Cajun Food in South Korea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cajun Food in South Korea - Essay Example Target country for this case is South Korea. South Korean people are very much attracted towards the sea food items. That is why the country is an automatic choice for this business expansion. Food habits of South Korean people are significantly suitable and at par with the Cajun Food item. High level of seafood affinity from Korean people has made this place absolutely suitable for the particular food item. Availability of seafood items has made Korean peninsula an attractive destination for Cajun Foods. The aim of the project is to expand the idea of Kajun food into the market of South Korea by removing its competitor â€Å"The Boiling Crab and Cajun Restaurant Pier 17†. Another way it can deal with it is to start a joint venture with its competitor. Kajun has the motive to explain & elaborate the present trend in the ROI market. The food under consideration originated from the deepest part of Louisiana and Mississippi. The flavors of the food consist of an amalgamation of sea foods with spices. The availability of sea food is ensured by the bordering Japan Sea and Yellow Sea. Sea food always forms a major item of the people living in the boundaries of Eastern Asia. The study confers to expansion into the markets of South Korea. The brand name of this company is Cajun. This brand overcomes the cultural barriers. It gives a youthful perception and tries to increase the frequency of the purchase. This brand delivers a common message to all of its customers. Kajun aims to offer a new taste to the western world with the slogan that the south has risen following Kajun’s lifestyle. The packaging can be done in tinned containers for export purpose. Such packaging system will keep the food fresh. The customers can buy frozen fresh Cajun food. For instant serving the food can be served on platters. The mission of the company is provide best quality food to the customers and so it is advised to make the packaging

Andrew Jackson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Andrew Jackson - Essay Example During his presidency, he familiarized the spoils structure to the state government, assigning persons to positions grounded on the political backing. This made support on the government level prevail on the nationwide level. In addition, he used the executive influence of rejection expansively. In his term, he rejected extra bills compared to all the preceding presidents combined, and he was the first president to use the pocket rejection (Wilson, Dilulio and Bose 367). He used his position in the party to augment his supremacy and the primacy of the presidency. In his era, Jackson did not familiarize with numerous new policies, but he removed the ones he loathed. He removed some policies when the electorate size was growing quickly, and other states were joining the union. Jackson and his counterparts in White House walked the political phase when unpleasant sectional battles over slavery and profitable policies were starting to separate the country. Because of this, he attempted t o return to the agrarian easiness of Jefferson’s time, but he was stopped by the influential civic government. He is also remembered by the party he prepared in the White House that was attended by anybody in the populace to sign him as a tribune of the people. In the history of American Presidents, Andrew Jackson marks some remarkable transition on the power of a president. He is well known for his unprecedented use of presidential power in his era, and he is the foundation of the modern president.

Body Image And Stoma Health And Social Care Essay

Body Image And Stoma Health And Social Care Essay INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer has its mortality rate of around 655,000 a year throughout the world (World Health Organization, 2006); this is seen to be the third leading cancer cause death in western world and in united states colorectal cancer is fourth common in all cancer types causing disease (National Cancer Institute. 2009), around 35,000 morbidity rate causing common solid organ malignancy in United Kingdom (Hall Nigel, 2007). Colorectal cancer is commonly called as bowel cancer or colon cancer. This essay mainly focuses on the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer, its psychological and sociological responses. Here the pathophysiological part gives a clear idea of the clinical signs and symptoms, pathology and medical management of the disease, the main psychological part deals with the body image of the patient who lives with stoma. The result of final medical and surgical management of colorectal cancer is an opening in the abdominal surface, done as a life saving measure. So the opening may be a colostomy or ileostomy where a bag is given to collect the body waste from the intestine usually stools. Then the sociological aspect of the patients body image and living with stoma is been understood. COLORECTAL CANCER Colorectal cancer can be defined as the cancerous stage of colon and rectum. These cancerous cells are seen as malignant tumours in the inner wall of the large intestine (Medicinenet.com, 1998). Clinical features and Diagnoses: The clinical features of the disease can be, rectal bleeding, diarrhoea, right side abdominal lump and sometimes in rectum, weight loss, abdominal pain, patient being anaemic due to bleeding, bowel obstruction, sickness due to constipation and bloating (Cancer Research UK, 2010). The most common are the gastrointestinal symptoms; these are seen in the pathological absence and even theres similarity at the time of malignancy and benign tumour. Recent research study at Portsmouth has found that this symptom is first recommendation for confirming colorectal cancer and is considered to be the consistent pointers of malignant colorectal (Hall Nigel, 2007). When the tumour size increases bowel lumen is likely narrowed causing obstructive symptoms. At this time the patient experiences loosening of the stool instead of constipation, the other problems arising from determined bowel habit changes should be examined carefully with proper investigation. Whereas the distal tumours shows bowel habit alterations leading to the solid state of stool consistency, this distal tumour symptom is more possible than proximal tumours. Since the proximal tumours shows its symptomatic outcomes only after complete obstruction. Tenesmus or an incomplete evacuation feeling is the cancerous mass effect in the rectum (Hall Nigel, 2007). The most disturbing symptom is rectal bleeding (Hall Nigel, 2007). This bleeding looks bright blooded same like haemorrhoids if the tumour is in the low rectum and bleeding in case of left sided tumours its in dark redden colour and stools with blood is seen. There are some uncommon symptoms like pain, weight loss and anorexia unless or not extensive metastatic disease or else the disease reaching its malignancy to bone and/or nerves. If the patient is obstructed with abscess formation the immediate requirement is surgical emergence (Hall Nigel, 2007). Patients by these symptoms indicate that the colorectal pathology must go through abdominal examination, rectal examination and a rigid sigmoidoscopy at proper diagnostic centres. General examination might expose the signs of anaemia. Most of the colorectal cancers due to its mass is palpable and helps the examiner to give something the once-over. Colorectal cancer investigation has its most important findings from sigmoidoscopy (Hall Nigel, 2007). Pathophysiology: The most basic stages of colorectal tumour genesis start with the normal mucosa, with a widespread condition of cell replication, then with the clustered appearance of enlarged crypts. These abnormalities of aberrant crypts or the enlarged crypts are very proliferative, biochemical and bio-molecular (Ponz de Leon, M. Di Gregorio, C. 2001). The most part of colorectal malignancies are been developed from adenomatous polyps. These are said to be the well-defined epithelial dysplasia masses with the uncontrolled crypt cell division. When the neoplastic cells are passing through the muscularis mucosae and submucosal infiltrate it is been considered as malignant adenoma (Ponz de Leon, M. Di Gregorio, C. 2001). The more used confusing definitions like carcinoma in situ or intramucosal carcinoma should be abandoned (Ponz de Leon, M. Di Gregorio, C. 2001). Even though numerous lines of suggestion specify that carcinomas typically initiate from pre-existing adenomas, this doesnt indicate that all tumours go through malignant variations, and doesnt eliminate de novo carcinogenesis. Above and beyond of adenomas, there are several other polypoid lesions, they are hyperplastic polyps which shows the elongated crypts frequently by cystic dilatation, serrated adenomas seen as serrated glandular pattern, flat adenomas are usually flat lesions and makes the investigation process difficult when using routine lower endoscopy so it can even be a malignancy, hamartomatous polyps is in the pattern of smooth muscle branching supports lamina propria and glands and next one is inflammatory polyps (Ponz de Leon, M. Di Gregorio, C. 2001). Now in the western society colorectal carcinomas is seen to be the most frequent condition. When seeing the macroscopic appearance its the lesions as polypoid vegetating mass and even sometimes as a flat infiltrating lesion. About 96% of tumours remain as adenocarcinomas and in quite few cases shows mucinous component. There are even some very rare malignant cases in large bowel like signet ring cell carcinoma, squamous carcinoma, undifferentiated neoplasms and medullary type adenocarcinoma which is seen to be solid carcinoma having very less cellular pleomorphism or slight glandular differentiation. The three grades of colorectal carcinoma are well differentiated lesions, moderately differentiated lesions and poorly differentiated lesions. These grading usually helps in evaluating the disease prognosis from the patient even considered being as little evidence (Ponz de Leon, M. Di Gregorio, C. 2001). By the end of this pathophysiological section of colorectal cancer it is clear that the disease covers widespread premalignant and malignant lesions, in which most of the lesions are being removed at the time of endoscopy. By interfering at the numerous stages of a carcinogenesis it is possible to prevent the neoplasmic stage of colorectal. The stages after carcinogenesis begins are uncontrolled epithelial cell replication, the adenomas are formed in various sizes and finally progresses into malignancy (Ponz de Leon, M. Di Gregorio, C. 2001). Medical management: During the last decade we have seen dramatic variations in managing colorectal cancer. The most noticeable changes in case of colorectal cancer are like, very precise pre-operative assessment, extensive use multimodality treatments and this includes neo-adjuvant therapy, theres even changes in procedures through minimal invasive and a very good prognosis in rectal cancer surgery (Cunningham C and Lindsey I, 2007). So this section of medical management speaks about the various management of colorectal cancer. The sufficient management of cancer rising inside the polyps is colonoscopic polypectomy. Now there are lots of advancements in kind of colonoscopic polypectomy treatment like endoscopic mucosal resection. This advanced colonoscopic polypectomy techniques has its goal to recover tumour clearance and decrease the occurrence of colonic meticulous pathological assessment (Cunningham C and Lindsey I, 2007). Later this help in defining the importance in the involvement of lymph node and adequacy of local excision. The former condition is conducted by Haggitts staging of malignant-polyps Kikuchis-levels of sub-mucosal invasion in sessile lesions. Now the possibility of lymph node involvement is been easily estimated, because of the classifications it helps in preventing some great loss like avoiding the necessity of prescribed resectional surgery. This is also depending on some aspects like age of the patient, fitness and personal choice. In the remaining histo-pathological factors are fa vouring formal resection over the local excision which includes poor tumour differentiation, invasion of lymph and vessels and resection margin involvement (Cunningham C and Lindsey I, 2007). Radiotherapy is usually not as much of effective as preoperative treatment (Cunningham C and Lindsey I, 2003). Also, it is accompanying injurious effects on the functioning of the neo-rectum and destruction to small-bowel confined in the pelvis as an effect of surgical-adhesions. This is used at the event when circumferential margin seen to involve in pathological specimen and if the prior treatment was not given. So this will be signifying the failure of surgical excision (Cunningham C and Lindsey I, 2003). Since the last two decades, more advancement in the chemotherapy for treating colorectal cancer has been achieved (Lawes D and Taylor I, 2005). These advancements have made the treatment as optimal by systemic chemotherapy for the colorectal cancer over last decades. The average life of a patient has been gradually increased. This systematic chemotherapy progressively increased the survivalist from six months (normally without treatment) to reach more than twenty months when given the combinations of 5-FU/FA, irinotecan, oxaliplatin or monoclonal antibodies. Adjuvant therapy by means of 5-FU established routines outcomes in an enhanced 5 year continued existence in stage III disease from 51 to 64%, by other modest aids for those with stage II disease (Lawes D and Taylor I, 2005). Body image and stoma bag The result of final medical and surgical management of colorectal cancer is an opening in the abdominal surface, done as a life saving measure. So the opening may be a colostomy or ileostomy where a bag is given to collect the body waste from the intestine usually stools. Here comes the concept of body image, this is a concept being used in various fields which includes psychology, medicine, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, philosophy, cultural and feminist studies (Cash S Brown T A, 1987). More often this concept is carried by public media. Other than these fields and media the term does not have an approved definition (Cash S Brown T A, 1987). Basically in psychology it can be said that the belief and perception of an individual body being intended along with the emotional attitude (Cash S Brown T A, 1987). About one quarter of stoma patients know how clinically important psychological symptoms post-operatively (White C.A Hunt JC, 1997). Those who involved in the care of stoma patients are usually not detecting the psychological disorders. Psychological morbidity after the surgery is resulted from the unawareness of the condition which includes the past psychiatric history, dis-satisfaction with pre-operative preparation for surgery, post-operative physical symptoms and the negative thoughts and beliefs related to stoma and the condition of being a patient (White C.A Hunt JC, 1997). So normally surgeons are the important healthcare professionals dealing with the patient who needs to take the responsibility to collect patient information and let them know the process before and after surgery (White C.A Hunt JC, 1997). Various forms, questionnaires and surveys should be introduced for the screening purpose, where the other healthcare professionals and Para-medicals could take the in-charge of detecting the possibilities of psychological morbidities. This can even develop with applying effort in liaising with the mental health services. The authors future research will be done on the prospective using valid measurements psychologically and to be focussed on the morbidity by predicting, preventing, detecting and treating the psychological upset after the surgery of stoma (White C.A Hunt JC, 1997). PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIALOGICAL ASPECTS OF COLORECTAL CANCER In a recent survey on the colorectal cancer patients, they have found that the patients have a good quality of life after the treatment (Medical News Today, 2011). This is because the patients has followed the medical management with some physical restrictions but the survey also shows there are sufferers from this condition post operatively. They are mostly dealing with the emotional and social living where the life of the patient is seriously affected even after many years (Medical News Today, 2011). Even though the disease is a common one, only a few details are known about post-operative and the quality of life they lead (Medical News Today, 2011). The survey dealt with approximately 300 patients who received treatment for colorectal cancer. But after many years of investigation they diagnosed that the patients are having lots of suffering due to the disease. The reason behind suffering is not with the physical problems but the fact is very serious about the problems facing psychologically. Patients are struggling due to the psychological causes. Dr. Volker Arndt and his colleagues of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research of the German Cancer Research Centre (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ), the Saarland Cancer Register and the Department of Epidemiology of Ulm University did this research and found that the patients are suffering from mental strains (Medical News Today, 2011). The patients are also having secondary diseases and these were studied from the sufferers who are relatively young age (Medical News Today, 2011). Throughout the world for one year there are about one million new cases being recorded. So this takes the colorectal cancer as the most common form of cancer among other types of tumours. For the past decade there is consistent and significant prognosis as most of the cases are been detected at the early stages. Long-term researches concerning colorectal cancer patients frequently deal with repetition of tumours and/or survival rates, whereas the long term wellbeing and eminence of life of patients once completion of therapy has been of slight systematic attention to date (Medical News Today, 2011). Arndt et al. has diagnosed after many years that the colorectal cancer patients quality of life is been restricted due to the emotional and social problems they face (Medical News Today, 2011). Other than this the colorectal cancer patients is suffering from a list of problems like respiratory distress, sleeping dis-orders, listlessness, problems in bowel and most important is financial worries. When seeing the quality of life of these patients even after three years of treatment, the improvement was modest and mostly they were restricted by the financial problems and/or living an adjustable life with stoma (Medical News Today, 2011). The persistent depression of the patient was continued for a long period. The researchers concluded that these sufferings and problems have its impact mainly due to the age and there is lots of influence in age factor on the psychological resistance. Thats the reason behind young patients are predominantly affected by the mental illness. Therefore, the younger patients are more affected by the disease compared to the older patients. This is even more threatening and having health deficits to the younger ones than the older sufferers. But still the older patients have to come up with the physical problems (Medical News Today, 2011). A literature review clearly states that the depression state is not only to the patients but the depression is seen in the life of spouses (Goldzweig. G et al. 2009). However the communication and distress issues and sufferings between the patients and spouses are still being understudied (Goldzweig. G et al. 2009). Accommodating the primacy of gender, attention should be given to whether the demand-withdrawal pattern in female cancer patients and their spouses is similar to the demands and emotional needs of both male cancer patients and male caregivers (Goldzweig. G et al. 2009). Price (1990) developed a method for taking care of patients with altered body image (Price B, 1990). He recommended that the nurses who are dealing with the patients with body image problem should use the principles of body components. He states that the body should be viewed as three components, body reality, body ideal and body presentation (Price B, 1990). CONCLUSION As summarizing the colorectal cancer patients body image and living stoma, the issues primarily dealing with loss of energy, loss of control, isolation, feeling dirty, sexual dysfunction, fertility and the female patients face pregnancy and menopause. As Price Bob recommended the social workers, health care workers and even the relations or care takers of the colorectal cancer patients should know well about the body components principles and do the rehabilitation. The basic problem of the disease deals with the medical management, if the patient in the later stage suffering from psychological issues he must be under critical care under psychologist. Most of the health professionals believe that the patient suffering from stoma is their concern but the thought should be changed and particularly stoma care nurses should be thinking wisely in helping the psychological issues faced by the colorectal cancer patients.

Wideman Vs. Limerick Essay example -- essays research papers

John Edgar Wideman’s â€Å"Our Time†, and Patricia Nelson Limerick’s â€Å"Empire of Innocence†, are two very different stories about one particular theme. In these selections both authors are writing history. Wideman is writing the history of his brother’s life, and Limerick is writing the history of the old west. Although the theme is the same, the two authors’ styles, methods, and writing concerns differ greatly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the following passage from â€Å"Our Time†, John is visiting his brother, Robby, in prison. While listening to Robby’s story, John begins to question the type of book this project will become: The business of making a book together was new for both of us. Difficult. Awkward. Another book could be constructed about a writer who goes to a prison to interview his bother but comes away with his own story†¦.the inevitible conflict between his role as detached observer and his responsibility as a brother would be at the center of such a book. When I stopped hearing Robby and listened to myself listening, that kind of book shouldered its way into my consciousness. I didn’t like that feeling. That book compromised the intimacy I wanted to achieve with my brother. (Wideman p. 723) This passage stresses the concern Wideman expresses on how to make this book the type of book he wants to present. Later in the selection the answer to this problem appears.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Still listening to Robby’s story, John discovers their recollections of th...

Motifs in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay

â€Å"If this girl can give soul to those who have lived without one, if she can create the sense of beauty in people whose lives have been sordid and ugly, if she can strip them of their selfishness and lend them tears for sorrows that are not their own, she is worthy of all your adoration, worthy of the adoration of the world† (59). Sibyl has inner beauty and Basil realizes that, but Lord Henry and Dorian only see the physical or symbolic beauty of her form. This is contrary to the reoccurring idea that beauty is only skin deep like Dorian for example he is beautiful on the outside but horrible on the inside. For the wonderful beauty that had so fascinated Basil Hallward, and many other besides him, seemed never to leave him. Even those who had heard the most evil thing against him, and from time to time strange rumours about his mode of life crept through London and became the chatter of the clubs, could not believe anything to his dishonour when they saw him† (93). Shows how society judges people by their looks. They project the desirable traits that they believe they should have, but in reality they’re the same as other people. Even though his reputation is being questioned when people see him all they see is his beauty. â€Å"He grew more and more enamored of his own beauty, more and more interested in the corruption of his own soul† (93). Morbid fascination with the portrait. Its so horrifying but he can not look away. â€Å"I have got through all that,† said Dorian, shaking his head, and smiling. â€Å"I am perfectly happy now. I know what conscience is, to begin with. It is not what you told me it was. It is the divinest thing in us. Don’t sneer at it, Harry, any more — at least, not before me. I want to be good. I can’t bear the idea of my soul being hideous. † (142). Dorian is still completely obsessed with his looks so in an attempt to purge himself he â€Å"spared an innocent thing† but because he did it because he did not want to look old and horrible it was still a selfish act. He was trying to convince himself that the death of Alan Campbell was not his fault. Conscience/Soul: â€Å"Conscience makes egotists of us all† (75). Dorian’s conscience was his portrait it showed him all the sins he committed throughout is life. It made him obsessed about his looks. The more you think of all the things you do the more you forget about the people around you. â€Å"His unreal and selfish love would yield to some higher influence, would be transformed into some nobler passion, and the portrait that Basil Hallward had painted of him would be a guide to him through life, would be to him what holiness is to some, and conscience to others, and the fear of God to us all. There were opiates for remorse, drugs that could lull the moral sense to sleep. But here was a visible symbol of the degradation of sin. Here was an ever-present sign of the ruin men brought upon their souls. † Portrait was like a mirror of his soul, his true self. The portrait would always be the one thing that would constantly remind him of all his sins in life, while opium could help him forget the things that were haunting his mind the portrait was a constant reminder of everything he did wrong. â€Å"Choice is taken from them, and conscience is either killed, or, if it lives at all lives but to give rebellion its fascination, and disobedience its charm† (139). The pursuit for pleasure is encoded in our DNA its a natural thing that we must cope with, but most times people can’t control their impulses and give in, and instead of their conscience helping them to fight the urge it is the one that pushes you to succumb to it. â€Å"The soul is a terrible reality. It can be bought, and sold, and bartered away. It can be poisoned, or made perfect. There is a soul in each one of us. I know it† (158). Dorian’s soul was corrupted after the influence of Lord Henry, and he sold it to stay young forever. A soul means nothing to Dorian he does not even believe in it anymore. â€Å"He looked round, and saw the knife that had stabbed Basil Hallward†¦. As it killed the painter, so it would kill the painter’s work, and all that that meant† (164). When Dorian stabbed the painting it was similar to when he stabbed Basil. In the beginning Basil said he put his soul into the painting, then after that it became Dorian’s soul. They were linked, he could not destroy the painting without destroying himself. Influence: He was conscious and the thought brought a gleam of pleasure into his brown agate eyes that it was through certain words of his, musical words said with musical utterance, that Dorian Gray’s soul had turned to this white girl and bowed in worship before her. To a large extent the lad was his own creation† (42). This is where Dorian starts his descent into a sinful life. Lord Henry influenced him into falling in love with â€Å"poetry† or art. The only reason he fell â€Å"in love† with Sibyl was because he saw her as living art, her passion for acting fueled his passion for her. â€Å"If one doesn’t talk about a thing, it has never happened† (79). A saying by Lord Henry, denying that something happened helps you get over it faster so you have no sorrowful feelings, you just push it out of your mind or seek pleasure to distract yourself. â€Å"A strange sense of loss came over him. He felt that Dorian Gray would never again be to him all that he had been in the past. Life had come between them.. † (58). Lord Henry’s influence ruined the pureness of Dorian. He now embraced hedonism which corrupted him and made him vain and hateful. â€Å"A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure. I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them† (79). Lord Henry said something similar when Sibyl died. Its goes against the ideology of Hedonism to be sad or regretful because you are supposed to be in pursuit of happiness. â€Å"The mere fact of having publish a book of second-rate sonnets makes a man quite irresistible. He lives the poetry that he cannot write. The others write the poetry that they dare not realize† (41). This shows the relationship between Lord Henry and Dorian. Lord Henry influenced someone with the idea of Hedonism, while he himself did not completely indulge himself in that lifestyle. While Dorian is pursuing every pleasure that he can find. In a way Lord Henry is living through Dorian. Hedonism: â€Å"There was an exquisite poison in the air. I had the passion for sensations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Well, one evening about seven o’clock, I determined to go out in search of some adventure. I felt that this grey, monstrous London of ours, with its myriads of people, it sordid sinners, and its splendid sins, as you once phrased it, must have something in store for me† (35). Dorian now feels the need to satisfy his hedonistic craving. He realizes the world is not pure or innocent anymore and that there is many ways to sin and indulge himself. Pleasure is the only thing worth having a theory about†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ But I am afraid I cannot claim my theory as my own. It belongs to Nature, not me. Pleasure is Nature’s test, her sign of approval. When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy† (56-57). Lord Henry believes that morality does not promote happiness, and we must experience pleasure because that is a huge part of life. If everyone pursued pleasure the world would be happier and more ideal. â€Å"Believe me, no civilized man ever regrets pleasure, and no uncivilized man ever knows what pleasure is† (57). Same idea, the world is better off with pleasure, it will make the world happier, although upper class receive the most pleasure because they can afford all the luxuries of life. While lower class people can only imagine what true pleasure is because they are to busy worrying about other things they don’t the time nor fund to indulge in the finer things. â€Å"Beautiful sins, like beautiful things, are the privilege of the rich† (57). Dorian lives this saying. He lavishes himself with the most luxurious items because he has the money to do so. Having fancy objects in life is purely for the aesthetic pleasure that we receive from them, and repeating the word beautiful emphasizes and glorifies the idea of pleasure. â€Å"Difference of object does not alter singleness of passion. It merely intensifies it. We can have in life but one great experience at best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as often as possible† (145). Pleasure and passion are universal emotions that can be felt anywhere. Repeating that emotion can help you feel younger, it will take you back to all the other times you felt that way, its another way of reminiscing.

Critical Thinking: Strategies in Decision Making

Critical thinking is the mental process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach an answer or conclusion (Dictionary. com, n. d. ). Critical thinking has two basic components: a set of information and belief generating and processing skills, and the habit of using those skills to guide behavior. Other aspects of critical thinking include working out situations and dilemmas, answer questions, and settling issues that are essential to ones welfare and interests. Thinking happens in every situation in every aspect of life.â€Å"The best thinkers use their ability to think well in every dimension of their lives† (Paul & Elder, 2006). Critical Thinking Steps Critical thinking is used in all dimensions of life whether in personal situations or work related situations. Most of the time in personal issues people are more apt to make decisions that will benefit them more in the end. In work related issues, people tend to make decisions that will benefit the majority of everyone involved. Critical thinking is vital in the decision-making process when coming up with new ideas and finding the different point of views.As a critical thinker, there are a few steps while thinking. First, is to raise important questions and issues. Second, is the assembly and evaluation of significant information. Third, is coming up with well thought out answers, analyzing the answers with different outcomes and scenarios. Lastly, a critical thinker must keep an open mind and have the ability to consider all possible conclusions. If a problem arises, a critical thinker will have the ability to communicate well with others to gain a better perspective on the situation at hand. ? Personal ExperienceIn a personal situation where I had to use critical thinking was in regards to my divorce. I had to think about how I would be affected by the decision as well as how my children would be affected by my decision. I had to weigh out the pros and cons of staying married versus getting a divorce. Weighing out the custody was another decision I faced. I wanted what was best for my children, and these decisions were not easy. Discussing the options with my ex-husband and being able to make these decisions jointly made things easier for the both our children and us. Work Related ExperienceUsing critical thinking in work has proven beneficial. I worked for a company a few years ago where I held a position in customer care over the telephone. This position presented me with the opportunity to apply my critical thinking skills. When I first started with the company I was responsible for billing, but I decided to apply for a position in developing and maintaining the performance and payroll reporting for the lobby locations. I had an office, independence to complete my tasks without supervision, and had a prime shift – 8 to 5 Monday through Thursday and 7 to 4 on Friday.On the home front, I was able to put dinner on the table by 6 PM, did not bring work home, and was never on call. When the billing services ‘Subscriber Management Systems Specialist’, position was posted, I was very interested, but I had to weigh the benefits of both positions. I developed a table with pros and cons in order to assist with the decision. Based on the results I outlined, I chose to apply for the new position. It meant giving up some personal time with my husband – salary of course, means 40+ hours a week, but the challenge and growth opportunity outweighed the other factors.Had I not applied critical thinking, I would have gone with my gut, which told me to stay in the lobby where I was comfortable. Being able to put emotions aside allowed me to think clearly about a very important decision in my life. Critical thinking is important in decision-making. Some people develop thinking in a â€Å"weak sense† whereas others develop thinking in a â€Å"strong sense†. †Å"Critical thinkers strive to develop essential traits and characteristics of the mind† (Paul & Elder, 2006).I believe that critical thinkers do not allow emotions or bias to determine the outcome of the situation, but will have strong facts to support their position. I believe we all must strive to think at a higher level, and recognize our biases and rise above them to become effective critical thinkers. ? References Critical Thinking. (n. d. ). Dictionary. com's 21st Century Lexicon. Retrieved December 13, 2009, from Dictionary. com website: http://dictionary. reference. com/browse/critical thinking Paul, R. , & Elder, L. (2006). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Ludicrous vs Ridiculous

Ludicrous vs Ridiculous Ludicrous vs Ridiculous Ludicrous vs Ridiculous By Maeve Maddox I read a celebrity quotation that asserted that a rumor being circulated about her was â€Å"ludicrously silly.† The statement struck me as ridiculous. Silly is a synonym for ludicrous; using one to intensify the other is overkill. In recent years, ludicrous has become celebrity-speak for plain old ridiculous. As a result, a subtle difference between the two is being lost. Rapper Christopher Bridges, known as Ludacris, told an MTV interviewer that he based his stage name on his â€Å"split personality,† which he described as being â€Å"ridiculous and ludicrous.† Bridges apparently perceives a difference between the words, (what that is, he doesn’t say), but other celebrities seem to have latched onto ludicrous as if it were merely a classier word than the more familiar ridiculous. For example, If being an attractive woman got you attention for directing, then the entire best director category would be comprised of models. To me, that is just the most ludicrous connection that you could make. Diablo Cody Actors will never be replaced. The thought that somehow a computer version of a character is going to be something people prefer to look at is a ludicrous idea. Peter Jackson Dictators are ludicrous characters, and, you know, in my career and in my life, Ive always enjoyed sort of inhabiting these ludicrous, larger-than-life characters that somehow exist in the real world. Sacha Baron Cohen The curtains would open and it would be just her standing in some ludicrous pose, like Aphrodite. Lesley-Anne Down It seems to me that in each of the above quotations, the speaker was reaching for ridiculous or perhaps a word with some other connotation that would be more appropriate in the context. Connotation: The signifying in addition; inclusion of something in the meaning of a word besides what it primarily denotes; implication. Ridiculous seems to me to be less judgmental than ludicrous. Something ridiculous provokes laughter because it is incongruous. For example, a man wearing a lampshade for a hat presents a ridiculous sight. Something ludicrous is both incongruous and contemptible. For example, a nineteen-year-old with the full use of his legs riding on the shoulders of his bodyguards while touring the Great Wall of China presents a ludicrous sight. Each of the following synonyms is a word for a dwelling: house, palace, shack, hut, hovel, mansion. They may be synonyms, but each conveys a different feeling to the reader or listener. English possesses numerous adjectives used to convey the meaning ludicrous, most of which are synonyms, but each of which carries some difference in connotation. Here are some: absurd asinine comical farcical foolish idiotic laughable preposterous risible Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Writing a Reference Letter (With Examples)The Letter "Z" Will Be Removed from the English AlphabetApostrophe with Plural Possessive Nouns