Object Analysis (Keris from Bali) using Prown's Method Assignment

Object Analysis (Keris from Bali) using Prown's Method - Assignment Example Sandalwood is used in making its cover, and it has a length of 45 cm. It has an approximate width of 3 cm and 3 mm thick. The Ganesh carving on the handle is a symbol of divinity and protection. It has been in the possession of the family for approximately seven decades through inheritance as it is passed on to family members. The Keris is distinct with the pastor pattern on the blade’s surface. The Keris is believed to confer upon the owner so many blessings of good luck and also provide opportunities for wealth increment (Wiener). The Keris are still widely used by the Bali in religious services and wedding ceremonies as they serve specific functions. The Keris weighs approximately 360 grams, sizeable to a knife and is handheld. Its cover is made in such a way that it can be hanged on the waistline. Its handle is rough, and this enables it to be grasped easily. It has motifs on the flat sides of the blade that represents the upcoming change of events of windfall luck and fortune. The Keris was worn daily that also included in special ceremonies. It is considered so valuable and as such it has been passed on from generation to generation and worn by both genders. It has a vast spiritual and mythological development around it (Picard and Madinier). It uses include parade, armaments, tools of magic powers, sanctified heirlooms, fundamental items for soldiers, societal status indicators and a heroism emblem. With current modernisation, the Keris has lost some of its important social and spiritual meaning in the society. Its traditional role has diminished and left craftsmen with little people to continue with the making and supply of Keris. There are several questions that can arise from the Keris. For instance, how did people come to believe in its magical powers? Does it really have evidence of spiritual importance? In my opinion, the Keris presents a beautiful history of Indonesian’s and its protection in

American Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Politics - Essay Example While the limitations of the President in effecting change can limit a President whose point of view does not reflect that of the best welfare of the United States, the powers of Congress can impede a President whose interests would better suit the welfare of the citizens of the United States. The nature of the three branches of power within the federal government of the United States were set into balance so that no one branch could attain so much power that it could fully countermand those of the other branches. While the President holds veto power and the Supreme Court can discount laws where they do not fall in line with the spirit and intent of the constitution, these powers can too be circumvented by the powers of Congress. The powers of the Presidency, in particular, were limited so that no one man could rule the nature through despotic power. Although, in recent history the nation has experienced events that led to such types of power taken and used inappropriately. This goes to show that vigilence must be attended in order to contain the nation as a truly democratic and free social structure that is defined by its federal diligence at maintaining that integrity (Tucker and Tucker 407). Article II of the Constitutions of the United States sets down the powers of the President of the United States. Section 1 provides the parameters of the term of office, the parameters of who is eligible to be President, and the parameters of how the President will be elected. Section 2 provides initial context to the nature of the powers of the President. The first clause gives the President the command of the armed forces, but implicitly states that it is only through Congressional agreement that war can be declared. The second clause outlines the President’s power to put into effect treaties. He must get a two thirds vote

Importance of Research in Nursing Practice and Theories

Importance of Research in Nursing Practice and Theories Introduction This essay will consider the definition of nursing research, different types of research and design, and why research is important in nursing practice. It will also illustrate examples of research influencing practice, and make recommendations for current or future practice. Main Body Nursing research can be defined as any scientific (i.e. systematic) enquiry into the effectiveness or value of nursing practice (Parahoo, 1997; Sullivan, 1998; Polit Beck, 2004). It denotes any empirical evidence on which nursing care is based. This includes both quantitative and qualitative research evidence (Comack, 1996). Qualitative research essentially entails analysis of individual subjective experience. It focuses on meanings and experiences as conveyed for example through philosophies such as grounded theory, phenomenology, discourse analysis, and experientialism (Coolican, 1994). Data collection is typically in the form of interviews, case studies, and systematic observation, while data analysis generally involves the identification of themes, for example through thematic analysis. Quantitative research relies on positivist philosophy, where only measurable phenomena are considered worthy of investigation. Randomised clinical trials (i.e. controlled experiments) are the preferred method of inquiry albeit questionnaire and archive-based surveys, in the form of retrospective or prospective designs, and other methodologies, may also be used. Data analysis is based on statistical tests (Howitt Cramer, 2005). Why is research important? Given the growing emphasis on evidence-based practice in nursing care across the Western world (Sullivan, 1998), there is a need for an ample body of accumulated empirical evidence to which nurses can refer in order to inform clinical practice (Polit Beck, 2004). Any responsible and accountable vocation claiming to be a profession, and answerable to a professional body, requires an empirical evidence base. This is the only way that standards of practice can be evaluated and improved, for the benefit of the general public. The value of empirical evidence, as contrasted with casual observation and anecdotes, is that it is systematic and typically obtained under controlled conditions. Research enables nursing practice to keep pace with a rapidly changing world in which health care practices must continually improve to meet changing and ever more demanding patient expectations and requirements (Eastabrooks, 1998). Only through continued research activity can a ppropriate evidence-based ‘best practice’ guidelines be introduced to ensure the good quality nursing care (Ring et al, 2005). Examples where research influences nursing practice aren’t difficult to find (Polit Beck, 2004). A review of electronic databases such as Internurse, High-Wire Press, Science Direct, and Academic Search Premier, yields an abundance of quantitative and qualitative studies on nursing practice. Five varied examples are as follows, including both quantitative and qualitative research; Meyer et al (2002); Barr et al (2005); Hughes Umeh (2005); Ring et al (2005), and Lee Knight (2006). Meyer et al (2002) conducted a randomised clinical trial contrasting the effectiveness of two different bandaging techniques nurses use for treating venous leg ulcers. The study showed that ulcers treated with higher compression bandaging didn’t heal any quicker than ulcers administered lower compression bandages. Barr et al (2005) studied archived data of all self-harm patients who presented at A E units over a given period, to ascertain the extent to which nurses carry out psychosocial assessment. It emerged that nurses do not always conducted psychological evaluations, as stipulated. However, patients were more likely to be assessed if they were considered ‘high risk’. Hughes and Umeh (2005) studied stresses experienced by nurses at work. Extremely heavy and stressful workloads can impair the quality of nursing care, for example by increasing the frequency of sick leave. Certain nursing groups may be more susceptible to stress, with implications for clinical practice. This study was based on a questionnaire survey, administered to general and psychiatric nurses. Analysis revealed that general nurses experienced more stress than their psychiatric counterparts, notably in the absence of social support from colleagues, friends, and family. Ring et al (2005) employed a qualitative design to evaluate the degree to which nurses adhere to best practice statements (BPS) in clinical practice. BPS reduce variations in the quality of care patients receive, and hence is a fundamental component of clinical practice. The methodology involved conducting semi-structured interviews with a small group of registered nurses involved in the formulation of BPS. Several themes emerged from the data, indicating considerable variation in the implementation of BPS. Hareendran et al (2005) also used a qualitative method. This study aimed to establish the effect that venous leg ulcers may have on a patients’ quality of life. Patients suffering from venous ulcers attended semi-structured interviews and completed a questionnaire. Interview transcripts showed that ulcers caused uncomfortable symptoms (e.g. itching, pain, interrupted sleep) in the majority of patients. Furthermore, one-half of patients were dissatisfied with the quality of care they received. Clearly, these examples illustrate how research evidence can influence clinical practice. For example, Meyer et al’s (2002) study could facilitate understanding of the impact of bandaging, and improve care delivery, such that ulcer patients aren’t unnecessarily inconvenienced by highly compressed bandaging which clearly isn’t going to speed up recovery. Hughes and Umeh’s (2005) study may lead to better redistribution of workloads, and more potent social support systems, thereby maintain the quality of care nurses dispense. Despite the advantages, there are significant barriers to research utilisation. Consider the notion of best practice guidelines. These are standards firmly rooted in empirical research, consistent with ethos of evidence-based practice. However, nurses have identified considerable hindrances to such evidence-based practice (Polit Beck, 2004), including a lack of resource, deficient training, a general apathy towards change amongst nursing staff, multidisciplinary issues that are difficult to resolve, and a lack of inspirational clinical leadership at local level (Ring et al, 2005). One way to resolve these hindrances is clearly by improving nurse training, for example, in how to translate raw research findings into practice, and/or liase with other health professionals in working out how best to implement a best-practice statement. Nurses can also be encouraged to form and/or join a journal club (Wikipedia, 2006). This is essentially a group of individuals who convene on a regular ba sis to review recent empirical findings and perhaps work out feasible modalities to translate evidence into practice. Conclusion Overall undertaking rigorous research and translating evidence into practice are indispensable elements in the development of any profession, and nursing practice is no exception. On a positive note there is continued (and growing emphasis) on evidence-based nursing practice, supported by both the Department of Health, and Nursing Midwifery Practice Development Unit (NMPDU). Despite inconsistent implementation, nursing care is likely to continue to benefit from empirical research. However, on a less optimist note, a review of nursing research indicates a paucity of randomised clinical trials. The bulk of empirical evidence appears to be based on less rigorous research methodologies, making it difficult to establish causal relationships. For example, although qualitative evidence has revealed potential barriers to research utilisation, it isn’t certain there is a causal link between these factors. Future research needs to redress this imbalance. Bibliography Barr, W., Leitner, M. Thomas, J. (2005) Psychosocial assessment of patients who attend an accident and emergency department with self-harm. Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 12, pp.130-138. Coolican, H. (1994) Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology. London: Hodder Stoughton. Cormack, D. (2000) The Research Process in Nursing: Fourth Edition. London: Blackwell Science. Eastabrooks, C.A. (1998) Will evidence-based nursing practice make practice perfect. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research. 30, pp.15-36. Lee, S. Knight, D. (2006) District nurses’ involvement in mental health: an exploratory survey. British Journal of Community Nursing, 11, pp.138-142. Hafner, J., Botonakis, I. Burg, G. (2000) A Comparison of Multilayer Bandage Systems During Rest, Exercise, and Over 2 Days of Wear Time. Archives of Dematology, 136, pp.857-863. Hareendran. A., Bradbury, A., Budd, J., Geroulakos, G., Hobbs, R., Kenkre J. Symonds, T. (2005) Measuring the impact of venous leg ulcers on quality of life. Journal of Wound Care, 14, pp.53-57. Howitt, D. Cramer, D. (2005) Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology. London: Pearson. Hughes, H. Umeh, K. (2005) Work stress differentials between psychiatric and general nurses. British Journal of Nursing, 14, pp.802-808. Meyer, F.J., Burnand, K.G., Lagattolla, N.R.F. Eastham, D. (2002) Randomised clinical trial comparing the efficacy of two bandaging regimens in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. British Journal of Surgery, 89, pp.40-44. Parahoo K. (1997). Nursing Research: Principles, Process and Issues. Basingstoke: Macmillan Polit D.F. Beck C.T. (2004) Nursing Research Principles and Methods (7th ed). Philadelphia: Lippincott. O’Brien, J.F., Grace, P.A., Perry, I.J., Hannigan, A., Moloney, M.C. Burke, P.E. (2003) Randomised clinical trial and economic analysis of four-layer compression bandaging for venous ulcers. British Journal of Surgery. 90, pp.794-798. Ring, N., Malcolm, C., Coull, A., Murphy-Black, T. Watterson, A. (2005) Nursing best practice statements: an exploration of their implementation in clinical practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 14, pp.1048-1058. Sullivan P (1998) Developing evidence-based care in mental health nursing. Nursing Standard. 12, pp.35-38. Wikipedia (2006 Journal Club [online] MediaWiki: Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_club [Accessed April 15 2007]

Switzerland Report 2005 Essay -- essays research papers fc

SWITZERLAND Switzerland is an independent country that has been able to maintain its neutrality, making them honored by the major European powers. An interesting historical fact is that Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars. Switzerland’s active role in many UN and international organizations has been a positive strategy strengthening ties with its neighbors, but also letting them retain a strong commitment to neutrality. However, Switzerland did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland is located in Central Europe, east of France and North of Italy. Bordering countries are Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein and Germany. Bern is the capital city with Zurich being the largest city. It is mostly mountains and rolling hills with large lakes in the valleys. Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries that I have had the opportunity to visit. The population taken in July of 2004 was 7,450,867. Their population growth rate is .54%. The total life expectancy is 80 years. The country’s nationality is Swiss. The ethnic groups that make up Switzerland are: Germans at 65%, French at 18%, Italians at 10%, Romansch at 1%, and all others at 6%. With the diverse ethnic groups the primary languages follow suit with German speaking at 64%, French speaking at 19%, Italian at 8%, Romansch at .6% and other at 9%. The primary religions are Roman Catholic at 46%, Protestant at 40%, other religions equaling 5%, and an estimated 8.9% are non-religious. Switzerland is known as the Swiss Confederation, with a Federal Republic type of government. The federal state is made up of 26 cantons. Of which 20 are â€Å"full† cantons and six â€Å"half† cantons for the purpose of representation in the Federal legislature. Switzerland’s government is somewhat similar to that of the United States, in that they have a constitution that provides for separation of the three branches of government. Switzerland’s Federal institutions are: The Federal Assembly – a bicameral legislature (The Legislative Branch). The Federal Assembly is the primary seat of power. It has two houses the Council of State and the National Council. These two houses have equal power in all respects, including the right to introduce legislation. The Federal Council – a collegial executive of seven members (The Executive Branch). The Federal Assembly individually elects the seven Fe... ...y at 32.3%, France at 10.8%, Italy at 10.7%, US at 5.5%, Netherlands at 5%, Austria at 4.2% and U.K. at 4.1%. The main industry is services accounting for 69.1%, then industry at 26.3%, and agriculture at 4.6%. Switzerland’s energy or electricity production is 68.68 billion kilowatts, 110/220V and 50H. Switzerland is a member of the UN, The World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Switzerland maintains diplomatic relations with almost all countries and historically has served as a neutral intermediary and host to major international treaty conferences. Switzerland’s ability to maintain good relationships with so many countries and its power to stay neutral, along with its economy being so advanced and prosperous makes it a prime market for global marketing. It would be a safe market for a business to invest their time and energy in creating a marketing strategy to begin importing and exporting with Switzerland. Works Cited â€Å"The World Factbook: Feb. 10, 2005.† Switzerland. 2005 . â€Å"Michigan State University: 2001-2004.† globalEDGE/country insights. 13 February 2005 .

Inter Textual Synthesis Essay Essay

Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, centers around the theme of discovering oneself. The book shows readers the world of Edna Pontellier and gives them a window into her numerous insecurities and hesitations. Throughout the book, Edna attempts to become the opposite of the stereotypical women of her time. She chooses to be herself instead of the socially acceptable role she is expected to be. Additionally, Natasha Tretheway’s poem â€Å"Domestic Work† and Bobby Coles’ poem â€Å"Finding Yourself† attack the issues of independence, relationships, and gender. These two poems in combination with The Awakening strive to challenge the status quo of women everywhere. In the 19th century, women were expected to be domestic goddesses. As a married woman, it was important to be a positive influence on her husband and children, but was still expected to address to her husband as the head of the household. These restrictions had many women, including Edna in The Awakening, feeling trapped. Some women felt the need to become their own person, as opposed to the woman they were expected to become. In the poem, â€Å"Domestic Work†, the reader is given a preview of a typical woman in the 1930’s: â€Å"She beats time on the rugs, blows dust from the broom like dandelion spores, each one a wish for something better. † (Trethewey 23-26). The poem displays the monotonous life of women in the 19th century, and how some women desired something more. Edna, from The Awakening, is included in the category of women who longed for a life beyond household chores. In both The Awakening and â€Å"Domestic Work†, independence and a woman’s relationships are subjects of choice. Edna feels that she should be able to be free and independent. She wants to make her own choices about men and decide on her own who she loves without anyone else’s opinion influencing her choice. When Edna starts to lose the feelings she once had for her husband, she falls for Robert Lebrun. In fact, Edna had no intention to marry Leonce to begin with; â€Å"Her marriage to Leonce Pontellier was purely an accident, in this respect resembling many other marriages which masquerade as the decrees of Fate† (Chopin 23). Edna desires to have freedom. Robert wants a marriage with Edna, which conflicts with what she wants. Her feelings for Robert are strong but Robert has mature feelings for Edna, eyond what she feels for him. Though Edna wishes she could say the same, her love for him is more an infatuation-not true love. â€Å"As Edna walked along the street she was thinking of Robert. She was still under the spell of her infatuation. She had tried to forget him, realizing the inutility of remembering. But the thought of him was like an obsession† (Chopin 71). In the end, Edna realizes she cannot have both independence and true love. She decides to keep Robert out of her life and ends up drowning herself because of the internal conflict she has endured. In the poem â€Å"Finding Yourself†, author Bobby Coles explains that a person has to reach inside himself/herself in order to discover who he/she is. Similarly, Edna and the woman in â€Å"Domestic Work† are enduring their own journey. In Coles’ poem, he intentionally writes without specificity of gender, therefore making the poem easily relatable to readers of any gender. Coles uses descriptive language to create an image of what it is like to go through the process of finding yourself like Edna and the woman in Domestic Work did. â€Å"When are you most comfortable? Are you being true to yourself? You are in there somewhere. Judge on your own. Listen not to others. Look in the mirror. See beyond the image† (Coles 35-41). Coles encourages readers to not be influenced by the opinions of others, and instead, judge for themselves. In each text, the idea of taking your life in your own hands is present. Each of the poems and The Awakening displays themes of gender, relationships and independence. These themes help shape the stories and give the reader a greater understanding of the messages, as well as make connections to each of the characters.

It Is Better to Have Tried and Failed Than to Have Never Tried Essay

The saying â€Å"actions speak louder than words† can be applied to this scenario. Many people often dare to dream but fear stops them from ever moving forward on their goals. The fear of failure, of not knowing if it is possible to accomplish what may seem like the most unrealistic dream a person sets out to achieve. One example we can learn from is one of the greatest swimmer the world has seen, Ian Thorpe. Four time Swimming World’s Swimmer of the Year, Ian Thorpe once said, â€Å"I think it’s better to attempt something and fail than it is to not even attempt it, so I’m glad that I’ve been prepared to put myself on the line there. Till today, these words continue to ring in my head as I finally realised that it’s better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all. Ian Thrope, born on the 13 October in 1982, is many times a World Champion and has won eleven World Championship golds, the third-highest number of any swimmer. He was also the Australian swimmer of the year from 1999 to 2003, 4 years running. After winning and earning so many prestigious awards, Ian Thorpe announced his retirement on 21 November 2006. After almost 5 years out of the swimming world, the swimming sensation decided that he would try to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London. However, no matter how much he tried and the 110% he gave, he did not make it to the 2012 Olympics. Despite his many failures, he still remains as an international inspiration to many, teaching us that it is definitely better to tried and failed than not to have tried at all. Ian Thorpe’s story teaches us that even though we have the most unrealistic goals in life, it is more important to go down fighting, not leaving behind any last regrets. Failure is indeed our best teacher. Being able to go through failure would not kill a person, in fact, it would only make someone stronger. Even when failure sets in, it is good to know that one has given it their all. Even if it doesn’t work out as planned, it is better than looking back and not knowing what one could have done. Speaking from personal experience, failure is the mother of success, and without overcoming the challenge posed to me, I would not make it a step further. For example, ever since I stepped on the podium in the primary school swimming nationals, I have always wanted to have the chance to do it again in the secondary school, scoring more points for my school. This year was the last year the school nationals where I could have a chance on stepping on the podium once again and I made use of the opportunity I was given. I started training extremely hard, to a point where I was at the pool at 5 in the morning and back again after school at 4 in the afternoon for strength as well as water training. The number of times I would turn up could go up to ten times a week. This arduous task went on for four to five months and in between, I still had to make sure that I was keeping up with school curriculum. At the recent national schools, I competed and instead was placed 5th, missing the podium by a whopping one second. Although I failed to reach the goal I set out to achieve, I knew that there was nothing else I could do as I have always wanted to represent the country in the Combined School Games and the recent National Schools Swimming Championship would have been my chance to qualify for the games. I started training extremely hard, to a point where I was at the pool at 5 in the morning and back again after school at 4 in the afternoon for strength as well as water training. The number of times I would turn up could go up to ten times a week. This arduous task went on for four to five months and in between, I still had to make sure that I was keeping up with school curriculum. At the championships, not only did I not qualify for the games, I was also placed 5th, missing out on the podium placing. Although I failed to reach the goal I set out to achieve, I knew that there would be no regrets as I was defeated fighting. â€Å"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. † Although failure may be hard to face, if one doesn’t go down fighting, trying with maximum effort, that could be considered the greatest failure of all time.