Positions and Duties on Board a Pirate Ship

Positions and Duties on Board a Pirate Ship Each of the members of the crew of a pirate ship had a specific position to play and a set of duties to go along with that role. A pirate ship was an organization much like any other business. Life on board a pirate ship was much less strict and regimented than on board a Royal Navy or merchant vessel of the time, but there were still duties that had to be done. There was a command structure, and different men had different jobs to make sure that everything went smoothly. Well-run and organized pirate ships were more successful, and ships that lacked discipline and leadership generally didn’t last very long. Here is a list of the common positions and duties on board a pirate ship. Captain Hulton Archive/Stringer/Getty Images Unlike in the Royal Navy or merchant service, where the captain was a man with a great deal of experience and complete authority, a pirate captain was elected by the crew, and his power was only absolute in the heat of battle or when giving chase. At other times, the captains wishes could be dismissed by a simple majority vote of the crew. Pirates tended to like their captains to be neither too aggressive nor too meek. A good captain had to know when a potential victim was too strong for them, without letting weaker quarry get away. Some captains, such as Blackbeard or Black Bart Roberts, had great charisma and easily recruited new pirates to their cause. Navigator It was hard to find a good navigator during the Golden Age of Piracy. Trained navigators could use the stars to figure out their latitude, and therefore could sail from east to west with reasonable ease, but figuring out longitude, north to south, was much harder and involved a lot of guesswork. That was fairly important: pirate ships often ranged far and wide. â€Å"Black Bart† Roberts worked much of the Atlantic Ocean, from the Caribbean to Brazil to Africa. If there was a skilled navigator on board a prize ship, pirates would often force him to join their crew. Sailing charts were also valuable and were confiscated as booty when discovered on board prize ships. Quartermaster After the Captain, the quartermaster was probably the most important man on the ship. He was in charge of seeing that the Captain’s orders were carried out and handled the day-to-day management of the ship. When there was plunder, the quartermaster divided it up among the crew according to the number of shares each man was due to receive. He was also in charge of discipline in minor matters such as fighting or minor derelictions of duty. More severe offenses went before a pirate court. Quartermasters often inflicted punishments such as floggings. The quartermaster would often board prize vessels and decide what to take and what to leave. Generally, the quartermaster received a double share, same as the captain. Boatswain The Boatswain, or Bosun, was in charge of the ship itself and keeping it in shape for travel and battle. He looked after the wood, canvas, and ropes that were of vital importance on board. He would often lead shore parties when supplies or repairs were needed. He oversaw activities such as dropping and weighing the anchor, setting the sails and keeping the deck clean. An experienced Boatswain was a very valuable man. They often got a share and a half of loot. Cooper Wooden barrels were very valuable, as they were the best way to store food, water, and other necessities of life at sea. Every ship needed a cooper  or a man skilled in making and maintaining barrels. Existing storage barrels had to be regularly inspected. Empty barrels were broken up to make space on small ships. The cooper would quickly put them back together if they stopped to take on food and water. Carpenter The carpenter was in charge of the ship’s structural integrity. He generally answered to the Boatswain and would fix holes after combat, keep the masts and yardarms sound and functional, and know when the ship needed to be beached for maintenance and repairs. Ships carpenters had to make do with what was at hand, as pirates usually could not use official dry docks in ports. Many times they would have to make repairs on some deserted island or stretch of beach, using only what they could scavenge or cannibalize from other parts of the ship. Ship’s carpenters often doubled as surgeons, sawing off limbs that had been wounded in battle. Doctor or Surgeon Most pirate ships preferred to have a doctor on board when one was available. Pirates frequently fought–with their victims and with one another–and serious injuries were common. Pirates also suffered from a variety of other ailments, including venereal diseases such as syphilis and tropical illnesses like malaria. If they spent a long time at sea, they were vulnerable to vitamin deficiencies like scurvy. Medicines were worth their weight in gold: when Blackbeard blockaded the port of Charles Town, all he asked for was a large chest of medicines. Trained doctors were hard to find, and when ships had to go without one, often times a veteran sailor with some common sense would serve in this capacity. Master Gunner If you think about it for a minute, you’ll realize that firing a cannon must be a tricky thing. You have to get everything right: the placement of the shot, the powder, the fuse... and then you have to aim the thing. A skilled gunner was a very valuable part of any pirate crew. Gunners usually were trained by the Royal Navy and had worked their way up from being powder-monkeys, young boys who ran back and forth carrying gunpowder to the cannons during battles. The Master Gunner was in charge of all of the cannons, the gunpowder, the shot and everything else that had to do with keeping the guns in working order. Musicians Musicians were popular on board. Piracy was a tedious life, and a ship could spend weeks at sea waiting to find a suitable victim. Musicians helped to pass the time, and having some skill with a musical instrument brought with it certain privileges, such as playing while the others were working or even increased shares. Musicians were often forcibly taken off of the ships of their victims. On one occasion, when pirates raided a farm in Scotland, they left behind two young women†¦ and brought a piper back to the ship instead.

Georg Baselitz, Creator of Upside-Down Art

Georg Baselitz, Creator of Upside-Down Art Georg Baselitz (born January 23, 1938) is a Neo-Expressionist German artist best known for painting and exhibiting many of his works upside down. The inversion of his paintings is a deliberate choice, aimed at challenging and disturbing viewers. According to the artist, he believes that it makes them think more about the grotesque and often disturbing content. Fast Facts: Georg Baselitz Full Name: Hans-Georg Kern, but changed his name to Georg Baselitz in 1958Occupation: Painter and sculptorBorn: January 23, 1938 in Deutschbaselitz, GermanySpouse: Johanna Elke KretzschmarChildren: Daniel Blau and Anton KernEducation: Academy of Visual and Applied Art in East Berlin and Academy of Visual Arts in West BerlinSelected Works: Die Grosse Nacht im Eimer (1963), Oberon (1963), Der Wald auf dem Kopf (1969)Notable Quote: I always feel attacked when Im asked about my painting. Early Life and Education Born Hans-Georg Kern, the son of an elementary school teacher, Georg Baselitz grew up in the town Deutschbaselitz, in what would later be East Germany. His family lived in a flat above the school. Soldiers used the building as a garrison during World War II, and it was destroyed during a battle between Germans and Russians. Baselitzs family found refuge in the cellar during the combat. In 1950, the Baselitz family moved to Kamens, where their son attended high school. He found himself heavily influenced by a reproduction of Interlude During a Hunt in Wermersdorf Forest by 19th-century German realist painter Ferdinand von Rayski. Baselitz painted extensively while attending high school. In 1955 the Art Academy of Dresden rejected his application. However, he began studying painting at the Academy of Visual and Applied Art in East Berlin in 1956. After expulsion due to socio-political immaturity, he continued his studies in West Berlin at the Academy of Visual Arts. In 1957, Georg Baselitz met Johanna Elke Kretzschmar. They married in 1962. He is the father of two sons, Daniel Blau and Anton Kern, who are both gallery owners. Georg and Johanna became Austrian citizens in 2015. Lothar Wolleh / Wikimedia Commons / GNU Free Documentation License First Exhibitions and Scandal Hans-Georg Kern became Georg Baselitz in 1958, when he adopted his new last name as a tribute to his hometown. He began painting a series of portraits based on observations of German soldiers. The focus of the young artist was the German identity in the aftermath of World War II. The first Georg Baselitz exhibition took place in 1963 at Galerie Werner Katz in West Berlin. It included the controversial paintings Der Nackte Mann (Naked Man) and Die Grosse Nacht im Eimer (Big Night Down the Drain). Local authorities deemed the paintings obscene and seized the works. The ensuing court case was not settled until two years later. Various Signs (1965). Hans-Georg Roth / Getty Images The controversy helped propel Baselitz into notoriety as a rising expressionist painter. Between 1963 and 1964, he painted the Idol series of five canvases. They focused on profoundly emotional and disturbed renderings of human heads echoing the emotional angst of Edvard Munchs The Scream (1893). The 1965-1966 series Helden (Heroes) represented Baselitz at top form. He presented ugly images that were designed to force Germans to confront the ugliness of their violent past during World War II and political suppression in East Germany. Upside-Down Art In 1969, Georg Baselitz presented his first inverted painting Der Wald auf dem Kopf (The Wood on its Head). The landscape subject matter is influenced by the work of Ferdinand von Rayski, Baselitzs childhood idol. The artist has frequently stated that he turns the works upside down to irritate the view. He believes that people pay closer attention when they are disturbed. While the paintings displayed upside down are representational in nature, the act of inverting them is considered a step toward abstraction. Some observers believe that the upside-down pieces were a gimmick to draw attention to the artist. However, the prevailing view saw it as a stroke of genius that rattled traditional perspectives on art. St. Georgstiefel (1997). Mary Turner / Getty Images While the subject matter of Baselitz paintings stretches far and wide and defies simple characterization, his upside-down technique quickly became the most easily identifiable element of his work. Baselitz was soon known as the pioneer of upside-down art. Sculpture In 1979, Georg Baselitz began creating monumental wooden sculptures. The pieces are unrefined and sometimes crude, like his paintings. He refused to polish his sculptures and preferred to leave them looking like rough-hewn creations. BDM Gruppe (2012). FaceMePLS / Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons 2.0 One of the most celebrated of Baselitzs sculpture series is the eleven busts of women he created in the 1990s designed to commemorate the bombing of Dresden during World War II. Baselitz memorialized the rubble women he saw as the backbone of efforts to reconstruct the city after the war. He used a chain saw to hack away at the wood and help give the pieces a crude, defiant appearance. The emotional intensity of the series echoes the 1960s paintings of the Heroes series. Later Career In the 1990s, Baselitz expanded his work into other media beyond painting and sculpture. He designed the set for the Dutch Operas production of Harrison Birtwistles Punch and Judy in 1993. In addition, he designed a postage stamp for the French government in 1994. The first major U.S. retrospective of the work of Georg Baselitz took place at the Guggenheim in New York City in 1994. The exhibition traveled to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Georg Baselitz continues to work and produce new art in his 80s. He remains controversial and is often highly critical of German politics. Georg Baselitz exhibition at White Cube Gallery (2016). rune hellestad / Getty Images Legacy and Influence The upside-down art of Georg Baselitz remains popular, but arguably his willingness to confront the horrors of World War II in Germany in his art has the most enduring impact. The emotional and occasionally shocking subject matter in his paintings exerted a powerful influence on Neo-Expressionist painters around the world. Oberon (1963), one of the most recognized masterpieces by Baselitz, demonstrates the visceral impact of his work. Four ghostly heads stretched into the center of the canvas on elongated and distorted necks. Behind them, what looks like a graveyard is drenched in a bloody red color. Oberon (1963). Hans-Georg Roth / Getty Images The painting represents the rejection of the prevailing winds of the art world in the 1960s directing young artists toward conceptual and pop art. Baselitz chose to dig even deeper into a grotesque form of expressionism laying bare the emotional horrors that continued to impact post-war Germany. Discussing the direction of his work, Baselitz said, I was born into a destroyed order, a destroyed landscape, a destroyed people, a destroyed society. And I didnt want to reestablish an order: Id seen enough of so-called order. Sources Heinze, Anna. Georg Baselitz: Back Then, In Between, and Today. Prestel, 2014.

Homework II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Homework II - Essay Example It is the hope of this author that such a unit of analysis will be beneficial to the individual with regards to seeking to understand the changes that the Affordable Health Care Act portends for the daily life and economic situation of the reader/stakeholder within society. Firstly, it must be understood that the federal agency tasked with ultimate implementation of this law is that of the Health and Human Services Department of the United States federal government. As such, this department has received a vastly increased budget as well as an increase in positions of individuals who will be responsible for the distribution and oversight of the Affordable Health Care Act. Ultimately the Health and Human Services Department is a cabinet level office that is tasked with seeking to impact upon â€Å"Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America† (Graham 1). As such, the docket number and RIN for the Affordable Healthcare Act is as follows: 0938-AR51. ... This is intended to be effected by mandating that the individual should integrate with at least some level of healthcare for themselves and for those within their family. Moreover, the Affordable Health Care Act also proposed a reconfiguration of the way in which the insurance industry within the United States sought to deal with â€Å"pre-existing conditions†; a hardship that formerly saw many tens of thousands of individuals denied coverage (Pipes 1). Finally, with regards to an overall summary concerning the basic interests for and against the legislation, it must be understood that the Affordable Health Care Act does not solve the issue of the uninsured within society. Due to exceptions and the possibility of â€Å"opting out† the uninsured can still exist; however, they will now be responsible for paying a yearly penalty for remaining uninsured. Another key shortcoming with regards to the proposed law is the fact that individual small business owners within society who might have otherwise continued to add jobs and higher more individuals since the economy has started to come back to life, are now hesitant to engage in any such action due to the fact that the healthcare bills that small firms will be saddled with, on the part of their employees, will be exorbitantly high (Avik 16). This is of course compared to the way in which healthcare costs were evidenced prior to the legislation being proposed and/or taking place. However, with regards the ultimate benefit and interest to society, it must be understood that the Affordable Health Care Act allows for a great reduction in the overall number of individuals who would have gone uninsured otherwise. By providing an incentive to become insured in reducing the overall level of obstacles that it formerly

Managing Homeland Security Mid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Managing Homeland Security Mid - Essay Example As the situation is stabilized and the immediate emergencies are remedied, the recovery phase is entered. During the restoration phase infrastructure is repaired and utilities are restored. This phase may last for years, as the ultimate goal is to "return the community's quality of life to at least the same level as it was before the disaster" (Lindell, Prater, and Perry, 2006, p.21). As can be seen by Hurricane Katrina, this could take decades. Emergency managers place most of their emphasis on preparedness and response. These phases overlap, as the degree of response will be a function of the preparation. This is appropriate, as that is where most resources and the greatest numbers of lives are at risk. Mitigation is often given too little attention, as people become complacent and the task is so difficult. However, the events of 9/11 have placed mitigation and preparedness for a terrorist act as a greater priority as seen in the border and airport security measures. Risk analysis is the process of assessment to determine the vulnerability to a disaster and the potential for impact that a disaster may have. This involves the physical risk that products such as chemicals may pose, or the degree of exposure a city may have to a flood. The location, security, and physical details all are components of risk assessment. In addition, risk assessment must also evaluate what the potential risks are. In the case of flooding, weather patterns and climate can indicate how often a disaster can be expected. Physical items such as chemicals or fuels may be subjected to terrorism or social activists that may wish to create chaos, and these risks are much more difficult to assess (Lindell, Prater, and Perry, 2006, p.154). The assessment would include an inventory of what products were stored at which locations and their potential as targets. In addition, there needs to be an assessment of the environmental damage that would occur in the event of a disaster. Thi s could be oil spills or gas leaks, as well as the release of caustic chemicals into a water supply. One of the difficulties facing a risk assessment manager is that many of the hazards that pose a risk are constantly changing. Chemicals can be moved and relocated as they are used. Many of the products, such as fuels, are mobile. If I were a city manager I would do a thorough risk assessment. I would also enlist the citizens and businesses as partners in risk reduction and prevention. Agricultural businesses may be a target for terrorists seeking to gain access to their chemicals, and they should be aware of the physical security required. 3.) Community Emergency Plan Emergency planning is critical for the management of a community and the health and safety of its citizens. Social and geographical differences make planning for a community an individual endeavor. It is also critical, as the local authorities will be the first responders and have the major initial responsibility for response. In addition, the local authorities would ideally have done an adequate risk assessment and have made plans to cope with the potential ris

Eqyptian Culture Essay Example for Free

Eqyptian Culture Essay Ancient Egypt was a fascinating and complex place. Luckily for historians, Egyptians had made great strides in record keeping which have made studying their culture and society easier than some previous historical eras. Ancient Egyptians were a people who were intensely religious, deeply divided by gender roles and a strong hierarchy, and quite advanced for their period in terms of their technological and economic innovations. Egyptians were deeply religious, and religion played a role in nearly all aspects of their daily lives. When the ancient Egyptians experienced periods of peace and prosperity, they attributed credit for the success to their deities (Slaughter, 5). The Egyptians experienced centuries of remarkable stability and considered this state to be the ma ’at, which was Egyptian for the â€Å"natural order† (Slaughter, 5). Even though they considered good order and balance in their society to be natural, it had to be protected by the pharaoh, who was considered to have been born mortal but imbued with godhood upon receipt of the throne, and was expected to be an earthly presence of the divine (Slaughter, 5). His religious standing gave the pharaoh a unique legal and authoritative position in ancient Egyptian culture. The pharaoh was expected to defend the nation, take responsibility for all administrative duties, declare all of the laws, and own all of the land (Slaughter, 5). For practical reasons, much of the pharaoh’s responsibilities were delegated to a bureaucracy (Slaughter, 5). Within this bureaucracy, staffed mostly by men, success was measured by the degree to which a person promoted order and prosperity within their stewardship (Slaughter, 5-6). Ancient Egypt had a strong social hierarchy, where a small group of the population, mostly the male elders, formed an elite class that that tightly controlled the rest of society (Slaughter, 7). This hierarchy was rooted in a wide variety of economic, political, religious and social causes that imbued those in power with authority in almost all areas of society (Slaughter, 7). The nature of most economic and commercial activity at the time created great â€Å"wealth, power, and opportunities† for elite men, while putting other men and all women in a position of submission to or dependence on the elite (Slaughter, 7). The division of labor that arose based at first on survival needs created societal attitudes about the roles, attributes, and abilities of men and women (Slaughter, 7). Men were the rulers and hard laborers, while women were the family caretakers (Slaughter, 7). The fertility and sexuality of a woman was her main contribution to Egyptian society, and these attributes were celebrated throughout the culture (Slaughter, 7). Women were expected to marry at 12 or 13 years of age, and to bear children often within the first year after marriage (Discussion, Ian Falconer). Although women were usually not part of the religious or political ruling elite, they were highly respected for their fertility, and were given most of the same legal rights as men (Discussion, Keako Crill). In some rare instances, women actually did manage to rise to stations of power and privilege, sometimes as priestesses to a God within the pharaoh’s bureaucracy (Slaughter, 5), and in four instances, including the case of Hatshepsut, women actually became the supreme rulers of the land (Slaughter, 6). Ancient Egyptians achieved an impressive level of manufacturing and commercia l capability for their time, which allowed them to achieve great strength and geopolitical dominance. Egyptians took advantage of many opportunities to learn, such as using the mummification process as a chance to learn about anatomy and medicine (Discussion, Katelyn Dreger). The Egyptians also developed a calendar with the same number of days as ours, though more closely tied to the seasons. Their calendar had three seasons, each consisting of four 30 day months, and an extra five days between harvest and planting that brought the total days in a year to 365 (Discussion, Tad Gale). This system allowed them to know when to plant and harvest based on the seasons of the year and the rise and fall of the water level in the Nile River in order to get maximum utilization of their vital lands. They also managed to develop a forerunner to our modern day beer by either fermenting water with bread crumbled into it, or by actually fermenting barley and wheat in a similar fashion to modern methods (Discussion, Tad Gale.) Their engineering feats were also impressive, and ranged from the technical prowess that showed itself in their massive pyramids, to the mastery of physics involved in developing advanced chariots that ran faster, quieter, and more stable than their counterparts created by their enemies (Discussion, Blair Vanderlugt). The nature of ancient Egyptian society was quite unique for its time period. Egyptian culture was distinct from neighboring nations, and Egyptians had many advantages that gave them an edge politically and commercially.

Megans Law Essay -- Megans Law Violence Sex Crime Criminals

Megan’s Law   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When people think of their neighbors, do they think of violent sex crime offenders? Many people have to deal with this every day of life. There are now laws that inform people of a community when a sex crime offender moves into their town. These laws are said to keep violent sex crime offenders from striking again, but do these laws really work is the question that many people ask? The answer all depends on the opinion of the person who is being asking. Many supporters say that the law is keeping sexually violent predators from striking again, but many critics say that the law is unethical and breaks many amendments. This is another question proposed when the topic of Megan’s Law is brought up, is it breaking any of the amendments or is it necessary for community members to know whether a sex crime offender is living is in their neighborhood? The judge who was deciding this case ruled in favor of the critics, that Megan’s Law was in violation of the Constitution. But then finally President Bill Clinton stepped in and created a total package called the Jacob Wetterling Act. This Law was said to almost end all of the Sex crime cases to come in the future, but did it?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Megan’s Law has once played an intricate part in the life of my family members. In 1995 my aunt a resident of a nearby suburb of Seattle, Washington encountered a scenario which involved the notification of sex offenders.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She resided next to what appeared to be a pleasant and friendly bachelor. He was very out going and kind to the people in the community. The residents of the community had no idea he was once a child molester about to move in on his next victim. After living five months in this small community he sexually abused a seven year old girl. After going to jail citizens of the community discovered this was not his first offense. This brought great controversy in the notification of sex offenders in communities also known as Megan’s Law. Megan’s Law is said to be one of the most controversial topics among lawyers today. In this paper one will see how Megan’s Law is enforced, how the name came about, the regulations of Megan’s Law, how the federal government stepped in and created laws enforcing sex crime offenders to register with the town’s Police, some brief opinions of the people on how they would react if they knew that a sex crime offender moved i... ...w is one of the most controversial topics among lawyers today. Whether you are a supporter or a critic of Megan’s Law, every person is entitled to their own opinion over the issue. I know that if I had children I would sure like to know if there was a convicted Sex crime offender or a Child molester living in my community. Works Cited Aseltine, Peter. "Megan’s Law Upheld, With Limitations." Trenton Times, 23 February 1995. Bai, Matt. "A Report From the Front in the War on Predators." Newsweek, 19 May 1997: 67. Jerome, Richard. "Megan’s Legacy." People Magazine, 20 May 1995: 46-51. Mader, Anthony. "Megan’s Law." Trenton Times, 18 May 1996. Martens, Steven. "Law Gives Parents False Sense of Security." Iowa State Daily, 19 October   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1995. Reno, Janet. "Final Guidelines for Megan’s Law." 17 November 1999. Saunders, Stephanie Cara. "Megan’s Law." 19 November 1999.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shank, Joshua Wolf. " Do Megan’s Laws make a difference." U.S. News and World Report, 9   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  March 1998: 27. Verniero, Peter. "A Citizen’s Guide to Megan’s Law." 18 November 1999.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Fat Tax Essay

This report proposes that these costs and problems need to be addressed, and one avenue through which they can be is a junk food tax. This report proposes that there be a federal tax placed on junk food purchases, similar to the taxes placed on gasoline and tobacco products. This tax would dissuade people from purchasing unhealthy food items. At the same time it would help the nation offset some of the financial costs that obesity has generated. The proposition is not a fix-all, but it is a good start. Taxation of Junk Food, A Proposition to Battle the Obesity Epidemic in America Obesity is a condition that can be found in nearly every social class, geographic location, and age group in our society today. Every year there are more people who fit this profile; more people who are obese. While many view this condition as merely a cosmetic one, the truth is that there are serious consequences to being overweight. Some of these consequences include: the health risks such as diabetes and heart disease, early death because of those conditions, economic impacts due to lower productivity, astronomical health care costs, and numerous social problems that arise due to the lethargy and early mortality of obese parents and the inactivity of overweight children. These issues are significant, and need to be addressed in order to solve the problem. First, the causes of obesity must be understood, so that adequate solutions can be generated. Then solutions need to be created and put into effect such that the causes of the epidemic will be addressed at a minimal social cost. The information in this report shows that a large portion of those who suffer from obesity can attribute a large portion of their weight to junk food. This food is high in calories and low in nutritional value. This report also shows that many of these people choose to consume these products due to its convenience and relative low cost. I propose that in order to address this cause, and decrease consumption of junk food due to convenience and low cost, a federal tax should be levied against all foods that fit the profile of a junk food. I propose that this action would decrease economy purchases of less nutritious foods, and encourage consumers to consume more healthy diet options based on economic feasibility. Â  The Obesity Epidemic The issue of obesity is one that is complex and widespread. In order to understand the scope and implications of this condition, one must first understand what it is, and who it affects. Not everyone who is overweight is obese. Scott Ingram describes the difference between obesity and overweight as overweight being anyone who weighs more than the someone in the normal range for how old and tall they are, while in order for a person to be labeled obese, they must have enough body fat to put them 20 percent higher or more than their ideal weight (Ingram, 2005, p. 23). In other words, if a person’s ideal weight for their height and age is 140 pounds, and they weigh 150 pounds, they are overweight; but if they weigh over 168 pounds they are obese. This difference is important, as it indicates exactly how much overweight obese people are. They are all more than 20 percent over their target weight, which is significant enough to cause the problems that are being discussed in this report. The health and social issues caused by the state rest of the population that have not reached the 20 percent mark, but are still overweight are not even considered in this report. However, these issues will be positively affected by this proposal as well. It is also important to note that this problem is not isolated to a specific group of individuals, although there are groups that are higher risk than others.

Decision-Making Case Study Health Care Management Essay

Stoddard County Public Health Clinic is located on Highway 25, North of Bloomfield, Missouri. The clinic provides services to infant and child; young and middle aged adults; older adults; environmental services; and group/community services. When the 2009 budget cuts were distributed among the different departments, the manager of the Young and Middle Aged Adult Department noted a 15% budget cut. This paper is a case study of how the Young and Middle Aged Adult Department Manager will decide what tools she will use to decide which clinical service should be eliminated or introduced to better serve the Medicaid population at while at the same time make a 15% cut in its budget. Clinic Services Available and StaffingThe services available for the Young and Middle Aged Adult Department includes: breast and cervical screening project, anemia screening, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy testing, immunizations, nutrition education, W.I.C, women’s health screenings, high risk pregnancy counseling and case management for prenatals (Stoddard County, 2008). Staffing for the department includes: Department Manager; 2 full-time LPNs to perform screenings, draw blood samples and administer immunizations; 1 full-time nutritionist for the nutrition education; and 1 RN Case Manager to manage the women’s health screenings, high risk pregnancy counseling. The clerical staff is shared among the entire clinic. The Department Manager looked at the year-to-date information for each service provided under her department with the thought of possibly eliminating a service to make up for the 15% budget cut. Upon reviewing the all statistics concerning frequency of use and after surveying all staff members within the clinic, it was determined that each service was very important to the Medicaid recipients of Stoddard County. One suggestion from a staff member was to convert one of the full-time LPN positions to a part-time position and starting a clinical volunteer program. Another position that could be changed from full-time to part-time is the Nutritionist. Statistics have shown that her services are only needed 4 hours a day instead of the full 8 hours. The volunteers would be clinically proficient and could conduct the screenings that are very popular within Stoddard County. In order for the decision to be made, the Department  Manager will need to make a decision to use a decision making analysis tool. The Informed Decisions ToolboxOne option for the department manager can use to make a decision on how to manage a 15% budget cut for her clinic, is to use The Informed Decisions Toolbox developed by Thomas G. Rundall, PhD and his associates (University Of Phoenix, 2008). The toolbox is divided into six steps to help managers make an informed decision. The six steps include: Step 1: Framing the question behind the decision; Step 2: Finding sources of information; Step 3: Assessing the accuracy of information; Step 4: Assessing the applicability of information; Step 5: Assessing the actionability of information; Step 6: Determining if the information is adequate (University Of Phoenix, 2008). Step 1: Framing the Question Behind the DecisionBefore making an informed decision, the manager must formulate a research question out of the management question. In this case study the management question is â€Å"How will the Young and Middle Aged Adult Department operate with a 15% budget cut?† The research question is â€Å"What clinical services should be eliminated or added to allow for the 15% budget cut within the Young and Middle Aged Adult Department’s and how will it affect the profitability and quality of care outcomes during the 2009 budget year within the Medicaid population?† (University Of Phoenix, 2008). Step 2: Finding Sources of InformationStep 2 of The Informed Decisions Toolbox discusses different avenues of researching the management question. These avenues include, but are not limited to: healthcare organization libraries, webmasters intranet information and in-house support systems; and the Internet. Step 2 also describes search tips that were very useful (University Of Phoenix, 2008). Step 3: Assessing the Accuracy of InformationStep 3 guides the user to asking the following questions to help ascertain whether the information is accurate: â€Å"Is the information valid and reliable? Is the information comprehensive? Am I missing important perspectives or aspects of my decision?† (University Of Phoenix, 2008). Step 4: Assessing the Applicability of InformationThis step guides the user to decide if all the information accessed was applicable to making a decision. Step 5: Assessing the Actionability of InformationStep 5 will guide the user to determine if the information collected will provide useful recommendations to be implemented, what the expected effects may be of the decision and what are the possible effects that were not expected (University Of Phoenix, 2008). Step 6: Determining if the Information is AdequateThis last step will guide the user in making the determination as to when there has been enough information gathered to make a decision (University Of Phoenix, 2008). After reviewing the information on The Informed Decisions Toolbox, the Department Manager decided this tool wasn’t useful for the type of decision that needed to be made. There are four key strategies that have been recommended for use that affects an organization when the toolbox is used:1.†Strategy One: Recognize and Respond to the Growing Demand for Accountability as a Strategic Issue† (University of Phoenix, 2008). 2.†Strategy Two: Establish Organizational Structures and Processes for Knowledge Transfer† (University of Phoenix, 2008). 3.†Strategy Three: Build a Questioning Organizational Culture† (University of Phoenix). 4.†Strategy Four: Build Organizational Research Capabilities† (University of Phoenix, 2008). By using these strategies, an organization will be able to ensure that have all the research information at hand to help them stay accountable for their  actions. It is also a way for sharing of knowledge and always questioning so as to build a stronger organization. Devil’s Advocate TechniqueDevil’s Advocate is a technique that is used in gathering the positive and the negative aspects to a decision that needs to be made (Liebler & McConnell, 2008, p. 159). In this case, the Department Manager assigned the 2 LPNs and Case Manager the task of brainstorming and writing down the negative aspects of her proposal and all the positive aspects to the proposal. Negative AspectsThere were some strong negative aspects that the team was able to verbalize during the brainstorming session. Some of the stronger comments were:1.A full-time staff member will be required to have a change of status from full-time to part-time. This could cause the staff member make the decision to resign and find a position elsewhere. This will cause the Department to incur the expense of recruiting and training a replacement. 2.Cost of recruiting and training volunteer staff to make up for the  ½ FTE position lost. 3.Loss of expertise from taking already fully training long-time employee out of the full-time position and replacing them with an inexperienced volunteer. Positive AspectsThere were some strong positive aspects that came from the brainstorming as well. Some of the stronger comments/aspects are:1.Cost savings from using volunteer services. The LPN is making an hourly wage of $17.50 per hour equates to approximately $36,400 annually. By using the volunteer for part-time, there will be a savings of $18,200 annually. 2.Cost savings for changing the dietician to part-time would be $22,500, which is half of the $45,000 annual salary paid. The total budget from previous year was $154,800. The new budged, which excludes the 15% cut is $131,580, which equates to a total $23,200 difference. If the decision was made to change the two positions to  part-time, there would be a cost savings of $40,700.00. In conclusion, the decision-making tool that best suited the Department Manager of the Young & Middle Aged Adult was the Devil’s Advocate. By allowing those who the decision was going to affect the most have a part in the decision making process ensured better understanding of budget cuts. The Informed Decisions Toolbox is an excellent tool for those decisions requiring a lot of research data; however, not best suited for this Department Manager. The final decision was made to proceed with changing 1 FTE LPN to Part-time and 1 FTE Dietician to Part-time, which will create a total budgeted savings of $40,700.00. References Liebler, J., & McConnell, C. (2008). Management Principles for Health Professional (5th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Stoddard Conty. (2008). Stoddard County Public Health Center. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://www.stoddardcountyhealth.com/ServicesAvailable.htmUniversity Of Phoenix. (2008). The informed decisions toolbox: Tools for knowledge transfer and performance improvement. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from University of Phoenix, Week Two, Resource HCS 514 – Managing in Today’s Health Care Organizations Web site.

Roman Govt essays

Roman Govt essays The Romans have had almost every type of government there is. They've had a kingdom, a republic, a dictatorship, and an empire. Their democracy would be the basis for most modern democracies. The people have always been involved with and loved their government, no matter what kind it was. They loved being involved in the government, and making decisions concerning everyone. In general, the Romans were very power-hungry. This might be explained by the myth that they are descended from Romulus, who's father was Mars, the god of war. Their government loving tendencies have caused many, many civil wars. After type of government, the change has been made with a civil war. There have also been many civil wars between rulers. But it all boils down to wanting to be involved in government. When the Greeks finally entered Troy after ten long years of siege, a man named Aeneas escaped the city with his father, Anchises, and his son, Ascanius. They went to Mt. Ida, where they were to meet Aeneas' wife, Creusa, but she never showed up. Saddened, Aeneas acquired a boat and sailed around the Mediterranean. He bounced around from Asia Minor to Greece to Crete looking for a place to found a new Troy, but he couldn't find a satisfactory place. As told by Homer in the Aeneid, Aeneas was cared for by the gods. Venus, in particular, was very worried about him. She asked Jupiter, king of the gods about him, and he said this: "Since you are so consumed with anxiety for Aeneas, I shall turn forward far The hidden pages of fate and speak of the future. He shall conduct a great campaign for you. And conquer all Italy and its haughty peoples. He shall impose laws on his own people. And build walled cities for them; the third summer Shall see him rule in Latium, the third winter Of warfare see the Rutulians [an Italian tribe] subdued. But his son Ascanius... It is he who shall consolidate your power-For thirty years with all their turning months; Then...

Ignacio Allende, Champion of Mexican Independence

Ignacio Allende, Champion of Mexican Independence Ignacio Josà © de Allende y Unzaga (January 21, 1769–June 26, 1811) was a Mexican-born officer in the Spanish army who switched sides and fought for independence. He fought in the early part of the conflict alongside the â€Å"Father of Mexican Independence,† Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Although Allende and Hidalgo had some initial success against the Spanish colonial forces, both were eventually captured and executed in 1811. Fast Facts: Ignacio Allende Known For: Taking up arms in the cause of Mexican independenceAlso Known As: Ignacio Josà © de Allende y UnzagaBorn: January 21, 1769 in San Miguel el Grande,  Guanajuato,  New Spain (now  San Miguel de Allende, Mexico)Parents: Domingo Narciso de Allende, Marà ­a Ana de UnzagaDied: June 26, 1811 in Chihuahua,  Nueva Vizcaya,  New Spain (now Mexico)Spouse: Maria de la Luz Agustina de las Fuentes  Children: Indalecio Allende,  Josà © Guadalupe Allende,  Juana Marà ­a Allende Early Life Allende was born to a wealthy Creole family in the town of San Miguel el Grande (the name of the town is now San Miguel de Allende in his honor) on January 21, 1769. As a young man, he led a life of privilege and joined the army while in his 20s. He was an able officer, and some of his promotions would come at the hands of his future foe General Fà ©lix Calleja. By 1808 he returned to San Miguel, where he was put in charge of a royal cavalry regiment. Conspiracies Allende apparently became convinced fairly early on of the need for Mexico to become independent from Spain, perhaps as early as 1806. There was evidence that he was part of an underground conspiracy in Valladolid in 1809, but he was not punished, probably because the conspiracy was quashed before it could go anywhere and he was a skilled officer from a good family. In early 1810, he became involved in another conspiracy, this one led by Mayor of Querà ©taro Miguel Domà ­nguez and his wife. Allende was a valued leader because of his training, contacts, and charisma. The revolution was set to begin in December 1810. El Grito de Dolores The conspirators secretly ordered weapons and spoke to influential Creole military officers, bringing many over to their cause. But in September 1810, they got word that their conspiracy had been found out and warrants were issued for their arrests. Allende was in Dolores on September 15 with Father Hidalgo when they heard the bad news. They decided to start the revolution then and there as opposed to hiding. The next morning, Hidalgo rang the church bells and gave his legendary â€Å"Grito de Dolores† or Cry of Dolores, in which he exhorted the poor of Mexico to take up arms against their Spanish oppressors. The Siege of Guanajuato Allende and Hidalgo suddenly found themselves at the head of an angry mob. They marched on San Miguel, where the mob murdered Spaniards and looted their homes: it must have been difficult for Allende to see this happen in his hometown. After passing through the town of Celaya, which wisely surrendered without a shot, the mob marched on the city of Guanajuato where 500 Spaniards and royalists had fortified the large public granary and prepared to fight. The angry mob fought the defenders for five hours before overrunning the granary, massacring all inside. Then they turned their attention to the city, which was sacked. Monte de Las Cruces The insurgent army continued to make its way toward Mexico City, which began to panic when word of the horrors of Guanajuato reached its citizens. Viceroy Francisco Xavier Venegas hastily scraped together all of the infantry and cavalries he could muster and sent them out to meet the rebels. The royalists and insurgents met on October 30, 1810, at the Battle of Monte de las Cruces not far outside of Mexico City. The barely 1,500 royalists fought bravely but could not defeat the horde of 80,000 insurgents. Mexico City appeared to be within the reach of the rebels. Retreat With Mexico City within their grasp, Allende and Hidalgo did the unthinkable: they retreated back toward Guadalajara. Historians are unsure why they did: all agree that it was a mistake. Allende was in favor of pressing on, but Hidalgo, who controlled the masses of peasants and Indians making up the bulk of the army, overrode him. The retreating army was caught in a skirmish near Aculco by a larger force led by General Calleja and split up: Allende went to Guanajuato and Hidalgo to Guadalajara. Schism Although Allende and Hidalgo agreed on independence, they disagreed on much, particularly on how to wage war. Allende, the professional soldier, was aghast at Hidalgo’s encouragement of the looting of towns and the executions of all Spaniards they came across. Hidalgo argued that the violence was necessary and that without the promise of loot, most of their army would desert. Not all of the army was made up of angry peasants: there were some Creole army regiments, and these were almost all loyal to Allende: when the two men split up, most of the professional soldiers went to Guanajuato with Allende. The Battle of Calderon Bridge Allende fortified Guanajuato, but Calleja, turning his attention to Allende first, drove him out. Allende was forced to retreat to Guadalajara and rejoin Hidalgo. There, they decided to make a defensive stand at the strategic Calderon Bridge. On January 17, 1810, Calleja’s well-trained royalist army met the insurgents there. It seemed that the vast insurgent numbers would carry the day, but a lucky Spanish cannonball ignited a rebel munitions dump, and in the ensuing chaos the undisciplined rebels scattered. Hidalgo, Allende and the other insurgent leaders were forced out of Guadalajara, most of their army gone. Death As they made their way north, Allende had finally had enough of Hidalgo. He stripped him of command and arrested him. Their relationship had already deteriorated so badly that Allende had tried to poison Hidalgo while they were both in Guadalajara before the battle of Calderà ³n Bridge. Hidalgo’s removal became a moot point on March 21, 1811, when Ignacio Elizondo, an insurgent commander, betrayed and captured Allende, Hidalgo and the other insurgency leaders as they made their way north. The leaders were sent to the city of Chihuahua, where all were tried and executed. Allende, Juan Aldama, and Mariano Jimenez were killed on June 26, while Hidalgo died on July 30. Their four heads were sent to hang on the corners of the public granary of Guanajuato. Legacy It was unfortunate for the Mexicans involved in the struggle for Independence that Hidalgo and Allende quarreled so bitterly. In spite of their differences, the tactician and soldier and the charismatic priest made a very good team, something they realized at the end when it was too late. Allende is today remembered as one of the great leaders of the early Mexican Independence movement, and his remains rest in Mexico City’s hallowed Independence Column alongside those of Hidalgo, Jimà ©nez, Aldama, and others. His hometown of San Miguel el Grande was renamed in his honor: San Miguel de Allende. Sources Harvey, Robert. Liberators: Latin America’s Struggle for Independence. Woodstock: The Overlook Press, 2000.Lynch, John. The Spanish American Revolutions 1808-1826. New York: W. W. Norton Company, 1986.Scheina, Robert L. Latin America’s Wars, Volume 1: The Age of the Caudillo 1791-1899. Washington, D.C.: Brassey’s Inc., 2003.Villalpando, Josà © Manuel. Miguel Hidalgo. Mexico City: Editorial Planeta, 2002.

Enterprise Computing Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Enterprise Computing Systems - Essay Example It continued to command a strong market position and post profits in-an industry which was already struggling with declining sales and billions of dollars running in losses. Today, Dell directly sales around 90% of it’s PCs directly to the final customer. It has efficiently streamlined it’s supply chain in it’s favor by by-passing the re-seller channel which is a norm in the PC industry. The key to Dell’s success is it’s business model. This model gives Dell it’s competitive edge over the indirect PC sales. Dell’s efficiency was one of the primary reasons behind it’s success. It’s efficiency allowed the company to operate and a excel in a negative trading cycle. For it’s inventory management Dell adopted a Just In Time Approach. This approach helped Dell create a â€Å"pull† for it’s personal computers. Just-In-Time system also helped them save costs on storage incase of excess inventory. They were ab le to let the sales float irrespective of rising demand. The customization policy proved to be very successful for Dell. It turned out to be their value-added feature. They were better able to have an idea of what the customers wanted and were able to adapt themselves and their business processes accordingly. However in this rapidly changing world, the business environment keeps changing. Policies and models have to be hence revamped to adapt to the changing business model. During the course of 2006, Dell suffered a set back and significant decline in their sales in the PC market, and with that the continuous decline of PC sales prices too. This was coupled with other factors such as rising customer dissatisfaction, changing trends, less techno-savvy consumers, rising preference for mobile computing and less need for customization. Market analysts realized that Dell’s problems focused more on cost competition without providing value added customer service, efficiency without innovation and a reluctance