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Euthanasia is the act of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment. This is a topic with many opinions and much controversy as to whether or not it should be a legal practice. I have never known anyone close to me with an incurable disease, but if a loved one or I were diagnosed, I would like the option to end the suffering to be available. Therefore, I am pro euthanasia, and furthermore, pro individual choice. There are two essays I have recently read on the subject, each gives two different viewpoints on the topic of euthanasia. In Sidney Hook’s In Defense of Voluntary Euthanasia, he believes that â€Å"each one should be permitted to make his own choice-especially when no one else is harmed by it.†(404) Hook is pro euthanasia, contrary to Rand Richards Cooper, the author of The Dignity of Helplessness: What Sort of Society Would Euthanasia Create?† Cooper says â€Å"I’m looking for an argument with Jack Kevorkian; or rather, one against him.†(411) He believes that euthanasia should not be a practice used in society today. Sidney Hook begins his essay by giving a personal, first-hand experience of his own sufferings in his battle with congestive heart failure followed by a massive stroke. He says, â€Å"†¦I asked my physician to discontinue all life-supporting services or show me how to do it.†(403) His doctor refused and after months of rehabilitation, finally regained most of his motor skills. He admits that this argument sounds like it is pro euthanasia, however, he gives two major reasons for the right to choose. By using his own personal experience and knowledge, he gives the reader insight to his defense in his opinion. Rand Richards Cooper takes an informal approach in his argument, not giving any cut and dry facts. He uses two indirect experiences through his mother’s friend and children in Kenya to convey his ideas. Sidney Hook expresses his ideas using his own personal terminal illness. He makes his statement using reader sympathy, hoping to impact the reader on a personal level. Rand Richards Cooper uses a similar approach, recognizing the usefulness of informal, but personable persuasions. Hook writes about his own first-hand experience and is thought to be more factual. Cooper on the other hand uses the same technique, but he gives second-hand experiences through children in Kenya and also through his mother’s best friend.

Creedence Clearwater and the Vietnam War :: Music Musical History Essays

For those of us born at the end of the Vietnam War, much of the music from that time period can remain hidden unless we make a point of seeking it out. Radio is replete with â€Å"classic rock† format stations, but like all other forms of mass media, listeners are relegated to a passive role, with little means of changing play lists that more-often-than-not overstate the effect of the British Invasion to the detriment of American rockers. For every Led Zeppelin garnering large amounts of airplay, there is a Creedence Clearwater Revival that is overlooked. The problem with British rockers from the era of the Vietnam War is one of credibility: any British musician (such as John Lennon) who tried to protest the Vietnam War sounded contrived at best. How could a British group object to a war in which they had no direct stake? These attempts at protest by foreign bands against the Vietnam War have the appearance of an orchestrated effort to â€Å"get on the bandwagon† and se ll albums by using the charged feelings of the citizenry toward an unpopular military action. While this is a cynical view, it is one that nevertheless deserves consideration. To the persistent individual, though, there is a body of music in existence that merits regard. It is powerful music written by the youth of America, youngsters who did have a stake in the Vietnam War. There can be little question about the origins of the power which American protest music conveyed: those who wrote such music lived each day with the real knowledge that they were losing friends in, and could possibly be forced themselves to go to, Vietnam. One such group, Creedence Clearwater Revival, made its contribution to this genre near the end of the Vietnam War. CCR sprang up in the San Francisco Bay area, the product of a music scene that was rife with talent. Creedence, however, never particularly sounded like that scene; indeed, the early efforts of the band caused many to question the group’s origin, believing that the foursome was a product of the â€Å"bayou regions of Louisiana†1 The musicians who made up the band - John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford - had been working on their style since the late 1950s under several different monikers. Primarily responsible for the Creedence sound was John Fogerty, the major creative force in the band, with vocals that â€Å"were to Creedence what Jim Morrison’s were to the Doors,†2 and a musical approach Fogerty himself described as a swamp thing:

Inflation: Definitions Essay

Inflation: A persistent increase in the price level, measures how much more expensive a set of goods and services has become over a certain period, usually a year. Consumers believe that low stable and predictable inflation is best for economy, too high and too low are not good. Measuring Inflation: To measure the average consumers cost of living, government agencies conduct household surveys to identify a basket of commonly purchase items and then track the cost of purchasing this basket over time. Consumer Price Index: (CPI) The cost of the basket when measuring inflation at a given time expressed relative to a base year. Consumer Price Inflation: The percentage change in the CPI over a certain period, most widely used measure of inflation. Ex: base year CPI is 100 and the current CPI is 110 inflation is 10 percent over the period. Core Consumer Inflation: Excludes prices set by the government and the more volatile prices of products such as food and energy that are most affected by seasonal factors or temporary supply conditions focuses on the underlying and persistent trends in inflation and is also watched closely by policymakers. Deflation: A persistent decline in the price level GDP Deflator: A measure comparing the prices of all goods and services produced in the economy during a given year to the prices of those goods and services purchased in a base year. Gross Domestic Product Deflator: (GDP) The overall inflation rate for not just consumption good but all goods produced in an economy, more broader coverage than the CPI. Inflation Rate: The percentage increase in the price level from one year to the next. Inflation Targeting: A policy used to maintain low and stable inflation used by many central bankers. Introduction of New Goods: Increase variety, allows consumers to find products that more closely meet their needs. In effect, dollars become more valuable, which lowers the cost of, maintain the same level of economic well-being. The CPI misses this effect because it uses a fixed basket of goods, thus the CPI overstates increases in the cost of living. Nominal GDP: Values output using current prices. It is not corrected for inflation. GDP measured in terms of current market prices, value of all final goods and services produced in the economy during a given  year, calculated using the prices current in the year in which the output is produced. Price Indices: Are designed to remove the effect of price changes. Price Level: A measure of the average prices of goods and services in the economy. Quantity Theory of Money: The relationship between money supply and the size of the economy. Real GDP: Values output using the prices of a base year. Real GDP is correct for inflation. GDP measured using constant base year prices. It is the total value of the final goods and services produced in the economy during a given year, calculated using the prices of a selected base year. Real Income: A proxy for the standard of living, when real incomes are rising, so is the standard of living and vice versa. Real Interest Rate: The nominal rate minus the inflation rate. Substitution Bias: Over time some prices rise faster than others, consumers substitute towards goods that become relatively cheaper, the CPI misses the substitution because it uses a fixed basket of goods. Thus, the CPI overstate increase in the cost of living. Supply shocks: Disrupt production, such as natural disasters or raise production costs such as high oil prices. Can reduce overall supply and lead to cost push inflation in which the impetus for price increases comes from disruption in supply. Unmeasured Quality Change: Improvements in the quality of goods in the basket also increase the value of a dollar. The BLS tires to account for quality changes but probably misses some, as quality is hard to measure. Thus, the CPI overstates increases in the cost of living.

Evaluating a protocal budget Essay

â€Å"One of the overall primary challenges organizations conducting clinical research is lack of information about the overall clinical research enterprise† says CITATION KCl96 l 1033 (K Claxton, 1996)Matthew in a recent issue of medical research laws and policy report. Hence developing a quality budget proposal outline gives a better scrutiny and analysis of the funds flow.in a clinical trial conduct, in order to acquire better financial outcomes and pass out successful audits, there is needed to be more vigilant and careful in the financial management. â€Å"Establishing guidelines to streamline and aid the management of a clinical trial program will make managing less challenging† as CITATION kel p 1999 y l 1033 (Willenberg, p. 1999). This is being emphasized in order to meet the allocated budget for a given organization. Many hospitals and academic centers lack the trained personnel for them to review the study proposals and funds which consequently lead to incorre ct billing for research. CITATION MBa04 l 1033 (M Barnes, 2004) â€Å"In order to evaluate the protocol requirement, you need to determine exactly what is going to be done as part of the protocol. Once that is completed, you should be able to determine what resources the site will need in order to implement the protocol† Preparation for a budget clinical trial is done maybe when you want to obtain funds from a granter for your research or you have been paid to conduct a certain protocol by a pharmaceutical company.in such a case you develop a budget for your research, putting into considerations things like: laboratory tests, hospital admissions, patient visits, surgical procedures and fees for the above services. These are considered as the resource requirements for you to develop a comprehensive budget. Below is a template example for a budget proposal outline I developed for a certain request for application. (RFA) Below is our application budgetCITATION kel p 2001 y l 1033 (Willenberg, p. 2001) RFA Title: Host- directed TB Therapy new approaches (UH2/UH3) RFA Number: RFA-A1-14-058 Purpose of the RFA: The main purpose for filling this request of application is to curb the adverse effects of TB brought about by Negligence and lack of follow up to these victims. This research is centered to direct TB therapies to the host individuals where each victim is screened and followed up for their healing process ensuring they take the right medication and avoid chances of infecting others. Reason for selecting this RFA – I chose this particular RFA following the upcoming of new technologies and new machines especially the gene expert machine, which processes sputum, analysis it and determines the multidrug resistance individuals, enabling their follow up. Budget (Time) Period: This clinical trial is programmed to take 2 years. Budget Categories Budget Category Description Cost $ Subtotal $ Personnel Principal investigator Graduate research assistant (lab scientist) Undergraduate research assistant (Nurse) Data staff These relates to costs incurred by the staff involved in the research process. Different types of personnel are paid according to their experience and expertise. Rates of these personnel are charged either according to rate per study visit, hourly rate or full time. The budget also included costs for new recruitment of personnel and training. CITATION MBa04 l 1033 (M Barnes, 2004)78,200 24,000 12,000 8,000 122,200 Services Screening Administrative work Costs incurred in offering services to the subject individual through evaluation, screening and costs for transport of specimen, batching and storage. 1100 270 1370 Facilities Laboratory Clinical These are the cost needed to come up with facilities where the subject individuals are taken their specimen in this case sputum for analysis and how often they visit the clinics for checkup. These facilities are needed to offer these services. 30,000 20,000 50,000 Data capturing -report forms -questionnaires -Computers -printers Collected on case report forms and questionnaires thus need to be included in the budget. Costs also incurred in obtaining and developing these data. Computers, photocopiers and printers also included in the budget. Travel Domestic trips Domestic trips Airfare This accounts for cost of all the trips made for training and meetings associated with the clinical trial, visiting other sites, scientific presentations and going to the research areas. 6400 2200 4000 12600 Equipment and suppliers -gene expert machine Cost incurred for purchasing all the related equipment needed and paying the suppliers who bring the equipment and machines to do the case study (gene expert machine for sputum processing and analysis.) CITATION KCl96 l 1033 (K Claxton, 1996)20,000 20,000 Total Expenses 206,170 Indirect Costs The research incurred extra expenses on utilities (phone and internet), cleaning and rent at an overhead rate of 8%. CITATION Fra l 1033 (Stromberg)400 400 TOTAL REQUEST 206,570 References K Claxton, J. P. (1996). Health Economics.M Barnes, J. K. (2004). Journal of health law.Ognibene, G. a. (n.d.). Evaluating a protocal budget.Stromberg, F. (n.d.). Instruments for clinical health care research. 2004. W.Staman, m. (n.d.). medical research laws and policy report. Willenberg, k. M. (n.d.). managing clinical trials-frustrations. Health economics†, (1996) – Wiley Online Library by K Claxton, J Posnnett.Look AHEAD research Group-controlled clinical trials†, (2003†- Elsevier. Instruments for clinical health-care research† by M Frank-Stromberg, SJ Olsen (2004) Practical clinical trials: increasing the value of clinical research for decision making in clinical and health policy† by SR Tunis, DB Stryer, CM Clancy-jama (2003) Source document

Kellin Quinn Essay

I. Introduction â€Å" I can’t promise that things won’t be broken, but I swear that I will never leave.† -Kellin Quinn. Isn’t that what everyone really wants- what everyone really needs? Not always is a solution to a problem needed. Sometimes we just need someone to help us through our tough times and to help us learn from mistakes that have been made. Kellin Quinn understands this. Not only does he relate to the need to help friends, but Kellin relates to almost all the struggles most teens and, well, pretty much all ages witness. It shows in his music. You see, Kellin Quinn is the singer and pianist of the band Sleeping With Sirens. Their music is about coming from a broken family and how much it hurts because you feel responsible. Difficulties ranging from self-harm to bullying to love are heard in the meaningful lyrics of their songs. Not only do Kellin and the band write about that, but also they have songs that are inspirational, joyful, and that make you want to s mile and appreciate the good in life. II. Caring Kellin is more than just a musical genius; he is one who cares about people as individuals. For example, Marie Fowler was a nineteen year old cancer patient that was diagnosed with only 72 hours to live. Kellin Quinn, her idol, was notified on Twitter and he Skyped her. He told her to be strong and to savor and appreciate the life she has enjoyed. On top of that, Kellin has dedicated his life to music and to make his fans feel better and blissful. He has definitely made my life easier and made me cope well with tragedies. I’m so thankful that I have Sleeping With Sirens in my life. III. Kellin’s Struggles Kellin Quinn’s father left him and his mother when he was young and they had to work hard to pay the bills and to take care of themselves. Kellin was diagnosed with depression and mental disorders because of his difficulties. With a great deal of effort and persistence, he overcame these challenges and is now helping others do the same. Also, Kellin has â€Å"haters† who call him rude and selfish when actually he is the exact opposite. Other negative comments made about him are that he is â€Å"too punk† or that he â€Å"sounds like a girl.† He mostly just ignores the disapproval. Overall, Kellin is a talented and inspirational 26 year old. IV. Impact Kellin Quinn and the band have made my life so much better. I, like many others, have struggled with bullying and many other difficulties. Meaningful music makes these things easier to cope with and Sleeping With Sirens does an amazing job at portraying a message in their lyrics that their fans can relate to. The band has actually saved countless lives. Some teenagers have depression or are struggling in life and feel the need to commit suicide to end his or her pain. In Sleeping With Sirens’ songs, one may notice how the lyrics are meant to make the listener happy and some songs are even specifically written to help self-harmers. â€Å"One day you’ll open your eyes, take a look inside. I just saved your life. Just take a look inside. I hope you know what it’s like for you to be alright. I am for you.† –In Case of Emergency, Dial 411, Sleeping With Sirens. V. Conclusion Overall, Kellin Quinn is an amazing artist who writes and sings about relatable tragedies and moments in his and others’ lives. He is an inspiration to many teenagers, including myself. I will never forget the impact that Kellin as a person and Sleeping With Sirens have had on my life.

I Owe It All to You

Winds flew in every direction. With a tremendous wrath, with a sounding of voices creeping through my window as they embraced me in my sleep. Giving me the shivers to run through my spine. Waking me up! From such a sweet, sweet! Dream. It was a cold and terrifying day as I dressed myself with that old blue jacket of mine, frightened in panic and stress. For my first day of school for the cold and windy fall. I drove off to school with a big question mark on my face. Whether I would make it on time to pick my automotive class or would I sit there in dislike with a sour face on my soul, on the dislike of my classes. On my way to school I approached a fragment of the road where it looked like a horrifying most traumatic accident had happen leaving swirls of tire marks! Pieces of glass! And plastic on the floor, stained with the blood of a poor soul. As I slowly drove by the scene I could not of helped but to notice that my car was acting up. I had gotten a flat from the broken glass on the road. Like if the odds were against me, in a desperate cry for help. I cried for compassion and strength, but most importantly for my automotive class. Pulling over to fix the flat on my car, the cold and windy day fought against me making me take longer than I expect it. Causing my chances of an on time arrival at school to vanish into thin air. I got to school and entered the big red doors to the office asking for my automotive class. To my luck I was left with a sour face on my soul. It had been taken!. Left with no option but to choose the last class remaining. The seventh choice on my list Art 101. As I entered the colorful room of art I was in for the surprise of my life. Where my world would turn in an unparallel universe filled of positive influence, encouragement, persuasiveness and the most awesome job on the face of the planet. It began with a special teacher name Mr. Salas the top influential person in my career. He influenced my life in such a way that never did I had to look any were else. My first day I stepped into his colorful full of life classroom. He noticed my big sour face sitting in the far back corner of the class with a pencil and blank piece of paper. He then walked up to me and said â€Å"If you only knew what worlds await you with that pencil and paper in your hand† he left me with a question in my mind as to what he had meant by that and what was so great in his world that I did not know. Curious to know I asked him what was so intriguing that it had him hooked. With a smile on his face he gently but most kindly and confident he answered, â€Å"Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known†. If you can understand this then you will be free. As the day ended it hit me in the head like a rock thrown by a baseball pitcher. B-O-O-M† I finally understood what it meant. From that moment forth I was a changed man, I considered myself to be the luckiest man to have fallen in that class by chance. My perspective towards life changed in the blink of an eye and I knew what had to be done. I then went to him and said to him, â€Å"I’m free now†. He slowly turned and looked at me wi th a spark in his eye and yield â€Å"G-R-E-A-T†, â€Å"Now we can proceed† he said. From that day on I knew I was in debt with him. Thinking of how some stranger managed to influence my life, my thoughts. Molding me into a new man filled with an encouragement to fulfill my new dreams. As the months passed by Mr. Salas became the second person to my mother who I greatly loved, to encourage my life. He was always there with something positive to say and a hand full of answers to all my artistic problems. As our professional most friendly relationship grew. So did my progress in the art profession. He would show me the strategies and methods to an artist mind. Sculpting me! Piece by piece like if he himself was the great Michelangelo. As the days continued so did the routine and that same man walking through that door with a Hawaiian shirt he loved so much. He would walk up to me every morning and look at my work and no matter how big I had messed up his words were always the same. Filled with encouragement and excitement towards new progress. He would start being persuasive as he seen that my progress was incompatibly high. He realized that my skills were rapidly getting better by the day. Not wasting a moment of the day he would persuade me to do better. He had finally brought out on me the true potential that once was hidden deep inside me. He would make me each day practice more and more, he would call it liberation of the soul. To all I knew It felt like persuasion to do more, but that was just my opinion. He always new how to better me, pushing me to think bigger and deeper to create work of art like no other before. Till one day he entered that room.. With a bigger smile than ever before. In his hand he held a sheet of paper, he walked straight to me and said, â€Å"Guess what? †, â€Å"WHAT!? † I said. â€Å"You have been signed up to compete in an art contest! †. I did not know what to say as I felt plain as a sheet of paper and hot like the beating sun. Not knowing what to answer I smiled and said â€Å"WOW REALLY? . I had finally gotten a grip of my self and was most exited but nervous and pressured at the same time. I then entered the contest and to my biggest surprise I had won first prize. As the years passed by his persuasion was finally over, as he had finish his masterpiece. Thanking him for all the time and work he had dedicated to me. Turning me into the greatest artist i n the country ready to go out and began my solo career. As I searched for my new life as an artist. I began to create some art work to send to the biggest firms of art in the world. I felt sluggish and scared as my great art teacher was not by my side on this one. I called him over an evening night for dinner as we discussed some ideas for the projects I would send to the art firms. He then drastically described what had been the most radical stupendous idea of all time. His idea was filled of crazy ideas and lots of colors I then later that week began to work on this idea he had given me, I started to shape it and color it and twisted as I worked on it more and more I couldn’t help but to not look at it. It was perfect, I sent it in to my first choice firm and within the next day I was called upon to report myself for work. As my body felt like gravity had just came upon it, I rapidly stood up and screamed with excitement at my four walls in my small little house. I was finally a big time artist like Mr. Salas wanted me to be. He was always there for me through the good and the bad never gave up on me. Always pushing me to do better encouraging me when I most needed. If it wasn’t for that first day of school when he said to me that phrase that influenced my life, I would not be the great artist I am today. On my fist day on the job I told everybody at work how I had gotten there. Everybody was amazed at the story giving me six words and only six to say to this great man. The next day I woke up early in the morning it was a bright and warm day. The birds outside sang like never before like the angels themselves were singing. As I drove down the beautiful road full of life blowing through. I arrived at Mr. Salas house. That old yellow house In the one I spent many of my free time practicing my technique. I walked to the door and knocked on it three times. A minute ater the foot steps of someone walking towards me were heard, my heart rushed with excitement and adrenaline at the same time. When the door was finally open their stood the man that never one instant doubt it me. Holding his favorite coffee mug in one hand and in the other his all time favorite newspaper, looking at me with a smile on his face. I stood their blank as I could not of helped but to run the story in my mind of the first day I met this man. When I finally came back to reality all that came out of my mouth were them six magical words, â€Å"I OWE IT ALL TO YOU! †.

Jordan-USA free trade agreement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Jordan-USA free trade agreement - Essay Example Moreover, its location amongst other developing nations further restricts its potential for growth (Chomo, 2006). These factors increase the need to sign trade agreements with more developed countries. Trade agreements may involve two countries reducing tariffs on each other’s goods or reducing bureaucracy by simplifying the procedures on import and exports (Miller, 2004). Relatively speaking, Jordan is small for a country that has undergone considerable processes aiming towards opening up the economy. This makes a good example of developing nations that have employed successful economic strategies. An example of a major process undergone by Jordan would be significantly lowering its trade barriers to entry by signing the Free trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries such the United States and the European Union (EU). This was also accomplished by its concurrence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) (Busse & Groning, 2012). Ultimately, the trade barriers are expected to result in an increase in trade flow as both production and consumption improve in efficiency. The benefits of signing the FTA with the U.S. does not stop at increasing trade flow, but it also attracts investment in the export sectors by improving domestic competition and productivity which could only result in substantial economic development. By a developing nation signing a trade agreement with an economy that is industrialized, it gains improved access to markets for those products that match the developing nation’s relative factor-abundance compared with the industrialized trading partner (Maria,2000). Supposedly, a small developing country should not loose its industrial base by signing a FTA with a nation that is industrialized. Both the U.S.-Jordan FTA and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) gave concessions to developing country members like Mexico and Jordan. Chomo (2006) found out that it caused the developing nations to become reliant on the custom duties as t he major source of tax revenue. The U.S.-Jordan FTA addressed the aforementioned issue by allowing special concession on the Jordanian tariffs on automobiles. Indeed, Jordan’s imports and exports have considerably increased since the commencement of the liberalization process. The expansion of the imported goods has been larger in as compared to the rise in exports leading to substantial increase in its trade deficits. According to Busse and Groning (2012) are of the opinion that whilst in 2007 Jordan has small deficits in its account of US $68 million, it had a surplus of US $ 2,779 in its current transfers and US $835 million in its income account. In 2007, the nation faced a deficit of US $2,776 in its current account. Irrespective of the growing importance of services, almost all of Jordan’s accession to the U.S.-Jordan FTA has majorly focused on trade liberalization in goods only. Jordan adopted the Investment Promotion Law in 1995 which offered non-discriminatory treatment to the foreign investors (Chomo, 2006). Additionally, certain locations such as the Aqaba Special Economic Zones were designated for investment. In 1997, it revived the 1981 Agreement for Facilitation and Promotion of Trade which was signed by the members of the Arab league which Jordan is member (Malkawi, 2008). When the agreement went into full force in 1998, it foresaw a yearly reduction in tariffs of 10 % thereafter in 2008 reducing the tariffs to zero. Moreover, this agreement allowed for Jordan to cooperate with the neighboring on both