Health History and Examination Essay

Neurological System (headaches, head injuries, dizziness, convulsions, tremors, weakness, numbness, tingling, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, etc., medications): Patient is alert, awake and oriented. Denies headaches, head injuries, dizziness, seizures, tremors, migraine, difficulty in speech and swallowing. No history of falls. Patient does mention that he has numbness and tingling of fingers and toes occasionally. Takes Gabapentin 100mg orally three times a day. Head and Neck (pain, headaches, head/neck injury, neck pain, lumps/swelling, surgeries on head/neck, medications): Patient denies neck or head injuries, denies swelling or lumps on neck and head, Denies neck pain or headaches. Eyes (eye pain, blurred vision, history of crossed eyes, redness/swelling in eyes, watering, tearing, injury/surgery to eye, glaucoma testing, vision test, glasses or contacts, medications): Patient wears eyeglasses that are with him. Bilateral cataract surgery done in June 2013. Regular v ision checks after surgery done in November 2013 and at present he is not on any medications at home. Ears (earache or other ear pain, history of ear infections, discharge from ears, history of surgery, difficulty hearing, environmental noise exposure, vertigo, medications): No complaints of ear pain, infection, surgery tinnitus due to noise, or vertigo noted. Not on any medications. Hard of hearing right ear but does not use a hearing aid. Nose, Mouth, and Throat (discharge, sores or lesions, pain, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, sore throat, allergies, surgeries, usual dental care, medications): Denies discharge from nose and throat, denies presence of sores or lesions in the mouth. Denies nose bleeds, bleeding gums, or sore  throat. No known allergies noted. Has upper and lower dentures that patient cleans with Polident tablets daily. History of Tonsillectomy at age 7. Skin, Hair and Nails (skin disease, changes in color, changes in a mole, excessive dryness or moisture, itching, bruising, rash or lesions, recent hair loss, changing nails, environmental hazards/exposures, medications): Patient’s skin color is ethnic. Has some gray hair but no alopecia. Has well groomed nails. Denies skin problems. Particular about usage of moisturizing lotions after bath. Breasts and Axilla (pain or tenderness, lumps, nipple discharge, rash, swelling, trauma or injury to b reast, mammography, breast self-exam, medications): Patient denies any problems with breasts and axilla. Does not perform self-breast examination. Peripheral Vascular and Lymphatic System (leg pain, cramps, skin changes in arms or legs, swelling in legs or ankles, swollen glands, medications): Denies leg pain, cramps or discoloration of arms and legs. Complains of occasional swelling on ankles. Takes Lasix 40 mg orally once a day. Cardiovascular System (chest pain or tightness, SOB, cough, swelling of feet or hands, family history of cardiac disease, tire easily, self-history of heart disease, medications): Denies any chest pain or tightness. Denies shortness of breath or weakness. Complains of occasional cough relieved by Robitussin DM 10ml orally every 6 hours as needed. Patient is hypertensive and had an MI in 2005 but denies any history of Congestive Heart Failure. Family history shows that his father died of heart attack at age 75. Patient had an echocardiogram and stress test done last year as outpatient and per patient results were normal. Patient is taking Aspirin 81mg orally daily, Lopressor 25mg orally daily, and Plav ix 75mg orally daily. Thorax and Lungs (cough, SOB, pain on inspiration or expiration, chest pain with breathing, history of lung disease, smoking history, living/working conditions that affect breathing, last TB skin test, flu shot, pneumococcal vaccine, chest x-ray, medications): Has occasional cough that could be due to change of climate. Denies shortness of breath or pain with breathing. Denies smoking and no history of lung disease is noted. Immunized for Influenza and Pneumonia on 10/14/2013. Patient was in ER in March for cough and fever and x-ray of the chest showed no abnormalities at that time. Musculoskeletal System (joint pain; stiffness; swelling, heat, redness in joints; limitation of movement; muscle pain or cramping; deformity of bone or joint; accidents or trauma to bones; back pain;  difficulty with activity of daily living, medications) Denies any symptoms of joint problems and does not take any medications at home. Patient is independent and requires no assistance for activities of daily living. His wife and he take walks on a daily basis for 20 minutes. Gastrointestinal System (change in appetite – increase or loss; difficulty swallowing; foods not tolerated; abdominal pain; nausea or vomiting; frequency of BM; history of GI disease, ulcers, medications) Denies any gastro-intestinal disease, ulcers, or diabetes. Consumes low sodium diet with no added salt three times a day and a bedtime snack. Includes plenty of vegetables and fruits in his diet. No swallowing problems noted. No complaints of nausea, vomiting or diarrhea noted. Patient has daily bowel movement and reports that it is brown in color. Denies use of stool softener or laxative. An Endoscopy and Colonoscopy was done in January 2014 and no abnormalities noted at that time. Genitourinary System (recent change, frequency, urgency, nocturia, dysuria, polyuria, oliguria, hesitancy or straining, urine color, narrowed stream, incontinence, history of urinary disease, pain in flank, groin, supra pubic region or low back) Denies pain or any urinary problems. Patient verbalizes increased frequency of urination due to Lasix. Patient wakes up twice at night to urinate but he is continent of bladder. Per patient no prostate problem noted. Last prostate exam was done in February 2014. Physical Examination (Comprehensive examination of each system. Record findings.) Neurological System (exam of all 12 cranial nerves, motor and sensory assessments): Patient is awake, alert, and oriented with no memory loss. Patient is calm, cooperative and pleasant. Judgment is intact. Patients speaks clearly and in full sentences. No difficulty noted while speaking. No swallowing problems noted. Patient has a steady gait with full strength. Sensations present in all extremities. Complaints of occasional numbness and tingling of fingers and toes but denies upon examination. Head and Neck (palpate the skull, inspect the neck, inspect the face, palpate the lymph nodes, palpate the trachea, palpate and auscultate the thyroid gland): Skull and neck are normal on examination. No deformities or hematoma noted. No lymph nodes identified on palpation. Adam’s apple present. Trachea is normal on palpation. Eyes (test visual acuity, visual fields, extra ocular muscle  function, inspect external eye struct ures, inspect anterior eyeball structures, inspect ocular fundus): Patient has eyeglasses with him. Patient is able to open and close his eyelids. Pupil is round and reaction to light is constriction to both eyes. Denies any blurring, watering, or tearing of the eyes. No redness or infection noted. Ears (inspect external structure, otocopic examination, inspect tympanic membrane, test hearing acuity): Hard of hearing right ear with no hearing aid. As per patient the physician had recommended hearing aid for the right ear but patient did not wish to use it. Otoscopic examination revealed normal ear canals and eardrums with minimal amount of earwax. Nose, Mouth, and Throat (Inspect and palpate the nose, palpate the sinus area, inspect the mouth, inspect the throat): Nose, mouth and throat are normal on examination. On palpation no pain noted to sinuses. The upper and lower dentures fit well on the patient and do not become loose while talking or chewing. Skin, Hair and Nails (inspect and palpate skin, temperature, moisture, lesions, inspect and palpate hair, distribution, texture, inspect and palpate nails, contour, color, teach self-examination techniques): No skin break down or rashes or lesions noted on inspection of the skin. Color is normal to ethnicity. Skin is warm, dry an d intact. Mucus membranes are pink and moist. Hair is gray and no alopecia noted. Texture of hair is soft to touch, no split ends noted. Kept short and clean. No ingrown nails or cracked nails noted. Nails are well groomed and pink in color. Patient verbalizes examining the skin and nails everyday while taking a shower. Breasts and Axilla (deferred for purpose of class assignment) Peripheral Vascular and Lymphatic System (inspect arms, symmetry, pulses; inspect legs, venous pattern, varicosities, pulses, color, swelling, lumps): Bilateral upper extremities are warm, symmetrical with bilateral radial pulses 2+. Bilateral lower extremities are warm, symmetrical without any discoloration. No varicose veins noted. Bilateral pedal pulses 2+. A trace of edema is noted on both ankles and feet. Cardiovascular System (inspect and palpate carotid arteries, jugular venous system, precordium heave or lift, apical impulse; auscultate rate and rhythm; identify S1 and S2, any extra heart sounds, murmur): Carotid arteries are normal with pulse 2+. No jugular vein distension noted. Apical pulse is 82 beats per minute, BP of 150/80 mm of Hg. Heart sounds S1 and S2 are on auscultation. No murmur or extra heart sound noted. EKG shows a  Normal Sinus Rhythm. Thorax and Lungs (inspect thoracic cage, symmetry, tactile fremitus, trachea; palpate symmetrical expansion;, percussion of anterior, lateral and posterior, abnormal breathing sounds): Thoracic cage is normal and symmetrical. No abnormality noted on palpation and percussion. Breath sounds are clear and equal on auscultation in all lung fields. Respirations are even, regular and unlabored. Patient has occasional nonproductive cough relieved by cough medicine. Respiratory rate is 18/minute and Oxygen saturation is 99% on room air. Musculoskeletal System (inspect cervical spine for size, contour, swelling, mass, deformity, pain, range of motion; inspect shoulders for size, color, contour, swelling, mass, deformity, pain, range of motion; inspect elbows for size, color, contour, swelling, mass, deformity, pain, range of motion; inspect wrist and hands for size, color, contour, swelling, mass, deformity, pain, range of motion; inspect hips for size, color, contour, swelling, mass, deformi ty, pain, range of motion; inspect knees for size, color, contour, swelling, mass, deformity, pain, range of motion; inspect ankles and feet for size, color, contour, swelling, mass, deformity, pain and range of motion): Cervical spines are normal in size, no pain or deformities noted with full range of motion. Bilateral shoulders are equal in size, no swelling or mass noted. No pain noted on movement of shoulders. Bilateral elbows, wrists and hands are equal in size, with full range of motion and equal in strength. No deformities noted on inspection. Bilateral hips are equal in strength, no swelling or mass noted. No evidence of redness or injury noted. Sacrum is intact. Bilateral lower extremities with full range of motion and equal strength noted. No swelling or deformity noted. Bilateral ankles and feet noted with trace of edema. Gastrointestinal System (contour of abdomen, general symmetry, skin color and condition, pulsation and movement, umbilicus, hair distribution; auscultate bowel sound;, percuss all four quadrants; percuss border of liver; light palpation in all four quadrants– muscle wall, tenderness, enlarged organs, masses, rebound tenderness, CVA tenderness): Abdomen is flat and non-distended. Bowels sounds present in all four quadrants. Abdomen soft and non-tender on palpation. Percussion revealed tympany in all four quadrants. Umbilicus is midline and inverted. Surface of abdomen smooth and even, with homogenous color. No lesions or surgical scars noted. Genitourinary System (deferred for purpose of this  class) FHP Assessment Cognitive-Perceptual Pattern: Patient is alert and oriented, no memory loss. Well educated, and has the ability to read, write and understand information. Patient uses eyeglasses for reading and is hard of hearing right ear. Nutritional-Metabolic Pattern: Patient eats a low sodium diet with no added salt three times a day with a bedtime snack. Home cooked food with vegetables and fruits included in the diet are his preferences. The patient or his wife prepares the food. The patient and his wife do the food shopping. Sexuality-Reproductive Pattern: The patient has three children and 5 grandchildren. He is not interested in sexual activities but loves to spend time with his wife. Pattern of Elimination Patient is continent of bladder and bowel. Urinary frequency is increased due to effect of medication (Lasix). Pattern of Activity and Exercise: Patient is independent in activities of daily living. He is not involved in vigorous exercise but walks daily for 20 minutes along with his wife. Pattern of Sleep and Rest: Patient usually sleeps for 6-7 hours at night with an afternoon nap for 30 minutes. Patient wakes up twice at night to urinate but goes right back to sleep with no difficulty. Patient denies use of sleeping pills. Pattern of Self-Perception and Self-Concept: Patient is well dressed and has self-respect and respects others too. He leads a disciplined life with the ability to take care of himself and his wife. He is friendly with his neighbors and is an active participant in church activities Summarize Your Findings (Use format that provides logical progression of assessment.) Situation (reason for seeking care, patient statements): Name: Lawrence Kelly Age/Sex: 72 years/Male Presenting complaints: Increased swelling of ankles and feet, numbness and tingling of fingers and toes, and occasional cough. Background (health and family history, recent observations): History of present complaints: Patient complains of swelling of feet and ankles for 2 weeks with numbness and tingling of fingers and toes. Occasional cough for last one week. Past medical History: Hypertension, MI, Hard of hearing (Right Ear). Medication history: Lasix 40mg orally daily Aspirin 81mg orally daily Plavix 75mg orally daily Lopressor 25mg orally daily Gabapentin 100mg orally three times a day Assessment (assessment of health state or problems, nursing diagnosis): Mr. Lawrence Kelly 72 year old male presented with complaints of swelling of feet and ankles with numbness and tingling of fingers and toes for the past 2 weeks. Occasional cough for the past one week. He is alert, awake and oriented with steady gait. Hard of hearing in the right ear. His vital signs are BP150/80 mm of Hg, Pulse 82, RR 18/minute, and Temp of 98.4. No chest tightness or pain verbalized. Breath sounds are clear and equal in all lung fields. Abdomen soft, non-tender and non-distended. Bowels sounds present in all four quadrants. No difficulty in urination verbalized and color of urine is amber. Trace edema noted on feet and ankles. Pedal pulses is 2+. Nursing Diagnosis: Fluid Volume Excess manifested by edema of feet and ankles. Recommendation (diagnostic evaluation, follow-up care, patient education teaching including health promotion education): Blood tests should be done including Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Vitamin B12 Level, and BNP. X-ray Chest is recommended to find out if patient has CHF Echocardiogram could be repeated as it was done more than 6 months ago Teach the patient to monitor BP, Pulse, Intake and Output, and Daily Weights. Advise the patient to elevate the lower extremities on pillows to reduce  dependent edema Encourage the patient to read food labels on the sodium content Avoid fried foods, canned and frozen foods (Nanda Nursing Interventions, 2012) Provide information about community services such as Heart Center at Barnabas Health, Phone No. 1-888-724-7123 (Barnabas Health, 2013). References: Barnabas Health. (2013). Barnabas Health Heart Centers. Retrieved from http://www.barnabashealth.org/services/cardiac/index.htmlLifestyle and home remedies. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/DS00061/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remediesNanda Nursing Interventions. (2012). Nursing Interventions for Fluid Volume Excess. Retrieved from http://nanda-nursinginterventions.blogspot.com/2012/04/nursing-interventions-for-fluid-volume.html

Law and Language

One can`t deny that the interplay between our daily lives and law is pivotal to our existence. Even when we are breathing, Article 21 of our constitution protects us. When we buy some product from a shop, taxes imposed under various laws play a role in determining the cost of that product. These are just few of the various examples that we encounter in our daily life which exhibit the role of law in our everyday lives. But to know what the law is and to understand it, so that we can act accordingly, one needs to have some command over the language. Even in common law countries where we witness unwritten laws, precedents have cardinal place. And to use those precedents appropriately we need to understand the judgments. Also, judges need to use the right words at the right time to convey the real purpose of the precedent. Law and language are inter-related for even language operates on certain laws. We have various rules and laws of grammar, which if broken, would take away the essence of the language. I always had a few questions regarding this topic lingering in my mind. Why is legal language so complicated? How do lawyers twist it according to their advantage? How easy judges find it to interpret the legal jargon? Is there even a need for legalese? How has the language, the law is written in, affected the awareness among people? There are more questions that I await an answer for and this project has given me a great opportunity to look for those answers THE INTERVIEW For the same purpose I interviewed Sri V. Srinivasa Sivaram, Administrative Officer, Andhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority. â€Å"The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes. In every State, State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to give free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State.. † With his experience and connect to the local people, I felt he would be able to answers my questions. I thank him for giving his valuable time for me. Here is an excerpt of the interview Q. Sir, you are associated with Andhra Pradesh Legal Services Authority, and many financially distressed people who can’t afford a lawyer approach you for help. What level of legal awareness do you find amongst these people about their rights and duties especially when the laws and statutes are written in English? A. Since I`m working with the legal service authority for past some time, one thing that I find is that people don’t come to us because they have some right or a duty. They come to us because they have a problem. It may be related to law or may not be related to law. 90% of the times, we have to find out what the law is with respect to their problem. The people approaching us are not aware if a law can help them and if so, which law. They are aware that if they have a problem and they are approaching legal service authority, then we will help them. Many a times I have spoken to people and asked them â€Å"How did you come to know of legal service? † The most common reply is sir, we have been told or we heard it on TV or Radio. After they approach us, we have to find the remedy for them and most importantly look if that remedy is within the four corners of law. They are not aware of the law in that respect. They just have a problem in hand and they come to us, looking for remedy, and asking whether law can help them or not. Q. For many disputes, the local people first approach the district court and then may appeal in higher courts. Do the district courts work in the local language or in English? What is your opinion regarding this. A. With respect to this question, I would like to tell you that both local languages and English are used. If a person is illiterate or he doesn’t understand English well, especially when you have to conduct a trial, when you ask during chief examination or during cross examination, the local language is the best thing Q. Do the courts give the judgment i. e. s the written judgment in regional language or is the usage of regional language restricted for oral purposes only? A. For the time being, it is totally in English. But the judges are not stopped from using the regional language. For example, one of friends has given a couple of judgments in Telugu also. But doing so is very difficult. The hindrances that they encounter are numerous. When they have to rewrite a c ase law or quote a case from Supreme Court it becomes virtually very difficult to quote it in Telugu.. We also have latin maxims that would be adding to this difficulty. You are right. We cannot quote them in regional language. We may not pass on the meaning properly. If you quote Evidence Act in Hindi or Telugu, I tell you, it will be a nightmare! Although we are very proficient in Hindi and Telugu, on trying to do so, we couldn’t succeed. Try converting a judgment by Hon`ble Judge Krishna Iyer into your local language or Telugu, it will be a disaster! Even people who are conversant in English find it difficult to understand his judgment. The language is highly complex, full with rhetoric. Many Supreme Court judgments are in such a way that a common man can`t understand it. This also applies to people who are well familiar with English. Until and unless one doesn’t have the knowledge of the legal jargon used, they can`t comprehend it. Q. The laws are basically for the people. But with the complicated language they are written in, a person finds it very difficult to read through them. Do you think there is a need to simplify legal language? A. It is high time that the legal language is simplified. One thing that we see is, for a simple word example may or shall, battles are fought in court. The Supreme Court may end up saying ‘may’ is not ‘may’, it is ‘shall’ and ‘shall’ is ‘may’! Because the interpretation of such basic words takes place in different ways, a common man can`t understand it. Yes Sir, I do remember a case ‘State Of Madhya Pradesh vs Azad Bharat Finance Co’. Here under an Act, although the District court interpreted the use of word ‘shall’ as obligatory, the Supreme Court interpreted it as â€Å" The word ‘shall' is not always mandatory; it depends upon the context in which the word occurs and the other circumstances. † Yes. We have many other examples. Few years back when a question arose if a written statement has to be filed within 90 days of the amended CPC, it was said that NO although the word used is shall. If this is the fate of the people who know law, then imagine the plight of the common man. Q. I agree with you sir. But if the legal language is simplified, doesn’t it leaves some loopholes that maybe misused by many? A. Look, even now it is happening. You write one line and the lawyers are bound to pick up loop holes in that one line also. This is so, because we have been taught to do that! Every lawyer tries to use the words according to his own convenience and the benefit of his client. Q. What approach do you adopt while interpretation of any law. Is it a positivist approach strictly based on the language and the words used or you try to look into the history and spirit of the law? A. I prefer to go by the spirit of the law. We don’t have access to the constitutional debates. In lower courts, when we have to go about finding what is the meaning and the spirit of the law, unless you see the original framework of the law, you don’t know why it was written. I do remember the case of ‘Baljeet Singh vs Election Commission Of India And .. ’ Here the petitioner argued that a member of parliament takes an oath to ‘make and subscribe’ to the constitution of India. Hence the interpretation is that each and every legislator must be literate to understand the India`s constitution. The Supreme Court referred back to the constitutional assembly debate and concluded that literacy was never meant to be an extra qualification to be a member of parliament. The purpose behind such an oath was to promote national unity and not to make literacy a pre-requisite condition. Yes. Sometimes if you don’t know the intention behind a law, you can`t come to any particular conclusion about its meaning. If you have access, well and good but many lower courts don’t have access to constitutional debates. An Act or statute may give you two or three lines about its purpose, but if you want to go further you don’t have access to that thing. So, if there is a conflict you will interpret it in a manner as you feel proper. But certain situations demand interpretation using the strict language rule. This has been played by the higher courts in many ways! And since we say that Supreme Court judgment is the law of the land, we are bound to end up in confusion. Let me put forth one example. A question arose whether a company can be prosecuted or not for criminal actions. The punishment prescribed includes both fine and imprisonment. One interpretation was that since a company is not a real person and you can`t throw it in jail, hence only a fine will be imposed. But the Supreme Court said that since you can`t put the company in jail, you can`t inflict the punishment prescribed in the act, hence the ntire proceeding were quashed. Subsequently, after few months another judgment came, in which another company, I`m not sure but maybe Standard Chartered Bank, relying on the earlier judgment, pleaded for the quashing of the procedures. But this time, it was held that although we can`t put you in jail; you are liable to pay the fine. Another important issue is the way a common man interprets a law is very different. Let me put to you an exampl e I came across. In rural areas, when I spoke to some people, they are aware that there is a law that deals with harassment. But for them, harassment is any kind of harassment. A woman claimed since her husband drinks and doesn’t contribute much for the family, he is harassing me. Technically, you can`t stop a person from drinking. They hold very different perception of the same law. Some lawyers take them for a ride. When such women approach them, they suggest filling a suit under sec498 which deals with dowry harassment! This obviously leads to exploitation as they mint money in spite of knowing that no remedy lies in law. Q. Sir, this situation is dangerous. People may develop wrong perceptions that law can`t help them and may lose faith in the system. Doesn’t it demand spreading awareness among people. A. You are right. We do take measures to spread some awareness. For example, we have a regular programme on etv in which a judge tries to answer the queries of the people and explain the remedy to them. I came across a group of LGBT. Although they came from a village, they were well aware about sec 377 and were speaking on how it is unconstitutional. Then they told me how a sensitization programme was carried out by an NGO in Telugu. So, laws aren’t that difficult to understand, if explained properly Q,CLAT[common law admission test] for admission to the National Law schools is conducted in English. Do you think, the exam should be conducted in other regional languages to increase diversity and access? A. You should answer this question better!. Well the entire situation can be summed up in one or two lines. Whether the legal education should be in local language or English? No doubt, the language may act as a barrier. But in a country having about 28 states with different languages, if the Supreme Court has to read from Gujurati to Malayalam, then it would be a nightmare for everybody. The statutes and legislations are in English. An exact translation in any other language is not possible. The exact meaning may be lost. We can`t avoid English. Now, we have got used to a procedure where we use both regional language and English. The legislations are in English, debates, judgments all are in English. As I said, we can`t have literal translation of each and every word. Thus, my point is legal education has to take place in English. But at the same time, I don’t deny that regional language would prove to be beneficial, but practically, you need legal education in English medium. Q. Finally, how do you as a judge, view the connection between law and language? Do you think the efficiency of a judge or advocate would be affected due to lack of knowledge in a particular language? A. I have come across many people who can put forth extremely strong arguments in regional language. But they would have become better lawyers had they been proficient in English. But you will see, many a times being good in English won`t help you if you don’t have a command over the regional language too. When a client approaches with any problem, you should be able enough to connect with them, so that they can openly discuss the issues at hand with them. You can explain the law to them in their language so that they understand better and discuss the appropriate remedy. Many a times, if you want to cross-examine a witness you need to do that in his local language. If the poor guy is not well versed in English, then he may say something with some different meaning, which obviously you see would land him in trouble. Now-a-days we have technological tools in the Internet that help us to translate. That day I wanted to read an article on mediation which was in a language, I wasn’t familiar with. This translation tool helped me to translate it in English and the contents too were satisfactory. So in the contemporary times, with internet you can remove a lot of disadvantages. CONCLUSION The interview was a interesting one for it helped me broaden my horizons on the general public conceptions of law. Sri V. Srinivasa Sivaram rightly pointed out to me the problems that plagued the system, which never came to my notice before. But since this project is about the relation of law and language, I would like to narrow down on that issue. Most of his answers were convincing. English can`t be entirely avoided. With the diversity in languages that we have, what a statute may mean in one language, would mean something else in the other as literal translation is not possible every time. But this doesn’t mean neglecting regional languages. They need to work side-by-side which evidently is witnessed esp. in the working of lower courts. This is so because it is obviously beneficial for public good. All Laws are made for a reason and purpose. They sometimes seek to repair a defect prevalent in the system. So, the courts should move beyond the interplay of words. Legal jargon or legalese needs to be simplified. I would like to quote Mr. Sivaram on this issue. He aptly illustrates why legalese should be restricted. â€Å"One maybe proficient in English, but if they are told to read Physics or Chemistry, then they wont be able to. Law is for the people. It governs and regulates the action and life of the people. Thus, it should be in a way that people can ordinarily understand.

The textbook was a very interesting and colorfully descriptive history text

I read approximately 350-400 pages in the text A History of Western Society, 8th Ed.   Ã‚  I didn’t read in a continuous style instead flipping through the book stopping at something interesting reading then reading several pages of that chapter, moving on to others gaining knowledge of several chapters of the book rather than focusing on one.It is a historical text on western civilization from Mesopotamia to the present, with focus on social history with chapters on Greece, Rome, religious wars, political revolutions, evolutions in energy and industry, expansion, urbanism, nationalism, dictatorship and the Second World War, even the Cold War.   I thought of it as a sociological perspective on history.The textbook was a very interesting and colorfully descriptive history text.   I liked that the theme of politics and culture were balanced giving the reader a chance to see it from a broader perspective.   It balanced the socio-economical structures during different peri ods in time that was very intriguing.The way the book was presented the reader with tools to help with self-educating and useful study guides for students to truly understand what it must have been like in the past, socially.   I felt the questions were really helpful in stimulating my own critical thinking.   Features all through the text gave interesting accounts of everything from groups to major historical events that put the reader right into history.I felt that the pictures were chosen well to present the material written.   I like that everything from resent news, art and European countries were given a fair introduction to western history.   I felt the authors were able to give a broader perspective to foreign countries that were much unbiased.   Islamic regions were also introduced to the reader in very stimulating terms. And I am glad to see that the expansion of history to include women and gender issues that has occurred in western society.   The section on w itch hunts and the Athenian women balanced the book nicely.I really enjoyed flipping through and reading the text and felt that it would be a very good tool to use for undergraduate study as an introductory class.   It gives the student a really good start on terms and concepts of sociology and history.   I felt that this would also be a good book for the use in Art History.The color photos clearly show the artistic beauty of many cultures and society.   The three authors John P. McKay, Bennett D. Hill, and Buckler are well respected and each is very proficient in history; which gave the book a solid scholarly mark for it to be a must reading.The book should be on any good historian’s book shelf.   The use of Blackboard I really liked because of the apparent growing use of that learning tool.   This text was full of teaching tools to use with that program that will help the first year student to become acquainted with something they will increasing begin to use on t heir trek towards their college degrees.Reference:McKay, J.P., Hill, B.D., & Buckler, J. (2006) A History of Western Society, 8th. Ed.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Boston: Houghton Mifflin.   

Blindness in Samson Agonistes

Blindness in Samson Agonistes In John Milton’s play Samson Agonistes, eyesight is a recurring motif and blindness used frequently as a metaphor to define the status of a character’s journey. Milton uses the presence or lack of clarity in vision, both physically and spiritually, to indicate characters’ direction. Although several characters experience blindness to differing degrees, Samson epitomizes the dynamic states and stages of blindness. All of these are necessary components of his pilgrimage of personal redemption, where his loss of physical eyesight becomes essential to mitigate the more serious condition of internal, spiritual blindness. Manoah’s paternal connection to his son hinders his ability to see that the blindness Samson must endure as a result of his failures is actually necessary to restore Samson’s inner eyes. Manoah attempts to convince Samson that his predicament can be reversed and that there is a way out: â€Å"But God who caus’d a fountain at thy prayer From the dry ground to spring, thy thirst to allay After the brunt of battel, can as easie Cause light again within thy eies to spring.† (581-84) Manoah’s eyes are indeed veiled from reality, for he is unable to analyze the situation apart from his disposition and concepts which persuade him to believe that Samson is, in fact, ascetical. Manoah has the full assurance that the retrieval and homeward return of his son would cause the present problems to dissipate. However, Samson realizes that his escaping will not assist him along his destined path and will not accomplish the purpose of his existence. Surely God did not intend for Samson to single-handedly liberate Israel, but as the tribe’s sole recipient of the divine instruction, Samson is regarded as the man who will free Israel and her people from captivity. The awe and wonder that his strength elicits became an obstruction in the eyes of the Hebrews and of their faith. It does not occur to them that perhaps they too, as a people, have a role in fulfilling God’s plan. Their eyes are so fixed on the idea that Samson will be their savior that in a sense their faith in God is lessened. Samson’s strength is a mere manifestation of God’s strengthening him from within; the Israelites, however, regard his gift of strength as his sole qualification for the mission’s assignment. By so doing, they deny any accountability themselves. The Israelites should have learned from Solomon’s mistakes after his fall and taken the initiative to fulfill the promise. Instead, like Samson, his people lose sight of their faith and its source. It becomes apparent that Samson has become an idol to his people, and they have lost God as their focus by fixing their collective sight upon Samson’s God-like figure, which his strength and pride afford. Therefore, Samson is not the only one who has lost sight of his calling, but the Hebrews have fallen to the point where they â€Å"love bondage more than liberty, / Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty† (270-1). Samson, as well as his people, initially fail to see that his strength lies not within the seven locks of unshaven hair, but that his hair is a mere symbol of his heritage and of his vow to God. A footnote in Numbers, explaining the significance of the Nazarite vow, says, â€Å"Not shaving the head signifies not rejecting but being absolutely subject to the headship of the Lord as well as to all deputy authorities appointed by God.† The Nazarite vow was not developed solely for Samson, but it was a voluntary time of consecration where the Israelites declared their separation unto God: â€Å"All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall pass over his head. He shall be holy until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself from Jehovah; he shall let the locks on his head grow long.† (Numbers 6:5) This general custom proves that, contrary to the belief of Samson and Dalila, that his hair is not the source of his super natural strength. Samson’s â€Å"heav’n- gifted strength† (36) is accompanied by a mission whose accomplishment relies entirely on his faithfulness to the vow. Gradually Samson becomes distracted by the fame and admiration that his strength elicits. A purpose that initially originated from a divinely assigned mission slowly digresses into a self-glorifying talent which makes Samson â€Å"fearless of danger, like made a petty God, walk’d about admir’d of all† (529-30). Samson himself admits that he had reached a point where he was â€Å"swollen with pride† and fell â€Å"into the snare† (532). As this egotistical outlook begins to take precedence in Samson’s life, he simultaneously begins to lose sight of the goals in and purpose of his life, leaving him inwardly blind, prior to the dramatic gouging out of his eyes. During the first three temptations of Dalila, Samson’s faith still remains true as he maintains his loyalty and covenant with God, just as he sustains the portion of his vow which requires him to abstain from â€Å"all delicious drinks†¦ [to] repress† (541-43). However, upon Dalila’s fourth attempt to trick her husband, â€Å"this high gift of strength†¦how easily [bereaves] [him], / Under the seal of Silence could not keep, / But weakly to a woman [does] reveal it† (47-50). Once Samson recognizes his weakness, despite his outward strength, he begins the journey of ascent towards self- reconstruction, where Samson comes to realize how he came to be in such a predicament: â€Å"God sent her to debase me, And aggravate my folly who committed To such a viper his most sacred trust Of secresie, my safety, and my life† (999-1002) Samson realizes too late that he was â€Å"impoten[t] of mind, in body strong!† (52). Before his upward journey, Samson is required to be completely broken, blinded and chained, â€Å"inferior to†¦ worm† (73-74). The man that was once admired and worshipped is now â€Å"dark in light expos’d / to daily fraud, contempt, abuse and wrong† (75-76), made powerless, in order for him to begin the long, dark journey into his self and back to his calling. Milton repeatedly utilizes the metaphor of blindness to take his characters on a progression from a point of darkness into light, to illustrate the growth and dynamic development of each character on their own, specific path to destiny. Milton’s entire tragedy depicts the treacherous journey of the hero whose â€Å"breeding [is] ordered and prescrib’d / As of a person separated to God† (30-31). In order for Samson’s purpose to be fulfilled and for God’s plan to be carried out, Samson’s physical strength has to be reduced to nothing. It is only possible in this moment of desperation following complete failure that the hero is able to prove his true strength, as he re-climbs from the heap of collapse. Not only does this journey entail the reconstruction of his strength, but Samson is forced to endure this journey in complete darkness in order to redefine his view of the world and to relinquish his confidence in his own ability, and to ultimatel y refine and strengthen his faith in God. The Hebrews, like Samson, are also in need of restoration of sight to see again who their God is. Their faith falters simultaneously with the breaking of Samson’s vow; not one of them takes any form of action in attempt to accomplish God’s plan. Their sole concern is the preservation of Samson’s sight and strength, for this is where their faith resides. Manoah also fails to see that the restoration of Samson’s sight is not of utmost importance, but that much more, his inward eyes would be reopened to realize his purpose, to see why God twice appeared to his parents to announce the importance of his birth. Samson is both weakened and inwardly blinded by his wife’s beauty and temptations, but it is not until his eyes are gouged out that he acknowledges that he has been â€Å"entangled with a poysnous bosom snake.† When Samson’s faith is lost, he is in â€Å"double darkness†, both outwardl y and inwardly blind. It is not until his final moments that his inward eyes are opened; he regains his lost faith, and truly realizes and accomplishes his purpose in his very last breath.

Control room video Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Control room video - Essay Example The theme is successfully delivered because of the portrayal of hierarchy in the documentary. The theme of the documentary was delivered to the audience in such a way that the arguments from both the sides were given. In the end it was the audience who had to decide as to which side was right and which was wrong. The attack on the media was also shown in the documentary to prove the evidence against the US government. It basically showed that the media was being controlled by both the sides or perhaps was being tried to be controlled. The power of the media is analyzed in the documentary and the message has been given to the audience. 2. To what extent the documentary might change your perception on the war in Iraq?   The documentary can have a great impact on my perception regarding the Iraq war. The casualties that I saw in the media previously raised my sentiments for the Iraqi citizens. But the documentary portrays that media itself is being controlled by the sides hence it wou ld change my view regarding these sentiments. I would have a balanced view for the Iraqi people because the US soldiers being attacked and tortured was not shown much in the videos shown in media. The war on Iraq however was waged so that the regime of Saddam Hussein could be ended and the people of Iraq be helped. The documentary raises a question for me that â€Å"was this objective really achieved? I believe that it was not and hence the war in Iraq was a waste of time and resources of the United States which could have been spent in a much better way. The documentary shows the real side of the media and how they were being controlled. After watching the documentary I can say that I have balanced views regarding the war but the casualties in the war did affect the Americans in a bad way. 3. Critically identify the strengths and weaknesses of the video.   The video had some strengths and weaknesses which made it worth watching. Firstly it does not conclude everything on itself but rather leaves it to the audience to decide as to which side they should choose. The strength of the video is that it involves the real people of Al Jazeera who talk for the whole situation themselves. Thus the audience can be assured that this documentary is not fake or lying about things. The series of incidents that happened in the Iraq war are shown in the documentary such that it gives an overall view about the situation of war to the audience. It uses different real events to show how the television was being blamed for the incidents that occurred during the war. Al Jazeera was being targeted by the US officials and a footage of that target has been shown in the documentary. The attacks on the television office have also been shown in the documentary so as to provide evidence to the viewers regarding the story that the movie is providing the audience with. This evidence proves to be one of the strengths of the video and helps the audience to understand the politics that was being worked out against the media. 4. Briefly, do you recommend this video to other viewers? If yes why? If not

Design a multi-story reinforced concrete office building Essay

Design a multi-story reinforced concrete office building - Essay Example The building is to consist of a 30 people meeting suite/conference, a restaurant, different sizes common room on the 3 floors of the building. Ground floor will consist of, conference room, restaurant, common room and all services associated. The remaining unused floor is aimed for facilities of leisure. 3.0 General Approach The general approach taken is to obtain the architecture of an office building:- Acquiring design of an office architecture of a multi-storey building basically adopted in the construction design (Alheyad, 2008). . Structural system establishment of the floors from the ground to first, second and third floor Foundation type, column design and system of resisting wind will be affected by taking into consideration the architectural drawings 4.0 Requirements for design Client’s requirements: The ground floor is to have: a reception, conference/meeting rooms, common room and entertainment room, a restaurant, and associated services. The remainder of the floor is to be occupied by the swimming pool. The main building is to include a small scale conference/meeting suite of a maximum 30 persons, a restaurant, a common room, as well as lodging. The minimum clear height for the ground floor is set to be3.0 m. The minimum spacing of vertical structural elements within the ground floor is to be 6.0 m. Access to bedrooms at the 1st and 2nd floor and the 3rd floor is by lifts or staircases located at the centre and end of the floors. The 1st and 2nd floor are different size offices with central access corridors. The floor upon completion will have a soffit height at the 1st and the 2nd floor of a minimum of 3.0 m in the floors and 3.6m in corridors, in addition to services allowance. All servicing plant including water tanks, heating boilers and lift mechanisms are to be located on top of the stair/lift towers at the ends of the building. Car parking of 450m^2is to be set near the hostel at ground level over an area of approximately 450 m2. There is need for allowance for future adjustments in demand for different types of services. This is achieved through structural arrangement not compromising the ability to adjust the width and mix of room compartments, though the central corridor arrangement will not be altered as per the client decision. A fire resistance period of 2hrs is to be put in the building. The building is to be exposed to XC-1 environment. Building requirements analysis The two-hour fire resistance requirement is vital in for the structural elements design of the building. According to Euro code 2, for two-hour fire resistance, the minimum width of a beam is 200 mm. The XC-1 environment that the building is exposed to implies the structure is always exposed to water or is dry. To attain this condition a minimum cement 240 kg/m3 for exposure to XC-1 together with a ratio of 0.07 environmental conditions. The set minimum cover for XC-1 environment is cmin = 15 m .This is calculated using the equation Cnom = Cm in + ?C, where Cnom is the nominal cover. (Eurocode 2). 5.0 Structural elements These are framing elements used to transfer the loads from the building to

Skin Morbidity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Skin Morbidity - Essay Example Moreover, the cultural viewpoint should be used in the assessment and perception of skin disease because ethnic groups may differ in their views of the diseases. Most data on skin diseases in the general population come from Western subjects who have been diagnosed in hospitals. Self-reported cases on skin morbidity have shown that skin disease is related to overall poor health and low socioeconomic status. Thus, the goal of this research study was to determine the presence of ethnic differences in self-reported skin morbidity among adults of ethnic groups in a Norwegian urban community. The study design was cross-sectional, involving residents of Oslo County in Norway. A questionnaire was mailed to 40,888 individuals, of which 18,747 responded. The invitation to participate was based on the participant’s age, socio-demographic status, and country of birth. The questionnaires obtained information on socio-demographic factors and aspects of health and self-reported health conditions, which included details on health conditions. From their responses, participants were further grouped based on migration history, diet, language and religion. One hundred fifteen nationalities were represented in the sample and were classified according to their region of origin and income. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The sample population had an approximately uniform age and contained more females. Eighty-four percent of the sample was from Norway, with the rest coming from Western countries, Eastern Europe, East Asia, Middle East, India and Africa. In men, more reports of skin itch came from East Asians, while dry and sore skin was more common in those from Middle East and North Africa. Hair loss was the main complaint of Indian, Middle Eastern and North African males. In contrast, the women reported different skin problems. Pimples prevailed in Africans, and sweat in Eastern Europeans,