Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Marketing - Essay Example 13). Both definitions focused on the term being a philosophy or an orientation designed by management where the important elements for success and profitable financial performance of a firm is anchored in satisfying the needs of the target market or the potential customers – more than competitors do. Analysis of the Concept The marketing concept could be closely evaluated using an organizational example: Coke versus Pepsi. Bhasin (2010) described in his article that â€Å"the marketing concept proposes that the success of the firm depends on the marketing efforts of the company and in delivering a better value proposition as   compared to its competitors in its own target market† (Bhasin, par. 1). Coke’s marketing strategy is to provide customers with a product that has been envisioned to be timeless, not restricted in boundaries, applies to all ages and generations and is able to captivate and satisfy the thirst and refresh its clientele.

Strategic Management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Strategic Management - Coursework Example This report demonstrates the impacts of incorporation of advanced technologies on the business performance. The research aimed in this paper would help in understanding the need for incorporating technological and process based innovations in the business activities of a company. Such researches can be used by the managerial team of a concern in making their business act more efficiently and effectively in the competitive market. The research project involves the case study of Royal Mail to reflect on the strategic initiatives taken by a business company while incorporating technologies as the key driver. Royal Mail is a government listed company that caters to the delivery of large mail orders to huge number of customers spread along a large geographical basis. This company in order to strategise its activities incorporated data entry technological process in its business activities. The data entry operators of Royal Mail work on gathering and listing a large number of customer data which are duly addressed by the company through electronic mails. Royal Mail makes optimal use of the data entry network to market large number of products through the online paradigm. Further, the data sets are closely analysed by the business company to enhance the profitability parameter through pulling out the less performing objects. Thus through the incorporation and effective utilisation of the data entry technological processes Royal Mail successfully competes in the business environment.

Lutheranism and Zwinglianism Essay Example for Free

Lutheranism and Zwinglianism Essay The Catholic Church reformation can be attributed to personal motives which were supported by political influence and gains. For instance Lutheranism was introduced by Martin Luther because he was against the indulgence act that the Catholic Church perpetuated and used to raise charitable funds to build and maintain their churches. Luther was raised in a middle class family thus was able to enjoy economic benefits such as attending school. This fact made him win over the crowd by demanding for their attention and sympathy . The spread of the Zwinglianism religion can also be attributed to the personal benefits that Zwingli was seeking. Zwingli a catholic clergy was against the celibacy and chastity vows because he had more than once had sexual relationships with women that were his concubines. Therefore, he demanded a change to the doctrines and principles of the Catholic Church to allow marriage of the clergy to curb the immoral vices they practiced . Gustav vas a the Swedish King perpetuated the spread of the Lutheranism religion when he dominated the national church in Diet of Vasteras by controlling all the church possessions, church appointments and demanded Lutheranism to be taught in churches and schools. Furthermore, the Denmark King Fredrick 1 protected Lutheran followers, reformers and preachers from persecution . Denmark had Catholic followers who excommunicated Lutheran believers however Lutheranism gained a strong hold in Denmark when Christian Fredrick’s son, a Lutheran follower, won the king’s throne after the civil war and thus fully supported Lutheranism. On the other hand the Grand council of Zurich favored Zwingli who perpetuated the spread of Zwinglianism over the Catholic councils thus managed to influence Switzerland to practice Zwinglianism. Furthermore, the Zurich community supported Zwingli a fact that influenced the decision of The Grand council because they wanted to maintain political favor of the Zurich community . Word Count: 303 Bibliography Bruening, W. Michael. 2006. Calvinisms First Battleground: Conflict and Reform in the Pays De Vaud, 1528-1559. Warren, MI: Springer.

Assessment And Management Of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Assessment And Management Of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) results from absolute or relative deficiency of circulating insulin (Kitabchi AE, Umpierrez GE, Murphy MB, Kreisberg RA, 2006). DKA is characterized by severe depletion of water and electrolytes from both the intra and extracellular fluid compartments. Despite their dehydration, patients continue to maintain normal blood pressure and have considerable urine output until extreme volume depletion and shock occurs leading to a critical decrease in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration. Assessment: Perform a clinical evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and determine its cause. Carefully look for evidence of infection. Also weigh the patient. Assess clinical severity of dehydration. Assess level of consciousness using Glasgow coma scale [GCS]. Management: Laboratory blood glucose should be measured at diagnosis. An ECG monitor should be applied until the patient is stable. Consulate the Diabetes Team as soon as possible for a decision on continuing management. Transfer to subcutaneous (SC) insulin one the patient is able to eat and drink properly. Do not stop the IV insulin until SC insulin has been given. Patient with known diabetes should go back to their previous insulin regimen. If possible identify the precipitating cause of DKA. Always inform the Diabetes Team so that education can be given to reduce the risk of future episodes of DKA. Hyperosmolar non ketotic coma (HONK): Type 2 diabetes, usually in patients over 60 years. This condition is characterized by hyperglycemia and high plasma osmolality without significant keton-uria or acidosis (Pinies JA, Cairo G, Gaztambide S, et al.1994). Assessment: Same as Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) but look for precipitating medical condition, e.g. sepsis, myocardial infarction etc Management: Management of Hyperosmolar non ketotic coma is same as DKA . Also the insulin infusion rate should be halved as paradoxically these patients can be quite insulin sensitive. Elderly patients are more likely to need a CVP line to optimize fluid replacement. Risk of thromboembolic disease is high anticoagulant fully if no contraindications. Most patient can be managed with oral hypoglycemic agents or diet, but recovery of insulin may take time and insulin may be required for few weeks. Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia is the result of a mismatch between insulin dose, food consumed, and recent exercise and is rarely, if ever, a spontaneous event (Kovatchev BP, Cox DJ, Farhy LS, Straume M, Gonder-Frederick L, Clarke WL,2003).Because it can be accompanied by unpleasant, embarrassing, and potentially dangerous symptoms and because it causes significant anxiety and fear in the patient and their caregivers, its occurrence is a major limiting factor in attempts to achieve near normal BG levels (Clarke WL, Gonder-Frederick A, Snyder AL, Cox DJ 1998,Cryer PE 2002). Assessment: Each hypoglycaemic episode should be assessed carefully to determine its cause evaluating the insulin action profile (time of insulin administration, peak insulin action and intensity of insulin action). Check the recent food intake (timing and amount of carbohydrates eaten and peak BG effect on recent food. Also check recent physical activity (timing, duration and intensity). Also check and missed signs and symptoms of early hypoglycaemia. Management: Management of hypoglycemia involves immediately raising the blood sugar to normal, determining the cause, and taking measures to hopefully prevent future episodes. Initially Glucose 10-20 g is given by mouth either in liquid form or as granulated sugar (2 teaspoons) or sugar lumps (Smeeks FC, 2006). If hypoglycemia causes unconsciousness, or patient is unco-operative, 50 mL of glucose intravenous (IV) infusion 20% can be given. Alternatively, 25 mL of glucose intravenous infusion 50% may be given, but this higher concentration is viscous, making administration difficult; it is also more irritant. Once the patient regains consciousness oral glucose should be administered as above. References : Kitabchi AE, Umpierrez GE, Murphy MB, Kreisberg RA. Hyperglycemic crises in adult patients with diabetes: a consensus statement from the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care 2006 Dec: 29(12): 2739-48. Hanas R, Lindgren F, Lindblad B. A 2-yr national population study of pediatric ketoacidosis in Sweden: predisposing conditions and insulin pump use. Pediatr Diabetes 2009 Feb: 10(1): 33-7. McDonnell CM, Pedreira CC, Vadamalayan B, Cameron FJ, Werther GA. Diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolarity and hypernatremia: are high-carbohydrate drinks worsening initial presentation? Pediatr Diabetes 2005 Jun: 6(2): 90-4. Rewers A, Klingensmith G, Davis C, Petitti DB, Pihoker C, Rodriguez B, et al. Presence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in youth: the Search for Diabetes in Youth Study. Pediatrics 2008 May: 121(5): e1258-66. Pinies JA, Cairo G, Gaztambide S, et al. Course and prognosis of 132 patients with diabetic non ketotic hyperosmolar state. Diabete Metab 1994; 20: 43-48. Kovatchev BP, Cox DJ, Kumar A, Gonder-Frederick L, Clarke WL. Algorithmic evaluation of metabolic control and risk of severe hypoglycemia in type 1 and type 2 diabetes using self-monitoring blood glucose data. Diabetes Technol Ther 2003: 5: 817-828. Kovatchev BP, Cox DJ, Farhy LS, Straume M, Gonder-Frederick L, Clarke WL. Episodes of severe hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes are preceded and followed within 48 hours by measurable disturbances in blood glucose. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000: 85: 4287-4292. Clarke WL, Gonder-Frederick A, Snyder AL, Cox DJ. Maternal fear of hypoglycemia in their children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 1998: 11(Suppl. 1) : 189-194. Cryer PE. Hypoglycaemia: the limiting factor in the glycaemic management of type I and type II diabetes. Diabetologia 2002: 45: 937-948. Strategies for Dealing with the Psychological Issues such as Fear and Anxiety Associated with Diagnosis of Cancer, and How These Can Improve Coping A diagnosis of breast cancer is a great shock. Women report that they fear breast cancer more than heart disease, even though they have a better chance of surviving breast cancer, and dying of stroke or heart failure. Breast cancer has been with us since the early Egyptians, and fear of this disease as well as the treatments for it, seems to be inherent in women all across the world. Normal Emotions and Breast Cancer Here are some normal emotions that you may experience at diagnosis and during treatment. Fear, shock Denial Anger Depression Sadness Anxiety Stress Guilt Loneliness, alienation Hope Physical Responses to Strong Emotions As you begin to deal with diagnosis and treatment, your body will be reacting to emotions as well as surgery and drugs. Your physical responses to the overall stress may be: Fear trouble sleeping, headaches, body aches Anger change in blood pressure Depression fatigue, crying, feeling moody Stress pain, irritability, tension Unresolved or Unexpressed Emotions May Lead to Other Problems You are not alone with your diagnosis or your emotions. Expressing your feelings can give you quite a bit of relief, helping you move forward in your journey. Not all of us are freely expressive, but there are safe and creative outlets for your feelings. Letting out your emotions will help you get support and heal more quickly. Your bottled-up emotions may lead to: Loneliness, withdrawal from others Frustration Hopelessness Feeling out of control Emotional Concerns and Breast Cancer When youve accepted your diagnosis, you may be facing other emotional concerns. The loss of a breast, or part of a breast, has an impact that goes beyond the physical fact. If aggressive treatment is required, it might have long-term impact on your health. It is normal to be concerned about: Fear of recurrence Loss of attractiveness Difficulty with sexual function Loss of fertility Coping With and Surviving Breast Cancer You can improve your emotional health and reduce your physical symptoms with good coping strategies. A study published in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology reports that women who get help with pain and emotional distress have lower levels of anxiety, fatigue and depression. Here are some ways to cope with your emotions: Communicate with family and friends Maintain intimacy (if you have a partner) Visit with a counselor or spiritual director Join a support group Express your needs and ask for help Report your symptoms to your healthcare team Keep a log of medical visits, save test results, keep receipts Educate yourself about your cancer and treatments Exercise Make plans for a crisis Getting Help for Emotions Is Not a Sign of Weakness You may feel under pressure to be strong or act brave when you least feel that way. Perhaps you dont easily share your feelings with others. You may be in a position of responsibility and trust, and feel like you must contain your fears and hide your disease or the effects of treatment. Sharing these feelings and struggles may make you feel vulnerable. A study published in the Journal of Personality shows that women with breast cancer who do express their anger, fear, sadness, and affection in a group setting live longer than women who suppress these emotions. Here are some ways to express your emotions and boost your emotional and physical health: Make time to talk to family members Communicate with friends and coworkers Attend a support group, or join an online support list Find a good therapist and commit to regular visits Take-Home Message Your feelings about breast cancer and its affect on your body, family, relationships, finances, and mortality are valid and normal. Expressing your emotions and needs will help boost your mental and physical health. Letting it out lets you live longer! Sources: Journal of the American Geriatric Society. Effect of depression on diagnosis, treatment, and survival of older women with breast cancer. Published January 2004. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. Examining the influence of coping with pain on depression, anxiety, and fatigue among women with breast cancer. Published 2005. National Institute of Health. Womens Fear of Heart Disease Has Almost Doubled in Three Years, But Breast Cancer Remains Most Feared Disease. Published 2008. National Cancer Institute. Support for People with Cancer Taking Time. Published 2005. California Breast Cancer Research Program. Does Change in Emotional Expression Mediate Cancer Survival? Final Report Published 1999. Breast cancer is an uninvited and life-altering event frequently associated with a rapid entry into a challenging treatment regimen and a long process of learning to cope with significant physical, practical, and emotional challenges (Boehmke Dickerson, 2006). Boehmke, M., Dickerson, S. (2006). The diagnosis of breast cancer: Transition from health to illness. Oncology Nursing Forum, 33(6), 1121-1127. Breast cancer can engender negative emotional and interpersonal responses throughout the continuum of cancer care (including the phases of diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end of life) (Ganz et al., 1996). Support groups have become central to psychosocial interventions for cancer patients because they provide a confidential atmosphere where cancer patients can discuss their challenges and insights with each other. Compared to control groups, patients who participate in support groups have fewer self-reported physical symptoms, lower cortisol levels, better immune system function and quality of life, and longer survival time (Winzelberg, A. J., Classen, C., Alpers, G. W., Roberts, H., Koopman, C., Adams, R. E., et al. (2003). Ganz, P. A., Coscarelli, A., Fred, C., Kahn, B., Polinsky, M. L., Petersen, L. (1996). Breast cancer survivors: Psychosocial concerns and quality of life. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 38(2), 183-199. Winzelberg, A. J., Classen, C., Alpers, G. W., Roberts, H., Koopman, C., Adams, R. E., et al. (2003). Evaluation of an internet support group for women with primary breast cancer. Cancer, 97(5), 1164-1173. However, face-to-face groups, as noted above, have improved well-being, but often pose barriers to people with limited mobility or who live a distance from where they are held. A growing number of patients use online support groups, which are available anytime in the privacy of ones home Eysenbach, G. (2003). The impact of the internet on cancer outcomes. Cancer Journal of Clinicians, 53, 356-371. Understanding how cancer patients use online support groups is an important factor in determining the value of Internet-based services to support cancer patients. Research that characterizes communication patterns can enhance our understanding of the mechanisms that facilitate positive coping with cancer diagnosis, treatment, survival, or death. A growing body of research on online support group messages suggests that qualitative analysis is a valuable method for categorizing patient cancer-related experiences and concerns, identifying existing gaps in knowledge, and guiding priorities for future research (Eysenbach Till, 2001) Eysenbach, G., Till, J. E. (2001). Ethical issues in qualitative research on internet communities. British Medical Journal, 323(10), 1103-1105. Belinda has just had her right breast removed, and she is not feeling alright. In fact, she has not been feeling alright since the moment the doctor told her she was symptomatic. Even if it turns out the mastectomy was completely successful and she becomes a survivor, Belinda will probably still continue to feel psychological anxiety about the possible recurrence of her cancer, not to mention embarrassment about the aesthetic change to her body. The key to helping Belinda is a strong social support network, connections to her ordinary life and high quality nursing communication. Depression Mood Disorder occurs within 10 25% of cancer patients, and physical reactions include palpatations, high blood pressure (seen in Belinda), anxiety and depression. Depression and anxiety can lead to social regression, poor medical compliance, and even suicide. If Belinda becomes depressed she is likely to stay in hospital longer, and complain more of adverse drug effects. Depression makes patients highly sensitised, meaning they are more likely to experience vomiting, nausea and anorexia than a patient in a more positive frame of mind, and their discomfort may eventually cause them to stop treatment. Strategies for battling this sensitisation include fully informing patients of adverse drug symptoms ahead of time, explaining that all drugs have adverse symptoms but not all patients experience them, and that having a positive attitude can have a big impact. (Zhou, Duan, Zhou, Cai, Huang, Zeng Zu, 2010). Patient fear begins the moment the patient is informed that they have cancer. While being told she was symptomatic, Belinda would have struggled to take in more complex information (Gunderman Brown, 2010). In most cases it is important to organise a follow-up appointment a few days following so that the cancer can be fully explained. Disbelief can be exacerbated if Belinda was feeling completely healthy at the time. (Gunderman et al., 2010). Additionally, fertility preservation needs to be discussed early in fertile patients, as chemotherapy can lead to infertility a fact that can be extremely upsetting later on (Wilkes, Coulson, Crosland, Rubin Stewart, 2010). For Indigenous patients of Cherbourg, while cancer occurrence in Indigenous Australians is lower than the overall population, cancer mortality is higher because many Indigenous Australians distrust westernised health facilities and will only present when they are very unwell. Many Indigenous Australians link cancer with curses, imminent unstoppable death and contagion, and dont seek treatment or hide symptoms because they believe they have done wrong, deserve illness, the outcome is already decided, they feel ashamed of their wrong-doing or they fear ostracism. These beliefs are prevalent in urban as well as rural populations (Shahid, Finn, Bessarab Thompson, 2010) and bush medicine is widely used. Encouragingly, Indigenous health care workers can find a successful balance between traditional and westernised medicine. Developing this balance in Indigenous Australian patients will allow them to participate in their own care. Nurses can consciously bring up the subject of traditional medicines and discuss these with the patient and family, as well as provide information about cancer in plain language so that patients can make informed decisions. (Shahid et al., 2010). In the case of younger Cherbourg cancer patients, teenaged and young adult cancer patients often feel quite out of place as they are either the oldest in paediatric unit or the youngest in an adult unit at the hospital. Additionally they are developing into independent adults, but are suddenly thrown back into a dependent role as cancer patients. They require high levels of social networking support. These dilemmas have been battled by a hospital in Denmark where teenaged and young adult (15 22 years) cancer patients are placed in a dedicated youth unit and are involved in specialised care appropriate to their age and needs. This includes network meetings involving the patient, family, friends the patient selects, and health care workers involved in the patients care. These meetings allow the nurse to be the voice for the patient, letting friends know the patient needs support and might find it hard to ask, and letting the parents know the patient may need some parent-free hours. Th e nurse can also make the space youth friendly, offering friends chips and soft drink when they visit so that they will return and helping them schedule so that at least one friend visits each week. (Olsen Harder, 2011). Generally, the key with all cancer patients, including Belinda, is to encourage a strong social support network, encourage them to be involved in their normal lives as much as possible, and communicate both information and empathy. Getting patients involved in their own treatment, such as encouraging them to research their disease, and encouraging them to return to work if they can are also positive strategies. (Gunderamn et al., 2010). Interesting Topics for Further Exploration: Honesty, particularly with late or terminally ill patients, is a controversial issue as some families may want to withhold information, while generally health workers support full disclosure. (Locatelli, Piselli, Cicerchia, Raffaele, Abbatecola and Repetto, 2010). The psychological affect of treatment-induced infertility or sexual impotence Anticipatory grieving in parents of children with cancer Religious coping and its advantages and pitfalls The psychology and struggles of cancer survivors Coping With and Surviving Breast Cancer You can improve your emotional health and reduce your physical symptoms with good coping strategies. A study published in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology reports that women who get help with pain and emotional distress have lower levels of anxiety, fatigue and depression. Here are some ways to cope with your emotions: Communicate with family and friends Maintain intimacy (if you have a partner) Visit with a counselor or spiritual director Join a support group Express your needs and ask for help Report your symptoms to your healthcare team Keep a log of medical visits, save test results, keep receipts Educate yourself about your cancer and treatments Exercise Make plans for a crisis Getting Help for Emotions Is Not a Sign of Weakness You may feel under pressure to be strong or act brave when you least feel that way. Perhaps you dont easily share your feelings with others. You may be in a position of responsibility and trust, and feel like you must contain your fears and hide your disease or the effects of treatment. Sharing these feelings and struggles may make you feel vulnerable. A study published in the Journal of Personality shows that women with breast cancer who do express their anger, fear, sadness, and affection in a group setting live longer than women who suppress these emotions. Here are some ways to express your emotions and boost your emotional and physical health: Make time to talk to family members Communicate with friends and coworkers Attend a support group, or join an online support list Find a good therapist and commit to regular visits Take-Home Message Your feelings about breast cancer and its affect on your body, family, relationships, finances, and mortality are valid and normal. Expressing your emotions and needs will help boost your mental and physical health. Letting it out lets you live longe Eliza, you have given a prefect picture of emotion and stress which Belinda is facing. Now a days diagnosis of breast cancer is a great shock. Today women fear breast cancer more than heart diseases, even though they have a better chance of surviving cancer than dying to stoke or heart failure (National institute of Health 2008). As the women being to deal with diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, their body automatically start reacting to emotions. Their physical response to overall stress may be fear (trouble sleeping, headaches or body aches), Anger (Change of blood pressure), Depression (fatigue, crying. Feeling moody), stress (pain, irrtability, tension). Also once women accept her diagnosis, they may also face another emotional concern. The loss of breast or part of breast has a deep impact that goes beyond the physical fact. Moreover if aggressive treatment is required, it may also be long term impact on the health. The fear of recurrence. Loss of attractiveness, difficulty in sexual function and loss of fertility also plays important role to increase the stress. Every woman who is facing this situation should understand that getting help for emotion is not the sign of weakness. There are certain ways to cope with this emotion. The best is communicate with family and friend, maintaining intimacy with your partner, visiting the counselor or spiritual person, joining the support team are some of the sign which will make great difference to tackle emotions. In term of health care practice, Report any symptoms or change to the healthcare team. Always maintain a log of health visit, test result etc. educating yourself about the cancer and the treatment and having regular exercise along with plan for crisis make a huge impact.

Pretty Woman Vs. Pillow Talk :: essays research papers fc

The marriage plot has been quite prominent in the film industry over the past few decades. The plot that is characterized by its lead woman â€Å"getting† the lead man and vice versa, has contributed to such movie blockbusters as Pretty Woman and the classic film, Pillow Talk. While both films can be classifies as containing marriage plots, the films share other similarities as well. However, in regards to the marriage plot, Pretty Woman follows the pattern much more fluently and precisely that does Pillow Talk.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both Julia Robert’s and Doris Day’s characters, Vivian and Jan, respectively, are strong women in their films. They both contain quite a few characteristics such as boldness, confidence, and intelligence that make them very attractive and desirable to their male counterparts. While their professions are quite opposite, the women are similar in their personalities. Jan is an interior designer and her history with men is not troublesome or lacking, but like Vivian, the prostitute, she finds that men are sometimes after only one thing. I noticed that both women are extremely confident when it comes to dealing with men; they both know what they want and what the are looking for in a male companion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The men in these two movies are quite similar as well. Both Rock Hudson and Richard Gere play two powerful men who are popular with the ladies. Although Hudson’s career, a musician, is not typically â€Å"powerful† it does contain benefits and certain contacts that could be considered powerful. These two men both start out with the women practically chasing them. Vivian is paid to be Edward’s (Gere) â€Å"beck and call† girl, and does so willingly not just for the money, but because she is also mesmerized by his coyness, charm and good looks. Jan is attracted to Rex (Hudson) because he is also shy and coy and very handsome as well. Both women are interested in their counterparts for the particular reason that they are not men they typically meet. These men are respectful and somewhat quiet and shy. Each plot takes a turn towards the end of the movie when the women leave them, each for different reasons. Ironically and typical of the mar riage plot, it then become the man chasing the woman. He is to prove his worthiness to her and to dismiss her conclusion that he, in fact, is like all other men they have encountered.

Legend of the Covered Bridge :: Urban Legends Ghost Stories

Jericho Covered Bridge in Kingsville, Maryland The Jericho Covered Bridge in Kingsville, Maryland was built in 1865 and restored in 1982. The bridge is 100 feet long and cased in cedar planks and timber beams. Legend has it that after the Civil War many lynchings occurred on the bridge. Passersby were supposedly captured on the bridge and hung from the upper rafters. The bridge is very close to my house and I have driven over it several times. The storyteller, age 19, also lives a couple minutes away from the bridge. He has lived in Kingsville, Maryland his entire life. He recalled a dramatic story he had heard from his older brother involving the haunted bridge. Approximately a year ago the storyteller’s older brother was driving home with two friends after leaving a party. They decided to smoke a joint and drive over the legendary Jericho Covered Bridge. The night was chilly and foggy. As they crossed over the bridge, the driver decided it would be funny to follow the legend to see if it was true. The driver turned off the head lights, rolled all windows down, and turned off the ignition. After a dramatic pause, the storyteller explained that the driver honked his horn 3 times in a row. As the driver shifted his focus onto his rear view mirror and yelled â€Å"What the F**k!† Before the two passengers knew what happened, the driver quickly turned on the ignition and sped away from the bridge. One of the passengers asked, â€Å"Dude, what was that about?† The driver explained he had seen three ashy, male bodies hanging from the bridge each suspended by a long, frayed rope. While telling the story the storyteller used very specific details to produce an effective presentation. He paused several times for dramatic effect, indicating that something important was going to happen. Also, he told the story confidently, rarely stuttering in a short of words. The storyteller appeared to be extremely knowledgeable on the subject because the incident happened to his older brother and due to the bridge's close proximity to his home. While listening to the story I noticed several details that seemed to be exaggerated for effect, such as the three male bodies hanging from the rafters. When reaching the climax of the story the teller did a great job in portraying the frightened expressions of the driver and passengers. Upon researching the story, I stumbled across one Web page (http://www.

Skinny Bitch: A Manual for Lifestyle Change

There are cuss words splashed throughout the book and the writer is very direct with her opinions. However, as the reader it was truly convincing and made me feel like I better get my butt up, throw out any meat and dairy in my kitchen, and get to the store and buy a case of tofu, ASAP. Because the diet Is vegan that means absolutely no meat, Including poultry, pork, and fish. Also no dairy, Including eggs, cheese, basically no animal by-products are allowed. There Is also a chapter on artificial sweeteners and processed food, which are not allowed In the diet either.The book tryingly suggest to quit smoking and cut back on alcohol, which I absolutely support; smoking is disgusting and large amounts of alcohol are unhealthy. The book is very captivating and educational. It educates the reader about more than Just what not to eat. It also goes deep into depth about what happens at slaughter houses and the mistreatment of farm animals in a way to both convince the reader to not eat mea t and to also explain that meat is not always a healthy choice, even chicken and eggs.The book explains the high amount of chemicals and hormones that are pumped into our farm animals and the effects they have on the unman body. For example on page 45, it reads, â€Å"Half of all the antibiotics made In the united States each year are administered to farm animals, causing antibiotic resistance In the humans who eat them†. That Is a pretty scary fact, there are many other scary facts littered throughout the book. The book also explains the Importance of exercise and how important it is to have a exercise regimen. Skinny Pitch† is not so much a diet book as much as it is a suggested manual for lifestyle change. If one is planning to follow the â€Å"Skinny Pitch† diet they need to legalize it is not temporary, becoming a vegan is not only a serious commitment but also a way of life. Grocery shopping, cooking at home, and eating out will all be effected by choosing a vegan lifestyle and if one has a family their eating habits might have to change as well. The â€Å"Skinny Pitch† diet is low in a few vitamins and minerals. Also low in saturated fat, 59% and sodium, 42%, which is a good thing.But also low In Vitamin D, 20% and Iron, 63%, which could cause a problem after a while, however I believe that the majority of Vitamin D Is acquired through natural sunlight. The diet provides over 100% DIR of protein, omega-6, dietary fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, Valetta 36, Foliate, vitamin C, vitamin A (REAL vitamin A (10), vitamin E, calcium, and magnesium. I feel the diet is different from the average individual's normal diet, American's let manly revolves around meat, wanly can make It extremely Doolittle to stay faithful to a non-meat, non-dairy diet.As mentioned above, it is a lifestyle change and a very intense personal decision. I believe that if one chooses to follow the â€Å"Skinny Pitch† diet they will most definitely lea rn new healthful ways to eat and if hey are used to eating the average American diet, one can definitely expect to keep weight off. However, if beginning the â€Å"Skinny Pitch† diet while already being mindful of what one eats I don't believe there would be a huge change in weight loss or gain.It is not necessarily a â€Å"low-fat† diet, rather it is a heaths eating lifestyle and even though the authors believe a true healthy diet does not contain meat or dairy that is not necessarily true. However, a decrease in meat and dairy consumption is a good choice for anyone who is trying to eat a more heart healthy diet. I believe that the â€Å"Skinny Pitch† diet could be a bit more expensive than average American diet. Purchasing soy over regular milk is more expensive. Finding soy and vegan products that taste good are indeed more expensive.On the other hand, if one is not purchasing large amounts of meat the costs may Just about equal out. I believe for the averag e American the â€Å"Skinny Pitch† diet would provide a calorie deficit, however for someone who is already mindful of their diet and includes a lot of fruits and vegetables in their diet, they may not see a large calorie deficit. Skinny Pitch† is not too low in calories. I believe the diet makes very reasonable claims regarding health and weight loss. It's simple: eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and overall health will improve.The diet is straightforward and honest, fat will not drop and health will not improve until one commits too lifestyle change, not a â€Å"quick fix†. Yes, it absolutely has required restrictions to certain foods. All meat, dairy, and any food the includes any animal by-products. Any processed food and any food that contains artificial sweeteners are not allowed. The credentials are indeed sound, the two women that wrote the book are both former models, and Kim Barbarian has received her Masters of Science in Holistic Nutrition. All the reviews that I read of â€Å"Skinny Pitch† said pretty much of the same thing.The book is written in a very straightforward way that will not leave anyone wondering what are healthy food choices. The New York Times review states that the book has a large focus on animal rights, which it does indeed. The Times also agrees that the book has an attitude but is â€Å"crystal-clear† on what is Junk food vs.. A healthy choice. Health. Mom's review mentions that the book might â€Å"pray' on women with eating disorders and may â€Å"take more of a toll on your self-esteem than your waistline† but also agrees that the diet is low in calories and could result in weight loss.Goggle Books says â€Å"Skinny Pitch† explains healthy eating habits and a â€Å"lifestyle that promotes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and encourages women to get excited about feeling â€Å"clean and pure and energize†. When compared to the materia l we have been studying in class this term, the book â€Å"Skinny Pitch† has a lot of similarities. The book describes healthy dating. It focuses on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which we have learned in class are all very healthy and the foods the average American needs to consume more regularly.I also like that the book explains how processed foods and refined sugars are not good for the human body, all lessons we have learned in class. Its also interesting that the book focuses on the treatment of animals and explains all the chemicals Tanat are Tea to ten animals, we nave talked auto Tanat In class as well. In only major difference between what we have learned in class and the book is that en can still have a healthy diet that includes meat and dairy, Just that moderation of the two are important to ensure a healthy heart and low cholesterol.I like this book and I believe that a vegan diet can be very healthy as long as one ensures that they are getting all the ne cessary vitamins and minerals. I have a very good friend who is vegan and she has managed to make some wonderful entrees and I always look forward to her dinner parties. She incorporates raw food as well which can be very tasty when prepared correctly. I would rate this diet as an 8. I live that it is healthy and I like how it's a lifestyle change, not Just a fad diet.Most fad diets do not work and weight is gained back within a year. I like how â€Å"Skinny Pitch† explains to the reader that there is no easy fix and that if one desires to be thin and healthy it takes determination and hard work, as with anything that is worth achieving. I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in becoming a vegan. I would also recommend it to anyone who needs a wake up call in regards to their health and food choices and anyone who thinks that they can Jump on some crazy â€Å"diet wagon† and lose weight fast and easy.