, and I couldn't stay mad. â€Å"No,† I told him. â€Å"I still want to go, but†¦I think we should, you know, show up at the concert separately. Most of the staff will be there, you know.† He opened his mouth to speak but then reconsidered. I suspected he had been about to accuse me of overreacting, but apparently my radiating fury made him think better of it. Seth wasn't exactly the confrontational type. Or, considering the mood I was in, perhaps he just wasn't the stupid type. â€Å"Okay,† he finally said. â€Å"We'll meet there.† â€Å"Georgina?† Looking up, I saw Paige standing over us, disapproval all over her face. I hadn't even noticed her approach. She wore another of her beautiful power suits, this time in an electric violet that looked stunning with her dark skin. â€Å"Can I speak to you for a few minutes?† she asked, tone grim. â€Å"In private?† I followed her to her office, letting her close the door behind us. Not surprisingly, a copy of American Mystery sat on her desk. â€Å"So,† she began crisply, â€Å"I've been hearing some rumors – â€Å" â€Å"Damn it. It's not me.† I proceeded to relate to her my own recent discoveries, pointing out Seth's observation concerning how long it took for works to come out in print. When I finished, I think I had mostly convinced her of my innocence, though sordid stories flying around the workplace still obviously distressed her. Studying nothing in particular, Paige drummed her lacquered red nails against the desk as she thought about what to do. â€Å"This will get cleared up with the staff in time. That, or they'll just get over it. What I don't like is the idea of any outsiders drawing conclusions. You do sound like that character, and anyone else who reads the story could make the same mistake. I don't want rumors starting that half of Seth's reason for working here is that he gets sexual favors on the side, courtesy of our employees.† â€Å"Oh Lord.† I covered my face with my hands, wondering how celebrities dealt with truly large-scale scandals. This small one was bad enough. I wanted to disappear. It tainted the beauty of what Seth and I were trying to build. â€Å"I think the best way to approach this is – â€Å" Her words dropped off as a grimace crossed her face and one hand clutched her stomach. I started toward her. â€Å"Are you okay?† She nodded, forcing a strained smile. â€Å"It†¦it's nothing.† â€Å"The hell it is. You should call your doctor†¦or at least go home.† â€Å"No, it'll pass. Besides, I've got too much to do. I need to make the new schedule and go over some inventory stats.† â€Å"That's crazy. I can do that stuff.† She shook her head, arguing again, and I argued right back. At last, Paige yielded, which only verified something must be seriously wrong. Those who went head-to-head with her rarely won. So, I finished my shift doing her extra jobs and serving as backup. It was exhausting, but I was happy to do it, still worrying about her and her baby. When we closed, I headed straight over to the suburbs, following the directions Bastien had given me. When I pulled up to his house, I could only sit in my car and stare for a few minutes. Now, I had a few well-formed ideas about the American Dream. After all, I'd been alive in the days when the term was first coined. I'd seen it arise, seen the mythology that surrounded it, seen the white picket fences and cute, well-kept neighborhoods. I'd even watched Leave it to Beaver. Seth's brother, for example, lived north of the city and had a pretty nice chunk of it carved out. But this? This was an American Wet Dream. Bastien's house went on forever, expanding ostentatiously beyond its marble and taupe facade. Even if he'd had a wife and family, I doubted they could have filled it up, and anyway, the kind of people who lived in these places didn't have large families. After all, this was the generation that had, what, 1.75 kids? The garage had three doors, as advertised, and tasteful shrubs and ornamental trees decorated the lawn. Since it was dark now, I couldn't see the rest of the neighborhood in detail, but I suspected I'd find more of the same. One house, next door, was lit up and busy with people. It was even bigger than Bastien's and probably the location of the party. â€Å"Are you compensating for something?† I asked when the incubus opened his door. Mitch Hunter flashed me the million-dollar grin. â€Å"My sweet sister, you and I both know that's not true. Love your haircut.† I'd come as Tabitha Hunter, lean and blond, though I'd conceded to his earlier complaints and given myself shoulder-length hair. He kissed my cheek and ushered me inside for a quick tour. After a few rooms, it all started blurring together. Cherry hardwood floors. Gorgeously painted walls. Sleek black appliances. Wainscoting. A hot tub out back. Enough guest bedrooms to house a Girl Scout troop. And cute, cleverly placed knick-knacks everywhere. â€Å"Isn't this going a bit far?† I asked, pointing to a framed copy of the Lord's Prayer in the foyer. â€Å"Tabitha, my love, man cannot survive on bread alone. We can, however, survive on delicious appetizers and hamburgers, so let's head over.† We arrived considerably after the starting time, since I'd been at work, and the party was in full swing. Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to dismiss these suburbanites after all. â€Å"Mitch!† called a loud voice as we shouldered our way through the people. Most were dressed for the barbecue theme in shorts, T-shirts, and Hawaiian prints. â€Å"Hey, Bill,† returned Bastien, extending his hand to a plain yet well-groomed man with silver-streaked black hair. I recognized him from his photos. Dana's husband. â€Å"This is my sister, Tabitha. Hope you don't mind me bringing her.† â€Å"No, no! The more the merrier, I say.† He allowed a small, artificial laugh and smiled at me, making his eyes crinkle. â€Å"Especially ones so pretty. Makes me wish I was a younger man,† he teased with a wink. Unable to resist, I looked up at him through my lashes and said demurely, â€Å"I've always thought age was kind of irrelevant, Bill.† I held onto his proffered hand. â€Å"I know I'm always happy to learn from those with more†¦experience.† His eyes widened slightly, lighting with both intrigue and alarm. â€Å"Well,† he said after an uncomfortable moment, â€Å"I should probably spread myself around.† He remembered to let go of my hand. â€Å"Feel free to find something to eat, and don't forget to try the pool.† He glanced at me and my come-hither smile consideringly, hesitated, and then reluctantly departed. â€Å"Don't ever do that again,† hissed Bastien, steering me toward the kitchen by the arm. â€Å"Do what?† â€Å"Flirt with this group! You're supposed to be bolstering my wholesome image, not leading on my target's husband.† â€Å"I wasn't leading him on. Besides, what's it matter? Scandalize them both.† â€Å"No. Dana only. My show.† I cut him a look but said nothing. He wanted me as an observer but not a participant. It figured. All the glory for himself, praise from those above. He'd always had this competitive need to make himself shine. It was one of the things that I liked about him – an eager desire to prove himself the best. I guess I'd had it once too, but not anymore. As far as I was concerned, he was welcome to all the fame and fortune of this gig. â€Å"Just play my sweet, angelic sister,† he continued in a whisper. â€Å"Possibly my sweet, angelic, and frigid sister.† Moving through the house gave me a chance to take in more of the party's theme. Faux palm trees. Glittering, decorative suns everywhere. Small appetizer tables set up here and there, laden with deviled eggs, cocktail wieners, and cubed cheese. It was silly in some ways, but someone had obviously paid a lot of attention to detail. I appreciated that. All of the guests looked like Bill – and Bastien and me, I realized. Clean-cut, with every hair in place. High quality, conservative clothes (in a tropical sort of way). Upper-class. White. They freaked me out. The kitchen proved to be the true hub of food, and I decided to simply gorge myself rather than risk more conversation that might upset Bastien. I loaded up a paper plate with a hamburger, potato salad, and some kind of weird Jell-O-fruit-whipped-cream hybrid dessert. My efforts to simply eat unnoticed proved futile, as I soon found myself surrounded by a group of women. I didn't know where they'd come from. One minute I was just eating, the next minute six perfect faces were smiling at me. They were like a pack of wild dogs, yipping nonstop, honing in on lone prey. They'd even managed to separate me from Bastien, all the better to tear me apart. The incubus now stood across the room with a similarly ravenous group of men, no doubt discussing cigars and lawn mowers. I shot him a panicked look, but he merely shrugged. â€Å"Mitch's sister,† oozed one of the women. â€Å"I should have known! You guys look exactly alike.† â€Å"Well, not exactly alike,† tittered another. She wore an appliqu? ¦ sweater vest. Yikes. â€Å"We were just talking about stamping. Do you stamp, Tabitha?† â€Å"Urn, like use stamps?† I asked with a frown. â€Å"I mean, I mail things†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The Stepford Wives giggled again at this. â€Å"Oh! That's so funny.† â€Å"We mean rubber stamps. Arts and crafts stamps,† explained one of them. She'd introduced herself as Jody – the only name I could remember among the group. Probably because she seemed to have a slightly higher IQ than the rest. And was the only one of us without blond hair. â€Å"You use them to decorate things. â€Å" She dug into her purse and produced a small invitation on beautiful ivory cardstock. Scrolling vines and flowers decorated the front. â€Å"This is the invitation Dana made for this party.† I stared. â€Å"Seriously?† Somehow I'd imagined the â€Å"Great Job!† kind of stamps that teachers used on well-written papers. This was beautifully inked and in different colors. It looked professional, like something from Hallmark. â€Å"Mitzi's having a stamp party next week,† exclaimed one of the other women. â€Å"We could show you how to do it.† â€Å"Ooh†¦that would be so fun!† â€Å"Yes! Let's!† â€Å"Gee, it looks kind of time-consuming,† I told them, wishing desperately that I was somewhere else. I was sure I could have held my own in a cigar and lawn mower conversation better than a stamping one. â€Å"I don't think I have the time.† â€Å"Oh, but it's so worth it,† one assured me earnestly. She wore earrings that spelled ALOHA in dangling letters. â€Å"Betsey and I made bridal-shower invitations for her sister all day yesterday, and the time flew by. â€Å" â€Å"Did you use those cute dove stamps?† cooed another, not unlike a dove herself. â€Å"I spent all Tuesday looking for those at the mall.† â€Å"Don't you guys work?† I asked, wondering at their frequent use of â€Å"all day.† A century ago, I wouldn't have given it a thought. But this was the age of the so-called modern woman. We weren't supposed to lounge around in parlors anymore and pass out from wearing corsets. They turned to me, mouths agape. â€Å"Well, there's so much to do around the house,† Jody finally said. â€Å"Most of us are too busy with those things.† Like stamping? â€Å"Besides,† laughed Bitsy or Muffin or whatever the hell her name was, â€Å"it's not like we need to. Do you have a job?† â€Å"Well, yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What's your husband do?† â€Å"Oh. I'm not married.† This got more stares, and then suddenly they erupted with ideas and suggestions of â€Å"perfect single men† who worked with their husbands. I had to get out of here. Either that or render myself funconscious with the wrought-iron pig wearing an apron that sat on the kitchen table. I turned anxiously to Jody. â€Å"Didn't I hear there was a pool somewhere?† She brightened. â€Å"There sure is. I'll show you.† We extracted ourselves from the others, and she led me toward the back of the house. â€Å"Sorry if they're a little overwhelming,† she apologized. â€Å"I sort of feel responsible for their stamping frenzy. â€Å" The fact that she'd used the word â€Å"frenzy† to describe them made me laugh. â€Å"How so?† â€Å"I got them into it.† Her dark eyes twinkled. â€Å"Never thought it'd go this far, though. I used to be an elementary art teacher, and sometimes they remind me of the kids. They're all good souls, though.† â€Å"Why don't you teach anymore?† Drawing pictures with children sounded like a wicked cool job to me. If nothing else, the grading had to be easy. â€Å"Well, Jack likes me at home, and this way I get to take out my artistic urges on the house – and enable the neighbors. Every time I get hooked on a new project, our house takes the brunt of it: pottery, beading, watercolors†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"And stamping?† She laughed. â€Å"And stamping.† â€Å"Could you, like, teach part-time and still get everything done around the house?† â€Å"Maybe. But I've also got my CPFV duties, so my schedule's pretty packed.† CPFV? Damn. For a minute there, Jody had seemed like a pretty cool person. â€Å"You're a member?† Her expression registered mild surprise. â€Å"Yes, of course. We all are. You should come to a meeting someday. I know Dana would love to have you.† â€Å"Where is Dana?† I hadn't even seen the main attraction tonight. â€Å"I mean, I'm such a fan and all. When Mitch told me we were coming, I couldn't even believe it.† Pursing her lips, she glanced around with a cute frown. â€Å"I'm not really sure where she is. She's probably just mingling. Everyone wants to talk to her. But don't worry – you'll see her before you leave.† â€Å"That'd be great.† She smiled and gave my hand a quick squeeze. â€Å"I hope we get to see you around. Oh – here we are.† We arrived in a massive, glass-encased sunroom containing a crystal blue pool. It looked lovely and inviting. When Jody asked if I had a suit, I assured her I had one under my clothes and thanked her for helping me. She returned to the main party, and I slipped into a bathroom where I shape-shifted into a turquoise bikini. Some people eyed me curiously, probably wondering who I was, but they left me alone once I was in the pool. I dove under, swimming laps, enjoying the solitude water offered. It had been a long time since I'd been able to do this. I knew Seth swam at a local health club; he said it helped clear his head sometimes. He and I would have to go together one of these days. Or better yet, swim in the ocean somewhere. Yes, that was the way to go. Moonlit beaches and tropical air, away from this crummy rain. Maui. Cancun. Hell, why did we even have to constrain ourselves to North America? We could go to the French Riviera, the Greek Islands†¦ I was so caught up in my fantasies that when I climbed out of the pool, I didn't notice the woman in front of me. I sidestepped, ever quick on my feet, just barely avoiding collision. â€Å"Sorry,† I said. â€Å"I didn't see – â€Å" I froze. It was Dana. She looked exactly like her promotional pictures. Slim, average height, shoulder-length black hair, and penetrating blue eyes. Her bio placed her in her forties, but she looked a lot younger than that. The result of all that clean living, I supposed. She wore khaki shorts and a green T-shirt, modestly covered by a white button-up blouse tied in a knot over her stomach. A smooth, cool smile settled on her face, and those eyes reminded me of a hawk seeking out prey. â€Å"No harm done,† she said in that same hypnotic radio voice. â€Å"I don't think we've met. I'm Dana.† She extended a hand, and I took it. â€Å"Yes. Of course you are. I mean, I know you are. I've seen your pictures. Er, I mean, I'm a fan and all†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"And you are†¦?† â€Å"Oh. Sorry. I'm Tabitha Hunter. Mitch's sister. Though maybe you knew that. Everyone says we look alike. I guess we do. I've never really thought about it†¦much†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ye gods, why was I rambling like this? I had worked dukes and bishops who were ten times scarier than her. They hadn't turned me into a blathering idiot. What was it about one radio bigot that should prove so unsettling? The eyes, I decided. They reflected no warmth. They were shrewd. Conniving. The kind of eyes that warned she had not risen to where she was today without hypervigilance. The kind of eyes that had an agenda. â€Å"It's nice to meet you,† she said, still maintaining that too-perfect smile. â€Å"I didn't know Mitch had a sister. You seem to be†¦enjoying the pool.† Her eyes glanced down over me and back up, suddenly making me feel self-conscious. Water dripped most unflatteringly off of me, and I uneasily wondered if this suit showed too much skin. At least it wasn't white. Bastien's warning about wholesome image came back to me for real, and I understood his concern now. Looking like a strumpet could be bad for his reputation. If he drew whispers and disdain, he might be ostracized from this group and lose access to Dana. Suddenly, Dana's frostiness didn't seem so weird. It was disapproval. She had, after all, delivered a whole spiel on the abominable state of today's fashions. Here I was embodying it. â€Å"It's very nice,† I said. â€Å"One of the, um, best pools I've swam in.† I stopped before I could say something else even more asinine, and silence fell. She looked as though she expected me to continue and could wait all night until I did. Unfortunately, I had no idea what to talk to this weird woman about. My alleged hatred of homosexuals? Ask if she had recommendations for a more modest swimsuit? â€Å"So, um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I began. â€Å"This barbecue theme†¦it's really, uh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I was saved just then – sort of – by Bastien. He strode up to us, appearing very excited to have found Dana. A sharp look in his eyes said he was less thrilled to see me, especially in this state, but he kept it masked from the other woman, instead coming off as amiable and charming as ever. â€Å"Ah, Tabitha, I see you've met our hostess.† â€Å"Yes,† agreed Dana. â€Å"We've been having a most stimulating conversation. Your sister's quite the wordsmith.† I flushed. Bitch. When I was in my zone, I could outtalk her any day. â€Å"Glad to hear it. My Tabby Cat here is nothing if not stimulating.† Oblivious to my horror over my new nickname, Bastien steered her into some pleasant conversation about the creativity of the party and the beauty of her home. Her demeanor warmed up only a bit from what it was with me. She still came off cool and watchful. Maybe she was always chilly around people, and it wasn't just me. In fact, I thought optimistically, this slightly elevated interest in Bastien might indicate that she wanted to throw him up against a wall. They conversed a bit longer about something I lost interest in, and I tried to stay inconspicuous, though I could tell I never dropped off Dana's radar. She was studying me, trying to figure me out. Finally, Bastien said good-bye, and we began our retreat toward the front door – once I'd changed back to decent clothing, of course. Our exit proved more difficult than expected since apparently it was customary to say good-bye to every single person you passed and get continually delayed by meaningless small talk. â€Å"My God,† I exclaimed once we were safely back at his place, â€Å"that was annoying.† He turned on me, anger flashing in those movie-star blue eyes. â€Å"Are you completely out of your mind?† â€Å"Okay, you're right. I've been in more annoying situations. Remember that marquis' party back in Marseille?† â€Å"That†¦that getup! When I first saw you two together, Dana looked ready to explode. Thank goodness this body's more flat chested than your other one. It saved you from looking like a complete pinup.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† I told him. â€Å"I was just trying to escape those stamping women and headed for the pool without thinking. I have a suit just like this at home. It was stupid†¦but I don't really think it caused long-term damage.† I hoped. His expression darkened, and he threw himself into one of the living room's exquisite armchairs. It was covered in white suede. Breathing on it would probably get it dirty. â€Å"I don't know. She was distant with me – you saw it.† â€Å"I was hoping that's how she always is. And she was a bit more responsive with you than me,† I offered helpfully. â€Å"No. You should have seen her when we spoke earlier tonight. Much friendlier. She definitely clammed up with you around.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† I said again, feeling idiotic. â€Å"I guess I shouldn't take a front-row seat to this after all. I'm cramping your style. Or rather, destroying it.† His stormy expression lingered a bit longer, then disappeared like clouds swept away by wind. That was my Bastien. Quick to anger, quick to love. â€Å"No matter, Fleur .Takes a lot more than you to ‘destroy my style.'† He patted his lap and grinned. â€Å"Come here, sis, and I'll tell you the rest of my brilliant plan.† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"Are we that kind of family?† His smile broadened, and I sat down, unable to resist that goofy charm. He slung his arm around me in an old, familiar way, and I leaned into him. It was nice to have the touch and comfort of another living thing, romantic or not. â€Å"So there's another part of this wacky plan?† â€Å"Not so much another part as an entirely different plan. A backup plan, if you will.† â€Å"Oh no. Here it comes.† â€Å"Naturally, I'd much rather disgrace Dana in a horizontal kind of way, but in the very unlikely event that doesn't work, there's a much less exciting – yet effective – way to do it. And you're going to help me.† â€Å"How so?† â€Å"We're going to break into her house. â€Å"

Developments between 1860 and 1877 Essay

During the 1860s and the 1870s, Americans faced a social crisis that literally divided the nation to two. Social developments and constitutional changes that occurred within this time frame amounted to a devastating separation of people. The first major crisis, the Civil War, divided the nation sectionally and what ensued afterward, the Reconstruction, divided the nation completely. The Civil War lasted four years, from April of 1861 to April of 1865. It physically separated the nation into two, in which the South seceded from the North. The two sides fought for the struggle over slavery – the South was for it, while the North was against it. The South argued that the North was attempting to limit their rights given to them by the Constitution; their rights to exercise those powers were restrained heavily by the politically dominant North. The North at first made a statement stating that the main purpose of the war was to maintain the Union and to keep the South from breaking apart. However, as the war went on, Lincoln found fighting for these terms was impossible; he knew that the slaves had to be freed. This decision to abolish slavery stirred up controversy in the Union, for many white men, while they opposed slavery, did not like the idea that they were fighting for African-Americans. Many riots erupted from many Union states come draft day, clearly showing the unsettlement and dissatisfaction that Americans had with the idea of freeing slaves. The North not only had to deal with the South, but also with themselves. Following the Civil War, a period of time known as the Reconstruction came into effect. This was the time where the North attempted to rebuild the South and the time for the South to settle their differences and get over bitter feelings of losing the war. However, despite its good intentions, the Reconstruction was generally considered a failure by most historians. The Reconstruction was led by a certain group of Republicans known as the Radicals. These Radical Republicans wanted the South to pay for the financial cost of the war; they argued that the war was fought over differences initiated by the South, therefore the South was to pay for its cost. They did exactly what their name suggests: they enacted many radical laws, such as the 14th Amendment, which gave all people [except Native  Indians] in the United States citizenship, regardless of race. The 15th Amendment too was set into motion, guaranteeing all citizens suffrage. This allowed the former slaves to now vote for political candidates, giving them a say in the government. The South despised this idea; many conservatives began acts of terror to keep the African-Americans from voting. The most prominent group of white supremacists was the Ku Klux Klan, which utilized violence to scare African-Americans and to resist the Reconstruction. Aggression erupted throughout the nation as a result from the discontent over the issue of slavery and the rights of Africans. The United States was literally torn apart during the Civil War, as brothers fought one another and deaths piled up. Conditions further worsened during the Reconstruction, when the North refused to forgive the South and the South refused to apologize to the North. Violence became the only answer for many Americans during the late-19th century.

Sociological

Obesity Psychological/ Sociological Obesity is a psychological issue as well as a social one. Both psychological and behavioral issues play significant roles in both the development and consequences of obesity (Collins and Bentz 126). Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Obesity is caused by eating disorders triggered by psychosocial, genetically and environmental parameters. Obesity is mainly associated with those people who suffer from psychological conditions, such as anxiety, depression as well as eating disorders. This is because such people have a problem of regulating the amount of food taken as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It has been noted that food is taken as a coping strategy for those who suffer from obesity. The sociological factors associated with obesity make obese individuals have perpetual cycle of mood distress, overeating as well as weight gain. This makes those people get distressed and depressed. Obese people get their comforts from food that make them feel better as a result of the reduced stress of their mood and an obese condition that may trigger a dysphonic mood because of their inability to control their stress. This pattern is mainly applicable to the individuals who are genetically predisposed to obesity or live in environments where calorically rich foods are easily available while physical activities of the people living there are very minimal (Collins and Bentz 124). Sociological as well as psychological factors have great influence on the development as well as management of obesity. Apart from social, psychological and environmental factors, other causes of obesity include frequent snacking on high calories foods, overeating, etc. Moreover, obesity can result from an unusual characteristic of eating behavior that entails episodes of eating during discrete periods, as well as eating large quantities of food that are not in accordance to the amount many people would consume at the same given time in stances. This is a factor that indicates a tendency of lack of eating control as well as failure to control the distress that follows such periods. Almost 2% of the general population and around 10-25% of the bariatric population are said to suffer from this condition (Collins and Bentz 34).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Night eating is a condition that is known to greatly result in a significant weight gain. This issue is characterized with excessive night eating behavior that entails consumption of approximately over 35% of our daily calories after the evening meal. This condition has recently been linked with the lack of appetite during the day and an increase in the appetite and overeating during the night (Stunkard, Grace, and H.G. Wolff 6). Social issues are also key attributes of obes ity incidents. Many researches on obesity give positive correlations between obesity versus social and economical conditions. They show that most people, who are obese, mainly live in poverty, and are less educated, less likely to marry or date as well as less likely to earn as much salary as those people who are not obese. A recent study on obesity indicated obesity as an antecedent to adverse economical as well as social outcomes. The effects of obesity are social as well as psychological. Overweight people are concerned with their weight and become self-conscious of their weight and think that people may make fun of them. The western culture mainly associates thinness with beauty. Because of this perception, many women as well as girls in Europe and the U.S.A. try to have slim bodies. The perception that associates thinness with beauty as well as the tendency of most celebs in these regions to be thin influences women in these countries and other areas to follow this way of thi nking. This paradigm makes many women do their best to stay slim. Thus, those women who are overweight suffer from the idea that they are less beautiful, and this greatly affects their social interactions. Some of social problems they exhibit include low self-esteem, discrimination as well as avoiding social gatherings. The reasons why obese people suffer from low self-esteem is because some individuals may make fun of their obese conditions; such jokes may injure their feelings and psychological health which can result in a negative impact on their self-esteem.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Obesity: Psychological/ Sociological specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are many people who associate obesity with laziness and gluttonous. This attitude makes some obese people suffer from low self-esteem as well and avoid publicity as a result. Many obese people are known to do their best to manage their conditions. Mo st of them try to manage their obesity by controlling their dieting behavior as well as by exercising a lot. Therefore, the wrong perception that obese people are lazy and gluttonous can make these people withdraw and shun social gatherings and assume solitary lifestyles that are detrimental to their social life. Moreover, such negative attitudes towards obese humans may force them to engage in unhealthy habits, such as anorexia or bulimia, which include avoiding eating or vomiting the food in order to loose weight. This can result in detrimental health issues which will in turn worsen their social lives. Those girls who suffer from obesity are often characterized with low performances in schools because of the social stigma that is associated with the obese condition. These girls tend to have a problem in establishing healthy relationships with their learning peers, and because of being discriminated by their learning mates, they are isolated from society which makes them suffe r from low self-esteem which affects their school performance negatively (Obesity Working Group). People who suffer from obesity experience psychological problems. For instance, the children with such condition can be mean and bully. It is also observed that those kids who are teased about their overweight status tend to have low self-esteem, poor body image and symptoms of depression. It is universally accepted that all people aspire to have friends, Unfortunately, most of the obese children often find themselves lonely as well as isolated. This makes these children suffer from depressions and use food as their means of comfort. Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, the isolation they encounter in their day-to-day-activities make such children less active because they do not have friends to play with. This is the notion that makes obese kids be regarded as lazy. Moreover, teenagers who suffer from obesity are highly affected by their obese status. These teens experience psychological disturbances that affect their health conditions and lead to serious medical issues. The teen’s period is mainly a growing stage, which is described by the urge to be more independent as well as experience an increased need in socializing. At this juncture, teenagers are more concerned about their physical appearances and appeal to other people. Thus, when they are teased because of their obese conditions, they show a psychological devastation (Wadden, Sarwer, Fabricatore, Jones, Stack, and Williams 65). Obesity can be treated socially or psychologically. Obese people are encouraged to exercise more as well as reduce taking foods that are high ly rich in calories. This is a type of a behavioral or cognitive therapy that entails modification of one’s lifestyle as well as dietary habits. This approach is effective in managing the obese condition in many people. Nevertheless, the psychological treatment of obesity is the best strategy of managing this condition as it helps in addressing its fundamental causes. In classical conditioning, eating disorders are linked with other actions. These behaviors are meant to happen simultaneously. For instance, a person may be used to eat nachos as he/she watches the news. When these conditions are done repeatedly, a person may have a craving for nachos every time she/he watches news. Behavioral intervention involves establishing and extinguishing those factors that facilitate obesity. Conversely, operant conditioning uses strengthening and consequences. It happens when people employ a reward to momentarily to reduce pressure associated foods with a more congenial state, this i ncreases its possibility to turn into a recurring behavior. It is said that behavior therapy is connected with the lifestyles changes as well as weight loss in short-time, but does not indicate any substantial proof of its long-term effectiveness. Nowadays, cognitive behavior therapies have become more common approaches for the treatment of obesity. Cognitive therapies are known to influence both the feelings and behaviors. They are used to treat overweight by helping the obese to change their eating disorders and embrace healthy eating lifestyles. They entail strategies such as social support, stress management, cognitive restructuring as well as stimulus control (Cooper and Fairburn 54). It is very important to note that both social and psychological issues are very essential in the development and examining the effects of obesity. Therefore, the treatment of obesity should be a multidisciplinary approach. Thus, the treatment of this condition should be biological, social, psych ological as well as environmental in order to guarantee an inclusive care, the best practices and effective results. Collins, Jennifer C., and Jon E. Bentz. Behavioral and Psychological Factors in Obesity. The Journal of Lancaster General Hospital, 4.4(2009): 124-127. jlgh.org. Web. Cooper, Z. and C.G. Fairburn. A new cognitive behavioral approach to the treatment of obesity. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 39.5(2001):499-511. Print. Obesity Working Group. Technical Report No 1: Obesity in Australia: A need for urgent action. P3-451. Australia: Commonwealth of Australia, 2008. Print. Stunkard, A.J., Grace, W.J., and H.G. Wolff. The night-eating syndrome: A pattern of food intake among certain obese patients. American Journal of Medicine, 19.1(1955): 78-86. Print. Wadden, T.A., Sarwer, D.B., Fabricatore, A.N., Jones, L., Stack, R., and N.S. Williams. Psychosocial and behavioral status of patients undergoing bariatric surgery: what to expect before and after surgery. The Medical Cli nic of North America, 91.3(2007): 451-469. Print.