NA Meeting paper

Before I attended the NA meeting, I had felt more than a little apprehensive; I really wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the meeting and that made me very nervous. I have talked to and listened to addicts and recovering addicts many times before, my brother is a recovering addict and a few friends are also, but that did not prepare me for the sadness, grief, and happiness I saw in this meeting. The meeting started out with the person running it starting things off, and then asked if anyone wanted to share anything. There were about seven people in the meeting not including myself, and they all shared their stories and what was going on with them. I found their stories and life events uplifting and interesting to hear about, and I was proud of them for everything they have survived and made it through. When I think about the meeting and everything said in it, it really touches my heart how the people were able to overcome the obstacle of addiction and better themselves by kicking the habit. I was brought to tears by one mans story, he told of how he had lost his wife and turned to drugs to numb the pain and grief, but sadly became addicted. He went on to share how he lost everything in his life before it really ‘hit’ him that he had to change something, and he entered a rehabilitation center, got off the drugs, and today was his 1,826 th day of being clean (that’s five years). What I learned at the meeting, well really what I learned from the people who shared their journey, was more than I could ever put into words, it had such a great on me, and I am sure it will always be with me. I feel like I have somewhat learned some of the difficulties that these people have experienced in their life, I don’t mean to say I knew nothing of it before, but it is different hearing from people other than your brother. From what I heard in the meeting I really feel that I understand my brother and what he went through more clearly now. My perceptions about drug users didn’t really change, I already knew that drug users are just normal everyday people like you or me, they just have a problem, or addiction with drugs. I know how hard it is for people to be on drugs, and to be a recovering addict. When my brother got into and was addicted to Meth, it made him a completely different person, he was always agitated, mad, didn’t work, and he became violent with little to no provocation, and it was only ever toward me. Now that my brother is recovering and has been a recovering addict for going on three years, he has pretty much done a three-sixty; he has a steady full time job with benefits, doesn’t do drugs anymore, and has no violent tendencies. Overall, I really enjoyed and found the stories interesting, and like that I was able to really hear what they were saying and somewhat relate to what they were saying. I feel that I have learned a lot and I am very glad that I had the opportunity to go and have them share their stories with me.

Deception Point Page 8

The President gave her a comforting grin, and Rachel sensed firsthand the legendary Herney affability. The man possessed an easygoing countenance political cartoonists loved because no matter how skewed a rendition they drew, no one ever mistook the man's effortless warmth and amiable smile. His eyes mirrored sincerity and dignity at all times. â€Å"If you follow me,† he said in a cheery voice, â€Å"I've got a cup of coffee with your name on it.† â€Å"Thank you, sir.† The President pressed the intercom and called for some coffee in his office. As Rachel followed the President through the plane, she could not help but notice that he looked extremely happy and well-rested for a man who was down in the polls. He was also very casually dressed – blue jeans, a polo shirt, and L.L. Bean hiking boots. Rachel tried to make conversation. â€Å"Doing†¦ some hiking, Mr. President?† â€Å"Not at all. My campaign advisers have decided this should be my new look. What do you think?† Rachel hoped for his sake that he wasn't serious. â€Å"It's very†¦ um†¦ manly, sir.† Herney was deadpan. â€Å"Good. We're thinking it will help me win back some of the women's vote from your father.† After a beat, the President broke into a broad smile. â€Å"Ms. Sexton, that was a joke. I think we both know I'll need more than a polo shirt and blue jeans to win this election.† The President's openness and good humor were quickly evaporating any tension Rachel felt about being there. What this President lacked in physical brawn, he more than made up for in diplomatic rapport. Diplomacy was about people skills, and Zach Herney had the gift. Rachel followed the President toward the back of the plane. The deeper they went, the less the interior resembled a plane – curved hallways, wallpapered walls, even an exercise room complete with StairMaster and rowing machine. Oddly, the plane seemed almost entirely deserted. â€Å"Traveling alone, Mr. President?† He shook his head. â€Å"Just landed, actually.† Rachel was surprised. Landed from where? Her intel briefs this week had included nothing about presidential travel plans. Apparently he was using Wallops Island to travel quietly. â€Å"My staff deplaned right before you arrived,† the President said. â€Å"I'm headed back to the White House shortly to meet them, but I wanted to meet you here instead of my office.† â€Å"Trying to intimidate me?† â€Å"On the contrary. Trying to respect you, Ms. Sexton. The White House is anything but private, and news of a meeting between the two of us would put you in an awkward position with your father.† â€Å"I appreciate that, sir.† â€Å"It seems you're managing a delicate balancing act quite gracefully, and I see no reason to disrupt that.† Rachel flashed on her breakfast meeting with her father and doubted that it qualified as â€Å"graceful.† Nonetheless, Zach Herney was going out of his way to be decent, and he certainly didn't have to. â€Å"May I call you Rachel?† Herney asked. â€Å"Of course.† May I call you Zach? â€Å"My office,† the President said, ushering her through a carved maple door. The office aboard Air Force One certainly was cozier than its White House counterpart, but its furnishings still carried an air of austerity. The desk was mounded with papers, and behind it hung an imposing oil painting of a classic, three-masted schooner under full sail trying to outrun a raging storm. It seemed a perfect metaphor for Zach Herney's presidency at the moment. The President offered Rachel one of the three executive chairs facing his desk. She sat. Rachel expected him to sit behind his desk, but instead he pulled one of the chairs up and sat next to her. Equal footing, she realized. The master of rapport. â€Å"Well, Rachel,† Herney said, sighing tiredly as he settled into his chair. â€Å"I imagine you've got to be pretty damned confused to be sitting here right now, am I right?† Whatever was left of Rachel's guard crumbled away with the candor in the man's voice. â€Å"Actually, sir, I'm baffled.† Herney laughed out loud. â€Å"Terrific. It's not every day I can baffle someone from the NRO.† â€Å"It's not every day someone from the NRO is invited aboard Air Force One by a President in hiking boots.† The President laughed again. A quiet rap on the office door announced the arrival of coffee. One of the flight crew entered with a steaming pewter pot and two pewter mugs on a tray. At the President's bidding, she laid the tray on the desk and disappeared. â€Å"Cream and sugar?† the President asked, standing up to pour. â€Å"Cream, please.† Rachel savored the rich aroma. The President of the United States is personally serving me coffee? Zach Herney handed her a heavy pewter mug. â€Å"Authentic Paul Revere,† he said. â€Å"One of the little luxuries.† Rachel sipped the coffee. It was the best she had ever tasted. â€Å"Anyhow,† the President said, pouring himself a cup and sitting back down, â€Å"I've got limited time here, so let's get to business.† The President plopped a sugar cube in his coffee and gazed up at her. â€Å"I imagine Bill Pickering warned you that the only reason I would want to see you would be to use you to my political advantage?† â€Å"Actually, sir, that's exactly what he said.† The President chuckled. â€Å"Always the cynic.† â€Å"So he's wrong?† â€Å"Are you kidding?† the President laughed. â€Å"Bill Pickering is never wrong. He's dead-on as usual.† 9 Gabrielle Ashe gazed absently out the window of Senator Sexton's limousine as it moved through the morning traffic toward Sexton's office building. She wondered how the hell she had arrived at this point in her life. Personal assistant to Senator Sedgewick Sexton. This was exactly what she had wanted, wasn't it? I'm sitting in a limousine with the next President of the United States. Gabrielle stared across the car's plush interior at the senator, who seemed to be far away in his own thoughts. She admired his handsome features and perfect attire. He looked presidential. Gabrielle had first seen Sexton speak when she was a poli-sci major at Cornell University three years ago. She would never forget how his eyes probed the audience, as if sending a message directly to her-trust me. After Sexton's speech, Gabrielle waited in line to meet him. â€Å"Gabrielle Ashe,† the senator said, reading her name tag. â€Å"A lovely name for a lovely young woman.† His eyes were reassuring. â€Å"Thank you, sir,† Gabrielle replied, feeling the man's strength as she shook his hand. â€Å"I was really impressed by your message.† â€Å"Glad to hear it!† Sexton thrust a business card into her hand. â€Å"I'm always looking for bright young minds who share my vision. When you get out of school, track me down. My people may have a job for you.† Gabrielle opened her mouth to thank him, but the senator was already on to the next person in line. Nonetheless, in the months that followed, Gabrielle found herself following Sexton's career on television. She watched with admiration as he spoke out against big government spending – spearheading budget cuts, streamlining the IRS to work more effectively, trimming fat at the DEA, and even abolishing redundant civil service programs. Then, when the senator's wife died suddenly in a car crash, Gabrielle watched in awe as Sexton somehow turned the negative into a positive. Sexton rose above his personal pain and declared to the world that he would be running for the presidency and dedicating the remainder of his public service to his wife's memory. Gabrielle decided right then and there that she wanted to work closely with Senator Sexton's presidential campaign.

Buenvenido Lumbera Essay

Education: Bienvenido Lumbera received his Litt.B. and M.A. degrees from the University of Santo Tomas in 1950. Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Indiana University in 1968. Academe: Bienvenido Lumbera taught Literature, Philippine Studies and Creative Writing at the Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, the University of the Philippine Diliman, and the University of Santo Tomas. Bienvenido Lumbera was also appointed visiting professor of Philippine Studies at Osaka University of Foreign Studies in Japan from 1985 to 1988 and the very first Asian Scholar in Residence at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Organizational Affiliation: Bienvenido Lumbera also established his leadership among Filipino writers, artists and critics by co-founding cultural organizations such as the Philippine Comparative Literature Association in 1969; Pamana ng Panitikan ng Pilipinas in 1970; Kalipunan para sa mga Literatura ng Pilipinas in 1975; Philippine Studies Association of the Philippines in 1984 and Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino in 1976. In such ways, Bienvenido Lumbera contributed to the downfall of Marcos although he was in Japan during the 1986 Edsa uprising, teaching at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies. Bienvenido Lumbera is also the founding and current chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the multi-awarded media group Kodao Productions and a member of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. Literary Reputation: Bienvenido Lumbera is now widely acknowledge as one of the pillars of contemporary Philippine Literature, Cultural Studies and Film, having written and edited numerous books on literary history, literary criticism and film. Bienvenido Lumbera also received several awards citing his contribution to Philippine Letters, most notably the 1975 Palanca Award for Literature; the 1993 Magsaysay Award for Journalism Literature, and Creative Communication Arts; several National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle; the 1998 Philippine Centennial Literary Prize for Drama; and the 1999 Cultural Center of the Philippines Centennial Honors for the Arts. Bienvenido Lumbera is currently the editor of sanghaya (National Commission on Culture and the Arts), Professor at the Department of English in the School of Humanities of the Ateneo de Manila University, Emeritus Professor at the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines Diliman, and Professor of Literature at De La Salle University. For a time, Bienvenido Lumbera also served as President of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), a National Organization of more than 40,000 teachers and employees in the education sector. The launching of Bayan at Lipunan: Ang Kritisismo ni Bienvenido Lumbera, edited by Rosario Torres Yu and published by the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, was celebrated by the University of the Philippines in January 2006. Bienvenido Lumbera was proclaimed National Artist in April 2006. Poetry: Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa nuong 1993. Poetika/Pulitika nuong 2008. Ka Bel. Works[edit source | editbeta] Poetry[edit source | editbeta] Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa, 1993 Poetika/Pulitika, 2008 Ka Bel Literary criticism[edit source | editbeta] Revaluation: Essays on Literature, Cinema, and Popular Culture, 1984 Tagalog Poetry, 1570-1898: Tradition and Influences on Its Development, 1986 Abot-Tanaw: Sulyap at Suri sa Nagbabagong Kultura at Lipunan, 1987 Textbooks[edit source | editbeta] Pedagogy Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology Rediscovery: Essays in Philippine Life and Culture Filipinos Writing: Philippine Literature from the Regions Paano Magbasa ng Panitikang Filipino: Mga Babasahing Pangkolehiyo Librettos[edit source | editbeta] Tales of the Manuvu Rama, Hari Nasa Puso ang Amerika Bayani Noli Me Tangere Hibik at Himagsik Nina Victoria Laktaw Awards[edit source | editbeta] National Artist, April, 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts, 1993 Pambansang Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas (UMPIL) National Book Awards from the Manila Critics’ Circle Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature Visiting Professorship, Osaka University of Foreign Studies Professor Emeritus, University of the Philippines Philippine Centennial Literary Prize for Drama  Cultural Center of the Philippines Centennial Honors for the Arts 1st Asian scholar-in-residence at the University of Hawaii at Manoa *As a poet, he  introduced to Tagalog literature what is now known as Bagay poetry, a landmark aesthetic tendency that has helped to change the vernacular poetic tradition. He is the author of the following works: Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa (poems in Filipino and English), 1993; Balaybay, Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, 2002; Sa Sariling Bayan, Apat na Dulang May Musika, 2004; â€Å"Agunyas sa Hacienda Luisita,† Pakikiramay, 2004. As a librettist for theTales of the Manuvu and Rama Hari, he pioneered the creative fusion of fine arts and popular imagination. As a scholar, his major books include the following:Tagalog Poetry, 1570-1898: Tradition and Influences in its Development; Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology, Revaluation: Essays on Philippine Literature, Writing the Nation/Pag-akda ng Bansa

Charity Contribution Tax Deductions for Individuals Research Paper

Charity Contribution Tax Deductions for Individuals - Research Paper Example IRS, organizations that legally qualify to receive charitable contributions that tax system would allow as deductions includes registered churches and government organizations. However, the IRS accepts application for organizations who would wish to qualify as charitable after they apply and legally get an approval letter. Otherwise, the IRS would reject deductions for any charitable contributions submitted to the aforementioned organizations. It is imperative to understand that IRS would only accept charitable contributions that taxpayers have submitted to qualified organizations. Therefore, IRS would not deduct charitable contributions made to political organizations, political candidates, and individuals. Apparently, taxpayers who donate property instead of cash to legally qualified organizations have the right to claim tax deductions on their taxable income based on fair market value. Fair market value relates to the inherent price that a property would remain in transaction between a willing seller and buyer (Rosen 230). Normally, IRS rejects individuals deductions for charitable contributions relating to property donations mainly because the latter’ claims don not conform to the fair market value. It is important for taxpayers to determine appropriately the fair market value for property donated before claiming charitable deductions. Otherwise, IRS would reject application for deductions related to property donations in cases where taxpayers do not inclusively calculate the current fair market price of the donations. Majority of court cases involving IRS denying deduction of charitable contributions on taxpayer’s taxable income involves poor timing by the latter. According to IRS, taxpayers who wish to have their charitable contributions deducted on taxable income must submit the documentations and legal requirements detailing the contributions before close of tax year. Timing contribution before close of an individual’s tax year is imperative in

Constructing the written evidence based proposal Essay

Constructing the written evidence based proposal - Essay Example If a nurse does not know the amount or level of exercise that may put the patient at risk, they may end up getting low quality healthcare services. A number of studies have shown that it is not necessary for an individual to meet the recommended time for exercise in order to achieve the best outcome. It is evident from the studies that the intensity of the exercise to be done is dependent on the age, gender, and the severity of the condition. For instance, one study found out that women who walked a distance of more than ten blocks reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by a considerable margin. The proposed change at the hospital involves the introduction of an exercise recommendation plan. The Change will be implemented in a period of 24 months. The process of incorporating the change into the organization’s culture, structure, and workflow will be based on the 8-step change model developed by Kotter. The change will be initiated by a group of nurses working as a team in the care of cardiovascular disease. The change will be overseen by a committee to include various stakeholders including nurses, physicians, and clinicians. Resources needed for the change implementation include staff, educational materials, assessment tools, and funds. The plan will be evaluated by surveying nurses in relation to their attitudes toward the change, comparing the patient’s discharge survey before and after initiation of the change, and comparing the probability of cardiovascular risk among individuals who exercise and those who do not based on their gender and age. Tools to e ducate the project participants include questionnaires and PowerPoint slides. The evidence will be disseminated through websites, newsletters, reports, e-mail, workshops, briefings, and conferences. Exercise has been described as an important element in the well-being of an individual. In fact, exercise has been hailed by many an expert as

Governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Governance - Essay Example Most people in European society mainly prefer the bureaucracy mode of role which they actually relate it as the process of good governance. According to the Rome treaty all the states were required to practice and implement various strategic means that will ensure there is good governance, if a state failed to recognize the changes there were going to be tough measures that would be taken against its heads. Therefore the states were required to observe and put into consideration the following changes. All the citizens were required to participate in the nation building regardless of their gender background. This meant that there was the freedom of expression; therefore all ordinary citizens were required to engage themselves in the nation building programs. As a result of the communal wok the nations started developing both socially as there was the inter mixture of both the genders and economically as all citizens participated in the nation building programs. Therefore these participation changes brought in good governance in the entire whole region. The other change that was put in place was the need of transparency; this is where the decision making was to be done in a process where the rules are being put in place and followed. The common citizens were to contribute some ideas of how the country was to be governed by may be deciding on how the rules and regulations were to be observed. Also transparency changes were to ensure that there is the effective flow and direct feed back without some barriers. These transformation changes also contributed greatly to the aspect of good governance in the whole continent. Moreover, the European society was required to put in laws that were to be followed and respected by everybody in the region without considering their positions. These law changes made the countries free of illegal deeds including the 'crime' of corruption, as the seniors and the juniors' feared prosecution from the law. By the end of that year the public resources were run out commendably and therefore the countries could start enjoying their good fruits which were brought in by the good governance processes. Finally there was the need for the top officials to put into consideration efficiency and effective measures, whereby all the outcomes meet the common citizen demand. This could well be catalysed by the government ensuring that those people who may have been assigned or given a tender are highly qualified and recognized by the society. Now the region was in a directive way and shape for good governance with all these 'disciplines' brought in by transformation changes. In some situations not all transformation changes bring in good governance but some of them bear bad governance especially when a given region is mainly used to changes. Continuous process of transformation will end up bringing in some unwanted changes to the institution therefore scaring away the investors. Continuing Tradition To some extent continued tradition has also some positive impacts and negative impacts on the governance system. The positive impacts are brought in by strongly believing in your customs since an individual will like to observe and follow his or her own discoveries without having to just keep on relying on the 'donors'. In European Union culture is highly recognised

Mechanical vibrations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Mechanical vibrations - Essay Example Electromechanical devices also create mechanical vibrations. Fig 1 shows different types of vibration that are common sources of vibrations. The for examples of the daily life vibrations. Elementary Parts of Vibrating system The vibration of the body corresponds to the release and storing of the energy. The body stores the potential energy. There should be a mean to store the kinetic energy. In spring mechanism, spring stores the potential energy and mass is the medium that converts the potential energy is the spring to kinetic energy. In the similar case of pendulum, the length of the string determines the capacity of the system to store the potential energy and the mass acts to convert the potential energy into kinetic energy (Den Hartog, 1956). The major part of any vibrating body is the damping in the vibration that gradually tends to loss the energy of the vibrating body. In some cases where vibrations are undesired damping constants are high by absorbing the vibrations or by cr eating negative oscillations. The major types of forces that are acting on a vibrating system are disturbing forces, restoring forces, inertia force, damping force. Disturbing forces are forces which act to energize the system to make vibration in the system. Inertia force is the force that makes the vibrating body to remain in motion. Damping force is the force that tends to stop the motion of the body by damping the energy of the vibrating system (Den Hartog, 1956). Fig 2 depicts the mass attached to the spring showing the vibratory motion. F depicts the force, m is the mass, L is the length of the spring. Degree of freedom refers to the coordinates available for the motion of the vibrating body. The coordinates to evaluate the instantaneous position of the system at its each part is a degree of freedom of that system. A finite degree of freedom corresponds to a discrete or lumped parameter system; while an infinite degree of freedom corresponds to a continuous or distributed syst em. Classify various types of vibration in mechanical systems. Types of Vibration in Mechanical System In any mechanical system, the vibrations are typified according to their classification. The classifications of different vibration are as follows. Classification of Vibration: Vibrations in a system or within a system can be classified as †¢ Free and forced †¢ Damped and undamped †¢ Linear and nonlinear †¢ Deterministic and Random Free vibration Consider a vibrating system that is only once disturbed by exerting an external force and then the system vibrates with any further external force or disturbance. The vibration of such system is free vibration. If the mass attached to the spring is once stretched and then the eternal force is removed, the spring mechanism shows vibration on its own, this type vibration is called free vibration. Forced Vibration: Forced vibrations refer to the type of vibrations that are due to the constant disturbance or repeating exter nal force. Car engines, generators, and other constantly moving mechanical devices produce forced vibrations (Seto, 1964). Damped Vibration Damped vibrations are due to the damping factor that makes the system to gradually loss the energy and slow down the vibration of the system. Consider the mass attached to the spring, if it is once stretched and then the external force is removed; the vibration of the mass attached to the spring will gradually slow down due to the presence of damping force (Francis, Morse &