Pre-testing Essay Example for Free

Pre-testing Essay Pre-testing is a method that attempts to improve ideas and prototypes for submitting them to the relevant group representatives and obtaining their results before the final stage (Varkevisser, Pathmanathan Brownlee, 2003). It may also involve checking whether the material produced is appropriate for the group. It is conducted to determine which the best method to use (Kumar, 2005). Pre-testing is commonly used for methods of collecting data since other methods such as questionnaires, interviewer instructions and observation are frequently prone to subjective interpretation and may distort the results. Need for pre-testing messages and materials in communication strategy Pretest helps ensure that materials convey a clear and effective message to a program’s target audience (Paliwoda Ryan’s, 2008). It is valuable at several stages of message and material development. Some methods can be used used in early stages to test concepts while other methods are more useful when materials are close to final form. It is important to pretest the communication content that is to be produced before finalizing them(Kumar, 2005). By doing so it will give room to gauge reactions, revise the concept and communication materials or may be amend our strategy if its likely to produce undesired results. It is important to make drafts, samples or outlines of materials we intend to produce (Poscente, Rothstein Irvine, 2002). For pre-testing purposes, one can make drafts, outlines or samples of the materials we intend to develop. Subgroups of population with which pre-testing is done Subgroup analyses in addition to the total study population are common in clinical trials. It is well recognized that findings from subgroup analyses do not provide confirmatory evidence for subgroup treatment (Kumar, 2005). PRETESTING METHODS According to Kumar (2005), the most widely used pre-testing tool is the cognitive interview. The other method is central location intercept concept which purpose is to obtain many individual reactions. There is also focus group, which purpose is to obtain insights about audience concerns, beliefs, reactions, and vocabulary. Theartre testing is another method which purpose is to obtain many respondents at once, measure and recall under conditions that simulate actual viewing. There is also self-administered questionnaire, which can be mailed or personally delivered (Paliwoda Ryan’s, 2008). Omnibus survey is also used where data on a wide variety of subjects is collected during the same interview. Interpreting results from pre-testing and refining the messages Refine the most promising concepts and develop messages using your own creative briefs using your creative briefs, results from your concept testing, and a review of relevant communication and behavioral theories. Ensure that you revise the existing materials if necessary. Information messages should communicate some crucial characteristics such as accuracy, completeness, and relevancy (Paliwoda Ryan’s, 2008). REFERENCES Kumar, R, (2005). Research Methodology: a step by step guide for beginners. Vancouver: VC Sage publications Paliwoda S. J. and Ryan’s J. K. (2008). Business and economics. Massachusetts: MA, Edward Elgar, Poscente, N. , Rothstein, M. , Irvine, M. J. (2002). Using marketing research methods to evaluate a stage-specific intervention. American Journal of Health Behavior, 26, 243-251. Varkevisser C. M. , Pathmanathan I. and Brownlee A. T. (2003) Designing and conducting health systems research projects: Proposal development and fieldwork, Volume 1 Washington DC, IDRC.

President of Venezuel Essay Example for Free

President of Venezuel Essay The current president of Venezuela named Hugo Rafael Chavez was born in Venezuela’s western grassland region on July 28, 1954. Socialism, Latin American integration and anti imperialism are promoted by the president because he was also leading the Bolivarian Revolution. Neo-liberal globalization and U. S. foreign policy were the main critics of the president. His parents were schoolteacher which is not a lucrative profession by any mean in Venezuela. He was belong to a poor family besides this in Venezuela dark skinned dark skin people faces strong racial divisions and white skinned people are elite. When he was seventeen years old he enrolled at Venezuela â€Å"Academy of Military Sciences† and studied engineering. After completion of acidic career he joined he joint military for several months. Chavez was immediately popular with his fellow students, he and his fellow students developed a left nationalist doctrine that they termed Bolivarianism inspired by his real hero Simon Bolivar, the father of Venezuelan independence and a figure of legendary dimensions. He was an excellent player of baseball and he played a lot for team called the Criollitos de Venezuela. Moreover, upon completion of his studies, Chavez entered the active military service. His military career lasted for 17 years, during this time he held variety of posts, seniorities and commands. He was also the part of the lectureship and was famous for his fiercy lecturing style and radical critique of Venezuelan government and society. With his natural charisma, he brings closer soldiers to his ideas, and built a network of supporters within the army. In 1983 he established MBR 200, the revolutionary Bolivarian movement (Movimiento Bolivariano Revolucionario 200), 1983 being the 200th anniversary of Simon Bolivars birth. Simon Bolivar: Influent Al Person in Hugo Chavezs Life Major influence on Chavez came from Simon Bolivar, from where Bolivarian movement was developed. The memory of Simon Bolivar has yet kept alive in Venezuela, the revolution of 19th century which led the sub continent independence battle against Spain. Simon Bolivar was born in Spain and many of his followers were native of Venezuela. Nonetheless, Simon Bolivar remained to be a significant and founding myth for the Venezuela institute. Particularly, his arm forces helped him a lot to bind them together even though of political instability. Chavez when he was a school child during the periods of 1950’s and 1960’s in the school studied a lot Bolivar’s feats against the Spaniards. The defining event in his life came when in 1989 the economy was devastated by rising oil prices which led President Carlos Andres Perez to a serious of tough measures. As a result of rising oil prices, buses fares were increased which led to protests by poor people and the army was sent to suppress the protestors. Chavez belong that part of the group that was deployed and he was enraged when he listen the order shoot all the citizens who he believes had a legitimate grievances. This was the motivation which led to his army coup that he organized against the same president some three years later. MBR 200. Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 The MBR 200 was the social and political movement that Hugo Chavez founded in 1983. Chavez established MBR 200 setting as its political goals the realization of Bolivars ideals by means of a Bolivar resolution, which refers to a mass social and political movement in Venezuela aimed at eradication of corruption and emphasized on redistributive social justice and economic and political sovereignty. Some important points of Chavezs Bolivarianism are: †¢ Political participation of the masses by votes, referendum and councils †¢ Political and economic sovereignty †¢ Economic self – sufficiency †¢ Building in people nationality and patriotism †¢ Eradication of corruption †¢ Equal distribution of oil revenues of his land 1992 Coup Chavez was working as a lieutenant colonel during his late 30s. In addition, he was also working as a committed left wing activist, mixing with left wing group outside the army and conspiring in the institution for the sake of coup d’etat. So, after an extended period of dissatisfaction and economic decline under the administration of President Perez, Chavez and his fellow conspirators launched a military coup in Feb 1992. Although the coup was not entirely successful Chavez came to national prominence due to a abruptly speech made shortly after his arrest, the Venezuelan government allowed him forty five second speech in order to tell his co-conspirators to lay down the arm. It was a mistake made on the government part and Chavez made the most of it. Chavez in Power When Chavez spent his 2 year life in Jail during the period of 1990s economy of Venezuela was went on to bear the huge burden of oil prices. Support for the two of main political parties decline in elections of 1994, Chavez found the population increasingly receptive to its critique of the two party models and its associated corruption. Chavez organized a new party called the â€Å"fifth republic movement† During 1996 97 his support gradually increased in polls and he scored a comfortable majority and took power in 1998, his first political office with 56 percent of votes. Chavez Is Moving Venezuela from A Democracy To A Totalitarian State â€Å"Chavez supporters assert that, in fact, it is the current administration which is successfully steering Venezuela away from its statist and authoritarian past. They refer to the introduction of the new constitution at the beginning of Chavez’s term, which provides numerous opportunities for citizens to become directly involved in participatory politics, including making provisions for the current recall drive. Civil society groups can, for example, participate indirectly in the selection of judicial officials as well for as the national electoral commission. Furthermore, Chavez’s standing with his own people seems to be improving, which reflects an economy which once again shows promises. Even though the middle-class led last year end’s strike cost the economy $10 billion, unemployment has slowly dropped to 15%. The Bloomberg News Service credits the Venezuela Stock Exchange with one of the two best performances of the 59 exchanges it monitors worldwide. With Chavez’s personal popularity, he has climbed back to 40% after dipping to 30% a number of months ago†. Authoritarian Vs Democratic (Democracy Vs Totalitarian State) There has been a continuous debate whether Chavez has released from corruption accusation or he himself damaged the country’s own foundation of democracy. Authoritarian Some believe that the Hugo Chavez have more power than any president should have. Chavezs new constitution has been seen as authoritarian. Although there are detailed sections involving human rights, but some believe that the power given to the highest branch of government can easily lead to human rights violations. The new constitution also allows the president to be in the office considerably, which some suggests leads to authoritarianism. Scholars also criticized the way Chavez gained power and his conduct afterwards. The motivation behind his recent constituent assembly has been seen as to settle the score with Venezuelans traditional opposition parties and remove them from all positions of influence. One scholar suggested that Chavez himself overthrown the government in 1992 as similar to the corruption of the traditional parties of Venezuela, which clutched power by the military inventions in 1945 and misbalanced Venezuela’s supreme court and congress. Democratic Stance On the other way, some believe that the Chavez protected the democracy. In their point of views, â€Å"Chavezs government does emphasize the mobilization of the masses and confrontational speeches, Chavez cannot be equated to fascism since his ideology is left wing. Others are more pronounced in their view that Chavez is a benefit to democracy. These people believe that Chavez simply frees Venezuela from the corruption and he stands for a much needed transformation in Venezuelan society† Since Chavez does not belong to any party, and he came from the grass roots and has seen all the hardships, therefore he is more capable to meet the interest of the Venezuelans. Some opponent of Chavez equates him with Fujiori but his comparison is not correct because unlike Fujimori Chavez has an self-governing foreign military, a revolutionary disclosure and he did not endorse huge privatization. Economic Policies Venezuela is the 5th largest oil producer, which remains the key of Venezuelan economy. Chavez has gained a reputation as a price hawk in OPEC. At a meeting of OPEC in July 2006, Venezuela was the only country calling for lowered production to drive oil prices higher. Some critics say that under the President Chavez regime the output of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) which is a state owned company, has been reduced by 25% and Venezuela cannot meets it current quota. However Forbes argues that the political and other influence have an effect on numbers. Nonetheless, Chavez has attempted to broaden Venezuelas customer base by getting into joint ventures with other developing countries including China, Brazil, Argentina and India. Although the record oil prices have meant more funding for the social and development plans, but it has also left the economy dependent on oil sector, private sector role has diminished. â€Å"February 6, 2006 Chavez announced a 15% increase in the minimum wage and a new model for Venezuela’s national health-care system, with US$449 million allocated to upgrade 43 hospitals. Implementing a measure of the constitution that recognises housework as an economic activity, the government will also provide wages to 200,000 poor homemakers. January 30, 2006 Chavez launched 12 new state-run Social Production Enterprises (EPS) in key industries, with the aim of substituting for the many products Venezuela currently imports. This is a key part of overcoming Venezuela’s underdevelopment and achieving genuine sovereignty. The EPS follow a new economic model oriented towards human need rather than private profits. February 7, 2006 Chavez announced his government would provide $1 billion in funding to community planning councils. These elected councils aim to greatly deepen participatory democracy by allowing people to directly control public policy†. Unemployment is down â€Å"Venezuela is experiencing a period of economic growth which has moved the formal employment sector (businesses with five or more employees) past the 50 percent mark. When businesses with less than five employees are taken into account the informal sector is much lower (perhaps 35 percent) — unusual for Latin America, which suffers from chronic unemployment and underemployment. I happened on a long line in a downtown shopping district and asked some ladies if they were waiting for the internet cafe to open. No, mi amor, la tienda de zapatos. â€Å"The finest shoes added another. The National Institute of Statistics is preparing a study that will measure the standard of living, not only wages as the World Bank does. Taking the social programs into account — especially the 15,000 Cuban doctors and more money invested in the Social Security hospitals — the standard of living should show more improvement than wages alone show. The institutes president says free education at all levels has drastically reduced dropout rates. This will undoubtedly raise standards of living in the long run as more students go on to higher education†. Highlight of Key Statistical Data Per Capital GDP: During Chavezs presidency per capital GDP dropped 1% 2%. GDP Growth Rates: 18% in 2004, 9% in 2005 and 9% in the first half of 2006. Non-Petroleum Sectors: From 2004 to the first half of 2006, Non Petroleum Sectors showed a growth of greater than 10% Poverty Figures: Dropped by 10% officially. Unemployment: Dropped by 7. 7% since the start of Chavezs presidency. Inflation: Dropped from 29. 9% to 14. 4%

Answers to questions on principles of nutrition for healthcare

Answers to questions on principles of nutrition for healthcare Omega-3 (linolenic acid) is a type of essential polyunsaturated fat. Like the omega-6 fatty acids are unsaturated because it contains in its molecule double bonds between carbon atoms and are essential (EFA) because the body can not produce it and therefore must be obtained through food. There are three omega -3 fatty acids: Alpha-linolenic, Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid. These essential fatty acids can be obtained from the following sources: The Blue Fish, Food Plant: The purslane, lettuce, soy, spinach, strawberries, cucumbers, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, pineapples, Almonds and Walnuts. The body needs omega-3 fatty acid to work properly. The main functions of linolenic acid include: The formation of cell membranes, the formation of hormones, the immune system to functioning correctly, the correct formation of the retina, the functioning of neurons and chemical transmissions. Besides the basic functions, there is evidence that ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids represents a number of benefits for the body. Beneficial effects on the circulatory system, the intake of linolenic acid-rich foods or supplements that contain this principle lowers triglycerides, lowers cholesterol, prevents blood clots in the arteries by preventing platelet aggregation and arterial pressure decreases slightly. In general thins blood and protects against heart attacks, strokes, stroke, angina pectoris, Raynauds disease, etc. Moreover, the cardioprotective role is further enhanced by the ability of these oils to increase the transmission power of the heart muscle as rhythm regular and prevent disease and arrhythmias. This component protects against the development of certain cancers like colon, prostate and breast cancer. They can also prevent the growth of cancer cells. In breast cancer these acids inhibit the action of estrogens that are responsible for the development of breast tu mors. There is evidence that omega-3 has anti-inflammatory joint diseases. Therefore food or supplements especially can be very appropriate to reduce swelling and relieve pain in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and lupus. The use of supplements containing omega-3 may be a natural alternative to conventional treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. It appears that this component increases the levels of PG3 prostaglandins have anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammatory properties of omega-3 can be used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis.   In the same way can help reduce the pain caused by menstruation. The intake of these acids can help maintain mental balance and avoid depression or to improve or assist in the treatment of diseases such as schizophrenia. These acids have a positive action in the maintenance of healthy skin, making them suitable for preventing or ameliorating diseases affecting this organ, such as eczema, psoriasis, etc., Intake of foods rich in omega-3 is very appropriate during pregnancy to ensure that the fetus has a right brain development. Mothers who eat foods with these components have had children with a higher learning capacity and less impaired. Similarly it has been shown that omega-3 favored the motor coordination of premature babies. 2. The client brings the results of recent cholesterol screening with him to see the nurse. The client is confused about what the results mean and asks what the total cholesterol number should be. Which of the following statements could the nurse make about interpreting the results of the cholesterol screening test? a. Total blood cholesterol should not exceed 150 mg/dl c. Total cholesterol should not exceed 150 mg/ml b. Total cholesterol should not exceed 200 mg/dl d. Total cholesterol should not exceed 200 mg/ml Answer: b) Total cholesterol should not exceed 200 mg/dl 3. The nurse is teaching a group of clients in a cardiac rehabilitation class about food sources of proteins. In what foods will the nurse say protein is found? a. in foods derived from both plant and animal foods c. only in foods derived from plants b. only in foods derived from animals d. only in fortified foods Answer: a) in food derived from both plant and animal foods. 4. The school nurse is making a presentation to parents of teenage students. One parent is concerned that their child is not getting adequate high quality dietary protein because the child has stopped eating meat. The nurse tells the parent that certain diets that do not contain meat can still provide adequate protein. Which of the following statements could the nurse make about vegetarian diets and protein? a. all vegetarian diets deliver adequate high quality dietary protein c. lacto-ovo vegetarian diets deliver adequate high quality dietary protein b. fruitarian diets deliver adequate high quality dietary protein d. vegan diets deliver adequate high quality dietary protein Answer: d) Vegan diets deliver adequate high quality dietary protein. Explain why. Get adequate protein on a vegan diet presents no problem at all. Both nuts and seeds such as legumes, whole grains and soy products provide protein. Previously it was believed that plant proteins were of lower quality than animal proteins in which amino acid content is concerned. However, this belief has become outdated and that if you follow a diet based on balanced vegetable products, will receive all the necessary amino acids in adequate amounts. The vegan diet has several incomplete proteins to make a complete one, but that should be eaten the same day, the essential amino acids can also be found in soy products and tofu. 5. A pregnant client tells the nurse that she is taking megadoses of vitamin A in the hopes that it will keep her complexion clear throughout the pregnancy. What could the nurse say about the clientà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s use of this vitamin supplement? a. Consuming megadoses of vitamin A may cause permanent night blindness. c. Taking megadoses of vitamin A are a good idea during pregnancy because vitamin A supports a healthy immune system. b. Consuming megadoses of vitamin A may result in birth defects. d. Taking megadoses of vitamin A will neither help nor hurt her or the fetus during the pregnancy. Answer: b) Consuming megadose of vitamin A may result in birth defect. Explain your answer. Birth defects can occur if the supplement that has high doses of retinol ingested for a while, several days or weeks and especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient for growth of the human body, the tissue tropism of epithelial organogenesis, epithelial differentiation and embryonic development. Intake, acute or chronic high amounts of vitamin A can cause various clinical manifestations such as headache, vomiting, diplopia, alopecia, dry mucous membranes, skin peeling, bone abnormalities and liver damage. Vitamin A and retinoids are teratogens classics. Malformations that are generated depend on the doses used and timing of organogenesis in which they are provided. During early organogenesis result in abnormalities of the central nervous and cardiovascular system, while a later provision gives rise to genetic defects in the upper and lower genitourinary tract and palate. Retinoids derived from the catabolism of vitamin A mothers diet are transferred to the embryo-fetal compartment. 6. A family member of an elderly client contacts the nurse and asks why the client is receiving B12 injections. Which of the following answers could the nurse give? a. The injections of B12 are given to prevent blindness. c. The injections of B12 are given to prevent pellagra b. The injections of B12 are given to prevent beriberi d. The injections of B12 are given to prevent pernicious anemia Answer: d the injections of B12 are given to prevent pernicious anemia Explain why. Pernicious anemia is a decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the body can not properly absorb vitamin B12 from the digestive tract. This vitamin is necessary for the proper development of red blood cells. The body needs vitamin B12 to produce red blood cells. In order to provide vitamin B12 in their cells, you should eat enough foods that contain this vitamin, such as beef, poultry, seafood, eggs and dairy products (AC Antony, 2008). To absorb vitamin B12, your body uses a special protein called intrinsic factor, secreted by cells in the stomach. The combination of vitamin B12 attached to intrinsic factor is absorbed in the latter part of the small intestine. When the stomach does not produce enough intrinsic factor, the intestine can not absorb the vitamin properly. The disease begins slowly and may take decades to fully establish. Although the congenital form occurs in children, pernicious anemia usually does not occur before age 30 in adults and the average age at diagnosis is 60 years. Monthly injections of vitamin B12 are prescribed to correct the deficiency of the vitamin. This therapy treats the anemia and may correct the neurological complications if taken soon enough. In people with a severe deficiency, injections are given more frequently at first( Medlineplus).

The Lives of Oprah Winfery and Malcolm X :: essays papers

The Lives of Oprah Winfery and Malcolm X The lives of Malcolm X and Oprah Winfery have some similarities's but mostly differences. The biggest similarities is that they are both very accomplished black American's. Malcolm X was a hustler, robber and a very messed up child. After going to jail he decided to turn his life around. In a few ways Oprah was the same way. She had struggled with her weight all of her life. Finally she decided to do something about it. When Malcolm was a child his family didn't have very much money. They lived in a run-down house with many brother's and sister's. To make matters worse, they were a black family. When he was about fifteen years old his father was run over by a cart. He was nearly cut in half! The police said it was an accident but, Malcolm and his family knew it wasn't. After his father died things went down hill. His mother was so upset by his death that she couldn't take care of her family. Malcolm started to hang out with the wrong people. He became a hustler, he would rob people for money and valuable things they owned. He also started to get into hard drugs during his teenage years. All of this led to him dropping out of school and his mom was put into a mental hospital. When he was seventeen years old he was arrested and put into jail. This was the start of his "new start". He started reading the dictionary! His speed increased incredibly. By reading the dictionary his vocabulary became much better so he started reading books. After serving 8-10 years in jail he got out and started to speak against racism. He was a very strong speaker, which many people, including some whites, listened to. He would always be talking about how the whites didn't treat them right and to fight against them. On February 21, 1965 Malcolm was speaking at a OAAU rally in Harlem and he was shot and killed. Oprah Winfery, a talk show producer and host, actress, and a very charitable person. She began her career in television when she was nineteen years old. She was the youngest and the first African-American woman to be a news anchor at Nashville's WTVF-TV. Nine years after her T.V. career took off she moved to Chicago to host a morning talk show, "A.M. Chicago" which became the number one rated talk show just a month after Oprah took over. In less than a year the show expanded into a hour long program and was renamed, "The Oprah Winfery

Welfare Reform - Welfare Recipients MUST take Personal Responsibility E

Welfare Reform - Welfare Recipients MUST take Personal Responsibility   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Public Welfare is an important support system of the United States government. Welfare has its benefits, but the system has pitfalls. Instead of abolishing welfare as critics of the system suggest, reforms can be made to correct the problems while government, either on the state or federal level, can continue to assist the impoverished.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The term welfare is used to describe a variety of programs that provide income support and create a safety net for poor individuals and families. Such benefits include Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, food stamps, housing allowances, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Aid To Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) enables states to provide cash payments to children that are deprived of the care or support of a parent. In terms of welfare reform, this is the program most often discussed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The media has created many myths regarding welfare and the reasons the system should be done away with. Stating that the majority of new welfare recipients are poor, single mothers, claims have been made that poor women have more children because of the incentives of welfare benefits. It has been proven that is no correlation between women's choice to have children and welfare benefit levels. Furthermore, for each additional child, a mother can expect an additional $90 of AFDC benefits, far too low to serve as any type of incentive. In addition, those states that provide higher benefits do not necessarily show higher birth rates among their welfare recipients. Families receiving AFDC benefits have 1.9 children, just about the same as the national average. (ACLU 1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another myth created by the media concerns the amount of money spent and the results. It has been said that after spending billions of dollars since the mid-1960's on anti-poverty programs, there have been little or no results. To begin with, spending on AFDC between 1964 and 1994 was only $500 billion, less than 1.5% of federal spending for that period. Further, there have been results. Between 1964 and 1973, the poverty rate fell from 19% to 11%. It is true that since 1973, poverty has increased. This is due to economic forces such as declining real wages, rather than a failure of the system itself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A third myth regarding welfare concer... ...People must be held responsible for their actions: economic and moral failures are not society's fault. As Speaker of the House Gingrich said, "We are re-establishing work as an American tradition." (US News & World Report 12)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The welfare system is an important aspect of American society. It assists the impoverished individuals and families of our nation. It helps support the unemployed during their time of need. The welfare system must remain to help people get back on their feet, as it was designed. However, it must be reformed so that dependence on government aid is avoided. Works Cited American Civil Liberties Union: The Civil Liberties Issues of Welfare Reform.  New York: The American Civil Liberties Union, 1995. â€Å"Five Media Myths About Welfare.† Extra 1-3. Hoehn, Richard. Blueprint for Social Justice: Let's Get Real About Welfare.  New Orleans: Twornery Center for Peace Through Justice, 1995. Kaus, Mickey. â€Å"The Revival of Liberalism.† New York Times. 9 August 1996: A27 â€Å"Say You Want A Revolution.† US News and World Report. 9 Oct 1995: 11-14 Schiller, Bradley, â€Å"Why Welfare is Still So Hard To Reform.† Challenge November-December 1995: 16-19

Augustus :: essays research papers

A copy below of the deeds of the divine Augustus, by which he subjected the whole wide earth to the rule of the Roman people, and of the money which he spent for the state and Roman people, inscribed on two bronze pillars, which are set up in Rome. 1. In my nineteenth year, on my own initiative and at my own expense, I raised an army with which I set free the state, which was oppressed by the domination of a faction. For that reason, the senate enrolled me in its order by laudatory resolutions, when Gaius Pansa and Aulus Hirtius were consuls (43 B.C.E.), assigning me the place of a consul in the giving of opinions, and gave me the imperium. With me as propraetor, it ordered me, together with the consuls, to take care lest any detriment befall the state. But the people made me consul in the same year, when the consuls each perished in battle, and they made me a triumvir for the settling of the state. 2. I drove the men who slaughtered my father into exile with a legal order, punishing their crime, and afterwards, when they waged war on the state, I conquered them in two battles. 3. I often waged war, civil and foreign, on the earth and sea, in the whole wide world, and as victor I spared all the citizens who sought pardon. As for foreign nations, those which I was able to safely forgive, I preferred to preserve than to destroy. About five hundred thousand Roman citizens were sworn to me. I led something more than three hundred thousand of them into colonies and I returned them to their cities, after their stipend had been earned, and I assigned all of them fields or gave them money for their military service. I captured six hundred ships in addition to those smaller than triremes. 4. Twice I triumphed with an ovation, and three times I enjoyeda curule triumph and twenty one times I was named emperor. When the senate decreed more triumphs for me, I sat out from all of them. I placed the laurel from the fasces in the Capitol, when the vows which I pronounced in each war had been fulfilled.

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove Chapter 19~20

Nineteen All You Need to Know About That Intimacies, what happens between two people in private (or one person and a Sea Beast in a pasture), are not the business of anyone but the parties involved. Still, for the sake of the voyeur in us all, a tidbit or two to satisfy curiosity†¦ Molly tried, made a valiant effort in fact, but even for a woman of such fine physical conditioning, the task was too great. She did, however, manage to locate near the shed a gas-powered weed-whacker (which the late drug chefs used to clear flammables from the area) and with firm but gentle application of that rude machine, and a little coaxing, was able to bring Steve to that state the French inscrutably call â€Å"the little death.† And soon after, what at first seemed an insurmountable obstacle, the size difference, was turned to advantage, allowing Molly to join Steve in that place of peace and pleasure. How? Imagine a slow slide down a long, slippery bannister of a tongue, each taste bud a tease and tingle in just the right place, and you can understand how Molly ended up a satisfied puddle snuggled in that spot between his neck and shoulder that women so love. (Except in Steve's case, it didn't make his arm go to sleep.) Yes, there was a bit of the awkwardness that comes with the unfamiliarity and exploration of new lovers, and Theo's Volvo was soundly smashed before Steve realized that rolling around on the ground was an inappropriate way to display his enthusiasm, but a boxy Swedish automobile is a small price to pay for passion in the great scheme of things. And that is all you need to know about that. Twenty Theo Over the years, Theo had learned to forgive himself for having inappropriate thoughts at inappropriate times (imagining the widow naked at the funeral, rooting for a high death toll in Third World earthquakes, wondering whether white slavers provided in-house financing), but it worried him more than somewhat that, while hand-cuffed to a chair, waiting for his executioner, he was thinking about getting laid instead of escaping or making amends with his creator. Sure, he'd tried to get away, managing to do little more than tip the chair over and give himself a bug's-eye view of the dirt floor, but shortly after that, when the voices outside had stopped, he was overtaken with thoughts of women he'd had and women he hadn't, including an erotic mental montage of the erstwhile actress and resident Crazy Lady, Molly Michon. So it was embarrassment as much as relief that he felt when, after the sound of a weed-whacker and the crashing of metal, Molly popped her head into the shed. â€Å"Hi, Theo,† she said. â€Å"Molly, what are you doing here?† â€Å"Out for a walk.† She didn't come in, just craned her head around the corner. â€Å"You've got to get away from here, Molly. There's some very dangerous guys around here.† â€Å"Not a problem. You don't want any help then?† â€Å"Yes, go get help. But get away from here. There's guys with guns.† â€Å"I mean, you don't want me to uncuff you or anything?† â€Å"There's no time.† â€Å"There's plenty of time. Where are the keys?† â€Å"On my key ring. In the ignition of my car.† â€Å"Okay. Be right back.† And she was gone. Theo heard some pounding and what sounded like safety glass being shattered. In a second Molly was back in the doorway. She tossed the keys on the floor near his head. â€Å"Can you get to those?† â€Å"Can you unlock me?† â€Å"Uh, I'd rather not right now. But you'll be able to get to those eventually, won't you?† â€Å"Molly!† â€Å"Yes or no?† â€Å"Sure, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Okay. See ya, Theo. Sorry about your car.† And again she was gone. As he scrambled in the dirt to get to the keys, he was still troubled about the unwarranted wave of horniness that had overtaken him. Could it have been set off by the handcuffs? Maybe he'd been into bondage all these years and never even knew it. Although when he'd been arrested right before Sheriff Burton had blackmailed him into becoming constable, he'd spent almost two hours in handcuffs and he didn't remember it being an espe-cially erotic experience. Maybe it was the death threat. Was he turned on by the thought of being shot? Man, I am a sick individual, he thought. In ten minutes he was free of both the handcuffs and the dogging thoughts of sex and death. Molly, Joseph Leander, and the house trailer were gone, and he stood before the ruins of his Volvo with an entirely new set of questions nagging him. The roof of the station wagon was now mashed down to level with the hood, three of the four tires were blown, and on the ground, all around the car, were the tracks of what had to be a very, very large animal. There were two trails that had matted down the grass leading away from the shed and over the hill. One, obviously, was the track of a person. The other was wider than the dirt road that led into the ranch. Theo dug into the Volvo for his gun and cell phone, having no idea what to do with either of them. There was no one to call – and certainly no one he wanted to shoot. Except maybe Sheriff John Burton. He searched the area, found Joseph Leander's gun, and tucked it into the waistband of his jeans. The keys were still in the red four-wheeler, and after a minute of measuring the ethics of â€Å"borrowing† the truck against having been kid-napped, handcuffed, and almost killed, he climbed into the truck and took off across the pasture, following the double trail. Gabe Gabe and the rancher stood over the pulverized remains of the Holstein, waving flies away from their faces, while Skinner crouched a few yards away, his ears back, growling at the mess. The rancher pushed his Stetson back on his head and shuddered. â€Å"My people have been running dairy and beef cattle on this land for sixty years, and I ain't never heard or seen anything like it, Gabe.† His name was Jim Beer. He was fifty-five, going on seventy, leathery from too much sun and stress, and there was a note of the sad lonely under everything he said. He was tall and thin, but stood with the broken-backed slouch of a beaten man. His wife had left him years ago, driving off in her Mercedes to live in San Francisco and taking with her a note worth half the value of Jim Beer's thousand acres. His only son, who was to have taken the ranch over, was twenty-eight now and was busy getting thrown out of colleges and into rehabs all over the country. He lived alone in a fourteen-room house that rattled with emptiness and seemed to suck up the laughter of the ranch hands, who Jim fed in his enormous kitchen every morning. Jim was the last of his breed, and he would forever trace the beginning of his downfall to an affair he'd had with the witch who once lived in Theo's cabin at the edge of the ranch. Cursed he was, or so he believed. If the witch hadn't run off ten years ago with the owner of the general store, he would have been sure the mutilated cattle was her doing. Gabe shook his head. â€Å"I have no idea, Jim. I can take some samples and have some test run, but I don't even know what we are looking at here.† â€Å"You think it was kids? Vandals?† â€Å"Kids tip cows over, Jim. These look like they've been dropped from thirty thousand feet.† Gabe knew what appeared to have happened, but he wasn't willing to admit it. There wasn't a creature alive that could have done this. There had to be another explanation. â€Å"So you're saying aliens?† â€Å"No, I am definitely not saying aliens. I'm not saying aliens.† â€Å"Something was here. Look at the tracks. Satanic cult?† â€Å"Damn it, Jim, unless you want to be on the cover of Crackpot Weekly, don't talk that way. I can't tell you what did this, but I can tell you what didn't. This was not aliens, or Satanists, or Bigfoot on a binge. I can take some samples and run some tests and then maybe, maybe, I can tell you what did this, but in the meantime, you should call the state ag guys and get them out here.† â€Å"I can't do that, Gabe.† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"I can't have strangers running around on my land. I don't want this gettin' out. That's why I called you.† â€Å"What's that?† Gabe held up a finger to hold his place in the conversation, then looked to the hills: the sound of an engine. In a second a red four-wheel-drive pickup appeared on the hill headed toward them. â€Å"You'd better go,† Jim Beer said. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"You'd just better. Nobody's supposed to be on this side of the ranch but me. You need to go.† â€Å"This is your land?† â€Å"Let's jump in your truck, son. We need to go.† Gabe squinted to get a better look at the truck, then waved. â€Å"That's Theo Crowe,† he said. â€Å"What's he doing in that thing?† â€Å"Oh shit,† Jim Beer said. Theo pulled the truck up next to Gabe's, skidded to a stop, and crawled out. To Gabe, the constable looked pissed off, but he couldn't be sure, having never seen the expression on Theo before. â€Å"Afternoon, Gabe, Jim.† Jim Beer looked at his boots. â€Å"Constable.† Gabe noticed that Theo had two pistols stuck in his jeans and was half-covered with dust. â€Å"Hi, Theo. Nice truck. Jim called me out to take a look†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I know what that is,† Theo said, tossing his head toward the mashed cow. â€Å"At least I think I do.† He strode up to Jim Beer, who seemed to be trying to sink into a hole in his own chest. â€Å"Jim, you got a crank lab back there turning out enough product to hype all of Los Angeles. You wanna tell me about it?† The life seemed to drain out of Jim Beer and he fell to the ground in a splay-legged sit. Gabe caught his arm to keep him from cracking his tailbone. Beer didn't look up. â€Å"My wife took a note for half the ranch when she left. She called it in. Where else was I going to get three million dollars?† Gabe looked from Jim to Theo as if to say, â€Å"What the hell?† â€Å"I'll explain later, Gabe. I have something I have to show you anyway.† Theo pushed Jim Beer's Stetson back so he could see the rancher's face. â€Å"So Burton gave you the money so he could use your land for the lab.† â€Å"Sheriff Burton?† Gabe asked, totally confused now. â€Å"Shut up, Gabe,† Theo snapped. â€Å"Not all of the money. Payments. Hell, what could I do? My grandfather started this ranch. I couldn't sell off half of it.† â€Å"So you went into drug dealing?† â€Å"I ain't never even seen this lab you're talking about. Neither have my hands. That part of the ranch is off-limits. Burton said he had you in the cabin to keep anyone from coming in the back gate. I just run my cattle and mind my own business. I never even asked Burton what he was doing out there.† â€Å"There million dollars! What the hell did you think he was doing? Raising rabbits?† Jim Beer didn't answer, he just stared at the ground between his legs. Gabe held his shoulder to steady him and looked to Theo. â€Å"Maybe finish this later, Theo?† Theo turned and walked in a tight circle, waving his hands in the air as if chasing away annoying spirits. â€Å"You okay?† Gabe asked. â€Å"What the fuck do I do now? What do I do? What am I supposed to do?† â€Å"Calm down?† Gabe ventured. â€Å"Fuck that! I got murders, drug manufacturing, some fucking giant animal of some kind, a whole town that's gone nuts, my car is mashed, and I have a crush on a crazy woman – I don't have the training for this! No one has the fucking training for this!† â€Å"So calming down isn't an option right now?† Gabe said. â€Å"I understand.† Theo interrupted his anxiety Tilt-A-Whirl and wheeled on Gabe. â€Å"And I haven't smoked any pot in a week, Gabe.† â€Å"Congratulations.† â€Å"It's made me insane. It's ruined my life.† â€Å"Come on, Theo, you never had a life.† Gabe immediately realized that perhaps he had chosen the wrong tack in consoling his friend. â€Å"Yeah, there's that.† Theo strode to the red truck and punched the fender. â€Å"Ouch! Goddamn it!† He turned to Gabe again. â€Å"And I think I just broke my hand.† â€Å"Mad cow disease worries me,† Jim Beer said from his stupor of defeat. â€Å"Shut up, Jim,† Gabe said. â€Å"Theo has a gun.† â€Å"Guns!† Theo shouted. â€Å"I stand corrected,† said Gabe. â€Å"You mentioned a giant animal?† Theo massaged his temples as if trying to squeeze out a coherent thought. After a few minutes, he walked to where Jim Beer was sitting and kneeled down in front of him. â€Å"Jim, I need you to pull it together for a second.† The rancher looked at Theo. Tears had traced the creases in his cheeks. â€Å"Jim, this never happened, okay? You haven't seen me and you haven't heard anything from this side of the ranch, okay? If Burton calls you, everything is standard operating procedure. You know nothing, you understand?† â€Å"No, I don't understand. Am I going to jail?† â€Å"I don't know that, Jim, but I do know that Burton finding out about this will only make it worse for every one. I need some time to figure some things out. If you help, I'll do my best to protect you, I promise.† â€Å"Okay.† Beer nodded. â€Å"I'll do what you say.† â€Å"Good, take Gabe's truck home. We'll pick it up in an hour or so.† Skinner watched all this with heightened interest, tentatively wagging his tail between Theo's tirades, hoping in his heart of hearts that he would get a ride in that big red truck. Even dogs harbor secret agendas. â€Å"Theo, these can't be real,† Gabe said, running his hand over a footprint nearly three feet across. â€Å"This is some sort of hoax. Although the depth of the claw impressions and the scuffing would indicate that whoever did this really knows something about how animals move.† Theo was fairly calm now, as if he had settled into the whole unreality of the situation. â€Å"And they know something about crushing a Volvo too. They're real, Gabe. I've seen a track like this before.† â€Å"Where?† â€Å"By the creek, the night the fuel truck blew up. I didn't want to believe it then either.† Gabe looked up from the track. â€Å"That's the night I had the mass exodus with my rats.† â€Å"Yep.† â€Å"There's no way, Theo. That couldn't be what happened. A creature that could leave tracks like this would dwarf a T. Rex. There hasn't been anything this size on the planet for sixty million years.† â€Å"Not anything we know about. Look, Gabe, I followed the trail through the grass to the mutilated cows. I thought that was where they went, but evidently that's where they just came from.† â€Å"They? You think there's more than one?† â€Å"So you accept that this thing is real?† â€Å"No, Theo. I'm just asking what you think.† â€Å"I think that this thing was with Molly Michon.† Gabe laughed. â€Å"Theo, I think the withdrawal has you addled.† â€Å"I'm not joking. Molly was here right after I heard my car getting crunched. She gave me the keys to the handcuffs. When I came out, she was gone, and so were Joseph Leander and whoever he came here to see.† â€Å"So what do you think happened to them?† â€Å"The same thing that happened to those cows. Or something like it. The same thing that I think happened to the Plotznik kid. The last time anyone saw him was at the Fly Rod Trailer Court. That's where Molly lives.† Gabe stood and looked around at the pattern of tracks. â€Å"You haven't been into town today, have you, Theo?† â€Å"No, I've been busy.† â€Å"Les from the hardware store is missing. They found his truck behind the Head of the Slug, but there's no sign of him.† â€Å"We've got to go to Molly's, Gabe.† â€Å"We? Theo, I'm a biologist, not a cop. I say we try and track whatever this is. Skinner's a pretty good tracker. I'd bet we find an explanation that doesn't involve some sort of giant creature.† â€Å"I'm not a cop anymore either. And what if we track this thing and you're wrong, Gabe? Do you want to meet up with whatever did that to my car? Those cows?† â€Å"Well, yes, I do.† â€Å"We can do that later. It shouldn't be too hard. Whatever it is, it's pulling a house trailer.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"There was a trailer here when Leander took me into the shed. When I came out, it was gone.† Gabe checked his watch. â€Å"Have you eaten today? I'm not questioning you, but maybe you're having a hypoglycemic reaction or something. Let's go get some dinner and when your head clears, we can go by Molly Michon's.† â€Å"Right, I'm hallucinating from a bad case of the munchies.† Gabe grabbed his shoulder. â€Å"Theo, please. I have a date.† Theo nodded. â€Å"Molly's first. Then I'll go to dinner.† â€Å"Deal,† Gabe said, still staring at the tracks. â€Å"I want to come back here with some casting materials. Even if this is a hoax, I want a record of it.† Theo started for the truck and pulled up when he heard the sound of a cell phone ringing inside the shed. He walked into the shed, located the cell phone, and looked at the display for the number that was ringing in. It was Burton's private number. He drew his .357 Magnum and blew the phone into a thousand pieces. He walked out of the shed to find Gabe hiding behind the fender of the red truck and Skinner cowering in the bed. â€Å"What in the hell do you mean, you have a date?†